Anne Elisabeth Stengl's Blog, page 31

Drawing Hair Tutorial: Guest Post by Lauren

Dear Imps, during the Fan Fiction contest, a lovely piece called The Golden Light was submitted, along with a stunning illustration of Starflower (aka. Dame Imraldera). I was so impressed by Lauren's drawing ability, particularly her hair! And she very graciously agreed to do a tutorial on her method . . . which I now have the pleasure of presenting to you!

So, without further ado, I give you:

Lauren on Drawing Hair       Final Drawing    Thank you so much, Lauren! You are quite the talent, and I appreciate you taking the time to share your secrets. What do you think, imps? Ready to draw some hair??? I need to go pull out my pencils and give this a try . . .   

Music I Am Currently Listening To (Perhaps on Repeat)

I'm not one to soundtrack my novels, and I have the greatest difficulty listening to music while working (usually . . . some days I can put on a little gentle instrumental and it might be okay). However, as I've been pounding away on Book 7 in the Tales of Goldstone Wood, a couple of songs have been sticking in my head. And I thought perhaps you might enjoy them as well.

The first of those songs is "Les Sans Papier" from the musical Notre Dame de Paris.

Let me s'plain: In my current story, there are three dominant people groups living in the same land. One of those people groups, the Chhayans, are the displaced original inhabitants. They have a long-standing, bitter hatred of their supplanters--the Kitar--who stole not only their land, but also their religion.

So, while this song is not the same story by any means, whenever I listen to it, I hear some of the bitterness of the Chhayan people, crying out at the injustice they feel both from their conquerors and from their goddess.

 If you are unfamiliar with this particular French-language musical, I do highly recommend it. I was more than a little obsessed with it (and the novel on which it is based) when I was 20. And I still really love it! In fact, I love it so much, I'll share one more video from it. This is "Lune," and it's sung by Gringoire, the poet. Any surprise that it makes me think of a certain character in my stories? :)  Seriously, doesn't that make you think of Eanrin? Especially if you read the translation (though the original French is much better!). Eanrin would, I think, sing of his heartbreak to the Moon. And his voice probably sounds very much like Bruno Pelletier. (Though I'm open to other alternatives if you think another's voice is better match!) So I could keep posting Notre Dame de Paris videos all evening if I'm not careful. Thus I will move on. This next song is one that I don't listen to very often. I really can't. It moves me to tears every time. And I'm not a mother! I don't know if I'll be able to listen to this should I ever have children. So you are fairly warned.  Obviously, this song is based on events in the Biblical King David's life, and it does not have a direct correlation to my books. But my current manuscript deals with Hymlumé and her children. I don't want to spoil it for those of you who haven 't read Moonblood, but Hymlumé's story has it's share of tragedy. And if she were to sing of her heartache, I think it would sound very much like this song. Especially if joined in her song by those of her children who remain to her. Oh, dear. I'm listening to it as I type, and now I'm crying. I don't usually cry for music! I might have to switch to something else . . . . A number of Eric Whitacre's wonderful pieces makes me think of Hymlumé and her children. The sound of a thousand voice joined together. Sigh. But again, I'll leave this for now and move on. Okay, this next one is rather random . . . particularly considering that I'm not that wild about Disney's Pocahontas. It's my husband's favorite Disney movie (he loves the music and the sad ending), but the story just isn't my favorite. However, my husband got me to listen to the soundtrack. And then I started really, really liking the soundtrack. And then I was writing Goddess Tithe . . . and this final instrumental piece filled my head while I wrote the last chapter of that story.  Let it be here noted that the story of Goddess Tithe is nothing like that of Pocahontas. But the musical mood created is, I think, just about perfect for that last chapter. (You'll have to tell me if you think I'm right after you've read the book for yourself). Okay, one more. Let's end on a completely different mood!  I think my current heroine might possibly react to a certain other character in a manner similar to this. Maybe not exactly like this, but very similar. :) But I'll say no more for now. (Isn't it just a darling song, though? I mean, really! Rohan sent me this song when we started dating and said it made him think of me . . . and I've liked it ever since.)

Okay, was that a bit eclectic? I'm afraid that's a fairly good summary of my musical tastes right there. Not much rhyme or reason to it!

What are some songs you are currently stuck on? Do share!

Illustration for SHADOW HAND

Dear Imps, as some of you already know, once in a while, the artist side of me wants to come out and play, and I forgo writing for a little doodling instead. This year, I've been learning photo-manipulation, which is fun . . . a very different art form than my usual, but fun!

Bard Eanrin and Dame Imraldera have been fan favorites since . . . well I think since Book 1, honestly! So while Shadow Hand is not focused on them (they are major characters, but not the protagonists, per se), I decided to do an illustration featuring them anyway. I'd found the image of this girl months ago and had been planning to use her for an Imraldera-themed piece ever since. This seemed like a good opportunity.

After all, there are some big changes coming up in their relationship come Shadow Hand . . .

Stock Credit: A-StockSo, what do you think? I know, I know, Eanrin is in a hood, not a hat . . . but it's tough to find stock photos with exactly the right outfits, and I think this fellow works pretty well on the whole.
 If you'd like to share this illustration as a blog button on your sidebars, please link it back to the Shadow Hand blog page. Hope you enjoyed the image. And I hope you'll all be grabbing copies of Shadow Hand this winter! 

Friday Tidbits: Research and the Fantasy Novel--Part Two

So last week I discussed some small-scale, detail-oriented research I have found to be important while creating a believable fantasy world. This week, I'll talk a little about some of the BIG-scale research I have done, in the hopes that you might find some helpful ideas. As always, these are things which have worked for me, and they very well might not work for you at all. But they're worth considering!

1. Magic. I have a copy of Frazer's The Golden Bough , which I have found very helpful and inspiring over the years. It is full of interesting information on various religious beliefs, superstitions, festivals and so forth throughout the history of the world. The beliefs about magic can be just as useful as any sparkly-enchantment magic I might ever invent on my own. There are some really horrifying moments in this book, but it is all interesting. It's good, if you're planning to pursue fantasy, to have a basic grounding in our-world perspectives on magic, superstition, and the otherworld. It includes ideas such as the "priest king," the "king for a day," the "white goddess," rites of spring and winter, beliefs concerning trees, and so many more. It's both dark and very dry by turns, but I've found it incredibly useful when attempting to create a believable world.

(Note: this is not a book about the practice of witchcraft or anything of that nature. It is a scholarly text on historical beliefs and practices.)

2. Poetry . . . particularly Shakespeare. I never read as much poetry as I should, but there are a wealth of themes and archetypes to be found among the poets, not to mention wonderful images of Faerie and otherworldy spirits. No one beats Shakespeare for his wonderful depictions of Faerie. But there are so many others, including Christina Rossetti (Goblin Market), Percy Shelley (Queen Mab: A Philosophical Poem), Tennyson (The Splendor Falls . . . The Lady of Shallot), and more. Also a familiarity with some of the old ballads (Tam Lin comes to mind) can be very helpful. I have tried to memorize a number of fairy-related poems and monologues so that even the rhythms and cadences of the other world are in my brain, ready to use.

3. History. The time period and culture of the world you're creating will determine what sorts of history books you want to pick up. For instance, the novel I am currently writing is set in my Noorhitam Empire, which is loosely Asian-based. So, before beginning this novel, I read several books and numerous articles on old Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Malaysian, Thai, and Cambodian cultures, using bits and pieces of what I learned to create a culture and variety of sub-cultures all my own. The point is not to recreate our history, but to find ways to make your own more authentic and believable. I have found particularly useful the study of caste systems, political structures (where does the power truly lie? With the emperor? His lords? His priests? His queen?), inheritance practices, the blending of cultures after invasions, the roles of women, the middle classes, the peasant classes, sources of revenue . . . that's just to name a few off the top of my head! (No one said research was easy . . . but it can be fascinating, depending on your sources.)

4. Have a healthy understanding of some basic literary archetypes, their origins, and their roles in history and literature. An author who does this just brilliantly (in my opinion) is Sir Terry Pratchett. His use of the "Maiden, Mother, and Crone" archetype is wonderful. Also his understanding of traditional Woman's Magic (natural and earth-bound) versus Men's Magic (scholarly and cerebral). Of course, in his world, the magic actually works! But the reason it feels so believable is because he based it off of established literary archetypes. It's wonderful.

There are dozens and dozens of archetypes to choose from, of course. You could spend a lifetime studying them all and coming up with new ways to include them in your manuscripts.


Anyway, those are some of the broad-scale forms of research I have pursued (and continue to pursue) for my fantasy novels. I'm sure there are others which I am forgetting at the moment, but I am hungry, and my husband is making some pretty amazing-smelling hot sandwiches, so my concentration is not what it might be . . . .

What about you? What sorts of broad-scale research have you done for your writing? Anything you'd like to add to my list? (Remember, this is for broad-scale, not details . . . the details were last week.)

Books, Cats, and Whimsy

Hi, readers! I'm excited to introduce my own mother's new blog to you. I've been urging her for years to start blogging again (she used to keep a Xanga back in the day), and finally today, she has launched Books, Cats, and Whimsy for your blog-reading pleasure.

And I got to design it . . . Cute, right?

 Click HERE to go to her blog and be sure to follow it. I can promise you that it will be full of all things bookish, feline, and whimsical, with the occasional writing tip (she is an award-winning-bestseller after all!) thrown in for good measure. You can also start watching for news of her new release . . . because, yes, after a ten year hiatus, Jill Stengl is about to jump back into the world of publishing! Proud Daughter Squeal: Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

More On That Fan Fiction . . . .

  Dear imps, just because the Fan Fiction Contest is over, doesn't mean the Fan Fiction itself is! I would like to alert you to the Recent Tales page on Dame Imraldera's Library. We received a new tale just yesterday called The Lady of Ice, and it is quite an exciting epic story, which I think you will enjoy! Do take the time to read Charissa's work, and feel free to send in any more Tales of your own whenever you see fit. Thank you for sharing with us all of your fabulous creativity!  

Fan Fiction Contest 2013: The Winners!

Dear Imps, the time has come to declare the winners of the 2013 Fan Fiction Contest. This year, there were even more wonderful stories than last year, with new voices and familiar voices both sharing their creative ideas. There were sad stories, funny stories, stories to make you think. There was beautiful poetry, whimsical poetry, poetry meant for songs. So many lovely contributions, and every one of the writers involved received her share of the votes!

But in the end, the winners are:

Third Place   In what he believes will be his final letter, Bard Eanrin tells the story of his encounter with a very strange world . . . and makes a startling declaration. Click HERE to read The Last Days of Bard Eanrin. Congratulations, Hannah! You have won your choice of any one of the Tales of Goldstone Wood. Email me to claim your prize. Second Place  In response to a pleading letter from her uncle, Wren Crummels hastens to his remote estate, Castcaglia Manor. When she arrives, she meets her uncle's unusual guests who have gathered to investigate a possible haunting . . . . Click HERE to read The Prisoner of Castcaglia. Congratulations, Clara! You have won your choice of any two Tales of Goldstone Wood. Email me to claim your prize. And now . . . the winner of this year's Goldstone Wood Fan Fiction Contest is:First Place  As she prepares Princess Una for her wedding day, Nurse recalls her own former romance of long ago . . . and the choices which led her away from him. Click HERE to read For Love of a Princess. Congratulations, Erin! You have won a copy of Shadow Hand (as soon as it releases!) and your choice of two other Tales of Goldstone Wood. Email me to claim your prizes. _______ Do take time to congratulate our three talented winners, and be certain to read their stories if you haven't already! And now, I have one more fun surprise to share with all of you . . . . Over the last several weeks, talented Goldstone Wood Imps, Beka and Hannah, have been working hard at a secret project for me. Today, to celebrate, not only the winners, but also all the other wonderful fan fiction written by all of you, I am pleased to unveil the results of their labors! I give you . . . .  Click HERE to enter the library! Enjoy browsing! I hope to see it grow for many years to come. I hope you all have a wonderful weekend. I will see you back here next year for the third annual Goldstone Wood Fan Fiction Contest!  

Friday Tidbits: Research and the Fantasy Novel--Part 1

So, when you write a fantasy novel, you just make stuff up. Right?

Actually, no. Not if you want to create a world with a sense of authenticity behind it. Even the most fantastic of worlds require a bit of research and preparation before the fun of overt creativity begins.

For me, research is a bit of an eclectic business at best. Oh, don't get me wrong! I take it seriously enough. But it's hard to know, when concocting a tale of dragons, unicorns, interlinked worlds, etc. what exactly to research. So I tend to do it on an as-it-comes-up basis.

Here are some things that I have found myself stopping mid-scene to research and which might, depending on your personality and creative preferences, be worth looking into before sitting down to the story proper.

1. What do my characters eat? How do they eat it? Make certain the culture you're establishing has the wherewithal to create or barter for whatever utensils or flatware are in use. How is the food prepared? What sorts of spices are available for flavor? Do they have salt? Even if you don't end up including all of these details in the manuscript (I don't believe I ever have!), knowing the answers for yourself helps to create a groundwork for believability.

2. What do my characters wear? What sorts of fibers would go into cloth-weaving? Or do they (as with Starflower's people) wear skins? Might be helpful, in that case, to research tanning, at least a smidge. What sorts of undergarments were they likely to have? Outer garments? Ornamentation? Again, these are not details that need to be (or even should be) included in exhaustive detail. But they are good to know.

Similarly, have an idea about hair styles. Depending on the culture, style of hair can denote a number of important facts concerning rank and position or even personality. Look at Leta, who wasn't even permitted to show her hair. Or Una, whose messy braid became a bit of a trademark, demonstrating a flare for rebellion in her spirit. My current heroine wears different hairstyles depending on the specific character she is portraying to the world at large, and the difference between a twist and a braid can be of great importance.

Note: Hair color is not as important a detail as hair style. Hair color is a matter of genetics; hair style is a matter of culture.

3. Forms of transportation. Some of you horsewomen will have a much easier time over this than the rest of us. I, for one, have had just enough experience with horses (riding lessons when I was 7 and 8. Did you know they say that it takes three falls to make a rider? I've had two. So I'm no rider.) to know that I know nothing about them. It is rare that you'll find any of my characters on horseback. I just don't feel as though I can write them authentically. In my current work-in-progress, I avoided the issue of horses by sticking my heroine and company on a big plodding mule and a cluster of shaggy donkeys. (Not that I know anything more about mules and donkeys . . . it's just become a point of principle!)

I did have to research the mules and donkeys, familiarize myself with some of the various breeds, basic care, temperaments, etc. My mother (who is a horsewoman) is a good source of information. If nothing else, she serves to remind me that horses (donkeys and mules) are not furry bicycles and should not be treated as such.

There are other forms of transportation to be considered. A working knowledge of carriages, curricles, coaches and the like is helpful. What it costs to own and maintain them, how many men are needed to service them, etc. Figure out if yours is a society that even has the ability to make certain types of carriages or carts and, if not, what they would have instead. Then discover whether or not your characters are affluent enough to own them.

Seriously, even if you stick your characters on a magic carpet, it's worth it to do the research on carpet-making, the history of the magic carpet legends, and so forth. It's all about creating a sense of authenticity. You don't have to be an authority . . . but you should be able to drop just enough information here and there that you sound like one.

4. Lighting. What sorts of light sources are available to your characters? Oil lamps? Gas lamps? Torches? Candles? What sorts of candles? Rushes? Paper lanterns? Again, make certain your setting has the proper resources to provide for the types of light sources used. It's amazing what a difference this simple research can make to the authenticity of a scene. I spent time researching various types of candles and their makings when I wrote Dragonwitch. For my current novel, I researched earthenware lamps and paper lanterns.

Okay, those are the first few basic things that come to mind. But there are tons of other little things that can crop up depending on the story. With Dragonwitch, I researched chronicling arts, book-binding, ink-making, calligraphy, parchment-making etc. I researched various types of ovens that would be available in those days (though I ended up deleting the scenes that involved this research). I researched cloth-making and encaustic tile-making, and none of that information ended up in the manuscript, but it simply let me know whether the inclusion of certain cloths or encaustic tiles was appropriate for my time period.

In my current manuscript-in-progress I spent some time researching poisons in general, gold leaf poisoning in specific. Now there is some interesting (and gruesome) reading!

All of this is very as-you-come-to-it research. I'll post next week on some of the broader-scale research I have done in preparation for writing a fantasy novel.

So what about you? What kind of research have you done for your various projects? Come upon any interesting little tidbits recently? What are some basics you think would be helpful to research to create a realistic world?

Interview Feature: Introducing Meredith Leigh Burton

Dear Imps, many of you know Meredith already via her award-winning fan fiction from the 2012 Goldstone Wood Fan Fiction contest. She also submitted wonderful fan fiction to this year's contest (there's still time to vote!), contributes thoughtful comments, and offers encouragement to all of us on a regular basis.

You might not have realized that she is also a published author.

So today, I invited Meredith to join us for an interview. Below, she will tell you about her writing experiences, her favorite author, her various published works and works in progress, and she'll share an excerpt from her fantasy adventure, Crimilia. What is more, she is offering a giveaway for a print copy of Crimilia, so don't miss out on a chance to enter your name!

About the Author: Meredith Leigh Burton, born July 4, 1983,  is a graduate of the Tennessee School for the Blind in Nashville and Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro. Her love affair with books began at an early age. She devoured every book she could get her hands on, either in Braille or audio. She has a Bachelor's Degree in English and theater, and is a certified English teacher for grades 7-12.
Her debut novel was published through Tate Publishing, a mainline publishing house dedicated to working with aspiring novelists and giving their works a great chance in the marketplace. Find her website at: crimilia.tateauthor.com.

And here is a little about her debut novel:

A benevolent baker… a diabolical queen… an ancient prophecy… and a secret strength that can only be found in two very special people.
Hannah Wilkins is bitter. In addition to being teased at school about her weight, she has now been struck blind in a terrible accident, causing her to lose all sense of normalcy, and her tight-knit family. She struggles through every day, each of which only seems to get worse than the last, until one fateful morning when her bus hits a deer and the resulting jolt sends her flying into another universe.

Brandon Pringle struggles every day to fit in and function like the rest of the children at his school. Afflicted by a debilitating limp, he doesn’t seem to be useful to anyone. But when he is thrown from the school bus and lands on an unfamiliar riverbank, everything he knows about himself is completely overturned.

Tossed together in the unfamiliar and turbulent land of Crimilia, Hannah and Brandon must fight their way through the unfamiliar landscapes of jealousy, greed, temptation, and hate in order to help restore peace to a land run by a tyrant. With the help of a few friends and through the goodness of a kindly baker named Jamal, they might just succeed in freeing the citizens of Crimilia from the ruthless Queen Salak. Join author Meredith Burton for an unforgettable tale of friendship, faith, and perseverance in the land of Crimilia.

Interview Welcome to Goldstone Wood, Meredith! Would you mind telling us a little about yourself? Hobbies, personality . . . tea or coffee?

Meredith: I’d be happy too.  To begin with, I was born on July 4, 1983.  Being three months’ premature, I was placed under oxygen so that my lungs could complete their development.  God was gracious in that everything developed fine.  However, the long exposure to the oxygen caused my retinas to scar and detach.  Yet, I am blessed to have a wonderful family who opened up the world to me through their encouragement to explore using my other senses.

I find solace in music and other forms of art, and I express myself best through writing and music.  I was a loner, particularly in elementary and middle school.  During high school, I joined choir and was involved in theater, so that helped me to break out of my shell.  I love getting to know people, so it usually doesn’t take me very long to make friends.  I am a voracious reader, I love singing, helping with church activities and spending time with my family and friends.

Coffee or tea? Both, but especially coffee on a cold winter’s day.  Mind you, I have a killer sweet tooth, so when I say coffee, it’s basically cream and sugar with just a splash of coffee for appearances’ sake.  I am an espresso addict, however, so I must avoid coffee shops or I will succumb to temptation every time.

What led you into the writing life? Were you always a storyteller?

Meredith: I’ve always had stories dancing around in my head but never seriously considered writing as a career.  When I was little, I wrote stories, (usually ones that I didn’t finish), and I never showed them to anyone.  I read continuously, and my mother read to me a lot when I was young, so I’ve always had an adoration for words and how stories are developed.

In college, I began as a music major.  However, I wasn’t accepted into the university’s music program.  So, being a lover of literature, I changed my major to English with an emphasis in secondary education.  After college, I applied for positions and went for several interviews, but I was never hired.  This was a particularly depressing time for me, but something kept nudging at me, a persistent desire to write a story.  Thinking that nothing would come of it, yet knowing it was better than feeling sorry for myself, I sat down and began to seriously write for the first time.  God has opened so many doors through my writing that I am still overwhelmed.  I have had many wonderful opportunities to speak at schools and churches, educating teenagers about blindness and sharing the ways that God has helped me through the years.  In addition, I’ve gotten to work with an exceptional middle school English teacher.  We just never know what marvelous plans God has in store, and his ideas for our lives are more amazing than we could ever dream.

Tell us a little about your work! What led you to start writing Crimilia? Will there be a sequel?

Meredith: I have always adored fantasy literature because it reiterates the truth that good ultimately triumphs, (not without major sacrifice, of course).  However,Crimilia began with a complaint that has always bothered me about the fantasy genre.  There are so few fantasy books that feature disabled protagonists.  Mind you, fantasy has to have an element of believability, (a sword-wielding blind girl might not be feasible).  Sir Eanrin has me rethinking this! Anyway, I wanted to write a story in which two ordinary children with physical challenges find themselves being called to fight against evil.  Also, there are very few current fantasy novels available to the blind population in accessible formats, (a major gripe of mine).  The book industry seems perfectly willing to produce audio versions of vampire stories or things of that nature, but finding edifying fantasy novels is very difficult.  I wanted to write a story which was relatable to disabled individuals and which would be available for them to read.  So, Crimilia is available in audio as well as electronic and paperback additions.

Crimilia was also inspired by a Bible study in the Gospel of John.  I was amazed at the many figurative ways in which Jesus describes himself.  John 6:35 jumped out at me one day, and a character began to take shape, a baker whose food contains life-giving properties.  I could actually smell bread baking and visualize a small, unimpressive-looking bakery that was more than it seemed.  A man stood at a makeshift table kneading dough, and strength emanated from him.  The other characters took shape soon after that.

Yes, a sequel is in the works.  Soral’s Rising is in the final editing stage.  It should be available in February or March of 2014.

Have you published other works as well?

Meredith: Yes.  My second novel, The Jarah Portal, is set in a world where everyone is blind.  Called Tactiria, the world is technologically advanced, featuring machines and other items particularly geared for the blind inhabitants.  Tactiria appears to be an ideal world because the people are valued not for their looks but for their abilities.  However, evil lurks beneath the surface.  The novel is basically a coming-of-age tale in which the two protagonists must learn the truth about their world and must decide if they can trust a mysterious stranger.  The strange man uses odd words such as look and color.  Everyone is frightened of him.  This story was a joy to write because I got to explore one of my favorite themes: What truly makes a person different, and does being different automatically mean you are dangerous?

Can you pick a favorite character from Crimilia?

Meredith: Naturally, I relate the strongest with Hannah Wilkins, the main protagonist.  She is an embittered thirteen-year-old girl struggling to come to terms with her recent loss of sight.  An accomplished flutist, she has abandoned her talent and shows very little interest in life, seeking solace only in food.  She is often the victim of bullying and verbal abuse because of her weight, (an issue that I myself struggled with, particularly when I was little).  Crimilia is a story not only about Hannah’s journey in the alternate land, but also a journey into herself.

Another favorite character is one who is almost non-appearing.  She is a scullery maid named Madeleine.  She’s brooding, and you never know what she’ll say or do.  I like her because she reminds me of one of my cousins, and because some of her actions are things I might do in similar situations.  She and Hannah are actually a lot alike even though they are from different worlds.

What inspires your work? Where do you turn when you need a renewal of inspiration?

Meredith: Scripture inspires my work, particularly Zephaniah 3:17.  The knowledge that the all-powerful, infinite God watches over us, that this “Mighty Warrior” seeks to save us, that he loves us so much we make him sing, is utterly incredible.  That verse gives me so much comfort. Music and poetry are huge sources of inspiration as well.  Any type of music will bring about ideas for a character or theme, but I particularly love Broadway show tunes because, of course, they are so character driven.  Regarding music that inspired Crimilia, two hymns really jumped out at me: “A Mighty Fortress is Our God,” and “Oh Sacred Head, Now Wounded.”  Poetry from the Victorian Era, particularly works by Christina Rossetti and Gerard Manley Hopkins give me ideas as well.  Temptation sequences in Crimilia took root in my mind when I read Christina Rossetti’s powerful fairy tale poem entitled “Goblin Market.” I also get ideas from John Donne’s Holy Sonnets. My nieces, Aliya Davine and Tristyn Layla are huge sources of inspiration.  Their antics and Tristyn’s profound questions always make me think.  What are your favorite and least favorite parts of the writing process?  Meredith: My favorite parts of the writing process are the creation of dialogue and characterization.  I love how conversation flows when you really get into a scene.  I’m not a formal outliner, (though I like to know where a story’s going), but I love how scenes take shape and surprise you.  It’s truly astounding how often this happens, and I find myself asking if I really wrote that.  The characters seem to take over at certain points. My least favorite part is determining what scenes to cut during the revision stage.  I’m very wordy, and I know things must be cut, but it’s very difficult for me.
If you were forced to pick a single favorite author, who would it be?

Meredith: Ouch! I know this is a clichéd answer, but I have to say C.S. Lewis.  He was the first fantasy author I ever encountered, and I will never forget my sense of wonder at stepping into Narnia with Lucy Pevensie for the first time.  His imagery is so profound.  I’ll never forget dismantling my closet one day, throwing clothes to the floor and groping for the back of the wall, desperately seeking my own entrance into that wonderful land.  Lewis’s books for adults are outstanding as well.  I love his candor.  He doesn’t mind expressing his honest feelings toward God, (even his anger), yet I believe he was a very devout and humble man.  My favorite of his adult works is his retelling of the myth of Cupid and Psyche, Till We Have Faces.  It’s a book I thoroughly recommend, particularly if you’re going through a difficult time in your life.

What are you actively writing right now?

Meredith: I am writing a short story entitled “Eleanora’s Quest.” It’s a tale that combines elements from three of my favorite fairy tales, but I won’t say which ones.

Would you share a short snippet from Crimilia with us?

Meredith: Absolutely! Here is a scene in chapter 3.  It takes place shortly after Hannah arrives at Plenty Palace.

excerpt fromCrimilia The room was dark and cool. On the walls, jeweled tapestries shone with many colors.            In the center of the room on a golden throne, a slender woman sat ensconced among plush cushions. Her heart-shaped face was framed by billowing strawberry blonde locks. Ice blue eyes shone from the alabaster pallor of her skin.The woman wore a crimson dress of the finest silk covered in every imaginable jewel: ruby, emerald, jasper, diamond, and dozens of other precious stones.            The woman raised a commanding hand, and a man in the corner looked up inquiringly. “Bring me my mirror!”            The man nodded and withdrew.  In a moment he returned, placing a large cherry-framed mirror before his queen.            The mirror was made of imported Venetian glass studded with strange gems of indescribable beauty. Only the queen knew that the stones were the Gems of Discord, deadly objects that lay entombed in the bowels of Crimilia’s wastelands. Using these gems, she’d fashioned her greatest tool: the Mirror of Revelation.  This mirror served as her looking glass and spying tool.  With it, she could monitor her subjects and summon them when necessary.On the cherry-colored frame of this mirror, small pictures of flowers and blooming trees swayed in a lifelike breeze. In the center of the frame, a carving of a red rose overshadowed all others. Its petals opened wide as if spreading its perfume throughout the room. Only if you looked closely could you distinguish the small carving that emerged from the rose’s center. The carving was of a scarlet serpent coiled as if to strike.            The queen stared in rapture at her breathtaking image.            Suddenly, the throne room door crashed open. “Queen Salak! The guards have found a girl wandering about the palace grounds!” a black-cloaked man yelled.            Salak looked up from her perusal. “Aufeld. What is that to me? Do what you like with her.”            “She’s blind, my queen!” Aufeld cried desperately.            Salak sucked in her breath. Her left hand convulsed as it slapped the arm of her throne. “It can’t be!”            “I thought it best to come to you right away.”            “Bring her to me,” Salak whispered in icy tones.            When the throne room door closed, Salak turned to her mirror and gazed fixedly into its depths. A twisted smile suffused her pale features. “Show me Jamal,” she murmured.            The glass clouded, and she peered transfixed at the image of her enemy. He was moving determinedly forward, purpose driven, and refusing to look back.Yes, she thought, keep coming closer. I’m waiting!            The throne room door opened, and Aufeld propelled a young girl forward. The girl was struggling in his iron grip. “Let me go!” she screeched. The girl wore a red, short-sleeved shirt and blue pants woven from a coarse-looking material. She clutched a strange object.            “Aufeld,” Salak’s voice crooned gently, “there’s no need to alarm our guest. Release her.”            “But, Your Highness—”            “Do as I say.”            Growling deep in his throat, Aufeld complied. He thrust Hannah toward the throne. Her cane clattered to the floor. Hannah stumbled.            “Where am I? Somebody help me!” Hannah shouted. She groped for her cane.            A hand brushed hers as the cane was handed back. “Is this what you’re looking for, my dear?” Salak’s voice was gentle and bell-like.            “Thank you,” Hannah managed to whisper. “Where am I?”            “You’re in Plenty Palace in the Land of Crimilia. What is your name?”            “I’m Hannah Wilkins. I’m from Tennessee.”            “Tennessee? What land is that?” the woman asked sharply.            “It’s in the United States.  This must be England.  Your accent--”            “England? You are a strange child.  How did you acquire that large swelling on your head?”            “I don’t know!” Hannah cried in frustration.            “Aufeld!  Have Louise doctor that bump on her head, and get some food inside her. Then bring her back to me.”            Aufeld nodded. “Come, child,” he said gruffly.            “You’re not grabbing me this time!” Hannah snapped.            Salak laughed a bubbling laugh. “Of course not, my dear! You may use the peculiar apparatus you brought with you.”            “It’s called a cane,” Hannah informed her.            When the throne room door had closed, the queen turned back to her mirror. “Reveal the information about Hannah Wilkins,” she instructed. The mirror shimmered, and Salak leaned forward to peer at images of the girl’s life. She smiled in satisfaction. Everything would work out to her advantage. _____________  Thank you, Meredith, both for a lovely interview and a lovely excerpt! It was delightful to have you visit today . . . and I hope we will see you again for many more book features. Now, dear imps, are you excited about Crimilia? If so, do take the time to enter your name in the giveaway below! http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/0cd52415/" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

Five Glass Slippers: Almost Halfway!

 We are now three months into the Five Glass Slippers creative writing contest! I, and the editors of Rooglewood Press, have already received and read a number of wonderful submissions. And I know many more will soon be on their way. I've been so impressed by the wide variety of ideas displayed by each of these authors, all of whom are recreating the age-old story of "Cinderella."

Despite the familiarity of the storyline, they have all still managed to take me by surprise and leave me eager to find out how it will all end!

With the December 31st deadline still a good distance off, I'm sure none of you who have quite hit Mad Scramble Mode yet. So I thought, Let's enjoy the creativity before it gets stressful . . . .

If you are participating (or hoping to participate) in the contest, do share with us the working title of your story and a 1-3 sentence summary of the premise (no spoilers!) in the comments below. If you're feeling really brave, perhaps even share the first 3-4 sentences. Maybe we can all encourage each other, applaud the creativity, and look forward with eager anticipation to so many wonderful fairy tales in our readerly future.

Oh, and if you haven't heard of the contest yet . . . .


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