Author Interview with Donna Weaver, author of A CHANGE OF PLANS.

Donna Weaver is the author of A CHANGE OF PLANS, available at Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble.com, and a number of other places. You can follow her on Twitter and Facebook, visit her blog, and check out her book on Goodreads.

Heidi: One thing you're most known for is how much you like Harry Potter. Whenever there's a writing discussion, you'll pop up with an excellent example from one of the HP books. Even though A CHANGE OF PLANS is a very different genre, I bet you were still inspired by HP. What were the top three writing lessons from Harry Potter that help you succeed with A CHANGE OF PLANS?

Donna: lol Am I really most known for that? That makes me smile. Jo has spoiled me for many writers because she's such a master at "things hidden in plain sight". I find myself, now, expecting deeper meaning in little items or snippets. I'm frequently disappointed.

Obviously, I'm not tricksy like our precioussss Jo, but I do try to make sure that when something happens, there's some tie to it later in the story. That's good and bad. When you interweave everything, you have to be careful if you happen to edit it out later, or you can end up with bits and pieces that now have no reference.

Another thing I love is Jo's humor. I'm not funny or witty like she is, but I do try and see the humor in situations. Perhaps the third would be names. Jo's character names frequently tell the reader much about the character--if the reader tales the time to do a little checking. Like Sirius--the dog star? Lupin with its lunar relationships and Remus, one of a pair of brothers who were raised by wolves? I don't always name a character because of the name's meaning, but I do research names and try to find ones that say something about the character--either like Jo did or sometimes I choose a name that is the opposite (almost a mockery) of what the character is like. That last one comes into play in Jori's book, the companion novel to A Change of Plans that I'm editing right now.

Donna's son Dave with a Harry Potter poster

Heidi: That's very cool. I'm going to watch for all of those things.

Another thing you're known for is how encouraging and optimistic you are, both about your own journey and about other writers' challenges. Is that something that comes naturally to you or did that develop as part of your growth as a writer?

Donna: I think my optimism has been a part of me for a long time, perhaps reinforced by the things I was drawn to as a teen and young adult. One of my favorite quotes is by Thomas Edison (who is famous for how many times he failed).

"You only fail when you quit trying."

I'm also all about the nobility that is possible in people. The summer after I graduated from high school the movie Man of La Mancha came out. It spoke to me. Following is a soliloquy by the amazing Peter O'Toole, portraying the author Cervantes in a prison awaiting a hearing before the Spanish Inquisition. In order to save his manuscript from his fellow prisoners, he's performing the story. Cervantes is challenged by one of them that his main character (Don Quixote--the guy famous for chasing after windmills he thinks are dragons--and where that term comes from, I'm sure) is just crazy, refusing to face reality.


That's me, trying to see life as it should be. Our perception controls our reality, so I look for what's right in the world. Because among all that's wrong, there's so much that's right if we'll search for it. That's the treasure in the trash, so to speak, rather than seeking treasure where there's only trash.

Heidi: That's such a cool world view. I love that! So how did that optimism come to manifest itself in writing?

Donna: Except for the pirates and the scumbag fiancé, everyone in A Change of Plans is a decent person. Even Jori, who is a real woman user in the beginning, is better than he thinks. I don't know if positive energy follows you around, but I don't see a lot of the ugly stuff I hear people talking about. I'm not speaking of the news; there's plenty of nasty stuff out there. I'm talking about my neighborhood, my congregation.

Heidi: With what a fan you are of Harry Potter, one might expect fantasy to be your favorite genre, yet your book is a romance. What do you typically read, and what drew you to writing romance?

Donna: You know, it's really Harry who sucked me into fantasy. I was a diehard SciFi elitist for years. I did start reading Terry Brooks when my oldest son discovered the Shannara series, but SciFi was my fave. I've been a romance fan since I was a young teen and started reading my mother's gothic romances. I do prefer a romance to have more than just the romance at its core, though I enjoy those once in a while, too.  A romantic element really ups the stakes for the main characters. When I decided to write A Change of Plans, I wanted to put in things I like. That's why there's a cruise (I LOVE cruising), karate (I'm a black belt), piano (I wish I could play and used to fantasize about it), Power Metal (my sons have a band), tropical islands (I love Hawaii and I lived in the Philippines for two years as a teen), and Montana (I spent a couple of summers with my aunt in northern Wyoming).

Heidi: And after all that, what brought you to emphasize writing as opposed to music, art, or any other creative endeavor?

Donna: I've done lots of different creative things, though I'm not particularly good at them. Maybe if I'd devoted the time to them that I do to writing, I might have. I've dabbled at painting--my house is full of wall murals. I've got two artist sons (I've attached a picture the oldest did for his senior project before he graduated from college in art, and a couple of shots from our mural room.) If you notice the wall behind me holding A Change of Plans the first time, I painted that.

A painting by Donna's son (apparently he got the drawing gene).

A painting by Donna's son Dave, who just graduated from art school.

But look at that wall! Donna painted that! She saved some of the drawing gene for herself!

Heidi: Thanks for this interview! Here's the final question: What one thing do you most comes out of A CHANGE OF PLANS, both for your readers and for yourself?

Donna: First and foremost that they're entertained, I guess, but I would hope that the story touches them in some way. It's interesting with some of the feedback I've received about the story making readers cry--and what caused the crying. They've all been things that go back to that particular reader's personal history, something in the story that touched them. And they were all unique things, not necessarily something that happened in the book at all. That's pretty cool.

Guest Post: W. B. Kinnette with Waiting Fate

 

Thank you so much, Heidi, for letting me visit and talk about my new release, Waiting Fate!

Waiting Fate is very close to my heart because it’s based on the true love story between my husband and I. If you ever hear me talking about him, it’s clear pretty quickly that he is literally my hero. For one thing, he can do anything. He dyes my hair, he bakes, he cooks better than most restaurant chefs. He rebuilds houses, chases spiders, and puts up with all my eccentricities without ever complaining. I must have Pringles at 11 pm? He’ll get them. The man deserves a medal. But he’s also my hero because he saved me from a life of darkness and pain.

Which is why, when my publisher had an open call for submissions for true love stories, I jumped at the chance. Admittedly, I didn’t realize how hard writing our story would be, because we went through a lot of trials to get to our happy ever after. But I wrote it and, I’m thrilled that I am able to share it with readers. I hope that by sharing our story and my trials with escaping domestic abuse, it will help someone else who might be in a similar situation realize that there is a way out, and that you don’t have to do it alone!

 

Author Bio:

W.B. Kinnette was born and raised in Utah, the baby of the family and spoiled rotten. She lived briefly in Texas and Alaska before coming back to raise her family only a few miles from her childhood home. She’s loved writing since she was small, because daydreams demand to be written down. She believes that dreams must be chased, if only so she can tell her children honestly that dreams do come true if you work hard enough – and never give up!

Book Blurb:

Sometimes Fate hides in plain sight while you stumble through darkness.

 

Ivy escapes from an abusive husband, finding peace with her daughter in her childhood home. She’s determined to keep her past a secret to protect those she loves.

 

Archer has been in love with the same girl since seventh grade. When Ivy comes back into his life—bruised, broken, and haunted by secrets—he knows he can’t lose her again.

 

But Ivy made a promise to her daughter. No one would hurt them again. She’s afraid to trust, afraid to be wrong again, and afraid that the one man she’s loved forever will break her heart.

 

Fate might take its time, but it won’t wait forever.

And Now an Excerpt . . . Oh So Juicy
As he walked her to her door, she slid her small fingers into his, and he ran his thumb across the back of her hand. The night was cool. At the door she turned, smiling up at him. “Thank you Archer. It was… fun.”

He couldn’t see clearly, but he could swear she was smirking. Yeah, you blew your chance. Way to go. So he hugged her, wrapping his arms around her waist, like he’d done a hundred other times before. They were a huggy group.

He was surprised when she rose on her toes and slid her arms around his neck, holding tight like he was a lifeline. He pulled back, just a bit, hoping but afraid to hope as he searched her eyes. They sparkled, just a bit, and then she leaned forward, closing the gap between them and brushing her lips against his.

Time stopped. The world stopped and he froze in shock. It took him several seconds to realize what was happening, and then he kissed her back, holding her tight against him. He could feel her heart racing, matching his. When she relinquished his lips, he sucked in a breath, struggling to breathe. “I’ve wanted to do that since high school,” he muttered, almost without realizing it.

 And Finally, Where to Get the Rest and Follow W. B. Kinnette

Links: https://www.facebook.com/WbKinnette

Twitter: @wbkinnette

Website: www.wbkinnette.wordpress.com

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Waiting-Fate-ebook/dp/B00CY4A5IM/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1369290043&sr=1-1&keywords=Waiting+Fate

Author Interview: Rebecca Rode--How to Have Peace When You're Falling to Pieces

I had so much fun interviewing Rebecca Rode, author of How to Have Peace When You're Falling to Pieces. 

The book explores some of the challenges that are unique to mothers and gives sage advice and pithy stories for how to pull through those tough times when you just don't think you can sort it all out.

Rebecca was kind enough to answer some questions for me, so here are some of her insights into her own role as a mother and writer and a few additional thoughts for the rest of us:

1. Early in the book, you share your desire to find a book on finding peace as a mother and not being able to find one. How did you go from that moment in the bookstore to deciding to write such a book yourself?

When I couldn't find that book, I started gathering research and talking to other moms. I was surprised to hear that many of them were going through the same stresses that I was! Then I realized that if I didn't write it, no one else would. I think that unfulfilled need for sanity and peace is why so many moms relate to this book.

2. You talk a lot about the importance of finding balance as a mother. How did you find balance in raising three young children while writing this book?

My "balance" when I was writing this book was more like teetering on the edge of a cliff while juggling. I was on a really tight deadline, so I had to drop a lot of the regular housecleaning and yard duties for a couple months so I'd have time to write. Obviously I couldn't write much when the kids were awake, so that made it hard. My wonderful husband picked up a lot of the slack when he got home in the evening. Now that I'm looking back, I still don't really know how we did it.

3. You also mentioned the necessity of giving some things up. What did you have to give up in order to fulfill your dream of writing this book while still keeping your children a priority? Was it harder than you thought? Easier?

The biggest things I had to give up were sleep and perfectionism. I wrote late into the night and then woke up at 5am for a month or two. I think the funniest parts of the book were written at midnight when I was loopy with exhaustion!

The perfectionism thing, though, was the hardest sacrifice. I like everything just right--there's a chapter about that in the book, as you'll recall--so it was a real mental battle to let the house slide a bit. As for my kids, I quickly learned to give them more time, not less. When I spent a focused half hour with each of them, playing whatever they wanted, then they were much more understanding when I had to disappear for some writing time. 

4. Many times women get so overwhelmed that even the steps outlined in self-help books seem like too much work. What would you say to a woman who reads your book and likes the ideas but still doesn't know where to start?

Oh boy, do I understand. Take it a day at a time, one chapter at a time. Some of the things we discuss in the book are simply different ways to look at our roles as moms, like putting on a pair of glasses. Other things are more specific and we can incorporate them easily and immediately. If there's a chapter that really hits you and you think, "Wow, I totally do this! I need to change in this area," then maybe it's a good indication that something can be tweaked. I'm often surprised at how different parts of the book hit people differently. Many moms love the Mom Guilt section, while others really relate to the divine potential and Anne Shirley chapters. I guess each of us takes what we need out of it.

5. Can you share some of the highs and lows of your journey? How did you keep going during the lows and how did you celebrate the highs?

The biggest high and low actually happened the same day. I got an email from Jennifer at Cedar Fort, saying they'd loved the first few chapters I'd written and were offering to publish it. When I read that email, I pumped my fists toward the air like I'd just made a touchdown and called my husband at work. After we were done whooping and hollering, he asked, "When do you have to have the book done?" Since the book had been accepted based on a query and the first three chapters, that was all I'd written to that point. I skimmed the contract and my jaw dropped. I had thirty days to write the rest of the book. And I was going to be on vacation in Italy for two of those four weeks!

I did eventually get a little bit of an extension, but start to finish, it probably did take thirty writing days. I can only say that I couldn't have gotten it done without help, divine and otherwise! I thought it would be amazing to see my name in print and my book on the shelf, but honestly, the biggest high of all has been the reaction of the readers. It's had overwhelmingly positive feedback, and many of them buy other copies for their sisters and friends. I think that's the very best outcome I could have hoped for, and it makes everything worth it.

A Change of Plans Cover Reveal: Donna K. Weaver

So Rhemalda sent me this freakin' huge promo package of stuff I could include, and as I was staring at it trying to figure out what to post, I decided to sack all that and post my actual thoughts.

For starters, Donna rocks and no one deserves this awesome victory more than she does. She's funny, friendly, smart, engaging, always willing to help little old peons (that would be me), competent as heck and totally obsessed with Harry Potter. (I really think there should be a drinking game wherein folks must correctly predict what Harry Potter reference Donna will make at any given moment.)

I beta read A Change of Plans, and it is awesome. I'm not much of a romance fan, but this one, I enjoyed. I was so super over the moon thrilled when I heard that Donna had a publishing offer from Rehmalda. Rhemalda, peeps! She considered it and had a lawyer read the contract and had phone calls with the company and then she signed and fairy bells rang out.Yeah. That happened.

Seriously cool. Someone in my group. A book I'd beta read. Published, and very deservedly so. Yeah. Freakin' cool.

And the cover? Gor-geous, can I just say?

Now here's all the actionable content. You know you've been waiting for it.

First, here's what the book is about:

When Lyn sets off on her supposedly uncomplicated and unromantic cruise, she never dreams it will include pirates. All the 25-year-old, Colorado high school teacher wants to do is forget that her dead fiancé was a cheating scumbag. Lyn plans a vacation diversion; fate provides Braedon, an intriguing surgeon. She finds herself drawn to him: his gentle humor, his love of music, and even his willingness to let her take him down during morning karate practices. Against the backdrop of the ship’s make-believe world and temporary friendships, her emotions come alive. 

However, fear is an emotion, too. Unaware of the sensitive waters he's navigating, Braedon moves to take their relationship beyond friendship--on the very anniversary Lyn is on the cruise to forget. Lyn's painful memories are too powerful, and she runs from Braedon and what he has to offer.

Their confusing relationship is bad enough, but when the pair finds themselves on one of the cruise's snorkeling excursions in American Samoa things get worse. Paradise turns to piracy when their party is kidnapped and Lyn's fear of a fairytale turns grim. Now she must fight alongside the man she rejected, first for their freedom and then against storms, sharks, and shipwreck.

Second, here's all about the author (this is at least as interesting as the book, IMO):

Donna K. Weaver is a Navy brat who joined the Army and has lived in Asia and Europe. Because she sailed the Pacific three times as a child, she loves cruising and wishes she could accrue enough vacation time to do more of it with her husband.

At fifty, Donna decided to study karate and earned her black belt in Shorei Kempo.

After recording city council minutes for twenty years, Donna decided to write something a little longer and with a lot more emotion--and kissing.

Donna and her husband reside in Utah, they have six children and eight grandchildren who live all over the world.

Interested yet? I thought so. Check out the trailer on YouTube  (I'd embed it here, but I haven't figured out how to do that yet.) http://youtu.be/MPI1uZQG66k

You can find, and like, and mark as to-read on Goodreads. I know it's going to kill you to wait until it comes out, but until then, you can get your fix by stalking Donna on Facebook or Twitter (@TheDonnaKWeaver). 

I'm so excited to read the final draft. Congratulations, Donna. Happy cruising!

Guest Post: Wendy Knight, Feudlings Author, on Support Groups

I am so excited that my friend Wendy Knight's book comes out this week! It's been such an inspiration to watch her journey, and I could not be more thrilled for her! She's got a wonderful guest post here and a wonderfully juicy blurb and excerpt from her book! Follow her, see her cover, and find out how to buy her book at her website!

And now, her words of wisdom on support groups!

Support Group – You want one!

I spent the first…however long I’ve been writing, writing alone. It was sketchy. Sometimes I would write a lot, but then I’d get bored or burned out and I’d quit for months or even years on end. It wasn’t that I didn’t love the story, and it wasn’t that I didn’t have awesome support from my amazing husband. There just wasn’t a lot keeping me going.

Which is why it took me two years to finish Feudlings.

Once I started querying, though, I realized I needed help from people who had been doing it for longer than me – people that might actually know what they were doing! So I started branching out (which is saying a LOT for me, because I’m massively shy). I found a chat room just for writers, and I found writer friends and I discovered Twitter, which seems to be made just for writers. I could be wrong, though.

It might seem counter-productive. I mean, you’re in a chat room, and there is a lot of chatting going on. BUT. There is also brainstorming and advice and support. Don’t believe me? Well, here’s some facts. It took me two years to write Feudlings, my debut novel coming out this month. It took me a year to write the sequel. Toward the end of that year is when I discovered my writer friends. In less than six months, I’ve written two more, started a third and a fourth and a short story, and edited the sequel to Feudlings.

So, it may defy the odds or common sense or something, but it really works. Having friends in the trenches with you makes sooo much difference and being a writer doesn’t have to be a lonely profession. Who knew?

--Wendy Knight

 
And now for the good and juicy stuff! Jump right in with a great excerpt!

“Shane, I’m tougher than I look. I can handle it,” she said, although she wasn’t sure she wanted to know any more about his magic than she already did. It could get him in trouble. But she couldn’t just leave it alone. Part of her wanted to know. Maybe the monster-killer part of her.

She squashed that thought. 

Shane stopped, studied her. Under his intense blue gaze her heart started to pound and she thought giddily that her favorite color just happened to be the exact color of his eyes. What were the odds? “I’m serious, Ari. There’s this war going on, and knowing anything about it could get you killed.” 

“Killed?” Ari tried to look dubious. 

Shane glanced around and grabbed her hand, pulling her with him out the front doors. The air was crisp and cool; Ari could see traces of her breath. If Shane was aware that half the student population was watching them speed-walk into the woods, he didn’t show it, and after a final glance back Ari ignored them too. 

When the school was out of sight, she stopped and pulled her hand away. “Okay Shane. Spill,” she commanded. She crossed her arms over her chest and tried to look cold. Normals would be cold right now, but because of the flames flowing through their blood, neither she nor Shane could feel it.

Shane sighed and ran a hand through his hair. “Where to start? Even the short version is long. We’re sorcerers, and there are two sides to this war… of course, because that’s what makes a war, right?” he rambled. Ari raised an eyebrow at him as she tried to shiver. “I’m a Carules. I have magic that stems from these blue flames that, well, they’re in my blood. Hunter, too. And all other Carules. The other side is Edren, and their magic comes from red flames. Basically, we spend all our time trying to kill each other. It’s a lot of fun,” he said with a bitter frown at the ground.

“So you hide your magic because if an Edren found you...”

“They’d kill me. Or try to, anyway,” Shane finished for her.

Ari flinched at his words, and she knew right then that if she had seen him on that battle field in Adlington, she wouldn’t have been able to kill him. Her eyes widened in shock, her mouth opened into a silent “Oh”, and her heart started to pound. This was a very, very dangerous revelation she’d just made to herself.

She had a weakness. And it was Shane.

I know! Delicious or what?! And here's a bit more info!

Back Cover Blurb

Nothing makes a new school suck worse than discovering the guy you’re in love with is your prophesied nemesis.

Ari is the most powerful flame-throwing sorceress ever, and her people’s last hope in an ancient war. But she’s also a seventeen-year-old girl, and in her free, not-hunting-nemesis times, she jumps from school to school, trying to figure out regular people her own age and pretending she’ll get the chance to graduate.

Shane lives a double life. He goes to school and masters the art of popularity, hiding the fact that he has a fate with a slim chance of his survival. He’s destined to end a 300 year-old war by killing or being killed. He knows he’s hunted by a powerful enemy who’s not afraid to die. Only problem? He has no idea who that enemy is.

When Ari shows up at Shane’s school, angry and sullen and determined to keep him at arm’s reach, neither of them realize they are supposed to be killing each other, not falling in love. Until Ari does realize it, and she almost dies – by Shane’s hand.

Author Bio

Wendy Knight was born and raised in Utah by a wonderful family who spoiled her rotten because she was the baby. Now she spends her time driving her husband crazy with her many eccentricities (no water after five, terror when faced with a live phone call, etcetera, etcetera). She also enjoys chasing her three adorable kids, playing tennis, watching football, reading, and hiking. Camping is also big: her family is slowly working toward a goal of seeing all the National Parks in the U.S.

You can usually find her with at least one Pepsi nearby, wearing ridiculously high heels for whatever the occasion may be. And if everything works out just right, she will also be writing.

Getting Life Back Together Post-Birth

The thing that surprised me most about this pregnancy was the pain. I've never had such strong, constant joint and muscle pain in any of my other pregnancies. (The pain finally made sense once Baby was born. Big baby+little mom=ouch.) In addition to making it hard to write, the pain also made the house go from clean to barely functional. It just hurt me too much to move, and Hubs could only do so much when he got home from work. Now, post-baby, I'm trying to get the house back to working order. Out of eleven rooms in the house, I got 2 at a satisfactory level today. Another six are moderately cluttered and three are unmitigated disasters. I'm hoping if I eek out just an hour a day, I can get the rest of the rooms in some kind of decent shape.

What really matters: Today I wrote 1201 words and reached 70.7% of the way through this draft. (This sounds good, but I think by the time I finish, the point at which I currently am will actually be about 30% into the novel. I have got a lot more words to write and even more to excise. I'm trying not to think about this.)

Maslow's Hierarchy and Web Addiction

This is funny, but on a more serious note, I do think the issue of web and phone overuse and addiction actually has a great deal to do with Maslow's hierarchy. Specifically, as a culture we have the bottom two levels basically nailed but are woefully starving, perhaps to an unprecedented extent, for the top four. The Internet sometimes gives us the ability to gain those top four levels, but most often, it simply gives us the illusion.