At the Edge of the Jordan: What Waits for Us After This Life and Why It Matters by Leah Chrest

5/28/2022

Debut author, Leah Chrest introduces us to her fiction story about the afterlife:
What waits for us when we die? How can the truth of heaven revolutionize our faith?

In this unique work, Leah Chrest, a lifelong Christian, draws from both hundreds of near-death experiences and the Bible to create a captivating tale of faith and personal transformation. Based on the NDEs of Nancy Rynes, Rev. Howard Storm, Dr. Eben Alexander, Mary C. Neal, George Ritchie, and dozens more, Aislinn's story will answer your heart's deepest questions and inspire you to live a more peaceful, inspired, faith-filled life.

Journey with Aislinn, a young woman who is no stranger to grief, having lost her sister and grandparents in the span of just a few years. On her honeymoon, Aislinn drowns in a freak surfing accident. Her soul leaves her body and enters heaven, where she meets with Jesus and has the innermost questions of her soul answered:

What is the purpose of our life on Earth?
Why do good people suffer?
Do we have guardian angels? How can we feel their presence?
Is hell real?
What happens to our loved ones when we are separated by death?
What is life like in heaven?
What is the future of the Earth?
How can we live in connection to the Holy Spirit, as Jesus did?

If you have always wondered about near-death experiences, this well-researched narrative account will warm your heart and inspire you to live with deeper purpose and meaning.

A fascinating story with tantalizing glimpses of what heaven and hell might be like. It’s an emotional rollercoaster at times with the death of loved ones and suffering being part of the story. Those darker moments are balanced with healings and connecting again with family members.
I found the footnotes to be interesting and they add a welcome depth to the story. I enjoyed them as an information junkie. However, you can enjoy the story quite well without reading any of the footnotes. The story easily stands on its own.
I give “At the Edge of the Jordan” 4.8 stars.

You can buy this book:
https://www.amazon.com/At-Edge-Jordan-Waits-Matters-ebook
https://www.goodreads.com/-at-the-edge-of-the-jordan

You can follow the author:
https://twitter.com/ChristianMedit2
http://thecontemplativechristian.com
https://www.instagram.com/christianmedit2/
https://www.youtube.com/c/christianmeditation
https://www.facebook.com/christianmedit2

Copyright © 2022 Mark L. Schultz except for the author’s introduction

52 Comments

Leah Chrest link

5/29/2022 03:31:15 pm

Hi Mark! Thank you for your review. It is an honor to be talking with you this week. I just got back from the mountains. My boys, father, and I went backpacking to Annapolis Rock in Meyersville, MD for the night. I'm tired, but it was such a great way to spend the last day and a half (unplugged and in nature). I should be pretty quick to reply the rest of the week though, now that I'm home. :)

If I may, I have a question for you to start off! What led you to start Word Refiner and promote fledgling author's books? :) I look forward to our conversation!

Mark

5/29/2022 05:10:17 pm

Welcome aboard. I bet that was an awesome backpacking trip. I am sure you are glad to be back... I was going to say 'to work' but you are likely on summer break now or soon will be.
Great question. I have always loved to read. I knew how to read before the first grade. In the mid-70s I was hired as a technical proofreader for a firm of consulting engineers. This was before computers and word processors. I found lots of spelling errors. I did some proofreading for a friend; he wrote several novels. I tried to find other clients, it was very difficult before the internet and social media, I gave up after a while.
About 10 years later, I started again with greater success. Authors loved my work for them. I realized I could help authors even more by leaving reviews for their books and promoting their books. I love to help authors.
You are one of the few authors to ask me questions and the only one to ask a question at the start. I love it.
First question.
Please, tell us more about yourself. Perhaps something a little bit beyond your bio.

Leah link

5/29/2022 05:45:40 pm

Wow! Yes, you certainly are a talented proofreader/promoter and you have the perfect personality for such a job. I love how the internet/social media has provided so many beautiful opportunities for folks to break free of the "9 - 5" job/corporate world. It seems that now, more than ever, if you know where to look and have the determination to find it, it is possible to create a life where you can find deep personal fulfillment and joy. :) Just this weekend we met a woman who works the Appalachian Trail during the summer and then spends the rest of the year adventuring! Well, I guess that leads me to:

Random fun facts about me:
1) I despised writing as a high school and college student. It wasn't until forced to take a creative writing class in college that I realized that writing could in any way be fun. Research papers and literary analysis were just so dull and uninspiring. And thus...
2) I became a math teacher (NO ESSAYS!) and loved it. I still love it. It would take a lot to get me to change careers at this point. But though I love my job as a math teacher and despise essay writing...
3) I somehow ended up writing a book with dozens of pages of footnotes (not AT ALL a research paper) bringing together common elements of hundreds of NDE's (which holds absolutely NOTHING in common with literary analysis).
4) As a child, I was extremely unathletic (finished dead last in the one mile run in 8th grade). I then became team captain for my high school cross-country team, completed a sprint triathlon, and regularly go back-packing/hiking/running.
5) I am a jack of all trades, master of none, who loves life and the adventure of discovering that just when you think you know yourself, life surprises you.

How about you?

Mark

5/29/2022 06:37:04 pm

We have a fair amount in common. I didn't like English and grammar at all. I enjoyed reading, of course, but was very poor at analysis of the material beyond a basic level. My attempts at creative writing were miserable. I think the teacher passed me along out of sympathy.
In high school, I enjoyed math and science a lot.
I was not athletic at all. I did a lot of backpacking and camping for several years as a boy scout.
I hold two journeyman cards in construction, sheet metal and HVAC technology. I do know a lot about other trades also.
No question, life is full of surprises, everything is permanent until further notice.
New questions.
Does your work have any influence on your writing?
What inspired you to write this book?

Leah Chrest link

5/29/2022 08:44:26 pm

Yes, we both do have a couple interesting twists and turns in our story, and some of those twists are similar in nature! Your background is very interesting--have you ever reviewed a book where an element of your prior career is featured?

As for me, my career as a teacher plays into the book very minimally. Aislinn ("Ash lynn"--main character) is named after a former student of mine (who gave me permission to use her name). The name is Irish and means "one who dreams," which seemed perfect for the main character, given her life-changing experience in the book. Aislinn is an English teacher in the story, not math, but...close enough?

As for my motivation to write this particular work....several years ago, I was in a place of uncertainty with my Christian faith. I stumbled across Dr. Jeffery Long's God and the Afterlife (a statistical study of Near Death Experiences). After reading his book and (because I'm a doubting Thomas) more than one hundred NDE's to personally back-check his research, I became rock solid in my faith for the first time in my life. I wanted to give that same gift to others who maybe didn't have the interest in reading hundreds of NDEs (I didn't count, but I estimate I've read over 500 at this point).

In my research, I read a few research-based studies and many "singleton" NDE books (describing one person's experience), never a compilation that walked the reader through all the most common elements of an NDE in a single story. So, I gave it a go, figuring it would be fun to write. More importantly, if one person came away with a deeper faith after reading the book, the time spent would be worthwhile. :)

Mark

5/29/2022 09:01:34 pm

My first career was in retail. I worked on and off the sales floor for about twenty years. My second career was in construction, mostly commercial and a little bit of residential. In the middle of my second career, I also served eight years in the Air National Guard where I gained three skillsets: General Purpose Vehicle Mechanic, Aerospace Ground Equipment Mechanic and I worked in supply as a Receiving Clerk.
The short answer is yes, since I know a little about a lot of things bits and pieces have shown up in a few books. My knowledge has been more useful when I am proofreading.
Thanks for explaining how to pronounce her name and its roots. I struggled a little bit with that while reading. I finally settled upon something close to Aslan.
Reading 500 NDEs is a lot. Your synthesis was quite interesting.
New questions.
Who designed the cover of your book? Feel free to drop a link if appropriate.
What do the elements on the cover represent?

Leah Chrest link

5/29/2022 09:31:22 pm

The cover is my own creation. The white dress is something my grandmother sewed for my mom years ago...white symbolizes the purity of the soul once it drops the "ego" shell in death. "Crossing the Jordan" is a Judeo-Christian symbol of death. Thus, in the picture, the woman is touching the edge of the "river," just as an NDE experiencer glimpses what waits on the other side of this life.
My neighbor and I had a blast with the photography session. Her little girl (then 3) wanted to try on the dress too and be photographed (we obliged), but she was a little young to pass as Aislinn. haha My mom's dress made it through relatively unscathed, despite multiple people wearing it on the sandy streambank. All in all, creating the cover was one of the best/most fun parts of the publishing process. That is, as long as we leave my struggles with Adobe Photoshop out of the conversation. ;)

Leah Chrest link

5/29/2022 09:45:27 pm

Wow! That's a lot of life experiences to draw from. The technical knowledge esp. must be helpful.

Mark

5/30/2022 07:39:58 am

Thanks for explaining about the cover. It turned out quite well.

Not many authors try and make their own cover. Some give it their best effort and then pass it on to a knowledgeable person with the necessary skills. Photoshop is a powerful program and probably has a steep learning curve.

The old adage says to not judge a book by its cover. Yet, we all do exactly that. If the cover doesn't catch our eye long enough to even read the title, then there is little hope of the viewer buying the book. I have run across a few authors who change the covers on under-performing books to see if sales will improve.

New questions.

This is the first book you have written. Will you be writing more?
Were the character names difficult to develop? How did you choose them?

Leah Chrest link

5/30/2022 08:41:08 am

Yes, a cover definitely matters! The title is also important--a catchy title on the library's new book shelf will grab my attention and at least get me to read the summary. What's your favorite cover/title combo of a book that you've reviewed?

As for future books, I have a few brewing. I think I'm finished with fiction for the time being--I feel my natural strength is in nonfiction, though I am open to feedback from you and others on that!

One future book is my own pipe dream (much like At the Edge of the Jordan) that will probably be completed a couple years down the road. I imagine the title will be "Mama Monk" and it will be a compilation of the lighter posts from my blog, specifically the posts that blend Contemplative Christianity with motherhood.

However, my main effort right now was given to me (the story behind that is much too long for this interview). The book's title will most likely be: "It's Okay to Be Okay: Grief As a Pathway to Blessing and New Life." I'm about 50 pages in at this point and hope to have it out before the end of 2022. It's another heavy one and the first half has been challenging to write, as the first (unfortunately necessary) chapters outline the background of my husband's passing. Reliving the trauma through writing has been hard. However, the rest of the book will be a joy to write--it outlines the journey of recovery--using a combination of practical tools (like CBT) and the deep comfort that comes from faith to move back to baseline. And then, from there, taking the catalyst of the loss and allowing God to use it to transform you and your life into something more beautiful than you ever expected. I can honestly say the past 9 months (since Brett's passing) have been the best of my life so far, BECAUSE of the deep love Brett and I share that goes beyond this life, not in spite of it. I feel strongly that I have been called to share that story and potential pathway out of grief and loss with others.

On a MUCH lighter note, I try to pick character names that are relatively common but not associated with anyone I have a strong relationship with (Dave and Allie). Aislinn is the exception to that, but I explained that in an earlier comment (see above). Dave was originally named Dan. I developed Dan's character years ago, and then ended up working with/becoming friends with someone named Dan who was eerily similar in nature to the character. It weirded me (and, frankly, my husband) out, so I had to change the physical description of Aislinn's husband as well as the name. I don't know any Daves, and the name seemed to fit a chill, surfer personality well enough. The character of the grandfather is my own grandfather in every detail (except the timing of his passing), so I kept that name--"Pop". Dave's grandmother is named "Grace" because of the spiritual meaning behind the name. :) Finally, Zeus and Hera (the dogs) were just plain fun to name. I know, Greek gods...but naming the dogs "Peter and Paul" wasn't happening!

Mark

5/30/2022 10:21:49 am

I have reviewed more than 300 books, now. I have read thousands in my life. I currently read 50 to 60 books a year. I cannot recall a cover that stood out in my mind beyond the most recent few books I have read.

Your future books will be welcomed by your fans, they sound interesting. There is a lot of grief to work through for those who are left behind.

Mama Monk sounds like a cute title also.

New questions.

Have you done any public speaking? Will you be doing more in the future?

Have you entered any writing contests?

Leah Chrest link

5/30/2022 11:54:12 am

The short answer? No, no, and no. But I suppose that's not entirely true.

I am part of the meditation/contemplative Christian community via YouTube (see channel link above) where I have a large number of meditations and a few "talk" type videos. I am also blessed to have led some meditation classes on retreats and a course for teachers on meditation/mindfulness in the classroom. I currently lead a contemplative christian group through our local church.

Because my main focus is being the best mom and teacher I can be, everything else is a side gig for me. However, God can use side gigs as well! When I put that first meditation on YouTube in July of 2018, I never guessed I'd one day touch thousands of peoples lives every month through the channel. I'm open to where life leads me--so, we will see!

I haven't entered any writing contests. At the moment, that doesn't seem to be where I'm led. But, again, who knows what the future will bring?

Mark

5/30/2022 01:07:48 pm

Your YouTube channel could easily be considered public speaking, you are in front of a camera and microphone. The audience is just on the other side. You also have led classes in different venues. As you corrected yourself, the answers are yes and yes.
A lot of people are afraid of public speaking. Yet they can expound on their favorite topic for quite a while with an appreciative audience at hand.
Quite a paradox, that contains the solution. The secret to public speaking is to talk about something you are very knowledgeable about, something you love is even better. People want to hear about what you know so much about, they want to hear about that which you love. Regardless of how well you speak, the audience is hanging on every word.
I am a poor speaker. I struggled with a severe stammer all through school and was bullied a great deal for it. After high school, I began to learn how to control the stammer by not trying to control it so strenuously. I learned to build pauses into my speech to allow the tension to melt from my tongue and my mouth.
In the years past, I have spoken before small and large groups. I once spoke at my church with nearly 1,000 people present. It was exhilarating!
As long as I know my subject I don't worry anymore.
New questions.
I noticed that your book is in Kindle Unlimited. How is that working out for you? Why did you choose that exclusive venue?

Leah Chrest link

5/30/2022 03:17:26 pm

Congrats on speaking in that large a setting! You have me beat! I stuttered a bit and talked way too fast/stumbled over my words as a child and even through young adulthood. Meditation slowed my mental processing down/increased my focus enough so that it's easier to speak clearly now. However, I was always inspired by James Earle Jones and his story of becoming one of the most iconic voices of the 20th century, even with his speech struggles early on. What did you speak about at your church?

I LOVE public speaking. I can't get enough of making a complete fool out of myself in public settings. I guess I'm a glutton for punishment?

I chose Amazon because I knew that at least at first that my book wasn't getting picked up by major booksellers (the main motivation for the other option). I had hoped that Kindle Unlimited would allow more people to access the content for free. A few people have, but far more have bought it outright, which surprised me!

As hinted at in my previous response, I'm looking for a slow growth model for now. My leading thusfar has been that my main priority is motherhood and developing myself spiritually--this year especially! However, I'm gradually beginning the process of promoting the book. First I promoted it on YouTube along with a $.99 kindlebook weeklong promotion, with a decent amount of success (again--a few people paid money for the paperback instead--something to think about for those who only publish digitally!). This week I'm working with you, Mark (aka Word Refiner), and I have the number for our local library where I hope to have copies of my book placed this summer. :) So, little by little! Baby steps.

Mark

5/30/2022 04:25:29 pm

I think I spoke about Passover, that or Yom Kippur. It was at least 20 years ago, if not longer.

There is nothing wrong with well-timed slow growth. Building a solid foundation is important.

Book promotion and marketing is far more like an ultramarathon than a sprint. I have encouraged writers to devote one or two hours every week or two for the business of writing; everything that is not related to putting words on paper.
Here is a copy-and-paste link to a nice blog about marketing in your hometown: How to be a marketing star right where you live.
https://annerallen.com/2019/08/hometown-book-marketing/ via @annerallen Anne is one of my favorite bloggers.

Some people prefer to hold a real book in their hands. So having a paperback available is a wise choice.

You mentioned getting your book into your public library, something a lot of writers dream about. Here is another link that might be useful: https://www.thecreativepenn.com/2019/06/12/book-marketing-how-to-get-your-book-into-libraries Joanna is another one of my favorite bloggers. You can also hit the search box at the bottom of the page and put library in. There are several good blogs about that subject to choose from.

When your KU contract is up, consider making your book available on other platforms. There are many, some people refuse to buy anything on Amazon. Smashwords, Apple books, Kobo/Walmart are only a few of the big platforms out there. Here is another link about making that process a little easier: Aggregators just might be an author's best friend! https://www.kotobee.com/blog/everything-need-know-aggregators/

I hope this isn't too much all at once.
New questions.
Have you ever gone through the query process, seeking an agent or submitting directly to publishers or did you go straight to indie publishing or self-publishing, and why?

Leah Chrest link

5/30/2022 04:52:08 pm

Oh, not at all too much information! Thank you! I may take a couple months to piece through it all, but I will be sure to use it. :)

As I remember, I can pull out of Kindle Unlimited at any time. So, no contract (I think perhaps there used to be and they phased that out?). However, I've been wrong before! Once I've researched other platforms, hopefully I can pull the cord.

A few things brought me to self-publishing--a family friend having a not-great experience with an Indie publisher, not wanting to wait for the long process that traditional publishing takes, and finally, and most importantly, strongly wanting the story to be told "as is." I wanted to include the eastern-leaning elements that are brushed over or ignored entirely by the non-fiction NDE summary-style books as well as other traditionally published "my NDE" books. If you read the online NDE accounts, Eastern-based elements are a huge part of many western NDEr's experiences, much to their own surprise. My best guess is that publishers encourage those elements to be de-emphasized, as it will boost sales.

And they're right.

But this is about truth and spiritual growth, not about money or "playing nice." And I'm blessed to be in a position (little interest in writing being a source of income) that I can by loyal to truth. :)

From what I've seen in other interviews, the "control of the work" is a huge motivator for self-published authors. I totally get it!

Mark

5/30/2022 06:16:00 pm

The last I heard is that during the time period a book is on KU it cannot be available anywhere else.

The traditional publishing process is fraught with difficulties for the small author. The first thing a publisher of any size is concerned with is: can I make a profit on this book.

Publishers of all sizes and stripes are running on the slimmest of profit margins, generally speaking. Amazon turned the publishing world upside down a number of years ago by allowing anyone to publish a book. That is the good news and the bad. Now, with over a million new books being published each year, every author struggles to get recognition for their book.

Some publishers empty the wallet of the author with highly over-priced promotional packages. Most publishers are happy to list your book on their website, after publishing on Amazon and that is as far as most of their promotional go.

With traditional publishing, an author loses near or total control of their book. The publisher may require many changes to make the book as profitable for the publisher as possible. They may delay publishing the book for months or longer hoping to hit a market bump they foresee as profitable. Many indie publishers are not much better, the details and the devil are in the contract.

You nailed it, not being willing to give up control of their work and the intellectual property rights that the author inherently holds are the major reason why so many authors self-publish. True, the author bears all the costs for getting their book to market, also true is the author reaps all of the rewards from the book.

In my mind, you are wise to self-publish.

New questions.

How do you think your book compares to a book published by a major publisher?

Is there a book that causes strong emotions to come up no matter how many times you read it?

Leah Chrest link

5/30/2022 07:15:19 pm

Ah, well, maybe I will stick with self-publishing for "It's Okay to Be Okay" as well! You brought a lot of things to light that I wasn't aware of, though it's not surprising. Money/ego-driven success is unfortunately a huge motivator for so many, including publishers.

I believe that At the Edge of the Jordan is edgier (no pun intended--there are ideas that are typically viewed as "Eastern" mixed with Western spirituality), but there's something about it (even as I read my own work) that doesn't flow quite as well as traditionally published fiction flows. I can't put my finger on it...but...it's there. (Sigh). To me, its worth the trade-off, and I hope the slightly unpolished "flow" isn't enough to keep those who would benefit from the story to enjoy it. :) So far, it hasn't seemed to be a barrier. I'm grateful! I don't seem to have that trouble with non-fiction/blogging. Grateful again.

As for books that cause strong emotions...wow, that's a tough one! I've only read a few books more than once, including one random book entitled Time Cat by Lloyd Alexander that is just plain fun--no emotions raised though besides nostalgia. Lord of the Rings is one that reached me in a completely different way the second time around, when my oldest and I were reading some of it together.

There's a moment in The Two Towers (Chapter: The White Rider) that made me stop reading aloud and go on a 5 minute philosophical/spiritual rant. Luckily, he didn't ban me from reading to him in the future :) :
"'Gandalf,' the old man repeated, as if recalling from old memory a long disused word. 'Yes, that was the name. I was Gandalf.'"

I'll give you the mini-version of the rant--Gandalf, "resurrected" after his battle with the Balrog, now identified as something much larger than his "small self," the man/wizard known as 'Gandalf'. And that was the root of his increased power. :)

Ah, if only publishers were as wise as Gandalf the White, the world would be a better place!

Mark

5/31/2022 07:56:59 am

As humans, we are a conflicting mess of desires some of which many of us are not very cognizant of in ourselves or others. One of those desires that a person can pretty much count on for almost all people is the desire to succeed. Not everyone measures that in the same way, so that can be an interesting twist in human nature.

I did notice an eastern element or two, it gave me pause. I wasn't aware that almost all stories of NDE included those aspects. Thank you for revealing that for me.

Your comment about flow was interesting. I didn't notice a problem with the flow of the story. It may have been your inner critic that was trying to tell you that you are not a real writer, that your writing isn't as good as the writings of others. I call this voice the inner liar. Everyone experiences these self-doubts regardless of how many books they have written. I tell authors to ignore the inner liar, nothing good will come from listening to it.

LOTR. You are talking about my second, nearly first, favorite genre to read. I was introduced to high fantasy with these books while I was in junior high school. I read Tolkien's epic masterpiece three times before graduating from high school. That was a good scene.

New questions.

Did you have a favorite book as a child?

Does writing have a spiritual or healing component for you, does it energize you or make you feel tired?

Leah Chrest link

5/31/2022 08:57:38 am

The eastern elements aren't in every NDE (most experiences are far too brief--the soul moves towards "the light" and back with little else to it), but when the topic comes up (one life or many), I could only find one example in favor of 1 life. All others came back with us having many lives, including many experiencers who were strong in the Judeo-Christian background prior to their near-death episode.

Thank you for your kind words about my writing. I'm glad it flowed well for you!

Regarding favorite books...my favorite picture book is The Little Mouse, the Red Ripe Strawberry, and The Big Hungry Bear. When I was older, I loved Little House on the Prairie, as well as adventure/fantasy books (Redwall series, anything by Lloyd Alexander, including Time Cat!!!). As I near adulthood, the spiritual part of me became more prominent and I leaned towards CS Lewis and Tolkien. What is your top favorite genre to read now if high fantasy is #2?

Writing absolutely has a healing component. My blog is my public diary, where I sort through and wrestle with pretty deep topics in a funny way. Sometimes I'll come into writing with a funny story (e.g. the post I'm working on coming out tomorrow, where I talk about our backpacking adventures) and then, in the course of writing, I find some deep meaning in it that just blows my mind. And writing At the Edge of the Jordan (published the day before my husband unexpectedly passed), pulled me through his passing. So, YES!

Generally, writing energizes me. However, I struggle with extended time on the laptop. )

How about you? Does proofreading/reviewing energize you or tire you or somewhere in between?

Mark

5/31/2022 01:01:56 pm

Tolkien and Lewis are at the top of my list of favorite authors. I have no doubt that you know they were fast friends.

Did you know that Lewis wrote a sci-fi trilogy with JRRT as the main character? "Out of the Silent Planet" is one of the set.

My #1 genre is science fiction. I read so much of it when I was young, starting about age 10.

Your husband unexpectedly dying at that moment is... I have no words for that. The shock would be beyond expression or comprehension at that time. How did you deal with it? If you don't mind me asking.

I am always tired after many hours of proofreading each day. It's almost always a good tired.

New questions.

Why is it important for writers to tap into the emotions of the characters?

Have you ever done NaNoWriMo, National November Writing Month?

Leah Chrest link

5/31/2022 02:11:25 pm

I love Lewis' sci-fi series as well--esp. Out of the Silent Planet! I didn't know the main character was supposed to be Tolkien thought!

As for the questions, I'll handle the easy one first. I hadn't heard of NaNoWriMo until this week, but after reading through some of the other author interviews, it sounds intriguing! I think it'll be some time before I'm up for it. Maybe if I were just book/novel writing and not blogging and YouTubing as well? haha Knowing that some successful writers do finish a draft in a month does make me feel that my "dump thoughts on page" approach to the first draft doesn't seem so crazy!

Interesting, fun fact...the first draft of At the Edge of the Jordan was hand-written in a notebook. And it is ROUGH, but the heart of the novel is there.

I'll blend my response to my husband's death into the getting into the emotions of the characters. My husband had been seriously ill for some time, but the doctors had recently given him a very good prognosis. He collapsed in my arms around 9:30 in the morning, while moving from one room to another...direct cause of death still unknown. Yes, it was traumatizing. As the EMT's were trying to resuscitate him (we all knew it was a shot in the dark at that point), my mind and heart were all over the place...thinking about my boys who were downstairs with my neighbor...their dad suddenly gone, how I was going to let Brett's parents and brother know, reaching out to him as best as I could through my heart, knowing from all my research that he was no longer in his body, and (trite, I know), thinking "holy cow, I got the EMT scene totally wrong...and this scene is going to end very differently from the one in the book".

Knowing what I know from my faith and writing the book, I allowed the trauma and emotions to simply pass through me, but kept adjusting my mental focus back to what would be helpful--rerouting the "what if?" thoughts and "if only I could show/tell Brett x, y, or z" to "He is happy and this is what was planned" and "he is with me right now, in a more real way than he could ever have been before".

A day or so after his passing, and a handful of times since, he has come to me in various ways (dreams, signs, and through "vision-like" experiences). My husband is holding and guiding me through the veil...a truly beautiful experience.

Back to the writing part...a month or two after he passed (once I was emotionally ready), I rewrote the EMT scene, because now I knew what Dave was going through. I could really get "in his head". Before that, it was a guess, but now I had lived it. I also rewrote the hospital scenes, as I had experienced being the caretaker of someone in critical condition firsthand earlier on in the year. I think having been there makes the scene more powerful.

Mark

5/31/2022 03:07:37 pm

John was a professor of languages at Oxford, so Clive made the protagonist a professor of languages also.

NaNoWriMo does require a commitment, so it may not be appropriate for you now. It is a time of fun and camaraderie for lot of writers.

You did exactly the right thing with the first draft. The most important thing is to get it out of your head. You can't edit something that doesn't exist on a screen or on paper. One of the biggest mistakes beginning writers make is trying to edit as they write the first draft. Worrying about details causes the well of inspiration to dry up and many never finish the first draft.

That was a horrible way to learn in detail about all of that stuff.

Rerouting and re-framing your thoughts was a smart move. An excellent example of controlling your thoughts rather than your thoughts controlling you. Those dreams and such have to be very comforting for you.

The scene with Dave with the EMTs trying to resuscitate Aislinn was well written. Now we understand why.

New questions.

Are you an under-writer or an over-writer?

When the first draft is done, do you need to add more to it to flesh it out or do you have to cut material because there is too much?

Leah Chrest link

5/31/2022 04:57:23 pm

How could I miss that bit about the protagonist being a linguist! Thanks for pointing that out!

I am definitely an underwriter. After the first draft of At the Edge of the Jordan, I had the majority of the core of the story (2/3 of what took place on the spiritual plane), but only 1/3 of what became the opening chapters and concluding chapters. It took 4 or 5 drafts and a lot of long discussions with my beta readers as well as my husband to get the book in final form.

With that said, there are some sections I ended up cutting. Initially I had a few side stories about the (my) grandfather that I realized I included for sentimental reasons but that added little if anything to the story. I had to shift my perspective from writing for myself to writing for an audience--once I did that, it became crystal clear that they needed to go. :)

Mark

5/31/2022 06:00:23 pm

You are welcome. I was surprised when I discovered that myself.

Many writers find themselves adding here, cutting there and moving things around. In fiction, the protagonist must go through a series of trials or quests, each designed to force him or her to move further out of their comfort zone to survive and reach the goal. The protagonist must also endure failure at times thus putting more pressure on him or her.

I hope you saved those sections about your grandfather. I hope you find the time to work on them as a book for your grandkids. At some point they will want to know more about past family members.

Point of view is very important. Knowing who you are writing for is critical.

New questions.

Which is more important to a story pace or flow?

How do you control it?

Leah Chrest link

6/1/2022 09:05:04 am

Great question! Although both are important, in my heart I lean more towards flow. I was that kid who didn't understand why there had to be a big conflict in movies. Why can't we just sing "Can't Wait to Be King", frolic around the Pride Lands, make friends with the hyenas and then receive the kingship when Mufasa peacefully hands over the reins? Yet, that movie wouldn't at all reflect the truth of life on this Earth (and having a villain that is over-exaggerated makes touches on the reality a little easier for kids, I get it).

Life, and any good story, will naturally be messy. As you noted so well in your review, the book was an emotional rollercoaster. The action/pace happened naturally. Ultimately, despite my best wishes for "kum-ba-yah" and walking off happily into the sunset, our lives on this earth are rollercoaster rides. Yet, there is deep beauty, even in the chaos.

Therefore, as a writer, I want the same for my reader. I want them to feel the warmth of the sun on Aislinn's face, experience the love of Jesus emanating from his being, hear the thunder and the sound of the wind in the scene thunderstorm and embrace the beauty of it all. I want chapters to flow seamlessly from one to another so they get to live and experience heaven through Aislinn's eyes.

And I suppose that is my answer, pace happens naturally, because that is the nature of life and any "real" story. Yet we need to look for the flow, for in every story, there is great beauty, if the writer knows how to gently direct the reader to see it. And in that way, reading a good book with good flow can be healing and transformative, as we are moved to see the beauty in our own messy lives as well.

Mark

6/1/2022 10:22:28 am

There is a natural flow to life and some of that is replicated in a story. Our lives are messy, and that messiness is reflected in the characters' lives in the story. The protagonist has the messiest life of all, except for the antagonist, the hero is always frustrating him also. Actually, a well-written antagonist usually has the point of view of being the hero, if he was writing the story. Tha antagonist should have redeeming characteristics also, like the hero. There are few fully evil antagonists.

You might not have been thinking about it at the time, but short words and short sentences speed the pace up in a story. Conversely, longer words and sentences slow the pace down. The slowing is needed after an intense action scene to give the reader a chance to catch their breath. A writer has a lot of tools to convey the message.

New questions.

What is your writing routine when you sit down to write?

Do you write in a straight line, or do you write whatever the muse provides for you at a given moment?

Leah Chrest link

6/1/2022 02:48:36 pm

True--perhaps that is part of what bothered me about some children's movies--the antagonist was too purely evil to be believable. :) But, again, easier for kids to take perhaps? Adult antagonists are typically more complex. :)

I write in spurts, an hour each a few times a week. I'm somewhat strapped to a schedule, that of my kids and teaching. That means I typically write an hour a few nights a week after the kids go to bed and an hour while the kids are playing video games on weekends.

While half of my writing is substantially from "me" (well thought-out ideas that come together in my mind through efforting), the other half is given to me from something outside of me (muse/Holy Spirit). I'll be out running, in the shower, or wake up in the middle of the night and have the outline for an entire blog post or chapter of a book downloaded to me.

For those reading At the Edge of the Jordan, only a few sections of At the Edge of the Jordan were "given" to me...the prologue and the scene overlooking the mountainside (the energy of the wind and rain being transferred across the mountainside). A few other scenes (Dave's transformative experience in the church and the concept of the kid climbing with his dad behind him) were based on my own experiences/lessons that have been downloaded to me over the years. However, being a research-based book, most of the rest was very head-based--just working through the writing process.

About half of my blog posts and most of It's Okay to Be Okay come inspired. This morning, for instance, I woke up an hour before the alarm with an entire chapter in my mind. When that much is downloaded, I go with it. So, as the sun was rising, 4 pages just flowed out of me, effortlessly. I love those moments! I can't say I'm really the writer at those times, just the vehicle it comes through. For me, that's the most joyful and fulfilling way to write. :)

What is the most common time of day/process you've seen from authors?

Mark

6/1/2022 04:01:40 pm

Yes, the antagonist in a story for children is usually just as you say. I find most of the characters to be flat and uncomplicated. It might be better that way for children's fare. Their world is uncomplicated if we adults are doing it right. We want our kids to have fun and enjoy their childhood. We know all too well that it won't be long enough.

The time limitations you face are very common among many writers. I think the percentage of fulltime writers is very small. In this day and age of publishing options, the long game is very important. An author must keep churning the books out and build the back list. Promotion of the next book is always ongoing and should include the back list also. The more books, formats and platforms an author has and utilizes the greater chance of achieving financial independence.

Being in the zone, being blessed by the muse is wonderful to experience. The words flow easily onto the page as you said. However, many writers struggle with the timing. One of my past clients related that her muse visited almost every night at 2:30 am. She learned quickly to keep a pad of paper and a pen handy by her bed. Sometimes she can even read her notes. Another author lamented that her muse only seemed to appear when she was in the shower and was sad realizing how much she was not able to record. I suggested she get a pad of waterproof paper and Space pen, that thing writes anywhere, even underwater. She was much happier after that.

Many authors have found they could coax the muse to reappear by engaging in common and fairly simple activities such as gardening, hiking or cooking. Releasing a tight grip on the creative side of the mind allowed inspiration to flow pretty often.

New questions.

Now that your book is published, is there anything about it you would like to change?

What do you do to launch a new book when it is first published?

Leah Chrest link

6/2/2022 08:56:07 am

Those are some fun "muse" stories. I think that's when the "spirit" comes to inspire--when we are able to disconnect from our rational brain and instead tap into our intuition (spirit within) and creative side. For me, running definitely does that, as does (perhaps quite obviously) meditation.

As for what to change about At the Edge of the Jordan--what is nice about being self-published is that I can make small changes as needed (as I did with the EMT scene).

Overall, I feel as though I represented well both the commonalities among NDEs as well as some of the unique aspects that appear in only a handful but that would benefit the reader (description of "hell", angels, etc.). However, as I've grown in my own understanding of contemplative spirituality from just 10 months ago, there are some areas I would embellish a bit based on my deeper reading/study.

Another aspect about myself as a writer that is evolving (and impacts my teaching as well) is realizing how many times someone needs to hear a concept/idea to learn it. Perhaps in a few years I will wish I had made the book significantly longer so as to expand on/reinforce some of the key spiritual truths. As the book is now, much of what I believe are the life-changing truths from NDEs will be forgotten by most readers within a few days of finishing the book.

As for launching a new book...I promoted on Twitter and on Facebook. Beyond that, well...I could do better next time! I think the second book launch is easier because you already have a fan base. Next time around, I will use YouTube from the start (my subscribers already know to look for the new book in the fall!), my blog, as well as Twitter and Instagram. I will also have reviews up on Amazon before the official release. :) Lessons learned! If you have other ideas, I'm all ears!

Mark

6/2/2022 09:25:11 am

More than one author mentioned running enabled them to connect with their muse easier. My knees wouldn't allow me to run but they were okay with race-walking. I have done that off and on for years. I am easing back into it now. Leaf raking was a great activity for my intuitive side to express itself. Raking leaves is slow, methodical and doesn't require a lot of higher-level brain activity.

Being self-published is the smart way to go. You remain in control of all aspects of your book. I know a number of authors who had to pay someone else to make any corrections in their book.

You can always rewrite and expand your book down the road. Multiple impressions are necessary for something to stick. I used to repeat the old adage that practice makes perfect, now I understand that practice (repetition) makes permanent.

There is always room for improvement in a book launch. You are smart to use multiple platforms, that helps to build your fanbase. Doing live events such as a cover reveal or unboxing printed copies are good tools also. Some authors do a book blog tour to promote a new book. I have a list of book promoters on my Twitter page. Click on the three dots under the banner to locate all of the lists. Here is a copy-and-paste link about blog tours also:
Do This, Not That – Blog Tours https://www.thebookdesigner.com/2020/06/do-this-not-that-blog-tours via @jfbookman or you can hit the search box at the bottom of this page.

New questions.

What popular modern authors have influenced you?

What software do you use to write and publish your books, and why do you use those?

Leah Chrest link

6/2/2022 10:51:22 am

Wonderful advice, thank you! I think walking can accomplish the same effect as running with regards to settling the mind...there are less endorphins so sometimes it just takes a bit longer to work for me. :) Honestly, being in nature doing just about anything (except maybe pelting small mammals with rocks) is great for inspiration!

Right now I'm using my next couple books as a way to take care of the reinforcement piece. Much of the content from the chapters where Jesus is helping Aislinn prepare for the transition back to her body will be central in "It's Okay to Be Okay", as well as "Mama Monk". However, I'm going to challenge myself to focus on that reinforcement/depth piece as well.

In my 20's, I LOVED the Outlander series. So, Diana Gabaldon was a huge influence on the writing style of At the Edge of the Jordan.
With regards to non-fiction, Rachel Macy Stafford (Hands-Free Mama) influenced my blogging/writing about spirituality and motherhood. And, probably not unexpectedly, my husband strongly influenced the humor I integrate into my non-fiction pieces, as he was almost exclusively a humor-writer and I was his main editor/proofreader (he was mildly dyslexic, so proofreading was a big job!). Thus, I was regularly immersed in his humor and I think some of it stuck. haha

With regards to writing and publishing, I'm simple (probably as a result of ignorance): Microsoft Word (for the book) and Photoshop (for the cover). What software do other (non-children's book) authors utilize?

Mark

6/2/2022 11:54:48 am

There are different levels of walking exertion, from strolling through fast walking into speed walking also known as Olympic-style race walking. At the upper end the walker can burn as many calories as a jogger with less pain and damage to the body.

Humor is a lot of fun and I enjoy it quite a bit. A good laugh releases endorphins also.

Almost every author uses MS Word. It has a huge, worldwide-installed user base. You are right on the mark. Some use Photoshop, others Canva and still others something else.

New questions.

How do you keep track of all the characters and events in your books?

Are you a plotter, a pantster, or a hybrid?

Leah Chrest link

6/2/2022 06:15:36 pm

Walking of any kind (and perhaps yoga?) is truly the best exercise. :) And yes, definitely easier on the joints!

I think everyone is a hybrid of the two--it's just whether you lean towards one side more than the other. It's a very interesting question.

I'm a plotter of sorts at first. I sketch out a general outline for where I want the book to go and then let the Spirit/Muse guide me through the rough draft. In future books, this plotting phase would also include fleshing out characters. In At the Edge of the Jordan, I wrote the center section (which didn't require a whole lot of character development beyond Aislinn's sister's passing), and then went back and created the beautiful relationship between Aislinn and Dave.

That relationship was difficult to finetune because it changes drastically after Aislinn's NDE. Dave married one person and then two days later has a completely different wife (with regards to personality). Simultaneously, Aislinn is learning how to relate to the world in a new way, is "homesick" for heaven, and has a significantly different (calmer, more open) personality.

This is where the pantster/plotter trade-off happened. Make a plan, flesh out more/add a scene (pantster style), reread and analyze, repeat, until the story is a cohesive whole with a relationship that (just might) survive that dramatic upheavel. It's a fun journey!

Mark

6/2/2022 06:25:17 pm

That makes a lot of sense and is actually a system for almost any kind of writing.

Write the easy stuff first is the core idea behind a guest blog elsewhere on my website. Rick Hall wrote a nice post on non-linear writing, the easy stuff first. I thought it was brilliant, easy to follow the muse and many plot issues will be solved by doing that. As he pointed out, the dreaded writer's block is avoided also. You can hit the search box below or copy and paste this link: http://www.wordrefiner.com/guest-blogs/non-linear-writing. It's certainly easy to move chapters and sections around as fine tuning occurs.

I have to say Aislinn's transformation was handled quite well. Her outlook and attitude were drastically changed, and Dave's commitment to the marriage was tested.

New questions.

Have you ever had the experience of the story swerving in a different direction than planned, as if a character was driving it?

I know there are many ways to build the outline. Do you do it all on the computer or do you get analog in the beginning, perhaps with sticky notes or note cards?

Leah Chrest link

6/3/2022 08:50:31 am

Thank you for your kind words!

I am very excited to try a blog tour in the next few weeks. :)

I am absolutely analog at first when I begin writing--I have a journal where I keep writing ideas as well as the moments in my spiritual journey that I want to remember. Usually my early writing ideas (whether for blog posts or the outline of a book) end up there. With At the Edge of the Jordan, not just the outline but also the entire first draft ended up being hand-written. However, with my recent WIP, I have shifted to typing.

Fun story about the story swerving. I had never intended for Dave's character to become angry/highly reactive after Aislinn's experience. Though Aislinn shares a large number of qualities with me, Dave has my temperament. It takes a lot to ruffle my feathers and I'm typically happy-go-lucky. My husband had Aislinn's anxiety. For the majority of our marriage, I was the one to calm him and balance him. Yet, last summer, due to his health crisis, his personality shifted drastically. He suddenly was the calm one. I found myself feeling irritated by the change in him, uncertain of my new role in our marriage and simultaneously also guilty for feeling that way. I realized that Aislinn's change was far more drastic than Brett's. If I reacted as I did, how much more would Dave have struggled? And thus, Dave's journey of healing at the end of the book was born. :)

Mark

6/3/2022 09:30:28 am

You are welcome. Your personal experience enabled you to write a powerful and difficult section of the book. I have no doubt that without your personal experience to bolster your imagination the scenes would have turned out differently.

I do encourage writers to preserve all of their ideas even if the idea doesn't seem relevant to a current work in progress.

That was a definite shift in the dynamic of your marriage. Your emotions were real and difficult to integrate at one point, I am sure.

New questions.

Do you listen to music or have the TV on when writing, or do you need quiet?

Action, dialogue, or narration; which is easiest to write?

Leah Chrest link

6/3/2022 01:46:53 pm

Ah...an easy set of questions!

I need quiet to write. I am able to write while listening to music without lyrics, but typically don't think to put in the headphones. :) I've never understood writers who can process the language of writing while listening to dialogue/lyrics in the background. Have you encountered any writers with this superpower?

For me, dialogue is the easiest and most fun to write. It's a chance to integrate a little humor, move the story along a bit, and have fun with the quirky traits of my characters. :) Since my WIP is non-fiction, I try to satisfy the itch by using dialogue for humor in my blog posts. :)

Fun story: While editing the final draft, my husband took issue with a few of Dave's lines of dialogue. I purposely described Dave as looking like Brett and Aislinn as looking like me, so he was (understandably) identifying with Dave's character in the story. (For those who have read the book, specifically the line "Let's take a break from surfing")

Brett: (serious, critical expression) "I think you should change this bit here. I would never say that."

Me: (big smirk) "That's because Dave isn't YOU."

Yeah, told you I like dialogue. ;)

Mark

6/3/2022 02:50:17 pm

I try to change it up a lot. A mix of serious and easy, with a touch of fluff for a little bit of fun.

I prefer quiet also. A little music is okay, I can tune out any lyrics most of the time. The same with the TV. If my wife is watching, it doesn't seem to influence my proofreading.

You are right. Dialogue is a wonderful way to accomplish several goals, insert humor or deep emotions, enable readers to bond with characters better and move the plot along with bits of info and action beats instead of dialogue tags.

Some genres tolerate long sections of description better than others, such as fantasy and science fiction. Though I think modern readers actually tolerate less of it than in years past. One of the problem areas for new authors to avoid is an information dump. It is quite tempting to want to share the results of long and thorough research in the story. This kind of thing can bring the flow of a good story to a complete halt, at worst, and many readers will close the book and open another. I think that is very real issue in Kindle Unlimited.

You used footnotes to provide the information to those interested. I think that was a smart idea and very common in non-fiction.

Very cute story about Brett and the character Dave. I would have said the same thing quite likely.

New questions.

Of the five senses which is the easiest to write and which is the hardest?

Have you ever participated in theater in some way?

Leah Chrest link

6/3/2022 08:55:03 pm

Hopefully you get some sci-fi and fantasy in the mix of your proofreading. :) Impressive that you can proofread with the TV on! Brett watched quite a bit of TV and I could write a little bit with most sports games on in the background but struggled with anything else.

Very true about the research-based parts of some books--the narration can get weighed down quite a bit. Typically, I don't mind that, but I can see how many readers might.

I think sight is the easiest to write about (I'm a visual person) and touch might be the hardest. I lucked out writing an NDE book--in heaven, we have light bodies. :) Yet, in writing, I realized how much touch plays into our daily interactions when I couldn't use tactile sensation to add to the description of the scene. I think I may have cheated once or twice...ah, well, if that's the worst thing that happens, I'll take it!

I've done a bit of theater--I was a part of the chorus in a couple school musicals. I did years of dance/dance shows and was part of the skit team one summer for vacation Bible school. My neighbor writes movie scripts and participates in the local 48 hour film project. We exchange feedback on each others' work and (now that my boys are older) I might help out in some way in one of his upcoming projects. It's certainly fun and I can see how those experiences can enhance the writing journey! How about you? I know you said you were a bit nervous about public speaking when young. ;) Perhaps a backstage role?

Mark

6/3/2022 09:32:39 pm

I am proofing a historical fiction fantasy right now, about Vikings in the 9th century British Isles. I am loving it. I finished the first pass today, three more to go.

I learned at a young age how to block out my environment to focus on a good book. I read in cars, on buses and in noisy classrooms. I got really good at it. I had to retrain myself to respond to my wife after I got married.

Most authors say sight is the easiest to write about, the hardest sense varies between taste and touch.

I think screenwriting is a great skill that authors should learn. The change in focus from the written word to the visual word or description can enhance the writing skills of most authors. Also, many authors dream about seeing their book produced into a movie on a screen, big or small. While that dream frequently turns into a nightmare for many authors, they still chase that particular will 'o the wisp. I say that because many authors think that a seeing their book turned into a film will make them rich, it is the opposite most often. Without a knowledgeable lawyer at their side, most authors are severely disadvantaged before the ink dries on a contract. I highly recommend reading the series by Kristine Rusch about IP rights and licensing for film and TV. Here is a copy-and-paste link to #6 in the series: https://kriswrites.com/2021/06/16/business-musings-fomo-and-the-indie-writer-fear-based-decision-making-part-6

New questions.

Have you bought any advertising on Amazon, Facebook or other platforms? What were your results?

What kind of marketing has worked the best and the least for you for this book?

Leah Chrest link

6/4/2022 08:44:31 am

The Viking story sounds really interesting! Definitely my kind of book. After sci-fi and high fantasy, I think historical fiction ranks a close 3rd for me in the fiction department. :)

I've dabbled in Amazon advertising, with limited success. Facebook--similar. Most of my sales thusfar have come from two outlets: 1) friends and family/word of mouth--I'm leading a study group on my book in a few weeks with our church, for instance. Some readers have bought additional copies to give to relatives. 2) My YouTube viewers. Some of have been meditating with me for a few years and were interested in the book as a result.

I'm going to try to branch out on Twitter this summer a bit, as I'll have some more time, do a blog tour, etc. However, I'm just grateful to be God's instrument in any way that I can, passing on the immense blessings I've experienced in my life. Getting too into the promotion process (for me at least) is a direct route to stress/anxiety/getting wrapped up in the ego.

Mark

6/4/2022 10:33:43 am

Your experience mirrors that of many authors. Apparently, there are some tricks that can help with increasing success with an ad campaign for Amazon, Facebook, Bookbub and other platforms. I have links to a lot of blogs talking about these topics. Put the name of the platform you are interested in and the word 'ads' in the search box below. You will get quite a few results to learn from.

Your success with word-of-mouth advertising is solid and slow going, of course. That is the kind of thing that builds slowly and steadily. With your limited amount of time, you are doing well.

Making more connections on Twitter will help also.

You are right, the more effort put into a project the greater chance for disappointment and stress. It's a fact of life.

New questions.

Speaking of marketing, why did you pick me to help promote your book?

How do you know when a book is complete, and you should stop working on it?

Leah Chrest link

6/4/2022 04:56:11 pm

Thank you! I love that you have that blog collection. :) I have a solid year of writing and advertising support right there alone. I really appreciate the leg work that you put in to help us young authors.

That leads perfectly into why I picked you. Frankly, you're a good person. You care. You're in it for the right reasons. That truth just radiates out from every tweet you send. (The price was pretty sweet too, I'll admit!). I LOVE your hyper-speller humor as well. Oh, and Grizz is pretty adorable (did you ever get a new puppy? Looks like Grizz would have been hard to replace!).

I know a book is complete when I read it from cover to cover and I think, "Dang, that's good! I'd give it a 4.5 star review!" I'm VERY hard on myself as a writer. I'll give someone else a 5 star review for a book that if I had written the same thing, I'd award myself 3.5 stars. So, if I make myself happy, then I figure the book doesn't stink too much. I'd never publish something I wouldn't want to read myself. It takes a lot of rewrites to get to that point. Same is true for blog posts. I have one that I've been working on all week that still doesn't pass muster. Maybe tonight's rewrite will make the cut. ;)

Mark

6/4/2022 07:35:33 pm

Thank you. You have made my day! I started that as a way to help authors. To make it easier for authors and writers to find useful information. I will keep adding to the Highly Rated Blogs page as long as I am above room temperature.

Thank you again. I am blushing a little bit. I do love to laugh and look for humor in everything around me. Grizz is so adorable, I fell in love with him when I first saw him, we got the pick of the litter. We have not replaced him, we have been in transition for almost two years now and the timing hasn't been right. We are hoping to buy our own place in the next year or so. Then we will seek a new puppy. I miss having a dog so much. I have puppy fever quite bad and there are so many dogs in the complex we live in.

You are a lot like other authors, each holds their work to a very high standard. As most have learned, a point is reached where you have to say enough. Turn it loose and see if it will fly. You are correct about the rewrites, it takes quite a few, good reading is the result of hard writing and rewriting.

New questions.

How long did the research process take before you started to write this book, or did you research as you wrote?

How much time passed from when you got the idea to write your book; then actually starting to write the book?

Leah Chrest link

6/4/2022 07:53:37 pm

You'll know when the time is right for a new puppy. :) We are a two cat family considering a puppy...it's a big commitment for me...the boys are all in, I'm on the fence!

I did the bulk of my research before starting the rough draft, though I did do "fill-in" research to flesh out certain chapters and another round of reading NDE's at the end to ensure I didn't miss anything crucial and that what I wrote (esp. the narrative and expansion I added around the research-based center) didn't contradict the prevailing themes in the experiences. I came up with the idea in April of 2017 (wow! 5 years ago!), after 18 months of reading NDEs. I only know that date because I recorded it in my journal. I think I started writing a rough draft about a year later, though I really don't know. However, about half of the book (the first draft was half the length of the final) was written between January 2021 and the end of August 2021.

For my current WIP, the gap is MUCH shorter. I came up with the idea about 2 months ago and already am 50 paperback version pages in. Practice makes perfect. So, for any "just starting out" writers out there, you can do it! It will get easier. Just a few minutes a day can make all the difference between "one day I'll be an author" and "I'm a published author now!". :)

Mark

6/4/2022 08:52:21 pm

We have had many dogs and cats over the years. I have noticed a big difference between the two animals. Cats think you are staff, dogs think you are god.

Five years is a good length of time. I appreciate that you wanted to read as many NDEs as you could find. I imagine that a lot of people wrote books about their experience. At this point in time there must be at least one publication devoted to the topic. You must have a bookcase full of these books.

You are right, the second book is usually easier than the first book. The first book is all about conquering the learning curve, there are so many aspects to writing fiction or non-fiction and you combined them both into one book. A few minutes every day makes a huge difference. If you have nothing to write about then write about that and explore it for a few pages. The act of writing will stimulate the creative juices.

New questions.

How many drafts did you go through to have a ready-to-publish manuscript?

Going back in time, did you do any kind of creative writing, even back in grade school?

Leah Chrest link

6/5/2022 08:01:01 pm

I did read a lot of NDE books. However, the majority of the 500 or so experiences I read were from nderf.org. This is the site that Dr. Long created to use for his research...anyone who has had an NDE and wants to share it writes a description of their experience and takes a VERY long survey, all for the good of the research. Unlike the published books, the experiences are raw and unrefined...no editing by publishing companies. :) The experiences are absolutely fascinating to read!

I probably go through about 4 drafts of the book--the rough draft, 2nd draft that I send out to Beta readers, 3rd draft with the major fixes, and then a 4th where I handle the final proofreading--at this point I have the paperback author's copy in my hand and a notebook at my side, noting the couple hundred or so typos/awkward wordings/poor transitions I was unable to catch on the computer screen.

I did do some creative writing as a kid...I dreamed of writing a time travel book. I started a book about jungle creatures and another about a stray cat (unrelated to time travel). By "started," I mean wrote 2 pages? So, I suppose I always aspired to write a book, but I tired of the writing process extremely quickly! :) I'm much more patient now, though I still get burnt out from writing easily and need to pace myself (thus the delay in responding today--needed a day off from writing! haha).

Mark

6/5/2022 09:25:50 pm

I am not surprised that there is a website for NDE. I would have been shocked if there wasn't one. Having the raw reports to read would be fascinating. Those surveys provide the grist for the statistics, I imagine.

Four drafts sounds like a good minimum number. Just right for your book. I think a few more drafts would be needed for a long novel.

Seeing the book in a form other than your screen is a great way to find those things that need correcting. The problem lies in our brain. When you are writing and have labored through the pages over and over, the brain doesn't allow you to see all of the errors. The brain needs to be tricked with seeing the same thing in a new way. There are several tricks that will fool the brain into letting you see everything missed before. You can change the background color of the pages, change the font color, style and size also. You will be amazed by what you find because your brain thinks it is something new. The need-fresh-eyes phenomenon is real. That also explains why it is so easy to proof the work of another writer.

Most writers have a similar story about being young. It takes a great deal of discipline to write. For that matter, many adults start writing a book and fail to get past more than a few pages or chapters. They get discouraged easily because they are comparing their first draft effort with a published book.

Last questions.

How early was it that you realized how powerful words can be?

How did you find your beta-readers?

Do you give them an e-version like a PDF or a hard copy you printed?

Leah Chrest link

6/6/2022 08:51:15 am

I love the idea of changing the background or font to "trick" the mind! I'll have to try that. That'll be great for my blog revisions, since it's tougher to get a paper copy of those.

I think I realized the power of words through song lyrics...since (in many cases at least), song lyrics are poetry, they were the first words to reach me at the soul level. I believe this happened sometime in middle school. :) How about you?

For beta readers, I just send a pdf. However, I can see the value of giving a print copy. :) My beta readers for this book included one fellow self-published writer, my dad, a couple close friends, and my husband (a writer for the government). I received some very valuable feedback from everyone, so having the wide range was helpful.
My dad: noticed that the transitions between chapters were rough
Self-published writer: Huge fan and helped me believe in the value of the writing.
Friends: Noticed that Aislinn never saw Allie on the other side and found that odd. This was a HUGE observation--can't believe I didn't think of that.
My husband: "This is pretty rough!" But, he spent months of effort to help me to develop as a writer and take it from rough to good. A few small sections (the conversation with the surfers on the beach) were even written by him.

Biggest thing I learned about beta readers...Pick people who aren't afraid to shred your work and lovingly be SUPER critical. I'd much rather hear "wow, this is terrible!" from a friend and employ their help in the revision process than from a book review later on when it's too late. :)

Mark

6/6/2022 09:31:47 am

I learned about the power of words shortly after when I learned to read. Probably in the third grade it became very apparent to me. Words, on the page, could take me anywhere and I could do anything. The real world held little attraction for me compared to the worlds in words.

You had a nice variety of people in your beta reader group.

You are correct, wounds from a friend are better than kisses from an enemy.

It's time to bring our conversation to a halt. I have another promotion to prepare for and much proofreading. I want to thank you for being such a fabulous guest on the Word Refiner channel. You shared so much about your journey, thanks for your candor.

Until next time, keep on writing.

Leah Chrest link

6/6/2022 10:34:50 am

Thank you, Mark! You were WONDERFUL to work for. Thank you for all the advice and wisdom.

Happy reading/promoting/and proofreading! :)

At the Edge of the Jordan: What Waits for Us After This Life and Why It Matters by Leah Chrest

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