Have you ever wished you could erase all memory of an ex from your brain. I certainly have! In this story of the not so distant future, they have the technology and the main character faces an ethical dilemma when she runs into an ex who has no memory of her.
Years ago, I read Cochran's novel Eddie and Sunny, which was a different genre, but had the same solid writing skills.
I highly recommend listening to this fast-paced, sexy sci-fi.
I enjoyed the story more than the characters, who came across a little two-dimensional and made the story feel a bit like a fairy-tale.
The four sisters are close as they grow up, but when two of them have a falling out, the oldest sister moves away and has no contact with the others for twenty years. A sickness causes them to get back in touch and it's like no time has passed, which makes it all the more heartbreaking that so much time was wasted being angry.
I'm a hybrid author. My debut novel, Monsoon Season, was traditionally published along with A Long Thaw, which I later rereleased on my own. Finding Charlie, was chosen for publication by KindleScout. Most recently, I released my fourth book, Blood & Water.
The next two books are a prequel and sequel in the same genre I usually write in: women's fiction/family life/literary. We're working on getting the covers finalized and I look forward to sharing those soon. Until then, you can check out my Q&A with Type Eighteen Books.
Now, I consider myself an edit-as-I-go writer, so this made me curious. I clicked on the link and read this woman’s advice on writing. I see she’s qualified that the statement is for most writers, but this just makes me wonder where she gets her data from. Was there a study? Perhaps she explains that in one of the several how-to books she’s selling on the subject.
Here’s the thing: writing advice is so valuable. I love to listen to different writers share their different approaches for what works for them. It’s inspiring and it always reminds me how many different paths there are to a similar goal.
The problem with writing advice is that often it’s delivered as if it’s coming from an expert who is letting you in on an absolute secret about the definitive correct way to do it.
My advice is that before you take advice (even mine), do two things: 1. consider the source and 2. decide if the advice rings true for you.
If you’re a big fan of Stephen King and you’re interested in learning how to write the kind of books he writes in the way he writes them, you might want to read On Writing. There are other helpful manuals written by other kinds of writers. Find one that’s right for you.
Not everyone writes like Stephen King or Charles Bukowski or Earnest Hemingway or Anne Lamott or Ray Bradbury or Sol Stein. Not everyone wants to. I’m sure each one of those authors has helpful nuggets of wisdom to share and I think new writers should be open to all of it, but skeptical when it doesn’t resonate.
The one-size-fits-all advice is something I see more and more as writers are pressured to create content for blogs that will strengthen their “platform”. I don’t think it’s helpful and I’m especially dismayed by how-to book writers claiming to be experts so they can make money off newbie writers. I think it’s exploitative.
Writers who make it through the gauntlet to publishing should absolutely share what worked for them with writers coming up after them. The stories are as fascinating as they are diverse. Some writers get an MFA while others are self-taught. Some writers plot everything out on color-coded note cards while others begin writing without any idea where their characters will take them. Some writers work in seclusion while others rely on supportive writers groups. Some edit only when their first draft is complete while others edit as they’re writing.
The more of these stories you hear, the clearer it becomes that there are many different ways to do it. I think, especially for new writers, the biggest lesson to learn is which advice to take and which advice to ignore.
I did a series of author interviews for another website long ago and I've decided to repost them now that the other site is no longer active so they'll continue to be accessible on the internet. I always found it reassuring to hear from different writers the way that there really isn't just one way to be a writer. I think that kind of reassurance is evergreen so please enjoy this one from 2018:
When did you start writing?
I actually have a notebook from Junior High that contains some of my writing, so back at least that far. However, I didn’t write seriously until around 2012. I “played” at writing, but would start and then stop for months at a time.
When did you decide to pursue publication?
The Art of Healing began its life as a short story for a Writers Digest contest in 2003. A friend mentioned Camp Nano in July 2013, the day before it started, and I decided to turn that short story into a novel, even though I knew two weeks of that month were already booked. Although I didn’t write 50K words, I did make it to 21K, which was the most I’d ever written on a single story. The writing bug caught hold that time and hasn’t let go. It took me three years to complete The Art of Healing, and I published it in June 2016, knowing absolutely nothing about pre-launch and marketing. I knew half-way through that I would publish my first book as an Indie author – it just felt right.
Describe your book. Who is your audience?
The Art of Healing is a blended Women’s Fiction/Love story. Although the love story is central, it’s not a true romance. And though it has a satisfying end, it’s not the ending one might expect. The main female character, pediatric nurse Julianne Garvoli, has fooled herself into thinking her life is perfect – that it’s her dream life. Until she comes home one day to learn that her perfect life is anything but perfect. The main male character, photographer Jokob O’Callaghan, is definitely living his dream life, with his wife Keara. They travel the country in an RV creating works of art from his sunrise/sunset photos, and her poetry. When his life is shattered, he hides behind his work. A chance meeting between Julianne and Jokob in St. Louis at one of his art shows opens the door to a possible future together that neither really wants due to their brokenness. In spite of themselves, they find themselves falling in love. But life may have other plans for them.
The ideal audience is a reader who enjoys a deeply emotional journey through pain and healing. A story of growth and forgiveness, and of learning that we all deserve a second chance at love.
The Art of Healing was a quarter-finalist in the Booklife Prize 2017 Contest, where the judge said, “…This satisfying novel has a traditional romance plot, but infuses it with a depth and introspection that keeps the story fresh. No space is wasted on tangents, and the plot comes to a gratifying climax.”
Do you consider genre before you start writing or after the book is complete?
I should, but don’t. When a story floats into my head, I don’t question what it is, I simply write it. However, most of my stories revolve around strong female characters, and fit into some sub-category of Women’s Fiction. That said, I also write short stories, many of which have won contests and been published in several anthologies. My short stories range from humor to horrific, and just about everything in between, including a couple of fantasy. I’m never sure where the ideas come from, but they are usually a flash of a character or scene, and I follow wherever the stories lead.
Do you have a critique group or support network? Do you let people read early drafts?
I am truly blessed to belong to Saturday
Writers, a chapter of the Missouri Writers Guild (MWG), and began
serving on the board in January 2017. I also served on the MWG board for
the 2017-2018 session. Saturday
Writers is my writing home and I belong to two novel critique groups
made up of several of its members. I can’t imagine trying to write a
novel without their support. These two groups (one made up of six
women), along with a tightly knit Facebook group, are the only ones I
allow to see early drafts because I trust them completely to be honest
without destroying me. That wasn’t the case early on when I received
some critiques from writers who were not kind, nor supportive but were
rather demeaning. I quit writing for a while because of that feedback.
Now I am selective. My FB critique group has been writing together since
2014 when we participated in short story workshop together.
Learning
which feedback to take from any particular critique partner is
something all writers must figure out. Many beginning writers will take
anyone’s feedback and make changes that may not serve the story, perhaps
changing the voice beyond what truly works.
What are you working on next?
I am so excited to be working on my second novel, The Things We Do Not Speak Of. One day I had a flash that a teenage boy, Daniel, the pastor’s son, had disappeared. When I asked what happened, the voice of fourteen year old Cadey Farmer, a Somali Muslim refugee came through as if she were sitting in my kitchen telling me her story. I ran with it, not truly knowing where it would lead. I knew the beginning and the end, and I knew what had happened to Cadey and Daniel. The rest comes to me in flashes of conversation (how I usually write) between the various characters. I am trying something different. Cadey’s voice came to me in 1st person. There are multiple other point of view characters, all in 3rd person (but all with their own chapters and/or scenes – it’s not omniscient, but rather deep POV for each character). I’ve never read a novel that does this, and it probably breaks a bunch of rules, but all my critique partners tell me it works this way.
The
story is a blend of coming of age, family drama, small town bigotry,
religious clashes, and mystery, all rolled into one. After the Farmer
family moves from Atlanta, where they settled six years earlier after
escaping Somalia, to (fictional) Savannah Falls, South Carolina, young
Cadey makes a decision that rocks her family, and rattles the
townsfolk. Her decision sets up a collision course, forcing a change in
deeply held beliefs on all sides. The story dives headlong into
generations of racism and prejudice, of small town rivalries, and hidden
secrets.
I
hope to finish it by the end of the summer and will then begin
submitting. All three of my critique groups have been reading it as I
write it, so by the time I finish it will have had over ten sets of eyes
on it.
For more information, check out Jeannefelfe.com.
I did a series of author interviews for another website long ago and I've decided to repost them now that the other site is no longer active so they'll continue to be accessible on the internet. I always found it reassuring to hear from different writers the way that there really isn't just one way to be a writer. I think that kind of reassurance is evergreen so please enjoy this one from 2018:
Do you decide on genre before you start writing? Does your audience shift or is there crossover?
I usually have some idea of genre, though there have been times I’ve been surprised by the outcome. For example, with Better than Perfect, I had originally intended to write a romance. It turned out to be Women’s Fiction, as the story focused more on the main character’s non-romantic relationships and her evolution as a person.
I would say my audience is broken down into two types of readers, though there is some crossover. There are the readers who fell in love with Better than Perfect and who wish I’d write more Women’s Fiction. Then there are my readers who love young adult fiction with a bit of fantasy. My writing has been all over the place in terms of genre, so I can’t really say I have a large, hardcore fan base who will read everything I write, though there are a few readers who fall into that category.
What do you do when you get stuck in the writing process?
In cases where I have a deadline, I push through and force myself to write through the hard stuff. Without a deadline, I have a tendency to abandon projects, sometimes for months.
How many books have you written? How long does it typically take?
I have written nine full-length novels and one non-fiction book. When I began writing, I could complete a novel in about two months. Now, it takes much longer. I’m not a fast writer and I like to edit as I go.
What is your biggest challenge of self-publishing? What’s the best part?
Like many authors I’ve spoken with, my biggest challenge has been promotion and marketing. I feel very uncomfortable with self-promotion. The best part about self-publishing is having control of the publication process. I choose the book cover, the editor, and the publication date. It’s very empowering.
What are you working on next?
I just finished writing a short story for an anthology being published in June. My next project will be revisions on The Coven, a paranormal story for teens.
If you’d like more information about Tricia, check out her website.
I did a series of author interviews for another website long ago and I've decided to repost them now that the other site is no longer active so they'll continue to be accessible on the internet. I always found it reassuring to hear from different writers the way that there really isn't just one way to be a writer. I think that kind of reassurance is evergreen so please enjoy this one from 2018:
When did you start writing? When did you decide to pursue publication?
I wrote stories starting in third grade through college. Then career turned my focus to business writing. About thirty years ago, my husband and I moved to Montana where I found a wonderful writing community and I restarted with fiction. Sold my first short story for $5…and…the check bounced, a great lesson in the vagaries of publication. I also wrote magazine articles while working on numerous novels. The novels won contests and earned rave rejections from agents and editors but no publishing contracts. Finally, last year, my tenth book, Instrument of the Devil, won the Kindle Scout contest and was published. A thirty-year long haul but worth it.
Are you a ‘plotter’ or ‘pantser’? Do you outline a story before writing or make it up as you go?
Basically I’m a pantser. I have a starting point and an ending point but not many clues about the middle. The first draft is the skeleton to figure out the plot. Succeeding drafts, I add the flesh, muscle, sinew, layering on more with each rewrite. Sometimes characters appear and force their way into the story, changing the direction. Because I trust the power of the subconscious, I go with the flow. Usually it works out. Also my critique group helps when I get stuck, offering fresh ideas.
Do you read a lot of the mystery/thriller genre? Who are your favorite authors?
Because I do a lot of editing and beta-reading, I don’t have time to read as many books as I’d like. Probably my all-time favorite author is Raymond Chandler. I also admire Sue Grafton because she maintained high quality for decades until, sadly, the alphabet ended in “Y” when she recently passed.
Talk about Instrument of the Devil.
Instrument of the Devil is about a terrorist who targets Tawny
Lindholm, a technophobic widow, setting her up as a scapegoat in his
plot to bring down the electrical grid. It takes place in Montana at the
Hungry Horse Dam, a major power generating station for the Northwest
US. The inspiration came from two sources: five years ago, I bought my
first smartphone when they really took off in popularity. It confounded
me with its antics–strange tones, inexplicable messages, a screen that
spontaneously went black, etc. I assumed the problems were operator
error, but it also made me wonder, what if a bad guy used a rigged
smartphone to manipulate an innocent person to take the fall for a
crime? At the same time, I was researching the vulnerability of the
power grid and learned that a smartphone has the capability to access
computers that control the grid’s inner workings. Those two components
came together and the story was born. Then in 2016, the FBI thwarted a
cyberattack by smartphone on a dam in New York, so I knew I was onto
something that could really happen. A rigged smartphone is the Instrument of the Devil. Ironic postscript: after numerous trips to the phone store, it turned out my phone was defective so not all its antics were operator error.d
What are you working on next?
Stalking Midas is a proposed title for the second book in the series. Tawny is working for the lawyer who helped her in Instrument of the Devil. He suspects his estranged father is a victim of elder fraud and sends Tawny to investigate. The plot involves a lucrative annuity scam that takes cruel advantage of senior citizens’ devotion to their pets. The third book in the series (proposed title The Suicide Gene) deals with teenage suicide.
Check out Debbie’s website at debbieburkewriter.com
