I'd like to answer your ten questions. My book, TIME WILL TELL is science-fiction. It is scheduled for release by Musa Publishing Co. Mrch 9, 2012.
1) A short paragraph on what you write about and the genre, please? (don't forget your web page address!) In TIME WILL TELL, earthling Mona Stewart finds herself in another world of warring factions. One group, the Svarians, holds the key to cures for fatal diseases and immortality. In the inner space of outer space, Mona discovers that living almost forever in idleness, and without challenges, is much worse that having too much to do. The only reprieve from boredom for the Svarions is outwitting their enemy, the Aliens.
2) What is a typical writing session like, in 300 characters or fewer? A typical writing session for me may be several hours long. When I begin to develop plots or characters, I become intensely involved and I don't stop writing till I've used all of my ideas. Otherwise, they're gone forever.
3) Men: boxers or briefs? Women: underwire or banded? (apparently people want to know this!)Underwire (This question surprises me because I don't see how it's relative to writing). [note from Telling Tales: this was just for fun. A humorous call out to the young person who very famously asked The President of The United States Bill Clinton "Boxers or briefs?" taking him totally off kilter.]
4) If you use a pen name, why? If you don't, do you worry about stalkers? I use my real name. I don't worry about stalkers. People can find out who you are anyhow.
5) What is the oddest thing about your writing or the way you write? The oddest thing about the way I write is what I write about. I like to jump genres. I've written and published biographies, mysteries, crime stories, historical screenplays, poetry and now, science fiction.
6) Give us a glimpse into how you choose the names of your chracters, please? I try to choose characters' names that are not too common but not difficult to remember, unless I want a name that is allegorical.
7) Any thoughts on staying healthy while pursuing such a sedentary career? Since I do sit at a computer a lot, I try to get exercise. Walking is my favorite. I have a treadmill and make it a habit to walk around the house whenever I talk on the phone. I also love to travel. I've been to all 50 U.S. states and to every continent except Antarctica. When I take trips, I walk and only take taxis when absolutely necessary.
8) Dogs or cats, and why? (don't say "neither" because even if you don't have one, choosing is informative!)I don't currently have a dog or a cat. I prefer dogs but I don't feel I have enough time to spend with one right now.
9) If you research, what's your method? If you don't, how do you get away with that? When I research, I exhaust every avenue. I use primary sources whenever possible, such as contacting a person who knows about an event or place or reading old letters. I was writing about Johnny Reb once and found letters from Confederate soldiers in a museum to quote from. I feel that setting should be authentic and often travel to places to see exactly what is growing there or how the sidewalks are laid out or what statues are in a particular park. It goes without saying that I also use the internet.
10) What is the most interesting or outrageous comment you've heard/read about your writing? I think the most outrageous comment anyone made about my writing was that they didn't like it "because it didn't have a happy ending."
I have another book entitled TO CATCH A FISH, coauthored with David Wilton, which is scheduled for release April 6, 2012. If you like, I can send information on it a little later.
Mary S. Palmer
Thursday, February 9, 2012
Friday, February 3, 2012
Sleep apnea and the writer.
I used to say I wrote novels because I didn't sleep much. That was true. I have a power job as a Federal executive for a tense agency in the Department of Defense and I raised two boys to be responsible adults. Plus, I wrote novels. Okay, I never watched much TV, but honestly, there should be only so many hours in a day! The truth is, I've never been a great sleeper and I'd get up in the night and write some scenes, maybe crash for awhile, then get to the intense day job. But as the years went on, this lifestyle took its toll. The older I grew, the more I realized my sleep habits could kill me. Plus, my husband's sleep was being disturbed by my crazy, often loud, breathing when I was attempting to sleep. I say "attempting" because people with sleep apnea don't actually get the healing sleep normal people get. And that lack begins to catch up with you. Succinctly put, sleep apnea can be on your death certificate.
So here is my sleep apnea saga:
We moved to rural Pennsylvania in October of 2010. We love it here on our six acres of nature. But running a place like this while commuting two hours one way to work began to affect me in unexpected ways. I became desperate for sleep. I thought I could just tough it out until I retired in two mor years, but the tanking oconomy began to put that time frame in doubt. So, before I endangered someone on my long drives to work, I started to explore my sleep problems. First, i tried a mandibular advancement retainer in my mouth. That worked for awhile. But then it pulled my front teeth so far back that my back teeth could no linger touch. I had to have orthodontics at 52 years old! They made me another one that wouldnt allow my teeth to move out of alignment, but which gave me excruciating TMJ after a few months. I had to choose between wearing it or chewing food. Could not do both. About the time I stopped wearing the mouth piece, I also began staying over in a hotel near work sometimes, to give myself a break and to let my husband have an occasional night of peace.
Yes, I snore. But that isn't necessarily apnea. You have to STOP BREATHING more than 15 times an hour for insurance companies to find you suitably in trouble to agree you have apnea. My first sleep study was hard, but I managed to sleep enough to get some results. At first glance, I did not qualify. But my wonderful doctor noted that if you took my episodes from when I was on my back, I qualified for severe obstructive sleep apne (OSA). He told me there were devices to keep me on my side as I sleep, but having had two back disk fusions, that idea sounded awful. I need to change positions in the night or wake up crying. So the doc moved on to the idea of a CPAP. We were both eager for this to work. I knew others who'd used them with great success. So he set me up for another sleep study, this time with the CPAP. I was very sure this was the answer to my prayers and went to the study center with a very positive outlook. Four hours later, I was on my way home sobbing. We tried a variety of masks and pressures and the people were so nice, we all wanted it to work. But my heart raced uncontrollably for the entire four hours I tried. It was basically torture. I couldn't catch my breath or calm my heart for long enough to actually sleep. And the air kept going into my stomach and choking me, making my heart race faster. Finally, the kind attendant came in again and asked if she could do anything else for me. Frankly, I think they were terrified of what my heart rate was maintaining. I begged to be set free. This felt like defeat and like the end of all hope as I drove home in the wee hours of that morning before dawn.
But my doctor wasn't defeated. He said my reaction is called phobic - like claustrophobia almost. It can't really be controlled or managed and isn't all that uncommon. He suggested I'd be a good candidate for OSA surgeries. Two parts, one for my severely deviated septum (yup, broke my nose in a couple of places during college) and swollen sinuses, the other to de-obstruct my throat. Sounds as awful as it has been. The nose surgery was first and quite awful while the packing was jammed inside. Surgery on Friday, packing out on Monday. It was just like giving birth out of each of my nostrils, the packing felt like golf balls, but the migraine left me after that so I could keep my eyes open and swallow without suction pressure making my ears pop. A few weeks out from that and I could tell I was sleeping more soundly. So worth it!
But not soundlessly. Still snoring and breathing inconsistently, so one more surgery to get through. This was to remove tonsils, uvula, and harden palate and base of tongue. I'm now a week post-op from a UPPP and improving. I only got fluid up my nose from the back of my throat one time - funny how adaptable we are. They tell you plainly how much this will hurt, but until you do it, you just can't imagine. I took everyone's advice and answered 10 whenever asked what my pain level was at the hospital. Funny, though, the morphine didnt do much and so i stopped asking for it. Vicodin worked best, but the elixir is alcohol based and like red hot fire going down. Plus, if you take too much, other parts of the body start to hurt. Or maybe it was the oxycodone that gave me the muscle spasms after awhile. Got off all the pain meds by day three and have stuck to Tylenol and occasional vicodin since. Seems to be working. As long as I don't swallow, I'm feeling okay. But who cannot swallow for long? And the liquid diet is no fun at all, except for the lost weight I hope to keep off. My OSA wasn't from weight, but the less weight, the better, say the docs. Now that a week has passed, things should improve quickly. Looking forward to the annoying stitches dissolving in a few more days, but they don't really trouble me as much as I'd feared.
The jury is still out on whether the snoring is gone. It takes awhile for swelling to go down. But I'm hoping. And I'm looking forward to writing for the love of storytelling and not because I just can't sleep. Plus, it would be lovely if my commute felt safer through my improved alertness. Doubtless I will comment on my progress as things develop. Meanwhile, if you're not sleeping well, figure out why. No one should have a death certificate that gives sleep panes as the cause.
So here is my sleep apnea saga:
We moved to rural Pennsylvania in October of 2010. We love it here on our six acres of nature. But running a place like this while commuting two hours one way to work began to affect me in unexpected ways. I became desperate for sleep. I thought I could just tough it out until I retired in two mor years, but the tanking oconomy began to put that time frame in doubt. So, before I endangered someone on my long drives to work, I started to explore my sleep problems. First, i tried a mandibular advancement retainer in my mouth. That worked for awhile. But then it pulled my front teeth so far back that my back teeth could no linger touch. I had to have orthodontics at 52 years old! They made me another one that wouldnt allow my teeth to move out of alignment, but which gave me excruciating TMJ after a few months. I had to choose between wearing it or chewing food. Could not do both. About the time I stopped wearing the mouth piece, I also began staying over in a hotel near work sometimes, to give myself a break and to let my husband have an occasional night of peace.
Yes, I snore. But that isn't necessarily apnea. You have to STOP BREATHING more than 15 times an hour for insurance companies to find you suitably in trouble to agree you have apnea. My first sleep study was hard, but I managed to sleep enough to get some results. At first glance, I did not qualify. But my wonderful doctor noted that if you took my episodes from when I was on my back, I qualified for severe obstructive sleep apne (OSA). He told me there were devices to keep me on my side as I sleep, but having had two back disk fusions, that idea sounded awful. I need to change positions in the night or wake up crying. So the doc moved on to the idea of a CPAP. We were both eager for this to work. I knew others who'd used them with great success. So he set me up for another sleep study, this time with the CPAP. I was very sure this was the answer to my prayers and went to the study center with a very positive outlook. Four hours later, I was on my way home sobbing. We tried a variety of masks and pressures and the people were so nice, we all wanted it to work. But my heart raced uncontrollably for the entire four hours I tried. It was basically torture. I couldn't catch my breath or calm my heart for long enough to actually sleep. And the air kept going into my stomach and choking me, making my heart race faster. Finally, the kind attendant came in again and asked if she could do anything else for me. Frankly, I think they were terrified of what my heart rate was maintaining. I begged to be set free. This felt like defeat and like the end of all hope as I drove home in the wee hours of that morning before dawn.
But my doctor wasn't defeated. He said my reaction is called phobic - like claustrophobia almost. It can't really be controlled or managed and isn't all that uncommon. He suggested I'd be a good candidate for OSA surgeries. Two parts, one for my severely deviated septum (yup, broke my nose in a couple of places during college) and swollen sinuses, the other to de-obstruct my throat. Sounds as awful as it has been. The nose surgery was first and quite awful while the packing was jammed inside. Surgery on Friday, packing out on Monday. It was just like giving birth out of each of my nostrils, the packing felt like golf balls, but the migraine left me after that so I could keep my eyes open and swallow without suction pressure making my ears pop. A few weeks out from that and I could tell I was sleeping more soundly. So worth it!
But not soundlessly. Still snoring and breathing inconsistently, so one more surgery to get through. This was to remove tonsils, uvula, and harden palate and base of tongue. I'm now a week post-op from a UPPP and improving. I only got fluid up my nose from the back of my throat one time - funny how adaptable we are. They tell you plainly how much this will hurt, but until you do it, you just can't imagine. I took everyone's advice and answered 10 whenever asked what my pain level was at the hospital. Funny, though, the morphine didnt do much and so i stopped asking for it. Vicodin worked best, but the elixir is alcohol based and like red hot fire going down. Plus, if you take too much, other parts of the body start to hurt. Or maybe it was the oxycodone that gave me the muscle spasms after awhile. Got off all the pain meds by day three and have stuck to Tylenol and occasional vicodin since. Seems to be working. As long as I don't swallow, I'm feeling okay. But who cannot swallow for long? And the liquid diet is no fun at all, except for the lost weight I hope to keep off. My OSA wasn't from weight, but the less weight, the better, say the docs. Now that a week has passed, things should improve quickly. Looking forward to the annoying stitches dissolving in a few more days, but they don't really trouble me as much as I'd feared.
The jury is still out on whether the snoring is gone. It takes awhile for swelling to go down. But I'm hoping. And I'm looking forward to writing for the love of storytelling and not because I just can't sleep. Plus, it would be lovely if my commute felt safer through my improved alertness. Doubtless I will comment on my progress as things develop. Meanwhile, if you're not sleeping well, figure out why. No one should have a death certificate that gives sleep panes as the cause.
Ten questions answered by Sara Daniel!
I love that Sara uses an Alphasmart - a tool that should get far more credit.
Ten Questions for Authors:
1) A short paragraph on what you write about and the genre, please? (don't forget your web page address!)
I write contemporary romance fiction--irresistible romance with captivating family drama. Not only do I aim to entertain, I also want to give people hope and a belief that everything can and will turn out happily ever after. So, if you're looking for a warm fuzzy feeling and hoping to come away a little less cynical about the world, visit my website at www.SaraDaniel.com.
2) What is a typical writing session like, in 300 characters or fewer?
I sit in front of the computer and catch up on my email and social media with a cup of coffee. Then I open my writing file and stare at the screen. I write for a while, then wander the house, reheat my coffee and find some food. I write some more, rewarm the coffee, get another snack, etc., etc.
3) Men: boxers or briefs? Women: underwire or banded? (apparently people want to know this!)
Who wants to know this??? Okay, I admit to being totally curious about the boxers/briefs quandary, but that's different, right?
4) If you use a pen name, why? If you don't, do you worry about stalkers?
I don't use a pen name, except for my children's books to avoid confusion. But honestly, with the internet, I'm convinced anyone can find anyone if they really try hard enough. And I'm too transparent to keep my name a secret.
5) What is the oddest thing about your writing or the way you write?
I've found lately that I'm most productive sitting at my children's extracurricular activities with my AlphaSmart. Yes, I really still use one. There are no email or internet distractions, and the screen only shows four lines of text, so it's too small to edit. I can only write. So I do!
6) Give us a glimpse into how you choose the names of your characters, please?
I think about the type of person my character is supposed to be. If a name doesn't pop into my head, I pull out "The Baby Name Survey Book: What People Think about Your Baby's Name" and use that as my Bible. And I work very hard to make sure I use a different letter to start each name, and they don't rhyme or end the same or anything corny like that.
7) Any thoughts on staying healthy while pursuing such a sedentary career?
Sometimes I'm really good about taking a break to exercise. Lately, not so much. But my eyes definitely need a rest from staring at the computer screen. When I take time to exercise, I also free up my brain to consciously think of nothing and let my muse start mulling over fresh ideas.
8) Dogs or cats, and why? (don't say "neither" because even if you don't have one, choosing is informative! )
Cats. We have one cat, and I like that she's around but does her own thing. I feed her and scoop her litter, but I can leave for the weekend without thinking twice about leaving her alone. I have enough demands on my time, and frankly, dogs and I have never mixed well.
9) If you research, what's your method? If you don't, how do you get away with that?
If I could get away without researching, I would! It's the reason I've never written a historical. I'd have to do a massive amount of research to get the details right. What I need to learn for my contemporaries is usually only a keystroke away on the internet.
10) What is the most interesting or outrageous comment you've heard/read about your writing?
My grandmother constantly laments that she can't get my books for her friends because they have -- gasp! -- love scenes in them. Fortunately, my other grandmother was a voracious reader of romance and had no such qualms about sharing my books with her friends.
www.SaraDaniel.com
www.facebook.com/SaraDanielSaraShafer
www.facebook.com/SaraShaferDaniel
www.twitter.com/SSaraDaniel
Ten Questions for Authors:
1) A short paragraph on what you write about and the genre, please? (don't forget your web page address!)
I write contemporary romance fiction--irresistible romance with captivating family drama. Not only do I aim to entertain, I also want to give people hope and a belief that everything can and will turn out happily ever after. So, if you're looking for a warm fuzzy feeling and hoping to come away a little less cynical about the world, visit my website at www.SaraDaniel.com.
2) What is a typical writing session like, in 300 characters or fewer?
I sit in front of the computer and catch up on my email and social media with a cup of coffee. Then I open my writing file and stare at the screen. I write for a while, then wander the house, reheat my coffee and find some food. I write some more, rewarm the coffee, get another snack, etc., etc.
3) Men: boxers or briefs? Women: underwire or banded? (apparently people want to know this!)
Who wants to know this??? Okay, I admit to being totally curious about the boxers/briefs quandary, but that's different, right?
4) If you use a pen name, why? If you don't, do you worry about stalkers?
I don't use a pen name, except for my children's books to avoid confusion. But honestly, with the internet, I'm convinced anyone can find anyone if they really try hard enough. And I'm too transparent to keep my name a secret.
5) What is the oddest thing about your writing or the way you write?
I've found lately that I'm most productive sitting at my children's extracurricular activities with my AlphaSmart. Yes, I really still use one. There are no email or internet distractions, and the screen only shows four lines of text, so it's too small to edit. I can only write. So I do!
6) Give us a glimpse into how you choose the names of your characters, please?
I think about the type of person my character is supposed to be. If a name doesn't pop into my head, I pull out "The Baby Name Survey Book: What People Think about Your Baby's Name" and use that as my Bible. And I work very hard to make sure I use a different letter to start each name, and they don't rhyme or end the same or anything corny like that.
7) Any thoughts on staying healthy while pursuing such a sedentary career?
Sometimes I'm really good about taking a break to exercise. Lately, not so much. But my eyes definitely need a rest from staring at the computer screen. When I take time to exercise, I also free up my brain to consciously think of nothing and let my muse start mulling over fresh ideas.
8) Dogs or cats, and why? (don't say "neither" because even if you don't have one, choosing is informative! )
Cats. We have one cat, and I like that she's around but does her own thing. I feed her and scoop her litter, but I can leave for the weekend without thinking twice about leaving her alone. I have enough demands on my time, and frankly, dogs and I have never mixed well.
9) If you research, what's your method? If you don't, how do you get away with that?
If I could get away without researching, I would! It's the reason I've never written a historical. I'd have to do a massive amount of research to get the details right. What I need to learn for my contemporaries is usually only a keystroke away on the internet.
10) What is the most interesting or outrageous comment you've heard/read about your writing?
My grandmother constantly laments that she can't get my books for her friends because they have -- gasp! -- love scenes in them. Fortunately, my other grandmother was a voracious reader of romance and had no such qualms about sharing my books with her friends.
www.SaraDaniel.com
www.facebook.com/SaraDanielSaraShafer
www.facebook.com/SaraShaferDaniel
www.twitter.com/SSaraDaniel
Saturday, January 14, 2012
Ten Questions Answered by Author Stephanie Campbell
I'm happy to welcome Stephanie Campbell to my blog. I particularly love her answer to the final question! Too funny!
I'm Stephanie Campbell, the author of Dragon Night at Musa publishing. Thank you so much for providing us the opportunity to be interviewed! I have also enclosed a picture, just in case.
1) A short paragraph on what you write about and the genre, please? (don't forget your web page address!)
I got my first book published at the age of seventeen. Now, I am the author of multiple novels with many more on the way for this upcoming year. I mostly write YA novels in all genres, but I’ve written in pretty much every genre. One of the reasons why I became a writer is so that I can experience different types of situations that I can’t in real life.
http://stephaniecampbellreleases.weebly.com/
2) What is a typical writing session like, in 300 characters or fewer?
I actually do different things, so a “writing session” for me is hard to define. I am very much a creature of habit. I sit down and I re-read the last two paragraphs of what I was working on last to get my scheme. I then pick up the scene in my head again. Sometimes I wonder if other writers see their work in the same way—for example, I actually see my scene. I barely notice that I’m actually typing. I edit my work at a different time.
3) Men: boxers or briefs? Women: underwire or banded? (apparently people want to know this!)
Both. I run in the morning and use a banded bra to keep from chafing. I swap out for an underwire later. I’ve been stabbed by underwire bras a few times, though. They make me nervous.
4) If you use a pen name, why? If you don't, do you worry about stalkers?
I have different pen names. I use them to separate writing interests for my readers. People expect Stephanie Campbell to write YA. It’s more simple that way. I suppose I’m worried about stalkers—I have a handful to speak of right now. I once had a set of anonymous letters on my doorstep. You have no idea how chilling that is.
5) What is the oddest thing about your writing or the way you write?
I take on the personality traits of my book characters. If my character is angry, so am I. The more intense the scene, the more intense my personality gets in real life. I don’t run around stabbing people, but people have noticed the changes in my personality. I guess I don’t have a line between my work and reality. You can’t take the writer out of me.
6) Give us a glimpse into how you choose the names of your characters, please?
I have a lovely book of character names that has meanings. If I write about a mean, vindictive character, I will find a name that means mean and vindictive.
7) Any thoughts on staying healthy while pursuing such a sedentary career?
I run every morning. I stand ten minutes out of every hour. When my writing hours are done, I stay on my feet. I am actually not that sedentary. I even write on my dresser so I can stand up.
8) Dogs or cats, and why? (don't say "neither" because even if you don't have one, choosing is informative!)
I prefer dogs, but I like cats. I like it because a dog wants to cuddle and get hugs. (At least my dogs do.) They also remind me that there is a life outside of my office.
9) If you research, what's your method? If you don't, how do you get away with that?
The internet is such a wonderful thing. If I have an idea, then I get a piece of paper and write a school-style report. I use that to keep my book up to par.
10) What is the most interesting or outrageous comment you've heard/read about your writing?
Someone once told me that my books made them hungry…I still can’t figure out why. I haven’t written a single book about food.
I'm Stephanie Campbell, the author of Dragon Night at Musa publishing. Thank you so much for providing us the opportunity to be interviewed! I have also enclosed a picture, just in case.
1) A short paragraph on what you write about and the genre, please? (don't forget your web page address!)
I got my first book published at the age of seventeen. Now, I am the author of multiple novels with many more on the way for this upcoming year. I mostly write YA novels in all genres, but I’ve written in pretty much every genre. One of the reasons why I became a writer is so that I can experience different types of situations that I can’t in real life.
http://stephaniecampbellreleases.weebly.com/
2) What is a typical writing session like, in 300 characters or fewer?
I actually do different things, so a “writing session” for me is hard to define. I am very much a creature of habit. I sit down and I re-read the last two paragraphs of what I was working on last to get my scheme. I then pick up the scene in my head again. Sometimes I wonder if other writers see their work in the same way—for example, I actually see my scene. I barely notice that I’m actually typing. I edit my work at a different time.
3) Men: boxers or briefs? Women: underwire or banded? (apparently people want to know this!)
Both. I run in the morning and use a banded bra to keep from chafing. I swap out for an underwire later. I’ve been stabbed by underwire bras a few times, though. They make me nervous.
4) If you use a pen name, why? If you don't, do you worry about stalkers?
I have different pen names. I use them to separate writing interests for my readers. People expect Stephanie Campbell to write YA. It’s more simple that way. I suppose I’m worried about stalkers—I have a handful to speak of right now. I once had a set of anonymous letters on my doorstep. You have no idea how chilling that is.
5) What is the oddest thing about your writing or the way you write?
I take on the personality traits of my book characters. If my character is angry, so am I. The more intense the scene, the more intense my personality gets in real life. I don’t run around stabbing people, but people have noticed the changes in my personality. I guess I don’t have a line between my work and reality. You can’t take the writer out of me.
6) Give us a glimpse into how you choose the names of your characters, please?
I have a lovely book of character names that has meanings. If I write about a mean, vindictive character, I will find a name that means mean and vindictive.
7) Any thoughts on staying healthy while pursuing such a sedentary career?
I run every morning. I stand ten minutes out of every hour. When my writing hours are done, I stay on my feet. I am actually not that sedentary. I even write on my dresser so I can stand up.
8) Dogs or cats, and why? (don't say "neither" because even if you don't have one, choosing is informative!)
I prefer dogs, but I like cats. I like it because a dog wants to cuddle and get hugs. (At least my dogs do.) They also remind me that there is a life outside of my office.
9) If you research, what's your method? If you don't, how do you get away with that?
The internet is such a wonderful thing. If I have an idea, then I get a piece of paper and write a school-style report. I use that to keep my book up to par.
10) What is the most interesting or outrageous comment you've heard/read about your writing?
Someone once told me that my books made them hungry…I still can’t figure out why. I haven’t written a single book about food.
Sunday, January 8, 2012
Ten questions answered by Rebecca York!
I'm so pleased to post answers to my Ten Questions for Authors from my friend and mentor Rebecca York. She's a best selling author of romance and paranormal books that are a delight to her fans.
From Rebecca York
1) A short paragraph on what you write about and the genre, please?
I write mainly paranormal romantic suspense. I love plotting stories featuring men and women falling in love against a background of suspense and danger. My latest series is Decorah Security, about a detective agency where the agents have paranormal powers or take on paranormal cases. The first three are out on Amazon and B&N. Dark Moon has a werewolf hero. Chained is a novella with a hero who’s a ghost–or maybe he isn’t. Ambushed is a short story where the hero relies on his special instinct for danger.
2) What is a typical writing session like, in 300 characters or less?
I get up, check e-mail, tweet, finally get to writing and work until I’ve written ten pages. That might take three or four hours, or I might still be working at ten p. m. I start each session editing yesterday’s work. I write fast, knowing I will revise later.
3) Men: boxers or briefs? Women: underwire or banded?
Banded
4) If you use a pen name, why? If you don't, do you worry about stalkers?
I picked my pen name years ago when having one was the industry standard for romance writers.
5) What is the oddest thing about your writing or the way you write?
I never work at a desk. I always use a laptop. Either in bed or in a comfortable chair. I never write with a pen or pencil if I can avoid it.
6) Give us a glimpse into how you choose the names of your characters, please?
For first names, I look at the Social Security baby name data base and pick a name that’s either popular or one I like a lot.
7) Any thoughts on staying healthy while pursuing a sedentary career?
I try to exercise for at least a half hour to forty-five minutes every day. I get up and do work around the house to break up writing sessions. If I’m on a phone call I know will be long, I get up and walk while talking.
8) Dogs or cats, and why?
I like both dogs and cats, but I travel a lot and it’s easier to have someone come in and take care of a cat.
9) If you research, what's your method? If you don't, how do you get away with that?
I try to visit the location where I’m setting a story to pick up details unique to the area. These days, I do a lot of research on the internet.
10) What is the most interesting or outrageous comment made about your writing?
I once read an article I’d written to my critique group. When I’d finished, one of the women said, “That was discombobulated, unstructured and boring.” I think she was feeling hostile because she was having trouble organizing her work.
From Rebecca York
1) A short paragraph on what you write about and the genre, please?
I write mainly paranormal romantic suspense. I love plotting stories featuring men and women falling in love against a background of suspense and danger. My latest series is Decorah Security, about a detective agency where the agents have paranormal powers or take on paranormal cases. The first three are out on Amazon and B&N. Dark Moon has a werewolf hero. Chained is a novella with a hero who’s a ghost–or maybe he isn’t. Ambushed is a short story where the hero relies on his special instinct for danger.
2) What is a typical writing session like, in 300 characters or less?
I get up, check e-mail, tweet, finally get to writing and work until I’ve written ten pages. That might take three or four hours, or I might still be working at ten p. m. I start each session editing yesterday’s work. I write fast, knowing I will revise later.
3) Men: boxers or briefs? Women: underwire or banded?
Banded
4) If you use a pen name, why? If you don't, do you worry about stalkers?
I picked my pen name years ago when having one was the industry standard for romance writers.
5) What is the oddest thing about your writing or the way you write?
I never work at a desk. I always use a laptop. Either in bed or in a comfortable chair. I never write with a pen or pencil if I can avoid it.
6) Give us a glimpse into how you choose the names of your characters, please?
For first names, I look at the Social Security baby name data base and pick a name that’s either popular or one I like a lot.
7) Any thoughts on staying healthy while pursuing a sedentary career?
I try to exercise for at least a half hour to forty-five minutes every day. I get up and do work around the house to break up writing sessions. If I’m on a phone call I know will be long, I get up and walk while talking.
8) Dogs or cats, and why?
I like both dogs and cats, but I travel a lot and it’s easier to have someone come in and take care of a cat.
9) If you research, what's your method? If you don't, how do you get away with that?
I try to visit the location where I’m setting a story to pick up details unique to the area. These days, I do a lot of research on the internet.
10) What is the most interesting or outrageous comment made about your writing?
I once read an article I’d written to my critique group. When I’d finished, one of the women said, “That was discombobulated, unstructured and boring.” I think she was feeling hostile because she was having trouble organizing her work.
Saturday, January 7, 2012
Ten question for Cornell Deville
Welcome YA Musa author Cornell Deville! He has a book trailer on YouTube. Pretty cool and something I need to learn more about. He and I use similar techniques for naming characters.
Ten Questions for Authors:
1) A short paragraph on what you write about and the genre, please? (don't forget your web page address!) I write middle grade and young adult fiction. I primarily focus on urban fantasy, a little paranormal, and a bit of thriller for the younger readers. My website is www.cornelldeville.com. I also have a mini website devoted to my new release, Lost in the Bayou. You can also find a book trailer on YouTube if you google the title.
2) What is a typical writing session like, in 300 characters or fewer?
I typical writing session for me usually begins by reading the last paragraph I wrote during the previous session and doing some editing on it. I'm one of those writers who edits as they go. It saves me tons of time at the end when I actually start on the real "editing" portion. I sometimes connect with Pandora and find some music that inspires me, depending on what I'm writing at the time.
3) Men: boxers or briefs? Women: underwire or banded? (apparently people want to know this!)
It depends on my mood that day.
4) If you use a pen name, why? If you don't, do you worry about stalkers?
I do use a pen name. I wanted something unique, and I learned there are several famous people with my name running around out there.
5) What is the oddest thing about your writing or the way you write?
It may not be exceptionally odd, but I usually picture the screenplay in my mind as I'm writing. I even select the actors to play the various roles and keep them in mind as I write the action and the dialogue.
6) Give us a glimpse into how you choose the names of your chracters, please?
Naming characters is a hard activity. I visit the baby name sites, but I usually just wait until something pops into my head that sounds right. My innocent heroines typically have what I would consider a "soft" name constructed with soft sounds like "ch" "sh". Villains can take a harder consonant like a "K" or a hard "C" or "Qu". It just has to sound right for the character before I use it.
7) Any thoughts on staying healthy while pursuing such a sedentary career?
I quit smoking a year and a half ago. That was a huge help. Other than that, just take a break every couple of hours and get some exercise and fresh air. And put the dark chocolate in the other room so you have to burn a few calories to get to it.
8) Dogs or cats, and why? (don't say "neither" because even if you don't have one, choosing is informative!) Both, actually. We have a bichon-poodle (poobie) named Hannah and a white Himalayan Persian cat named Billy (Sir William if you please.)
9) If you research, what's your method? If you don't, how do you get away with that?
Googling is my weapon of choice for research. Then making certain to verify everything before incorporating it. Wikipedia is also a good source.
10) What is the most interesting or outrageous comment you've heard/read about your writing?
One reviewer recently floored me when she said my writing in Lost in the Bayou reminded her of Stephen King and he'd better watch out. It made my day.
Ten Questions for Authors:
1) A short paragraph on what you write about and the genre, please? (don't forget your web page address!) I write middle grade and young adult fiction. I primarily focus on urban fantasy, a little paranormal, and a bit of thriller for the younger readers. My website is www.cornelldeville.com. I also have a mini website devoted to my new release, Lost in the Bayou. You can also find a book trailer on YouTube if you google the title.
2) What is a typical writing session like, in 300 characters or fewer?
I typical writing session for me usually begins by reading the last paragraph I wrote during the previous session and doing some editing on it. I'm one of those writers who edits as they go. It saves me tons of time at the end when I actually start on the real "editing" portion. I sometimes connect with Pandora and find some music that inspires me, depending on what I'm writing at the time.
3) Men: boxers or briefs? Women: underwire or banded? (apparently people want to know this!)
It depends on my mood that day.
4) If you use a pen name, why? If you don't, do you worry about stalkers?
I do use a pen name. I wanted something unique, and I learned there are several famous people with my name running around out there.
5) What is the oddest thing about your writing or the way you write?
It may not be exceptionally odd, but I usually picture the screenplay in my mind as I'm writing. I even select the actors to play the various roles and keep them in mind as I write the action and the dialogue.
6) Give us a glimpse into how you choose the names of your chracters, please?
Naming characters is a hard activity. I visit the baby name sites, but I usually just wait until something pops into my head that sounds right. My innocent heroines typically have what I would consider a "soft" name constructed with soft sounds like "ch" "sh". Villains can take a harder consonant like a "K" or a hard "C" or "Qu". It just has to sound right for the character before I use it.
7) Any thoughts on staying healthy while pursuing such a sedentary career?
I quit smoking a year and a half ago. That was a huge help. Other than that, just take a break every couple of hours and get some exercise and fresh air. And put the dark chocolate in the other room so you have to burn a few calories to get to it.
8) Dogs or cats, and why? (don't say "neither" because even if you don't have one, choosing is informative!) Both, actually. We have a bichon-poodle (poobie) named Hannah and a white Himalayan Persian cat named Billy (Sir William if you please.)
9) If you research, what's your method? If you don't, how do you get away with that?
Googling is my weapon of choice for research. Then making certain to verify everything before incorporating it. Wikipedia is also a good source.
10) What is the most interesting or outrageous comment you've heard/read about your writing?
One reviewer recently floored me when she said my writing in Lost in the Bayou reminded her of Stephen King and he'd better watch out. It made my day.
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
Welcome, Musa Publishing author, Cordelia Dinsmore!
An author of YA and children's books joins us today as a guest blogger today. Cordelia Dinsmore has some really fun responses to our ten questions!
) A short paragraph on what you write about and the genre, please? (don't forget your web page address!) I write for kids, from picture books to young adult. I love writing rhyming picture books, especially for the kids in my life, but I enjoy writing middle grade and young adult for my own enjoyment. I’ve been a foster mom to many young people, and I use my writing to come to terms with the experiences I’ve had in that area of my life. My website is http://cordeliadinsmore.blogspot.com.
2) What is a typical writing session like, in 300 characters or fewer? I use the BIC method – sit with my butt in the chair and make my fingers move. Sometimes I think it would be easier to go outside and relocate my house.
3) Men: boxers or briefs? Women: underwire or banded? (apparently people want to know this!) I’m a free spirit. Need I say more?
4) If you use a pen name, why? If you don't, do you worry about stalkers? I do, but only because I thought it would be a fun thing to do. Mine is a combination of one of my favorite childhood favorites – Elsie Dinsmore – who was old before my birth, and Cordelia, because I just love the sound of that name.
5) What is the oddest thing about your writing or the way you write? It may not be odd, but my characters actually talk to me. A brand new character may first approach me while I’m soaking in the tub, and she (I don’t allow males in the bathroom while I’m bathing) will just start telling me her story like we’ve been best friends forever. It freaks me out at times, but it also makes my characters completely real to me. Except for the purple elephant. She’s still a bit iffy.
6) Give us a glimpse into how you choose the names of your characters, please? It depends. Some of my character names could be interchanged with any other name, but certain ones have to be exactly who they are. Sometimes I will know a character’s name, and what her/his role is going to be. Then I’ll look up the meaning of the name on a search engine, and it completely fits with that particular character. Weird? Maybe. But that’s how it’s happened so far.
7) Any thoughts on staying healthy while pursuing such a sedentary career? Eat one piece of chocolate every hour.
8) Dogs or cats, and why? (don't say "neither" because even if you don't have one, choosing is informative!) Both. My menagerie of one dog and two cats keep me company while I write. If I don’t know where they are, I can’t concentrate.
9) If you research, what's your method? If you don't, how do you get away with that? I haven’t done a lot of researching yet, but I use Google periodically. For a YA novel that is temporarily on hold, I made numerous telephone calls to Tennessee Technical College and the county extension office in Cookeville, Tennessee. They were amazingly helpful, and I still owe one of the ladies there a signed copy (when it eventually is publishable).
10) What is the most interesting or outrageous comment you've heard/read about your writing?
HA! It was in regards to a rather unique bovine star of a Chapter Book I wrote. I had a dairy farmer friend read it, and he said I absolutely nailed the cow personality. I don’t know if that was a compliment or not. This has certainly been a lot of fun. Thanks for having me!
) A short paragraph on what you write about and the genre, please? (don't forget your web page address!) I write for kids, from picture books to young adult. I love writing rhyming picture books, especially for the kids in my life, but I enjoy writing middle grade and young adult for my own enjoyment. I’ve been a foster mom to many young people, and I use my writing to come to terms with the experiences I’ve had in that area of my life. My website is http://cordeliadinsmore.blogspot.com.
2) What is a typical writing session like, in 300 characters or fewer? I use the BIC method – sit with my butt in the chair and make my fingers move. Sometimes I think it would be easier to go outside and relocate my house.
3) Men: boxers or briefs? Women: underwire or banded? (apparently people want to know this!) I’m a free spirit. Need I say more?
4) If you use a pen name, why? If you don't, do you worry about stalkers? I do, but only because I thought it would be a fun thing to do. Mine is a combination of one of my favorite childhood favorites – Elsie Dinsmore – who was old before my birth, and Cordelia, because I just love the sound of that name.
5) What is the oddest thing about your writing or the way you write? It may not be odd, but my characters actually talk to me. A brand new character may first approach me while I’m soaking in the tub, and she (I don’t allow males in the bathroom while I’m bathing) will just start telling me her story like we’ve been best friends forever. It freaks me out at times, but it also makes my characters completely real to me. Except for the purple elephant. She’s still a bit iffy.
6) Give us a glimpse into how you choose the names of your characters, please? It depends. Some of my character names could be interchanged with any other name, but certain ones have to be exactly who they are. Sometimes I will know a character’s name, and what her/his role is going to be. Then I’ll look up the meaning of the name on a search engine, and it completely fits with that particular character. Weird? Maybe. But that’s how it’s happened so far.
7) Any thoughts on staying healthy while pursuing such a sedentary career? Eat one piece of chocolate every hour.
8) Dogs or cats, and why? (don't say "neither" because even if you don't have one, choosing is informative!) Both. My menagerie of one dog and two cats keep me company while I write. If I don’t know where they are, I can’t concentrate.
9) If you research, what's your method? If you don't, how do you get away with that? I haven’t done a lot of researching yet, but I use Google periodically. For a YA novel that is temporarily on hold, I made numerous telephone calls to Tennessee Technical College and the county extension office in Cookeville, Tennessee. They were amazingly helpful, and I still owe one of the ladies there a signed copy (when it eventually is publishable).
10) What is the most interesting or outrageous comment you've heard/read about your writing?
HA! It was in regards to a rather unique bovine star of a Chapter Book I wrote. I had a dairy farmer friend read it, and he said I absolutely nailed the cow personality. I don’t know if that was a compliment or not. This has certainly been a lot of fun. Thanks for having me!
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