Sylvain Reynard's Blog, page 26

Georgina Guthrie, author of The Weight of Words interviewed by SR

NOTE:Due to the overwhelming response the interview, we posted it early!
Thank you very much to the ladies over at The SubClub books for arranging this. On May 28th, they will have an exclusive interview in which the charming Georgina Guthrie interviews me. There will be many giveaways, including International and US editions of the GABRIEL series as well as autographed copies of Georgina's novels.



Hello Georgina. It’s a pleasure to have you with my readers and me. Thank you for agreeing to visit us and answer our questions.Thanks for having me! This is exciting!Your first novel, “The Weight of Words,” was published last year. How did you become a published novelist?After wondering what to do with my completed manuscript for about a year and a half and emailing you once a month to flail indecisively and pester you with probing questions (remember that?—best time ever, right? LOL), I finally queried with Omnific. Luckily, the publisher was interested in the story and then, shortly afterward, requested the sequels.You're a Canadian author.  Was it important to you to set your novel in Canada?I love Canada, and I think Toronto is a wonderful, vibrant city, but I don’t know if I set out specifically to write a “Canadian” story. What I really wanted to do was set the story at the University of Toronto. I have such amazing memories of my time there and was eager to revisit those memories. I believed I could recapture the way I felt when I studied there. I hope that’s the case.   Were there particular aspects of Canadian life and culture that you wanted to include in your writing?I really wanted to include the letter “u” in words like “flavour,” “humour,” “favourite,” “honour,” and “colour.” Alas, I lost this battle. ;)  In all seriousness, I wanted the stories and characters to feel real. Setting events in actual locations allowed me to ground my characters in reality, even if the events do become a bit extreme at times. I hope readers who are familiar with Toronto feel a bit of a rush when they read about a setting they “recognize”. Gotta get at least one Timmy’s reference in per book. ;)I’m thinking back to the Gabriel series now. Was there anything in particular that you wanted to include when you were writing, or did events just unfold in certain locales quite organically? I’d say that was the case for me. Proximity to Vic, really.  I think Toronto in general and the University of Toronto in particular lend themselves to writing and to film. The landscapes and settings are picturesque and the city has its own character, which is unique from, say, New York or London or Berlin.I agree with you about Canadian spelling. Every time a Canadian drops a “u” an angel loses a wing.Tell us about your new novel, which is the sequel to “The Weight of Words.”Essentially, “Better Deeds than Words” picks up right where “The Weight of Words” left off and continues to follow Aubrey and Daniel’s journey throughout the semester. They aren’t prepared to wait to pursue their relationship and there are some rather unfortunate consequences. Shakespeare plays an important role in your Words series.What prompted your interest in Shakespeare? What's your favourite Shakespearean play? Shakespearean character?I’ve loved Shakespeare since I read “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” early in high school. I don’t know if it’s my British background, or my romantic sensibilities, but there’s just something magical in the Bard’s words and stories that I never grow weary of. My favourite of the plays? I have to choose one?? Not possible. “Hamlet” is a forerunner, if not for the plot, which can be baffling, then certainly for the language. Hamlet’s soliloquies are some of the most eloquent passages in the English language, which makes him one of my favourite characters, as well. But for brilliance of plot and imagery, I’ve always admired “Macbeth.”(And even as I’m writing this, my brain is saying, “yes but…” “hey, what about…?”) What’s your favourite? See? It isn’t easy, is it? I remember when we were trying to read “Measure for Measure” together. What ever happened to that? Did you finish? Measure for Measure is one of those plays that you can read and re-read and still find something new in it. I suppose that’s one of the reasons why I like Shakespeare so much. I think the same is true of Hamlet and the Scottish play, as well as The Merchant of Venice.You're a new novelist. Do you have advice for aspiring writers?My advice would be to write and read as much as you can, and if you’re looking to publish, talk to people, make connections, ask lots of questions, and be prepared to be patient. I know you’re a Peter Katz fan. I enjoy his music as well.Which song is your favourite?Wow, that’s a tough question. It seems to me that Peter’s music resides in two different camps. There are songs which simply speak to the human condition—to love, loss, longing…My favourite song in this vein is “Posters,” one of his older songs. He doesn’t perform it live very often. I was lucky enough to hear him sing it in a beautiful art gallery in Toronto about a year ago.But Peter also writes songs in response to things he sees happening around the world: things that deeply touch him or trouble him. He wrote a song after hearing about the tragic beating and subsequent death of Matthew Shepard in Laramie Wyoming. The song is called “The Fence,” and it’s absolutely heart-breaking, and brilliant. I’m so glad you took my advice and looked him up. I urge all of my readers to check him out. He truly is one of my muses.I’m grateful you told me about his music. “Forgiveness” is a song that was very meaningful to me. I listen to it regularly. It’s very powerful.Oh, absolutely—another favourite. That song was particularly inspiring when I was writing the third book in the Words series. One of the things I love best about Peter is the stories he tells to accompany the songs. The events that inspired the song “Forgiveness” are particularly compelling. If I’m not mistaken, the lyrics to the song were recently published in a university text book.Is there a charity or organization that you support that you’d like to highlight?I think it’s important for people to back charities that are personally relevant as opposed to throwing their support behind a cause because someone else tells them to. Personally, I donate to local organizations because it’s gratifying to see the positive results that can come from one’s contributions. There is a local palliative care hospice which looks after ailing teens that’s close to my heart as well as a cancer support center which was founded by an acquaintance of mine shortly before she lost her battle with breast cancer.Where can readers find your first book and its sequel?The books are available on Amazon in the USA, Canada and the UK. Barnes and Noble is also carrying both, and if all else fails, Ominific’s entire catalogue is available on their site. I’m hopeful that Chapters, here in Canada, will add Better Deeds than Words to their on-line catalogue. Perhaps one day I’ll even see my books on the shelves. (That’s a wee pipe-dream, there…) Perhaps this is a good moment for Canadian readers to consider sending a tweet or email to Chapters and asking them to stock the books in store.Tell us about the third book in the series. When will it release? Will it be the last volume in the Words series?The final installment is called “The Truest of Words,” and I believe it’s due out in November of this year. It follows Aubrey and Daniel’s journey once the school year has wrapped up. As far as I know right now, that’s the end of the series.What’s next for you as a writer?Of course, the next few months will involve the editing of “The Truest of Words,” but once that’s wrapped up, I’m not sure what’s next. I’d dearly love to publish the YA book I wrote last year. (Perhaps this is this your subtle way of nagging me about it? LOL).  It’s so near and dear to my heart. It’s been professionally edited and for all intents and purposes, it’s ready to go. I just need to take the plunge and start querying. (I’m setting aside a few months to send you flaily emails first, though. Brace yourself, okay?)I think that’s great news, GG. I’d like to see your Young Adult novel published and I know readers will be happy to hear about that project.Keep us posted and thanks again for joining us, SR.

Thank you for having me! It’s always a pleasure to chat with you, SR. And it goes without saying that I appreciate your support and encouragement. Now let’s get a drink! :)

Georgina's links:
AMAZONTHE WEIGHT OF WORDSBETTER DEEDS THAN WORDS
BN.com
THE WEIGHT OF WORDSBETTER DEEDS THAN WORDS
Social Media
TWITTERFACEBOOKSITE



November 2014

Thank you

Hello everyone.

Thank you for reading and for taking the time to post comments here on my site.

I wanted to mention that comments are moderated. Comments that include spoilers to Gabriel's Redemption are not posted.

Let me explain.

Even though Gabriel's Redemption was published in the US and Canada in December, many markets are only just receiving it. And some markets (The very patient Francophone readers, for example) don't have an edition available yet. (I should mention that Hugo & Cie are publishing the French translation of Redemption)

Out of respect for readers who haven't read Redemption, I'm not posting spoilers.

I apologize for deleting your very kind comments on the book and your questions about a possible sequel. I'm not ready to say goodbye to the Professor, yet. Certainly, he and some other characters will have cameo appearances in my new book The Raven and possibly other books in that series.

The cover reveal for The Raven will be May 27th. Stay tuned.

All the best and thanks for reading and commenting,
SR
www.sylvainreynard.com

Cover Reveal for "The Raven" - May 27th

Hello everyone.

The cover reveal for "The Raven" is scheduled for May 27th. If you're a book blogger and you'd like to participate, please sign up here.  We'll also be announcing the release date.

I should mention that "The Raven" is separate from The Gabriel Series and so you don't have to read them first.  I think readers who enjoyed The Gabriel Series will also enjoy my new book, but I'm hoping to welcome new readers too. If you have friends and family who enjoy paranormal love stories, I'd appreciate it if you'd tell them about "The Raven."

You can add it to your Goodreads shelf.

I have another surprise up my sleeve, but we'll have to wait a little longer for its revelation. Please stay tuned.

Thanks for reading and for your continued support,
SR
www.sylvainreynard.com

Suggestions for Writers - Part III

Finding your Voice

A few years ago, I read an interview with an editor for a major publishing house. When asked what she looks for in a new author, she replied "voice." She went on to say that the voice of a writer was what captured her attention, perhaps even more so than the story or the technical prowess of the writer.

Finding your voice can be challenging. Your voice will be unique to you and it will include your writing style and tone, your choice of language, and a whole host of other things ...

(You can read the rest of this post here: http://www.sylvainreynard.com/2014/04... )

Suggestions for Writers - Part III

A few years ago, I read an interview with an editor for a major publishing house. When asked what she looks for in a new author, she replied "voice." She went on to say that the voice of a writer was what captured her attention, perhaps even more so than the story or the technical prowess of the writer.

Finding your voice can be challenging.  Your voice will be unique to you and it will include your writing style and tone, your choice of language, and a whole host of other things.

Hemingway doesn't sound like Shakespeare. Dostoyevsky doesn't sound like Milton. And very few writers, if any, sound like Dante.

This is a good thing. We don't want to hear the same voice all the time. If I want to read Hemingway, I'll do so. I don't want every novel that I read to sound like Hemingway.

The same can be said for your writing. You can learn a great deal from writers you admire, but remember to write in your own voice. You don't want to sound like someone else. No one but Hemingway can be Hemingway. Similarly, no one but you can be you. Embrace that fact.

Of course, there can be some variation in style and language, depending on the story you're trying to tell and the genre in which you're writing. I prefer to write in third person, for example, but I know that there will probably come a day when I will need to write in first person because the story requires it.

But you need to celebrate your own voice, your own uniqueness, and let that voice be heard. That's what editors are looking for - new and unique voices.

So my suggestion to writers is this:  Be You and Write in Your Own Voice. Learn from others, but don't copy them. Find the style and tone that match the story you want to tell and let your voice develop naturally.

All the best and good luck,
SR
www.sylvainreynard.com

PS. Good news is coming your way about my new book, "The Raven." Stay tuned. There may even be a surprise ...

Dealing with Writer's Block - Suggestions for Writers

Dear Everyone,

As I mentioned in my last post, I'm penning a series of suggestions for writers.  Also, I'll be answering some of your writing questions.

Many people have written to me asking about writer's block. Writer's block refers to the phenomenon of not being able to write. For a writer, this can be frustrating as well as alarming.

I have some suggestions for how to deal with writer's block.

First, recognize that all writers suffer from writer's block at some point.

Don't view writer's block as a personal literary failing. We all encounter it at some point. The important thing is to address it and not to accept it as insurmountable.

Second, determine the scope of the block.

Are you having trouble with a particular scene or chapter? Or are you unable to write anything in your manuscript?

If you're having trouble with a particular scene or chapter, my short term advice is to move on to another scene or chapter. You don't have to write your novel in chronological order. If there's another scene or chapter that captures your imagination, write it. You can go back to the scene that was causing trouble later.

If you're having trouble writing anything in your manuscript, my advice is to ask yourself why.  Perhaps you've written yourself (or your characters) into a corner and you can't see your way out. Perhaps you're unhappy with the turn the story has taken. In these cases, the solution to your problem may be a revision or a rewrite. Attempt to do that and see if the words flow.

If you just can't seem to write anything, my advice is to take a break. Stress and pressure are poor motivators, especially for creative works like writing. Go outside. Get some fresh air and some physical activity. Have sex. Give your mind and your Muse a break from writing and allow your mind to focus on something else. Then come back to your writing. It's possible your activities will have loosened up your imagination and you'll be able to write more easily.

Third, write your way out of the block.

As I suggested above, the way to combat writer's block is to write. Sometimes you need to write something else and then come back to your problem passage. Sometimes you need to give your mind and body a break and then come back.

Sometimes you need to write something completely different to "cleanse the palate."  If you're writing prose, try writing a poem. If you're writing in first person, try writing in third. I'm not suggesting you spend a great deal of time on this secondary project. But sometimes you can motivate your imagination to be more cooperative if you begin listening to a different Muse entirely. And sometimes you discover that you have a very interesting secondary project that you'd like to explore at a later date.

Fourth, be open to change.

If writer's block continues to plague you after you've gone through these suggestions, it's possible you need a change either in your schedule, your environment, or even your story.  Perhaps the timing is off and you need to write in the evenings rather than the mornings. Perhaps your writing space is cluttered with people, pets, and/or paper and what you really need is a monastery.  Perhaps the reason why you can't finish that chapter is because you're trying to write something that is out of character for your protagonist or won't work with your story.

Try making small changes in these three areas (one at at time) and see if that helps.

Fifth, recognize that there's no magical cure for writer's block.

I'm hoping you find these suggestions helpful. Perhaps you'll find that something else entirely solves the problem. Please let me and others know what your strategies are for dealing with writer's block in the comments below. I welcome the suggestions.

Good luck and don't give up,
SR
www.sylvainreynard.com

Suggestions for Writers - Part I

Dear Everyone,

A number of readers have contacted me, asking if I have any suggestions for aspiring writers. I'm putting together a series of posts in order to do this and I invite your questions in the comments below.

But to begin, I have four suggestions for writers.

First, write daily.
Second, find someone you trust who will offer constructive criticism of your writing.
Third, be organized.
Fourth, save the space.


1.  Write daily

Whether writing is your hobby or your job, it's important to write daily.  Writing daily enables you to develop the habit of writing. It also encourages discipline, perseverance, and time management.

Writer's block can be a serious problem for this discipline and so I'll address that in a subsequent post. But my first piece of advice to aspiring writers is to write and to write something every day.

2.  Find someone you trust who will offer constructive criticism of your writing

Every writer needs an editor. Every writer can improve. If you disagree with these two statements, I think you'll find the practice of writing (and having your words read) difficult. But if you can accept the fact that we're all human and we can all improve our writing, then hopefully, you'll be open to receiving constructive criticism.

It's important that you choose someone who you respect and trust to give you criticism. Then you'll be more likely to accept their advice.

When you receive feedback on your writing, you will hear things you don't want to hear. It's possible you'll disagree with your reader.  But if your goal is to be the best writer you can be, then you have to be open to suggestions for improvement. You may have to make changes in your writing - such as getting rid of bad habits, learning proper grammar, spelling, and style, and avoiding cliches. You may have to adjust the way you write in order to make things clearer for your reader. Over time, if you're open to criticism, I think you'll find that your writing will improve.

3.  Be organized

Writing a book is a large project. For any large project, you need to be organized.  Start a file or a series of files in which you can put your notes, outlines, research, and character descriptions.  Then when you need to look something up, you'll know where to find it.

Be sure to back up your work consistently. Some writers do this by printing a hard copy of the manuscript and storing it off site, or by saving the files to a flash drive and storing it somewhere else. No matter how you do it, you want to be sure to have an extra copy of your manuscript somewhere safe. If something happens to your computer or your home, you'll still have your manuscript.

4.  Save the space

Depending on your situation, you might not be able to have a space that is designated solely for writing. But even if you're writing at the kitchen table, try to make your space as comfortable as possible. Keep the area organized and tidy so that you aren't distracted.  If listening to music helps you shut out noise and interruptions, do it. Keep your research and notes in your writing space so that if you need them, they're available. Don't forget to include inspirational items such as paintings or artwork in your space. It's amazing how beauty breeds beauty.


In the next few posts, I'll answer some of your writing related questions. You can post those in the comments below.

In closing, I wish you all the best in your writing and good luck.

Thanks for reading,
SR
www.sylvainreynard.com

Gabriel's Redemption - Seduzione ed Estasi

Ciao, Italia.

Prenotare "Gabriel's Redemption: Seduzione ed Estasi" :
http://t.co/5MTF47rnWH

3 Aprile 2014.

Grazie mille,
SR
www.sylvainreynard.com

Information for Portuguese Readers

Dear Everyone,

Monica, a very kind reader from Portugal, sent me a note outlining where readers can find Portuguese translations of my books.

Here are the links:

O Inferno de Gabriel: http://www.fnac.pt/O-Inferno-de-Gabri...

O Extase de Gabriel: http://www.fnac.pt/O-Extase-de-Gabrie...

A Redencao de Gabriel: http://www.fnac.pt/A-Redencao-de-Gabr...

Obrigado, Monica.

Thanks for reading, everyone,
SR
www.sylvainreynard.com

Valentine's Festivus - A Valentine for the Rest of Us, by Richard Clark

Guest blog post for Valentine’s Day by Richard Clark of The Gabriel Series.
St. Valentine’s Day approaches.  If you look at how the holiday is presented, you’d likely conclude that love is identical with sex, and that the entirety of civilization is already paired up, like the animals waiting to enter Noah’s Ark.
But not everyone is part of a pair. Some of us are single, or single again. Some of us are waiting for that one great love of our life. Some of us had that love, and tragically lost it.
I lost my wife to cancer a couple of years ago. Although I am convinced she is still with me, my life will never be the same. Valentine’s Day will never be the same.
In reflecting on this, I began to notice things about the holiday I’d never seen before. As I said, it seems to be a holiday directed toward sexual partners and not to any other kind of love, and certainly not to those who are single.
So I took it up on myself, with the encouragement of my son, Gabriel, to pen a short post on Valentine’s Day for (as he puts it) the rest of us.  A sort of Valentine’s Festivus, if you will. (Hat tip to Seinfeld)
1          - St. Valentine’s Day is a celebration of love. But love isn’t identical with sex.  If you reduce love to sex then you are missing out on other important kinds of love.  Think of Valentine’s Day as an opportunity to celebrate your love for others – friends, family, co-workers, fellow citizens, the homeless, and those in need.
2     -      You can’t celebrate love of others without having love for yourself.  It’s important to care for yourself and to treat yourself with kindness. We all have internal monologues that whisper doubts and nasty words in our ears. Silence them. Speak to yourself and others with compassion and charity.
3     -      Do something.  Love is a verb, as well as a noun. Be practical. You can show love for your friends by being thoughtful. You can show love for humanity by being generous and patient.
4     -      Reject the lie that says that only couples are happy. Being part of a couple can contribute to happiness, but it brings with it a host of challenges.  The same can be said for a single life.  You don’t need another person to make you happy, and more importantly, you shouldn’t look to another person to seal your happiness. This will only lead to disappointment. Focus on other meaningful things – living a good life, being charitable and generous, developing your faith and spirituality, becoming a peacemaker, etc.

I wish you all a very happy St. Valentine’s Day and I hope that you will be kind to yourself and others today and throughout the year.
With every good wish,
Richard Clark.www.sylvainreynard.com