Friday, April 24, 2020

Writers Anonymous (A Seriously Write Blog)


I recently read a book for an author review/endorsement. I’ve done several over the years and am always flattered to think another author would even be okay with me endorsing their work. As I read this particular book, I found myself thinking of how the author could have “done this” and “done that” to make it better. After each chapter, I would have to check myself and remember the genre was different. The parts and details I wished would be present—but weren’t—would have been great additions…within the genre I write. Not this one. As I thought about other reviews and endorsements I’ve done in the past, I remembered similar feelings when the book’s genre was different.

I run into the same issues when I read books, watch movies, or binge TV shows for pleasure. I’m always analyzing, examining, wondering why. It’s almost as if becoming an author has tainted me as a consumer of other people’s works. The genres in which I write cause me to see the worlds I depict a certain way, limiting me in the absorption of what could be.


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Wednesday, April 8, 2020

Author Behind the Story series - Candace West

Wow! What a difference a month makes, eh? Last time we did an Author Behind the Series blog post, everybody had toilet paper in the stores. I saw a meme a couple of days ago showing a toilet paper aisle in a store filled with all the different types. The caption read: Throwback Thursday. Funny stuff.

However, not all of it has been fun and games. "Online learning," "social distancing," "flattening the curve" are all new words and phrases that will surely find their way into Merriam-Webster's Dictionary soon. Doomsday reports of catastrophic death totals will make even the most ardent introvert clean some things that haven't been wiped down with a clorox-laced wipe in a while. 

We are praying for safety and health during these troubling times. Those of us who take reasonable precautions should weather the storm, regardless of your political affiliations.

With all this extra time on our hands (Have you noticed we are getting by okay without rich sports stars bouncing, hitting, or kicking balls around?), one of the things we can do more of is read. I'm hoping for a uptick in the number of people getting turned on to reading. Never before has there been such a plethora of material out there. Surely, everyone can find something that interests them. All they have to do is look. And this blog site is one of those places where readers can find out about authors and their writing and possibly find a "new favorite author."

With that segue, I want to welcome a newer author to me. She is part of the Mantle Rock Publishing family, of which I recently became a member. She has been with MRP longer, having just published her second novel with MRP. Please welcome to the virtual Florida front porch (we are keeping our CDC protocols in place), Candace West!


Candace, as is our custom, give us a quick bio to get us started. In fifty words or less, who is Candace West? 


I’m a recovering tomboy. Growing up, I was a strange blend of Tom Sawyer and Anne of Green Gables. Mississippi mud flows through my veins, but the Arkansas Ozarks captured my heart. Jo March understood me better than most of my friends. She introduced me to historical fiction, by the way, which is what I write!

Before you ever got a notion of becoming a writer/author, how old were you, and what were you doing in that time of your life? 

When I was twelve, I loved exploring the woods and playing in the mud. Mama instilled in me a love of reading when I was little. I also loved hearing a good story. Before we moved into the country, we lived in a small town. Most of the people on our street were retired. Often, I would migrate from house to house, sit on the porches or carports of my elder neighbors, and ask them to tell me a story. And what great stories! My grandpa and granny also enriched my childhood with stories of their formative years. Storytelling was inevitable! I stumbled upon writing on a long car trip to Colorado one summer. To pass the time, I penned my first short story, “Following Prairie River” in my notebook. The rest is history.

That's cool. What educational background do you have? 

My parents homeschooled me from the third grade until graduation, and I consider it to be one of the greatest blessings of my childhood. Through school, my relationship with my parents deepened. Being a preacher’s kid, I didn’t have social problems because I had a church full of friends. After graduation, I attended the University of Arkansas at Monticello and graduated with a B.A. in English. I chose Monticello because it was close to home. I could commute and keep my part-time job working at a crop duster service.

What makes you cringe? 

Unacknowledged text messages. If I send a friend a text message, I don’t expect them to answer immediately. Everyone has busy lives, and sometimes we forget. I understand it. But neither do I expect the message to go completely ignored. I guess I’m old school. It feels the same as being snubbed in person. If someone speaks to you, be polite and speak back. Text messaging is someone speaking to you. Even a simple thumbs-up would be better than silence. That’s just a pet peeve of mine.    

Besides storytelling, what talents do you have? 

I sing and play the piano, bass guitar, and acoustic guitar. You would have to ask my friends their opinions of it, though. Hearing myself sing is another thing that makes me cringe, by the way. I try to do it for God’s glory, though. My piano playing is okay, though my mom has the real talent there. I’m much more comfortable playing the bass or guitar, sitting more in the background.

We are our own worst critics! I play the drums and sing too. I get it. 

Besides the usual things authors face, has there been an unusual event that changed your perspective about being an author?

I quit writing for a time after a good friend of mine was tragically killed. Every time I tried to write, the process was too painful. The words would dry up before I could write them. Even though I didn’t accomplish a lot of writing in that season, I learned words and emotions would return with patience and a little courage. The act of writing during or after tragedy heals the writer…and the reader. The most important thing in the process is never to rush it. Don’t force the writing. Many times, it’s better to let the words come to you, if that makes any sense.

Makes perfect sense. Even when you aren't dealing with anything tragic. Rushed writing leads to deleted writing more times than not.

Of all the stories/books you have written, which one is your favorite? And what compelled you to write this story? (I know it's like choosing between your children, but...)

You are right! It is like choosing between your children! Lane Steen is so much a part of me because she came to me at a time when I needed her the most. God used her to bring me through a painful time in my life. We grew together and healed together. But I’ll have to say that for now Valley of Shadows is my favorite. After ending Lane Steen, I ached to resolve the situation between Lane’s parents, Earl and Lorena. But how? The rift between them was a chasm. After all, Earl had kidnapped their daughter and disappeared. They had too much to overcome.

Or did they? I had to find out. The process and adventure of the characters showing me how to overcome was both painful and joyful. At times, they lured me so deeply into the story that I had to remind myself they were fictional characters. Over time, Earl captured my heart. I never expected the villain in the first book to become the hero in the next. No one else in Valley Creek did either. I think I’ll always hold a special place for him. Getting to know Earl was a gift.

Should we have put a "SPOILER ALERT" sign in that last response somewhere? :-)

Tell us about your writing day. How do you go about writing? 

These days my writing is sporadic, if I’m lucky. Raising and homeschooling a nine-year-old boy takes a lot of time. By nature, I’m a night owl, but I reserve those times for reading. Sometimes I do write late, but it’s not a good way to wind down after a long day. Characters sometimes refuse to hush when I’m tired. After housework and schooling, I try to squeeze time in to write. I’m not always successful, though. I have to remind myself to keep trying, to never stop writing. Even though I’m not always typing away, I’m making notes of the stories buzzing around in my head.

Knowing what you know now about writing, publishing, etc., what piece of advice would you give to the person thinking about writing that novel they have always wanted to pursue since they were young, or the person who believes they have a non-fiction book in them that would be helpful to others? 

Just make the time and put those words down on the page. Even if you only have ten or fifteen minutes a day to spare. You might have a busy schedule like me, but don’t let it discourage you. Get those words inside of you on the page. You never know who it may touch. I once had a writer tell me that even if those words never went beyond my desk drawer, it still might touch just one who needed it most. I’m nowhere near being a bestselling author, but I can honestly say that I’ve been blown away by readers who contacted me after reading Lane Steen and now Valley of Shadows. I never knew those stories would stir or bless them so deeply. They, in turn, have blessed me more than I can describe. And it has made the writing and publishing journey so worth it!

How do you come up with the names for your characters? 

This is a funny question! When I first started writing, we still had things called phone books. I would open the phone book and scan names until I found one that sounded right. For my first novel, I think I pulled Lane’s name from the phone book. Most of the other names come from family names. Mr. Wallace was named for my grandpa Wallace, for example. Other names come from a list that I compile. Tabitha was the name of a girl in my Kindergarten class, and it became a favorite name of mine. I used it for Tabitha’s character in Lane Steen. In Valley of Shadows, Ella’s character is named for my great-aunt.

If you had one person you could meet (think outside the Bible here) and could spend as much time as you wanted with that individual, who would it be? 

Oh, that’s a hard one. There’s too many on my list. After some thought, I chose Corrie Ten Boom. From the first time I watched “The Hiding Place,” I was riveted by her story. Here’s a lady who knows nothing about warfare or the underground, yet she and her family are thrust into it. God used her harrowing experiences to fill her with such wisdom, grace, and even humor! How could she even laugh after living through tragedy? Yet, she did and even thrived. I love hearing her tell the stories, especially the one of the Nazi soldier who asked her forgiveness after the war. Wow! Forgiveness is a subject that resonates with me. It gives me goosebumps just thinking about it. Only God makes it possible.

If you had one person you could meet (think ONLY Bible characters here) and could spend as much time as you wanted with that individual, who would it be besides Jesus?

Now, this one is easy because I’ve thought a lot about it over the years! It would be Peter! Here is a crude, brash fisherman. Wishy-washy. Opinionated. Bold one minute, cowardly the next. He is the perfect candidate to betray Jesus. The Lord said that Satan desired to have him. Why? Could it be because of these flaws? Yet Jesus calls him a rock. While Judas gave up on Jesus’s messiahship, Peter never did. I love studying Peter’s transformation in scripture. This man who rebuked the Lord for talking about His coming suffering later writes, “Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin.” 1 Peter 4:1. I would love to sit with Peter and ask him scores of questions. What was it like to walk with Jesus? To witness His miracles? His death? His resurrection? His ascension? Though Peter in the beginning was wishy-washy, I believe he had one characteristic that never changed. He was teachable.

Why do you live where you live?

My husband and I make our home near our families and the church my dad pastors. We grew up in the Delta. Our friends and church family are here as well. Though I love my home, I would much rather live in the Arkansas Ozarks where I set my stories. My family’s roots are nestled up there in those picturesque hills and valleys, along the creeks, within old, cherished cemeteries, and vacant homeplaces. As often as we can, my family retreats back to those places during the summer, spending several days enjoying and resting in the beauty. For me, it’s like going home. Have you ever visited a place that speaks to you this way? You see it, and you just know. Almost like love at first sight. And I’m always loathe to say goodbye.

Yep. The beach. On a balcony. Watching the waves roll in. Listening to the roar that never ends, even in the dead of night. Nothing washes stress away for me more than that.

We know “Readers are leaders, and leaders are readers.” Is there a book you’ve read in the past five years or so that has helped you become a better you? If so, which one was it, and how did it affect your life?

Yes! Martyn Lloyd Jones’ Spiritual Depression encouraged me in my walk with the Lord so much. It details the types of spiritual battles that Christians fight. I taught it for our women’s class at church. The ladies and I read the book together and discussed a chapter each week on Wednesday nights. Every chapter, filled with wisdom, would speak to different situations we were facing. If you haven’t read it, let it be the next book you order and read.

He has several that are good! Good choice. I remember reading "Preaching and Preachers" years ago in seminary. 

Candace, as we near the end, is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers about you, or anything we didn’t cover? 

No matter who you are, no matter your circumstances, you are not beyond hope or redemption. You are special in God’s eyes, and He has a plan for your life. My stories carry this theme of transformation and redemption. Forgiveness is always possible with God. He takes the dark places in our lives and pours in His light. Walking with Him is a transforming journey.

Awesome.

Readers, you can find out more about Candace, her writing, stay in touch, and more, at the following sites and in the following ways:

To purchase Valley of Shadows: https://www.amzn.com/B084YQHMS9
To purchase Lane Steen: https://www.amzn.com/B07VCZ5MV3

Readers, here's the back cover copy of Candace's latest novel, Valley of Shadows:


Forgiving is far from forgetting.

Lorena Steen gave up on love years ago. After arriving at Valley Creek to visit her daughters, she stumbles first thing into Earl, the husband who abandoned her.

As for Earl, facing Lorena while fighting his own demons tempts him to flee town. How can he rebuild a relationship with his daughters and cynical neighbors when guilt shadows every step?

While the storm brews between them, another storm descends on Valley Creek. Will a ghost town stand in its wake?

But then the townsfolk devise a plan. All they need is a former concert pianist and violinist. A wife and husband estranged.

Can Lorena and Earl set aside their feelings to rescue a community? Even though it sweeps them back through valleys best forgotten? Especially when a forbidden love claims his right to win Lorena’s heart?


Until next time, everybody, stay safe, stay healthy, be smart about your specific situation during our times of quarantine and six-foot-apart relationships.


Kevin