Janalyn Voigt's Blog, page 19
March 15, 2014
Guest Author Journal from Jennifer Hallmark: Solitary or Sociable? One Writer’s Perspective
Jennifer Hallmark explores the relationship between writing and solitude in today’s guest author journal. For my part, I don’t write well in a crowd. Solitude seems to be mother’s milk for my creativity. Thanks for reading, and if you’d like to weigh in on Jennifer’s topic, please do so in the comments below her post.
Janalyn
About Jennifer Hallmark
Jennifer is a writer by nature, an artist at heart, and a daughter of God by His grace. She loves to read detective fiction from the Golden Age, watch movies like Lord of the Rings, and play with her two precious granddaughters. At times, she writes.
Jennifer and her husband, Danny, have spent their married life in Alabama, are blessed with grown children, granddaughters and a basset hound, Max.
Her website is Alabama-Inspired Fiction and she shares a writer’s reference blog, Writing Prompts & Thoughts & Ideas…Oh My! with friends, Christina, John, Ginger, Tammy, Don, and Betty. She and Christina Rich share an encouraging blog for readers called The Most Important Thing. Her first book, a compilation project called A Dozen Apologies released in February.
About A Dozen Apologies
In college, Mara and her sorority sisters played an ugly game. They’d date men considered geeks, win their confidence, and then dump them publicly.
The tables turn after college when Mara loses her job and boyfriend. Mara’s heart is pierced by her actions toward the twelve men she’d wronged in college, and she sets out to apologize to each of them.
Mara stumbles, bumbles, and humbles her way toward possible reconciliation with the twelve men to find that God truly does look upon the heart and that He has chosen the heart of one of the men for her to have and to hold.
Solitary or Sociable? One Writer’s Perspective
by Jennifer Hallmark
If a man does not keep pace with his companions,
perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer.
Let him step to the music he hears,
however measured or far away.”
Henry David Thoreau
We writers hear a different drummer. There is no “right” way to be a writer. You can put a hundred different writers in the same room with the same writing assignment and you would have a hundred different results when the papers were handed in.
The writing journey can be a solitary one. For me to successfully write, I have to concentrate. That means alone time. Me and the computer and a notepad. A few writing books and research materials, scattered all around me.
Some writers can move in at the local coffee or sandwich shop and create wonderful words of prose. Not me. I’m too easily distracted with people surrounding me. I do scribble notes for articles and blogs while at the doctor’s office or other waiting rooms. This article was jotted on my little notepad while waiting to see the chiropractor in the exam room itself.
To get into a work of fiction, I need no disturbances. I work best when my husband is at work, along with everyone else I know. J Yes, this doesn’t happen too often, but on those days, I move mountains. Eight or ten hours of uninterrupted time can whittle my to-do list down to size, and I usually even manage a load or two of laundry while stretching.
Light music humming in the background and all my folders concerning my WIP [work in progress] pulled up on the computer and I’m good to go. As a rule, I do little plotting, preferring to let the characters take the lead. I do scribble notes and thoughts and maybe a sentence or two with each chapter so I at least know which road I’m on. From there, I travel without the GPS, something I’d never do in real life.
Many times, in the morning when I first awake, I daydream about my work-in-progress. I think about where my lead character is on that day and play the scene through in my head. I might rehearse previously written scenes, noting if there are any plot glitches. What’s that? Imagine I have lead character Mary driving down a dirt road in rural Tennessee. Suddenly, she meets a deer and swerves, crashing into a tree. She jumps out and trips, scraping her knees on the pavement. Pavement? Where did pavement come from on a dirt road? You wouldn’t believe how easy it is to do this, however, while in the fury of capturing a scene on paper. I jot a note about my mistake and correct it when I reach the computer.
Which is better? Working alone or with others around? It’s a personal choice. Although you may not be a writer, this can apply. Do you work better when alone or do you like to have the buzz and flurry of others in the room?
©2014 by Janalyn Voigt
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March 8, 2014
Starting Again, Plus a Sneak Preview
I don’t really believe in writer’s block, so I won’t say I had a case of that in recent weeks. However, my mind, spirit, and body do need to be in harmony for me to create. That’s not to say that everything has to be ideal before I can write, but I am human and can be thrown off at times when the rest of life intrudes.
I’m happy to report that this week I’ve picked up a creative writing project. Lesley Ann McDaniel is almost finished writing Tide Will Tell, book two in the Islands of Intrigue romantic suspense series. I’m committed to write book three of this series, and if I want Lesley to include the first chapter of Deceptive Tide at the back of her book (which I do), I have to write it.
Having a deadline always helps me blast past roadblocks, and this time is no exception. I really wish I’d been wired differently, because I don’t particularly like deadlines. In fact, avoiding them is another great motivator. But I digress.
My earlier attempts to start Deceptive Tide left me frustrated. Lynnette Bonner, who wrote Unrelenting Tide, book one in the series, doesn’t create from an outline like I do, so we pretty much discovered around the same time just how hard plotting a romantic suspense novel can be. With romantic suspense, there are a lot of layers and timelines to keep track of. It’s enough to give you a giant headache, trust me. Anyway, Lynnette came through with flying colors, and if you like romantic suspense novels Unrelenting Tide is worth reading.
Anyway, back to my plot, the one that was giving me fits. If I had to choose a project to jump back into writing with, Deceptive Tide would not be my first choice. So, as often happens when I’m stuck, I prayed. Believe me when I say I have prayed over this plot many times in the past. This time the timing must have been right, because the plot came together at last. I have the first scene of chapter one written and edited and with only a few days left on Lesley’s deadline am ready to move on to scene two. I’m hoping to ring in on time.
Another project I’ve been working on is the Literary Wayfarer travel podcast. I am almost ready to record the first episode, which is huge since it’s taken me months of self-teaching to reach this point. I love the podcast music I found. Since it will be illustrating ghost towns, castles, and other forgotten places, it needed to be a little mysterious but not creepy. After wading through numerous sound clips, I discovered a gem. Here’s a sneak preview of the theme music for the Literary Wayfarer travel podcast.
http://janalynvoigt.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/Song_Of_The_Young_full_mix_mp3.mp3
On the Home Front
We’re all still missing Guinevere. She was so much a part of the fabric of our lives that her passing left a huge hole. Thanks to all of you who contacted me with expressions of sympathy. I appreciated ever comment and email. I hope you will continue to either comment at the site or hit reply to this newsletter for a more private correspondence. I love connecting with you.
Our new cat, Vanilla, short for Nilly (aka: Silly Nilly), gets a sublime look on her face whenever classical music is playing. She has taken to following me up and down the stairs (great fun for her) when I’m doing housework. She was a starving stray but is a little plump now, but she’s been inside long enough for us to rule out pregnancy. We’re still gaining her trust so that we can put her in a carrier and take her to the vet for a first visit.
I moved out of my closet writing office to watch over my cat, Guinevere, during her illness, but I’ll be returning to my hidey hole tomorrow. Once I have my office better organized, I’ll give you a better look at it.
I’m also preparing my house for some out-of-town friends who next month will stay overnight on their way to a writing conference. My friend and speaking partner, Melissa Norris, will also be here, since she and I will be teaching at the same conference. It should be fun catching up with my friends, just so long as we don’t get carried away talking and stay up too late.
Next Goals
I’m hoping at least to complete the first chapter of Deceptive Tide and record my first podcast episode. It’s hard to choose which other urgent project to pick up after that, but hopefully I can move into something else as well.
©2014 by Janalyn Voigt
Subscribe to the Creative Worlds of Janalyn Voigt
Need an escape?
DawnSinger, Tales of Faeraven #1 by Janalyn Voigt
A headstrong young princess and the guardian sworn to protect her fly on winged horses to the Gate of Life above the Well of Light in a desperate bid to release the DawnKing, and the salvation he offers, into a divided land. Will they each learn in time that sometimes victory comes only through surrender?
Purchase DawnSinger today!
The post Starting Again, Plus a Sneak Preview appeared first on Creative Worlds of Janalyn Voigt.
Starting Again
I don’t really believe in writer’s block, so I won’t say I had a case of that in recent weeks. However, my mind, spirit, and body do need to be in harmony for me to create. That’s not to say that everything has to be ideal before I can write, but I am human and can be thrown off at times when the rest of life intrudes.
I’m happy to report that this week I’ve picked up a creative writing project. Lesley Ann McDaniel is almost finished writing Tide Will Tell, book two in the Islands of Intrigue romantic suspense series. I’m committed to write book three of this series, and if I want Lesley to include the first chapter of Deceptive Tide at the back of her book (which I do), I have to write it.
Having a deadline always helps me blast past roadblocks, and this time is no exception. I really wish I’d been wired differently, because I don’t particularly like deadlines. In fact, avoiding them is another great motivator. But I digress.
My earlier attempts to start Deceptive Tide left me frustrated. Lynnette Bonner, who wrote Unrelenting Tide, book one in the series, doesn’t create from an outline like I do, so we pretty much discovered around the same time just how hard plotting a romantic suspense novel can be. With romantic suspense, there are a lot of layers and timelines to keep track of. It’s enough to give you a giant headache, trust me. Anyway, Lynnette came through with flying colors, and if you like romantic suspense novels Unrelenting Tide is worth reading.
Anyway, back to my plot, the one that was giving me fits. If I had to choose a project to jump back into writing with, Deceptive Tide would not be my first choice. So, as often happens when I’m stuck, I prayed. Believe me when I say I have prayed over this plot many times in the past. This time the timing must have been right, because the plot came together at last. I have the first scene of chapter one written and edited and with only a few days left on Lesley’s deadline am ready to move on to scene two. I’m hoping to ring in on time.
Another project I’ve been working on is the Literary Wayfarer travel podcast. I am almost ready to record the first episode, which is huge since it’s taken me months of self-teaching to reach this point. I love the podcast music. Since it will be illustrating ghost towns, castles, and other forgotten places, it needed to be a little mysterious but not creepy. After wading through numerous sound clips, I found this gem.
http://janalynvoigt.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/Song_Of_The_Young_full_mix_mp3.mp3
On the Home Front
We’re all still missing Guinevere. She was so much a part of the fabric of our lives that her passing left a huge hole. Thanks to all of you who contacted me with expressions of sympathy. I appreciated ever comment and email. I hope you will continue to either comment at the site or hit reply to this newsletter for a more private correspondence. I love connecting with you.
Our new cat, Vanilla, short for Nilly (aka: Silly Nilly), gets a sublime look on her face whenever classical music is playing. She has taken to following me up and down the stairs (great fun for her) when I’m doing housework. She was a starving stray but is a little plump now, but she’s been inside long enough for us to rule out pregnancy. We’re still gaining her trust so that we can put her in a carrier and take her to the vet for a first visit.
I moved out of my closet writing office to watch over my cat, Guinevere, during her illness, but I’ll be returning to my hidey hole tomorrow. Once I have my office better organized, I’ll give you a better look at it.
I’m also preparing my house for some out-of-town friends who next month will stay overnight on their way to a writing conference. My friend and speaking partner, Melissa Norris, will also be here, since she and I will be teaching at the same conference. It should be fun catching up with my friends, just so long as we don’t get carried away talking and stay up too late.
Next Goals
I’m hoping at least to complete the first chapter of Deceptive Tide and record my first podcast episode. It’s hard to choose which other urgent project to pick up after that, but hopefully I can move into something else as well.
©2014 by Janalyn Voigt
Subscribe to the Creative Worlds of Janalyn Voigt
Need an escape?
DawnSinger, Tales of Faeraven #1 by Janalyn Voigt
A headstrong young princess and the guardian sworn to protect her fly on winged horses to the Gate of Life above the Well of Light in a desperate bid to release the DawnKing, and the salvation he offers, into a divided land. Will they each learn in time that sometimes victory comes only through surrender?
Purchase DawnSinger today!
The post Starting Again appeared first on Creative Worlds of Janalyn Voigt.
March 1, 2014
Sad and Happy News
I’ll give the sad news first, so we can move onto happier things.
Lady Guinevere at her stationLady Guinevere, the sweet little cat I owned for over 22 years, passed away of renal failure this month. It wasn’t unexpected, given her age and failing health, but we miss her dearly. For the past three months prior to my cat’s death, I gave her subcutaneous fluids (involving an IV bag and a needle) and made sure she received her medications on time each day. I became, in other words, the caretaker of a dying family member. This, and my own state of ill health (from which I am thankfully recovering), played havoc with not only my writing schedule but the very soul of my creativity.
The past month has been a time of loss but also of strengthening for me. I’ve learned some things about resilience, tenacity, and also humility. It’s not wrong to set goals and schedule your time, but when life intrudes, you have to accept that you are not really in charge. I personally believe that’s up to God, and He does a far better job of it than I ever could. Why there has to be death is a difficult question. The Bible calls it an enemy and states that the bad things that happen to us don’t come from God. Knowing that helps me accept my powerlessness to change a painful reality like death.
Vanilla, the stray cat who adopted our familyLast September, Vanilla (aka: Nilly), a stray cat very much in need of a family, adopted us. If left to myself, I would not have sought out the solace of a new pet in conjunction with losing one, but God works in mysterious ways. Although Nilly is not our Guinney, she is a beautiful creature worth loving on her own merits.
Comments Fixed
If you have been trying to comment at the Creative Worlds site, you will have noticed that it was impossible to do. Someone very kindly reported this to me, and I was able to find the culprit: a plugin that I deleted. Comments are working now, so please do make use of them. During the stretch without comments, I felt a lot like someone talking in a bathroom with the walls echoing back your words and no one but you hearing. My stats tell me you are reading my posts, but I’d rather this be a conversation than a monologue. I’d prefer you to comment at the site but you can also just reply to this email to get hold of me.
More Happy News
If you’ve looked for me on social sites in recent days you will have noticed my absence. Although I set aside creative projects until my life settled down again, I was still working hard on a new endeavor. My Literary Wayfarer Travel site came into being when I combined my passions for books, travel, and people. As a travel site, it’s a little different, and if you scroll down on the landing page, you’ll learn why. Today is the site’s launch day, so I hope you’ll visit and subscribe if it’s of interest to you. There’s a blog, newsletter, podcast, and occasional videos. Also, check out the photo gallery, which will enable me to share more of the photos I take. Look for that to fill up more soon.
I’m releasing the cover of my Literary Wayfarer Travel podcast today as well. I have yet to publish my first episode, but it won’t be long!
©2014 by Janalyn Voigt
Subscribe to the Creative Worlds of Janalyn Voigt
Need an escape?
DawnSinger, Tales of Faeraven #1 by Janalyn Voigt
A headstrong young princess and the guardian sworn to protect her fly on winged horses to the Gate of Life above the Well of Light in a desperate bid to release the DawnKing, and the salvation he offers, into a divided land. Will they each learn in time that sometimes victory comes only through surrender?
Purchase DawnSinger today!
The post Sad and Happy News appeared first on Creative Worlds of Janalyn Voigt.
February 24, 2014
Golden Daughter by Anne Elisabeth Stengl (Cover Reveal and Giveaway)
Admittedly, I have a thing about fantasy series with the word tales in the title, but who needs a reason to enjoy the Tales of Goldstone Wood series by Anne Elisabeth Stengl? Anne very kindly served as a blog host during the blog tour for Wayfarer, second novel in my Tales of Faeraven series. Now that Anne is ready to reveal the cover for the seventh book in her series, I’m pleased to return the favor. Besides all that, I just know you’re going to love this sneak peek at Golden Daughter, and did I mention there’s a giveaway? Don’t miss the details and sign-up box at the bottom of this post. Also, be sure and catch my reviews of Moonblood and Starflower, two of the books in the series. I highly recommended them both.
The cover for Golden Daughter is stunning. The color pallet is one of my favorites, and I like that the heroine is engaged in an activity that speaks of story. Well done! The cover illustration is by Julia Popova, a gifted artist.
BEYOND THE REALM OF DREAMS
IS A WORLD SHE NEVER IMAGINED
Masayi Sairu was raised to be dainty, delicate, demure . . . and deadly. She is one of the emperor’s Golden Daughters, as much a legend as she is a commodity. One day, Sairu will be contracted in marriage to a patron, whom she will secretly guard for the rest of her life.
But when she learns that a sacred Dream Walker of the temple seeks the protection of a Golden Daughter, Sairu forgoes marriage in favor of this role. Her skills are stretched to the limit, for assassins hunt in the shadows, and phantoms haunt in dreams. With only a mysterious Faerie cat and a handsome slave—possessed of his own strange abilities—to help her, can Sairu shield her new mistress from evils she can neither see nor touch?
For the Dragon is building an army of fire. And soon the heavens will burn.
Excerpt from Chapter 3:
Golden DaughterSairu made her way from Princess Safiya’s chambers out to the walkways of the encircling gardens. The Masayi, abode of the Golden Daughters, was an intricate complex of buildings linked by blossom-shrouded walkways, calm with fountains and clear, lotus-filled pools where herons strutted and spotted fish swam.
Here she had lived all the life she could remember.
The Masayi was but a small part of Manusbau Palace, which comprised the whole of Sairu’s existence. She had never stepped beyond the palace walls. To do so would be to step into a world of corruption, corruption to which a Golden Daughter would not be impervious until she was safely chartered to a master and her life’s work was affixed in her heart and mind. Meanwhile, she must live securely embalmed in this tomb, waiting for life to begin.
Sairu’s mouth curved gently at the corners, and she took small steps as she had been trained—slow, dainty steps that disguised the swiftness with which she could move at need. Even in private she must maintain the illusion, even here within the Masayi.
A cat sat on the doorstep of her own building, grooming itself in the sunlight. She stepped around it and proceeded into the red-hung halls of the Daughter’s quarters and on to her private chambers. There she must gather what few things she would take with her—fewer things even than Jen-ling would take on her journey to Aja. For Jen-ling would be the wife of a prince, and she must give every impression of a bride on her wedding journey.
I wonder who my master will be? Sairu thought as she slid back the rattan door to her chamber and entered the quiet simplicity within. She removed her elaborate costume and exchanged it for a robe of simple red without embellishments. She washed the serving girl cosmetics from her face and painted on the daily mask she and her sisters wore—white with black spots beneath each eye and a red stripe down her chin. It was elegant and simple, and to the common eye it made her indistinguishable from her sisters.
The curtain moved behind her. She did not startle but turned quietly to see the same cat slipping into her room. Cats abounded throughout Manusbau Palace, kept on purpose near the storehouses to manage the vermin. But they did not often enter private chambers.
Sairu, kneeling near her window with her paint pots around her, watched the cat as it moved silkily across the room, stepped onto her sleeping cushions, and began kneading the soft fabric, purring all the while. Its claws pulled at the delicate threads. But it was a cat. As far as it was concerned, it had every right to enjoy or destroy what it willed.
At last it seemed to notice Sairu watching it. It turned sleepy eyes to her and blinked.
Sairu smiled. In a voice as sweet as honey, she asked, “Who are you?”
The cat twitched its tail softly and went on purring.
The next moment, Sairu was across the room, her hand latched onto the cat’s scruff. She pushed it down into the cushions and held it there as it yowled and snarled, trying to catch at her with its claws.
“Who are you?” she demanded, her voice fierce this time. “What are you? Are you an evil spirit sent to haunt me?”
“No, dragons eat it! I mean, rrrraww! Mreeeow! Yeeeowrl!”
The cat twisted and managed to lash out at her with its back feet, its claws catching in the fabric of her sleeve. One claw scratched her wrist, startling her just enough that she loosened her hold. The cat took advantage of the opportunity and, hissing like a fire demon, leapt free. It sprang across the room, knocking over several of her paint pots, and spun about, back-arched and snarling. Every hair stood on end, and its ears lay flat to its skull.
Sairu drew a dagger from her sleeve and crouched, prepared for anything. The smile lingered on her mouth, but her eyes flashed. “Who sent you?” she demanded. “Why have you come to me now? You know of my assignment, don’t you.”
“Meeeeowrl,” the cat said stubbornly and showed its fangs in another hiss.
“I see it in your face,” Sairu said, moving carefully to shift her weight and prepare to spring. “You are no animal. Who is your master, devil?”
The cat dodged her spring easily enough, which surprised her. Sairu was quick and rarely missed a target. Her knife sank into the floor and stuck there, but she released it and whipped another from the opposite sleeve even as she whirled about.
Any self-respecting cat would have made for the window or the door. This one sprang back onto the cushions and crouched there, tail lashing. Its eyes were all too sentient, but it said only “Meeeeow,” as though trying to convince itself.
Sairu chewed the inside of her cheek. Then, in a voice as smooth as butter, she said, “We have ways of dealing with devils in this country. Do you know what they are, demon-cat?”
The cat’s ears came up. “Prreeowl?” it said.
“Allow me to enlighten you.”
And Sairu put her free hand to her mouth and uttered a long, piercing whistle. The household erupted with the voices of a dozen and more lion dogs.
The little beasts, slipping and sliding and crashing into walls, their claws clicking and clattering on the tiles, careened down the corridor and poured into Sairu’s room. Fluffy tails wagging, pushed-in noses twitching, they roared like the lions they believed themselves to be and fell upon the cat with rapacious joy.
The cat uttered one long wail and the next moment vanished out the window. Sairu, dogs milling at her feet, leapt up and hurried to look out after it, expecting to see a tawny tail slipping from sight. But she saw nothing.
The devil was gone. For the moment at least.
Sairu sank down on her cushions, and her lap was soon filled with wriggling, snuffling hunters eager for praise. She petted them absently, but her mind was awhirl. She had heard of devils taking the form of animals and speaking with the tongues of men. But she had never before seen it. She couldn’t honestly say she’d even believed it.
“What danger is my new master in?” she wondered. “From what must I protect him?”
If you’d like to learn more about Golden Daughter, visit the book page for interesting articles, illustrations, and more!
Anne Elisabeth Stengl Anne is the author of the award-winning Tales of Goldstone Wood series, adventure fantasies told in the classic Fairy Tale style. Her books include Christy Award-winning Heartless and Veiled Rose, and Clive Staples Award-winning Starflower. She makes her home in Raleigh, North Carolina, where she lives with her husband, Rohan, a passel of cats, and one long-suffering dog. When she’s not writing, she enjoys Shakespeare, opera, and tea, and practices piano, painting, and pastry baking. She studied illustration and English literature at Grace College and Campbell University.
GIVEAWAY: Anne is offering any two of the first six Tales of Goldstone Wood novels as a giveaway prize! Winner’s choice of: Heartless, Veiled Rose, Moonblood, Starflower, Dragonwitch, or Shadow Hand.
Enter the Rafflecopter giveaway.
©2014 by Janalyn Voigt
Subscribe to the Creative Worlds of Janalyn Voigt.
The post Golden Daughter by Anne Elisabeth Stengl (Cover Reveal and Giveaway) appeared first on Creative Worlds of Janalyn Voigt.
February 16, 2014
Robber’s Roost & Giveaway Winner
I’ll go into my exploration of Robber’s Roost, a stagecoach stop in Montana, during an episode of my about-to-debut Literary Wayfarer multicast. I took lots of pictures and will share them in a video but will talk about my visits to Robber’s Roost, Virginia City, and Bannack in my new Literary Wayfarer podcast. If you’re signed up as a newsletter subscriber, you will receive notification of these video releases and podcasts.
In other news, the winner of the Wayfarer Launch Celebration Blog Tour giveaway of a $20 Starbucks gift card is Kathy Wagoner! Congratulations, Kathy. Thanks to all who entered the drawing.
©2014 by Janalyn Voigt
Subscribe to the Creative Worlds of Janalyn Voigt
Need an escape?
DawnSinger, Tales of Faeraven #1 by Janalyn Voigt
A headstrong young princess and the guardian sworn to protect her fly on winged horses to the Gate of Life above the Well of Light in a desperate bid to release the DawnKing, and the salvation he offers, into a divided land. Will they each learn in time that sometimes victory comes only through surrender?
Purchase DawnSinger today!
The post Robber’s Roost & Giveaway Winner appeared first on Creative Worlds of Janalyn Voigt.
Robber’s Roost (Plus 2 Announcements)
I’ll go into my exploration of Robber’s Roost, a stagecoach stop in Montana, during an episode of my about-to-debut Literary Wayfarer multicast. I took lots of pictures and will share them in a video but will talk about my visits to Robber’s Roost, Virginia City, and Bannack in my new Literary Wayfarer podcast. If you’re signed up as a newsletter subscriber, you will receive notification of these video releases and podcasts.
In other news, the winner of the Wayfarer Launch Celebration Blog Tour giveaway of a $20 Starbucks gift card is Kathy Wagoner! Congratulations, Kathy. Thanks to all who entered the drawing.
©2014 by Janalyn Voigt
Subscribe to the Creative Worlds of Janalyn Voigt
Need an escape?
DawnSinger, Tales of Faeraven #1 by Janalyn Voigt
A headstrong young princess and the guardian sworn to protect her fly on winged horses to the Gate of Life above the Well of Light in a desperate bid to release the DawnKing, and the salvation he offers, into a divided land. Will they each learn in time that sometimes victory comes only through surrender?
Purchase DawnSinger today!
The post Robber’s Roost (Plus 2 Announcements) appeared first on Creative Worlds of Janalyn Voigt.
From Hellgate to Robber’s Roost (Plus 2 Announcements)
It felt a lot like being let out of school for the summer. I’d spent the past three days either making preparations for the Humanities Montana Festival of the Book or participating in the book event as a featured author. It had been one long round of appearances, from taking part in a book panel to speaking at the Garden of Read’n, a local Christian bookstore. Making sure I was on the mark whenever called upon had taken its toll. As an introvert, I find being with people drains my energy. Now it was nice to relax in the passenger seat and let my husband take the wheel.
With the day before us and no idea where we would lay our heads that night, we turned onto the highway leading out of Missoula through Hellgate Canyon. This lovely area acquired its unsavory name because French trappers encountered human remains when they passed through it. Before that, the Bitterroot Salish tribe had named the canyon lm-i-sul-étiku, or ’by the cold, chilling waters.’ The Clarke Fork river winds rather picturesquely through the Missoula valley, but this name was a metaphor to describe the chill of fear experienced in this place. As members of the Salish tribe traveled through the heavily wooded valley toward bison hunting grounds in the east, the Blackfeet sometimes ambushed them.
The ghost town of Hellgate from which the modern-day town of Missoula evolved can still be visited today, but we couldn’t spare time to stop. Our immediate destination was a little-known landmark between the dots on the map that were the towns of Alder and Sheridan. Robber’s Roost had been built as a stagecoach stop in the 1860′s. It still stands and is relatively intact. While it’s possible to walk around the grounds and view the outside of the two-story log-cabin, it is kept locked and the interior may be seen only by prior arrangement. I had made the effort via snail mail to obtain that permission from the Virginia City Preservation Society and now had an appointment to keep.
Robber’s Roost image by Janalyn VoigtA couple of clarifications are in order, here. This is the other Robber’s Roost, not the hideout frequented by Butch Cassidy and the gang of outlaws known as the Wild Bunch. That Robber’s Roost is located in Utah. This building actually never saw outlaw activity, although some confusion exists because an earlier building on the site that was used as a tavern and also known as Robber’s Roost, did.
That log structure housed members of the Innocents, a gang alleged to have been led by none other than Sheriff Henry Plummer of Bannack. From this location, members of the gang would prey upon stagecoaches and travelers going from Virginia City to Bannack. The second floor of this first Robber’s Roost was used as a dance hall, and the first floor was given over to the twin gods of, as one account puts it, Bacchus and Lady Luck.
After an outburst of vigilantism that involved hanging the sheriff and anyone suspected of being a member of the Innocents, outlaw activity died down. The existing log cabin on the site was built by Pete Daly, the owner of the first Robber’s Roost. He swore he had not been involved as a gang member but had been made into an unwilling accomplice. This building was actually used as a stagecoach stop, and I couldn’t wait to visit it.
The story of Sheriff Plummer, the Innocents, and the Montana Vigilantes fired my imagination and served as the background for a historical fiction series I had been working on and my agent attempted to sell. Just prior to this trip, however, I learned that the western romance is more of niche market that is hard to break into. In Hills of Nevermore, the initial story in the series, I presented the West as accurately as possible, but that brought remarks from a couple of publishing houses that my book was “too western.” That meant either rewriting to fit into the genre or giving the whole series a rest while I work toward a traditional contract in one of the other genres I favor. During this time I chose to table the series for the time being, a hard decision that made this research trip bittersweet.
Announcements
I’ll go into our exploration of Robber’s Roost in an upcoming episode of my about-to-debut Literary Wayfarer multicast. I took lots of pictures and will share them in a video but will talk about my visits to Robber’s Roost, Virginia City, and Bannack in my new Literary Wayfarer podcast. If you’re signed up as a newsletter subscriber, you will receive notification of these video releases and podcasts.
In other news, the winner of the Wayfarer Launch Celebration Blog Tour giveaway of a $20 Starbucks gift card is Kathy Wagoner! Congratulations, Kathy. Thanks to all who entered the drawing.
©2014 by Janalyn Voigt
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Need an escape?
DawnSinger, Tales of Faeraven #1 by Janalyn Voigt
A headstrong young princess and the guardian sworn to protect her fly on winged horses to the Gate of Life above the Well of Light in a desperate bid to release the DawnKing, and the salvation he offers, into a divided land. Will they each learn in time that sometimes victory comes only through surrender?
Purchase DawnSinger today!
The post From Hellgate to Robber’s Roost (Plus 2 Announcements) appeared first on Creative Worlds of Janalyn Voigt.
Hellgate, Robber’s Roost, and Two Announcements
It felt a lot like being let out of school for the summer. I’d spent the past three days either making preparations for the Humanities Montana Festival of the Book or participating in the book event as a featured author. It had been one long round of appearances, from taking part in a book panel to speaking at the Garden of Read’n, a local Christian bookstore. Making sure I was on the mark whenever called upon had taken its toll. As an introvert, I find being with people drains my energy. Now it was nice to relax in the passenger seat and let my husband take the wheel.
With the day before us and no idea where we would lay our heads that night, we turned onto the highway leading out of Missoula through Hellgate Canyon. This lovely area acquired its unsavory name because French trappers encountered human remains when they passed through it. Before that, the Bitterroot Salish tribe had named the canyon lm-i-sul-étiku, or ’by the cold, chilling waters.’ The Clarke Fork river winds rather picturesquely through the Missoula valley, but this name was a metaphor to describe the chill of fear experienced in this place. As members of the Salish tribe traveled through the heavily wooded valley toward bison hunting grounds in the east, the Blackfeet sometimes ambushed them.
The ghost town of Hellgate from which the modern-day town of Missoula evolved can still be visited today, but we couldn’t spare time to stop. Our immediate destination was a little-known landmark between the dots on the map that were the towns of Alder and Sheridan. Robber’s Roost had been built as a stagecoach stop in the 1860′s. It still stands and is relatively intact. While it’s possible to walk around the grounds and view the outside of the two-story log-cabin, it is kept locked and the interior may be seen only by prior arrangement. I had made the effort via snail mail to obtain that permission from the Virginia City Preservation Society and now had an appointment to keep.
Robber’s Roost, MontanaA couple of clarifications are in order, here. This is the other Robber’s Roost, not the hideout frequented by Butch Cassidy and the gang of outlaws known as the Wild Bunch. That Robber’s Roost is located in Utah. This building actually never saw outlaw activity, although some confusion exists because an earlier building on the site that was used as a tavern and also known as Robber’s Roost, did.
That log structure housed members of the Innocents, a gang alleged to have been led by known other than Sheriff Henry Plummer of Bannack. From this location, members of the gang would prey upon stagecoaches and travelers going from Virginia City to Bannack. The second floor of this first Robber’s Roost was used as a dance hall, and the first floor was given over to the twin gods of, as one account puts it, Bacchus and Lady Luck.
After an outburst of vigilantism that involved hanging the sheriff and anyone suspected of being a member of the Innocents, outlaw activity died down. The existing log cabin on the site was built by Pete Daly, the owner of the first Robber’s Roost. He swore he had not been involved as a gang member but had been made into an unwilling accomplice. This building was actually used as a stagecoach stop, and I couldn’t wait to visit it.
The story of Sheriff Plummer, the Innocents, and the Montana Vigilantes fired my imagination and served as the background for a historical fiction series I had been working on and my agent attempted to sell. Just prior to this trip, however, I learned that the western romance is more of niche market that is hard to break into. In Hills of Nevermore, the initial story in the series, I presented the West as accurately as possible, but that brought remarks from a couple of publishing houses that my book was “too western.” That meant either rewriting to fit into the genre or giving the whole series a rest while I work toward a traditional contract in one of the other genres I favor. During this time I chose to table the series for the time being, a hard decision that made this research trip bittersweet.
Announcements
I’ll go into our exploration of Robber’s Roost in an upcoming episode of my about-to-debut Literary Wayfarer multicast. I took lots of pictures and will share them in a video but will talk about my visits to Robber’s Roost, Virginia City, and Bannack in my new Literary Wayfarer podcast. If you’re signed up as a newsletter subscriber, you will receive notification of these video releases and podcasts.
In other news, the winner of the Wayfarer Launch Celebration Blog Tour giveaway of a $20 Starbucks gift card is Kathy Wagoner! Congratulations, Kathy. Thanks to all who entered the drawing.
©2014 by Janalyn Voigt
Subscribe to the Creative Worlds of Janalyn Voigt
Need an escape?
DawnSinger, Tales of Faeraven #1 by Janalyn Voigt
A headstrong young princess and the guardian sworn to protect her fly on winged horses to the Gate of Life above the Well of Light in a desperate bid to release the DawnKing, and the salvation he offers, into a divided land. Will they each learn in time that sometimes victory comes only through surrender?
Purchase DawnSinger today!
The post Hellgate, Robber’s Roost, and Two Announcements appeared first on Creative Worlds of Janalyn Voigt.
February 8, 2014
How a Teardrop Trailer Led Lynn Donovan Into Becoming a Published Author
From Janalyn: I’ve known Lynn Donovan for a while now and have enjoyed watching her find her feet as a writer. In her guest journal, she describes her writing journey.
A Teardrop Trailer Led to My Becoming a Published Author by Lynn Donovan
The best part of being a writer is I finally have justification for the constant stream of conversation going on in my head. Now I have an outlet in which to put that stream of dialog. Plus, daydreaming is now a useful tool rather than a waste of time. See, it’s all a matter of perspective.
Lynn’s Teardrop TrailerAnd it all started with a teardrop trailer, a really small camper. How it lead to me being a published author is amazing. My husband and I worked for a GMC dealership. One day, he googled for Chrysler parts and opened a web site about these campers (yeah, I know, go figure). He stopped me as I walked by and asked what I thought about them. I told him I’d love to have one. He discovered a discussion forum consisting of people who built their own and plans for a self-build. We started building our own and talking to these wonderful and inviting people.
In the meantime, my mother began showing signs of dementia and needed to come live with us. This kept me home but left me with a lot of time on my hands. So I began writing. My second manuscript, The Wishing Well Curse, was rough and poorly written.
On this forum, a published author, Lynn Coleman, and I discussed my desires to write. She suggested I join American Christian Fiction Writers, an online organization that supports and promotes Christian writers. I did and downloaded some resources to help me write better, among which were several publications by Jeff Gerke. I googled Jeff Gerke and found he had a discussion forum, Where the Map Ends. I joined it and started talking to other writers. I mentioned I had The Wishing Well Curse manuscript and would like help making it better. Kessie Carrol, a member of the forum, invited me to join a critique group offshoot from the forum. I did and they happily tore my manuscript apart. But I learned SO much from their critiques. Over the next six months I worked on improving my writing.
A member of the critique group, Pauline Creeden, was starting a small publishing company, AltWit Press. She invited the group to submit short stories relating to a clockwork dragon possessed by legions. I did and she accepted 4.5 stories from me. The Clockwork Dragon was published October 2012. Later, she asked if I had a complete manuscript I’d like to submit, and I said yes. She reviewed The Wishing Well Curse and accepted it. It released in April 2013. The sequel, Thorns of Betrayal will release in February 2014. I have two contracts with Astraea Press for two more books, Rocking Horse Shadows and Christmas Grace.
So, that’s the writing life for me. It has been an amazing procession of events and I am very happy and thankful to God for where I am in my life.
About Lynn Donovan
Lynn Donovan is a daughter, wife, mother of four, and grandmother of eight who has five decades of experiences to draw from when creating her stories. She has published a collection of Short Stories, The Clockwork Dragon, and two Novels with AltWitPress. She categorizes herself as the “sandwich generation” because she is caring for her mother who has Alzheimer’s and her special needs sister. Lynn enjoys reading and writing Christian fiction.
Ways to Connect with Lynn Donovan Online
Visit the website for Lynn Donovan Author.
Learn more about Lynn on her blog, Sitting on the Porch with Lynn
Follow her on Twitter: @MLynnDonovan
Connect via LinkedIn: M Lynn Donovan
Like her Face Book Author Page: LynnDonovanFGG
Janalyn: Lynn, just so you know, I’m completely jealous of that teardrop trailer! Do you still have it? I also have another question: Can you explain what happened to the other half of one of the 4.5 manuscripts Alt Wit Press accepted?
Note: Janalyn Voigt benefits when products are purchased at Amazon through the affiliate links I provide. This is a small way, at no extra cost to you, that you can support this site.
The post How a Teardrop Trailer Led Lynn Donovan Into Becoming a Published Author appeared first on Creative Worlds of Janalyn Voigt.
