Without further ado, Georgia Beers.

 3/12 (Ed: The Winner of the random drawing for Georgia’s latest, 96 Hours will be announced at noon Friday 3/3. There’s still time…)

 

I don’t’ think I need to provide much more of an introduction. If you are one of the three people unfamiliar with this talented writer, feel free to check out  Georgia Beers site for ‘everything you wanted to know but were afraid to ask’. Her blog will also feature my responses to questions and a giveaway to a random commentor.

As I have mentioned before, publicly, my very tall friend Georgia has been instrumental in the launch of my fledgling career and I’m very grateful for her advice.

~If you had the chance to do it over with one book, what changes would you make and which book would you choose?

That’s a tough one. Though I don’t go back and read my older stuff because there would inevitably be things I wish I’d done differently, I think I’d prefer to leave them all alone. Each one is a step in my growth as a writer and if I hadn’t written each of them exactly the way I did, I wouldn’t have evolved into the writer I am now.

~From the publication of your first manuscript to the recent release of 96 hours, can you pick three of your proudest moments?

Well, the first one is definitely holding my very first book in my hands. There’s no bigger thrill for a writer, in my opinion. Number two would be winning the Lambda Literary Award for Fresh Tracks in 2007. Third would be having Starting from Scratch short-listed for a Lammy, something I didn’t think would happen because I went a different publishing route than most. That was utter validation of my career.  [ed note: it went on to win 2 Goldies]

~What are you working on now?

My next book is a new venture for me. It’s a collection of short stories, each of which is connected to the next in some way. So far, I’m really enjoying it. As a bonus, I will have a dozen or more characters to choose from if I want to expand on any of their stories, so that’s a fun aspect as well.

~What inspired you to write your first book?

My soon-to-be wife, Bonnie. I was reading a not-very-good lesbian novel and when I finished it, I said with irritation, “I could have written a better book than that.” And Bonnie looked at me and said, “What’s the difference between you and that author?” I gave her a sheepish grin and replied, “She actually took the time to write hers?” So I took the challenge and wrote Turning the Page.

~Do you purposely try to some kind of message or lesson with your books?

Purposely? No. I just do my best to make my characters realistic and relatable. If they end up doing or feeling something that projects some sort of message or lesson, that’s like icing on the cake. But the only goal I have when I begin is to write a compelling, touching story about two women that any of my readers might know (or be).

~What do you find challenging about writing?

How long do you have? LOL. I find it challenging because I don’t always know where things are going. I have an idea, but oftentimes, my idea is a mere suggestion and things go in a completely different direction. That’s challenging as well as thrilling. I also find it challenging to do the actual writing because the creative side of my brain doesn’t always want to function when I have the time. I have never done a marathon writing session, as so many writers do. I just don’t think my brain works that way and I wish it did. I’d be much more prolific, that’s for sure.

~Do you have any advice for writers?

My best, simplest advice is to just do it. Keep writing. Always continue to learn. You will never plateau. You will never learn all there is to learn about your craft. Keep writing and keep learning. Always.

Thanks, Georgia! …and my unsolicited advice for you, Keep writing, Please.

As promised, a random commentor will receive a signed copy of Georgia’s latest book “96 Hours” or go to Bywater Books

Her other books are listed on her site.

And the Winner is…

After a wildly complicated, double-blind, placebo controlled drawing, the Winner of Amy’s book is………………………  Margot!! 

Since I don’t have your email address, please reply or email me so I can contact you…or contact Amy. Congratulations!

Thanks to everyone who stopped by and enjoyed this new endeavor. We’ll certainly do it again. And I hope to have more interesting visitors in the future.

Meantime, I’m cleaning off the old desktop for the next project. Book 3 in the series and maybe a little teaser about Zeke.

Stay tuned

 

Author Amy Dawson Robertson ~ Interview

The 2010 GCLS was the first time I met Amy. I’d read her book and was gobsmacked! It was unlike any other. More importantly, Amy is a warm, genuine person who took time with a shy newbie. When I recently asked her to participate in a blog swap, she readily agreed and it’s been a fun dual-interview. My half of the interview appears on her site: Amy Dawson Robertson.  I hope you enjoy it as much as I have. PLUS, you may win a copy of “Scapegoat” 

Without further ado….

JBM: And now for your question: what inspired you to write your first book?

ADR: I had been dabbling with writing for a long time. Mostly just abandoned paragraphs or openings. Then after 9/11, I got the idea for a story involving a heroic woman and started writing. That beginning eventually became Miles To Go and though it takes place prior to 9/11, I think it served as the outlet I was looking for.

JBM: And a terrific idea it was.
So, can you tell me What kind of relationship did/do you have with you main character?and How did it evolve and was it difficult or did it form easily?

ADR:  Writing Rennie can be tough sometimes because she isn’t very wordy. She’s very internal which means I have to figure out how to communicate her thoughts in an interesting way. Especially in the first book, there is a long section in the middle where she is on her own. I was really pleased by the feedback I got from readers — that they didn’t have a problem with that long stretch of narrative. I really don’t remember how I fleshed Rennie out — it’s a decade now that I created her. My first draft of Miles To Go is a painful read — I was essentially learning how to write as I went. I think it was through the process of deep editing that she came to life.

JBM: Rennie’s internal workings were intriguing to me because my protagonist, Zeke, is very similar. I really enjoyed the narrative and was amazed how fast it moved with so little dialogue. So, did you find that “Scapegoat” was easier or harder than M2G? and why?

ADR: M2G was hard in that it was my first and I really didn’t know what I was doing. But aside from that it is a very straightforward and linear narrative. Scapegoat on the other hand has a more complex plot. I think that thrillers in general — and I expect you’ve found this to be so — are challenging to deal with because of the subterfuge and the twists and such. For me, it can sometimes feel like I can have way too many balls in the air. Otherwise, in many ways, Scapegoat was easier since I already had a well defined cast of characters in place.

JBM: Well your very first was a thrilling jump out of the gate. The pace of that book was amazing. I haven’t started “Scapegoat” but can’t wait until my edits are done so I can retreat to my reading chair for a month!
I guessing you are a meticulous “plotter” and researcher. Can you take us on a little tour of your process from how a story is born through its birth and development?

ADR: Thanks, I’m really glad you felt that way! Regarding plotting and researching: yes, I do a lot of research and really enjoy it. I’ve read things I never would have picked up before I started the Rennie series. Plotting on the other hand… Writing M2G and half of Scapegoat, I did essentially no outlining in advance. With M2G, since it wasn’t particularly complex, that wasn’t so bad, but once I was half way into Scapegoat I knew I had to stop, figure everything out and write myself a road map for the way forward. It convinced me, at least when writing thrillers or mysteries, to always plot in advance — it saves a world of trouble.

JBM: I agree, especially with a mystery. Somebody really needs to know “whodonnit” up front.
Let’s try another area, if you will. Would you describe what you find most challenging about your own writing?
And then how did those challenges change once you were contracted for the first then second book? Essentially, how have you changed since becoming a “published author”?

ADR:  I think initially the biggest challenge was insecurity. Before you have the faith of an outside body that isn’t a friend or family member, you don’t always trust your own judgment (and, often, for good reason).  I think that remains my biggest challenge in large part. I’ve always thought it interesting that of all the arts, writing gets the most editorializing. When you think about painters or composers, I’ve never heard of the other arts having a sort of institutionalized system of editors weighing and having a fundamental impact on a work. I’m not saying it’s a bad thing at all. I think most of us feel that we have benefited greatly from our editors — I know I have. But I do wonder why writers seem to need so much more hand holding than other “artists.”

In regard to other challenges, I think that with each new book, there are always going to be new hurdles — at least I hope there will — since I like to try new things, look for new ways to impart information in an interesting way.

JBM: That’s an interesting observation. It’s true, painters, sculptors, musicians, all have seem to be able to express their vision without much input.  When a piece is “ready” to the artist’s satisfaction–it goes out. The public can judge it or not.

Writers today ( and in the past) are dependent on the Publishers to act as the middlemen and they, in turn, employ even more layers. Gradually, I think, works are changed in subtle or enormous ways to  “sell”.  Today some author’s are eliminating the middle man, so we may see a change in  our work. Who knows.

If we were to look ahead ( following that model) how would you imagine the writing/publishing model to change “creatively”?  For example, would you change what or how you wrote if you had complete artistic freedom  and knew there was a market?

ADR: That’s a good point about the saleability. When you think of art that is meant to sell to the masses, like pop music, the people who hold the purse strings tend to have the most control. And the product, for better or for worse, ends up the most fiddled with and with more fingers in the pot.

Your question is a really hard one. I find it impossible to envision complete artistic freedom. I mean, we have all been influenced by the market one way or another. There are those who create new narratives styles — I guess that is real artistic freedom. But that doesn’t really appeal to me. I have never been interested in any literature that is particularly avant garde. I just like a good story. I suppose if editors let me have my way I would have a lot more exposition than I even do now. I’m not much of a believer in that classic Show, Don’t Tell trope. I think effective telling can often be much more delicious than good showing.

                              ~~~~~~~~~

Thanks, Amy! this has been fun we should do it again.

Next Monday, I’ll draw a name from those who post a comment or question, the winner will get a copy of Amy’s newest release.

For more about Amy or to purchase her books:  http://www.bellabooks.com/

http://www.amazon.com/Scapegoat-Rennie-Intrigue-Dawson-Robertson/dp/159493262X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1318445381&sr=8-1

Coming Soon to a Blog near You

Coming Monday…”The Interview”

…big time, fancy-ass author

…won an Alice B. certificate for new authors

…critically acclaimed writer

…very tall

…has a new book out

…swills beer on occasion… I’m told.

…writes with a red pen and dictates on her iPad

and may be one of the nicest people on the planet.

Just sayin’

stop by Monday, February 13th for a pre-Valentine’s sweet.

A buffet…

We had a very unusual freezing foggy morning with some delicious photos –for your viewing pleasure. (double click each for the full effect)

So often I put up a blog and days later remember some pithy little item I’ve forgotten. So…today, a mish-mash of thoughts.

Last week I sent a shout out to those many folks who check in from sites around the world. What I forgot to mention was that “Damaged in Service” is available through Amazon sites in the UK, Germany, Italy,  and France. And of course through my publisher Affinity eBooks. Big thanks to all who have bought my scrappy little novel, sales have jumped the past two months…tell your friends!

The edits for “Defying Gravity” are a bit ahead of schedule and the cover is nearly done. March 2012 !!

The next Guest Blogger [clue: she has a major-huge-awesome new release]  is working on some questions and I have two… maybe three more in the pipeline. ( Remember, that means book giveaways…)

Tomorrow, January 18th, (this is a correction) I will be adding a piece to the Babbling About Books Lesbian Appreciation Event. There have been some very interesting posts about the state of affairs in lesFic…no pun intended.

Next up for me will be a road trip to the “Lonestar LesFic Festival” 

The date for the Festival is Saturday, March 31, 2012.  The event will be at Nature’s Treasures, a local women owned business in Austin, TX.  You can view the actual venue, “the Crystal Auditorium”, by going to the community tab on their website: Nature’s Treasure

After that a trip to the 8th Annual “Golden Crown Literary Society” in Minneapolis, MN. June 13-17. Readers, writers, publishers and FUN!

On the home front:

The snowy white wonderland of December has devolved into moderate temps and the treacherous high desert…MUD, leaving the dogs and I damp and untidy.

Does that mean Spring? …not so much. Today started with rain and now its baby hail…with thunder. ?

Good day to be in my nice warm house.

That’s it for the mock-newsletter, enjoy! Stay warm and keep you *power* dry.

Barrett