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Comment by kimberly puhrmann on February 25, 2013 at 10:59pm

Hello all, 

I am new here.  Thought I would jump in and just give a brief bio of myself. I am a first time self published author of Bridges to Cross, Secrets to Bare, under my pen name Kacey James.  I am currently in the progress of setting up for my next story.  I'm actually challenging myself to write two different books at the same time.  Thank Goodness for trapper keepers, they keep it all straight for me.  I am a stay at home wife, mother and grandmother.  About a year and a half I ago, I was finally diagnosed with Chronic Pancreatitis due to a birth defect that is called Pancreatic Divisum.  I currently have a feeding tube in place as my pancrease does not like food at all.  This will be the second year that I have had it in.  I am on disability.  I have struggled with this illness for a long time.  I just finally got the name of it and the reason for it, in 2011.  I admit, I struggled with not being able to eat, work, do the normal day to day stuff that I was used to, and as I sat there doing it, I realized there is a reason for everything that happens.  So, I went fell back in love with my first crush, writing.  I took the big plunge and self published a story I had wrote a few years ago.  I still struggle with the day to day ups and downs of this disease, but, my writing keep me sane.  I look forward to meeting each and everyone of you.  

Comment by Kathryn on November 18, 2012 at 12:29pm

I guess I, like many others, am scared of putting myself out there and being rejected...I'm pretty sure that's what it all comes down to.

Yes, I do have a blog, Lisa :) here

Comment by Brandi J. Thorpe on November 17, 2012 at 9:42pm

I encourage you to just write and share honestly --- Your beliefs aren't being forced on anyone, they are yours to create with. I have come to the realization that writing is an opportunity to share your veiws with people, to present a conversation, and that doesn't force people to do or belive anything. It's a beautiful thing to stand strong and share a truth. I encourage you, don't let fears stand in the way of your vaulable voice!

Ps -- thanks the previous answer/s to my questions ladies!

Comment by Lisa Degerstrom on November 17, 2012 at 3:50pm

Well maybe pompous isn't the right word.  Like you said, I just don't want to step on anyone's toes.  And I am far from a ballerina-trust me!  If you are writing a book with any type of "lesson" someone will be offended.  Though, from what I've seen, the more offense--the more sales.  So maybe that's a GOOD thing.  

Do you have a writing blog or website?  I'd love to visit!  

Comment by Kathryn on November 17, 2012 at 12:40pm

the million dollar question...I always get stumped when someone asks me that; especially my family. I don't know about people's beliefs and I don't want to step on any toes. Sometimes I think I am too concerned about offending others...

How would you sound pompous? I'm not following...or maybe I'm just delirious...

Comment by Lisa Degerstrom on November 16, 2012 at 12:25pm

I'm really glad you asked me that-What is my book about?  I've sat here for an half an hour thinking about it.  Not the story, I've got that-but the theme...What is it really about?  The story is basically about a group of teenager survivors of a horrible event at their school.  In the end only three get out alive.  And this is where the theme defined itself to me...the three represent hope, strength and compassion.  Left behind are bad decisions, cruelty, fear and doubt.  At least this is what the story means to me.  I think the greatest thing about art in any form is that it can be taken by different people to mean different things.  

Now I just need to make sure the theme is hidden well enough that I don't sound pompous.  Like I said, this is HARD.  

Comment by Kathryn on November 16, 2012 at 11:31am

Oh, I know what you mean...I write Christian fiction, and at the beginning of the novel, my FMC is a total wild child--drugs, alcohol, sex...that was a tough one to get through...by the end of the novel, she's done a complete 180. I guess knowing that from the get-go made it a little easier, but still...

I hate writing "bad guys". I want everyone in the novel to have a happy ending and be sweet and loving; but like you said, it's not compelling. A friend of mine explained conflict to me like this (I can still remember exactly where we were when he told me this story): you could write something like: "one sunny day, a family decided to enjoy the nice weather and go to the park and have a picnic" (or something along those lines) it's a story, but a boring one. There's no conflict. Throw in a thunderstorm, then you can go from there. I will never forget that. I was worried that the conflict and turmoil in my novel would bring it down

awww...I will remember that!

what is your book about?

Comment by Lisa Degerstrom on November 16, 2012 at 11:20am

Thanks for the welcome Kathryn (by the way my current FMC's name is Katherine).  I have such a hard time giving my character's bad habits-PCP would be considered a bad habit, right?).  I tend to treat them like my kids.  I want them to be nice.  Of course that does not make for a compelling story line.  I'm working on it though!  

Oh and ramble on...if the words don't go in your book, they've go to go somewhere! 

Comment by Kathryn on November 16, 2012 at 11:12am

Lisa,

Welcome! There is no such thing as intruding. Hop on in!I COMPLETELY agree with you about WANTING to write a book versus actually doing it. It takes a lot of work and commitment.
I'm revising my first novel now and something I am learning the tiring world of research...I never knew I'd have to do any of that. Funny story: I was looking up info about PCP on the net and my aunt saw it and was like "PCP?!" I explained to her that one of my characters snorted (one time) and that I wasn't doing drugs, just research. :)

Okay...no more rambling I promise!

Comment by Lisa Degerstrom on November 16, 2012 at 11:03am

Hi~ I hope it was ok to just invite myself into this group.  I have one self-published novel titled The Soul Schematic and am working on the next in that series.  Well sort of, I'm doing NANO right now.  I am learning to be a novelist as I go and am finding that it was a whole lot easier to WANT to write a book compared to actually WRITING a book.  Who knew?  ;)  Anyway, again, I hope I'm not intruding and look forward to being a sympathetic ear in regards to other novelist's struggles (and triumphs!) in this scary journey.  

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