(A discussion of my own approach to developing character goals, part 2) Short Story Character Goals I take a big-picture, plotter approach to developing the goals of characters within novels. But for shorter fiction, my character goal formation is more relaxed and possibly more creative. I keep in mind my basic novel order of author goal (message) first, […]
Character, Plot, or Message-Based Novels? (part 2) Read More »
(A discussion of my own approach to developing character goals, part 1) In the audience of a long-ago Christian writers’ conference, I sat entranced before a panel of book editors describing the types of manuscripts they were looking to acquire: character-driven novels and plot-based books, but never, ever stories written primarily for message. I knew right then I
Character, Plot, or Message-Based Novels? (part 1) Read More »
Back in 2010, when my newly acquired agent asked for the genre of my debut novel (The Third Grace), I identified it as literary fiction. He immediately corrected me: “No, no. We’ll call it contemporary women’s fiction. No one today reads literary fiction.” I almost gasped. Was it true? My own library was full of literary titles, my
FICTION: LITERARY OR GENRE? Read More »
Symbols of the Old, Old Story Reused in Literature When you read a novel or short story, do you sometimes suspect the author is trying to say a whole lot more than the words on the page? I’m no expert by any stretch, either as reader or writer (much less as scholarly analyst or philosophical
Let’s have a conversation with Aglaia (aka Mary Grace Klassen), main character in the book The Third Grace. She’s a designer at Incognito Costume Shop (rentals for parties, stage, and screen) in Denver, but she grew up in small-town Nebraska and her author (Deb Elkink) has finally allowed her to visit Paris . . . Thank you so
Character Interview AGLAIA Read More »
I’ve been to Paris half-a-dozen times in the last two decades and can’t wait to lose myself again in its ancient, cobbled streets. I used to travel by schedule, but with scores of museums and countless monuments, cafés, shops, and adventures unexpected, I’ve learned that all I really need is a subway map. Here are
MY FAVORITE NOOKS AND CRANNIES Read More »
It’s amazing to me how the geographical setting of a novel I’m writing can birth its way into my brain, almost convincing me it actually exists. In The Red Journal (just published last week), a mansion museum is the setting for much of the action. While I was imagining and plotting this aspect, I really needed a “map” to
IT IS COMING! My latest novel, THE RED JOURNAL, will be launched on October 2, 2019, but between now and then you can pre-order the ebook version for only $.99 (in real money).
GRAPEVINE GRAPEVINE GRAPE BUNCH (acrylic on canvas) by Lorenda Harder My Interview with Author JOHNNIE ALEXANDER I just read a terrific novel, Where Treasure Hides, and I tracked down author Johnnie Alexander (a fellow Mosaic Collection author) at home in Oklahoma to chat about her life and writing. DEB: Thanks for joining me today, Johnnie. You’ve published quite a few books, but your
Where Treasure Hides Read More »
GRAPEVINE GRAPE BUNCH (acrylic on canvas) by Lorenda Harder I’d like to introduce you to award-winning novelist Stacy Monson, who resides in the Twin Cities and is part of Mosaic Collection, the international author’s group I recently joined. Her contemporary, faith-based stories reveal an extraordinary God at work in ordinary life. DEB: Welcome to my corner, Stacy! I see you’ve published
My Interview with Author STACY MONSON Read More »