CLP Blog Tours Interview and Excerpt: Something Yellow by Laura Templeton
**Interview**
When did you know writing was for you?
I used to spend my summer vacations devouring books at the rate of about one per day. I remember one summer when I’d gorged on gothic romance for weeks. I turned the last page and said to my mother, “I can write one of these.” Well, it turned out to be a lot harder than I thought at fourteen! And I have yet to write a gothic romance (I no longer even read them—I think that summer did me in…) But that was definitely the moment when the desire to write took hold.
How would you describe your books?
My books are typically mysteries—often with a slight element of magic realism and always with a romance. My characters struggle with real-life issues and experience loss and grief. They are generally trying to get unstuck in order to make their way forward.
Why was Something Yellow a book you wanted to write?
I started with the desire to write a book set in the Blue Ridge Mountains of southwest Virginia. This picturesque area of the country is where my father grew up, and I’ve made many trips there over the years to visit relatives. I hoped to capture and portray at least a bit of the beauty of the mountains, the warmth of the people, and the blessings provided by a large and welcoming extended family.
What is the hardest part of the writing process for you?
I am very much a character-driven writer. Generally, my stories begin when I “hear” a character talking in my head. The characters and their internal growth inspire me. I have a harder time with the external plot. Getting the right events in the right order to support the characters’ journeys tends to be tricky for me.
What are your favorite genres to read?
That’s a tough question because I read a wide variety of things. I enjoy nonfiction books on a range of subjects. I tend to get on kicks, where I delve into a certain subject and read several books on it. Sometimes this turns into research for my writing. And I read women’s fiction (Karen White, Jodi Picoult, Mary Alice Monroe), literary fiction (Barbara Kingsolver, Joshilyn Jackson, Anne Tyler), and a little bit of contemporary romance (Debbie Macomber). I’m sort of a moody reader. If I’m on a nonfiction binge, not much will make me pick up a novel. And vice versa.
What do you want readers to take away from your story?
In a word: hope. Often my characters struggle with tragedy – personal tragedy or even societal tragedy. But at the end of the day, the end of the story, there is always hope for a better future. Life is hard enough, and today we’re bombarded by negativity in so many forms – from offensive or hurtful social media posts to political ranting to news of murder and mayhem. I try to offer a counterpoint to the negative–characters that persevere and overcome…and hopefully give encouragement to the rest of us.
How important do you think social media is for authors these days?
For most authors, participating in social media is a must. Unless you have the name recognition of Nora Roberts or Stephen King, you’ve got to engage with readers.
The trick, I think, is to narrow your social media presence to those things you can do well. I don’t have a blog—I simply don’t have time to maintain one. (I’m also obsessive about what I write—the ability to whip out quick blog posts goes against my grain!) So, I’m particularly thankful for Samantha and all the other bloggers who’ve graciously allowed me to write guest posts. I do try to maintain a Facebook, Goodreads, and Twitter presence, and I keep my website current.
What would be your advice to aspiring writers?
Find a group of likeminded writers and link up. It wasn’t until I joined a professional writing group (two actually) that I began to take myself seriously as a writer. Hanging out with other writers taught me the specifics of what to do (how and when to query agents, how to polish my work), what to expect, and how to keep the faith during all those months when the answer was “no thanks.” Other than that, an aspiring writer must stay the course. Getting published is a long and arduous process for most of us. You have to want it badly enough to believe in yourself when the rejections come (and they will)!
**Excerpt**
Tina Lynn pulled on my arm. “Come on. Let’s get the food before it gets cold.”
She opened the back of her SUV and handed me a pair of gaudy, orange-flowered oven mitts and a large aluminum foil tray.
“It’s hot. And you’d better hold it from the bottom. These pans are a little flimsy.” She set a package of plastic cups on top of my dish, balanced the pan of fried chicken on her hip, and closed the back of the SUV with one hand. I followed her into the church, trying not to dread the slew of greetings I’d encounter.
Sure enough, as soon as I entered the building, friends and relatives I hadn’t seen in years bombarded me, and I felt like a bride in a receiving line. Tina Lynn moved ahead of me to set down the heavy dish of chicken. I wished she’d come back and rescue me.
“Now, young lady, you’re going to have to help your mama through this.” My great-aunt, Eloise, crushed me to her side in a hug that defied her ninety-some years.
“Yes, ma’am,” I said, not sure if she was referring to the cancer or to Cailey’s disappearance. Or to both. The edge of the hot pan jabbed into my side, so I slid out of her embrace as quickly as I could. She moved away toward one of my aunts, her wide denim skirt swaying like ocean waves, her waddling gait the result of a hip replacement a few years back.
I still held the pan of macaroni and cheese as I carried on multiple conversations and accepted hugs from distant cousins. Between the McCanns and the Callahans, Mother’s people, our family practically owned this corner of the county. Finally, Tina Lynn realized my predicament and headed my way to help.
Before she could reach me, I heard someone call my name. I turned to see Aunt Eloise moving toward me like a ship plowing through swells.
“Holly, look who’s here.”
When I realized whom she was steering my way, my stomach dove to my feet. Houston Phelps.
Cailey was dead for sure.
Author Bio:
Laura Templeton lives near Athens, Georgia, with her husband, son, and a menagerie of animals, mostly rescues. In her day job she serves as Vice President of Operations for a laboratory equipment manufacturer. By night–early morning, actually–she writes fiction. Her first novel, Something Yellow, was released by PageSpring Publishing in October 2013. When she’s not writing, Laura enjoys reading, gardening, learning to figure skate—with a very patient instructor, and taking long walks on the quiet country roads near her home. Laura can be contacted at lauratempletonwriter@gmail.com.
Connect with Laura!
Website: www.Laura-Templeton.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LauraTempletonWriter
Buy the Book!
Amazon: http://amzn.to/1n2LNOe
