This next Insecure Writers Support Group optional subject to discuss - basically, a question - is one that I've grown softer on over the last couple of years.
Let's preface the discussion by saying this: Without a doubt, I am an in-the-hand, must-feel-paper, and bask-in-the-scent of a physical book kind of gal. Can't help it. It is what it is. Just like the fact that my eyes are dark blue. But unlike the fact that my eyes are blue, my need of 'feel' for physical reading can expand and grow.
Audio books can be super convenient. Like when I'm trying to do two things at once like read and walk the dogs or fold the laundry and get some reading done; listening/reading is pretty handy in the car, too. But again, that's not my preferred way to read a book. We can leave it at I've grown to appreciate the versatility audio books provide. Now saying that leads me into today's optional question:
Have any of your books been made into audio books? If so, what is the main challenge in producing an audiobook?
Yes, my young adult book Marked Beauty was made into an audio book. I have to say that the process was absolutely fascinating to me. My publisher allowed me to search for possible voice readers from a couple huge databases. So, from an author's POV, I'd have to say that the endless list of voices I listened to began sounding the same after a while. That was the biggest challenge for me. Haha... My publisher's biggest challenge? I'm not sure. I'd have to ask them, which would probably make for an interesting article. I just might do that.
What about all of you? Like audio books better than physical books? Doesn't matter? And you authors out there: has one of your books been made into an audio book?
Here we are at our third IWSG post of the year. Crazy, right?
I've decided to veer from our optional question for a minute to share a little of my recent snowmobiling weekend in Maine.
This is MOUNT KATAHDIN
Here's a few interesting facts.
The trails were like highways. Amazing!
Lastly, here we are in front of Mount Katahdin.
This IWSG optional question is: Everyone
has a favorite genre or genres to write. But what about your reading
preferences? Do you read widely or only within the genre(s) you create
stories for? What motivates your reading choice?
I tend to gravitate to romance and/or character based stories and also middle grade fantasy, adventure, and coming of age stories - all are what I write. But I'm always open to reading any story if it's well-written and enticing. I also like to read articles and short stories that are completely out of my norm. Sometimes I purposefully pick up books like that as well, using them to challenge myself through content, structure, craft, and technique. I always learn something knew when I do that, so I'd totally recommend it.
One last thing, I'd love for you to meet the newest member of our family - ASHER! He's a nine-week-old German Shepherd puppy and new little brother to our current two-year-old GSD Sadie.
I've decided to answer this month's optional question.
Albert Camus once said, “The purpose of a writer is to
keep civilization from destroying itself.” Flannery O’Conner said, “I
write to discover what I know.” Authors across time and distance have
had many reasons to write.
Why do you write what you write?
As I was searching my heart for this answer, I realized that I have numerous reasons for writing. Some reasons have been with me from the beginning, while others have evolved, changed, and grown as I've moved forward as a published author.
When I first began writing, I did it as a teeny vacation from my main life job as a stay-at-home mother, raising my four children. I eventually grew a true love for writing that forged me into thinking I could/would/should, just might be able to learn this craft for a greater purpose. Then I completed my first short story, and it got published. And then my first novel, which also got published. Through all of this, I also experienced and grew to need the amazing folks in our writing community.
So in short, I write for the friendships and support I receive and give, for the need to push myself beyond my comfort zone and challenge my physical, mental, and spiritual growth, and for the blessing (and the honor) of being in a position to help, comfort, and influence others by the stories I tell.
That's mostly what I've been hearing or reading since #socialdistancing and #selfconfinement began a few weeks ago. I get it. It's hard. It totally stinks. There is plenty to fear, plenty to feel isolated over, and plenty to box each one of us into the confinement of loneliness. Well, I mean we writers kind of exist in a self-confined world for the most part, but you get what I mean.
Here's a different way to look at all this. Someone I consider one of my life mentors once said to me, "It's all about priorities."
If we focus on the worry, the unknown, and the pictures in our heads of what might be, we will spend the rest of our days for however long this goes on sad and depressed. We need to find the good within the devastation.
Do not take my words for meaning that this virus isn't a big deal. It definitely is. I'm beyond saddened by the lives that have been lost, for the jobs that have and will be no more, for the lack of security we all feel right now. But I'm thankful for the precautions that are being taken, for the people that are working ungodly hours to beat this thing, and for the kindness within neighborhoods that we've all been seeing.
Seriously, the writing community totally RAWKS! So many have offered free material and readings to parents who are now in the position they must home-school their kids. Everyone has been amazing.
This month's IWSG optional question to answer: How are things in your world?
As for me, my children are older - two work with my husband at our family business and the younger two still live at home (a junior in college and a sophomore in high school), so we're pretty much the only people we all see. A few for the business, but we are super careful. The real downer is my mom in the nursing home. We haven't physically seen her for three weeks now and it looks like it's going to be a long haul before they'll let any visitors in again. It's very hard on the residents, especially those who are confused by all this - like my mom. She's doing okay. We've been able to FaceTime with her a few times, so that's helped. I worry about my dad, being home alone and worrying about her. But it is what it is, so we'll deal.
Wishing you all the best of continued health! Be careful, take care of yourself and those you are self-confined with, and stay positive. I'll see you on the other side of this thing. 💜
We've all heard the phrase Write what you know, so it's no surprise when parts of an author's personality, experiences, hopes, dreams, fears, and goals sneak into a character, scene, or world he/she is creating.
This month's Insecure Writer Support Group's (optional) question is:
Other than the obvious holiday traditions, have you ever included any personal or family traditions/customs in your stories?
For me, the answer is yes - I have included traditions/customs in my stories. And it's funny, too, because I never planned that out.
In my YA novel Marked Beauty, my protagonist is plagued with doubts about life and its meanings for a bunch of reasons that I won't get into here. One way I decided to nudge her into facing her doubts was to have her butt heads with her grandmother, who is a devote Catholic. I did that in a subtle way by having Mem, as she was called, carry her Rosary beads everywhere with her and to have my MC find her praying with them a few times.
This was such a thorn in my MC's side. But the annoyance and eventual anger it produced made her question her doubts and then explore them. This action was pivotal in her inner growth so she would decide to forge into the climax and do the right thing.
What about you? Have you ever used a personal or family tradition or custom in your writing? How did it affect you when you noticed this in a book you were reading for pleasure?
This year has been a dud, at least for me and my family. I don't like stating that out loud, let alone writing it the way I just did. But, as my husband often says, "Sometimes you just have to call a spade a spade."
I've despised the way I've felt about writing throughout this year, but even-more-so about my lack-luster approach to all of you - my cyber friends. Some of you have been blogging with me for over ten years now.
Wow. That's kind of cool. And special. And worth doing this living (and blogging) thing together. I'm sorry I haven't been a loyal commenter on your posts this year. I've missed you so, so much. Some of you have published stories and books. Others of you have had babies or shared how your young ones have grown. I haven't missed it. I've been reading lots of your posts, but the grief my family has gone through this year zapped my desire to comment and connect.
More honestly, I've come to realize that grief is a thief, and as it steals your very essence and pieces of your soul it leaves crumbs of fear and uncertainty it its wake for you to choke on. At times this year I've felt as though I were dying. Smack! Out of the blue grief would attack, and a little more of me would disappear.
Grief has changed every one of my family members and each in different ways. It's been a struggle to just do the essentials like getting up in the morning, cleaning the house, working at our family business because - as we all know - writing doesn't pay a lot of bills.
And I'm angry that grief has taken so much from us. That it's isolated my family members into our own private living quarters where we all simply exist - my husband losses himself in our family business, our youngest escapes into his video games, and our three oldest kids just don't call as often.
Grief is a master at dividing and conquering.
I'm angry that it has taken the focus off the ones we've lost to death this year and all the good they brought to our lives for so many years. Mostly, I'm angry that I've given grief permission to do all that . . . yet again.
You see, I grew up in a huge family. We had aunts and uncles coming out of our ears from all sides of the family. I have fond memories of family gathers (on both my mom and dad's side). But once I entered middle school all that changed. Death began to visit our family and with it, grief. I remember when the first aunt died. She was actually my grandmother, my best friend in the whole world.
She was there. And then she wasn't. But I believed in Heaven and that she'd always be with me, so I carried on. And in my own little mind I think I did it specifically for her. Then we lost another aunt, an uncle, and another until we'd lost eight family members in two years time. It was only as an adult that I realized that I'd turned myself off somewhere in between all that death and grief. Don't get me wrong, I could smile and laugh with the best of them. But the smiles and laughter didn't sink below the surface anymore. That is the first time I gave grief rule over my life.
This has been the third. (There is a second time, but that's for another post.)
Remember when you first felt that stirring in your chest to write something down on paper? You could smell the flint as your heart stroked it across your brain, igniting a feeling, an idea, a story. Grabbing the closest writing utensil you could find, you jotted down your thoughts until your fingers ached.
I recently felt that again.
The grief that's imprisoned my love of story and creating gave way every so slightly, and let a little light speckle in. Suddenly, I began to write a new story idea. This gave me courage to promise myself that I'd finish the edits to the second book in my middle grade series by the end of this year. It's time to work on this new story, to make grief earn its keep and inspire me to spill all the feels on the page about a boy in search of his recently departed grandfather and what death really means. It's an old ache - a middle grade personal one for me - I've let churn for much too long, and I invite you to join me on this journey. I look forward to blogging more, reconnecting, and celebrating all of you.
Thank you for always being you. ❤️ Wishing you a safe, joyous, and blessed holiday season. See you in 2020!
Today marks another IWSG post, where writers come together to share their thoughts, angst, worries, and insecurities about the publishing world and book writing all together. BUT, we also share our hopes, dreams, and our successes.
So here's a success I'd like to share and add to the Insecure Writers Support Group's wall of encouragement.
MOTLEY EDUCATION has been completely rebranded, edited, and released as a Second Edition!
Publisher: Ellysian Press, September 10, 2019; Second Edition
ISBN: 978-1-941637-63-0
ISBN: 978-1-941637-64-7 (Ingram)
ASIN: B07XCYPD76
"A deftly crafted ... and entertaining read!"
Midwest Book Reviews - Children's Watch 2017
Motley Junior High: School for the Psychically and Celestially Gifted Terms of Enrollment
Signed: Ebony Charmed
Ebony should be excited about entering sixth grade to further develop her skills. And she would be. If only her lame abilities let her see more than three ghosts.
Struggling to live up to her gifted family, Ebony is horrified when she is branded a Seeker: someone who is neither Sensory nor Luminary. To top it off, her Deadly Creatures and Relics project – transforming a measly stick – seems destined for failure.
But there are doors to other worlds where creatures have been watching her. And when the truth emerges that her project is more than a stick, she knows she must act. Along with her best friend Fleishman and his pet lizard, Ebony finds herself wedged between prophecies and quests. Oh, and saving the entire spirit world from annihilation.
Ebony is not ready to be a hero. But a dark presence has already stolen more than one local kid. And this time, her failure is not an option.
2017 Literary Classics - Gold Medal Winner - Grade School Fantasy
2016 New England Book Festival - Best Children’s Book
2017 Readers' Favorite - Gold Medal Winner - Children's Fantasy/Sci Fi
2017 Feathered Quill - Bronze Winner - Best Juvenile/YA Fiction
Add to GOODREADS Here's the new book trailer . . .
The release was a huge day for me. But I didn't make a big deal about it. So here's where my insecurity comes in for this month.
Releasing Motley - which was my debut novel into the world - for a second time felt like I was playing catch-up, like I was re-celebrating my birthday and everyone would be like "Uh, big deal." No, no one said that. On the contrary, I had a ton of support during my new book birthday. )You know who you are, and THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart!) I know that Motley has been completely rebranded with a new cover, theme, book blurb, and marketing strategy, which is all good. It's just not new to me, not a new accomplishment, not a bigger goal reached. Does this make sense?
It was work. A lot of work, just like when I originally sold the manuscript to my first publisher. There were rounds of edits, cover discussions, all new marketing graphics created, and more. I'm super blessed that my YA publisher loves my work so much they offered to rep Motley. Honestly, I couldn't thank them enough.
I guess what I'm asking you all is How should I really feel about getting Motley back out into the wild? (For those who don't know, feel free to go HERE. Basically, my original pub closed, leaving Motley homeless.) Does feeling like it's a success make me selfish?
One note: I truly am thrilled the book is back out there and that I'm in revisions for book II. I love these characters and the world they live in. We really do have a cool job, don't we?
I'm foregoing this Insecure Writer's Support Group monthly question to share a cause that is dear to me and has, in the past, caused me some insecurity. I'd love it if you'd comment, sharing from your experiences or opinions, but I completely understand if you don't. A huge 'thank you' goes out to this month's co-hosts:Gwen Gardner,Doreen McGettigan,Tyrean Martinson,Chemist Ken, and Cathrina Constantiner! For more participants, go HERE.
The first annual Book Lover's Unite for World Suicide Prevention Day Tour will kick off on Sunday, September 1st and will culminate in a twelve-hour Facebook Live Event on World Suicide Prevention Day, September 10th.
The purpose of this event is to spread mental health awareness among the book community, eradicate the stigmas associated with mental health, share our individual journeys in an accepting community, discuss books that effectively represent mental health issues, and raise money for the International Association for Suicide Prevention.
Mental illness is often misunderstood. Some believe it's feeling sad, while others think there's just something wrong with that person. And the biggest misconception is that the person suffering with mental illness can just think happy thoughts or maybe try smiling to make it all okay. We have a lot to learn about true clinical mental illness, but smiling more is definitely not a cure.
Without further blah-blah from me, here's the exciting author line-up for the Book Lovers Unite for World Suicide Prevention Day Tour:
I talk about mental illness and depression from personal experience, one I RARELY expose.
When I was around twelve years old, my mother was diagnosed as a severe or manic depressant. (Today, I believe it would be classified as bi-polar. Please correct me if I'm wrong.) For the remainder of my school-aged years, my father spent most of his time refereeing for her, while I shielded my younger brother of four years from any of the backlash. Yelling, throwing things, crying, complaining, grabbing my arms, being dissonant, and over-dosing on sleep. That's what I remember her doing all those years.
Growing up was tough. She threatened suicide sometimes, which made coming home from school kind of scary. I never knew what I might find. My mother wasn't a bad person. Frankly, she had a huge heart, always wanting to help others or be involved. But so often, her emotions (or so we thought) prevented her from doing so. She was sick, but nobody back then looked at it that way. She was moody or ornery or high maintenance. Other than taking her to therapist after therapist - that always failed - she never got any other help, partly her own doing. Everything was everyone else's fault. I even agreed to go to therapy with her in my later teen years to help her, and all she ended up doing was telling the therapist how wrong I was about everything. I don't think that's what she meant. It's just her view of reality was so eschewed that she didn't know any other way to act or communicate.
Her behavior, attitudes, and roller coaster emotions were so confusing to grow up with, which made being the oldest extra rough. My dad tried everything, but nothing could ever make her happy, make her well. And that unhappiness needed an outlet. I've never, EVER said this out loud (Well, other than to my husband), but most of that unhappiness landed on me - the oldest child, a girl who was expected to grow up so fast. I feel like this is me crapping on my mom, but people have to realize that a family member with a mental illness is a family with mental illness. It affects every single member.
It wasn't until my mid-thirties that I realized how emotionally damaged I really was, the reason I had a hard time to show love, the reason I was terrified to accept love. I know this must sound seriously messed up to some of you, but I've never put my feelings about all of this into words. I've tried. I've just never been strong enough. I think I am now.
I've had a young adult story about a patient of mental illness and the affects it has on a child growing up within that perfect storm stewing within me for over fifteen years. I know I must write it. I think I'm finally ready. I want children/families with members suffering from mental illness to know that they can advocate for their loved one . . . but they also should advocate for themselves.
Something I wish someone would have told me when I was younger.
Thank you for listening. <3
Please scroll to the bottom of this post to enter for your chance to WIN the special giveaway I'm offering up.
Facebook LIVE Event!
Join us for a twelve-hour Facebook LIVE event on September 10th - World Suicide Prevention Day!
a Book Lovers Unite for Suicide Prevention day T-shirt
a Meditation Sidekick Journal from Habit Nest
some book swag from my books
I'll be keeping this giveaway open until the Live Facebook Event on September 10th, so the more you spread the word the more chances you'll have to win!
This is a safe zone. If you'd like to share an experience or feelings about mental illness and/or suicide, you are more than welcomed to do so. Thank you for stopping by to visit the Alleyway!
