Our move is complete so it's time to get back to work on the novel.
To get inspired I've been reading "Writing for the Soul" by Jerry Jenkins. It has definitely gotten my creative juices flowing again! :) I'd love to take his writing course.....
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Saturday, December 01, 2007
Spending the Holidays with Family
Thanksgiving was great!
We spent the four day weekend in Michigan with my sister and her family. We didn't actually do anything out of the ordinary but had good family time together.
This was the first time we've seen my niece's baby and she is a doll. Seven months old and she already has her daddy wrapped around her little finger. With three older brothers, I pity the boy who wants to date her some day! lol
We even ventured out to the mall in Grand Rapids on Friday. I didn't see one shopper hit, bite, knock down or steal an item from any other shopper. We walked right up to the register in several stores (no lines) and were greeted by courteous clerks. With four of us, we played a "tag" team shopping of sorts. I stood in several long lines while my sister and neice continued to shop. I also held some of the bags while the others shopped and I helped retrieve breakfast and lunch.
To me the trip was worth it...we found some awesome deals! I bought a $200 leather coat at JC Penney's for $49! And a Christmas sweater and turtle neck shirt for only $20 (half price). Sis and neice completed most of their Christmas shopping and were happy with their purchases.
When we headed home at 2 pm, we were happy shoppers and only needed one thing.
A nap!!
We spent the four day weekend in Michigan with my sister and her family. We didn't actually do anything out of the ordinary but had good family time together.
This was the first time we've seen my niece's baby and she is a doll. Seven months old and she already has her daddy wrapped around her little finger. With three older brothers, I pity the boy who wants to date her some day! lol
We even ventured out to the mall in Grand Rapids on Friday. I didn't see one shopper hit, bite, knock down or steal an item from any other shopper. We walked right up to the register in several stores (no lines) and were greeted by courteous clerks. With four of us, we played a "tag" team shopping of sorts. I stood in several long lines while my sister and neice continued to shop. I also held some of the bags while the others shopped and I helped retrieve breakfast and lunch.
To me the trip was worth it...we found some awesome deals! I bought a $200 leather coat at JC Penney's for $49! And a Christmas sweater and turtle neck shirt for only $20 (half price). Sis and neice completed most of their Christmas shopping and were happy with their purchases.
When we headed home at 2 pm, we were happy shoppers and only needed one thing.
A nap!!
Joined a Critique Group
I'm so excited! I joined a Historical Romance critique group today. This will be the "push" I need to finish "A Healing Refuge".
Last year I participated in a local critique group that has since disband. I plan to jump right in this new group and learn all I can.
I have to admit I'm a little shy about posting my first piece to the new group. But as a writer I continually develop tough skin!
My wip was written during NaNo 2005 and 2006 and is still a rough draft. What better way to start editing, with the help of my new friends?
Last year I participated in a local critique group that has since disband. I plan to jump right in this new group and learn all I can.
I have to admit I'm a little shy about posting my first piece to the new group. But as a writer I continually develop tough skin!
My wip was written during NaNo 2005 and 2006 and is still a rough draft. What better way to start editing, with the help of my new friends?
Sunday, November 18, 2007
Author Interview with Anita Davison
CelebAuthor: Welcome Anita, I'm so glad you agreed to this interview. Thank you, I feel honoured you asked me, I have never done this before.
Tell us about your life, where you grew up, your interests and hobbies. I hail from a family of Londonders and although I was brought up in the suburbs, I was fed a diet of family stories about wartime London and the Blitz. From a very young age I was taken to all the city landmarks everyone calls tourist attractions, but uncles and aunts took for granted as being in their neighbourhood. The Tower, St Pauls, Charing Cross, Trafalgar Square, the Embankment of the Thames. I loved them all on sight and even as a child, I could ‘see’ and even ‘smell’ what life was like there a long time ago. I don’t really believe in reincarnation….but something….
That sounds like a full and busy life. I'd love to hear how you balance the writing life with family, work and a busy schedule. Badly. Apparently, I have an obsessive personality and while I am writing, hours go by without my noticing them and the breakfast dishes are still sitting there at 6 pm. I have a husband and two grown up children and I am an enigma to all of them. The fact I turn down a visit to the local pub to stay in alone and type is incomprehensible to them. But then I don’t drink alcohol, so that’s my excuse.
You have two books releasing this year. Tell us about your writing journey. I have used writing as an outlet for most of my life, either writing letters to friends and family I found difficult to talk to, or stories to clarify something which bothered me. My passion for history, and my compulsion to put things on paper combined and I started writing a novel. I had no idea if it would even be completed, but I wanted to prove to myself I could do it.
When do you feel like it all began to come together for you as a writer—was there a particular moment? Absolutely. On the advice of a friend, I joined the Historical Fiction Critique Group. This was against all my instincts as I was convinced that after a couple of hard critiques, I would throw the book in a corner and never touch it again. But the opposite proved true. The group had a lot of criticisms and suggestions, certainly, but every one of them told me they liked my work. Then the owner, Anne Whitfield, who is now my editor, told me I had a great story, what I had to do next was turn it into a novel. From that moment on, I was hooked and I cannot stop writing. I still have so much to learn, but it’s an exciting process.
Who has influenced you most as a writer and why? Cynthia Harrod-Eagles. My early historical fiction reading was the works of Jean Plaidy, who started my fascination with the Tudor and Stuarts, but CHE and her Dynasty series inspired my own books. I love the way she weaves historical events into the lives of a fictional family she can send off in any direction she wants. She has more than one storyline running through her books and although there is always one character who leads, others are equally as important. I have tried to do the same.
What is your favorite movie? Steel Magnolias. My favourite line from it is Shirley Maclaine to Sally Field: ‘I’m not mad, Mlynn, I’ve just been in a very bad mood for the last forty years!’
Tell us about the writing process for you? Does it begin with a character, setting, or plot? It begins with a real historical event and how that event affects the lives of my characters. They play out their own story with the backdrop of the current situation, to which I have to remain true. But I like the discipline of that as it forms the structure of the story.
Tell us about your soon to be released book "Duking Days Revolution". What inspired you to write this particular story? This book is a sequel to my debut novel and takes my characters through the Glorious Revolution of 1688. In the first novel, my main character, Helena Woulfe, was a spoiled, naïve girl from a privileged background who lost everything and discovered the flaws in those around her. In Duking Days Revolution, she is a wife and mother who realizes that the social acceptance and respectability she fought so hard for is not enough to make her happy.
How did you come up with the concept for "Duking Days"? In 1685, James Scott, Duke of Monmouth landed in Devon with eighty men, all determined to uphold the Anglican Church against his uncle, James II, who was a Catholic. Duking Days was the name given at the time for the short period when Monmouth marched through the West Country gathering his supporters. Exeter is an historic city and it was easy to visualize it as it was in the 1680’s, so that’s where I set the story.
I put Loxsbeare Manor in the spot on top of the Weare Cliff where my garden was – well me and nineteen other houses! The Ship Inn, the Guildhall, St Mary Arches church, the city walls, the cathedral and the river, are all still there. The City gates were demolished years ago, but you can still see where they stood.
Is any part of "Duking Days" factual? Yes, and well documented, so I had to be rigorous about my research. I had to work on a tight timeline on what was happening in both the Rebellion of 1685 and the Revolution of 1688 and fit it in with the actions of my characters. I found it gave my story a structure I might not have managed without it. Knowing where they should be at a certain time was good discipline.
Do you have a favorite character and why? Yes, my main character’s younger brother, Henry. He began as a secondary character, a boy Helena had to look out for when they found themselves alone. But Henry finds his own purpose and grew up before my eyes into a young man who pushed the tragedy of the Rebellion into his past. He didn’t just follow his sister around, he fell in love with a career and a girl and went all out to achieve them both. I didn’t let him have everything he wanted, but he handles disappointment with maturity and without bitterness and becomes a young man everyone will like. (I hope)
How much research did "Duking Days" take? Subconsciously, I have been researching the 17th century for years. I had the ‘feel’ of the time from a lifetime of visiting old buildings, reading about the beliefs, manners and habits of the time. Watching every film and documentary I could find about the Civil War (The English one) and the court of Charles II.
I spent a lot of time studying how attitudes were different, especially towards women. To incorporate 21st Century morals into the 17th century wouldn’t have worked. The characters had to function within the structures of a bygone age. For instance I had to make the male characters chauvinistic, which may not sit very well now, but in the 1690’s, their attitudes would have not only been acceptable, but normal and right. My male characters are men of their time, but I tried to make them likeable too.
What is the message you hope to get across in this story? That changes in life often come without warning. They come fast and devastating, but people discover strengths they never knew they had when their worst fears come true.
How long did "Duking Days" take you to complete? I toyed with the idea, picked it up and put it down again over a period of years. The actual book took me about twelve months to compile into a book, and another year to knock into shape with the assistance of my wonderful critiquers. Through them I learned all about POV, active versus passive voice, showing not telling, correct use of dialogue tags and deletion of laundry lists! (Thanks Anne)
Of your books, which is your favorite and why? Duking Days Revolution, because as an adult married woman, Helena has more control of her life. Her emotions and actions are moulded by her experiences and I loved changing her character into a mature woman with more compassion for others than she had in the first novel. The ending too is what we all want for our heroes and heroines, the culmination of their dearest wish after conquering the demons that invade them.
What are your future writing plans? As mentioned earlier, I would like to prove that I am not wholly immersed in the 17th Century and I have begun a shorter book based in Victorian England. It’s very sketchy though and needs filling out and I don’t have a major historical event to work with this time! I shall have to be more creative to keep it interesting.
What does your typical writing day look like? I get up at around 7 with my sleepy husband murmuring something like ‘It’s too early, get back into bed’ but as it only takes him about twenty minutes to get ready to leave the house and me a lot longer, I ignore this. If it’s a work day, I sneakily handle my ‘Writing e-mails’ at work when no one’s looking, but cannot get away with actually writing in the office. (I have been known to do critiques during lunch though – I told you I was obsessed) In the evening I have a pact with DH not to get the laptop out until after dinner and to pack in before midnight (!) Generally I manage this, but not always. On weekends. Well that’s a whole different story – the laptop rules and I write, edit, critique and write until someone threatens to throw the laptop off the balcony.
What are some of the challenges you face as an author? Apart from the above? Getting the research right, and using the details I find in a productive way so the story doesn’t read like an historical documentary. As a history buff, I am fascinated will all aspects of the past, but not everyone feels the same. My husband summed it up when he said. “When I ask a question, I really do want to know who that King was. Not who his mother-in-law was, how many children he had, where he lived and what he ate for breakfast – I get the lot with you.”
What are a few writing tips you could share with aspiring writers? Read. Since I have been writing, my reading has dropped from about three books a week to half a book a week. Books feed my vocabulary and my pool of ideas. Learning the ‘craft’ of writing is exciting, and I have to read more. Critiquing other writer’s work is good too, it helps me recognise the mistakes I make in my own work.
Any marketing tips? I am a novice at this, but not having major resources to draw on, I use the web to get the word out about my book, myself and my writing. I have discovered that in the main, writers are very generous with their experiences, knowledge and even their time. Joining the Yahoo writing groups, setting up a social network page and chatting, may seem trivial, even juvenile, but there is a wealth of knowledge out there and by sharing, a lot can be achieved.
What is your goal or mission as a writer? Actually, I am still enjoying the buzz from holding a book in my hands with my name on it. My short term ambition is to complete Duking Days Restoration, the prequel to the first two books about the Woulfe family. Long term? I want to become a better writer. One of my critiquers said she cried when she read Duking Days Rebellion (in a good way) because she felt she was there. That’s why I write.
Do you have a website? Yes, http://www.anitadavison.co.uk/blog, and my Blog is at http://anitadavison.blogspot.com/ There are links on both where the book can be bought either as a print paperback or e-book. It will be appearing on Amazon soon too and I will add the link when it is available.
When will "Duking Days Revolution" be released? Enspiren Press have scheduled it for January 2008
Closing thoughts you'd like to share? When people asked me what I do, it was always, wife, mother, or franchise services manager, but I never mentioned my writing to avoid that light of cynicism in their eyes because I was just another wannabe. It was a vital part of me I kept to myself. Now I say, ‘I’m an author.’ It's a great feeling. I may not be in Waterstones yet – but one day, maybe.
Thank you so much for your time Anita, and best wishes on your new release. It was a pleasure hearing about your writing experience.
Anita Davison
Duking Days Rebellion, Out now from Enspiren Press
Duking Days Revolution, Out soon from Enspiren Press
http://www.anitadavison.co.uk, http://www.anitadavison.blogspot.com
http://www.bebo.com/dukingdaysrebellion
Printed with permission from CelebAuthor at www.inspiredauthor.com/Forum1
Tell us about your life, where you grew up, your interests and hobbies. I hail from a family of Londonders and although I was brought up in the suburbs, I was fed a diet of family stories about wartime London and the Blitz. From a very young age I was taken to all the city landmarks everyone calls tourist attractions, but uncles and aunts took for granted as being in their neighbourhood. The Tower, St Pauls, Charing Cross, Trafalgar Square, the Embankment of the Thames. I loved them all on sight and even as a child, I could ‘see’ and even ‘smell’ what life was like there a long time ago. I don’t really believe in reincarnation….but something….
That sounds like a full and busy life. I'd love to hear how you balance the writing life with family, work and a busy schedule. Badly. Apparently, I have an obsessive personality and while I am writing, hours go by without my noticing them and the breakfast dishes are still sitting there at 6 pm. I have a husband and two grown up children and I am an enigma to all of them. The fact I turn down a visit to the local pub to stay in alone and type is incomprehensible to them. But then I don’t drink alcohol, so that’s my excuse.
You have two books releasing this year. Tell us about your writing journey. I have used writing as an outlet for most of my life, either writing letters to friends and family I found difficult to talk to, or stories to clarify something which bothered me. My passion for history, and my compulsion to put things on paper combined and I started writing a novel. I had no idea if it would even be completed, but I wanted to prove to myself I could do it.
When do you feel like it all began to come together for you as a writer—was there a particular moment? Absolutely. On the advice of a friend, I joined the Historical Fiction Critique Group. This was against all my instincts as I was convinced that after a couple of hard critiques, I would throw the book in a corner and never touch it again. But the opposite proved true. The group had a lot of criticisms and suggestions, certainly, but every one of them told me they liked my work. Then the owner, Anne Whitfield, who is now my editor, told me I had a great story, what I had to do next was turn it into a novel. From that moment on, I was hooked and I cannot stop writing. I still have so much to learn, but it’s an exciting process.
Who has influenced you most as a writer and why? Cynthia Harrod-Eagles. My early historical fiction reading was the works of Jean Plaidy, who started my fascination with the Tudor and Stuarts, but CHE and her Dynasty series inspired my own books. I love the way she weaves historical events into the lives of a fictional family she can send off in any direction she wants. She has more than one storyline running through her books and although there is always one character who leads, others are equally as important. I have tried to do the same.
What is your favorite movie? Steel Magnolias. My favourite line from it is Shirley Maclaine to Sally Field: ‘I’m not mad, Mlynn, I’ve just been in a very bad mood for the last forty years!’
Tell us about the writing process for you? Does it begin with a character, setting, or plot? It begins with a real historical event and how that event affects the lives of my characters. They play out their own story with the backdrop of the current situation, to which I have to remain true. But I like the discipline of that as it forms the structure of the story.
Tell us about your soon to be released book "Duking Days Revolution". What inspired you to write this particular story? This book is a sequel to my debut novel and takes my characters through the Glorious Revolution of 1688. In the first novel, my main character, Helena Woulfe, was a spoiled, naïve girl from a privileged background who lost everything and discovered the flaws in those around her. In Duking Days Revolution, she is a wife and mother who realizes that the social acceptance and respectability she fought so hard for is not enough to make her happy.
How did you come up with the concept for "Duking Days"? In 1685, James Scott, Duke of Monmouth landed in Devon with eighty men, all determined to uphold the Anglican Church against his uncle, James II, who was a Catholic. Duking Days was the name given at the time for the short period when Monmouth marched through the West Country gathering his supporters. Exeter is an historic city and it was easy to visualize it as it was in the 1680’s, so that’s where I set the story.
I put Loxsbeare Manor in the spot on top of the Weare Cliff where my garden was – well me and nineteen other houses! The Ship Inn, the Guildhall, St Mary Arches church, the city walls, the cathedral and the river, are all still there. The City gates were demolished years ago, but you can still see where they stood.
Is any part of "Duking Days" factual? Yes, and well documented, so I had to be rigorous about my research. I had to work on a tight timeline on what was happening in both the Rebellion of 1685 and the Revolution of 1688 and fit it in with the actions of my characters. I found it gave my story a structure I might not have managed without it. Knowing where they should be at a certain time was good discipline.
Do you have a favorite character and why? Yes, my main character’s younger brother, Henry. He began as a secondary character, a boy Helena had to look out for when they found themselves alone. But Henry finds his own purpose and grew up before my eyes into a young man who pushed the tragedy of the Rebellion into his past. He didn’t just follow his sister around, he fell in love with a career and a girl and went all out to achieve them both. I didn’t let him have everything he wanted, but he handles disappointment with maturity and without bitterness and becomes a young man everyone will like. (I hope)
How much research did "Duking Days" take? Subconsciously, I have been researching the 17th century for years. I had the ‘feel’ of the time from a lifetime of visiting old buildings, reading about the beliefs, manners and habits of the time. Watching every film and documentary I could find about the Civil War (The English one) and the court of Charles II.
I spent a lot of time studying how attitudes were different, especially towards women. To incorporate 21st Century morals into the 17th century wouldn’t have worked. The characters had to function within the structures of a bygone age. For instance I had to make the male characters chauvinistic, which may not sit very well now, but in the 1690’s, their attitudes would have not only been acceptable, but normal and right. My male characters are men of their time, but I tried to make them likeable too.
What is the message you hope to get across in this story? That changes in life often come without warning. They come fast and devastating, but people discover strengths they never knew they had when their worst fears come true.
How long did "Duking Days" take you to complete? I toyed with the idea, picked it up and put it down again over a period of years. The actual book took me about twelve months to compile into a book, and another year to knock into shape with the assistance of my wonderful critiquers. Through them I learned all about POV, active versus passive voice, showing not telling, correct use of dialogue tags and deletion of laundry lists! (Thanks Anne)
Of your books, which is your favorite and why? Duking Days Revolution, because as an adult married woman, Helena has more control of her life. Her emotions and actions are moulded by her experiences and I loved changing her character into a mature woman with more compassion for others than she had in the first novel. The ending too is what we all want for our heroes and heroines, the culmination of their dearest wish after conquering the demons that invade them.
What are your future writing plans? As mentioned earlier, I would like to prove that I am not wholly immersed in the 17th Century and I have begun a shorter book based in Victorian England. It’s very sketchy though and needs filling out and I don’t have a major historical event to work with this time! I shall have to be more creative to keep it interesting.
What does your typical writing day look like? I get up at around 7 with my sleepy husband murmuring something like ‘It’s too early, get back into bed’ but as it only takes him about twenty minutes to get ready to leave the house and me a lot longer, I ignore this. If it’s a work day, I sneakily handle my ‘Writing e-mails’ at work when no one’s looking, but cannot get away with actually writing in the office. (I have been known to do critiques during lunch though – I told you I was obsessed) In the evening I have a pact with DH not to get the laptop out until after dinner and to pack in before midnight (!) Generally I manage this, but not always. On weekends. Well that’s a whole different story – the laptop rules and I write, edit, critique and write until someone threatens to throw the laptop off the balcony.
What are some of the challenges you face as an author? Apart from the above? Getting the research right, and using the details I find in a productive way so the story doesn’t read like an historical documentary. As a history buff, I am fascinated will all aspects of the past, but not everyone feels the same. My husband summed it up when he said. “When I ask a question, I really do want to know who that King was. Not who his mother-in-law was, how many children he had, where he lived and what he ate for breakfast – I get the lot with you.”
What are a few writing tips you could share with aspiring writers? Read. Since I have been writing, my reading has dropped from about three books a week to half a book a week. Books feed my vocabulary and my pool of ideas. Learning the ‘craft’ of writing is exciting, and I have to read more. Critiquing other writer’s work is good too, it helps me recognise the mistakes I make in my own work.
Any marketing tips? I am a novice at this, but not having major resources to draw on, I use the web to get the word out about my book, myself and my writing. I have discovered that in the main, writers are very generous with their experiences, knowledge and even their time. Joining the Yahoo writing groups, setting up a social network page and chatting, may seem trivial, even juvenile, but there is a wealth of knowledge out there and by sharing, a lot can be achieved.
What is your goal or mission as a writer? Actually, I am still enjoying the buzz from holding a book in my hands with my name on it. My short term ambition is to complete Duking Days Restoration, the prequel to the first two books about the Woulfe family. Long term? I want to become a better writer. One of my critiquers said she cried when she read Duking Days Rebellion (in a good way) because she felt she was there. That’s why I write.
Do you have a website? Yes, http://www.anitadavison.co.uk/blog, and my Blog is at http://anitadavison.blogspot.com/ There are links on both where the book can be bought either as a print paperback or e-book. It will be appearing on Amazon soon too and I will add the link when it is available.
When will "Duking Days Revolution" be released? Enspiren Press have scheduled it for January 2008
Closing thoughts you'd like to share? When people asked me what I do, it was always, wife, mother, or franchise services manager, but I never mentioned my writing to avoid that light of cynicism in their eyes because I was just another wannabe. It was a vital part of me I kept to myself. Now I say, ‘I’m an author.’ It's a great feeling. I may not be in Waterstones yet – but one day, maybe.
Thank you so much for your time Anita, and best wishes on your new release. It was a pleasure hearing about your writing experience.
Anita Davison
Duking Days Rebellion, Out now from Enspiren Press
Duking Days Revolution, Out soon from Enspiren Press
http://www.anitadavison.co.uk, http://www.anitadavison.blogspot.com
http://www.bebo.com/dukingdaysrebellion
Printed with permission from CelebAuthor at www.inspiredauthor.com/Forum1
Thursday, November 15, 2007
NaNo is over
After much consideration, I ended NaNo early. I love my story and my characters.
But right now I really need to earn money. Unfortunately NaNo was not doing that for me.
I haven't given up completely. The novel will be written. It will just be a little longer than I originally planned.
But right now I really need to earn money. Unfortunately NaNo was not doing that for me.
I haven't given up completely. The novel will be written. It will just be a little longer than I originally planned.
Interview with Author Katherine Hunter
CelebAuthor: Welcome Katherine, thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule for this interview.
Tell us about your life, where you grew up, your interests and hobbies. I live in Mennonite country, Ontario. It is amazing how the sound of a horse trotting down Main Street can calm the soul. I live in an idyllic village, right out of a 1890 novel. There are still houses with 6’ ceilings, and log houses in our village. Even the old mill is standing beside the river. The post office is the most modern building in town.
I grew up in a very rural town on Lake Simcoe. There was not much to do but run wild in the woods and play with the neighbor children. Only about 700 children attended the public school which brought children from more than an hour away. I think that is what gave birth to my imagination. I created worlds in my mind without the conventions of society to limit my inspiration.
I love orchids and grow them. However, my begonias are easier to cultivate and they bloom all year. I’ve not been able to entice an orchid to bloom, but I will. I have a large garden outside. I spent most of this summer working on my new novel The Pawn amid Dahlias, Cannas lilies, while shaded by pear trees. I believe it gave the book a scope and emotion that I couldn’t have instilled within the pages on my own.
I have been applauded by the imagery in The Pledge, but think that the garden inspired more depth than I was able to write into the pages of my other novels.
Of course, everything in my stories is born in my family. My husband is a stalwart friend and dedicated writing partner. His family came from Wales, and he looks like a hero from a Scot Historical novel. I often ask him what he would do in a situation, or how a man would act. It really opened me up to how vulnerable the hero arch type can become in a family situation.
My son is 17 and writes thrillers. He reads more than I do. It is hard to leave him to develop on his own. My daughter will be a chef. At 11 years old, she will turn the cooking channel on the television and watch it all day. That only leaves Prince and Thumbelina, my Chinese Crested dogs. I once showed Chinese Cresteds, but now only share my life with two. They curl at my feet, keeping them warm under the desk in the long, cold Canadian months.
That sounds like a full and busy life. I'd love to hear how you balance the writing life with family, work and a busy schedule. I am very busy. I still work full time, and must balance my family life with my writer’s passion. It can be difficult sometimes. I can often be found typing through the darkest hours of the night, trying to finish a scene while my family sleeps. It is my own private life, my secret identity. I do not share these hours with anyone but my heroes and the strong women in their lives.
However, I came from a business background. After ten years of watching families break up, I gave up the office life and now work at home in a freelance capacity. My work day ends every day at 4pm when I devote myself to my children for a few hours. My husband’s job does not require 40 hours a week, so there are always private moments to shut the world out and steal a few moments. We still go on dates. It is one way of reminding ourselves that we are best friends, and if we let that friendship die, then we have lost a fundamental part of ourselves, which is a risk that neither of us want to take. When all is said and done, money is just money. You can make money anytime, anywhere, and in a dozen different ways. But, how many people ever find a best friend?
You have two fiction novels being released this year. Tell us about your writing journey. Yes, it is exciting. I haven’t had a fiction novel published in five years. Part of that is my fault, I wrote, but didn’t submit to a publisher. This year I will have two come out. The Pledge, is a wonderful and bold historical set in Scotland’s tremulous sixteenth century. Gillian, protects herself using independence, courage, and wit.
The other is my romantic suspense. Morgan is my only contemporary heroine. She must confront insurmountable fears from her past, but in the end learns to defend herself in a life-death battle with her ex. I love both. I gave the heroines in both stories the power to defend themselves. I believe in the true hero. I would rather have a real hero in a novel, maybe confused, maybe tortured, and maybe jaded, but never wounded, abusive, or feeling sorry for himself.
When do you feel like it all began to come together for you as a writer—was there a particular moment? I took a two term university course in fiction writing, but it was two years later when it came together and I felt like a real author. That came with the completion of Discovery. Holding a completed manuscript in my hand, and knowing that only 1 in 10,000 writers ever finish their manuscript, was an awe inspiring experience. Of course, then came the rejection letters. I know that all authors receive rejection letters, and will admit that many of mine came from my own experience. It took me a long time to learn how to find publishers who wanted my book. At first I just played ‘Russian Roulette’ with my submissions, sending to any publisher who handled romance. Now, I am more professional, taking a look at the publishing house as well as their current releases. This tells me a lot about the publisher and their levels of quality. I like being around professionals. They are inspiring and push me to do my best. I want this in my career. I need more than to see my name on a book cover. Society would not survive without storytellers. We give scope to everyday life, help people cope, and expand horizons. If we all have a spirit, a talent, or a gift, then I believe that I embody the essence of the storyteller.
Who has influenced you most as a writer and why? Julie Garwood was a major inspiration. I believe that she taught me that heroes do not need to be abusive or overbearing. Although her heroes were not gentlemen by any means, they did shine above the average hero of the 70s and 80s who was – by today’s standards – emotionally abusive and condescending to women.
My main Christmas gift when I turned 10 or 11 was a complete copy of the Anne of Green Gables series. I read that series until the covers fell off. Later I received a set of Laura Ingle Wilder’s books. I was hooked, my destiny written in stone. If we ever reach a point of no return, it was when I read that Laura became a teacher at 15 years old, and was a war correspondent in her 60s. I didn’t realize it, but those stories spoke to me. I learned that there are no limitations except those we impose on ourselves. There is no ‘box’ that is too big we cannot climb out of it. And, no dream is too big.
I do have other favorite authors that include Sire Arthur Conan Doil, and Agatha Christy, as well as Robin Cook, Julie Garnet, Catherine Cookson, to name a few. I am an avid reader, exploring several genres. I love reading a book by a new author only to watch them become famous and think ‘I was there at the ground level of their career.’
What is your favorite movie? That is a difficult question. I love the Cate Blanchett stories about Queen Elizabeth. I think she brought Elizabeth to life in all her genius, glory, and passion.
Alistair Sims version of A Christmas Carol is the highlight of the festive season for me. Every year for as long as I can remember, I curl up late on Christmas eve with a quilt and egg nog and watch the movie. I never tire of it.
My appetite for movies matches my love of books. I do not think beyond these two that it is possible for me to pick a favorite.
Tell us about the writing process for you? Does it begin with a character, setting, or plot? My stories begin with my characters. Calum was born at the Fergus Highland Games. Of all the men in the ‘games’ only one carried himself as if he was born to the life. I kept the image of that highlander in my mind as I created both Calum and Olen.
Duncan is the incarnation of an old man who lived beside us when I was a child. His wife died, and he raised 2 children alone. This was almost unheard of in the 1960s when everything was about meeting the status quo. I do believe I captured his sarcastic sense of humor, and his ability to command authority merely by being in the room.
Gillian came to life in more subtle ways. She is innocence grown into strength. I sometimes hear her whisper in the night, or see her shadow on the wall. I know that is fanciful, but she is very real to me. I sometimes believe that Gillian is my alter ego. Have you ever imagined that you were meant to be someone, but circumstance thwarted destiny, and you became someone else? I sometimes believe that Gillian is the woman destiny molded me to be.
Maybe, or maybe Gillian is the childhood friend, I created while I played with tadpoles in the canals and fished for sunfish on warm decks. I just brought her with me when I grew up.
Tell us about your soon to be released book "The Pledge". What inspired
you to write this particular story? I mentioned that I grew up in a very rural area. There are many places in Canada where the Gaelic lifestyle was preserved, even into the 1980s. My family name was Scot, and most of the people in our area were Scottish decedents. My mother’s father immigrated from Ireland.
I grew up hearing stories about Ireland and Scotland. Gaelic was not common, but still spoken by some in our area. The ideals and values of Scot life were ever present in my childhood.
I pulled on all these influences to create The Pledge, especially the Scot belief that nothing is as valuable as family – and that family is not just blood. The Scottish have seen everything taken from them. Anything can be taken from us, money, home, freedom, but not family. This became the main plot for The Pledge.
How did you come up with the concept for "The Pledge"? I came up for the concept at a Highland Festival. The whole history of the reivers was amazing. They were both mercenary and highwayman, defender of their home, and the devil incarnate, depending on who you asked.
I blended this with my love of the sixteenth century. Think of it. Three women, the regent Dauphin of France, Mary of Scot, and Elizabeth ruled 2/3 of the world. Never before or after has the world’s fate been in the hands of women. Martin Luther’s writing was turning the religious world upside down. Scribes were changing bible verses to make people believe that the country’s laws were ‘God’s law’ and many of those verses remain the same today.
There is so much scope in this period that I could never run out of ideas. For The Pledge, I combined the old world, Calum’s highlanders and their legacy of blood, with the new, an educated and independent woman who was enlightened by the new religions.
It was fun to blend the old medieval world with the birthing pains of the renaissance. In many ways, The Pledge, only brushed the surface of the conflicts and dangers of the period. That is why I am writing The Pawn. It steps over the border and focuses on the intrigue and turmoil of the Scottish Royal Court, while still staying true to the Highlander characters.
Is any part of "The Pledge" factual? Yes. I have read dozens of books on the sixteenth century, even reading old Saxon and Puritan bibles. It really makes a person feel humble to view a photo of a parchment that was more than 500 years old, and read it.
I did not focus on religion, but used it as a conflict that would launch Gillian into danger and put her in conflict with the English court.
I did take a little literary freedom and create my own foundation of ‘The Northern Rebellion’ which tried to put Mary on the thrones of Both England and Scotland, and of course, a baroness in an insignificant Holding was not the real power behind the rebellion’s thwarted plans.
Do you have a favorite character and why? My favorite character would have to be Calum. I did a lot of research on love languages, and hero arch types. I even explored personality types and read dozens of books on life coaching. My goal? To create a real hero, and I believe I succeeded. Several of my critique partners have commented that he has an amazing combination of strength and gentleness, power and compassion.
I did make him different from the norm, as Calum is educated. He can speak four languages, and it is this that gives him the ability to succeed and make this story realistic.
How much research did "The Pledge" take? In a very real sense The Pledge took a lifetime to research. But, pragmatically, it took two years. I had a elemental understanding of the era at the time, so I just needed to learn more about the culture.
I found it fun to add the odd Old English word, like wuif instead of wife, or have Gillian call Calum ‘my lover’ in the Old English way, instead of ‘my husband.’
Yet, Duncan is all from my childhood. I really did grow up hearing people in my family using words like dinna, and speak of boggles and spirits.
What is the message you hope to get across in this story? I did not write the story to preach a message, but there are two messages there. First, we are in control of our own destiny. Second, a man needs to be judged by how he acts and treats those around us. I believe that if women learned to hold men accountable for their actions, there would be fewer broken hearts.
How long did "The Pledge" take you to complete? The Pledge took more than 10 rewrites and five years to complete. Like all authors, I wrote a lot of my own feelings and ideals into the first manuscript. I found it very difficult to remove myself from the story and let Calum and Gillian tell their story.
While I have been chided for having more blood than sex in the story, I really believe that as a ‘historical’ first, the sex took something away. That isn’t to say that I do not have sex scenes, it is just that Calum wouldn’t let me broadcast them to the whole world.
What are your future writing plans? I need to finish The Pawn, and people are already asking me to write about the new Baron Winston, Gillian’s child who became Baron of the Winston estates at 2 years old. I am also realizing that his rouge brother inherited the spirit of The Wolf from his father.
I am also toying with a book called The Bible. What happened to Queen Elizabeth’s Greek Bible? The one that told her women were not to be submissive or quiet, that they should not rule, the one that she used to establish her power against the Roman Catholic Church, Spain, France, and her own Nobles who demanded she marry as God demanded. I would like to have that Bible come to America with the Puritans, and be hidden until the day when the church was ready.
What does your typical writing day look like? I am not a morning person. I write better when I turn in at 3am and wake at 11. First, I hit my websites, blogs, and forums and chat with other authors and the other fans of my novels. Then I get down to business.
After my family time, the house grows quiet. Hubby turns in, and I am alone in the office. The phone stops ringing, my inbox remains empty, and no one is on MSN. This is when my muse awakens and I write.
What are some of the challenges you face as an author? The hardest thing is combining the real facts against people’s perceptions. Like, in one case, a fan wrote me an email explaining that highland cattle do not have ‘horns that curve wickedly ending a few inches beyond their nose.’ This person was well meaning, and they sent me many pictures. But, the fact is. There is a field of highland cattle down the road, and they really do have horns grow that long.
I also find that many people do not realize that Martin Luther and the Puritans had a very enlightened view of women’s rights at the time. For about 100 years, women were liberated – until King James decided to fix that abomination. I receive a few emails or forum posts telling me that a woman would not be allowed to go to court alone. At one time I took the time to explain the facts. Now I just enjoy that people are so passionate about my books and send them to my myspace lens http://www.myspace.com/historical_romance or my blog. It is not hard to find me if you Google Katherine Hunter.
What are a few writing tips you could share with aspiring writers? First, do not let anyone limit your possibilities. I suffered ten years of people telling me that I could never be an author. Now I have several non-fiction, and two fiction published, with four more in the works.
Second, write your first draft from the heart. I write outlines, but only to help guide me. I do not think of publishers or submissions when I write the first draft. I pour my heart onto paper. Whether the first draft is the monstrosity The Pledge was at 150,000 words, or 24,000 words of The Pawn, do not worry about word count. The editing phase will come. You can always turn a good story into a marketable one. However, you cannot add heart to a book that lacks a soul.
Any marketing tips? Make friends with your fans. I love my fans. I’ve asked them what a character should do next, and what types of situations they want. I’ve written short stories for them and posted them to my blogs. I’ve found pictures from festivals to share with them, and put videos online.
I do not believe that writing is an egocentric endeavor. Writing is all about the fan’s experience. You can’t ignore the fans until it is time to sell the book and hope they will see your vision from a cover or back blurb.
What is your goal or mission as a writer? I love life. I see my writing as a manifestation of that love. I do not think I have a goal or mission. I write because I must write. I feel sad, even depressed, if I go more than a month without writing. It feels like going a week without kissing the love of my life, I just couldn’t do it.
Do you have a website? If you want to talk to me, you can always find me at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Enspiren_Press_Readers/ or my myspace website. I love hearing from historical fiction fans.
I did have a website but lost it when the hosting company went under. I am building another one at http://www.authorsconnection.com and http://www.myspace.com/historical_romance It gives you a rough idea of how long I’ve been around – the name historical romance was available when I first built my site.
I expect my new site to be up before The Pledge is available in bookstores. I’ll post the URL in my myspace and authorsconnection profiles.
I will also have an author’s website on the new Enspiren Press website. That is exciting.
When will "The Pledge" be released? Enspiren Press scheduled the release in ebook at http://www.fictionwise.com for November 2007. It should be on Amazon in time for Christmas
Closing thoughts you'd like to share? Who am I? When I do these interviews the focus is on defining who I am. I do not look in the mirror and see someone any different than my fans. I’ve met fans who are as passionate about historical novels as I am, and I’ve met writers who fit the ‘image’ better. I hope I never become so busy that I can’t answer messages on myspace, or chat with book lovers in forums. That is half the fun of being an author.
Thank you so much for your time Katherine, and best wishes on your new release. It was a pleasure hearing about your writing experience.
CelebAuthor teaches writers how to create an "image" of a professional author.
Visit www.inspiredauthor.com/forum1
Tell us about your life, where you grew up, your interests and hobbies. I live in Mennonite country, Ontario. It is amazing how the sound of a horse trotting down Main Street can calm the soul. I live in an idyllic village, right out of a 1890 novel. There are still houses with 6’ ceilings, and log houses in our village. Even the old mill is standing beside the river. The post office is the most modern building in town.
I grew up in a very rural town on Lake Simcoe. There was not much to do but run wild in the woods and play with the neighbor children. Only about 700 children attended the public school which brought children from more than an hour away. I think that is what gave birth to my imagination. I created worlds in my mind without the conventions of society to limit my inspiration.
I love orchids and grow them. However, my begonias are easier to cultivate and they bloom all year. I’ve not been able to entice an orchid to bloom, but I will. I have a large garden outside. I spent most of this summer working on my new novel The Pawn amid Dahlias, Cannas lilies, while shaded by pear trees. I believe it gave the book a scope and emotion that I couldn’t have instilled within the pages on my own.
I have been applauded by the imagery in The Pledge, but think that the garden inspired more depth than I was able to write into the pages of my other novels.
Of course, everything in my stories is born in my family. My husband is a stalwart friend and dedicated writing partner. His family came from Wales, and he looks like a hero from a Scot Historical novel. I often ask him what he would do in a situation, or how a man would act. It really opened me up to how vulnerable the hero arch type can become in a family situation.
My son is 17 and writes thrillers. He reads more than I do. It is hard to leave him to develop on his own. My daughter will be a chef. At 11 years old, she will turn the cooking channel on the television and watch it all day. That only leaves Prince and Thumbelina, my Chinese Crested dogs. I once showed Chinese Cresteds, but now only share my life with two. They curl at my feet, keeping them warm under the desk in the long, cold Canadian months.
That sounds like a full and busy life. I'd love to hear how you balance the writing life with family, work and a busy schedule. I am very busy. I still work full time, and must balance my family life with my writer’s passion. It can be difficult sometimes. I can often be found typing through the darkest hours of the night, trying to finish a scene while my family sleeps. It is my own private life, my secret identity. I do not share these hours with anyone but my heroes and the strong women in their lives.
However, I came from a business background. After ten years of watching families break up, I gave up the office life and now work at home in a freelance capacity. My work day ends every day at 4pm when I devote myself to my children for a few hours. My husband’s job does not require 40 hours a week, so there are always private moments to shut the world out and steal a few moments. We still go on dates. It is one way of reminding ourselves that we are best friends, and if we let that friendship die, then we have lost a fundamental part of ourselves, which is a risk that neither of us want to take. When all is said and done, money is just money. You can make money anytime, anywhere, and in a dozen different ways. But, how many people ever find a best friend?
You have two fiction novels being released this year. Tell us about your writing journey. Yes, it is exciting. I haven’t had a fiction novel published in five years. Part of that is my fault, I wrote, but didn’t submit to a publisher. This year I will have two come out. The Pledge, is a wonderful and bold historical set in Scotland’s tremulous sixteenth century. Gillian, protects herself using independence, courage, and wit.
The other is my romantic suspense. Morgan is my only contemporary heroine. She must confront insurmountable fears from her past, but in the end learns to defend herself in a life-death battle with her ex. I love both. I gave the heroines in both stories the power to defend themselves. I believe in the true hero. I would rather have a real hero in a novel, maybe confused, maybe tortured, and maybe jaded, but never wounded, abusive, or feeling sorry for himself.
When do you feel like it all began to come together for you as a writer—was there a particular moment? I took a two term university course in fiction writing, but it was two years later when it came together and I felt like a real author. That came with the completion of Discovery. Holding a completed manuscript in my hand, and knowing that only 1 in 10,000 writers ever finish their manuscript, was an awe inspiring experience. Of course, then came the rejection letters. I know that all authors receive rejection letters, and will admit that many of mine came from my own experience. It took me a long time to learn how to find publishers who wanted my book. At first I just played ‘Russian Roulette’ with my submissions, sending to any publisher who handled romance. Now, I am more professional, taking a look at the publishing house as well as their current releases. This tells me a lot about the publisher and their levels of quality. I like being around professionals. They are inspiring and push me to do my best. I want this in my career. I need more than to see my name on a book cover. Society would not survive without storytellers. We give scope to everyday life, help people cope, and expand horizons. If we all have a spirit, a talent, or a gift, then I believe that I embody the essence of the storyteller.
Who has influenced you most as a writer and why? Julie Garwood was a major inspiration. I believe that she taught me that heroes do not need to be abusive or overbearing. Although her heroes were not gentlemen by any means, they did shine above the average hero of the 70s and 80s who was – by today’s standards – emotionally abusive and condescending to women.
My main Christmas gift when I turned 10 or 11 was a complete copy of the Anne of Green Gables series. I read that series until the covers fell off. Later I received a set of Laura Ingle Wilder’s books. I was hooked, my destiny written in stone. If we ever reach a point of no return, it was when I read that Laura became a teacher at 15 years old, and was a war correspondent in her 60s. I didn’t realize it, but those stories spoke to me. I learned that there are no limitations except those we impose on ourselves. There is no ‘box’ that is too big we cannot climb out of it. And, no dream is too big.
I do have other favorite authors that include Sire Arthur Conan Doil, and Agatha Christy, as well as Robin Cook, Julie Garnet, Catherine Cookson, to name a few. I am an avid reader, exploring several genres. I love reading a book by a new author only to watch them become famous and think ‘I was there at the ground level of their career.’
What is your favorite movie? That is a difficult question. I love the Cate Blanchett stories about Queen Elizabeth. I think she brought Elizabeth to life in all her genius, glory, and passion.
Alistair Sims version of A Christmas Carol is the highlight of the festive season for me. Every year for as long as I can remember, I curl up late on Christmas eve with a quilt and egg nog and watch the movie. I never tire of it.
My appetite for movies matches my love of books. I do not think beyond these two that it is possible for me to pick a favorite.
Tell us about the writing process for you? Does it begin with a character, setting, or plot? My stories begin with my characters. Calum was born at the Fergus Highland Games. Of all the men in the ‘games’ only one carried himself as if he was born to the life. I kept the image of that highlander in my mind as I created both Calum and Olen.
Duncan is the incarnation of an old man who lived beside us when I was a child. His wife died, and he raised 2 children alone. This was almost unheard of in the 1960s when everything was about meeting the status quo. I do believe I captured his sarcastic sense of humor, and his ability to command authority merely by being in the room.
Gillian came to life in more subtle ways. She is innocence grown into strength. I sometimes hear her whisper in the night, or see her shadow on the wall. I know that is fanciful, but she is very real to me. I sometimes believe that Gillian is my alter ego. Have you ever imagined that you were meant to be someone, but circumstance thwarted destiny, and you became someone else? I sometimes believe that Gillian is the woman destiny molded me to be.
Maybe, or maybe Gillian is the childhood friend, I created while I played with tadpoles in the canals and fished for sunfish on warm decks. I just brought her with me when I grew up.
Tell us about your soon to be released book "The Pledge". What inspired
you to write this particular story? I mentioned that I grew up in a very rural area. There are many places in Canada where the Gaelic lifestyle was preserved, even into the 1980s. My family name was Scot, and most of the people in our area were Scottish decedents. My mother’s father immigrated from Ireland.
I grew up hearing stories about Ireland and Scotland. Gaelic was not common, but still spoken by some in our area. The ideals and values of Scot life were ever present in my childhood.
I pulled on all these influences to create The Pledge, especially the Scot belief that nothing is as valuable as family – and that family is not just blood. The Scottish have seen everything taken from them. Anything can be taken from us, money, home, freedom, but not family. This became the main plot for The Pledge.
How did you come up with the concept for "The Pledge"? I came up for the concept at a Highland Festival. The whole history of the reivers was amazing. They were both mercenary and highwayman, defender of their home, and the devil incarnate, depending on who you asked.
I blended this with my love of the sixteenth century. Think of it. Three women, the regent Dauphin of France, Mary of Scot, and Elizabeth ruled 2/3 of the world. Never before or after has the world’s fate been in the hands of women. Martin Luther’s writing was turning the religious world upside down. Scribes were changing bible verses to make people believe that the country’s laws were ‘God’s law’ and many of those verses remain the same today.
There is so much scope in this period that I could never run out of ideas. For The Pledge, I combined the old world, Calum’s highlanders and their legacy of blood, with the new, an educated and independent woman who was enlightened by the new religions.
It was fun to blend the old medieval world with the birthing pains of the renaissance. In many ways, The Pledge, only brushed the surface of the conflicts and dangers of the period. That is why I am writing The Pawn. It steps over the border and focuses on the intrigue and turmoil of the Scottish Royal Court, while still staying true to the Highlander characters.
Is any part of "The Pledge" factual? Yes. I have read dozens of books on the sixteenth century, even reading old Saxon and Puritan bibles. It really makes a person feel humble to view a photo of a parchment that was more than 500 years old, and read it.
I did not focus on religion, but used it as a conflict that would launch Gillian into danger and put her in conflict with the English court.
I did take a little literary freedom and create my own foundation of ‘The Northern Rebellion’ which tried to put Mary on the thrones of Both England and Scotland, and of course, a baroness in an insignificant Holding was not the real power behind the rebellion’s thwarted plans.
Do you have a favorite character and why? My favorite character would have to be Calum. I did a lot of research on love languages, and hero arch types. I even explored personality types and read dozens of books on life coaching. My goal? To create a real hero, and I believe I succeeded. Several of my critique partners have commented that he has an amazing combination of strength and gentleness, power and compassion.
I did make him different from the norm, as Calum is educated. He can speak four languages, and it is this that gives him the ability to succeed and make this story realistic.
How much research did "The Pledge" take? In a very real sense The Pledge took a lifetime to research. But, pragmatically, it took two years. I had a elemental understanding of the era at the time, so I just needed to learn more about the culture.
I found it fun to add the odd Old English word, like wuif instead of wife, or have Gillian call Calum ‘my lover’ in the Old English way, instead of ‘my husband.’
Yet, Duncan is all from my childhood. I really did grow up hearing people in my family using words like dinna, and speak of boggles and spirits.
What is the message you hope to get across in this story? I did not write the story to preach a message, but there are two messages there. First, we are in control of our own destiny. Second, a man needs to be judged by how he acts and treats those around us. I believe that if women learned to hold men accountable for their actions, there would be fewer broken hearts.
How long did "The Pledge" take you to complete? The Pledge took more than 10 rewrites and five years to complete. Like all authors, I wrote a lot of my own feelings and ideals into the first manuscript. I found it very difficult to remove myself from the story and let Calum and Gillian tell their story.
While I have been chided for having more blood than sex in the story, I really believe that as a ‘historical’ first, the sex took something away. That isn’t to say that I do not have sex scenes, it is just that Calum wouldn’t let me broadcast them to the whole world.
What are your future writing plans? I need to finish The Pawn, and people are already asking me to write about the new Baron Winston, Gillian’s child who became Baron of the Winston estates at 2 years old. I am also realizing that his rouge brother inherited the spirit of The Wolf from his father.
I am also toying with a book called The Bible. What happened to Queen Elizabeth’s Greek Bible? The one that told her women were not to be submissive or quiet, that they should not rule, the one that she used to establish her power against the Roman Catholic Church, Spain, France, and her own Nobles who demanded she marry as God demanded. I would like to have that Bible come to America with the Puritans, and be hidden until the day when the church was ready.
What does your typical writing day look like? I am not a morning person. I write better when I turn in at 3am and wake at 11. First, I hit my websites, blogs, and forums and chat with other authors and the other fans of my novels. Then I get down to business.
After my family time, the house grows quiet. Hubby turns in, and I am alone in the office. The phone stops ringing, my inbox remains empty, and no one is on MSN. This is when my muse awakens and I write.
What are some of the challenges you face as an author? The hardest thing is combining the real facts against people’s perceptions. Like, in one case, a fan wrote me an email explaining that highland cattle do not have ‘horns that curve wickedly ending a few inches beyond their nose.’ This person was well meaning, and they sent me many pictures. But, the fact is. There is a field of highland cattle down the road, and they really do have horns grow that long.
I also find that many people do not realize that Martin Luther and the Puritans had a very enlightened view of women’s rights at the time. For about 100 years, women were liberated – until King James decided to fix that abomination. I receive a few emails or forum posts telling me that a woman would not be allowed to go to court alone. At one time I took the time to explain the facts. Now I just enjoy that people are so passionate about my books and send them to my myspace lens http://www.myspace.com/historical_romance or my blog. It is not hard to find me if you Google Katherine Hunter.
What are a few writing tips you could share with aspiring writers? First, do not let anyone limit your possibilities. I suffered ten years of people telling me that I could never be an author. Now I have several non-fiction, and two fiction published, with four more in the works.
Second, write your first draft from the heart. I write outlines, but only to help guide me. I do not think of publishers or submissions when I write the first draft. I pour my heart onto paper. Whether the first draft is the monstrosity The Pledge was at 150,000 words, or 24,000 words of The Pawn, do not worry about word count. The editing phase will come. You can always turn a good story into a marketable one. However, you cannot add heart to a book that lacks a soul.
Any marketing tips? Make friends with your fans. I love my fans. I’ve asked them what a character should do next, and what types of situations they want. I’ve written short stories for them and posted them to my blogs. I’ve found pictures from festivals to share with them, and put videos online.
I do not believe that writing is an egocentric endeavor. Writing is all about the fan’s experience. You can’t ignore the fans until it is time to sell the book and hope they will see your vision from a cover or back blurb.
What is your goal or mission as a writer? I love life. I see my writing as a manifestation of that love. I do not think I have a goal or mission. I write because I must write. I feel sad, even depressed, if I go more than a month without writing. It feels like going a week without kissing the love of my life, I just couldn’t do it.
Do you have a website? If you want to talk to me, you can always find me at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Enspiren_Press_Readers/ or my myspace website. I love hearing from historical fiction fans.
I did have a website but lost it when the hosting company went under. I am building another one at http://www.authorsconnection.com and http://www.myspace.com/historical_romance It gives you a rough idea of how long I’ve been around – the name historical romance was available when I first built my site.
I expect my new site to be up before The Pledge is available in bookstores. I’ll post the URL in my myspace and authorsconnection profiles.
I will also have an author’s website on the new Enspiren Press website. That is exciting.
When will "The Pledge" be released? Enspiren Press scheduled the release in ebook at http://www.fictionwise.com for November 2007. It should be on Amazon in time for Christmas
Closing thoughts you'd like to share? Who am I? When I do these interviews the focus is on defining who I am. I do not look in the mirror and see someone any different than my fans. I’ve met fans who are as passionate about historical novels as I am, and I’ve met writers who fit the ‘image’ better. I hope I never become so busy that I can’t answer messages on myspace, or chat with book lovers in forums. That is half the fun of being an author.
Thank you so much for your time Katherine, and best wishes on your new release. It was a pleasure hearing about your writing experience.
CelebAuthor teaches writers how to create an "image" of a professional author.
Visit www.inspiredauthor.com/forum1
Saturday, November 10, 2007
Ten days down....
Ten days down....twenty days to go. NaNo is a third of the way over.
I'll be honest...writing today was a bit of a struggle. But I did reach my daily goal and topped 17,264 so I'm still on schedule. I'm learning to press on even when the words don't flow as smooth as I'd like.
The Excel spreadsheet idea is working great. I use a tab to track the word count and scenes written/to be written. I also use a tab to track the two families in the story and the names of promiment characters in the community. Today I started a new tab of subjects to research when NaNo is over.
Haven't heard from many of my writing buddies. Are you still out there?
I'll be honest...writing today was a bit of a struggle. But I did reach my daily goal and topped 17,264 so I'm still on schedule. I'm learning to press on even when the words don't flow as smooth as I'd like.
The Excel spreadsheet idea is working great. I use a tab to track the word count and scenes written/to be written. I also use a tab to track the two families in the story and the names of promiment characters in the community. Today I started a new tab of subjects to research when NaNo is over.
Haven't heard from many of my writing buddies. Are you still out there?
Wednesday, November 07, 2007
And the Challenge Continues
I'm now at 15,371 words and very pleased. The story continues to flow and I'm over a quarter of the way to 50,000 words. I also have 8 scenes that are coming together nicely.
Keeping up with all the details of my story is a challenge. I've tried using a loose leaf notebook and also used colored index cards.
For this challenge I decided to use an Excel spreadsheet. At work we use spreadsheets for everything (I work in Accounting!) and it's a great way to track information.
Haven't written any words today....better get to it! :)
Keeping up with all the details of my story is a challenge. I've tried using a loose leaf notebook and also used colored index cards.
For this challenge I decided to use an Excel spreadsheet. At work we use spreadsheets for everything (I work in Accounting!) and it's a great way to track information.
Haven't written any words today....better get to it! :)
Saturday, November 03, 2007
Day Three of NaNo 2007
It's day three and I'm pleased with my progress. Didn't write much yesterday so I buckled down today and wrote 3652 words.
My total for NaNo is now 5450 words.
More importantly, I am working steadily on my goal of writing at least 25 scenes.
I've written the bare bones of six scenes so far and will expand them later after NaNo is over.
The story continues to flow and I am a happy writer tonight.
My total for NaNo is now 5450 words.
More importantly, I am working steadily on my goal of writing at least 25 scenes.
I've written the bare bones of six scenes so far and will expand them later after NaNo is over.
The story continues to flow and I am a happy writer tonight.
Thursday, November 01, 2007
First Day of NaNo 2007
It's the first day of NaNo 2007! I had a good start with 1798 words.
I can tell a difference this year. The words are coming easier, I'm not struggling like I did the past two years.
Looking forward to the weekend and some serious writing time.
How are all my other NaNo buddies doing?
I can tell a difference this year. The words are coming easier, I'm not struggling like I did the past two years.
Looking forward to the weekend and some serious writing time.
How are all my other NaNo buddies doing?
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
NaNo 2007
Well, I did it. I started planning for NaNo 2007. I've participated the last two years and had a blast! This opportunity is too good to pass up.
I'll be making a few preparations before November 1st. I want to improve/change my storyboard. And I want to add the novel elements to a recent mapping assignment and use it as a "blueprint" for my story.
If I experience "writers block", I will: 1) re-read "Rekindled" by Tamera Alexander. I love that book and it definitely gets me in the "writing" frame of mind. 2) Read the archived chats at Inspired Author for more writing inspiration.
NaNo starts in two weeks and I am already pumped!
I'll be making a few preparations before November 1st. I want to improve/change my storyboard. And I want to add the novel elements to a recent mapping assignment and use it as a "blueprint" for my story.
If I experience "writers block", I will: 1) re-read "Rekindled" by Tamera Alexander. I love that book and it definitely gets me in the "writing" frame of mind. 2) Read the archived chats at Inspired Author for more writing inspiration.
NaNo starts in two weeks and I am already pumped!
Sunday, October 14, 2007
Getting My Focus Back
I've been on this writing journey a long time. I need to get my focus back.
I love the whole concept/storyline of "A Healing Refuge" and it's up to me if it gets written.
So what am I waiting for? I definitely need to sign up for NaNo in November.
I love the whole concept/storyline of "A Healing Refuge" and it's up to me if it gets written.
So what am I waiting for? I definitely need to sign up for NaNo in November.
Saturday, October 06, 2007
How Do You Handle New Ideas?
Someone in my blogging community raised this question recently.
If you have ideas for another project, how do you handle them?
Do you interrupt your current work in progress or do you store the ideas for later?
It was a timely question for me because I just had the same experience.
While watching the news recently, a story idea flooded my mind. I actually got excited about the prospect of starting a new project.
But then reality hit. My journey with "A Healing Refuge" has already been a long one. And I really don't want to take any more detours.
So I decided to create a Word doc and store the ideas for later. In the meantime, they will continue to simmer in the back of my mind.
I'd love to hear how you handle new ideas.
If you have ideas for another project, how do you handle them?
Do you interrupt your current work in progress or do you store the ideas for later?
It was a timely question for me because I just had the same experience.
While watching the news recently, a story idea flooded my mind. I actually got excited about the prospect of starting a new project.
But then reality hit. My journey with "A Healing Refuge" has already been a long one. And I really don't want to take any more detours.
So I decided to create a Word doc and store the ideas for later. In the meantime, they will continue to simmer in the back of my mind.
I'd love to hear how you handle new ideas.
Wednesday, October 03, 2007
How Should My Story End?
After writing 50,000 words of my story, I still don't have a good ending.
We were discussing endings in my Friday night writers workshop chat last week and I thought of a movie I saw recently. "Sorry, Wrong Number" was made in 1948 and starred Burt Lancaster and Barbara Stanwyck. The ending really surprised me.
Read about it here:
writing a good ending
We were discussing endings in my Friday night writers workshop chat last week and I thought of a movie I saw recently. "Sorry, Wrong Number" was made in 1948 and starred Burt Lancaster and Barbara Stanwyck. The ending really surprised me.
Read about it here:
writing a good ending
Thursday, September 27, 2007
The Story Continues
I've been writing a book for several years now......in my head! lol
The characters are so real to me. Sometimes I even dream about them.
I'm determined to get the story written this winter and get it published!
The characters are so real to me. Sometimes I even dream about them.
I'm determined to get the story written this winter and get it published!
Sunday, September 16, 2007
Free Writer Workshop
Join us for a Free Friday night writer workshop at www.inspiredauthor.com in the chat room at 7 p.m. (EST). Everyone is welcome!
At the chats we discuss all aspects of the writing process including publishing and self promotion. These chats have been one of the best investments of my time. The practical instruction, advice and practice time has helped me immensely on my writing journey!
This past Friday we discussed using strong verbs to show the character's emotion. Publisher and author, Suzanne James, led the discussion and gave examples. We then had an opportunity to practice writing.
Click here to read the archive of the entire chat:
http://www.inspiredauthor.com/v3/free-friday-night-workshop-writers
At the chats we discuss all aspects of the writing process including publishing and self promotion. These chats have been one of the best investments of my time. The practical instruction, advice and practice time has helped me immensely on my writing journey!
This past Friday we discussed using strong verbs to show the character's emotion. Publisher and author, Suzanne James, led the discussion and gave examples. We then had an opportunity to practice writing.
Click here to read the archive of the entire chat:
http://www.inspiredauthor.com/v3/free-friday-night-workshop-writers
Thursday, September 13, 2007
NaNo
Ever heard of NaNo? It's short for National Novel Writing Month and takes place every November.
Everyone is welcome and participants are encouraged to write a minimum of 50,000 words between November 1 and 30th.
I've participated the last two years and made the goal both times. I'm already brainstorming on ideas for this year.
Click here to learn more.
http://www.nanowrimo.org/
Everyone is welcome and participants are encouraged to write a minimum of 50,000 words between November 1 and 30th.
I've participated the last two years and made the goal both times. I'm already brainstorming on ideas for this year.
Click here to learn more.
http://www.nanowrimo.org/
Monday, September 10, 2007
Time to get Started!
I'm ready to get started again on my historical romance novel. The ideas and characters float through my head constantly.
And I have a new critique partner. Someone from our Friday night chats e-mailed me recently and asked if I'd be interested. We write the same genre and have a lot in common. This will be a new venture for me and I am very excited. Not many people have read my writings and I look forward to some good constructive criticism and ideas.
Sometimes I feel so shy about showing my writing to anyone else. Starting several blogs has helped me in this area. And having a critique partner will be awesome!
I read a great quote recently. A writer was asked for one good piece of advice for aspiring writers. Her answer? "Don't be afraid to write badly." So true!
And I have a new critique partner. Someone from our Friday night chats e-mailed me recently and asked if I'd be interested. We write the same genre and have a lot in common. This will be a new venture for me and I am very excited. Not many people have read my writings and I look forward to some good constructive criticism and ideas.
Sometimes I feel so shy about showing my writing to anyone else. Starting several blogs has helped me in this area. And having a critique partner will be awesome!
I read a great quote recently. A writer was asked for one good piece of advice for aspiring writers. Her answer? "Don't be afraid to write badly." So true!
Saturday, August 25, 2007
So Many Ideas, So Little Time
I have so many writing ideas. But with other responsibilities in my life right now, my writing time is limited.
I have about 3 hours a day I set aside for writing and 3 projects I'd like to finish soon.
I keep a kitchen timer in my desk drawer and set it for an hour when I start the first project. Even if I get interuppted I still stick to the one hour (unless there is an urgent deadline) and move on to the next project.
This is a new system for me. It will be interesting to see how it works out!
I have about 3 hours a day I set aside for writing and 3 projects I'd like to finish soon.
I keep a kitchen timer in my desk drawer and set it for an hour when I start the first project. Even if I get interuppted I still stick to the one hour (unless there is an urgent deadline) and move on to the next project.
This is a new system for me. It will be interesting to see how it works out!
Finding Time to Write
Many people face the challenge of time management and I am definitely one of them!
I long to write every day but don't always find time. I will be in the shower, doing dishes or driving down the road and think of a great blog topic. But then poof! it is gone by the time I find time to sit down and write a few days or week later.
The key phrase for me is "find time to sit down and write". Writing is now a priority and I will make time each day.
I long to write every day but don't always find time. I will be in the shower, doing dishes or driving down the road and think of a great blog topic. But then poof! it is gone by the time I find time to sit down and write a few days or week later.
The key phrase for me is "find time to sit down and write". Writing is now a priority and I will make time each day.
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