S. Jackson and A. Raymond

Today I had the opportunity to speak with S. Jackson, one half of the co-authors of When Angels Fly.

IDI – To begin, tell us a bit about yourself.

SJ – I grew up in a small Kansas (USA) town and I lived in more than one state since then. At this time, my husband and I split our time between Kansas and Colorado (we love the mountains and off road 4-wheeling). Traveling is one of our most favorite things to do and I always have a book or even three books that I read, in the same week.

IDI – Has writing always been part of your life?

SJ – Not at first but somewhere in my fifth grade school year, I wrote a play for three friends and myself, all on my own for a school assignment. In reflection, it seems really hilarious now. My “co-writers” were quite glad when I volunteered to write the play by myself (how little did I know at the time). Picture in your mind a young girl about 9 years old, using an old manual typewriter, not knowing how to type, and using old style carbon paper between layers of white paper. That was a recipe for disaster in 1969. Needless to say I had many errors and with carbon paper copies underneath even worse. We performed our skit and so many laughed at our pathetic yet humorous play. I wrote short stories growing up and kept journals, however books were really my thing. It seemed like every time I turned around I was obtaining a new library card due to the current one being stamped complete. Diving into a good book made any day perfect and you would be surprised at the number of books I read over and over.  I drew paper dolls and clothes for them, and using watercolor as my medium when painting scenes, especially flowers. I continued with art in high school exploring a wide variety of arts and I loved it! The creative side of me loves to be an amateur “shutter-bug” and we actually have an online art gallery.  In college I went into the sciences of all things and received a Bachelor’s degree in the Science of Nursing. My nursing career was highly successful and I hung up my nursing hat in December 2012.

IDI – When did you “know” that it was time to start writing your first book?

SJ – I don’t really recall having a true moment since I have written various things including poetry and prose my whole life. However, I knew I would write a book eventually back in 1990. That year was a rough one for me and my family personally and I’ve kept journals most of my life. I had many stories to tell but I wasn’t quite ready mentally or emotionally in going headlong into a 376 page book. When 2013 rolled around, I knew then that I was going to put words and stories from my journals into digital format.

IDI – How difficult was it writing your first book?

SJ – The hardest and most difficult part initially was actually going into and reading my journals from 1989 – 1990 as my first book is Non-Fiction/Spiritual in nature. I knew my book had to be written and I knew the many messages in my book needed to be published so that hopefully I could help others through difficult times in their lives or the lives of others they knew. The timing was right as I had left nursing in December 2012. My first book was extremely difficult since the stories were real. Some days I could write one sentence and then I was done for the day. Other days I could write more.

IDI – Have you ever wanted to give up and what stopped you?

SJ – On really tough days I wanted to just stop and sometimes I did for a week or so. Yet I knew in my mind that I needed to finish my book and get out to the public. I knew all along what the beginning, middle and end would be and I wondered about publishing my book as well. Now that my book is published, I feel a deep sense peace within myself.

IDI – Who is the most supportive of you and your dream to be a writer?

SJ – I would have to say both my husband and my son. Without their help and support with my first book, my book would never have ended in fruition. They helped me to keep focused on how my book would help so many other people and they were there to help me when I was feeling overwhelmed. They also helped to put journals into digital form so that editing and writing could then be started.

IDI – We all draw from within and I believe there is an element of ‘us’ in everything we write. How much of you will a reader find in any given book?

SJ – In my first book the character of ‘Sarah’ is actually me. With that in mind, readers will read about me and some life experiences along with tragedy and inspirational moments. However, my first book isn’t simply about ‘Sarah’ – readers will see that by the time they have read the first chapter. When writing about real people in real life situations that many people can’t

When Angels Fly

even imagine seeing themselves in, then one finds that ‘curve balls’ just keep on coming.  I don’t want to give away or spoil my book for those who have yet to read it. I will say that names, places, and states are fictitious yet my book is completely true and real life. One other thing that I had to change was author names. Since my book was co-authored both names had to be changed to prevent libel.

IDI – What is the best advice given to you, and by whom?

SJ – Aside from my family and their support, I would have to say that Susan Vance Web of Deceit, has been most supportive. Susan writes contemporary fiction with a touch of romance and suspense while my book is Non-Fiction/Inspirational. Even with the differences in our style of books, she believed in me and gave me support in completing When Angels Fly.  Susan praised me for being strong and she pushed me in a good way to keep on writing yet taking breaks when I needed to do so.

IDI – Who’s your target audience? What aspect of your writing do you feel targets that audience?

SJ – My book reaches a wide group from teenage on up to geriatrics and many facets of humanity itself. I know that my book can help others in dealing with such a wide variety of life’s issues, and that no one needs to feel alone in their own situation. My aim isn’t to convey only sadness and family dysfunction but to convey to others who have been in my situation (or similar) that strength and courage can be attained, and that there are options available. Losing two boys to Heaven changed my life forever. I want to encourage others who have suffered the King of Loss that anger at God is normal, and that faith in God will come back to them. I want those parents to know they are not alone. If a parent loses a child to a horrid illness, I want to encourage parents on how to be an advocate for their child and how to reach out for help when the pain overcomes them.

IDI – Did the cover evolve the same way, or did you work with someone to make it come together for you?

SJ – I created my one cover actually. My background was a photo taken by myself,   while at Lake McDonald in Glacier National Park and then I created white puffy clouds onto which I placed my own son white robes. I then added the face and hair of a little boy taken by another photographer, Aimee Low, who allowed me to use that precious little face for my cover.  Using Aimee’s face and hair ensured no libel existed.

IDI – What are you working on now? Can we get a peek, an excerpt to maybe tickle our taste buds?

SJ – There are several things going on. I am writing a screenplay in collaboration with Joshua Vickery who has written many screenplays in his career; some of which have become movies. The producer isn’t set in stone just yet, but it looks like we it will be Pure Flix Entertainment co-owned by David A. R. White and Andrea Logan White (Do You Believe or Revelation Road etc.) so this is exciting times for sure. We may never make the movie but if we do, Logan would portray Sarah and David would portray Matthew. We are in the process of a new book and this time the focus will be on our (USA) national parks and the hash tag #RodentRoadAdventures and this book will be mostly a picture book with words about each park along with one of our backyard squirrels doing funny things such as backwards bungee jumping the Grand Canyon. No more spoilers on this book in process.

IDI – Any last words before we wrap things up?

SJ – I am so very fortunate to have my husband and son by my side throughout the writing of “When Angels Fly”.  I feel that our lives, although not easy by any means, have been blessed.

IDI – This has been a pleasure. I wish you the very best of luck and if you should make that movie, you’ll have to let us know.

S. Jackson & A. Raymond

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~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

k.e. garvey (formerly and regrettably known as Kathy Reinhart) is the award-winning author of:

Lily White Lies – The Red Strokes – Missouri in a Suitcase

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Doreen Pendgracs

My guest today knows a lot about something near and dear to the hearts of many… chocolate! Doreen Pendgracs is the author of Chocolatour: A Quest For the World’s Best Chocolate. Here is a portion of the book blurb:

Chocolatour is all about chocolate travel in which the author takes the chocolate lover on a sumptuous journey around the world in search of the best chocolate, most passionate and innovative chocolatiers and chocolate makers, and most exciting chocolate events and attractions. Chocolatour makes a great gift book and contains 61 color photographs, most of which were taken by Pendgracs. The book also contains chapters on the health benefits of chocolate, the personalities of chocolate, where and how cacao (cocoa) is grown, chocolate pairings and recipes, and an A-Z Guide for Chocolate Lovers.

IDI – Good morning, Doreen. I believe that in all of the interviews I’ve done, and there have been many, the subject of your book probably interests the greatest number of people. And to be able to travel the world sampling chocolate… I would think that would be as close as one could get to a dream job.

You didn’t take the direct route to writing (books). When did you have your Eureka moment? When did you know you were born to be a writer?

Chocolatour

DP – That’s such a funny question for me to answer! Back in 1987, I had my palms read by a fortune-teller. She looked very clearly at my hands and said, “Ah, I see you’re a writer!” I explained that I was an insurance underwriter (which I was at the time,) but she insisted that she very clearly saw me writing books in the future.  In 1990, my employer closed our division, and I was able to get retraining in the field of communications. I excelled at magazine  (feature) writing, and eventually evolved into writing non-fiction books.

IDI – We all draw from within and I believe there is an element of ‘us’ in everything we write. How much of you will a reader find in any given book?

DP – As I only write non-fiction, readers get to know me very well through my writing. In a previous guidebook that I wrote, I mentioned how climbing a lighthouse was difficult for me because of all the stairs (I have bad knees.) And in my book on volunteerism, I talk about all the various experiences I had volunteering for different non-profit groups. I don’t make anything up. It’s all real.

IDI – I’m sure that gives your audience a more personal feel.

What are you working on now? Can we get a peek, an excerpt maybe to tickle our taste buds?

DP – I can definitely ‘tickle your tastebuds’ with the taste of chocolate! I’m currently researching volume II of my Chocolatour series. Volume II will be called Chocolatour: A Quest for the World’s Best Chocolate Adventures and will focus on the experiential side of my chocolate travels with a look at chocolate spas and chocolate events around the world.

IDI – Give us a rundown of your ‘writing process’ from beginning to finished product.

DP – My writing process is strictly experiential. I almost never write about anything that I haven’t experienced firsthand. So for me, it has to be experience, ponder, and then tell the story. I am by nature, a storyteller, and by writing, I am able to share my stories with readers as though we are sitting around the same table sharing some chocolate and a glass of wine.

IDI – What’s the most important thing you’ve learned about writing? How has this helped you as a writer?

Doreen Pendgracs

DP – For me, it’s very important to be authentic. I always write from the heart, and with a very true sense of realism. I’ve also learned that I can’t force the writing to come when I’m not ‘in the mood.’ When I am, the writing flows smoothly. When I’m not in the mood to write, I might as well do anything else, as the words and passion just won’t flow unless they want to.

IDI – Who’s your target audience? What aspect of your writing do you feel targets that audience?

DP – My target audience is people who love chocolate and are interested in travel. If you love chocolate, but aren’t able to travel, you can still get the feeling that you’re right there with me—whether it’s in the cocoa fields in Peru, or in a chocolate spa in St. Lucia. And if you do love to travel, my goal is to share stories with you that will inspire you to embark on some chocolate adventures of your own.

IDI – How much time/effort do you give to social media as a means of self-promotion?

DP – Far too much! I find that social media has been an invaluable tool for me, as I live in the boonies of rural Canada and don’t have a built-in readership within reach. So … I must connect with readers around the world via social media and hope they will find my writing intriguing enough to seek out my books or join me on real-life chocolate tours that I coordinate with travel agents.

IDI – Travel agents and chocolate tours… I’m jealous!

In your opinion, what are the biggest misconceptions new authors have about the publishing industry?

DP – That a publisher will take care of everything for you. That may have been the case several years ago, but in today’s world, a publisher expects the author to have a strong social media presence, and to help organize events that will promote their books. I’m a hybrid author having previously been traditionally published, and having self-published my latest book, and so I’ve worked under both scenarios and have learned the differences and the many similarities.

IDI – What advice would you give to new/unpublished authors?

DP – Network! I’m a strong believer in the power of networking, and have learned much from my colleagues in the Professional Writers Association of Canada, the Writers Union of Canada, and the North American Travel Journalists Association. I’m also a Toastmaster, and believe that every writer should join Toastmasters so that they can learn how to talk about their work and promote themselves in public.

IDI – What is the hardest or most frustrating aspect of writing?

DP – For me, it’s definitely having to market everything myself. I love writing and researching. And I love connecting with readers and chocolate lovers. But I think we writers all hope that our audiences will immediately find us when we publish a book, and that rarely happens. Especially when you live in a remote area as I do! So we have to spend a lot of time just finding readers by telling the world that we’re out here!

IDI – Last question. What do you do when you’re not writing?

DP – I love to travel! Travel fuels my passion for life, and for meeting fascinating people. I’m sure that’s why my writing evolved into travel writing, and why I’m happiest when I’m visiting new places and experiencing new things.

IDI –  Thanks so much for joining me and maybe one day I’ll get to join you on one of your chocolate adventures!

For anyone who wants to connect with Doreen, you’ll find all of her social media connections on her website at http://chocolatour.net. On that new (soon-to-be-relaunched) site, she’s combined her three previous WordPress blogs into one mega site, where you’ll find posts about the writing life, about travel, and about the world of chocolate. She’d be honored to have you as a subscriber!

k.e. garvey (formerly and regrettably known as Kathy Reinhart) is the award-winning author of Lily White Lies and The Red Strokes.

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Aleksandar Veljic

Recently I was invited to join Something or Other Publishing as a principal, conducting interviews and giving pre-release reviews of their authors’ books. Today I introduce you to Aleksandar Veljic, author of Genocide Revealed.

Most of my interviews are with fiction writers, but Aleksandar has written a non-fiction book about the massacre of Serbs and Jews under Hungarian Occupation. Since this would not be considered ‘light reading’, I would like to include the book blurb before the interview:

Genocide Revealed

The untold story of the massacre named “Razzia” (Raid) which took place in January 1942, committed by the Hungarian Nazi forces in an occupied part of northern Serbia – Backa. This book unveils the most important details of the massacre, implicating the Hungarian regent (governor) Miklos Horthy. Besides murdering Serbs, Jews and Roma, Horthy had also committed numerous crimes over Ukrainians, Romanians, Ruthenians, Slovaks, Russians and Hungarian antifascists. The book primarily deals with the genocide committed in January 1942, where at least 12,763 civillians had been tossed into icy rivers Tisa and Danube. One of the main perpetrators, Sandor Kepiro, was released in Budapest court on July 18, 2011. He died in Budapest in September 3 of the same year.

IDI – Tell us, what is an ordinary day in the life of a Aleksandar Veljic?

AV – I don’t have morning rituals.  I just get up and go about daily chores.  First I pray, thank God for another day, remember the sick and needy.  Then I go to see the latest news and check emails.  Then most of the day goes by as I try to read all kinds of things, share various useful materials to others and respond to various messages asking me to read and/or comment something.  Occasionally I go out for a walk.  When there is big events coming up, I spend days gathering inspiration and to remind people about it.  Such an event would be a Memorial march in honor of Razzia victims 1942, March Against Monsanto and Novi Sad Art-eco market.

IDI – Genocide Revealed is not what most would consider light reading, but offers insight into a subject known by few. It has been said that we, as writers, draw from within. How much of you can a reader find in your book?

AV – I started writing Genocide Revealed from the point of view: what if I were there instead of those victims?  What if something like that happened to me and nobody knew?  If I were forgotten as if I had never existed?  So I felt I had to write a book and knock on the door of everyone’s heart with a question: how and why forgetting that genocide?  I constantly remind the world about it.  How much is that of me?  It is my entire heart and that is what a reader finds in my book.

IDI – Who is your audience? What aspect of your writing do you feel targets that audience?

AV – My targeted audience is those individuals who want sheer facts in order to understand the nature of certain personalities and events.  My book describes gruesome acts committed 70 years ago, a genocide that virtually nobody had an idea it ever happened, let alone why and how it happened.  We have to  know that some innocent people were tossed into freezing Danube.  It is the very title of the book that gives the greatest aspect of my writing – a genocide is revealed!  Recently, a UN file has been publicized which corroborates what I have been saying for years: there is a covered-up genocide that this world has got to know about because very often I feel that we are on the brink of seeing it repeated everywhere.

IDI – Give us a rundown of your writing process, beginning to end.

AV – I usually aim to achieve several key goals.  I outline priorities that are to be pointed out and then I fill the content around those.  For example, in the English edition of my book on the crimes committed by the Hungarian occupiers, I refrained from publishing lists of all the victims I have identified so far.  Rather, I listed just the last names of those families that had been annihilated in the terrible 1942 January Razzia in Novi Sad.  It served the point and it achieved a very important goal.

IDI – Can we get a look at what you’re working on now?

AV – I am currently studying the ancient history of Celts, Anglo-Saxons and ancient Israel.  To tickle your taste buds, I would just say that river Danube flows in eight countries.  The most beautiful banks of that river are in Serbia.  The river was called Ishtar once upon the time after the pagan goddess, “the queen of heaven”.  It was renamed by the members of the tribe of Dan which migrated through the area and went north.

IDI – What is the most important lesson you’ve learned about writing? How has that lesson helped you in your writing?

AV – The most important thing I have learned is what not to write.  If there are things I cannot say, I don’t make fabrications.  There are things that cannot be written, or that people don’t like to see written.  Those unwritten things help me learn better why there are certain consequences and developments.

IDI – How important are your reading habits to your writing habits?

AV – How could anyone be a good writer without having reading habits?  I use every opportunity I can to read, even when I am travelling.  The richness of expression and vocabulary can only be developed through reading.  Our spoken languages have been so impoverished and massacred with the flood of mass media expressions and general lack of interest of many to read educational things.

IDI – What’s the best advice ever given to you, and by whom?

AV – There was a marvelous gentlemen Michael Hornyak, a Ruthenian (Russyn) by origin.  He was born in a village where a terrible genocide occurred in January 1942.  He lost the closest family members in that pogrom.  From the very start he was supportive of my research and writing.  The best advice I had from him was to let the facts speak first, and my emotions second.

IDI – What advice would you give to new/unpublished authors?

AV – Express the truth with passion.  If your driving motive is fame, money or prestige, it is useless.  Unless you write with passion, you never really become a writer.

IDI – Have you ever wanted to give up? What stopped you?

AV – Yes, I have.  And even to this day I have been tempted to give up.  When one faces indifference by the world at large, one tends to think that perhaps it was not worthy after all.  But what stopped me from giving up is the fact that I have kept in mind that I could have been one of the victims.  The victims cannot speak for themselves.  I have to be their voice.  I don’t write books to become famous, but to inform people and reveal certain aspects of events or personalities.  That stops me from giving up.  One way or the other, the world will have to value the information I have given.  Horthy’s genocide has been revealed, that revelation can never again be stopped.  The world cannot say it was unaware.

IDI – Everyone has visions of where they see themselves in the future, be it a year or five. Where do you see yourself in five years? Where did you see yourself five years ago? Did you make it there?

AV – I see myself in a cottage surrounded with a mountain scenery.  I saw myself in a smaller town five years ago.  I didn’t get there yet.  In the meantime I realized that I actually need a modest cottage with my library at hand and Internet connection.   How and when will I make it there, I have no idea.  Serbia is the poorest European country that has been ravaged by the civil war in former Yugoslavia, as well as by the current corruption on all levels and people’s bad habits.  Yet, it is a country with the beautiful countryside of which I dream every day.

IDI – As a writer, what is the one thing you would most like people to know about you?

AV – Uncompromising.  There are forces that have worked against me, yet I have never compromised on my values, beliefs and truthful facts.  The truth sets one free.  That is why the truth about the Genocide committed by Hungarian regent Miklos Horthy had to be revealed.

IDI – As a person, what are three interesting things you’re sure no one knows about you?

AV – First of all, I have understood the major frame of my identity in 2009 and that has regenerated my personality and outlooks.  Secondly, deep down I have a fear of this world that I perceive as ever-growing cold in natural love.  Thirdly, I am deeply ashamed of the fact that I have wasted much of my precious time and modest talents helping  those who appealed for my help, yet have given nothing in return.  Today they are well situated, which is wonderful, while I myself am still in this harsh world without having at least a home, not to mention any feasible security.

IDI – Thank you Aleksandar for the most interesting interview. I wish you the very best with Genocide Revealed and your future endeavors.

If you’d like to learn more about Aleksandar and his work, follow the links below.

Amazon – Website

k.e. garvey (formerly and regrettably known as Kathy Reinhart) is the award-winning author of Lily White Lies and The Red Strokes

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Christine Grote

Two weeks into the New Year… how many of you have bombed on your resolutions already? I’m not pointing fingers or condemning, as I have already failed (miserably, I might add). Resolutions are tough. They are always things we couldn’t bring ourselves to do during the year so it seems kind of silly that we talk ourselves into believing we can get them done simply because the last digit of the date has changed. But, the point I’m trying to make is, we plug along. Every year we go through the same motions, the same self-trickery, and why? Because deep down, we want to succeed.

Well, that is exactly what the authors I feature on Ink Drop Interviews are looking to do. Succeed. Writing is a tough business. There are many writers out there and there are many who write. I won’t go off on a tangent regarding the difference. There are people out there who will do a much better job than I will at teaching you the difference, among many other valuable lessons of writing. (I recommend Kristen Lamb, for one. She knows her stuff and is very generous in sharing what she knows).

The response to Ink Drop Interviews has been great. Even better than I had originally anticipated when I first began this blog. The one thing I would like LOVE, to see improve is the feedback. Many are reading the interviews, but few are leaving feedback. Your feedback is the support, or in some cases, the honesty the featured authors need. After all, we all think our writing is the greatest thing since the invention of the GPS, but when we hear the truth from a stranger (good or bad), someone who took a minute from their day to read about us and our work, that’s when we step into reality.

So, if you read the interview, please take that extra minute to leave your thoughts for the author. They appreciate it more than you know!

And now… let’s chat with Christine M. Grote, author of ‘Dancing in Heaven – a sisters memoir’.

IDI – Christine, I know that ‘Dancing in Heaven’ is about the life and death of your severely disabled sister. Why did you write it?

CG – Having a profoundly disabled sister had a profound effect on me. Annie was born a year after me with severe brain damage, although it wasn’t evident at first.When she got to be the age where she should have been sitting up and crawling, but wasn’t, my parents took her to the doctor. That eventually led to her diagnosis of severe brain damage, or cerebral palsy. She never outgrew the needs of an infant. I always knew I’d write about Annie, some day. When she died, I felt compelled to share her story. I didn’t want her story or the value of her existence to end with her. I wanted to give her a legacy. Annie never worked, never married, and never had children. So she didn’t have access to the ways most people have of making a lasting impression on this planet. But Annie touched a lot of people’s lives. She was like a shining star. I wanted her life to have mattered.

IDI – You’ve said where the idea for ‘Dancing in Heaven’ originated, but where do you get your ideas for other projects?

CG – I primarily write non-fiction, although lately I’ve been tempted to try my hand at fiction. I took a couple of fiction-writing classes in college a few years back, but mostly I still wrote non-fiction with the names and a few details changed. ‘Dancing in Heaven’ originated as a short story I wrote for one of the fiction classes. Because I write non-fiction I get my ideas from everyday life: what I see, read or know from experience. When my ideas come to me, they sometimes arrive in the middle of the night waking me, or while I am behind the steering wheel on an interstate from here to there. They are often compelling and insistent. Sometimes I think it is my ideas that are in control, and not me. When something I witness touches me, or moves me deeply, I often feel compelled to share it through the written word.

IDI – Pen and paper or computer and Word? The bustle of Barnes and Noble or the quiet of your study? Alone or within a writing group? Tell us, what is your most inspiring/productive setting?

CG – It’s interesting that when I first started to write seriously in my forties, I couldn’t write well at the keyboard but needed the feel of the pen in my hand to access my thoughts. Over time, I have found that now I can express myself directly on the computer. As I allude to in the book, I wrote a lot of ‘Dancing in Heaven’ in the early hours of the morning, here at my computer desk in our study where I sit as I type this interview. I don’t believe I could focus or write well in a group or noisy setting, although I have at times written in a coffee shop. I am most productive here at home with a hot pot of tea within easy access. I also like to print things out and edit or revise by hand at times, so being close to my printer is a big plus.

IDI – I’ve heard arguments for each side, but when writing, do you outline or sketch the entire book before you feel comfortable enough to begin your draft or do you prefer to fly by the seat of your pants?

CG – I am a messy writer. I jot ideas down on bits and pieces of paper as they come to me and shove them in my pocket. I write what is foremost on my mind, when it is there. Then I end up doing a lot of physical cutting and pasting and moving things around. This was especially true in ‘Dancing in Heaven’. I wrote each chapter in a journal fashion about the days leading up to Annie’s death. But for the second half of each chapter, I inserted a vignette or an essay about something that would flesh out the story of who Annie was, what she meant to us, and how our lives were affected by her. Then I threw photographs into the mix. So, I had little note cards of the current story line, the vignettes, and the photos, and I played something of a match game shifting things around from time to time.

IDI – What was the best advice ever given to you, and by whom?

CG – When I returned to college in my forties, for a second degree after raising our four children, one of my favorite teachers required that we use two or three resources in everything we wrote for a composition class. It was a nuisance at the time. I remember one time in particular I was writing a little fun essay about taking my dog for a walk in the park, and I threw in all kinds of referenced factual information about things like how leaves change color, the fact that female sparrows are attracted to males who not only sing a lot but know a lot of songs, an agricultural experiment about grasshoppers, and chaos theory in reference to the way leaves fall. I was trying to be obnoxious at the time by throwing all this technical stuff into a pretty little observation of nature and people as I walked my dog in the park. But I ended up really liking the essay. It worked out. And now I see that if I can add something I found in a resource it often gives my non-fiction substance. I used a lot of records in ‘Dancing in Heaven’ from the doctor, the hospital, and Hospice. The records added a lot to the story.

IDI – I know authors sometimes have trouble when writing about family members. Did your family support you while you were writing ‘Dancing in Heaven’?

CG – I think the difficulty that can happen with memoirs is that you can cross the line between public and private information. This line is not the same for all people. When I gave final drafts of my memoir to my siblings and asked them to sign release forms, my oldest sister and younger brother asked to be removed from the memoir for reasons I don’t completely agree with or fully understand. My sister felt my portrayal of her was too negative. I think both siblings were not comfortable with my writing about Annie’s death. I think my sister would have preferred the story be about the happy times, focused on the light that Annie shined. But I wanted to touch people’s hearts. I think that people, who don’t have first-hand experience with someone like Annie, sometimes aren’t able to fully grasp the humanness of someone who is so completely disabled. I thought that sharing my journey as Annie was dying would best illuminate how significant she was to my family and me. I didn’t want readers to just think that Annie was a wonderful person; I wanted them to feel the loss. I believe with some readers, I have accomplished this. So, I made a major revision of the story and removed all references to my two siblings. My parents and one sister supported me the entire way. The story now reads as if I am from a family of five people: two parents with three daughters, when in reality there were five of us children. I lost a couple of excellent vignettes I would have liked to share, but I believe that in the end, Annie’s story still shines through.

IDI – In your opinion, what are the biggest misconceptions new authors have about the publishing industry?

CG – As a novice author, I’m probably not equipped to answer this in general terms. But speaking for myself, I thought it would be easier. I initially wanted to go the route of a traditional publisher, but the more I read and researched, the more I realized how very long that path could be. And I am not a patient person. I also realized that the author loses control of a lot of things about the book when they have an agent and an editor. I just wasn’t willing to give up that control with this particular story about Annie. Maybe if i were writing fiction I would feel differently about this. Either way, traditionally or self-published, the responsibility falls largely on the author to build a platform and promote the book. That was my biggest surprise.

IDI – What do you do when you’re not writing?

CG – Right now I’m promoting my book when I’m not writing. But in addition to that, I love to read. I belong to the Book Addicts group on Goodreads and try to keep up with their reading schedule. I also hope to read a lot of Indies this year to support them, but also to find authors that I may enjoy. I also enjoy photography, travel and gardening, all of which I post about on my blog: http://randomthoughtsfrommidlife.wordpress.com/

IDI – Define a great book.

CG – A great book is one that I can’t put down, one that I miss when I’m finished, and one that adds something to the content of my character. Readers have told me all three things about ‘Dancing in Heaven’, so I feel happy about that.

IDI – As a writer, what is the one thing you would like people to know about you?

CG – I write to touch reader’s hearts. I think the more we feel, the more or the deeper we understand the human condition, the more fully alive we become.

IDI – I think it takes an enormous amount of courage to write a memoir, especially on a subject that has had such a profound effect on your life. I admire you for that. I would also like to thank you for sharing a part of your story with us. Is there anything else you’d like to say to the readers?

CG – I would like to let them know where they can get in touch with me and/or my work….

I’d love to hear from you. You can visit my website at http://www.christinemgrote.com where you will find links to my Facebook page, my Twitter account (cmsmith57), and my WordPress blog. I try to respond to all comments I receive.

You can find excerpts and other reviews about Dancing in Heaven at my blog. (http://randomthoughtsfrommidlife.wordpress.com/dancing-in-heaven/)

Dancing in Heaven is available at:

Amazon.com (Print and Kindle)
Barnes and Noble (Print and Nook)
Createspace (Print)
Smashwords (Multiple eBook formats)

Ink Drop Interviews are conducted by Kathy Reinhart, author of the award-winning novel, Lily White Lies.

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Beginning this week I am adding something new to my blogs. I come across many interesting, informative and just plain fun blogs during the course of the week and I have decided to include one in each of my blogs. I would like to thank Stephen Hise and Thea Atkinson for this one:

http://www.indiesunlimited.com/2012/01/16/find-the-resonance-in-your-characters-thea-atkinson/