A Little September Surprise

Gilded Scars cover

You might remember a short time back when I attended the Beaver County Bookfest. I noticed something over the course of that day, if I’d had a more literary book or a collection of my poetry, I’d have sold a number of copies of it. I did sell nearly all the poetry samplers I’d printed out. I happen to have a great deal of poetry both published and unpublished just sitting around on my hard drive. It doesn’t do me much good there.

If you’ve followed my blog long, you’ll notice I’m pretty open about my mental health struggles with anxiety and depression. I’m definitely open with my issues with grief and loss and my take on the joys and heartbreaks of parenthood. I don’t write much here about my husband but I’ve won a few contests over the years with poems he inspired. Poetry is my way of making my view of the world make more sense. Perhaps not all of my poems are true in the strictest sense but they are in the broader sense, as poems should be. What I’m getting at is that I did a thing. I’m giving KDP a try so I do have something a little less supernatural for people who love supporting authors but aren’t big genre fans. If this one goes well, I may do the same with my horror and fantasy poetry also as I also have a lot of that sitting around doing nothing.

Technically, my surprise has been live for a few days but I wasn’t going to shout it from the rooftops until I got a chance to see it first hand, in my hands.

Gilded Scars: Finding the Beauty in the Broken is a collection of poetry (and a few very short prose pieces) about learning to deal with, even appreciate, the scars that make us who were are, that serve as shining badges of strength and resilience. Especially those scars that are not on the surface. If you want to order but would really rather order a signed copy, follow my author page on Facebook and message me to let me know and we’ll work something out.

Writing Wednesday: When Beginnings aren’t Beginnings

Knowing when to start a story isn’t as easy as you might think. Sometimes, where a writer needs to start a story and where a reader needs to start a story are two separate things. Writers need to know more about the history of the characters to begin a story but sometimes, they put so much of that information in the beginning that the story can’t help but start slowly.

There has been more than one story in my life that I started in the wrong place because I needed to know how certain events happened in order to write the rest of the story properly. The reader only needed some of that information and not before the meat of the story. Backstory can be rationed out, given to the reader in pieces. The most important function of the beginning of your story is to keep readers reading. Yes, you want to set up the plot and the characters, but none of that matters if the reader doesn’t want to turn the page.

I’ve found that, when I feel the need to write a short prologue or a few paragraphs of background, I should go ahead and write it for myself but cut it out of the final draft entirely. The reader doesn’t need the goodbye note written fifteen years before the story ultimately begins but the writer does. The reader just needs to know through the interactions of the characters that there is some weighted history between the characters. The writer can always bring it up in conversation between characters.

When I’m the reader, I prefer books that start in the middle of things. Firestarter is a good example. Charlie and her dad are already on the run when the book begins and we’re slowly fed the information about the Company. In the first of JD Robb’s (Nora Roberts) In Death series, the book begins with a crime, not with Dallas’s backstory. Or Roarke’s for that matter. There’s a lot to unpack there and the reader is given the important history over the course of many books. It helps that the story begins with two people who are getting to know each other which allows the reader to get to know them at the same time.

If I were to write my own life story, I would not begin at birth but when things got interesting. There’s not much interesting about being born (even if it was a Friday the 13th, a full moon, Good Friday, and an emergency c-section birth). Certainly not much interesting about the potato sack lump infants are. Don’t start when your story is a potato sack lump. Start where it gets interesting. Give the reader a reason to turn the page beyond the promise of the synopsis.

Happy Writing!

Writing Wednesday: Sharing the Love

Writing tends to be a very solitary endeavour, at least for me. In the days before the internet, it was a lot harder to find community and information. Now, you can just Google a thing and figure it out for yourself. And sometimes, you believe the wrong pitch, discover the next author mill or vanity press without knowing it. One of my favorite things about finding a community of writers is the ability to share my experience. Like I do here. I hate to see writers get taken advantage of by snake oil salesmen and the like and if I can point someone in a better direction, that’s even better.

I never had a mentor type person in my life where writing and publishing was concerned and there were times when I really could have used one. There are still times when I could use one. Generally speaking though, I find myself more likely to answer questions than ask them and I’m happy with that too.

If you’re looking for a mentor, try your local writer’s group or writer’s association first, especially if you’re looking for a face to face conversation. If the digital world is more your style, it might be a bit harder to vet a mentor but a lot easier to find one. There are even programs out there exactly for that, like AWP’s Writer to Writer program. I’m sure there are others you can find with a quick Google.

Publishing is a competitive thing, to a point. We’re all competing for those reader’s eyes. But it’s not competitive in the same way that a lot of other professions are. Publishing is a place where many people can be successful. It never hurts to share the information you’ve gathered with other writers. You don’t need to pull other writers down, we are not crabs in a bucket. Find a good message board or website or your own blog and share what you learn with the rest of the class. Do you know of an event where you were successful or that gave you some good connections? Tell another writer. Did you find a good writers group? Tell another writer.

The world always needs more good stories and you never know when you’ll make the kind of connection that will benefit you in amazing ways.

Oh My Crow

I do love a good Friday the 13th. I was born on one of those. I also love a good full moon. I was born during one of those too. It’s rare those two things happen at the same time and statistically, those have always been good days for me and so far, it’s already been a pretty good start to the day. The crows are at least sort of back.

If you’ve read my stories or met me, you know I have a thing for crows and ravens. It’s been especially a thing the last 14 years. When I was pregnant with my youngest, it felt like the crows were watching me, especially one in particular. She (I don’t know why but I’ve always called her a she) was the inspiration for many poems and, of course, for Mr. Raven in Christmas in Bear Ridge. I like to give the crows that roost in the trees behind my house treats and encourage them to stay. They’re incredibly smart animals and their associated mythology is super interesting.

The last few days have been eerily quiet. Not a single crow perched on the roosting tree at dawn or dusk or any time in between. It’s been very strange. I made sure there were treats yesterday (just unsalted plain peanuts but they like them). This morning, there were crows calling again but not mine. Her favorite tree is still empty.

Wild crows don’t really live that long. If my crow has been the same crow and not just the de facto leader of this particular roosting group, she was nearly ancient. And I think she died. I don’t want to go look for her just yet given that crows do know faces and do hold grudges and do investigate the deaths of their own.

Hopefully, they come back to roost in my trees again – they keep the Jays away. If they don’t, I guess I’m going to have some fat little squirrels running around as I’m going to keep trying to bribe them to come back and stay.

My crow was a good crow and she inspired a number of really interesting things, even if we did start off on the wrong foot (nightmares about very large, alien crows are not fun when you’re very pregnant). I hope she had a good life and that I added to it in some small way.

Small funny aside: I’ve talked enough about my crows and the absence of them lately that my bus-stop mom buddy sent me a picture this morning of crows in the neighborhood. Oddly, that really does make me feel better.

Happy Release Day Susan Renee!

I’m Fine by Susan Renee (image: Susan Renee)

First things first, I’ve known Susan Renee pretty much my whole life. She has a new book out today and she was gracious enough to answer some questions here for my blog. I looked but all the old embarrassing pictures I have of her include me being just as embarrassing, so, sorry about that and Congratulations to Susan on her brand new book! Available on Kindle and in Paperback!

 

SW: What book made you want to be a writer and why?

SR: Not really a book per say, but a person. I woke up one morning in my semi-state of depression. I Had lost my teaching job a few years prior and life was just lemony…but I woke up one day and was scrolling through Facebook when I came across a “Raw Blog Post” by Colleen Hoover (Romance author). In her blog she explained how she had gone from stressed mother living on next to nothing, trying to make ends meet for her family, to writing one book and having her life make a complete turn-around. And through all her success, she’s someone who I consider to be an extremely humble human being who strives to help other people. I sat there and thought, if this “normal” mom from Texas can do it…I can to. I had the story in my head already. I just needed to feel like it was ok to put it into words. It was extremely therapeutic for me!

SW: What does your process look like? Do you work from an outline or not? Do you have a favored writing implement? How long does it take you to write a book?

SR: Haha! I’m totally a WING-IT girl most of the time! I have a story in mind, I’ll do a tiny outline so that I can remember characters/setting/details etc. and then go from there. I admit though in my newest release, I did sort of map out chapter by chapter what would happen to be sure I kept the story moving in the right direction, but it doesn’t always happen that way. Sometimes the characters take the story in a direction I don’t plan for…and that’s ok! I’ve taken anywhere from a year to just a couple month for a book. Since my life isn’t full-time author, I still have to work around other jobs, and Home life before I can commit to writing. Hopefully one day that will change, and I’ll have more time to just write my heart out! My favorite writing implement is my favorite purple editing pen. I don’t use red. Purple is my color and I kinda freak out if I don’t have my favorite purple pen.

SW: What is your favorite part of the writing process? Least favorite part?

SR: I’m going to start with my least favorite part. Well, one of them. I struggle sometimes when it comes to causing a rift between my characters (Friends/lovers etc). I’m not very confrontational in my personal life if I don’t have to be so getting my characters to be that way is hard for me. Maybe you can tell that in my writing! HA! But if you can’t, then just know, when my characters get pulled apart, it’s very hard for me to do. I just want everything to be sunshine, rainbows and lots of glitter!

My FAVORITE part is hearing from a reader privately that they loved my story or that it touched them in some way. You just never know how one story will move one read and not another, and that’s ok! I don’t expect everyone to love my writing. But it’s extra special for me when someone that I don’t’ even know (which means I know it’s genuine!) contacts me to thank me for the story.

SW: Out of all the characters you’ve created, is there one who stands out as a personal favorite and why?

SR: There are two actually. Savannah Turner in my book, SEVEN, is one of my favorite characters but I can’t say why without spoiling part of the book. Writing that book was the first time I really cried while writing. BUT, my other favorite character is Jack Schmidt! Jack is a secondary character in my Rom Com, HOLE PUNCHED, who gets his own novella series (The Schmidt Load) starting with the book YOU DON’T KNOW JACK SCHMIDT. Poor Jack has led a bit of an awkward life and writing about it was soooo much fun! He’s someone I would want to be friends with in real life 

SW: Does your geographic location influence your stories or characters?

SR: NOPE!

Susan’s Workspace (image: Susan Renee)

SW: Would you share a picture of your favorite workspace?

Attached! But I should explain: So, I write sitting at the end of my dining room table. It’s not favorable by any means but there’s a reason. First of all, I feel too confined sitting at a desk that’s up against a window with nothing to look at. Secondly, I have young(er) kids. They still play and have playdates etc. so I like that when I sit here in the dining room, I can see the rest of the downstairs portion of my house. That way I can keep tabs on what’s happening throughout the house if need be.

SW:  Is there anything that consistently shows up in your stories (theme, animal, symbol) and why do you think that is?

SR:  Ok it’s funny to me that this question is asked because without planning it, I did an online take over a few weeks ago and came to the conclusion that I have written a bathroom scene in every book so far! Haha I don’t know why it is that I had to do something in the bathroom, whether cleaning a toilet or sex in the shower…I don’t know! Haha But now I feel like I NEEEEED to make sure there’s a bathroom scene in every book!

SW:  What are three things you need to write?

SR: TIME, TIME, TIME

SW: What made you want to write your most recent story?

SR: I’m always looking for something new to write so my books don’t all sound the same and this new book is sort of ripped from the headlines! (Just call me Law & Order Susan Renee!) 😉 I read about these three brothers and what happened to them and thought to myself “I wonder what his adult life would be like…” And just sort of went with it.

SW:  All-time favorite movie?

SR: The Holiday

SW: Best advice for new writers.

SR: Just write. Write it for YOU. Nobody can say the market is over-saturated because everyone likes something different and YOU may write that story that strikes the hearts of millions.

SW: One moment. Give us one moment that defined who you are, not just as a writer, but as a human being.

SR: I think the moment I published my first book defined who I was and who I wanted to be because I finally put myself out there on a grand public stage. I’m not at all the person I was 10 years ago (thank God!) and although I may not yet be where I want to be, I think writing the story of SOLVING US gave me the opportunity to heal emotionally a little bit through Olivia’s eyes by telling her story.

SW: Favorite author dead and living.

SR: Ok I have three. I mean Colleen Hoover is my favorite author/PERSON. But my favorite authors that I love to read are K. Bromberg (Romance) and Meghan Quinn (Romantic Comedy).

SW: If you had a theme song, what would it be?

SR: You mean my theme playlist? 😉 It would be something like this:
Bitch – Meredith Brooks
This is Me – Greatest Showman
Ain’t No Man – The Avett Brothers
It Is Well With My Soul

I know….random, right? hahaha

SW: What does your ideal future look like.

SR: Enough money to support my family and be able to give back to others who struggle, a house in a quieter neighborhood where I can spend my days writing with my fur babies at my feet while my kids are hanging out with their friends who love hanging out at our house.

SW: What do you want readers to take away from your stories?

Image: Susan Renee

SR: I want them to take away whatever they feel from reading. Some of my stories aren’t meant to be deep reads. Some hopefully inspire a hearty laugh or an ornery chuckle, and some may bring tears. Everyone reacts differently. I just hope at the end of the book my readers can say “That was good!” I don’t aim to be a Pulitzer Prize winning author and I may never make a best-selling list, especially as an Indie author, and that’s ok. I’m happy as long as my readers enjoy what I write enough to keep coming back.

 

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Writing Wednesday: Networking

Going to events, festivals, and signings is about the books and the sales but sometimes, it’s the connections we make during those events that are the real gold. It was one of those things my dad tried really hard to teach me but I wasn’t hearing him. It’s taken me a long time to reach a place where I can work on the peopling part of writing, but with every event, I get a little better at that connecting thing. Not just with potential readers, though that’s always awesome, but with other writers, event hosts, and people who know people.

It’s one of those old adages, it’s not what you know but who you know and sometimes that’s really true. You never know when the person you meet might have the perfect speaking opportunity for you (and speaking opportunities are a great way to get fans and sales) or know of the right festival or convention you should be doing. Three separate people at recent events have told me I should get a table at Confluence (a Pittsburgh SF/F convention) and I really am working my way up to that.

One of the things my father really stressed to me was the post event contact. For example, after the Barnes and Noble event, I made sure to email the woman who organized it to thank her for all her effort and she pointed me in the direction of the Beaver County Bookfest (which I’d never heard of previously) and that was a pretty successful event for me. It never hurts to take the step, to write the thank you note, to go ahead and email that contact who gave you their card. You never know when you’ll meet the person who can help you.

Writing does tend to be a solitary endeavor but as a whole, it isn’t. The spider web of marketing and networking requires contacts and people. Even if you’re a shy person, an anxious person, we still need to make those connections. It’s hard, though, especially if you have anxiety issues. I still have a long way to go to be good at networking but I’m learning the way I learn best, by getting out there more and actually doing it.

How does one find these events? I’ve had great luck with Facebook. There’s a group dedicated to vendor and crafting events for my local area and I imagine, there’s a similar group for your area too. Go to your local bookstores and meet the people who are in charge of setting up events. Google your city plus book festival or literary festival. Find conventions for your genre. Join a writer’s association. It’s looking right now like my next event will be in November at a craft fair being put together by a woman I went to high school with. I haven’t done any shows in that area yet so they aren’t tired of seeing my face yet like they probably are in my home county. You just never know when opportunity will present itself. I’ve found it’s best to always be watching for it.

Adjustments

I am slowly adjusting to an emptier house. Slowly. My boy texts me pretty regularly which helps a lot. It’s weird to only have my younger son at home but he does keep things interesting! And I’ve got the dogs who seem more or less resigned to the oldest not being home (even if they do keep checking his room like he’s going to have miraculously shown up when they weren’t paying attention). The new normal is getting easier for us all.

I wasn’t really prepared for this part of motherhood. It took a long time to get used to the idea that my whole heart now lived outside my body. And then I had to send them to school where all the other people are. And I had to try not to let my issues with people become their issues (fortunately, they are both social butterfly types who seem to thrive on being around other people).  And now, they’re getting ready to see what they can really do. I am glad to have kids who want to be independent. Even if I miss them, worry about them, and want to pester them all the time, I really am glad. My husband and I have always felt that it was our job to give them a solid foundation and a bit of a security net, just in case, but not a tether or barricade. Our goal has always been an empty nest but in practice, I’m not a fan yet of even half empty.

I want my kids to be independent, awesome grown ups doing amazing things. I have every faith that both my boys will do just that. And somehow my heart will still feel whole, even when it’s divided up and hundreds, if not thousands, of miles away.

 

Sticks and Pokes

I had my now bimonthly visit to the vampire’s office today. I am so happy I graduated to every other month! The ladies at the lab I go to are pretty great at what they do and it doesn’t hurt nearly as bad as it used to. Of course, I also drink enough water now that my veins aren’t hard to find. I really prefer my water coffee flavored but, one does what one must. I also had my annual jab to protect against the flu. I never used to get my flu shot – I don’t actually go out enough but, with the RA and my medications, it’s a thing I need to do. Plus, I got myself a cruller and a pumpkin coffee as a reward.

I don’t know how people do strenuous physical labor type jobs with RA. I do a comparatively easy day just standing on my feet and it takes 48 hours to feel human again! Once I got home, I snuggled up to my pibble, Alfred, and didn’t do much but sleep. For my day to day existence, my meds work great but I don’t think I’d be saying the same thing if I had a regular 9 to 5. I don’t even know that I could do a multi-day event without serious help. But, I’m definitely worlds better than I was before the meds. Better living through chemistry indeed.

Post Event Glow

My feet hurt, my knees hurt, but my brain is recharged and rip roaring ready to write! I don’t know what the numbers were in the end but I know I talked to a LOT of people and sold more books than I have at any single event before. And the husband nabbed a loaf of ridiculously good rye bread at a booth just outside the author tent.

There’s something about talking to other writers and to readers and to people who want to be writers but don’t know where to begin that really just hits the reboot button for me. I spoke to one young woman who reminded me a lot of the girl I was about 18 years ago – just a word nerd figuring out how to make what she loves to do something she can really do.

I had a few moments early on when I had the old anxiety try and get a foothold on my day and I’m sure I probably looked a little crazy, frozen smile, wide eyes, muttering the litany against fear to myself while tapping on my Kwisatz Haderach bracelet (the litany wouldn’t fit with the font size my stampers are). I don’t care though – it didn’t screw me up too bad and I managed to do more peopling than I have in maybe ever. I’m thinking yeah, maybe I can do this again, maybe even larger events. Maybe one day I’ll be brave enough to give Steel City a go.

I need to rest a bit but I’m definitely ready to get back to telling stories.

Today went much better than I expected for sure. I hope I get to do it again next year!

Book Festival

The Beaver County BookFest is tomorrow! I’m getting ready, making sure I’ve got all the interesting pieces for my pretty table. I’ll have most of my books with me – I’m out of a couple of them, one of the Sha’daa books and my own Guardian of the Gods and I only have one copy left of the Chicken Soup for Grieving and Recovery but I’ll have a good number of the rest of them – including shiny new print copies of my Christmas story!

I’m a lot nervous about it though too. They are expecting an awful lot of people which, while that’s great for me as an author, that’s slightly less great for me as a person with anxiety. Thank goodness my husband will be my assistant – he always makes the panic more bearable.

Today, I’m making all my lists and making sure I have all the bits and pieces. I’m determined to have  a lovely table and a very successful day, in spite of myself. Hopefully, I won’t have to carry nearly as many books home with me as I’m taking. They are heavy things after all.

If you plan on going to the BookFest, make sure you stop by and say hello!