Menu

  • Home
  • Current & Pending Projects
  • Media Kit & Contact Page
  • Children’s Books
  • Adult Books

Mandy Eve-Barnett's Blog for Readers & Writers

My Book News & Advocate for the Writing Community ©

Author Interview – Laurel Deedrick-Mayne

August 31, 2018
mandyevebarnett


Author-Interview-Button

IMG_9171_Sml_C

  1. Does writing energize or exhaust you? Sometimes it’s like pulling teeth to get started but once ‘in’ the time flies. I leave this world and am immersed in the work. I love that feeling when the heart starts to race a little; there’s a fullness to the breath; a hum in the muscles.
  1. What is your writing Kryptonite? Procrastination in all its wily disguises.
  1. Did you ever consider writing under a pseudonym? I have enough challenges figuring out who I am on any given day with the names I DO have. I generally go by Laurel Deedrick-Mayne. How can you tell I got married in the eighties when everyone was double-barrelling their names? A pseudonym would only confuse the issue.
  1. What other authors are you friends with, and how do they help you become a better writer? I’m friends with a number of other authors and I am always simultaneously inspired, intimidated and encouraged by them. Some have such tremendous self-discipline. Others are such Smarty Pants I whither in their presence. But all of them remind me of the endlessly vast stories that are worthy of being told.
  1. Do you want each book to stand alone, or are you trying to build a body of work with connections between each book? I definitely want each book to stand alone. A Wake For The Dreamland was Canadian Historical Fiction spanning 1939-1979 and somewhat male-centric, taking place during WWII and the aftermath. The new project is about an intrepid nurse in the Yukon from 1949-1958.  There is some crossover in time period and sexual orientation of protagonists. Ironically, the published memoir of said nurse was titled: No Man Stands Alone.

wake

  1. What was the best money you ever spent as a writer? Every penny I’ve spent has been worth it but the highlight greatest honour was touring the battlefields of Sicily and Italy with very elderly Veterans who were paying homage to their fallen friends, comrades and their own youth.
  1. What was an early experience where you learned that language had power? In the 60’s when I was very young the Jello company changed all their boxes to the same colour with the differing flavours merely spelled out on the box but no associated colour; ie: No yellow on the lemon, purple on the grape etc. My mother fired off a letter to the company and in no time flat we received a great parcel of – you guessed it – JELLO – in ALL the appropriate colours. But seriously, the power of words was bred in my bones: my forebears being great correspondents, my grandfather- a broadcaster and journalist. I grew up to the tap of the typewriter and texture of imprint on the page.
  1. What’s your favorite under-appreciated novel? I don’t actually have one.
  1. As a writer, what would you choose as your mascot/avatar/spirit animal? I spent a considerable amount of time writing at the Banff Centre in the Rocky Mountains and would often be visited by deer outside my studio window. They would stand stock still, always listening, alert, responsive, agile and swift. I took cues from them. As a writer I watch, listen carefully and when struck with an idea, run with it.
  1. How many unpublished and half-finished books do you have? There are three on the stove but only one on the burner.
  1. What does literary success look like to you? Touching, connecting with readers. For example, at one of over 50 book clubs, a woman said she’d always had a problematic relationship with her father and not much sympathy or respect or even love for him but she knew he had been in the Italian campaign during WWII. While reading my book she felt like she began to understand what he had gone through, and she felt more compassion. She cried as she told this story because he had passed away and she could never tell him. That’s pretty powerful stuff. The book seems to inspire people to think about that generation which has largely passed on now and share their own stories. I’d call that success. Of course being 67 times on Edmonton’s Best Seller List means people are still buying and reading and talking about the book and that is hugely satisfying. Winning the Alberta Readers Choice Award and being a Finalist for the Whistler Independent Book Prize are both great honours, but somehow it still feels like I just got lucky. Many people want to write but never do. Success is in the process and completing the project to the best of one’s ability. Anyone who has climbed that mountain and finished a book has already achieved something extraordinary and should be celebrated. Literary success is probably subjective and certainly fleeting and hardly the most important thing in life.
  1. What kind of research do you do, and how long do you spend researching before beginning a book? My method was to write the heart of each scene and honour the story first and foremost, at least in early drafts. I conduct my research concurrently, strengthening and supporting the story as I delve deeper into the well and wormholes of research. Some authors get so excited about what they have learned that they wear their research on their sleeve and it can get in the way of the story. It’s easy to fall into that trap because the learning is tremendously rewarding and exciting and we kind of want to shout our discoveries from the rooftops. I have read every page of the Regimental diary, hordes of newspapers (British, Canadian and Local) from the war years, dozens of books, listened to audio recordings and read countless diaries and letters and collected hours of interviews BUT that should not be blatantly evident to a reader. I have read books where all the clever and obvious research overshadowed the characters and their drama. I have followed in the footsteps of the Canadians in Sicily and Italy with Veterans who were revisiting. I have to know all those gory details and all of that research is the bedrock of the book but what appears on the page must be more lively and transparent and leave some room for the reader to connect and use their own imagination.
  1. How many hours a day/week do you write? I still only have one designated day but much of my life revolved around child and elder care with my last book. My mother died the week my book went to press and my father 444 days later and I have been working through the process of grieving, settling estates, etc. etc. Life can get in the way and that isn’t a ‘the dog ate my homework’ excuse. It is the way the world turns. I should soon be able to add at least one more day/week.
  1. How do you select the names of your characters? Oh, I know it sounds corny but they kind of introduced themselves to me. I made a couple subtle changes as I went along. Part of my editing process includes reading aloud and recording and if a name (or anything for that matter) doesn’t sound right, then it isn’t right and needs to be tweaked a little.
  1. What was your hardest scene to write? Some of the war scenes nearly broke my heart but were also the most satisfying. It wasn’t a technical challenge but an emotional one. Some of the love scenes had me in hysterics and gave me a whole new appreciation for writers who can pull them off.
  1. Why did you choose to write in your particular field or genre?  If you write more than one, how do you balance them? Writing is like being an explorer and it is great fun for me to try different genres on for size: Goldie Locks-ing my way around the story finding what feels right, challenging myself, flexing my writing muscles. Even if I trip and fall, success is the quality of the journey. Quick! Call the Cliché Police.
  1. How long have you been writing? Since I could hold a pencil
  1. What inspires you?  Oh—simply this crazy thing called life.
  1. How do you find or make time to write? It’s my biggest challenge. And fear. Because I think there is so much to write about I’m afraid I’d never stop. But there’s a great deal of living to do as well and I don’t want to miss that.
  1. What projects are you working on at the present? The work-in-progress is looking like a combustible and controversial biography. It’s about Amy Wilson, a Nurse In the Yukon. You can even Google her. It’s scary as hell, for many cultural and political reasons.
  1. What do your plans for future projects include? There’s a Prisoner of War, WWI era play (or maybe musical) on a back burner. It’s not as ridiculous as that sounds.
  1. Share a link to your author website. awakeforthedreamland.com

Bio:

Once an Arts Administrator, Laurel Deedrick-Mayne has been a dance publicist, concert promoter, ad copywriter and box office bunny. She has served on multiple arts boards while maintaining her ‘day job’ as a massage therapist. Her independently published debut novel, A Wake For The Dreamland won the Alberta Readers’ Choice Award in 2016 and has been on Edmonton’s Best Seller List for 67 weeks. She has been a guest at over 60 book clubs and other book-related events. A late bloomer to publishing but a life-long third generation letter and story writer, Laurel celebrates the ‘love that dared not speak it’s name’ while paying tribute to the generation who took the time to hang on to family letters, clippings, stories and poetry — all those ‘treasures’ that inspired A Wake For The Dreamland.

 

Categories: author, Author Interviews, blog, books, creativity, emotions, friends, inspiration, life experience, manuscript writing, narrative, novels, publishing, writer, Writing, Writing Inspiration • Tags: Alberta Readers Choice Award, author.writer, books, Canadian Historical Fiction, drama, Edmonton's Best Seller List, genre, Laurel Deedrick-Mayne, manuscript writing, memoir, No Man Stands Alone, novels, research, romance, veterans, Wake for Dreamland, WWII • Permalink

Genres of Literature – Drama

April 23, 2018
mandyevebarnett


drama

Drama is a genre of narrative fiction (although initially a genre of poetry) and specifically the mode of fiction most commonly represented by performances, whether a theater play or on radio, television or movie. The earliest work of dramatic theory was Aristotle’s Poetics. 

A definition of literary drama states ‘a composition in prose or verse presenting in dialogue or pantomime a story involving conflict or contrast of character, especially one intended to be acted on the stage; a play. 2. the branch of literature having such compositions as its subject; dramatic art or representation’.
This genre can be qualified by the many sub-genres: legal drama, domestic drama, comedy-drama, political drama or historical period drama etc. Each of these represents a specific setting or subject matter.

 

Wiki list:

  • Crime drama and legal drama: character development based on themes involving criminals, law enforcement and the legal system.
  • Historical drama (epic) (including war drama): films that focus on dramatic events in history.
  • Horror drama: a film that focuses on imperiled characters dealing with realistic emotional struggles, often involving dysfunctional family relations, in a horror setting. The film’s horror elements often serve as a backdrop to an unraveling dramatic plot.
  • Docudrama: the difference between a docudrama and a documentary is that in a documentary it uses real people to describe history or current events; in a docudrama it uses professionally trained actors to play the roles in the current event, that is “dramatized” a bit. Not to be confused with docufiction.
  • Psychodrama: an action method, often used as a psychotherapy.
  • Comedy-drama: film in which there is an equal, or nearly equal, balance of humour and serious content.
  • Melodrama:a sub-type of drama films that uses plots that appeal to the heightened emotions of the audience. Melodramatic plots often deal with “crises of human emotion, failed romance or friendship, strained familial situations, tragedy, illness, neuroses, or emotional and physical hardship”. Film critics sometimes use the term “pejoratively to connote an unrealistic, pathos-filled, camp tale of romance or domestic situations with stereotypical characters (often including a central female character) that would directly appeal to feminine audiences”. Also called “women’s movies”, “weepies”, tearjerkers, or “chick flicks”. If they are targeted to a male audience, then they are called “guy cry” films.
  • Romantic drama: a sub-type of dramatic film which dwells on the elements of romantic love.

What ‘drama’ genre do your novels fit into?

Which of your novels would you most want to become a movie?

For me I think The Twesome Loop – I would concentrate on the four main characters for the movie though.

amazonfullcovertwesomeloop

 

 

Categories: author, authors, blog, books, creativity, Genres, inspiration, literary genres, manuscript writing, narrative, novels, poem, writers, Writing, Writing Inspiration • Tags: authors, comedy-drama, drama, dramatic art, historical drama, legal drama, literary drama, literary genres, manuscripts, movie, narrative fiction, novels. books, play, writers, writing • Permalink

Kelly Samarah Interview …

August 21, 2013
mandyevebarnett


Exculpate – definition : to free from blame : vindicate

Please welcome Kelly Samarah, who chose the word she wanted for her interview. Try and find the reason!

Kelly

Where do you call home?

Molalla, Oregon, a little logging town nestled in the foothills of the Cascade Range and just a hop away from the Mt. Hood National Forest. I grew up here, moved to Salem, Oregon for ten years, and just came back a little over a year ago. It’s still small and close-knit.

Your preferred genre to write:

Hhhmmm, I always hate this question. I write. I lean toward the horrific side of the spectrum, but not always. I have several ideas and story lines brewing from all over the board.

Have you always wanted to be a writer?

I always have been a writer. Reading and writing go hand in hand. I am a lover of books. No, let me rephrase that. I am in love with books. In kindergarten I was reading chapter books and getting in trouble for skipping ahead in our reader books. In second grade my teacher made me read all of my short stories aloud in class. Same thing in fourth grade. In junior high I tried my hand at poetry, and discovered I am not a poet. Fast forward to a couple years ago: Life had chewed me up and spit me out. I found myself a single mom, very little money and no future. Writing had been on the back burner for a long time. I decided to go back to school-for Criminal Justice of all things-and took a writing class as an elective. My teacher told me I was cheating myself if I didn’t focus on my love for the craft. I took his words to heart.

How do you explain the feeling when you have finally come back to what you were meant to do? Complete? Not a strong enough word, I think. Maybe it’s unexplainable.

Stories and/or book you have released right now?

 Thorns of Glass

Thorn cover

My novel and a short story. Both are on the horror side, although Thorns of Glass is a little more complex than that. It deals with domestic abuse, murder, child abuse…it’s a sad read more than scary.

The Edge

Edge

  The Edge is a straight up psychological thriller. It will also be included in my anthology. Both are available on Amazon, B&N, and Smashwords.

Tell us about your most current work:

bloodmooncov

 Right now I am getting ready to release a short story collection. It will be up on Amazon, B&N, and Smashwords on August 25th. The stories are quick, scary reads, more psychological than anything else.

I am also doing what I call Blog-A-Book Friday on my blog. Each week I am posting the roughest of the rough draft chapters to a YA fantasy novel I have been playing around with. It’s been a lot of fun, and I’m hoping at some point I take it seriously and it turns into a book.

Do you like to read?

 I LOVE to read. Anything, but I prefer horror, sci-fi, and fantasy. The only thing I will not indulge in is romance or erotica. Not my thing.

Who are the authors who have inspired you?

 Stephen King, Anne Rice, Lois Lowry, Dean Koontz, Madeleine L’Engle, and lately, John Hart and Neal Shusterman. There are so may more, but let’s leave it here, at the risk of me going on and on.

Where do you get your ideas?

 I have so many ideas I carry a small notebook around with me. I want to get a voice recorder, but the thought of listening to myself talk to me is unnerving. I would much rather write it down.

I love to give people goose bumps. I blame the “what-if” conversations commonly held with my son and my brothers. The best story ideas come to me after one of those sessions.

Links:

Blog: http://kellysamarah.com/

Facebook: http://facebook.com/kellySKnobf

Twitter: @kellysamarah

Links to buy:

  https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/332184

http://www.amazon.com/Thorns-Glass-Kelly-Samarah/dp/1482622254/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1376311404&sr=8-1&keywords=Thorns+of+Glass

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/291615

Excerpt from Kelly’s short story Chop:

“Now, would you like to try out your new toy?” Benny nodded his head. He left the kitchen, holding the knife at his side.

At the head of the hallway he stared at his mother’s door. He could hear her muffled, chainsaw snoring and the creak of her mattress springs as she rolled over in her sleep. He thought about the hard lines embedded in her thick, sweaty face and the way her eyebrows pulled together right before she threw out her fist.

He squeezed the knife handle. He could be his own hero.

“That’s right. Go on…” Chopping Tony urged him forward. He slowly turned her doorknob pushed the creaking door open.

Bio:

 Kelly Samarah grew up in a small town located in the Willamette Valley of Oregon. When she isn’t busy working on a new story to share with her readers she enjoys cooking, music, painting and of course, reading. She also enjoys spending time with her dog, cat and two children.

Categories: Author Interviews, authors, Writing, writing journey • Tags: author interview, Beneath the Blood Moon, books, drama, excerpt, genre, horror, Kelly Samarah, literature, novels, Smashwords, The Edge, Thorns of Glass, YA fantasy • Permalink

Interview with Joe McKnight…

March 1, 2013
mandyevebarnett


Please welcome Joe, a time travel expert making his stories beguiling. When you read his latest novel, Time’s Hostage, you will understand why I used today’s word – Bravado – definition: a display of reckless or pretended bravery. *Hint * character’s in the book!

Joe McKnightOf the characters you have created or envisioned, which is your favorite and why? I’d say my favorite character to date is the one I am currently creating. She is an alien from a planet that is completely uneducated about the world around them. She is strong and will go against the society if she feels that they are wrong, even if she knows it could turn her world upside down.

  • Do you favor one type of genre or do you dabble in more than one? I enjoy writing paranormal/supernatural stories and a lot of my stories have a time travel element but I also play around with other genres.
  • It depends on my mood and what inspires me.
  • Have you got a favorite place to write? I don’t have a particular favorite place to write. Most often it’s just been in my office but now that I have a new laptop, I may discover a favorite place.
  • Do you plan your stories or are you a seat of the pants type of writer? I daydream a lot and that’s where I work out a lot of the details in my stories.
  • What inspires your stories? Different things will inspire my writing. I have been inspired by conversations, a piece of music, or a dream. Inspiration can come at me from just about anywhere.
  • What are you currently reading? I don’t do a lot of reading. Currently, I am reading a Bathroom Reader.
  • Do you have any odd habits or childhood stories? I’m not sure if I have what you would call odd habits and I have many different childhood stories; too many to include here.
  • Do you have any pets? I have one cat named Bandit.
  • Do you belong to a writers group? If so, which one? I belong to the Writers Foundation of Strathcona County.

Writeres Foundation of Strathcona County

  • What age did you start writing stories/poems? I have enjoyed writing since an early age. Creative Writing was always my favorite subject in school. I began writing my first novel, Time’s Hostage, when I was in Junior High School.

41F47SiiBGL__BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-sticker-arrow-click,TopRight,35,-76_AA278_PIkin4,BottomRight,-52,22_AA300_SH20_OU01_

  • Do you have a book published? If so, what is it called and where can people buy it? I do have one book published; it’s called Time’s Hostage and can be found and purchased on Smashwords.com and Amazon.

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/264043

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00AUG724Q#_

  • If you could meet one favorite author, who would it be and why? I think I’d like to meet H.G. Wells. I have only read one of his books, The Time Machine, and though it’s not one of my favorites, he’s a writer from the distant past and deals with similar themes that I like to explore and I think it would be fun to meet and talk with him.
  • If you could live anywhere, where would it be? I can’t say that I’d want to live anywhere other than the province that I live in now. I was born here and despite the cold winters, I like it here.
  • What is your favorite movie of all time? Back to the Future
English: The DeLorean Time Machine in "Ba...

English: The DeLorean Time Machine in “Back to the Future” Deutsch: Die Zeitmaschine, ein Delorean. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

  • Where can readers find you and your blog? I do not currently have a blog.
  • Do you have plans/ideas for your next book? I always have ideas for upcoming projects. The ideas seem to come at me faster than I can write them out.
  • Who is your best supporter/mentor/encourager? My mom and dad have always been great supporters of mine. They try to make it to my readings as much as they can.

Categories: Writing • Tags: Amazon, art, author, books, creative writing, drama, Joe McKnight, literature, novel, Smashwords, Strathcona County Alberta, Time Machine, Time travel, Times Hostage, transportation, writers foundation of strathcona county, writing • Permalink

Archives

January 2021
M T W T F S S
 123
45678910
11121314151617
18192021222324
25262728293031
« Dec    

Author Page

Author Page

Goodreads

Follow me on Twitter

My Tweets

Flag Counter

Free counters!

Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Join 4,420 other followers

Blog at WordPress.com.
Cancel