Archive for the ‘Fiction with a purpose’ Category

Building Character

Wednesday, May 19th, 2010

When someone asks you how to describe yourself what do you say?

I normally say I am an observer of life and shy away from crowds — now that is not really a description of myself, is it? A description can be simple or complex, depending upon the person and purpose. I can say I am five foot four, slender, long brown hair, brown eyes, and have a bump on my nose. That paints a picture of what I look like – that’s a description. But do you know anything about me? No, not really.

So, what’s next? I’m quiet and shy when there are a lot people around, or if I’m somewhere I’m not comfortable. I’m self conscious about my flaws. I’m a clutz, but I’m a good cook. I will lay down my life to protect my children. I’m a giver and a people pleaser. I hate to disappoint anyone and will do everything in my power to see that it doesn’t happen, even at the expense of not getting my own way. I LOVE the ocean and when I go there a sense of calm takes over my senses. When I’m comfortable around a person I laugh from my belly – when I’m not I probably don’t laugh at all.

NOW do you get a sense of who I am? Better – I suppose – and now you are asking what is this all about? I just demonstrated how difficult it is to get to know a character in a novel. How do you take everything I just wrote about myself and portray that through actions in a novel? BUT make them sympathetic and real? (Oh yeah, and keep the story moving?) I guess that is what is called building a character!

So…..how would you describe yourself?

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Waiting

Wednesday, April 28th, 2010

I sent the manuscript for Restored Hope to the publisher last week and I am waiting for the editorial review to come back. In the meantime I am waiting – patiently. Well, not so patiently. Let’s just say I’m waiting. They said it will take 2-4 weeks. But I know it won’t take that long, then there is the long wait AND I mean LONG wait for the layout – that takes about a month and then the cover design and approval and then the print design. If I’m lucky I will actually have a copy of Restored Hope in my hand by July 1.

But in the meantime Disrupted Lives is running through my head….now you might be wondering…”How in the world does she finish one book and immediately have another one running through her head?” That’s easy I guess, Disrupted Lives was supposed to be written first – it’s just that Restored Hope jumped in front.

I suppose as an author I give voice to other people – I know they are all fiction and the characters aren’t real, but when I’m writing their stories, they are real and I have no idea where the story is going…it just takes off. Sort of like, I’m waiting for the characters to tell me where they want to go. In all of my other books I knew exactly when, how and where they were going to end. Not true for Restored Hope. “They” told me how to end it.. and it is good!

Oh, I guess that’s not fair is it? Now you all have to wait!

Sorry!

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When the homeless become homeless

Saturday, September 26th, 2009

Have you ever walked out into a parking lot after a ball game and looked around the vastness and not been able to find your car? Or after shopping and walked the rows and been sure you left in somewhere and it was simply not there? I have. It was an absolutely horrible feeling. I had security called. I was sure someone had stolen my car. It turned out that I had simply parked on the other end of the store and when I entered the mall it was foggy and I was confused. But can you imagine how it must feel to walk out and not find your car for real? It happens to people all the time. Their belongings are stolen. They file police reports, describe their belonging, file insurance claims, might actually receive something back.
NOW, try to imagine, just for a few minutes, that the only thing you own is what you can carry and the little bits you have managed to scavenge together to put together as a new ‘home’ somewhere under a bridge, or in an alley, or down a riverbed embankment. It’s not a castle, but it is your home. You spend the days gathering recyclables and working to put as much money together as possible to try and get yourself back off the street. At the end of the long day you go back home. But when you arrive there … it isn’t there. Someone has determined that this is not a suitable location for ‘the homeless’ to live. They need to move on.

So, now I ask you … what happens when the homeless become homeless?

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Writing

Thursday, August 27th, 2009

I find that writing has turned from a hobby to an obsession.

Has anyone else experienced that as well?

When I wrote my first novel I was unsure of myself. I remember my oldest brother commenting that a first novel is normally biographical. I instantly told him that was not the case with me. I was simply telling a story about things I knew the most about. As my fourth novel is about to come out I find that my brother was right (again!) and that it turned out that my first novel is the most biographic of them so far. Not to say that it is my life, but it is most closely related to my life. The more recent novels, including the 5th and 6th that are being written simulatenously (no simple feat!) have absolutely nothing to do with my life or anything I’ve ever experiened. I also find that when I’m in a situation that is different (or difficult) I wonder how that would play out in a novel. Hence my obsession.

There are so many differenct scenarios we, as a species, go through on a daily basis that seem to be natural, that it is not often that we put ourselves in the other person’s place. I guess I just have come to empathize with the underdog and by writing from their vantage point I hope that maybe someday, somewhere, someone will pick up one of these books and say, “Hey! She has a pretty good point here. Maybe we should listen to what she has to say.” Or maybe I should just pull my head out of the clouds and stop wasting my time. (I sort of think that is not going to happen anytime soon!) But, it would be nice if somebody bought a book now and then!

Until then, I’ll just keep writing……..

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Feeding Frenzy

Tuesday, June 9th, 2009

Please — someone tell me that there is not a blog and a twitter going around following the President of the United States of America cataloging everything he eats! Get a grip people!! Does anyone else realize how absolutely absurd this is, or am I in the minority here? So the man likes his pizza – we fly a guy in from St. Louis to Washington D.C. to make pizza? One simple little, itty bitty question here: who’s paying for this? Are we or are we not hurting for money? OH….I forgot, he’s the President, what we do, doesn’t apply to him anymore. He’s not Joe Average American. I’m sorry…please forgive me. I just thought for one simple minute that maybe the man who ran for President claiming to know what it was like to be an average citizen would still remember it once he crossed that threshold. Guess not!

I guess we should be glad he didn’t want that special treat from Hawaii!

How is this even justifiable when thousands of people do not have enough money to put food on their tables every day???? Parents are going hungry so their children can eat and this is what we read about —- What’s next?

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USMA – West Point

Saturday, May 23rd, 2009

I just had the immense pleasure of watching my oldest nephew graduate from the United States Military Academy at West Point. I have to say that it was sobering experience. Not just because the entire class of 2009 marched onto the field in uniforms in unison (with sabers at their sides), nor because they were wearing their dress grays, nor because the commencement speech was given by none other than the Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, but because this class of 900+ cadets – now second lieutenants in the United States Army were 18 year old college freshmen four years ago and are now 22 year old soldiers in a time of war.

When these men and women (who were boys and girls) started college – they knew what they signed up for, they knew they owed this country their service and signed up anyway. Their parents knew it — and signed up anyway. What is awe inspiring to me, as the aunt from the outside looking in, is the excitement I see on my nephew’s face (Oh, did I forget to mention that my niece starts at West Point as a freshman next month?), or the trepidation that I see on my niece’s face. I also can see the new stress lines on my brother’s face that are etched between those lines of pride, exuberance and awe.
What we on the outside looking in can never understand is what it must feel like to love a child and let go knowing in the very real sense of the word that when you watch them leave for college, they very well may never return home.

At the end of the ceremony they have a tradition where the cadet’s toss their hats and all the children scramble onto the field and grab the hats. In this case, I think we should all toss our hats to these brave men and women who are willing to take their lives to serve for us.

I love you Nicholas!

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Blog Radio

Sunday, May 10th, 2009

Yesterday -May 8, 2009 – I had the most amazing experience. I talked to someone over the phone and thousands (well maybe hundreds) ((okay tens) of people listened to us via the internet.
Isn’t technology amazing!
But, the coolest thing was this — I sent a message to my mom during the broadcast AND I had sent out an email to certain people letting them know that I was going to be on at the time and a friend of mine that I have known since Kindergarten (yep I was 5!) listened in as well.

But really the most important part of the whole experience was getting the message out to more people about what the whole fiction with a purpose – one person can make a difference idea is all about. I do truly believe that if one person can be helped by a book that is all that matters.

NOW I hope all you mothers out there had a REALLY GREAT MOTHER’S DAY!

BY

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The eyes have it

Saturday, April 18th, 2009

When you see someone who is in need, do you walk by them as if they were invisible, or do you try to make eye contact and give them hope?
You know who I’m talking about, the woman on the street corner with the sign “Homeless and hungry, God Bless You.” Or the guy who is wearing tattered clothes and carrying around the black bags full of who knows what and digging through the trash cans. Or even the people who are asleep on the park benches where you take your kids to play. “Those people”
So again, the question comes up, do you look right through them like they are invisible, turn your head and pretend you don’t see them, or try to make eye contact? There is this woman that stands outside the post office where I live and she has one of those signs. I have gotten in the habit of saying hello to her every time I go. I also bring her a bottle of water when I see her. She is extremely grateful. Now, I’m not saying that all of you should start giving out water bottles to everyone you see, but imagine what a better place we’d all be in if everyone of “us” that weren’t in those dire situations went just that one extra step for everyone of “them” that we see — and all I’m talking about is — make eye contact, say hello, let them know that they’re not invisible; that they do have validity as a human being. You might be surprised how much better it makes You feel; not to mention what it does for them.
They do say that the eyes are the window to your soul. Try to reach out and open someone’s window.

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