Author Spotlight no.369 – novelist Jane Davis

Complementing my interviews, today’s Author Spotlight, the three hundred and sixty-ninth, is of novelist Jane Davis. If you would like to take part in an author spotlight, take a look at author-spotlights.

Jane Davis lives in Carshalton, Surrey with her Formula 1 obsessed, star-gazing, beer-brewing partner, surrounded by growing piles of paperbacks, CDs and general chaos. She spent her twenties and the first part of her thirties chasing promotions, but when Jane achieved what he had set out to do, although the money was nice, she discovered that it was not what she had wanted after all. Seeking a creative outlet, she turned to writing fiction, but cites the disciplines learnt in the business world as what helps her finish a 120,000-word novel.

Her first, Half-truths and White Lies, won the Daily Mail First Novel Award and was described by Joanne Harris as ‘A story of secrets, lies, grief and, ultimately, redemption, charmingly handled by this very promising new writer.’ She was hailed by The Bookseller as ‘One to Watch.’ Four self-published novels followed: I Stopped Time, These Fragile Things, A Funeral for an Owl and An Unchoreographed Life. Of her writing, Compulsion Reads wrote, ‘Davis is a phenomenal writer, whose ability to create well rounded characters that are easy to relate to feels effortless.’ Jane’s favourite description of fiction is that it is ‘made-up truth.’

*

Jane describes her journey in self-publishing…

 

My Day at Get Writing 2014 by Morgen Bailey

I went to the annual Get Writing conference, hosted by Verulam Writers Circle – my fifth time – last Saturday so I thought I’d share the day with you.

After a minor diversion (to drop off my dog), I arrived at the University of Herfordshire’s campus just in time to grab a cup of (fruit) tea before going into the main hall for the first of a series of talks. I’d been on workshops in previous years and now that I teach, I decided to have a day off. Not that I still wouldn’t learn something, we all do, but I enjoyed staying in one place this time.

After introductions by VWC leads Dave Weaver and John Spencer, Ian Skillicorn talked about National Short Story Week and the reason behind it; to get people writing and reading short stories. He started NSSW as he was doing short story radio and wanted to harness interest. How do you get involved? You can just write and / or take part in local events; approach your local library to start a short story workshop. This year National Short Story Day is on 17th November and Ian added that previously his local U3A had eBooked their short stories. There were readings in cafes and bars. Local press will be looking for content so could be a good option for publicity. Local radio could they be interested in you reading out your short stories.

Nick Cook, President of VWC, then introduced the ‘Can creative writing (c/w) be taught?’ panel featuring journalist and author Michael Smith, Senior Lecturer in c/w, Dr Jennifer Young, novelist Liesel Schwarz, and lead by c/w teacher Nick Cook.

Jennifer talked about herself and how she came to c/w; inspired by her tutors at school, she is now senior lecturer at University of Hertfordshire, where the event took place. She quoted a colleague who compared c/w to yoga where his teacher pushes him into positions he couldn’t reach by himself. I liked that.

Liesel’s parents had ignored her early wish to be a writer so she went on to be a barrister but after a few years she did an MA in c/w and now teaches at Brunel, writes for the Guardian, has written a book on how to write science-fiction / fantasy. Said you have to immerse yourself into the writing community (that’s me!), adding that c/w might not be able to be taught but it can certainly be learned.

Michael writes for the BBC, the Times and has written non-fiction but realised he wanted to write a novel but needed a road map. He said writers need drive and willpower. He was told he was a good writer (of non-fiction) before going on a course on how to write a novel, realising it’s a very different beast.

Nick Cook then talked about his history of c/w which he started learning at Reading in the 1970s / 1980s. Nick mentioned Wilfred Pickles who wrote for Radio 4 and was an inspiration to him. Nick writes for the Health & Safety market because he used to work in the field and had always wanted to teach though, he said “at a lower level than Jennifer”; he teaches 10-week writing courses at college. That’s me… again! Two sides of writing: unconscious (when washing up, driving etc.) be prepared to grab them; basic rules of writing which have evolved since Homer. Show not tell, importance of characterisation, editing (“cut, cut, cut”). There will be people who break the rules and if they do it well will progress the boundaries. Agreed with Michael that non-fiction is different to fiction… up to a point.

Questions were then invited from the audience and the first was, “If writing can’t be taught, what would the world look like?” Jennifer talked about her a girl who had make a hat which reminded her of the queen so she behaved like the queen for a day and that the world would be a much poorer place without such imagination and inspiration.

Liesel said about a sheepdog who had been mistreated and when it was rescued it became clear that it didn’t know what anything was yet when it saw a flock of sheep it knew exactly what to do. She said writers would write regardless, because it’s human nature.

Michael added that there would be less successful writers but the world wouldn’t end.

 

Author Spotlight no.360 – non-fiction author Jennifer Boire

Complementing my interviews, today’s Author Spotlight, the three hundred and sixtieth, is of non-fiction author Jennifer Boire. If you would like to take part in an author spotlight, take a look at author-spotlights.

Author Jennifer Boire, MA, has published two books of poetry and survived menopause while shepherding two pre-teens through puberty. She has been blogging about menopause and mid-life since 2006 (over 50,000 hits). In her research and many interviews, she discovered what women need to hear most is that they are not going crazy.

She leads Creative Journaling classes and retreats for women at mid-life to help them cultivate faith in their inner resources.

To-dated her books published are… non-fiction: The Tao of Turning Fifty; Little Red Bird Press, 2012; poetry: For the Birds, Little Red Bird Press, 2011; Little Mother, poems and birth journal, Hochelaga Press, Montreal, 1997. CD Holding the song, poems; chapbook, A Place of Trees (story of Eve reimagined). Her website is www.jenniferboire.com.

After dropping out of university in Radio and TV Arts at age 19, Boire went back to school after getting married (age 30) to garner a B.A. then a M.A. in English, Creative Writing in Montreal. Despite wanting children right away, it took seven years for this gift to come along; in the same year she started the Master’s degree. Mothering full-time, studying/teaching part-time, and writing poetry in the wee hours while breastfeeding, taught her the value of women’s friendship and support. Becoming a mother was fraught with difficult emotions. Her first published book of poems, Little Mother, addressed the light and dark side of mothering, her childhood and her mother’s alcoholism.

Hit by a tsunami of hormones and emotions again at menopause, Boire began blogging about her findings on the mind-body connection and the healing journey of this rite of passage. Dr. Christiane Northrup’s book, The Wisdom of Menopause had a huge impact on her, as well as several of Joan Borysenko’s books on handling transitions and preventing burn-out. Observing several women friends handle burn-out and recovery, and the effect this had on their health at menopause, also motivated her to write a book. It became clear that, in spite of all the medical information available, very little was written about how to handle the emotional changes surging at peri-menopause. And how the medical profession barely recognizes that this period lasting 7-10 years before official menopause even exists. She already knew the value of her women’s circle, of women getting together to share their thoughts and feelings, and feeling seen and heard on this passage through mid-life.

Teaching journaling classes for women since 1999 also showed her that the best way to present this information was through offering women a workbook where they could sit and reflect on some simple writing prompts, and find their own inner guidance. Journaling is a proven tool for self-discovery and healing, as well as a great way to cultivate your inner knowing.

Dr James Pennebaker, a professor in the Department of Psychology at The University of Texas at Austin and author of several books, including “Opening Up” and “Writing to Heal,” is a pioneer in the study of using expressive writing as a route to healing.

“When people are given the opportunity to write about emotional upheavals, they often experience improved health,” Pennebaker says. “They go to the doctor less. They have changes in immune function. If they are first-year college students, their grades tend to go up. People will tell us months afterward that it’s been a very beneficial experience for them.” https://www.utexas.edu/features/2005/writing/

The Tao of Turning Fifty grew out of research done for her blog, and interviews with women approaching or already past menopause. Boire describes her own experience, as a momentous psychic shift, much more than just hot flashes and low libido. Her goal is to let every woman in her forties know what is coming at mid-life and menopause so that they can educate themselves, as well as prepare for this important rite of passage.

While this is not a medical book; it does address the symptoms, the hot flashes etc. But mostly it addresses the emotional terrain, the rollercoaster of feelings a woman goes through in peri-menopause. It is a much-needed heads-up, or wake-up call for every woman in her forties who is not even thinking that menopause is just around the corner. As a workbook, readers can journal along with, it is unique. And the relaxation and centering exercises are very empowering.

The Tao of Turning Fifty addresses women who feel overwhelmed at mid-life. With gentle humour, Boire offers insight on matters such as Feeling like You’re Going Crazy, Finding Time Alone, Learning How to Say No and Where Did my Libido Go, along with relaxation exercises and tips to develop better self-care habits. “Don’t wait for a breakdown”, she advices, “a broken leg or a break-up, to thrust you into self-care mode… treat your Self with tenderness and compassion.”

*

And now from the author herself:

 

Guest post: 5 Tips for Creative Self-Care at Mid-Life by Jennifer Boire

Today’s guest blog post is brought to you by non-fiction author Jennifer Boire. See below to enter Jennifer’s giveaway.

5 Tips for Creative Self-Care at Mid-Life

Mid-life transition and menopause – doesn’t sound like fun, does it? It can be a stressful time, and you definitely need to take care of yourself, but you also have to have fun!

Now that my kids are too old to want to be seen with me, I’m rediscovering the hobbies and activities I used to love doing, and exploring new ones. For instance, when I was in high school, I remember making Bristol board-sized collages. I loved doing collage! Yet I hadn’t done it in over forty years. Two years ago I discovered SoulCollage®, which is so much fun. I also joined a Sweet Adelines chorus 8 years ago, and that led to singing with a barbershop quartet and lots of fun performances. I hadn’t been on a theatre stage since high school, but a recent musical theatre experience also made me feel happy and alive.

So take these tips as a clue to finding your own creative self-care rituals at mid-life. Take classes, experiment, find out what you are passionate about – I bet you it’s something creative!

1. Get Creative and Flow: doing any artistic or creative activity using your right brain is the #1 way to slow down and love your life: get in the FLOW. (Flow is when you lost track of time, totally absorbed by doing something you love). Try journaling, SoulCollage®, writing poems; tell your stories to your grandchildren, take up crocheting, gardening, floral arranging,  pottery classes, piano lessons; join a Zumba or Salsa class. You’ll stay young longer.
2. Listen to your Intuition: get in touch with your wise inner self; to cultivate this, allow more down time for getting in touch with your intuition. Journaling is a great way to do this. Or get out into the woods, take a walk, and breathe in the natural world around you. Pause and appreciate life.
3. Love your body:  move your body every day. Find out what foods make you calm, (greens or protein for example vs sugar and caffeine). Make friends with your emotions through body scan and relaxation exercises (see Musemother’s Relaxation CD). Listen to the small signals before they become bigger, i.e. don’t let minor health issues or emotional upsets get swept under the rug.
4. Be Mindful: the best anti-stress medicine is to use your breath in Yoga, Tai-Chi, Chi Gong or Meditation for calming the parasympathetic nervous system. New neuroscience research shows that when we meditate, the areas of the brain associated with stress slow down and the parts associated with feelings of joy, peace and compassion become active. It’s another way to experience FLOW in the body… and it’s as simple as doing some alternate nostril breathing or yoga, or focusing on a centering breath technique.
5. Play with friends! Energize yourself. Are you a couch potato? Get outside, play soccer, join a curling league, go bowling. Remember what you used to love doing –singing and dancing? Join a theatre club or chorus (sharing fun activities with others is a known endorphin booster).

Bonus tip: One more habit you can build in to feel better, is to change your negative self-talk and fears by working with affirmations. When you change your thoughts and words, you change your beliefs and core vibration. Here are a few samples to get you started:

 

Author interview no.701 with memoirist Fiona Gold Kroll

Welcome to the seven hundred and first of my blog interviews with novelists, poets, short story authors, biographers, agents, publishers and more. Today’s is with non-fiction author Fiona Gold Kroll. A list of interviewees (blogged and scheduled) can be found here. If you like what you read, please do go and investigate further.

Morgen: Hello, Fiona. Please tell us something about yourself, where you’re based, and how you came to be a writer.

Fiona: Hello Morgen. Thank you so much for having me! My name is Fiona Gold Kroll and I live in Toronto, Canada. I’m a married mother of two adult children and a grandmother. Before retiring five years ago, I was a corporate researcher. Writing came naturally to me even as a child and I frequently added pictures my stories. Though my work entailed writing reports, I didn’t begin writing for myself until five years ago. An editor friend suggested that I write a memoir about my search for my great-uncle Benjamin. People were fascinated with the story. So, I sat down and wrote. The novice in me said “get an editor” before submitting the manuscript to agents and publishers and it was a very smart move. I chose the perfect editor. She is not only a consummate professional, she understood the story. Her contacts in the publishing industry were instrumental in finding a publisher interested in my book. The manuscript was also in good shape when they read it.

Morgen: A very wise novice. Having an editor is the most costly part of self-publishing (eBooks are uploaded word processed documents and covers are fairly easy – and free – to create – I have a guide here) but it’s certainly the most important aspect. Sure, a cover, title and blurb entice the reader but have an average or below-average book and your reader will not only make it to the end of your book and certainly be unlikely to read any more but these days, authors rely on positive word of mouth (it’s how ‘Fifty Shades’ got so big). To-date, 95% of my editing clients have been self-published as it’s very encouraging that they are so willing to make their product the best it can be before sharing it with the wider world. I do know of someone who finished writing their novel on a Friday and published it online the following weekend. I’ve never read it but even the best writers need editors. Even though I’m an editor, I still hire one for my writing because she spots things I haven’t (because I wrote it and knew what I meant by something) and comes up with great suggestions.

Fiona: I also took a creative writing course, when I had almost finished writing A Stone for Benjamin. I loved it and began writing short stories including The Butterfly Effect. Encouraged by my instructor to submit the story for publication I was surprised when it was accepted by our national newspaper The Globe & Mail. I was told that I had a voice and I realized that I loved writing. I write every day, it helps distract me from winter. Then I get distracted walking our dog through the forest and beside the river during the summer months! Joking aside, ideas are constantly drifting through my mind and I can’t wait to write each day.

Morgen: That’s lovely. I started with short stories and they’ll always be my first love. With your non-fiction, how do you decide what to write about?

Fiona: This was an easy decision for me. I spent several years searching for my great-uncle who disappeared from Paris in 1941. I travelled to Paris and Poland in an effort to find the truth about his disappearance. Once I had all the answers, I knew I had to write about Benjamin and the effect the research had on me.

Morgen: It does sound like a great story. What have you had published to-date? Do you write under a pseudonym?

 

Author Spotlight no.337 – Jim Sellers

Complementing my interviews, today’s Author Spotlight, the three hundred and thirty-seventh, is of multi-genre author and interviewee Jim Sellers. If you would like to take part in an author spotlight, take a look at author-spotlights.

Jim Sellers is the author of the newly released YA book “Jacky the Brave”. Although he had written works in most genres, he was surprised and happy to see his first publishing success was in YA. His writing in that genre is based mostly on events in his own life with some inspiration from friends and other family members. “Jacky the Brave” is just such a collection of his experiences.

Born in Edmonton in north-west Canada, Jim spent a lot of time reading and imagining exciting adventures as a kid. That was the favourite pastime of boys who didn’t play hockey and lived before the age of video games. Like most writers, he has been creating stories since his teen years and found the pen and paper to be a regular companion on long trips and quiet days. He also doubted that any of his work would be published – it seemed unlikely after watching other writers he knew trying so hard. So he set his sights on film and TV. During his 20 years in that business he learned the process of writing screenplays for drama and documentaries as well as advertising and corporate communications before retiring from that industry. For the last 10 years he has been working in communications management for non-profits groups and universities.

He continued to write screenplays as show pilots or spec film scripts, most ending up in the rejection files. It was after he decided to get his Bachelor’s degree (at 50) that he learned to appreciate the sheer joy and freedom of writing fiction. It was this appreciation for fictional writing that caused him to re-evaluate all the abandoned stories he had filed away and all the adventures he had logged in his notes. In 2004, he made a project of writing a series of YA stories based on his previous writing. Each of these stories (4 in all) received different levels of interest from publishers and agents, with results ranging from boilerplate rejections to requests for full manuscripts (followed eventually by rejections). During this time he established a variety of websites about writing, posted his short stories and wrote a serial novel.

After repeated rewrites and editing, his first Young Adult novel was accepted for publication in 2013. He is working on a sequel for the book, a short story collection and a novel.

*

And now from the author himself:

 

5PM Fiction 285: The photo that no-one else can get

Welcome to the two hundred and eighty-fifth in this series that is ‘5pm Fiction’.

Late April 2011 I discovered StoryADay.org and the project that is to write 31 stories in 31 days. Anyone who knows me or follows this blog, knows how passionate I am about short stories so my clichéd eyes lit up at this new marvel. And just a few days later there I was, breathing life into new characters. This went on to become (with some editing of course) my 31-story collection eBook Story A Day May 2011. I have since published (as eBooks) the 2012 and 2013 collections, detailed on https://morgenbailey.wordpress.com/books-mine/short-stories/story-a-day-may.

I was nearing completion of the 2012 project when I decided that I didn’t want to stop at the end of May so 5PM Fiction was born. I put a load of prompts on the 5PM Fiction page and today’s was to write a story in second person-viewpoint from the keyword prompt of ‘chase’. Here is my 356-worder.

The photo that no-one else can get

You’ve been chasing her for days, to get the photo that no-one else can get. She knows you’re there. There’s always someone there.

It’s a lifestyle she’s had to become accustomed to, only you don’t think she ever will. It’s not one you’d want, except she’s become your job, your life.

When she emerges out of the building, you reach over to your camera, on its dashboard tripod, and set it to continuous.

You follow her car through narrow streets, wide streets – her executive to your jalopy, the only thing you could get at short notice. You’re used to this place, she’s been here a lot.

Most of the shots are of the back of her head but you know she could look round. She has before.

As her car gathers speed so does yours. It complains but it’s not yours so you’re not bothered.

As she heads into the tunnel, she edges forward and you floor the accelerator, a little too close for comfort but you decide to go alongside, get level, no other cars in sight, so you swivel round your camera in anticipation, a momentary lapse in concentration.