The Life of an Author
I’d like to thank Kate O’Sullivan for having me on her blog
today. My debut release from The Wild
Rose Press, Fairest of the Faire, was
released in June (more on that later).
As a published author, I’m now getting all those questions that I
usually asked published authors. The
shoe is on the other foot! I didn’t
realize there would be so many questions!
The biggest questions I get are about my writing
process. How did I do it, where do I
find my ideas, how long does it take? The real answer to all of these is “hard
work.” Of course, that’s not really what
people are looking for in my answers, so let me elaborate.
How did I do it?
Writing is hard work. Just like anything else creative, even if you
are relatively good at doing that thing, it is still hard work. You have to sit down and write. Whether that is hand-writing on a pad of
paper, or typing on a computer, you have to get those story ideas out of your
head and onto paper. There is no other
way that putting your butt in your seat and your hands on the keyboard and
start typing out those words. You can do
this any way you like – I know one writer that writes one page a day. That’s her goal. One page.
But she does it every single day.
Some writers dedicate particular amounts of time to writing every day or
every week. Some just do it when they
are inspired, or when they have time.
Regardless of the how, you still have to do it.
Where do I find my ideas?
Everywhere. I tend to write
“around” a particular scene, picture, or event that I have witnessed or
participated in. I can watch a man
digging a ditch and get enough of an idea to work with. Or thinking about my grandmother working in
the kitchen on a tried-and-true family recipe will do it. Maybe it’s something as small as picking
cherries on a warm summer day, or watching a child play on a swing set. All of these little ideas can turn into big
novels, if I give them enough thought.
How long does it take?
This depends on how much you write!
Fairest of the Faire took four
years. Of course, I wasn’t writing on it
the entire time. I wrote it, then put it
away, the dragged it back out to edit, then put it away again. Giving the story that time to breathe, and
myself time to be away from it, means I get to see it again with fresh
eyes. But ideally, I would like to
finish a book in a year. It is possible
to do that, even while letting the manuscript “sit,” but it also means I have
to dedicate time to writing. I work full
time and have a husband and kids, so finding writing time can be
difficult. But unless I devote the time
to it, it will never get written. The
time it takes is directly proportional to the amount of time you are able to
put into it.
So how do I do it? Hard work! And anything worth doing is worth working hard at, right?
Schoolteacher Connie Meyers is suddenly a young widow, her husband killed in a horrific car accident. Heartbroken to find out he had gambled away everything they had, she moves to her sister-in-law's Midwest home to rebuild her life. A trip to the local Renaissance Faire with her nieces leads to a summer job as a costumed storyteller.
Avowed bad boy and fair performer Gage Youngblood is infatuated with Connie at first sight. Despite his deliberately commitment-free life, and Connie's don't-touch-me attitude, he soon has her in his arms, realizing quickly she is also in his heart.
When she is threatened by her late husband's bookie, he steps into the role of protector, his fate forever sealed with hers.
Available
NOW!
Buy at Wild Rose Press: http://www.wildrosepublishing.com/maincatalog_v151/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=6250
Buy at Amazon
Buy at Barnes and Noble (Nook)
About the Author:
Susabelle Kelmer is a wife and mother living at
the base of the Rocky Mountains in northern Colorado. She believes in romance,
second chances, and the magic of moonlight. When she isn't writing, she works
with students with disabilities in the college environment.
Find her online in these cool spots....
Website
– http://www.susabelle.com
Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/SusabelleKelmer
Goodreads:
http://www.goodreads.com/susabelle
Email: susabelle.kelmer@gmail.com
Thanks for hosting me today, Katie!
ReplyDeleteThanks for visiting! Your book sounds like a fun read! Am adding it to my summer reading list now.
DeleteSusabelle, I truly believe that it takes a special kind of crazy to be a writer. We see that man digging a ditch and can fill a few pages with what we imagine he's feeling and thinking.
ReplyDeleteYou betcha...and we know exactly what to do about that guy, too! :)
DeleteThanks for the tips and ideas, Susabelle!
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome!
DeleteYep, there is no secret to writing. Just work. :) And i need to do more of it. Best wishes with the book, Susabelle!
ReplyDeleteYeah, me too. Started a new medication a few weeks ago that is kicking my butt. It's been hard to motivate myself beyond the necessary!
ReplyDeleteGreat interview, Susabelle.
ReplyDeleteLove the book cover. The story blurb has me intrigued. Looking forward to reading it.
Good luck with your writing career!