E.B. Roshan's Blog: This, That and the Other, page 14

The Perfect Sentence

Great stories are built from great scenes, and great scenes are built from great paragraphs, and great paragraphs are built from great sentences. HERE are some ideas to help you make your sentences the best they can be.

Author Interview: Grace A. Johnson

I’m pleased to share my very first author interview today, with the young and talented Grace A. Johnson, author of the ongoing Daughters of the Seven Seas series.

Without further ado, here’s what Grace has to say:

First, thank you so much for interviewing me, E.B.! This is actually my first author interview, so I’m pretty excited! Well, as you know, my name is Grace A. Johnson, and I’m a teenage Christian historical romance writer. (That’s a mouthful!) I started seriously writing when I was about twelve, and since then I’ve published seven books.

I assume you’ve been writing for a long time, but when did you decide you wanted to self-publish?

Technically, I’ve been writing for nearly seven years, but I’ve only been “seriously” writing (as in, with future publication in mind) since 2017. As a young teen, I never had very lofty goals (finishing a book is difficult enough), so it wasn’t until I finished my second manuscript that I began considering publication.

I was pretty satisfied with that novel, so I almost immediately started pitching my book. I actually had very little knowledge of the self/indie-publishing industry, so my main focus was on traditional publishing. However, very few traditional publishers accept unsolicited manuscripts, and my thirteen-year-old self wasn’t even thinking about finding an agent. So after one rejection, I began to despair.

It was my uncle’s girlfriend (who is now my aunt) who suggested self-publishing—Kindle Direct Publishing, to be exact. After some research and a lot of prayer, I finally decided to use KDP. I’m very pleased with my decision, even though I know I could’ve chosen another publishing platform or even continued to seek traditional publishing. I do believe that God led me to KDP and that He has greatly blessed me through self-publishing!

Who’s the biggest critic of your writing?

Me. You’re always your worst enemy, no doubt about that, but as a writer (and a perfectionist), I am always finding fault with my writing. No one can hate or love my writing as much as I do. It’s a healthy balance, I think.

What about your biggest fan?

My grandfather and my friend Sophia. From Day 1, my grandpa has not only been a huge supporter as a family member, but he has also been the most excited about my writing. He’s a huge reader, so I’ve always gotten good feedback from him, but what is the most inspiring and encouraging is that he always sees the things I don’t. Not the typos (although he does catch those too), but where God is speaking through me. He can see through layers of my writing I don’t even know about to the true heart of the story. Seeing his reactions to certain characters, quotes, and situations always warms my heart.

And my new friend Sophia is definitely my biggest (and only) fangirl! She’s currently alpha reading my latest project, and her reactions to my characters and plot have bolstered my spirit. This novel has been so difficult, so having her encouragement along the way has truly been an answer to prayer! Plus, she sees so much more potential in my other stories than even I do!

Who’s your favorite character you’ve created? Why?

Ah, the question every author avoids! It’s like making a parent pick their favorite child! I have so many characters—from protagonists to antagonists to minor characters—and I love them all dearly.

That being said, I do have some that hold a larger part of my heart. One of those is Rina. She’s the heroine of my debut novel, Held Captive, and a POV character in my next two novels, Prisoner at Heart and Bound and Determined. Ours is a long journey, but a fulfilling one. Her voice is so strong and vibrant, and her character comes so easy and naturally to me. I love writing her and watching her grow. She’s definitely one of my most memorable characters, since she’s a female pirate captain!

What book or story are you currently working on? Can you tell us a bit about it?

I’m working on the third book in my Christian pirate romance series, Daughters of the Seven Seas. This novel is titled Bound and Determined, and is my longest project yet with a word count total of about 195,000 words. It’s definitely one of my deepest stories, and I’m learning a lot.

Here’s a blurb:

They had all thought it past. Yet now the storm has returned…

Atlantic Ocean

1686

A wicked twist of fate—or perhaps the hand of God—has landed Captain Rina Bennet in the most precarious situation yet. When her husband and the father of her twin boys leaves at the behest of a family friend, she is left to take charge of the ship she has not sailed on in two years, accepting the responsibility of a dwindling crew, half of which don’t even know her as captain. Saddled with two toddlers, she struggles in vain to erect some form of normalcy and order upon her ship…

Then the past suddenly appears to haunt both her and her quartermaster Keaton, in the forms of an old friend and an old life.

Rina has to make a judgment call when the ghosts come knocking, a call that could mean either life or death—for both an innocent girl and herself. The storm has returned.

If you’re not currently working on anything, what was your most recent project?

GJ: Well, even though I’m working on Bound and Determined, I’ll answer this question anyway! My most recent release is Six O’clock, a contemporary YA short story I wrote several months back. I just released it last month after some editing.

I’m sure you’ve been asked this question before, but…why pirates? And girl pirates, no less?

*chuckles* Good question. Admittedly, I’ve asked myself the same thing before!

I started out writing medieval romance—a pretty normal genre, right? Well, I got it into my head one day to write a pirate story. Of course, it’d have to be about a girl pirate, because, I mean, how many girl pirate stories have you read? (There are actually a lot out there, believe it or not.) I called it The Lady Pirate, and I fiddled with it off and on for a year before I moved on to another project.

In mid-2018, I came back to the story and wrote a first chapter. The story, the characters, and all of the questions captured my heart and, before long, I’d written an entire 74k novel! I really don’t know how or why I kept on with Rina and her story. All I can say is that God must have a very special purpose in mind for her!

I do still have plans to write those medieval stories, as well as some fantasy, contemporary, mystery, and many other historical romances!

Can you write in chaos, or does your creativity require peace and quiet?

Peace and quiet! I can read and write general things (i.e., blog posts, articles, answers for an interview) with my six younger siblings causing a ruckus behind me, but when it comes to my creative writing, I must have peace and quiet—or peace and music! I love listening to music while I write—my favorite band is Lifehouse, and most of their songs fit my characters and stories so well! But I can’t handle any other external noise, which is why I usually write at night, once everyone’s fast asleep!

What do you enjoy doing when you’re not writing?

I feel like “reading” is a bad answer—I mean, it’s kind of grouped in with writing, for me, so let’s see. I like cooking and baking, honing my art skills, and playing the piano (I’m finally learning!). I’m a Jill of all trades, I suppose, with a passable amount of talent in most creative areas. I don’t really excel at anything like I do writing, though. I also love hanging out with my youngest siblings, who are two and three. They’re the cutest!

Thank you again for interviewing me! This has been a huge honor!

Thank you, Grace! Don’t forget to check out Grace’s website (and her entertaining and informative book reviews) right HERE.

Cultural Appreciation vs. Cultural Appropriation

HERE is an interesting look at the difference between the two…and the sometimes fuzzy ground between.

Book Spotlight: Brothers of Kalathan

Once again, we return to the world of Kalathan for another adventure with the members of the royal family. The crown prince Theo’s twin younger brothers, Jameth and Jandrin, have been sent to the capital of the neighboring kingdom of Empirium on a diplomatic mission. While there, they meet with a group of exiled Kalathenes, and uncover a plot to destroy the young Empress.

I think I actually enjoyed “Brothers of Kalathan” more than “Curse of Kalathan,” and that’s not something that can be said for every sequel. The author seems to have really found her storytelling feet with this one. I enjoyed the blend of romance, intrigue, character study and faith, as well as the exotic (yet oddly familiar) setting both books share, but I think the reason I enjoyed this one more was the fact that the main characters felt more human than the hero and heroine of the first book. Jameth’s struggles with his royal position, his drug addiction, and his insecurity balanced beautifully with the strength of character and compassion. Mira, too, had interesting depth, and I could really connect with her uncertainty about the future and fierce desire to cling to her familiar home and loved ones. She grows roses. And keeps little birds. Reminds me of somebody I know very well…

I also liked the fact that the “romance” thread of this story ended on a more hopeful note…who doesn’t like at least a promise of a “happily ever after” ending?

You can find the book for yourself HERE. The books in the Kalathan series are free with Kindle Unlimited.

Just Released

FOR BETTER AND WORSE, the fourth book in the Shards of Sevia series, releases today! You can check it out HERE and read some of the reviews it’s already received HERE.

English is Not Normal…

We already knew this, of course, but it’s still interesting to read a discussion of exactly why. Go ahead. Check it out HERE.

Teamwork

From the first words to the new-release promotions, no book is a solo effort, and I want to say thanks again to all the lovely and generous people who’ve helped with mine! If I tried to name them all, this would be a VERY long post.

However, here are some of the bloggers who have shared (or will share) a promo spot for my short novel, “For Better and Worse.” Check out the promos and see what other interesting things they’re up to.

Natasha

Kimberly

Dove

Kristina

Regina

Duffy

Coming Soon…

“For Better and Worse,” the fourth book in the Shards of Sevia series, releases April 17th, which is this Saturday. Wow. That came up fast.

HOWEVER…I still have a few giveaway e-copies of “For Better and Worse” available. To get yours, email me at btznvntATgmailDOTcom before 12:00 noon on April 17.

Good Entertainment: Guest Post by Zachary Holbrook

I recently became aware of a mystery that lies deep in the human mind— a mystery I’m only aware of because of the bizarre behavior it produces. You see, I was in a casual conversation with a couple of my female classmates, and they mentioned that they’d watched a vapid and cliched chick flick recently. Because they’d hoped for a good movie and were disappointed? No! To my horror, I realized they’d turned on this movie fully aware of its awfulness.

At first, I thought this must be a bizarre form of self-flagellation associated with occult rituals, and wondered if I should inform the faculty. Fortunately, my classmates clarified that it was perfectly normal, saying “Sometimes you just want to turn off your brain for a couple of hours, you know?”

I prefer books to film, but I feel the same way. Sometimes I don’t need a masterpiece. I don’t always look for complex themes or characters a dozen layers deep or exquisite prose. Sometimes a good story is good enough. 

There are few transcendental masterpieces in this world; there are many good stories. Enough that you should never have to read a truly bad story, even if you’re just looking to relax. Relaxation is good. Relaxation while reading a good story? Even better. 

When a random author emailed me out of the blue and asked me to review her novel, I wasn’t sure what to expect. But I had some time to fill in between homework assignments, and E.B Roshan is a fellow Christian as well as a fellow author, so I agreed. She sent me a mobi file of her story, For Better and Worse, and I dove into it.

And…

It was a good story. 

Not life-altering, but good. At 50k words, it’s in the gray area between novella and novel— short enough for me to read in an evening. Which I did, enjoying the relatable characters and well-paced plot.

Boris and Anna are a married couple running a catering service in the midst of a war-torn city with their first child on the way. They struggle to love each other despite the conflict building between them— Anna wanting to flee to a safer city, Boris wanting to stay. Things only get worse when Boris rashly stands up to injustice and draws the attention of the local mob boss. 

The world-building is weird— we get a couple brief mentions of World War 3 ending, so it’s set in an alternate universe, but not one with any distinctive features. Dor is a generic war-ravaged city. But unless you’re looking for an intricate, well-thought out alternate history, this won’t be a big problem. The setting doesn’t explore many interesting questions because it never raises them in the first place.

It’s a romance— the relationship between Boris and Anna serves as the story’s emotional core. But it has the distinction of featuring an already married couple, which I enjoyed.

Oh, it’s also the fourth book in a series. I read it without having read the other three, and it stands alone just fine.

Conclusion:

Next time you feel the urge to watch a chick flick, read For Better and Worse instead. The title says it all. Better: this book. Worse: super dumb movies that somehow people still pay money to see. Why would you want a worse thing when you could have a better?

To read more of Zachary’s writing, and learn what else he’s up to, you can visit his website HERE.

Outlining

When I got ready to write “For Better or Worse,” I was determined to make it my best story yet. To achieve that, I decided I was going to write a thorough outline. I’d write a detailed summary of every scene. I’d make sure I hit every note that a well-pace story requires (by the way, if you’re not sure what these are, check out this article HERE.)

I wrote my outline. It took me two weeks, and when I was done, I looked at it and said, “This isn’t even the story I want to write anymore.” So I modified it. Mixed it up a little. Added scenes, deleted scenes. I still wasn’t happy. In the end, I scrapped it.

I would like to be one of those writers who outlines exhaustively—the controlled, methodical process appeals to me. But I’m not. And plenty of excellent writers aren’t. However, I think everyone would benefit from an understanding of the outlining process, and especially of those key story points that I mentioned above. Whether you plot in advance or just let your pen (or keyboard) take you places, those points should be in the back of your head somewhere.

While I probably won’t be creating a super-detailed outline for my next story, I don’t think I wasted my time working on outlining this one. I learned a lot about what works for me as a storyteller, and what doesn’t. And I think “For Better and Worse” is my best story yet, after all.