WELCOME TO THE WRITERS ALLEY FRIDAY FUN
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Photo taken by Mary Vee of
WWII American Soldier memorial near Florence, Italy |
We first want to thank all our Veterans for their service and sacrifice. We also want to thank their families and wish all God's blessing on this Veteran's Day.
This past week on the Alley:
On Tuesday, Ashley Clark wrote about A Caterpillar's Heart. Such a sweet post about appreciating and enjoying the moments we are currently in. If you have a second, scroll down and be inspired.
Thursday, Amy Leigh Simpson wrote about What if I ... Fail?. Spinning off these two inspiring posts the Alley Cats have shared below where they are in their current WIP and hope you will share in the comment section where you are. NaNo writers, how are you doing?
All comments for any portion of this post are entered to win one of Ruthy's new books.
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| Ruth Logan Herne |
Today we are bursting to share great news about a friend, harvest queen, tender of children, and award winning author, Ruth Logan Herne, affectionately known as Ruthy.
Ruthy is one of the Seekerville gang, (a sister writing blog), a regular contributor for Yankee Belle Cafe, and an a-mazing author.
This weekend three commenters will receive one of Ruthy's new released books. Ruthy is giving away one copy of Home on the Range and two copies of Silent Night, Star-lit Night.
I had a chance to chat with Ruthy. She is one amazing lady. I laughed, was inspired, and amazed. Here's what we chatted about:
1.
How do you juggle the farm, kid care, and writing?
Mary, I get asked this a lot and for a
very easy-going person who often appears unorganized or casual, I take work very
seriously!!! I get up in the middle of the night… between 3:30 and 4:00 AM and
that’s when I write. That way NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS!!!! My 1000 words (plus or
minus) is done.
I never have to feel guilty. I rarely
feel “behind”. I’m usually way ahead of schedule because I don’t procrastinate
when it comes to work. I do pick and choose, which means if I’m writing and
needed on the farm, housework can wait. If kids need me and I’m needed on the
farm, the farm can wait. I prioritize what means something to me, and then I go
for it. To me it’s a natural progression of pick-and-choose, but the fact that
everyone talks about it means that NOT EVERYONE IS WILLING TO GET UP AT 4:00
A.M.!!! (laughing!!!!)
Um, yeah, I thought I was a morning person getting up at 5am. Kudos!
2. You had quite a few books published. Where
do you find fresh story ideas?
I have nearly 40 books either published
or at least finished and in the pipeline, and I have to pinch myself to make
sure it’s real…. And I’m the happiest woman ever! What an honor and a privilege
to get to do this job, the job I longed to do for years, and to have a
readership now? Who woulda thunk that the poor kid from a slovenly home would
end up here? Honestly: Me! It was as if God told me, long ago, that if I just
held on… my dream would come true. And I always believed it.
Story ideas come from everywhere. A
snatch of conversation. A look between two people that I witness. A bit of
scripture or a phrase that catches my ear and I wonder “What if?”…. what if he
never came back? What if she never told him about the baby? What if there was
one person from the enclave who lived. What would be her story?
So those ideas germinate and take hold
and blossom… and sometimes I might have a mental image of a story for years
before the right series comes along to make it a perfect fit!
I thought of this after we talked, and maybe you could answer in the comment section, do you keep a card holder or some other record of these budding ideas?
3.
What is one secret you've learned about writing?
No secrets at all… the one thing I
profess and will shout it from the mountaintops is this: Writers don’t talk
about writing. They write.
Write. Write. Write. And then edit and
write some more!
4.
Using FB as a tool, you have introduced us to The Mighty Finn. Have you thought
of spinning his adventures into a children's book?
He’s so much fun to work with, Mary!
When he’s not whining or fussing like any normal kid, LOL!
I love reading daily Mighty Finn entries on FB!
5.
Tell us about your newest release.
I’ve had a crazy wonderful fall with
three books releasing…. “Home on the Range” which was a 4.5 Star Top Pick for September
in Romantic Times Review! It’s the wonderful second book of the Double S Ranch
series, and I’ve had the best time working with Shannon Marchese of Waterbrook!
Her insights are marvelous and I’m thrilled with how beautifully the books have
come out! Team effort, all the way!
And for CHRISTMAS I have two lovely
novellas that just released! The contemporary is “Silent
Night, Star-lit Night” from St. Martin’s Press, a beautiful story of an
expectant mother, a widow, heading north to kiss her grandpa goodbye one last
time… and the cowboy that refuses to let her make the trip home alone….
And the historical is “A Cowboy for Christmas” from Gilead
Publishing’s “Cowboy Homecoming Christmas”! It’s a wonderful collection with
Mary Connealy, Julie Lessman and Anna Schmidt… we had so much fun putting those
stories together! It was a delightful experience and deepened my love of historicals!
6. What is your favorite thanksgiving recipe?
Oh, gosh. I love food. I love cooking
and baking, but I’m going to send you to the Yankee Belle Café, a fun blog with
six regional inspirational authors and the foods we love to cook… and the
things we mess up!
This is a recipe I developed two years ago, and it’s become
a Herne/Blodgett family favorite. “Eggnog Pie” is a custard pudding pie made
with eggnog and then topped with homemade whipped cream… it is to die for! And
if you want to shave white chocolate on the top, that’s fine, but it really
doesn’t need embellishment.It’s amazing just as it is! Here’s the link: http://yankeebellecafe.blogspot.com/2015/12/egg-nog-cream-pie-new-holiday-favorite.html
Here are some awesome ideas for comments. Remember three commenters will win one of Ruthie's books. Winners will be announced in next Friday's gathering here on the Writer's Alley. PLEASE, also leave your email address.
1. Who would you like to honor for Veterans' Day?
2. How far are you in your current WIP or marketing of current release?
3. What is your favorite thanksgiving food?
4. Does your family have a favorite hand-me-down recipe? Who created the recipe?
5. What questions to you have for Ruth Logan Herne?
