Author To Author’s Newsletter September 4, 2013
Writing & Publishing Tips
Something to SayMany people ask these questions of a writer time and time again, “Why do you write?” “Do you just like to tell stories?” “Are you writing about people you know in real life?”
The answer to the first question is actually quite simple. Simple, but with a long and complicated history behind it. The answer is I write because I have something to say.
I suppose the larger and more important question would be, as a writer, what do you have to say and why do you need to say it?
Authors around the world write their stories, books, and sagas for many different reasons. Some are so intensely creative that they can’t seem to keep all of their wonderful ideas locked inside their minds. Some just love the feeling of using their imagination and coming up with plots that are easy for readers to closely identify with, sharing thoughts, feelings, and situations that we can all easily understand. Others might use their imagination in a different way entirely. A way that transforms the world we know so well into a place that exists only in our dreams, such as the genres of supernatural and fantasy novels. Some authors, and I am sure many at that, use writing as a tool to sort out a large heap of mixed feelings and emotions of their own, as a method of therapeutic release.
I truly believe all of the above is present in some measure inside every writer, in one way or another. However, above all the multitude of possible reasons one might want to write, I believe there is one very specific yet general feeling among all of us. It is simply that we have something to say.
That is what started my journey in the world of novel writing.
I had something to say, something to share with the world from my own experience and perspective and, whether the world actually needed to hear it or not, mattered little. What mattered was that I wanted to say it, I wanted to throw it out there and just see if somehow, someday, that general message might help another person.
My books are not self-help by any means. I do not give advice to others as to how to handle specific situations. The Riverbend Trilogy is pure fiction. They are about watching a character try to figure that out for herself. Navigating her way through the darkness of grief and finding out if she will continue to sink into the trenches of her mind or resurface stronger than when she began.
Fiction is my art medium, it is how I express myself. It is how I share what I feel needs to be said to the world, to the many readers out there who might possibly gain something from a book they read by an unknown, unheard of, small-town indie author. Books have changed my life and since I was a very young child I have had a love affair with reading. Books have helped me to learn and grow as a person, which is why I so enjoy writing.
Although I write with empathy for my main character, Lena’s story in Riverbend, Rapid Water, and Waking Tide is not actually my experience. I used my own feelings and thoughts to form what I imagine she must go through after having experienced the loss that she does. I also threw in a bit of mystery and adventure because those are the things that I enjoy in a good book, as well as the budding love story.
Lena’s story is about self-discovery and how she manages to find her way through the dense fog of grief that plagues her every waking moment. It is about strength, hope, and love. The Riverbend Trilogy exposes the universal truth that we are all stronger than we know, we are all capable of deep rooted trust and love, and eventually, the darkness will disperse. The light will come back into our lives, if we only allow it to do so.
That’s what I wanted to say to the world, the message I so desperately wanted to spread that I couldn’t possibly contain myself any longer. The Riverbend Trilogy is just how I say it and that's why I write.
By Author to Author Member and Contributor, Andrea Goodson. You can learn more about Andrea and her books at www.andreagoodson.wordpress.com
Exciting News for Author to Author Group Members
Sydney Logan Celebrates the Anniversary of Lessons Learned
In case you missed last week's edition, it's been almost a year since Sydney Logan released her Amazon Best Seller, Lessons Learned. This novel has been described as "Very intense, highly emotional, and extremely raw." Well, isn't that what we all look for in books? To properly recognize the one year bash of Sydney's Amazon bestseller, she is holding a giveaway! Be sure to check Sydney's blog to enter to win and go ahead and pay her a visit now to read all about Lessons Learned! Happy book birthday! http://www.sydneylogan.com/New Release for A2A author Angel Lawson
Mark your calendars because Odin's Murder is set to be released on September 10th! Angel has coauthored this book with Kira Gold. Check out Angel's blog for fun events and a teaser from the upcoming release! Congrats Kira and Angel! http://www.angellawson.com/teaser-tuesday-odins-murder/Wednesday's Weird Word
Facinorous
Definition: Criminal, immoral, vile.
Origin: Latin facinorosus, criminal or wicked.
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