Augusta Scattergood's Blog, page 47
May 12, 2013
Learning from the Best: POV
Here is a post by Linda Urban that I come back to often.
With each re-reading, I pick up another, finer point.
http://lindaurbanbooks.com/2013/01/22/point-of-view-one-authors-perspective/
My favorite book by Linda Urban is HOUND DOG TRUE. I've also read that middle-grade novel more than once. I sped through it the first time and if you'd asked me what "person" she'd written in, I would have answered, without a beat, First Person. Mattie's voice is so strong, it had to be. Right?
Wrong.
But it's very close Third Person. And it works.
Now that I'm noodling around a new story idea, the first thing that needs struggling with:
Who the heck is telling this story anyhow?
At first, I had two POV characters. Struggle, struggle! Hard work!
Not succeeding too well.
So I switched to the young girl, whose voice I heard clearly.
But now I'm vacillating. Maybe that other character needs to be heard.
He sure is trying to tell me something.
So, what did I do? I reread Linda's fantastic post. And I'm going to really think about what she says about THEMES and narrator's voice influencing POV.
Her most recent novel is told by more than one character. I've only read it once. I didn't love it like I loved HOUND DOG TRUE, but it intrigued me. (And truthfully, there aren't a lot of books I loved as much as that one.)
Having read her writing process, I have the book out to reread. Because I'm interested in thinking more about how those characters tell the same story, from different perspectives.
Here's a bit of Linda's post on POV, about this multi-POV book, THE CENTER OF EVERYTHING:
In the next chapter, we experience that same moment through Ruby’s eyes. We see her draw conclusions about the banker’s actions that are completely different from the motivations we have been privy to pages earlier. I could not have made this work in a first person novel, or even one told in close third, but these overlapping moments were useful in the exploration of another of the book’s themes: the question of whether or not things happen as they are “supposed to” or whether there is a “supposed to” at all (and if so, can we ever know what that “supposed to” is?).
Check out the blog post by Linda.
Here's the link, again, in case you forgot to click on it up there.
With each re-reading, I pick up another, finer point.
http://lindaurbanbooks.com/2013/01/22/point-of-view-one-authors-perspective/
My favorite book by Linda Urban is HOUND DOG TRUE. I've also read that middle-grade novel more than once. I sped through it the first time and if you'd asked me what "person" she'd written in, I would have answered, without a beat, First Person. Mattie's voice is so strong, it had to be. Right?
Wrong.
But it's very close Third Person. And it works.
Now that I'm noodling around a new story idea, the first thing that needs struggling with:
Who the heck is telling this story anyhow?
At first, I had two POV characters. Struggle, struggle! Hard work!
Not succeeding too well.
So I switched to the young girl, whose voice I heard clearly.
But now I'm vacillating. Maybe that other character needs to be heard.
He sure is trying to tell me something.
So, what did I do? I reread Linda's fantastic post. And I'm going to really think about what she says about THEMES and narrator's voice influencing POV.
Her most recent novel is told by more than one character. I've only read it once. I didn't love it like I loved HOUND DOG TRUE, but it intrigued me. (And truthfully, there aren't a lot of books I loved as much as that one.)
Having read her writing process, I have the book out to reread. Because I'm interested in thinking more about how those characters tell the same story, from different perspectives.
Here's a bit of Linda's post on POV, about this multi-POV book, THE CENTER OF EVERYTHING:
In the next chapter, we experience that same moment through Ruby’s eyes. We see her draw conclusions about the banker’s actions that are completely different from the motivations we have been privy to pages earlier. I could not have made this work in a first person novel, or even one told in close third, but these overlapping moments were useful in the exploration of another of the book’s themes: the question of whether or not things happen as they are “supposed to” or whether there is a “supposed to” at all (and if so, can we ever know what that “supposed to” is?).
Check out the blog post by Linda.
Here's the link, again, in case you forgot to click on it up there.
May 6, 2013
Emotional Intensity
In writing, that is.
It's hard not to constantly have your characters' hearts pounding, their breath catching.Even in middle-grade fiction.
But since sitting in on Becca Puglisi's workshop at our Florida SCBWI Miami conference in January, I've tried harder. I have her Crutch Words right over my computer. Those overused words we should try to replace.
A few of mine?
Breathe.
Smile.
Step.
Gaze.
Oh, and the was +ing verb thing-
(Sorry, Becca. That's the way Southerners talk! I tried to rid myself of a few "I was eating" and "He was hoping" beats. Not easy.)
Check out Becca's most helpful BLOG, HERE.
One thing I loved most about this year's Miami Conference? Seeing friends I made last year and meeting writers for the first time, like Becca Puglisi and Donna Gephart.
(One of my favorite middle-grade novels, with the absolute most kid-appeal, is Donna's
OLIVIA BEAN TRIVIA QUEEN. )
Florida's a hotbed of kids' writers.
Maybe it's because of Joyce Sweeney, Mentor Extraordinaire?
(PS She's now teaching online workshops. Check them out HERE.)
It's hard not to constantly have your characters' hearts pounding, their breath catching.Even in middle-grade fiction.
But since sitting in on Becca Puglisi's workshop at our Florida SCBWI Miami conference in January, I've tried harder. I have her Crutch Words right over my computer. Those overused words we should try to replace.
A few of mine?
Breathe.
Smile.
Step.
Gaze.
Oh, and the was +ing verb thing-
(Sorry, Becca. That's the way Southerners talk! I tried to rid myself of a few "I was eating" and "He was hoping" beats. Not easy.)
Check out Becca's most helpful BLOG, HERE.
One thing I loved most about this year's Miami Conference? Seeing friends I made last year and meeting writers for the first time, like Becca Puglisi and Donna Gephart.
(One of my favorite middle-grade novels, with the absolute most kid-appeal, is Donna's
OLIVIA BEAN TRIVIA QUEEN. )
Florida's a hotbed of kids' writers.
Maybe it's because of Joyce Sweeney, Mentor Extraordinaire?
(PS She's now teaching online workshops. Check them out HERE.)
May 4, 2013
Still Floating on Air!
In case you've missed me and wondered if I'd disappeared. Yes, I have.
I've been FLOATING.
On air, that is.
The Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators-- my fellow writers-- just named
GLORY BE as my Southeast region's CRYSTAL KITE winner. I'm beyond excited.
Before the ink had dried on the page, the amazing Vicki Palmquest at Winding Oak and the Children's Literature Network had updated their website, HERE.
And mine, HERE.
Thanks so much to everybody who voted and congratulations to the other winners.
I am over the moon!
I've been FLOATING.
On air, that is.
The Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators-- my fellow writers-- just named
GLORY BE as my Southeast region's CRYSTAL KITE winner. I'm beyond excited.
Before the ink had dried on the page, the amazing Vicki Palmquest at Winding Oak and the Children's Literature Network had updated their website, HERE.
And mine, HERE.
Thanks so much to everybody who voted and congratulations to the other winners.
I am over the moon!
April 29, 2013
The Big R: REVISION
Of course, you can't revise a story until you have written it. I won't bore you with how I struggle with plotting. Because this week, I'm knee deep into revision. Hooray!
Just this once, I won't sing the praises of my beloved SCRIVENER software which makes revision kind of fun. Heck, it makes writing fun some of the time.
(Nothing makes the Bad First Draft fun, but those SFDs have to be written before you can get to the best part - for me: Revising!)
(The GLORY BE notebooks and the revisions I printed. Many others never made it off my computer.)
I love to revise by SHRINKING my manuscript, a la Darcy Pattison. Click right there!
Do this shrinking thing, and you'll look at your story a whole new way. I promise.
Yes, I know I may sound like a broken record, but for my money, you can't do better than going right over to Barbara O'Connor's blog and type REVISION into the search box. Before you're done, you'll have a whole new outlook on the subject.
Here's just one that I particularly love because it's exactly how I feel about revising.
http://greetings-from-nowhere.blogspot.com/2011/07/lesson-from-dead-matter.html
And this, for your reading pleasure- and it was kind of fun to remember the great scenes from Casablanca!- click below to read the interesting and helpful (to me) reminders about plotting and revision.
http://critiquesisterscorner.blogspot.com/2012/12/three-great-scenes-and-no-weak-ones.html?m=1
I'd love to hear more. Any great tips to share?
Related posts: Shrinking a manuscript.
A word about Editing.
Just this once, I won't sing the praises of my beloved SCRIVENER software which makes revision kind of fun. Heck, it makes writing fun some of the time.
(Nothing makes the Bad First Draft fun, but those SFDs have to be written before you can get to the best part - for me: Revising!)
(The GLORY BE notebooks and the revisions I printed. Many others never made it off my computer.)I love to revise by SHRINKING my manuscript, a la Darcy Pattison. Click right there!
Do this shrinking thing, and you'll look at your story a whole new way. I promise.
Yes, I know I may sound like a broken record, but for my money, you can't do better than going right over to Barbara O'Connor's blog and type REVISION into the search box. Before you're done, you'll have a whole new outlook on the subject.
Here's just one that I particularly love because it's exactly how I feel about revising.
http://greetings-from-nowhere.blogspot.com/2011/07/lesson-from-dead-matter.html
And this, for your reading pleasure- and it was kind of fun to remember the great scenes from Casablanca!- click below to read the interesting and helpful (to me) reminders about plotting and revision.
http://critiquesisterscorner.blogspot.com/2012/12/three-great-scenes-and-no-weak-ones.html?m=1
I'd love to hear more. Any great tips to share?
Related posts: Shrinking a manuscript.
A word about Editing.
April 24, 2013
Historical Fiction Tour
Anybody planning a trip this summer?
The Atlantic Wire titled this piece "A Literary Tour of Historical Y.A."
(I especially love that they included GLORY BE. But also some of my very favorite books: Hattie Ever After and One Came Home, for example.)
Click right here to see the entire list.⬅
And what an interesting recurring column, Y.A. for Grownups .
It's as if they know exactly what I love to read...
Kind of makes me want to pack up my bags and go.
The Atlantic Wire titled this piece "A Literary Tour of Historical Y.A."
(I especially love that they included GLORY BE. But also some of my very favorite books: Hattie Ever After and One Came Home, for example.)
Click right here to see the entire list.⬅
And what an interesting recurring column, Y.A. for Grownups .
It's as if they know exactly what I love to read...
Kind of makes me want to pack up my bags and go.
April 21, 2013
What I'm Reading Now, for grownups
Tonight I'm starting WHERE'D YOU GO, BERNADETTE? because it's a library book and I must read it soon. And it's just been shortlisted for Britain's Women's Prize. Don't really know what that is but if Tampa Bay Times Books Editor Colette Bancroft thinks it's worth mentioning in today's paper, it should be good.
Also because of Colette, I'm going to finish LIFE AFTER LIFE. The Kate Atkinson version. (Already read and pretty much loved Jill McCorkle's new novel of the same title.) But Atkinson is a favorite of mine, so I'll give her new book one more push. Though even Bancroft called it Groundhog Day-ish (as did a New York Times reviewer). It's on my Kindle. Maybe that's the problem.
I also have ORPHAN MASTER'S SON on my Kindle, unfinished. Winner of the just-announced Pulitzer. (Why can't I get past the beginning?)
Oh, boy. And I almost forgot. When I visited the newly spruced-up INKWOOD BOOKS last week, I had to buy Jane Gardam's new book, LAST FRIENDS. Loved the other two novels about these same multi-layered characters.
Check out INKWOOD's April Picks, many of these new books are discounted in April at Tampa Bay's local independent bookstore.
Here's the link: http://www.inkwoodbooks.com/storepicks
Do I need more suggestions? Probably not. But I always love to hear what everybody's reading so feel free to share.
MY TO-BE-READ STACK IS ABOUT TO TOPPLE!I should call it my To-Be-Finished stack...
Also because of Colette, I'm going to finish LIFE AFTER LIFE. The Kate Atkinson version. (Already read and pretty much loved Jill McCorkle's new novel of the same title.) But Atkinson is a favorite of mine, so I'll give her new book one more push. Though even Bancroft called it Groundhog Day-ish (as did a New York Times reviewer). It's on my Kindle. Maybe that's the problem.
I also have ORPHAN MASTER'S SON on my Kindle, unfinished. Winner of the just-announced Pulitzer. (Why can't I get past the beginning?)
Oh, boy. And I almost forgot. When I visited the newly spruced-up INKWOOD BOOKS last week, I had to buy Jane Gardam's new book, LAST FRIENDS. Loved the other two novels about these same multi-layered characters.
Check out INKWOOD's April Picks, many of these new books are discounted in April at Tampa Bay's local independent bookstore.
Here's the link: http://www.inkwoodbooks.com/storepicks
Do I need more suggestions? Probably not. But I always love to hear what everybody's reading so feel free to share.
MY TO-BE-READ STACK IS ABOUT TO TOPPLE!I should call it my To-Be-Finished stack...
April 19, 2013
Naming Names
Here I am again, worrying over a character's name.
I can't seem to get passed needing just the right name, so I was glad to find none other than the great Betsy Byars has the same problem.
She says a lot about naming book characters, via her website, but I especially love this about McMummy:
One of the things that's important to me is getting the names right, and I couldn't think of a good name for Mozie's friend. Then one day I was out in the yard talking to my neighbor. Her name's Batson. and she started telling me a story and then she interrupted herself to say, "Now, I'm not taking about Little Batty - I'm talking about Big Batty." That's how Batty Batson got his name.
Also I didn't have a name for the beauty contestant. Then one day I stopped at a red light and looked at a sign on a gas station that said Valvoline. Yes!
That's how we feel when the perfect name jumps out and says USE ME!
Someone once posted somewhere that he uses names plucked from his spam email.
From my spam email?
CLEMMIE MARLINE
I like it!
But I'm looking for a boy name. And it's got to be perfect. When I shared this on Facebook, I got some doozies. So far, nothing's speaking to me. Yet.
I keep a notebook filled with great names. None seems right for this bad boy, but I'm saving the most recent addition, from a funny kid in Indiana who told me his friend's name is Lyric. Don't you love that! I already have a character in mind for that great name.
Anybody else out there struggling with a character's name?
Related Posts: Character Naming
I can't seem to get passed needing just the right name, so I was glad to find none other than the great Betsy Byars has the same problem.
She says a lot about naming book characters, via her website, but I especially love this about McMummy:
One of the things that's important to me is getting the names right, and I couldn't think of a good name for Mozie's friend. Then one day I was out in the yard talking to my neighbor. Her name's Batson. and she started telling me a story and then she interrupted herself to say, "Now, I'm not taking about Little Batty - I'm talking about Big Batty." That's how Batty Batson got his name.
Also I didn't have a name for the beauty contestant. Then one day I stopped at a red light and looked at a sign on a gas station that said Valvoline. Yes!
That's how we feel when the perfect name jumps out and says USE ME!
Someone once posted somewhere that he uses names plucked from his spam email.
From my spam email?
CLEMMIE MARLINE
I like it!
But I'm looking for a boy name. And it's got to be perfect. When I shared this on Facebook, I got some doozies. So far, nothing's speaking to me. Yet.
I keep a notebook filled with great names. None seems right for this bad boy, but I'm saving the most recent addition, from a funny kid in Indiana who told me his friend's name is Lyric. Don't you love that! I already have a character in mind for that great name.
Anybody else out there struggling with a character's name?
Related Posts: Character Naming
April 16, 2013
Poetry By Heart
My writer friend Caroline Starr Rose and I bonded over our books way before they were published. Perhaps it was their similar names, GLORY BE and MAY B., that brought us together. Maybe her having lived and taught in Louisiana. Whatever, I'm glad we found each other.
Since she's a poet, she's really doing April up right!
Yes, it's Poetry Month. Caroline celebrates poetry all the time. But this month, she's invited her friends to share her terrific blog.
Today is my day.
Read what I have to say about memorizing poetry. ☜ RIGHT THERE.
(I hear there are giveaways. And who knows? You might even find a funny verse to share at the dinner table.)
Since she's a poet, she's really doing April up right!
Yes, it's Poetry Month. Caroline celebrates poetry all the time. But this month, she's invited her friends to share her terrific blog.
Today is my day.
Read what I have to say about memorizing poetry. ☜ RIGHT THERE.
(I hear there are giveaways. And who knows? You might even find a funny verse to share at the dinner table.)
April 14, 2013
Ann Patchett, again
Yes, I'm a fan of everything I've ever read by Ann Patchett.
Recently, on a very long plane ride, I reread something I'd downloaded eons ago. And it was so worth a second read.
Do you know this little e-book?
THE GETAWAY CAR: A PRACTICAL MEMOIR ABOUT WRITING AND LIFE
For today at least, this is one of my favorite quotes from the piece:
"The more we are willing to separate from distraction and step into the open arms of boredom, the more writing will get on the page."
You must own a Kindle or perhaps have a Kindle app on your tablet to read it.
But it's only $2.99 as a Kindle Single.
Or you can see what others have said, and read their favorite quotes.
HERE: http://www.alexgeorgebooks.com/words-of-wisdom-from-ann-patchett/
Or HERE: http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/jacketcopy/2011/08/ann-patchetts-lessons-on-writing-from-byliner.html
Here's a longer piece from the publisher of The Runaway Car.
https://www.byliner.com/ann-patchett/stories/excerpt-the-getaway-car
Previous related Ann Patchett post:
What Now?
Recently, on a very long plane ride, I reread something I'd downloaded eons ago. And it was so worth a second read.
Do you know this little e-book?
THE GETAWAY CAR: A PRACTICAL MEMOIR ABOUT WRITING AND LIFE
For today at least, this is one of my favorite quotes from the piece:
"The more we are willing to separate from distraction and step into the open arms of boredom, the more writing will get on the page."
You must own a Kindle or perhaps have a Kindle app on your tablet to read it.
But it's only $2.99 as a Kindle Single.
Or you can see what others have said, and read their favorite quotes.
HERE: http://www.alexgeorgebooks.com/words-of-wisdom-from-ann-patchett/
Or HERE: http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/jacketcopy/2011/08/ann-patchetts-lessons-on-writing-from-byliner.html
Here's a longer piece from the publisher of The Runaway Car.
https://www.byliner.com/ann-patchett/stories/excerpt-the-getaway-car
Previous related Ann Patchett post:
What Now?
April 12, 2013
Welcome, JANET McLAUGHLIN and a giveaway!
(I am reposting this because I think there was a glitch for some PC users yesterday. And hey, it never hurts to share something twice, if it's about a good book. :) )
Okay, everybody knows I love giving away books. And I love chatting with author friends. Today I get to do both!
Janet McLaughlin and I have been writing buddies for quite a while. We stumbled upon each other in an online group and when that group disappeared, our friendship didn't. She's policed my novels (She's fondly known as the Logic Police because she can catch that door open in one scene and locked soon after). Now I get to share her fabulous novel.
And just in time for summer reading, summer camp care packages, end-of-the-school-year read-alouds, her second book in the series has been published. Janet likes to call her books "Tween" novels. I recommend them for middle-grade, young Young Adult, Teen, even grownup readers.
One lucky reader will get a copy of her first book, GET PSYCHED.
(See below for details.)
Welcome to my blog, Janet.
Augusta: Tell us a little about how you got the idea for this series.
JANET: It’s actually a combination of two ideas. The setting, a Cheerleading Competition, takes place at a hotel/convention center near Disney World. I chose this particular place because I’d been there to watch my granddaughter, Lauren, compete. Everything about the place is over the top. I couldn’t notuse it. I’ve followed Lauren’s cheerleading “career” since she was seven. She’s now nineteen and a member of the Indiana University All-Girl National Cheerleading Champions 2012.
(Okay, Wow. This is Lauren cheering in high school. Inspirational for sure!)
The idea for making my protagonist, Zoey, an intuitive or psychic came from my association through the years with women (and one young man) who had these very abilities. In interviewing them for my magazine, one theme kept recurring. They had this gift as teens and they hated it! Didn’t want anyone to know about it. The thought of combining the two was irresistible.
Augusta: Do you have any tips for making one book flow seamlessly into the next? Do you keep charts or lists to be sure there's consistency?
JANET: Every writer has his or her own way of doing this. I open a separate word document and list the characters, locations, and time lines. I add them as I write. I can always refer back to them when needed. I also like to lead into the next book at the end of the current one. Zoey makes it easy. She simply has a vision or dream that hints at what’s to come.
Augusta: What's your writing routine? At home? Desk? Starbucks? Pen and paper or computer?
JANET: Home office and computer for sure. I would love to say that I write every morning for, oh, three or four hours, but that’s not possible. Life does get in the way. When I do sit down to write, I get lost in the story.
Augusta: Do your characters spring full-blown onto the page? Are they based on real people? How do you manage to have them speak and act so authentically?
JANET: I wish they sprung full-blown! As you know, Augusta, I have a deep admiration of your incredible ability for writing memorable characters. In the beginning, I concentrated more on the plot/story. But as I mature in my writing process, so have my characters and characterization. In other words, as I grow, they grow. My characters are pure fiction. When I first started writing novels, I used the names of my grandkids for inspiration. The problem was, their personalities kept getting in the way. When I changed the names, that obstacle went away. As for their speaking and acting authentically—this is me shrugging my shoulders. Maybe I never really grew up?
Augusta: I guess that's true of a lot of writers!
Tell us a little about your road to publication. JANET: Getting published took some time. Skipping over the years of queries, rejections, getting an NYC agent (that was a thrill) who, for many reasons, couldn’t place the book, putting it back in the proverbial drawer and starting another book—skipping all that, it took about four months to get published. Another granddaughter, Sami, decided to try cheerleading. In December, 2011, my husband and I went to Disney World (yes, Disney again!) to watch her compete. While there I met a woman who had a display booth and was handing out cheer magazines. She was looking for a book to launch her new business—book publishing. I sent her the book; she and her partner loved it; we signed a contract; and Voila! Overnight success.
Augusta: What's next for Zoey and the gang?
JANET: The first book, Get Psyched, takes place at a cheerleading convention. The second book, Psyched Out, takes place on a Caribbean Island where Zoey and her best friend, Becca, encounter a ghost. The third book, which I am working on now is tentatively called “Fireworks,” and will (again tentatively) be available in Summer of 2013. There will be a new guy in Zoey’s life and he’s pretty cool. Becca, of course, gets in trouble. You gotta have a sidekick to create problems!
Follow Janet's blog at http://getpsychedbooks.wordpress.com/
Here's a link to buy it on Amazon, Kindle and paperback. Be sure to read the reviews. Some great comments from kids.
And all you have to do is leave me a comment here or on Facebook and you'll be entered to win a SIGNED copy of GET PSYCHED. (Feel free to share this post. We love to spread the word!)
Okay, everybody knows I love giving away books. And I love chatting with author friends. Today I get to do both!
Janet McLaughlin and I have been writing buddies for quite a while. We stumbled upon each other in an online group and when that group disappeared, our friendship didn't. She's policed my novels (She's fondly known as the Logic Police because she can catch that door open in one scene and locked soon after). Now I get to share her fabulous novel.
And just in time for summer reading, summer camp care packages, end-of-the-school-year read-alouds, her second book in the series has been published. Janet likes to call her books "Tween" novels. I recommend them for middle-grade, young Young Adult, Teen, even grownup readers.
One lucky reader will get a copy of her first book, GET PSYCHED.
(See below for details.)
Welcome to my blog, Janet.
Augusta: Tell us a little about how you got the idea for this series.
JANET: It’s actually a combination of two ideas. The setting, a Cheerleading Competition, takes place at a hotel/convention center near Disney World. I chose this particular place because I’d been there to watch my granddaughter, Lauren, compete. Everything about the place is over the top. I couldn’t notuse it. I’ve followed Lauren’s cheerleading “career” since she was seven. She’s now nineteen and a member of the Indiana University All-Girl National Cheerleading Champions 2012.
(Okay, Wow. This is Lauren cheering in high school. Inspirational for sure!)
The idea for making my protagonist, Zoey, an intuitive or psychic came from my association through the years with women (and one young man) who had these very abilities. In interviewing them for my magazine, one theme kept recurring. They had this gift as teens and they hated it! Didn’t want anyone to know about it. The thought of combining the two was irresistible.
Augusta: Do you have any tips for making one book flow seamlessly into the next? Do you keep charts or lists to be sure there's consistency?
JANET: Every writer has his or her own way of doing this. I open a separate word document and list the characters, locations, and time lines. I add them as I write. I can always refer back to them when needed. I also like to lead into the next book at the end of the current one. Zoey makes it easy. She simply has a vision or dream that hints at what’s to come.
Augusta: What's your writing routine? At home? Desk? Starbucks? Pen and paper or computer?
JANET: Home office and computer for sure. I would love to say that I write every morning for, oh, three or four hours, but that’s not possible. Life does get in the way. When I do sit down to write, I get lost in the story.
Augusta: Do your characters spring full-blown onto the page? Are they based on real people? How do you manage to have them speak and act so authentically?
JANET: I wish they sprung full-blown! As you know, Augusta, I have a deep admiration of your incredible ability for writing memorable characters. In the beginning, I concentrated more on the plot/story. But as I mature in my writing process, so have my characters and characterization. In other words, as I grow, they grow. My characters are pure fiction. When I first started writing novels, I used the names of my grandkids for inspiration. The problem was, their personalities kept getting in the way. When I changed the names, that obstacle went away. As for their speaking and acting authentically—this is me shrugging my shoulders. Maybe I never really grew up?
Augusta: I guess that's true of a lot of writers!
Tell us a little about your road to publication. JANET: Getting published took some time. Skipping over the years of queries, rejections, getting an NYC agent (that was a thrill) who, for many reasons, couldn’t place the book, putting it back in the proverbial drawer and starting another book—skipping all that, it took about four months to get published. Another granddaughter, Sami, decided to try cheerleading. In December, 2011, my husband and I went to Disney World (yes, Disney again!) to watch her compete. While there I met a woman who had a display booth and was handing out cheer magazines. She was looking for a book to launch her new business—book publishing. I sent her the book; she and her partner loved it; we signed a contract; and Voila! Overnight success.
Augusta: What's next for Zoey and the gang?
JANET: The first book, Get Psyched, takes place at a cheerleading convention. The second book, Psyched Out, takes place on a Caribbean Island where Zoey and her best friend, Becca, encounter a ghost. The third book, which I am working on now is tentatively called “Fireworks,” and will (again tentatively) be available in Summer of 2013. There will be a new guy in Zoey’s life and he’s pretty cool. Becca, of course, gets in trouble. You gotta have a sidekick to create problems!
Follow Janet's blog at http://getpsychedbooks.wordpress.com/
Here's a link to buy it on Amazon, Kindle and paperback. Be sure to read the reviews. Some great comments from kids.
And all you have to do is leave me a comment here or on Facebook and you'll be entered to win a SIGNED copy of GET PSYCHED. (Feel free to share this post. We love to spread the word!)
