This is my amazing son. He will be graduating this year with a B.F.A. It’s taken him awhile because he has worked while attending classes. Sometimes as much as 55 hours a week and then he comes home to paint. I love his work. It doesn’t ‘go’ with my house but I wish it did. This is one of six paintings he did for his art project. I would love to own this one. It’s difficult to see how amazing it is in this photo. It’s a mixed media piece. Not sure what that means other than he used many things to make it. Hey, I’m not an artist I’m a writer! I am really proud of this guy. Does it show?
Blog
NANOWRIMO
I’m almost at the halfway mark, the one where the calendar says “You’re halfway tomorrow to the deadline and you’re less than 2000 words from being halfway there.”
Last night I mentioned to my friend Marty, a psychologist that I couldn’t tell what was real anymore. The concern in her face alerted me to the fact I needed to remind her I was a writer not a client. What I meant was daydreams, writing, night dreams and real life were blurring. She nodded and looked reassured so I guess I’m still normal. 🙂 Thanks for the reassurance Marty!
Yesterday I met up with a few other crazy NANOWIMO friends. Bev, Michelle and Rhonda we all seem to have that look. The look that says where am I? Did I comb my hair today? How did I get to Bread Co anyway? Oh wait that’s my look the rest of them looked great.
It’s quite inspirational to sit with other writers as the click away on their keyboards–except for my good friend Rhonda who uses an interesting method involving numerous pens. That my friends, I will save for the interview I will beg her to grant me when her novel is published. She’s quite clever.
I found myself watching Michelle and Bev’s fingers fly over those keys and suddenly I knew I had to type faster. By the end of the two hour writing frenzy I had quite a few words on the screen Yay ME! I’m not sure they are worth much but I feel like I accomplished a great deal.
So writing with other writers once a week is a good thing for me. I wouldn’t have discovered that if it hadn’t been NANOWRIMO. Sitting in my very nice office every day makes me lazy. I can’t see other writers writing there marvelous words so I think oh I’ll take a break now, check and see if the mail has come or maybe I should get another glass of tea….and before long there are no words on my screen.
So please forgive the rambles of this post as I explained in the beginning I’m not really sure I’m writing this!
Camy Tang!
Today I’m excited about interviewing Camy Tang.
Welcome Camy, thanks for taking time away from NANO (National Novel November Writing Month) for this interview. It will be short I promise!
1. How did you prepare for NANO? And are any of your books the result of NANO?
I am a plotter, so I usually spend some time before NaNoWriMo plotting the book so I know where I’m going. I typically use the book 45 MASTER CHARACTERS by Victoria Lynn Schmidt as a jumping off point for the plot and characters. And my second book in the Sushi series, ONLY UNI, was a result of NaNoWriMo!
2. How many books will be in the Sushi series?
Three books were published by Zondervan (the third book, SINGLE SASHIMI, just released last month). However, the series circles around four cousins.
3. How do you integrate scripture so naturally into your stories?
I try to have a theme song and a corresponding verse for the story before I write it. That way, as I write, the song and verse end up being woven into the scenes.
4. You left the biologist/researcher field for writing. Trish in Only Uni works in that field what was it like for you to re-visit that career, do you miss it?
It was fun, and I admit I had to go back to some of my old protocols to make sure the jargon was correct, but at the same time, I don’t miss it. I love writing more! LOL
5. Favorite writing book or writing course?
There are two courses that I always recommend to writers. For beginning writers, I suggest Randy Ingermanson’s Fiction 101, 201, or 301 courses, which can be bought online as MP3 downloads plus worksheets. (http://advancedfictionwriting.com/)
The other course is Margie Lawson’s Empowering Characters’ Emotions course. If you can take it in person, all the better, but her online course is equally good. (http://www.margielawson.com/)
6. Pen, pencil or computer?
Definitely computer! I type faster than I write, but I do admit to loving writing in my prayer journal with my fountain pen from Levenger.com. 🙂
Again, Camy thank you so much for taking time to answer my questions.
Thanks for having me here!
Please stop by Camy’s web site and read more about her and her books!
Here’s my review of Only Uni!
Only Uni by Cami Tang
This is Trish Sakai’s story and yet it becomes your story or the story of someone you know. Trish has truly found God, but doesn’t quite understand she isn’t required to follow man-made rules to be devoted to Him.
Trish’s culture is very different from my own Midwest upbringing making this story unique for me. I enjoyed learning about her Asian culture, which is a character of its own.
Tang has a fresh way of integrating the Christian message in her books. I read the last page and my desire to know became a raging fire. I want to know more about Christ and what God desires for me.
With her sassy dialogue and intriguing characters Tang brings the reality of living a Christ-filled life into the real world—a world where people fumble, take wrong turns and find out they are still loved by family, friends and God.
Tangs writing is fun, engaging and encouraging. Get this book, but first if you haven’t read it get Sushi for One, then prepare for a fun evening of reading because you won’t want to put these books down. You may not even want to loan them to your friends because they are books you’ll want to read again.
Winner chosen!
I’m not talking about the election. 🙂 But we do have a winner in the drawing for Julie’s new book A Passion Redeemed. The winner is
Deborah Piccurelli! Congratulations! Deborah I’ve sent you an email asking for your address so as soon as we have that we can get the book to you.
Julie Lessman thank you so much for playing on my blog this past week as well as offering your book as a give-away!
Interview with Julie Lessman!
I’m so fortunate to have Julie in my ACFW critique group. I actually met her in an elevator and we’ve been friends since. She graciously has allowed me to interview her for my blog.
Leave a comment and you may be the ONE who gets a free copy of her book A Passion Redeemed! Contest ends midnight Nov. 5! Please leave your email address for me, in case you win I have to be able to contact you!
DLB: Some days the writing and reviews can get to you. What do you do to escape and recharge?
Julie: Are you kidding??? I read!!! I love nothing better than carrying a book around in my purse when I’m out and about or leaving it in the powder room on days that I’m home, stealing wonderful moments here and there in another world altogether. One of my favorite times of the day is at bedtime, when I can snuggle in with my hubby for twenty minutes or so and read while he watches TV—ahhhh, sheer bliss!
DLB: Name 3 favorite writing books.
Julie: Writing the Breakout Novel by Donald Maas (the workbook is AWESOME!), The Synonym Finder by J. A. Rodale (my writer’s Bible!), and Self-Editing for Fiction Writers by Renni Browne and Dave King.
DLB: Pen or Pencil? Why?
Julie: Pencil because I … uh … tend to edit a lot!
DLB: What do you feel was your biggest mistake when you started writing?
Julie: My biggest mistake when I started writing was head-hopping—I was clueless about point of view. But I had a paid critique at an ACFW Conference with top author, Tracie Bateman, and she set me straight pretty quickly, thank God (and thank, Tracie!).
My 2nd biggest mistake was trying to get published on my own, without an agent. I garnered some 39 rejections and wasted three years of my time before I finally got an agent who then sold me in six months.
DLB: Do you listen to music when you write? If so who gets your fingers moving on the keyboard?
Julie: NOOOOoooooooooo!!!! I have to have COMPLETE and utter quiet, which is a real pain the tush for my sweet husband. You see, he is an artist who HAS to have music on when he works, a real dilemma in the evenings when we sit in back-to-back chairs in our cozy office. So, the man is a saint because he now wears a headset when he has a project, which works out nicely because I tend to talk to my characters and read lines out loud all the time!
DLBL: Do you have a favorite quote or bible passage that you’d like to share?
Julie: Gosh, I have so many, but one of my favorites (which I also pray everyday) is the last paragraph in Psalm 139, verses 23-24, which I’ve listed below. But a word of warning—don’t pray it unless you mean business, because God will definitely nail you to the wall on a few things!
Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
DLB: Where would you like to travel to if money were available?
Ooooooo … Ireland, of course! Then England and a sandy beach in the Caribbean—in that order.
DLB: What do you like best about the O’Conner women?
Julie: Grin. Oh man, I love how EMOTIONAL they are, which is pretty much how I am, so what do you know—I guess the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree! But most of us are pretty emotional deep down, it’s just that a lot of people don’t show it. I love how Faith is emotional (or passionate) about God, and how Charity is so emotional about love. It’s this deep-seated fire that burns inside of both of them (and ALL of the O’Connors) that I truly love to write about.
DLB: What’s your perfect day like?
Julie: Early to rise, treadmill with worship music, Bible/prayer, e-mails, then WRITING till my sweetie comes home!! Doesn’t get any better than that!
DLB: Fill in this statement “I’d love to overhear the conversations of and .”
Julie: Rhett and Scarlett, from Gone With the Wind. I’m a romance writer, after all!
DLB: What would you say to yourself as a beginning writer?
Julie: Basically the same advice that published authors gave to me:
1.) Get involved in a writing network by joining a writers group (for instance, as a romance writer, I joined ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writers, http://www.americanchristianfictionwriters.com/), FHL (Faith, Hope & Love, http://www.faithhopelove-rwa.org/), and RWA (Romance Writers of America, http://www.rwanational.org/), both to get connected with other like-minded writers and to learn a lot about my craft.
2.) Take a fiction-writing class or attend a writing seminar or conference.
3.) Join a critique group.
4.) Purchase and study writing books such as Self-Editing for Fiction Writers by Renni Browne and Dave King or Writing the Breakout Novel by Donald Maas, AND invest in a great thesaurus such as The Synonym Finder by Rodale Press.
5.) Enter contests for valuable feedback, to build your confidence, AND to sometimes get your work in front of publisher/agent judges.
6.) Go for an agent first, publisher second. Then query agents like crazy and even some publishers if you like.
7.) Submit stories or articles to magazines to build name recognition and a resume, to provide encouragement, and to acquire networking contacts.
8.) Then pray your heart out and put it in God’s hands.
ENGAGED!
It’s true! The youngest child is engaged. Josh has found a wonderful wife to be. Brianna is a welcome addition to the family full of males. The tide is turning! Woo hoo! The feminine side is getting stronger! I’m no longer alone! I’ve got Sara on one side and now Bri on the other!
They are planing a 2010 wedding, date yet to be set. Don’t those smiles say it all?
Stepping into Sunlight Review
Stepping into the Sunlight by Sharon Hinck
Penny Sullivan finds herself in a new neighborhood, her husband is deployed, and her support system not yet in place when she finds herself witnessing a shocking crime. Unable to leave her home even to purchase food for her young son she knows she has to get better, but how? She has her faith or does she? And if she has faith why can’t she move forward?
I can’t remember the last time an author reached inside of me and pulled out my story. Hinck has done just that, while I’ve never been in a holdup I’ve been a prisoner of anxiety. I was on those pages with Penny Sullivan, holding hands with her praying she would be able to take each step.
I finished this book with a huge ‘take away.’ God wants my best, even if my best is only the smallest thing I can do that day. I wish I had read this book four years ago. I’m finally coming out of my dark corners and I know this book, while a work of fiction has the power to heal. Thank you Sharon for writing it.
Art that inspires
My friend Jen has a post about a painting from her youth that touched her. I promised her I would post a photo of a painting of my childhood favorite. My grandmother bought this and then my mom got it from her. It graced the wall over our couch for a long time. I would spend hours starting at it wondering what that girl’s name was, did she have any friends. I grew up in a subdivision and thought this girl must be lonely. Then I would try and figure out how did she get that bird to land on the porch, how far were those mountains from her house and did she swim in that lake? Did she have brothers like me that had died? Did she make up stories too? Art is fantastic. So many feelings from someone else’s vision. I’m so happy my mom let me have this painting. It’s hanging in my bedroom and even know I find myself wondering…does she know the person who’s about to kidnap her?
Yummy Like Chocolate
Review for A Passion Redeemed by Julie Lessman
You know how you feel when you get a piece of really good chocolate? Not the stuff you get at the service station, but the kind from the specialty candy shops. You unwrap that piece and savor every bite, letting the rich flavor melt on your taste buds, and when it’s gone, you want more, just one more piece, please. That’s what it’s like to read A Passion Redeemed by Julie Lessman. This book is filled with characters that will linger long after the book is finished.
Charity O’Connor—misguided in the past by her emotions, lack of faith and confusion about a father’s love will steal your heart. You’ll soon be cheering her on as she discovers what real faith, real love and living real is all about.
Mitch Dennehy—has had a rough road too, dumped by Charity’s sister, Faith (A Passion Most Pure) has left him raw and hurting, but Faith left him with a strong faith of his own.
Once again, Lessman has found a place on my KEEPER shelf. This book will be reread again and again. This writer knows how to turn a phrase and keep the pages turning.
What did Ed do?
I have a great husband. He drove me to Minneapolis for the conference knowing he would be on his own for two days. He assured me this wouldn’t be a problem for him. He loaded up his bike into the trunk of our car along with the bike lock and maps.
He snapped a few images of the the town for me since I was at the conference the entire time. This is the bike trail. He rode 20 miles both days. I would liked to have done that too!
This is a shot from one of the bridges over looking the Mississippi River.
And this shot is on the beach. It’s so clean compared to what we see here at home. By the time it reaches us the water has picked up a lot of dirt.