The waiting is the hardest part. Every day you see one more card. You take it on faith, you take it to the heart. The waiting is the hardest part. - Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
Anticipation, anticipation is making me late, is keeping me waiting. - Carly Simon
Yes, the above two references speak of intimate times with a lover yet to arrive, but I haven't been able to get those two songs out of my head for the last couple of weeks. Because finally, finally, after years of writing story after story, after years of critique groups hammering my novel to death and forcing me to think and re-think my characters and plots, after years of searching for a publisher, after months of waiting for edits, after long arduous hours of editing, editing, finally, more editing, after all the hype and promotion and marketing, and despite a glitch, I get to fulfill a dream. After February 15th, just five days from now, I can add the title 'Published Author' to my name.
The excitement has been growing. I'm ready. My family is ready. My friends and supporters are ready. I hopefully have sparked a readiness in the media. The time to hit the ground running and kick for the uprights has now arrived. (Yeah, sorry about the badly mixed metaphors, but who cares?)
When you read the book, you'll find an acknowledgment page thanking all the folks who've helped me to be published. I was allowed only a certain number of words so I'd like to take the space here to give more thanks to more people.
Of course my parents and family. You've supported me throughout the years and kept pushing me to continue writing. To Karen, Kat, Sean, Mary, and Jennifer at Echelon Press for staying tough and supportive. For giving me advice and a couple of smacks upside the head when I needed them. To Angi, Mike, Virginia, Sara, Susan, and everybody else in the writers' critique groups I've attended throughout the years. I never would have gotten this far without you all pointing out the stupid parts of my story and opening more doors when it came to pitches and publishing. To David who calmed my fears when it came to marketing. To Sunny who opened more doors in networking. To all of the folks I interviewed for research, from the lighting industry, to the police, to the insurance company representatives who provided me with a key scene in my story. A special thanks to Kim who has been a good friend throughout the years, who has traveled the long miles with me, who laughs at my jokes, who has provided enough fodder for a score of stories, who kept pushing and has sacrificed so much for me and the writing craft. You are so close to experiencing the dream and I want you so much to feel the high.
And of course, thanks to all of my friends, associates, Facebook buddies, and the taekwondo crowd who cheer me on and congratulated me beforehand.
I hope you all will enjoy the book as well as the one being released in July. If you don't like them, please tell me. I can take it and I'll try harder on the next one. If you like them, tell me (my ego also anticipates praise. Lol), but most importantly, tell your friends.
The waiting is the hardest part.
The waiting is almost over.
Thank you!
PS. Don't forget about the contest. Details to come next week.
Friday, February 11, 2011
Friday, February 4, 2011
Around the Globe with KERUL KASSEL
So as another snowy week comes to an end, I jump in my transporter, pick this week's author, Kerul Kassel and we're off to a great meeting spot she picked out. Welcome to the Canopy Tower in Panama, outside Panama city, where we're sipping tropical fruit juice and observing the birds and wildlife buzzing outside the open windows at tree canopy level at 6:30a.m. Check out where we're at- http://www.canopytower.com
1. Who is Kerul Kassel and what makes you the most fascinating person in your city?
Kerul is a procrastivity expert who knows the difference between good and bad procrastination. She's fascinating because she combines incisive intelligence, mild attractiveness, moderate ambition, and a fierce drive to learn and understand why people do the things they do.
2. Without revealing a deep dark secret (unless you want to), what one thing would people be surprised to learn about you?
I have a (rather private) tattoo and smoke the occasional cigarette.
3. What interested you to be become a writer rather than something else such as becoming Shakespearean actor?
Like so much in my life, I'm an accidental writer (similar to how I became an accidental horse owner, an accidental publicly elected official, and an accidental owner of homes in three states). Maybe incidental would be a better word. Anyway, I wrote to help people understand why they do the things they do, and to create visibility and credibility for my business coaching niche.
4. Writers are readers. With which author(s) would you enjoy sharing dinner? Why?
The first person to come to mind would be, Carl Hiaasen, because he's so funny, writes a great story, and he shares my green sentiments. I'd also love to have shared repast with Kurt Vonnegut (so creative and critically minded), Shakespeare (do you know how much of the English language that man coined?), and Ann Rice (just for curiosity).
5. If I were stranded on a deserted island (or suffering a four hour layover at the airport), why would your book(s) be great company?
They have some humor, some seriousness, a generous helping of grounded practicality, and a large dollop of compassion.
6. Share the Kassel process of writing in regards to: idea and character development, story outline, research (do you Google, visit places/people or make it up on the spot?), writing schedule, editing, and number of rewrites.
I don't write fiction - I'm too linear and literal for that, at least at this point in my life. Generally, I edit as I write - when I get stuck I go back and edit and then proceed again when I get to the spot where I'd been stuck. I don't re-write a lot, but then I'm not writing fiction. When writing, I set a schedule and then stick to it (mostly :-))
7. “I think I have a good idea for a story, but I don’t know where or how to begin. Your process may not work for me. Any advice?”
Join a writing club and get lots of good ideas from other writers.
8. I saw an amusing T-shirt the other day which read ‘Every great idea I have gets me in trouble.” What is your philosophy of life?
"Visualize whirled peas."
9. Please tell me you’re not going to stop writing? What’s next for you?
I'm currently working on a doctoral dissertation (yes, really). After that's done, all bets are off.
10. Where can people find more information on you and your projects?
www.Procrastivity.com
1. Who is Kerul Kassel and what makes you the most fascinating person in your city?
Kerul is a procrastivity expert who knows the difference between good and bad procrastination. She's fascinating because she combines incisive intelligence, mild attractiveness, moderate ambition, and a fierce drive to learn and understand why people do the things they do.
2. Without revealing a deep dark secret (unless you want to), what one thing would people be surprised to learn about you?
I have a (rather private) tattoo and smoke the occasional cigarette.
3. What interested you to be become a writer rather than something else such as becoming Shakespearean actor?
Like so much in my life, I'm an accidental writer (similar to how I became an accidental horse owner, an accidental publicly elected official, and an accidental owner of homes in three states). Maybe incidental would be a better word. Anyway, I wrote to help people understand why they do the things they do, and to create visibility and credibility for my business coaching niche.
4. Writers are readers. With which author(s) would you enjoy sharing dinner? Why?
The first person to come to mind would be, Carl Hiaasen, because he's so funny, writes a great story, and he shares my green sentiments. I'd also love to have shared repast with Kurt Vonnegut (so creative and critically minded), Shakespeare (do you know how much of the English language that man coined?), and Ann Rice (just for curiosity).
5. If I were stranded on a deserted island (or suffering a four hour layover at the airport), why would your book(s) be great company?
They have some humor, some seriousness, a generous helping of grounded practicality, and a large dollop of compassion.
6. Share the Kassel process of writing in regards to: idea and character development, story outline, research (do you Google, visit places/people or make it up on the spot?), writing schedule, editing, and number of rewrites.
I don't write fiction - I'm too linear and literal for that, at least at this point in my life. Generally, I edit as I write - when I get stuck I go back and edit and then proceed again when I get to the spot where I'd been stuck. I don't re-write a lot, but then I'm not writing fiction. When writing, I set a schedule and then stick to it (mostly :-))
7. “I think I have a good idea for a story, but I don’t know where or how to begin. Your process may not work for me. Any advice?”
Join a writing club and get lots of good ideas from other writers.
8. I saw an amusing T-shirt the other day which read ‘Every great idea I have gets me in trouble.” What is your philosophy of life?
"Visualize whirled peas."
9. Please tell me you’re not going to stop writing? What’s next for you?
I'm currently working on a doctoral dissertation (yes, really). After that's done, all bets are off.
10. Where can people find more information on you and your projects?
www.Procrastivity.com
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Around the Globe with HEATHER INGEMAR
This week my transporter takes me to author Heather Ingemar's living room. Her house is old; a 1917 Sears and Roebuck. History adorns the walls–from old artwork to antique family branding irons. Multi-colored leaves litter the lawn outside. The wind blows around the eaves, making the old timbers creak. A few of the cattle she helps raise with her husband make lowing noises in the back lot. We kick back on her couch with a couple mugs of hot cocoa to discuss her writing.
1. Who is Heather Ingemar and what makes you fascinating?
Well, contrary to what my mother will tell you, I'm simply pretty average. I work a town job in addition to the ranching my husband and I do, and I have hobbies – I perform folk music, I like shooting sports. All in all, I'm just your average farm girl.
2. What one thing would people be surprised to learn about you?
I think they'd be surprised to learn I'm a Cowboy Action Shooter, because most everyone IS surprised when they find that out. I guess I don't come across as the type of gal who gets all dolled up in Victorian dresses to go shoot targets with reproduction firearms. I'm such a tomboy -- I almost never wear a skirt! (laughs) I suppose the idea of me in a frilly dress is… shocking.
3. What interested you to become a writer rather than something else?
Writing actually took me by surprise. I wanted to write books, I wanted to write stories – I just didn't have the skills. I directed all my energy toward music, because it was something creative that I could do, something I knew how to do. It wasn't until college that I discovered I had the knack for prose, thanks to my creative writing prof. I wouldn’t be here if not for her.
4. Writers are readers. Which author(s) would you enjoy sharing dinner? Why?
While I absolutely looooove Poe's work, I have the sneaking suspicion he'd be a bit of a depressing dinner guest… So, it would have to be Karen Chance or Amelia Atwater-Rhodes. They seem like they'd be pretty neat people to talk to.
5. If I were stranded on a desert island (or suffering a four hour layover at the airport), why would your book(s) be great company?
Well, because I wrote it, of course! (laughs) No, kidding aside, I've been told I have an unusual way of re-interpreting our monsters, a different method of looking at our archetypes and our fairy tales and that sort of thing. If you're looking for something a little strange, strange is what I do.
6. Share the Ingemar process of writing in regards to: idea and character development, story outlines, research (do you Google, visit places/people, or make it up on the spot?), writing schedule, editing, and number of rewrites.
Well, let's tackle the easiest things first: SCHEDULE: it's simply when I have time and the words are there. Being a rancher's wife means life is unpredictable. If I have ten minutes and I have words waiting for me? Awesome. IDEAS, ETC: They tend to let me know when they're ready to be written. I don't touch an idea or a character until they are pounding at my door. OUTLINE: As broad as I can get away with… (laughs) I think that when you get down to listing all the nitty-gritty details, you lose the beautiful spontaneity of the act of writing. RESEARCH: Well, seeing as the day-job is being a librarian, I'm kind of obligated to cross my 't's and dot my 'i's, aren't I? (laughs) Seriously though? I use the Internet and my local resources – library, people I know, books, etc – to find my answers. EDITING/NUMBER OF REWRITES: I rather enjoy the editing process. It's satisfying to polish a piece of fiction. The number of rewrites I do depends on how close to my characters' wishes I get on the first draft. Sometimes, I nail it the first time; other times it could be fifteen plus drafts. It really depends.
7. "I think I have a good idea for a story, but I don't know where or how to begin. Your process may not work for me. Any advice?"
Sit down, do some writing, and find out what works for you. Explore; read about what other writers do. Try different methods. One of them is bound to click.
8. I saw an amusing t-shirt the other day which read 'Every great idea I have gets me in trouble.' What is your philosophy of life?
I find myself adhering more and more to the Taoist principles of wei-wu-wei, or "practicing not-doing." We spend so much time and energy beating around the bush, stressing over details – we forget to DO. We're always trying to make stuff fit OUR schedule, when if we just take some moments to relax and let it happen on its own… Things will work out. Learning to keep that in mind seriously lowers my anxiety level.
9. Please tell me you're not going to stop writing? What's next for you?
I'm planning on writing as long as I have fun doing it! I'm currently in the middle of drafting my next novella, so I'm enjoying that.
10. Where can people find more information on you and your projects?
They're more than welcome to pop by my website (http://heatherthebard.wordpress.com), follow me on Twitter (http://twitter.com/heatheringemar), or even fan me on Facebook (). I love to hear from readers!
1. Who is Heather Ingemar and what makes you fascinating?
Well, contrary to what my mother will tell you, I'm simply pretty average. I work a town job in addition to the ranching my husband and I do, and I have hobbies – I perform folk music, I like shooting sports. All in all, I'm just your average farm girl.
2. What one thing would people be surprised to learn about you?
I think they'd be surprised to learn I'm a Cowboy Action Shooter, because most everyone IS surprised when they find that out. I guess I don't come across as the type of gal who gets all dolled up in Victorian dresses to go shoot targets with reproduction firearms. I'm such a tomboy -- I almost never wear a skirt! (laughs) I suppose the idea of me in a frilly dress is… shocking.
3. What interested you to become a writer rather than something else?
Writing actually took me by surprise. I wanted to write books, I wanted to write stories – I just didn't have the skills. I directed all my energy toward music, because it was something creative that I could do, something I knew how to do. It wasn't until college that I discovered I had the knack for prose, thanks to my creative writing prof. I wouldn’t be here if not for her.
4. Writers are readers. Which author(s) would you enjoy sharing dinner? Why?
While I absolutely looooove Poe's work, I have the sneaking suspicion he'd be a bit of a depressing dinner guest… So, it would have to be Karen Chance or Amelia Atwater-Rhodes. They seem like they'd be pretty neat people to talk to.
5. If I were stranded on a desert island (or suffering a four hour layover at the airport), why would your book(s) be great company?
Well, because I wrote it, of course! (laughs) No, kidding aside, I've been told I have an unusual way of re-interpreting our monsters, a different method of looking at our archetypes and our fairy tales and that sort of thing. If you're looking for something a little strange, strange is what I do.
6. Share the Ingemar process of writing in regards to: idea and character development, story outlines, research (do you Google, visit places/people, or make it up on the spot?), writing schedule, editing, and number of rewrites.
Well, let's tackle the easiest things first: SCHEDULE: it's simply when I have time and the words are there. Being a rancher's wife means life is unpredictable. If I have ten minutes and I have words waiting for me? Awesome. IDEAS, ETC: They tend to let me know when they're ready to be written. I don't touch an idea or a character until they are pounding at my door. OUTLINE: As broad as I can get away with… (laughs) I think that when you get down to listing all the nitty-gritty details, you lose the beautiful spontaneity of the act of writing. RESEARCH: Well, seeing as the day-job is being a librarian, I'm kind of obligated to cross my 't's and dot my 'i's, aren't I? (laughs) Seriously though? I use the Internet and my local resources – library, people I know, books, etc – to find my answers. EDITING/NUMBER OF REWRITES: I rather enjoy the editing process. It's satisfying to polish a piece of fiction. The number of rewrites I do depends on how close to my characters' wishes I get on the first draft. Sometimes, I nail it the first time; other times it could be fifteen plus drafts. It really depends.
7. "I think I have a good idea for a story, but I don't know where or how to begin. Your process may not work for me. Any advice?"
Sit down, do some writing, and find out what works for you. Explore; read about what other writers do. Try different methods. One of them is bound to click.
8. I saw an amusing t-shirt the other day which read 'Every great idea I have gets me in trouble.' What is your philosophy of life?
I find myself adhering more and more to the Taoist principles of wei-wu-wei, or "practicing not-doing." We spend so much time and energy beating around the bush, stressing over details – we forget to DO. We're always trying to make stuff fit OUR schedule, when if we just take some moments to relax and let it happen on its own… Things will work out. Learning to keep that in mind seriously lowers my anxiety level.
9. Please tell me you're not going to stop writing? What's next for you?
I'm planning on writing as long as I have fun doing it! I'm currently in the middle of drafting my next novella, so I'm enjoying that.
10. Where can people find more information on you and your projects?
They're more than welcome to pop by my website (http://heatherthebard.wordpress.com), follow me on Twitter (http://twitter.com/heatheringemar), or even fan me on Facebook (). I love to hear from readers!
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