“Trying to solve the mystery is what I enjoy most about writing.”-Jon Ronson
How long have you lived in the Silicon Valley?
I moved to Mountain View in 1982 and lived in the area for 34 years. My husband and I recently relocated about 50 miles south to live at the beach.
Sounds inviting. Haven’t been that far north in California just yet.
How has living there affected your writing?
Silicon Valley is a unique area that changes quickly. It’s an incredibly gorgeous setting with a mild climate, but it’s also crowded with lots of traffic. The tech companies that originally created the area did so because of its proximity to Stanford University and a number of other large educational institutions, and education is highly valued. Movies, television, and newspaper articles have focused on some of the regions flashiest characters, but I don’t think they capture what the day to day life is like for ordinary people. I’ve tried to do that in my mysteries.
Nice touch. It would be good to get an inside scoop of what life is like inside the valley!
How long have you been writing fiction?
In the late 90s, I wrote two young adult historical novels about a young Latina woman who was a refugee in Monterey following the Mexican American war. I wasn’t able to attract a publisher and self-publishing wasn’t as prevalent as it is now, so I put them away and focused on writing communication materials for schools and other local programs. I’ve learned a lot about narrative structure since then and plan to go back and re-edit them. A few years ago, I decided to try again, and chose to write mysteries because I love them, and I knew I’d have fun writing the stories even if no one else saw them.
Oh great! I would love to hear more of the stories you wrote back then. I’m curious how you came to writing mysteries though. What made you switch?
“My life was a mystery even as I lived it.”-Melissa Gilbert
What other kinds of professional writing have you done?
I’ve worked in Corporate Communications and Public Relations for financial and high-tech companies, and did a lot of community relations writing for the schools and programs my children were involved in.
Wow, you’ve lived a writing life. In my experience writing professionally and writing fiction have been mutually beneficial, however I definitely prefer fiction!
Tell us about some of the short stories you’ve written.
I’ve written a grand total of ONE short story. It won a few contests, which was fun. I have the greatest admiration for short story writers — one false move and the story crashes and burns — they are incredibly difficult to craft. But I find it easier and more enjoyable to write novels.
Sounds like it was fun, especially if it won contests. I had no idea about the difficulty in crafting short stories.
How did you craftMaggie Mcdonald?
The series began because I wanted to do something new in the cozy mystery genre. At the time I started writing series, most of the amateur women sleuths were young single women or recently divorced women who were caterers or crafters. But I wanted to write about an older character who was happily married and juggling a career and kids. Raising a family is hard work and doing it while you’re trying to catch bad buys and launch a successful business is probably only possible in fiction, but I wanted Maggie to try. I felt that making her a personal organizer would give her access to the places people keep secret — their closets and underwear drawers.
I love her already! She sounds adorable, witty, and very capable. It takes a lot of skill to the potter of a great character.
How do you relate to Maggie personally?
Maggie shares part of my world view, but she’s thinner, fitter, braver and younger.
Do she have a sidekick?
Maggie’s permanent sidekick is her golden retriever, Belle. In each of the books, a different character takes precedence as her primary helper. But her sons and her husband Max are always helping out.
I like it. You gotta love a good sidekick!
Tell us a little about the setting for Address to Die For.
The book takes place in Orchard View, a fictional compilation of Palo Alto, Los Altos, and Mountain View. The McDonalds move into a large 100-year old craftsman home Maggie’s husband inherits from his great aunt. The house is based on an actual home, The Griffin House, which is now part of the Foothill College campus and is awaiting renovation. Griffin House was designed by a prolific Bay Area architect Frank Delos Wolfe in 1903.
I’ve been thinking a lot about setting recently and it’s importance in these kind of genres. By the way, I absolutely love this book cover!
What are the elements of a good mystery?
I think the most important part of any mystery is the characters. I love the books of Louise Penny and miss her characters between books. Even the secondary characters have developmental arcs across each book and the series. I can’t begin to touch Penny’s deft skill, but I’ve tried to bring those elements into the Maggie McDonald series.
This is definitely a skill one should have in their books. Learning how to pull it off takes time though.
Can you tell us about the next book in the series?
Scheduled to Death will be released in January, Maggie works to help friend, client, and Stanford University physicist Lincoln Sinclair escape a murder charge. In Dead Storage (July 2017) Stephen Laird is held responsible for the death of a local restaurateur.
Sweet! I have the first book, and looking forward to the second and third installments. Your covers are so beautiful and captivating.
The job of the artist is to always deepen the mystery…-unknown
Support your authors by buying a book and posting a review. Without it they would fall!
Silicon Valley Professional Organizer Maggie McDonald has a penchant for order that extends beyond her clients’ closets and sock drawers. When murder comes to Orchard View, Maggie must set things right.
Stories are inevitably part of our lives. They have been for centuries. We live, breath, roam about in our own story world. We face the same obstacles, hurdles and disappointments as the heroes we read about. But they inspire us in ways hard to put into words.
What is our life? You. Me. We are the composition of a great story. Every day is page in the life of a hero in the making. Of overcoming obstacles and insurmountable odds. We are the story; and I love reading them.
Let’s say hi to Faye Kirwin.
Welcome Faye!
Where are you from?
You wish to know the secret location of my Write Cave? That would be Yorkshire, England. (Oh, maybe it’s not so secret anymore…)
Next time I come to England we should have a nice tea time.
Tell us about your blog.
Writerology is my little corner of the internet, where I blog about my two greatest loves: stories and psychology. When you get down to it, writing is about understanding people—whether that’s the people you’re writing about, the people you’re writing for, or you yourself, the person behind the words. My mission at Writerology is to blend psychological knowledge with storytelling technique to help you craft a truly unforgettable tale.
I love your mission and how you blend the psychological aspects with storytelling techniques. Fascinating indeed. If you haven’t seen Faye’s blog yet, please do! I highly recommend it.
To write a good story, you need to understand people, get inside their heads, know what makes them tick. And that’s where Writerology comes in.- Faye Kirwin
Favorite tea and snacks during writing?
English breakfast tea, black, served in my TARDIS teapot (naturally), plus a bowl of fruit on the side. Yum!
Sounds good. My favorite teas are peppermint and my good friend Earl Grey. We get along just fine.
YOUR FICTION
Tell us about your fiction, genre or current work in progress.
Fantasy is my genre of choice, and most of the stories I’ve written fall under this category, from high fantasy to urban fantasy and all things in between. With my most recent work-in-progress, Her Clockwork Heart, however, I’ve ventured into new territory by adding a steampunk twist. Clockwork follows the life of Pippa Adeney as she crafts an automaton like none before, but when her mechanical masterpiece turns into a stalking nightmare, she is forced to confront both reality and the dark secrets plaguing her dreams.
Cool, steampunk! I would love to read it someday. Very interesting premise. Yes, steampunk is definitely a genre I’d like to read more about.
I also host the weekly#storycrafter Twitter chat, which takes place every Sunday at 3 p.m. ET (that’s 12 noon PT), and love seeing new faces there! Pop over to this page for more information.
Viewing the website is a must. If you haven’t already, participate in the weekly chat #storycrafter. It’s a fun group.
Ready? Get set….
You’re a writer so what’s your story, or what inspired you?
I don’t know exactly when it was that I first started telling stories; I remember making up fairy tales for my sister each night before bed and coming up with the most complex of backstories for my toys when I was a child. Being able to capture the imaginations of others was simply magical. I loved to read and wanted to be an author when I grew up, but it wasn’t until I was 15 that I started putting all the stories in my head onto the page. Once I started, I couldn’t stop. The words just poured out and carried me away, as they’re still doing all these years later.
I love it. That’s awesome, Faye. Making backstories for toys just sounds exciting, and I bet you had loads of fun with it. Stories are great aren’t they?
What’s your GOAL in becoming a writer?
Simply: to share my words. I’m a soft-spoken INFJ who wants to make a difference in the lives of others, and since I often get tongue-tied, words are the way I do it best. It’s my greatest wish that my stories resonate with others, inspire them, change their worlds in some small way. Even if it’s just one person, I’ll have achieved my goal.
I love the epic simplicity of your response! Sweet. I don’t think I could’ve put it any better than that.
The first step towards getting somewhere is to decide that you are not going to stay where you are.-J.P. Morgan
What 3 things have hindered you from completing your projects? (CONFLICT)
Hinderance 1: Self-doubt
It’s that niggling voice at the back of my head: What if I can’t do this? What if I’m not meant to do it? What if someone else can do it better?
There are times when I just want to throw down my metaphorical pen and give up. Recognising that it’s self-doubt talking and not something I truly want is difficult, and several projects have died out because I didn’t realise that quick enough. I’m better at it now, but it’s definitely something I need to work on.
I think we hear the same voice speaking in our heads! Just the thought that someone can do it better is just bogus. In fact, no one can do it better than you. It’s our story. Our words. Let’s let em’ fly.
Hinderance 2: Distraction
With books and Twitter and Netflix and friends all vying for my attention, it can be hard making time to sit down and make headway on a project. That’s why I’m a proponent of writing a little every day. If I can fit 10 minutes of writing into my day, that’s 10 more minutes than I might otherwise have done. It may not sound like a lot, but it really does add up over the months and years.
I’m a big fan of writing in small amounts, especially if you don’t write full time and have other responsibilities. 100 words a day is my ultimate baseline. It’s not much but it’s been extremely helpful.
Hinderance 3: Plot bunnies
I’ll get halfway through a first draft, then an adorable little plot idea hops into my head and demands that I write it. If I can fend off that idea and stick with my current project, I’m assailed by more plot bunnies once I’ve finished that first draft, then once I’ve completed the edits, and then again when I’m supposed to be revising. Saying no to those shiny new ideas and sticking to one project at once is something I always struggle with, and many a time I’ll find myself pulled away from my first project and tumbling down the rabbit hole.
Oh no, Zombie plot bunnies! Run for it! I know this all too well. Makes it hard to concentrate and complete your initial project. Way too familiar with this one.
What keeps you motivated in achieving your dream? (DESIRE)
I remember that I have a story to tell and that there are people who want to hear it. Knowing that I have the full support of my friends and family inspires me to no end and gives me that extra boost when I’m struck by the Three Hindrances of Self-Doubt, Distraction and Plot Bunnies. (And if all else fails, said friends and family will badger me to write until I do. They’re nice/evil like that.)
That’s great! You have a wonderful support system. Love it.
I remember that I have a story to tell and that there are people who want to hear it.-Faye Kirwin
What’s your ANTAGONIST? What’s in the way?
My own mind is my greatest foe. I have the time and space to write, I have the stories I want to tell, but getting over my own mental hurdles is the real challenge. Determination, motivation, inspiration, self-doubt and self-discipline all stem from my mindset, so when my head isn’t in the game, I’m not making any progress. It’s infuriating, but it also means the power to change is in my hands.
Ah, the foe of mind. He’s a worthy adversary, but it only makes the story better.
If it doesn’t challenge you, it won’t change you. -Unknown
Why do writers give up, quit or never complete their projects?
It’s so much easier to give in than to struggle on in the face of fear or uncertainty or criticism. That’s what makes the temptation to quit so strong. If we don’t finish that project, no one can judge us, our words can’t be criticised, and we don’t have to agonise over whether readers like our stories or not. It’s safer to give up—but it’s braver to carry on.
This is spot on. You hit the nail on the head with this statement.
It’s safer to give up—but it’s braver to carry on.-Faye Kirwin
What would you say to a struggling writer who’s given up?
It’s not too late. It’s never too late. Be brave. Remember why you started writing in the first place: What drew you to the words? Why that story? What do you love about writing? Which characters are your favourites? What would you love to write about more than anything else? Write your answers down, let them fill your whole being and remember that feeling. Whenever you feel the temptation to give up, bring out those reasons to write and reach for that feeling again. Forget why you want to quit and remember why you started in the first place.
This is so encouraging. I should print this out and frame it.
C.L. Schneider is an author mom who just penned her first published work, The Crown of Stones. The first in a trilogy, Magic-Price is a gripping account of one man’s struggle to accept who and what he is. It’s the journey of a flawed hero, a fallen race, and a land at war. A page-turning tale of prejudice, betrayal, secrets and lies.
*It sounds absolutely and deliciously scrumptious!*
I was born and raised in Atchison, Kansas, a small town on the Missouri river. Atchison is the birthplace of Amelia Earhart. It is also considered the most haunted small town in Kansas. I came to New York after I finished school and have lived in the same general area (the Hudson Valley region) ever since.
Haunted small towns, eh? Just in time for Halloween!
*What sorts of books did you read growing up?
I come from a family of readers, all with different interests, so the bookshelves in my house were bursting with books from all genres. I was an early reader. In elementary school I devoured my older sibling’s collections of Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys, but by the time I was in middle school I was reading a lot of the classics. Some of my favorites were: Gone with the Wind, Jane Eyre, Rebecca, Frankenstein, 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, Northwest Passage, The Time Machine. I loved mysteries and gothic novels. From there, I moved onto historical fiction and horror. I didn’t start reading fantasy until after high school when my brother bought me a copy of The Mists of Avalon. I fell in love and read it twice within a couple of months. I had already finished my first novel at that point, but that book changed everything for me. It narrowed my writing focus. Once I read Mists of Avalon, I knew fantasy was my genre.
That’s an interesting mix of books there! It intrigues me how certain books can have a particular affect on us. In your case it was The Mists of Avalon.
The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.-Dr. Seuss
*Who were your favorite characters growing up, and how did you relate to them?
I adored Scarlett O’Hara. She was such an amazing character. On the surface she was this incredibly strong woman who let nothing stand in her way. She knew how to work the system to get what she wanted. Yet underneath, she was vulnerable. Scarlett O’Hara was the first truly flawed character that I ever encountered and she definitely set the bar high. I was also drawn to Heathcliff from Wuthering Heights. To me, at the time, he was the epitome of a tortured character. I loved his passion and recklessness.
YESSSS. Flawed characters are the name of the game. It’s amazing how we’re touched by them isn’t it?
*What’s your educational background?
I’ve had no formal writing education. Writing is just something I’ve done for as long as I can remember.
Me neither!! Hah! But you’re trilogy looks AMAZING. The reviews I’ve seen are also very astounding. Impressive for someone who has no formal background in writing. You’re an encouragement for the rest of us!
*Who are you favorite characters today and how do you relate to them?
One of my favorite characters that I’ve discovered recently is Mason Stone from the Saint Monolith series by fellow indie author Tom Reinhart. Mason Stone is such a compelling character. He’s an unsung hero, a loose cannon vigilante, a tortured man, and a very lost soul. I can’t say that I relate to him, really, but I admire how he doesn’t hold back. He does the things that everyone else wishes they could.
Hmm…I haven’t heard of him, but I’ll check him out!
*Tell us about Ian Troy and how you crafted him.
There is a quote by Kahlil Gibran that I believe describes Ian Troy perfectly: “Out of suffering have emerged the strongest souls; the most massive characters are seared with scars.” That is Ian Troy.
Ian is an anti-hero, flawed as they come. He’s solder, a magic user, a drinker, a smart-ass, and an outcast who’s maddeningly stubborn and guilt ridden. Ian’s story is a dark one, and he goes to some very dark places. He doesn’t always do the right thing. In fact, he does some very bad things. But you can always count on him to be selfless in the face of danger and put other’s lives ahead of his own. How did he get to be this way? Over the course of the trilogy, you learn about the roller coaster of his life and how he was manipulated and coerced even before he was born.
I love flawed characters. The more flawed they are, the more opportunities they have to incite emotions in a reader. Flawed characters, to me, are far more interesting that the gallant white knights and the perfect super heroes. Those are fine, to a point. But I’m far more intrigued by what’s underneath the shining armor and the mask. What trials and tribulations did they have to endure? What past mistakes or secret desires are they hiding?
When I created Ian Troy, I set out to construct a character that I, as a reader, would want to get lost in. It was important to me that Ian carried traits from some of the characters that sparked my imagination growing up. I wanted him to be a cowboy and an outlaw, a good guy and a rogue; a detective when he needed to be, a monster when he could help it, and a hero even when he tried not to be. I knew his story would revolve around magic. That he would be flawed and suffering, bold yet strong, valiant yet broken. To me, the best way to create and explore a tortured character was to make his greatest strength (magic) also his greatest weakness.
I love, love, love your description of your characters and your entire premise.
“Out of suffering have emerged the strongest souls; the most massive characters are seared with scars.”- Kahlil Gibran
*What do you love most about him?
I love Ian’s strength, his ability to keep going, to keep striving for what he knows is right even against terrible odds. It probably sounds strange, but when I’m faced with a difficult task and I feel like giving up, I think: Ian wouldn’t give up, and it pushes me to keep going.
Now that’s awesome. You’re inspired by your own character! That’s heroism at its best.
*If you were to meet him in person how would you feel?
Oh, I’m not sure! No one has ever asked me that before. I might feel a little star struck, actually. Though, I would love to find out. It would be amazing to have the opportunity to sit down with Ian and the gang at one of the taverns in my book and share a bottle. That would be a fun night!
I can almost picture this playing out in my head, lol! That would be EPIC.
*What did you enjoy most in writing the Crown of Stones Trilogy?
Worldbuilding was definitely one of my favorite parts of writing The Crown of Stones. I loved forming all those realms and crafting their history. Taking the flaws and accomplishments (and the secrets) of each society and interweaving them together over the three books was so much fun. Mirra’kelan is a world I’m proud of. I think it has a lot of potential for future stories.
I also thoroughly enjoyed the characters. One of the hardest parts of moving onto a new project was letting them go.
Yeah, that sounds like it would be pretty hard. Having to let them go and move on would be tough.
*What exactly is Epic Fantasy?
Epic fantasy is generally described as a novel set in an entirely imaginary world, completely unlike our own, with environments and societies that are fully explored and realized. As a rule, the story is lengthy and often evolves over multiple books. It frequently includes a large cast of characters, complex magic systems, sweeping battles, and/or a journey across multiple realms. The plot is complex and game-changing, leaving the story-world altered on a grand scale and the characters evolved.
I like it. Just realized my story sounds a lot like epic fantasy.
*What is Urban Fantasy?
With urban fantasy, the magical/supernatural elements are still there, but story generally takes place in more of a contemporary, urban setting than epic fantasy.
I wonder what is it if your story has both elements of Urban and Epic fantasy? Interesting.
*Can you give us a teaser about your next book?
My next book, Nite Fire, is the first in an urban fantasy series. It’s the story of Dahlia Nite, a half-dragon shapeshifter from a parallel world very different from our own. Many years ago, Dahlia’s emerging empathic abilities interfered with her job as an assassin. She failed the dragon queen, Naalish, and was condemned to die. Being half human (and able to shift into human form), Dahlia fled her home for the only other world where she had a hope of blending in: ours.
Nite Fire is set in the fictitious Sentinel City. Already a hot-spot for the unexplained, when a series of brutal killings disguised as spontaneous combustion strike the city, Dahlia knows the killer is one of her own kind. She worms her way into the investigation, teaming up with a human detective to solve the case, while struggling to maintain the lies that have kept humanity in the dark for centuries; believing myths and legends were just that.
As Dahlia searches for the truth behind the murders, the bit of peace she’s found in this world starts to unravel. Nite Fire is the first book in a series. An early excerpt is posted on my website on the Playground page Nite Fire Play if you’d like to have a look! Leave a comment, too. I’d love to hear what you think of it.
You really now how to craft a story with intriguing characters! Please drop me a line when you finish. I’d be open to review it.
Everyone has a goal, desire, or dream to fulfill. The motivations may be different, but we’re all seeking some kind of fulfillment in life. In other words, we each have a story. Stories are all about triumph over obstacle, forces of evil, darkness, and seemingly insurmountable odds. So who’s writing your story? It all depends on how you live it.
I love hearing the stories of writers. So let’s introduce one…
APRIL JONES
HI APRIL!
April is a mom, writer, editor, blogger, contributor at culturess.comAND a fellow Wordplayer from our awesome Facebook group.
WELCOME ABOARD APRIL!!!!!
Everyone please welcome April, aka Wonder Woman…
*What genre do you write?
Literary fiction.
I’m still trying to figure out exactly what that one is…
*What’s your current work in progress about?
My WIP is about a family trying to repair their relationships after 3 decades of trauma tore them apart. And I’m a single mother and a grandmother currently living back in the South after spending 25+ years in the Midwest. I’ve been blogging off and on since 2003 and I’m in the process of setting up my blog again at aprilpalooza.com
It’s not too late to move back to the Midwest! Hah! Just kiddin. A family trying to repair itself after three decades of trauma would take a lot of work. But it’s definitely worth the save.
*What inspired you to be a writer?
I’ve been writing for as long as I can remember–stories, angsty teenage poetry, articles. Being an avid reader as a kid probably inspired me the most.
Alright, April. Can you show us some of your poetry? Pluu-leeeze?? Writing is such a release isn’t it?
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“You only learn to be a better writer by actually writing.”-Doris Lessing
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*What’s your GOAL in becoming a writer?
At this point, I’d like to just get one draft completed and hopefully published.
That’s a good first goal. You can do it, April. I’ll be one of your personal cheerleaders!!!
*What 3 things have hindered you from completing your projects? (CONFLICT)
Feeling like my writing and my ideas just aren’t good enough to be published, being mentally blocked to where I can’t translate ideas from my brain to my computer, fear of failure.
This sounds all too familiar. I can relate to every one of these. I’m realizing we need to believe in ourselves to release our true potential and be what we desire to be.
*What keeps you motivated in achieving your dream? (DESIRE)
Seeing other success stories, daydreams about success including financial rewards (example: visions of walking into a bookstore and seeing my book on the shelf), wanting my family to be proud of me
This is going to sound cheesy, but….I’M PROUD OF YOU! Seriously, you’re a single mom chasing her dream. What is else is better than that? (I’m the product of a single mom.) Being a parent in today’s world is not a small matter; and anyone who wants to be a writer is a special person in my mind. So hats off and high fives to you sis’.
*What’s your ANTAGONIST? What’s in the way?
I feel like there’s some sort of natural talent that other writers have and I just don’t, which gets me to thinking that maybe I was silly to think I could do this.
It’s hard not to compare ourselves with others in different areas. But one thing we need to remember-no one is you. You’re special, and there’s no one else like you. A diamond can be breathtakingly brilliant in all its beauty; captivating, even. But if you look closely, it’s composed of many, many, many small facets. Each facet shares and participates in the beauty displayed by the diamond. We’re all part of it. We just don’t see it. You may not see your own preciousness, but others do.
*If you have given up your dream, tell us why?
I’ll answer this because I have given up before, but not completely. Sometimes I just think that I’m kidding myself by believing that I could actually do this. I’ve watched others accomplish so much with their own writing and here I am still working on the first draft of a book I started almost 2 years ago! There’s that little voice in the back of my head that says “Bahahahaha! You’re not a WRITER!”
Writers are resilient creatures aren’t they? Believe it sister! We can do this. I had the same thoughts as you last year. Then another author told me “make a plan and do the work”. Then I realized the *only* difference between me and successful authors was exactly that. A plan and elbow grease. Don’t listen to that pesky voice in your head. I hate it when he shows up. Tell em’ to put a sock in it and watch me go to work. Keep your game face on sister, your not alone.
*Why do writers give up, quit or never complete their projects?
I think we’re just convinced that people are going to hate it so why bother? We have all this self-doubt that we’re not a GOOD writer (and why would we want to be any other kind?) and that putting our work out there puts us at risk of having others find out that we’re not good writers which then confirms our fears. Nobody likes being vulnerable and being rejected.
We spend so much time fearing not being *good* instead of just telling our story. Writing is so subjective and so is this matter of being good, or better. No one wants to be a bad writer of course. It’s a process. But I read somewhere that we should focus more on telling our story. What a relief!
If a story is in you, it has to come out. -William Faulkner
“You can make anything by writing.”-C.S. Lewis
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“To survive you must tell stories” -Umberto Eco
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“Pour your heart to the page, she always listens.”-Benjamin Thomas
As a special treat to readers of this blog, I present to you our second guest of the day. I know, I spoil you!
Victoria Griffin is the creator of ‘Flooded: A Creative Anthology of Brain Injuries‘ and she’s here today to talk to us about this brilliant project and why everyone should donate to this brilliant Kickstarter campaign.
Thanks to Victoria to taking the time to chat to us today.
Vic x
Welcome to the blog, Victoria, what is ‘Flooded‘?
‘Flooded‘ will be a creative anthology of fiction and creative nonfiction devoted to brain injuries. It will be approximately 80,000 words and will include work of all styles and genres. The anthology is not merely meant to showcase memoirs or personal stories—though they will undoubtedly play a role. Brain injuries take many forms and are often difficult to describe. That’s why the…
Former Softball Player Creates Creative Anthology Devoted to Brain Injuries Knoxville, Tennessee – October 6, 2016 – In January of this year, author and Campbell University softball player Victoria Griffin sustained a severe concussion that would last four months. The injury stripped her of basic abilities–reading, walking, speaking—and took her final season of college softball. Now, she is using the experience to fuel the creation of Flooded, a literary anthology of fiction and creative nonfiction devoted to concussions and brain injuries. In order to fund the project, she is launching a Kickstarter campaign October 11, 2016. The bulk of funding will go toward contributor payments, editing, and design. She hopes the anthology will provide an outlet for victims of brain injuries to express the emotional realities so often glazed over in favor of statistics and facts. She also sees the anthology as a tool to educate those who have not experienced brain injuries–and those who will in the future. Supporters can become involved with the project as ambassadors, sharing updates about Flooded with their social media networks. Find out more about Flooded at victoriagriffin.net/flooded
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Alright, time to knock this puppy out of the park. You ready??
*Where did you grow up?
I grew up in East Tennessee, near the base of the Smoky Mountains, in a little town called Claxton. It has one red light and no post office, and I wouldn’t change a thing about it.
Nice. I haven’t trekked to much around the Smoky Mountains, but I’ve driven through it *many* times.
*How long have you been writing?
I’ve been writing as long as I can remember. I’ve got a folder of stories from the first grade that make me wonder how many horror flicks my dad let me watch as a kid. My first publication came during my junior year of high school. I’d say that was when I truly decided writing was going to be my life.
That’s great, Tori. You’re going to have to share some of those stories with us!
*What do you love most about it?
Writing has a way of giving you control, while completely stripping it away. As a writer, I decide characters’ fates, and yet it often feels like transcribing a story that has already happened. I love creating in a way that feels like discovery.
I love your take on this. There is something about creating these fates and destinies that’s so satisfying.
“Writing has a way of giving you control, while completely stripping it away”-Victoria Griffin
*Can you tell us a little about the brain anthology?
Flooded was inspired by my own experience with TBI and my subsequent realization that concussion and brain injury awareness are seriously lacking. The anthology will consist of fiction and creative nonfiction about brain injuries, with the purpose of spreading awareness about the reality of brain injuries’ impacts on people’s lives.
This project is very special and I’m glad you decided to participate in it!
*Explain your goals for the Kickstarter campaign and how we can participate.
While this anthology is devoted to concussion awareness, it is also a literary undertaking. I will seek out the best work by talented authors, and I believe they should be paid appropriately. The main goal for the Kickstarter is to make sure that happens. The funds will also cover editing, layout, cover art, etc. to produce a high-quality anthology. Of course, you can participate in the campaign by pledging to the project (and getting some sweet rewards), but you can also participate by spreading the word. Sharing the Flooded story with your friends, family, and social media networks is greatly appreciated.
This is exciting! Can’t wait until the final product comes about. But the great thing is we can participate in the process!!
*How do you view writing after experiencing a major concussion?
Of course, the experience impacts my work—as all experiences do. But the greatest change since the injury is how grateful I am to be able to write.During those four months, I was physically unable to write. Language was painful. I couldn’t understand words being spoken to me, let alone create them myself. Now, to be able to tell stories and follow my passion means so much more than it did before.
Wow. I’m just glad you’re ok. But I’m even happier that you emerged with more passion for writing!
“Passion will move men beyond themselves, beyond their shortcomings, beyond their failures.” -Joseph Campbell
*Has it changed how you write?
I have become much more interested in representing myself and my culture in my work—as a brain-injury survivor, a woman, and a southern Appalachian.The concussion helped me to realize how powerful writing and storytelling is. Losing the ability to write or read for four months made that abundantly clear. I suppose I feel more responsibility, now, to use my writing in an impactful way.
This is powerful. Love it.
“The concussion helped me to realize how powerful writing and storytelling is. Losing the ability to write or read for four months made that abundantly clear.”
*How has it affected your outlook on life?
I’m not sure I can express how much the injury changed my outlook. I lost absolutely everything that makes me who I am—down to my emotions. My family told me after the fact that my eyes were dull and dead-looking. I have been symptom-free for four months, now, and still just stepping into the sunshine gives me more happiness than I can describe. Reading a book, watching a movie, listening to music. I am grateful to be able to do these things. My perspective has shifted. To be alive, breathing, and not in pain is a miracle to me. The other massive change in my outlook is a result of the people in my life who took care of me during that time. We’ve all had someone care for us while we’re sick. This was nothing like that. These people dropped their entire lives to make sure I stayed breathing—literally. A friend stayed with me when I was afraid I would stop breathing during the night. Coming to help me while I was stuck on the stairs. Shielding me from the lights and sounds that shut down my system. Pulling me out of buildings when I couldn’t move. The list goes on. At the same time, I saw the absolute worst in people. Those who actually tried to hurt me while I was helpless to defend myself. So I learned, and I will remember, to hold tightly to true friends and loved ones and to let the others go. The only people I need in my life are the ones who love me enough to hold me up when I’m falling, and I will never stop telling them how much I love and appreciate them.
This is very moving, especially hearing how they cared for you in your lowest times. Love motivates a true friend to hold you up when you fall. Very sweet indeed.
* Post-concussion, what are you most grateful for?
The people who were and continue to be there for me.
Hey, you can’t beat that.
*Can you name up to 5 things that helped you through this difficult time?
I’ll name a few things that helped me post-concussion, after the symptoms subsided. Because to be completely honest, there is nothing in the world that could have helped during the injury.
1. My friends and family
2. Reading and writing
3. Having a clear picture of where I wanted to be in the next year, of the person I wanted to get back to being
Excellent. I’m glad you pulled through, and hats off to all those who lent a helping hand.
Don’t forget to check out the Kickstarter page for more information, goals, and rewards for participation!
J.R. Johansson’s books have been published in a dozen languages and more than twenty countries worldwide. She has a B.S. degree in
public relations and a background in marketing. She credits her abnormal psychology minor with inspiring many of her characters. She lives in Utah with two sons, a wonderful husband, three cats, and a hot tub named Valentino.
A death sentence. A family torn apart. One girl’s hunt for the truth. Seventeen-year-old Riley Beckett is no stranger to prison. Her father is a convicted serial killer on death row who has always maintained that he was falsely accused. Riley has never missed a single visit with her father. She wholeheartedly believes that he is innocent.
Then, a month before the execution date, Riley’s world is rocked when, in an attempt to help her move on, her father secretly confesses to her that he actually did carry out the murders.
He takes it back almost immediately, but she cannot forget what he’s told her. Determined to uncover the truth for her own sake, she discovers something that will forever change everything she’s believed about the family she loves.
I’m an absolute freak about the Green Bay Packers. I never miss a game. I usually go out to Green Bay for several games a year, I own stock in the organization, and I helped my son decorate his entire room green and yellow. 😉
Cheesehead, eh? I’m a 49er’s fan!
*What initially drew you to write?
The first time I sat down and started writing, I did it as an escape. My life was stressing me out and I had this idea in my mind that just wouldn’t go away. I thought maybe if I wrote it down, it might help, so I did. Not only did it help my stress, but I found something I loved more than I ever would have imagined.
I had the same experience. Beginning with simple escapism in poetry then morphing into full blown fiction.
*Why have you chosen to write YA?
Teen years are so formative. They are one of the first times we all start trying to identify and establish ourselves and our independence. We begin to figure out who we are and create and define ourselves. I think we continue to do that again and again at various points for the rest of our lives and so it’s easy to identify with. I love writing characters in that kind of flux and transition. It creates beautifully poignant conflict and tension.
Wonderful! Conflict and tension is the name of the game.
*How do you craft your characters?
I try to start with someone real and flawed and then try to get into their heads. I create their backstory and try to figure out what having a history like the one I gave them would do to these people. I basically just work to make them whole and breathe life into them.
We all love real and flawed characters. You can’t go wrong there!
*What is it about psychology that you enjoy employing in your writing?
I think this ties into the characters question because my psychology background helps me analyze the way a background would make a character who they are. It also helps me get into flaws and communication skill sets and all kinds of stuff to make both characters and relationships well rounded.
I love this. Your way of crafting characters is very fascinating.
*Who’s your favorite character you’ve ever created?
Wow…hard choice. I’m going to name a couple and say why because picking one is just too hard. Finn (Night Walkers’ Series) is the most fun. Piper (Cut Me Free) is the toughest. And Riley (The Row) has the biggest heart.
Awesome. I can’t wait to read all of your books!!
*As a reader, who are your top 3 favorite characters and what do you appreciate about them?
Peeta – (The Hunger Games) because he was vulnerable in a position that made everyone else hard.
Caymen – (The Distance Between Us) because I don’t know if I’ll ever find a better depiction of my ideal sense of humor anywhere else.
Adelina – (The Young Elites) because she’s the absolute best anti-hero I’ve ever seen and I love her for it.
Vulnerability, humor, and the anti-hero.
*Tell us about the protagonist in your new book.
Riley has walls up pretty high. She’s spent all her life defending her father and having people slander him and her whole family in front of her (and behind her back). She loves her father and believes that he’s innocent. This situation has flipped her perspectives in some interesting ways. She doesn’t trust police or the justice system. She has nightmares of the police coming to her house at night to steal her parents away. She’s very close to her father, but has more normal growing pains in her relationship with her mother. Her whole life was put on hold when her father went to prison and she and her mother have spent years with their lives in limbo as they fight to set him free. So when Riley starts to doubt her father, it sends her whole world spiraling out of control. She’s good, and loyal, and fierce in a situation where no one expects her to be. I loved writing her because it gave me a chance to expose and explore some things in our society that I don’t agree with. Often children and families of criminals are treated like they are guilty too, that they should’ve known and are somehow also responsible. I also got to ask some questions about how we can really be sure that we truly know anyone—or what they’re capable of. These topics fascinate me.
Totally agree. The story has a great premise and very interesting protagonist.
*You seem to write with powerful themes in your stories; I suspect you’re a very passionate person. What’s your process for selecting theme?
I do tend to gravitate toward powerful themes and I am a passionate person. I’m afraid my process for selecting a theme is far from scientific though. I like to expose myself to as much life as I can. I watch tv, movies, travel, go to the park and watch people, read the news and books. Then I wait for something to strike a particular chord. When it happens and I find myself really wanting to dive into researching a topic or issue more than normal, then I know it’s one I might want to write about.
LOVE IT. These are the best stories written by the best kinds of authors.
*Have you ever cried while writing? If so, what was your experience?
Yes, actually. The last two books: Cut Me Free and The Row. With both, it has been in a part of the story near the climax where I’m particularly connected to the characters and they’re at their lowest point. I also get a little choked up when I’m writing the end. The most emotional moments for my characters set me off a bit, but I think it usually means I’m getting that emotion to come through on the page in a good way as well, so I’m happy about it.
You gotta love emotion, it’s the currency of all fiction.
*What have you experienced or learned in writing this book as opposed to your other series and stand-alones?
The experience with this book has taught me to be flexible because I basically went through three different editors over the course of working on it. That’s unusual for me, so it took a bit of adjusting. I’m really happy with the way it turned out though. It was also my first mystery, which meant the tension changed a bit as opposed to my thrillers. The main character was in less danger than I was used to, so it forced me to run the story a little differently. I think I’m a better writer for the experience.
I like the idea of being a flexible writer. Crafting these kinds of stories are great exercise.
*I can tell you enjoy writing about the deep complexities of human life. Can you bring us into your mindset on this?
People fascinate me. They always have. I remember as a kid looking at a stranger walking down the street and thinking that it felt so random that I was in my body, in my life, and they were in theirs. I used to imagine being in their body. Would I be taller, would my arms be longer, what would the world look like from their perspective? I use this in my writing constantly. We all have struggles. We all have our own pain and triumph. I like to dig around in that and try to see the strength in human flaws and frailty. Through that lens is where we really capture the beauty of humanity.
We must be twins separated at birth!! People fascinate me as well. I love to connect with people on different levels. FUN!
*What do you have next coming down the pike?
I’m currently working on another standalone thriller and a couple of middle grade projects, so watch for news on those soon!
We’ll put out a BOLO for all of your upcoming projects. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
~~BETWEEN THE PAGES OF A BOOK IS A LOVELY PLACE TO BE~~
There has been only one assassination on a Presidential Candidate, Robert F. Kennedy, in 1968. Has the time come for the next serious attempt? Legal Philosopher, historian and author J.C. Peters uses this scenario in his first political fiction novel, The Dog and its Day (Odyssea Publishing), available now on Amazon and major online retailers. As the United States comes to elect the next President in the coming months and with the first debate completed, Peters is compelled to depict the main characters in the book off current political and presidential candidates.
In The Dog and Its Day, two conservative billionaires decide to hire the best assassin $10 million can buy to kill Republican presidential candidate Ronald Drump, realizing any other candidate would have a much better chance of winning against the notoriously unpopular Valery Clayton. The assassin, an American, is meticulous, methodical and he never fails. As a rule, he does not operate stateside, but the chance to retire in style, with a legendary campaign season swings into high gear, the killer chooses his time, place and method. The hour is fast approaching. One main can change the course of history. The question: who will it be?
*How did you go from writing historical nonfiction to fiction?
After finishing my latest nonfiction history book, World 2.0: A History from Enlightenment to Terrorism and Beyond, which had taken me more than three years to write and research, I was actually planning to take a small break. But as I watched Donald Trump rise in the Republican primaries, I began thinking about how incredibly high the stakes would be if he actually became the Republican nominee, how the entire country could be swayed into one of two very different directions and how the course of history is often determined by just one person. Truth is, I had come upon many Donald Trumps while writing World 2.0. Of course, if one man can change the world, it also takes just one man to stop him. And that is how the story of The Dog and its Day was born.
It’s amazing how one person can affect the world and turn it upon its hinges.
*Can you note the differences you experienced?
Interestingly enough, the difference between fiction and nonfiction was far smaller than I had expected. In the last six months of working on my history book, I sometimes fantasized about finally being able to throw off the constraints of having to research and double-check every single fact. In fiction, I thought, I could do whatever I wanted, I would finally be the king of my own universe! But when I started writing The Dog and its Day—actually even before that, when I was still just thinking about the story—I realized that for me at least, the main difference would be to recalibrate reality a few degrees. When it comes to thrillers, I was never that interested in outlandish stories where the villains do unspeakable things. In The Dog and its Day, I wanted to explore how an assassination plot on Donald Trump would be conceived, planned and executed. That turned out to take quite a lot of research as well, but at least I didn’t have to name sources, write footnotes and create an index anymore.
That’s awesome. I’m writing a my first fictional piece and hope to pen nonfiction one day.
FICTION REVEALS TRUTH THAT REALITY OBSCURES -RALPH WALDO EMERSON
*Does your book explore a particular theme?
One man can change history. Nothing is set in stone and history does repeat itself.
This is very fascinating. I guess it all depends on who is changing history and how they’re doing it.
*What can you tell us about these two billionaires and their relationship with one another?
They are lifelong friends who together founded a coal-mining company 30 years ago and expanded it into a global empire in the decades that followed. They have had people standing in the way of their business interests eliminated before. When one of them suggests to have the Republican nominee assassinated, the other first recoils, but then he realizes the time for moral objections has long since passed.
Sounds like a great premise! Two power hungry billionaires with their own agenda.
*Tell us three things about Ronald Drump.
He is the Republican nominee for president. A New York real estate developer without any political experience. He is brash, arrogant, notoriously unreliable and far behind in the polls when the two billionaires decide to have him eliminated.
Well, may the odds ever be in his favor.
*Tell us three things about Valery Clayton.
She is the Democratic nominee for president. Her husband, Richard Clayton, was President in the 1990s. She has vowed to close all coal mines in the United States if elected.
I’m surprised they the billionaires wouldn’t have her assassinated instead. Especially if she’s trying to close the coal mines!
*How meticulous is this legendary assassin?
He is the kind of man who, if he had an unforeseen chance to take out his mark with a 9mm handgun in a dark forest with nobody else around, would still do nothing more than mumble a greeting and walk on, if he had planned to take him out a day later with a .300 Winchester Magnum from 800 yards away.
I’ve always thought assassins were cool for some reason. It must be the nature of the job and how they manage to get away with it, or not.
*If you were Ronald Drump and realized an attempt on your life what would you do?
Probably the same as what the real Republican nominee, Donald Trump, has done. Hire extra private security—much to the dismay of the Secret Service.
Yikes! Sounds like a high stress job. Whew.
*If you had opportunity to change the world as Drump, Clayton, the billionaires, or the assassin which person would you be?
The billionaires and the assassin can only stop someone else from becoming President of the United States. I would prefer to be in power myself.
Good answer!
*What is your favorite time period in history?
I find that once you start digging and are transported back in time, each period has its own unique stories to tell and adventures to share. Fourteenth century France might seem less interesting than World War II at first glance, but once you start exploring the Hundred Years’ War and the Black Death and it all comes to life again, it quickly become another favorite period in history.
It would be adventurous to be a time traveler and go back to observe how things unfolded personally.
If you think you have it tough, read history books. -Bill Maher
*Will you write more political thrillers?
I already have a new plot. One that strikes at the heart of the presidency and puts the President in an impossible situation. So yes.
I don’t know that I am ‘from’ anywhere. I was born on an army base, Fort Belvoir, in Northern Virginia, then grew up as a young child in my mother’s hometown of Hickory, North Carolina. Then it was back to Northern Virginia, living near the Bull Run battlefield in Manassas. 150 years ago, men from all over the country came here – twice – to duke it out. Now,.people come there from all over the country so they can commute to their government or technology centered jobs, which my dad had.
Since then, the army took me across the country and to South Korea, and as a civilian I have lived in Kansas, North Carolina (again), El Paso, TX and now Tucson, Arizona. What does it mean to be from a place? I am amalgamated from all of those places and many more besides: the Corleone compounds in New York and Lake Tahoe; Discovery One, on it’s ill fated journey to Jupiter; even Desi and Lucy’s Manhattan apartment.
I come from a tribe of wanderers.
Wow! You are literally a man of many places.
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Do you write screenplays and novels?
I am a screenwriter, but I did begin work on a novel in 2014 that I completely pantsed. It is a zombie dystopia (of course) told in the first person from several perspectives; my favorite was the young woman in her late teens from Pacific Palisades, California, a wealthy beachside community of Los Angeles. The good and evil groups meet up in Las Vegas, in an homage to Stephen King’s The Stand.
That’s really cool that you’re a screenwriter.
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Which do you like more?
Screenplays. They are a novel distilled to it’s essence. Put a novel in the dryer on too high heat: a screenplay results.
I love the visual!
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How is writing screenplays different from fiction?
The biggest differences are texture and subplots. A novel, which could be a thousand pages, could have endless subplots. A screenplay can have two or three if it is long enough, but all the narrative drive has to be supplied by the main plot; there is barely space for anything else.
Texture is the novel’s greatest strength over the screenplay. Take It, for example. King spends an enormous amount of time detailing several horrifying events in the past of the town. Gradually it becomes clear to the reader that the town has been inculcated in the evil of It. If you watch the mini series, however, that is nowhere to be found, as there is not enough time.
Texture in a film is all a result of the scene and the decorative elements thereof. Take the opening of The Godfather. It is not by accident that it begins at Connie’s wedding, nor that it is seen through the eyes of Kay, the outsider. It allows Coppola to import texture so that we get a feel for what it means to be Italian American in the 40s, before we commence with the story proper, as it were. The fact that Don Vito is feared by so many, but gently cradles his cat: that is the distillation process in full effect.
Wow. This is amazing to see the difference between the two. I’m beginning to notice the nuances between the two mediums. Funny you mentioned the Godfather because I just got the audiobook.
What’s the hardest thing about being a filmmaker?
The hardest thing about filmmaking is not filmmaking at all: it is financing. When people give you money, they tend to want it back, plus a profit. There are now just two entry points into ‘the system’. The first is make a cheap horror film. Horror does not require ‘names’, nor does it require lots of money. It does not even require a great script. All it needs is a great hook. Don’t Breathe, which came out recently, has a fantastic hook: a group of punks rob a soldier who is blind but has the keenest hearing and really objects to people breaking in. Or It Follows, from last year, which takes the horror formulation of sex = death to its logical conclusion.
The other way is to write a great screenplay for a name, which can then secure the financing. An example would be Brick, Rian Johnson’s amazing debut, which sets a film noir in a high school. This came to the attention of Joseph Gordon-Levitt, who was looking for a project to allow him to be taken seriously. It worked out great for both (you may have heard of Johnson’s latest project: Star Wars VIII?).
Wonderful! I think Joseph Gordon-Levitt is a great actor and chock full of talent. Then for Rian Johnson to have a ‘project’ such as Star Wars VIII is nothing short of amazing.
What are your Top 5 favorite movies and what makes them great?
Very tough. I will go with The Godfather, Part II,directed by Francis Ford Coppola. The rare, perhaps only sequel to better it’s predecessor, G2 is the tale of father and son and the huge differences between them. The two key scenes are the old woman being kicked out of her apartment because the rent will be $30 and the landlord hates her dog. Vito first asks the landlord for a favor: tell the woman the rent is 25 and come see him for the rest. Plus, please let her keep the dog. The landlord refuses. Vito kindly asks him to change his mind. The man refuses. Vito Corleone, the most powerful man in Little Italy, debases himself to come to a mutual solution. Only once the man realizes what he has done – and to whom – does Vito apply the screws, but even then, he praises the man for being so generous. Why make an enemy needlessly?
Compare to the son, who upon hearing the demands of the Nevada senator for a gaming license, arrogantly tells the senator will give him the license and get nothing in return, because Michael knows he can set the senator up and make him grateful for Michael’s help. Why spend money needlessly?
If the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, G2 makes clear that Michael’s apple landed on the slope of a hill and managed to roll far away.
Dr. Strangelove, Or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb, directed by Stanley Kubrick. Kubrick succinctly and hilariously shows how war begins. It is banal, tragic, petty and most of all absurd. What I love most is the cognitive dissonance Kubrick initiates: we root for the War Room to shoot down the last B-52, but we also root for the intrepid, brave flight crew, which is determined to carry out their duty, culminating in the famous ride of Slim Pickens, riding the bomb like a bucking bronco to the extinction of the human race.
Wild Strawberries, directed by Ingmar Bergman. Ostensibly a road movie of a man getting a ride from his daughter-in-law to get a lifetime achievement award, it is actually about the man’s life, it’s mistakes and tragedies and his feeble attempts to keep his son from making the same mistakes. The way Bergman literally intertwines the past and the present is shot through with emotionality.
Stray Dog, directed by Akira Kurosawa. A cop in Tokyo loses his gun; the man responsible for taking it goes on a rampage. Though made in 1949, it has modern narrative sensibilities. Seven, for example, feels very much like it in atmosphere and in the hot headedness of its protagonist (Toshiro Mifune). It is set in August in Tokyo and everything is sweating, seemingly. The heat is very much on Mifune to get his gun back and stop a murderer.
Monsoon Wedding, directed by Mira Nair. This film does what only the magic of story can. It takes a very specific situation (an extended Punjabi family preparing for a wedding) and lets us see the universality of it. Once we recognize what we have in common with them,which is much, we can appreciate the ways we are different – and accept them. Starting with this point of empathy, we can celebrate the ways this Indian family are different from us. The story is very common (there are only a handful of story forms), but it is the specifics – the jumble of Mumbai, the idiosyncratic romance of the wedding planner and the family servant, how cell reception is awful in India – it is a joyous riot.
Nice starting five. I’ve only seen the Godfather, but that was many years ago.
Your favorite sports?
My favorite sports are NHL hockey (go Washington Caps!), major league baseball (go Washington Nats!) and NFL football (go Washington Skins!).
Who’s going to win the Superbowl?
The Patriots are undefeated despite starting nobodies at quarterback. When Brady comes back, how are they going to be stopped? They have to be the favorite right now.
Your least favorite team?
My least favorite team across all sports is the Dallas Cowboys, followed by the New York Giants, Philadelphia Eagles and Arizona Cardinals. May they all have a bad end.
Name a few movies you’re dying to see.
Birth of a Nation; Manchester by the Sea; Doctor Strange (Marvel plus Benedict Cumberbatch should equal can’t miss); Passengers; La La Land wasn’t one I was anticipating, but it won the top prize at the Toronto Film Festival – as have the last four Best Picture winners, so I want to see what the fuss is about; and finally, always: the next under the radar horror movie.
Definitely looking forward to seeing Marvel’s Dr. Strange with Benedict Cumberbatch. Passengers looks like a winner, and of course, Star Wars VIII!!
You’re a writer; so what’s your story, or what inspired you?
I got started writing at 7 when I wrote a story about a leprechaun. I think (either a leprechaun or an elf). My teacher said it was a good story. Then, as now, I take some things completely literally. If my teacher thought I had a good story, then I needed to sell that story. My friend suggested we get copies made, which involved some parental logistics but soon I had my copies and went door to door, selling my story for a quarter. Not a single person bought, which is mystifying and heartless (when an eight year old comes to your door selling an elf story for a quarter, you give the kid a quarter). I did not take any rejection from this – my teacher said it was a good story.
I started writing my first screenplay at 15, but didn’t finish. 12 years later, I started another script and finished – 4 years later. The third time I stole the structure from Richard III, so it only took about a year and the time has dropped since for a first draft.
I always find it rather amazing how some people begin writing so young.
What’s your GOAL in becoming a writer?
My goal is first, to just make something a quality. After that, it is to be produced. Further, to produce my own scripts. Finally, to dethrone Gone With The Wind as the all time domestic box office champ. All I need is a movie capable of making $1.7 billion…
That’s a pretty lofty goal, yikes!
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A goal is a dream with a deadline. -Napoleon Hill
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What 3 things have hindered you from completing your projects? (CONFLICT)
I have been stymied by: low budgets. The Richard III script was produced for nothing and it became a boring movie. I began shooting for better funded producers, but I needed much higher quality scripts. So I have worked over the past several years to become a higher quality writer. Finding these producers amenable to my script genre also has been stymying.
Sounds like a tough business, even harder than publishing novels.
What keeps you motivated in achieving your dream? (DESIRE)
I have no choice but to tell stories, even if only to read to Jehovah’s Witnesses who have stopped by for coffee.
Sounds like you’re very determined!
What’s your ANTAGONIST? What’s in the way?
Some of my antagonists: Laziness. I can slide form my writing for the day for various reasons. Work is a big one as well: I generally work 28 or 29 days a month, for around 10-14 hours. It doesn’t leave much time to write, particularly if the lazy grabs me.
I know this all too well. Once the tank is tapped, that’s it. A couple of days ago I saw a bumper sticker that read: MAKE USE OF YOUR ENERGY
I’ve been thinking about it ever since.
Why do writers give up, quit or never complete their projects?
Discouragement. Rejection. Discovering they aren’t very good. My dad did a lot of writing, for maybe 10 years, then he just stopped and did other things. I never asked him why; I think I was afraid of the answer. I didn’t think he was very good, and I worry I led him to stop.
These are all too familiar.
What would you say to a struggling writer?
(I think) What, exactly, does it mean to struggle? There is no end to ‘the struggle’. The Buddha tells us that life is struggle and pain. I would direct this writer to Stephen King, who was nearly killed; is that not struggle? Brad Pitt had everything until September, 2016, when his wife abruptly left; is that not pain? After Michael Jackson made the biggest album of all time, the only question was: how are you going to top it?
This writer, they think they struggle now. Their struggles will be unceasing. Their nature may change. Stephen King’s struggle is gathering the cash to buy the Boston Red Sox or whatever. Oh my God, the Rolls Royce needs a new engine!
There will always be struggle. Many, perhaps most, writers, successful or not, stare at the blank page or a story problem, and wonder the same thing: is this it? Will I ever write again? This is the one where they discover I’m a fraud.
The only cure for your struggles is to keep writing. At which point your struggle will change: how do I market this book? How do I find an honest financial advisor? Should I buy or rent a private jet? How do I increase tourism to my private island? #TheStruggleContinues
That’s great!
The only cure for your struggles is to keep writing- Usvaldo De Leon
The struggle you’re in today is developing the strength you need for tomorrow-Uknown
THIS IS YOU
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I love the struggle, after all we’re going to need something to talk about at the top. -Picturequotes.com
“Never theorize before you have the data. Invariably, you end up twisting facts to suit theories instead of theories to suit facts.” -Sherlock Holmes
Everyone please welcome writer Ingrid Bouldin!
The reader’s experience is the best evidence. -Benjamin Thomas
*What is your favorite genre (s)?
I really have no distinct favorites although I can say, I’m not fond of romance novels.
I read pretty much any genre and love the variety. You’ll find me reading three to five books at the same time. Two or three will be fiction of different genres, then a book or two on writing structure, and maybe one that’s research for my own WIPs, etc.
I gravitate towards Murder/Suspense, Crime, Science Fiction…at least for now.
It’s far more important for me to be experiencing a great read that I get absorbed into, versus limiting myself to any particular genre. Close runner-ups would be Fantasy and YA (yes, young adult!)
Often, I’ll pick up a classic or what’s currently popular at the time, outside what I might be more inclined to delve into. I do this because it stretches my brain cells and may spark my interest in some other genre that I otherwise might not think of reading.
Very good! The exact same taste as I do.
*What is your educational background?
I’ve had several years of college but alas, no degree…yet.
Since way back, I can’t begin to remember a time that I didn’t create art and have my nose in a book or three, or was ‘covertly writing’ in hidden notebooks. I grew up in a family where no one else devoured books like I did, much less wrote wacky stories about flying to other planets and talking animals.
Through Junior High, then High School, my focus was initially on artwork…pen and ink and pencil that lead to several successful one-man art shows. I had one of my pieces displayed at the Smithsonian / Hirshhorn Museum in Washington, D.C. for a month, even.
Straight out of High School, it was determined that I would become a Registered Nurse, so I attended two years of College, Pre-med and clinicals, before I decided nursing was not my cuppa tea. I left college to marry my High School sweetheart (our 35th Anniversary is today, Sept. 5th!) and two years later, happily began our family as my major shifted to Mom. I raised our four phenomenal younglings plus semi-fostered a waffling tally of seven other younglings through their school years and into colleges, all the while continuing to do commissioned artwork on the side.
As my younglings became sassy and more independent, I entered the working field as a professional rescuer where I discovered I, by far, preferred being the one to call the shots and make the lifesaving decisions. I attended formal college level training to the Advanced EMT / Shock Trauma / Cardiac Tech and Enhanced levels… operating as Medic and Training Lieutenant for 27+ years, now currently semi-retired. My certifications fill two 2″ notebooks.
A few years back, I’d returned to college full time to attend a massive mix of lectures, practicals, clinical rotations, and field duty. I had zero life beyond academia and regular duty for two full years as I worked towards achieving my AAS Degree in Paramedic Sciences, on the Dean’s list every semester.
As I began the final semester of my two year program, my mother passed away. It was sudden and unexpected. I deeply loved her, was close to her in both location and heart, and was entirely devastated. In the mayhem of closing down my mother’s life and home by myself, I had to pull out of the Paramedic program at the eleventh hour.
Much soul searching later…one day soon I’ll get that Associate’s Degree, but it’ll be a general diploma. Now I’m following a dream I had back about a hundred fifty years ago, when I was that scrawny little quiet kid that hid notebooks in boxes under her bed.
Navigating through life experiences is by far the greatest education. Although you never graduate, it constantly teaches you.
*What part of the earth are you in?
I reside on my peaceably beautiful homestead in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, nestled in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. I’m a stone’s throw away from the Shenandoah River and every outdoor activity possible. From 2014 to this year, I was the Stable Manager and a Professional Horse Wrangler with my string of 30 amazing horses in the heart of the mountains on Skyline Drive in Shenandoah National Park.
Oh my, that sounds so adventurous! I’d love to go there one day.
*Who are your favorite characters?
There is no way on this planet I could narrow down my favorite characters to even a dozen or so! I’m currently infatuated with Inspector Rebus in the Ian Rankin Inspector Rebus Trilogy. Also Hitch and Jael in Katie Weiland’s “Storming” novel at the moment.
Okay, okay… if you’re gonna put my arm behind my back… I adore Sherlock Holmes, Severus Snape and if I can squeeze in a movie character that I’m currently fangirling on (plan to read the books asap) it would be Jason Bourne. I know I’ve left off at least two or three obvious others that once I push the ‘Send’ button will pop into my mind and complain about being left out…
I don’t know Inspector Rebus, but I’m acquainted with Jael and my good buddy Hitch. Quite a treat aren’t they? Oh yeah, Jason Bourne and I are pretty tight. Don’t say anything though. He’s still undercover.
*Favorite books?
Good grief! Again, you’re asking the impossible of me, Benjamin!
Every Ray Bradbury, Michael Crichton, Dan Brown’s “The DaVinci Code”, “Angels and Demons”, and “Inferno”.
Nearly all the Stephen King’s, every Agatha Christie, the entire collection of “Sherlock Holmes” by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.
J.K. Rowling’s “Harry Potter” series believe it or not, J.R.R. Tolkien’s “The Hobbit”, “Lord of the Rings” and every Grimm’s Fairy Tales…(which I got into trouble for sneaking in 4th grade, I was black opping it to the 6th grade section of the school library to read them and had to get a permission slip from my mom so I could ‘officially’ access the 6th Grade level books that I could barely reach…yeah, making trouble wherever I go )
Also the first seven of Patricia Cornwell’s “Scarpetta” series, along with her fascinating theory in “Portrait of a Killer: Jack the Ripper”, also Dennis Lehane’s “Shutter Island”.
Asking me which book is my favorite is exactly the same as asking me which of my children is my favorite…how in the name of Odin am I supposed to be able to answer that, eh?
There is never a wrong answer to this question. Seeing everyone’s’ favorites is exciting.
*What do you like most about reading?
What do I like the most about reading…..hmmm.
This answer’s not as hard to pin down as the others.
When I pick up a book, cradle it in my hands…all eBooks aside, there’s so much more than paper, printed letters, and compressed cardboard there. More than I can put into words well enough to know, beyond any slight shadow of a doubt, that you’ve grasped what reading truly means to me.
‘Escape’
That’s probably the one word I would choose if I had to narrow it down to that.
Reading is a sanctuary for me, an amazing adventure, mystery, journey to some place I’ve never been with fictional characters that become so flesh and blood while I read that I feel as if I met them somewhere along my life, and miss them once that last page has been read.
Reading gives me that respite from what ails me along the path of life.
And then there’s the learning about new places and worlds, civilizations and eras, and…..
I have sacrificed precious sleep more times than I will confess, all in the name of the next chapter that I must just read a little more of.
That’s a great way of putting it, Ingrid!
“Reading is a sanctuary for me, an amazing adventure, mystery, journey to some place I’ve never been with fictional characters that become so flesh and blood while I read that I feel as if I met them somewhere along my life, and miss them once that last page has been read.” -Ingrid Bouldin
*What do you appreciate about Inspector Rebus in the Ian Rankin Inspector Rebus Trilogy?
The first and second installments of the Inspector Rebus Trilogy, penned by Ian Rankin, are my most recently read novels in the Murder / Crime genre. I’d been wanting to read this trilogy for quite some time and finally was able to get to it.
I’ve enjoyed “Knots And Crosses” (1987) and “Hide And Seek” (1991) quite a bit!
The ‘Tartan Noir’ aspects of Scotland Yard’s Detective Inspector John Rebus are well met in the story lines of both novels thus far. Descriptions of local spots around Edinburgh that Ian Rankin gently places into his narratives effectively pull the reader into vivid depictions of each location, affording credibility to his settings…both good spots and the ‘bad’, like back alleys and abandoned buildings, as if the reader’s been placed directly into Edinburgh and not some postcard depiction.
I’m looking forward to getting to the third installment of this trilogy, “Tooth And Nail” (1992). There also are just over a dozen more Inspector Rebus novels that carry this character on beyond the trilogy. I’ve definitely found these first two interesting enough to keep with this series beyond the third book, “Tooth And Nail”.
I found Rankin’s smooth writing easy to get lost in as he blends a certain gruff, “hard boiled” twist to the main character’s disillusioned, slightly non-compliant persona that conflicts with his inner turmoil. The Inspector pushes his limits a bit against the grain to get the job done, at times in a sort of bumbling, human way. This, in spite of his own personal problems along with inner political issues within his job.
Inspector Rankin is probably the second most contemporary detective I’ve read (the first being Patricia Cromwell’s Kay Scarpetta). That being said, this trilogy’s publication dates are still dated enough to make the lack of today’s modern technology a bit noticeable and a little odd to have it missing in the narrative… he has to find land lines to make phone calls, rely on maps, etc., kind of a flash back to the late eighties situation which lends a unique voice to this trilogy, not such a bad thing and rather vintage. Different than say, an Agatha Christie when you know you’ll be warping backwards by nearly a century.
What I appreciate about Ian Rankin’s character is Rebus’ humanness, the way he occasionally has to fall back and punt when he’s run out of clues, quite literally at times…and has to still deal with life in general, for better or worse, along the way like the rest of us. In the first of the trilogy, Rebus must overcome an overwhelming past experience that threatens to be more than he can deal with, an interesting sub-plot that presents without a clear and obvious solution.
I’m going to have to meet this Inspector Rebus. Interesting name isn’t it?
***
*Who are your top 5-10 sleuths? What do you appreciate about them?
1. “Sherlock Holmes” – Author / Sir Arthur Conan Doyle — “The greatest Detective who never lived”. I adore Sherlock Holmes and have since I first read this collection when I was about ten years old.
This memorably grouchy, introverted, antisocial character solves murders and crimes utilizing aspects that I find very interesting myself…Sherlock Holmes combines forensic science, his extensive knowledge of medical sciences, and his keen powers of observation and unbiased deductive reasoning to decipher clues and hunt down suspects. Often on the run while thinking on his feet.
Sherlock is also purported to be a fairly rare MBTI personality type known as INTJ, which I am myself…another likely reason I appreciate this character no matter who portrays him, or whether I find him solving crimes in the pages of a book, via tv, or on the big screen. Not thinking linearly like 99% of people do, but rather in three dimensions, the contemporary version of Sherlock Holmes accesses his Mind Palace with an ability to store information for retrieval at any time which is supposedly a trait of this personality type. I’d love to think so anyway!
No matter what the medium, any version of Inspector Holmes has him discovering solutions by going outside the box while using unconventional thought processes with total disregard of social standards…offending nearly everyone as he goes along much to the chagrin of his sidekick, Dr. John Watson.
You could say I’ve pretty much loved every rendition of Sherlock and Watson…from Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s short stories, Basil Rathbone’s late 1930 b&w portrayals, all the way to the current Benjamin Cumberbatch version. My gravitation towards murder mysteries began the minute I read “A Study In Scarlet”, the first appearance of Sherlock Holmes that led to other installments resulting in Holmes becoming so well loved by the populous that when Sir Doyle wrote Sherlock plunging to his death at Reichenbach Falls at the hands of (and with) his nemesis, Professor Moriarty,
all of London rebelled. I can understand that, I was young and devastated myself when I read that moment of Sherlock’s ultimate sacrifice…the feels. I’m pretty sure I was in a foul mood for weeks.
2. Kay Scarpetta – Author / Patricia Cornwell — Once again, here’s another character I totally enjoy reading. Cornwell portrays Kay Scarpetta as a confident, strong female protagonist. In a male-dominated genre no less!
Scarpetta utilizes quick-thinking intelligence and forensic technology to solve murders and stay alive as she pursues killers, yet dodge her own premature demise. This series first novel begins with Scarpetta as the Chief Medical Examiner for the Commonwealth of Virginia, out of Richmond. Cornwell modeled Kay Scarpetta after real life M.E., Dr. Marcella Farinalli Fierro, based out of Richmond.
I’ve read the first nine consecutive novels in this series, all fast-paced and undeniably a series that compels me to stay up reading all night. Kay Scarpetta is written realistically, preserving her character as intelligent with an astute, sophisticated ability to not lose her own self, her integrity or her compassion in a high stress occupation. She deals with real world problems, both personal and professional yet remains focused on solving the crime even under adverse conditions. More than capable of taking care of herself, she still recognizes her own vulnerability and sees her own flaws.
This is not an easy character to convert to written word in any way without it coming across as false and two dimensional yet Cornwell does this, and creates a character that grows with the progression of each chronologically progressive novel.
One unique aspect of this story line are the oft times, true to life descriptives of scenes, diagnostics and procedures involved in solving the murders…an inside look at the world of present day forensic sciences which I’ve found fascinating though undeniably, not everyone’s cuppa tea. Cornwell changes the narrative POV from book to book at times which gives the reader the experience of different perspectives within the same character series…an interesting and somewhat unique approach, at least for this genre.
This book series is the inspiration for several current popular Crime tv shows, such as “CSI”. I’ve found Patricia Cornwell’s blending of narrative, action, and technical info fascinating across the board.
3. Hercule Poirot – Author / Agatha Christie — I very much enjoy vintage Detective stories. Undeniably, Agatha Christie spun these yarns with classic suspense as the ‘Queen of Crime’, creating Detective Hercule Poirot as an absolute opposite of the vast majority of grizzled inspectors, to be sure.
A Belgian Detective and perfectionist at heart, Poirot practices sleuthing via use of his self-described “little grey cells”, preferring to solve murders in a manner that will preserve the upturned, perfectly groomed tips of his magnificently impeccable mustache, and without scuffs to his impeccable shoes.
Quite a change from other sleuths, the neat and tidy Detective Poirot with his frequent stomach issues usually stages a classic great reveal to a room full of people by story’s end in true Agatha Christie style. This “opposites” approach Agatha Christie used as she created Poirot’s fastidious obsessions produced an interesting protagonist that proved immensely popular over time, and I found just as interesting decades after his creation…once again, at a very young age.
(3 and 4 are a close tie)
4. Inspector John Rebus – Author / Ian Rankin — Pretty much covered up there ↑. I plan to be reading the third in the trilogy soon and hope to go on from there with Ian Rankin’s numerous further adventures with Inspector Rebus.
From this point, I can’t say that I’ve read complete collections of other singular Detective characters or sleuthing authors recently enough for me to be comfortable commenting on them. Most of the Crime / Mystery novels I’ve read were from many years ago but included some Ellery Queen, Sam Spade and “The Maltese Falcon”, Edgar Allan Poe’s character C. Auguste Dupin in “The Murders in the Rue Morgue”, “The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde” by Robt. Louis Stevenson, and others. Several suspense novels, and other genres, etc.
I am in no way an authority on Detective / Crime novels and have definitely not read all the works of these authors, or all the novels in any Crime / Detective series. Hercule Poirot alone has somewhere around thirty novels to this character.
Awesome! If this were the NBA and you had one more sleuth, these would be your starting five!
*What do you like most about crime thrillers? Is it the hunt? The suspense? A meaty hook?
That’s a good question, Benjamin!
I believe I love this genre because of that classic challenge, the thrill of the hunt. I enjoy the settings, the exotic characters, the mysterious unfolding of plots as I read along to uncover clues along the way, at times along with the characters. Other times, deciphering whodunnit and solutions in some Sherlockian fashion as I read to the end.
I enjoy the suspense, the cerebral exercise, the stretching of the “little grey cells” and the challenge to see by the story’s last page if I was right or not. And if not, what it was that stumped me. I like figuring out solutions to seemingly impossible problems…some labyrinth that makes me think outside the box. It’s good to know when I’ve deduced the solution on my own brain power which is it’s own reward. Not to mention, a good mystery is it’s own form of escapism.
The plot and story line are far more important to me than a meaty hook! Sure, it’s great to grab my attention but if the rest of the story can’t keep me absorbed in the plot line…
That’s right on the money. I enjoy the same cerebral exercises!
*Name your favorite Murder/Crime/Mystery/Thrillers of 2016. (In no particular order)
I’ve been writing myself, Beta reading for others, reading outside this genre and catching up on Technical Writing, Paramedic and so forth. My fiction Murder / Crime / Mystery reading’s been pretty limited for 2016 which I’ve recently been changing so that I’ll get more of this genre under my belt, it’s been awhile and I’ve missed it.
By default, I would have to say the Inspector Rebus novels have been pretty good thus far for 2016 although recently reading Dennis LeHane’s “Shutter Island” might qualify for a mystery thriller!
Great, I love hearing the best reads of the year. I’ll take all your recommendations.
)
The Writing Train: Join the locomotion 