Character Interviews: Ella Mitchell

Name: Ella Blake (maiden name: Mitchell)

Significant Other: Joseph Blake

What is your strongest belief? God gives us things we don't deserve...and that we sometimes don't initially want!

How do you like to spend your time? Writing, or trying Uncle Bruce's kitchen creations.

If you could go anywhere, where would you go? My answer used to be 'anywhere but here.' I've changed, somehow. Backus is a comforting place, now. I couldn't leave these people.

What is your favorite food? Hamburgers, fresh off the grill, with the special seasoning Uncle Bruce uses. He still refuses to reveal the ingredients...but we'll get him to someday!

Describe yourself in one word: Distrustful

What type of music could you listen to for hours? Jazz. Joe sees it as an opportunity to pull me into a dance. Who wouldn't love that?

What is your favorite thing about Joe? His vibrant love of life, and the way he sees good in everyone, and every opportunity. I also love his persistence...and, okay, I'll admit... I enjoy how romantic he can be.

Do you wish that unicorns were real? No. Horses with horns? I can't think of anything worse!

How often do you sit in graveyards these days? Not as often as I would like to. I go once or twice a week. Joe still finds it morbid. Imagine that!

Describe your perfect day: In the morning, Joe, Davey, and I would head to the big city. We'd go to a park and have a picnic lunch, and Joe and Davey would play in the lake while I took some time to write. We'd go to a movie after, because I've always wanted to experience a theater. The day would end with us heading back home, just in time for a gala.

Ella (and Joe and Davey) can be found in the novel, Forgotten Memories.

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Interview questions courtesy of Kateri and Bonnie. Thank you!

Want a question answered in a future interview? Email me at Jansina@rivershorebooks.com or join the writing forum to give your input!


Need something edited? Learn about my proofreading and editing business, Rivershore Books.

Why CreateSpace?

After completing NaNoWriMo, participants are often given a free proof copy of their novel, provided by CreateSpace. Once you've done all the work required to get your book into the proper formatting and ready to be printed, staying with CreateSpace for the rest of your publishing journey seems an easy choice.


Of course we all know that easy isn't always best, so before signing my book away, I did some research. First, I knew I would self-publish. If there's interest, I can get into my reasons for that in another post.


So I weighed my options in the self-publishing world. Most sites require you to purchase several copies of your book, which, unless you are highly determined, often leaves you with a large debt and boxes of books. There are two notable exceptions to this: CreateSpace and Lulu.


Both sites offer a print-on-demand service, which means that until you sell your books, you owe nothing. For what I was looking for, that was a plus.


You can design and publish a perfect bound paperback from both sites, and both offer many different sizes. Lulu additionally offers a hard cover option: dust jacket or casewrap. That was tempting.


I wanted the ability to offer the book as cost-effectively as I could. For the same size and length of book, with the same royalties, CreateSpace is $12.99, while Lulu is more than double: $28.80.


Since CreateSpace is connected to Amazon, books published through them can automatically be added to www.amazon.com. Purchasing large quantities of your book is always an option for you. Additionally, you retain all rights to your book. If you decide to go through a traditional publisher after publishing on CreateSpace, you can do so. In fact, with their Breakthrough Novel Award (the grand prize being a publishing contract with Penguin), they almost encourage it.

Beauty in Books

There is beauty in words. In their arrangement on the page, in the way they sound when spoken, and in the way they look when written. Shealynn, from Shealynn's Faerie Shoppe, is willing to go a step beyond that: Book art.

I'm not a clock or watch person, but I wouldn't mind telling time by this!

An assurance from Shaelynn's blog:

"Don't worry. Unwanted books are not perfectly good books. The books I'm talking about are either 1) waterlogged or otherwise ruined volumes, or 2) those books whose content is worth next to nothing.

I do not desecrate good books. 

I just bring bad ones to life."

My favorite of her creations.

See more of her Destroyable Books series, and check out the rest of her creative pieces (including jewelry you could own), by following the links to her blog. She is an extremely talented young woman!

Now, as an author I have to insist that there is no replacement for the printed word. However, these eReader jackets from Out of Print Clothing tempt me to buy an eReader, just for an excuse to use them:

Out of Print Clothing offers t-shirts, bags, notebooks, coasters, and more; and their selection of books is continually increasing. 

Who wouldn't be inspired while writing in a journal like this?

Are you a fan of book art? What are some of your favorite artistic ways to see words? Please share!

NaNoWriMo

Okay. I have an idea, a pen I like, and a notebook that's just cute enough without being distracting. I'm going to do it this time. I will write that novel.

But first, I have to check Facebook, and Twitter, and I wonder if I have any new e-mails...

One of the most important, and sometimes the most difficult, parts of creating a story is taking the time to write. Of course, you knew that. It would be hard to have a novel without words.

Still, sometimes an extra boost of motivation is needed.

For me, that's where National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) came in. The goal is simple enough: Write a novel (50,000 words) in the month of November (30 days).

No one would say it's easy. In fact, it's a running joke among participants that anyone who does it must be crazy. Sane people wouldn't put that kind of pressure on themselves.

But we wouldn't do it if we didn't love it.

The winners goodies (deep discounts on writing software and a free author's copy of your novel, among others) are nice, but what really makes it worth it is the sense of accomplishment at the end.

A complete novel, written by you, is its own reward. Trust me.

Forgotten Memories was the product of NaNoWriMo, and so is the novel I'm currently working on, Shrouded Jewels. NaNoWriMo is free for all; just create an account, make an outline if you prefer, and start counting down the days until November 1st!

Writing, Publishing, and Everything in Between

When I first knew my dream was to become a published author, I had no idea how much would need to happen along the way. Granted, I was five and hadn't put much thought into it. I knew I enjoyed putting words on paper, and I liked the idea of seeing my name on a "real" book.

As I began turning Forgotten Memories from an idea into an actual print and electronic book, I learned how much had to be done--and still does! Thankfully, I have been able to find several places that helped with the process.

Fellow authors: My hope is that this blog will become a resource for you as you do the same with your own books. Our methods may differ, but we can learn from each other. I'm excited to share the resources I find on writing, editing, and marketing, and appreciate any insight you have for me!

Readers: If you're not a writer, here is a place for you to see what can go on behind-the-scenes of a book. Outside perspectives are always appreciated!

Thanks for reading!