Wednesday, September 16, 2009

Guest Author, Celia Yeary


Today's guest is Celia Yeary, friend, fellow Wild Rose Press author, and moderator at The Bookspa, where readers and writers alike can find an oasis of calm in a world of words. Speaking of words, Celia has a blog you don't want to miss, full of heartwarming stories about growing up in Texas and other fun things. Celia is here today to celebrate the release of Showdown in Southfork, part of The Wild Rose Press's wildly popular Wayback Texas series, where a cowboy falls in love every 8 seconds. Congratulations and welcome, Celia!

Who are you?
I am…free to be me, a dreamer and thinker, the anchor for my family, a loyal friend, a faithful wife, a lucky woman who has it all. I haven’t always “had it all”—I had to fight for it, wait for it, work hard and live for the day when I could say, “I have it all.” I wish I could assist every helpless creature in the world, but I can’t, I’m not God. So, I try to do my best, don’t always succeed, though, so I tend to my own little corner of the world.

What type of stories do you like to write and why?
Love stories, for sure, but I also like to write stories about women, I suppose labeled “women’s fiction.” Sometimes, I think there’s more humor, more tragedy, more heartfelt caring, and yes, even more real love in women’s relationships. I’m re-editing a ms right now titled Making the Turn that involves a young woman, her daughter, her mother, a man, and a young boy not her own. During the course of the novel, the college-age daughter brings all them out of their shells and ruts, connects them, and she does it with the blithe spirit of youth.
What type of stories do you like to read and why?

The same that I write. Except those I read are much better than mine—that’s why those authors are with the NY publishers and I’m not! I remember The Shell Seekers as the first women’s fiction I read, and the story was very touching—very different emotions from romance novels. Belva Plain’s novels are angst-filled family sagas. I enjoy Beverly Lewis’s Amish/Mennonite series, because again, they’re family based sagas, always with real people finding and losing love and acceptance .Needless to say, my favorite type of romance are series—usually Western—but I love Susan Wiggs’ contemporary series, too.
Where do you go to think?

I move away from the computer, lie down, close my eyes, and daydream. Or I go for a walk down the road, the county road we live on where the houses are a few acres apart. I’ve straightened out many scenes and pages of dialogue in this manner. And sometimes—I go to a movie. Yes, to think. I have nothing else in my head except the movie—and in one corner of my brain, a WIP or a new novel. You see, I don’t have to talk to anyone or respond to a phone.
How long did you write seriously before your first book was published?
I wrote for about three years before The Wild Rose Press accepted All My Hopes and Dreams. I had about eight novels written, all badly, all needing much work, so I looked at all of them, narrowed them to three, and asked my critique partner to look at the first chapters of these three. Which is best, I asked? She chose the two others over All My Hopes and Dreams! Really! But I knew, deep in my heart, that “Hopes” was my best….hope.
Why do you write?
To stay sane, I guess. I’m rarely bored, because I always have something to do. In my earlier years, my marriage, my children, my household, my college years, my teaching years, and a retirement filled with international travel and a lot of golf kept me fully occupied. But all that either slowed or came to a halt, and I found emptiness and boredom begin to creep in. I began to write, when I never had in my entire life, but my brain was full of stories. If someone wanted to torture me, he could just put me someplace where I had nothing to do, and I’d quickly go insane.

Celia Yeary is a life-long Texan, proud of her roots, happy living among live oaks and deer, and grateful for her entire family. She appreciates and nurtures good friendships, and tries to help someone else when the need arises. Her passions are her husband and grandsons and books—in that order. Her successful grown children are a source of pure joy. Celia and her husband have traveled widely, but in the end prefer their home.

10 comments:

Unknown said...

Thank you, Liana--I appreciate your generosity posting an interview on your blog--and on release day of Showdown in Southfork!! I love your questions, and enjoyed writing answers to them--see you later in the day--Celia

Maggie Toussaint said...

Hi Celia and Liana!

I very much enjoyed the interview. Celia I have to say Shell Seekers was my first foray into women's fiction as well. It stuck with me for a very long time. There is something deep and meaningful about women's friendships that transcend the page. Maybe guys feel that way about other guys, I don't know cuz I'm not a guy, LOL!

I never would've thought of going to a movie to think, but I have noticed that after viewing a movie a very creative part of my brain is engaged. I might just try your thinking method!

Nicely done, ladies!

Liana Laverentz said...

You're welcome, Celia, and thanks, Maggie, for stopping by. Glad you enjoyed the interview! I watch movies all the time. Dissect them the same way I do books. For years my son thought I was psychic, because I always knew what was going to happen. I'd say a line just before the character did, and be right! (This is for movies I had never seen before.) Good writing is good writing :)

Sheryl Browne said...

Great interview, Ladies. Proud to know you both.

Celia, I can attest to your trying to do your best, always there to cheer people on or lend a comforting word. You have made me smile ear-to-ear more than once.

Magazines help me in the same way your films do. I often find that a supplement to a Sunday paper, for instance, might touch on something I have been "trying" to write about. That kick starts the old grey stuff!

Well done, Celia and Liana. Hope to catch you all around soon.

Mary Ricksen said...

Another great interview Celia. I wish you the best of luck with sales.
the movie idea is interesting.
You too Liana! Good luck!!

Mona Risk said...

Great interview Liana and Celia.

Celia, I agree with you when you said you traveled a lot but love to come back home. I can feel in your books, at least in the first one, All My Hope and Dreams, that I read and enjoyed so much, that you are a true Texan.

CONGRATULATIONS on the new book.

Unknown said...

Mary--thank you so much.Liana has a beautiful blog--and her questions were very good.Celia

Unknown said...

Mona--yes, I really am a homebody-- I traveled because my husband wanted to, mainly. I did want to, but I never would have initiated it on my own, not knowing anything about the rest of the world. Now, I'm so glad I saw all the wonders of Europe plus many others places. But home--wouldn't trade it for anything. Celia

Unknown said...

What a wonderful interview and congratulations on your release. :)

Crystal-Rain Love said...

Can't wait to read this one!