This past weekend I went to watch Book Club – The Next Chapter. It was a fun ride catching up with the four main characters again. For me, the best part was enjoying the three Italian cities they visited. It is many years since I was there, but the memories came flooding back. The essence of Italy still holds a special place in my soul. I visited Venice, Florence and Rome and hope to go back at some point. It was interesting that the book they were reading this time round was Paulo Coelho’s The Alchemist.
I finished an intriguing novel, The First Time Lauren Pailing Died by Alyson Rudd.
Review:This was an exceptional narrative, especially as its theme is a subject I love. Imagine you live more than one life in parallel? Most of us never knowing about the other life, oblivious to it. But Lauren does know and that is what makes this book so remarkable. It is captivating.
I have now begun reading a new book – The Shadow Sister by Lucinda Riley, only to find it is book three of a series. However, it is a separate story of one sister’s experiences, so I’m good.
Would you read one book of a series or not?
Literary Birthdays this week include:
May 19th is the birthday of Nora Ephron who was an American journalist, essayist, playwright, screenwriter, novelist, producer, director, and blogger. She is best known for her romantic comedies and was nominated three times for the Academy Award for Best Writing (Original Screenplay): for Silkwood, When Harry Met Sally…, and Sleepless in Seattle. These are exceptional movies, I think you will agree.
Another author sharing the same birthday is Jodi Picoult with an impressive 25 novels (and counting) to her name, including My Sister’s Keeper, Nineteen Minutes and Sing Me Home.
This time around, I’m writing a screenplay. I see a new space opening up in Transformation/ Transformation thrillers. The inciting idea was watching a young man open his 23ANDme results and discovering that he was not related to either parent or his siblings.
How did you come up with the title?
Serf, in early Christian times ignorant and powerless French peasants worked the land, handing most of their hard earned labours to the local Lord.
Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?
When change happens slowly people don’t necessarily notice it until it’s happened. Politicians are corrupt, and groups of young adults attempt to publically prove the consequence of a bad political decision can be overturned. They captures the unwanted government attention, just as they are about to graduate.
Anyone can capture anyone’s attention.
Absolute power corrupts absolutely.
It only takes one action to start a movement.
How much of the book is realistic?
It’s based on our normal North American history, but where one political decision made 4 years earlier launched a new direction, and how one privileged young man searches for answer to a personal dilemma in this new political environment.
Are your characters based on someone you know, or events in your own life?
They are completely fictitious and living in my head.
Where can readers find you on social media and do you have a blog?
Do you have plans or ideas for your next book? Is it a sequel or a stand alone?
This one is written specifically for the Netflix 5-year Series. No other sequel, but the books will spawn 2 more from the same Story World. So far, I have over 200 story outlines. My biggest problem isn’t coming up with ideas; it’s finding the time to write and to STICK TO and FINISH 1 story.
Of the characters you have created or envisioned, which is your favorite & why?
Honestly, I don’t have favorites. Each has their uniqueness, secrets, and quirks. I just jump from brain to brain when the moment calls.
Do you favor one type of genre or do you dabble in more than one?
Mystery, missing persons, and thrillers have always been my favourites. Today I see the transformational writing space opening up and am interested in producing transformational thrillers. Curious? The Matrix is one.
Do you plan your stories, or are you a seat of the pants style writer?
I used to be a seat of the pants style writer. Now I outline EVERYTHING to develop intriguing layers first, to ensure that it works. (Fiction) In business writing, you plan everything.
What is your best marketing tip?
It takes MONTH’s to launch a book properly.
Use your book as a tool to get interviews, lots of them!
Do you find social media a great tool or a hindrance?
Good question, as a digital marketing expert, social media could very well be the most disruptive tool ever seen, or when used effective, they greatest tool to grow your audience and sell more books, attend more conferences, and to maybe get a movie deal.
OPTIONAL QUESTIONS
What do you enjoy most about writing?
It’s cathartic. It’s my outlet. It lets me release the ideas in my head.
What age did you start writing stories/poems?
Maybe 6. I may have rewritten my cartoon to run stories the way I wanted them to turn out. Fan Fiction circa @1983
Has your genre changed or stayed the same?
I’ve always writing the mysteries/missing person thrillers in fiction. For work, because social media and digital marking is ALWAYS changing, I’ve had to rewrite old books and keep putting out new ones. That’s why they are never in print.
What genre are you currently reading?
Thrillers, mystery, crime, Psychological drama’s in fiction – business and marketing books and biographies in non-fiction and biz.
Do you read for pleasure or research or both?
I use to read far more for pleasure, not I read mostly for work.
Who is your best supporter/mentor/encourager?
My brother from another mother. We are each other’s biggest content creation supporters.
Where is your favorite writing space?
Comfortable bustling coffee shops where I don’t know anyone.
Do you belong to a writing group? If so which one?
I used to belong to Inklings until a few years back, most crime writing, but not for a few years. I belong to one of the many #12WeekYear now, for HIGH productivity
If you could meet one favorite author, who would it, be and why?
Two come to mind: For science and for decades I’ve always wanted to meet James Burke. These days, I’d love to interview Malcolm Gladwell.
If you could live anywhere in the world – where would it be?
I am partially connected to many cities. I’d like to live a winter to WRITE in Prague, Florence, or Seville, or most other locations where old cobble stone roads are the norm, little watering holes has people speaking English as a second language and the locals LOVE to share their stories, history, and folklore.
Do you see writing as a career?
Absolutely. For work, I regularly produce technical writing, copy writing, blogs, articles, even copy for explainer videos. For myself, I write Novels, Outlines and Screenplays.
Do you nibble as you write? If so what’s your favorite snack food?
I drink as I write all day; coffee mostly, then water, a specialty soda is a treat.
What reward do you give yourself for making a deadline?
Start the next project. No rest for the wicked
TITLE: Online Research Paths: Fake or Real?
Once the internet became available to the masses, new opportunities to collect and post data fueled new research.
However, not all information online is true. Still, there are many rich information resources to collect information, post queries to request information, and apply listening tools to seek information not yet posted. There is truly no limit.
How can you use this great online resource to your advantage yet not waste value time?
This interactive class explores online search methods, queries, and untapped resources. Catherine invites you to bring your search queries, mobile devices, and questions.
Before Remaining Aileen was, Remaining Aileen the novel, she was an idea I had for a screenplay. A few years back, around 2014 I had this super vivid vision of a young mom, who was on a plane that was falling from the sky. All hope is lost. Her thoughts revolve around never seeing her children, or husband again, and the devastating reality that she is going to die. Until she wakes up, alive, completely unharmed- or so it appears.
This scene became the inciting incident that would propel Aileen along her journey, as well as what started me down my path of becoming a writer.
At the suggestion of my amazing husband, Aileen became a novel instead of a screenplay, and now she is about to be released into the world and I truly still, cannot believe it. Fun fact, my very first title idea was Vampire Mom, and it was going to be this light-hearted story of a mom who becomes a vampire, until I realized just how HARD it would be to actually try and be a mom and a vampire. While I do keep some light-heartedness in the story, it did end up taking a bit of a darker/ more emotional turn (which I am so excited about) than I originally was planning. But if there is one thing I have learned about writing stories, is that they seem to tell you what they want to be regardless of your original intentions. It’s best to just see where it takes you sometimes!
–How did you come up with the title?
My first idea for a title for this book was Vampire Mom, but as the story unfolded it just didn’t fit anymore. My main character Aileen really struggles with her new “life” as a vampire and does all she can to try and make her new life fit back with in her old one. So Remaining Aileen felt a little more descriptive of her goal and struggle within the story.
How much of the book is realistic?
In many ways Aileen’s story into motherhood is based on my own inner struggles I went through while learning how to be a mom, but overall, this being a vampire story, it’s not exactly realistic.
Are your characters based on someone you know, or events in your own life?
I think my characters are all inspired in some way by either people I know, have known, or maybe would like to know! But no one character is based on anyone specific.
Where can readers find you on social media and do you have a blog?
Do you have plans or ideas for your next book? Is it a sequel or a stand alone?
I do have plans for a sequel for Remaining Aileen, Aileen still has a way to go in her story and I’m excited to share the rest of it when the time comes!
Of the characters you have created or envisioned, which is your favorite & why?
One of favorite character’s ended up being Ana, Aileen’s Mother-in-Law. There is just something about her bulldog “don’t mess with me or my family” attitude that I deeply admire. Ana would do anything for the ones she loves.
Do you favor one type of genre or do you dabble in more than one?
I really enjoy writing within the speculative/paranormal realm of things. While Remaining Aileen is Women’s Fiction I prefer to add a speculative twist to it rather than normal/real-life type things.
Do you plan your stories, or are you a seat of the pants style writer?
I plan my stories. I need to have a clear vision for what my beginning, middle, and end will be before I dive in and write.
What is your best marketing tip?
I am so new to the world of marketing, so far, I don’t have enough experience to give any tips but if I end up with any I will gladly share!
-Do you find social media a great tool or a hindrance?
I find social media to be more of a tool than a hindrance for me. It’s where I have found my support network for my writing, as well as a place I can connect with readers. I have made some really amazing writer friends through my social media platforms.
OPTIONAL QUESTIONS
What do you enjoy most about writing?
What I enjoy most about writing is when you get that initial idea. The spark. That single immeasurable moment where what did not exist now exists and it’s such a great feeling. My next favorite moment is writing the words “The End”. I’ve never felt more accomplished then writing those two words at the end of my first finished draft.
What age did you start writing stories/poems?
I was 28.
Where is your favorite writing space?
My favorite place to write is my white oak desk my husband crafted for me. We hand selected each board that went into it together, and the fact he made it for me makes it so special.
-Do you belong to a writing group? If so which one?
I started my own writing group of sorts called Writer Moms Inc., a support group for mom writers on Facebook/Twitter/Instagram. While Writer Moms Inc. mostly holds an online presence, I do try my best to meet up with my local writer mom friends and chat about all things writing and mom life, as well as encourage the members of WMI to do the same where they live!
-If you could meet one favorite author, who would it be and why?
I have two authors actually I would love to meet, share a cup of tea with and chat about writing and life. The first is Anne Rice, because well, she’s Anne Rice! I really feel like her vampire stories were the precursor to many of the vampire fiction/movies/TV I love to watch.
I would also love to meet Stephanie Meyer. My whole inspiration for becoming a writer was because of reading Twilight, so I would love to have the chance to meet her in person and gush all about how amazing she is and how grateful I am that she put her stories out into the world.
-If you could live anywhere in the world – where would it be?
I actually quite love where I currently live, in the mountains of the Sierra Nevada range, however, I really love the Pacific North West so if I could live anywhere I might head up north!
-Do you see writing as a career?
I would really like being a published author to become my career. After Remaining Aileen, I will have her sequel to write, and then I have a few other novel ideas floating around I’d love to develop and publish.
-Do you nibble as you write? If so what’s your favorite snack food?
I don’t tend to eat while writing, but coffee or tea is a must!
-What reward do you give yourself for making a deadline?
Usually, my rewards for reaching deadlines, or completing drafts is to stay up at late as I want catching up on all the Netflix I missed while writing!
Mandy Eve-Barnett's Blog for Readers & Writers 