Copies of my books are in the library at the Sage Colleges in New York! What an exciting day!
Friday, August 31, 2018
Wednesday, August 29, 2018
Every day an adventure
I have been struggling with one of the characters in my historical novel. I know what her future looks like, but I have been having a hard time with her present day reality.
I've been thinking about it a lot, and have mulled over many different potential stories for her. Today, I finally settled on the right story.
I came to her story in an unusual way. I was reading a book, a very good book, titled "Manhattan Beach". I don't want to give away any of the story lines in that book. It is set mostly during World War II. As with most books set with World War II as a backdrop, the themes are thought provoking and saddening at times.
One of the things I find most fascinating about World War II stories is how there is usually a tremendous amount of hope that underpins those stories. Despite hardship and tragedy, so many people clung to the belief that the Allies would win the war, and of course that hope was rewarded, and we did.
Anyway. thinking about one of the characters in that book awakened Ruth's story in my mind. I don't know how I didn't see it earlier, as now that I know it, it seems so right.
Today, that story will find its way from my mind onto my manuscript. Every day an adventure, as I learn to put my stories on paper.
I've been thinking about it a lot, and have mulled over many different potential stories for her. Today, I finally settled on the right story.
I came to her story in an unusual way. I was reading a book, a very good book, titled "Manhattan Beach". I don't want to give away any of the story lines in that book. It is set mostly during World War II. As with most books set with World War II as a backdrop, the themes are thought provoking and saddening at times.
One of the things I find most fascinating about World War II stories is how there is usually a tremendous amount of hope that underpins those stories. Despite hardship and tragedy, so many people clung to the belief that the Allies would win the war, and of course that hope was rewarded, and we did.
Anyway. thinking about one of the characters in that book awakened Ruth's story in my mind. I don't know how I didn't see it earlier, as now that I know it, it seems so right.
Today, that story will find its way from my mind onto my manuscript. Every day an adventure, as I learn to put my stories on paper.
Tuesday, August 28, 2018
The people that you meet
Every once in a while, I have an idea for a blog post that I'm not sure I should write. This is one of those posts.
Let me explain. As a writer, I spend an enormous amount of time in my imagination, in the worlds that I create inside my stories. When I am in those worlds, I find the things that happen as surprising as the things that happen in the real world.
I am often thinking about a character, who they are, where they come from, what made them who and what they are, and I meet another character who was pivotal in their lives. Sometimes these characters appear only as a memory, but sometimes, they demand a place in the story for themselves.
I'm afraid that to the non-storyteller, that last paragraph may have sounded delusional. I don't actually believe the people I imagine are real, but I do believe that sometimes my stories will be incomplete without including one of the imaginary people I had not originally included in my story.
This happened to me yesterday when I met Frere Arthur in France. He is one of the missionary Brothers of the Sacred Heart that will move to Louisiana to provide secondary education to the young men of Belle Terre. He is the only son of a widowed mother, Genevieve. I had not planned for Genevieve, but now that I have "met" her, she is demanding to be included in my story.
She is one of those characters that sprung fully formed into my imagination, and now I know my story would be incomplete without her. I don't know how it is for formally trained writers, but for me, all of my stories are fluid. I know how they begin and end, but the everyday details evolve as my characters navigate through each situation.
This constant sense of discovery is one of the reasons I find writing so enjoyable. Each time I sit down to tell my stories, it is as if I am experiencing the same surprises we all do when going somewhere new. Because the world I'm creating is new every day. I can't wait to see what today has in store.
Let me explain. As a writer, I spend an enormous amount of time in my imagination, in the worlds that I create inside my stories. When I am in those worlds, I find the things that happen as surprising as the things that happen in the real world.
I am often thinking about a character, who they are, where they come from, what made them who and what they are, and I meet another character who was pivotal in their lives. Sometimes these characters appear only as a memory, but sometimes, they demand a place in the story for themselves.
I'm afraid that to the non-storyteller, that last paragraph may have sounded delusional. I don't actually believe the people I imagine are real, but I do believe that sometimes my stories will be incomplete without including one of the imaginary people I had not originally included in my story.
This happened to me yesterday when I met Frere Arthur in France. He is one of the missionary Brothers of the Sacred Heart that will move to Louisiana to provide secondary education to the young men of Belle Terre. He is the only son of a widowed mother, Genevieve. I had not planned for Genevieve, but now that I have "met" her, she is demanding to be included in my story.
She is one of those characters that sprung fully formed into my imagination, and now I know my story would be incomplete without her. I don't know how it is for formally trained writers, but for me, all of my stories are fluid. I know how they begin and end, but the everyday details evolve as my characters navigate through each situation.
This constant sense of discovery is one of the reasons I find writing so enjoyable. Each time I sit down to tell my stories, it is as if I am experiencing the same surprises we all do when going somewhere new. Because the world I'm creating is new every day. I can't wait to see what today has in store.
Monday, August 27, 2018
People are people
I'm working on my historical novel, and at this point in the story, one of the main characters has traveled to France from Louisiana. That got me to thinking about how different the world is today from the 1850's where my novel takes place.
In those days, when a person traveled across the ocean, there was no way for their loved ones to know anything about how they were doing. There were letters of course, but even those could be weeks to months delayed.
I remember when I was a child, my mother taught us a rhyme. It went like this:
I see the moon
And the moon sees me
The moon sees somebody
I'd like to see
God bless the moon
And God bless me
And God bless the somebody
I'd like to see
My aunt was a missionary nun, and in the early 1960's letters were all we had to communicate with her. I feel like that gives me an insight into how my characters feel when separated, and an insight into the priest and religious brothers that are going to leave France for a missionary assignment in Louisiana.
We are so lucky today to have instant communications with our loved ones. We still miss their physical presence, but we can be reassured that they are well.
Whether it is 1850 or 2020, people still miss the people they love when they are separated, and still worry about them when they cannot make contact.
There are so many differences I have to worry about when I am writing my historical novel. But people loving and missing people is the same as it ever was.
In those days, when a person traveled across the ocean, there was no way for their loved ones to know anything about how they were doing. There were letters of course, but even those could be weeks to months delayed.
I remember when I was a child, my mother taught us a rhyme. It went like this:
I see the moon
And the moon sees me
The moon sees somebody
I'd like to see
God bless the moon
And God bless me
And God bless the somebody
I'd like to see
My aunt was a missionary nun, and in the early 1960's letters were all we had to communicate with her. I feel like that gives me an insight into how my characters feel when separated, and an insight into the priest and religious brothers that are going to leave France for a missionary assignment in Louisiana.
We are so lucky today to have instant communications with our loved ones. We still miss their physical presence, but we can be reassured that they are well.
Whether it is 1850 or 2020, people still miss the people they love when they are separated, and still worry about them when they cannot make contact.
There are so many differences I have to worry about when I am writing my historical novel. But people loving and missing people is the same as it ever was.
Saturday, August 25, 2018
Sales have slowed to nothing
I haven't sold a book since August 17. I have picked up followers of my Author page on Facebook, and on LinkedIn, so I thought it might be a good time to provide links to my books for sale on Amazon again. Both books are available free with Kindle Unlimited.
"Count Your Blessings" is a novella introducing the Bayou Beni series. The book will introduce you to the characters that will appear throughout the series. It is a quick read, with 173 pages in the Kindle edition, and 124 pages in paperback.
Link to Kindle Edition: Count Your Blessings - Kindle Edition
Link to Paperback: Count Your Blessings - Paperback
Here is the back of the book description:
Imagine a trio of five year old girls determined to see everyone as happy as their mommy and daddy (Rosadel and Clancy) and their Grandma Harriet and Grandpa George.
These are the Marshall triplets; Lou, Rosie and Grace.
Imagine a town in Southeast Louisiana, where the community is strong, and life revolves around family, friends and faith.
This is Bayou Beni.
Come sit a spell and visit as life in Bayou Beni gets more interesting with the arrival of Jessie Tate. Will the triplets succeed in making a match for Jessie?
"Unexpected Blessings" is the second book in the Bayou Beni series, and it is a much longer book with more complex story lines and deeper character development. It is more of an investment, as the Kindle edition is 569 pages, and the paperback is 407 pages.
Link to Kindle Edition: Unexpected Blessings - Kindle Edition
Link to Paperback: Unexpected Blessings - Paperback
Here is the back of the book description:
The Marshall triplets have livened things up again. They found a box on the Holy Redeemer playground with a momma cat and six kittens. They decided to put the cat and kittens in the nativity scene. It wasn't their best idea. Come on back to Bayou Beni as Rosadel and Clancy struggle to teach the girls impulse control, and the girls embark on their next matchmaking adventure. Cassidy Bourgeois is relieved to have a foster family for an abandoned cat and her kittens, but will she get more than she bargained for interacting with the Marshall clan?
If you have already purchased and/or read either book, reviews on Amazon are greatly appreciated. Thanks, and happy reading!
"Count Your Blessings" is a novella introducing the Bayou Beni series. The book will introduce you to the characters that will appear throughout the series. It is a quick read, with 173 pages in the Kindle edition, and 124 pages in paperback.
Link to Kindle Edition: Count Your Blessings - Kindle Edition
Link to Paperback: Count Your Blessings - Paperback
Here is the back of the book description:
Imagine a trio of five year old girls determined to see everyone as happy as their mommy and daddy (Rosadel and Clancy) and their Grandma Harriet and Grandpa George.
These are the Marshall triplets; Lou, Rosie and Grace.
Imagine a town in Southeast Louisiana, where the community is strong, and life revolves around family, friends and faith.
This is Bayou Beni.
Come sit a spell and visit as life in Bayou Beni gets more interesting with the arrival of Jessie Tate. Will the triplets succeed in making a match for Jessie?
"Unexpected Blessings" is the second book in the Bayou Beni series, and it is a much longer book with more complex story lines and deeper character development. It is more of an investment, as the Kindle edition is 569 pages, and the paperback is 407 pages.
Link to Kindle Edition: Unexpected Blessings - Kindle Edition
Link to Paperback: Unexpected Blessings - Paperback
Here is the back of the book description:
The Marshall triplets have livened things up again. They found a box on the Holy Redeemer playground with a momma cat and six kittens. They decided to put the cat and kittens in the nativity scene. It wasn't their best idea. Come on back to Bayou Beni as Rosadel and Clancy struggle to teach the girls impulse control, and the girls embark on their next matchmaking adventure. Cassidy Bourgeois is relieved to have a foster family for an abandoned cat and her kittens, but will she get more than she bargained for interacting with the Marshall clan?
If you have already purchased and/or read either book, reviews on Amazon are greatly appreciated. Thanks, and happy reading!
Friday, August 24, 2018
The book I am currently working on
I am currently about 75% finished with my next book. The title is "Sowing Freedom, Reaping Joy", and it is the first book in the "As It Could Be" series.
The book starts in the year 1854. I think I may have created a new genre. This book is somewhat Utopian historical fiction.
There are many post-apocalyptic dystopian stories. I understand where they come from. I understand that in creating a post-apocalyptic world, there can be no one to argue with the world that the writer creates.
I know that people will read my book and say "but that is not how it really happened". What we know is that it is not how it was recorded.
I want to believe that there were communities like the one I am creating in my book. Communities who sequestered themselves from societal norms by geographically isolating themselves. Communities where people lived together as God's children, regardless of skin color, or national origin or the prevailing attitudes of the United States.
This community may not have existed, but I believe it could have. And the residents of my community will experience the historically accurate horrible attitudes of the times when they venture outside their home.
And as the series progresses forward from 1854 to present times, the residents will continue to experience all the horrors that have been visited on indigenous peoples, people of color, and the white people who supported them, outside of Belle Terre.
Inside of Belle Terre will be a community where people treat each other the way I think people should treat each other. With dignity and respect. With genuine appreciation for the gifts that each person brings. With no prejudice.
I hope people can accept this historical fictional place as what it is meant to be - a place where we as a people could have done right by our brothers and sisters and not perpetuated the horrible discriminatory practices that dominated the years since 1854.
I'm not trying to rewrite history. I am not and will never say that this story is not fiction. But I think if we can imagine future broken worlds, maybe imagining past worlds where we didn't break the future so much is worth something too.
The book starts in the year 1854. I think I may have created a new genre. This book is somewhat Utopian historical fiction.
There are many post-apocalyptic dystopian stories. I understand where they come from. I understand that in creating a post-apocalyptic world, there can be no one to argue with the world that the writer creates.
I know that people will read my book and say "but that is not how it really happened". What we know is that it is not how it was recorded.
I want to believe that there were communities like the one I am creating in my book. Communities who sequestered themselves from societal norms by geographically isolating themselves. Communities where people lived together as God's children, regardless of skin color, or national origin or the prevailing attitudes of the United States.
This community may not have existed, but I believe it could have. And the residents of my community will experience the historically accurate horrible attitudes of the times when they venture outside their home.
And as the series progresses forward from 1854 to present times, the residents will continue to experience all the horrors that have been visited on indigenous peoples, people of color, and the white people who supported them, outside of Belle Terre.
Inside of Belle Terre will be a community where people treat each other the way I think people should treat each other. With dignity and respect. With genuine appreciation for the gifts that each person brings. With no prejudice.
I hope people can accept this historical fictional place as what it is meant to be - a place where we as a people could have done right by our brothers and sisters and not perpetuated the horrible discriminatory practices that dominated the years since 1854.
I'm not trying to rewrite history. I am not and will never say that this story is not fiction. But I think if we can imagine future broken worlds, maybe imagining past worlds where we didn't break the future so much is worth something too.
Thursday, August 23, 2018
The habit of writing
I was traveling for the past week. My husband and I went to an out of town wedding. I managed to write blog posts while traveling, but didn't write a word in my latest book.
When I sat down today to write, I had a hard time getting started and a harder time staying focused. It took less than a week to get out of the habit of writing.
I am one of those writers who finds it easier to write the more often I write. I try to write at least five days out of seven, and to produce at least a couple of pages a day.
Some days, the words fly through my fingers on the keyboard and onto the screen. Other days, words come one at a time, and are highlighted and erased.
What is important is that I make myself write. Because the more I do it the easier it is. And the content flows better, and my characters voices are more consistent.
Writing is my profession now. The only way I will be successful is if I treat my writing with the respect it deserves.
And that means making time for it every day.
When I sat down today to write, I had a hard time getting started and a harder time staying focused. It took less than a week to get out of the habit of writing.
I am one of those writers who finds it easier to write the more often I write. I try to write at least five days out of seven, and to produce at least a couple of pages a day.
Some days, the words fly through my fingers on the keyboard and onto the screen. Other days, words come one at a time, and are highlighted and erased.
What is important is that I make myself write. Because the more I do it the easier it is. And the content flows better, and my characters voices are more consistent.
Writing is my profession now. The only way I will be successful is if I treat my writing with the respect it deserves.
And that means making time for it every day.
Tuesday, August 21, 2018
Character evolution
I shared the other day that sometimes the characters in my stories spring fully developed into my mind, and sometimes they develop.
There is a character in my stories that is going to go through some difficult times in the next book in the Bayou Beni series. I hate that she is going to go through such a traumatic event, but life includes trauma.
The trauma will change her, and her family. She will go through a very dark time. She will need tremendous support from her family, and she will get it.
This is the strangest thing about writing stories. I don't want my characters to suffer, but if my stories are true to life, they have to.
I will create an environment and a support system like I wish for everyone who suffers a traumatic event. I can do that.
I can have the character grow and change in a positive way as a result of the trauma she suffers.
Writing fiction is harder than I thought it would be.
If I could do all puppies, and kittens, and butterflies and rainbows, I would.
But them my stories wouldn't be real and relatable. It is like seeing my child suffer, this character I have created. And we all know how that feels.
I often wish I could fix things for the people I love in real life. It is a strange irony that I can't even protect my imaginary characters without making my stories too unbelievable.
Bottom line - life is hard and bad things happen. The best I can do both in life and in fiction is to be as helpful and supportive as I can be for recovery.
There is a character in my stories that is going to go through some difficult times in the next book in the Bayou Beni series. I hate that she is going to go through such a traumatic event, but life includes trauma.
The trauma will change her, and her family. She will go through a very dark time. She will need tremendous support from her family, and she will get it.
This is the strangest thing about writing stories. I don't want my characters to suffer, but if my stories are true to life, they have to.
I will create an environment and a support system like I wish for everyone who suffers a traumatic event. I can do that.
I can have the character grow and change in a positive way as a result of the trauma she suffers.
Writing fiction is harder than I thought it would be.
If I could do all puppies, and kittens, and butterflies and rainbows, I would.
But them my stories wouldn't be real and relatable. It is like seeing my child suffer, this character I have created. And we all know how that feels.
I often wish I could fix things for the people I love in real life. It is a strange irony that I can't even protect my imaginary characters without making my stories too unbelievable.
Bottom line - life is hard and bad things happen. The best I can do both in life and in fiction is to be as helpful and supportive as I can be for recovery.
Monday, August 20, 2018
My personal cure for obsessive worrying
I am a worrier.
From the time I can remember, I worried.
When my daughter was a teenager, she told me she saw a sign at a craft fair that fit me perfectly. It said, "Don't tell me not to worry. It is the one thing I am really good at, and I have been practicing all of my life."
I laughed, of course, but at that time it was absolutely true.
Having the time to write my stories has changed my worrying behaviors. I keep my mind busy with the characters and story lines I am working on. When I worry, I worry about how to resolve the problems my characters are having, and I can actually do that.
I have control over the outcomes in my stories in a way I never will in reality. For me, the trick to breaking the obsessive worrying was as easy as substituting fictional characters and their dilemmas for my real life imagined problems.
Worrying never solved anything. It steals the joy from the present for a future situation that may never occur.
Worrying about my storylines or my characters brings joy to the moment as I can play fairy godmother to my characters and create positive outcomes for them.
There are times when my characters suffer, and when things don't go how they would like them to go. But in the end, they always persevere, they overcome their difficulties, and they move forward with their lives in a positive way.
Just like most of us. I hope reading my stories provides people with a respite from their worries, at least for a little while. And I am so grateful for the respite from my worries that they have provided me.
From the time I can remember, I worried.
When my daughter was a teenager, she told me she saw a sign at a craft fair that fit me perfectly. It said, "Don't tell me not to worry. It is the one thing I am really good at, and I have been practicing all of my life."
I laughed, of course, but at that time it was absolutely true.
Having the time to write my stories has changed my worrying behaviors. I keep my mind busy with the characters and story lines I am working on. When I worry, I worry about how to resolve the problems my characters are having, and I can actually do that.
I have control over the outcomes in my stories in a way I never will in reality. For me, the trick to breaking the obsessive worrying was as easy as substituting fictional characters and their dilemmas for my real life imagined problems.
Worrying never solved anything. It steals the joy from the present for a future situation that may never occur.
Worrying about my storylines or my characters brings joy to the moment as I can play fairy godmother to my characters and create positive outcomes for them.
There are times when my characters suffer, and when things don't go how they would like them to go. But in the end, they always persevere, they overcome their difficulties, and they move forward with their lives in a positive way.
Just like most of us. I hope reading my stories provides people with a respite from their worries, at least for a little while. And I am so grateful for the respite from my worries that they have provided me.
Friday, August 17, 2018
Unrepentant Observer
For as long as I can remember, I have loved observing people.
When I was a child, I could spend an entire family party listening to the adults talk rather than playing with my siblings and cousins.
I am never bored in public places because I love to watch people and observe their interactions and listen to their conversations.
I get so many ideas for my stories from watching people and listening to people.
A snippet of conversation may get me started on a "what if" that goes for minutes to hours.
Airports are especially fertile ground for people observation, as are train and bus stations.
There is so much human drama, and tragedy and comedy being played out all around us every day. I love the richness that it adds to my life to observe all that life happening.
Are you a people watcher? Do you find yourself writing stories in your head about the people you see in public places?
When I was a child, I could spend an entire family party listening to the adults talk rather than playing with my siblings and cousins.
I am never bored in public places because I love to watch people and observe their interactions and listen to their conversations.
I get so many ideas for my stories from watching people and listening to people.
A snippet of conversation may get me started on a "what if" that goes for minutes to hours.
Airports are especially fertile ground for people observation, as are train and bus stations.
There is so much human drama, and tragedy and comedy being played out all around us every day. I love the richness that it adds to my life to observe all that life happening.
Are you a people watcher? Do you find yourself writing stories in your head about the people you see in public places?
Thursday, August 16, 2018
The Name Game
One of the most enjoyable things about writing stories is naming the characters.
Sometimes a character springs fully formed into my mind; name, age, appearance, personality, the whole works.
Other times, there is a character that I know I need, and I have to research to develop them.
Some of my character names are completely random, but some have real meaning for me.
In the Bayou Beni series that I am writing, the Marshall parents are named George and Harriet, which are my parents' names. George and Harriet Marshall are great parents, as were George and Harriet Marion. They are like and not like my parents. (George is more like Daddy than Harriet is like Mommy.) They are absolutely fictional characters, but they are also a tribute to my Mom and Dad.
There is a lector named Bill Dunn, which was my Godfather's name. He died in 1998.
There is also a third grade teacher named Grace White. Mrs. Grace White was the name of my third grade teacher, and she is the first person who encouraged my story writing.
When researching to name characters, I look at surnames common in areas, I look at most popular girl and boy names in a particular year, I look up common names in countries that my characters were born in or emigrated from.
Or, I just like the name and run with it.
At a point in my young life, I thought I would have a pack of kids to name. I just had one child to name, but I have an entire town of characters I have now given birth to.
How important are character names to you when you read a story? Can a poorly named character turn you off? Have you ever stopped reading a story because of the name of one or more characters?
Sometimes a character springs fully formed into my mind; name, age, appearance, personality, the whole works.
Other times, there is a character that I know I need, and I have to research to develop them.
Some of my character names are completely random, but some have real meaning for me.
In the Bayou Beni series that I am writing, the Marshall parents are named George and Harriet, which are my parents' names. George and Harriet Marshall are great parents, as were George and Harriet Marion. They are like and not like my parents. (George is more like Daddy than Harriet is like Mommy.) They are absolutely fictional characters, but they are also a tribute to my Mom and Dad.
There is a lector named Bill Dunn, which was my Godfather's name. He died in 1998.
There is also a third grade teacher named Grace White. Mrs. Grace White was the name of my third grade teacher, and she is the first person who encouraged my story writing.
When researching to name characters, I look at surnames common in areas, I look at most popular girl and boy names in a particular year, I look up common names in countries that my characters were born in or emigrated from.
Or, I just like the name and run with it.
At a point in my young life, I thought I would have a pack of kids to name. I just had one child to name, but I have an entire town of characters I have now given birth to.
How important are character names to you when you read a story? Can a poorly named character turn you off? Have you ever stopped reading a story because of the name of one or more characters?
Wednesday, August 15, 2018
Setting the stage
When it comes to the places in my stories, I don't do a lot of in-depth describing of them. In fact, I may be excessively generic.
There are two reasons why.
One, I want my readers to fall into my stories. So when I say kitchen, and I put a table in that kitchen that the family is sitting at to eat, I want my reader to picture whatever kitchen is familiar to them. I don't think that saying the oak cabinets and granite counter tops is important to the story.
Two, I get bored when I read stories that describe place in great detail when it doesn't add anything necessary to the story.
I know that in science or speculative fiction, there needs to be a significant amount of attention given to place, and describing place, as it could be that none of us have ever inhabited a world that looks like the one created by the author for the story.
I don't think places likes churches, offices, family rooms, strip malls, restaurants need a lot of description to make a story work, so I don't dig deeply into them.
If it is important to know there is a fireplace in the family room, or that there is a Christmas tree in the corner, I'll tell you. But most of the time, the place descriptions in my stories are very sparse.
What do you think? Is setting the stage, describing the place important for you to enjoy a story? Or are you more like me, and your imagination is happy to fill in the blanks?
There are two reasons why.
One, I want my readers to fall into my stories. So when I say kitchen, and I put a table in that kitchen that the family is sitting at to eat, I want my reader to picture whatever kitchen is familiar to them. I don't think that saying the oak cabinets and granite counter tops is important to the story.
Two, I get bored when I read stories that describe place in great detail when it doesn't add anything necessary to the story.
I know that in science or speculative fiction, there needs to be a significant amount of attention given to place, and describing place, as it could be that none of us have ever inhabited a world that looks like the one created by the author for the story.
I don't think places likes churches, offices, family rooms, strip malls, restaurants need a lot of description to make a story work, so I don't dig deeply into them.
If it is important to know there is a fireplace in the family room, or that there is a Christmas tree in the corner, I'll tell you. But most of the time, the place descriptions in my stories are very sparse.
What do you think? Is setting the stage, describing the place important for you to enjoy a story? Or are you more like me, and your imagination is happy to fill in the blanks?
Tuesday, August 14, 2018
The people in my stories
One of the most interesting things I have learned as I have tried to become a writer is how the people in my stories become very real to me.
Every character starts with an idea. Sometimes the idea is a person I have known. Sometimes the idea is an historical person I have read about. Sometimes the idea is someone I wish I knew.
I tend to spend a lot of time with my characters before they ever take shape on paper, but occasionally, one will surprise me by springing fully developed into a story.
My characters are very persuasive. They won't allow me to make them do things they don't want to do. They make me delete thousands of words because they would never do or say what I tried to make them do or say.
I have yet to write a character that I wouldn't want to spend time with. The one character I'm glad I don't know is dead by the time my story is written, and he is just a bad memory.
I know I will have to write real villains at some point. I know I will have to write a character that no matter how hard I try, I can't like.
But here's the rub for me. I was taught from the time I was preschool age, that God lived in every human being. And it was my job to find God, find good, and love that piece of that person.
I have often said in my real life that I'm not going to go to hell for failing to find God in this or that person.
So, I have to figure out how to create those villains and still treat them as creatures of God that are difficult to like, but that my fundamental set of beliefs require me to love.
Which means there will be no Adolf Hitler's or Charles Manson's in my stories.
My character villains will all be salvageable. I'm not planning to write true crime dramas, so I think I will be okay.
The real villains in my stories will remain the villains that most frighten me. Hunger, poverty, disease, loneliness, isolation, depression, hopelessness. I think many characters who seem like villains are really victims of those bigger societal villains. What do you think?
Every character starts with an idea. Sometimes the idea is a person I have known. Sometimes the idea is an historical person I have read about. Sometimes the idea is someone I wish I knew.
I tend to spend a lot of time with my characters before they ever take shape on paper, but occasionally, one will surprise me by springing fully developed into a story.
My characters are very persuasive. They won't allow me to make them do things they don't want to do. They make me delete thousands of words because they would never do or say what I tried to make them do or say.
I have yet to write a character that I wouldn't want to spend time with. The one character I'm glad I don't know is dead by the time my story is written, and he is just a bad memory.
I know I will have to write real villains at some point. I know I will have to write a character that no matter how hard I try, I can't like.
But here's the rub for me. I was taught from the time I was preschool age, that God lived in every human being. And it was my job to find God, find good, and love that piece of that person.
I have often said in my real life that I'm not going to go to hell for failing to find God in this or that person.
So, I have to figure out how to create those villains and still treat them as creatures of God that are difficult to like, but that my fundamental set of beliefs require me to love.
Which means there will be no Adolf Hitler's or Charles Manson's in my stories.
My character villains will all be salvageable. I'm not planning to write true crime dramas, so I think I will be okay.
The real villains in my stories will remain the villains that most frighten me. Hunger, poverty, disease, loneliness, isolation, depression, hopelessness. I think many characters who seem like villains are really victims of those bigger societal villains. What do you think?
Monday, August 13, 2018
Why I write stories
Every storyteller has a story (or a few thousand). But one of those stories is the most important story. It is the story called "Why I write stories".
I write stories because life is a lonely place sometimes, and stories are our friends when we are lonely.
I write stories because sometimes hope is hard to hold on to, and stories of hope can restore our ability to hope.
I write stories because the world is scary, and it is good to know that there are still dragon slayers, protectors, and magicians.
I write stories because my life has not been ordinary, or orderly all the time, and by telling myself stories where I found my way to a better life helped me make that better life.
I write stories because I believe the world needs stories to see that everything that is can be different, and that sometimes if we try hard enough we can make things better.
I write stories because if I can give one person a smile, or a warm piece of comfort, or a glimmer of hope; my life has purpose.
I write stories because I'm not me when I don't.
I write stories because life is a lonely place sometimes, and stories are our friends when we are lonely.
I write stories because sometimes hope is hard to hold on to, and stories of hope can restore our ability to hope.
I write stories because the world is scary, and it is good to know that there are still dragon slayers, protectors, and magicians.
I write stories because my life has not been ordinary, or orderly all the time, and by telling myself stories where I found my way to a better life helped me make that better life.
I write stories because I believe the world needs stories to see that everything that is can be different, and that sometimes if we try hard enough we can make things better.
I write stories because if I can give one person a smile, or a warm piece of comfort, or a glimmer of hope; my life has purpose.
I write stories because I'm not me when I don't.
Thankful
Thank you family, friends and readers! My free book promotion resulted in 53 copies of Count Your Blessings being downloaded.
Total sales - Count Your Blessings - 81
Unexpected Blessings - 20
Total sales - Count Your Blessings - 81
Unexpected Blessings - 20
Now just waiting on reviews to come in!
Thursday, August 9, 2018
So far, so good
As of this morning, my free book promotion on Amazon has resulted in 38 eBooks being downloaded. With one sold in the UK and one in Brazil. I'm pretty excited about those numbers. I hope that some of the people who enjoy the free promotion come back for the second book. This is day three of five. I'm planning to remind people on Facebook tomorrow that there is one more day in the promotion. Getting to 50 would be great. Getting to 100 - I'd be walking on air.
Monday, August 6, 2018
Free Book Promotion
August 7 to August 11, 2018, my novella, "Count Your Blessings" kindle edition will be available for free on Amazon. Please tell your friends!
Thursday, August 2, 2018
Need some help
I am currently working on finishing a historical novel, which will be titled "Sowing Freedom; Reaping Joy". After I send that manuscript into the US Copyright office, I'll start working on the third novel set in Bayou Beni.
Bayou Beni is "Blessed Bayou" in French, and I want to keep using the word "Blessings" in each title. Can any of you think of common phrases with the word blessings that would make a good book title?
The book will once again be a collection of stories about the people who live and work in Bayou Beni. There will be continuing stories for characters featured in "Count Your Blessings" and "Unexpected Blessings", and some new comers as well.
Any and all suggestions are appreciated.
Bayou Beni is "Blessed Bayou" in French, and I want to keep using the word "Blessings" in each title. Can any of you think of common phrases with the word blessings that would make a good book title?
The book will once again be a collection of stories about the people who live and work in Bayou Beni. There will be continuing stories for characters featured in "Count Your Blessings" and "Unexpected Blessings", and some new comers as well.
Any and all suggestions are appreciated.
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