E. Kaiser Writes's Blog, page 16

Q&A: How did you come up with the name Fia?

[ Here we introduce a series of questions I've received or heard, and my responses. I hope this can serve as conversation starters, 'cause I want to hear what the rest of you think of these questions, too. Am I bonkers? (You don't have to answer that directly.) Just tell me what you think and let the readers deduce for themselves. ;-) ]

First question:

  Q: How did you come up with the name Fia? :)

  A: I can't really say how I come up with any of my names. I try to keep them short, and easy; so sometimes I'll pick a letter and experiment with attaching syllables... see how it sounds. Other times a name will pop up out of the blue; and other times I'll get a great name, and realize later that it's a version or a twist of some other name from somewhere else.
  With Fia, I think it sort of came out whole, and in a longer version; that was a close imitation of a name from a rather famous work. At first I was going to have a shortened form, to flip from long to short in a sort of formal/informal manner.
  After a while, we decided to leave it short, instead.
 Sometimes simple is best.

  I love names! I can't help it.
 How do you like to come up with names? Are there certain tricks that work well for you?
 Share your tips!

Heads Up: GiveAway by Sarah Scheele and Homeschool Authors blog

Hey!
 Texan and author Sarah Scheele is being hosted on the Homeschool Authors blog, and giving away a copy of her Facets of Fantasy book, a collection of stories.

 I had the privilege of winning this very book in an earlier giveaway, and I think you'd enjoy it if you get the chance! She's done a really nice job with it... (right now it's sitting on my sister's bedside stand; I finished it and handed it over to her! ;-)  )

 Of course, there are lots of author giveaways that go on periodically at Homeschool Authors, so if you like free reads, subscribe and stay up to date!

 And it's always fun to check out the author interviews, and see what makes them tick! There's nothing like a peek inside a creative brain. It can get crazy in there!
 
 Have fun!
 Elizabeth

Dreams of Inspiration?

Well, FB is one of those things that Writer's Digest keeps saying every writer should have, so dutiful me, I have one.
 (You all knew this, I'm sure.)

 Anyway, like every writer out there says, it is a huge time warp, as in, "Where did that time go? I was only on here a second!"

 A lot of times I find it rather boring, as people I don't know talk to people I barely, kinda know, and post pictures for people I've never met. (Though interesting, in a mild way.)

 Other times, they post LOL Cats, which leave me laughing insanely over the keyboard, and get me strange looks from those around me.

 And other times, writerly minds connect to form sparkly links that fizz with electricity over the fragile strands of the interwebs, and new and super-fun discussions take place. Even if they're just a rapid fire few moments in the comments.

I love it when this happens. 
 Absolutely LOVE IT!

 Hannah S. recently reported having a weird dream, complete with protagonist, concerning mannikins that weren't as static as they usually seem; and I thought, "Wow! I love it when that happens to me!"
 (I also think she should slap that plot line down  pronto before it slips away!)

 This got me thinking about dreams; their nearness to (and differences from) our daydreams, and where we go when we read a good book that carries us away.

 So I commented to Hannah:
 "I think a lot of folks have indeed used dreams as their inspiration. You could get at least a short story out of this one! I once had a really vivid, heart pounding sci-fi dream, I woke up, thought "Wow! That was vividly heart-pounding, and all made sense!" ...realized it was sabbath and I didn't have to work... got on the computer and didn't get off 'til it was dark.
 [I don't know how late it was... but I was so, so wanting to leave that keyboard!]

  I wrote thirteen thousand words that day, because I knew if I stopped I'd forget some of the details. And the next day was a busy work day again, so I had one shot and one shot only.
 I really, really wanted to quit several times, but I didn't let myself do it!"

 This is, I think,  my over all record word-count-per-day.
   Scratch that.
     I know it is!

 I have to work writing in at odd angles into my life, and when inspiration strikes I can do desperate things. Lots of times, I have to try to hold on to the images for hours on end until I am free to snag a computer.  Which has mixed results.
 And I usually don't hold myself hostage for a full day's stretch. It sort of results in a insulted creative brain.
 (I couldn't even look at a printed page for days afterward, as my mind recovered... with many surly snarls.)

 But I got that plot line.

 And later; I revised, edited, smoothed.
 And someday I will do something with it.
 (It kind of feels like the opening to an action packed, sci-fi novel... which knowing me, you probably could have guessed. I have difficulty writing short.)

 What about you?

     Do you use dreams? Or do you know of authors who did?

 Tell us! I know there must be more to be said!

Destiny of One giveaway complete! And the Winner Is...

Chris!
 Chris has been randomly selected by the Rafflecopter widget as the winner of the Destiny of One giveaway, generously extended to us by author Sarah Holmes.
Thanks Sarah!
And...
 Congratulations Chris! (Let us know what you think when you've finished the read! Also, Sarah would love it if you'd take a few minutes to leave an (honest) review on Amazon, Goodreads, where ever you can!)
 Chris' email address will be sent to Sarah, and she'll be receiving her winner's copy shortly!

 And everybody else, thanks for entering! Especially thanks to those who entered by answering the question, I loved your responses! It's just so much fun to hear what you all think, and it gives me such a great perspective on the subject my own self.
Thanks!
(I'll probably be sharing some of the answers in upcoming posts.)

 And we'll see you next time!

And, I know I'm not posting very methodically; summer is crazy busy for us, and I figure for lots of you too. (Am I right? Or are you sitting around wishing for more stuff to read? If I'm mistaken, tell me!)

Oooops! That didn't work so good.

Oooops! That give away attempt didn't go so smoothly... apparently I had a glitch with the Rafflecopter widget. Zip!

 So... I fixed it!

 Now it should work.

 In order to make everything really nice a clear, here are the Facts! (Don't we just love those! ;-) )
 enter in any or all ways described in the Rofflecopter widget... and the contest runs for one week; so that's until the 26th. So spread the word to anybody you think might be interested in this, and we'll so who is the lucky winner on the 27th!

  Okay, I think those are all the facts we have! Or need.

 We're good to go!

Interview & Giveaway! Sarah Holman & Destiny of One

 Today we have with us Sarah Holman, author of the Christian Sci-Fi "Destiny" trilogy, The Destiny of One, The Destiny of a Few, and The Destiny of a Galaxy. Sarah writes from the Missouri countryside, and enjoys exploring the outer reaches of possibility that sci-fi allows.


 Enter to win a e-copy of Destiny of One!

Good morning, Sarah! So glad to have you here, and it's always a blast to talk about writerly things!  Tell us... who did you base your main characters on; or are we allowed to ask that? ;-)Haha, yes, you are allowed to ask.  Maria, the main character in The Destiny Trilogy was based off of me. Her sister Anna was based off my sister Rose, her brother Daniel was based off of my brother Michael, and Quint was based off of Han Solo form Star Wars.

  With Sci-Fi as your genre, you've got the sky for a limit. With all that imaginary room to play in, what was your favorite "invention"... or something that you created uniquely for your story? Oh, that is a hard one.  I had so much fun playing among the stars it is hard to pick one thing.  However, I think my favorite creation was a very small one and not extremely unique.  It was the Star Window, it is a window huge that is hidden by panels.  When you press a button, the panels slide into the wall revealing the amazing view into space.

How did you decide what level of culture/technology to use? Was it even a question?
I wanted to story to feel believable and have the feeling that it could happen in the near future.  Other than the presence of starships, technology is only slightly more advanced then we have now.  In fact, I think that 10 years from now, most of the inventions I put in will look as silly as the computers on Star Trek do to us now.
With sci-fi being so open to interpretation, did you find you needed to do much research? And if so, where did you turn?
I did do some research, but not much. As you said sci-fi is open to interpretation, much like fantasy.  I enjoyed creating and building Maria’s world out of my imagination
Many sci-fi authors go with unusual names for their characters. Did you consider this, and what influenced your ultimate decision?
This is very true.  Most of my characters, I have a hard time naming.  However when I started writing The Destiny of One, I felt like my main character entered the room and said: “Hi, Sarah!  My name is Maria Morris.” I didn’t think about it long, her name just seemed to fit.  Many of my side characters have unique names such as Quint, Windspear, and Winter.
What is your biggest pet peeve within the science fiction genre; (Other than the un-Christian slants. I think we can all acknowledge that one!) So... Plotwise?Many sci-fi writer’s use the genre to make people afraid of the future, and I hate that.  That doesn’t mean that only good things can happen in the book, but the message of the book shouldn’t be one that makes people afraid.

What about World-building wise?
I don’t like a lot of weird creatures.  I know it comes with most sci-fi but I just don’t like.  I wish there were more without.
If you were advising the soon-to-be author of your next hugely-favorite sci-fi novel, what would you say? "Make sure it has...?"
Make sure it has lots of adventure and action!  Those are two of the things that drew me into writing science fiction in the first place; all the possibilities for action and adventure.
Anything else you would like to say to readers and writers of Christian Sci-Fi?Think outside the box. Build your own worlds, don’t just copy what you have seen. Whatever you do, make sure your faith shines in all you write.

Blessings,Sarah

 Thanks so much for chatting with us, Sarah! I love your perspective!  

 Here are the links where you can get in touch with, or learn more about her.
Sarah's Books
The Destiny of One
Meditations of His LoveHomeschool Authors

  a Rafflecopter giveaway

The First Piece You Ever Wrote

"What got you started writing?" That's a common question for writers to receive. I've posted about how that happened with me here.
 But I came across a different, and possibly much more meaningful question. "What was you're first writing experience?"
 And remembering it explained a lot of things to me, that I hadn't made a connection between before.

  As I recall, my first "story" was when I was nine. When I gave it to Mom I didn't intend for her to read it out loud, but she must have thought it was something special; 'cause she did.
 (Um... maybe she thought it would be encouraging to me? Well...)
 My siblings laughed, and their laughter wasn't the "that's hilarious!" kind. More like... ridiculing. Even homeschoolers have to deal with a peer group that isn't always kind! ;-)
  Anyway, my two older sibs weren't impressed. At all. It kind of got a "Who do you think you are? Some writer or something?" reaction. Pretty dampening.
  Not that the story was stellar! I mean, I was nine. It was no literary marvel. But still...
 The event kept my nose in a book and my hands away from creating fiction for some time.  It wasn't until I wrote a particularly well-liked letter that I even considered I might have any talent with the words I loved very much. (As kids, we always gave our letters to someone older to check for spelling.) This one received some critical acclaim, which surprised and encouraged me.
  I thought; "Wow. Maybe there's something special about my writing after all." Which was a nice boost, and I applied myself to the art of writing letters well; until I was about thirteen, and got enough courage up to try fiction again.
 Mom also is a lover of poetry, and did encourage that, so I wrote some...
 But again... the sibs see it and you'll get scorned!
 Hide the poetry!
  IF you show it to Mom, make sure nobody else is around! :-)
 
  In my late teens, when I was actively seeking feedback on my writing, I would be palm-sweating nervous when I actually handed it over. (I desperately wanted to hear their reactions, but was in a cold sweat at the same time.) Even if it was only to Dad, who has a huge and undemanding appetite for the written word in all its forms. (And is possibly my surest, and blindest, fan. He loves everything I write... which makes me doubt his judgement! But I love him for it anyway!)
  
  To this day I get pretty nervous when I show my work to others. I've gotten better, and braver... but it's still there.

 What was your first writing experience? Did it make you scared of sharing, or did that come later? Tell me I'm not alone here! ;-)

It's a beautiful Spring!

 Jeweler's Apprentice is now priced at $2.99, and many thanks to all who made the recent giveaway, and then sale, such a success! I hope you enjoyed the read, and I'd love to hear your thoughts on it!
  In that spirit, I'll be working on a little list of questions that will make it easy for you all to send me feedback on the book... It's in the works, and if you'd like to suggest a question to be included, I'd Love to hear from you!
  Thanks so much!
 P.S. It's just So Gorgeous outside lately! :-)

Results are In! Give Away Complete... for really! ;-)

 Thanks for everyone who participated! We had a good turnout, with 497 copies were downloaded!

 I've set Jeweler's Apprentice at .99 cents for anyone who missed the giveaway, but would really like a copy. So, have fun, everybody!

Give Away Complete! Hip-Hip-Hurray!

 Good Evening... Ladies and Gentleman!

(Mostly ladies, I guess, judging by the comments. ;-) )

 We have now completed our Month of March Give Away!
 Thanks for all who entered, and thanks for all the questions! I had such a fun time answering them... I love talking book-talk!

  Because of all the sweet things you said, and how you all hoped you'd win... we wanted that too!

   Sooo... we've decided to do that!

 You Are ALL Winners!

{Thunderous Applause!}

 Starting tomorrow, the e-book of Jeweler's Apprentice will be a FREE download on Amazon, to each and every one of you who entered; and for anyone else who'd like it! This is for you, all you lovely people who have brightened and encouraged my beginning attempts on the blog-sphere.
 Thanks so much for your comments and kind words and encouragements... words really can't capture how much that's meant to me. (Wordsmith or no, sometimes they still fail me! ;-) )

 This extended Give Away Finale will run till April 3rd.. hopefully ensuring that each and every one of you loverly peoples can get it downloaded within that time!
   (I know some of you dears run a little late. ;-) So this one's for you! Be sure to get it before midnight on the 3rd! {That's PST, for reference.}  Now I feel like Cinderella's fairy godmother... )

 And I loved getting all those questions from you all... I liked it so much I rather think I ran away with the lengthy answers!
 But, I'll give them each a more prominent place in the spotlight, (because they're so cute they deserve it) by showcasing them in upcoming posts.
 And please, if you have any other thoughts... just shoot them at me! I love hearing from you, and I really love the way you get me to thinking on things from a different angle. It's terrific!