Interview with Debbie Brown!

I am often amazed by the people I've meet along my publication journey. Everything from fellow homemakers to to full-time, hard working professionals. I meet Debbie about a year ago and was startled by  what she told me about her work history, as well  as what inspired her to write. I'm sure you'll be just as  fascinated with my Canadian friend!

Welcome, Debbie! 

      What inspired you to write?

Although I have always had a fertile imagination, loved reading and never left home without paper and a pencil, I didn’t start writing stories until I hit high school.  Always hoping I would eventually write a novel, it wasn’t until the tragic loss of my baby that I finally found myself turning to writing as an outlet. I did not want to write about my experience, I needed to create a place where people truly cared about others.

MJ: I am so sorry for your loss. I know many writers have found writing to be a great outlet  to help us heal. I know I have. 

   You have a lot of irons in the fire. Not only are you a wife, mother, and author, can you tell us a little more about what else you do? What is your work schedule like when you’re writing?

I am a member of the Canadian Forces, Captain and 2^nd in command of an army cadet corps.  An injury from the time of my loss has left me with a seriously damaged ligament, and I have since had to stop teaching Karate, flying, and working outside the home. I had enjoyed teaching on military bases but can no longer keep up since there are days I walk with a cane.

I write every day, with the exception of a day a month where no computer-no internet is imposed for peace of mind. Some mornings I get up before anyone else, and other days I write long into the night. I have to write around everyone else’s schedule, but so far it seems to be working. I can’t imagine having time to just sit and write undisturbed.

      What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?

Are you asking me if I miss my exit driving because I’m having a discussion with my characters? ;o)  Well, for one thing, I tend to research everything to death. For example, instead of picking an existing town, I take the details of the town I’ve created and find its match on internet. When I wrote Amethyst Eyes, I didn’t know if the Earth setting was in Canada or the U.S. until I found a place that fit all established criteria. As it turns out it is in Invermere, British Colombia. I have been known to spend days doing research for something that had no more than a line in the story, but I want my facts to be accurate.

MJ: I once got stuck in a six level parking garage while plotting out a scene in my head. I didn't realize it until I passed the same car for the fourth time! LOL!

    Are you a pantser or plotter?

So not a plotter…

I let the story unfold before me and hurry to type what I see. (My mind is faster than my fingers…). I am totally detached from what’s going on to the point where my characters manage to surprise me with what’s happening.

I wouldn’t have it any other way. I have recently completed an advanced writing course and had to plot out my stories…sheer torture. I would rather be out on survival training than have to do that again. I use charts though, character charts with everything from physical description to quirks, and because I write Sci-Fi, I have charts for food, clothing, technology and whatever else might be needed. Much easier than sifting through pages and pages to know what so-and-so was doing/wearing.

 Are your stories based on experiences based on someone you know, or are events in your own life reflected in the characters/stories you write? Can you share and example?

I think my experiences has served me to no end, from nursing to martial arts, raising animals to military training, and so much more. Having taught martial arts, gymnastics, baseball, elementary, high school, and military candidates has given me a whole slew of characters and characteristics to choose from. I do have the writer antennae though…observing people, places and situations, and either describing it through a narration or fitting it into a scene somewhere. My mind is seldom at rest…and being able to multi-task is not always a good thing.

   Do you have any suggestions to help new authors become better writers? If so, what are they?

Write. Don’t wait to find the time, take the time.

Don’t look to others for support if it is something you want to do, just do it.

Read all you can read, and learn anything and everything about writing.

Write what you know, what you like, what you are comfortable with.

You will need an author platform, might as well get started on it early.

Don’t wait until your book has been released to start promoting it, start now.

Ask questions, engage in discussions, get your work critiqued, and most of all…have fun.

     Are you self-pubbed, indie pubbed, or traditionally pubbed?

Although I had been offered a traditional contract for Amethyst Eyes, when I was told it would take 12-18 months before the release of the novel (and then they added “…though lately it’s more like 18-24…”)  I declined the offer and went with Assisted Publishing. I was dying inside and needed to see this project through. I loved the service I got, though I found the final cover to be too dark (my pic is much lighter), and the fact that the book appeared worldwide…but let’s be honest, what are my chances of selling a book in Croatia?

For Rebirth, I have a contract.

MJ: Congratulations! We'll be looking forward to your new project! 

  What are your current projects?

Rebirth has been offered a publishing contract, and they are waiting on the completion of Amethyst Eyes, the Legend Comes to Life as well as Emma, to Begin Again.  I am ecstatic. 

I handed in my last writing assignment a few days ago, and that takes a load off of my shoulders.

Marketing is not something that can be ignored, and I can’t help but wonder what the impact of marketing one vs. marketing four novels.

MJ: Debbie, with my  second novel due out in March, I think we'll be learning this step together! 

AMETHYST EYES

Waking up in the hospital from the car accident that claimed his mother’s life, 15-year-old Tommy is told his father is on his way. Unaware of his father’s true identity or the reason he left so long ago, the teen is unprepared for the reality of the life he must now lead. In the blink of an eye Tommy finds himself on an alien vessel…his father is not from Earth!

The challenges Tommy face go beyond adapting to a new home and school. But first, he has to survive Jayden…the reluctant, unsympathetic tutor, tasked to help him fit in. When he finally thinks things are getting better, things come crashing down as he learns that being born with amethyst eyes has made him the target of some very unfriendly beings.

AMETHYST EYES…THE LEGEND COMES TO LIFE

Three years after his arrival onboard, Tommy begins Specific Training to assume his place in his father’s society. The transition to adulthood, laden with unexplored emotions and overwhelming responsibilities, have made this unstoppable change too much to handle. Tommy wants to go back home, to Earth, to a way of life he’d been forced to leave behind. An unforeseen attack on his father, a disaster on Earth, and the added weight of responsibility take their toll on the young man, who suddenly finds himself struggling to save the ones he loves.

REBIRTH

Chased from their homes in the city by aliens bent on destruction, three teens suddenly find themselves on the run with little kids in tow. As people vanish and buildings crumble, they seek shelter and safety in the nearby mountains of Montana. Survival depends on their ability to adapt with nothing more than the items pilfered from a crumbling store. Hovering in the background is the constant threat of being discovered by the aliens, adding to the pressure the teens already feel having no shelter, a limited supply of food and the well-being of three children to ensure. The teens must come up with some creative solutions before the inevitable onset of winter while attempting to remain “invisible” to avoid capture. Being mature and responsible is no longer optional as they deal with their individual personalities, traumas, and learn to raise a baby. Unaware of the extent of the alien destruction, they cannot help but wonder if all their survival efforts are just putting off the inevitable.

EMMA

As an ER nurse, Emma knows life can change in the blink of an eye. When fate comes knocking, she finds herself far away form the city and back on the mountain ranch where she grew up -with the intention to close up and sell so she can move on.

But fate isn’t done with her yet, and that’s when she finds him, the one Two-Feathers refers to as ‘Star Brother’. Wounded and unconscious, Emma assumes he’s a military test pilot, until he opens his amethyst eyes and stares into the very essence of her being.

ABOUT THE  AUTHOR

I am a graduate of the Institute of Children's Literature, and have completed an advanced writing course for select graduates as well.

I have been traipsing around the depths of my imagination for as long as I can remember and began writing stories back when I was twelve. I love to read just about anything, from technical manuals to self-help, sci-fi to romance. I do avoid anything overly violent or graphic and have never been a fan of horror. I have a good memory and vivid imagination so I avoid reading or watching things I don't want stored in my mind.

Amethyst Eyes was my first published novel. It is about a 15-year-old boy who has to leave his life behind to go live with his father after losing his mother in a tragic accident. Although the setting becomes sci-fi (since his father is not from Earth and Tommy has to live on his father’s spaceship), the story is more about growth and human interaction. There is a lot of adventure and a few twists to keep the readers busy throughout the book.

Over the years I have worked as a nurse, a school teacher, a martial arts instructor, baseball, figure-skating and gymnastics coach as well as an artist, selling my paintings in an art gallery. I have been part of an orchestra, flown planes and gone on wilderness hikes. I am an officer in the Canadian Forces, and though I have taught on different military bases, I now work primarily with cadets. Writing full time is my next goal.

Never having been much of a city girl, I live with the youngest of my four children, my husband Jean-Pierre, and Wookie, our Cardigan Corgi, in the Laurentian Mountains of Quebec. I could not imagine life without the beauty found in the mountains and lakes that surround me. I enjoy the change in seasons and my perfect cure for a long winter's night is curling up in front of a fire with a good book while snowflakes drift slowly past my window.

Follow these links to connect with Debbie online or purchase her book! 

Twitter    Facebook  Website  Goodreads Blog  Book Trailer  Email 

Purchase links:

Amazon 

Chapters Indigo

Powell’s

Barnes & Noble

SONY Reader Store

iStore 

I'm Getting Published! (or My New Years Resolution!)

No, I’m not getting published…yet, but I’m putting it out in the universe!

Have you ever done that? Wanted something so bad you think about it, dream it, and talk about it all the time? Has it ever worked for you? A few years ago my husband introduced me to that concept. I'll admit, I am stubborn, hard headed, and often resist change and trying something new. Then one day I took his advice and did it. Man, talk about a life changing experience! As a result, I’ve experienced positive results so I can attest to the fact the saying is true: “Be careful what you wish for, you just might get it.”

That goes for both positive and negative thoughts. If you dwell on every negative thing that could happen in a situation, guess what, it will because that’s what you concentrate on. Why? Because you don’t take the steps to find a way to make what you want happen. Flip the switch from negative to positive and the results will surprise you. Changing your focus from what won’t happen, and putting your time and energy in what ‘will happen’ makes a huge difference. Determination to see your goal reached will help you succeed.

So, along with losing weight - isn’t that on EVERYBODY’S New Years Resolution list? – I’m thinking publication. Do I have my sights stuck on traditional publication? Mmm… not so much. The publishing industry is fickle; too much old school thinking. Today is a new day, literally. 2012 holds so many publishing options it’s not necessary to get stuck in the old ways. There’s E-publishing, Self-Publishing by way of ‘vanity’ publishing, or publishing by way of Amazon.

Decisions, decisions, decisions. I know I’m going to see my book on Amazon…now it’s a matter of how it’ll get there.

And here’s where patience and research comes in.

Since I’m putting all of my positive energy out there, let me share the list of things I want to happen this year, as far as my writing career is concerned:

• Be published by a publishing company.
• Sell a lot of books of course!
• Be interviewed by local radio and television stations.
• Participate in the Writer’s Conference in my city. 
• Continue to make wonderful connections with other authors and readers.

Interesting goals, but all are attainable…if I set my mind to it and follow the steps I’ve learned along the way. Can’t wait to see what my end of the year blog will say. I will definitely follow up to see what I have been able to achieve.

But for now, I continue to push forward. The question I’ve asked myself since completing A Heart Not Easily Broken is this: My MS is done…now what?

One of the most valuable lesions I’ve learned from my critique partners is to not wait to start writing the next book, especially when writing a series. Why? First of all, no matter what publishing route you take, readers will want to know when the next book will be available. Publishers and agents will be interested in the fact your writing a series, because lets face it, series can lead to more sales verses stand alone titles. Before investing in you, and your product, they will want to sample the next book to be sure of the continuity of your storytelling as well as characters. It’s always best to have a second book available upon request. The last thing you want to do is be pushed for time to get something down on paper and have it lack the fire and spirit of the novel that caught their attention. Think about it: when you query, you never do it with the first draft of your story. You’ve gone over it with a fine tooth comb to tighten up the prose as much as possible. That takes weeks, months even. Publishers won’t give you that kind of time to see results. If you lose their interest, they will move on. Why give them that chance? 

I haven’t waited around. After taking two days of down time to clear my head and spend time with the family, I dived back in and started writing the second book in The Butterfly Memoirs: Jaded. This wasn’t the writing by the seat of my pants kind of writing. Completing my first novel taught me a lot about my writing technique, planning, outlining, and scheduling. As a result, it took me twenty days to write the first draft. That was ten days less than the thirty days it took to write the first book.

What did I do differently?

First of all, I took time during the second and third edits of the first book to work on the deep character profiles and story outline. I didn’t rush through the process, only took time to muse over the story as a way to take a break from the first book. Doing so allowed me to go back to edits with a clear head. Having the second books out line completed paid off. There was no down time needed to muse over my characters or decide what type of story I wanted to tell. The day before I started writing chapter one, I found all the pictures I needed for scene references, character references, and put my charts together. From there, I wrote, wrote, and wrote some more.

Another thing I did differently was write my first draft on my laptop instead of by hand. LOL, I heard the gasps out there. When writing my first novel, I used the old school method of writing by hand. As a result I have three-hundred and fifty handwritten pages of my first draft. I wrote like a crazy person, any and everywhere I had a chance. In my car at the red light, while waiting for the kids to come out of after school rehearsals, and yes, even in the bathroom. The second draft was done while transposing the work to my laptop. A third draft was done on the laptop.

This time around, I opted not to write the first draft by hand. Since this first draft was written on my laptop it cut down the places I could write. Writing at the red light was not an option, and doing it with the laptop in my lap in the car while waiting for the kids was not comfortable. So, I had to start a schedule.

Schedule, I loath, but I’ll be darned if my hubby wasn’t right. It really does work!

My mornings start with routine house leaning three days a week. That is followed with checking in on my social networking sites – shout outs, promotions, and making new friends. After that, I allow myself two hours to put in some serious work before the kids get home. After that comes evening family responsibilities, homework and dinner. After eight P.M., if I have a thought or a scene that wasn’t finished in the time allowed, I put in another hour or two. Ten P.M. is my cut off time. It’s time to give my brain a break, watch T.V., or go to bed.

Two days out of the week are dedicated writing days. Light attention is paid to house cleaning, and one hour of social networking. After that, it’s on. I enter my writing cave and stay there for hours, taking a break every two hours to stretch, eat, check in online, or lay down to rest my eyes and brain. By three P.M., I’m done for the day. After six hours of straight writing/editing I am usually pretty productive.  Depending on the depth of emotion of the chapter, or the material to be covered at that point in the story, I may write one to three chapters in a day, an average of thirty pages, or about seven-thousand words. That’s on a really good day.

Is my schedule perfect? Nope, and it’s not set in stone. But I can truly say for the last few weeks it has worked wonders. I’m not mentally worn out, my house is cleaner, and my family happier. Not to mention there are less burnt dinners. LOL! If I stay on this path, I’m sure I will find reasons to continue putting my positive thoughts into the universe and see the results I’m looking for.

So, what are your writing goals for 2012? What dreams do you wish to see fulfilled? What path are you taking to make it happen? I told you mine, now share!

Happy writing!

MJ

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Digital Audio Recording Device + Editing=??????

It's the end of the week and I'm still editing chapter two of The Healing Heart. I should have been finished by now, but life has caused me to spend less than three hours a day editing and has slowed me down. Oh well, when you have a family of 7 (plus 2 dogs) and responsibilities that are more pressing than writing, it can't be helped.

The week started off with typing up chapter two from my handwritten manuscript. (Yes, to all who haven't read my last few blogs, I decided to go 'old school' and hand write my MS without using my laptop.  I had my reasons and I'm glad I did). I followed my editing process outline and moved quickly. Then came the emergency trip to the dentist. And my daughter's volunteer work at the library. Coincidentally, the library is where I had the chance to sit in one spot for a great about of time and actually get some work in. Then came the trips in and out off the house for various reasons which brings us to today......On my plate, a trip to have blood drawn and the dreaded eye doctor for two of my kids, an appointment I'm seriously dreading. Every time we go, we end up waiting an hour just to be seen. Sigh. It's gonna be a long day.

So what does this have to do with a Digital Audio Recording Device?

An article I read on self-editing suggested, as we all have learned, reading your MS out loud is a good way to hear what you've written and helps find mistakes that need to be corrected. I've tried that before, but it never fails I rarely get through the whole thing without having to stop for some reason. The article also suggested recording yourself reading out loud. Here lately, I seem to be recording everything I can. I recorded my Writer's Workshop class I took back in February with author Valarie Clark. And I recorded the GRW meeting with guest speaker Suzanne Brockmann in April. Why not record myself?

I admit, the thought made me nervous. After all, have you ever listened to yourself after leaving a voice mail and thought, 'Uh, I sound awful?'. God knows I have. But I sucked it up, realized nobody was going to hear it but me and hit the record button...and laughed when I pressed play. I can read aloud just fine, no problems there. But listening to myself say a curse word??? ROTFL! Some people should not curse and I swear I'm one of them! Thank good my MS has very little profanity. Reading the parts that showed the h/h impressions of sexual attraction to one another was even worse. *shakes head* I can only imagine what it will sound like when I get to the chapter with the love scene. *grimaces* My hats off to the voice actors who make a living bringing characters to life in audio books! They deserve every penny!

All jokes and embarrassment aside, I found the technique has actually worked. Even though I haven't been able to sit down at my laptop and make the actual changes as I listen to my MS, I have been able to make mental note of what needs to be changed. How? By taking my MP3 player (what I used to record) with me everywhere I've gone, and listened. I made mental notes of where I stumbled over a phrase because the wording didn't flow. I was able to notice repeated words a lot faster than if I had been staring at the screen all day. I noticed areas that could use a little more description or a little more emotion because something sounded like it had been left out.

Being forced to LISTEN to what I've written instead of READING it for the hundredth time made a huge difference!

Everyone who's edited knows it can be hard to have spent all that time with the characters in your head, translate your thoughts into words on screen, and then read it back WITHOUT your mind automatically filling in the blank because you know exactly what you intended to say. No matter how many times we read and re-read our work, it's not until a critique partner reads it and leaves comments that say, "uh, what does this mean?" that you realize all this time it sounded right to you. If you critique partner had to ask, what about future readers????

What a difference a pair of fresh eyes can make! And I don't mean putting in a fresh pair of contacts, because I did that this week too!

Using your EARS forces you to LISTEN to what's coming next and not SEE it. You'll be surprised to note where your brain thinks the scene is going to go vs. where it actually does. It made a huge difference in my editing this week.

So, as I prepare to wake up the kids so they can get ready for their appointments, I plan to make another recording so I can take it with me. During my dreaded hours at the eye doctor I will be listening and making notes so when I get home, I will be able to jump right into editing and get this darn chapter finished! (Oh great, I sound even worse saying darn!)

Editing by way of a digital audio recorder may not be your style, but give it a try at least once. You may be pleased with the results.

Finding Creative Ways to Edit While Running My Household

*This blog was originally posted on May 30th, but the information is still relevant. As a mother/author, I'm always doing something! Every day my responsibilities change, especially since the kids are back in school with during school and after school activities. I must find some creative way to keep writing in order to meet my goals!*

"I can do this, I can do this..."

The past week had me finding creative ways to edit my MS while juggling my responsibilities of being a mom, wife, drill Sargent (to my kids), taxi driver, chef, book keeper, personal shopper, errand girl, doctor, veterinarian, housekeeper, psychiatrist....and oh yeah, an aspiring author. In short, being a mom and wife who's four kids are now home for summer vacation.

Did I miss a job?!?!?!?

It's funny to realize how much I do in a day when it's broken down and written out that way.

Nothing is ever set in stone. I made a schedule before the kids got out of school last week and have tried my best to stick to it. How has that gone? Mmmm...not so great. So far, the only consistent part has been me waking up, making up the bed and staying on the kids about getting chores done. All of the other job titles are being managed by order of importance, but lets face it ladies (and gents), if your a mom or wife, that's a job that never gets a break. Unless the kids are visiting Grandma or your hubby's asleep.

But you know what, I have no complaints. I love my husband, I love my kids, my cousin, and I love my life. All I have to do is keep my mind focused on my goals and prioritize.

And be creative!

This week, found me editing in one of the most unlikely places. The laundromat. Yep, I said it, the laundromat. With a family of seven, it's a momentous task to haul all the clothes to the wash house. And believe me, I do not handle that task alone! I have at least three of the four kids with me and everyone has their assigned task. And when the clothes were in the washing machine and the kids were sitting down with snacks, books, and drawing paper, I pulled out my laptop. Earphones came in handy as well as a playlist of instrumental music to listen to when I edit. I managed to get nearly two hours of work done before it was time to pack it up and start folding clothes. Sweet!

The next thing I did was pack up my laptop and take my daughter the library. She's got her first job volunteering in the kids section, four hours a week. What better place to edit without being disturbed? Even though my other kids go with us, they also have stuff to do.They are enrolled in the summer reading program. Once they meet their reading requirements, they will get a free book to add to their personal libraries. They also get free prizes every week for bringing in their reading logs. There's also the option to log onto the Internet, play computer games or read a book. My oldest plays chess with other kids or meets with friends from school. Yep, you've guessed it, we're a family of nerds who hang out at the library. It's our favorite hot spot!

Now, here's a thought.....When I've edited my MS and am ready to share it with the world, I will have a path to chose, do I go self-pub like my critique partners Chicki Brown and Erin Kern (who's books are currently on sale on Amazon)? Do I try Indie Publishing or go for the big publishing houses? Decisions, decisions, decisions.

I'd love to see my name in print and have a copy at the library. And then I figured it out. I'm gonna have a copy of my book printed and sneak it into the library, put it on a shelf and take a picture. That will be good enough for me!