Katherine Reay's Blog, page 6
February 2, 2015
Lessons Learned
I’ve been thinking a lot about the craft of writing lately – with the understanding that there is so much to learn. I thought I’d share here, over the next couple months, occasional thoughts – stuff I’ve learned, am working on or have yet to fully grasp.
Today – I’ll start at the beginning with what I think were my first lessons and ones I try to hang on to… Daily.
Accept help. I find this one very hard. For some odd reason I feel there is strength in self-sufficiency – and I know that’s wrong thinking. I learned this lesson, following an injury in 2009, but it’s amazing how quickly I forget it and try to grumble on alone. I have found my friends and family love to help me — editing, cooking, relaxing, cleaning (okay, no one is really jumping at that one), and brainstorming. In fact, I had a writing problem the other day and reached out to two friends on Facebook and the brainstorming session was extraordinary.
So here’s the thought: As a writer there are things you do alone – without doubt – but there are also things that benefit from the input of friends, family, critique partners and colleagues. So ask and accept the help!
Run. I am little biased on this one. I get my best ideas when running. But I think this really comes down to getting some exercise. It helps release frustration and untangles stymied characters if nothing else.
Write. Write. This hit me hard after Dear Mr. Knightley was contracted. There were no expectations and no deadline before that and now there are. But whether or not those exist, daily writing (or as often as you can) trains you in the craft. Writers write, whether they feel the muse or not.
Read. I write better when I stay close to good books and well-written ideas. Blogs, books, magazines, and newspapers – simply keep reading. And please, in the comments, share great books. I’m always looking for the next great read!
Study the Craft. I continually read articles about writing, characters, story construction, plot… and I always learn something new. There are so many blogs and books out there. Try checking out Writing 21st Century Fiction by Donald Maass and Write Your Novel from the Middle by James Scott Bell.
Enjoy yourself. Writing is tremendous fun and, while it is work too, I recommend striving to enjoy the journey.
Pray. It’s so easy to get caught up in our frenetic lives and the stories we want to write, but God put this desire and the ability to write within us. He’s the creator and author of it all – so go to him with all its concerns.
Thanks for reading. I don’t know if any of this was helpful, but getting such reminders helps me. I forget the importance stuff quite quickly when faced with the seemingly urgent. Please leave a comment and let me know what great tips on writing or life you’d like to share.
Enjoy the day!
January 27, 2015
Barnes & Noble Giveaway!
We’re having some fun with Lizzy & Jane. If you buy a copy at Barnes & Noble, and enter your receipt at this site http://goo.gl/JLNRHR, you can win 1 of 25 cute tumblers! Join in the fun and have a great day! Thanks!
January 26, 2015
Title Reveal and Giveaway Winners!
On November 3, 2015 my next book will release! I’m so excited about this story and the fact that it has a title!
The Bronte Plot
It’s the story of young interior decorator, Victoria Stephens, and her adventure with an older client, Helen Carmichael. They journey across England and their lives – revealing a few secrets and surprises along the way.
Over the next few months, as The Bronte Plot (I just like writing that…) becomes a real book, I’ll share more.
But yea! There’s a title!
I am also so pleased to announce the winners of my Giveaway! Congratulations Shephanie Hoffpauir and Connie Fischer! I will send you each a copy of Dear Mr. Knightley and Lizzy & Jane!
Happy Monday!
January 13, 2015
Please check out my conversation with Elise Blaha Cripe!
I had the wonderful opportunity to chat with Elise Blaha Cripe at http://eliseblaha.typepad.com about food, writing and life in general. Our conversation will air today, Wednesday, January 14th and can be found at http://elisejoy.com/podcast and on iTunes. Elise hosts an amazing business and blog — please check it out.
January 12, 2015
Thank you for the stars!
I resolved in 2015 to celebrate things more. I don’t mean that I need to throw a party for every small accomplishment, but I mean to savor those moments more – any moments really. Lizzy & Jane launched and I barely noticed it. I have fewer books than children and, quite honestly, L & J’s launch deserved a little respect from me. But I passed it over and moved on to the next to-do… and the next…
Do you do that? I can imagine you might for I think it’s common in today’s society and with all the pressures we face. For my part, I’m going to rail against it by savoring the small this year.
And in that spirit, I want to celebrate with a Give-Away! Over the holiday season, Dear Mr. Knightley passed the 1000 mark for 5 Star ratings on Goodreads and Lizzy & Jane passed the 100 mark.
So I’m giving away 2 sets of both novels. Enter below and Enjoy! And let me know what you’re celebrating these days.
Thanks again!
January 6, 2015
Happy 2015!
2014 was full of tons of changes in the Reay household and, while I hope 2015 will be more stable, I expect this new year to be just as busy, bold and exciting.
On the writing front, I’m joining two new blogs that I hope you all will check out. They are both exciting places with lots going on and wonderful writers congregating and talking about… well, almost everything.
The Grove
Beginning in February 2015 Cara Putman, Beth Vogt, Katie Ganshert, Courtney Walsh, Sarah Ladd, Kristy Cambron, Melissa Tagg and I are joining forces to share our writing, walks, lives and stories on an interactive website that we hope will be a wonderful meeting place for all of us.
Please come find us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/theGROVEstory until we open the Website doors in February.
Austen Authors
This fun blog is for folks who love Jane Austen. It launches on January 24th, but there is a give-away going on right now and fun stuff to see until that date.
Check us out at http://austenauthors.net and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/groups/AustenAuthors
And as part of 2015… I plan to be more HERE too. We’ve moved so that distraction is gone, my next manuscript was handed in two days ago so that is gone… 20 weeks until another marathon so that’s on… See 2015 already looks different!
Please share what’s going on for you in 2015. And come back again soon…
December 16, 2014
A Christmas Song
This weekend I was off-line because my cousin got married. Family came to town and we celebrated an absolutely gorgeous weekend – full of love, laughter and Christmas. Both my girls decided that this was the season for a wedding – the music is amazing and red and green really set off a white dress.
And I have to agree – the wedding was a special topper to what I already regard as the best season of the year. Christ’s church is often referred to as his “bride” and to celebrate that in parallel with my cousin’s marriage was incredibly special. It gave me a deeper feeling of connection with the Advent Season.
I adore Christmas time. I love that Christ came to save us; I love that whether one finds significance in that or not, a feeling of love and kindness pervades our hearts, thoughts, and actions; I love that we are more “other” focused and really think about those around us and in need; I love that my kids are willing to play games, sit by the fire, share stories and time with their parents – and I have a soft mushy spot Christmas movies, books, and songs.
And that’s what particular struck me on Saturday… The music. I constantly tell my kids to be careful to what they listen to because music pervades our hearts, minds and souls like no other medium. You can remember song lyrics from the 1st grade, but you forget milk at the grocery. J I find Christmas music particularly meaningful because, alongside the silly and fun, deep truths are shared.
We have a rule in our family: Christmas music starts November 1st. I secretly turn on Pandora’s Christmas channels in October, but I’m forbidden to play them openly until that day. My kids are a little dictatorial about that one. Movies and books are allowed to show up on our TV and tables on November 15th. And decorations come up first thing on the day after Thanksgiving. Boom!
But it’s the music that draws me first – into the season’s significance, majesty and celebration.
Each year, I seem to gravitate to a favorite. Last year, it was “The Little Drummer Boy.” This year “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day” resonates strongest. If you’ve never heard it, it’s based on an 1863 poem Henry Wadsworth Longfellow and starts in dismay as the Christmas bells remind the narrator of all that’s wrong in the world, but the song soon turns and ends in hope as…
Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
“God is not dead, nor doth he sleep;
The wrong shall fail, the right prevail,
With peace on earth, good will to men.”
And that’s what I felt this weekend – the bells pealing loud and clear, celebrating a marriage, a new beginning, and a world saved by a loving God. And, of course, there was a really beautiful dress.
I’d love to hear about your favorite songs, movies and stories of the season. Please share! AND Merry Christmas!
December 15, 2014
On Sale
Enjoy and Merry Christmas!
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Lizzy-Jane-Kath...
Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/lizzy...
ChristianBooks: http://www.christianbook.com/Christia...
December 10, 2014
Join in the Festive Fun — A Christmas Give-Away!
We’ve been plotting and planning… And 7 dear friends and I came up with some ideas to spread Christmas cheer…
A Gift!
And – A fun blog tour to share Christmas memories, traditions, shows and songs. You can come back each day here to check who has a posting for the day and be sure to check each out because on our blog days, many of us are giving away additional gifts.
Enjoy the blogs, the gifts, the books and, most importantly, Christmas!
12/10 – Beth Vogt: A copy of Somebody Like You or A November Bride (winner’s choice); a $5 Starbucks card
12/12 – Cara Putman: A copy of Where Treetops Glisten ; B&B Works lotion
12/14 – Kristy Cambron: A copy of The Butterfly and the Violin or A Sparrow in Terezin (winner’s choice); a $5 Starbucks card
12/16 – Katherine Reay: A copy of Lizzy & Jane or Dear Mr. Knightley (winner’s choice); a Lizzy & Jane tumbler
12/18 – Katie Ganshert: A copy of A Broken Kind of Beautiful ; an audio copy of An October Bride
12/20 – Courtney Walsh: A copy of Paper Hearts ; Christmas artwork
12/22 – Melissa Tagg: A copy of Here to Stay ; an It’s a Wonderful Life DVD
12/ 24 – Sarah Ladd: A copy of A Lady at Willowgrove Hall ; a Pride and Prejudice DVD
*Winner announced 12/26
a Rafflecopter giveaway
December 3, 2014
Lizzy & Jane Airport Spottings!
So the sisters were found! And by six intrepid travelers braving the skies at the busiest time of the year.
Rather than choose one winner randomly – I plan to send tumblers to all six. The tumblers haven’t arrived yet, but if they’re as wonderful as the pictures, they’ll be worth the wait.
Thanks so much all who looked for Lizzy & Jane. And I may do another give-away around Christmas – because it’s fun!
So keep me posted on your travels and if you spot the sisters out and about, please let me know that too.
Have a great week!
Below you’ll see some awesome shelf space for the sisters. While I certainly don’t endorse moving around books, I did a kick out of the fact that my husband did that!
