Tuesday, March 31, 2015

Making Changes in Writing and in Life

It's been made clear to me, especially lately, that making changes in writing and in life is the name of the game.

And change isn't always easy.


But it's exciting!

Who wouldn't want to make their writing better, more coherent, more exciting to read? Who wouldn't want to take their own life out of the pit of boredom, sameness? Who wouldn't want to take the next grand opportunity for growth when presented?

I know I would.

Still, change can be pretty scary, too, though I'm one for moving through it anyway. Who knows what will be on the other side of it?

A better book?

A better life?

Here's hoping you make today better than yesterday.


Kathryn


Monday, March 30, 2015

CHARACTER INTERVIEW: Del Channing from the Dell Channing Murder Mystery series



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

Image result for patricia g stevenson
Order books here
My name is Del Channing.  I’m a professor of global history seated at UMass in Amherst, Massachusetts.  I live in a small home on State Street the back of which overlooks the falls that run from Puffer Pont to Miller Lake.  I’m 6’2” tall and have a somewhat lanky frame.  I have blond hair which I wear rather long, much to my Mother’s dislike.  I was born in 1975 and raised in San Francisco.  I was married and divorced prior to the start of the series.  My goal in life is to make history come live for my students.

What do you like to do in your spare time?

I run every day.

What is your favorite color and why?

I have no particular color as a favorite and am inclined to wear tans and browns; but, do enjoy seeing others in bright colors.

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

My mother, Madaline is a marvelous cook.  She has always awakened in me a love for all food that is well prepared.

What would you say is your biggest quirk?

I dislike it when people talk too much about my ability to solve murder mysteries.  It actually embarrasses me.

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

I hate it when I cannot quickly put a puzzle, about a murder, together.

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 have a best friend, Bif; who helps me solve murder mysteries, and have a loving mother.  My father was killed in the first book of the series.

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

I respect life, and feel that the majority of mankind is honest and honorable.

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

I would like to find someone that I could spend the rest of my life with and have children. This seems hopeless, what with my inability to get over Marva . . . .

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.

Why do you want to get to know me better?

I always love getting to know new people, even fictional ones. I know with the characters I create, I get to know them pretty well and hate to see them go once the story or series is finished. Thanks for asking!

***

Thank you, Del Channing!


Thursday, March 26, 2015

WRITE HERE IN EPHRAIM CONFERENCE this Friday and Saturday!

IN ITS 5TH YEAR, "WRITE HERE IN EPHRAIM" IS CENTRAL UTAH'S WRITING CONFERENCE WHERE PUBLISHED AUTHORS GIVE INSTRUCTION ON WRITING. THE CONFERENCE IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR UP-AND-COMING WRITERS TO GAIN NEW SKILLS AND ENCOURAGEMENT IN THEIR CRAFT.
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GRAND DOOR PRIZE - BRAND NEW "NOOK!"

WOW! Write Here in Ephraim is now offering PITCH SESSIONS where you can meet with publishers to tell them all about your story! Please contact Keani at Netherfield Publishing to set up your time to shine! keani.gifford@netherfieldpublishing.com 
You may also contact McKelle George of Jolly Fish Press for PITCH SESSIONS! mckellegeorge@yahoo.com
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For the first time - Included in the conference price is a ticket to the Snow College Theater comedy, "Cinderella Waltz."  Click here for more details!


I will be teaching two classes. One on marketing your book on a budget, the other on creating your own book trailers!

Wednesday, March 25, 2015

CHARACTER INTERVIEW: Victricia Malicia Calamity Barrett

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 Victricia Malicia Calamity Barrett. It’s sort of a creepy name, I know, but that’s what happens when you’re born a pirate. I’m short-ish for my age and have curly red hair that never behaves. I used to live on board a ship with my whole pirate family, but now I have my own jungle hut on Mermaid’s Reef Island. When I grow up I want to write stories for movies about outer space and invent new flavors of ice cream.

What do you like to do in your spare time?  

READ!!  And when I’m not reading, I teach my parrot new words or build sandcastles.

What is your favorite color and why?  

Red – because it goes with my hair.  Except on Halloween, then I LOVE to wear anything purple.

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

I’ll eat anything without scales or tentacles – have you ever tasted Spaghetti Tentacular?? BLECH!!  But my most favorite food in the world is Uncle Dead-eye’s coconut chocolate chip cookies. They’re sweet and chewy and smooshy all at once.

What would you say is your biggest quirk?  If you ask anyone in my buccaneer family they’ll say my biggest quirk is NOT liking anything pirate-y. (They also think me liking books is weird too.) But I think the weirdest thing about me is that I don’t like pizza. All that gooey cheese is just shudder-worthy.

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

If you've read about my adventures, you might think Scylla the sea serpent is my antagonist. She IS a big nuisance.  But really what I struggle with most of all is getting my family to accept how different I am. 

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?  

The one thing I can’t live without is stories!  I would give up, well, I DID give up living with my pirate family so I could work in a bookstore and READ whenever I want to.

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

I’m actually a very good swimmer and love the beach. 

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

My second favorite thing in the world is riding roller coasters.  So I really would love to own a water park with cool rides. 

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.   

If you could only write one more story in your whole life – what would you write about?

Wow, what a question. Only one more story? Hmmmm. I really don't know. I have two stories right now that I'm working on, and if I had to choose between the two of them I might die of old age trying to figure out which one to pick. 

I think, though, that it would be nice to publish a picture book. I've got multiple manuscripts ready and no artist, which I desperately need to finish these projects that have been sitting around for awhile. 

***
Thank you, Victricia!

To learn more about Victricia visit these sites: 

Book website:  www.victriciamalicia.com
Author website: www.clclickard.com



Tuesday, March 24, 2015

TUESDAY TRICKS: Five Things You Can Do To Get Writing this Morning


If you're considering taking a day off, it may be the best thing for you. RN R is usually a good way to get new ideas flowing, and get the heavy block off your back. But what if one day has turned into two and two into three, and you're not even on vacation?

I don't know about you, but I sometimes find myself scrambling for something to write about. My book, well, I just can't figure out what to write next. That story? It's as stalled as a car out of gas. I've been thinking about taking the day off, you know, to get ideas coming again.

Should I?

When I'm in one of these moods is usually because I'm feeling overwhelmed in my life; there's just too much going and I can't even consider sitting down and spending time writing. Either that, or I'm stressed about something else I have to do that's been weighing on my mind for days.

Here's what I do when faced with the 'I just don't want to write today' problem.

Sometimes I sit back and do nothing. :) Let's be honest here, I sometimes don't do as I should. But after a few moments of moping I gather up my courage and face the computer. The dishes will just have to wait.

1. I may start a new project. It may be one of those projects that has been weighing on my mind for awhile; a project I just don't think I have the time for. I have one of those of my own - right now. It always seems to get shelved for more pressing work, when, in actuality, this work needs to be at the top of my list because of the time and attention it demands.

2. I may read my latest project out loud. There is something to be said for reading out loud. Yes, you find mistakes, but the sound of your voice often prompts further writing.

3. Sit outside. If it's a nice enough day where you live sit outside for awhile, pen and paper in hand, and see what comes to you. A change of scenery often works for me. If it's too cold where you are, try a different room, but don't use a computer to get your thoughts down. See what happens.

4. Find a book, any book, and point to a random page. What sentence is your finger on? Start with this sentence and see what comes to you.

5. I've spoken of this last idea before, but it bears repeating. Organize a binder of pictures from magazines, pictures that are interesting in some way. Perhaps the interest is in the colors used, or the slogan, or the people within the photo. Once organized, choose a random picture to write about. Pay special attention to your five senses and see what happens.

Enjoy!

Kathryn

Monday, March 23, 2015

AUTHOR INTERVIEW: Charlotte Raine, author of Midnight Sun and other works of fiction

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

I started writing seriously last year when I left my job in advertising. 

I live just outside Vail, Colorado and love to ski, meditate, visit used bookstores (probably too often) and of course write.

I had a real passion for writing in college.  However, after graduation life took over and I got a job in advertising and at the time I loved it.  Over the years the excitement in advertising wore off, and the passion for writing crept back in.  I finally took the leap of faith last year, and left my job to write full-time.

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

I write exclusively on my Mac Book Air, I never leave home without it.  Most of my writing is done at home from my desk, which faces outside and overlooks the mountains.  In my newsletter I share a photo of my exact writing spot.  This photo is only available to fans who sign up for my newsletter, it’s my way of sharing a little bit of my personal life with them.

I do use a small notepad to keep track of things that pop into my head, but I don’t use it for writing just note taking.

What's your favorite part about writing? Your least favorite part about writing?

My favorite part is the solitude.  It’s so peaceful, and relaxing.  When I was in advertising I was go, go, go all day, and all night.  I didn't take vacations. I was in constant contact with the office via email, text, phone, and video chat.  That is all a thing of the past now and I don’t regret it one bit.

My least favorite part about writing would probably have to be finishing a book.  I know this sounds crazy but once I get writing I don’t want to stop, but at some point I have to.  You have to end your story somehow and for me that’s a tough thing to do.  I think that is why my last couple of books and the ones I’m working on now are part of a series.  I get into the characters so much I just want to keep going with them.

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

I come up with my characters in a couple of different ways.  Some of them are variations of friends, family or old co-workers.  Others are just random interesting people I see that stand out for some reason or another.  I try to find a character or scene in my everyday world that interests me and I write it down to possibly use it later.  I use a little something I see in these “real world” people in my writing and it just grows from there.

I think readers would like my characters because I try to put a lot of time and thought into creating them.  My character outlines are pretty extensive and I share those with my newsletter list as well.  So if you like the characters in my books you can read the actual outlines I created for them.  So sign up for my newsletter…hehehe.

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

You know it’s funny.  I have a lot of marketing experience but I don’t do much to market my books.  I like to write instead of market really and let my stories do most of the marketing for me.  I do submit my books to some promotional sites like Bookzio.com and Bookbub.com but other than that it’s mostly word of mouth.  I try to stay active on GoodReads and answer all emails that my readers send me.  I LOVE opening my inbox and seeing emails from happy readers, I encourage them to contact me.

How do you schedule your writing time? When do you write?

I don’t really schedule my writing time so much.  I do write at least six days a week, usually seven. 

I try to get my writing out of the way in the morning.  After my meditation and a cup or two of coffee.  I feel the creative juices flow best at this time and my mind is running wild with new ideas and characters.  Plus I’m a morning person so getting up at 4 a.m. is fairly standard for me.  I usually have my writing out of the way by lunchtime and the rest of the day is mine.

What are you currently working on? Do you have a new book out?

I am currently working on the follow-up to my last book Midnight Sun.  It will be called Devil’s Dawn and should be ready at the end of March or early April.  Midnight Sun came out in late February.

The funny thing about this series is it started out as one book but towards the middle I had an inspiration.  That led to the end of Midnight Sun changing and it becoming a series.  Now Midnight Sun is really a prequel to the next book or two in the series.  A serial killer is born and I just can’t stop writing about it.

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Do you have a project on the back burner? Tell me about it.

I've had a lot of readers contact me and ask if I could do something else with the characters from Do You Want To Play.  That was my first book and I think it was only about 45k in length.  However, people really want more from Tobias and Loren.  So, I've been kicking around some ideas and could have them in another book late this year.

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

I would tell them if they have the desire to write and be published they can, and that is all the belief they need.  Read and write everyday and don’t let any critic get you down.  I will say though that a good editor goes a long ways as well.  You don’t want to publish a book filled with grammatical errors.  If you can’t afford a professional editor have a trusted friend look over your story.  Sometimes just a second set of eyeballs on it can help tenfold.

***
Thank you, Charlotte

Website: http://www.charlotteraine.com/

All my books can be found here on my Amazon page: http://www.amazon.com/Charlotte-Raine/e/B00PGB5IAA/

Friday, March 20, 2015

FRIDAY FLICKS: Failing at Fatherhood by Jack Barr

If They Had a Voice




"When my daughter was born, I told my wife I did not want her. I spent an entire year depressed because I believed everything society told me about having a daughter with Down syndrome. Now she is the joy of my life. She is not a monster, she is not ugly, she is not retarded, and she is not a burden on our family. She is a beautiful little girl that brings joy to our daily lives. I understand the fear of having a child that is different, so I want to encourage you to consider taking the road less traveled, and see the beautiful things a child with Down syndrome can show you."
Award Winning Author - Jack Barr

See the interview   

Thursday, March 19, 2015

Spring has Sprung: Weeding Out the Dry Stuff in Your Writing


For the last few days I have been weeding in my yard, mostly pulling and cutting the dead stuff from plants. We had a very mild winter in Utah (though I've heard some of you haven't fared the same) but the plants around my yard are still needing a little TLC.
Download this royalty-free image on morguefile.com.


Your writing may need the same weeding and cutting as my plants. Some thoughts on how I do it.

Take the driest stuff out first. You will see this dry stuff as you read your manuscript out loud. I take out scenes that don't contribute to the overall plot, characters that haven't really contributed: I may have them at the first of the book only to discover they never showed up again. I can sometimes mesh this dead character with another; there are even times I can completely take them and their scene out of the story without affecting the plot. This is the time to rearrange chapters if necessary, and to clean up big chunks of dryness.

The weeds come next. I like to call these those sentences that need to be reconstructed, those paragraphs that need to be taken out or shifted, those words that can be upgraded for better ones.

Sweeping up comes last. You don't want to leave dry leaves, branches and weeds scattered everywhere. I call these in writing, the once more read over. Not necessarily out loud, but a read-over nonetheless.

Of course, even then, after you've given your manuscript to beta readers and editors, they will indeed find errors, but at least you've uncovered the basics; your manuscript should be clean enough for someone else to read without stumbling through the debris in every sentence.



It's rewarding to see a carefully weeded yard. And it's equally rewarding (if not more so) to see an equally weeded manuscript.

Happy Editing!

Kathryn


Wednesday, March 18, 2015

AUTHOR INTERVIEW: Jack Barr, author of Failing at Fatherhood

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

I started writing newsletters and blogging after we moved to Bangkok, Thailand.  When Marley was born, I stared journaling about my experiences and that led to my first book.

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

I like writing in my office on my laptop.  It is a quiet place that permits me to engage my emotions as I write.

What's your favorite part about writing? Your least favorite part about writing?

My favorite part about writing is sharing my story.  I believe personal stories can be extremely powerful and beneficial for other people.  My least favorite part of writing is editing.  Regardless of how many editors proof read my work, there are always still grammatical mistakes.

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

My story is about my personal journey of accepting my daughter and her disability. The characters are my family and friends.  It was difficult writing about personal matters, but I believe it made the story more captivating.


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

Social Media, Give Always, Interviews, Hired Promoter

How do you schedule your writing time? When do you write?

I wrote during my free time at work and at home.  It was difficult to start writing, and then have to leave it because of other commitments.  Writing would have been more enjoyable if I could have taken a significant amount of time from work to only write.

What are you currently working on? Do you have a new book out?

My current book was just released in November.  Currently I am writing for My Big Jesus http://www.mybigjesus.com/ and promoting my book.

Do you have a project on the back burner? Tell me about it.

I am considering a few different book possibilities for next year.  A book about my experiences working overseas or society’s view of disabilities.

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

Just write to serve others.  Don’t write to make a profit.  Write with the belief that your words can change a life.  That is what I did when writing my book.  Numerous families helped me when I was struggling and I wrote with the same determination to help other families.  I wanted fathers to read my book and be encouraged by my story of redemption.

***

Thank you, Jack!

Jack and Jana Barr are missionaries in Bangkok, Thailand.  Before their first date, they both knew God was calling them to serve overseas.  After completing their undergraduate degrees at Johnson University, and their graduate degrees (Jack M.Ed. Regent University, M.Sc. Canisius College/ Jana M.A. Lee University) they flew to Bangkok for the first time.  For the past nine years they have served God by teaching at the International Community School in Bangkok, Thailand.  



If They Had a Voice Video http://www.iftheyhadavoice.org/

A Special Share of My Book: https://jackbarrauthor.wordpress.com/




Tuesday, March 17, 2015

When the Green Goblin Rears its Ugly Head



I know it's Saint Patrick's Day, with all of the green, the pinching, the blarney...

But I couldn't resist writing about something else green, something horrifyingly green that often comes my way - the thing could even be me.

Why is it that we, as writers, get so emotional about stuff?

Why can't we simply live our own lives without taking other people's stuff on?

Why is it that we get angry so easily, and feel as if we're being picked on while we're writing?

Maybe you're not like me. Maybe you don't go green when family members are bugging you when you're trying to write. Maybe you don't get angry because you're picking their stuff up yet again, even though it's their stuff, and every moment you're picking up their stuff, you're not able to do your job.

Maybe they don't understand that this writing gig isn't just your hobby, and that you have every reason to get emotional when they don't see it that way.

Heck, you're at home, why can't you stop writing every few minutes to talk to them about their day? Why does it hurt to get interrupted? Why can't you take care of their stuff?

It's because our writing is as important to us as your outside job is to you, or your schooling, or whatever you are doing that's important in your life.

We try not to take our writing for granted and neither should you.


Monday, March 16, 2015

AUTHOR INTERVIEW: Alan Livingstone, author of ATOMS

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

As far as I can remember, writing has always been a part of my life since high school.  Strange ideas for stories would come to me and I would have write them down; I even remember when I was 15 and submitting a short story to my teacher called Murdering the Orient Express about a newspaper called The Orient Express and how a despicable villain was killing journalists who had stumbled across his nefarious ways.  My teacher enjoyed the story but wasn't convinced that the content truly reflected on the subject manner; which was about investigative journalism and what costs are involved with uncovering the truth. That said, given that I explore the very tiny would of atoms, no one has ever told me to curb my enthusiasm for a good story and to take it as far as possible.

Alan Livingstone
Some time ago, I self-published a collection of short stories called Heroes, Monsters and other Miscreants, and although not a best-seller, I enjoyed the experience of actually being in print.

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

I always write at home and begin plot and character development using freehand as it gives me a storyboard and far better flexibility to link plots, sub-plots and minor characters; and given that I am currently working on a sequel to my first novel, I need to do as much research as I possibly can and interweave science into a novel primarily aimed at students.  Once the ideas have borne fruit, I then use a laptop for the actual story.

What's your favorite part about writing? Your least favorite part about writing?

Writing allows me to challenge myself and my imagination and this is truly the magical part for any writer; the way a simple idea can be transformed to your very own piece of art much like a sculptor can make a lump of clay into a masterpiece.  I don’t really have anything that could be classed as my least favorite aspect of writing; however, when I find my story with no logical path to explore, it can be frustrating.

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

I believe that the most important facet of writing is to create a whole spectrum of characters, whether the reader is empathetic to their plight or indeed angered by their shameful actions, I think that character development is the single most important tool a writer can possess.

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

As atoms, my first novel, has only just been completed, this is a whole new experience for me; that said, I want to get my story out there to the widest audience I can and for the readers to see what the exciting world of atoms can be.

Purchase atoms here
How do you schedule your writing time? When do you write?  

I write whenever I can, whether it be one short chapter or twenty or thirty pages, I write when I have new ideas or simply just have the urge to tap into my imagination and jot thoughts down, despite how odd these ideas may be.

What are you currently working on? Do you have a new book out?

I am currently working on a new novel titled physika which is a sequel to my first full-length volume called atoms and I am about half-way through, with the story defined and the characters from the first novel that have been reintroduced but in a far more harsh atomic-world than they were when we met them in the first book.

Do you have a project on the back burner? Tell me about it. 

I have a couple of ideas that I have begun to sketch out to develop further once physika has been completed.  One involves a reality competition of couples who renovate a block of old Georgian (c 1830) apartments set in central London and broadcast by the competitors themselves as they transform the old buildings and discover old secrets, but one apartment also has someone, or something who doesn't want to leave.  The idea came from and expression that I feel fitting for the title: 9/10ths.

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

As my old English teacher once told me, and I still hold dear to this day: start small.  Start with a small idea and don’t try and turn it too intricate by introducing an army of characters or more twists and turns than a roller-coaster and the rest will come easy.  Start small, she reminds me in my head, everyday…every single day.

***
Thank you, Alan!

atoms
by
alan livingstone


an adventure on a completely different level…


overview
atoms is a completed four part adventure story of 135,000 words that introduces readers to a whole new world with characters based on the elemental Periodic Table and with personalities and traits based on their elemental properties and chemical interactions. 

The characters in atoms are generally spherical in shape with facial features, arms and hands and orbiting electrons and they float just above the surfaces in their own little world. The names of the characters have been chosen based on the atomic abbreviation in the Periodic Table.  Cee-U is the main protagonist and is a play on Cu, the abbreviation for copper; Plum-bum is a massive grey lead atom and the abbreviation for lead is Pb given that Plumbum is Latin for lead.  Minor characters also follow this convention; Little Stevie G is the name given to Steve Seaborgium and the abbreviation for Seaborgium is Sg;  Ferrous, the loveable iron atom wants to be known as Iron Tyke given the weakness that Ferrous projects, although the abbreviation for iron is Fe.  Name dissections have been employed principally to introduce female characters with first names such as Rutherfordium has been dissected as Ruth E. R. Fordium and Molybdenum as Moly B. Denum.  Movement is an important part of the atoms and there has been a great deal of care taken to avoid verbs and adjectives to indicate standing, walking and running and instead words such as float, glide and hover have been used; and rapid movement is described as scampering, scooting and scurrying.  The obvious exception to these rules are words chosen to describe the movement of the heavy metal atoms who bounce their way along given their high atomic numbers and associated weight; and this peculiarity also inevitably leads to their downfall.  The shapes of the characters are also important and are based on the physical properties that they represent: for example; Cee-U is the hero of the story and is a brilliant copper coloured sphere who is resilient to most chemical effects except that he turns green when exposed to acetic acid which will prove pivotal in his success; Al, the aluminium atom and Cee-U’s best friend is a rough pyramid of soft metal and prone to dents and creases in his dull shell; Ferrous (a.k.a. Iron Tyke) the iron atom, is cuboid in shape with a rust coloured birth mark and Plum-bum, the lead atom is a heavy teardrop shape to represent his plumpness.  This also applies to the villains of the story, the Heavy Metals; who are generally disfigured and ugly ellipsoids with distorted gothic or sallow features and include Plutonium, the barrel-shaped cruel monster with talons for hands, froth coated tusks and a myriad of crude tattoos emblazoned on his shell.  Uranium, who is more cold and calculating than Plutonium, is a blemish free chrome coloured atom and resembles a thin, smooth upside down cone with tiny, inadequate electron whizzing around his shell.

atoms differs from all other stories in this genre by combining both loveable and detestable characters in an adventurous battle for self discovery; and at the same time, atoms is educational as the interactions between atoms are explored to deliver a unique learning experience for the reader.  For instance; we witness the wedding of O, a tiny oxygen atom who is getting married to the two giant hydrogen sisters and during the wedding (explained as covalent bonding) it becomes evident that the union produces a water molecule (H²O). Also, during the procession of atoms going to the wedding they collide with a giant door that is blocking the way and several unplanned molecules are created.  A small nitrogen atom collides with three rather large hydrogen ladies and the result is ammonia (NH3) which causes a burning in the eyes; there are also the three oxygen brothers on their way to meet up with the scandium sisters but they suddenly get pressed into on ozone molecule (O3) and vanish in the atmosphere.

As a reader we don’t just arrive in the atomic world we must be seen to be examining it and we are introduced to the tiny world in a prologue as a laboratory assistant who narrates the events surrounding a failed experiment which leaves only water and a few basic elements and wonders if we look deep enough surely there must be something else there.

atoms is divided into four parts based on experiences during sleep; dreams, nightmares, awakenings and dark corners