Lynne Stringer's Blog, page 22

Crazy shopping!

I love pretty much everything about Christmas. I love the birth of Jesus, which I remember at Christmastime, I also love the trees and decorations and presents and big meals and eating too much. It’s all great fun, as far as I’m concerned.

There’s only one thing about Christmas that I don’t like: shopping.

I hate going to the shopping centre at this time of year. It’s always busy, even in the early morning (I always try and go early to avoid the crowds). People also seem to be a lot grumpier at the shops this time of year. Maybe that’s because it’s busy and so everything takes that little bit longer. We’re also always in such a hurry because we have so much to do. It can be hard to hold our tempers in check with the slow person ahead of us in line while we wait our turn to be served.

I’d like to say that I’m the epitome of patience at this time of year and that I keep a smile on my face and make sure I’m good mannered with everyone. Unfortunately, if I said that, I’d be lying through my teeth! Sometimes I find it a struggle to remain patient and make allowances for other people, but I know I should.

Why? Because Christmas should be about giving and caring for others, and that doesn’t just mean the people in our own circle of family and friends. As challenging as it is, I think we all need reminders at this time of year to slow down and take it easy. Waiting can be hard, but being rude about it doesn’t make the situation better, and impatience only wears us out (trust me; I know this for a fact!)

So this year, as you wait your turn, take a deep breath and try and be patient. I’ll be trying as well!

’Tis the season to buy books

Christmas is coming, had you noticed? I have, especially when we put the Christmas tree up!

It’s also clear Christmas is coming when I race around to write all my cards and buy gifts, sending them to those I need to send them to and keeping them on hand for the wonderful celebration that is Christmas.

There has been another thing on my ‘to do’ list this year: to do as much as possible.

I know that seasons like this are a common time for people to buy books. Books make great gifts. They’re a handy size if you need to transport your gift somewhere, even if it’s overseas, and they can be appreciated by young and old alike. I love getting books for Christmas.

I have had some good sales of my books over Christmas. I am hopeful of more, although I try to remember that Christmas shouldn’t be just about materialism and the increase of possessions, but it’s hard when I want to see people’s eyes spark with interest as I tell them about my books and see them take home copies to wrap and put under the tree for someone.

It is difficult to balance the true meaning of Christmas with the commercial aspect when you have a product to sell, but I think it’s necessary to do so. I can’t let myself forget that Christmas is really about giving, not getting, and giving in a far greater way than anything I can put under a tree.

The third book in a series

Traditionally, I have received the impression that in most trilogies the second book is the weakest link. I have certainly read some books where this is a problem. This was one of the reasons why I was nervous about the response to the second book in the Verindon trilogy, The Crown, which is now available.

However, I now have another fear building.

In my journeys through various sci-fi, fantasy and dystopian fandoms, it seems that lately, in the book world, it is the third book that has been the most disappointing. The Hunger Games and Divergent are two examples which immediately spring to mind. Most fans liked the third and final book the least of all three in the series. Some were vitriolic in their opinions of them.

Why is this? I think it’s because the fans have built up in their minds an expectation of what will happen. Until the final installment in a series, there’s always the chance that what they expect will still happen. With the final one, the series ties up, and I think it’s sometimes in a way that they don’t like or didn’t anticipate, at least. Could this be a sign of author failure? Should the final novel in a series be a natural extension of the series that anyone can anticipate if the book is written well? Or is it a sign of genius: the author managed to do something that no one anticipated. I think it depends on the individual author.

I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t worried. While I think the third and final book in my series takes the characters out in a strong way and is true to my vision for the overall story, will the reader agree with me? Does it matter if they don’t agree with me? Some of us might like to think it doesn’t matter, but I think it does, to me, anyway. I’m sure it definitely matters to my publisher, especially if a weak ending influences sales.

So should I be happy because I have written a trilogy that satisfies my vision for the story, even if it disappoints readers? Or should the readers’ responses be my primary concern? What do you think?

 

 

 

The Curse of an Imagination

Last week I talked about the joys of having an imagination and how it can pass the time when waiting for something and how it can inspire so much joy in novels.

However, it does have a downside.

Last week I visited a book club. The meeting was in the city, so rather than drive in and have the hassle of finding somewhere to park my car, I took the train in.

As soon as I sat down, my imagination kicked in. Unfortunately, on something like a train, my imagination can go in different directions. This time, the people around me weren’t distracting my attention with their lives. Instead, I was listening to the noise of the train … and remembering all those shows I’ve seen where trains had crashed!

We came around a corner. Were we going too fast? Immediately, I could see our carriage being derailed, passengers flying everywhere. Would we crash into something? Would there be injuries? Would there be … gulp … deaths?

It’s usually at this point that I have to rein my imagination in with a firm hand before I scare myself into jumping off the train.

Even when I arrived at my destination at City Hall, I noticed, as I walked in the door, some of the workers were looking up at the side of the building. Why? Was something hanging up there about to fall on the awning and crush everyone under it? Better hurry inside!

I’d like to think I’m not the only person who terrifies herself this way, so if you too, are an author, or maybe someone with a good imagination who should be an author, please reassure me that I’m not the only insane one here.

So while imaginations can be wonderful things, they can be scary too!

Scope for Imagination

Last weekend I had arranged a book signing for The Heir and The Crown at my local Dymocks bookstore. I figured this was a good time of year to do it, so close to Christmas, as the shopping centre where the bookstore is located was likely to be packed.

Sure enough, it was. The bookstore had set up a nice, big table at the front of the store so I could engage people as they entered. The store is on a busy corner in the shopping centre (right across from Muffin Break – yum!) so there was plenty of traffic passing me by.

Most writers are introverts, and I am no different, so it can be difficult for me to engage people I don’t know in conversation, especially when I know that I want that conversation to end in them buying copies of my books. I hate being pressured like that myself, but that’s part and parcel of my job as an author, so I do it. Fortunately, I had quite a bit of success on Saturday, selling 18 copies all up, which was a good figure.

However, due to the busy-ness of the shopping centre, I found myself easily distracted. There I was, with people racing past me, and my imaginative brain would immediately start making up stories to go with the people walking past, especially if they past me more than once, which happened frequently.

There goes that lady with her two kids again. I wonder if one of them is buying a gift for a friend and they saw it cheaper in the first store, so now she’s rolling her eyes and going back to get it.

There’s the man with his mobile. Is he texting his girlfriend? Maybe it’s her birthday and he’s taking her out to dinner tonight …

So on and on the stories in my head went. I confess at this point to also being an inveterate eavesdropper. I’ll often find myself listening in to somebody’s conversation. Don’t knock it – I can get great ideas for a story that way!

Having an imagination can be fun, although it’s definitely a distraction at a book signing. However, it did make the job interesting and, who knows? Maybe it will give me material for my next novel.

Bonding over a book

I don’t know about you, but one of the first things I do when I visit someone’s house is look on their bookshelf (assuming they have one) and see what titles are there. I usually checked their CDs and DVDs as well.

When I’m doing this, I don’t think I’m doing it to judge that individual, more to understand their character and what interests them. Certainly, I always look for titles I’m familiar with, maybe ones that are on my bookshelf too. That, if nothing else, will mean we have something in common, some ground where we can meet.

It’s always a wonderful thing to find someone who likes the same books as you. These days, there a many online sites dedicated to books generally, not to mention individual books. I have made some great friends through some of these sites. In fact, The Heir was published because of five women I met through our mutual love of the Twilight series. I knew these women liked fantasy romance (obviously), so when I was writing The Heir I hesitantly gave them some chapters to read. Their enthusiasm led to them encouraging me to try and get it published, something I’m not sure would have happened otherwise.

There’s nothing like bonding over a book, whether it be an idea presented in a non-fiction, or a history presented in a biography, or an enjoyable story experienced in a novel.  It can lead to lifelong friendships.

 

A second launch

Just over a week ago, I held the official launch for the second book in the Verindon Trilogy. The launch was held on 26th October, while my new novel, The Crown, was officially released on Friday, 1st November, and is now available everywhere in paperback, kindle and epub.

So how did the second launch differ from the first? For a start, I was a lot calmer when preparing for the launch. This meant I was also not as frazzled at the launch itself. I was able to appreciate and enjoy it a little bit more. I think it’s because I had more of an idea of what to expect this time. I think it may also have been because, knowing that people out there already loved my characters, I felt that they would enjoy reading this installment and experiencing a bit more of their lives.

Response to The Crown so far has been positive. Some people cried when they read it, which thrilled me (is that because I delight in people’s pain or because I’m delighted my characters were able to move them? Hopefully, the latter). Some are already complaining that they have to wait until May next year for the final book in the series. However, so far everyone has said that it was good, perhaps even better than The Heir, which is a nice thing to hear. I must admit, I’m just as nervous about its reviews as I was for The Heir. It’s always nerve-wracking to wait for people to put pen to paper and tell you, in words, exactly what they thought of your book.

I’m hoping that those reviews, as they come in, will be good ones. I’m hoping I’ve pleased everyone who’s waiting to find out more about what Dan and Sarah are doing. I also hope that everyone is dying, like I am, for the final installment to be released next May!

Killing off Characters

The final installment of a well-known and loved book series was published last week, and before much time had passed, there were cries of outrage from fans all over the world.

I was one of them.

Why? A major character was killed off. This was hardly the first time in this series a character we had grown to love had died, but this one went further than any fan wanted it to go. The storm that it caused is still wreaking havoc amongst YA/dystopian lovers everywhere.

There’s no doubt what happened in this story upset me, but I have to ask myself why? We all know people die. We all know people die tragically. Should it not be that way in books? Why do we always prefer the HEA (Happily Ever After) even if it’s not realistic?

For me, I know I read books as an escape from the real world. If I want to know how tragic the world is, I watch the news. I want my books to entertain and uplift me. That’s why I read them. Even then, I don’t always object if characters, even major characters, are killed off or if the book doesn’t end happily. I enjoyed Gone with the Wind in spite of the fact that Rhett walks out and leaves Scarlett standing in the doorway, begging for him to come back. I enjoyed the movie Remember Me in spite of its incredibly tragic conclusion. So why did I have such a problem with this book?

I think the delivery of this particular title was part of the issue. Many fans have a lot of problems with the story as well. Perhaps that is at least part of the reason. However, there’s no doubt it’s the ending that’s pushed most people over the edge, and many have said that they will never read this author’s books again.

Is this kind of reaction a reasonable one, do you think? Is it right that an author should feel such pressure to ensure a HEA or risk alienating their fans? In what circumstances is it okay to have a tragic end to a story? I’m genuinely interested in your thoughts, especially the thoughts of my fellow authors. Would you be brave enough to write a story that kills off the most loved characters?

The most precious of memories

Which book can you first remember encountering in your life?

Books were always part and parcel of my home life. I can’t remember which one I heard first – that would be impossible – but I remember quite a few from my childhood days. Sparkle the Pony was a favourite picture book for years. Another one called The Discontented Pony was a big favourite (and yes, I liked horses!).

Once I started reading novels The Famous Five series kept me amused for years. In fact, when I recently pulled out my old copies in the hope of tempting my seven year old son to try one, I started reading it myself and wanted to keep going. I guess that’s the thing about a good story. It’s hard to put it down, no matter how old you are!

I think that those books we loved as children can retain some of the most wondrous memories of our childhood days. I can remember forcing my father to read me Sparkle the Pony again … and again … and again (poor man!) and I can remember being curled up in bed reading Five Go Adventuring Again or The Black Stallion. The feelings these books evoke in me, even now, fills me with joy. There is no doubt books contain real magic, as they light our lives with tales of things, whether known or unknown, and take us to new places, offering new experiences.

Should Christians write romantic fiction?

In Australia there is a Christian magazine called Eterntiy. In their most recent edition, they included an article deriding Christian romantic fiction.

I am a Christian, and although I write books for a mainstream audience, not a Christian one, I still found this article ignorant and uninformed.

I sent them a letter for their ‘Letter to the Editor’ section, but I doubt it will be published, so I am publishing it here:

Dear Editor,

When I read Simone Richardson’s article on Christian romantic fiction in Eternity’s October 2013 edition, I wondered from where she had obtained her novels.

I assume they are from USA’s Bible belt, as the three negative remarks she made about romantic fiction are not reflected in any of the novels I have read.

Ms Richardson may not be aware that Australia is responsible for many good works of Christian fiction – both romantic and otherwise – which do not reflect the negative take she freely pinned on all of them.

I have never read a Christian romance novel that ‘explicitly [taught] that God has someone lined up for each of us’. I guess it could be said that they may imply it, as the book’s protagonists usually end up together, but I have never read one that has explicitly taught this point of view.

I laughed when Ms Richardson stated that Christian romances always feature ‘Mr Perfect’, a man with no faults. Perhaps this is the case in US novels, but again, I have never encountered it in Australian ones. That would be both ridiculous and unrealistic, as I’ve never met anyone who is perfect.

Ms Richardson’s third remark was that Christian romances are bad because they try to teach us God’s sovereignty, instill Christian values and promote Godliness. Is this really a bad thing? Isn’t this what the preacher does at church every Sunday? While he bases what he says around a passage in the Bible (sometimes) he usually gives it a practical demonstration by telling a story from real life. Is this any different from what a novelist is doing? Perhaps Ms Richardson would argue that the preacher has studied at Bible college, so is more equipped to do so than an author. What then, can we say for all our Sunday school and religious education teachers? Many of them are only laypeople, and they are teaching about God’s sovereignty and trying to instill Christian values, etc. Maybe they should stop. What about my role as a parent? Should I no longer try to instill Christian values in my son because I don’t have a degree from a bible college?

I certainly agree that we should all read the bible daily, but reading stories is also a good way to digest biblical truth. That’s why Jesus often spoke in stories (i.e. parables). Not only that, some non-Christians have read Christian novels (romantic and otherwise) and have come to faith in Christ as a result.

As CS Lewis said, ‘Any amount of theology can now be smuggled into people’s minds under the cover of fiction without their knowing it.’ This can happen in all forms of fiction, and I have definitely seen it in Christian romantic fiction. I would advise Ms Richardson and others to broaden their horizons and look to Australia for good Christian fiction.