I finished reading The Prague Cemetery by Umberto Eco. My initial thoughts cover some of the basics about the book. I have very strongly mixed feelings about this book, about the story, but not about the writing. Umberto Eco is a fine storyteller and wordsmith, making reading his writing easy. I found an interview in The Paris Review where he says it usually takes him 6 years to write a novel, so he obviously spends a lot of time perfecting his prose.
He admits that the main character he’s created, Simonini, is despicable and hateful. Writing such a character can have adverse effects on the author. I know that when I’m writing a sad or angry scene, I often feel those emotions to the point that I act out toward others with those feelings still lingering inside. Imagining being in that character’s persona for years is rather unnerving. Simonini is not the kind of person I’d even want to have a conversation with, to be honest.
This entire story and the characters in it—all but Simonini is a historical figure—are disturbing on too many levels for my taste. Naturally, I wondered if my reaction was what the author intended, or if I had misread his story in some way. But after finding a few other reviews, no, I think not.
According to the New York Times review of it, the very real document that forms the basis of this historical episode was “a forgery represented as the genuine minutes from a secret meeting of Jewish leaders conspiring for world domination, motivated by an unnatural will to power and an unappeasable hatred of Gentiles.” Again, the document was (and is) not real minutes of any meeting but there were players who used it to their own ends, including Adolf Hitler and Kaiser Wilhem II. I came away from reading the story with such a bad taste in my mouth… Looking back on its contents from the 21st century to the 19th century, and to this day apparently it’s still selling, it’s revolting that the claims included as truth are lies. Lies intended to persuade people toward a desired and deadly outcome.
The hate and venom laced throughout this book made it very difficult to finish. I did so only so I could tell you, my lovely readers, about my impression of it. Honestly, I do not recommend it because it’s so full of lies, manipulation of others, dishonesty and subterfuge, it’s almost unbelievable. But the fact that it’s founded on an historical episode in human history…it’s depressing.
In a The Guardian review, reviewer Betsy Reed worries about the impact this story might have on “credulous readers” who miss the fact that Eco is employing “postmodern irony” in his storytelling. She even states, “The chief rabbi of Rome has expressed alarm about the violence of Simonini’s hatred, and a review in the Vatican newspaper worried about the zest with which the novel revives injurious stereotypes.” The anti-Semitism and misogyny throughout made it hard to read for me. There are some very dark, violent scenes as well.
Overall, the material that is the foundation of this book, both the text and the accompanying illustrations, left me wondering about the reason, the motivation, the intent behind the author writing the story. I still don’t know with any certainty. But I do know I won’t be reading more of his work if they’re like this in any way.
I’m going to take a couple weeks away from blogging about historical fiction in order to finish reading/researching for my next historical novel. I only have so much time to read and spend at the archives in the library, after all! I’ll blog about some other aspects of writerly life, perhaps even some of my research tidbits, in the meantime.
I hope you find a good book to read, perhaps even the one mentioned below. Happy reading!
Betty
P.S. If you haven’t already, please consider signing up for my newsletter, which I send out most every month, including news like new covers, new releases, and upcoming appearances where I love to meet my readers, along with recipes and writing progress. Thanks and happy reading!
In the spring of 2014, my first romance released! That story is Undying Love (Secrets of Roseville #1).
Love is never lost; it haunts the heart…
An unsuspecting Southern town. Ghosts. Witchcraft. Skeletons in the closet. Discover the Secrets of Roseville in this five book series… Undying Love, Haunted Melody, The Touchstone of Raven Hollow, Veiled Visions of Love, and Charmed Against All Odds!
She lost everything but only his love can save her…
When Meredith Reed inherits graceful Twin Oaks, an historic plantation meant for a large family although hers no longer exists, she has some ideas for its future: tear it down; bulldoze it; burn it. Max Chandler, a historic property preservation lawyer, believes Twin Oaks is the perfect historic site, except, perhaps, for the Civil War era ghosts in residence and the attractive, misguided new owner. Will Meredith’s grief destroy her heart and home or will she listen to what the Lady in Blue is trying to teach her?
(Updated and revised edition; originally published in 2014 as Traces.)
My guest today found inspiration in written letters, much like I did to write my WWII home front Baltimore novel, Notes of Love and War. But he went a slightly different direction… Ready to find out more about James White and his inspiration?
Jim is a California-based writer of historical, literary and science fiction. He and his prize-winning poet wife enjoy a small-town lifestyle near the San Francisco Bay area. Jim earned an MA in U.S. History. His professional career has included military service, teaching, research librarian and technical writing. Jim is an active participant in his community’s literary organization, hosting prose workshops and mentoring writers. Jim’s stories have appeared in Datura Literary Journal, The Wapshott Press, Remington Review, Adelaide Books, and Rochak Publishing.
Betty: What inspired you to write the story you’re sharing with us today?
James: Discovering how perceptive, funny and lively my aunt was through her letters.
Betty: What, if any, new writing skill did you develop while working on this story?
James: I took more time and effort constructing scenes and developing a character’s motivations.
Betty: Did you struggle with any part of this story? What and how?
James: The ending. Always a struggle with my writing.
Betty: What kind of research did you need to do to write this story?
James: Researching Los Angeles social life in the 1930s.
Betty: How many drafts of the story did you write before you felt the story was complete?
James: At least 3. Some drafts were focused on parts of the story.
Betty: How long did it take for you to write the story you’re sharing with us? Is that a typical length of time for you? Why or why not?
James: About a year. For me a fairly quick turn-around.
Betty: What rituals or habits do you have while writing?
James: I write and rewrite in the afternoons and think about what I’ve written the following evenings.
Betty: Every author has a tendency to overuse certain words or phrases in drafts. What are yours?
James: Stood, stared; I often inadvertently repeat words.
Betty: Do you have any role models? If so, why do you look up to them?
James: The four Johns: Cheever, Updike, Irving, and McPhee
Betty: Do you have a special place to write? Revise? Read?
James: Everything happens in my office.
Betty: Many authors have a day job. Do you? If so, what is it and do you enjoy it?
James: My day job is mentoring, managing and kvetching with writer groups.
Betty: As an author, what do you feel is your greatest achievement?
James: So far, my first novel, Borders In Paradise.
Betty: What is your favorite genre to read?
James: Historical and literary fiction
Betty: How do you define success in terms of your writing career?
James: Fulfilling and constructive relationships with writer colleagues, including recognition of my accomplishments.
The subject of James W. White’s latest book, Helen and Her Brothers, is a young woman and her wanderlust wishes to leave her dull Texas family’s roots and head west, to California.
It’s 1936 when Helen Rose Steves is sidelined by a serious illness that lands her in a Central Texas Hospital. She has plenty of time to mull over her 19 years and determine that life must offer something more. Her two brothers are already in Los Angeles, and the Golden State beckons.
Friends are driving to California, and she joins them. Is this Helen’s chance to grab the golden ring on the carousel of life? Many surprises lie ahead for our young heroine and her lukewarm greeting from her brothers makes for an inauspicious beginning.
The novella follows Helen as she adjusts to modern, urban life that is considerably more fast-paced and ill-mannered than the slow but genteel town she left behind.
One thing I can tell you is that my selection of titles for the Historical Fiction Around the World series is by author name and not by subject matter. The authors came recommended, sometimes along with a title or two. I’ve tried to ensure that all of the authors are not born and raised in the USA (though if you’ve been reading my series you’ll know I haven’t always succeeded). Actually, it’s quite fascinating to me how many of them were born elsewhere but then they and their families moved to the United States when the author was a child. So the author is then raised and educated in the US. I really am trying to read historical fiction written by authors from other countries. One good indicator is if the work had to be translated into English, like this week’s book, The Prague Cemetery by Umberto Eco.
Let’s take a bird’s eye view of the book before we dive into any details, shall we? I’m reading a hardback of the story published in 2010 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. The story, comprising 437 pages, is set in 19th-century Europe with the opening date of March 24, 1897. Supporting material includes what is purported to be a plot summary under the title “Useless Learned Explanations” followed by snippets of “Later Events.” In this edition, there are even many pen-and-ink sketches illustrating the people and events within its pages. Not too many novels come with illustrations, do they?
Why do I point this out to you? Because the amount of investment by the publisher points to a belief in the story’s merits because they wouldn’t invest in something they didn’t feel would make them money in return. Not only did they spend money on editing and production of the book, but also of reproducing the many images throughout. So even if I might—and I’m not saying this—not like the book, it doesn’t mean it wasn’t worth reading in some way or another. So with that said, let’s take a bit of a closer look at the story.
Mr. Eco was born in Alessandria, Italy, and at the time of the publication of this book (2010) lives in Milan. The story was translated by Richard Dixon into English. (As a brief but meaningful aside, note that the translator credit is on the copyright page in the front matter of the book. Richard’s name doesn’t appear on the cover as is becoming the current practice to recognize the translator’s efforts and contribution to making the work accessible to a larger audience of readers.) The fact the book needed to be translated tells me that Umberto most likely speaks Italian, not English. His story also includes many phrases in other languages than English, as well. Mostly related to street/place names and foods/beverages. As I mentioned when I was reading The Game of Kings by Dorothy Dunnett, sprinkling in such “foreign” phrases can be done for various reasons. (For the wrap-up of my thoughts on her book, click here.) I think in the case of The Prague Cemetery, the characters using these references are displaying their worldliness and education. Perhaps. But I’ll withhold judgement on that until I’ve finished reading the story.
I’ve read to page 170, so not quite halfway through this convoluted tale. I say convoluted because it’s fraught with characters who do not understand what is happening around them. They think they do, and then find out they were wrong. Which of course creates a sense of uncertainty for the reader since the narrator(s) can’t be reliable as a result of their inability to tell what is fact and what is misdirection. It’s a rather masterful technique Umberto is employing in the story, to be honest. I’m left feeling uneasy, doubting everything the Narrator tells me since he may or may not be right. Or half of each? I found myself wondering, why am I reading this if nobody knows what’s going on? Maybe that’s Umberto’s point…? We’ll see.
One aspect of the story I find delightful is the insertion of the characters’ review of the menus at various restaurants and other establishments, sometimes even including preparation details. A bit of comic relief and substance amidst the stew of conspiracy theories and misinformation swirling through the tale. Or…is even that misinformation for the unwary reader? Hmm…
I invite you to pick up a copy of the book and read along with me. Let’s compare notes next week! Until then, Happy Reading!
Betty
P.S. If you haven’t already, please consider signing up for my newsletter, which I send out most every month, including news like new covers, new releases, and upcoming appearances where I love to meet my readers, along with recipes and writing progress. Thanks and happy reading!
In the spring of 2014, my first romance released! That story is Undying Love (Secrets of Roseville #1).
Love is never lost; it haunts the heart…
An unsuspecting Southern town. Ghosts. Witchcraft. Skeletons in the closet. Discover the Secrets of Roseville in this five book series… Undying Love, Haunted Melody, The Touchstone of Raven Hollow, Veiled Visions of Love, and Charmed Against All Odds!
She lost everything but only his love can save her…
When Meredith Reed inherits graceful Twin Oaks, an historic plantation meant for a large family although hers no longer exists, she has some ideas for its future: tear it down; bulldoze it; burn it. Max Chandler, a historic property preservation lawyer, believes Twin Oaks is the perfect historic site, except, perhaps, for the Civil War era ghosts in residence and the attractive, misguided new owner. Will Meredith’s grief destroy her heart and home or will she listen to what the Lady in Blue is trying to teach her?
(Updated and revised edition; originally published in 2014 as Traces.)
My guest author today writes thrillers, so you’re in for a bit of a treat when it comes to learning about his inspiration and his process. Let’s take a gander at his bio and then we’ll jump right in.
Steve has spent the majority of his professional career as an advertising copywriter and agency owner. He got interested in writing fiction after one of his short stories was accepted by an online literary journal back in 2013. This inspired him to try his hand at writing seriously. With a gritty noir style and unique writing voice, his first novel, Thieves, garnered praise from renowned crime and thriller authors from around the globe. Steve’s second novel, The Dead Don’t Sleep released in November of 2019 and recently optioned for film, has won him a legion of new fans. His latest effort titled The Debt Collector is slated for publication late this year. Steve is proud to call New Jersey his home.
Betty: What inspired you to write the story you’re sharing with us today?
Steven: I first got the idea after I went trap shooting with a good friend of mine and his uncle who was down visiting from Maine. My friend told me that his uncle had served in Vietnam, but that he never, ever talked about what he did during the war. It never came up during our outing either. The family rumor was that he had served as some sort of intelligence officer. That got the wheels spinning and from that encounter, the story of Frank Thompson emerged.
Betty: What, if any, new writing skill did you develop while working on this story?
Steven: I think writing this novel helped me develop a better sense of pacing. Sometimes I can get too descriptive or I get caught up in unnecessary details that can bog the story down. I consciously tried to keep things moving in The Dead Don’t Sleep. The greatest compliment I get from readers is when they say they finished the book in one or two sittings. That’s when you know you’re doing something right.
Betty: Did you struggle with any part of this story? What and how?
Steven: For me, the hardest part of writing in general is trying to figure out what happens next. I don’t (at least I haven’t so far) write an outline or plot out the story before I begin. I simply sit down and begin writing. Sometimes things flow smoothly for a chapter or two or three, but inevitably I get to a point where I stop, scratch my head and wonder what the heck happens next? It’s easy for frustration, or even panic, to set in. And of course, trying to come up with an ending that ties up loose ends and feels somehow satisfying is always difficult. Luckily, working as an advertising writer for most of my adult life, I’m used to the pressure of having to try and come up with a good idea. I developed a habit early on of sleeping with a pad and pen on my nightstand. For me, inspiration usually hits in the middle of the night and I suddenly pop up out of bed with an idea and scribble it down. The hard part is trying to read my handwriting when I wake up the next morning!
Betty: What kind of research did you need to do to write this story?
Steven: I didn’t do a whole lot to be honest. I had to research the weaponry used by my characters. I know a little about firearms, but I’m no expert. And I also did some research on the Phoenix Program, a controversial (and ghastly) operation sponsored by the CIA during the war.
Betty: How many drafts of the story did you write before you felt the story was complete?
Steven: It was one continuous draft that was in a constant state of revision.
Betty: How long did it take for you to write the story you’re sharing with us? Is that a typical length of time for you? Why or why not?
Steven: I’d say it took about a year to get the overall story written, then several months of re-reading, revising, and editing. The prologue and epilogue were the two final sections that I wrote before I felt satisfied. I can’t tell you how long it typically takes me to write a novel. With Thieves, my first novel, I finished the initial draft in just 3 months. My latest novel has taken about 3 years of writing and revising including input from a developmental editor.
Betty: What rituals or habits do you have while writing?
Steven: I don’t really have any writing habits or rituals. I like to be alone when I write and I like it quiet.
Betty: Many authors have a day job. Do you? If so, what is it and do you enjoy it?
Steven: For many years I was a partner and creative director in a medium sized ad agency in New Jersey. Now I run a small, virtual ad agency. We work on projects, mostly for insurance and healthcare clients. I’ve been in the ad business most of my professional life and I do enjoy it for the most part. But I seem to be transitioning more and more towards writing fiction.
Betty: As an author, what do you feel is your greatest achievement?
Steven: Well, writing is difficult and finding an agent is difficult and getting published is difficult and finding reviewers and readers is difficult and selling books is difficult and everyone seems to be an expert and every expert’s opinion is different – it can all get pretty overwhelming.
Geez, my greatest achievement so far is probably just not giving up!
Betty: What is your favorite genre to read?
Steven: As you might expect, I enjoy reading crime novels and thrillers.
Betty: Success looks different to different people. It could be wealth, or fame, or an inner joy at reaching a certain level. How do you define success in terms of your writing career?
Steven: Boy, that’s a tough question.
I think success is measured in increments, sometimes big, and sometimes not so big.
First I thought just being able to finish a book-length manuscript was a monumental task. Then trying to get my book published by a traditional publisher seemed like an impossibility. Next, I figured getting my books onto library shelves (something that has always been on my bucket list) was something almost unattainable.
I achieved success in each of those endeavors.
Writing, like so many things in life, seems to be simply a matter of setting goals and overcoming obstacles.
There, I’ve finished the last of the interview questions – see, another success!
Frank Thompson, a recent widower and aging Vietnam veteran is down from Maine visiting his nephew, Bill, and his family in New Jersey. While at a trap range, he and his nephew have a chance encounter with a strange man who claims to remember Frank from the war. That night, the windows in Bill’s home are shattered along with the quiet peaceful lives the two men had been living.
Three veterans from a special combat unit directed by the CIA during the Vietnam War have gathered to discuss what they are going to do about a man they claim killed one of their own over forty years ago. Jasper, Birdie and Pogo were part of a team that called themselves the National League All Stars. They were a squad of psychopathic killers trained by Special Forces to cause death and mayhem during the war. Now, they have banded together to hunt down and kill the professional soldier who led them all those years ago.
Drawing on his military training and a resurgent bloodlust from his tortured past, Frank prepares for a final, violent reckoning that will bring him full circle with the war that never left him.
I like your way of counting successes, Steve! Check off the interview questions and see what comes next, eh? Thanks for sharing the inspiration for your story, proving yet again that writers take their inspiration from all around.
Happy reading!
Betty
Award-winning Author of Historical Fiction with Heart, and Haunting, Bewitching Love Stories
Visit www.bettybolte.com for a complete list of my books and appearances.
Quick announcement! Now you can purchase all four of the novels in my historical romance series, A More Perfect Union, in one box set. See below for details!
Now, on to today’s historical fiction commentary. I finished reading The Samurai by Shusaku Endo. In case you missed them, you can read my initial thoughts on the story here. This book was interesting in several different ways. First, of course, the storytelling was strong and engaging. The narration is mostly in third person when in the point of view of the samurai character, and in first person when in the priest’s point of view. This technique helps the reader to discern who is speaking and whose worldview to expect as these two characters have vastly different experience and motives.
Last time, I mentioned the symbolism of snow and how it seemed to apply to the story. I said, “Snow symbolizes a fresh start, rebirth, change, purity, innocence. It can be a sign of good luck, as well. Each of these meanings could be applied to The Samurai.” While that remains true, it also becomes a rather ironic mirror to the story as it progresses.
Second, the story highlights some aspects of life and living in the past that I hadn’t considered. One of the interesting things about this story is the cultural background Endo provides glimpses of in the 17th century. Not just in Japan but also in Mexico and other places the story travels to and through. Imagine if you will being required to seek permission to enter a city, forced to wait in an inn until the ruler of the city responds to the request, a length of time which could be days or weeks. Or being required to sit in a specific way when in a formal situation, in this case cross-legged with your hands on your knees, perhaps with your forehead to the floor. (I’m not sure I could flex that far!) As a citizen of the USA, both of these requirements seem difficult if not impossible to enforce today. Think of the level of power/control the ruler of each city had back then as to whether a person would be permitted to enter his domain of a city. I guess that’s why they walled them in and had defensive postures. Nowadays, we whiz right on through on the interstate or other roadway without asking anyone’s permission.
I think it’s one of the benefits of historical fiction stories, this being able to compare then and now to have a better grasp of how societies have evolved over the centuries. To note the situations we have no desire to return to. It’s why it is so important to know history so we can forestall regressing back into untenable and ultimately dangerous times. Indeed, The Samurai can be viewed as a cautionary tale insofar as how the samurai’s trusting acceptance is challenged and ultimately not rewarded in the way he thought it would be.
Last, I’ve been musing on what the message of Endo’s story might be and haven’t really settled on one moral. I think what you take away from the story will depend on your own personal world view, your experiences and expectations, and your depth and breadth of faith. What I take away is that blind trust is a weakness and easily exploited by others.
Overall, I’d say this was a good read and worth reading. Endo allowed me to see inside the culture, the logic and expectations of the Japanese as they live their lives. While I understand that this same set of cultural expectations has most probably evolved, I wonder how much of it lingers behind the traditions of the Japanese people. A pondering without an answer, I’m sure. But if anyone would like to venture a guess, I’d be willing to listen.
For next time, I’m going to read one by the Italian author Umberto Eco, The Prague Cemetery. I’m up to the I’s in the alphabet, working backward toward the beginning in my Historical Fiction Around the World series.
Off to the library I go to pick it up. Happy Reading!
Betty
P.S. If you haven’t already, please consider signing up for my newsletter, which I send out most every month, including news like new covers, new releases, and upcoming appearances where I love to meet my readers, along with recipes and writing progress. Thanks and happy reading!
In 1782, the fight for independence becomes personal…
“Well-researched” with “spirited dialogue and…pleasingly complex emotional insights” combined with “sparkles of humor and the richly textured secondary characters” – Historical Novel Society
Emily’s Vow: When essayist Emily Sullivan faces dangers from all sides including her father’s demand she marry a suspected traitor to the American cause, she vows to fight her own war for independence.
Amy’s Choice: Storyteller Amy Abernathy can’t forgive nor forget her handsome spy, Major Benjamin Hanson, for leaving without a word of goodbye to fight in the American War for Independence until he risks life and limb to save her from desperate and deadly renegade soldiers.
Samantha’s Secret: Samantha McAlester, midwife and healer, tries to keep her past secret but is forced to work with the progressive young Dr. Trent to save their friend’s life without either of them losing their minds or their hearts.
Evelyn’s Promise: Militiaman Nathaniel Williams longs to flee to the frontier of the new country of America until he falls in love with the beautiful widow Evelyn Hamilton who is set on rebuilding her home in Charleston; to stay together one of them must give up their dream, but which one?
Inspiration for any given book is a combination of factors. My guest today, author Alle C. Hall, muses on answers to some deep questions to produce her award-winning fiction. Let’s take a peek at what makes her tick and then we’ll find out more about her inspiring and moving story.
Alle C. Hall’s first novel, As Far as You Can Go Before You Have to Come Back, swept the 2022 International Firebird Book Awards, winning first place in two categories—Literary and Coming of Age—and second place in Women’s Issues. Excerpts from As Far as You Can Go Before You Have to Come Back won the 2022 National League of American Pen Women’s Mary Kennedy Eastham Flash Fiction Prize and placed as the first finalist in the 2020 Lascaux Prize. Hall’s short fiction appears in journals including Dale Peck’s Evergreen Review,Tupelo Quarterly,New World Writing, and Litro; and her essays in Creative Nonfiction and Another Chicago. She has written for The Seattle Times, Seattle Weekly, and was a contributing editor at The Stranger. She is the former senior nonfiction editor at jmww journal, the former associate editor of Vestal Review. Hall lived in Asia and traveled there extensively, speaks what she calls “clunky” Japanese, and has a tai chi practice of 35 years running.
Betty: What inspired you to write the story you’re sharing with us today?
Alle: The main character of As Far as You Can Go Before You Have to Come Back, her name is Carlie,is an incest survivor. I am an incest survivor. I lived in Asia. I sent Carlie to Asia. Both expereinces—Asia and being a survivor—affected me hugely; although, obviously, being sexually abused as a child had more impact. Nevertheless, what I learned about being a survivor was indelibly shaped by being in Asia. I was “as far” from the abuse as I needed to be in order to heal from it; I was open to wonderful life experiences that, as I let them in, filled me to the point that my body literally had no more room for the horrible expereinces that I was hanging onto. I had to process them.
My tai chi practice was one of those expereinces—continues to be. In ways I don’t understand, the energy flowing through a person as she pratices, that chi becomes a motivator for good in your body and in your life. There are many energy-based practices that are equally as effective: yoga, for example. When I watch surfers, I always see them as pure chi.
To finally answer the question, while I am one of those writers who writes for herself, who only pursues ideas that really do it for me, if anyone happens to be touched by As Far as You Can Go Before You Have to Come Back, if they can see themselves more clearly or if they come to a better understanding of someone in their life, that would be an honor. Of course, if the reader was inspired to take a tai chi class—how cool! We need more people on this planet who practice tai chi.
Betty: What, if any, new writing skill did you develop while working on this story?
Alle: I learned how to write a novel. I thought I’d learned in 1998, the first time I sent As Far as You Can Go Before You Have to Come Back to an agent. When the agent asked to see the full manuscript, I thought I had it made. Sadly, she passed. I was so hurt that I didn’t send a another query for four months. I supposed, then that I also learned that a huge amount of reejction is a part of finding a publisher for every novel, and that the thing to do is revise and send out again.
Betty: Did you struggle with any part of this story? What and how?
Alle: No. From the moment the idea first popped out of my head, I knew the first third of the plot—the abuse, the planning to steal the money, the escape to Asia and the dramatic problems there, and then finding tai chi and moving to Japan. I mean, I knew all that would happen. I didn’t know how it would happen. I still had to write it. Then, I knew the ending—which I won’t reveal.
I had no idea what was going to happen from the time Carlie arrived in Japan until she reached the last moments of the book. I had to figure it out as I wrote, but it wasn’t the struggle that I find with some other writing. It wasn’t a struggle because I had the final image so firmly in my mind, and for so long.
Betty: Which character(s) were the easiest to get to know? Why do you think?
Alle: Carlie’s emotional experience is so close to mine: the child sexual trauma, the travel, then tai chi coming into play as a huge part of my emotional healing. Naturally, that made it easy to find her. I wouldn’t say she differs hugely from me. I would say that the character I’ve created is in such different circumstances that her experience, from the very beginning, shapes her into something different than I am.
I was quite surprised at how much easier it ended up being to step into the Asian characters. Most of the Asian characters are Asian American, because as uncomfortable as I was writing an Asian American, I was that much more uncomfortable writing an Asian who was born and lived in Asia. That said, the head teacher at the English Conversation school, who plays an important part in one of the sub plots, she arrived fully baked. To write her, all I had to do was think about the pink suit worn by one of my Japanese coworkers. When I lived in Tokyo, Takako Doi was the first female Opposition Leader and then the first female Lower House Speaker. Doi was famous for wearing what I thought of as powder-pink power suits, which so captured the nearly impossible dichotomy Japanese women were supposed to achieve in the professional world.
Betty: What kind of research did you need to do to write this story?
Alle: The primary amount of research—healing from my own childhood trauma—had to take place before I could be a functional human being or a versatile writer. The abuse so dominated my experience that in order to write about anything else, I needed to put that story into a single container. Until I did so, the topic tried to shove itself into everything I wrote: food pieces, cultural criticism; especially movie and book review. It was like it was of primary importance for me to scream, “I am a survivor, too!” even when the topic was cooking with pumpkins.
In order create this so-called container, I had to heal on a personal level. Before I had any idea that I was going to write a novel about a victim learning to thrive, I had to step into that thriving. So most of the “research” was done long before the writing began. I recommend that, actually. Trying to figure out your childhood trauma is difficult and excruciating. To add to that trying to write a book about it, no way. Cut yourself a break. Just learn to thrive. The rest will come.
Betty: How many drafts of the story did you write before you felt the story was complete?
Alle: A hundred? Two hundred? I am not sure how to count drafts. Every time I got close to signing a deal with an agent and the deal fell through, I stopped sending out and went back to work: what could be better? How can I make the story more relevant? More honest? Turns out, the manuscript was always honest and good. It just wasn’t good enough. Through a combination of excellent editing and great feedback from critique groups, eventually, I put it together.
Betty: How long did it take for you to write the story you’re sharing with us? Is that a typical length of time for you? Why or why not?
Alle: From conception to “holding book in hand” was thirty years. I had a great deal to learn about writing a novel.
Betty: What rituals or habits do you have while writing?
Alle: I like to do some tai chi or other stretching first thing in the morning, then have a solid breakfast, then settle into my pretty little basement office with a nice cup of tea. I like to pop my back a lot. I bend from the waist and all the little spinal bones “click click click click” into place. This is terrible for my back, but I love the sound and the feeling of bones clicking.
Also, I make and then drink a lot of tea. Every hour or two, I find that I have simply run out of ideas. Making tea has become a ritual. No fancy Japanese tea ceremony here. I use a tea bag. I take a good sniff of the clean smell of tea as I listen to the water boil. I do a little tai chi as the tea steeps. I don’t think about the work. Invariably, when I sit back down, I can go for another hour or two.
Betty: Every author has a tendency to overuse certain words or phrases in drafts, such as just, once, smile, nod, etc. What are yours?
Alle: I use, “just” quite a bit, as I do, “this.” When I find I’ve written “this,” I go back and define “this,” and the sentence becomes a much better sentence. Since I have been writing like this (edits to: Since I have been writing with this great level of detail, my work is much more alive and more specific.
Betty: Do you have any role models? If so, why do you look up to them?
Alle: My therapist of 30 years standing wrote the book, Iron Legacy. It’s a mix of self-help nonfiction and short, personal essays. It took her 50 years to do the necessary clinical research and then write her book. Donna Beven Lee’s ideas founded the field of healing from codependency, as well as the ideas that underline my own recovery and therefore the psychological spine of As Far as You Can Go Before You Have to Come Back.
I have also modeled my parenting after Donna’s—and that undertaking is even more important to me than writing or publishing.
Betty: Do you have a special place to write? Revise? Read?
Writers who wait for the perfect time and place to write and revise are probably not going to get a whole lot of work done. I’ve always had to write where and however I could. When I worked full time and did what Barbara Kingsolver calls, “writing around the edges,” I wrote starting after dinner on Friday night. I wrote all night, slept through most of the day, and spent the rest of the weekend doing what people do on weekends: saw friends, cleaned the house. Once I had kids, I spent a lot of time writing during whatever class or practice I was waiting to pick them up from: front seat of the car with my laptop on my knees that were propped against the steering wheel. At the Chinese restaurant up the street from the kung fu school.
Betty: Many authors have a day job. Do you? If so, what is it and do you enjoy it?
Alle: For a long time, I was in marketing and then national sales management. I worked for a toy and novelty company, which was goofy, like me. Then I worked for an organic tea company, which could not have been a better fit. That three-year-period was when I wrote the bulk of the first draft of As Far as You Can Go Before You Have to Come Back. I loved having a job that had some clout and that I did very well, but that I did not take home with me. My job was my job, and in my free time, I was a writer.
Betty: As an author, what do you feel is your greatest achievement?
Alle: That I stuck with it. Even after I signed a book deal for As Far as You Can Go Before You Have to Come Back, I felt some shame around the fact that it took 30 years to get published as an author. Then I realized: more people would have this as their story, too, if they’d stuck it out. But too many writers receive one too many rejections or hit one too many blocks in the road. They quit before the miracle. That was never going to be me. The only thing more depressing than not being published as an author was not even trying.
Betty: What is your favorite genre to read?
Alle: Literary fiction by women of color.
Betty: Success looks different to different people. It could be wealth, or fame, or an inner joy at reaching a certain level. How do you define success in terms of your writing career?
Alle: Great question. I would love to be well-regarded for my writing, but I write literary fiction about women from deeply traumatized backgrounds. If the world were in a place where someone could be famous for this kind of writing … wow.
Currently, I am writing a companion piece to As Far as You Can Go Before You Have to Come Back. In my first novel, a young woman with a traumatic childhood is backpacking in Asia and has to decide whether she is going to move toward the light or stay in the dark. The second novel, called Crazy Medicine, also follows a young woman with childhood trauma who is backpacking in Asia and comes up against the same question. She chooses the darker path.
I would love to have these books published and discussed as the yin-yang of: “Why do some people choose the light, while others, the dark?” I don’t understand the answer to that question, yet the answer has hugely affected my life. Also, my writing doesn’t solve the issue. It merely explores what happens as I tell those stories. I would feel very successful if somehow, this question came into the zeitgeist in the context of my novels.
Seattle author Alle C. Hall’s debut novel, As Far as You Can Go Before You Have to Come Back is a-girl-and-her-backpack story with a #MeToo influence: Carlie is not merely traveling. A child sexual abuse survivor, as a teen she steals $10,000 and runs away to Asia. There, the Lonely Planet path of hookups, heat, alcohol and drugs takes on a terrifying reality. Landing in Tokyo in the late 1980s, Carlie falls in with an international cadre of tai chi-practicing backpacker types. Teaching English and pursuing her own tai chi practice, Carlie has the chance at a journey she didn’t plan for: one to find the self-respect ripped from her as a child and the healthy sexuality she desires.
Thank you for stopping by to share about your compelling and thought-provoking story, Alle. I appreciate you sharing your insights and perspective about your experiences and how your character came to terms with them.
Happy reading!
Betty
Award-winning Author of Historical Fiction with Heart, and Haunting, Bewitching Love Stories
Visit www.bettybolte.com for a complete list of my books and appearances.
Next up on my Historical Fiction (Authors) Around the World tour, is The Samurai by Shusaku Endo. Endo is from Japan and this work of fiction is illuminating of a time and place and peoples for me. Set in the 16th century, the story is an international tale. It begins in Japan and journeys to the New World, Mexico in particular. It’s not a long story, comprising only 258 pages in the paperback I’m reading. There is a Postscript by the translator, but I haven’t read it yet. I decided that since it’s positioned after the story then I’ll read it after I read the story itself.
Speaking of translators, this story was translated by Van. C. Gessel. I often wonder about the process of translation, the nuances the translator considers, rejects, accepts. How much of the original flavor of the story remains or has been altered, even finely, as a result of the translator’s work? I assume the resulting story adheres to the intent of the author and meets with his approval, of course. But sometimes a word choice can shift the tone or ambiance of a phrase. So it makes me wonder.
The opening line of the tale has me wondering, also. “It began to snow.” To my mind, this is not an auspicious beginning, one which would grip me into devouring the story. Yet it also does intrigue me. Why did Endo focus on the fact that it started to snow? In the second paragraph (the first consists of only those four words), he expands upon the image: “Until nightfall a faint sunlight had bathed the gravel-covered river bed through breaks in the clouds. When the sky turned dark, an abrupt silence ensued. Two, then three flakes of snow fluttered down from the sky.” This situation has been repeated a few times in the 120+ pages I’ve read, where the snow brings silence. While I haven’t finished reading the story, it seems fitting to have this story begin thus. Especially after I verified the meanings and symbolism of snow. (An aside: I’ve recently been reminded that we are surrounded by symbols, whether we recognize them as such or not.) Snow symbolizes a fresh start, rebirth, change, purity, innocence. It can be a sign of good luck, as well. Each of these meanings could be applied to The Samurai.
The silence aspect of the setting is also intriguing. While it’s a natural phenomenon that when it snows the world hushes, it’s also working as a means of muting the other symbolic meanings of the snow. In this case, without trying to strain the analogy, the main character isn’t aware of how his life will change during the course of the story. So while the snow is bringing the change, he’s silent about any changes he’s forced to face. Don’t get me started on the sky turning dark…
I’m enjoying the story so far and wonder just how twisted the political scene will become before it’s all over. I feel rather sorry for the samurai, or at least did at the beginning of the tale. He’s growing stronger and more capable as the story progresses, making it easier to identify with him.
Back to work now… Happy Reading!
Betty
P.S. If you haven’t already, please consider signing up for my newsletter, which I send out most every month, including news like new covers, new releases, and upcoming appearances where I love to meet my readers, along with recipes and writing progress. Thanks and happy reading!
How could she love a man suspected of being a turncoat?
Emily Sullivan is beset from all sides but vows to fight her own war for independence. As the American Revolution drags on, Charles Town, South Carolina, remains under siege by the British, and one woman’s father is determined to marry her off to a suspected traitor.
Frank Thomson walks a fine line between spying for the Americans and being a perceived loyalist traitor. Posing as a simple printer of broadsheets and pamphlets, he sends crucial encrypted intelligence to the general camped outside of town. But when Frank learns Emily has been imprisoned by the enemy, he risks his own life, freedom, and heart for hers.
Please help me welcome my guest author, Sylvia Broady, to the interview hot seat! I think you’ll enjoy finding out more about the inspiration for her stories, so let’s look at her background and then dive right in. Ready?
I was born in Kingston upon Hull, in the East Riding of Yorkshire, which has a rich tapestry of history. I live near to the market town of Beverley where stands the magnificent Beverley Minster, and for 17 years I welcomed visitors from every part of the globe. These wonderful places and its people inspire my writing. My novella, The House by the Mere, was shortlisted for the RNA Romantic Short Novel Award. The setting of Wassand Hall gardens and grounds, and the mere, which I love, was instrumental in my story.
Writing is my enduring passion and when I am happiest, apart from my beloved family. My daughter is my biggest fan and I am lucky that she and her family live nearby. I recently returned from a six-week stay with my family in Australia. On a road trip with my son, we stayed over in Inverloch, and visited the library where I spied two of my books. The librarian asked if I would give a book talk. If only I didn’t live on the opposite side of the world.
I keep up with the writing market with memberships of the RNA, The Society of Authors and the Historical Novel Society. Plus, I attend my monthly writers group. I regularly give book talks. And I am eternally grateful for my wonderful readers.
Betty: What inspired you to write the story you are sharing with us today?
Sylvia: The inspiration to write Orphans of War started way back. I interviewed a man for local radio for a programme about World War 2. He told me that as a young boy he was on the cliffs at Hornsea when an amphibious craft came along the beach and out stepped General de Gaulle. Fast forward a few years and when I visited nearby Wassand Hall, I learnt that stationed there during WW2 were the Free French. Soon, the idea for my book went into creative mode and became a reality.
Betty: Did you struggle with any part of this story?
Sylvia: I didn’t exactly struggle. However, 70,000 words into my story and researching the best way for my Free French soldier to travel from Paris with his wife and daughter to the safety of his parents’ small farm, I came across the terrible massacre of the Villagers of Oradour-sur-Glane. I realised that this was the refugee children’s story who were being cared for at the manor house by my lovely character Charlotte Kirby, and this was the main storyline. Though the Free French soldiers were still important to the story. With this in mind, I rewrote the 70,000, and the book finished near to 100,000 words.
Betty: Which characters were the easiest to get to know?
Sylvia: Without a doubt, Charlotte Kirby. We first meet her during an enemy bombing raid in the city of Kingston upon Hull, and the attack killed her mother. Her father had died years earlier, so at 16 Charlotte was an orphan. When she goes to live with her aunt in the village of Mornington, she understands the loss of the refugee orphans of war living in the manor house. Feeling an affinity for their suffering, she volunteers to care and support them by helping them to lead as normal a life as possible. I also loved the three ladies who come into her aunt’s pub and tell her stories. And the old man Jack, and the Free French officer Emile, who both play an important role in Charlotte’s life. There is a spirit of camaraderie amongst the villagers, which is a character in its own rights.
Betty: What kind of research did you need to do to write the story?
Sylvia: I love researching and have a tendency to do more than necessary. A friend loaned me copies of his mother’s letters of when she went out with a Free French Soldier. From these, I could gain an insight into authentic life, a part of social history. And other people were generous with information. I read many books and documents, and local history books, far too many to mention. The Free French in the area were the 2nd Tank Armoured Division, under the command of General Philippe Leclerc, and they were training for a special battle mission across the English Channel. Later, they liberated Paris. The bombing raids on the city of Kingston upon Hull, were relentless, causing the loss of many lives. With several books written on the subject and the tragedies well documented. In the past, I have interviewed people about their memories during the WW2 period. Juliette is the Free Frenchman’s daughter who survives to be cared for by Charlotte. While researching this story, I came across a photo of Julia Bricht, age 3 years, with lovely bright eyes and shiny dark hair, and she became my Juliette. Sadly, this beautiful child didn’t survive the death camps.
Betty: How many drafts of the story did you write before you felt the story was complete?
Sylvia: About 5 or 6 drafts. Each time I rewrite and edit, I polish, adding finer details or deleting words. Sometimes I have given minor characters the same name. If a sentence become too long and straggly, I reword it so that its meaning is clearer. Double check facts, like the colour of a character’s eyes, or a date of a battle. The list becomes endless, but I enjoy the process, which I feel enriches my writing. Something I have learnt over the years is to know when to stop rewriting.
Betty: Do you have a place to write? Revise? Read?
Sylvia: I have a cosy study where I write, with a view of my garden and the ever-changing sky, and its shelves full of books. Books for research that I have collected over the years. Some with intriguing titles: Every Women’s Enquire Within, Cassell’s Book of Etiquette by a Woman of the World, Women in Wartime. A North-East Coast Town, this is about the city of Kingston upon Hull, and the bombing it suffered during WW2. This is to name but a few of my books. I revise in my study and usually read books on research at my dining room table. Here I spread out maps of the areas I am writing about. However, when the weather is warm and fine, you will find me in the garden surrounded by my writing paraphernalia.
Betty: As an author, what do you feel is your greatest achievement?
Sylvia: Most definitely the last book I have published, Orphans of War. So the last book I have published will always be my greatest achievement, though I will always have a place in my heart for the first full-length book I had published. It started with the publication of The Yearning Heart. Previously, I had written short stories and novellas. Over a few years, I wrote a 120,000 words manuscript, which had gone through many changes. With my writers group, I discussed my prospect of publication–it was now or never. I sent off my beloved manuscript to Robert Hale Publishers. To my surprise, it thrilled me to receive an email the next day to say they loved my work and would publish it if I cut 40,000 words. A dilemma! After discussing it with a writing friend, I decided I would cut all those words. My greatest joy was to hold the hardback edition of The Yearning Heart in my hand. And so my joy continues with each book I have published.
Betty: Success looks different to different people. It could be wealth, or fame, or an inner joy at reaching a certain level. How do you define success in terms of your writing career?
Sylvia: I worked full time with a demanding job, a family to care for and aging parents, which didn’t give me much time for myself. Until I answered an advert to attend an evening creative writing class to be held in the local community hall. I loved it, having found my niche. I wrote short stories and a three-part serial and colleagues encouraged me to enter a short story competition on local radio. Imagine my surprise, when at work, I received a telephone call from the literary presenter at the radio station to say that my stories and serial were to be broadcast on the radio and they would pay me. I knew then that my destiny was to become a writer. It took a few years, but I made it. I am passionate about my writing and finding my inner happiness, which pleases me to know that now I can write forever.
Kingston Upon Hull, 1941.
German bombs are raining down on the city. Racing to the nearest air-raid shelter, Charlotte hears an almighty explosion. Her mother’s haberdashery shop has taken a direct hit – killing her mother. Suddenly, Charlotte, 16, is all alone in the world. Then a mysterious aunt comes forward who she didn’t know existed, her mother’s sister, and offers Charlotte a home in the village of Mornington, and to work in her pub. She works hard, despite her aunt’s coldness towards her. When a group of distraught French orphans arrive to live in the big house, Charlotte volunteers to help care for them and finds a new purpose in life.
Then a band of Free French soldiers are billeted in the village, including a handsome young officer, Emile. Soon he and Charlotte become friends, and then they fall in love. Though will it survive? The events of war mar their joy as Emile returns to France and to face more tragedy in his life. And Charlotte must uncover both his and her own family’s secrets if they have a chance of lasting happiness.
I’ve finished reading Pachinko by Min Jin Lee, the next book on my Historical Fiction Around the World series. Last time I shared my initial thoughts about the book. Now that I’ve completed the story, I’d like to share what I’ve learned as well as some thoughts on the experience of reading this particular story.
The story, first published in 2017, is told through the eyes of various characters, so as time passes the point of view shifts between female and male perspectives. That in itself makes this an interesting story to read and, I’m sure, to tell. The story is divided into three parts, or books. Let’s take a look at the breakdown and see what we can glean:
Book 1 Gohyang/Hometown 1910-33 (23 years) pp5-147 (143 total pages)
Book 2 Motherland 1939-62 (23 years) pp153-325 (173 total pages)
Book 3 Pachinko 1962-1989 (27 years) pp331-485 (145 total pages)
We start with essentially the origin story of one of the main female characters, Sunja. Now, we don’t actually start with her but with her parents’ story and then we flow into hers. It’s interesting to note that the story ends in her point of view as well. So Sunja is a connecting thread through the entire book. What happens in Book 1 has direct consequences for actions and reactions throughout the rest of the story, too.
Book 2 tells us about life as this family knows it. The choices and decisions they—and in particular Sunja—must make for the best interests of the family. As would be expected, this middle book is the longest one, providing the meat or heart of the story.
Book 3 weaves together the various individual stories into a recognizable pattern. The threads of each individual point of view create a final tapestry I can sit and ponder, and compare to my own life and decisions. Note that this book/part is also entitled Pachinko, which is a pinball-type gambling game the Japanese are apparently very fond of. According to this story many Korean Japanese found themselves working in the industry to make a decent living in Japan. But that industry was also rife with crime and mob involvement. So money earned from working for a Pachinko parlor was “dirty” and tainted.
I think this is a moving story about family and heritage and its impact and influence on your life—both good and bad. It peeks behind the curtain of family dynamics and above all the choices made for the sake of family reputation, pride, well-being. Or to hide something shameful.
I learned a lot of interesting things reading this book. Seeing how Korean Japanese were viewed and thus treated from the perspective of the Korean Japanese was quite eye-opening for me. I admit to having a rather naïve, protected view of the world. Not that I don’t have a sense of the hardship, injustice, and dismaying aspects of how some people treat others. I do. I just haven’t experienced it first hand. So I thank Min Jin Lee for writing this book to educate people like me. How else would I ever know what it’s like to be a foreigner in the country in which you were born? To be dismissed and put down because of your ancestry? This story, despite the fact or actually because of it being fiction, lets me witness and eavesdrop on the thoughts and feelings of the characters so I can appreciate, if not fully comprehend, what they faced. I mean, how could I know without having lived it myself? Reading about it has to suffice in this instance.
Which of course is the reason why I read about people and places and the society and history of both. To learn about what their lives are like in places and times I can’t know from firsthand experience. I recommend this book for the insights and lessons learned through seeing how it feels to be treated with disrespect and disdain. It’s pretty dang uncomfortable and upsetting when you put yourself in those shoes…
I hope you had a loving Valentine’s Day. Happy Reading!
Betty
P.S. If you haven’t already, please consider signing up for my newsletter, which I send out most every month, including news like new covers, new releases, and upcoming appearances where I love to meet my readers, along with recipes and writing progress. Thanks and happy reading!
An unsuspecting Southern town. Ghosts. Witchcraft. Skeletons in the closet. Discover the Secrets of Roseville in this five book series… Undying Love, Haunted Melody, The Touchstone of Raven Hollow, Veiled Visions of Love, and Charmed Against All Odds!
She lost everything but only his love can save her…
How does one recover after tragic loss demolishes your heart and soul? Meredith Reed grapples with that question every day, especially after she inherits Twin Oaks. The historic plantation is meant for a large family but hers no longer exists. She has some ideas for its future: tear it down; bulldoze it; burn it. Regardless of her incensed family and the handsome, irate estate lawyer’s objections. And despite the influence of the Lady in Blue haunting the place…
Max Chandler anticipates buying his dream home with the raise from his expected promotion after passage of the historic property preservation legislation he championed. Twin Oaks is just the sort of place he dreams of. Big and roomy, with lingering echoes of laughter and love from past generations within its very walls. Perfect. Except, perhaps, for the Civil War era ghosts in residence. They’ll have to go.
When Twin Oaks is threatened with a bulldozer, he has to fight, ignoring his growing attraction to Meredith. Her intentions go against everything he’s worked for. He has no choice but to do all in his power to stop her.
Will Meredith’s grief destroy her heart and home or will she listen to what the Lady in Blue is trying to teach her?
Please help me welcome romance author Holly Bargo! Let’s take a look at her bio and then find out more about her writing process.
Holly Bargo is a pseudonym, but really did exist. The author and her husband live on a hobby farm in southwest Ohio. She works full-time as a freelance writer and editor. Holly writes and publishes romance, fantasy, and westerns.
Betty: What inspired you to write the story you’re sharing with us today?
Holly: I’d been toying with the story premise for over a year. I burned out in summer of 2020 and then my son died in January 2021, which really depressed my creative spark. This year, the spark flickered back and I was happy to return to the world established in my first book in this series, Daughter of the Twin Moons, with this book.
Betty: What, if any, new writing skill did you develop while working on this story?
Holly: I incorporated a bit of the grief experienced from my son’s death into this story. The writing of Knight of the Twin Moons was somewhat cathartic, as the heroine is also a bereaved parent.
Betty: Did you struggle with any part of this story? What and how?
Holly: I struggled with how much and how deeply to show a mother’s grief. It’s been almost two years since my boy died and, while I think of him every day, I don’t cry like I used to. There’s a distance that time gives, and that distance enables me to function more normally. In the story, the heroine is further along her grief journey than I am currently, so she has a bit more distance enabling her to function more rationally.
Betty: Which character(s) were the easiest to get to know? Why do you think?
Holly: Cassandra, the heroine, has a piece of me written into her, so her personality is intimately close to mine. However, I liked getting to know Ishjarta, the hero, better. He’s certainly more mysterious.
Betty: What kind of research did you need to do to write this story?
Holly: Because this is a fantasy romance taking place in a fictional world I’d established a few years ago, there wasn’t a whole lot of research required. For the heroine’s big event near the end of the story, I did conduct some research—now I know how gunpowder is made—but the aim wasn’t to make what she did factual as much as plausible.
Betty: How many drafts of the story did you write before you felt the story was complete?
Holly: I’m one of those writers who edits as I write. I’ll write a portion, self-edit and revise it, then continue on with writing a new portion. Essentially, by the time I’ve finished writing the first draft, it’s already made it to second draft stage. Then I go back to the beginning and review, self-edit, and revise again. At that point, it was ready to send to my fabulous editor, Cindy Draughon. Cindy tells me that she appreciates the clean manuscripts I send to her. She goes through with a deep, substantive edit. I review her edits—every single one—and accept, reject, or revise or rewrite as I deem appropriate. Then I send the revised manuscript to her for a final proofreading.
Betty: How long did it take for you to write the story you’re sharing with us? Is that a typical length of time for you? Why or why not?
Holly: This story took longer than usual for me to write, basically because I wasn’t at normal, full capacity when I started writing it. I’m still not quite there, but I’m healing and I’ll return to my past productivity.
Betty: What rituals or habits do you have while writing?
Holly: I typically don’t write my own stories while sitting at my desk. It’s too much like work when I do that. So, I’ll grab my ancient laptop and plop down on the sofa to write, usually with one dog sprawled beside me and the other nearby.
Betty: Every author has a tendency to overuse certain words or phrases in drafts, such as just, once, smile, nod, etc. What are yours?
Holly: That.
Betty: Do you have any role models? If so, why do you look up to them?
Holly: It’s probably trite, but I truly admire superstar author Nora Roberts for her ability to produce consistently engaging stories spanning diverse sub-genres.
Betty: Do you have a special place to write? Revise? Read?
Holly: I usually read and write in the living room while lounging on the sofa. Sometimes the recliner. I revise at my desk.
Betty: Many authors have a day job. Do you? If so, what is it and do you enjoy it?
Holly: I work full-time as a freelance writer and editor. We can toss in document formatting, too. I do enjoy what I do and I love the flexibility. I worked in corporate roles for 25 years and finally went freelance in January 2016. I have not looked back.
Betty: As an author, what do you feel is your greatest achievement?
Holly: I can’t say. I’m not convinced I’ve yet accomplished my greatest achievement.
Betty: What is your favorite genre to read?
Holly: Romance, without a doubt. I also enjoy fantasy, westerns, and mysteries.
Betty: Success looks different to different people. It could be wealth, or fame, or an inner joy at reaching a certain level. How do you define success in terms of your writing career?
Holly: As a freelancer, success is defined as being able to earn a decent living and make a positive contribution to my household. I wouldn’t have been able to do this without my husband’s support. As an author, I’d love to define myself as successful by reaching the point where I can write my stories for a living. I’m working on it.
A magical union sealed with blood. A destiny plagued with inevitable misfortune.
Lord Shadow—a vicious and utterly terrifying fae assassin—is desperate for a mate. After being sent to the human realm, he finds a woman lying in a pool of her own blood. Although he knows not her fate or her purpose, he knows he must save her life, even if it comes at an irreversible cost.
And in the realm of the fae, danger is never far behind.
In the blink of an eye, her life is forever changed. She can never return to what she once knew.
After a life-altering accident, Cassandra wakes to find herself in a strange new world of magical creatures, bound by a blood union to the mysterious warrior who saved her life. Unlike anyone she’s ever met, she discovers that she is the bride to one who kills without mercy. And to make matters worse, she now possesses a mysterious power in her bones, a power that will determine the fate of the world around her.
My deepest condolences on the passing of your son. I’m sure such grief would impact your creativity for a time. Thanks so much for coming by and sharing about your inspiration and writing process, Holly.
Happy reading!
Betty
Award-winning Author of Historical Fiction with Heart, and Haunting, Bewitching Love Stories
Visit www.bettybolte.com for a complete list of my books and appearances.
Betty Bolte's Musings 