Wow. After being away from the computer for so long, I don’t know where to begin. All this listening and learning I’ve been doing lately. Every day brings new ideas for things to write about. The problem is making the time to write them…and lately, with my messed up shoulder, having the ability to type.
My shoulder seems to be much better today. Thank you for all your prayers and well wishes. I was able to keep up with my email, even though I didn’t answer a lot of them. That would involve typing. But I do appreciate everyone who checked in on me and thank you for your concern. And I do appreciate my guest bloggers, who took up the slack for me while I was recuperating. And I appreciate knowing I can count on my friends to step into the breach should it happen again.
In the end, my solution came from listening—after a long period of not listening, apparently. So much so that I was ready to scream from the non-stop pain on Saturday. Relentless, it was. So I started going through my mind, trying to recall other times I’ve felt this way and how I got past it, and finally I settled on stretching.
Twelve years ago I spent nearly two years dealing with a frozen shoulder until I found a doctor who said, “I know what the problem is!” and within minutes he’d provided me with some stretching exercises that took care of the problem. This was after months and months of x-rays, MRI’s, physical therapy, relaxation therapy, a group class on depression I attended, (but didn’t participate in because I wasn’t depressed, I was in pain, darn it), and several attempts by doctors to prescribe anti-depressants. When I refused them, I was labeled an uncooperative patient and told, “Well, then I don’t know what to do for you.”
Why does it seem that the medical professional’s front line response to something they don’t understand is that you’re the problem and you need anti-depressants?
But I held out, and finally found a doctor who knew what was going on. So since this pain felt similar to that pain I recalled his advice and on Saturday evening went to the Y and did some passive stretching with the nautilus machines. Almost immediately the pain decreased, and by Sunday morning I could type for a few minutes again. I went back to the Y on Monday and did the passive stretching again, and yesterday I was able to type for an hour and a half. I can’t wait to go back and do some more stretching today, and hopefully in a week or so I’ll be back to normal again.
It’s said we have the solution to all our problems or dilemmas within us. All we have to do is stop and listen. I wish I’d done so sooner, but I was too busy resisting. I was too busy keeping busy. If I can’t do this, I’ll do that instead. So I cleaned my office, I cleaned my house, I kept moving because I thought that to stop moving would make it worse and freeze my shoulder up again.
In a sense I was right. The motion kept the pain at bay until a stressful phone call sent me tipping over the edge. My muscles tightened, my nerve got pinched, and I was back to square one.
So that situation needed to be examined as well. Either examined, or given up to God.
I chose to give it up to God, and immediately felt better. Now I have to work on not snatching it back :).
We all have things in our lives we have no control over. My experience these past several weeks has been that to worry and obsess about them does more harm than good. Stress from worry can also keep you from being able to do the things you can do, especially when your body is temporarily being uncooperative. What could have devolved into a downward spiral has now been averted by simply taking the time to listen and do what needed to be done to heal.
But even as I was doing this, I realized that most women don’t have that luxury—to be able to drop everything and focus on healing. Until it’s too late and we have no choice but to see to ourselves or end up disabled or dead.
What’s bothering you today? Is it your back, your head, your knees, your legs, shoulders, neck, hands, heart or elbows? What can you do for yourself today to ease that discomfort? If you don’t know, can you take ten minutes today to focus on your body and listen to what it’s trying to tell you? Can you take another ten minutes tomorrow?
Our bodies are amazing. Designed by God to regenerate and heal all on their own if we but give them the time and space and freedom to do so. Instead we push them and push them, and then wonder why they rebel against us. We feel betrayed, and look for quick fix solutions, most of them external to our bodies. I can’t tell you how tempted I was to just zone out on painkillers and muscle relaxants and go to bed.
But I knew that if I did, I would wake up more stiff and sore than ever, with cotton mouth and a groggy head, and nowhere closer to a solution than I’d been when I opted out. Drugs have their place. Sometimes nothing less will do. But most times, our conditions are not that dire. We just need to slow down and listen.
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Guest Author, Stephanie Burkhart
My shoulder is still bad and I can not type at all without making it worse, so I'm especially grateful to Stephanie Burkhart who agreed to answer a few questions to entertain you while I continue to recover. Steph is a good friend from the former Bookspa Loop, and is a fascinating woman of many talents. Be sure to check out her blog, Romance Under The Moonlight, where you'll always learn something new. Welcome, Steph!
Liana: Who is S.G. Cardin? When and why did you change names?
Steph: *grin* That's my maiden name. I always said if I get published I would use my maiden name and I did. My first novel, 'Destination: Berlin' was self published under my maiden name. My co-workers would ask me all the time why did I use my maiden name. Because it's me, simply. Well, when I went with a small press, I decided to use my name now because of all the ribbing I got from my co-workers.
Liana: You have several books in the works, blog daily, go on blog tours, enter (and do well in!) contests, and research. Plus you work and have a family. What clues do you have for time management?
Steph: The first thing that comes to mind is flexibility. I usually work on my daily blog, marketing, and research in the morning hours before I go to work. At work, during down time between calls or on the radio, I'm able to write. It's during that time I do my actual writing, be it blog posts or stories. Toward the end of my shift, I'll put the writing aside and do some reading. When I have days off, I try to get some writing done, but it's tough because I have housework and chores. What is easy for me is to type so I'll take everything I wrote at work and type it up on my days off. It sounds complex, but it's the way I find balance.
Liana: Can you share a story about your time as an MP?
Steph: The first three years I spent in physical security. An MP in the military has three jobs – physical security, law enforcement, and prisoners of war. My first two years in the military I guarded nuclear weapons in Germany. What struck me, even at that time was here I was, 18 years old, guarding nuclear munitions. It's a lot of responsibility and it will mature someone quickly. What I remember more, is not necessarily my time as an MP, but my time I spent exploring Germany and Europe.
Liana: I notice you're a 911 Dispatcher. I've read in the news where people have called 911 for taxi rides and because they didn't like the food at restaurants. Have you had any calls like that?
Steph: Yes! I get crazy calls like that OFTEN. Some people want the police to give them rides or change their tires. LAPD doesn't do that. I have calls were police phone in and say "Can you come out? My 13 year old won't listen to me."
Liana: Having so much experience with people in crisis, you're well aware of how people's lives can spin out of control. My own life, while not out of control, is definitely not in my hands. Therefore I've discovered I like writing books because I can control what happens in them. How about you?
Steph: My heart goes out to those people who call 911 and have a legitimate crisis that requires the police. And I feel very rewarded when I create that call for service and get the police going. For me, writing is more of a stress release. Answering 911 can be a stressful job, couple that with managing the house and raising children, I need my stress release.
Liana: Many of your characters are of noble lineage. What do you think the fascination is with royalty?
Steph: What fascinates me the most about the nobility is that you were expected to act – noble. Honorable. Just. Fair. It's like being an MP – you were held to a higher standard. Well, not all are cut out to handle being held to a higher standard. It's how a person "wears" their nobility which I find fascinating. There's a part of me that has a deep resonance for the nobility; and I can't really explain it unless you believe in past lives.
Liana: I got hooked on the Six Wives of Henry VIII series when I was a kid. What sparked your fascination with The Tudors?
Steph: I discovered historical fiction in my early 20's with Jean Plaidy. I think the first historical fiction book I read was "Queen in Waiting." (About George II and Caroline of Ansbach) After reading that book, I read everything about the kings and queens of England. Henry VIII is the most gripping of the Tudor Monarchs because of his unquenchable thirst for a male heir, but his father, Henry VII also has a gripping story, as does Elizabeth I.
Liana: Why did you pick Hungary as the setting for your stories?
Steph: I'm very deliberate in picking my settings. Hungary embodies Central Europe. The old myths about vampires and werewolves just might be believed in Hungary. It's mostly rural aside from Budapest and only a handful of other cities in the country.
Liana: What is your favorite memory of your time in Germany?
Steph: Spending time in the AFRC (Armed Force ReCreation) towns – Berchtesgaden and Garmish. I especially loved Berchtesgaden because it's so close to Salzburg, Austria. It's simply beautiful.
Liana: Do you speak German, or any other languages?
Steph: I understand German but couldn't speak it. I understand French and but I keep failing the fluency tests by 1-3 points!
Liana: Let's do a little word association: Tell me what comes to mind when you think of the following three words:
Love: Ultimate Trust, Ultimate Loyalty. In "The Hungarian" these are critical elements that Matthias is looking for in the woman he wants in his life.
Trust: The ability to tell another person anything and have it believed. Matthias places his complete and ultimate trust in Katherine when he tells her his dark secret.
Betrayal: Ripping love and trust apart. This is something that Matthias confuses with jealousy in "The Hungarian."
Blurb: Katherine Archibald is in search of a grand adventure. A young woman in late Victorian England, she wants to open up a book store in London and travel Europe hunting down rare books. Love isn't on her map.
Enter Matthias Duma. The Hungarian count captures Katherine's attention like no other man before him with his unusual gold-malachite eyes, his exotic features, and his command of the night sky.
After a night of intrigue during Katherine's birthday, she discovers the map does include love in the legend, but will the map lead her to Budapest and the dark, brooding Hungarian she's just met?
Excerpt:
Matthias went to a nearby nightstand, lit a candle, and placed it on a pewter holder. "There's no lights in the stairway so we have to use a candle."
Katherine began to feel apprehensive. It must have shown in her face because he walked over to her, gently putting his hand on her elbow. "Are you all right?"
She nodded her head. He didn't ask any more questions, but instead turned around and opened the door, motioning with his free hand for Katherine to go into the stairwell first. She slowly made her way to the door, pausing as she stuck her head into the narrow passageway.
Matthias slid his hand over her shoulder, pressing his masculine body next to hers. Sweet tendrils of delight zipped through her, momentarily making her forget her fear. "Tell me what's wrong. The stairs are solid. I've walked them before."
"I don't care for enclosed spaces."
"We don't have to go."
Katherine turned around. Disappointment covered his face. She didn't care for that look one bit. The thought of Matthias disappointed by something she'd done or failed to do made her feel disappointed in herself. Drawing in a deep breath, she turned around, putting one foot over the other slowly, and began to climb.
"Katherine--"
"Well, come on," she said, not daring to look behind her, afraid she would stop because of her own fears.
Katherine heard him quickly pursue her and then felt him directly behind her. Her breathing grew deeper. Just when she thought the stone wall had started to move in on her, she saw the turret door. Diving for it, she pushed it open, and collapsed on her hands and knees into a spacious room, taking long breaths. A bead of sweat trickled down her brow.
Matthias put the candle down, wrapping his muscular arms around her. Despite the chill of the room, he was warm. She heard his heart beating strong and steady. He kissed her temple.
"You didn't have to go up the stairs," he said.
"I wanted to. I wanted to see the stars with you."
He cupped her cheeks in his hands. Their eyes met. "You braved them for me?"
She couldn't speak. Gently, he wrapped his arms around her. Katherine thought that he could sense she was still a little rattled by the journey up the turret. While her breathing was returning to normal, her body was still tense.
Goodie Time: I'll be giving away two autographed postcards of the cover to two lucky posters. To be eligible to win, just post. I'll pick the winners out of a hat and announce the winners on the blog no later than the next day.
Link to the Book Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MZwaF8hAdow
Links for the Books:
Desert Breeze Website:
http://stores.desertbreezepublishing.com/-strse-87/%3Ci%3EBudapest-Moon-Book-One%3C-fdsh-i%3E-cln-/Detail.bok
All Romance Books
http://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-budapestmoonbookonethehungarian-427260-139.html
Amazon for Kindle
http://www.amazon.com/Budapest-Moon-Book-One-ebook/dp/B003K15NG2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2&s=digital-text&qid=1273427954&sr=1-1
Visit Stephanie at:
Website:
http://sgcardin.tripod.com
Romance Under the Moonlight Blog
http://sgcardin.blogspot.com
Twitter:
http://twitter.com/StephBurkhart
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/profile.php?id=1357922219&ref=profile
Smiles
Steph
Thursday, May 13, 2010
Guest Author, Linda Rettstatt
Today I'm happy to host women's fiction author Linda Rettstatt, who writes stories of strength, love, humor and hope, all of which we could use a little more of in our lives. I hope you'll enjoy getting to know her better, and will check out her website for other titles in addition to her latest release, Shooting Into the Sun. Welcome, Linda.
Why did you choose to write specifically for women? What is special about the relationships between women?
My favorite genre to read is women's fiction, in particular the works of Elizabeth Berg and Kris Radish. I also enjoy reading the romance writing of Sherryl Woods and Susan Elizabeth Phillips. In my former work as a psychotherapist, I had the opportunity to work with women who were struggling to reclaim their lives or to rediscover their own inner strengths. I loved those 'aha' moments when pieces just fell into place for the woman sitting across from me. Writing women's fiction seemed to come naturally for me. Women can be, at once, one another's best friend and worst enemy. The dynamics are endless. At a book signing once, a man commented on my promo card that says, "Writing for women—stories of strength, love, humor, and hope." I told him he could buy a book if he wanted, that my books are entertaining for women and educational for men.
I see you're a member of a writers organization. Can you tell us what you've found beneficial about that vs. going it alone?
I belong to EPIC (Electronically Published Internet Connection), and I have an online critique group of women writers from across the US and Canada, as well as a small group of local authors with whom I meet. Having some means to network and interact with other authors, whether face-to-face or online, is so valuable for growing as a writer and for the camaraderie that comes with like-minded friends.
Let's do a little word association. I've taken these words from your book blurbs. Can you tell us about an experience you've had with each word?
Epiphany – Oh, I think we've all had one of those 'Aha' moments. This is especially true for women once we reach the age of fifty, give or take a few years. We begin to see things so much more clearly, without the clutter of concern that comes with youth: Will he/she/they like me? Am I making the right choice to do ______? Does this dress make my butt look big? We shift to a more self-possessed view of our lives where some of those concerns simply no longer matter. My own epiphany came when I seriously embraced writing seven years ago. I finally knew what I was meant to do and where I belonged.
Boundaries – We think of boundaries as basically good. Inflexible boundaries not only serve to keep others out, but can become our own prison (as they do for Rylee Morgan in my book, Shooting into the Sun). Each of my books has some romantic element, and nothing can blur boundaries faster than romance.
Here is an excerpt from Shooting into the Sun, my latest novel, that speaks to both physical and emotional boundaries. The scene takes place on Mackinac Island, Michigan. Rylee, my main character, is a nature photographer, and Josh, a doctor masquerading as a hapless hitchhiker, is taking her out on a tandem bike to photograph the sunrise.
When they rounded a bend, Rylee looked toward the east and slammed on her brakes. The tires slid and the bike wobbled. Josh put down one leg to steady them. “What the hell…?”
Rylee was already off the bike and fumbling in her camera bag. “This is perfect.” She removed two cameras, looping one strap around her neck and carrying the other as she headed toward the stony shoreline. “Would you bring the tripod, please?”
“Rylee, wait a minute. I have a flashlight. You’re going to fall.”
“Well, hurry up, then. The sunrise won’t wait.”
He removed the flashlight from his pack and shone it in front of her. She stepped gingerly down the rocks and onto the beach. Once he stood behind her, he turned off the light.
Rylee opened up the tripod and attached one camera. She then lifted the other camera hanging around her neck and snapped off several shots of the yellow-orange horizon. When she backed up, she came into contact with Josh. “Excuse me, I need a little room here.”
“Sorry.” He stepped out of the way.
She snapped several shots from both cameras before stopping and standing, motionless, to watch the sun rise above the distant rim of another island.
Josh moved closer. “It’s spectacular, isn’t it?”
“Every sunrise is unique. If you came back to this very spot tomorrow at exactly the same time, you’d see something completely different.” He was so close she could feel the heat of his body at her back. She shifted, and her foot rolled on a stone.
Josh grabbed her shoulders. “Whoa, careful.”
“I’m okay.” And she was, but she didn’t move away.
“Are you?”
She turned her head and looked up at him. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
His gaze moved from her eyes to her lips, where it lingered. “It’s none of my business.”
She turned and faced him, creating more space between their bodies. “If you have something to say, just say it.”
“Okay. I wonder where that need for control comes from, along with all those rules you have.”
“Having rules and boundaries are like…like building a good fence between you and the world. It keeps the bad stuff out.”
“And it keeps you inside, where it’s safe? I know all about playing it safe. I’ve been doing that ever since Sarah died. What I wonder is, what prompted you to fence yourself in?”
“I’m not fenced in.” She fought the tremble in her chin, but lost. He’d hit a raw nerve--and he seemed to know it.
He lifted her chin with his fingertip. “I’ve learned that bad things happen to good people and that, sometimes, no matter how much we love someone, we can’t protect them. I’ve also learned that, regardless of how we might wish for it, isolation is not a solution.”
She tore her gaze from his. “We should head back. Lexie will be waiting.”
He smiled and dropped his hand. “You mind if we take the long way around the island? I could use the exercise.”
Regrets – Ah, life is far too short to live with regrets, yet we all have them. Actually, one of my novels was born out of my own realization of a regret—I cannot dance. I joked with a friend one day that, in my next life, I'm going to dance. Well, the title for Next Time I'm Gonna Dance came into being, and the story followed, with the title becoming a metaphor for the character, Emmie, as she battles breast cancer for a second time.
This would be a good place to post the blurb for Shooting Into the Sun:
Nature photographer Rylee Morgan has created an orderly, settled life for herself. When she finds an advertisement that might lead to her estranged father, she takes a photo assignment to the west coast to investigate. With her younger sister, Lexie, in tow following the breakup with her fiancé, Rylee is focused on two things: finding the man who may be her father and doing her job. Lexie lives life by her own set of rules, or lack of rules, and Rylee's plans are further unsettled when Lexie invites a hitchhiker to join them on their journey.
That said, I've noticed most of all your heroines have what they think is an orderly, settled, life. Then something comes along and sends them into a tailspin. Why do you like to write about that theme? Is that a conscious theme in your books, or is that just the way they worked out?
I don't think the theme is conscious when I start a book. But I do like this theme because it's so much like life. My books are largely character-driven, and I want my characters to come across as 'real' people—women with whom the reader can identify and would like to share a cup of coffee. Conflict is essential to creating a good story. Sometimes my characters experience inner conflict, the kind that comes with aging and life changes, and sometimes they are met with an external conflict, something that is thrust upon them and which they have to overcome.
Are all your heroines older?
My heroines so far have ranged in age from mid-thirties to mid-fifties. However, I recently signed a contract with Class Act Books for Renting to Own, a novel that features a twenty-three-year old single mother. If you're familiar with the saying, "Write what you know," you'll understand why that book was more of a challenge for me, or at least that character. I haven't been twenty-three for…er…a while. I do like to explore the changes and challenges that women meet in midlife and create characters that draw on their inner strength to move forward.
What do you feel are the best ways for a writer to find self-confidence and direction?
Self-confidence comes by taking risks and by trusting your instincts. As writers, we all know when we feel that certainty about what we've written, when it just feels right. We know when we find the genre with which we are most at home, and our writing flows. As for direction, we have to be open to critique and to the guidance of those who are more experienced. I can't imagine where my writing would be today if it were not for my critique partners and the writers who have shared their secrets and offered encouragement. Taking rejection for what it is—a critique of your writing, not a judgment of your person—is very important.
Thanks so much, Liana, for having me here today. Readers are invited to visit my website to read excerpts and reviews of my books and stop by my blog, One Woman's Write.
Linda Rettstatt
Writing for women—stories of strength, love, humor, and hope.
"Life's an adventure—wear comfortable shoes."
Why did you choose to write specifically for women? What is special about the relationships between women?
My favorite genre to read is women's fiction, in particular the works of Elizabeth Berg and Kris Radish. I also enjoy reading the romance writing of Sherryl Woods and Susan Elizabeth Phillips. In my former work as a psychotherapist, I had the opportunity to work with women who were struggling to reclaim their lives or to rediscover their own inner strengths. I loved those 'aha' moments when pieces just fell into place for the woman sitting across from me. Writing women's fiction seemed to come naturally for me. Women can be, at once, one another's best friend and worst enemy. The dynamics are endless. At a book signing once, a man commented on my promo card that says, "Writing for women—stories of strength, love, humor, and hope." I told him he could buy a book if he wanted, that my books are entertaining for women and educational for men.
I see you're a member of a writers organization. Can you tell us what you've found beneficial about that vs. going it alone?
I belong to EPIC (Electronically Published Internet Connection), and I have an online critique group of women writers from across the US and Canada, as well as a small group of local authors with whom I meet. Having some means to network and interact with other authors, whether face-to-face or online, is so valuable for growing as a writer and for the camaraderie that comes with like-minded friends.
Let's do a little word association. I've taken these words from your book blurbs. Can you tell us about an experience you've had with each word?
Epiphany – Oh, I think we've all had one of those 'Aha' moments. This is especially true for women once we reach the age of fifty, give or take a few years. We begin to see things so much more clearly, without the clutter of concern that comes with youth: Will he/she/they like me? Am I making the right choice to do ______? Does this dress make my butt look big? We shift to a more self-possessed view of our lives where some of those concerns simply no longer matter. My own epiphany came when I seriously embraced writing seven years ago. I finally knew what I was meant to do and where I belonged.
Boundaries – We think of boundaries as basically good. Inflexible boundaries not only serve to keep others out, but can become our own prison (as they do for Rylee Morgan in my book, Shooting into the Sun). Each of my books has some romantic element, and nothing can blur boundaries faster than romance.
Here is an excerpt from Shooting into the Sun, my latest novel, that speaks to both physical and emotional boundaries. The scene takes place on Mackinac Island, Michigan. Rylee, my main character, is a nature photographer, and Josh, a doctor masquerading as a hapless hitchhiker, is taking her out on a tandem bike to photograph the sunrise.
When they rounded a bend, Rylee looked toward the east and slammed on her brakes. The tires slid and the bike wobbled. Josh put down one leg to steady them. “What the hell…?”
Rylee was already off the bike and fumbling in her camera bag. “This is perfect.” She removed two cameras, looping one strap around her neck and carrying the other as she headed toward the stony shoreline. “Would you bring the tripod, please?”
“Rylee, wait a minute. I have a flashlight. You’re going to fall.”
“Well, hurry up, then. The sunrise won’t wait.”
He removed the flashlight from his pack and shone it in front of her. She stepped gingerly down the rocks and onto the beach. Once he stood behind her, he turned off the light.
Rylee opened up the tripod and attached one camera. She then lifted the other camera hanging around her neck and snapped off several shots of the yellow-orange horizon. When she backed up, she came into contact with Josh. “Excuse me, I need a little room here.”
“Sorry.” He stepped out of the way.
She snapped several shots from both cameras before stopping and standing, motionless, to watch the sun rise above the distant rim of another island.
Josh moved closer. “It’s spectacular, isn’t it?”
“Every sunrise is unique. If you came back to this very spot tomorrow at exactly the same time, you’d see something completely different.” He was so close she could feel the heat of his body at her back. She shifted, and her foot rolled on a stone.
Josh grabbed her shoulders. “Whoa, careful.”
“I’m okay.” And she was, but she didn’t move away.
“Are you?”
She turned her head and looked up at him. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
His gaze moved from her eyes to her lips, where it lingered. “It’s none of my business.”
She turned and faced him, creating more space between their bodies. “If you have something to say, just say it.”
“Okay. I wonder where that need for control comes from, along with all those rules you have.”
“Having rules and boundaries are like…like building a good fence between you and the world. It keeps the bad stuff out.”
“And it keeps you inside, where it’s safe? I know all about playing it safe. I’ve been doing that ever since Sarah died. What I wonder is, what prompted you to fence yourself in?”
“I’m not fenced in.” She fought the tremble in her chin, but lost. He’d hit a raw nerve--and he seemed to know it.
He lifted her chin with his fingertip. “I’ve learned that bad things happen to good people and that, sometimes, no matter how much we love someone, we can’t protect them. I’ve also learned that, regardless of how we might wish for it, isolation is not a solution.”
She tore her gaze from his. “We should head back. Lexie will be waiting.”
He smiled and dropped his hand. “You mind if we take the long way around the island? I could use the exercise.”
Regrets – Ah, life is far too short to live with regrets, yet we all have them. Actually, one of my novels was born out of my own realization of a regret—I cannot dance. I joked with a friend one day that, in my next life, I'm going to dance. Well, the title for Next Time I'm Gonna Dance came into being, and the story followed, with the title becoming a metaphor for the character, Emmie, as she battles breast cancer for a second time.
This would be a good place to post the blurb for Shooting Into the Sun:
Nature photographer Rylee Morgan has created an orderly, settled life for herself. When she finds an advertisement that might lead to her estranged father, she takes a photo assignment to the west coast to investigate. With her younger sister, Lexie, in tow following the breakup with her fiancé, Rylee is focused on two things: finding the man who may be her father and doing her job. Lexie lives life by her own set of rules, or lack of rules, and Rylee's plans are further unsettled when Lexie invites a hitchhiker to join them on their journey.
That said, I've noticed most of all your heroines have what they think is an orderly, settled, life. Then something comes along and sends them into a tailspin. Why do you like to write about that theme? Is that a conscious theme in your books, or is that just the way they worked out?
I don't think the theme is conscious when I start a book. But I do like this theme because it's so much like life. My books are largely character-driven, and I want my characters to come across as 'real' people—women with whom the reader can identify and would like to share a cup of coffee. Conflict is essential to creating a good story. Sometimes my characters experience inner conflict, the kind that comes with aging and life changes, and sometimes they are met with an external conflict, something that is thrust upon them and which they have to overcome.
Are all your heroines older?
My heroines so far have ranged in age from mid-thirties to mid-fifties. However, I recently signed a contract with Class Act Books for Renting to Own, a novel that features a twenty-three-year old single mother. If you're familiar with the saying, "Write what you know," you'll understand why that book was more of a challenge for me, or at least that character. I haven't been twenty-three for…er…a while. I do like to explore the changes and challenges that women meet in midlife and create characters that draw on their inner strength to move forward.
What do you feel are the best ways for a writer to find self-confidence and direction?
Self-confidence comes by taking risks and by trusting your instincts. As writers, we all know when we feel that certainty about what we've written, when it just feels right. We know when we find the genre with which we are most at home, and our writing flows. As for direction, we have to be open to critique and to the guidance of those who are more experienced. I can't imagine where my writing would be today if it were not for my critique partners and the writers who have shared their secrets and offered encouragement. Taking rejection for what it is—a critique of your writing, not a judgment of your person—is very important.
Thanks so much, Liana, for having me here today. Readers are invited to visit my website to read excerpts and reviews of my books and stop by my blog, One Woman's Write.
Linda Rettstatt
Writing for women—stories of strength, love, humor, and hope.
"Life's an adventure—wear comfortable shoes."
Sunday, May 9, 2010
Before I Was a Mom
A mother is a person who seeing there are only four pieces of pie for five people, promptly announces she never did care for pie.~Tenneva Jordan
I had this post on listening formulating in my mind when I woke up today, wanting to share some of the ways that taking time to stop and listen has benefitted me over the past few weeks, but in my email this morning was this poem, which is a perfect offering for today, Mother's Day.
I'm supposed to pass it on to five awesome moms, but I know so many more awesome moms than that, so I decided to post it here instead. The editor in me, however, has tweaked it some to make it more personal to me and my situation, so if you get one in your email, that accounts for the difference :).
Happy Mother's Day to all you awesome Moms and Grandmoms out there, and to those who aren't mothers....how blessed you are to be able to share your love with all the world. Because I know you do. In the schools, in the shelters, in the church, with your pets, your friends, and in your families as aunts and sisters. You don't have to give birth to know the power and pain and joy of Motherlove.
And if your mom is still alive, make sure you talk with her today. If nothing else, tell her Thank You for bringing you into this world.
Before I was a Mom,
I never tripped over toys
Or forgot words to a lullaby.
I didn't worry whether or not
My plants were poisonous.
I never thought about immunizations,
Or electrical outlets.
Before I was a Mom,
I had never been puked on.
Pooped on.
Chewed on.
Peed on.
I was never used as a human napkin.
I had complete control of my mind
And my thoughts.
I never fell asleep with the theme song from Winnie the Pooh
doing an endless loop in my mind.
I slept all night.
Peacefully.
Before I was a Mom,
I never held down a screaming child.
So doctors could do tests.
Or give shots.
I never looked into teary eyes and cried.
I never got gloriously happy over a simple grin.
I never spent three nights in a hospital room without leaving it.
I never read the same storybook over and over and over again.
I never spent hours playing with Play-Doh or Legos or ever-changing action figures.
I never watched so many animated videos.
Or simply watched a child sleep.
Before I was a Mom,
I never held a sleeping baby just because
I didn't want to put him down.
I never felt my heart break into a million pieces
When I couldn't stop the hurt.
I never knew that something so small
Could affect my life so much.
Or that something so small
Could grow to be so tall.
I never knew that I could love someone so much.
I never knew I would love being a Mom.
Before I was a Mom,
I didn't know the feeling of
Having my heart outside my body.
I didn't know how special it could feel
To feed a hungry baby.
Or to buy a special treat or book or toy.
I didn't know that bond
Between a mother and her child.
I didn't know that something so small
Could make me feel so important and happy.
Or so frightened and inadequate.
Before I was a Mom,
I had never gotten up in the middle of the night
Every 10 minutes to make sure all was okay.
I had never known the warmth,
The joy,
The love,
The heartache,
The wonderment,
Or the satisfaction of being a Mom.
I didn't know I was capable of feeling so much,
Or writing so well,
Before I was a Mom
I had this post on listening formulating in my mind when I woke up today, wanting to share some of the ways that taking time to stop and listen has benefitted me over the past few weeks, but in my email this morning was this poem, which is a perfect offering for today, Mother's Day.
I'm supposed to pass it on to five awesome moms, but I know so many more awesome moms than that, so I decided to post it here instead. The editor in me, however, has tweaked it some to make it more personal to me and my situation, so if you get one in your email, that accounts for the difference :).
Happy Mother's Day to all you awesome Moms and Grandmoms out there, and to those who aren't mothers....how blessed you are to be able to share your love with all the world. Because I know you do. In the schools, in the shelters, in the church, with your pets, your friends, and in your families as aunts and sisters. You don't have to give birth to know the power and pain and joy of Motherlove.
And if your mom is still alive, make sure you talk with her today. If nothing else, tell her Thank You for bringing you into this world.
Before I was a Mom,
I never tripped over toys
Or forgot words to a lullaby.
I didn't worry whether or not
My plants were poisonous.
I never thought about immunizations,
Or electrical outlets.
Before I was a Mom,
I had never been puked on.
Pooped on.
Chewed on.
Peed on.
I was never used as a human napkin.
I had complete control of my mind
And my thoughts.
I never fell asleep with the theme song from Winnie the Pooh
doing an endless loop in my mind.
I slept all night.
Peacefully.
Before I was a Mom,
I never held down a screaming child.
So doctors could do tests.
Or give shots.
I never looked into teary eyes and cried.
I never got gloriously happy over a simple grin.
I never spent three nights in a hospital room without leaving it.
I never read the same storybook over and over and over again.
I never spent hours playing with Play-Doh or Legos or ever-changing action figures.
I never watched so many animated videos.
Or simply watched a child sleep.
Before I was a Mom,
I never held a sleeping baby just because
I didn't want to put him down.
I never felt my heart break into a million pieces
When I couldn't stop the hurt.
I never knew that something so small
Could affect my life so much.
Or that something so small
Could grow to be so tall.
I never knew that I could love someone so much.
I never knew I would love being a Mom.
Before I was a Mom,
I didn't know the feeling of
Having my heart outside my body.
I didn't know how special it could feel
To feed a hungry baby.
Or to buy a special treat or book or toy.
I didn't know that bond
Between a mother and her child.
I didn't know that something so small
Could make me feel so important and happy.
Or so frightened and inadequate.
Before I was a Mom,
I had never gotten up in the middle of the night
Every 10 minutes to make sure all was okay.
I had never known the warmth,
The joy,
The love,
The heartache,
The wonderment,
Or the satisfaction of being a Mom.
I didn't know I was capable of feeling so much,
Or writing so well,
Before I was a Mom
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
Guest Author, Allie Boniface
Today's guest is Allie Boniface, with something different. Her book, One Night in Memphis, is now available as an audio book. In her "One Night in" books, inspired by the television show "24," this busy author takes us on a whirlwind tour of Boston, Napa, and Memphis, and addresses the questions of: Can anything really change in twenty-four hours? Can everything? You'll have to read the books to find out the answer.
And now, here are Allie's answers to a few questions I came up with after reading her website. Welcome to Liana's Place, Allie, and I hope enjoy your 24 hours here :).
What do you like best about small towns?
Oh, I think the intimacy and the safety. You don’t feel alone. Others look out for you. Others know what’s happening in your life. You see a familiar face in almost every store you step foot into. The postal workers know your name without asking. Your neighbors bring you casseroles when you’re sad and watch your pets when you’re gone. There’s a comfort in that.
What do you like best about big cities?
Ah, the excitement and the variety! Cities offer such diversity of people, restaurants, music, culture, overall experiences…No matter what you’re looking for, you can usually find it in a city. And you can lose yourself if you want to. People on the street are much less likely to know you by face or to care about your personal business. There’s a comfort in anonymity, sometimes.
Which do you prefer to set your books in and why?
Interestingly, I’ve set more of my books in small towns than in big cities. I find myself drawn to the complexity of small towns. If everyone knows everyone else, what does that mean for an outsider? Or, what effect does that have on someone who’s spent her whole life there? What are the positives, and what are the negatives? Even if the setting is a big city (like One Night in Memphis), small towns still play a part. In this book, the heroine ends up in Memphis because she is fleeing her own small town of New Hampshire. She’s just broken up with her boyfriend, and she knows that EVERYONE will find out about her heartache in a matter of hours. She’s trying to escape (but boy does that turn out wrong!)
How do you research the cities you set your books in?
So far, I’ve written books set in cities that I’ve visited – I’m fortunate enough to have traveled a lot, and every time I’m in a new place, I take lots of pictures and jot down notes in my journal. Every city is a prospective new story setting!
What musical instruments do you play and how did that influence the stories you chose to tell?
What an interesting question! I play the piano, which I’m sure had some influence on the musical element of One Night in Memphis. (Listen for Ronnie, the amazing blues pianist in this book!) I’m a huge music lover overall, and I often weave songs into my stories in one way or another.
I notice you have at least three romances that take place in the space of 24 hours. Can you tell us what inspired you to explore this concept?
I was out running one morning when that writer’s “What if” popped into my head. Most romances unfold over a period of weeks, months, or even years. But what if two people met and felt fireworks right away? Could I write a story based on that concept? This was also when the TV show “24” was at its zenith, which I think subconsciously influenced me as well.
How does it feel to hear your words being read aloud in an audio book? Did you read it yourself, or did someone else? If it was someone else, how well do you feel they captured the essence of your story?
That’s a great question. Audio Lark hired a narrator for my book, and while I admit it was a little strange at first hearing my words read out loud by someone else, I really ended up loving it. Of course there are always spots in your story that you “hear” differently than someone else does, but that’s part of the reading experience. One thing I did find interesting was that the narrator gives my hero, Ethan, a southern accent. At first I thought that was strange (I never heard him that way inside my head), but he lives in Memphis, so of course he would have one! And I think within the story, it makes perfect sense.
You’ll have to listen and tell me for yourself, readers!
The blurb for “One Night in Memphis”:
What if a woman, tired of broken hearts and bad choices, traveled a thousand miles to the heart of Memphis, Tennessee, and spent a night forgetting her past in the blues clubs of Beale Street? What if a man who lost his wife to cancer ventured to Beale Street's social scene for the first time in over a year? And what if they met and realized love was still possible for them both?
Dakota James and Ethan Meriweather have both given up on finding happiness in a relationship. When they meet in downtown Memphis, at a crowded nightclub, neither has romance on the brain. But as the evening unfolds, and small talk turns to the stuff of hopes, dreams, and shared loss, a kinship grows that surprises them.
Before the night is over, though, Dakota's past will catch up with her in the form of a violent ex-boyfriend. As dawn approaches, and tragedy threatens to tear Dakota and Ethan apart, both will have to make a decision that could change their lives forever. Is new love worth putting your life on the line for someone you've just met?
Oh, I think the intimacy and the safety. You don’t feel alone. Others look out for you. Others know what’s happening in your life. You see a familiar face in almost every store you step foot into. The postal workers know your name without asking. Your neighbors bring you casseroles when you’re sad and watch your pets when you’re gone. There’s a comfort in that.
What do you like best about big cities?
Ah, the excitement and the variety! Cities offer such diversity of people, restaurants, music, culture, overall experiences…No matter what you’re looking for, you can usually find it in a city. And you can lose yourself if you want to. People on the street are much less likely to know you by face or to care about your personal business. There’s a comfort in anonymity, sometimes.
Which do you prefer to set your books in and why?
Interestingly, I’ve set more of my books in small towns than in big cities. I find myself drawn to the complexity of small towns. If everyone knows everyone else, what does that mean for an outsider? Or, what effect does that have on someone who’s spent her whole life there? What are the positives, and what are the negatives? Even if the setting is a big city (like One Night in Memphis), small towns still play a part. In this book, the heroine ends up in Memphis because she is fleeing her own small town of New Hampshire. She’s just broken up with her boyfriend, and she knows that EVERYONE will find out about her heartache in a matter of hours. She’s trying to escape (but boy does that turn out wrong!)
How do you research the cities you set your books in?
So far, I’ve written books set in cities that I’ve visited – I’m fortunate enough to have traveled a lot, and every time I’m in a new place, I take lots of pictures and jot down notes in my journal. Every city is a prospective new story setting!
What musical instruments do you play and how did that influence the stories you chose to tell?
What an interesting question! I play the piano, which I’m sure had some influence on the musical element of One Night in Memphis. (Listen for Ronnie, the amazing blues pianist in this book!) I’m a huge music lover overall, and I often weave songs into my stories in one way or another.
I notice you have at least three romances that take place in the space of 24 hours. Can you tell us what inspired you to explore this concept?
I was out running one morning when that writer’s “What if” popped into my head. Most romances unfold over a period of weeks, months, or even years. But what if two people met and felt fireworks right away? Could I write a story based on that concept? This was also when the TV show “24” was at its zenith, which I think subconsciously influenced me as well.
How does it feel to hear your words being read aloud in an audio book? Did you read it yourself, or did someone else? If it was someone else, how well do you feel they captured the essence of your story?
That’s a great question. Audio Lark hired a narrator for my book, and while I admit it was a little strange at first hearing my words read out loud by someone else, I really ended up loving it. Of course there are always spots in your story that you “hear” differently than someone else does, but that’s part of the reading experience. One thing I did find interesting was that the narrator gives my hero, Ethan, a southern accent. At first I thought that was strange (I never heard him that way inside my head), but he lives in Memphis, so of course he would have one! And I think within the story, it makes perfect sense.
You’ll have to listen and tell me for yourself, readers!
The blurb for “One Night in Memphis”:
What if a woman, tired of broken hearts and bad choices, traveled a thousand miles to the heart of Memphis, Tennessee, and spent a night forgetting her past in the blues clubs of Beale Street? What if a man who lost his wife to cancer ventured to Beale Street's social scene for the first time in over a year? And what if they met and realized love was still possible for them both?
Dakota James and Ethan Meriweather have both given up on finding happiness in a relationship. When they meet in downtown Memphis, at a crowded nightclub, neither has romance on the brain. But as the evening unfolds, and small talk turns to the stuff of hopes, dreams, and shared loss, a kinship grows that surprises them.
Before the night is over, though, Dakota's past will catch up with her in the form of a violent ex-boyfriend. As dawn approaches, and tragedy threatens to tear Dakota and Ethan apart, both will have to make a decision that could change their lives forever. Is new love worth putting your life on the line for someone you've just met?
For more information, visit Allie's website.
Sunday, May 2, 2010
Taking Time to Listen
I'm taking time out to listen today, since my body is telling me I need a break from the computer. In the meantime, I hope you'll enjoy and be inspired by at least one of these quotes on listening. Have a blessed week!
"Many a man would rather you heard his story than granted his request." ~Phillip Stanhope,
Earl of Chesterfield
"Effective questioning brings insight, which fuels curiosity, which cultivates wisdom."
~Chip Bell
"The most basic of all human needs is the need to understand and be understood. The best way to understand people is to listen to them." ~Ralph Nichols
"Bore, n.: A person who talks when you wish him to listen." ~Ambrose Bierce
"One friend, one person who is truly understanding, who takes the trouble to listen to us as we consider a problem, can change our whole outlook on the world." ~Dr. E. H. Mayo
"There is no such thing as a worthless conversation, provided you know what to listen for. And questions are the breath of life for a conversation." ~James Nathan Miller
"You cannot truly listen to anyone and do anything else at the same time." ~ M. Scott Peck
"Man's inability to communicate is a result of his failure to listen effectively." ~Carl Rogers
"Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak; courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen." ~Winston Churchill
"If speaking is silver, then listening is gold." ~Turkish Proverb
"Many a man would rather you heard his story than granted his request." ~Phillip Stanhope,
Earl of Chesterfield
"Effective questioning brings insight, which fuels curiosity, which cultivates wisdom."
~Chip Bell
"The most basic of all human needs is the need to understand and be understood. The best way to understand people is to listen to them." ~Ralph Nichols
"Bore, n.: A person who talks when you wish him to listen." ~Ambrose Bierce
"One friend, one person who is truly understanding, who takes the trouble to listen to us as we consider a problem, can change our whole outlook on the world." ~Dr. E. H. Mayo
"There is no such thing as a worthless conversation, provided you know what to listen for. And questions are the breath of life for a conversation." ~James Nathan Miller
"You cannot truly listen to anyone and do anything else at the same time." ~ M. Scott Peck
"Man's inability to communicate is a result of his failure to listen effectively." ~Carl Rogers
"Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak; courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen." ~Winston Churchill
"If speaking is silver, then listening is gold." ~Turkish Proverb
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