Conversing with My Characters
When I was struggling to write Cursed, I had tea with a writer friend. She said when she’s struggling with a story, sometimes she’ll have a conversation about it with one of her fictional characters. I realize non-writers will see this as a sure sign of insanity, but I suspect that most fiction writers will understand. Of course, I tried it.
I ended up writing out the spirit man’s version of the story. I had to hide from my family while I wrote so I wouldn’t lose my – his? – train of thought. Easily interrupted, anyway.
I can’t share it with anyone because it’s full of spoilers, but writing it was a lot of fun. He’s pretty opinionated.
Maureen
Musings: Icefields Parkway Jasper Patricia Lake Rockies
by Maureen Bush
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One More Trip to the Rockies
We were in Jasper this week for a lovely end-of-summer holiday. My husband took these photos, along the Icefields Parkway, and of Patricia Lake early one morning. Visitors to Canada stood with him that morning, marvelling at the beauty of the lake. Then they turned around and found two elk watching with them.
Maureen
Cursed! Soundtrack
In Cursed, Jane is cursed by the Spirit Man statue in her grandmother’s bathroom.
I’ve found the Spirit Man’s soundtrack – Kiri Te Kanawa singing Tarakihi. It’s not the soundtrack for the book, but for the Spirit Man himself.
It’s an ancient Maori chant from New Zealand and my guy is from Papua New Guinea, so it’s not accurate, but I think it’s perfect anyway!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WV88zD55_zc
It’s actually about a cicada, so I need to not think about the meaning for it to sound fierce enough.
Maureen
Cursed Business
I’m in a flurry of activity for Cursed!, my new Orca Young Reader coming out in the fall. We’ve set a launch date – October 16, Monkeyshines Book Store (in Calgary), 1:00. I’m working on notes for a teacher’s guide, planning for the web page, and designing buttons. Yes, I’ll have Cursed! buttons!
Maureen
Writers on Facebook
I’ve wondered what other writers do when they’re looking for distraction, besides the obvious cleaning the toilet and weeding the garden. Then I joined Facebook, and discovered the answer. They chat on Facebook. Many of the comments are about writing, so we can call it professional development time. Some of it is water-cooler grousing about politics, or chatting about home repairs, because we all work alone and need someone to talk to. And some of it is just absurd. Funny people, these writers.
Maureen