BOM: Questions and Answers

Happy July Fourth!  I hope you have some time off today to relax and appreciate our freedoms. 

Any questions about writing for young readers or the Nicki Holland books?  They are still in print, mainly because Thomas Nelson put them back into print after a hiatus.  The hardcovers are designed especially for school libraries.  

The Poet asked:  How do you know what level you're writing at? What differentiates a YA novel from an adult novel? 

First, I must freely acknowledge that any great kids' novel will also appeal to adults--I still love to read Island of the Blue Dolphins.  With that said, however,  there are things that differentiate adult novels and kids' novels. 

1. The age of the protagonist.  The protagonist is usually two years older than the reader you're aiming for.  Kids will read UP, but don't like to read down.  (Incidentally, girls will read about boys, but boys don't like to read about girls.  I know.  No one ever said life is fair.) 

2. The issues addressed in the story.  Novels for younger readers are centered around issues that kids deal with--friends, family, the search for identity (huge), the solving of a problem or a mystery, survival, animals, sports, death, anxiety, peer pressure.  Naturally, you won't find kids' books that deal with troubled marriages, affairs, worry about financial pressures, etc.   YA novels, geared for high schoolers, usually involve the issues that face college students: maturation, sex, love, identity, etc. 

3. The mindset.  Kids have a particular mindset, and you need to either be naturally childlike, or spend some time with kids to "get it." The bonus--it's fun to think like a kid!  

4. And remember:  "Young adult" usually refers to novels geared for 16-18 year-olds, and that's a SUPER hard age to write for because those kids are reading adult novels.  (It's hard because the market is so small). The books geared for 10-14 year-olds are usually called "middle grade readers."  The books for 6-8 year-olds are "early readers" (with a controlled vocabulary list) or "chapter books."  

Thanks for coming along on another BOM!  I think now that we've done nearly all of my titles or series, I'll be doing BOMs only when there's a new release out.  That way you can get the lowdown on each title as it releases . . . and we can stay current. 

Psssst--my Kindle arrived yesterday.  This little gadget is too cool!  I'm getting newspapers and books, plus I can email myself a copy of my own manuscripts to read on the Kindle, so no more traveling with bulky manuscripts or heavy books!  Very nice!  

Thanks again!  

~~Angie 

BOM: The Research

Yes, even kids' books require research.  Fortunately, I was able to milk a lot of it from real life situations.  For instance, I was called to jury duty in federal court.  I don't know how they do it in your state, but here I had to drive over to Tampa (long drive) nearly every morning for a month and wait around until I learned whether or not I'd have to sit on a jury that day.  

I tried to explain to the judge that I was self-employed and on deadline, but that excuse didn't fly. So when I was picked to serve on a jury, it turned out to be a counterfeiting case. Ta da!  That case became THE CASE OF THE COUNTERFEIT CASH.  

By the time I was contracted the write the final three books, I had begun to research for my first adult novels, set in Ireland and England. So I sent Nicki and her friends to London and Ireland, naturally, and used that trip to research for several books.  

Most of the books deal with suburban young life, which was one thing back when I was writing, and is another thing now.  I'd have to immerse myself in the middle school culture again were I to tackle writing for this age group again. My hubby's still a youth pastor, but I'm not nearly as active in his ministry today as I was in the early years.  

Any questions?  Ask them today and I'll try to answer them tomorrow.  

~~Angie 

Book of the Month: Flee the Darkness

By request, this month's "BOM" will be Flee the Darkness, which I cowrote with Grant Jeffrey.  So stay tuned for the next week to hear all the ins and outs of this book.  

Here's a brief plot synopsis from Amazon.com:  

In his first fiction thriller, prophecy expert and apologist Grant Jeffrey spins a chilling tale surrounding computer genius Daniel Prentice and a secret "millennium code." The code is used to solve a national bank chain's Year 2000 computer crisis which ultimately leads to a dangerous entanglement with a one-world government. Co-written with popular novelist Angela Hunt.

Here's what an Amazon reviewer had to say:  "Only 2 words can describe this book - A triumph of nouns with a graceful multitude of adjectives, verbs, and the occasional splattering of gerunds." 

(And if that made sense to you,  you're operating on a higher plane than I am.)  

Here's a more rational response:, "I, too, have read the LEFT BEHIND series, and thought none other could be so all consuming. But I was transported from the first page and became totally involved with the characters. One night, when I awoke from a dream about the book events,I found that I was praying for the safety of the characters! I would say that WAS involvement. I have watched for additional books. When?" 

So--tomorrow we'll jump into the topic of how the book came to be! 

~~Angie 

BOM: How the Idea Germinated

At least part of the story was easy--when I proposed the series, I knew that the three books would cover a complete "big picture" arc.  In the first book, Jen would begin to toy with the idea of mortuary-as-ministry, in the second book she would be going to mortuary school, and in the third book she would actually be running the funeral home.  So I knew Jen would be dealing with the pressures of family, work, and school in the second book.  (Funny--I was dealing with the same things as I wrote it!) 

One morning I was watching Alias (for about the fiftieth time) on the treadmill and it was the season where Sydney discovers that she has a half-sister:  ping!  The idea rang my bell.  I had already written McLane into the story, but the plot thread took on a much bigger dimension when I added that biological relationship.  Far deeper areas of conflict, far deeper bond between them. 

And when I was thinking, "Why is McLane running away from home?" I hit upon the issue that divides her and her father.  (Don't' want to say too much because it's presented as a surprise in the book.)  

I was dealing with some things in my life that fell naturally into Jen's story. This is not one of my "high concept" books (though the funeral home setting is a bit "out there"), but it's a character story about how these people deal with LIFE as it comes at them full-force.  

Finally, last year I was at Glen Eyrie last year and was talking to Megan DiMaria, and she told me about a unique ministry associated with the photography studio where she works. And that true story provided exactly what I needed at the end of the book. 

Tomorrow: the research 

~~Angie 

P.S.  If this is Friday, I'm flying out tonight for Richmond, VA, where I'll be speaking at the First Baptist Church tomorrow.  Looking forward to meeting lots of friends!   

Book of the Month: She Always Wore Red

On my way home from Glen Eyrie, where we had a marvelous time being with friends old and new.  :-)  Met Clyde for the first time (she's delightful!) and reconnected with Kay, Susan, and many other friends.  Also did the taping yesterday for the DVD edition of THE NOTE, and found it a delightful experience.  I'm not so sure my answers made sense, but it was fun to try and piece them together.

I have many pictures of GE, and I'll try to post some later.  Sitting in the airport at this moment. 

Finally!  It's that time again, and this month we're looking at a hot-off-the-press title, SHE ALWAYS WORE RED, better known as the second book of the Fairlawn series. 

And just in case you were wondering--no, you wouldn't have to read the first book in order for the second book to make sense.  I personally hate cliff-hanger endings, so you'll never find one in any of my series.  This book simply picks up where the first book finished up.  

Here's the official synopsis:

Jennifer Graham—mother, student, and embalmer’s apprentice—could use a friend. She finds one in McLane Larson, a newcomer to Mt. Dora. While McLane’s soldier-husband serves overseas, Jen promises to support McLane, then learns that her tie to this woman goes far deeper than friendship. When a difference of opinion threatens their relationship, Jennifer discovers weaknesses in her own character . . . and a faith far stronger than she had imagined.

“Be prepared to shed a few tears in Hunt’s emotionally gripping tale, the second in the Fairlawn series. With themes of family, friendship, and trusting God, the plot is enhanced by realistic and engaging characters. Jennifer’s growth as a character is evident, and the supporting cast enhances the story in a significant way.”--Melissa Parcels, Romantic Times book reviewer

Tomorrow: how the idea germinated. 

~~Angie

Book of the Month: A TIME TO MEND

As promised, later today we will be holding the drawing for the big bag of Angela Hunt books.  So if you haven't entered, you still have a little time! 

And happy April first!  Time for another Book of the Month! 

From Romance Reviews Today

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A TIME TO MEND - Angela Hunt
Steeple Hill Single Title
ISBN: 0-373-78564-X
March 2006
Inspirational Fiction
Winter Haven, Florida - Present day

Jacquelyn Wilkes became an oncology nurse after living with her mother's breast cancer and then watching her die after five years of agonizing pain. When a new doctor, Jonah Martin, comes to the Chambers Wyatt Hospital where Jacquelyn works, her calm and ordered world is tipped on its axis. All the patients adore the young doctor, but Jacquelyn despises his decidedly rude and unfeeling attitude toward the nurses on the ward. Dr. Jonah may be drop-dead handsome, but his heart is cold as ice.

Working as a nurse in the cancer unit is a job filled with pain, heartache and elation. Pain and heartache when she watches a patient die, and elation when another patient triumphs over the horrific disease. Jacquelyn questions Dr. Jonah's methods and bedside manner. But her heart starts to melt just a little when Jonah saves the life of her beloved pet mastiff, Bailey. Soon afterward, she confides to him that she has found a cyst in her breast, but she balks when he urges her to get a physical immediately. Slowly, little by little, Jacquelyn begins trusting Jonah's medical advice, and their relationship blossoms as she faces her own future with breast cancer.

A TIME TO MEND is an updated and revised reissue of a poignant story about the many struggles faced by women with breast cancer and the men who fight to find a cure. (Previously published as GENTLE TOUCH, Bethany House, 1997.)

Jonah and Jacquelyn's relationship faces many obstacles as they build trust in each other and fall in love. The secondary characters tell their stories of breast cancer in heartrending ways and often bring tears of sadness as well as laughter to the tale. Both Jacquelyn and Jonah are strong characters, and A TIME TO MEND is an inspirational story of love and God's healing grace.

Diana Risso
Romance Reviews Today

Tomorrow: how the idea germinated

~~Angie

BOM: The Editing

I think it's fair to say that most of the editing occurred when Lori and I got together after the "merge" of our stories.  We'd sit at the computer together--either at her house or mine--and go through the book with an eye out for inconsistencies, etc.  Often we'd think of funny things--a direct example of synergy--and the completed project was much funnier than what we'd written on our own.  

Ami McConnell, our editor at Nelson, used to try to guess which of us had written which story.  :-)  

Most of the time the editing went quite smoothly--no major disagreements that I recall.  A painless experience. 

Tomorrow: results and reader reaction 

~~Angie 

PS--If you're read THE ELEVATOR, check out this link!  

BOM: The Writing

Each Heavenly Daze novel is almost like two novellas--Lori and I each had to write a 35,000 word story revolving around the inhabitants of one house.  In the first book, I took the story of middle-aged Pastor Winslow Wickam, while Lori wrote of Annie and her aunt Olympia.  

I had a ball writing about Winslow's toupee, but I have to be honest--I could never have dreamed up that plot if parts of it hadn't happened to a pastor I know.  :-)  Lori tried her hand at writing the more serious story of Annie and Olympia, two women who really don't understand each other. 

While we were writing, we were also doing research on Maine, especially the "Maine-isms" that populate the book.  (Ex: ayuh).  We haven't lived there, but we surely used our copies of "Maine Lingo."  

And on it went.  In the second book, Grace in Autumn, I wrote of Babette and Georgie, while Lori wrote of Bea and Birdie and the trouble with all the letters.  

A Warmth in Winter had me tackling the story of Salt and the children; Lori write about Vernie and Stanley.  

In A Perfect Love, I wrote of Buddy and his pet sugar glider; Lori wrote about Cleta, Barbara, and Russell. 

And finally, in Hearts at Home, we brought the story full circle--back to the original buildings, but we traded roles.  I wrote of Annie and Olympia; Lori wrote of Edith and Winslow.  

Why did we stop writing at that point?  Because the books weren't selling well enough to continue.

 I hate to take time for an economics lesson, but here are the hard facts: in a co-written project, the authors do the same amount of story work for half the salary.  Sometimes it's even more work, because you have to work hard to be sure the stories don't conflict. And after five books, writing about 23 people in a town became COMPLICATED.  We not only had to keep track of what the townspeople were doing in the present book; we had to keep track of everything they'd done in their entire lives!  (Trust me, it's harder than you'd think when you have two authors with two different sets of notes, plus characters who jabber all the time about their past histories).  

We had hoped the series would take off, but though we get lots of lovely letters about the Heavenly Daze series, sales figures seem to indicate that everyone is reading copies from the library or half.com.  Not that we have anything against those outlets, but a series needs to sell if it's going to continue. The sale of used books doesn't pay the authors or count as a sale with the publisher. That's just a fact of the business. 

(Moral:  if you love an author, buy his/her books as soon as they're released if you can. Brisk sales make the publisher PRINT MORE.) 

That's why we're hoping that this new mass market edition (which will sell for much less) will breathe new life into the series. 

 

Tomorrow: the editing

~~Angie

BOM: The Research

One of the first things Lori and I did was book a trip to Maine.  (She lives in Missouri, and I live in Florida.  We didn't exactly know a lot about our northeastern-most state.) 

We booked a room in a charming Ogunquit bed and breakfast called "The Puffin Inn." (See photo).  And then we set out to explore the town.  Not much of an agenda, really--we just wanted to soak up the atmosphere. 

Ogunquit has a tourist area down by the shore called "Perkins Cove."  Lori and I spent a lot of time down there, snapping pictures and getting a feel for the terrain. We also went out on a lobster boat--my strongest memory of that experience is having a migraine.  When the lobsterman came toward me, intent on showing me the difference between a male and female lobster up close, I lowered my head and muttered that I was going to throw up if he put that lobster any closer to my face.  LOL!   (That photo was taken on the lobster boat.) 

Poor Lori, she was so compassionate with me--I think I had a migraine on and off for most of the weekend.  Anyway, after our excursion--and after my headache abated--I took her to the "Lobster Pot," a restaurant where you can pick out your lobster in the tank and then eat him.  Lori had never eaten a whole lobster--and I doubt she ever will again.  I tried to find my picture of her in her lobster bib, but it seems to be misplaced . . . 

When we weren't out taking in the town, we were back in our room at the Puffin Inn, populating the town of Heavenly Daze.  Lori has a real knack for names--so that's how Vernie and Bea and Cleta came to be.  I wouldn't have thought of those names in a hundred years. 

We also set up the structure of the book. Since we live so far apart, we knew it wouldn't be feasible to write "back and forth."  So we created seven buildings for the town, and decided that each novel would feature two buildings. Lori would write the story for the inhabitants of one building; I'd write the other.  Then we'd get together--either at my house or hers--and we'd "merge" the two stories.  We also knew we'd have to stick to a tight timeline, because Lori couldn't have her story transpiring over three months if I had everything happen in one month. 

So--we decided that each HD book would cover one month in the town.  We actually plotted enough events to get the townspeople through an entire year, but our first contract was only for three books--three months.  

We began in October, which is a lovely time of year in Maine.  Tomorrow--the writing. 

~~Angie