CHARACTER INTERVIEW: Moira MacDonald

Time for another character interview. These are turning out to be a lot of fun!

Tell me a little about yourself (where you live, who you are, what you look like, what you hope to achieve, etc.) 

My name is Moira MacDonald.  Ach!  Nae, ’tis Moira Morgan now!    I was Moira MacDonald for centuries.  ’Tis a hard habit to break!  Mrs. Moira Morgan.  Aye!  That has a lovely sound to it!  Long ago, I was betrothed to Donald MacDonald.  Dinnae laugh, lassie!  ’Twas nae such an uncommon name when Donald and I were young.  Well, my Donald… He died young, did my Donald.  Well now, truth to tell, “died” is nae the word for it, is it?  He was hanged for darin’ to serve his prince and his king against the Hanoverian usurper. 

But that was a long time ago.  He’s in God’s hands now. 

And now… now, I have a husband: my bonnie Carl.  How I love that laddie!  I’m a bride!  Me!  Can ye believe it?  I cannae believe it myself, sometimes.  After more than two and a half…  Aye, he’s but a bairn—barely in his mid-thirties, is my Carl.  But all the men who are my age—and there are nae sae many as ye may think—are men I’d be more inclined to behead than marry, truth to tell.  But what my laddie lacks in experience and maturity, he more than makes up for in heart and courage.  I've been trainin’ him, mentorin’ him, so to speak, and he’s doin’ just grand!  (Although, of the pair of us, I’m still far better with the sword, which is as should be.)  But, sae long as I’m bein’ perfectly honest here, I have to say, there’s nary a one as compares to my laddie in the air.  That man can fly as if he were born with wings.  Ach!  Aye, he had wings when he was Converted—we all do—but now… Well, I’ll just say that he was born to fly.  And I love flying with him!  He’s taught me a trick or two.  Me!

Ach!  There I am, rambling along like I’ve nae a care in the world.  Back to yer questions, Kathryn lass!

I've lived in Salt Lake City for nigh on eighty years now, most of that in this very house.  I was born in the Scottish Highlands more than… Well, let’s just say ’twas a long time ago and leave it there. 

I’m nae tall.  People simply were nae sae tall back then as they are now.  I’m petite, ye might say.  I’ve got green eyes and fair skin.  Oh, aye, I was fair-complected before my Conversion, and the color of our skin does nae really change after that.  And since sunlight can do a wee bit more to my skin than increase the melanin pigmentation… Well, enough of that.  As for my hair?  It’s always been as red as ’tis now.  Aye, the wave, ’tis natural.  I cannae cut nor curl it.  It just grows back to the original length, far down my back.  Truth to tell, I dinnae think I’d cut it if I could.  Carl likes it this way—though he does nae have a choice in the matter! 

Am I beautiful?  Fair to look upon?  Aye, but that beauty has been more of a curse to me than a blessin’.  Perhaps, if I had been more plain, the British would have simply killed me, rather than… what they did.  For centuries, I thought ’twould have been better had they killed me.  Now?  Well, now things have changed, have they nae?

As for what I hope to achieve… I would love to live a long and happy life with my laddie, to spend the coming centuries together, but such cannae be.  Above all, I desire children, bairns of my own.  But females of my kind cannae bear children.  And I must be content with my lot.  I am what my choices have made me.  I have my dearie… for now.  Carl and I will fight and we will die.  Even if we are victorious, we will die.  But perhaps we will rid the Earth of the plague of Lilith and her Children.

What do you like to do in your spare time? 

Deliverin’ babies!  I cannae have bairns of my own, but I can help bring the wee ones into this world.  ’Tis why I became a midwife, then a nurse, and then a doctor.    

What is your favorite color and why? 

Ach!  ’Tis a hard chestnut.  Nae, I’m jokin’ with ye, lassie!  ’Tis red, of course! 

What is your favorite food? Why is it your favorite? 

Ye are jokin’ with me now, are ye?  Blood, of course!  What else?  I can derive nourishment from naught else.  And it must be human.  My life would be sae simple if I could live off animal blood, like in that silly “vampire” romance book series I will nae allow to be mentioned in my presence! 

What would you say is your biggest quirk? 

I suppose ’twould be my brogue.  I could conceal my nature much more easily were I to simply “blend in.”  I’m perfectly capable of doing a spot-on Utah accent, I’ll have ye know.  I simply refuse to speak that way (most of the time).  I am who I am.  My friends dinnae question it.  Of course, I do have a wee bit of an unfair advantage when it comes to getting’ others to believe me.  And Carl finds it charmin’. 

What is it about your antagonist that irks you the most, and why? 

Antagonist?  As in one?  I have sae many enemies.  ’Twould be nigh impossible to single out one.    I’ll mention three (and obviously nae the worst of the lot).  When it comes to Rebecca, it does nae help matters that, on top of all her other sins, she’s also British!  With Michael, ’tis his treatment of Benjamin.  Michael is a vile creature who fouls the very air with his breath.  I ken very well that Benjamin was old enough to consent to Conversion—it does nae work, otherwise—but truly, how much free will does an eight year-old slave-boy have?  And then there’s Winnie Morrison.  Ach!  Poor Winnie!  She creates her own hell.  If she were nae sae obsessed with me and with destroying my life and reputation (and my poor flower beds), she might then be able to seek a measure of happiness for herself.  But nae, her only delight seems to be forcing her misery and bitterness on others.  I've tried to befriend her, truly I have.  At one time, I was her teacher and mentor.  But she was much younger then, happier and less bitter. 

What or who means the most to you in your life? What, if anything, would you do to keep him/her/it in your life? 

I would've thought ’twas obvious.  My bonnie laddie, my Carl.  My husband.  Aye, I love the sound of that!  My husband!  I've waited long enough for that, have I nae?  I would sae love to simply go hide somewhere together, just the two of us, for a few centuries.  Would that be sae much to ask?  But nae, we will fight and we will die.  There is nae other way.  I only pray that, when we die, ’twill be together.  And that we’ll win this war.  In the meantime, I plan to spend every possible moment together and to cherish those moments. 

What one thing would you like readers to know about you that may not be spelled out in the book in which you inhabit? 

Truth to tell, I’m afraid.  I’m always afraid.  I’m afraid I’ll slip up, that I’ll give in to my needs and kill some innocent or someone who is guilty but might yet repent.  I’m afraid I’ll fail.  I’m sae very afraid that Carl will die before I do, and I’ll be left alone again.  I've been alone for sae long. 

If you could tell your writer (creator) anything about yourself that might turn the direction of the plot, what would it be? 

Ach, lassie!  I've already done that!  David was all prepared to write what I was going to say (poor, simple, daft lad that he is) in a pivotal scene, when I spoke up in his head and said, “I would nae ever say such a thing, laddie!  Here’s what I’d say…”  And I did.  It changed the course of the story… for the better. 

Ask me any question. I've always wanted to know what a character thinks about writers like myself. I'll answer the question at the end of this interview. 

Have ye ever killed off a character simply because ye could nae longer decide what to do with him or because he was guilty of the mortal sin of bein’ uninterestin’? 

Good question, but I'm sorry to disappoint you. I haven't (yet) killed anyone off that turned out uninteresting or boring, but that doesn't mean I won't in the future. The very best and (worst) characters have to be in a book, don't they? You don't want a bunch of 'un-necessaries' running around with no purpose, right?

Thank you so much! 

It has been my very great pleasure.  (And I’m fairly certain ’twas a delight for David to get back into my noggin once more.)

***

You're welcome, Moira! Learn more about Moira and her writer below:

Website:  http://www.unwillingchild.com

Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/unwillingchild/

Blog: http://unwillingchild.wordpress.com

Purchase links (Amazon, B&N, iTunes, smashwords, etc., including hardcover, paperback, and e-book):

The Unwilling: http://www.unwillingchild.com/book.html

The Penitent: http://www.unwillingchild.com/book2.html

The Prophecy: http://www.unwillingchild.com/book3.html

Marketing Class! This coming Saturday!

The Marketing Event is just a few days away.
Have you signed up yet?

Writers 4 Literacy Presents

Getting Your Book Marketing Off the Ground

A Hands on Class

When: Saturday, May 17, 2014

Where: Location change! Event will now be at Jill Vanderwood's home: 4254 S. Bannock Drive (5035 W.) West Valley

Time: 9:30 to 3:30

Taught by Jill Vanderwood, Kathryn Jones, Douglas Jones, C. Larene Hall, Savanna Peterson and Dr. Debra Young from the Literacy Action Center

Lunch will be served

Cost: $45—If You Register By May 1^st—then the cost will go up to $50

A portion of the proceeds will be donated to adult literacy

Contact Jill Vanderwood—thewriters4literacy@gmail.com

What you will learn—How to write a press release; how to make a book trailer; how to set up your own marketing plan; how to set up your own blog; get your message on the radio and what to talk about when you get an interview; how to set up a fundraiser; how to plan a book launch party; how to find books in your category and write a book review.  *Please bring your laptop and a USB with a bio, back cover information and pictures of yourself and your book cover.

***

Snow? Sleet? Rain? Consistency in Writing

Do you go back and cut
what doesn't work?

I just looked out my office window. Looks like snow, or at least, snow mixed with rain.

Man.

I was looking forward to working in the yard.

Hey!

It just stopped!

No kidding!

So funny.

I guess it's spring. One moment it's warm, the next the sky is pretending it's going to return to winter. And in the next second, we're back to spring again.

I love spring. But I also like consistency. The sort of consistency I hope to portray in the books I write. I don't want readers to be too clueless; especially at the end of the book where I hope to resolve most, if not all of the issues.

I don't want my readers putting down my book and saying to themselves, "Well it looked like a good one, but the ending was entirely wrong."

Kind of like a cooler than average spring day turned winter.

Think about your own work. Is your ending satisfying to the reader? It may be satisfying to you, but you may not know how others perceive it, or your characters perhaps, or the setting you have chosen, unless you get into the heart and soul of the matter and ask your readers (before your book is published, of course) following suit with those significant changes.

That means research. It means getting into the heads and hearts of your characters. It's about feeling as they would feel and doing as they would do as you write about them. It's making every scene three dimensional, like a movie, like the best play you've ever set your eyes on.

Here's to your best work!

Kathryn

Conquering Your Goliaths

Isn't it amazing how easy it is to lose our focus because we're busy doing something else?

Purchase this Book
See my newest review on this book
HERE

Just yesterday I taught a class on Conquering Your Goliaths. The main concern of my class was that it was so easy to get distracted. Not a group of writers, they yet found that their lives could be easily swayed by the immediate task at hand rather than what was truly important.

And, again, we all do that.

One of the things I do to curb my wandering is to make a list in the morning of those things I'd like to accomplish. I cross the items off when they're finished, and if something isn't done, I add it to the list for the next day. Another thing I do is calendar everything. I need to know when my author and character interviews are, when I'm heading to the next conference, when the doctor's appointment is, etc. And no, I haven't yet converted my thoughts to my cellphone calendar.

I suppose I'm old school.

But having said that, I think that the most important thing about writing things down is the ease for which you remember. That is, if you remember to look at your calendar.

One of my daughter's doesn't. She's tried writing things down once, only to find that she didn't look at the calendar again. So maybe something else is needed for her.

All I know that in order to conquering many of my goliaths, I need to know the direction I am moving. I need to see clearly on paper what it is that's important to me for that day, not neglecting those things of highest importance that probably have nothing to do with cleaning my house.

Things like:
Time with husband, children and grandchildren
Time to read and meditate
Time to reach out to a friend

Conquering any goliath is not an easy feat. Consider David. He was small, young and inexperienced in the ways of the world. But he knew God and listened to him.

And that's really the first stepping stone.

What Do You Get When You Mix Exercise with Ice-cream?

A stomach ache.

This morning I woke up with a bit of a tummy ache. You see, in the morning, I'm all for Wii exercise. I've been exercising to the dance versions for over a year now and love it. I love how I feel, and love how I'm trimming up.

What I don't love?

About 4 p.m. I'm wanting some sugar. So I get a snack. It's usually ice-cream. But I have also retrieved the Oreo's and the chocolate candy, all of which we have at our place in heavy abundance. But who ever heard of a writer that didn't like chocolate?

Anyway, I feel as if I'm cheating myself of all of the good I could be doing, just because I fall off the horse in the afternoon.

I gave up soda over a year ago, too, and believe me, that one has been difficult. So I feel as if I should treat myself to a little sugar.

Only I don't like the stomach aches and I don't like the groggy feeling I sometimes get in the morning because I've been pigging out on snacks.

So why am I telling you all of this? And what, pray, does it have to do with writing?

Let me tell you.

Do you hate criticism of your work, so much, you never let anyone read it? Do you ever write something you feel is so fantastic that you don't want to bother with the editing? Do you struggle finding time to write? Does it come after your housework or your favorite television show, and so you feel you rarely have time to write? Do your children bother you when you write? Do they hang onto your legs like dangling participles? Do you feel as if you can't write when they're awake? Do you feel as if you're lacking great ideas, or that your writing will never be any good?

If you said yes to any of the above questions, take a look.

Are you mixing your writing exercises with chocolate ice-cream? Do you ache inside? Are you going to do something about it? Well, are you?

Would love to hear.

(I'll let you know how I'm doing in about a week).

CHARACTER INTERVIEW: Elle Burton

 1.  Tell me a little about yourself (where you live, who you are, what you look like, what you hope to achieve, etc.  My name is Elle Burton and I live in Menomonie, Wisconsin. I’m ten years old and my mom and poppy say I am quite smart. I go to school in Menomonie and live by Lake Menomin. It’s really pretty right now with the snow on it, but it can get pretty stinky in the summer time from the algae. I still love it here. I have all kinds of friends at school. I have dark auburn hair and brown eyes. I love butterflies. They are wonderful and make children feel safe and happy. I attend Wakanda Elementary School and my best friend is Megan Olson. She and I do everything together…well, almost everything. I have a secret that I’m not supposed to tell anyone, so it makes it kinda hard sometimes.

Learn More Here

2.       What do you like to do in your spare time?  I love to play with Mr. Paws. He’s a cat who comes every day to visit. He lives almost a mile away, and he still comes no matter what the weather is like. It’s been really hard for him lately with all the snow in Wisconsin. I love to go visit friends in the country to see all the animals, especially a little fawn that I helped Officer Wendy save. Lately, I’ve been pretty busy with a new project. I’m helping other kids now, but I can’t really say too much about that. I love to swim and ride my bike in the summer. 

3.       What is your favorite color and why? I love the color blue, because it reminds me of Lake Menomin in the spring when everything is fresh and new. Our house overlooks the lake, so I can see the blue sky and the lake out my bedroom window. I love sparkles and they show up better on pink, so I wear a lot of pink, but it’s not my favorite color.

4.        What is your favorite food? Why is it your favorite? I absolutely love blueberry pancakes. Mom and I go out in the country north of town where a lady has a blueberry patch and we can pick our own. Mom made me blueberry pancakes for breakfast for my birthday this year. The blueberries just kind of explode in your mouth. When I left for school after eating my pancakes, Mom went to the hospital and had a new baby. She named him JJ and he looks like my Poppy. Did I tell you Poppy was stationed in Afghanistan? He was killed in a Chinook helicopter the same day JJ was born. It was so sad for my mom. I stayed at the hospital and helped her though. I believe in angels, because my poppy came and talked to me. If there weren’t angels, how could he come all the way from Afghanistan to see the new baby and tell me goodbye? 

5.       What would you say is your biggest quirk? Oh my, I’m not sure exactly what that means ‘cause I’m only ten, but I think it means what makes me different. I, well, I guess it’s that I have invisible friends who help me protect the children here on earth. I’ve been told I have a vivid imagination.

6.       What is it about your antagonist that irks you the most, and why? Oh my, that’s a really big question. You see, I think that every child deserves to be protected and to live a happy life. I am not afraid to fight for other kids who are being bullied. I even challenged Jimmy Backus who’s the worst bully ever. He had my friend Amber in tears on the playground the other day. Then there are kids who are actually being hurt at home. Can you believe that some parents actually beat their kids? Mom and Poppy are so good to me, I can’t even imagine it, but I know now it happens. It happened to a girl in my school. I also hate people who try to cheat other people like Mr. Vickers cheated poor Miss Irma…she’s a really old lady who lives a couple of blocks over. Mom and I go to visit her and keep her company. Mr. Vicker cheated her out of all her retirement savings, but I think I have a plan to help her. So, I guess the answer to your question is that I think everyone should have a kind heart. I am going to do everything I can to help other people but mostly kids because no one should ever be hurt or cheated, don’t you think? 

7.      What or who means the most to you in your life? What, if anything, would you do to keep him/her/it in your life? I’ve always been my daddy’s girl. Poppy would have done anything for me and I adored him. Because of that awful war in the Middle East. I’ve already lost him, but he told me when he came to see me before he led his men to heaven that he would always be with me in the sunrise that warms and brightens my face and in the stars that I gaze up at when I fall asleep at night. I really do know it was his angel who came to me on my birthday and I won’t ever forget him. I promised him I would take JJ to Lake Menomin when he’s old enough and teach him to fish. Poppy is with me every single minute of every day. I hope I can make him proud of me and accomplish all the things he told me I would do. He’s not ever going to leave me. I see him everywhere and I have a responsibility to tell JJ all about him. That kinda makes it like he’s still alive, doesn’t it?

8.       What one thing would you like readers to know about you that may not be spelled out in the book in which you inhabit? Hmmm. That’s a really hard question. I think it would be that I always wanted to grow up to be a teacher. My Grandma Statler is such a good teacher and so is Mom and Miss Irma. I think the most important thing a person can ever do is to help a kid grow up and accomplish everything they are capable of doing. So I think I would like to be a teacher or someone who helps teach kids how to get it right to begin with. 

9.       If you could tell your writer (creator) anything about yourself that might turn the direction of the plot, what would it be? I’m scared I won’t be able to do what is expected of me. I’m just not sure I am as smart and strong as everyone tells me I am. It’s hard being ten and knowing that someone’s life depends on how you do your job. So far, I’ve done everything right and it’s all worked out, but I’m so afraid I might make a mistake. Amadeus and Mother Blue have so much faith in me and Grandma Statler is so proud of what I’ve done so far. But I’ve never been special and it’s hard for me to trust myself and my reactions to know what to do. I think it’ll get better as I get older, but right now I’m really frightened. What will they all think if I make a big mistake? Will anybody get hurt because I didn’t guess right?

10.   Ask me any question. I've always wanted to know what a character thinks about writers like myself. I'll answer the question at the end of this interview. I’m pretty sure that I am a whole lot of people put together that Peggy has known in her life. I have good traits and some I need to improve. Does an author feel like a character is like their own child? Do you help them like you would if they were your own kid? It’s really important to me to know that because otherwise some of this stuff would be far too scary for me to handle by myself.

Yes, most authors treat their characters like their own children, especially if they are as young as you are. I notice that you care about others and are afraid to make mistakes, but it's good to care about others even when you are afraid of making mistakes. Life isn't always what we wish for, but we can make it better by reaching out and helping someone else.  

***

Thank you, Elle!

Learn more about Elle Burton and the Reflective Portals:

website:    http://peggymcaloon.com/

Facebook Author Page:  https://www.facebook.com/pages/Peggy-Mound-McAloon/289445231180588

Facebook Parent Resource Page:  https://www.facebook.com/pages/Peggy-Mound-Mcaloon-Parenting-Resources/644656588904936

Google+   https://plus.google.com/+PeggyMcAloon/posts?hl=en

Editing: What it Really Means

 

I've recently made acquaintance with a fine writer. She and I write the same genre: cozy mystery, and have begun sharing in the wealth, meaning the wealth only mystery writers can share.

This wealth doesn't come in the form of coins or hundred dollars bills. It doesn't come from just a look-see over sentence structure and paragraphing. It comes from writing the same genre and seeing what needs to be fixed or removed completely, what needs to be shaped and what needs to be pared in the other's work.

It's been really interesting.

I have had many, many writer friends, editors and readers throughout the years read my stuff, but never have a had a cozy mystery writer read and critique my cozy mystery, and I'm here to tell you, it makes a world of difference.

Sometimes, it's enough to have an avid reader or an expert editor read your work, but at other times (and as I'm learning, especially with a mystery) it's a good idea to have someone read your work that's prolific in the same genre.

What you'll find is that those nuances, those tiny details that others may miss, someone who writes what you write will find them out. Even after you've done your research (and you need to research for a mystery book) you'll find that you missed some things and took other things for granted, (why didn't I discover that cruise ship employees were not allowed to fraternize with those on board?)

For those of you who know, Sunny-Side Up is in the editing phase, and it's really getting the work-out this time around. Yes, I have my regular readers and editors, but, like I said, I also have this cozy mystery writer who is checking out the kinks.

You know, editing is a bit like personally going through the refiner's fine. You may not like it. It may burn. But in the end, you are shiny clean.

There's nothing I want more.

Best Ideas to Get You Writing

If you're like me, the last couple of days was spent doing those Easter dinners and egg hunts. Now it's time to get back to work!

Wow.

Do you ever feel like all that fun time passes like a blink and that your writing is always there to stare you in the face?

I do.

Today, as I began to make my list (I always do better with a' to do' list) I was reminded of how busy Monday's always are for me. Not only do I have the daily tasks, I have the extra tasks brought on by a fun and busy weekend.

No complaints here. But you might just be feeling like I'm feeling this beautiful morning, and so I thought it would be a good time to spark the flame so to speak. To get you and ME writing again.

So here goes...

1. If you have a blog, and just after you've finished reading this one, write your blog and get it posted. I find the earlier I post my blog the more I actually get accomplished during the day and I think that's because I've jumped started my mind early on.

2. Keep writing even if you don't feel like it. If nothing is coming to you, keep writing anyway until something does. Don't correct the sentences or paragraphs, just write.

3. Put on some music. Listen for a moment.

4. Write something that you've shelved for awhile. Pull it out and see what you can do to tweak it.

5. Take a look at my blog post here for other ideas.

The best thing you can do to get jump started in writing is to write and to keep writing. No matter the interruptions, no matter the initial desire. I promise, you'll be on the flower lined lane before you know it.

Surprise! Top 5 Posts in March 2014

I've done this before, sort of given you a run-down of top posts. And I think it's good, especially if you've missed my daily posts and are just hunkering to read the best ones.

This time around I wanted to focus on a month time period. I wanted to see what readers were reading in this short time frame and see if I could come up with some reasoning for the favorites.

Here they are. Surprisingly, most were in the same topic arena. If this doesn't surprise you, it did me, and confirmed that I'll be continuing author interviews because readers and writers alike continue to enjoy them.

AUTHOR INTERVIEWS!

#1 Lorraine Carey
#2 Cindy Hogan
#3 David Belt
#4 Mikey Brooks
#5 Nancy Kyme

The only blog post that didn't fit into the above category was my post entitled, SHOUT IT OUT! What you can do to promote your writing without being obnoxious. It tied at #3 with David Belt and can be found here.

Part of the reason for the higher ranking top posts I think is the simple sharing of it. Not only do I share these posts, the writers themselves share them, so my readership doubles, and often, triples.

I also think that readers and writers enjoy reading posts that help them in their own writing. They also like to learn more about the writers they read.

Two of the five authors were also a part of the Write Here in Ephraim Conference, and that additional tag might have helped them in place standings #3 and #4, though it's interesting to me that in places #1 and #2, the tag of the conference didn't seem to be needed.

My findings:

Author signings in general bring in more readers if the author is also willing to promote along with me.
Strange titles, like SHOUT IT OUT! What you can do to promote your writing without being obnoxious, continue to garner in readers, simply because they stand out. The subject itself probably didn't hurt either.

Try this on your own posts. Find out what is being read and move forward with similar posts to keep your readership happy.

5 Ways to Fill Your Bucket

Burned out?

Trying to make sense of your new fiction title, and have finally decided to scrap it?

Don't.

Sometimes, all we need is a re-fill. When we're full, we can easily return to our projects without a hitch. Here are some ideas:

1. Spend some time away from your desk. Meaning a few hours away. Not just in your front or backyard, or taking a cruise to the grocery store. I'm talking about a real fill-up; the kind that doesn't answer the door or the cellphone. I'm talking about a park. The canyons. The lake. The... (you fill in the relaxing place). You may have to plan ahead, but do it. A change of scenery to ponder and think usually does the trick.

2. If you feel as if you can't leave your place (at least not right now when you're feeling so burned out), take some moments to read. I mean it. Don't read and edit your own work. Read someone else's purely for enjoyment. Don't try to fix the awkward paragraphs (because you will probably still see them even in published works) and don't analyze anything. This is so tough for me because I'm doing it every day on my own work and the works of others, but when I can truly relax and read a good book, I'm filled up for the next adventure in my writing life.

3. Play some music and do nothing. Impossible, you say? Try it. Pick something soothing, lay back and close your eyes. See if you can manage doing nothing for 15 minutes, then return to your work. You'll be surprised at what you come up with.

4. Get creative. Write just because you love it. Start anywhere. From a picture you've chosen from a magazine, from a randomly chosen sentence in your favorite novel, from your favorite quote; just start writing and let it flow.

5. Call someone and tell them you love them. Do something for someone else. Visit someone who doesn't get out much. Call a friend you haven't spoken with in a long time. Get out of yourself. When we focus on someone else, even if it's for a few short hours, it's amazing what comes back to us in the form of new and creative ideas.

We all have buckets we need to fill, and sometimes, we feel as if there are more holes in our bucket than ideas. That's when we need to take a second look at life.

CHARACTER INTERVIEW: Antony Danic

Does Antony have anxiety? What would he really do to protect Elite? 

How many characters have I killed in my writing?

My second character interview! I hope you enjoy!

Tell me a little about yourself (where you live, who you are, what you look like, what you hope to achieve, etc.) 

My name is Antony Danic. I live in the Deakin District of Canberra. That’s the Australian Capital Territory.  I have dark brown hair, usually to my shoulders, but I like to change it often. My eyes are blue. As for what I do? I am a . . . Human Resources specialist for Hurst Enterprises. I’d like to do two things, one retire and travel, and have a family with my wife Elite.

What do you like to do in your spare time? 

I like to travel. I like to practice martial arts, I should be testing for my fifth degree black belt in Tang Soo Do soon.  I like to go dancing with Elite.

What is your favorite color and why? 

Black. Then I can blend in and be un-noticed.

What is your favorite food? Why is it your favorite?

Chinese. I think for the variety. I love pot stickers.

What would you say is your biggest quirk?

I dislike technology. Especially machines that think they are autonomous.

What is it about your antagonist that irks you the most, and why? 

Antagonist? Don’t have one. (Author note, antagonist is himself.)

What or who means the most to you in your life? What, if anything, would you do to keep him/her/it in your life? 

Elite. She means everything to me.  I’d do anything to protect her. Even kill someone.

What one thing would you like readers to know about you that may not be spelled out in the book in which you inhabit? 

That anxiety issue my author thinks I have. . . um, not real.

 

If you could tell your writer (creator) anything about yourself that might turn the direction of the plot, what would it be? 

Honestly? I don’t think so. We both think the plot is pretty perfect.

Ask me any question. I've always wanted to know what a character thinks about writers like myself. I'll answer the question at the end of this interview. 

How many characters have you killed in your writing? My author thinks she holds a record or something.

Let's see, I've only written one mystery (that's published, that is) and I really don't want to give it away, so I'll say somewhere between one and four. You probably have the record. 

***

Thank you, Antony!

Learn more about Emergence and the author C. Michelle Jefferies at:

http://cmichellejefferies.com

http://cmichellejefferies.blogspot.com

twitter: cmjefferies

facebook: C Michelle Jefferies author

pinterest: cmjefferies

Knowledge is Power

Sometimes I feel as if I'm swimming in some sort of vortex, trying and failing to find my way out. I write, write write about what I like to learn about, what lights me up, and yet there are days (like this one) in which I have no idea what to share.

So, I'm asking. What haven't I written about that you would like to know more about? What subjects haven't I covered yet? What strange and fearful things in the writing, publishing and marketing worlds have caused you to ask yourself:

"What the heck does that mean?"
"Where do I go from here?"
"How can I do THAT without spending more money?"

If these questions and more have entered your mind, please ask away. If I get enough questions I'd like to do a question of the week. You know, the sort of questions you might ask at the end of a writing seminar.

So, ask away!

I'm eagerly waiting...

Kathryn

AUTHOR INTERVIEW: Lucy Cleary

Purchase:
All I Had Was Your Birth Certificate

Why does Lucy write? What does she do to promote her writing?

Find out in today's interview!

If you've ever lost a loved one, this book is for you.

Tell me about yourself. What got you started in writing?

I am a native Delawarean, Retired Housing Manager, first time author and Christian. I have lived in Aschaffenburg Germany, Savannah Georgia and Washington, D.C. I am a wife, mother and grandmother.  My story is a quite different from other writers. I actually started writing in 1992, when I began searching for my sister. I sent out letters to everyone I thought could assist us in finding her. Then years later I put all the letters together and started writing. I had no idea that I would one day write my mother's story “All I Had Was Your Birth Certificate: Memories That Remain.”

How and where do you write?  Do you prefer a lap top or do you prefer writing freehand?  

I  write anytime.  My writing space is in my dinning room adjacent to a double window that has lots of sun light. I prefer free hand I like to see what I am writing.

What's your favorite part about writing? 

Being able to share a story that will impact lives and bring hope and inspiration to others that have struggled with the loss of a child through death, abduction, even a child that has runaway.

Your least favorite part about writing? 

My least favorite part is when I am finishing up the last chapter.

How do you come up with your characters? Why would readers want to get to know them? 

The characters in my book they actually exist in the real life. I think  readers would want to know the characters because they are real people that have faced every day challenges and struggles.

What types of marketing do you do to promote your writing?

Press releases, interviews, radio/talks shows and author blog interviews. I have several connections to most of the social media sites as well as Author Groups.

How do you schedule your writing time? 

I don't have a schedule; my writing time varies. 

When do you write?

I write everyday.

What are you currently working on? 

Promoting and marketing my first book. 

Do you have a project on the back burner? 

Yes, I have an idea for a children's book I starting writing prior to All I Had Was Your Birth Certificate. 

What would you tell a beginning writer who wants to publish but doesn't believe he/she has enough talent? 

I would encourage him or her to first believe in themselves. Write down everything, read as much as can. Find a mentor that can help you analyze your writing style. Go for it. Pursue your dreams.

Kathryn, thank you so much for this opportunity to share my mother's story. I believe this story will help many parents that have lost hope in ever finding their lost loved one. When I started writing letters trying to find our sister this scripture stayed in my spirit. I can do all things through Christ that strengthen me. (Philippians 4:13) and he has proved that to me over and over again I could not have done it without him.

May God continue to bless you.

***

Thank you, Lucy!

 Learn more about Lucy, contact her: 

      

 Book is available on amazon.com, outskirtspress.com, books a million.com

 http://www.allihadwasyourbirthcertificate.wordpress.com 

 http://www.amazon.com/allihadwasyourbirthcertificate

 http://www.facebook.com/allihadwasyourbirthcertificate

 http://www.LucyMsClear@twitter.com

 http://www.Linkendin.com/pub/lucy-cleary

 e-mail addresses: msclear@comcast.net; lucy-cleary@gmail.com