Every Writer Needs a Pet

Writer stereotypes famously depict us as neurotic, chain-smoking individuals who drink too much. I  think it’s just so much easier to get a dog.

Writers spend a great deal of time writing, which translates into sitting and it’s easy to get out of shape. It’s also easy to get depressed and frustrated when our story isn’t going right or because we aren’t socializing enough. Sometimes it takes a good pet to pull us away from our drama.

I already had one dog who is a Pharoah Hound mix named Sassy. We don’t know what she is mixed with, but she is adorable. To make a long story short, the job of keeping me active and socialized was just too much for her, so she asked for a friend. It just gets boring lying around waiting for her writer to get her word count in.  Boring!

The family had mercy on her and decided to adopt a new dog. She’s a greyhound rescue who is just about the sweetest creature I’ve ever met, next to Sassy of course. Between the two of them I should be walked often and made to laugh even when my story isn’t going well.

My word count might be in danger, but my over all health will be just right. We named the new dog Ruby, of course.

–Tina

In Honor of NaNoWriMo

Even the most prolific novelists can have a hard time finding the words:

Join Me in the NaNoWriMo Challenge

I did it. I signed up for NaNoWriMo. Why would I do that when I already have two books published? Well, for one, I may be crazy. And two, It’s going to be fun. And three,  my friend over at Quality Time signed up.

Quality Time was one of my two writing buddies back in school and when we reconnected last year, I learned she is a talented seamstress in her spare time and has a very cool blog of her own. When I found out today that she signed up for NaNoWriMo, I couldn’t let her go it alone.

Want to join us? Sign Up! It’s not too late, but you do need to sign up asap.

The objective is to write a 50,000 word novel in one month. NaNoWriMo’s definition of a novel is a lengthy manuscript, so no need to worry about rules.  You just write away. 

My profile name on the NaNoWriMo site is wrtrforkner. If you  join you are more than welcome to friend me as a writing buddy.

Well, I’m off to get my word count in for the day.

–Tina

The Master Artist

Here is a photo I’ve been meaning to post since this past Summer when I went to Cody, Wyoming. We took a drive along this lake all the way to Wapiti, WY (Wapiti means Elk). Much of the area along the stretch is part of Wind River Indian Reservation and some of the most beautiful land you’ve ever seen. When people think of Wyoming, they often think of Jackson Hole, but really that area is only a small part of the Wyoming landscape. The land here is beautiful and I admit I am sometimes tempted to write about it in a novel. When I see this kind of view, I can’t help but be reminded that God understands the creativity of my heart. He is after all, as I’ve often heard Him described, the Master Artist, isn’t He?

What Dreams Are You Putting Off?

  

“Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world.”  –Harriet Tubman

So often I’ll be at a book signing and someone will mention to me that they wanted to be a writer when they were a kid. Sometimes readers will even tell me they once had dreams to become an artist or a musician. The question that usually comes to my mind is, “Why didn’t you?”

Too many people spend their lives working and not much time on their passions. Not that work is bad. We all need to pay bills and if we are lucky, our work can be our passion. But what about those other things you always wanted to do? Is there an art or hobby you wish you had taken up? I have a dear friend who works hard in her day job and spends her spare time doing things like knitting and teaching herself to play instruments. Just this week she played flute in a local concert. She only taught herself to play this year!

If you have dreams you wish you had pursued, it’s not too late to reach for the stars. Why not start now?

–Tina

Don’t Miss this Novel

I want to congratulate fellow author Mary E. DeMuth on her recent release of A Slow Burn.  I’ve read it and you need to add this beautiful novel to your reading list. It’s well-written, moving, and filled with grace. I couldn’t put it down.

There is also a part one to this book called Daisy Chain . I would definitely suggest you get a copy of it when you get your copy of A Slow Burn. You can read my review of Daisy Chain here.

–Tina

Staying Out of the Faith Box

*Scroll down if you’ve stopped by to enter the giveaway.

“I’m going to write my way…If it’s a lifelong mistake, it won’t be the first one that’s been made.” – James Dickey

I’m going to do a no-no here and address a comment I heard in a review of one of my books, not to refute it, but because it got me to thinking about what happens when writers (or artists) let others put them in a box because their art isn’t religious enough.

What I found interesting about this two-starred review was that it briefly mentioned  a few things the reviewer didn’t like about the book, but nothing too terrible, and then it ended with the random statement “Not recommended for Church libraries.” I might ruffle some feathers by saying this, but I have to admit that I didn’t know whether to be insulted or complimented by that comment.

I am a Christian and I write fiction.

My publisher is the evangelical arm of Random House, so they have a Christian worldview. I feel confident my books fall well within my publisher’s guidelines, but it’s something I tried not to focus on when I was writing my first two novels. I tried to focus on the story. My worldview naturally came through my writing, but it was never my intention to preach. I’m glad this reviewer and a few others agree with me on that point.

While I love to hear a good sermon, I don’t like being preached to. Most people don’t like to have an idea forced on them and when I write a book, it is never my intention to do that to my reader. I love when I receive comments from readers who tell me they were touched deeply on a spiritual level. I love when they thank me for not writing about smut. But I  especially love when they tell me they couldn’t put my book down. That’s what I was really going for.

I have to admit that I certainly don’t write with church libraries in mind. It’s not that I am against them carrying my books. Of course that’s not the case, but my goal is to write a good story that will bring my readers hope. If it comes across as preachy or dogmatic, then I have failed. I don’t want to put my readers, or myself, in a box when I write. I want to write for the world (a lofty goal, I know).

I wish I could say that such comments and reviews, such as the one I mentioned earlier, don’t bother me or make me stop and question myself as an author, but that would be a lie. I’m human. Negative comments from fellow Christians do make me second-guess myself. The last thing I want to do is offend, but as an author I have to pause and consider who am I really trying to please? Ultimately I have only one judge, and I look to Him for my affirmation, as well as direction in my writing.

Since I am a Christian, it would be easy to let comments like “Not recommended for Church libraries” and other statements about books not being Christian enough stifle my writing. It’s sort of like having someone in your own family put you down. It’s not a nice thing, but it’s not about being nice, right? It’s about having a conversation. Each person in a family is different. Not all Christians are the same, no matter what the media would have us believe.

I don’t want to let anyone, not even my family, put me in a box. God didn’t create me in one, so why should I climb in there now?

I  know I don’t normally rant about too many things on my blog, but today is different. It’s hard as a person of faith to write without feeling the obligation of other people. If it’s coming from God that’s one thing, but in this case, I don’t think it is.

And by the way, if you can’t find my books in your church library, don’t worry. There are other places you can get them. And you never know, your librarian might want to order them.  And they really aren’t even all that edgy! And they have lots of flowers in them. And most people tell me they are clean!

What do you all think? Feel free to agree or disagree with me or each other.

–Tina

The Sound of Sleigh Bells

Update: Debra Collins gets a copy of The Sound of Sleigh Bells. Congrats, Debra.

It’s been awhile since I gave something away, so I think it’s time. If you follow my blog or know me, then you are already aware that a not-so-secret pleasure of mine is reading the occasional historical romance. Even though I prefer literary and women’s fiction, which I also write, it’s just good for my soul to escape into a completely different genre every now and then.

Cindy  Woodsmall’s books are contemporary, but because they are about the Amish and Mennonite people, they have the feel of a historical with contemporary themes.  I really enjoy her books and besides, we have the same publisher and she endorsed Ruby Among Us, which makes it even more fun for me to tell you about her books.

Since I have two copies of The Sound of Sleigh Bells that my publisher, Waterbrook Press/Random House, sent me, I thought I’d give one away. You don’t have to do anything for an opportunity to win except leave a comment.

United States and Canada only for this one. Deadline to enter is Sunday, November 1st, 2009.