Learning in Canyon

Tomorrow I'll be leaving for a five day, intense work shop in Canyon, Texas. The Writer's Academy is sponsored by West Texas A&M University and Jodi Thomas, Writer in Residence. I went for the first time last year and knew on the first day that this would be one educational opportunity I would strive for each year.

Last year I was in Jodi Thomases class. We worked on the first 30 pages of our manuscripts together. I received 13 critiques and discussion. We all did. The novel I took "Dianne's Destiny", is now under contract. I couldn't be more pleased--and, a bit terrified, of the work after the contract. It is daunting for a debut novelist.

This year my instructor will be Alexandra Sokoloff. She's doing a workshop using screenwriting tricks for novelists. Her workbook is available. The link to her blog is www.screenwritingtricks.com

We will be using index cards and plotting our current works-in-progress to outline and plan the entire book. The participants who were in Alex's class last year had nothing but praise. Some are returning.

 

 

Enjoy your week. Write as much as possible. Read as much as possible. I'll be catching you on the flip side with knowledge I'll be eager to share. In the meantime, allow your mind to wander and wonder with words.



Contracts and Moving Forward

My goodness! I've received my first contract. It is for a novella I've written as part of a series 'Tales of the Scrimshaw Doll' for The Wild Rose Press. The title is "Dianne's Destiny".  Receiving that contract in my e-mail thrilled me like few things ever have. I wonder if others have felt that excitement that makes the heart beat faster, smiles and laughter to erupt unbidden followed by the feeling that this just can't be true. But, it is. I feel better able to write more, to finish the works I have in progress.

"Dianne's Destiny" began as "Hearts and Horses". Much of the book takes place in an arena for equestrian therapy. The names of the main characters had to be changed because they were too close to another book in the series.

I'm learning to write an author bio. Choose a graphic artist from the talented group at The Wild Rose Press. The beginnings of successful marketing and social media. It is all confusing but I have a wonderful editor, Ally Robertson and friends who are successful authors. And, next year I will be able to attend the TWRP writer's retreat at the Silver Spur Ranch in Bandera, TX.

Visit www.thewildrosepress.com for a full list of the novellas waiting to be purchased and read. Learn about the scrimshaw doll that carries a curse only broken by true love. I've read them all and think one of the best thing readers will find is that each book is a stand alone story. The voices of each author is clear. The talent is astounding.

The Scrimshaw Doll authors are part of the Oklahoma Romance Writers of America www.OKRWA.com We call ourselves Wild Okies. The books available in the series include:
"Trail of Hope' by Heidi Vanlandingham
"The Bone Bride" by Tamrie Foxtail
"Skinbound' by Anna Kittrell
"Thicker than Water" by Alicia Dean
"Tessa's Treasures" by Callie Hutton
"The Color of Betrayal" by Kathy L. Wheeler
"Pirate's Proposal" by Diana Layne and
"Home" by Calisa Rhose

Share with me and my followers how you felt when you received your first contract? If you are self-published how did you feel when you saw that first cover? Share your experiences. I would love to start a thread on my blog about the feelings, fears, and faith involved in writing. In the meantime, keep writing . . .

Life and Reading

Gosh! This has been one of the craziest summers I can remember in both good and bad ways. The news first, I finished my manuscript "Hearts and Horses" for the Curse of the Scrimshaw Doll series with the Wild Okie group. What a grand feeling to finish the first round of edits, re-edits, and more re-edits and finally pass the manuscript on to a critique friend in the group.

I have a publisher interested in the "true fiction" work about my husband's aunt who died at the age of 18 in 1917. It was quite a scandal in small town Oklahoma. Keep your fingers crossed for me . . .

A Facebook friend of mine, Arlie, posted an interesting question recently. It made me wonder about you. I think your responses will be interesting and I wonder if our choices will be affected by location.

So, here are the questions and my answer.

What are the first books you remember reading? What were your choices from childhood through high school?

I remember having Little Golden Books and especially recall "The Poky Little Puppy." The first chapter books I can think of were "The Boxcar Children Series." I loved the sense of adventure the siblings had as they tried to survive without parents. There was a time I was really into anything about circuses. I wanted to be like Toby Tyler and join the circus. Then came Nancy Drew and Cherry Ames--more adventure. Later, in the high school years I was especially drawn in by Gothic Romance. Dorothy Eden was one of my favorite authors. More mystery and adventure. I think there's a theme here . . .

When I was in junior high we moved to a house in Lovington, NM that had an apricot tree in the back yard. It didn't take long for that tree to become my haven. I would climb up with a book, a Dr. Pepper, and a snack then settle into the crook between two branches. I spent hours up there reading and dreaming. When the apricots were ripe I could reach up and grab a handful and eat them warm and juicy right off of the tree.

Questions like those posed by Arlie make me take fond trips down memory lane. I've recalled books I hadn't thought about in years. Books I will make sure my granddaughters have access to when they're old enough to read.

So, what did you read and where did you live when you read those books?

"The Visionary" by Pamela S. Thibodeaux

It is my great honor to focus this blog post about my friend, Pamela S. Thibodeaux and her new release "The Visionary," released by Five Star.

Redemption is the arching theme of "The Visionary." Love rides a roller coaster of doubt, insecurity, fear, and eventual release and acceptance toward a new life.

Taylor Forrestier and her twin brother Trevor have managed to build a popular and successful architectural and design firm in Lake Charles, Louisiana despite a childhood of horror. They are survivors, only trusting one another until Alex Broussard strolls into the business.

The characters are beautifully fleshed out. Every emotion in the realm of humanity is explored. Pam writes eloquently about the horror of child abuse which many authors are hesitant to address. She is able to show readers that healing is possible with faith and belief in God. I believe that God is truly the main character of "The Visionary."

I believe I've read everything Pam has written. She glorifies God, her characters are Christians with normal human struggles and battles. Pam has been tagged has "inspirational with an edge" and that moniker fits perfectly.

Readers will not regret adding"The Visionary" to their bookshelf.

*Please note: This post is part of a month long blog tour where 4 lucky winners will receive an autographed copy of The Visionary! Simply leave a comment to be entered in the drawing. Follow all the tour stops listed on Pam's blog (see below) and leave comments along the way - because the more comments you leave the more chances you have to win!

Award winning Author, Pamela S. Thibodeaux is the Co-Founder & Lifetime Member of Bayou Writers’ Group in Lake Charles, Louisiana. Multi-published in romantic fiction and creative non-fiction, her writing has been tagged as, “Inspirational with an Edge!” ™ and reviewed as
“steamier and grittier than the typical Christian novel without decreasing the message.”

Pam's Website: http://pamealthibodeaux.com

Pam's Blog: http://pamswildroseblog.blogspot.com

A Trip of a Lifetime

My brother gifted me with a trip to visit him in Idaho in October. Seeing that part of the country has always been a dream of mine because the westward expansion is one of my favorite times in history. The novel of my heart, "Rebecca's Journey," takes place in 1845 on the Oregon Trail.

The first day we visited Bonneville Point (see photo above). It was here that several emigrants stopped on a rocky and dry outcropping that overlooked a valley that must have reminded them of the Garden of Eden. It surely took my breath away. I could see homes. Roads curved around the area and looked like ribbons from my vantage point. A stream wound through the valley, its banks studded with trees. A herd of horses grazed. Everything looked like toys from on high. What must the emigrants have thought when they saw this valley knowing they had to continue working their way around and through hills and mountains? Did any of them stop and settle here? I think so. At this point the travelers were about two thirds complete with their harrowing journey.

And, day two . . . I visited THE Oregon Trail in Baker City. I can't begin to tell you how that made me feel. Tearful. Rapid heart rate. Giddy. The Oregon Trail Interpretive Center is jam-packed with information and exhibits. It is realistic. I saw and touched many tools, wagons, clothing specimens, photos, and diaries. The emigrants packed their entire lives into a wagon bed measuring 10 feet by 4 feet. They set out in faith. They walked, and they walked, and they walked. . . I stood in real wagon ruts remaining from the treks west (see photos above).

Actually visited Register Rock (see photo above). The signatures scratched on with knives and rocks reflect names and dates.The signatures make the emigrants seem brave for lack of a better word. Several large signature rocks mark the Oregon Trail. The most famous is Independence Rock, named because the emigrants had to reach this place on the trail by July 4th in order to avoid the winter storms and snows in the mountains.

To me the entire area was beautiful. Mountains on four sides. Valleys. Horses everywhere. History everywhere. I can tell you this--seeing the terrain and the hazards gave me a new appreciation of the difficulties the emigrants faced. I must change several scenes. I must add and delete much. I've heard of authors visiting the sites of their novels and how much it helps with the writing process. I know why it is so special and so important.

The nearly two week trip took me to other parts of Idaho. It took me to Oregon. It took me to Wyoming and Yellowstone. It took me to South Dakota and Mount Rushmore. Even now, my words bring back my memory pictures of the trip. Like I said, a gift. I'm a writer and this trip left me speechless more often than not.

Thou Shalt Not Steal

Think about this for a moment. Have you ever stolen anything? Are you willing to 'fess up? How did you feel? What made you do it? Any lessons learned? How do you feel about theft? Write about this . . . This writing exercise will help you focus on some of your feelings.

I can't remember how old I was the one time I stole something. I was in elementary school at West Elementary in Levelland, Texas. I must have been about eight. On that walk to and from school I had to pass a little store. Several of us from the neighborhood walked together. I surely don't remember why I walked into that store, I do know it wasn't a normal part of the routine.

Just inside the door of that store I saw an alluring display of lemons. Piled high. Shiny. Smelling like sunshine. My mouth watered and my jaws clenched at the thought of how a lemon would taste. Next to the lemons a stack of miniature boxes of salt made the coupling complete. The tiny blue box of Morton's salt with the little girl holding her umbrella looked like the larger one at home. After all, what's a lemon without salt?

I must have grabbed that lemon and box of salt and stuffed them under my shirt. I don't remember.

I do know I didn't get caught. I do know that when I bit into that lemon it didn't taste like sunshine. It was really sour. It was even bitter. It was awful. I threw it in a garbage bin somewhere along the route home. Guilt overpowered me. I felt ill. I knew stealing was bad. I feared that the Hand of the Lord was going to come right from the Heaven's and punish me.

I never stole anything again.

Care to share in the comments about your thoughts.

Interview With Author Pamela S. Thibodeaux

I am excited to introduce you to my friend, Pamela S. Thibodeaux. Over the years I've had the privilege to watch her grow as a writer. She is becoming a force to be reckoned with in our industry. I invite you to enjoy the interview. But to start with let me tell you a little more about her . . .

Award-winning author, Pamela S. Thibodeaux is the Co-Founder and a lifetime member of Bayou Writers Group in Lake Charles, Louisiana. Multi-published in romantic fiction as well as creative non-fiction, her writing has been tagged as, “Inspirational with an Edge!” and reviewed as “steamier and grittier than the typical Christian novel without decreasing the message.”Her books are available in Ebook, Print (get your autographed copy here!) They are also available on Kindle and Nook! Find out more about Pam by visiting her Website or blog

1. You're an expert with short stories. How do you manage to fully develop your characters and add cliff-hanging conflict to each story? Which is your favorite short story?

PST: Wow what a first question, Nona! Thank you for having me on your blog today. As for fully developing my characters/conflict - I have to give God all the glory because without HIM I wouldn't have written the first word much less be considered by my peers as an 'expert' at anything, especially short stories since I thrive on details LOL! As for technique in developing the characters/plot - these are the same as a full length novel - every story must have the major elements: CGM as well as believable characters and reasonable resolution to conflict. I must say out of the stories I've written, A Hero for Jessica and In His Sight run hand-in-hand as my favorite.

2. What inspired you to start writing? Did you have a favorite author that inspired you?

PST: Actually no favorite author inspired me as I've always read numerous authors voraciously. I've been an avid reader all of my life and hooked on sweet romances as a young teen. By the time I hit high school age, I'd discovered historical romances. Writing actually came much later - at around age 22. After reading one-too-many disappointing stories, I thought I could do much better. A bit arrogant as it turns out, LOL, but that was the catalyst to my writing career. Although no favorite author inspired me to start writing, Nora Roberts and Francine Rivers have inspired me to keep writing.

3. Tell readers about some of the struggles you've faced in the writing business?

PST: Challenges have been numerous, Nona but no more than many other writers face. I've had contracts expire without the book(s) published; publishing companies fall apart before they ever got off the ground, etc. And, since I write 'outside the box' I have been unable to crack the door of traditional CBA houses. However, God is faithful to this vision He has given me and I'm happy to be published with the small press companies and have my novels & stories out there - after all, for me - it's all about the message and I trust Him to get the message out to whomever needs it most.

4. “Inspirational with an Edge” is your tag line. What does that mean to you? What does that mean for your readers? “Steamier and Grittier” is also associated with your writing. What does that mean to you?

PST: When I first began writing I wrote romance as I'd read for so many years....steamy, sensual, explicit - however when I recommitted my life and committed my writing to Christ my focus changed. Although the faith element came in to each characters life, I still wrote fully developed (steamy, sensual, explicit) love scenes - that is until I started submitting and realized those were TABOO in the "Christian" market. Once I found out about the guidelines, I revised & rewrote, edited, and toned down until I didn't even recognize my own story! Finally in pure frustration I cried out to God and simply decided to write as He indicated I should, and trust Him to get the stories published - which He did.

Simply put - 'steamier, grittier, and edgier' mean the characters sensual feelings are not glossed over or ignored but developed and shown while maintaining biblical principles, though not necessarily ultra-conservative guidelines.

5. The Tempered series is very popular. Did you know when you began with “Tempered Hearts” that a family saga was being born?

PST: No. Initially I had plans for 2 stories - Tempered Hearts (book 1) and Tempered Fire (book 3). Tempered Dreams (book 2) developed out of another idea - I'd written scene of an automobile accident involving a battered woman and her abusive husband having no idea when or where it would develop. When Dr. Scott Hensley came on the scene in Tempered Hearts, I just knew he would be the perfect hero for the battered woman in that scene and Tempered Dreams was born at that point.

Tempered Joy (book 4) evolved when Ace appeared in Tempered Fire and Tempered Dreams as an eight-yr-old boy, so much like his father Craig (charming, roguish) that I couldn't resist finding the perfect heroine for him. Of course she would have to be a lot like the women in his life (his mother and sister) ...strong, beautiful, and passionate. My initial thoughts were Scott & Trina's daughter but with the question of whether Scott and Craig were actually blood relatives still unknown at the time, and the fact Ace would be at least eight (or possibly more) yrs older than Scott and Trina's child (should they even have a daughter) I decided they would need to adopt a daughter - and Lexie showed up. I've indicated here the order of the series but to recap they are: Tempered Hearts, Tempered Dreams, Tempered Fire & Tempered Joy.

6. You've been a widow for almost two years. How has the grief process affected your writing?

PST: For a long time after my husband's death I couldn't even function properly much less consider writing and when I did, romance was the last thing I cared about. I mean, how can you write about love and romance when you buried your heart?

I did finish one short story which I started writing while my husband was still alive but that was out of determination fueled by the fear if I didn't at least finish that one story, I may never write again. In His Sight was published in July 2010 by White Rose Publishing.

I did continue working in the industry however, editing and promoting and wrote several non-fiction articles and essays - so I never really quit altogether. Also, my debut women's fiction novel, The Visionary which was pitched prior to my husband's death was contracted in that first year afterward, which gave me something else to look forward to. This book is due for release in November by Five Star Expressions.

I haven't completely gotten back to writing full-time and still get overwhelmed and question whether I can/should/want to - but I have started a few stories, tinkered with a couple more, and am currently editing a women's fiction novel that I wrote years ago and haven't had time to deal with.

7. Love has recently and unexpectedly come your way again. How has this affected your writing?

PST: It has given me hope and helped me believe in the power of love to heal and in happy-ever-after—in God's promises and in the desire of my heart to share those promises through my writing.

8. Your writing is primarily Christian and Inspirational. White Rose Publishing formerly an imprint of The Wild Rose Press proudly claims you as one of their authors. Have you considered or do you plan to write for a secular reading audience?

PST: I've toyed with the idea of writing a traditional romance, even have a few scenes written for one, but have yet to sit down and flesh out that story.

9. How has the advent of electronic publishing affected your career? To who or what do you accredit your success?

PST: Wonderfully! I love the idea of having my books offered in more than one format and the fact that all of my short stories are electronically published gives me more options on what I want to write.

As beauty is to the eyes of the beholder so is success—it is, in and of itself: SUCCESS.

For me personally writing is not about the money, it's about the message and I accredit God for whatever success I have attained. That's not to say I don't do my part—I write, I promote, I affirm (believe in my heart and confess with my mouth) that I am an anointed and successful writer—and like many authors I get frustrated in what seems like a lack of 'success' as the world defines it. In fact, about a year ago I was so frustrated that I said this prayer: "Lord, I've said all along that my writing is not about the money, it's about the message but I don't know the message is getting out, if there are no sales."

I am happy to say since praying that way and continuing with my affirmations and leaving the results in HIS hands, my overall sales have increased every quarter—Praise HIM the message is getting out!

10. Besides being an author you're also an editor. Tell us about that aspect of your profession.

PST: I enjoy every aspect of the publishing industry and editing gives me the opportunity to not only share my knowledge and experience with others, but to help them achieve their dreams of publication.

11. You co-founded the Bayou Writers Group in Lake Charles, LA in 2002. It's a successful group with an annual conference. Why do you think writers need a writing group?

PST: I think writers need encouragement, education, and inspiration and being involved in a writers group (whether online or one that meets in person) provides those things.

12. Last, but not least, what is your dream regarding your writing career? Where would you like to be in five years? If you couldn't write what would you do?

PST: My dream is to continue to grow as a writer, improve my craft and know God's message of hope and healing is reaching a hurting world. As for where I'd like to be five years from now--I've never really been able to think or plan that far ahead. Of course, in five years I hope to still be writing but I'd also like to be in the position to help other writers through speaking, teaching, editing, and ministering to the creative spirit within them.

If I couldn't write - I think I'd enjoy being a life coach.