Elaine Pinter's Blog, page 2
December 22, 2015
Show Some Love
It’s easy to picture because you’ve probably been there yourself after Christmas shopping: My son and I were stuck in traffic outside the mall. The sedan next to us was full of teenagers, and its de-froster was struggling to overcome the moisture in the air. As we crawled along, side by side, a guy in the backseat began to write in the fog on his window. He formed the letters slowly and carefully because they were backward to him. By the time we’d reached the end of the next block, he’d written “Merry Christmas.”
He could’ve sat there with his friends, discussing their upcoming plans or complaining about the traffic, but instead, he decided to wish two strangers a Merry Christmas and make them smile. And so I’m reminded just how important and easy it is to step outside yourself when you’re out in the world. Let people know they matter—don’t forget to show some love when you’re out there!
Merry Christmas!
He could’ve sat there with his friends, discussing their upcoming plans or complaining about the traffic, but instead, he decided to wish two strangers a Merry Christmas and make them smile. And so I’m reminded just how important and easy it is to step outside yourself when you’re out in the world. Let people know they matter—don’t forget to show some love when you’re out there!
Merry Christmas!
March 4, 2015
Happy Read an E-Book Week!
It’s Read an E-Book Week on Smashwords. If you’re not familiar with Smashwords, they’re the largest indie e-book distributor in the world. It’s free to join, and they offer multiple digital formats so you can download to any e-reader, computer, or even read online. Through March 7th, in celebration of Read an E-Book Week, several Smashwords authors are offering their books at a discount or even for free. Eternal Mercury is one the free ones. To get it, visit: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view... . To see the catalog of all participating titles, visit: https://www.smashwords.com/books/cate....
Don’t have an e-reader? You can download the Kindle app to your PC by visiting: http://www.amazon.com/gp/kindle/pc/do... or Adobe Digital Editions by visiting: http://www.adobe.com/solutions/ebook/.... Or do both! That will give you the ability to read both mobi and epub versions of e-books. Not too sure about that? That’s the cool thing about Smashwords. They also offer pdf and online versions that you can access without all the bells and whistles.
Don't forget to check out what your indie authors have to offer. Happy Reading!
Don’t have an e-reader? You can download the Kindle app to your PC by visiting: http://www.amazon.com/gp/kindle/pc/do... or Adobe Digital Editions by visiting: http://www.adobe.com/solutions/ebook/.... Or do both! That will give you the ability to read both mobi and epub versions of e-books. Not too sure about that? That’s the cool thing about Smashwords. They also offer pdf and online versions that you can access without all the bells and whistles.
Don't forget to check out what your indie authors have to offer. Happy Reading!
January 5, 2015
Is It Really New Year’s Resolution Time Again?
I can’t believe 2015 has already begun. As I look over my list of resolutions for last year, I realize that I’m pretty much stuck on the second one, which was to finish the book I’m writing. It’s currently in the stage that determines just how close it is, or isn’t, to being finished: editing. It’s the strangest thing, after months of being glued to my laptop, to hit the print button and drop off that stack of pages with my editor. So as I wait for it to come back covered in red ink, I think about what a great year 2014 was. It was full of the ups that make life worth living and dotted with the downs that remind me of what truly is important. If you’re like me and you need to carry your some of your resolutions forward, just remember that as long as you’re being true to yourself, you’re exactly where you need to be. And if your heart is still telling to pursue those things, then press ahead.
Here’s to pressing ahead:
Resolution Number 1: Publish “Between the Starlight”.
Resolution Number 2: Find the people who would be touched by the stories I write.
Resolution Number 3: Share what I learn about the writing process.
Resolution Number 4: Remember where it all comes from. Believe me: it’s not me.
Here’s to pressing ahead:
Resolution Number 1: Publish “Between the Starlight”.
Resolution Number 2: Find the people who would be touched by the stories I write.
Resolution Number 3: Share what I learn about the writing process.
Resolution Number 4: Remember where it all comes from. Believe me: it’s not me.
February 9, 2014
Breakdancing Kindergartners
A couple of weeks ago, my five-year-old son came home all excited because he wanted to sign up for a dance class. I honestly had no idea what he was talking about, but lucky for me, the other kindergarten moms are in the know. It turned out that it was an afterschool breakdancing program. Breakdancing? I am definitely old enough to remember the kids in my neighborhood tossing a piece of cardboard in the street and bustin' moves to a blaring boom box. And I have to say, watching the teachers at this class was at least as impressive. Wow.
But that’s not what this is about. We showed up and the gym was packed with kids from kindergarten through second grade. It was absolutely reasonable, but when you’re a kindergartner, second graders seem like “big kids.” But somehow in the crowd, my son and his classmates found each other. They ended up on the edge and toward the back-I’m not sure they could even see the teachers most of the time, but that didn’t stop them. They did it, and they did it together. There was some falling over and a bit of flopping around, but they pressed on and had lots of fun in the process.
Sure, we hear little pep talks all the time about trying your best and dancing like no one’s watching, but this was different. Here’s how: it didn’t occur to them to take it on in any other way than they had-I saw it in their faces. I found myself wondering when I’d lost that. I know we all must have that in us because each and every one of them does. I don’t just want to apply that to the writing part of my life-I want to live my whole life like that and I believe we all can.
Oh, and by the way, the second week of class, they took a spot front and center and breakdanced like there was no tomorrow. ;)
But that’s not what this is about. We showed up and the gym was packed with kids from kindergarten through second grade. It was absolutely reasonable, but when you’re a kindergartner, second graders seem like “big kids.” But somehow in the crowd, my son and his classmates found each other. They ended up on the edge and toward the back-I’m not sure they could even see the teachers most of the time, but that didn’t stop them. They did it, and they did it together. There was some falling over and a bit of flopping around, but they pressed on and had lots of fun in the process.
Sure, we hear little pep talks all the time about trying your best and dancing like no one’s watching, but this was different. Here’s how: it didn’t occur to them to take it on in any other way than they had-I saw it in their faces. I found myself wondering when I’d lost that. I know we all must have that in us because each and every one of them does. I don’t just want to apply that to the writing part of my life-I want to live my whole life like that and I believe we all can.
Oh, and by the way, the second week of class, they took a spot front and center and breakdanced like there was no tomorrow. ;)
January 26, 2014
My Playlist for Writing Eternal Mercury
I’m so excited because this was written for my first ever guest blog post. Check out http://blkosiner.blogspot.com/2014/01... where you can see it, enter a giveaway, and find tons of ya book reviews and info.
So many of us with the writing bug find major inspiration in music. Just a few words or notes can magically sweep you away to amazing places in your imagination. Just think—each song is created by something so personal to the artist, yet all of us can relate to it as if it were about our very own lives. Here’s how writing and music work for me. It usually starts with a particular scene, like a movie playing in my head, and if it’s a really emotional part, oftentimes a song will accompany it. Once in a while, it will happen the other way—a song will create the scene. Either way, it’s actually really helpful because it gives me another dimension to delve into, helping me pull that idea onto paper so that you can feel it the way I do.
Music was so much a part of writing Eternal Mercury that I mention particular songs. I even went so far as to use the characters’ music preferences to develop their personalities and to show how different they are from one another.
So, here are the songs that I listened to over and over (and over) again while writing this book.
It’s set here where I live and if I even think about taking a drive up the mountain, I hear Daughtry’s “Home.” I can see Chelsee and Max on that beautiful drive together, just listening to the music and enjoying the moment.
Probably the song that spoke to me the most was, “Last Kiss.” I have no idea why, but it’s the original by J. Frank Wilson and the Cavaliers, not the remake by Pearl Jam.
“My Immortal” by Evanescence inspired the funeral scene. The song is beautiful and it captures Chelsee’s emotion exactly.
Pink Floyd’s “Wish You Were Here” is the best guitar duet of all time and I felt like it showed Blake’s respect for Max.
If Eternal Mercury were made into a movie, I think “Ramble On” by Led Zeppelin should start up just as the movie fades out. It is so Blake.
“You Shook Me All Night Long” by AC/DC made an appearance because it’s a fun rock anthem and I love electric guitar.
Lastly, there are three songs in the book that belong to Blake. The poetry side of me created the lyrics, and in my head, I can totally hear how the music should go, but unfortunately, there is no music-composition side of me. But I guess that just lets you use your imagination, which is as it should be. And there you have it: my Eternal Mercury Playlist.
So many of us with the writing bug find major inspiration in music. Just a few words or notes can magically sweep you away to amazing places in your imagination. Just think—each song is created by something so personal to the artist, yet all of us can relate to it as if it were about our very own lives. Here’s how writing and music work for me. It usually starts with a particular scene, like a movie playing in my head, and if it’s a really emotional part, oftentimes a song will accompany it. Once in a while, it will happen the other way—a song will create the scene. Either way, it’s actually really helpful because it gives me another dimension to delve into, helping me pull that idea onto paper so that you can feel it the way I do.
Music was so much a part of writing Eternal Mercury that I mention particular songs. I even went so far as to use the characters’ music preferences to develop their personalities and to show how different they are from one another.
So, here are the songs that I listened to over and over (and over) again while writing this book.
It’s set here where I live and if I even think about taking a drive up the mountain, I hear Daughtry’s “Home.” I can see Chelsee and Max on that beautiful drive together, just listening to the music and enjoying the moment.
Probably the song that spoke to me the most was, “Last Kiss.” I have no idea why, but it’s the original by J. Frank Wilson and the Cavaliers, not the remake by Pearl Jam.
“My Immortal” by Evanescence inspired the funeral scene. The song is beautiful and it captures Chelsee’s emotion exactly.
Pink Floyd’s “Wish You Were Here” is the best guitar duet of all time and I felt like it showed Blake’s respect for Max.
If Eternal Mercury were made into a movie, I think “Ramble On” by Led Zeppelin should start up just as the movie fades out. It is so Blake.
“You Shook Me All Night Long” by AC/DC made an appearance because it’s a fun rock anthem and I love electric guitar.
Lastly, there are three songs in the book that belong to Blake. The poetry side of me created the lyrics, and in my head, I can totally hear how the music should go, but unfortunately, there is no music-composition side of me. But I guess that just lets you use your imagination, which is as it should be. And there you have it: my Eternal Mercury Playlist.
January 3, 2014
My New Year's Resolutions
I guess it’s that time of year again, so here goes.
Number 1: Read more.
Who doesn’t have this as a New Year’s resolution? I had to stop and think about it, though. As much as I love to read, why don’t I indulge in it more often? (This is painfully obvious by looking at my shelf.) All writers read constantly-it’s part of the job. But for me, it’s not that simple. It’s kind of like rubbing your stomach and patting your head at the same time (but not as bad as walking and chewing gum)—basically, I can’t read and write at the same time. So, in order to accomplish this resolution, I need some additional ones.
Number 2: Finish the book I’m writing.
I’m in the thick of writing my next love story. It’s like living in an alternate world at every free moment and coming back out into the light of Earth in-between. It completely dominates that part of my brain, but I love it. First stop after this resolution’s done: Veronica Roth's Allegiant.
Number 3: Figure out who my audience is and find them. (Is that two resolutions?)
Since I took the self-publishing route, there’s the whole issue of marketing my books. Like most things, it’s a lot harder than I’d hoped, which leads to Resolution Number 4.
Number 4: Share whatever I learn with other authors and anyone else it might help, even if all I come up with by the end of the year is a list of things that don’t work. Stay tuned.
Number 5: Develop a method for requiring less sleep because I don’t know where else to get more time. If we could all come up with just a couple more hours in the day...but I digress.
Number 6: Pick up my guitar for at least a couple of minutes every day.
Hopefully, all that practice will benefit my family's ears. And speaking of my family brings me to my most important resolution...
Number 7: Remember every day that I’m in hands much bigger than my own.
I am going to do my best to relax and follow my path, whatever that may be. And no matter what, family first forever.
Number 1: Read more.
Who doesn’t have this as a New Year’s resolution? I had to stop and think about it, though. As much as I love to read, why don’t I indulge in it more often? (This is painfully obvious by looking at my shelf.) All writers read constantly-it’s part of the job. But for me, it’s not that simple. It’s kind of like rubbing your stomach and patting your head at the same time (but not as bad as walking and chewing gum)—basically, I can’t read and write at the same time. So, in order to accomplish this resolution, I need some additional ones.
Number 2: Finish the book I’m writing.
I’m in the thick of writing my next love story. It’s like living in an alternate world at every free moment and coming back out into the light of Earth in-between. It completely dominates that part of my brain, but I love it. First stop after this resolution’s done: Veronica Roth's Allegiant.
Number 3: Figure out who my audience is and find them. (Is that two resolutions?)
Since I took the self-publishing route, there’s the whole issue of marketing my books. Like most things, it’s a lot harder than I’d hoped, which leads to Resolution Number 4.
Number 4: Share whatever I learn with other authors and anyone else it might help, even if all I come up with by the end of the year is a list of things that don’t work. Stay tuned.
Number 5: Develop a method for requiring less sleep because I don’t know where else to get more time. If we could all come up with just a couple more hours in the day...but I digress.
Number 6: Pick up my guitar for at least a couple of minutes every day.
Hopefully, all that practice will benefit my family's ears. And speaking of my family brings me to my most important resolution...
Number 7: Remember every day that I’m in hands much bigger than my own.
I am going to do my best to relax and follow my path, whatever that may be. And no matter what, family first forever.
December 3, 2013
The Hardest Question I’ve Been Asked as a Writer
I was asked the easiest question a couple of days ago: Why do you write? My answer was a pause followed by a long silence. Umm . . . wow. Why do I write? When I stopped and thought about it, I couldn’t even put it into words at first. Then, when it started to come together, I realized that the whole thing is absolutely insane. Take your most intimate ideas and throw them out there for the world to critique. Go ahead—not only tell people about the movies constantly playing in your head, but translate them into words and see what everybody thinks. Good plan.
That being said, I HAVE to write—it’s not a choice. If I didn’t write, forget the idea of writing itself being insane; I would definitely go crazy. So, I guess that leads me to the first part of my answer. Stories are gifts and gifts are meant to be shared, plain and simple. The next reason I do it is to get people thinking about those wonders in life I contemplate all the time: fate and chance, life and death, love and purpose. For me, those thoughts have so much meaning; it’s what life comes down to. And lastly, I think it’s to make you feel. It’s what those of us who believe love conquers all live for: that journey that drags you through the tears and rewards you with a smile when all the pieces fit together perfectly in the end.
That being said, I HAVE to write—it’s not a choice. If I didn’t write, forget the idea of writing itself being insane; I would definitely go crazy. So, I guess that leads me to the first part of my answer. Stories are gifts and gifts are meant to be shared, plain and simple. The next reason I do it is to get people thinking about those wonders in life I contemplate all the time: fate and chance, life and death, love and purpose. For me, those thoughts have so much meaning; it’s what life comes down to. And lastly, I think it’s to make you feel. It’s what those of us who believe love conquers all live for: that journey that drags you through the tears and rewards you with a smile when all the pieces fit together perfectly in the end.
November 16, 2013
How I Got Started Writing
People ask me all the time how I got started writing, but my answer is never what they expect. Here’s how it went. My little boy had major ear surgery in May of 2012. Basically, his eardrum was rebuilt with a skin graft. During his recovery, it was important for him not to get sick and not to sneeze. Yikes. What that ended up meaning was two-and-a-half months of recovery inside the house. Just so you know, he is now fully recovered and has great hearing in that ear, which is just one of the miracles I’ve been blessed enough to witness in this life. Okay, so back to spending day after day inside the house . . . he was happy playing with toys, video chatting with grandparents, and watching the “Bee Movie” over and over and over again. It was just what I needed when a friend of mine loaned me a copy of “The Hunger Games.” It had been years since I had indulged in reading. It sounds ridiculous now, but all of the boring, eye-crossing reading in college just plain got me out of the habit. Not only did I house that book in a few days, but I found myself fascinated by the mechanics, studying the symbolism, foreshadowing, imagery, and the prose itself. I was hooked, so I read the next two in the series and anything else I could get my hands on.
And then the age-old question crossed my mind: Is there a unique story out there? Followed by: Can I do it? Suddenly, like a movie playing in my head, the car-crash scene from Eternal Mercury made its debut. And from there, it flowed just like magic. Except it was something much bigger and much more real than magic; it came directly from up above. I was glued to my laptop after everyone else went to bed and then again before they woke up. I dragged a notebook (and still do) everywhere I went because if I didn’t jot those thoughts down, I feared they’d be lost. I didn’t tell anyone what I was working on because, seriously, would someone actually want to read what I’d written? But of course my husband figured it out. He reads a lot, but believe me, he is absolutely not the love story type. But when he read my first draft and felt for the characters, I thought that just maybe I just might have been blessed with the gift of writing. So, I pressed on. I have no idea what woke me up at three in the morning not long after that, but when I looked out the window, there was the planet Mercury in the sky, low on the horizon. I’ve never been so sure about anything in my life as I was right then that that was a sign sent straight from God.
So why me? Why now? The answer to the first question is that He uses the least of us so that everyone knows it’s coming from Him. The answer to the second question is that I just wasn’t ready before. What started out as a really difficult time turned out to be such a blessing. It’s those tough knocks in life that create some real emotion and understanding inside of us. I have no idea where this journey is headed, but I do know I’m supposed to see where it goes.
And then the age-old question crossed my mind: Is there a unique story out there? Followed by: Can I do it? Suddenly, like a movie playing in my head, the car-crash scene from Eternal Mercury made its debut. And from there, it flowed just like magic. Except it was something much bigger and much more real than magic; it came directly from up above. I was glued to my laptop after everyone else went to bed and then again before they woke up. I dragged a notebook (and still do) everywhere I went because if I didn’t jot those thoughts down, I feared they’d be lost. I didn’t tell anyone what I was working on because, seriously, would someone actually want to read what I’d written? But of course my husband figured it out. He reads a lot, but believe me, he is absolutely not the love story type. But when he read my first draft and felt for the characters, I thought that just maybe I just might have been blessed with the gift of writing. So, I pressed on. I have no idea what woke me up at three in the morning not long after that, but when I looked out the window, there was the planet Mercury in the sky, low on the horizon. I’ve never been so sure about anything in my life as I was right then that that was a sign sent straight from God.
So why me? Why now? The answer to the first question is that He uses the least of us so that everyone knows it’s coming from Him. The answer to the second question is that I just wasn’t ready before. What started out as a really difficult time turned out to be such a blessing. It’s those tough knocks in life that create some real emotion and understanding inside of us. I have no idea where this journey is headed, but I do know I’m supposed to see where it goes.
November 5, 2013
A Few of My Favorite Things about Boise, Idaho
First of all, I have to admit that I’m not a native Boisean, or even a native Idahoan. My dad was in the service, so I lived in five different states until the middle of my freshman year when we landed in Wyoming. I was blessed enough to stay there through college and beyond, but in 2000, my husband and I found the perfect place to spread our roots: beautiful Boise, Idaho. The locals assure me that they count me as one of their own because #1-I’ve been here long enough and #2-I pronounce Boise correctly with an “s” instead of a “z.”
The reason I set Eternal Mercury in Boise is simple: I love it here. And yes, Big Jud’s has the best burgers, Deli George the best sandwiches, and Papa Joe’s and Fiesta Guadalajara are awesome restaurants. Rumor even has it that a couple of people have checked out some of those places because of the book. That is way cool.
I never take that view for granted. Ever. The mountains, the foothills, downtown sandwiched in between all those trees, and the river running right through it all. But even out of all that, the one thing that stands out for me is the Table Rock Cross. When you look toward downtown from the Boise Depot, there to your right is a mesa. And on top of that mesa, always lit in bright white, is a cross standing sixty feet tall. In the daylight, sometimes you can barely make out the outline, but in the dark it glows faithfully above the city. I’ve posted a few pictures of on my website, but nothing captures it the way Idaho Statesman photographer Kyle Green did the night of the super moon. Check this out: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fb...
A symbol of hope is what the Jaycees hoped it would be when they constructed it in 1956, and that is exactly what it has been and will continue to be for so many people.
I can only hope that the way I feel about my adopted hometown shines through in my writing enough to do it justice. Thank you, Boise!
The reason I set Eternal Mercury in Boise is simple: I love it here. And yes, Big Jud’s has the best burgers, Deli George the best sandwiches, and Papa Joe’s and Fiesta Guadalajara are awesome restaurants. Rumor even has it that a couple of people have checked out some of those places because of the book. That is way cool.
I never take that view for granted. Ever. The mountains, the foothills, downtown sandwiched in between all those trees, and the river running right through it all. But even out of all that, the one thing that stands out for me is the Table Rock Cross. When you look toward downtown from the Boise Depot, there to your right is a mesa. And on top of that mesa, always lit in bright white, is a cross standing sixty feet tall. In the daylight, sometimes you can barely make out the outline, but in the dark it glows faithfully above the city. I’ve posted a few pictures of on my website, but nothing captures it the way Idaho Statesman photographer Kyle Green did the night of the super moon. Check this out: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fb...
A symbol of hope is what the Jaycees hoped it would be when they constructed it in 1956, and that is exactly what it has been and will continue to be for so many people.
I can only hope that the way I feel about my adopted hometown shines through in my writing enough to do it justice. Thank you, Boise!
October 24, 2013
My Take on Clean Reads
Unlike most movies and even a lot of TV shows, books don’t really come with ratings. Occasionally they’ll be marked with a warning about mature content or maybe list an age range, but that’s about it. A handful of sites do offer content reviews for books. Their rating systems deal primarily with the areas of sex, language, and violence. The idea is not just to help parents decide what age group a book is appropriate for, but they also help any reader choose the types of stories they’re comfortable with.
Since content reviews are tough to come by, Eternal Mercury doesn’t have one. But I do love that readers have called it a “clean read” in their reviews. Interestingly though, I didn’t have that in mind when I wrote it. All I knew was that I had to stay true to the characters and the story, but above all, to the gift of writing that I’ve been given. The book blurb tells you right off the bat that it’s about a girl who loses her boyfriend in a car accident. Car accidents are violent. Plus it’s a love story, and what good would that be without romance? And as far as language goes, it’s mild, but it is an important part of the story line.
All that being considered, here’s what I think. People who are interested in a clean read or mild-content book aren’t looking for something boring, perfect, or unromantic. They’re looking for an engaging story with realistic characters. I don’t even think it’s the violence so much that’s offensive to people so long as it isn’t gory or gratuitous. The main emphasis is that they don’t want to be barraged with a bunch of explicit language or sexual references. Besides, mild language used in the right places can go a lot farther in conveying emotion than dropping the big ones all over the place. And as far as sex goes, they don’t want the details because, hey, we all already know how that works anyway. Truthfully, the beauty of romance comes from the build-up of chemistry between two characters—that’s what creates that magical electricity that gives you the good kind of chills.
However, a clean read doesn’t mean the subject matter is suitable for all audiences. Being labeled that way does set it apart from books that would be rated “mature,” but it also sets it apart from those that would be rated “family friendly.” Does that mean there’s something wrong with books that fall into other ratings categories? Of course not—one of the cornerstones of our society is the freedom of expression. It’s just really cool to think that there’s a niche like this out there—that pop culture doesn’t have to delegate what anyone reads or writes.
Since content reviews are tough to come by, Eternal Mercury doesn’t have one. But I do love that readers have called it a “clean read” in their reviews. Interestingly though, I didn’t have that in mind when I wrote it. All I knew was that I had to stay true to the characters and the story, but above all, to the gift of writing that I’ve been given. The book blurb tells you right off the bat that it’s about a girl who loses her boyfriend in a car accident. Car accidents are violent. Plus it’s a love story, and what good would that be without romance? And as far as language goes, it’s mild, but it is an important part of the story line.
All that being considered, here’s what I think. People who are interested in a clean read or mild-content book aren’t looking for something boring, perfect, or unromantic. They’re looking for an engaging story with realistic characters. I don’t even think it’s the violence so much that’s offensive to people so long as it isn’t gory or gratuitous. The main emphasis is that they don’t want to be barraged with a bunch of explicit language or sexual references. Besides, mild language used in the right places can go a lot farther in conveying emotion than dropping the big ones all over the place. And as far as sex goes, they don’t want the details because, hey, we all already know how that works anyway. Truthfully, the beauty of romance comes from the build-up of chemistry between two characters—that’s what creates that magical electricity that gives you the good kind of chills.
However, a clean read doesn’t mean the subject matter is suitable for all audiences. Being labeled that way does set it apart from books that would be rated “mature,” but it also sets it apart from those that would be rated “family friendly.” Does that mean there’s something wrong with books that fall into other ratings categories? Of course not—one of the cornerstones of our society is the freedom of expression. It’s just really cool to think that there’s a niche like this out there—that pop culture doesn’t have to delegate what anyone reads or writes.
