Author Interview: Don Richardson

Today we have an interview with Rivershore Books' author, Don Richardson, with a focus on his first book, Spiritual Invented Creation. His second, Scripts to Recovery, was published earlier this month.

What are the names of your books?

Spiritual Invented Creation and Scripts to Recovery.

Can you give a short summary of your book?

My book is about seven years of my life that defined who I am today. How I’ve survived cancer, additions, family deaths and tragedies, and witnessing my best friend’s death. 

What genre is your book?

Autobiography.

Who is your book’s audience?

I believe the book is for anyone who is in a hopeless place. It’s for anyone who needs help. It’s for people who can relate to all or any of what I’ve gone through. It’s for people who need motivation to stand and fight for their life and who they are in God.

What first inspired your book?

Not to sound cliché, but God. He’s given me a testimony that has taken me to many places most people don’t know how to deal with. I didn’t write the book for my own fame and fortune, but for God’s hope and truth.

How long have you been writing, and why did you start?

I wrote on and off since about the age of 10. I started writing seriously a little over three years ago (January 2010). When I started writing seriously I was in the midst of quitting drinking. I went from drinking and running away to writing, which taught me to face problems head on. I rarely saw any clear answers, but venting was my newfound freedom.

Where do you write most often?

In my room at my desk with a bright light on, computer on, piles of new paper near, and a box with dozens of pens nearby.

What are your ‘author quirks’?

My quirks probably include too many pens and way too much paper. I know that I’ll use them all and work on it every day, but I like having an arsenal of both. Also, I always have a pen and paper on me wherever I go. If I don’t, I feel naked.

What advice do you have for other authors?

Write any and everything that’s on your mind and heart. Write if you think it’s good or bad. Write for yourself, if you’re angry then write angry, if you’re sad then write sad. There are no rules, no laws, no rhyme, and no reason.

What do you do when you lack motivation?

When I lack motivation I take a break from it, I’ve forced poems and writings before, and am never happy with them. When I get writer’s block I accept it, and realize it’s just a part of being a writer.

What do you most want your readers to know?

I wrote this book to show God’s love, grace, and hope that He has in His children. Also, I personally wrote the book for myself, to sum up several years of pain in a written testimony so I could see the unwritten chapters I have left to live, and books I have left to write.

And finally, where can we find your books?

Warning: Scripts to Recovery contains swearing.

Create Space:

Spiritual Invented Creation

Scripts to Recovery

Amazon:

Spiritual Invented Creation

Scripts to Recovery

Rivershore Books:

Spiritual Invented Creation

Scripts to Recovery

Spiritual Invented Creation is also available in the bookstore at North Heights Lutheran Church, Arden Hills campus.

Grammarly Review

Grammarly offers a 7-day free trial of their premium service, so I tried it earlier this month. As a professional editor, I know the value of human judgment when it comes to editing and proofreading. I was wary about an online, impersonal editing service but wanted to actually use it before making a judgment. As is often the case, there are some parts I really like, and some I don't.

Pros:

• It is thorough and finds several different types of errors, including commonly misused words (to, too, two).
• There is a plagiarism check option. This helps not only to be certain your writing is your own (if you wrote it, it is), but also to be sure your phrasing is unique and you are avoiding cliches.
• Every error found includes an explanation about why it's wrong. Grammarly doesn't change the document but gives suggestions for improvement.
• You can download a PDF of the corrections to save for later.

Cons:

• You can only review small sections of text at a time (so, novels are out unless you're willing to take the time to separate them).
• Naturally, each section takes several minutes to review. (Still much faster than the turnaround time of an editor but feels long when you're sitting and waiting.)
• The plagiarism check doesn't help when you use the same terms in blog posts. For example, a section of my Grammar Day post was marked as "plagiarism," since I always start and end with certain phrases.
• The misused words are often incorrectly labeled. ("I had to go to the store" might be marked wrong, and "too" given as a replacement - even though in that context the original was correct.)
• The above can also be said about any errors it catches...which reaffirms the need for human judgment.

Conclusion: Grammarly is a good proofreading tool. It shouldn't replace an editor, and in fact could become the cause of grammatical errors. If I didn't know grammar rules already, I might have taken all the suggestions Grammarly gave, believing they were correct in the context of my post. Some weren't.

Author Interview: Elizabeth K.

As part of her blog tour in honor of her most recent book (Traitor's Knife), today we have an interview with author of the Five Gems series, Elizabeth Kaiser.

Can you give short summaries of your books?

I've finished two so far, both in the same series. In the first, Jeweler's Apprentice, a bookish country lass, Fia, stumbles onto a court secret while trying to save the princess (and the princess turns out to be in no danger at all). To get her out of the way, the Chancellor sends her on an apprenticeship to a high mountain jeweler, but he is unaware that the civil war in the neighboring kingdom is spilling over into the jeweler's house.

The sequel, Traitor's Knife, picks up where JA left off. When the loyalist cause enlists the mountain house into a weaponry, we find our apprentice Fia confronted with refugee children, a disturbingly upstart former messenger, and accidents happening everywhere. Are saboteurs out to nix the weapons works, or is it the incognito crown prince they're after?

I'll be reviewing Traitor's Knife soon. So far I'm enjoying it!

What genre are your books?

I'd classify them as Fantasy, though they're very Low-Fantasy, and a lot of feedback I receive says that they feel like Historical Fiction. I love that, since I want to bring a lot of realism and down-to-earthiness to the Fantasy genre.

In fact, readers say they wish my settings were real, 'cause they want to visit! Super love that!
Who is your books’ audience?

I'd like to say everyone with an imagination! Primarily I'm targeting the older YA crowd, (teens-to-twenties,) but I think Fia's books would be great to read aloud to the whole family. They're a clean, streamlined narrative with enough action to appeal to a broad audience, while still being "thinking books" with great vocabulary and scope of experiences.

What first inspired your books?

I wrote the first book for my sister as she turned 16. I wanted to give her a story about an ordinary girl who, by doing ordinary things very well, ends up in extraordinary places. My sis is a stickler for cliches, so I tried to avoid them altogether in the first book. The plot heats up in the second, and it could be argued that it has a few more cliches than JA, but I think I successfully tilted them on their head enough to make them fresh again.

How long have you been writing, and why did you start?

I wrote my first piece at seven; it was from a dream I'd had. I have always had an active imagination, and active dreams, and my family didn't always want to hear about them. That particular day Mom said, "Why don't you write it down?" just to get me out of her hair, I suppose. So I did.
Where do you write most often?

I write on a computer, and I try to keep it down to one computer because things just get too confusing if I've got multiple drafts scattered hither and yon. I recently scored a great laptop off e-bay, and I'm looking forward to concentrating on that. I like silence when I write, so my room is often a great place for that. If there's too much noise coming through the wall, I can always put in a CD, though I tune out the music.
What are your ‘author quirks’?

Hmm... author quirks? I'm not sure I have any interesting author quirks. I do not write every day. Is that a quirk? My creativity runs dry, and I have to let it rest up. Then when it's good to go I can churn out the words in amazing quantities... my personal best is 13k in one day. (It did take all day. )

When I work like this I find I don't end up with much junk, so it works best for me.
What advice do you have for other authors?

I'd really like to see more realism in authors offerings... It just seems like there's so much basically "sappy" writing going on, especially by first timers, but even by people getting traditionally published. Fiction should be a mirror of real life, so that we can see things clearer after reading it.

It shouldn't be a muddling effect.

If I ruled the writing world I'd give three decrees:
1) Every writer must take in-depth psychology classes, and also undergo sessions themselves. Two reasons: you can't write real characters unless you understand what motivates 'em, and character consistency would be increased with this. I think it'd help with recognizing the writer's own breakdowns in logic as well as wish fulfillment, and leave both in the therapists office.

2) Every writer must spend at least a day and a night out in the wild, with no tech support. There is nothing that "gets real" faster than sore feet, scary noises in the dark, and sleeping on the ground while the temps drop. 

3) I'd give them a bad tempered horse to help them get back to civilization. That'd wipe out the "cute horse loves people" trope, and anybody who can work themselves around a selfish steed can now write a book I'm interested in reading.

What do you do when you lack motivation?

Sleep. Or take an iron supplement. (Every morning, except when I forget! Which I do.) Or I also read...which is lower on my priority list than I'd like it, but Real Life is very demanding at this stage. So I cope as best I can.

I also talk with my youngest sis, who is my brainstorm group, muse, and in-house editor all in one. (I know! I'm so lucky to have her!)
What do you most want your readers to know?

Wow! That's a big one. I'm not sure what to say to that. Maybe I'll just share something that books have taught me... I believe that the Lord is writing my life just as surely as I am able to write fiction, and by exploring the steps necessary for a good story I'm able to come to grips with my real life better.

Loss? Increases depth and character development.

Disappointments? Building up for the payoff later on.

That crushing moment when everything seems hopeless? You guessed it, False Defeat!

Ha! Gotcha buddy! I know my Author only writes victories. So go False Defeat on somebody else... while I pull myself together.

After all, I do want to be the best story I possibly can, right?

Scripts to Recovery: The Origin by Don Richardson

Rivershore Books is excited to share our newest book, Scripts to Recovery: The Origin by Don Richardson!

This book of poetry (by previously published author of Spiritual Invented Creation) shows in stark honesty the highs and lows of the author's struggles with alcohol, tragedy, cancer, and faith.

Warning: This book contains swearing.

Available on Amazon for $18

Book Review: Monster

Monster by Mirriam Neal

I approached this book with a little trepidation. Monster sounds like the title of a thriller—a genre I tend to avoid. The actual genre of this book is something like dystopian, realistic fiction, with perhaps a little science fiction. It’s difficult to place it, since I hadn’t read anything quite like it before.

Set in 2053, Neal paints a realistic (if undesirable) future. The story begins in a medical facility in Alaska, and follows a brilliant young scientist, Eva, as she receives a promotion in WorldCure and is given a chance to run tests and experiments on one of the facility’s subjects. Her goal, and the supposed goal of her employer, is to find cures for diseases. There are darker motivations at play, however.

For a book that takes place in the future, Neal did a great job of keeping the advancements (or regressions) believable. Nothing seemed too far-fetched, from the technology to the declining morals.

Although it’s not my favorite genre, I’ve read and seen enough futuristic fiction to know authors are easily tempted to exaggerate some of the advancements we’ll have. For example, the hover cars in Back to the Future are supposed to be here in 2015. I suspect that after these next two years pass, I’ll still be waiting for mine.

There wasn’t anything like hovering cars in Monster. The new technologies Neal introduced were very small, subtle differences from what we currently have: things I can picture actually occurring in the next forty years.

It wasn’t the technology that drew me into the novel, though. There is a depth to her characters that was immediately noticeable. She has a talent for observing little but important details: those pieces of a person that give you a glimpse into who they are. The way she captured the quirks, flaws, and beauty of the characters was wonderful. I fell in love with her characters—Mir in particular—and they kept my attention through all 400+ pages.

A little warning: there are some violent parts throughout the book, and descriptions of unpleasant medical procedures, mainly within the first half. The scenes themselves are short, but for me they left a lasting impression.

Neal is skilled at descriptions. No matter where her characters went or what they were doing, I could clearly picture the scene. I have never been in a medical research facility (hospitals don’t count), but if I had any artistic talent, I could draw WorldCure. The way the scenes are painted gives the reader something to imagine without bogging us down with too many unimportant facts.

But arguably the best part of the book—at least, the part that has me replaying it over again in my mind days after I’ve reached “the end”—is the fact that the topics within it are far from “fluff”. Monster brings up deep, thoughtful subjects such as faith, humanity, and how to balance scientific facts with improvable beliefs. Neal handles each one of these excellently and naturally, with realistic discussions, mainly in the form of debates between Eva and her professor friend and mentor, Pocky. None of it seems forced, and none of it seems “preachy”.

Every once in a while, there comes a book that captures the reader so much, it stays with them long after they’ve put it down. These are rare but wonderful. Monster is one of those books.

The paperback and Kindle versions are both available on Amazon.

I was given a copy of this book in exchange for this unbiased review.

Grammar Day: Semicolons

I used Grammarly to grammar check this post, because even professional editors can use a second pair of eyes.

Grammar is a tricky subject. With all the rules and exceptions, how can a person keep track? I can't answer that, but I can help with little pieces here and there.

Today's Topic: Semicolons

This punctuation mark couldn't decide if it wanted to be a colon or a comma, so it became both!

Basic Rule: If the words on either side of the semicolon create complete sentences, you're using it right. Unless the sentences have nothing to do with each other.

He liked to dance. He danced all night. --> He liked to dance; he danced all night.

The second clause here wouldn't form a complete sentence, so is incorrect:

He liked to dance all night. --> He liked to dance; all night. 

Commas, not semicolons, are used with conjunctions (and, but, or... See previous post on FANBOYS): 

He liked to dance, and he danced all night. --> He liked to dance; and he danced all night.

These sentences aren't connected, so a period fits better than a comma.

He liked to dance. She ate the blueberries. --> He liked to dance; she ate the blueberries.

Any Exceptions? Semicolons can also be used in complex lists in place of commas. For more of an explanation, view this fun graphic.

I love to learn; let me know what I'm forgetting!

Have a grammatical question? Email me at Jansina@rivershorebooks.com to learn the answer - and have your question featured in an upcoming Grammar Day post! I'm here to help and encourage in any way I can.

Visit my website to learn more about me, my books, and my proofreading services, or join the Rivershore Books Writing Forum for support from fellow authors.

Still want more? Find me on Facebook, Pinterest, Tumblr, and Twitter!

Author Interview: Regina Doman

At the end of May, I had the pleasure of hosting author Regina Doman and her husband Andrew. Together they run a Catholic publishing company, Chesterton Press. It was a delight to learn from them and hear their insights on writing, publishing, and characters. Below is an interview with Regina.

Can you give short summaries of your books?

The Fairy Tale Novels

The Shadow of the Bear: The fairy tale: Snow White and Rose Red

In New York City, two very different sisters befriend a mysterious stranger on a mission, and in doing so endanger their lives.

Black as Night: The fairy tale: Snow White and the Seven Dwarves

Seven friars who work with the homeless in New York City take in a runaway girl, and become emeshed in a plot to destroy her.

Waking Rose: The fairy tale: Sleeping Beauty

When a vibrant young girl goes into a coma, the only person who can save her is a young man who thinks his problems exclude him from ever being a knight in shining armor.

Midnight Dancers: The fairy tale: The Twelve Dancing Princesses

Twelve sisters from a very strict family discover a way out of their house at night, and begin a dance with darkness, until a young soldier intervenes.

Alex O'Donnell and the Forty Cyberthieves: The fairy tale: Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves

When Alex's dad finds a mysterious website that leads to sudden wealth and murder, his reluctant girlfriend Kateri must solve the case.

Rapunzel Let Down: The fairy tale: Rapunzel

When the son of a conservative, pro-life senator meets the daughter of a hardcore feminist scientist, their summer romance leads to disaster.

What genre are your books?

Young Adult, contemporary fiction.

Who is your books' audience?

YA. The largest portion of fans are Christians who share my beliefs, but that's not true of all my fans.

What first inspired your books?

GK Chesterton when he wrote in Orthodoxy (paraphrase), "The modern novel is about an extraordinary man in a dull, mundane world, and his adventures are always dull...but the fairy tale makes the hero an ordinary boy in an extraordinary world." I wanted my fiction to have that magic.

How long have you been writing, and why did you start?

It's a lifelong obsession. Still not sure why I started. I'm not stopping, though.

Where do you write most often?

On the computer. I write most of my books in the kitchen surrounded by yelling kids.

What are your 'author quirks'?

Em. Maybe those around me know better. I do know my eyes glaze over when I'm really thick into a book.

What advice do you have for other authors?

Keep on doing it. Write sacrificially (when you'd rather be doing something else). It's the only way the thing gets done.

What do you do when you lack motivation?

Cry.

No, seriously, keep a schedule and make myself write something.

What do you most want your readers to know?

Hope.

That their actions have significance, and their lives have meaning.

Regina, Andrew, and Jansina