Thursday, September 27, 2007

Author Interview: Heather Moore

Today's interview is with Heather Moore, known to her readers as H. B. Moore. She is the author of the Out of Jerusalem series of novels set in the Holy Land and ancient America.

Heather, welcome.

What made you start writing?
I always loved reading, but I’d find myself changing endings or plot elements in books. I loved bookstores and libraries and wondered how did all those books get published. Then I read some books by local authors and the novels seemed so basic and simple. It was then the idea was planted that maybe I could write a novel. I was very rusty on the fundamentals and had to do a lot of homework first.

How long have you been writing? When did you sell your first book?
I started writing my first novel in 2001. It was like the floodgates were opened. My fourth novel written was the first one published. I submitted it in February 2003, and it was accepted in January 2004, then released September 2004.

What type of writing schedule do you have?
It varies with the time of year. In the summer I was putting in late hours, starting around 9:00 or 10:00 p.m. With school in session, I write four mornings a week for two hours when my youngest is in playgroup or preschool. Any other time is a bonus. In the past, I’ve written during naptimes or early mornings. I do have a lap top, but it’s hard for me to write on the move. But I haul around books with me to read for research.

The series that your new book concludes is based on scriptures of the LDS faith; therefore, some of your characters already have their names set in stone. How do you choose your other characters' names?
First you have to understand that my series is set in 600 B.C., so the names are traditional as well as ancient. The first book contained mostly ancient Hebrew people, so I went to the books of Genesis and Exodus to find names. As the series progressed, the characters encountered people in Southern Arabia, so I looked up Arabic names. By the fourth book the family settled in Mesoamerica, so any new character names come from either the Hebrew heritage or the local Mayan language.

There is one female character whose name is Isaabel. I purposely used two a’s in her name because I didn’t want her mixed up with another Isabel—a harlot—that is introduced in a later book of LDS scripture.

Given that your books are fact-based, I'd imagine you plot and research extensively as opposed to writing off the top of your head. Where avenues did you take in your research?
I usually do some initial research before starting to write so that I can develop characters and a basic plot guideline. As I write, I continue to research which sometimes gives me new plot or conflict ideas. When I’m in the midst of a scene and don’t want to pause in writing to look up something, I’ll make a note to myself to look it up later. Then the flow of writing isn’t interrupted. When I go through my first draft, I spend a lot of that time in looking up the small details—like authentic food, description of a geographic location, etc. I also use a footnote system when I’m inserting information from my research. These footnotes later become chapter notes at the end of my books.

How do you handle life interruptions?
I set word count goals that are realistic. Right now, I write 1,000 words a day (4-5 days a week). This can be accomplished in an hour if I don’t have interruptions. Once I can complete that, it’s easier to relax and get to the other things. If things get too hectic, I just miss a little sleep.

Do you get blocked? Any hints on how to stave it off?
I haven’t been blocked as far as what to write next. The motivation tool I use is “I can always change it later . . .” Sometimes I feel blocked on character development. I’ll write the “skeleton” of the plot with all the dialog and action, then in the second draft, I add in more characterization and try to delve a lot deeper into motivations.

What have you always dreamed of writing, but haven't yet?
This is a tough one. I’ve written several genre novels: Historical Romance, WWII Fiction, Suspense, Thriller, Book of Mormon historical, Children’s . . . I think I dream more of getting what I have already written published. I can’t seem to stop writing novels, so it’s tough when one slides by without finding a publisher. I guess my dream would be to get my thriller published nationally and to be able to continue writing in that genre.

What one thing do you like most about writing? Least?
I love the initial creative process. When I start writing a book, I don’t know where it’s going. I don’t know who all the characters are, and I’m not even sure how it’s going to end. I just finished “revising” the thriller. When I wrote it last year, it wasn’t until I was 200 pages into it that I realized I needed one more character to bring together several elements of the story. When I added him in, he became the strongest character of the book. Now he’s the main character.

The least favorite part about writing is finding typos even after I’ve edited and edited. I usually have several people read my manuscript before I submit to my publisher. It’s great to get feedback, but it’s very tedious to go through comment after comment . . . fixing and tweaking.

What is your next project?
I’m currently writing another inspirational historical that takes place in Ancient Mesoamerica. It’s based on a character named Abinadi . . . unfortunately he dies a brutal death in the end (not my choice), but I have enjoyed creating his character and those who surround him.

I also just finished editing the thriller (titled Queen). It’s based on the search for the Queen of Sheba’s tomb. The research was very interesting since there are so many strange legends surrounding her life. No one can agree on where she lived and died. Some even dispute her existence. The Egyptians, the Ethiopians, and the Yemenis all have differing opinions. In my story, a renowned historian is about to uncover the true location of her tomb . . . but he’s killed. Other characters come into play and must pick up the trail of clues that reveal the truth about her life and death.

What is your advice for other writers?
Work hard at your craft. Join a critique group and attend writers’ conferences. Read books on writing and learn to take criticism. Set your manuscript aside for a couple of months, then look at it with a fresh eye. Have several trusted readers. Then switch them around so you don’t get too comfortable.

Tell us about your new book, and where it is available.
Land of Inheritance, the fourth book in my Out of Jerusalem series, was just released at the beginning of September, 2007. It begins like this:

"Nephi! What did you think you were doing?"
"Saving the ship," he said, looking at her through bleary eyes. His chest seized as he coughed.
. . . He turned to face Isaabel, seeing the reflection of the fire in her gaze. "Every part of that ship was instructed by the Lord. It's like losing a part of that experience."
Isaabel wrapped her arms around his waist and laid her head against his sodden chest. "I hate to see the ship burn too. But we must let it go, Nephi. Your relationship with the Lord can never be destroyed. . . . And your older brothers cannot sever that, no matter what they do."
. . Nephi let his head rest on hers. A tear moved to the surface as he watched his ship disintegrate into the night.

Land of Inheritance, volume four of the captivating epic, chronicles the lives and loves of the family of Lehi as they struggle to establish themselves in the Promised Land. It is a saga filled with spiritual yearnings and escalating rebellions, tender family relationships-and sibling rivalries that reach frenzied heights of hatred and revenge.

It’s available at most stores that carry LDS fiction. You can also purchase it online at Seagull Book or Deseret Book.

I keep updated reviews on my website:
hbmoore.com and my blog: mywriterslair.

Thank you for the interview, Heather.

Here is a list of Heather's books, from first to latest:
Out of Jerusalem: Of Goodly Parents, volume 1, 2004
Out of Jerusalem: A Light in the Wilderness, volume 2, 2005
Out of Jerusalem: Towards the Promised Land, volume 3, 2006
Out of Jerusalem: Land of Inheritance, volume 4, 2007

Monday, September 24, 2007

What I Did on My Summer Vacation, Part 2

This post was first published on The Ink Ladies blog on September 12, 2007. It has been edited for relevance.

Here's my recap of the rest of the classes I attended at BYU Education Week .

Wednesday:

On impulse--which it turns out, was related to the theme of this class--I joined a line in the Wilkinson Center and attended the second day of Kevin Hinckley's class, Was It a Prompting, or Just Me? Being Led by the Spirit. The session was entitled "Recognizing Your Spiritual Gifts."

This was another of those popular classes. You line up, you slowly move forward, and if you're lucky, they number you off as possible attendees. I was almost the last person admitted to the inner sanctum of the Actual Presence and didn't have to go to the overflow room. Only the couple behind me also slipped into the room. I sat on the back row of a massive room, so I'm sure I won't be able to identify Bro. Hinckley in a lineup, but there it is.

Basically, Bro. Hinckley said there are three reasons why LDS people filled with the spirit second-guess themselves about whether they are receiving a spiritual prompting or coming up with their own idea. He reminded us that nine times out of ten, our first impressions are correct, so if we're thinking the idea is coming from outside ourselves, it probably is. We should follow those promptings in order to walk in the light. Unfortunately, we often betray our impressions by justifying, rationalizing, second-guessing, and doubting the answers we receive.

Why don't we know what we're feeling?

1. We comparision shop. How does so-and-so get their spiritual impressions? Shouldn't we also? Do we insist that must be the correct way for us?

2. We misunderstand what to look for or feel. Elder Mark E. Petersen stated that the revelation to Oliver Cowdrey that includes the famous "stupor of thought" was for OC, not for the general membership of the Church! We won't necessarily get such a stupor if a thing isn't right for us.

3. We can be confused by Not-Quite-Divine answers. Elder Packer says Satan may try to deceive the very elect, but he can't duplicate the feeling of Gratitude that comes with an answer. Such a prompting may bring terror instead. That's a sure tip-off.

The four personality types--Talkers, Doers, Thinkers, and Planners, will each receive spiritual impressions in ways unique to their style of being. We need to assess who we are and what our likely gifts are to appreciate how to use them.

Daniel C. Peterson's class on Wednesday was "What You Should Know About the Qur'an." One word describes this whole series: fascinating!

Thursday:

Douglas C. and Janice Kapp Perry presented a class on The Many Miracles of Music. I attended the class on "Music Sustains Us in Times of Trial." Sister Perry noted her long battle with a strangely crippling condition and last year's stroke. She pointed out that both the Savior and Joseph Smith turned to the comfort of a hymn in their last hours. She sang a couple of her songs, and told how they came to be written. One was "The Test." The first verse was written in honor of the last specialist she consulted about her crippled hand, a blind physician who did more for her attitude than her bodily ailment. The second referenced her condition. The third verse was written for a cousin who had just lost his wife.

Bro. Peterson's class was entitled "Sunnis, Shi'ites, Sufis, Wahhabis, Taliban, and the Rest: Who Are They and What Do They Want?" He pointed out the differences between the sects and their guiding principles, and curled my hair more than once. He also pointed out the harmless factions.

I spent much of Thursday hanging around with author buddies at the BYU bookstore, buying waaaay too many books.

Friday:

On Friday, I spent the morning in the dorm, working on my book. Then I got out and attended two classes and a musical performance.

Bro. Peterson's class wound up with "The Rise of Islam in the West: Threat or Opportunity?" He pointed out that there is a sizeable Christian population in the Arabic world. Since Muslims are under threat of death if they leave their religion, the Arabic Christians are the most likely people to be proselytized first, by missionaries who were Arabic Christians and converted to the Gospel.

I caught Gracia N. Jones's last class in her series on An Unequivocal Testimony: A Descendant Looks at the Sacred Mission of the Prophet Joseph Smith, Reviewing the Involvement of His Family in the Restoration Story. (Such long titles!) Friday's offering was "Discovering the Legacy of Emma and Lucy: Mothers--Widows--Friends."

Sister Jones is a direct descendant of Joseph Smith through his son, Alexander. She has done extensive research about her ancestors, which was necessary because Joseph Smith being the Prophet of the Restoration was not mentioned during her childhood. She mentioned several fun facts, including that Emma was left-handed, and that Lucy was the curator of a museum in her home. For a quarter, you could see the mummies and other artifacts that her son, Joseph, had acquired.

The final event I attended was the musical, "The White Star." Though it was nicely performed, I don't see it becoming one of the classics of LDS theatre.

I thoroughly enjoyed my trip to Provo, Utah. The company coming and going in the car was splendid, and I plan to attend next year, August 18-22, 2008. Perhaps I've intrigued a few of you enough that you'll show up, too.

What I Did on My Summer Vacation

This post was first published on The Ink Ladies blog on August 29, 2007. It has been edited for relevance.

I attended Brigham Young University Education Week August 20-24, which you all know by now. I'd like to tell you about a few of the classes I attended, and insights, if any, that I gained from them. I may not have the exact titles of the classes, since I'm working from my notes and not the class schedule, but hey! Is that important? Let's see how much of the week I can get in one post.

Monday:

Richard and Linda Eyre's Emptying Nest Parenting
This was a popular class, the last of three they did that day, dealing with young and then elementary school age children. They skipped the teens and went right on to this class, about how to deal with children as college-agers and then adults. The thing Richard said that struck a chord with me is "God is an empty nest parent."

The Eyre's have a website at
valuesparenting.com.

Brad Wilcox's Getting Kids Hooked on Books
Educator/author Brad Wilcox read several intriguing books aloud, which parents and grandparents should be doing for their offspring. Children need their minds to work, and reading does this for them. Brad gave several cogent facts about the importance of reading, and the frightful statistic that since World War II, when children had a vocabulary of 25,000 words, the literacy of our children has dropped, so that children only have a 15,000-word vocabulary today. EEEEEK! Read to a child today. Flood your progeny with the sound of language with nursery rhymes, jump rope jingles, finger plays, camp songs, and leg rides ("This is the way the lady rides . . .").

Check out Brad Wilcox's website
here.

Don Aslett & Sandra Phillips: Decluttering the Simple Way (the actual title was way long)

The class taught me to ask this question about my belongings: "Does it enhance my life and that of others?" If not, it's junk. The problem with junk, or stuffication, Bro. Aslett says, is that it keeps us from loving and being loved.

I found several websites listed for Don Aslett, including
cleanreport.com, DonAslett.com, and Aslett.com. Aslett and Phillips have another site jointly, live-right.com.

Tuesday:

Barry J. Ewell's How to Effectively Use Family Writings, Newspapers, Internet Resources, Libraries, and Historical Societies to Find Your Ancestors
Yes, that was the actual title.

This session focused on newspapers, and among the info I gathered is that the society news, also called the gossip columns, can be mined for information about the friends of ancestors. In case some of them are still alive, they can be interviewed for data about the ancestors.

Although the instructor was good and the topic interesting, since my friend was going to catch the series, this was the only session I attended.

Devotional Address by Elder Richard G. Scott
Elder Scott taught us how to learn through Spiritual Guidance. He asked us to write down and apply the following:


Throughout the remainder of my life I will seek to learn by what I hear, see and feel. I will write down the important things I learn, and I will do them.

He said that knowledge flows through endless avenues. When we record a spiritual impression, often, more impressions come as we do so. He urged us always to have paper--even a 3x5-inch card--handy for writing our experiences down.

Elder Scott said to find out what is critically important in our lives. We should devote our efforts there, setting aside other good things that we could do.

Daniel C. Peterson's Islam: The Continuing Presence of the Past
Tuesday's class focused on "Muhammad's Life and Its Influence Today." I found the class so intriguing, and the topic so important in today's world, that I attended the entire series, and enjoyed it a great deal.

Since there wasn't an Arabian literary culture at the time Muhammad was born, little is known about his early life. However, some facts exist, and legends fill in the rest of the blanks. Brother Peterson is a professor of Islamic studies and Arabic at BYU. He wrote a biography of Muhammad entitled Muhammad, Prophet of God.

I also attended a performance Tuesday night. It was "Take the Mountain Down," a tale of the prodigal son, and lived up to its billing as a "foot stompin', hand-clappin' musical". Steven Kapp Perry and Marvin Payne collaborated on the work, and it featured the Potluck Social String Band. It was great!

I've gone long here, so I'll give more details in the next post.

What a Difference a Day Makes!

Yesterday I talked about Autumn. Last evening I noticed a distinct chill in the air. I put on a sweater and plugged in a space heater. I was still chilly, so I went to bed early.

That is, I got in bed early. With one thing and another, I didn't go to sleep for several hours. I arose from bed and found my bedroom space heater, plugged it in, and improved the ambiance. When I finally decided it was time to sleep, I put on my nightcap for the first time since Spring came. This knit cap keeps my head, especially my ears, toasty warm. It was great!

Before too long, I suspect I'll have to put another quilt on the bed and break out the flannel sheets. Oh, those are heavenly! I really like my flannel sheets in cold weather.

Tonight's low is supposed to be 38 degrees F., but the weather will warm up some this week. On Wednesday the high should be in the mid 80s and the low around 42. Then it will go down a bit again. I'd better relocate my sweaters and sweatsuits to the front of the closet this week so I don't get caught without them when I need them.

What kind of weather are you having?

Sunday, September 23, 2007

Autumn

Today I think I'll talk about Autumn, and the changes in the weather that it brings. Last week I noticed a need to keep the bed's quilt on top of me at night. That means the temperature is dipping down into the 40s outside. Soon I'll need to wear slippers around the house, and don a sweater during the day.

It rained all night last night. That's so nice, because we need the moisture. In fact, it rained most of the morning today. It slacked off just before I had to go to church. Thinking it was going to continue, I put on my new pink rain jacket. Of course, it didn't rain a lick all during church, and wouldn't you know it? I left my pretty pink rain gear hanging in the hallway at church. Maybe if I blog about it, I'll remember it next week. Maybe some of you will remind me in a comment to bring it home next week?


The pre-fall weather has been quite nice, but next week the weatherman says we're going to have a bit of warming up. I imagine that will be the last gasp of summer, now that fall is officially here. In the mountains, that means something that you don't notice much in the Phoenix area. It means that the slight yellowing of my oak trees will soon morph into bright yellow trees, then bare branches. We'll have orange and gold and red leaves around here before too long. The daytime temperatures will get nippy, and frost can't be too far behind. In fact, frost will probably be on the pumpkin next month.

I enjoy fall. I no longer panic when I smell wood smoke in autumn. It's not from a forest fire; it's my neighbors stoking up their woodstove to keep warm. There's no fragrance quite like it. I've mentioned the turning of the leaves. Another thing going on is elk bugling. Just as there is no fragrance like wood smoke, there is no sound that resembles an elk calling. It's a part of living in the pine forests that I love.

What do you love about where you live?

Tuesday, September 18, 2007

RIP, Darling

I was over on a friend's blog, reading about her wonder woman sister-in-law who is dying of cancer, thinking how wretchedly it brought to mind my own experience with a loved one dying, doped up against the intolerable pain, holding on for dear life to the arms of the recliner, hour in, hour out, refusing to give in until the last day of his life, when he said, "Oh, I want to die!"

Then it hit me. I've successfully blanked out the anniversary date of his dying. I would have to go look at his death certificate to get the exact date (I'm not going to do that) because I've been so good at putting that horrible day far out of my memory. Suffice it to say that we're within a four-day window--more or less--of the ninth year of his going away.

This accounts for the longing I've experienced in the last few days, the inexorable sense of loss. Now that I've discovered the source, I can give vent to my tears and the loneliness that flickers out there in the shadows, far beyond my day-to-day life. Tonight I will remember my dear one, my sweetheart, who supported my writing unceasingly. A horrible irony is that his tragic, early death makes possible my cushy merry-widow life. I'm sure the bitterness of not being able to share it with him will never quite go away.

The last thing he said to me was, "I'll love you forever." Rest in peace, my darling, my dearest Rob. I don't plan to join you for a long, long time.

Thursday, September 13, 2007

The Dashner Dude--a new blog in town


My friend James Dashner writes YA fantasy. His thrilling series about Jimmy Fincher was just the beginning of good publishing events in his life.

He's finally come over to the blogging side at The Dashner Dude, where he's chronicling the fascinating journey to his next novel, book 1 of a new series to be published by Shadow Mountain Publishing. Be on the lookout for The 13th Reality, Book 1: The Journal of Curious Letters next March 13th.

In one of his recent posts, James told how he finally made a great contact at the October 2006 ANWA writers conference. ANWA is my baby, so thanks, James, for mentioning us. Go read his story.

He was a great addition to the conference, by the way. His class on writing YA lit was terrific! I hear he also does great school visits, so if you're a teacher or librarian, contact him through his website.

PS: James has agreed to do an Author Interview with me around the time his book comes out!

Tuesday, September 11, 2007

Author Interview: Joyce DiPastena

My interview today is with novelist Joyce DiPastena. Her debut work is Loyalty's Web, a medieval novel.

Welcome Joyce. What made you start writing?
I can't really say. I told myself for years that I wasn't writing, because being "a writer" was a class of being so far above lowly little me. So I always considered myself more of a "dabbler with words", rather than "a writer". Even today, it's hard for me to actually say "I've written a novel". That sounds so presumptuous of me. To me, they'll always be just "stories" that I wrote for fun, although if I ever turn a profit on them, that will certainly be a nice bonus.

In the end, I can only ascribe my evolution into writing as something God must have wanted me to do, since no one in my family or among my friends were writers. I grew up reading and loving the "feel" of words, but not in an environment that particularly encouraged me to write. Not that it discouraged me, either. My gradual desire to write seemed to come out of nowhere, and yet I know that can't be so. Again, all I can do is assume it was something the Lord, knowing me better than I knew myself, prompted me to gradually undertake.

How long have you been writing, or dabbling, as you put it?
I started "dabbling" with writing around 7th grade and throughout high school. Some of my early, (thankfully never completed) stories in those days included a hybrid of "Dark Shadows Meets Star Trek," "The Big Valley Meets the Next Generation of the Three Musketeers," and an earnest attempt to rewrite "Hamlet" and give him a happy ending. I've always been a sap for happy endings.

In college (University of Arizona), I began my first sincere effort at writing an original novel. By then, I was majoring in history, and it took me all six of my college years (bachelor and master degrees) to complete the novel...a rather complicated medieval romance. Despite its many flaws, the victory was that I did stick with a single story all the way to the end and, unlike earlier efforts, completed a novel-length story I had started out to tell.

What type of writer are you? Do you plan ahead/plot or do you simply fly by the seat of your pants?
I fly by the seat of my pants. I can't stick to a plan to save my life. I usually start with a pair of characters (hero and heroine) that I ultimately want to get together, plop them down into some kind of "situation", and let them run with it. The challenge and adventure are figuring out along the way how I'm going to get them through the obstacles that face them, to reach that "happy ending" that the romantic in me is determined they achieve.

How do you choose your characters' names?
Oh, my! I can literally spend hours and hours pouring over names before I assign one to each of my characters. Each name carries in my own mind a physical description. For example, if I'm looking for a dark haired character, a name like Tristan or Robert or Etienne will jump out at me. A blond man might be an Alan or a Therri or an Edward. I know that's not true in "real life", but it's a peculiarity of mine that helps me narrow down names for individual characters, depending on how I envision them physically.

Since I write medieval fiction, I have spent years pulling together a list of as many "authentic" medieval names as possible. I do this by reading medieval non-fiction, and adding every new and unusual name or spelling mentioned in use during that time period, to my list. Also, I stumbled across a splendid book entitled, The Oxford Dictionary of English Christian Names, by E.G. Withycombe. The author not only includes a roster of English Christian names, past and present, but traces most of them back to their historical roots. An example: "Alan is a Celtic name of a popular early Welsh and Breton saint. It was introduced to England at the time of the Norman Conquest. In French, it was Alain and Alein, and the spellings Allan and Allen have both been used in England. Alain is still a favorite in Brittany, but is not much used in the rest of France. Other variants are Aleyne and Aleyn."

From this information, I know that if I want to include a character named some version of Alan, my time setting in England must be after the Norman Conquest (October 1066). If I want to use the name for a lower class character, then it should be as a result of an intermingling of the English and Norman races, or I need to set my story a few centuries later when Norman names have "seeped down" to the lower classes. A character from England or Brittany will likely be named Alan, whereas a character from France will be Alain or Alein.

What type of writing schedule do you have?
It has varied from book to book. With my recently published medieval novel, Loyalty's Web, most of it was written by hand, sitting on my bed at night after all the "day's work" had been done.

The next book in this series, Illuminations of the Heart (working title), I wrote mostly between the hours of 5-8 AM on the computer, before the "day's work" had begun. A third book in the series, still in very rough form, was drafted during the afternoons, when I would set a timer for, say, two hours and tell myself I couldn't get out of my chair at the computer until the timer went off, whether I wrote anything or not. Inevitably, I would become so bored sitting there, I would finally start typing something on the screen, and more often than not, I had accomplished some good, workable text by the time the bell went off.

The lesson I learned for myself, is that I need to be flexible with my writing schedule, according to the times and seasons of my life.

How did you do your research?
I have an extensive personal medieval library that I've accumulated through the years, ranging from the very general (the Life in a Medieval Castle/Town/Village series by Joseph and Frances Gies), to the more specialized (Medieval English Gardens, by Teresa McLean, Fabulous Feasts, by Madeleine Pelner Cosman, Medieval Travellers, by Margaret Wade Labarge, etc).

Although I do some initial research regarding the political setting my characters will be interacting in before I start writing, I tend to do the bulk of my research "selectively". Having obtained a good, general background "feel" for the era through my college study and early readings and writings, I do most of my specific research as I write. For example, rather than looking up everything possible on medieval herbs before I start a project, I will wait until I'm writing a scene that involves knowledge of specific medieval remedies, and then pull out my medieval garden/herb books to find the information I need to include in that scene. If I need a description of a medieval bath, I'll go to my books and look that subject up, then draw on my research for that scene. Once I wanted to describe a medieval castle fireplace. Again, I paused in my story to look up various descriptions, until I found one that seemed to fit my scene. As a reader, I hate being "hit over the head" with long-winded history lessons in the middle of a good story, so I try not to overwhelm my readers with more than is necessary to set an authentic "feel" for the period.

Do you get blocked? Any hints on how to stave it off?
Sadly, the answer is yes. I used to think I had so many ideas, that I would never experience writer's block. Apparently, I needed to be humbled on that score. During certain extremely stressful stretches of my life, I have, indeed, found myself blocked, not necessarily for ideas, but in my ability to communicate those ideas coherently onto a page. But mostly I remain convinced, from my own experience, that the best way to cope with writer's block is to force yourself to sit at the computer (or with your notebook) for an extended period of time--such as the two hours I mentioned above, but even an hour or thirty minutes is better than nothing--and refuse to allow yourself to get out of the chair until the "bell" goes off. No TV, no music, nothing in the background to give your mind an "out". It's write or spend two hours in mind-numbing boredom. I think most of us would find at least a few words to tap out on the screen, rather than endure the vacant consequence.

What one thing do you like most about writing? Least?
My favorite thing to write is dialogue. I enjoy the energy of character interaction. I'd have to say that my least favorite thing to write is descriptive passages, probably because they're my least favorite things to read, although obviously they are necessary in story telling.

You chose "supported self-publishing" via iUniverse. Please share with us why you made that choice and how you chose iUniverse from among similar print-on-demand packagers.
Well, my experience with Loyalty's Web pretty much went like this. I naively thought it was a romance when I originally wrote it. So naturally, I sent it out to a number of traditional romance publishers and agents. After a collection of personalized rejections, complimenting my writing but adding the dreaded, "Not quite right for us" blow, I received a phone call from an agent who finally summed up what my problem was. Although she "loved my story", she said it had "too much plot for a romance, and not enough pageantry for a historical". (Although she added that if I could add even just one short "love--translate, "sex"--scene, she thought she might be able to sell it.) However as it presently stood, she said she simply didn't know how to market it.

I didn't want to add any sex scenes. I'd written exactly the kind of book I wanted to read but was having trouble finding on the bookshelves: a romance that allowed for some non-romantic plot. By pageantry, I presume the agent meant those "sweeping" novels that carried larger-than-life characters "from the courts of Europe to the wilderness of America, and if they threw in a side-trip to China, all the better". Those were simply not the books I wanted to read or write. I wanted something on a smaller, more intimate canvas. Simply put, I wanted to read, and therefore write, something that fell somewhere between the two genres the agent mentioned.

Discouraged at my failure to find a traditional publisher willing to take a chance with me, I put Loyalty's Web away for many years. But I continued to have faith in it, and in a moment of pondering one day, I thought to myself, "I can either leave this book buried in my drawer for the rest of my life, or I can take a leap of faith, send it out into the world on my own, and just see what happens."

The beauty of self-publishing is that by the time I had reached this decision, technology had now evolved to the point where you no longer need to find yourself stuck with a garage full of books that you're expected to somehow go out and sell. Now there is the option of "Publish on Demand" (or POD). The publisher prints out copies as orders come in, so you're never stuck with an unsold "backlog". Publicity is still mostly up to the author, but copies are printed and mailed out only as orders come in.

I researched several POD publishers on the internet (and there are many out there now), but ultimately settled on iUniverse because (1) I knew someone (Marsha Ward) who had published through iUniverse and was happy with her experience with them, and (2) with a promotional deal, it was less expensive than some other sites I'd looked at, while offering an equivalent or superior package of services, and a little more flexibility in some of the package "options" I was interested in adding on.

What is your next project?
Right now, I'm busy trying to promote Loyalty's Web. But eventually (maybe in 2008?), I would like to polish up its sequel, Illuminations of the Heart, and publish it through iUniverse, also.

What is your advice for other writers?
Don't give up. Never give up. But be patient. Things don't happen overnight. Your dreams may, in fact, take decades to achieve. And know that every word you write, no matter how inept you may feel at the time, has value. Writing isn't only about creativity. It's about discipline. It's about "sticking with it" for better or worse. It's about starting and finishing. Lessons learned through writing can be applied to many other areas of our lives. And on those days when your characters make you smile and you find your heart swelling with affection for them, no matter how "fictional" they are...those are the golden days that make it all worthwhile, and publishing seems far more a pleasant "bonus" than "what it's really all about".

Tell us about your book, and where it is available for purchase.
Here's a summary of Loyalty's Web from the published blurb on the back cover:

In twelfth century France, King Henry II of England has just finished quashing a rebellion by his power-hungry sons and now seeks to tame the lawless barons who supported them in this corner of his "Angevin empire." To this end, the king has sent the Earl of Gunthar as his royal representative to ensure that Prince Richard and his former cohorts faithfully adhere to the terms of the peace treaty.

Far from being welcomed with open arms, Gunthar no sooner steps foot in the county of Poitou than he is greeted by a series of assassination attempts. All appear to be linked to the former rebellious prince through the agents of the family and friends of young Heléne de Laurant. A clever, intrepid young woman, she realizes that the only way to prove her loved ones’ innocence is by exposing the true assassin. Heléne races against time—and dark secrets of the past—to unmask the killer before the kingdom plunges back into war.

Fierce determination gives way to mutual attraction as Heléne and Gunthar spar over the identity of the traitor. But their blinding magnetism almost causes them to overlook an even deadlier threat from an entirely unexpected direction.

Loyalty's Web is, of course, available at iUniverse.com, where you can read the first chapter for free. It can also be ordered at amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com, and alibris.com. It is also available in e-book format at a number of vendors listed on my website.

You can read more about Loyalty's Web on my website: joyce-dipastena.com
. Check out the Contests & Events page for an opportunity to win some fun prizes!

I can be contacted via email at
jdipastena@yahoo.com. I love hearing from readers, writers, and anyone interested in the Middle Ages!

Joyce, thank you for the interview.

Thank you, Marsha, for the opportunity to share some of my thoughts with you today.

Thursday, September 06, 2007

Author Interview: Anne Bradshaw

British Author Anne Bradshaw has been entertaining youth with her stories in the LDS Church's youth publication, The New Era, for a long time. Her book of short stories, Please, no zits! and Other Short Stories for LDS Youth was published last month by Golden Wings, and can be found in many LDS book stores as well as online at Amazon.com.

Anne and her husband, Bob, came to live in Utah about ten years ago. She is a member of LDStorymakers, Inc.

Welcome, Anne!

What made you start writing?
I began making up stories around age eight when I discovered that my younger sister and brother stopped squabbling if I told them a few wild tooth-fairy tales. It wasn’t until I was married with children that I finally began writing—and then not seriously until the children were teens.

How long have you been writing? When did you sell your first book?
I’ve been writing articles and short stories for some twenty years. My first book sold in the year 2000.

What type of writer are you? Do you plan ahead/plot or do you simply fly by the seat of your pants?
I’m a mixture. An idea takes shape in my mind. I develop the idea into a rough plot on a huge paper plan (several sheets taped together), fleshing out characters, and penciling in chapters. After building my characters’ biographies, I dive into the story. If it doesn’t stick totally to my outline, I don’t worry. As long as I’m on track overall, heading in the right direction, unexpected happenings are welcome and fun.

How do you choose your characters' names?
Sometimes I use ancestor’s last names. I pick first names from either a baby name book, or from a baby name website on the Internet. These sites are great because they give additional information—like name meanings, and the year a name was popular, which helps when writing teen stories.

What type of writing schedule do you have?
Now the children are grown and flown, I can write any time I choose—which is most of the day on one thing or another. I get up at 5.30 a.m. and fit speed walking, chores and meal-making between writing.

How do you handle life interruptions?
Interruptions are good breaks for me. If I type too long, I get neck and shoulder pain, so I welcome a change of pace—unless I’m in the middle of something that’s going particularly well, or coming to the end of a chapter—then I grit my teeth and hit “save.” And I usually scribble down whatever brilliant thought was passing through my mind at the time, in case I can’t remember it later.

Do you get blocked? Any hints on how to stave it off?
I don’t really get blocked. Just the opposite. I have so many ideas at the back of my mind that I daren’t think too much about them because it’s frustrating not being able to get to them immediately. I know if I bring them to the front I’ll have to deal with them and there isn’t time for everything.

If I did get blocked, I’d probably turn to newspapers and magazines for real life stories that would jog my mind into action.

What have you always dreamed of writing, but haven't yet?
I’d like to write fantasy one day. The idea of creating my own world is fascinating—hard work, I know—but satisfying. I enjoy jigsaw puzzles, and I think making a fantasy world would be similar.

What one thing do you like most about writing? Least?
I like when it all comes together. That has to be the most satisfying experience ever.

There are two equal things I like least—the pain of sitting for ages at the computer, and every edit after the first four.

What is your next project?
Either another book of short stories if the current one is popular, or a sequel to the teen suspense mystery I’ve just finished for the national market, but for which there is no publisher as yet.

What is your advice for other writers?
To read, read, read (novels, non-fiction, and books about writing), and to write, write, write. Also, follow the admonition of Winston Churchill and never, never, never give up—no matter how many rejections are received.





Tell us about your new book.
What a great question to ask an author. Please, no zits! & Other Short Stories for LDS Youth is a collection of fast moving short stories set in America, England, Scotland, Ireland, and Wales. It can be tough being a teen going through the rollercoaster ride of growing up. I wrote these stories with teenage problems in mind. Although none of the characters are people I know, the situations are from modern day real life.

A few of the sixteen story titles are: “You’ll Never Get a Banana Tree,” “Apple Pie and Chocolate Corners,” “Rock Bottom in a Jail Cell,” “Mousey or Mighty?” “Okay to Cheat?” and “Mountain Nearing”. For more titles and information, please go to my website at
http://www.annebradshaw.com/.

Thank you for the interview, Anne.

Thanks for asking me.

Anne's books:
Terracotta Summer
Chamomile Winter
Please, no zits! & Other Short Stories for LDS Youth
Co-author: LDS Storymakers: Publishing Secrets
LDS Storymakers: Writing Secrets

Anne's uncommonly good blog: Not Entirely British

Wednesday, September 05, 2007

Tuesday, September 04, 2007

Nameless Meme

Tristi Pinkston tagged me last week.

ACCENT: Hmm, does this mean one I want or if I have one?

DRINK: I prefer Sam's Club bottled water, but from time to time I'll pop open one of those little singles powder thingies and pour it into my water botle. This fits my diet, since it doesn't add calories or carbs. I do recycle my bottles by filling them with Great Value (Wal-Mart) sodium-free drinking water.

CHORE I HATE: Anything to do with housework.

PETS: I live in the forest, so that might include elk, raccoons, spiders, bobcats, birds, squirrels, mice, and the like, but of elective inside pets, I have none.

ESSENTIAL ELECTRONICS: Computer. DVD player. New car GPS thingie I bought so I'd have company on the road (it talks to me).

PERFUME: When I moved, all my perfumes got thrown away. I didn't replace them, since I've become sensitive to scents. Someone wearing an overpowering scent can ruin my day!

GOLD OR SILVER: Gold.

INSOMNIA: Is this, like, when you can't get to sleep because the neighbors are partying? Nah, I didn't think so. And I usually don't have many neighbors, except on holiday weekends. However, I do get insomnia once in a while.

JOB TITLE: Writer, blogger.

MOST ADMIRED TRAIT: One that I admire in others? Ability to clean house. One others admire in me? My smile.

KIDS: Daughter, 33, but she's got a birthday coming up. Twin sons, 32. Dead daughter would have been 30 (has she really been dead longer than she was alive?). Son, 26.

GRANDKIDS: {I added this category} 5.

UNUSUAL TALENT/SKILL: Mine run to the usual creative arts, like singing, playing several instruments, writing, photography. That kind of thing. Nothing unusual there.

VEGETABLE: Cucumber. Few calories, practically no carbs.

WORST HABIT: I'm with Tristi--Procrastinating.

X-RAYS: Dental, chest, etc. Who made up this question? Dumb!

FAVORITE MEAL: Anything quick. I like Healthy Choice dinners, since they give Meal Exchange info.

PHOBIA: Driving beside 18-wheelers.

RELIGION: LDS

SIBLINGS: Three of each.

TIME I WAKE UP: I have no one to determine my schedule, so it's usually around 9 a.m. because I've been up late the night before. I'm not a morning person, and I hate getting early phone calls.

I'm tired of playing tag, so I'm not going to put anyone on the spot. If you want to continue this, go for it!
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