tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27152528570689466002024-03-12T18:51:16.118-05:00Author S. L. DuncanPlaces.
People.
Words.S. L. Duncanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07245941432491789475noreply@blogger.comBlogger78125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2715252857068946600.post-18137981284818139862014-08-25T11:09:00.000-05:002014-08-25T11:09:00.069-05:00The Author Interview: Joshua David Bellin, SURVIVAL COLONY<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPPyoeCHWVdHIV_1ODmQKsCd5qZgT2kNcgmIxNDHJZHd91J6NJ190HyhUEV5AOyDV381tQ1K_5wZo_gnOfF1OIzC4soODPWDN_dxhb0hyO-T6JbPEUz_fjHEzbJvtzOkItjYQjz8L2W3g/s1600/SC9+cover+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPPyoeCHWVdHIV_1ODmQKsCd5qZgT2kNcgmIxNDHJZHd91J6NJ190HyhUEV5AOyDV381tQ1K_5wZo_gnOfF1OIzC4soODPWDN_dxhb0hyO-T6JbPEUz_fjHEzbJvtzOkItjYQjz8L2W3g/s1600/SC9+cover+3.jpg" height="320" width="219" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
It's time for another round of the aptly titled segment, THE AUTHOR INTERVIEW! In this episode, I'm thrilled to introduce you to fellow OneFourKidLit alumni, Joshua David Bellin, author of the YA dystopian, SURVIVAL COLONY. Here he is, to tell us a little about himself, his process, and his killer new book.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyfL40pOhrQ4oJzusQmeautP_bzkP6fagZ5p1uinrKCLVJAhVd8CddQAmrcUp22YvK4T8E0DHTnkTCYHXXJ_6AV6Dtr1AuUzSaHw7i6Sc8PdZVEIA0Q51eUhkq1CFfQmrU9savDUPyI6M/s1600/Bellin+author+photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyfL40pOhrQ4oJzusQmeautP_bzkP6fagZ5p1uinrKCLVJAhVd8CddQAmrcUp22YvK4T8E0DHTnkTCYHXXJ_6AV6Dtr1AuUzSaHw7i6Sc8PdZVEIA0Q51eUhkq1CFfQmrU9savDUPyI6M/s1600/Bellin+author+photo.jpg" height="320" width="271" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="background: white; border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;"><b>Tell us a little about yourself.</b><br />
<br />
I’m a writer, college teacher, fantasy film fan, and lover of apes and
amphibians. (Seriously, my favorite movie of all time is the 1933 <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">King Kong</i>, and I spent nearly my entire
childhood playing with frogs and toads.) I live in Pittsburgh with my wife and
two children, who are my biggest fans and first readers. I spend way too much
time on the computer, but my fifteen-year-old daughter still thinks I’m a
hopeless caveman because I don’t own a cell phone.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="background: white; border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;"><br /><b>You wrote a book? Awesome! What's it about?</b><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="background: white; border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">The YA science fiction novel <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Survival
Colony Nine</i> tells the story of Querry Genn, a teenager living in a future
world that’s been devastated by war and environmental catastrophe. He belongs
to a small mobile camp called a survival colony, which is all that’s left of
human civilization after the collapse of governments and nations. The survival
colonies are faced with near-starvation in a desert world, and that’s not all:
they also have to evade the creatures called the Skaldi, monsters that
mysteriously appeared on the planet after the wars of destruction.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="background: white; border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">In Querry’s case, he’s got two additional problems. The commander of
Survival Colony Nine is his authoritarian father, Laman Genn. And six months
before the action of the book starts, he lost his memory during a Skaldi
attack. If he can recover his past, he might be able to unlock the secret to
defeating the Skaldi. If he can’t, he’s their next victim.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="background: white; border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;"><br /><b>Tell us a little about the process. How long did it take? It this your first
book ever? What inspired you?</b><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="background: white; border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">Like a lot of writers, I’ve been writing novels from a pretty young age.
I started my first novel at age eight, completed my first one (an epic fantasy
inspired by <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Lord of the Rings</i>) at age
sixteen. I tried to get that one published, and when that didn’t work, I almost
made the colossal mistake of handing over my life savings to a vanity press (until
they sent me some of their books and I realized, even at the age of sixteen,
that the writing wasn’t very good). When I graduated college there weren’t as
many MFA programs as there are today, so I got a Ph.D. in English, taught college,
published academic books and articles. But I always kept alive the dream of
publishing a novel. And then, when I had a sabbatical a few years ago, I used
the time away from teaching to take a class at a local MFA program and work on
making the dream come true!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="background: white; border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;"><br /><b>How was your journey to publication, and what was it like when you arrived?</b><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="background: white; border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">I acquired an agent for <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Survival
Colony Nine</i> at the tail end of 2011, but we had to part ways when it turned
out we didn’t share the same vision for the novel. (Hey, it happens.) I queried
again and found another agent, the fabulous Liza Fleissig of Liza Royce Agency,
by late 2012. From there, it was a matter of revising for submission and
waiting to hear back. We got an offer from Karen Wojtyla, senior editor at
Margaret K. McElderry Books, in early 2013.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="background: white; border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">I’ve got to be honest: when Liza called me about the offer, my reaction
was . . . stunned silence. I’d been dreaming of being a published novelist
since I was eight years old, so to learn forty years later that the dream was
about to become a reality was almost too much to process.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="background: white; border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">After the shock wore off, though, I started doing a happy dance, and I
haven’t stopped since!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="background: white; border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;"><br /><b>Any advice for would-be writers just stepping out?</b><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="background: white; border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">My best advice is to be wary of overly restrictive advice about how to
tell your story. There’s some really wretched advice out there like, “never
begin your novel with a character waking up” or “always end each chapter on a
cliffhanger.” As a writer and a teacher, it drives me crazy when I read advice
that tries to make writing seem like a paint-by-numbers set! (Never begin your
novel with a character waking up? Where does that leave <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Hunger Games</i>?) There are many common-sense things you can do to
develop the craft of writing, but when people start telling you there’s a single
“right” way to tell a story, you should tune them out and just start writing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="background: white; border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;"><br /><b>Finally, where can we find you?</b> </span><br />
<span style="background: white; border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="background: white; border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">Website: </span><a href="http://www.joshuadavidbellin.com/"><span style="background: white; border: none windowtext 1.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">http://www.joshuadavidbellin.com</span></a><span style="background: white; border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="background: white; border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">Blog: </span><a href="http://theyaguy.blogspot.com/">http://theyaguy.blogspot.com/</a><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;">
Twitter: <a href="http://twitter.com/TheYAGuy">http://twitter.com/TheYAGuy</a><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;">
Facebook: <a href="http://www.facebook.com/joshuadavidbellin">http://www.facebook.com/joshuadavidbellin</a><o:p></o:p></div>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:DocumentProperties>
<o:Revision>0</o:Revision>
<o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime>
<o:Pages>1</o:Pages>
<o:Words>699</o:Words>
<o:Characters>3985</o:Characters>
<o:Company>Author</o:Company>
<o:Lines>33</o:Lines>
<o:Paragraphs>9</o:Paragraphs>
<o:CharactersWithSpaces>4675</o:CharactersWithSpaces>
<o:Version>14.0</o:Version>
</o:DocumentProperties>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>JA</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="276">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
text-indent:.5in;
line-height:200%;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<!--EndFragment--><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;">
Goodreads: <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7393959.Joshua_David_Bellin">http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7393959.Joshua_David_Bellin</a><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
S. L. Duncanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07245941432491789475noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2715252857068946600.post-14116758635102269462014-05-17T10:46:00.000-05:002014-05-17T10:58:02.957-05:00The Author Interview: Linda Vigen Phillips, CRAZY<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left: 45.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: 9.0pt 27.0pt; text-indent: 0in;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv3q2LKjaxIzfTU0Cla0YeEXTRQMOAiT3lLHKs-B58L3GCwNpXjILQM9Dt_dnTP3CtXnah6RlyMYsCFfm4DaJdmMrdtiKzyoawR8osftxrBZPuurAV-sk0EU6QBz_lS_WtDtbSfQPmfTA/s1600/Cover+Crazy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv3q2LKjaxIzfTU0Cla0YeEXTRQMOAiT3lLHKs-B58L3GCwNpXjILQM9Dt_dnTP3CtXnah6RlyMYsCFfm4DaJdmMrdtiKzyoawR8osftxrBZPuurAV-sk0EU6QBz_lS_WtDtbSfQPmfTA/s1600/Cover+Crazy.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
<b><span style="background-color: #fff8f4; color: #545454; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">It's time for another round of the aptly titled segment, THE AUTHOR INTERVIEW! In this episode, I'm thrilled to introduce you to fellow OneFourKidLit alumni, Linda Vigen Phillips, author of the YA novel, CRAZY</span><span style="background-color: #fff8f4; color: #545454; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">. Love this cover, y'all. Here she is, to tell us a little about herself, her process, and her amazing new book.</span></b><br />
<b><span style="background-color: #fff8f4; color: #545454; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><br /></span></b>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBpxocHOP2oUBNoBUSKjfZoxX74YpeKMfmyjECEQE9LAaIQ8oWTFRIj9a5CQsKoZJ3KIUqJObhWoQJB7OcCuJR7JQVfdwxOLLRDw7W2gmIg1IgBlk5vIk2KCzPPMJNuSMspu-tsw_apXA/s1600/Untitled.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBpxocHOP2oUBNoBUSKjfZoxX74YpeKMfmyjECEQE9LAaIQ8oWTFRIj9a5CQsKoZJ3KIUqJObhWoQJB7OcCuJR7JQVfdwxOLLRDw7W2gmIg1IgBlk5vIk2KCzPPMJNuSMspu-tsw_apXA/s1600/Untitled.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a><img src="webkit-fake-url://FCEBACAF-460F-4A00-B981-3B36720089B4/application.pdf" style="text-indent: 0in;" /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b style="font-size: 11pt; text-indent: 0in;"><br /></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b style="font-size: 11pt; text-indent: 0in;">Tell us about
where you are from and how that place fuels you as a writer.</b></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 45.0pt; tab-stops: 9.0pt 27.0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 20.0pt; margin-left: 45.0pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 9.0pt 27.0pt; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: #131313; font-size: 11pt;">I was
born and raised in pristine southeast Oregon. I left after graduating from
University of Oregon but Oregon never left me. There is a deep-down reservoir
in my soul that holds the sound of lake wind whistling through tall Ponderosas,
sun glancing off of Cascade Range peaks, the semi-arid wind carrying sage and juniper
scent....more creative resources than any writer could ever need.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Growing up in this setting probably
influenced my writing more than anything.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-bottom: 20.0pt; margin-left: 45.0pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 9.0pt 27.0pt; text-autospace: none; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="color: #131313; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"><b>You wrote a book?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Awesome!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>What’s it about?</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 20.0pt; margin-left: 45.0pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 9.0pt 27.0pt; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #131313; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Here’s
brief synopsis:</span><span style="color: #262626; font-family: "Lucida Sans Unicode"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Lucida Sans Unicode";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span><span style="color: #131313; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 45.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; tab-stops: 9.0pt 27.0pt;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Crazy</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"> is a YA novel written in
free verse about fifteen-year-old Laura Wahlberg, who can't imagine life
without sketching or painting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When her
artist mother has a nervous breakdown the same week Laura's teacher pressures
her to enter a prestigious contest, Laura must face her fear that art will send
her over the edge, too.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 45.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; tab-stops: 9.0pt 27.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 45.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; tab-stops: 9.0pt 27.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Driven
by shame and rage, Laura hides her disintegrating home life from everyone,
including her best friend. Neither her older sister nor her father recognizes
her fear of going insane.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Desperately
alone, she considers suicide, faith healing, an unlikely relationship with a
super-jock, and a new artistic endeavor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>When Laura’s mother becomes violent, Laura vows to find the demon that
is driving her crazy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Learning that her
mother was raped at fourteen and discovering her own inner strength, Laura
opens her heart to the mother she never knew.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 45.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; tab-stops: 9.0pt 27.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpLast" style="margin-left: 45.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; tab-stops: 9.0pt 27.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left: 45.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: 9.0pt 27.0pt; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><b>Tell us
a little about the process.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How long did
it take you?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Is this your first book
ever?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What inspired you?</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 45.0pt; tab-stops: 9.0pt 27.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 45.0pt; tab-stops: 9.0pt 27.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">The process of writing <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Crazy</i> has been long and slow, you know
like “we sell no wine before its time.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I was busy teaching school, raising twin boys, and being an active
minister’s wife when my longtime love of poetry started oozing out of my pores.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In my “spare time” I wrote a collection of
poems mostly as a cathartic way of dealing with my mother’s bipolar
disorder.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When a few of them started
getting published in literary journals I considered moving toward a chapbook
collection.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A friend suggested they
needed to be a novel, but it took many years and about five revisions before
that all came together.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 45.0pt; tab-stops: 9.0pt 27.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left: 45.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: 9.0pt 27.0pt; text-indent: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><b>How was
your journey to publication and what was it like when you arrived?</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 45.0pt; tab-stops: 9.0pt 27.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 45.0pt; tab-stops: 9.0pt 27.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Well, I haven’t <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">arrived</i>
yet, so I’ll let you know how it feels when that happens, but I <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">am</i> scheduled for an October 2014 release
of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Crazy.</i> The journey up to this
point in time has been a fascinating ride.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I’ve been in love with writing all my life, so going through this
publishing process is quite a thrill. I was at a Lorin Oberweger Free
Expressions workshop in 2012 when my agent, Julia Kenny, emailed to say I had
just received a third offer to publish Crazy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Needless to say I had a hard time concentrating on the rest of that
workshop.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can safely say that going
through the editing process with my wonderful editor, Kathleen Merz at Eerdmans
has been like taking a crash course in writing skills.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Challenging for sure, but exciting to see the
end results, polished to a sheen I never could have achieved on my own.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 45.0pt; tab-stops: 9.0pt 27.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left: 45.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: 9.0pt 27.0pt; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><b>Advice
for would-be writers just stepping out.</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 45.0pt; tab-stops: 9.0pt 27.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 45.0pt; tab-stops: 9.0pt 27.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Go to as many conferences and workshops as you can afford,
and always try for scholarships when necessary.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I owe a debt of gratitude to SCBWI, the Highlights Foundation, and Lorin
Oberweger at Free Expressions Seminars and Literary Services for all that I
have learned from them over the years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Find a critique group and go regularly, even if you don’t have anything
ready to take.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You can learn a lot just
from critiquing the work of others.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Write from the heart and dig deep.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>You’ll be surprised how many characters and story ideas live just below
the surface of everyday life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 45.0pt; tab-stops: 9.0pt 27.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 45.0pt; tab-stops: 9.0pt 27.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">You can find me:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 45.0pt; tab-stops: 9.0pt 27.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 45.0pt; tab-stops: 9.0pt 27.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 45.0pt; tab-stops: 9.0pt 27.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 45.0pt; tab-stops: 9.0pt 27.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Goodreads: </span><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18136729-crazy">https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18136729-crazy</a></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 45.0pt; tab-stops: 9.0pt 27.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">website and blog:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><a href="http://www.lindavigenphillips.com/">http://www.lindavigenphillips.com</a></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 45.0pt; tab-stops: 9.0pt 27.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">twitter:@LVigenPhillips</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 45.0pt; tab-stops: 9.0pt 27.0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">So You Wanna Be a Children’s Poet article:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><a href="http://www.writing-world.com/poetry/children.shtml">http://www.writing-world.com/poetry/children.shtml</a><span class="MsoHyperlink"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:DocumentProperties>
<o:Revision>0</o:Revision>
<o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime>
<o:Pages>1</o:Pages>
<o:Words>630</o:Words>
<o:Characters>3594</o:Characters>
<o:Company>Author</o:Company>
<o:Lines>29</o:Lines>
<o:Paragraphs>8</o:Paragraphs>
<o:CharactersWithSpaces>4216</o:CharactersWithSpaces>
<o:Version>14.0</o:Version>
</o:DocumentProperties>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>JA</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
<w:UseFELayout/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="276">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<!--EndFragment--></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 45.0pt; tab-stops: 9.0pt 27.0pt;">
<br /></div>
S. L. Duncanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07245941432491789475noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2715252857068946600.post-37236275277298643792014-04-07T00:00:00.000-05:002014-04-07T00:00:02.388-05:00The Author Interview: Helene Dunbar, THESE GENTLE WOUNDS<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL-64VKcqcwd041a_4jsGAr1KsLzsYA-AHM8OKDrtW78hd-9tJWYY7Wzqq_TlDBXcvR2QkR1f3cnSoCZHqd9PQ4fKhYqDCQ6zzy3LFTLyS2l2pruXg00UfAFoNvAN8dXASZ2eRcBHX-Jk/s1600/These+Gentle+Wounds.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL-64VKcqcwd041a_4jsGAr1KsLzsYA-AHM8OKDrtW78hd-9tJWYY7Wzqq_TlDBXcvR2QkR1f3cnSoCZHqd9PQ4fKhYqDCQ6zzy3LFTLyS2l2pruXg00UfAFoNvAN8dXASZ2eRcBHX-Jk/s1600/These+Gentle+Wounds.jpg" height="320" width="206" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
It's time for another round of the aptly titled segment, THE AUTHOR INTERVIEW! In this episode, I'm thrilled to introduce you to fellow OneFourKidLit alumni, Helene Dunbar, author of the brilliantly-titled YA novel, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/These-Gentle-Wounds-Helene-Dunbar/dp/0738740276/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1389045460&sr=8-1&keywords=these+gentle+wounds">THESE GENTLE WOUNDS</a>. Here she is, to tell us a little about herself, her process, and her amazing new book.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyh2BhQwhc6mkc_l2JcUp3awkFIcDVhP18e0ELfFf2IvTVis0shj9rZgy7Jnsi1eDVZFU10VoGon-Yetg1VpGuJUdsfsmcPFhGdPIymDGp7LADPTjwhX-WsQOFmS_cG6HArwpglYEhLtU/s1600/helene1_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyh2BhQwhc6mkc_l2JcUp3awkFIcDVhP18e0ELfFf2IvTVis0shj9rZgy7Jnsi1eDVZFU10VoGon-Yetg1VpGuJUdsfsmcPFhGdPIymDGp7LADPTjwhX-WsQOFmS_cG6HArwpglYEhLtU/s1600/helene1_.jpg" height="256" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<b>Tell me a little about yourself for bio purposes. Also, if you like, tell us a little about where your from and how that place fuels you as a writer. (Basically, what's the local writing culture like?)<br /><br /><o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
I’ve always written, but mostly journalistic pieces like music features or encyclopedia entries or marketing documents.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
I live in Nashville which is filled with writers, musicians, and other creative sorts, but I have to say that, even though I don’t live there anymore, it is still New York City that fuels me as a writer. I lived there for most of 15 years and it’s just inside me somehow.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<b><br />1. You wrote a book? Awesome! What's it about and when can we read it?<br /><br /><o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
I did! And thanks! These Gentle Wounds is out May 8<sup>th</sup> and is about a boy with PTSD who has to dig deep within himself to save those he loves.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<b><br />2. Tell us a little about the process. How long did it take? Is this your first book ever? What inspired you?<br /><br /><o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
This is the fourth manuscript I completed. The third is my 2015 Flux release, currently titled Crash. I was inspired by some of the tragic cases I wrote about for an education series on popular court cases. And curiosity. Always curiosity.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<b><br />3. How was your journey to publication, and what was it like when you arrived?<br /><br /><o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
The journey felt WAY longer than it was. I signed with my first agent after querying Crash for a couple of months. We submitted that for a while and then, TGW won a couple of awards and we sent that out and Flux bought both of them. That was just over a year. Flux had a spot in their Spring 2014 list open, so it will be just over a year from signing to publishing.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
It’s been amazing. Really, the best is the support of other writers. This is a wonderful community.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<b><br />4. Any advice for would-be writers just stepping out?<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
READ. Seriously, I can’t tell you the number of books I’ve studied to try to figure out WHY they work. And I don’t mean on a commercial level, but on an emotional one.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
Also, be nice. This isn’t a race where someone wins and someone loses.<b><br /><br />5. Finally, where can we find you? (goodreads, amazon link, website, blog)</b><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<o:p><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18187029-these-gentle-wounds">GOODREADS</a></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/These-Gentle-Wounds-Helene-Dunbar/dp/0738740276/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1389045460&sr=8-1&keywords=these+gentle+wounds">AMAZON</a><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<a href="http://www.helene.dunbar.com/" style="color: #954f72;">www.helene.dunbar.com</a></div>
S. L. Duncanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07245941432491789475noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2715252857068946600.post-15550960498799746352014-03-17T11:25:00.000-05:002014-03-17T11:25:00.197-05:00The Author Interview: Skila Brown, CAMINAR<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhid7re1Vv8ZkLfebjMtBD9uQc-EUPjqVLVTdWngE69_UZwSk5Zy0oO7R9UuPoIs27ywev0eSpBMsguIDzcj9IiUBvFRyUznmLE8aEq2JDqHYPIrdLuVx2LCOcviGnOWF-aDWII6CjOqHQ/s1600/Caminar+hi-res.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhid7re1Vv8ZkLfebjMtBD9uQc-EUPjqVLVTdWngE69_UZwSk5Zy0oO7R9UuPoIs27ywev0eSpBMsguIDzcj9IiUBvFRyUznmLE8aEq2JDqHYPIrdLuVx2LCOcviGnOWF-aDWII6CjOqHQ/s1600/Caminar+hi-res.jpg" height="320" width="211" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />
It's time for another round of the aptly titled segment, THE AUTHOR INTERVIEW! In this episode, I'm thrilled to introduce you to fellow OneFourKidLit alumni, Skila Brown, author of the poetic YA novel, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Caminar-Skila-Brown/dp/0763665169/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1390842973&sr=1-1&keywords=skila+brown">CAMINAR</a>, releasing March 25th. Here she is, to tell us a little about herself, her process, and her amazing new book.<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
<b><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.5pt; line-height: 21px; padding: 0in;">You wrote a book? Awesome! What's it about?</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18px;">From the jacket:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18px;">Carlos knows that when the soldiers arrive with warnings about the Communist rebels, it is time to be a man and defend the village, keep everyone safe. But Mama tells him not yet—he’s still her quiet moonfaced boy. The soldiers laugh at the villagers, and before they move on, a neighbor is found dangling from a tree, a sign on his neck: Communist.<br /><br />Mama tells Carlos to run and hide, then try to find her. . . . Numb and alone, he must join a band of guerillas as they trek to the top of the mountain where Carlos’s abuela lives. Will he be in time, and brave enough, to warn them about the soldiers? What will he do then? A novel in verse inspired by actual events during Guatemala’s civil war, Caminar is the moving story of a boy who loses nearly everything before discovering who he really is.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
<b><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.5pt; line-height: 21px; padding: 0in;"><br />Tell us a little about the process. How long did it take? Is this your first book ever? What inspired you?</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
<span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18px; padding: 0in;">I was inspired to write this book after many trips to Guatemala and much reading about its history, specifically the conflict that occurred there just a few decades ago. What happened there was tragic, and I was upset that it was something I’d known nothing about. So I guess I wanted to make sure more people knew about what happened. And books are a great way to do that.<br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
<span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18px; padding: 0in;">It took about a year to write <i>Caminar</i>. I worked on it while I was getting my MFA and it became my creative thesis. Though it’s not the first novel I’d started, it was the first one I’d <i>finished</i>. And by finished, I don’t just mean drafted, but I mean <i>actually finished</i> – revised all the way until I could tell it was Done.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
<b><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.5pt; line-height: 21px; padding: 0in;"><br />How was your journey to publication, and what was it like when you arrived?</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
<span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18px; padding: 0in;">I think I had a typical journey beginning, which is to say I wrote a bunch of garbage, sent it out, crossed my fingers, and was generally perplexed that it wasn’t all snatched up. Then I got serious about writing. I joined SCBWI, found a critique group, and then went back to school to get an MFA degree. Which is where I realized I needed to stop submitting and pay more attention to my writing.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
<span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18px; padding: 0in;">Getting that degree not only made me a better writer, but it also opened doors. Candlewick awarded me a scholarship while I was working on my MFA for a picture book I had written called <i>Slickety Quick</i> (which Candlewick will publish in 2016 – yay!) When I mentioned I also had a novel, they asked to see that too. And now, here I am.</span><b><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.5pt; line-height: 21px; padding: 0in;"><br /><br />Any advice for would-be writers just stepping out?</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18px; padding: 0in;">Read, read, read. Write, write, write. Find a good critique group. Repeat. </span><b><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.5pt; line-height: 21px; padding: 0in;"><br /><br />Finally, where can we find you? (goodreads, amazon link, website, blog)</span></b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14.5pt; line-height: 21px;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18px;">You can find me at </span><a href="http://www.skilabrown.com/"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18px;">www.skilabrown.com</span></a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18px;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18px;">And you can order a copy of <i>Caminar</i> here:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Caminar-Skila-Brown/dp/0763665169/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1375022526&sr=8-1&keywords=skila+brown">http://www.amazon.com/Caminar-Skila-Brown/dp/0763665169/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1375022526&sr=8-1&keywords=skila+brown</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/caminar-skila-brown/1115960950?ean=9780763665166">http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/caminar-skila-brown/1115960950?ean=9780763665166</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<a href="http://www.indiebound.org/book/9780763665166">http://www.indiebound.org/book/9780763665166</a><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; padding: 0in;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
<span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 14px; padding: 0in;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18px;">Thanks for having me on your blog, Stephen!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Skila Brown holds an MFA from Vermont College of Fine Arts. She grew up in Kentucky and Tennessee, lived in Guatemala for a bit, and now resides in Indiana with her husband and sons. </span></div>
S. L. Duncanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07245941432491789475noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2715252857068946600.post-40201722702932829032014-02-03T00:00:00.000-06:002014-02-07T07:14:42.843-06:00The Author Interview: Christina Farley, GILDED<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp-nsF8rBdRZlnri087r7ghkpqJj5h4LxpeE6oPT9MheRV-4lWueDrrg84t0tOIaMLu48BG2d1H3SgZ8rjYa_oBUf8-1_8EYY-HuxUHCs4Hh2AvI2yf-QejcG-6qqFToHjkgU-Mgfyug8/s1600/Gilded_final+cvr+comp_12-11-13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp-nsF8rBdRZlnri087r7ghkpqJj5h4LxpeE6oPT9MheRV-4lWueDrrg84t0tOIaMLu48BG2d1H3SgZ8rjYa_oBUf8-1_8EYY-HuxUHCs4Hh2AvI2yf-QejcG-6qqFToHjkgU-Mgfyug8/s1600/Gilded_final+cvr+comp_12-11-13.jpg" height="320" width="211" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
It's time for another round of the aptly titled segment, THE AUTHOR INTERVIEW! In this episode, I'm thrilled to introduce you to fellow OneFourKidLit alumni, Christina Farley, author of the Korea- influenced YA novel, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Gilded-Christina-Farley/dp/1477847014/ref=sr_1_1_title_0_main?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1388519063&sr=1-1&keywords=gilded+by+christina+farley">GILDED</a>. Here she is, to tell us a little about herself, her process, and her amazing new book.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrvIwW-AscflE9I6FIRiiJgjO41uhrM-pWOmFhJ093foakBW-QET4bhbGdy_-etAfmVSRpGdDO1dzqshhyKI8e4jqVcMtV0_nAB2kgvrXdhMs-166qh5zQFSIGWf19BFlcBTS_ik8jeWY/s1600/FARLEY-1011+copy-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrvIwW-AscflE9I6FIRiiJgjO41uhrM-pWOmFhJ093foakBW-QET4bhbGdy_-etAfmVSRpGdDO1dzqshhyKI8e4jqVcMtV0_nAB2kgvrXdhMs-166qh5zQFSIGWf19BFlcBTS_ik8jeWY/s1600/FARLEY-1011+copy-2.jpg" height="320" width="222" /></a></div>
<div>
<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Tell me a little about yourself for bio purposes.</b>I’m a teacher and while I lived in Korea for eight years, I started writing. While I was teaching my students Greek mythology and comparing it to Korean, I read the myth of Haemosu and Princess Yuhwa. GILDED was born!</span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 12px;"></span><br />
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<b><br /><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">1. You wrote a book? Awesome! What's it about?</span></b></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 12px;"></span><br />
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">A Korean god, a curse, and a girl with an attitude and bow who must change it all.</span><b><br /><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;"><br />2. Tell us a little about the process. How long did it take? It this your first book ever? What inspired you?</span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">I started writing GILDED during NaNo </span><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">2009 and finished it at the end of 2010.</span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 12px;"></span><br />
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">Here is a video I made that explains what inspired GILDED:</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/nL2Sn26fqrU?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<b><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<b><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">3. How was your journey to publication, and what was it like when you arrived?</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">My journey was mainly about sticking with it. GILDED was the second YA novel I wrote. Before that I had written two MG’s. But GILDED was my favorite and I decided I should do something with that novel other than let it sit on my computer.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">GILDED had my favorite coffee shops and places I loved to visit in Korea, so it was special because of that. The biggest issue for me was when my family moved back to the States, it took nearly a year just to adjust to the change and my new job.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">It was at an SCBWI conference that I got inspired to seek out representation for GILDED. I queried a bunch of agents, got 3 offers and ended up signing with Jeff Ourvan of the Jennifer Lyons Literary. He’s amazing and really believed in the project.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">We sold GILDED five months later to Marshall Cavendish. The biggest issue though came after the book sold. Marshall Cavendish was bought out by Amazon and became what we now know as Skyscape. So because of that there were some changes and restructuring. My book was delayed from November 2013 to March 2014.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">The reality is I wouldn’t change a thing. I have the best editor for my book that loves GILDED and believes in Jae Hwa’s story. I really don’t know how I got to be so lucky.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<b><br /><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">4. Any advice for would-be writers just stepping out?</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">The writer’s life isn’t easy and it doesn’t get easier. But if you love it, then write. And if a book doesn’t sell, write another. The key in this whole crazy writing world is to focus on your love for writing. That should be your dream.</span><b><br /><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;"><br />5. Finally, where can we find you? (goodreads, amazon link, website, blog)</span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Palatino Linotype;">Online Presence</span></span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Palatino Linotype;"><span style="color: black;"><b><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Buy the book at <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Gilded-Christina-Farley/dp/1477847014/ref=sr_1_1_title_0_main?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1388519063&sr=1-1&keywords=gilded+by+christina+farley">Amazon</a>!</span></b><span style="font-size: 11pt;"></span></span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Palatino Linotype;"><span style="color: black;"><b><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Website</span></b><span style="font-size: 11pt;">: <a href="http://christinafarley.com/">ChristinaFarley.com</a></span></span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Palatino Linotype;"><span style="color: black;"><b><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Twitter</span></b><span style="font-size: 11pt;">: @ChristinaFarley</span></span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Palatino Linotype;"><span style="color: black;"><b><span style="font-size: 11pt;">YouTube</span></b><span style="font-size: 11pt;">: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/chocolateinspired">www.youtube.com/chocolateinspired</a></span></span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Palatino Linotype;"><span style="color: black;"><b><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Facebook</span></b><span style="font-size: 11pt;">: <a href="http://www.facebook.com/ChristinaFarleyAuthor">www.facebook.com/ChristinaFarleyAuthor</a></span></span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><b>Goodreads</b>: <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16173250-gilded">www.goodreads.com/book/show/16173250-gilded</a></span></span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Times New Roman;"></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Times New Roman;"></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Times New Roman;"></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Times New Roman;"></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Times New Roman;"></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Times New Roman;"></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Times New Roman;"></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Times New Roman;"></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Times New Roman;"></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Times New Roman;"></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Times New Roman;"></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Times New Roman;"></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Times New Roman;"></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Times New Roman;"></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Times New Roman;"></span><br clear="all" /></div>
</div>
</div>
S. L. Duncanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07245941432491789475noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2715252857068946600.post-53469591113984814962014-01-30T11:48:00.001-06:002014-01-30T11:54:26.215-06:00It's live at YABooksCentral!! Cover Reveal: The Revelation of Gabriel Adam by S. L. Duncan Giveaway (US/Canada) - The Official YABC BlogSwing by YABooksCentral, check it out, and enter to win!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr8Ryq5g4woyxvqKnMHg6Qz0TsLqNNau-Nc8WEd-0Uisxf2PHI7JJnHAzjJ9EKUaL1PS55NxNmVI4oDTOaQfodrK0AghYtEgw3bz6gDqWjnfEgbKcT5739Z7XskTFIyLVQFk5455mRo4U/s1600/2e1ax_plain_entry_gabanner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr8Ryq5g4woyxvqKnMHg6Qz0TsLqNNau-Nc8WEd-0Uisxf2PHI7JJnHAzjJ9EKUaL1PS55NxNmVI4oDTOaQfodrK0AghYtEgw3bz6gDqWjnfEgbKcT5739Z7XskTFIyLVQFk5455mRo4U/s1600/2e1ax_plain_entry_gabanner.jpg" height="185" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.yabookscentral.com/blog/it-s-live-cover-reveal-the-revelation-of-gabriel-adam-by-s-l-duncan-giveaway-us-canada#.UuqQSvsI5dg.blogger">It's live!! Cover Reveal: The Revelation of Gabriel Adam by S. L. Duncan Giveaway (US/Canada) - The Official YABC Blog</a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
(Image courtesy of YABooksCentral.)S. L. Duncanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07245941432491789475noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2715252857068946600.post-26790494225859068852014-01-27T10:54:00.001-06:002014-01-27T10:54:17.985-06:00The Author Interview: Christine Kohler, NO SURRENDER SOLDIER<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg23K6jB9npPt5LrJ88JNWvQYzgoYuyh8XFGHKyBpCxKkbXQ6bKL7FFEjZcojoLCTHYluwPptTtW1tUm_nPwWbwN9hwd4UV1D-_8wGZNecyl-HhmzjNtKSsfAAt1CFhoB17zPjPaSt3HPM/s1600/NSS+cover+jpg330pixels.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg23K6jB9npPt5LrJ88JNWvQYzgoYuyh8XFGHKyBpCxKkbXQ6bKL7FFEjZcojoLCTHYluwPptTtW1tUm_nPwWbwN9hwd4UV1D-_8wGZNecyl-HhmzjNtKSsfAAt1CFhoB17zPjPaSt3HPM/s1600/NSS+cover+jpg330pixels.jpg" height="320" width="208" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
It's time for another round of the aptly titled segment, THE AUTHOR INTERVIEW! In this episode, I'm thrilled to introduce you to fellow OneFourKidLit alumni, Christine Kohler, author of the YA novel, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/No-Surrender-Soldier-Christine-Kohler-ebook/dp/B00GVHS6B6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1390841007&sr=8-1&keywords=no+surrender+soldier">NO SURRENDER SOLDIER</a>. Here she is, to tell us a little about herself, her process, and her exciting new book.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzkbxRJ9rP3Xbirw3OkzRYHMgxfYAoioE9d1G7cF5SXxh5ySsYAA_rvhGARbx0qtCULXCDm0iSMGoo9jsOjE8Y9dB3sibN4HWrwqtpPZq_obpIJEMfXeYPfphdk9t58LgM-cxneD1DJvs/s1600/CKpublicity_e+crop330+pix.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzkbxRJ9rP3Xbirw3OkzRYHMgxfYAoioE9d1G7cF5SXxh5ySsYAA_rvhGARbx0qtCULXCDm0iSMGoo9jsOjE8Y9dB3sibN4HWrwqtpPZq_obpIJEMfXeYPfphdk9t58LgM-cxneD1DJvs/s1600/CKpublicity_e+crop330+pix.jpg" height="320" width="276" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-line-height-alt: 9.15pt;">
<b><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; padding: 0in;">Tell me a little about yourself
for bio purposes. Also, if you like, tell us a little about where you're from and
how that place fuels you as a writer. (Basically, what's the local writing
culture like?)<br />
<br />
</span></b><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; padding: 0in;">I’ve worked as a journalist and a teacher. I lived a
decade on Asian-Pacific islands, Hawaii, Japan and Guam, which is where my
novel is set. I worked as a political reporter and foreign correspondent for
Gannett. About six years ago I moved from San Antonio, Texas, to a Victorian
house in a tiny rural town in West Texas. In the town there are no bookstores
or theaters. There is an operational Carnegie Library. My town is within 40-50
minutes of three larger small towns, all which have universities. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-line-height-alt: 9.15pt;">
<span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; padding: 0in;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; padding: 0in;">1. You wrote a book? Awesome! What's it about and when can we read
it? <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; padding: 0in;">NO SURRENDER SOLDIER, Merit Press (Adams
Media/F+W Media) is out now! The official release date is January 18, 2014. The
Carnegie Library is having a launch party for me that day and I’m going to talk
about the research behind the book. NO SURRENDER SOLDIER takes place on Guam in
1972 during the Vietnam war. Kiko, a 15-year-old Chamorro boy, finds out his
mother was raped by a Japanese soldier during WWII. What Kiko doesn’t know is
that a WWII Japanese soldier has been hiding in the jungle behind Kiko’s house.
It’s based on a true historical event. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b><br />
<br />
2. Tell us a little about the process. How long did it take? It this your first
book ever? What inspired you?<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; padding: 0in;">NO SURRENDER SOLDIER is my 17<sup>th</sup>
book, but my first novel published.<b> </b>It<b> </b>wasn’t until after I’d
moved back to the U.S. mainland that I couldn’t get the WWII stories from the
Pacific Theatre out of my head. I began doing more research. I research until
I’m saturated. I call it “filling the well.” Then I write and write and write
until the well is empty, then I fill it up again with more research, then write
again. I can’t remember how long it took for this first draft, especially since
it is historical. But usually I hack out a first draft of a novel in about six
weeks, especially if family life isn’t extra demanding at that time. But
revision takes me longer. For me revision is like chiseling granite. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
<br />
3. How was your journey to publication, and what was it like when you arrived?<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; padding: 0in;">My road to novel publication was as
winding as the road to Hana. Here’s the long version: </span><a href="http://www.christinekohlerbooks.com/blog.htm?post=921793"><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; padding: 0in;">http://www.christinekohlerbooks.com/blog.htm?post=921793</span></a><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; padding: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; padding: 0in;">Even though my YA historical novel is
out now, I’ve still got “miles to go before I sleep,” as Robert Frost said. Today
novelists are expected to do a lot of their own marketing. And I’ll be
presenting at a number of librarian and teacher conferences this year, plus
book festivals. I don’t know if a writer ever feels she’s arrived. I feel more
like I’m just beginning on another journey.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b><br />
<br />
4. Any advice for would-be writers just stepping out?<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; padding: 0in;">Oh, lots of advice! One, figure out how
you can make writing a lifestyle. Two, study craft. Three, don’t write to
please others. Four, revise deeply and often. Five, persevere. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; padding: 0in;"><br />
5. Finally, where can we find you? (goodreads, amazon link, website, blog)</span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://www.christinekohlerbooks.com/index.htm">WEBSITE</a></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/ChristineKohlerbooks"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">FACEBOOK</span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/show/76455-no-surrender-soldier"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">GOODREADS</span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">[Note: My publisher is doing a Goodreads give-away this month for
25 signed hardback copies of NO SURRENDER SOLDIER.]<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Class of 2k14: Fiction Addiction </span><a href="http://classof2k14.com/our-books/"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">http://classof2k14.com/our-books/</span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://onefourkidlit.wordpress.com/2014-debut-ya-authors/"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">OneFourKidLit</span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://www.uncommonya.com/"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">UNCOMMON YA</span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://www.teachingbooks.net/tb.cgi?go=1&searchbox_level=0.36&keyword_type1=title&boolean=AND&keywords1=no+surrender+soldier"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">TEACHINGBOOKS.net</span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">[Note: Discussion & Activity sheets available at
Teachingbooks.net & Sharemylesson. However, if teachers want the quiz,
test, and 3 keys they can e-mail </span><a href="mailto:ckohler@christinekohlerbooks.com"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">ckohler@christinekohlerbooks.com</span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> and
request.]<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:DocumentProperties>
<o:Revision>0</o:Revision>
<o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime>
<o:Pages>1</o:Pages>
<o:Words>684</o:Words>
<o:Characters>3904</o:Characters>
<o:Company>Author</o:Company>
<o:Lines>32</o:Lines>
<o:Paragraphs>9</o:Paragraphs>
<o:CharactersWithSpaces>4579</o:CharactersWithSpaces>
<o:Version>14.0</o:Version>
</o:DocumentProperties>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>JA</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="276">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin-top:0in;
mso-para-margin-right:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt;
mso-para-margin-left:0in;
line-height:115%;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<!--EndFragment--><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
S. L. Duncanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07245941432491789475noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2715252857068946600.post-62222773220793126322013-10-02T11:41:00.001-05:002013-10-02T11:41:54.551-05:00A word about Tom ClancyToday I, and the world, lost a treasure. Tom Clancy has passed.<br />
<br />
Most writers can look back and find that moment where they absolutely fell in love with books. I'm no different. Born in the late Seventies, my childhood was a never-ending battleground for my attention. Atari was this new thing, and I spent hours playing Pitfall and Pac Man. Cable television appeared with like, eighteen channels. Then Nintendo. Even with that at home, we'd spend days at arcades, playing the big machines, wasting god knows how much money on tokens. And the movies - Star Wars, Indiana Jones, E.T. They stayed in the theaters forever and we'd see them over and over and over again. Of course, there was playing in the woods with my friends, reenacting the adventures we'd seen on screen. There just wasn't enough time in a day.<br />
<br />
To be honest, I wasn't a reader. Having summer reading forced on me every time school was let out probably associated the experience to schoolwork. And I hated schoolwork. So unless it was a comic book, I just didn't bother.<br />
<br />
At some point in my childhood I developed a love of all things WWII. My grandfather, Lyman Cleveland Duncan had been a B17 pilot, flying out of Foggia, Italy. I remember him staying with us during the holidays - Christmas, I believe. He was just finishing <i>The Hunt for Red October </i>by Tom Clancy. At this point, my grandfather was pretty much the most interesting person I knew and while he didn't like to talk about The War often, when he did let loose a story, I was transfixed. So when he finished the book, he suggested I should read it.<br />
<br />
The book opened my world in a way I did not expect, and afterwards I was officially a reader.<br />
<br />
I read other things from Clancy - <i>Red Storm Rising, Clear and Present Danger - </i>but I was reading other authors as well. It's a strange thing having such a technical, detailed writer be the author responsible for making me fall in love with books.<br />
<br />
So when I learned of Clancy's passing today, I couldn't help but reflect on the debt I owe him. No words do justice for the gratitude I feel for what <i>The Hunt for Red October</i> did for me, so I guess the best I can say is Thanks, Tom.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />S. L. Duncanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07245941432491789475noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2715252857068946600.post-60342284877053539512013-08-27T14:01:00.001-05:002013-08-27T15:22:15.078-05:00Alabama Phoenix Festival 2013I had the pleasure of speaking at the Alabama Phoenix Festival this year, and for whatever reason, I never followed up with what an amazing experience it was participating alongside so many unbelievably talented and creative people. So, instead enduring the inadequacy of me trying to capture The Awesome that was that weekend, why don't you just watch the following video instead?<br />
<br />
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/9n466CuMZ7Y?list=UUvTY33-n2gD0vbmkIemH4YQ" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
<br />
<br />
<br />
Credit: https://www.youtube.com/user/InfectiousDesigner S. L. Duncanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07245941432491789475noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2715252857068946600.post-2299745691945108412013-08-26T10:36:00.001-05:002013-09-16T15:02:44.863-05:00Unblocked at the Ollie IreneI did this thing on Friday. Something I've never done as a writer. I took a pen and legal pad into a nice restaurant, sat alone at the bar, and made notes about a book I'm writing. I must have looked like a food critique, jotting little nitpicks about the consistency of the course-ground Dijon mustard.<br />
<br />
How embarrassing. <br />
<br />
Look, writing in public isn't really for me. Unless it's a coffee shop. For whatever reason, be it the smell of ground beans, the whir of the thing that does whatever that makes the slurping noise and the steaming of the milk, which results in my Big Girly Coffee - it all sort of fits together into this haven for writing creativity.<br />
<br />
But something happened Friday. I had been blocked on this scene in my sequel. A frustrating, evil mix of plot, device, and character that I just couldn't fit together to carry the story forward, and all I wanted to do was escape. Little editorial fixes for another book were calling out my name, begging me to hop manuscripts. Basically, writing had become hard.<br />
<br />
And then, a revelation.<br />
<br />
When writer's block breaks, you can grab any number of cliched descriptions to explain what happens in your head. Flood gates, geyser, volcano...blah, blah, blah. Basically, you have lot of new ideas all at the same time.<br />
<br />
That release causes a bit of a panic and you think if you can't grab all those ideas bouncing around your head that somehow, they'll bounce right out of your ear or something. The trick is writing down as much as you can, and hope for the best.<br />
<br />
So there I was, me in a restaurant, sitting at a bar alone, scribbling in a notebook. A bit sad, really. Though, the wait staff seemed to really be on their A Game, if not a bit nervous about my opinion of the Boudin. <br />
<br />
Figure I got, like, seventy-five percent of those ideas before they either bounced out of my ear, or were drowned in Old Fashions. <br />
<br />S. L. Duncanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07245941432491789475noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2715252857068946600.post-72256210789120680222013-08-24T00:00:00.000-05:002013-08-24T09:35:07.488-05:00Great ExpectationsSo, unless you've recently chosen some Unibomber lifestyle, or you're camped out in some hole in the earth a la Saddam Hussein, you've probably figured out that the next actor to don the ole cape and cowl is going to be none other than Ben Affleck.<br />
<br />
And, no doubt, being aware of such news you've probably had a somewhat visceral reaction to it.<br />
<br />
Admittedly, I had a sort of WTF moment. But then, I did the same when Heath Ledger was given the role of The Joker. #spoonfedmyshorts<br />
<br />
With regards to The Dark Knight, I'm no purist. Frankly, I don't read the comics. The only real exposure I've had to the character has been through the movies, beginning with Tim Burton's play. But even still, the announcement took me by surprise.<br />
<br />
I think it did so because the Christopher Nolan trilogy is so recent. My enjoyment of that series probably prejudices my reaction to the <i>Batman vs. Superman</i> news. As did my love of Ben Affleck's movies. He's a brilliant actor, but I just can't see it. Then again, I wasn't exposed to the audition reading, and anyway, what the hell do I know about the movies? Without a doubt, the choice is interesting. Can't wait to see how it pans out.<br />
<br />
All this reaction, by the way, was observed by me, an author who is currently writing a sequel to my debut book, coming out in one year's time. Not that Gabriel Adam will grab the hearts and loyalty of fans in the same way as Batman, but the fact is, there will be those who read the first book, like it, and then expect as good or better of a reading experience in its sequel.<br />
<br />
Currently, that notion is freaking me the F out.<br />
<br />
So. Expectations. This is a tough one. Setting a standard can be a lot to live up to. How is one to overcome it? Difficult to say. My current plan is to outrun the reviews. Basically, to have the book finished before any reviews chime in. The peanut gallery can be horrible under the veil of the anonymity of the internet and I don't want the discontent, however much, to influence the narrative that's working its way out of my head. I'm hearing the same from much of my OneFourKidLit author pals.<br />
<br />
Anyone got a tip or two as to how to overcome the Sophomore slump? Writing that Sequel Equal? Any sequel out there that did it better than the the original? Any ones that were worse?S. L. Duncanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07245941432491789475noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2715252857068946600.post-60723664272362829942013-08-22T15:33:00.003-05:002013-08-22T15:33:56.537-05:00Operation One YearThis August marked the one year countdown to the launch of my debut book, <i>The Revelation of Gabriel Adam</i>. It's a weird place to be, this so-close-yet-so-far-away publishing limbo, and to be honest, being consumed by writing the sequel and editing my middle grade WWII story for another round of submissions for my agent, I hadn't much thought about the upcoming release. That is, until my editor sent me the jacket copy for approval. (It's the description of what the book is about.)<br />
<br />
As it turns out, a year isn't very much time at all. There will be cover approvals, copy edits, advance reading copies, final pages consuming the days from now until then. The deadline list goes on and on. And after it all, in one year's time, my book hits the shelf.<br />
<br />
What that means is that here, at INK ROCK, I'll be posting a lot more. I want to include you on the process, tell you about cool lit places and the characters that inhabit them. In addition, I'll toss in some interviews with some authors you really need to know.<br />
<br />
So stay tuned!<br />
<br />
<br />S. L. Duncanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07245941432491789475noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2715252857068946600.post-67147919833734815172013-08-16T04:22:00.000-05:002013-08-16T04:22:28.182-05:00On LUCK<span style="font-family: Georgia, Utopia, Palatino Linotype, Palatino, serif;"><span style="line-height: 22px;">A Repost from the Archive at <a href="http://www.fromthewriteangle.com/2013/02/on-luck.html">FROMTHEWRITEANGLE:</a></span></span><br />
<i style="background-color: #fef9fd; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;">On LUCK</i><br />
<i style="background-color: #fef9fd; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;">by S. L. Duncan</i><br style="background-color: #fef9fd; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;" /><br style="background-color: #fef9fd; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;" /><span style="background-color: #fef9fd; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;">If you’re reading this, you’ve probably read enough articles about the publishing industry to teach a writing studies course at your local community college. And no doubt, you’ve probably read somewhere that a big part of making it, of getting published, falls into the hands of pure, dumb luck.</span><br style="background-color: #fef9fd; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;" /><br style="background-color: #fef9fd; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;" /><span style="background-color: #fef9fd; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;">This is not one of those articles.</span><br style="background-color: #fef9fd; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;" /><br style="background-color: #fef9fd; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;" /><span style="background-color: #fef9fd; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;">Look. There are a hundred different ingredients in the recipe of becoming a good writer, and luck is absolutely one of them. With enough time and hard work, you’re going to pull something out of the oven one day that ain't half bad. If the stars align, maybe the world will get a taste.</span><br style="background-color: #fef9fd; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;" /><br style="background-color: #fef9fd; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;" /><span style="background-color: #fef9fd; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;">So be patient. In the meantime, stop and take stock of just how lucky you already are at this moment.</span><br style="background-color: #fef9fd; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;" /><br style="background-color: #fef9fd; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;" /><span style="background-color: #fef9fd; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;">I’ve suffered through a few identity crises. Probably having one right now. I think most authors do. Hell, I think most humans do. Nobody’s ever been born knowing what they’re going to be passionate about in life. No doctor ever popped a kid out of his mother, spanked him and announced, “He’ll make a fine plumber.” A lot of folks stumble through their years, bouncing off of failed efforts and lost interests, seeking something that sparks them to wake up to their own lives. It’s one of the biggest obstacles of growing up: discovering yourself through your passions. And who the hell knows what they're passionate about until they've tried it? How many would-be Speilbergs never held a camera? How many would-be Ronoldos never kicked a football?</span><br style="background-color: #fef9fd; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;" /><br style="background-color: #fef9fd; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;" /><span style="background-color: #fef9fd; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;">It happens though - people luck into something they love. They discover a talent they want to grow and nurture. They figure out a small part of who they are in the world, and let me tell you, that is nothing short of </span><i style="background-color: #fef9fd; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;">extraordinary</i><span style="background-color: #fef9fd; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;">. But if you look hard enough you can spot them, these lucky souls. That actor that lets the role consume her. That artist that expands the notion of creativity. The teacher that opens up the universe to young minds. The janitor that beams with pride at the shine on the linoleum.</span><br style="background-color: #fef9fd; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;" /><br style="background-color: #fef9fd; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;" /><span style="background-color: #fef9fd; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;">And then there’s you. </span><br style="background-color: #fef9fd; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;" /><br style="background-color: #fef9fd; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;" /><span style="background-color: #fef9fd; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;">You found a pen and paper and spilled a few words onto a page and in doing so, you found joy. How </span><i style="background-color: #fef9fd; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;">lucky</i><span style="background-color: #fef9fd; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;"> is </span><i style="background-color: #fef9fd; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;">that</i><span style="background-color: #fef9fd; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;">? How </span><i style="background-color: #fef9fd; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;">lucky </i><span style="background-color: #fef9fd; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;">is it that you’ve found something you </span><i style="background-color: #fef9fd; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;">love</i><span style="background-color: #fef9fd; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;">? Maybe you can make a career out of it and maybe you can’t. Who cares, though? You’ve found this and it’s yours.</span><br style="background-color: #fef9fd; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;" /><br style="background-color: #fef9fd; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;" /><span style="background-color: #fef9fd; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;">With all the distractions and pressures of life, it’s easy to linger in your day-to-day existence, consumed by work, by reality television, by whatever, carrying on just to satisfy that power bill. But even if that still sounds like your life, you’ve got your writing. It’s that little corner of light in your life that you can run to and just let loose your passion and somehow, everything else becomes clearer. </span><i style="background-color: #fef9fd; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;">You</i><span style="background-color: #fef9fd; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;"> become clearer.</span><br style="background-color: #fef9fd; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;" /><br style="background-color: #fef9fd; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;" /><span style="background-color: #fef9fd; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;">If only everyone were fortunate enough to find their passion. </span><br style="background-color: #fef9fd; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;" /><br style="background-color: #fef9fd; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;" /><span style="background-color: #fef9fd; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;">Lucky you.</span><br style="background-color: #fef9fd; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;" /><br style="background-color: #fef9fd; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;" /><i style="background-color: #fef9fd; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;">S. L. Duncan writes young adult fiction, including his debut, the first book in </i><span style="background-color: #fef9fd; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;">The Revelation Saga</span><i style="background-color: #fef9fd; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;">, due in 2014 from Medallion Press. You can find him blogging on<a href="http://www.inkrock.com/" style="color: #5826a5; text-decoration: none;">INKROCK.com</a> and on <a href="https://twitter.com/#%21/stephenlduncan" style="color: #5826a5; text-decoration: none;">Twitter</a>.</i>S. L. Duncanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07245941432491789475noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2715252857068946600.post-30673803117402265002013-04-24T08:00:00.001-05:002013-04-24T08:00:21.821-05:00Author Interview! Shandy Lawson THE LOOP<i>If you don't know who <a href="http://www.shandylawson.com/home.cfm">Shandy Lawson</a> is, you soon will. </i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgUNp9FaSEoBqaNyLiRinNcx7dgCv-Gk0_MF08kTs4V2XMbPt3wzGN2sVKkG8E8ifCadrTT0k1XWim8USfZC-3hU9O3PJ9-g6UwOsJza9adPw4RZ2RE6YwQx4El5Rm2tjws1T_DTfbKUM/s1600/5815419.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgUNp9FaSEoBqaNyLiRinNcx7dgCv-Gk0_MF08kTs4V2XMbPt3wzGN2sVKkG8E8ifCadrTT0k1XWim8USfZC-3hU9O3PJ9-g6UwOsJza9adPw4RZ2RE6YwQx4El5Rm2tjws1T_DTfbKUM/s1600/5815419.jpg" /></a></div>
<i><br /></i>
<i><br /></i>
<i>A singer songwriter based in New York City, Shandy is the author of the fantastic new young adult novel, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Loop-Shandy-Lawson/dp/1423160894">THE LOOP</a>, coming this Tuesday, April 30th, 2013 from Disney Hyperion. I've read his stuff, and y'all, you need to check him out. I've asked him here to give us a little interview and to fill us in on his upcoming release. Ladies and Gentlemen, Shandy Lawson.</i><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ0y9g5SNYm-oEQyFrrc738jWOzDv5INgePuV5wFMQ8vdRY3obAyMq2xQHk_RMVOu9dgJgbPZqSsiMvrOp8GLH6cu2QnDyIXZsurro_hxf0jbku0XhFUtKT3OA4DifkJ9LBkeyVtuCISg/s320/Loop-Cover_final-300.jpg" width="216" /></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica;">###</span><br style="font-family: Helvetica;" /><br style="font-family: Helvetica;" /><br style="font-family: Helvetica;" /><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">Hello! I'm very happy to be here. Thank you, Stephen, for allowing me some paragraph space on your fine blog.</span><br style="font-family: Helvetica;" /><br style="font-family: Helvetica;" /><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">Before I answer the interview questions, I feel some backstory is in order, to put this guest-post into context.</span><br style="font-family: Helvetica;" /><br style="font-family: Helvetica;" /><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">The year was 2009, and I had just completed a first draft of THE LOOP. The economy was, as we all remember, in sorry shape, and I...</span><br style="font-family: Helvetica;" /><br style="font-family: Helvetica;" /><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">...Eh. I'm kind of realizing just now that this is a really long story. For the sake of expediency I'll cut straight to the wrap-up. I had typed it all out before seeing how long it was, so I'll just copy and paste the ending, which is really the only important part:</span><br style="font-family: Helvetica;" /><br style="font-family: Helvetica;" /><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">So, clearly the catapult worked even better than we had planned, and by the time I fished him out of the trees, Stephen had pretty much sworn off Mexican prisons as a source of quick cash. The armadillo population bounced right back (just as I had said it would) and thanks to top-notch doctoring on both sides of the border, Stephen and I both got our right arms reattached–– though with us being of similar height and build, the surgeons were not exactly sure which arm belonged to whom. To this day we can never be a hundred percent sure, but I like to think I have a little bit of Stephen with me wherever I go.</span><br style="font-family: Helvetica;" /><br style="font-family: Helvetica;" /><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">And if you're wondering about that poor girl with the hiccups, well... she didn't make it. Rest in peace, kiddo.</span><br style="font-family: Helvetica;" /><br style="font-family: Helvetica;" /><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">ANYWAY. True to his word, Mr. Duncan is letting me pimp my book on his blog. And all I had to do was bust him out of jail with a catapult. Gracias, amigo.</span><br style="font-family: Helvetica;" /><br style="font-family: Helvetica;" /><br style="font-family: Helvetica;" /><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">Where did the idea for the book come from?</span><br style="font-family: Helvetica;" /><br style="font-family: Helvetica;" /><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">My first agent kept complaining that I didn't have enough romance in my stories, so I thought I could shut him up by writing one where the universe draws these two teens together, only to have them get murdered over and over and OVER just as they're beginning to really fall in love. A little dark, sure, but I found the premise very romantic. </span><br style="font-family: Helvetica;" /><br style="font-family: Helvetica;" /><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">[EPILOGUE] The agent didn't like that story either, so I found a better agent and now you can buy my story in stores and stuff.</span><br style="font-family: Helvetica;" /><br style="font-family: Helvetica;" /><br style="font-family: Helvetica;" /><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">What genre does your book fall under?</span><br style="font-family: Helvetica;" /><br style="font-family: Helvetica;" /><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">Young Adult Suspense, is what I'd call it. I'm not sure what Hyperion files it under. I should ask.</span><br style="font-family: Helvetica;" /><br style="font-family: Helvetica;" /><br style="font-family: Helvetica;" /><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">What actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?</span><br style="font-family: Helvetica;" /><br style="font-family: Helvetica;" /><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">That's a tricky one, because I really have no idea who the young players are in Hollywood these days. I guess I could rule out the kids from the Twilight movies, just because there's something about them, the boy especially, that I don't like. The boy looks like maybe he doesn't smell so good or something.</span><br style="font-family: Helvetica;" /><br style="font-family: Helvetica;" /><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">But to (partially) answer the question, I'd cast Tom Waits in the role of Steve, since he can do sketchy like nobody else. I'm sure I'll come up with a better answer as soon as it's too late for one.</span><br style="font-family: Helvetica;" /><br style="font-family: Helvetica;" /><br style="font-family: Helvetica;" /><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?</span><br style="font-family: Helvetica;" /><br style="font-family: Helvetica;" /><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">Set in New Orleans, two teen lovers desperately try to break out of a time loop that always ends with them being killed in a botched robbery.</span><br style="font-family: Helvetica;" /><br style="font-family: Helvetica;" /><br style="font-family: Helvetica;" /><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">How long did it take you to write the first draft of the manuscript?</span><br style="font-family: Helvetica;" /><br style="font-family: Helvetica;" /><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">Forty-six days. Followed by three and a half years of revision.</span><br style="font-family: Helvetica;" /><br style="font-family: Helvetica;" /><br style="font-family: Helvetica;" /><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">Who or what inspired you to write this book?</span><br style="font-family: Helvetica;" /><br style="font-family: Helvetica;" /><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">Hmm... I don't remember there being any one inspiration, mostly I just wanted to write something that hadn't already been done to death. Which is ironic, given how the story is predicated on the same events happening over and over and overnadoverandoverandover.</span><br style="font-family: Helvetica;" /><br style="font-family: Helvetica;" /><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">What else about the book might pique a reader's interest?</span><br style="font-family: Helvetica;" /><br style="font-family: Helvetica;" /><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">Well, my mom said it was the best novel written by one of her children that she's ever read.* Not too shabby, yeah?</span><br style="font-family: Helvetica;" /><br style="font-family: Helvetica;" /><span style="font-family: Helvetica;">*My mother has no other novel-writing offspring, and she has not actually read my previous novels.</span>S. L. Duncanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07245941432491789475noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2715252857068946600.post-19028385537827723612013-04-14T16:37:00.001-05:002013-04-14T17:40:37.903-05:00TAGGED! The Next Big Thing<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:DocumentProperties>
<o:Revision>0</o:Revision>
<o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime>
<o:Pages>1</o:Pages>
<o:Words>434</o:Words>
<o:Characters>2480</o:Characters>
<o:Company>Author</o:Company>
<o:Lines>20</o:Lines>
<o:Paragraphs>5</o:Paragraphs>
<o:CharactersWithSpaces>2909</o:CharactersWithSpaces>
<o:Version>14.0</o:Version>
</o:DocumentProperties>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>JA</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
<w:UseFELayout/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="276">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14.0pt;">by S. L. Duncan<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14.0pt;">So,
nearly two months ago, Wendy Orr (NIM’S ISLAND, THE NIM STORIES)<a href="http://wendyorrjournal.blogspot.com/2013/02/nim-stories-in-next-big-thing-blog-tag.html?spref=bl"> tagged me </a>for
this sort of blog chain letter called The Next Big Thing. As I am a complete
slackass, I totally got tied up in the new job and have neglected all things
writerly.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14.0pt;">But no
longer, I tells ya!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14.0pt;">So, while
I object to the implication that what I’ve written might be ‘the next big
thing,’ I’ll play along. Here’s my
interview on how my first book, The Revelation Saga (Medallion Press, 2014) came to be!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14.0pt;">Where did the idea come from for
the book?</span></i><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14.0pt;">I was
living in Birmingham and had graduated from college with this geographically useless film /
broadcasting degree that was tethered to an equally useless lack of ambition
and direction. Also, I was totally chickenshit when it came to the idea that I
may have to move to LA or New York to make my dreams come true. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14.0pt;">Instead
of taking a leap of faith, I ended up in law school. In – no surprise here –
Birmingham. Something about the sterile nature of legal writing for the classes
I attended caused my creative inner self to revolt. At the same time, I was
having this moment where my religious upbringing didn’t match with what I
perceived in the real world. I began researching canonical and non-canonical
religious texts, trying to figure it all out, and just got inspired. Basically, I wondered what would happen
if the books of the Bible were compiled in error, and the one book that might
hold the key to surviving the second war between the angels and demons had been
purged by Constantine’s Rome in the homogenization of the religion. After
living in England for a semester abroad, Gabriel Adam’s story began to
materialize. Then it was just a matter of getting it down on paper. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14.0pt;"><br />
In hindsight, I probably should have been studying Con Law or something. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14.0pt;">What genre does your book fall
under?<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14.0pt;">It’s a
Young Adult Adventure / Thriller. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="color: #282828; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">What actors would you choose to
play the part of your characters in a movie rendition?</span></i><span style="color: #282828; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #282828; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">I’m
going to go with Jodie Foster, Abigail Breslin, Bindi Irwin, and Gerard Butler.
I promise I didn’t steal this answer from Wendy Orr. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="color: #282828; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">What is the one-sentence synopsis
of your book?<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #282828; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Seventeen-year-old
Gabriel Adam learns he is the Archangel Gabriel born human and sent to stop the
second war between Heaven and Hell. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="color: #282828; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">How long did it take you to write
the first draft of the manuscript?<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #282828; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Altogether,
probably a year. I false started a lot. These days, I’m running about four
months on a draft. The long hours come in editing. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="color: #282828; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">Who or what inspired you to write
this book?<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #282828; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Really,
the experience inspired itself. It was fun, and that created a momentum until
that last day when I typed “The End.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="color: #282828; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">What else about the book might
pique the reader's interest</span></i><span style="color: #282828; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #282828; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">My agent, John Rudolph of Dystel
& Goderich Literary Management pitched the book as RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK
meets some of the fantastical elements of HARRY POTTER. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #282828; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">Also, there may or may not be a
dragon in it. </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #282828; font-family: Georgia;"><span style="font-size: 19px;">_______</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #282828; font-family: Georgia;"><span style="font-size: 19px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #282828; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 19px;">I'm tagging agency siblings <a href="http://www.shandylawson.com/home.cfm">Shandy Lawson</a> (THE LOOP, Disney/Hyperion April 30th, 2013), <a href="http://ghostmedicine.blogspot.com/">Andrew Smith</a> (WINGER, Simon & Schuster May 14th, 2013)</span><span style="color: #282828; font-family: Georgia;"><span style="font-size: 19px;">, and <a href="http://freckle-head.blogspot.com/2013/04/book-blitz.html">Rachele Alpine</a> (CANARY, Medallion Press August 1st, 2013).</span></span></div>
<!--EndFragment-->S. L. Duncanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07245941432491789475noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2715252857068946600.post-50782486648988367052013-02-14T19:50:00.000-06:002013-02-14T19:51:06.227-06:00THE NIM STORIES: Wendy Orr's Next Big Thing<br />
You know what I love? A can-do book about a can-do girl. For me, Wendy Orr's NIM'S ISLAND stood out as a book that empowered young girls - rare in a market filled with books about the girl needing rescue. Or the girl helpless to some idiot's charms. Nim is a fantastic character. Driven and inspirational, she redefines girl power and expands on expectations of the young female hero.<br />
<br />
<img height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6CyfU6373tqSr7TNObEUa0pYJyvA-E_G3k_6Nbltak8EwFRTT0YIcV67rolnA8GfwrI-v0L1DSXCdxS1JW5toDCz8mIIGBjXkIDyISfDbYlbOA0GQtQRWTP75W6hVEc1-WnQQxdCYC_0/s1600/9781743316498.jpg" style="-webkit-user-select: none;" width="413" /><br />
<br />
<br />
Coming in April to Australia is Wendy's THE NIM STORIES, which includes both NIM'S ISLAND and NIM AT SEA in one volume. Both books were given the Hollywood treatment and star Jodie Foster and Bindi Irwin, respectively.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/8/81/Nim%27s_Island_poster.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/8/81/Nim%27s_Island_poster.jpg" style="-webkit-user-select: none;" /></a><br />
<br />
If you've got a young girl, give it to her and watch her horizon expand. If you've got a young boy, give it to him so that his definition of what it means to be a girl isn't limited to the pop culture cliche. If you can't get the bound together version, just get both books! They're fantastic.<br />
<br />
Wendy tagged me in this blog tour, so next week, after you've bought and read THE NIM STORIES, I'll tell you a little bit about how I got on this journey.<br />
<br />
Thanks, Wendy!<br />
<br />
Here's her NEXT BIG THING INTERVIEW:<br />
<a href="http://wendyorrjournal.blogspot.com/2013/02/nim-stories-in-next-big-thing-blog-tag.html?spref=bl">author journal: Nim Stories in the Next Big Thing blog tag</a>: My lovely friend, and brilliant artist and author Lauren Stringer tagged me for “The Next Big Thing,” and so after a bit o...S. L. Duncanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07245941432491789475noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2715252857068946600.post-33476728871104825852013-01-30T21:19:00.000-06:002013-01-30T21:20:00.643-06:00Disney's Paperman - The Beauty of Art in Animated FormSometimes, the beauty in the art is so apparent, it speaks for itself. You owe it to yourself to watch this.
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/aTLySbGoMX0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>S. L. Duncanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07245941432491789475noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2715252857068946600.post-53358609257197209332013-01-08T13:41:00.000-06:002013-01-08T13:41:49.129-06:00Inner Nerd: THE HOBBITAnyone see The Hobbit? I thought it was fantastic and very respectful of its source material. I love a good journey adventure, as you'll see in 2014 with my debut. One of the best moments of the film was a song that breaks out in Bilbo's home, sung by the Dwarves. It's a sad moment that underscores the wrong these little fellows intent to right.
So, in that theme, I give you this little piece of awesome I found on the interwebs. Enjoy!
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/nEwzFF4HeB8?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<br />S. L. Duncanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07245941432491789475noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2715252857068946600.post-2880415026599444572013-01-07T13:49:00.000-06:002013-01-07T13:54:35.673-06:00THE NEW YEAR!Oh, man. Was 2012 crazy, or what?<br />
<br />
There's no way 2013 can top it. BUT! We're going to try. My resolution is to have two books sell to publishers by the end of the year? One is neeeeearly ready. And the other is nearing a draft completion. It should shape up to be a fun year, with cover reveals and possibly a few galleys to give away. <br />
<br />
So here's to the coming year! May it always get better!<br />
<br />
And just to keep with the cool things coming this year, these guys are visiting Birmingham on January 17. I'm totally there. Maybe being an author <i>can</i> be like being a rockstar. Well, at least for these folks.<br />
<br />
<br />
<iframe src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/46668920?color=ffffff" width="500" height="281" frameborder="0" webkitAllowFullScreen mozallowfullscreen allowFullScreen></iframe> <p><a href="http://vimeo.com/46668920">Unchained</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/mattperry">Matt Perry</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a>.</p>S. L. Duncanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07245941432491789475noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2715252857068946600.post-82810597186644217302012-12-21T15:34:00.001-06:002012-12-21T15:34:22.184-06:00Because I Love You: 2012's Worst Words by The Atlantic WireSo I mentioned in an earlier post that December has become all about the Best Thing of 2012. Well, I happened across the best I've found yet. <i>The Atlantic</i> has compiled a list of the words that are 2012's worst. In reading it, I can assure you some of these are recognizable as fingernails-on-chalkboard annoying. Some of the more obvious are <i>Epic</i>, <i>Actually</i>, and <i>Literally</i>. And then there are some real gems that evoke a pickle-sour <i>a-hah</i> moment when you recognize them on the list. I won't spoil the fun, so check it out at the link below!<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.theatlanticwire.com/entertainment/2012/12/worst-words-2012/59909/#.UNTUO3_xB5E.blogger">An A-to-Z Guide to 2012's Worst Words - Entertainment - The Atlantic Wire</a>S. L. Duncanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07245941432491789475noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2715252857068946600.post-38736156886293995482012-12-19T15:04:00.002-06:002012-12-19T15:04:37.649-06:00The horror.I think I've stared at this screen a hundred times, trying to use this keyboard to achieve some kind of catharsis with regard to these feelings I have about those twenty babies stolen from this world. What I realized is, there really isn't anything that can be said that will make it make sense.<br />
<br />
Evil is senseless.<br />
<br />
Every day I look at my nine-month-old child and fear for him growing up in this world. And now that a few days have passed since the tragedy, political lines are being drawn, and I see people digging in their heels to defend the need for more guns.<br />
<br />
<i>More</i> guns.<br />
<br />
I just...I don't understand. Sometimes I feel like I don't know this country at all. As far as I know, the modern interpretation of the Second Amendment has never protected us from any foreign entity. Yet, we're killing each other or ourselves to the tune of twelve thousand deaths a year. I'm fairly certain the intent of adopting the Second Amendment wasn't so that we could wage war against fellow citizens.<br />
<br />
<i>More</i> guns.<br />
<br />
I don't know. I'm so sad, so angry for what those children had to experience in their last moments.<br />
<br />
I hope the world changes for the better because of this. It's what those kids deserve. It's what we all deserve.S. L. Duncanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07245941432491789475noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2715252857068946600.post-82702783829390191692012-12-12T10:21:00.000-06:002012-12-12T10:21:18.403-06:00You're the Best...Around<i>The Karate Kid</i> had such awesomely terrible music. I love it.<br />
<br />
So it's Christmastime again. Apparently, according to <a href="http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/mon-december-3-2012/the-war-on-christmas--friendly-fire-edition">Fox News</a> and The Daily Show, there's a war being waged against the holiday. Though, with most of my local radio channels having been dedicated to Christmas music since the day after Thanksgiving, I think Christmas is winning. I wonder if Roman Pagans thought there was a war on their Winter Solstice holiday when Constantine gave December 25th to the Christians?<br />
<br />
But never mind all of that. I think I've discovered the true meaning of the holidays: Best of the Year Lists! If you've turned on a TV or a computer or read a newspaper you might have noticed The New Years Creep that began slipping into your life sometime at end of November with special year-in-review episodes, or Best of Lists. Oh, my. Are there ever lists. Lists of the year's best books, video games, fashions, restaurants, etc., etc. December is saturated in them. And why not? Thanksgiving did it to Halloween with early announcement of Black Friday specials. Christmas did it to Thanksgiving. Black Thursday anyone? I think it's only fair that the New Year get its due.<br />
<br />
Of all these lists the one that gets me is the Best Books of 2012, put out by most literati publications. These lists inevitably make me feel like some illiterate ape. Usually, I only recognize about ten percent of what's even on them. But with editing and writing my on stuff, I run about a year behind, catching up on must reads. At least, that's my excuse.<br />
<br />
Below, I've compiled the list of lists. A Best of List of 2012 of the Best Books of 2012...er, List!! (Say that three times fast.)<br />
<br />
1. <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/09/books/review/10-best-books-of-2012.html">The New York Times Best of 2012</a><br />
<br />
2. <a href="http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/best-books/2012#book/book-1">Publishers Weekly Best Books 2012</a><br />
<br />
3.<a href="https://www.kirkusreviews.com/issue/2012-best-of/section/children/"> Kirkus Reviews Best Books of 2012</a><br />
<br />
4. <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/choiceawards/best-fiction-books-2012#74617-Best-Fiction">Goodreads Choice Awards 2012</a><br />
<br />
5. <a href="http://www.npr.org/series/165293711/best-books-of-2012">NPR Best Books of 2012</a><br />
<br />
6. <a href="http://www.vogue.com/culture/article/top-ten-the-best-books-of-2012/#1">Vogue Magazine Best Books of 2012</a><br />
<br />
7. <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/16/best-books-2012_n_1952748.html">Huffington Post Best Books of 2012</a><br />
<br />
8. <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/best-books-of-2012/2012/11/16/e2d9c2f8-2f3d-11e2-ac4a-33b8b41fb531_gallery.html">Washington Post Best Books of 2012</a><br />
<br />
9. <a href="http://www.slate.com/articles/arts/books/2012/11/best_books_2012_slate_staff_picks_their_favorites.html">Slate.com Best Books of 2012</a><br />
<br />
10. <a href="http://shelf-life.ew.com/2012/11/12/amazon-best-of-2012/">Entertainment Weekly / Amazon Best Books of 2012</a><br />
<br />
<br />S. L. Duncanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07245941432491789475noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2715252857068946600.post-30989866375077240972012-12-06T14:39:00.004-06:002012-12-06T14:40:26.988-06:00The Rule of TwoNot too long ago, I got some notes back from my agent on a new manuscript I sent him. Overall, they were positive and what he suggested I address amounted to optional fine tuning on an otherwise submission-ready book.<br />
<br />
Now, I'm not bringing that up to pat myself on the back for a job well done in writing it, but rather, I'm calling attention to the necessity of criticism when it comes to the art of writing.<br />
<br />
I've been plowing away at publication for a couple of years now. Not too many compared to some, but enough to get a sense of the predictable spectrum of those that proclaim themselves to be writers. To sum it up, they range from "I'm an amazing writer," to "Woe is my writing talent". In the middle is a sort of realist that recognizes that he or she may possess some measure of talent, but that talent needs work and training to foster any sort of success.<br />
<br />
Believe me, you want to be in the middle.<br />
<br />
Those that think they have some divine talent typically write like shit and those that think their writing <i>is</i> shit are often talented, yet they are hampered by an inability to overcome their own perceived limitations.<br />
<br />
Usually, what both ends of the spectrum lack is a good critique partner. It's my general rule that for each of my manuscripts, I use at least two critique partners before it's ready to send to my agent. Why two? Because if two of the critique partners pick up on a particular criticism, then addressing the criticism becomes mandatory. Their criticism becomes true, so to speak, and not just opinion. Obviously, this presupposes that I've got good critique partners for this project. I do. (Thank you Shandy Lawson and Mindy McGinnis.)<br />
<br />
Editing can be difficult trying to figure out what stays and what goes. Stephen King is famous for (among other things) coining the phrase "kill your darlings," in reference to snipping good prose. Knowing which darlings to kill helps when your critique partners are in agreement. Remember, the purpose of being critiqued, ultimately, is so you can tell a better story.S. L. Duncanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07245941432491789475noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2715252857068946600.post-70520221946412192482012-12-04T09:27:00.000-06:002012-12-05T12:09:30.194-06:00Little Milestones<div>
My critique partner Mindy McGinnis just <a href="http://writerwriterpantsonfire.blogspot.com/2012/12/release-date.html">posted</a> about getting a firm release date of September 9th, 2013 for her debut, NOT A DROP TO DRINK. It got me thinking a bit about the scarcity of moments when this whole book endeavor doesn't seem like something that is happening to someone else.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
The publishing business can be one giant, somewhat coordinated ballet of hurry-up-and-wait. I've spoken before, I think, about the milestones a debut author reaches on the way to their actual - neigh mythical - release date. The first time you get an advance, the first time the PR department contacts you, the first time you see your cover - these stepping stones on the publication path are more like waypoints cemented in reality for a journey so detached from an author's everyday life, the author often needs a reminder that he or she is even on the journey at all. Ultimately, these little moments give weight to the words, "I signed a book deal," even when that statement is met with a suspicious eye.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
So when debut authors reach these milestones, we tend to want to make a big deal out of them. It's a good opportunity to stop and catch our breath and reflect on the amazingness of what is happening. Though it may seem like some kind of shameless self promotion for a book still a long way off, I can assure you there is much more catharsis to the jumping and shouting and cheering. It's our way of inwardly saying, "See? It's real! I'm not crazy!" Because let's face it, in this market, a book deal in fiction has more in common with a Bigfoot sighting than we authors want to admit.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
S. L. Duncanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07245941432491789475noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2715252857068946600.post-30582924005095646222012-11-26T00:00:00.000-06:002012-11-27T13:19:53.887-06:00Where the Atmosphere is Thick<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:DocumentProperties>
<o:Revision>0</o:Revision>
<o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime>
<o:Pages>1</o:Pages>
<o:Words>398</o:Words>
<o:Characters>2270</o:Characters>
<o:Company>Author</o:Company>
<o:Lines>18</o:Lines>
<o:Paragraphs>5</o:Paragraphs>
<o:CharactersWithSpaces>2663</o:CharactersWithSpaces>
<o:Version>14.0</o:Version>
</o:DocumentProperties>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>JA</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
<w:UseFELayout/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="276">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
These past few months I’ve been woefully out of touch. My
blog sits unused with a post dated from early September dangling out there in
the digital ether. Notes from my agent are getting stale on my desk. A sequel
to <i>The Revelation of Gabriel Adam </i>awaits
a completion of the first draft. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Yet, I just can’t seem to get it together.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Perhaps it’s having an eight-month-old child at home to
contend with, or the grind of trying to lock down a job, but motivation has
been a struggle to find.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Worse, I’m writing this from a coffee shop in Seaside,
Florida. In paradise, it’s difficult to find motivation to do much of anything. Something struck me, though, as the barista
handed me my cappu-latte. <i>This place has
atmosphere</i>. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The shop isn’t a large one and the constant <i>whir</i> of grinding beans and <i>tinking</i> of glass cups on saucers makes it seem even smaller. The bar takes up most of
the floorspace, selfishly hoarding elbow room for the staff and leaving only a long and narrow one-sided bench pressed up against the opposite wall with a few chairs full of
customers waiting on their orders. At the far wall is a six-top where I’ve managed to spread
out most of my books, notes, and computer in an effort to have osmosis jump-start my creativity.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I don’t know what kind of crowd I was expecting for this Thanksgiving week, but Seaside is slammed. Two deep at the till, the
bubbly-eyed girl is having a difficult time fielding orders, credit cards, and
dollar bills as they fly through the air. Some guy behind her with a face full
of scruff and a head full of purposefully messed up hair is orbiting her in a
kinetic angst fueled by the orders stacking up by the register. He barks out for
another pickup to a customer that’s inevitably walked away.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
All along the walls are black and white canvas pictures of smiling
Ng<span style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande';">ä</span>be people
picking coffee beans. One giant, close-up color image of calloused hands
holding a scoop of red beans over an overflowing wicker basket hangs over my
table. I wonder how many cappu-lattes that basket would make. The homage to a
notoriously underpaid and exploited race seems an odd decoration choice amongst the
six-dollar beverages and I’m struck by a twinge of guilt as I sip mine.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
People pass by the front windows, some of them shopping; others going to or from the beach. The temperature hovers somewhere in the
lower sixties - cold enough for anyone from the south to wear a jacket and warm
enough for anyone from the north to wear a bikini. It’s a laughable mix of skin
and polar fleece. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I'm reminded what atmosphere can do for the imagination,
whether you’re reading or writing. It can be like spice. Too little may leave
you in a flavorless boredom and too much can overpower. For now, at least, I’ve found enough to
inspire some momentum. If you’re keen, stop by <a href="http://fromthewriteangle.com/">FromtheWriteAngle.com</a>, where we
can talk a little more specifically about atmosphere and writing.<o:p></o:p></div>
<!--EndFragment-->S. L. Duncanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07245941432491789475noreply@blogger.com2