Have Blog, Will Travel

On my way from our Florida home to our summer hangout in New Jersey, Kim Trotto, a member of my writers group invited me to participate in this Writers’ Blog Tour. It sounded like too much fun to decline. So, suitcase yet unpacked, here I am.

The Writers’ Blog Tour is sort of a chain letter of writers all answering the same four questions. It’s a great opportunity to share about why we write and how. I’ll be passing the tour on to Doris Meredith and Karen Kelly Boyce. You can read more about them below. So here are my answers to the four questions.

   

1)  What am I working on?

Right now I’ve written the beginning of a mystery about a traveling nurse. I’ve also started a relationship story about a woman in her early sixties who realizes her life needs changing. I’m also considering writing a sequel to my first novel, Bellehaven, an idea that I initially rejected but after so many readers asked me for a follow up novel with the characters they said they loved, I’m considering it.

2)  How does my work differ from others of its genre?

When I write, I try to leave out the parts of a novel that many readers, including me, skim read “to get to the good stuff.” I avoid filler as much as I can. I also incorporate my life experience working with older individuals in a way that I believe is unique and speaks to the value of all people. My novels are character rather than plot driven.

3)  Why do I write what I do?

Much of what I write, though fiction, comes out of my life experience in elder care. I learned so much from those I cared for as a nurse, nursing home administrator and consultant. I want to help others understand the life process, but in an entertaining way, if possible. It’s important to me that my characters reflect their life history and are drawn as completely and multilayered as possible, even though they are fictional people.

4)  How does my writing process work?

I like to write spontaneously when I first begin a story and just let it unfold, though I must admit I do have a loose outline of how the story will go. Then I put it aside for several days. While I’m letting it ‘rest,” I find I am still writing in my head, working out what I may change or what the next scene or chapter will contain. Once I have the rough story or novel written out, I review with what I like to think is an analytical eye to see what is missing, out of place or unnecessary. I would like to say I write every day but while I don’t do actual physical writing, I am always writing in my mind. Sometimes, while driving, I  pull over to jot down an idea or scene I visualize. Fortunately, whether we’re on our island home in New Jersey or Florida, the traffic is not thick enough to get in the way!

Now it’s time to introduce our next two bloggers. Be sure to check them out next Tuesday, May 13, to read about their writing.

Karen Kelly Boyce: http://www.karenkellyboyce.com/blog, has written and published six books and the first four won the esteemed Catholic Writers Guild seal of approval. Down Right Good was awarded the 2012 Eric Hoffer Gold Award in fiction. She’s written a memoir, A Bend in the Road, which speaks to her journey with breast cancer. Her other works include fiction for both children and adults. All her books are faith based and uplifting.

D.R. Meredith: 
http://highwatermysteries.wordpress.com , is a split personality: a suburban wife until all the chores are done and the errands run, then she locks herself in her office and commits murder. As her second personality she has written three different mystery series, multiple short stories, and a historical series as a chance of pace. She has twice been a finalist for the Anthony Award for Best Paperback Original. She reviews books in her spare time.

The Test of Time

Today, April 23, is Shakespeare’s birthday. Many communities will celebrate with World Book Night. World Book Night is an annual celebration dedicated to spreading the love of reading, person to person.  Each year on this date, thousands of people in the U.S. go out into their communities and give away a half a million free paperbacks. In the future, I hope to join this effort as a volunteer. 

Since I couldn't participate this year, I thought I’d commemorate the occasion by asking a few avid readers if they could name the best novel they’d ever read, the one book that stood the test of time. For some who participated in my informal survey, it proved to be an impossible task. They were driven to name more than one book. Others had no problem at all choosing one. Here’s a few of their picks:

Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell: Tinka first read the book as a teenager, then attended the movie with a friend. “We packed a lunch and took it with us because it was such a long movie,” she relates. The book will always represent a special memory of those years, she adds.

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee: Lorraine chose this classic because she “reread this two years ago and was so impressed on so many levels---narrated by a child who sees the world through innocent eyes and Atticus Finch who bravely challenges the social prejudices of the times.”

Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver: Ginger had a hard time narrowing her choices down to one, however, this was the first book she mentioned. She explains, “This book caused me to question so many things I’d ‘assumed’ about the world around us, forcing me to realize I’m pretty ‘democracy centric’ and yet there is a whole world beyond what I’m accustomed to in terms of ideals---that our way is not the only way.

Little Women by Louisa May Alcott: Megan chose this book without wavering because while reading the novel, she felt a sense of belonging, almost as if she was in their world.  “What I love most was how Louisa May Alcott portrayed the character Jo.  Jo was strong, driven, stubborn, and she refused to accept gender stereotypes and conform to society's expectation of women.  Jo pursued her interests and dreams and allowed no one come in between them, even though they were frowned upon. I have always admired Jo, and even used her name when I played ‘make-believe’ as a child.”

The Prince of Tides by Pat Conroy: Fellow writer, Iris, chose this book because she appreciates the author’s passion and his gift of language. “You can pick up the book, turn to any page, and enjoy his descriptions of characters, places and events without even knowing the plot of the story. I’ve read this novel more than once and have always found something new to make the reading worthwhile.”

The Last of the Mohicans by James Fenimore Cooper: Bill read the book as a young boy and the vivid tale fueled his imagination of that time in history. “I’ll always remember reading this book and how I could see the characters---Chingachgook and Hawkeye. I could visualize living as Hawkeye did in the woods.”

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith: This is my pick. Recently, it was a selection for my readers group. I hesitated at first, not sure if I wanted to read it again because I feared it wouldn’t resonate as it did when I first read it as a teenager. My second reading experience was even richer and I found my life experience enhanced my understanding of the book and the metaphor that the title exemplifies.

Can you name a sole favorite book? A book that stands out from all the others you’ve read? Try it. There’s something about singling out one book from all the others. Not an easy task, for sure, but one that is worth the effort.

And next year, consider finding a way to celebrate World Book Night and the great book giveaway.

Happy Reading!

It's That Time of Year...Again

For those of us who believe in making New Year's resolutions, the time is now. And for all of you "nonbelievers," consider the value of reviewing, reflecting and possibly even beginning the tradition by establishing goals for 2014. It's never too late to begin!

Last year, one of my most important goals was to publish my novel, Bellehaven. And as many of you know, that happened. What I didn't completely realize was that marketing should have also been one of my goals for last year. So, one of my major initiatives this year is to market my book.

I have a great desire to see it read and so, the marketing takes on a whole different perspective for me. I find it's less about recouping my publishing costs and more about knowing it's been read by as many people as I can reach.

Earlier today, my oldest daughter, Ginger, called to wish us a Happy New Year. She told me about a challenge she'd heard about where rather than making a list of resolutions, we should find the one word that reflects what we hope to accomplish or change in 2014. "Take some time," she advised me, "And the word will come to you. Then post that word everywhere---on your mirror, over your computer, maybe even on your car visor."

Instantly, as she was telling me, "my" word came, as some things come to me. My word is "productive." My goal is to write bigger, more authentically than in the past. And to do so, I know I must write every day. Consider doing this exercise. Whether your goal is a writing one or simply one thing you'd like to do differently this year, I challenge you to find your word. Once you have, try to live it.


Happy New Year, everyone!

You Can Go Home Again

 Do you remember the books of your childhood or those of your teen years? The books that inspired you, touched you exactly where you were at that time? If you’re like me, you never forget those special tomes. They’re part of your history, your angst, read at a vulnerable and intense time in your life. And just remembering their influence may be the best way to honor those books.

Rereading them could be like tasting a childhood favorite food, one you haven’t tasted for many years. For me, it was those cinnamon buns we were allowed to select from the Freihofer bread truck every Saturday morning. Do they still even make them? Cream donuts, too. Recently I tried one again and found my adult tastes just weren’t into them anymore. And so I hesitate to revisit those books that held a special place in my heart during my formative years.

At the very least, I fear going back and rereading those books could be disappointing. A book that resonated at age sixteen may now feel dated and worse yet, no longer relevant. So, a few months ago, when our book group selected “A Tree grows in Brooklyn,” I considered skipping that month’s discussion. After all, Betty Smith’s coming-of-age book was one of my most treasured teenage reads. Would I lose my fond memories with another perusal? Would her writing style seem dated this many years later?

After hesitating for a while, I decided to give it a try. After all, I never like to miss a book discussion! From page one I was drawn back into the story and found my life experience only enhanced my second reading and I identified from the very beginning with the protagonist, Francie. Returning to her 1912 Brooklyn tenement was like coming home, but different, too.

Now, my life experience lends a new dimension to my reading of this classic. I get it more now. All the nuances that I must have brushed over as a raw, untested teen now strike a new chord

As a writer, I now have a greater appreciation of character development, voice and definitely the use of metaphor. I found I had a deeper understanding of all the elements that go into writing and that brought a brand new appreciation for this classic. For writers, reading is like water and air—we need that constant infusion of other authors to inspire and teach us. For more about the value of reading, check out my blog posting, Five Reasons Why Writers Should Belong to Book Groups.

Here are a few other books that still move me:

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

East of Eden by John Steinbeck

The Great Gatsby by Ernest Hemingway

Exodus by Leon Uris

The Good Earth by Pearl Buck