I mean, what? 

I had the extreme privilege of joining illustrator (and friend) Shelley Couvillion on Jo Bozarth's Her Process podcast about artist collaboration. 

Jo is fabulous and a complete boss lady--she acts, writes, directs, and hosts her own podcast, which has 48 episodes and counting. When she asked me to participate on one of her collaboration episodes, I was excited and a bit anxious. An introvert writer, speaking about her process. How would I do?

But sitting down with her and Shelley was a dream. Jo's relaxed and joyous personality put this reserved author at ease. And having a friend and pro (she's done this twice before!) like Shelley do this alongside me gave me the confidence I needed to share my experiences.

Thanks, ladies! I had a BLAST!

Some fun things we talk about:

• How Shelley and I found each other. (The answer may surprise you!) 
• The magic (and frustrations) behind collaborating. (Hi, fun projects and low-paying work!)
• What we've learned from each other. (The love is real, guys.)

If you're interested in discovering more about what author / illustrator collaborations look like, take a listen!

Herprocess.com 
iTunes
Spotify
iHeart Radio
Stitcher 
YouTube

To see more of Her Process, visit Herprocess.com.
To see more of Shelley Couvillion, visit Shelleycouvillion.com.

Show these ladies some love--they deserve it!


 

I've been making my way through Creating Character Emotions and selecting an emotion a day to practice writing. You guys responded so well to my fun game on Instagram--what emotion do you feel?--that I wanted to post one to my blog. For anyone who guesses the correct emotion below, you get a prize coming your way. Ready to play? Let's go!

Five minutes. It should take five minutes. She checked the clock. It had only been one. She stared at the thin stick on the bathroom counter, willing the faded blue lines not to intersect. It said five minutes. Results wouldn’t come until then, she repeated to herself.

From the edge of the bathtub, she could see herself in the mirror. The grey florescent light accentuated every line, every dark circle on her pure skin, causing her to resemble someone twice her age. Like her sister Amanda. Thirty going on fifty--unmarried, introverted, plain. But adored by their parents. No amount of gushing was ever enough for them. Last year’s newsletter proved that. Two minutes.

Or Rebecca. Senior with honors but no boyfriend. Dad took her shopping for a new car. Mom for clothes. They even threw her a party for being a what--valedictorian. Virgin, more like it. They love those. She scrunched her toes in the bath mat. Three minutes.

But for their youngest? Nothing. For their average student? Nothing. Little did they care about her. She ran her fingers through her thick blonde hair and pushed her chest out. Beautiful. Youthful. Prom Queen. Popular.

Easy.

Her hands grew sticky tucked under her thighs. She knew exactly what they would do. What they’ve been waiting to do ever since she started talking back, sneaking out, kissing boys. Exile her. And in minutes she’d find out if they’d get their way.

Four minutes.

Pressure slammed down on her chest. She had sixty seconds. Sixty seconds until her life would be determined by two blue lines. She stood. Pushed her hair out of her face as she stared at the pregnancy stick. She tried synching her breathing with her heartbeat, to calm
her. But all she could manage were short gasps. Twenty seconds. Don’t pick up the stick. Results may suffer if she picked up the stick. Ten seconds. Drowning couldn’t be worse than this, she thought, feeling her chest sinking in on her. Five seconds. Either way, her
life would change.

Four. She swallowed hard, eyes locked on the cross that was appearing before her, branding her. Three seconds. As a slut. As an exile.

Two.
One.

And as a mother.

I was inspired to write this post after reading about James Aries' happy place on his blog. It's so sweet, how he describes his grandparents' cabin and the special meaning it holds. And it got me thinking. What's my happy place?

My happy place has changed over the course of the years. It's been various coffee houses in various cities. Bean Town (a small coffee house in the foothills of Sierra Madre) was one of the first that I can remember--it's where I spent most of my days and nights crafting The Missing Crimoire. Rickety tables; mismatched chairs; artsy wall hangings; and a list of teas I could never tire of made this cozy spot a favorite. 

When we moved to Pasadena, I found myself gravitating towards Old Pasadena--our downtown area with all the shops and cafes. At the time, my husband was a store manager for that area's Starbucks. I spent numerous hours there writing The Naming of Colton Black. The store underwent a beautiful remodel, making the space feel metropolitan and inspiring. It was sleek; it dripped of city vibes; and it housed my husband when he wasn't home. Obvious win. 

Lately, however, my happy place has shifted. While I will always adore writing in a coffee house--nothing beats the hustle and bustle of a city shop to me; the energy; the business; the yummy sweets and beverages--I've found myself gravitating towards a different type of location.

Home. 

My happy place is my home. What I love so much about this space is the ambiance. Our personal style has grown over the years. And this one? Is my favorite. Bright light shines through our home; its open floor plan allows for various spots to sit and write. White kitchen; grey walls; herringbone floors. It speaks to my soul because it's a part of my soul. And isn't that what every happy place is?

I've never been one to write at home. It's either been too distracting or not inspiring enough. Now, because of God's goodness, we've created a space that inspires me to create. Whether that's sitting at our counter with a cup of coffee, in our office with my toes in our squishy rug, or on the couch beside the dog, I love writing at home. 

Home, thank you for being my happy place.

Where's yours? 

(Photo credit: Heidi Ryder Photography)

This might be a bit controversial--talking about who inspires my fictional characters. After all, you really only have one hero. But, it's a question worth exploring. Personally, I'd love to know who inspired Rowling's Harry, Tolkien's Sam, Orson's Ender, and Collins' Haymitch. Yes, often times characters evolve completely from the unknown. There's little to no attachment to anyone in real life. However, it's impossible not to draw from what we know. After all, writers are constantly told to "write what we know." And who better do we know than the people in our lives?

For me, it's natural for the heroes in my stories to resemble some part of me. Let me reiterate something--heroes are flawed. There are no perfect heroes. Which means, drawing from my own flawed existence is extremely helpful when creating these very complex characters. Take for instance, Breslin. She's an anxiety riddled, people-pleasing, introvert. When I wrote this character, I was going through some of the toughest mental health issues I've ever faced. To say Breslin is a part of me is an understatement. 

But what about the others? The hero's best friends? Parents? Enemies? Antagonists? Well, here's a little reveal on who inspired who. Some may just surprise you!

FROM THE MISSING CRIMOIRE

Aberdeen Hall | TMC's aloof and loathsome villain. This was one of the most enjoyable characters to write. And you bet I based her off a real person. When I wrote TMC, I was discovering my love of writing. It was new to me, this skill. Yes, I had real cheerleaders in my life (professors, friends, classmates), encouraging me to write. But also real--downers. Enter Sophomore year. High school English. Mrs. Hall. A woman who somehow seemed to loath me. (Well. Loath is a harsh word. Dislike, maybe.) A woman who never shied away from reminding me my writing was mediocre. True, I wasn't the best writer in high school. But her discouraging comments didn't wax my love for the craft. (That was thanks to my junior English teacher. Who I LOVED.) So, when I needed to create a character full of loathing towards my hero Luke, I didn't hold back. 

Austin Rivens | another antagonist in TMC. And this one? Is purely fictional. He's a renegade, rugged type. The kind of person who's seen things and done things you'd likely scorn him for. At 24, I'd never known someone like Austin. However, I'd seen enough movies, read enough books, to have a feel for a character that I'd like to create. 

Alden Cashal | the adoring and wise professor in TMC. This one is part fiction part fact. One of my most favorite professors at Pepperdine was Dr. Collings. His passion for creative writing and the craft of prose inspires me to this day. When I wrote Cashal's character, I'm now 100% certain I was subconsciously weaving Collings' kind and whimsical approach to life through him. 

Gravis Dromore | Luke's nemesis. Yes. You better believe I based this kid off of a high school crush gone awry. Down to his birthday, black hair, and chiseled face. Ah, to be young and heart broken. Teen angst is always a source for villains in future stories, no?

FROM THE NAMING OF COLTON BLACK

King Black | Breslin's father and ultimate antagonist in TNCB. In no way is King Black my own Father. He is 75% fiction and 25% a combination of people I know. When I wrote this story--and based Breslin so much on me--I worried people would assume her Father was my Father. It couldn't be any less true. My Father was tender-hearted and the biggest encourager of ME. King Black is the opposite. But, I will say, the realness of a daughter's desperate desire to be adored and loved by her Father is as true is at it comes. I was blessed to receive this when my Dad was alive. 

FROM MARKED

(This is a manuscript I've completed yet not finalized. I love the story but feel stuck each time I go to edit it. Maybe one day, I'll get it out to you all to read!)

Oliver | the hero from MARKED. This sweet boy is merely 10-years-old but harbors a deep secret. (Don't all fantasy middle-grade novels start this way?) He's curious; intelligent; observant; and quick-witted. And based largely on my husband, Alejandro. True, when I first discovered Oliver, I didn't know my husband. The story came to me in a flash one day and for some reason, I wasn't in the right mindset to chase it. When it was time, there was Alejandro. His personality largely affected the development of Oliver.

Hope you enjoyed this reveal! Curious about any other characters in my books? Ask below and I'll let you know, fact or fiction!











(Photo by Heidi Ryder Photography.)

Guys, it's GUEST POST FRIDAY! ::cue confetti:: Today's post is by Daniel Graham, a writer I connected with on Instagram, who's got a killer style and unique voice. Be sure to give him some love after reading his post and check out his website!

Hi, my name is Daniel R Graham, a writer and author of the series White Stag Trials. I run the blog serialauthor.com which is founded on my love of writing and desire to publish serially (lots and often). I’m also looking into freelance writing, so basically I enjoy writing and spend much of my time doing so!

Something I haven't talked about yet is that I am a Christian, someone who believes that God exists, that He is good, and that He sent his son Jesus to restore relationship with humanity by taking the full burden of sin - that which stops relationship with God - upon himself and dying on a cross only to be raised by the Holy Spirit of God and ascending to the right hand of God The Father in Heaven.

The reason why I consider my faith in God when I write something, is not because I'm wanting to follow a set of laws for Christian writers. I'm really not interested in any sort of obligation in my walk with God other than following his leading. To see my relationship with God as anything other than that  - a relationship - would be disservice to what He has done for me. It would also be a disservice to myself as I'd be cutting myself off from the joy in freedom of relationship with God who wants just that. You wouldn't hug a friend or relative because you ought to, as if not living up to that expectation would land you in serious trouble. That wouldn't be a healthy relationship. I want my life to be an embrace to God, free from 'oughts' and 'musts', just a hug.

I also believe that writing is an expression of creativity, an aspect of the personality of my Creator. I don't want to bury this talent, but rather grow this gift to its fullest potential and honour my Heavenly Father with it. That's what gives the following paragraphs purpose and meaning.

So with that said, this is how my faith affects my fiction writing!

Short Form Fiction
I've written a few short stories over the last couple of years. Two of them - Blight and Drowning - are up on serialauthor.com for all to read. I began writing them as submissions for short story competitions and anthologies (a compilation of short stories usually from various authors), but soon discovered they had a different purpose for me. The themes and thoughts that the abstract stories explore were deeply personal. The stories became more like a soul search than a story, but I enjoyed writing them all the same.

Long Form Fiction
For my novels or serial stories I write a lot of fantasy. I really enjoyed The Chronicles of Narnia when I was growing up and although C.S. Lewis is an inspiration and a bit of a hero for me in both his fiction and Christian writings, I'm not so much like him in my fiction. I'm not writing such blatant allegories as Lewis - not at this point in my writing career anyway.

The audience I'm aiming to write for is YA (Young Adult) whose exposure to the fantasy genre is more likely to be George R.R. Martin's Game of Thrones than J.R.R. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings. Now I'm not about to slam one of the most successful fantasy authors of my time, but Game of Thrones is famous for more than dragons and the constant killing off of characters. It's pretty well known that both the TV series and the books don't shy away from raw, gritty and explicit scenes.

To me wholesomeness in writing is important. I know that what you spend your time looking at and listening to can really affect you. I want to provide that sort of wholesome writing. That translates into what I allow my characters to do, talk about and even how they talk.

Let’s talk about swearing! I grew up with a Scottish father so swearing doesn't really bother me as much as it may bother others, but I know for those who are trying to have self control over what they say, hearing and reading these words isn’t helpful. They tend to bounce around in your mind until you are tired or frustrated enough to let them slip out. Swearing is pretty unavoidable these days, but I’d like my stories to be a safe place for the mind to be. If I feel that a character would be someone who swore in a scene, I usually write something like - Jason grit his teeth and cursed - rather than the actual curse word. And it doesn't seem out of place in fantasy as usually the culture of a fantasy setting would be totally different from ours, so the same curse words being used wouldn't make sense.

Something I am a bit more lax with is violence. When it comes to my fight scenes I don’t hold back. To me fantasy is about battles and struggle in foreign and dangerous worlds, where magic and creatures will tear the unprepared apart. Also if you read The Old Testament, there is plenty of violence and gore - so I don’t feel convicted to put a damper on that aspect of my writing.

Speaking of The Old Testament, I draw on some of it for inspiration especially for mythology. During C.S. Lewis’s conversion he was studying Mythology and found that many of them shared aspects of Christianity. J.R.R. Tolkien and his friend Hugo Dyson explained to Lewis (all three of whom belonged to the Inklings literary group) that Christianity doesn’t run from the idea of mythology in creation but rather embraces it. Without getting too preachy here, there are things written as fact in the creation story that are trying to describe purpose and intention of the Creator God, not the textbook-like science of how He created it (opinions may differ here but I believe this to be true). This was a key part in Lewis’s conversion and I believe part of what prompted the creation story of Narnia in The Magician's Nephew. In a similar way, I draw on the themes in the bible as inspiration for my fiction.

Closing Statements
I hope you enjoyed reading my thoughts on faith and fiction. I’d just like to say that these statements that I’ve made are my personal convictions, not judgments on other writers or even other Christians. I enjoy reading  most genres by many different authors, but I set a certain standard for my own writing. Thanks for reading!

It's been a bit since I've done a life lately post, so here we go!

April. It's April. It's been 7 months since I lost my Dad, which is when I think I did my last life lately post. 

In those 7 months, here's what's happened:

• I went to Vegas for the Super Bowl with my Mom and Husband. We've been doing this for 4 years now--maybe 5? With my Dad. It was bittersweet not to have him here this time, but we made the most of it and enjoyed our time. 
• I rented out my car on Turo. Anyone else done this? It was an interesting run--where I let strangers rent my car for 3-4 days at a time. For the most part, it was simple; an easy way to earn some cash. Though, after my car came back smelling like weed (hello, California!), I thought it might be time to end my run. 
• I flew through four books at the beginning of the year. And now I've come to a complete halt. What is it with reading for me? I'm either all in in or all out. Hoping to find that balance. I borrowed a few Newbery Medal books to get back into the swing of things, so I'm excited about that!
• I scrapped my first draft and started a new one. More on that to come. 
• My Husband and I spent March saving money so we ate in ALL. THE. TIME. Which meant I was cooking 7 days a week. Nothing ground-breaking, but definitely different for me. It did allow me to use my slow cooker (love it) and hone my baking skills (hello perfect blueberry muffins and lemon cake). We kept on track and saved what we set out to save--I was pretty proud of us! 
• Started watching The Looming Tower on Hulu. Good show. But can't STAND that they're releasing them one by one. Why, Hulu? Why did you choose to release one of your originals this way?? 

What have YOU been up to lately? I'd love to hear!

Ahhh books. They breathe life into me like nothing else. Who's with me? Everyone has that book--that favorite book that holds a special place in their heart. One that satisfies their soul; feeds their imagination; inspires their heart. Maybe it's a book that taught you something. Maybe it's a book that made you laugh. Maybe it's a book that marks a significant phase in your life. Whatever it is, it's there. 

For me? So many books have done that. I was a late bloomer when it came to reading. As a kid, I was too busy drawing to read. (Except for the Redwall series. Redwall all day, everyday.) But come college, I bloomed. Reading was life and I was forever changed. Here are the five books that have made a lasting impression on me and why:

Harry Potter and the (All of Them). I know. This sounds cliche. BUT. I didn't pick this series up until the release of the fourth book. My Mom had raved about them. Finally, the summer after my freshmen year in college, I decided I'd give them a try. There was no going back. Harry Potter woke something in me that has never fallen back asleep. The sweetest part of this series? I read it aloud to my Mom when she was going through radiation after breast cancer. We've shared this story ever since. 

The Lord of the Rings. This has to be my all time favorite story. Once again, this was a series I read while my Mom was recovering from breast cancer. I would take her for weekly radiation and while waiting, I'd enter Middle Earth. Tolkien's characters are some of my all-time favorite. The loyalty between Sam and Frodo? The. Sweetest. Ever.

Ender's Game. I had heard of this book from several different people for several years during college. But I had never picked up a sci-fi book. They always seemed a bit out there for this fantasy reader. Until the day I decided to read it and was forever changed by Ender Wiggin. Orson Scott Card's writing is genius. Yes, the book is about smart kids in space, trying to save the world. But the writing is tender; raw; and emotionally poignant. I wanted so badly to sit beside Ender as he endured his sufferings. To comfort him. To fight with him. I never looked at sci-fi the same. 

The Great Gatsby. Like I said, I was a late bloomer when it came to reading. I had never read Fitzgerald's classic in high school, so when I picked it up in college, I didn't know what to expect. While the story captivated me, the prose was intoxicating. How Fitzgerald crafted sentences and described his world, his characters left me breathless at times. Words became something so much more than just a means to explain story. They became art.  

Lad: A Dog. I read this book when I was young--one of the few--and was so touched I read it over and over and over again, declaring that one day, I would own a collie. How the writer described the relationship between dog and man--sweet, loyal, and dedicated--made me desperate for a creature to love me like Lad loved his owner. My childhood dreams were made two years ago when my husband bought me my very own puppy. And while he's not a collie (hi there, maltipoo!), Moby is as sweet as they come. 

​What's a book that's captured your heart? I'd love to know!
​

Guuuuuuys! I'm SO excited! Because today marks the FIRST guest post in a new series. On the last Friday of every month, I'll be featuring a new-to-this-blog writer, who'll share everything from tips and tricks to writing lessons and personal stories.

It's only fitting that my first guest is James Aries, a middle-grade author and elementary school teacher who's penned some of my favorite books, including Ninth Night, UNDER, and Verve Stones. I've known James for over ten years (he is, after all, married to my best friend Ingrid). And have benefited immensely from his writing advice, story ideas, and editing skills. 

Today, we both talk about how we became writers. To view my post, visit his blog (and then purchase his books. Seriously, you won't be sorry.)

​I started writing fiction at 23 years old, the year after I graduated from Western Washington University. On a hike, my roommates from college participated in a campfire game called Team Story Telling. You might be familiar with it. To start the game, someone contributes the first lines of a story. Then, going around the circle, everyone adds a few lines. We enjoyed the story so much, we decided to continue it over email. We named it Goat vs Ferret Wars. (Yes, you read that correctly. Imagine Narnia with a hint of Lord of the Rings meets immature guys who just graduated from college.) It grew to 12,328 words over three years though it remains unfinished to this day.

During my first emailed addition to Goat vs Ferret Wars, I described the world. Nothing else. My friends’ additions to the novel blew me away. Hilarious. Suspenseful. Epic. I refused to embarrass myself with misspelled words and incomplete thoughts. 

I managed to increase the amount of words I added to our novel. 215 words. 834 words. 3,254 words. Newly married, my wife’s proofreading skills gave me confidence as well. Little did I realize, I was hooked on writing. I had never written that many words, or for that long, ever. Not for fun. Yet, I felt proud of my work. I thought about how to make the story better day and night. I became addicted to crafting the world, the characters, the plot.  

The week after I added my longest chapter, the next friend emailed his section to Goat vs Ferret Wars. His chapter changed a plot line I adored. He ruined my plan for the story. I was so mad. That moment was an epiphany for me. I knew I had to write. Yet, if I wanted full control, I needed to write my own story. 

That’s exactly what I did. I bought a journal, and wrote down the name Spoon. I wanted Spoon to travel to another world to stop an evil king. I wanted him to get superpowers. This is the birth of me as an author. Altrea, too. 

www.jamesaries.wordpress.com 
​

Photo of Robin taken by Heidi Ryder Photography 

I am in a reading funk and I know it. By February, I had finished more books than I had read all of last year. No surprise. Last year was a year spent with my Dad, all creativity on hold. But as things went back to "normal," I was hungry to read again. I started my reading journey by finishing The Testing trilogy by Joelle Charbonneau. Oh. My. GOODNESS. Saying I'm addicted to this dystopian series is an understatement. It's Hunger Games meets Divergent, so, really. How can you go wrong? 

Next, I downloaded The Fever Code by James Dashner. As a fan of the Maze Runner series, I was eager to learn more about the maze and its founders. And man, did it deliver. I devoured that book. My affinity for Thomas and Teresa waxed once more, leaving me no choice but to continue the saga once again. It's been a few weeks since I finished the series, and yet...I can't let it go. My heart is tied to these books. To Thomas. Teresa. Chuck. Minho. Newt. Brenda. It's an odd feeling--of not wanting to let go. Their pain became my pain. Their journey became my journey. Their anger, mine. Their friendships, mine. I haven't felt such an ache in my heart for a series to end since Hunger Games.  

I'm trying to resist. Trying to find another series. Trying to discover new characters. But right now? I want nothing more than to fall back into the comfort of Dashner's story. To return to the maze and hunt down WICKED with Thomas. And maybe I will. Because it's a feeling I can't shake.

Have you read something recently that has had a hold on your heart? That's been hard to let go of? I'd love to know--maybe it can help me move on! :D