Terri Morgan's Blog, page 5
September 26, 2012
Iconic Cartoonist Futzie Nutzel Lastest Artistic Endeavors
I wrote this piece for the Fall 2012 issue of Santa Cruz Style Magazine about a counter culture icon who's work I have long admired.
At age 70 Futzie Nutzel shows no signs of slowing down or resting on his artistic laurels. Nearly 50 years after his highly original cartoon works brought him widespread attention and acclaim, he continues expanding his artistic horizons. Long known for his clever, minimalist, single panel pen and ink caption free cartoons, Nutzel spent recent years honing his skills as a painter. A collection of his oil and pastel paintings, along with some classic images from his past, will be on display at the Blitzer Gallery (in Santa Cruz, California) in November.
“I'm very, very excited to have the show here,” said Rob Blitzer, who owns the gallery. “I'm incredibly lucky to be given the opportunity. He's the most iconic artist in Santa Cruz. “
Nutzel, who was named Bruce Kleinsmith at birth, said he named the show “Trouble.
“Not trouble in the real sense of the word, but trouble in society,” he said. “I think of young kids now and how their lives differ from mine. A lot of absurd things happened to me during my career. I could afford to make mistakes, but now it's so easy to get into trouble.”
A thoughtful, intelligent man and a serious artist Nutzel, who currently lives and works in privacy and seclusion in San Benito County, has a long history in Santa Cruz. The Ohio native arrived on the Central Coast in 1965, and immediately found his artistic niche.
“I came to Santa Cruz because I liked the sound of the name,” said Nutzel, who began drawing at age three. “I had an image in my mind of adobes on the beach.”
Instead of adobes on the sand he found a perfect environment to practice his art, along with two other like-minded artists. Nutzel, Spinny Walker and henry humble, spent their time together drawing and critiquing each others' artwork. Nutzel began creating his trademark cartoons; with just titles rather than the traditional bubble conversations between characters that began captivating viewers during this time, as well as displaying his art work in several local galleries. In 1968, the three artist launched a cartoon newspaper, The Balloon, one of the area's first alternative publications. The trio pulled the plug on the popular paper in 1976, when they disbanded to pursue other interests. By that time, Nutzel, who adopted his non de plume from one of his own cartoons because he liked the way the signature looked, had built a solid reputation as a serious artist.
“In the early '70s he was the most visible, and the greatest artist in town,” recalled Stephen Kessler, a longtime alternative journalist and editor in Santa Cruz. “His work was so completely original, funny and so subtle. He's a great example of what you could become as an artist if you were imaginative enough.”
That imagination led Nutzel to national acclaim when Rolling Stone Magazine began running his cartoons in 1975. For the next five years, his visual puns graced the letters page of every issue. While other contributors basked in the celebrity of the popular magazine, Nutzel eschewed fame, preferring to work quietly from his home. He continued to keep a low profile while serving as a longtime contributor to the Japan Times---the only cartoonist other than Charles Schultz published in the influential English language newspaper. Nutzel walked away from the Times in the late 1990s after becoming more interested in painting than cartooning. People how know Nutzel were not surprised to see him give up a lucrative gig to pursue his own interests.
“He's just kept to his vision and hasn't compromised to please other people,” Kessler said. “He's done exactly what a real artist with integrity does; persisted and kept following his own inspiration.”
That inspiration led Nutzel to spend several years painting California's missions to teach himself the finer points of painting. Working on his plein air paintings in oils and pastels in all seasons and during all hours of the day, he perfected his painting skills. Nutzel has since moved onto a far different style. His most recent works include various series focusing on of different themes, including tiny houses, vases or musical instruments, that combine vibrant colors with evocative, semi-surreal, symbolic images.
“He's an incredibly versatile painter,” said Blitzer, adding that Nutzel's artwork is clean and clever..
“I'm just trying to do an honest painting,” Nutzel said of his most recent works. “To me, art isn't a demonstration of ideas or an idea. That would be too easy. Ideas are a dime a dozen.
“The challenge is to create an illustrative thought, but not an illustration,” Nutzel added. “I'm not trying to emphasize a point, but give you (viewers) pleasure.”
Pleasure is what Nutzel hopes Gallery visitors will come away with.
“I hope what people will take away from the show is a real pleasurable experience,” he said. “As an artist, I'm not an entertainer, but I hope my paintings will entertain people. Hopefully they will evoke a pleasurable response.”
Nutzel's works have been featured in several well known galleries, including the New York Museum of Modern Art, and, more recently at the Museum of Art and History in downtown Santa Cruz. Nutzel suspects his art work provoked strong emotions in at least one person because someone slashed one of his paintings while it was on display at the MAH. Nutzel isn't sure if the damage was random or caused by someone who was disturbed by the piece. Either way, he doesn't plan on having it stop him from creating what he feels he needs to.
“I've always been an artist,” Nutzel said. “It's really the only thing I know how to do.”
For more great stories about the people and events in Santa Cruz California, go to www.santacruzstylemagazine.net.
At age 70 Futzie Nutzel shows no signs of slowing down or resting on his artistic laurels. Nearly 50 years after his highly original cartoon works brought him widespread attention and acclaim, he continues expanding his artistic horizons. Long known for his clever, minimalist, single panel pen and ink caption free cartoons, Nutzel spent recent years honing his skills as a painter. A collection of his oil and pastel paintings, along with some classic images from his past, will be on display at the Blitzer Gallery (in Santa Cruz, California) in November.
“I'm very, very excited to have the show here,” said Rob Blitzer, who owns the gallery. “I'm incredibly lucky to be given the opportunity. He's the most iconic artist in Santa Cruz. “
Nutzel, who was named Bruce Kleinsmith at birth, said he named the show “Trouble.
“Not trouble in the real sense of the word, but trouble in society,” he said. “I think of young kids now and how their lives differ from mine. A lot of absurd things happened to me during my career. I could afford to make mistakes, but now it's so easy to get into trouble.”
A thoughtful, intelligent man and a serious artist Nutzel, who currently lives and works in privacy and seclusion in San Benito County, has a long history in Santa Cruz. The Ohio native arrived on the Central Coast in 1965, and immediately found his artistic niche.
“I came to Santa Cruz because I liked the sound of the name,” said Nutzel, who began drawing at age three. “I had an image in my mind of adobes on the beach.”
Instead of adobes on the sand he found a perfect environment to practice his art, along with two other like-minded artists. Nutzel, Spinny Walker and henry humble, spent their time together drawing and critiquing each others' artwork. Nutzel began creating his trademark cartoons; with just titles rather than the traditional bubble conversations between characters that began captivating viewers during this time, as well as displaying his art work in several local galleries. In 1968, the three artist launched a cartoon newspaper, The Balloon, one of the area's first alternative publications. The trio pulled the plug on the popular paper in 1976, when they disbanded to pursue other interests. By that time, Nutzel, who adopted his non de plume from one of his own cartoons because he liked the way the signature looked, had built a solid reputation as a serious artist.
“In the early '70s he was the most visible, and the greatest artist in town,” recalled Stephen Kessler, a longtime alternative journalist and editor in Santa Cruz. “His work was so completely original, funny and so subtle. He's a great example of what you could become as an artist if you were imaginative enough.”
That imagination led Nutzel to national acclaim when Rolling Stone Magazine began running his cartoons in 1975. For the next five years, his visual puns graced the letters page of every issue. While other contributors basked in the celebrity of the popular magazine, Nutzel eschewed fame, preferring to work quietly from his home. He continued to keep a low profile while serving as a longtime contributor to the Japan Times---the only cartoonist other than Charles Schultz published in the influential English language newspaper. Nutzel walked away from the Times in the late 1990s after becoming more interested in painting than cartooning. People how know Nutzel were not surprised to see him give up a lucrative gig to pursue his own interests.
“He's just kept to his vision and hasn't compromised to please other people,” Kessler said. “He's done exactly what a real artist with integrity does; persisted and kept following his own inspiration.”
That inspiration led Nutzel to spend several years painting California's missions to teach himself the finer points of painting. Working on his plein air paintings in oils and pastels in all seasons and during all hours of the day, he perfected his painting skills. Nutzel has since moved onto a far different style. His most recent works include various series focusing on of different themes, including tiny houses, vases or musical instruments, that combine vibrant colors with evocative, semi-surreal, symbolic images.
“He's an incredibly versatile painter,” said Blitzer, adding that Nutzel's artwork is clean and clever..
“I'm just trying to do an honest painting,” Nutzel said of his most recent works. “To me, art isn't a demonstration of ideas or an idea. That would be too easy. Ideas are a dime a dozen.
“The challenge is to create an illustrative thought, but not an illustration,” Nutzel added. “I'm not trying to emphasize a point, but give you (viewers) pleasure.”
Pleasure is what Nutzel hopes Gallery visitors will come away with.
“I hope what people will take away from the show is a real pleasurable experience,” he said. “As an artist, I'm not an entertainer, but I hope my paintings will entertain people. Hopefully they will evoke a pleasurable response.”
Nutzel's works have been featured in several well known galleries, including the New York Museum of Modern Art, and, more recently at the Museum of Art and History in downtown Santa Cruz. Nutzel suspects his art work provoked strong emotions in at least one person because someone slashed one of his paintings while it was on display at the MAH. Nutzel isn't sure if the damage was random or caused by someone who was disturbed by the piece. Either way, he doesn't plan on having it stop him from creating what he feels he needs to.
“I've always been an artist,” Nutzel said. “It's really the only thing I know how to do.”
For more great stories about the people and events in Santa Cruz California, go to www.santacruzstylemagazine.net.
September 17, 2012
The Indie Community
Most writers will tell you that writing is a lonely endeavor. It's just you and your muse, along with a computer (or in the case of traditionalists pen and pencil). Fortunately, the advent of the internet and social media has helped book writers, like myself, connect with other authors. Initially, when I discovered some of the websites and facebook pages devoted to independent authors I wondered why writers would allow themselves to be distracted and spend the time online to read them. Then I discovered the sites are really communities; virtual writers' community full of people who are experiencing the same things I'm experiencing. Things like writer's block, wondering how to schedule book talks, trying to decide between seeking a traditional publisher or self-publishing, and how to find a graphic artist to help design your book cover. Loaded with advice, tips, commiserations, and successes, the writers' blogs, websites and pages help me find the kind of information about writing, publishing, and marketing that I need. Best of all, they remind me I'm part of a community, not just another author slogging away on my lonely computer.
July 8, 2012
The Economics Book by Kersten Kelly
Economics Made Interesting in this new book by Kersten Kelly:
Professional football players, corporate tobacco advertisers, volatile gasoline prices, and the Cold War all share an undetected commonality—each is an intrinsic part of economics. Though not obvious to the naked eye, each entity shares a pattern with the others. This book helps to shed light on these mutual characteristics. It is an extensive compilation of theories interpreted using supportive examples.
A person with a professional degree graduates from high school at age eighteen. At an average of eight years to fully earn their education, the age they start a professional position is twenty-six. They must also factor in the debt of $150,000 that will have to be paid back for their education. If the person works the same number of hours per year and retires at the same age as a person with less than a high school diploma, the average lifetime earnings of a person with a professional degree is $3,115,080 after educational debt repayment. This is a 287 percent lifetime increase for an eight-year average investment in human capital. If that isn’t a worthwhile payout, I don’t know what is!
Economics is an enthralling science that encompasses our actions, thoughts, and emotional rationality every day in the unconscious. This book dissects economic theory into bite-size, entertaining snippets that anyone can understand and apply to their daily routines. It is a compelling depiction of history, business, pop culture, and social movements intertwined with relevant economic trends. Economics is part of daily life, and this book challenges readers to question how and why people make decisions by adding a simple twist on normalcy.
About the Author:
Kersten L. Kelly is a self-published author of narrative non-fiction and semi-fiction books. She grew up in Munster, Indiana, and currently works in a sales role based out of Chicago, Illinois. She started writing at an early age and graduated from Indiana University with a dual Bachelor’s Degree in Economics and Communication & Culture. She then went on to earn a Master’s in Business Administration from the Kelley School of Business
at Indiana University. She has a passion for learning, teaching, and writing as well as international travel in her spare time. This book is her first piece of published work.
For more information about The Economics Book visit www.theeconomicsbook.com.
Professional football players, corporate tobacco advertisers, volatile gasoline prices, and the Cold War all share an undetected commonality—each is an intrinsic part of economics. Though not obvious to the naked eye, each entity shares a pattern with the others. This book helps to shed light on these mutual characteristics. It is an extensive compilation of theories interpreted using supportive examples.
A person with a professional degree graduates from high school at age eighteen. At an average of eight years to fully earn their education, the age they start a professional position is twenty-six. They must also factor in the debt of $150,000 that will have to be paid back for their education. If the person works the same number of hours per year and retires at the same age as a person with less than a high school diploma, the average lifetime earnings of a person with a professional degree is $3,115,080 after educational debt repayment. This is a 287 percent lifetime increase for an eight-year average investment in human capital. If that isn’t a worthwhile payout, I don’t know what is!
Economics is an enthralling science that encompasses our actions, thoughts, and emotional rationality every day in the unconscious. This book dissects economic theory into bite-size, entertaining snippets that anyone can understand and apply to their daily routines. It is a compelling depiction of history, business, pop culture, and social movements intertwined with relevant economic trends. Economics is part of daily life, and this book challenges readers to question how and why people make decisions by adding a simple twist on normalcy.
About the Author:
Kersten L. Kelly is a self-published author of narrative non-fiction and semi-fiction books. She grew up in Munster, Indiana, and currently works in a sales role based out of Chicago, Illinois. She started writing at an early age and graduated from Indiana University with a dual Bachelor’s Degree in Economics and Communication & Culture. She then went on to earn a Master’s in Business Administration from the Kelley School of Business
at Indiana University. She has a passion for learning, teaching, and writing as well as international travel in her spare time. This book is her first piece of published work.
For more information about The Economics Book visit www.theeconomicsbook.com.
June 15, 2012
Jailbird by Heather Huffman
I'm stoked to be hosting author Heather Huffman on my blog. She has graciously written a guest post and is allowing me to post information about her book.
About Jailbird
A paradoxical blend of light and dark, Jailbird is a warm and humorous tale about the power of hope.
Neena Allen has led a tough life. Born on the reservation, raped and unjustly convicted of murdering her attacker, she survives prison - barely. When an opportunity presents itself, she doesn't hesitate to
escape. Presumed dead, she stumbles into a sleepy Arkansas town where she finds refuge with a kind family and glimpses the chance for a real home, a place to belong. But leading a double life isn’t easy, especially when you fall in love with the town lawyer. To complicate matters further, a tenacious reporter gets too close to the truth and Neena finds herselfon the run again. With a manhunt under way and her newfound happiness at risk, Neena must face the painful memories of her past or risk losing the future she dreams of. Should she fight for her new life or give up those she loves to keep them safe?
About Heather:
Heather was born and spent her early childhood in Florida, but now calls the beautiful state of Missouri home. Her greatest joy, aside from writing, is to hit the road with her three boys for adventure unknown.
Heather is the author of Throwaway, Ties that Bind, Jailbird, Ring of Fire, Suddenly a Spy and Tumbleweed. You can find out more about her writing and charitable work on www.heatherhuffman.net.
Crashing Dreams
by Heather Huffman
Sometimes the best thing that can happen to your
dreams is for them to come crashing down.
There was a time when I lived and breathed finding an agent and landing a contract at a major publisher in New York. The day I was told that the book I’d just poured my soul into didn’t fit New York’s formula for success, I was crushed. I’d driven all night to attend a writing conference with the hope of finding my big break only to be told I had to choose between the stories in my heart and the stories that would make my career.
It was then, once I’d seen my dreams shattered,
that I was forced to truly examine them. Had I started writing for fame and
fortune, or did I write because it was an integral part of me?
My conversation with the agent that day made me
ultimately realize that I write because I’m not the same when I don’t. I write
because the stories in my head and heart refuse to be silenced. That fateful day also freed me from the “write a book, get an agent, get published” trap. I focused on my craft instead of a formula, and I became a better writer for
it.
As for the book – Jailbird was picked up by a
publisher who turned out to be the best possible fit for me and my work. It
recently even reached #2 on the free charts and #36 on the Kindle Best Seller List!
My publisher, Booktrope, is a smaller publisher
out of Seattle with a publishing model designed to not only survive but thrive in the new publishing landscape, and they welcome good writing that pushes boundaries. We were made for each other, and we’d never have found one another if my dreams hadn’t first come crashing down.
You can find Jailbird, along with my other books, on Amazon
and Barnes & Noble. You can learn more about me, my books, and my charity work atwww.heatherhuffman.net.
About Jailbird
A paradoxical blend of light and dark, Jailbird is a warm and humorous tale about the power of hope.
Neena Allen has led a tough life. Born on the reservation, raped and unjustly convicted of murdering her attacker, she survives prison - barely. When an opportunity presents itself, she doesn't hesitate to
escape. Presumed dead, she stumbles into a sleepy Arkansas town where she finds refuge with a kind family and glimpses the chance for a real home, a place to belong. But leading a double life isn’t easy, especially when you fall in love with the town lawyer. To complicate matters further, a tenacious reporter gets too close to the truth and Neena finds herselfon the run again. With a manhunt under way and her newfound happiness at risk, Neena must face the painful memories of her past or risk losing the future she dreams of. Should she fight for her new life or give up those she loves to keep them safe?
About Heather:
Heather was born and spent her early childhood in Florida, but now calls the beautiful state of Missouri home. Her greatest joy, aside from writing, is to hit the road with her three boys for adventure unknown.
Heather is the author of Throwaway, Ties that Bind, Jailbird, Ring of Fire, Suddenly a Spy and Tumbleweed. You can find out more about her writing and charitable work on www.heatherhuffman.net.
Crashing Dreams
by Heather Huffman
Sometimes the best thing that can happen to your
dreams is for them to come crashing down.
There was a time when I lived and breathed finding an agent and landing a contract at a major publisher in New York. The day I was told that the book I’d just poured my soul into didn’t fit New York’s formula for success, I was crushed. I’d driven all night to attend a writing conference with the hope of finding my big break only to be told I had to choose between the stories in my heart and the stories that would make my career.
It was then, once I’d seen my dreams shattered,
that I was forced to truly examine them. Had I started writing for fame and
fortune, or did I write because it was an integral part of me?
My conversation with the agent that day made me
ultimately realize that I write because I’m not the same when I don’t. I write
because the stories in my head and heart refuse to be silenced. That fateful day also freed me from the “write a book, get an agent, get published” trap. I focused on my craft instead of a formula, and I became a better writer for
it.
As for the book – Jailbird was picked up by a
publisher who turned out to be the best possible fit for me and my work. It
recently even reached #2 on the free charts and #36 on the Kindle Best Seller List!
My publisher, Booktrope, is a smaller publisher
out of Seattle with a publishing model designed to not only survive but thrive in the new publishing landscape, and they welcome good writing that pushes boundaries. We were made for each other, and we’d never have found one another if my dreams hadn’t first come crashing down.
You can find Jailbird, along with my other books, on Amazon
and Barnes & Noble. You can learn more about me, my books, and my charity work atwww.heatherhuffman.net.
June 5, 2012
The Boston 395 by Jason Derr
I'm pleased to host a fellow author. Jason Derr has written a novella called The Boston 395. Here's a summary:
Before the economic downturn James Scotesdale did all the right things: he went to school and studied the right things, he had all the right friends, he had the love of a good woman and the support of his family. And then the economic crisis began and his secure life was suddenly not so secure. Now age 25 he lives on his mothers couch, in debt and brokenhearted. But all that changes when The Boston 395 train line appears in his living room. The Boston 395 is like no train you have ever seen. Each stop exits into James life, revealing truths he would rather not deal with. Guided by The Conductor and populated by a colorful cast of characters The Boston 395 will take James -and the reader -to places they never expected.
THE BOSTON 395 is a novella, sitting in the literary arena of magical realism/fantasy the book follows its own rules and weaves an interesting world for the reader to get lost in -and to wrestle with.
Who is Jason?
JASON DERR is originally from Richmond Va. But he has also lived in Florida where he got a degree in Film and Video Production and Spokane, Wa where he studied Creative Writing at Eastern Washington University. He received his MA in Theological Studies from the Vancouver School of Theology. His previous book, an .academic beat poem' called Towards A Theopoetic Of The Cross was published by the Progressive Christian Alliance Press. He lives in Portland, Or with his wife the fiber artist Erin Derr (www.erinderr.weebly.com) http://www.authorauthor.wordpress.com Authorjason@hotmail.com http://www.facebook.com/jason.rred
More About Jason.
Q: Will you tell me about yourself?
A: I am Jason Derr. I studied creative writing at Eastern Washington University and have an MA in Theological Studies from the Vancouver School of Theology. I am married to the fiber artist Erin Derr (www.icraft.ca/mouse-and-bear). I am 35.
Q: What is the deal with The Boston 395?
A: The deal is that I wrote the first draft for the Three Day Novel Contest a few years back. I sent in my application and started typing away. Just as I mailed off my finished manuscript I got a letter in the mail saying I had messed up my application! But from that I got a manuscript that I have been working on for a long time.
The title comes from my days as an undergrad, where I was working in the loading dock of the local Circuit City. We were unloading a truck at the back was a piece of plywood with the words "Boston 395" stenciled on them. They were stuck in my head for ages. I never did find out what that meant or why it was on the truck.
Q: Have you ever considered traditional publishing?
A: I have. I sent this puppy out to a lot of publishers, big and small. In one week I got two rejection letters -one said my sample chapters were some of the best they have ever read but were too "mainstream" and the other said they were too "non-traditional". And I've had more of that over the years! Q: Why Self-Publish?
A: Economics. First we have the reality that royalty-wise I will get more per-book money selling as an indie than I will through a traditional publisher. The additional economics of it works like this -clicking 'submit' on Smashwords was just the better deal for me.
Q: What Type of Book is This?
A: This book is a book of magical realism/literary fantasy. It's not going to appeal to the sword-and-sorcery fantasy audience but will appeal to people who love good stories, strong writing and the power of words. Remember, the rejection letters I got in the past said the book was mainstream AND non-traditional -so if you like any of those two types of writing then this book is for you!
Q: Will There be Any Sequels?
A: No, not really. It is not the sort of book that lends itself to sequels. BUT…I am working on a YA novel and the diligent reader may find some connections between the two. They take place in the same world, or related worlds, but can each stand on their own.
Before the economic downturn James Scotesdale did all the right things: he went to school and studied the right things, he had all the right friends, he had the love of a good woman and the support of his family. And then the economic crisis began and his secure life was suddenly not so secure. Now age 25 he lives on his mothers couch, in debt and brokenhearted. But all that changes when The Boston 395 train line appears in his living room. The Boston 395 is like no train you have ever seen. Each stop exits into James life, revealing truths he would rather not deal with. Guided by The Conductor and populated by a colorful cast of characters The Boston 395 will take James -and the reader -to places they never expected.
THE BOSTON 395 is a novella, sitting in the literary arena of magical realism/fantasy the book follows its own rules and weaves an interesting world for the reader to get lost in -and to wrestle with.
Who is Jason?
JASON DERR is originally from Richmond Va. But he has also lived in Florida where he got a degree in Film and Video Production and Spokane, Wa where he studied Creative Writing at Eastern Washington University. He received his MA in Theological Studies from the Vancouver School of Theology. His previous book, an .academic beat poem' called Towards A Theopoetic Of The Cross was published by the Progressive Christian Alliance Press. He lives in Portland, Or with his wife the fiber artist Erin Derr (www.erinderr.weebly.com) http://www.authorauthor.wordpress.com Authorjason@hotmail.com http://www.facebook.com/jason.rred
More About Jason.
Q: Will you tell me about yourself?
A: I am Jason Derr. I studied creative writing at Eastern Washington University and have an MA in Theological Studies from the Vancouver School of Theology. I am married to the fiber artist Erin Derr (www.icraft.ca/mouse-and-bear). I am 35.
Q: What is the deal with The Boston 395?
A: The deal is that I wrote the first draft for the Three Day Novel Contest a few years back. I sent in my application and started typing away. Just as I mailed off my finished manuscript I got a letter in the mail saying I had messed up my application! But from that I got a manuscript that I have been working on for a long time.
The title comes from my days as an undergrad, where I was working in the loading dock of the local Circuit City. We were unloading a truck at the back was a piece of plywood with the words "Boston 395" stenciled on them. They were stuck in my head for ages. I never did find out what that meant or why it was on the truck.
Q: Have you ever considered traditional publishing?
A: I have. I sent this puppy out to a lot of publishers, big and small. In one week I got two rejection letters -one said my sample chapters were some of the best they have ever read but were too "mainstream" and the other said they were too "non-traditional". And I've had more of that over the years! Q: Why Self-Publish?
A: Economics. First we have the reality that royalty-wise I will get more per-book money selling as an indie than I will through a traditional publisher. The additional economics of it works like this -clicking 'submit' on Smashwords was just the better deal for me.
Q: What Type of Book is This?
A: This book is a book of magical realism/literary fantasy. It's not going to appeal to the sword-and-sorcery fantasy audience but will appeal to people who love good stories, strong writing and the power of words. Remember, the rejection letters I got in the past said the book was mainstream AND non-traditional -so if you like any of those two types of writing then this book is for you!
Q: Will There be Any Sequels?
A: No, not really. It is not the sort of book that lends itself to sequels. BUT…I am working on a YA novel and the diligent reader may find some connections between the two. They take place in the same world, or related worlds, but can each stand on their own.
May 15, 2012
Trust your writing instincts
There is a lot of good advice available for aspiring writers. Many successful authors have offered tips on how to succeed in their chosen craft. I've benefited from other writer's sage wisdom in the past, and have been grateful that people more skilled than I have been willing to share their experiences. But lately, I'm starting to wonder if I would have been better off ignoring some of the advice I've received and trusted my instincts instead. Allow me to explain.
As an avid, lifelong reader---okay, a book junkie---I have always loved getting lost in the pages of a good book. So it was only natural that I developed an interest in writing when I was young. I started writing short stories in elementary school, and enjoyed the process immensely. Although I stopped writing in high school, I returned to it with a vengeance in college. For several years I never went anywhere without a notebook and a couple of pens. I remember riding my bike home from my restaurant job one night, and being so inspired by the way the nearly full moon illuminated the streets that I skidded to a halt, pulled out my notebook, and scribbled away. Completely obsessed, I recorded not just my impressions of the lighting, but managed to work it into a short story I was writing at the time.
Despite loving literature, I was majoring in biology at the time. When school was in session, I spent most of my time between classes in the library. I'd walk in with the intention of studying, but inevitably I'd be drawn to the fiction stacks. I read voraciously and, seeing all the great novels housed in the building, harbored fantasies of becoming a fiction writer.
I changed course abruptly in my junior year after attending a lecture by a locally renown novelist who taught in the English department. He talked about his struggles to support his family on a writer's earnings, then cited an interesting statistic. He said that 95 percent of everything published in the United States at that time was non-fiction, and just five percent was fiction. If any of you have any aspirations of writing for a living, I suggest you write non-fiction, he added.
I took his advice, and have spent the last 26 years as a freelance journalist. While my career has evolved over the years, and I've written for newspapers, magazines, book publishers, non-profits, and advertisers, one thing remained consistent. I wrote only non-fiction, and had no desire ever to write fiction again.
That all changed one day recently. A friend, who like me has always been fascinated by people and their behavior, told me about a woman she had met who essentially raised her 6 younger siblings because both their parents had schizophrenia. Suddenly a light bulb went off in my head, and I decided I just had to write a novel. Although I was no longer able to churn out words almost effortlessly as I had in college, I rediscovered the joy that comes from creating my own world while writing Playing the Genetic Lottery. Working on the novel was one of the most rewarding experiences I've had as a professional writer, and that got me thinking.
Will it pay the bills? That remains to be seen, but chances are no. Do I wish I'd stuck with fiction over the years? Yes and no. I've enjoyed my career, but I'll never know what I could have created if I'd dedicated my career to writing novels. So do I have any advice for aspiring writers? Just two tidbits. First, trust your instincts. And second, don't take anybody's advice, even my own.
As an avid, lifelong reader---okay, a book junkie---I have always loved getting lost in the pages of a good book. So it was only natural that I developed an interest in writing when I was young. I started writing short stories in elementary school, and enjoyed the process immensely. Although I stopped writing in high school, I returned to it with a vengeance in college. For several years I never went anywhere without a notebook and a couple of pens. I remember riding my bike home from my restaurant job one night, and being so inspired by the way the nearly full moon illuminated the streets that I skidded to a halt, pulled out my notebook, and scribbled away. Completely obsessed, I recorded not just my impressions of the lighting, but managed to work it into a short story I was writing at the time.
Despite loving literature, I was majoring in biology at the time. When school was in session, I spent most of my time between classes in the library. I'd walk in with the intention of studying, but inevitably I'd be drawn to the fiction stacks. I read voraciously and, seeing all the great novels housed in the building, harbored fantasies of becoming a fiction writer.
I changed course abruptly in my junior year after attending a lecture by a locally renown novelist who taught in the English department. He talked about his struggles to support his family on a writer's earnings, then cited an interesting statistic. He said that 95 percent of everything published in the United States at that time was non-fiction, and just five percent was fiction. If any of you have any aspirations of writing for a living, I suggest you write non-fiction, he added.
I took his advice, and have spent the last 26 years as a freelance journalist. While my career has evolved over the years, and I've written for newspapers, magazines, book publishers, non-profits, and advertisers, one thing remained consistent. I wrote only non-fiction, and had no desire ever to write fiction again.
That all changed one day recently. A friend, who like me has always been fascinated by people and their behavior, told me about a woman she had met who essentially raised her 6 younger siblings because both their parents had schizophrenia. Suddenly a light bulb went off in my head, and I decided I just had to write a novel. Although I was no longer able to churn out words almost effortlessly as I had in college, I rediscovered the joy that comes from creating my own world while writing Playing the Genetic Lottery. Working on the novel was one of the most rewarding experiences I've had as a professional writer, and that got me thinking.
Will it pay the bills? That remains to be seen, but chances are no. Do I wish I'd stuck with fiction over the years? Yes and no. I've enjoyed my career, but I'll never know what I could have created if I'd dedicated my career to writing novels. So do I have any advice for aspiring writers? Just two tidbits. First, trust your instincts. And second, don't take anybody's advice, even my own.
Why I love writing fiction
I recently published my first novel, Playing the Genetic Lottery, after working as a non-fiction writer for more than 25 years. If I had known how much fun it was to write a novel, I might have written one sooner. Sure, non-fiction writing pays the bills, and there is still room for some creativity in my commercial assignments. But as far as creativity, and fun for that matter, you can't beat fiction.
I spent about nine months writing Playing the Genetic Lottery, which is a memoir-style novel about a 32-year-old wife and mother who grew up with two schizophrenic parents. You'd think that addressing such a heavy topic might be a downer. But I had a blast writing the story. Sure, mental illness is a very serious subject, and yes, I have a lot of compassion for people who are unlucky enough to have such a serious illness. I also am very moved by the impact such an illness has one one's family and close friends. Despite that, I really loved creating my characters and their world. Unlike a magazine article or a grant proposal, where I'm constrained with providing mainly “just the facts, ma'am,” to quote Joe Friday in the old Dragnet TV series, writing fiction allowed me free reign in my work.
Sure, I did a lot of research to create realistic scenarios. (You can never quite excise the non-fiction gene from a journalist.) And I worked hard to make sure the book did not perpetuate any common misconceptions about mental illness. I could, and did, make up people, scenes, locales, conversations and more. Although I did have to proofread and edit my work I didn't have to scrupulously fact check everything. While I made an effort to be consistent throughout the story, I didn't have to call someone up to double check whether the car accident happened when my protagonist was in the third grade or the fourth. After all, I was the sole source of the novel.
That freedom allowed me to get lost in the story. After I finished writing for the day, I'd take a break, then think about what I was going to write about the next day. Often the book was the last thing I thought about before going to sleep, and the first thing that came to mind when I woke up. Sometimes coming up with an idea for the next chapter was difficult. Other times it was easy. And there were even times when the ideas seemed to pop into my head without any thought whatsoever. At those times, it almost seemed like the novel had taken on a life of its own, and was directing me, rather than the other way around.
This is not to say that writing the book was easy. It wasn't. Even when I knew what I wanted to write about, sometimes the work went slowly. Often times I felt like I was dragging words out of my head one-by-one. Of course, then there were other days when the words just flowed, and my fingers could barely keep up with my thoughts. Like anything in life, nothing is all good or all bad. Writing a novel, I've found, was interesting, challenging, enlightening, tedious, humorous, moving, time consuming, and entertaining. But most of all, it was a lot of fun.
I spent about nine months writing Playing the Genetic Lottery, which is a memoir-style novel about a 32-year-old wife and mother who grew up with two schizophrenic parents. You'd think that addressing such a heavy topic might be a downer. But I had a blast writing the story. Sure, mental illness is a very serious subject, and yes, I have a lot of compassion for people who are unlucky enough to have such a serious illness. I also am very moved by the impact such an illness has one one's family and close friends. Despite that, I really loved creating my characters and their world. Unlike a magazine article or a grant proposal, where I'm constrained with providing mainly “just the facts, ma'am,” to quote Joe Friday in the old Dragnet TV series, writing fiction allowed me free reign in my work.
Sure, I did a lot of research to create realistic scenarios. (You can never quite excise the non-fiction gene from a journalist.) And I worked hard to make sure the book did not perpetuate any common misconceptions about mental illness. I could, and did, make up people, scenes, locales, conversations and more. Although I did have to proofread and edit my work I didn't have to scrupulously fact check everything. While I made an effort to be consistent throughout the story, I didn't have to call someone up to double check whether the car accident happened when my protagonist was in the third grade or the fourth. After all, I was the sole source of the novel.
That freedom allowed me to get lost in the story. After I finished writing for the day, I'd take a break, then think about what I was going to write about the next day. Often the book was the last thing I thought about before going to sleep, and the first thing that came to mind when I woke up. Sometimes coming up with an idea for the next chapter was difficult. Other times it was easy. And there were even times when the ideas seemed to pop into my head without any thought whatsoever. At those times, it almost seemed like the novel had taken on a life of its own, and was directing me, rather than the other way around.
This is not to say that writing the book was easy. It wasn't. Even when I knew what I wanted to write about, sometimes the work went slowly. Often times I felt like I was dragging words out of my head one-by-one. Of course, then there were other days when the words just flowed, and my fingers could barely keep up with my thoughts. Like anything in life, nothing is all good or all bad. Writing a novel, I've found, was interesting, challenging, enlightening, tedious, humorous, moving, time consuming, and entertaining. But most of all, it was a lot of fun.
February 29, 2012
How to be a Writer
As an avid reader, and a person who is fortunate enough to live in a book-loving community with book stores that regularly host writer talks, I know a lot about the kinds of questions readers ask. I've been thinking about that recently, as I hope to start giving book talks myself once my novel, which I self published as an e-book in November, is out in paperback later this spring.
One of the first questions to come up is one that I've been asked numerous times during my 30-plus year career as a freelance non-fiction writer. People want to know if a writer has a particular schedule or routine. Over the years I've come to realize that while people are asking if a writer, say, gets up every morning at 5, brews a big pot of coffee, and is at their desk at 6 and toils faithfully away in longhand in black ink on legal pads until noon, they really want to know something else. I suspect they're looking for the secret formula that turns everyday people into authors.
I was guilty of the same thing in my teens. I thought writers needed a special gift that enabled them to turn ordinary words into magical prose that captured a reader's imagination. I used to wonder, when I was scribbling out my early attempts at fiction, how I could find that magic myself by emulating the writing schedule and habits of a famous author. I discovered, much to my surprise, that there is no magic bullet. To quote the Nike slogan all one needs is to Just Do It.
To become a writer, all one has to do is write. That's it. There's no secret, there's no short cut, there's no magic. All it takes is time, energy and a willingness to put words on paper, and the perseverance to keep writing and honing your skills. Does this mean I think writing is easy? No. Writing, especially writing well is hard work. It takes time and a lot of effort. And it takes a lot of thought. Think about what you want to write, whether it's a diary entry, a love letter, an angry retort to a newspaper article, a magazine piece, a bulletin for your bird watchers club newsletter, or a novel. Then start putting your thoughts onto paper. A good grasp of grammar and spelling is helpful, but those skills can be taught. A love of language is certainly helpful, so is a love of reading. I couldn't imagine ever becoming a writer if I hadn't been addicted to reading from an early age. Other than that, the only other criteria is a desire to communicate your thoughts via the written word. Once you've captured the essence on paper you can edit your work and polish your prose if necessary.
As for myself, no, I don't have a writing schedule. Most of my work for magazines, newspapers and businesses is deadline driven. I've found the pressure of an upcoming deadline is a good incentive to turn on the computer and start producing. For projects that don't have a deadline, like my novel, I work on them when time allows. I wrote Playing the Genetic Lottery while caring for my husband during his 18 months of life. When Gary was napping, and I wasn't driving him to and from doctor's appointments, medical tests or visiting him during hospital stays, I turned on my computer and wrote. When he woke up, and needed me, I printed out the day's work and turned off the computer. Somehow, even without a schedule or special work habits, I managed to write a book. If I can do it, so can anyone else who wants to share their thoughts, stories or imagination with others.
One of the first questions to come up is one that I've been asked numerous times during my 30-plus year career as a freelance non-fiction writer. People want to know if a writer has a particular schedule or routine. Over the years I've come to realize that while people are asking if a writer, say, gets up every morning at 5, brews a big pot of coffee, and is at their desk at 6 and toils faithfully away in longhand in black ink on legal pads until noon, they really want to know something else. I suspect they're looking for the secret formula that turns everyday people into authors.
I was guilty of the same thing in my teens. I thought writers needed a special gift that enabled them to turn ordinary words into magical prose that captured a reader's imagination. I used to wonder, when I was scribbling out my early attempts at fiction, how I could find that magic myself by emulating the writing schedule and habits of a famous author. I discovered, much to my surprise, that there is no magic bullet. To quote the Nike slogan all one needs is to Just Do It.
To become a writer, all one has to do is write. That's it. There's no secret, there's no short cut, there's no magic. All it takes is time, energy and a willingness to put words on paper, and the perseverance to keep writing and honing your skills. Does this mean I think writing is easy? No. Writing, especially writing well is hard work. It takes time and a lot of effort. And it takes a lot of thought. Think about what you want to write, whether it's a diary entry, a love letter, an angry retort to a newspaper article, a magazine piece, a bulletin for your bird watchers club newsletter, or a novel. Then start putting your thoughts onto paper. A good grasp of grammar and spelling is helpful, but those skills can be taught. A love of language is certainly helpful, so is a love of reading. I couldn't imagine ever becoming a writer if I hadn't been addicted to reading from an early age. Other than that, the only other criteria is a desire to communicate your thoughts via the written word. Once you've captured the essence on paper you can edit your work and polish your prose if necessary.
As for myself, no, I don't have a writing schedule. Most of my work for magazines, newspapers and businesses is deadline driven. I've found the pressure of an upcoming deadline is a good incentive to turn on the computer and start producing. For projects that don't have a deadline, like my novel, I work on them when time allows. I wrote Playing the Genetic Lottery while caring for my husband during his 18 months of life. When Gary was napping, and I wasn't driving him to and from doctor's appointments, medical tests or visiting him during hospital stays, I turned on my computer and wrote. When he woke up, and needed me, I printed out the day's work and turned off the computer. Somehow, even without a schedule or special work habits, I managed to write a book. If I can do it, so can anyone else who wants to share their thoughts, stories or imagination with others.
January 28, 2012
Autobiographical or Not? You Make the Call.
Writing and self-publishing my first novel has been a tremendous learning experience for me. As a longtime freelance journalist and the author or co-author of eight non-fiction books, the biggest and most obvious thing I've learned is how completely different the two genres are. One of the more interesting things I've discovered, however, is that many people have the same preconceived notions about novelists.
My book, Playing the Genetic Lottery, is a fictional memoir-style novel about a 32-year-old wife and mother who grew up in Oregon with two schizophrenic parents. When I tell people about the book that's generally how I describe it. Then I brace myself because, more often than not, the first words out of their mouth are "is your novel autobiographical?" That response used to make me laugh. Then I started finding myself getting annoyed, especially when the question was asked by people who know me well. Why? A: I'm 56 not 32, and I have the gray hair to prove. B: I don't have children, unless you count my dog. C: I've never lived in Oregon. despite having resided in 10 different states during my first 20 years of life: And D: My parents were quite sane while I was growing up. (Well, my father was a registered Republican at the time, but that's another story.) It seemed obvious to me that the answer to that question was a resounding NO.
I've been thinking about my response lately, and realize I need to adjust my attitude for several reasons. First of all, I'm grateful when anyone asks me about my novel, because I put my heart and soul into writing it. I love talking about the book, and I sincerely appreciate the interest of anyone willing to hear about it. Secondly, I understand where that question comes from, because one of the first things budding authors hear from instructors is to "write about what you know." Thirdly, as much as I hate to admit it, I might actually be wrong.
No, I'm nothing like Caitlin, my protagonist, and my story isn't hers. But yes, some of the minor incidents I included in the book, along with a couple of scenarios, jokes, and character and place names did come from my life and my experiences. My husband and I had a private, running joke that the president was always Calvin Coolidge, just like Caitlin and her husband do. I smile and think about Gary, who passed away shortly after I finished writing the book, when I re-read any of the references to Cal in the novel. Including that personal bit of humor was fun for me. So was including family references in the book in subtle ways, like using the birthdays of my brother, mother and father for key dates. I was fortunate enough to have some excellent, inspiring teachers when I was in elementary school, so I used the names of my two favorites as characters and locations in their honor. (Thank you Mrs. Kane and Mrs. Van Buskirk wherever you are.)
A couple of the minor characters I based on the combination of two, and sometimes three people I've known, but don't ask me who. I'll feign senility to keep people guessing, and remind them that Playing the Genetic Lottery is a work of fiction.
Since the novel is fiction, I took a lot of liberties with dates. For example, I used the names of two main characters from Jean Auel's wonderful novels as the birth names of Caitlin and her brother. Yes, I know the birth of my fictional characters preceded the publication of the novels I borrowed them from; that's one of the advantage of writing fiction instead of non-fiction. Another advantage is creating the main setting for the book. Cumberland, Oregon isn't on any maps. That's because it's a figment of my imagination. However, residents of Santa Cruz County, where I've lived for the past 36 years, might feel like they know the layout of the town because I had the geography of my home community in my mind when I was creating the fictional town of Cumberland. While there are obvious differences---Cumberland is in a central valley in Oregon, and Santa Cruz is along California's Central Coast---there are some similarities. There is a coffee shop a short stroll away from the local hospital here, like in the book, although the names of all those businesses have been changed.
So, I guess I'm going to have to start answering the autobiographical question a little differently. No, I'm not Caitlin, but yes, there is a lot of my experiences and life in the novel. Whether that makes the book autobiographical is up for debate, but it does prove at least one thing. I took the advice of writing instructors everywhere and wrote about what I knew.
I wrote this guest blog for Terri Long's blog. She plans to post it on Wed. Feb. 1. You can find her on the web at http://www.tglong.com/blog/
My book, Playing the Genetic Lottery, is a fictional memoir-style novel about a 32-year-old wife and mother who grew up in Oregon with two schizophrenic parents. When I tell people about the book that's generally how I describe it. Then I brace myself because, more often than not, the first words out of their mouth are "is your novel autobiographical?" That response used to make me laugh. Then I started finding myself getting annoyed, especially when the question was asked by people who know me well. Why? A: I'm 56 not 32, and I have the gray hair to prove. B: I don't have children, unless you count my dog. C: I've never lived in Oregon. despite having resided in 10 different states during my first 20 years of life: And D: My parents were quite sane while I was growing up. (Well, my father was a registered Republican at the time, but that's another story.) It seemed obvious to me that the answer to that question was a resounding NO.
I've been thinking about my response lately, and realize I need to adjust my attitude for several reasons. First of all, I'm grateful when anyone asks me about my novel, because I put my heart and soul into writing it. I love talking about the book, and I sincerely appreciate the interest of anyone willing to hear about it. Secondly, I understand where that question comes from, because one of the first things budding authors hear from instructors is to "write about what you know." Thirdly, as much as I hate to admit it, I might actually be wrong.
No, I'm nothing like Caitlin, my protagonist, and my story isn't hers. But yes, some of the minor incidents I included in the book, along with a couple of scenarios, jokes, and character and place names did come from my life and my experiences. My husband and I had a private, running joke that the president was always Calvin Coolidge, just like Caitlin and her husband do. I smile and think about Gary, who passed away shortly after I finished writing the book, when I re-read any of the references to Cal in the novel. Including that personal bit of humor was fun for me. So was including family references in the book in subtle ways, like using the birthdays of my brother, mother and father for key dates. I was fortunate enough to have some excellent, inspiring teachers when I was in elementary school, so I used the names of my two favorites as characters and locations in their honor. (Thank you Mrs. Kane and Mrs. Van Buskirk wherever you are.)
A couple of the minor characters I based on the combination of two, and sometimes three people I've known, but don't ask me who. I'll feign senility to keep people guessing, and remind them that Playing the Genetic Lottery is a work of fiction.
Since the novel is fiction, I took a lot of liberties with dates. For example, I used the names of two main characters from Jean Auel's wonderful novels as the birth names of Caitlin and her brother. Yes, I know the birth of my fictional characters preceded the publication of the novels I borrowed them from; that's one of the advantage of writing fiction instead of non-fiction. Another advantage is creating the main setting for the book. Cumberland, Oregon isn't on any maps. That's because it's a figment of my imagination. However, residents of Santa Cruz County, where I've lived for the past 36 years, might feel like they know the layout of the town because I had the geography of my home community in my mind when I was creating the fictional town of Cumberland. While there are obvious differences---Cumberland is in a central valley in Oregon, and Santa Cruz is along California's Central Coast---there are some similarities. There is a coffee shop a short stroll away from the local hospital here, like in the book, although the names of all those businesses have been changed.
So, I guess I'm going to have to start answering the autobiographical question a little differently. No, I'm not Caitlin, but yes, there is a lot of my experiences and life in the novel. Whether that makes the book autobiographical is up for debate, but it does prove at least one thing. I took the advice of writing instructors everywhere and wrote about what I knew.
I wrote this guest blog for Terri Long's blog. She plans to post it on Wed. Feb. 1. You can find her on the web at http://www.tglong.com/blog/
From Fact to Fiction
I've been a freelance journalist and a non-fiction writer for over 30 years. Although I wrote a lot of (mostly bad, mostly juvenile) fiction between the ages of 11 and 21 I turned to non-fiction for a career because I figured I'd have a much better chance of making a living that way. So why did I write a novel? Funny you should ask.
I had no intention of writing a novel, ever. I wasn't interested in writing one, even though I'm an avid fiction reader. It just wasn't on my agenda, until one day, much to my enormous surprise, I suddenly HAD to write Playing the Genetic Lottery.
One of the reasons I became a journalist is because I'm extremely curious. I love being able to call up perfect strangers who are doing interesting things and ask them about their work. And one of the things I'm most curious about is people, and what makes them behave the way they do. One morning I received a phone call from a friend, who like me, is always questioning whether nature or nurture is more important in shaping a person. Kathy told me about a woman she had met the evening before. Her new acquaintance was the oldest of seven children and essentially raised her siblings because their parents both had schizophrenia. Knowing I'd authored and co-authored eight non-fiction books, Kathy wanted me to call the woman and help her write a book. Before I even thought about it I answered "No, I want to write a novel."
My pronouncement shocked both of us, especially me. I still don't understand why, but I knew I was destined to write what eventually became "Playing the Genetic Lottery."
At the time I didn't really know too much about schizophrenia. So I did what I always do when preparing to write about a subject. I started researching it. The natural first step would have been to talk to the woman Kathy wanted me to work with, but I was afraid of inadvertently stealing her story. So afraid, in fact, that I wouldn't even let Kathy tell me the woman's name. Instead I started reading everything I could get my hands on about schizophrenia. I combed the library and the bookstores, and I spent hours on-line. I also had numerous conversations with people who have schizophrenic relatives. Then I sat down and started creating Caitlin, my protagonist, and her world.
Writing fiction, I quickly discovered, gives a writer a lot of freedom. And freedom, at least for this writer, means a lot of fun. Sure, I wanted my book to be realistic, and used the fruits of my research to create realistic scenarios, albeit highly fictional ones. But the fun came in creating those scenarios, as well as a full cast of characters. As a journalist, I'm obsessed with accuracy, making sure I describe events exactly as they occurred and taking pains to spell every one's names correctly and get all the facts straight. As a novelist, I was unconstrained, and could just enjoy the ride.
And what a wild, enjoyable ride it was. Before I started writing I drafted a rough outline of how I wanted the novel to proceed, then completely ignored it. Instead, I let the characters and the story take me along where they needed to go. I loved getting lost in Caitlin's world, even though writing can be and often is hard work. I looked forward to turning on my computer and working on the book. After finishing a chapter, I start pondering on the next step. Like Caitlin does in the novel, I thought about the book every morning when I first woke up, and after completing a chapter would start daydreaming about the next one.
Another fun part, at least for me, was peppering the book with personal tidbits of information. For example, several of the characters in Playing the Genetic Lottery share birthdays with several of my family members. Several of the characters and locations share the names of my favorite elementary school teachers. My husband used to jokingly maintain that the current president was named Calvin Coolidge, so I worked Cal into the book as a private joke between Caitlin and her husband.
Terri Morgan is a freelance writer from Soquel, California. She has written thousands of newspaper, magazine, newsletter and web articles on hundreds of different subjects. She is the author or co-author of eight non-fiction books, primarily for young adults. Playing the Genetic Lottery, which was released as an e-book in November, 2011, is her first novel. For more information on the author, her books, and to read excerpts from Playing the Genetic Lottery, visit her website at www.terrimorgan.net. The novel is currently available as an ebook at www.smashwords.com/books/view/104186 and at amazon.com.. A paperback version is in the works.
I originally wrote this guest post for Morgen Bailey's blog. You can see the original, and check out her great blog at http://morgenbailey.wordpress.com/201...
I had no intention of writing a novel, ever. I wasn't interested in writing one, even though I'm an avid fiction reader. It just wasn't on my agenda, until one day, much to my enormous surprise, I suddenly HAD to write Playing the Genetic Lottery.
One of the reasons I became a journalist is because I'm extremely curious. I love being able to call up perfect strangers who are doing interesting things and ask them about their work. And one of the things I'm most curious about is people, and what makes them behave the way they do. One morning I received a phone call from a friend, who like me, is always questioning whether nature or nurture is more important in shaping a person. Kathy told me about a woman she had met the evening before. Her new acquaintance was the oldest of seven children and essentially raised her siblings because their parents both had schizophrenia. Knowing I'd authored and co-authored eight non-fiction books, Kathy wanted me to call the woman and help her write a book. Before I even thought about it I answered "No, I want to write a novel."
My pronouncement shocked both of us, especially me. I still don't understand why, but I knew I was destined to write what eventually became "Playing the Genetic Lottery."
At the time I didn't really know too much about schizophrenia. So I did what I always do when preparing to write about a subject. I started researching it. The natural first step would have been to talk to the woman Kathy wanted me to work with, but I was afraid of inadvertently stealing her story. So afraid, in fact, that I wouldn't even let Kathy tell me the woman's name. Instead I started reading everything I could get my hands on about schizophrenia. I combed the library and the bookstores, and I spent hours on-line. I also had numerous conversations with people who have schizophrenic relatives. Then I sat down and started creating Caitlin, my protagonist, and her world.
Writing fiction, I quickly discovered, gives a writer a lot of freedom. And freedom, at least for this writer, means a lot of fun. Sure, I wanted my book to be realistic, and used the fruits of my research to create realistic scenarios, albeit highly fictional ones. But the fun came in creating those scenarios, as well as a full cast of characters. As a journalist, I'm obsessed with accuracy, making sure I describe events exactly as they occurred and taking pains to spell every one's names correctly and get all the facts straight. As a novelist, I was unconstrained, and could just enjoy the ride.
And what a wild, enjoyable ride it was. Before I started writing I drafted a rough outline of how I wanted the novel to proceed, then completely ignored it. Instead, I let the characters and the story take me along where they needed to go. I loved getting lost in Caitlin's world, even though writing can be and often is hard work. I looked forward to turning on my computer and working on the book. After finishing a chapter, I start pondering on the next step. Like Caitlin does in the novel, I thought about the book every morning when I first woke up, and after completing a chapter would start daydreaming about the next one.
Another fun part, at least for me, was peppering the book with personal tidbits of information. For example, several of the characters in Playing the Genetic Lottery share birthdays with several of my family members. Several of the characters and locations share the names of my favorite elementary school teachers. My husband used to jokingly maintain that the current president was named Calvin Coolidge, so I worked Cal into the book as a private joke between Caitlin and her husband.
Terri Morgan is a freelance writer from Soquel, California. She has written thousands of newspaper, magazine, newsletter and web articles on hundreds of different subjects. She is the author or co-author of eight non-fiction books, primarily for young adults. Playing the Genetic Lottery, which was released as an e-book in November, 2011, is her first novel. For more information on the author, her books, and to read excerpts from Playing the Genetic Lottery, visit her website at www.terrimorgan.net. The novel is currently available as an ebook at www.smashwords.com/books/view/104186 and at amazon.com.. A paperback version is in the works.
I originally wrote this guest post for Morgen Bailey's blog. You can see the original, and check out her great blog at http://morgenbailey.wordpress.com/201...
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