Friday, June 20, 2014

The Power of Story - Guest Post with Wendy Paine Miller

There’s a scene in my latest release, THE FLOWER GIRLS, when thirty-year-old Poppy reflects upon when she used to “story” her twin sister, Daisy, to sleep.

~*~
“Tell me a story.”
The moon poured a milky light onto her bed. Daisy curled her body into a fetal position and yawned so wide I could see the back of her throat. We were about to be nine and I remember thinking I could make everything right with the world. I’d become infatuated with reading. My imagination ballooned inside of me waiting to share all kinds of stories. I snuggled up to her and breathed in her orangey scent.
“Witches or monsters this time?”
“Neither.”
I grew quiet. A shiver crept over my summer-warmed skin. I could handle her fear of witches and monsters. I knew exactly what to say to get her mind off those. But neither? I’d have to invent a good story this time.

*from THE FLOWER GIRLS, by Wendy Paine Miller

~*~

I don’t think anyone would argue with me when I assert stories possess great power. An article entitled “Your Brain on Fiction” in The New York Times explores this further. Click here for full article. “Brain scans are revealing what happens in our heads when we read a detailed description, an evocative metaphor or an emotional exchange between characters. Stories, this research is showing, stimulate the brain and even change how we act in life.”

Stories can change us. Poppy seemed to get this as she worked hard to allay her sister’s fears. She wanted to create another world for Daisy to go to when this world proved too overwhelming or confusing. I get this. I’ve been known to pick up a book a time or two for the same reason.

And when I contemplate the following from The New York Times article I quoted earlier, I even more deeply appreciate the intrinsic value of reading fiction.

“Individuals who frequently read fiction seem to be better able to understand other people, empathize with them and see the world from their perspective.”

I'd love to hear your thoughts! Do you ever think about how stories influence your life? How much impact and power do you think fiction possesses?

CHECK OUT WENDY'S NEW BOOK!

Imagine staring into the face of a loved one with no recollection of who they are. Every person a stranger. Daisy O’Reilly's inability to recognize faces, a cognitive disorder resulting from a childhood accident, causes her to rely heavily upon her twin sister, Poppy. Perhaps too much so.

Overwhelmed by Daisy’s needs, Poppy anticipates the freedom her upcoming wedding will bring—a chance to relinquish her obsessive worries about Daisy and escape the clutches of guilt from one hazy day when the girls were seven. When they were still invincible.

With a thriving floral photography career but a floundering love life, Daisy questions how strong she will be on her own. And who she might become without Poppy living down the hall or offering a deluge of reminders during each social interaction.

But for the O’Reilly sisters to properly let go, they must first understand what they’re holding on to.




Wendy Paine Miller is a native New Englander who feels most alive when she’s laughing, reading, writing or taking risks. She’s authored ten novels and recently released her novella, THE DISAPPEARING KEY. She’s currently writing what she hopes will be your future book club pick. Wendy lives with her husband, their three girls, and a nocturnal Samoyed pup in a home bursting with imagination and hilarity. She’s represented by Rachelle Gardener of Books & Such Literary Agency.
~~~

14 comments:

Wendy Paine Miller said...

Thanks so much for hosting me today Alley cats! I look forward to stopping in throughout the day to see what people think about the power of stories.

And I can't get over how blue my shirt looks on your site. ;-)

Can you guys think of a fiction work that CHANGED YOU?

Amy Leigh Simpson said...

We're glad to have you Wendy! And we always love hanging out with a former, beloved, Alley Cat for a day :)

I have this discussion with my hubby a lot, since he's a non fiction reader and tends to see fiction as a pointless escape. But I venture that fiction is even more powerful because I can not only change you, but it takes you outside yourself. You walk in someone else's shoes, feel what they feel, hurt when they bleed. Fiction is not a distraction, it's a journey of self discovery through story. Very powerful indeed!

Amy Leigh Simpson said...

And one example of a work of fiction that changed my life, and my walk of faith, is Francine Rivers Mark of the Lion series. Incredible!

Wendy Paine Miller said...

I love what that article included about empathy. I've always believed reading fiction has a way of teaching & growing our empathy for others.

The book I'm reading right now is changing me (as have so many others). The Invention of Wings. Loving this book!!!

Krista Phillips said...

I definitely think it can change you, both for good and for bad!!!

How is that for controversial...

I take the "job" as a writer really seriously because of that. The words I write DO have power, STORY has power, both to wound and to heal, to encourage and to discourage, to build up or tear apart.

I pray over each of my works, that, regardless of "spiritual content" that God would use my words for good.

Wendy Paine Miller said...

Krista, I thought about your comment while grocery shopping and I kept coming back to how important it is to know what you can handle.

What I mean is that I think Stephen King is a phenomenal writer, but most of his books would freak me out to no end. In the same respect I tend to steer clear of romance novels (I know, don't throw shoes at me) because they feed into false notions of how relationships should look in my mind. It has always helped to know those things about myself.

Hoping this makes sense. And I agree, our words spoken, written, or however expresses possess great responsibility.

Amy Leigh Simpson said...

Great thoughts Krista! I agree. There are definitely books that have changed my perspective for the worse. They linger and leave a bad taste in your mouth for months or years. I felt that way about Gone Girl. Not my kinda story for sure but it still disturbs me from time to time. Like Wendy said, we have to know what we can handle. And be very careful what we feed into our minds. Good stuff girls!

Sherrinda Ketchersid said...

I remember when I first read Francine River's book, Mark of the Lion. Oh my...the quiet, gentle faith of Hadassah stayed with me for a long time. I have always wanted a faith like that...giving, caring, loving no matter what.

Krista Phillips said...

Wendy, I totally agree.

I definitely write romance and have an avid love for it. For me, it doesn't create anything unrealistic as far as expecations, although I'm conscience of the fact that it could if I used it as a gauge to judge, say, my husband or my own marriage.
For me, it encourages me to strive for better and not get complacent. It's a reminder that romance is IMPORTANT ('cause sometimes life with 4 kiddos can make it be put on the back burner a bit!)

And I don't watch too scary stuff because I enjoy being able to sleep at night... LOL.

I think, more than genre, my thoughts were along the line of the lessens weaved into our fiction.

God can use it for good, but the devil is also at work. I'm not saying to read all Christian books, but I do think we should be "wise as serpents" while we read.

Goodness, I've even read some Christian novels that God put that check in my heart regarding the message relayed.

But then again, this relates to all facets of our life, too.

I am so totally off topic... SORRY!! LOL

Susan Anne Mason said...

Hi Wendy,

Congrats on your new release! Interesting premise for sure!

Fiction has been so important to me from the first time I could read. The Bobbsey Twins when I was 4 or 5, then Trixie Belden, then Nancy Drew, then Anne of Green Gables. I could go on and on, but fiction is life changing.

Some years back, I finally read Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers. Those characters and that faith stayed with me for a long time. Awesome! Hope one of my books will have that effect some day!

Cheers,
Sue

Amy Leigh Simpson said...

Francine Rivers is just fabulous all around, I'd say :)

And Krista... I think writing romance keeps me aware if what I might take for granted. You're right, romance is important! And with kids it takes more intentional planning and creativity. It's far too easy to let it slip.. Writing it keeps me on my game ;) keeps my hubby from getting complacent too!

Ashley Clark said...

Wendy, your photo is gorgeous! My goodness!

I definitely think fiction can have an effect on the heart in a unique and beautiful way, as we see in the stories of Jesus. People engage with stories because they aren't threatened by a fictional world, and yet, as readers, we so often find ourselves changed in the process.

Thank you for being our guest today, Wendy! :D

Wendy Paine Miller said...

Amy, There were some scenes in Gone Girl that shocked me to the core. I kept thinking who would do *that*?

Sherrinda, I really need to go read that book now.

Krista, I love that romance can do that for you. How does the saying go, know thyself? Guess I just know where this head of mine tends to go. I'm going to be thinking more about what you wrote about lessons weaved into our fiction. I've thought about it, but from a different angle. Thanks for churning thoughts.

Sue, I'll hope the same thing for you and the books of my childhood definitely seeded the love of imagination for me. One being A Wrinkle in Time.

Amy, I think you'd both (& Krista)get a kick out of hearing that I'm pretty sure my husband would get a kick out of it I decided I suddenly wanted to start writing romances.

Ashley, I like how blue my shirt is on your site. Need to get here more often. ;-) Love the stories of Jesus. And I love how he treated people. Seriously in love with that!

Most welcome & I'm grateful to feel so welcomed by this cool cat crew!

Wendy Paine Miller said...

Amy, There were some scenes in Gone Girl that shocked me to the core. I kept thinking who would do *that*?

Sherrinda, I really need to go read that book now.

Krista, I love that romance can do that for you. How does the saying go, know thyself? Guess I just know where this head of mine tends to go. I'm going to be thinking more about what you wrote about lessons weaved into our fiction. I've thought about it, but from a different angle. Thanks for churning thoughts.

Sue, I'll hope the same thing for you and the books of my childhood definitely seeded the love of imagination for me. One being A Wrinkle in Time.

Amy, I think you'd both (& Krista)get a kick out of hearing that I'm pretty sure my husband would get a kick out of it I decided I suddenly wanted to start writing romances.

Ashley, I like how blue my shirt is on your site. Need to get here more often. ;-) Love the stories of Jesus. And I love how he treated people. Seriously in love with that!

Most welcome & I'm grateful to feel so welcomed by this cool cat crew!