PENS OF PRAISE MEETING -- TUESDAY, OCTOBER 15

PENS OF PRAISE

CHRISTIAN WRITERS GROUP

October 15, 2019

  Tuesday 6:00 p.m. – 7:45 p.m.

                                      Manitowoc Public Library

                                        Franklin St. Room

                                      

707 Quay St, Manitowoc, WI 54220

Street parking and parking in rear available. Wheelchair accessible.

Franklin St. Room located on the first floor, to the left of the service desk.      

“Total Author Talk” is our topic in October. Susan Marlene will facilitate the meeting. Susan invites you to come and bring a friend. Let’s share goals—past and present or those wonderful only-authors-would-understand writing techniques or worthy finds!

PROMPT: Using notes from last month’s teaching on DiAnn Mills “antagonistic setting” found on www.susanmarlene.com (Writers & Pens page) build a true or fictional story. One for your heart or one for publication—your choice.

Let Susan Marlene know if you are attending so that she can save a seat for you and a handout.

susanmarlenewrites@gmail.com

Inspired readers given excellent take-away = return readers!

We are a safe place to share and Pens Meetings are free.

As always, if you have any questions or concerns don’t hesitate to contact Becky McLafferty @ rebeccamclafferty@gmail.com or

Susan Marlene@ susanmarlenewrites@gmail.com

The sweeping countryside of Arizona Territory in 1871 marvelously sets the stage for this first novel from Regina Scott’s “American Wonders Collection.” From beginning to end, I was delighted. This is another wonder-filled adventure by this author, but that is no surprise to me. I appreciate and esteem Regina’s storytelling ability quite highly. She works hard to entertain and encourage all-the-while she makes the story flow with believability and tension that turns pages. Her characters have depth and are likable, engaging, and perfect for the challenges they meet.

I certainly would like to see more of Meg Pero and Captain Ben Coleridge as well as Dot and Hank Newcomb. Regina’s vivid descriptions are necessary to the story thread and quite enjoyable. I found myself smiling a lot as I read this novel. Becoming acquainted with her characters who were dealing with immense difficulties and trials that would test any man or woman’s fortitude—kept me engaged in the adventure.  

I’m grateful that this is the first of the American Wonders Collection, and I’m already looking forward to the next book in this series. Especially since there is a sneak peek first chapter for her second novel. I wonder when that is coming out! Revell provided a lovely cover that matches the quality of this story, a novel I’m proud to promote. Thank you, Regina, for the free book and I am offering my honest opinion and impressions of this wonderful novel.

 

QUESTIONS FOR REGINA:

Your adventures are so unique and positively interesting! What or who inspired this series?

I started out to write a story about a lady photographer in the Old West, and I wanted her to shoot something grand, amazing. What more amazing than the Grand Canyon? My publisher suggested that I use the story to start a series of books set in the history of our national parks. A Distance Too Grand is the first. Nothing Short of Wondrous, out next October, will be the second. It is set in Yellowstone National Park. And the third book (as yet untitled) will be set on Mt. Rainier.

Your descriptions were so fresh and realistic, did you hike or camp out close to this location?

I visited the Grand Canyon a couple years ago with my family, but I didn’t get to do much more than walk the rim and marvel. But there are dozens and dozens of pictures online plus first-hand accounts from the time period. But that all together, and it seems I came close to describing the amazing vistas!

If you did visit, camp, or hike in the “Arizona Territory” did you take photos? If so, will you share one with us?

Delighted! Though I am not nearly as good a photographer as Meg.

What a WONDERFUL photo, Regina!  Thank you for sharing!  :) Beautiful!  

Do you have a fun or interesting fact about this location and time that you didn’t get to include in A DISTANCE TOO GRAND?
I briefly mentioned it in the book, but the landscape cameras of the time were massive, like two feet square! The bigger the picture, the bigger the camera you needed.

Did you find those cooking tips that Dot used, or were some handed down? You have my curiosity awakened!
My oldest son is a Sous Chef in Seattle. I took the information I found about Army supplies plus what I’d learned would have been in season naturally at that time and asked him what Dot could have cooked. He helped me come up with a repertoire for the survey.

Is there anything you would like to share with your readers concerning your theme or your experience while writing this book? (Or an experience that led to your writing this book.)
It’s the 100 anniversary this year of the founding of Grand Canyon National Park. If you have a chance to visit, I highly recommend it! And if not, I hope you get a chance to go out near you and enjoy the changing of the Seasons. Nothing draws me closer to our Creator than being out in His creation.

On your website, I enjoyed the historical elements that you posted on your blog page. http://www.reginascott.com/
Thank you! I have more information about the stereographs that Meg specializes in. Go to http://www.reginascott.com/adistancetoogrand.html and scroll down to the bottom, then click on the link.

Regina Scott's bio:
Regina Scott is the author of more than 45 historical romances set in Regency, England; pioneer Seattle; and the Old West. A stickler for getting it right, she’s sailed on a tall ship, driven four-in-hand, and learned to fence, all in the name of research. She and her husband of more than 30 years live in the South Puget Sound area, on the way to Mt. Rainier.

Simply another wonderful review with you, Regina! Thank you for your time and whimsical answers! You always make it fun!

1871

This exquisite, richly woven tale shares Raina’s journey cloaked with unfathomable discoveries. Raina is given an invitation that if accepted, will change her life forever—as well as those whom she comes to know. Victor Eugene Prenderast, Sully—who stole Raina’s heart long before The Maiden Faire’s terrible shipwreck drowned her hopes, and the elusive Countess of Enderly, all make a profound impact upon the choices and decisions Raina will make.

The author, Joanna, skillfully unwraps the hearts of her characters and places them within the boundaries of this hauntingly beautiful and dangerous story. The stakes are high, and the mysteries and intriguing characters add depth which latched onto my curiosity and wouldn’t allow me to break free. This is a tale where influential people, beauty, fear, and identity merge and flow with passion and grace that beckoned this reader to write this review and share the good news about another pleasing and worthy tale to read or listen too. I will gladly sequester time for other novels that Joanna Davidson Politano will write! (I’m ever so glad to listen to Kindle while attending to the mundane, for I began this novel when I entered a very busy time.)

I highly recommend this story because this author also unwrapped my heart to want to find out more about Raina and cheer her on! Let me take a moment to politely beg for more of the same type of story from this writer. There it is, all said. Joanna’s stories are welcome here!

QUESTIONS FOR JOANNA:


Was Rothburne Abbey a real place in England?

It was based on real abbeys in England, mostly Forde Abbey. I took bits and pieces from various places and put them together to make an abbey that truly charmed me.

What a unique and fascinating plot—how did you come up with the idea for this tale?

Thank you! The idea has been percolating since I was a young kid and my mom and I were watching the news. Princess Di had just passed away and I was heartbroken. My mom said she wondered if she'd actually escaped the media and gone to live on a deserted island for the rest of her life, and I wondered--would she still be Princess Di? Would she be royalty? Would she have the ability to be as kind? It all spiraled from there!

Have you visited 1800s abbeys before?

I visited all sorts of places when I visited the UK a few years ago--most are now ruins, but the cool thing about them is that you can still see the layout of every room. It's all there on the ground like a live blueprint. I got a sense for how things were set up, and how they lived. Fascinating trip!

When did you get the writing bug?

My first book was written at age 5 and was called, Moving Day. You can guess what was going on in my life. Honestly, I think I caught the novel-writing bug when I found myself in a caretaking situation, mostly homebound every day. My grandma had been slowly unraveling for me the story of her parents, how they came to America as children, and the surprising family secrets they found when they arrived. That book just poured out of me, then I was addicted to storytelling.

What is your favorite snack to enjoy when writing or plotting?

Cereal! I know it's crazy, but I love to munch on handfuls of cereal while I write. It's my favorite "sweet."

Did Widow McCall remind you of anyone as you wrote her?

Mostly she came from a woman who rented my family some cabins when I was a young kid. That delightful little cackle and clipped voice always stayed with me--as well as her quirky advice. It's those really unique characters who take up residence in your mind and percolate into something fictional that you can drop into a story.

Do you have another novel adventure in the works?

Always! I just turned a book into my editor that features a lost love letter, and the spinster who finds it and decides to return it--if she can figure out who wrote it. After that comes a book set in the Victorian ballet.

Where do you want your readers to connect with you?  

I have a prayer spot on my webpage, jdpstories.com, as well as a newsletter signup. I also love to see readers on my facebook author page, https://www.facebook.com/joannadavidsonpolitano/.

Thank you, Joanna! I loved the answers that you gave for this interview! I look forward to reading your next book. I have two other books that you have written and I can't wait to dig into those also! Blessings always! 

Sue