An Interview with Robin E. Mason

We are so excited to welcome author Robin E. Mason to The Writer's Alley to celebrate her latest release, The Long Shadows of Summer! She was gracious enough to allow us to turn the tables since she has been so kind to interview some of us on her blog. Let's get started...

Hi, Robin! Welcome to the other side of the author interview table. We’ll try to be as nice as you’ve been to us ;) Tell us what’s going on with you!

What’s going on with me? I’m trying to find my brain! (I didn’t leave it with ya’ll over in the Alley, did I?) The Long Shadows of Summer, Book 1 in my new series, Seasons, releases in ONE WEEK!

And the million-dollar question: What’s your story about?

Identity. My main character, Mercedes, discovers some things that totally change her life—and her perspective of who she is.

What do you want readers to take away most from your book?

We are who God made us to be, no matter our life or circumstance.

Can you tell us a little about your journey to publication?

I jumped in without a clue. Did everything totally backward! LOL! I published my debut novel, Tessa, for Kindle in March 2014. Then started blogging. Then started following other blogs and sharing—and learning. And then published in print and had book signing events.

I was asked about a sequel, and lo and behold, two places in Tessa pointed right to the second book. And then there was book 3! Thought I’d take a break after that, but NOOOOO, Mercedes started chattering in my head and Seasons was underway without missing a beat!

What was the hardest thing about writing this book?

There are a lot of difficult scenes, but the one that really gets me is when the truth of who she is--who God says she is--really begins to penetrate her psyche.

Can you point to one thing that helped you get it finished and to this point?

Determination? My tight release schedule for one, but mostly because I want to honor God in what I’m doing. When I ask Him what He wants me to do Kingdom-wise, He says write. Serious. I don’t “feel” like I’m doing His work, but if my stories touch one heart, then that’s what it’s about.

What would you tell yourself five years ago (or when you started)?

I’d like to say slow down, think ahead, and have a plan. But my brain doesn’t work that way. For all my (OCD) planning, I still tend to barrel on through…

I would advocate for networking earlier on, I suppose. Attend conferences and writer’s groups—and follow writer blogs. ;-)

Now for some lighter questions! What are you currently reading?

Just did start A Time to Laugh by Marion Ueckermann (Love at First Laugh). And I gotta say, closing in on 60 myself, I CANNOT EVEN imagine!!!

What’s your favorite writing fuel?
Chocolate of course! Also keep cashews or almonds on hand. And I drink tea, iced and unsweet (sorry, Pepper) 24/7. Coffee in the mornings, cinnamon hazelnut, also not sweet.

Do you listen to music when you write?
Nope. Can’t. I start singing and/or bopping along and can’t concentrate on the voices—I mean the characters and story. :)

How do you reward yourself when you reach a writing goal?

Apparently, I just start a new story. That’s been the way of it thus far!

What’s the weirdest thing in your bag?

Oh dear… I have a weird obsession for paper products. I always take more napkins than necessary (when eating out) and stash ridiculous gobs of them in my purse. I don’t understand this need.

Thanks so much for joining us, Robin! We are looking forward to reading The Long Shadows of Summer!

About Robin: Robin E. Mason has been writing since 1995 and began working in earnest on her debut novel, Tessa, in 2013. Meanwhile, she cranked out a few dozen poems, made countless notes for story ideas, and earned her BFA in Interior Design. Ms. Mason lived with depression for many years, and the inherent feelings of worthlessness and invisibility; she didn’t want to be who she was and struggled with her own identity for many years. Her characters face many of these same demons. 

She also writes stories of identity conflict. Her characters encounter situations that force the question, “Who am I really?” Readers who have ever wondered who they are or why they're here will be touched in a very real and deep way. “I know," Mason says. "I write from experience.”

In addition to her August release, The Long Shadows of Summer, her three novels, Tessa, Clara Bess, and Cissy, are available on Amazon, both for Kindle and in print. Mason also has several poems featured in Where Dreams and Visions Live (Anthologies of the Heart Book 1) and a short story titled "Sarafina’s Light" in the Blood Moon anthology. Book Two in her Seasons series, The Tilting Leaves of Autumn, is slated for release in November. 

You can connect with Robin here:

Website | Blog | Facebook | Amazon | Twitter | Pinterest | Google+ | Goodreads

Finding Discipline to Write

Some people are disciplined. They can get up at 5 am each morning. They go for a jog every day after work. They spend 8 hours, 6 days a week in front of the computer, spinning stories one right after the other.  They are good at doing the hard thing every single day in order to achieve their goals.

 

And then there are those of us who are not quite as adept at self-discipline. We aren’t even good at setting goals, much less attaining them.  We try. We even try hard. But somewhere down the line we go back to our old ways of doing things, garnering no success along the way. In fact, the only thing we accomplish is guilt for failing once more.

I think I’ve found the problem - at least for me and my ever-recurring cycle of one step forward and one step back. It’s nothing new, but it is not always easy to obtain.

Accountability.

I need accountability to be able to sit my behind in the chair and write when I don’t feel like it. I need accountability to lose weight and get on the scale. I need someone checking in on me, asking if I’d met my goals.

If I don’t have that, then I slip back into doing what I always did before. When I get writer’s block or don’t like the blank page, I go watch Netflix instead (in the name of research, of course). Instead of logging my food into My Fitness Pal, I go to the fridge and eat a spoonful of ice cream. One little spoon doesn’t count, does it? It is my reward for doing all that research on Netflix!

The difficulty is finding someone to keep you accountable. I am fortunate to have a mentor this year for my writing. I have learned so much about setting goals and maintaining them. I’ve learned I can do so much more than I think I can when given a little kick in the behind. I only have her for a year, but I am doing everything in my power to learn and grow, praying that the lessons and discipline I learn this year will stick with me forever.

So how do you go about finding someone to be accountable to?

Many times you find someone organically. Maybe in your circle of friends, someone is going through the same thing you are and needs someone to bounce ideas with.

You could always put a call out for a critique partner who writes in your genre. This is definitely something I need to do. It is scary putting yourself out there, but the rewards of finding a good fit would be worth the risk. The ACFW organization has a critique pool and many have found partners within that group.

Network with writers at conferences and online. It could be an experienced writer sees potential in you and takes you under her wing.

Above all, pray about it. Pray that God Spirit within you will spur you toward discipline. I Timothy 1:7 says this: “For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.”

We have His Spirit in us, full of power that gives us this self-discipline. We can overcome our weakness through the strength within us. His strength.

We can sit and write. We can overcome the blank screen. We can write every single day. We can, because He enables us.

What are you doing today to make your dreams come true? 

What are you implementing in your daily life that will help you meet your goals? 

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Sherrinda Ketchersid is a born and bred Texan, preacher’s wife, mother to 4 children, and secretary at public elementary school. With the children grown and out of the house, she weaves tales of fierce knights and their ladies in a time where men were warriors and women had to be strong enough to keep them in check.

After taking time off from writing, she has returned with a new motto in place to spur her on. “Writers write. Everyone else makes excuses.” ~Jack Bickham.  No excuses this time. She is weaving her love of romance with history to bring joy and the hope of love to those who may one day read her stories.

You can connect with her through:

Personal blog: sherrinda.com

Twitter: @sherrinda

Instagram: @sherrinda

A Recipe for a Fun Booksigning for Authors and Readers

Ingredients:

• 1 Tray of Goodies for sustenance and luring in potential readers
• 2 Pens or Sharpies
• 1 Blank List for newsletter signups 
• 1 Smile for interacting with customers as they walk by your table
• 1 Sensational New Outfit -- you have our permission ;)
• 1 Thank you note per store manager who coordinated said event
• Bookmarks and Promotional Materials

Directions (for Authors)

• Before the event, invite all of your local friends and family members.
• Make sure that retailer's online store is on your website (if they have one).
• Post the event on your website, social media, and any local publications that have sections for local events. 
• If (hopefully) the manager has positioned you close to the entrance, people will be curious who you are. Be sure to engage and be friendly with customers you may not know!
• Combine the ingredients above and ENJOY!
• If possible, see if you can sign any remaining stock for the shelf.

Directions (for Readers)

• Share the event on social media and invite any local friends who may be interested in a signed book.
• Buy a copy or two at the event to give away if you already own one -- or just show up to give the author your love and support.
• As always, it's incredibly helpful to leave a book review on any online retailers.
• Know how grateful and full we are because of YOU! 

Top 10 List of Ways Writers Can Utilize Their Time

I've been participating in a writing sprint this week with a group of writers. We have a leader who is incredibly encouraging and good at spurring us on toward our word count goals. She sent us a link to a past blog post on the Seekerville blog entitled Writers Write. Everyone Else Makes Excuses, by Tina Radcliffe.

In this post, she gives so many encouraging quotes on doing the hard part of writing. Putting your behind in the chair and doing the work of writing. It takes time. It takes sacrifice. It takes discipline.

We all have to find the "thing" that helps us - that motivates us - into writing when it's hard.

Life gets in the way. Your car breaks down. There's a funeral, a lunch date, FAFSA to fill out (can I just say UGH?), hair cuts, and...dare I say it?...toilets to clean.

So what do you do to make the most of your time, and feed your writerly self? Everyone has to decide for themselves. No one can do it for you, because only YOU knows what will work for YOU.

I decided to complete the exercise Tina suggested in her post, and this is what I came up with - in no particular order.

Top 10 Ways to Utilize Your Time

1. Use a diction app and dictate a scene on your way to work, or while doing dishes, ironing, etc.

2. Listen to a craft book or podcast in the car while going to work or hauling kids to school.

3. Carry a Moleskin notebook in your purse to write down ideas for your story, prompts for short stories, or blog post ideas.

4. If you get stuck in your story, move on to another project. (I stole this from Tina because it is so helpful.)

5. Stay up 30 minutes later to write. (I get up at 5 am already....can't go earlier!)

6. Read a chapter of a craft book at lunch.

7. Email a chapter to your Kindle so that it is there when you are in a waiting room, carpool line, etc. Highlight things that you need to change.

8. Alternate cooking nights with your husband so you have more time to write.

9. Make a date with yourself once a week and go to the library, coffee shop, or park to write free from responsibilities at home.

10. Purchase a cute timer or use the one on your phone to write in 30 - 60 minute increments. Then set the time for 15 minutes and clean a toilet or make the bed or do a load of laundry. Then get back to writing.

Nothing on my list is new. Many have already figured out the best way to get the most out of their day. But some of us need reminders that we can carve out extra time, and every minute we garner gets more words on the page.

What things have you found to help you carve out time and up your word count? 


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Sherrinda Ketchersid is a born and bred Texan, preacher’s wife, mother to 4 children, and secretary at public elementary school. With the children grown and out of the house, she weaves tales of fierce knights and their ladies in a time where men were warriors and women had to be strong enough to keep them in check.

After taking time off from writing, she has returned with a new motto in place to spur her on. “Writers write. Everyone else makes excuses.” ~Jack Bickham.  No excuses this time. She is weaving her love of romance with history to bring joy and the hope of love to those who may one day read her stories.

You can connect with her through:

Personal blog: sherrinda.com

Twitter: @sherrinda

Instagram: @sherrinda

Present Over Perfect

If you could see my house right now—the overflowing number of Birchbox samples and Lord forbid, my closet—you might think I was completely carefree. And unorganized. (The latter of which would probably be true.)

But in reality, the notion of perfection has always been an inner dialogue for me, and sometimes, it can become paralyzing. So that I could throw the fiftieth hairspray sample away, but would if I needed it next week? And the mountain of shoes accumulating in my closet probably does need attending, but where would I even start? The Pinterest image in my head is too far away from reality, and so I just . . . don’t.

Been there?

The problem is, when the stakes are higher, so is the fear. (See where I’m going with this?) So that maybe you’ve got your first real deadline from a publisher, or an agent, or maybe you’re just bound and determined to meet your own deadline of finishing your WIP before a writing conference this year.

So you sit down at your computer, and one of two things happen. Either you spend countless time staring at the blinking cursor, or you madly dash toward an arbitrary word count, just to get those pages filled.

And either way, you come away dissatisfied. Unsettled. Because all your striving . . . well, it just wasn’t enough.

What if there was another way? A better way?

Lately in my writing, God has been teaching me to wait on Him for cues. We all say we want to wait on Him, and that’s fine and dandy until we need twenty more pages for our word count goals. But I’m learning that I could sit down for hours, writing away for the sake of achievement, all the while, spinning in circles. I can let fear of the unknown and rejection paralyze me from writing at all (--Is that where you are today? Because I’ve been there too.).

Or, I can wait on Him.

I can invite His presence into my story, and move when He moves. I can wait for those organic AH HA! moments to fall into place. And the funny thing is, I’m realizing I’m vastly more productive when I do.

Today I want to encourage you to be present over perfect. Because perfection and striving will leave you dangerously reliant on your own strength. Become more aware of the monologue inside your own mind and heart. What standards are you holding yourself to, and how do those align with the Spirit of God? Has your perfectionism become a stumbling block to the greater things God has called you toward? Are you so afraid of being imperfect that you’re afraid to move at all?

Let me hear from you! How do you manage to stay present with God rather than focusing on perfection?

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Ashley Clark writes romance with southern grace. She's dreamed of being a writer ever since the thumbprint-cookie-days of library story hour. Ashley has an M.A. in English and enjoys teaching literature courses at her local university. She's an active member of ACFW and runs their newcomer's loop. When she's not writing, Ashley's usually busy rescuing stray animals and finding charming new towns. You can find Ashley on her personal blog, Facebook, Pinterest, and Twitter. She is represented by Karen Solem.

Freedom for Writers

This week we celebrated the Fourth of July, and over on the Facebook group we talked about how it's a great time to be a writer because independence is achievable. I wanted to expand on those tips and see what you would add.

1) Know your goals. Why do you want to write indie? What is motivating that decision? The same questions should be asked if you're pursuing traditional publishing. For me, I'm pursing indie for my books where I have received the rights back from the publisher. It's been a huge learning curve, but I know these are good books and there are readers who haven't discovered them. Indie publishing is a way to get them back out there, update them and more. I love traditional publishing, because I love the partnership aspects. I know they have a platform I don't have on my own. They have the team to help me with all the elements that are overwhelming to consider on my own. That's why I love being with the big houses.

2) The most important relationship is between reader and author. Regardless of how you publish, you have to think about how you will build that relationship. Part of it will be writing more, great books. Then there will be websites, social media, booksignings, etc. you will have to think deliberately about how you will build this relationship. It also requires you to know and listen to your reader. Involve them in the process. Help them acquire ownership of your books. How can you help them become your biggest advocates?

3) Hire an editor. This step is so often overlooked. If you are traditionally published, then you should have three rounds of editing: macro/story edit, line edit, and proofing. If you are indie, you need the same. Even though the book I have put up were edited at least three times, I still hired someone to proof each one. It's amazing what is caught each time. The quickest way to lose a reader is to have a poorly edited book. Don't skip this step. It is worth the expense to make the book is done well. As James Scott Bell says you're best marketing is the book the reader is currently reading.

4) Don't rush. Let's face it. We all get important. But let's not rush into print before we're ready. I have friends churning out 4-6 books a year. I can't do that with everything else going on in my world. Three is about my max; four if I'm writing two with Tricia Goyer. I know that's my pace, and I know this after writing 27 books. What's your pace? How fast can you write and still do a good job? Seriously stop and think about. How much time do you need to make sure you're going through the rounds of edits and putting out a great book? Is your first book really ready for the world to read?

What would you add?

Cara Putman

An award-winning author of more than twenty books, Cara is a lecturer on business and employment law to graduate students at Purdue University’s Krannert School of Management. Putman also practices law and is a second-generation homeschooling mom. She lives with her husband and four children in Indiana.

Friday Five: With Sensational Historical Romance Author AMBER LYNN PERRY

It is my great pleasure to introduce a very dear friend and fantastic author! This girl is a DYNAMO! I absolutely LOVE her novels (and that's saying something because historical is not my preferred genre)... But sometimes the beauty of the writing and the mastery of story is all you need to get lost. (And don't even get me started on her covers!)

I was lucky enough to get to read an ARC of Amber's newest release So True a Love... and here's why you should too!

About the book:

Since the night her dear uncle gave his life for hers, Hannah Young is determined to risk everything by spying for the Patriots in order to seek retribution against the British soldier who killed him. But when her former love, Joseph Wythe, insists on ensuring her safety, she must decide if the vengeance she seeks is worth the danger of his nearness. For the love she once felt is liable to grow deeper and more threatening to her heart than it ever was before.

Leaving his young ward to join the fight for liberty is the hardest thing Joseph Wythe has ever done. Nearly. The most difficult happened ten years past, which he tries his best to forget. Seeing Hannah Young again after all this time does something frightening and wonderful to his soul. Though her determination to spy for the Patriots is honorable and brave, he will never allow her to take such a risk without him to protect her, no matter how she protests—and no matter how he knows he will ache all the more for the thing he always wanted and still could never have.



My thoughts:

A magnetic glimpse of history, heroism, and espionage, all entwined with a forever, young love that's endured time and deceit and loss, Perry continues to change my mind about dusty historical fiction, instead painting a vibrant landscape of early patriotism with its unsung heroes of our nation's past. I love how seamlessly and poignantly Perry unwraps the era and yet tangles me irrevocably in the high-stakes suspense and heart-quaking romance of this second-chance love story between Joseph and Hannah. Seriously, don't miss this one. Or any of the others in the series. They're simply too good to pass up! ~AMY LEIGH SIMPSON, author of When Fall Fades and From Winter's Ashes

And now... let's get the dirt on AMBER...

1. Do you have a writing ritual? Place, time of day, writer quirks? 

ALP: I have no writing ritual as far as time goes. It's "git 'er done whenever the heck you have five minutes." LOL! You writer mom's know what I'm talking about it. I mean, sometimes in the evening I will sit down to write, get my headphones on and boot up Amazon Music (I like to listen to amazing movie soundtracks like Belle, Last of the Mohicans, John Adams, etc.) and crank out the word count. But let's be honest. I'm not someone that can stay up until even 11:30 without writing pure gobbledygook--I need my sleep! The only constant, is that I write on my bed, legs out, laptop on my little "lap desk" and *maybe* some HotTamales near by. 

2. What's your writing brain food (or drink)? 

ALP: Do I have to pick just one? Other than the aforementioned red hot candies, I was just at a conference with Laura Frantz and we had some basil lemonade, so now I'm a bit obsessed. HAHA! And that's saying something because I'm not usually a fan of basil. You've got to try it--that drink is ridiculously delicious and SO refreshing on a hot day!

3. Most random thing in your purse... 

ALP: LOL! My purse is a dark and frightening abyss. Even I'm scared to look in it sometimes! The most random thing I found recently was one of those little green army men. (Toy Story comes to mind...HAHA!) I was like, "Where in the world did this guy come from?" But one of my daughters quickly claimed him before I could carelessly toss him into the trash.

4. Do you have a hidden talent? 

ALP: *stares off pensively* Hmmmm...Does this have to be like an awesome talent or can it be a sad "I-try-but-I-always-fail" kind of talent? Cuz the first thing that comes to mind is that I can't seem to keep a plant alive for the life of me. The flowerbed is ok, but the garden and any potted plant--any living thing that goes in there has a bleak future. I have the *opposite* of a green thumb. But I'm the kind of person that doesn't let accidental mass murder of innocent vegetation get me down. I keep trying and I will say....I've only killed a handful of things this year, so I think I'm improving. LOL!

5. Tell us why you are passionate about your genre? 

ALP: I love American history, and liberty in particular. I never cease to be inspired by the stories I read in my research and I want to share those amazing bits of history with other people. I really hope to live up to my little personal tag-line: penning the past to inspire tomorrow. 

**********************************************************GIVEAWAY*****************************************************

AMY here! Hey Alley Pals... if you haven't yet become acquainted with Amber's books, here's your chance! Because I am such a HUGE fan of this series, and the newest book JUST released last week, I'm going to buy someone an e-book! Here's what you need to do... leave a comment with your email address below. (And to make it more fun, answer one of the questions I asked Amber in your comment.) If you're feeling motivated (and generous... because word of mouth helps SO very much!) share this post on your wall and I'll enter your name twice. I'll draw a name Sunday night and announce it on here (and on FB). SHARE away and happy reading!!! 

Amber Lynn Perry lives in Washington state with her husband and two daughters. A homemaker by day and writer by night, Amber loves to study the Revolutionary era of American history. Through these books Amber hopes to not only give readers a chance to escape into the past, but to instill in them a lasting love of liberty.

Connect with Amber on Facebook and twitter... and be sure to check out all of her gorgeous books on Amazon.

<3 Amy