J.A. Knighted's Blog: Knighthood

Do all the books you read become who you are?

I once heard an author say, “Everyone remembers the first book they ever read.”
I want us all to take a moment right now and remember the first story that pulled you in?

If you have got it? Well I am jealous of you. I can’t do it!

I recently asked a few of my students, if they could remember “that” book! The One, and most of them had an answer. Some were silly but others were confidently chosen.

I am still thinking of that question myself? Alas, without an answer.

I do remember in grade school: going into the library, I remember the smell, I remember competing with a friend to finish all of the Nancy Drew books. I do remember that each mystery would come to me faster and faster. I remember choosing the book each day, I remember the yellow spine color and can probably tell you a few moments that I enjoyed, but in truth they all blur together.

As many of you also do- is I devour books! Like a junkie, I can’t stop myself. When I have a break from teaching, I can kill and entire series of books. I love the escape and I love language.

The question is? Did I take anything with me? Was it just a way to pass the time?

I don’t think so!

I believe, the truth is, all of this- becomes a part of you.
All of those moments became part of my subconscious. It all played an important role in creating who I am!

Books have power!

There is that fabulous quote by Cassandra Clare, “One must be careful with books and what is inside them, for words, above all things have a power to change us!”

That is kind of unnerving. I guess it really backs up the old saying, “Garbage in, garbage out!”

Subconscious is a scary thing. It defines us more than I think we even realize.

In The Pendant Saga, I really put this theory to the test. In the story the main character finds a power that creates worlds based on his subconscious. Can you imagine if the things that were inside of you came out in real form?

I believe this idea is what drew me to write my own book.
As a teacher I am fully aware what my kids are reading, especially my Middle-Schoolers. Most of the time, I will read them also, not only to stay hip and in the know, but to just see what they are in to.

I can’t say I am always happy. Most series are heavy, heavy in the ways that I never wanted to be at that age. Adults who write these stories don’t realize the emotional disconnect. The love triangles and passions I feel are misrepresented. Family is always an after thought.

I would have strong opinions about these books and I found that most of them never sat well with me. One day, I realized that having an opinion is easy but to ever counter balance something you find too dark, you must produce some light.

The Pendant Saga is a three book series. Its full of adventure, sibling love, scary moments and even death. (which I believe is an eternal constant) but it wont leave you with any psychological damage.

I am hoping by reading my books your subconscious will be fed with all of the right things. I want to inspire and implore you to bring out your light.

Be wary of what you read, because it will become a part of you.

One last quote,
“People are like stained-glass windows. They sparkle and shine when the sun is out, but when the darkness sets in; their true beauty is revealed only if there is a light from within.”
-Elizabeth Kubler Ross

Identifying as an Author?

Identifying myself as an Author
I am a mother, I am an artist, I am a woman, I am a teacher, I am a total sci-fi geek, I am a friend.
Those are easy.
I am just not sure why I am having a problem identifying as an author.

Why is that "identity" so powerful?

I read an interesting blog post by Lori Nandrea recently about the idea of an author's identity and how it directly relates to the readers judgement.

She said, "In the realm of fiction, authorship “scandals” may be more playful, or more strategic. Like many Victorian women, J. K. Rowling used her initials to protect her work from gender bias. She then published her recent mystery novel under the pen name Robert Galbraith, and invented a biography for him. Clearly, she knows how powerfully the reader’s knowledge of the author’s identity shapes the way a book is read. It provides what’s often called a “frame,” though “lens” may be a better word. We read (or look, or listen) through lenses compounded of expectations, associations, sympathies, antipathies, bias of all kinds. To hide one lens, Rowling handed us another, which points toward the impossibility of lens-free reading—or at least, lens-free meaning."

All of this makes me a little concerned. Now that I have written my first novel, it makes me look at myself differently.

As a painter I never have thought about the way I presented myself to the art world. My paintings would speak for themselves. My collector's would never be concerned about who I was, or what my artistic identity represented? They just liked the work!

I am wondering what makes the Literary World so different?

I am in the process of creating my new identity, but I have never been good at pretense. I am just a girl that likes to create. I paint, I build and I make up stories.

Inside I am hoping that is enough!