Confession of a Romance Reader

I once read a story (by Nora Roberts) about two photographers who teamed up on a cross-country road trip, taking pictures for a photo-essay book about America. It’s been so long that I don’t even remember the title, but the story and characters stayed with me in a recessed corner of my mind.

The feeling of awe, the shared sense of wonder between the characters, the romance of our country as portrayed by the author, is something I’ve remembered ever since I read the book more than six years ago. I can’t remember the title, but I will never forget how that story made me feel.

Breathless. Excited. Inspired by the simple beauties that exist outside my very own front door.

Nora Roberts is a master storyteller. For all that I’d NEVER let my kids read one of her books because of sexual content, I love her style. And I can admit that before I discovered YA, I went through a phase when I devoured her work. Certain books of hers moved me, changed me. And ever since the photographer-road-trip story, I’ve wanted to take a similar drive. One in which I could stop to experience a little taste of everywhere America. The cheesy, the beautiful, the amazing.

And then fate stepped in.

My husband was sent across the country for a lengthy, intensive training for which he needed a car. And because of the length and distance, he invited me to drive with him (because he’s sweet like that). I thought of the book—even though it was years ago—and remembered to take pictures. Of everything. Lots of them. We stopped to see small stuff, and big stuff, and cool places, and streets with names that made us laugh. We drove more than 2,500 miles in one week.

We saw America.

We would’ve made the drive anyway. But would it have been as enjoyable? Did a book I read years ago enhance or encourage or in some way affect my experiences on the road? And more, did it affect my husband’s experience?

I think it did. And I’m grateful. I want to be the author who moves people to think harder, to see a different view of things, to take chances. I want to help people learn how to soak up more of their own experiences.

It’s my ultimate goal. What do you think? Realistic? Crazy? What’s your ultimate goal?

How Many Opinions Are Too Many?

One of my crit partners said something to me the other day that really struck home. We were discussing critiquing and how much our manuscripts tend to change (sometimes very drastically) according to the opinions of our CP’s.

She told of an author she knew who was working on edits with her agent. That author sent her revised manuscript to several CP’s, only to end up revising more before sending the manuscript back to the agent. When it finally arrived in the agent’s inbox, the agent was disappointed because the author had changed so much that the book had lost the all-important voice. And the voice was the thing the agent loved the most about the book.

So I wonder. How many opinions are too many? How many times do you revise before you end up sucking the voice out of your manuscript? Or, if you’re not a writer, how much criticism on your creative endeavors will you accept before you lose the drive to create entirely?

I don’t think there’s a solid answer to this question, but I do think we know when we reach that point. Or at least, we should.

Having critique partners is a blessing, for sure. But as in all things, too much of a good thing can hurt you. It’s a fine line to walk. And I think comes down to us having the courage and confidence to know the difference between comments that make us better, and comments that turn our work into something we never meant for it to be.

Just something to think about.

Characters We Love

My friend Elana Johnson is doing a blogging experiment, wherein a whole bunch of writing bloggers, or blogging writers, or, well, you know—we all get together and blog on one topic on a specific day. Last time I did one of these activities, it was a BLAST. So be sure to check out Elana’s blog for the master list of participants.

I’ve been a reader my whole life. Really. Well, okay, there were a few years when my kids were small when I didn’t allow myself much reading time. But it didn’t last long. And believe me when I say, I’ve more than made up for lost time with the books I’ve read since I started writing.

Because equally as much as I love to write, I LOVE to read. But why? Why do I feel so compelled to spend oodles of time living in a fictional world with people who don’t really exist except in my imagination? Because I love the characters, that’s why.

But how—and more, why—would I love people who don’t really exist? How or why would anyone? Because if the author did his or her job, the characters in their books become real for the readers. Real, live people you could almost reach out and touch. And we—the readers—feel like we know these characters inside and out. Intimately. So, it’s like our favorite characters are a long, lost friend.

I don’t have all the answers by any means, but I believe this is accomplished only when an author truly believes these characters are real. Knows them intimately, their likes and dislikes, their favorite colors, their favorite foods, their backgrounds and history, what they’re like inside and why, and especially their flaws. The things they like about themselves, and those they don’t. When an author writes a story—any story—about a character they know THAT well, the knowledge comes out on each page of the story.

Sometimes we don’t know our characters that well until after the story is drafted, and that’s okay. That’s a perfectly acceptable way to get to know your characters, and then those little details will—hopefully—come through in your revision.

For me, the characters that are real are also the most compelling. And compelling characters make good stories we all love to read. Right? Right. Okay.

Be sure to check the master list on Elana’s blog to read more about writing compelling characters.

Awards of Randomness

Okay, this is so totally appropriate, because these awards are kind of random, and since that goes right along with my blog title (see above) well, it just works. My friend Christine Fonseca awarded these to me, which means I get to pass them on to fifteen other bloggers.

In case you're wondering, winning a blog award is sort of like a game of tag. Someone will "award" you with a picture and post your name and link, and then  you have to share the same "award" with so many other bloggers. So it's not really an award you win for, like, accomplishing anything. It's just more of a fun way to get to know other bloggers and spread the linkage far and wide. Therefore, this is a fun activity for us.

You should totally check out the blogs of the authors linked in these posts, because bloggers love readers. Really. Like, serious love. Just sayin.

The Rules for The Versatile Blogger Award:

1. Thank and link back to the person that gave you the award.

2. Share seven things about yourself.

3. Pass the award to fifteen bloggers that you think deserve it.

4. Lastly, contact all the bloggers that you’ve picked for the award.

One Lovely Blog Award Rules:

1. Accept the award, post it on your blog together with the name of the person who has granted the award and his or her blog link.

2. Pass the award to 15 other blogs that you’ve newly discovered.

3. Remember to contact the bloggers to let them know they have been chosen for this award.

Seven things about myself, in no particular order:

1. I recently discovered that Red Vines are also made in grape flavor, which are appropriately called Grape Vines. I love these things. They're so hard to find that I bought five packs (which was all they had) from WinCo, just to keep a supply that is now almost gone.

2. I love to travel. And while I travel, I enjoy trying new foods. So, as I'm on my road trip this week, I'm sure I'll find some odd new thing to try. Totally excited about it. (Suggestions anyone?)

3. I always sleep with a fan on. A little bit of white noise goes a long way to helping me sleep sound.

4. The people at my local convenience stores know me by sight, and some even by name. And not only that, when I show up at the drive thru, they even know exactly what I want in my refill mug. "A Dr. Pepper with lots of ice, please."

5. I've never been to Canada, climbed a light house, or seen Niagra Falls. But I intend to do at least two of those things very soon. We'll see.

6. Whenever I go to the library or a bookstore and see teens browsing the YA section looking lost, I have this insane urge to take them by the hand, lead them to the greatest books, and say, "Here. Let me show you what you want to read."

7. One of my kids loaded an iPod that was playing in my car, and I became attached and addicted to the music of Avril Lavigne. She's Awesome! Also, my friend Elana turned me onto The Script, a group who is also awesome. Oh, AND Maroon 5 has a new album coming out on Tuesday. SO TOTALLY buying that along the way. ~music love!~

Okay, now I'm passing these awards onto the following bloggers:

1. Bethany Wiggins and Suzette Saxton at Shooting Stars.
2. Windy Aphayrath at Like the Weather
3. L.T. Elliott at Dreams of Quill and Ink
4. Christine Bryant at Daydreamer
5. Angie Lofthouse at Notes from the Writing Chair
6. Keith Fisher at The Writers Eyes
7. Elizabeth Mueller
8. Jenn Wilks at Lifelong Book Worm
9. Tristi Pinkston
10. Heather Justesen
11. Karlene Browning at Inksplasher
12. Darvell Hunt at LDS Writer's Blogck
13. Cindy Beck at Write Up My Alley
14. Mary at Writers Butt Does Not Apply to Me
15. Elana Johnson

Can't wait to see all your posts!

**PS I won't be notifying nominees until I get home on Sunday. But if you see your name listed here, feel free to consider yourself notified and blog away at your leisure.

The Road Not Yet Traveled

Today—probably as you’re reading this, actually—I’m taking off for a week-long road trip across the country. While I’m gone, I hope to visit places I’ve never been, see things I’ve never seen, experience new things, and gain inspiration and knowledge that will help me creatively. We'll be taken roads I've never traveled, which is great fodder for writing.

I like road trips. This country is beautiful, and I’m constantly amazed at the artful hand with which it was created. Also, I love adventure. And this promises to be a good one. So. Yeah.

Maybe I’ll get to see the world’s largest ball of twine. Or something equally cool. I will definitely be making stops at some of the restaurants featured on the food network. Specifically, DDD. Because, well, it sounds like fun. Who wouldn’t want to do that? (Come be my friend on Facebook, and I’ll try to post pictures as I’m able.)

Before I go, I want to continue the good news challenge I started on this post. Let’s keep the good news flowing, shall we? (If you just asked why, because it makes me happy. So there. *sticks out tongue*)

Okay, so my good news for the week:

1. Both my books won a Silver Quill award from the League of Utah Writers over the weekend. I’m honored and amazed. And humbled. Definitely humbled too.

2. The LUW gave me cute stickers to put on my book covers that say it’s an award winning book. Which, you know, is very cool. Stickers are awesome.

3. I’m up to 75,000 words on my current WIP. It isn’t finished, but is coming along well enough that I’m happy. And I like it—well, for a rough draft.

4. It’s fall, which means all the hot fall book releases are getting ready to launch. (YAY for good books!)

So much good news! What’s yours? Feel free to share. Or tell me about a road trip turned adventure you've experienced. I want to hear that too.

**Since I’m out of town, chances are I won’t be as quick in replying to comments as I usually am (mostly via email, sometimes via return comment). Don’t worry! I will still read every single comment and appreciate your participation.


***Also, since I’m out of town, I will probably not be reading many blogs or commenting. It’s not because I don’t love you all, I promise. I’ll try to catch up when I get home.

Give Us an Anchor

Okay, before I forget. This weekend there a HUGE, massive author signing event happening at Barnes and Noble in Orem. (330 East 1300 South, University Crossings Plaza, Orem, UT) This event goes from 1-4 pm. AuthorPalooza = 40+ authors (including yours truly), lots of books, bookish-type fans and bloggers, bookmarks and treats. Come check us out and buy some autographed books. You know you want to.

New topic:

The other day I was helping my daughter with her creative writing homework. She was having an issue with pronouns and split infinitives, and we ended up in a discussion about how stories have to be clear. You can’t just expect people to assume that the super hero is a good super hero unless you say so. Unless you tell the readers he is actually punching the villain as opposed to the elderly lady the SH is supposed to be saving.

This discussion included me asking her something like fifty questions about her 500 word story. What was the old lady doing while this happened? Where is this happening? Are there other people around? Witnesses maybe? What do the main characters look like? How do they feel? What are they thinking? What happens next? What are the consequences to the actions of the hero? The lady? The villain?

Her answers continued to be a baffled, “I don’t know.” To which I then replied, “Well, if you’re going to write a story about these people, you should.”

Or she would answer, “The old lady is running away, of course. Everyone knows that.”

I had to explain, “No, everyone doesn’t know that. Not unless you tell them. That’s your job as the storyteller.”

Short lesson of the day. Just because we—as writers or authors—see things happening a certain way in our heads, doesn’t mean our readers understand that vision. It’s up to us to paint a clear picture of setting, characterization, and plot. Good writing requires that the readers feel anchored and secure within the pages of your book.

So. Do you agree? Disagree? Think I’m nuts? Discuss.

More About Special

*Sighs in frustration*

I had a whole post written about how I’m still thinking about what makes a book special, and my thoughts on authors like Suzanne Collins and Stephenie Meyer and J.K. Rowling. About how they didn’t set out to make their books special, but rather they more likely set out to write a good story that was fresh and authentic. And how those stories became public phenomenons.

But then my computer battery died—with no prior warning—and for some stupid reason, I couldn’t recover that document.

*grabs hair and suppresses a scream*

So. Anyway. About special again. I’m still thinking. Still pondering the thing that makes a book pop for me. And I’ve decided that a story has to be authentic enough to grab me by the heart and pull me along with the protagonist, feeling what he or she feels and living in his or her shoes. But also, it has to be fresh enough that I don’t feel like I’ve read this story a hundred times over.

You know, special like that.

But in order for a book to be both fresh and authentic, I think the writer can’t necessarily set out to write it that way. It can’t be premeditated, but rather should be written with feeling and emotion that comes so naturally that it shows through in the story and with the characters. (When I say premeditated, I’m not talking about pre-planned as in outlining. I’m talking about forcing a character to feel something they shouldn’t, or wouldn’t, or don’t, just for the sake of the story.)

Kind of like life, right? Right. What do you think? Can you tell the difference between fresh and stale and authentic and contrived? (Not asking for examples here, just maybe thoughts.) Do you think this is part of what makes a book special to you?

Great Books = Something Special

This weekend, I had a fun convo with my friend Elana. What do writers talk about when they get together? Books. Of course, books. What else would we discuss (well, besides the other obvious topics like agents and editors and publishing houses and online platforms)?

As we were talking about books we’ve read recently, ones we loved, ones we liked, ones we didn’t finish, the subject came up that in order for us to really love a book—and I’m talking about LOVE love, can’t stop thinking about it love—it has to be special.

Special = book love.

Trouble is, special is indefinable. For all of us. What makes one book special for me, but not special to someone else? Or reverse that and what makes a book special to someone else, but then I think it’s meh?

I guess sometimes it comes down to tastes. You know? Like, for instance, I’ve decided that part of the reason I didn’t love MOCKINGJAY as much as CATCHING FIRE is because there wasn’t enough romance. Not enough good kissing scenes. And I’m pretty much a sucker for that stuff. So. Yeah. I admit it. But I loved the book anyway. Because the whole series was spectacularly special.

Sometimes it has to do with subject matter and emotion. Books that make me think, make me feel. Grip my by the heart and drag me along the journey right next to the protagonist. Dig so far into my mind and thoughts that I can’t sleep at night for wondering what’s going to happen next (assuming I even put the book down long enough to try).

To me that constitutes special. But again, it’s indefinable. This is not something that can be explained or categorized. It just is. I think the definition of special is different for everyone.

So help me out here. What’s your favorite book (or books) and what about the writing, or story, or characters, or plot makes them your favorite? Why are they special?

Good News Minute--All Weekend Long

Okay people. If you’re a regular reader, you don’t need to be told what brought this on. If you’re not a regular reader, you should be (for shame!). Scroll down and catch up. Anyway, after everything, I’ve decided it’s officially time for some really good news.

There’s this thing with the ladies in my church where we take a minute to let anyone and everyone share good news or exciting things that have happened during the week. I don’t often speak up, because my brain isn’t fast enough, my hand doesn’t shoot up quick enough, or my tongue is just plain too slow in catching up with my thoughts. My bad.

I believe we create our own moods, our own circumstances even, through positive thought and happy energy. Therefore, I am officially declaring this weekend a good news weekend. I want to hear your good news and know that positive, happy things are happening all over the place in the world. September is going to be a fantabulous month.

I’ll start.

1. Even though the air has become cooler in the last week, the sun is shining bright and warm in Utah, and the sky is clear. I’m driving around with my convertible top down.

2. My husband found my very favorite, and extremely hard to find, dressing / bread-dipper on the shelf at a local grocery store the other day. (Score!)

3. Going to dinner and a movie with my bestest non-writing girlfriends tonight. Can’t WAIT!

4. In just over a week, I will be driving across the country with my husband to take him to a lengthy specialized training course in Quantico, VA. I’ll leave him there and fly home, and yes, we’ll miss him, but this is really great opportunity. And going to be an incredible drive.

**Update** I almost forgot this fun bit of news as well.

5. Tomorrow, I'm going to be hanging out with some of my bestest writing friends at The Kings English for Kirsten White's Paranormalcy event. I love those kinds of days.

Okay, now it’s your turn to share your good news. Starting…NOW!

Random Stuff I'm Thinking About

1. If you let it, life will pass you by. So take action, pay attention, and live now. You never know when your tomorrows will come to an end.

2. Everything we experience in life is a lesson learned. The difference for writers (and also musicians) is that we take those lessons and share them with others through our work. Sorry friends and family, you’re all liable to end up in a book or story at some point. That’s just how it works.

3. It’s okay to have a great idea for a book or plot or character while nothing else in your head gels as coherent. Sometimes, that’s how it goes. Take it when it comes.

4. Just about when you want to quit, you realize you couldn’t if you tried. So you take a little nap and then keep going.

5. Thanks to social networking, news (good or bad) spreads with super-lightening speed. (Big, huge thanks to everyone who has sent words and thoughts of sympathy and kindness this last week. They’ve all been much appreciated.)

6. Ben and Jerry’s makes the best ice cream, barely beating out Häagen-Dazs, who makes a really good mango sorbet. (Thanks, Becky!)

7. Retail therapy only works for stress. It doesn’t necessarily help with grief, unless you’re shopping at a bookstore. Otherwise, you’re better off going to a movie.

8. Sometimes it takes a wedding or a funeral to bring out all the family members you haven’t seen in years. Why is that? And can it be changed? And while I’m on the subject, why does it take a family tragedy to remind us to tell the important people in our lives how much we love and appreciate them?


Anything else that should be on my mind? I’m trying to get back on track, so help me out here.

Escaping into Books and Movies

Last week as I spent time with my family, grieving, and remembering, and saying goodbye, I realized why books and movies will never truly go out of style. More than just forms of entertainment, they are a means of escape, a way of stepping out of or away from the stresses or hardships of every day life.

Funny thing: As we spent the day at the hospital on Monday and Tuesday, there were at least two copies of MOCKINGJAY in the waiting room, along with two or three other books brought by various members of my family. (Yes, we pretty much dominated the room—large families tend to do that.) Not that any of us read much, but we all had that desire, that need, and at one point or another, we all tried.

Friday after the funeral , I had this intense urge to go to a movie. Something funny, happy. Something that would make me laugh. Not because I didn’t respect all the funeral proceedings or the fact that so many people were grieving, but more because I was also grieving and needed an escape. A laugh. A release other than tears. (Okay, also, I wanted salty theater popcorn.)

Books and movies offer an opportunity to step out of one world and live in another, for just a few hours at a time. Regardless of what’s happening in our lives, the break we get from stepping temporarily away helps give us perspective and new clarity of mind.

Isn’t that the whole point? I mean really, that is why we read, right? To step into someone else’s world, experience life through someone else’s eyes. To gain knowledge from someone else’s experience. To grab hold of someone else and ride the roller coaster with them—even though we know these people aren’t real. We feel what they feel, want what’s best for them, and more importantly, we want the best possible outcome for their situation and conflict.

And at the end, we’re able to close the book and move on, get back on track with reality, hopefully rested enough from the issues in our own lives that we’re able to focus and progress.

Have you found this to be true for you as well? I’d like to know how reading has helped you escape.

The Thing About Families

No one can tell you the definition of what or who makes up your family. Common blood is only a small portion of the equation.

In times of grief, we hold each other up, give each other strength, and understand that sometimes words mean nothing while a strong pair of arms is everything.

For some, divorce is a break that causes an unbreechable chasm, while for others it becomes the means for the addition of more people to love. More parents, more siblings, more aunts, uncles, cousins, and grandparents that extend into uncountable numbers. Not just more people you love, but also more people who love you.

Blood may be thick, but a bond of love is thicker, stronger, and more important.

Sometimes we forget these things, because every family has several levels of dysfunction, of fault, of human frailty. And then something happens that makes us remember. Makes us appreciate each other. Makes us hold onto the only people who will always love us.

Family is the center—the core—of everything, in life as well as in death.

That is all.


*I hereby officially promise that next week’s posts will not be so depressing.

A Gift No One Else Can Give

I don't believe in coincidence. At least, that's what I told the owner of the body shop where my car was fixed a few weeks ago. Timing, yes. Karma, definitely. But coincidence? Not so much. I just have a strong sense of things happening for a reason.

Usually, I can deal with events that might seem like a coincidence or whatever. I don't generally need an explanation for why something happens one way or another, or why the timing of two events coincide--either terribly or beautifully. It just is.

But I do believe in Irony. It hits me in the face almost daily lately. It's ironic what happened after I wrote and scheduled Monday's post about Mockingjay and how it made me feel. Raw and emotional. Sadness and peace. Hopeful and achy all at once.

There I was, typing along and pondering all these emotions, when I got one of those calls. The kind we all dread, telling us that someone we love has been severely injured or worse. In my case, this person is my twenty-one-year old step-brother Justin. He was seen skateboarding, hitting a bump or rock, and flying backward where his head--no helmet--hit the pavement. Someone stopped to help, called an ambulance, but it was already too late for Justin.

No Helmet. No brain activity. Alive, with no chance he'd ever come back.

He's had such a hard life in his short twenty-one years, lived through a tremendous amount of heartache, difficulty, and addiction. But while his loss leaves us all achy and raw, his generosity will give others hope.

Justin was an organ donor.

The damage from the accident was mainly in his brain. All his other organs are intact, whole, vital. In Justin's death, many other lives will potentially be saved or made better. He will now give other people a gift no one else could offer, the gift of life. And Justin will finally have the opportunity to be at peace.

Is it ironic that this week in our local news there has been a rash of freak accidents, shot police officers, and unexplained deaths? I don't know. But I do feel strongly that Justin's time on earth has come to an end. Whatever happened on that hill, happened because it was his time to go home.

Just as it's someone else's time to live. To have hope. And to move on.

Give someone else hope. Be an organ donor.