A Blog Tour
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I opened my email last week and found an
invitation to join a Blog Tour. Now, since I don’t get out much, I didn’t see
how I could participate in any sort of a tour—then it hit me—a BLOG tour. I can do that! Maybe.
Well, I found my
answer—it’s about writing, and that’s the main thing I’m doing these days. And
it’s a blog post, which I may remember how to do—and there are only four questions!
Question 1: What Are You
Working on Now?
I’m nearing the end of editing The Burying Ground, a
story of greed and chicanery involving an old cemetery and it’s secrets.
Occasionally, I review a few chapters of Sarah,
a historical novel that sets the stage for the happenings in The Burying Ground, 140 years later.
Maggie, the third and final story in
this series, is only a draft, and needs a great amount of thought. Occasionally,
I try my hand at writing a query, a troublesome little one-page piece of
writing that is the first step in submitting anything to publishers for
consideration. Although I’ve been urged to self publish, I ‘m not sure I want all the responsibility that involves. August
Heat, a third novel, has been has
been sitting in a file for over a
year, waiting for me to take time to take this final step.
Question 2: How Does My
Work Differ from Others of its Genre?
I find it difficult to fit The Burying Ground into any genre I’m familiar with. It moves
between mystery, danger, romance and a fight to save a primeval forest, while
touching the lives of people similar to those we all have known. Today I found my niche—realistic fiction Sarah,
set in the post-Civil war period, fits into the historical genre, but has an unexpected twist as our heroine
struggles to break loose from the Victorian role for women. I had hoped August Heat would fall into a specific
genre; after all, it’s setting is a Texas ranch, and that should mean “Western,”
right? Well it seems that title belongs to stories of the Old West, and August Heat is
thoroughly modern, although it does have a fair maiden in distress (actually,
she’s a brunette).
Question 3: Why Do I
Write What I do?
I’ve written non-fiction for years, and enjoyed collecting
information and creating articles about anything that caught my attention.
Never, never did I plan to write fiction—but it happened, and I’m hooked. I
enjoy weaving in memories of the places I’ve visited, and the people I’ve known.
I enjoy the unplanned twists my stories take when my sub-conscious takes over and
take me to unexpected places. And I love to write about Texas—its history, its
people, and its scenery.
Question 4: How Does My
Writing Process Work?
I start with an idea and one character. As I
move on, more characters get on board, and all begin to work at carrying out my
idea. At times they differ with me, and do as they wish, often leading me into
predicaments I don’t know how to solve. Although I visualize the setting as
clearly as if I were actually there, my characters’ personality and appearance
develop as the story progresses.
I had reached the end of three novels before I
faced the consequences of writing without an outline.
Will I
change? Probably not.
_________________________________________________________________________________________
That’s my stop-over
on this Blog Tour. Be sure to visit Gina at
It's a great spot for readers.
I hope to see you soon for a bit of Rocking with Dannie, and another visit to the farm.
Dannie
Watch for next week’s
Blog Tour contribution from my friend, blogger and author, Kathryn Reid at
https://katereid5.wordpress.com
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