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​book reviews

Beyond Despair by Shirley Hoisington

8/29/2020

63 Comments

 
Debut author, Shirley Hoisington introduces us to her book, “Beyond Despair”, a novel about romance, love and loss:
Twins, sisters in love with the same man! Who will find true love in this tale of twists, turns and surprises? Jealousy... Sacrifice... Betrayal... This one has it all! Can Miranda find herself? Does Miranda choose the man of her dreams or her twin sister? Will anything be made right again…beyond despair?
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This is a fun, exciting and touching story. Miranda makes important choices that put the needs of others before her own and sometimes suffers a great deal from the consequences of those choices.
This story is well written and very enjoyable to read. I was able to relate to all the major characters quite significantly. That is a sign of good writing. Another sign of good writing is that the book is easy to read. Easy reading is the result of hard writing.
The scene setting is excellent throughout the book, as a native Oregonian it was fun to see so many places I knew in the story. A jet boat ride on a wild river is an unforgettable experience!
The dialogue was a standout for me also, very natural and suitable for the different occasions. I laughed out loud many times.
The development of the characters was well done also. They seemed alive and lively to me.
I award 4.6 stars to “Beyond Despair”. 
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You can buy this book:
https://amazon.com/Beyond-Despair-by-Shirley-Hoisington
https://www.goodreads.com/-beyond-despair
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Beyond-Despair-Shirley-Hoisington

You can follow the author:
https://twitter.com/ShirleyHoising2 

https://shirleyhoisington.com 
 
Romance, adventure, suspense, Oregon 

​Copyright © 2020 Mark L. Schultz, except for the author’s introduction. 
63 Comments
Shirley Hoisington link
8/31/2020 12:19:27 am

Mark, I was surprised and thrilled by your review.. I expected women to respond to my book but to get such a glowing review from you makes me feel glad I finally "took the bull by the horns" and did the work to get this book published. Thanks, Shirley

Reply
Mark Schultz
8/31/2020 09:11:53 am

Your book touched me, it surprised me. I am glad you published your book.
First question.
Please, tell us more about yourself. Perhaps something a little bit beyond your bio.

Reply
Shirley Hoisington link
8/31/2020 01:40:00 pm

From an early age I had stories in my head. I would make up songs and stories any time I was alone and day dreaming. I was rather a lonely child so I think the stories made me feel less alone. I had a good family with 5 brothers and sisters, but my mom and dad were so busy they didn’t have a lot of time for us. I became an avid reader and would read anything I could get my hands on. We lived in the country so the Book Mobile was a lifeline.
When I was 16 my dad moved us to Lakeview, Oregon and 6 months later to Junction City, Oregon where I graduated. As a result of the moves I had few friends so I remember having my head buried in a book most of the time. Reading was a lifeline for me and as a result I created stories myself but for some reason, I never wrote them down.
I went to business school and later went to work for a small branch of OMSI (Oregon Museum of Science and Industry) in Eugene, Oregon. I was a "Jill of all trades", manning the cash register, taking school children on tours, running the planetarium and doing office work. I married in 1972 and moved to Texas. Once again, I was very lonely with no friends so I read books and magazines most of the time. I had very little to do and my husband was gone all day. A year later we moved to Pasadena, Ca and a year after that back to Oregon. I spent much of the next few years moving with my husband's company. We lived in Washington, Oregon, Wyoming, and Missouri.
We were living in Gillette, WY when my husband was diagnosed with cancer in February of 2006 and passed away June of that year. I was 56 years old. It was a struggle but I moved a year later to Vancouver, WA where I still reside. I am an avid bowler and square dancer. I met and married my current husband, Robert, in 2015 after being a widow for 8 years. We’ve travelled extensively since getting married but I never lost my desire to write. In 2001-2002 I had written Beyond Despair as well as another book, and started a third one. I longed to get my books published but I just didn’t know where to start.
It wasn’t until my mother died in 2017 that I made a decision that I was going to get my book published and found an editor. He helped me immensely, and I learned a lot about how to show, instead of tell, and develop my characters so that they became believable. I am so thankful for all the encouragement and help I received along the way.

Reply
Mark
8/31/2020 02:39:22 pm

Thank you for sharing about your life. You have done many different things. We share some similarities growing up, being an avid reader and such. I was lonely also, growing up in a small town with two younger sisters and a brother 10 years my junior.
New questions.
Are you a full-time or part-time writer?
Are you in the writing business for love of writing or for money?
What kind of work do you do? Feel free to skip that question, if you would rather not answer.

Reply
Shirley Hoisington link
8/31/2020 03:24:03 pm

I am a part-time writer. I would love to say that I set aside a certain time of the day to write and keep to that schedule. I'm afraid that I write when the desire to write comes over me, or when I have an edit job I need to get done. I am a true procrastinator, as my past shows, but when I do write I may not stop for hours. When I originally wrote Beyond Despair I spent many nights writing until 3 or 4 in the morning. I am "kinda" obsessive, compulsive with my writing so when I'm on a roll, I might not surface for days!

I write because I love it. My editor asked me if I wanted to publish my book for money or just to be an author. My response was a resounding, I want to have my name on a book before I die! As I've learned, it's very hard to publicize your own book, but the thrill of seeing my book, Beyond Despair, with my name on it was more than I had ever hoped for!

I am happily retired. I worked as a secretary, receptionist, and office manager; and also did house cleaning while my children were in school so I would be home when they came from school. I retired from office manager to a non-profit organization in 2015. I loved the work and dealing with people was a challenge that I enjoyed. Shirley

Reply
Mark
8/31/2020 03:32:53 pm

You are not the only one obeying the whims of the muse. Many writers don't put fingers on the keyboard unless they feel a nudge from their inspiration. Some famous writers have declared that a writer should write regardless of their feelings or their muse. They say the muse will show up eventually. Not being a writer myself, I don't know. What I do know is that every author's experience is their own.
Quite a few writers are binge writers. They barely take breaks for fear the juice will be lost.
That was an interesting question your editor asked you, very perceptive. He needed to know where your basic motivation was.
New questions.
What inspired you to write this book?
Why did you choose this genre, or do you feel the genre chose you?
Who designed the cover of your book? Feel free to drop a link if appropriate.
What do the elements on the cover represent?

Reply
Shirley Hoisington link
8/31/2020 06:07:51 pm

I am a romantic at heart and during my early years I read mostly romance novels. Then I started to get bored because the stories all seemed to run along the same line, with the exception of a few writers, such as Nora Roberts; but I must have read Gone with the Wind, Jane Eyre and Wuthering Heights at least once a year. As I branched out and discovered Victoria Holt, Mary Stewart, and Mary Higgins Clark, I found loved mystery mixed with romance. I always disliked having to skip over sexually explicit scenes in the newer romance books so I gravitated to writers who wrote wonderful stories without resorting to erotica.
This is why you will find romance, mixed with mystery, sorrow and laughter in my book. I took a lot of my story from my experiences while living in Oregon. I absolutely love the Oregon coast. My husband and I spent a week camped on the beach in Gold Beach and it somehow called to me. I will never forget sitting for hours on the rocks watching the ocean ebb and flow, splashing up on the rocks and retreating back out to sea, only to return.
I have identical twin nieces and my husband’s sisters are twins. The way they related to each other always fascinated me, and my mother-in-law told me the twins had a language of their own when they were little. So, I suppose that inspired me to write Miranda and Cindy’s story.
I think the genre chose me. The story was just there in my head and easy to write. The story just seemed to flow. Of course, the original version was very small compared to what I eventually wrote.
My editor found the cover to the book and nothing else appealed to me after seeing it. My original thought was to have a blond and black-haired man with a blonde woman, or blonde twins with the two men; but this cover has generated a lot of interest, so it was a perfect choice.
The red rose, alone on a black background, is the perfect symbol of love. A single red rose presented to someone you love tells a story by itself. The title Beyond Despair has given me problems because readers tend to think of it as a self-help book and search engines tend to put it there. I would have loved to have a different title, but it wrote itself. If you are not a writer, you probably won’t understand this, but I bet most writers will! Shirley

Reply
Mark
8/31/2020 06:41:14 pm

Those are big names in the romance genre. I am not a fan of explicit sex and erotica either. I avoid books like that.
I love the Oregon coast also. We have been up and down the coast many times, including camping in Gold Beach for several nights a long time ago.
I have known twins as classmates, but nothing more than that. The idea of twins and twinning interests me quite a bit.
I love red roses and what they symbolize. The single rose is perfect.
It's a shame search engines mis-categorize your book. That might be costing you sales. Perhaps adding love to the title like, "Love Beyond Despair", maybe that would solve the problem. I do know that titles are very important and are the first or second thing a prospective reader sees. Many authors struggle to find the perfect title. That can be a good contest for fans. With three or four titles in mind, ask fans to vote for their favorite or rank them in order of favorite.
New questions.
Was it hard to come up with the title? What was the process?
Were the character names difficult to develop? How did you choose them?

Reply
Shirley Hoisington link
8/31/2020 10:52:22 pm

I think I basically had the title from the beginning. I’m not sure why that was but though the writing process I questioned it. Couples split up, husbands or wives die, or people get divorced. In each of these cases, there is usually a lot of history. People experience sadness, grief, anger, or even guilt at the loss. But there may be also a feeling of relief or satisfaction that they are no longer with that person; or the loved one is no longer suffering. In the case of a lot of fighting and arguing with a partner over a long period of time, there may just be relief to be out of the marriage or relationship. In the case of a loved one passing, who may have suffered from an illness for a long time, (or in many cases) a short time, there is just thankfulness that they are no longer suffering.
As I thought of Miranda, none of these things were true. She loved Roger, heart and soul, and her pain was so deep I could feel her anguish, and torture over what it was doing to her relationship with Cindy. It was beyond despair. So, the title stuck.
The characters were a little hard to figure out. Miranda and Cindy were easy. I didn’t really care for the name Roger so I tried more than once to change it. I searched through name lists, tried different ones, but it always came back to Roger. As a writer sometimes the story just has a mind of its own. I can’t explain it. Brian was easy as well. It was the descriptions that I struggled with the most. With the other names, I just found names that seemed to fit the character and it all worked. Shirley

Reply
Mark
8/31/2020 11:26:09 pm

I have heard that many times. I have done more than 100 interviews now. The story or a character or the muse seems to push certain aspects in a specific direction. While the writer may try different things nothing works when it strays from the given mysterious input. Most writers eventually capitulate and follow the course.
I think Cindy, Mirandas twin, was a perfect plot point as it amplified Miranda's grief in multiple directions and her slow degradation was evident and well timed.
New questions.
This is your first book on Amazon. Have you written others, that are published elsewhere or unpublished?
Have you entered any writing contests?
Have you won awards of any kind for your writing?

Reply
Shirley Hoisington link
9/1/2020 12:00:29 pm

I have written various stories and poems over the years. I wrote a children’s book years ago called Pampa and Her Friends and the Miracle of Friendship. My daughter is currently working on the artwork and I’m getting the story ready for publication. We hope to have it published by the end of the year or early next year. It is for children 5-12 approximately. I’ve also written a short story which I submitted to a contest.
I have another novel call To Heal a Broken Dream which is all written. Now I just have to edit, re-edit and have it proof-read before I publish. It is based in Wyoming where I lived several years. I also started a third story based in North Carolina where I was born, A Lifetime of Betrayal. If I ever finish writing it, it may very well be my favorite.
I entered Beyond Despair in Writer’s Digest Self-Published Book Awards. Winners are to be notified on or before October 18th. I know it’s a huge venue with so many published writers but I’m just hoping I get honorable mention!
My publisher awarded me Editor’s Pick award. Shirley

Reply
Mark
9/1/2020 12:13:52 pm

You are on your way to becoming a well-rounded writer. Working in multiple genres and and formats will serve you well. There are publications that pay for short stories and that skill can translate into good, tight writing for a novel.
There are lots of ethical and well-run contests, and there are some who merely want to take your money and your intellectual property rights. Beware Bogus Writing Contests! Look for These 8 Red Flags. https://annerallen.com/2019/05/beware-bogus-writing-contests/ via @annerallen This is a good post about those dangers, Anne is one of my favorite bloggers. She always has a list of quality contests on her blogs, near the bottom.
Congratulations.
New questions.
I noticed that you didn’t put your book in Kindle Unlimited. Why is that?
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?

Reply
Shirley Hoisington link
9/1/2020 02:01:10 pm

I haven't put my book into Kindle Unlimited because I don't know what it means from an author's standpoint. I know it helps readers. I will research it from my standpoint and see what it does for me as an author.

I was in a Meet-Up writers group which was lead by a publisher before I published my book. She explained the process of getting an agent to publish your book. It's a very long and drawn out process and hard to accomplish. Without knowing anyone in the publishing industry I just decided the best route was self-publishing. Maybe it was short-sighted but as I am 70 years old, it just seemed too much. I was very busy with bowling, travelling, and square dancing (now at a complete halt) so I took the easier way to get published. I've now found that self promotion is probably just as hard! Shirley

Reply
Mark
9/1/2020 02:44:11 pm

Your book might do well in KU. The author is paid a fraction of a penny for each page a reader consumes. I think you have to be exclusive with Kindle for the duration also, but I am not sure.
It can be a very long and frustrating process. Lots of blogs have been written about submissions and querying. Traditional publishers are on the ropes, the industry has been shrinking for years now. Amazon has not only turned the apple cart over it has smashed the cart and kicked the fruit all around.
A traditional contract can be had, the author loses a lot of control of their book, they share the profits with the publisher, and still have to do the marketing. The profit margins have shrunk so much for trad publishers, they are struggling to stay afloat.
New questions.
What are the main advantages of being self-published as opposed to getting a book deal?
Do you think independent publishers can produce a book as good as mainstream publishers?
What are the three most important considerations for an author to be certain of when signing a contract with an independent or hybrid publisher?

Reply
Shirley Lorraine Hoisington link
9/1/2020 04:51:23 pm

The main reason to self-publish is maintain complete control over what happens to your book. If you are with a traditional publisher you have to jump through hoops to do what they want and that may even require changes that you don’t want or like. My first comments to my editor was “you cannot change my story.” I was adamant that the story had to stay as I had written it. That didn’t mean that he couldn’t give me guidance and help as to structure sentences, change the wording around to make it more readable, and tell me when something wasn’t clear. It was life-changing to get these instructions, but my story stayed the same. The disadvantage to self-publishing is getting noticed. It is not easy on your own, even if you pay for advertising, which may or may not pay off.
I suppose mainstream publishers can do as good or better than self-publishers. It is their job and many times in self-publishing we’re not sure what to do. In fact, I’m going through Inkwater Press in Portland to publish my children’s book.
Number one: maintain total control over your book.
Number two: is to be sure there Is not limited distribution. One of the things that I’ve heard about Amazon is that you can become exclusive to them, which limits you to all other sources. So, you have to be careful.
Number three: Check to see how the royalties are paid. Do you get a stipend (example, I get very little for the sale of each book on Amazon, but I get a little more for a Kindle!) Be sure that you haven’t spent your blood, sweat and tears to get a book published and you don’t see any revenue or very little from your efforts.
I loved selling my book directly to readers because I made a much bigger profit and was able to autograph the books, but unless you are a “big name” author, that becomes limited. I have books sitting in my house because I overestimated the number coming to my book signing!
My website shirleyhoisington.com is now online. Please check it out.

Reply
Mark
9/1/2020 05:41:06 pm

Your website looks nice.
You are right, signing a contract with a publisher means they gain control over several aspects of your book, the cover is only one. They can ask you to rewrite the story to a different angle, because they think it will sell better. If you don't do the rewrite you can be breaching the contract. Some unscrupulous publishers try to grab control of the intellectual property rights which can include worldwide distribution, translations, audio books and more. It is critical to an author's success to always have a contract vetted by an attorney familiar with IP rights and copyrights.
If a publisher, that's a big if, gives an advance, that is against future sales. The author sees nothing until the advance is repaid. The advance these days are very small, if anything.
I like doing events also. They are fun and non-existent in this covid world. I hope they return next year.
New questions.
After leaving off the attempt at traditional publishing, how did you locate your publisher?
If a new writer asked you for one piece of advice to be a good writer what would you say?

Reply
Shirley Lorraine Hoisington link
9/1/2020 06:46:22 pm

Funny thing! I advertised on Craigslist for an editor. As luck would have it, I found a journalist very close to my home. I had no idea what I was getting into, so we drew up a contract for me to pay by the hour. I know now that was a big mistake because I paid way too much for editing. I’m still not unhappy because he made me a much better writer and now I look at sentence structure and wording a lot more than I did. When we finished the book, he proposed that I let him do the publishing because I have no idea how to accomplish a download to KDP, Kindle Publishing, so I left it in his hands. He gave me 100% royalty which I’m very thankful for as I get very little as it is. I didn’t give up any rights to my book nor did he ask me to.
One piece of advice! Hum! Not sure. Just go with your gut and do not let others discourage you. If you are critiqued, take the advice and decide whether it’s valid. Other writers, and wannabe writers are quick to tell you how you should change your words, thoughts, sentences, or even whether you should describe something just so! Use your own intuition. After all, it’s your story and it means something to you. Someone else may be looking at it from another perspective. As far as grammar and punctuation, I will listen to someone because it’s my weak spot in a lot of ways. Shirley

Reply
Mark
9/1/2020 07:12:22 pm

That is an interesting story. Finding an editor on Craig's List. I used to advertise on CL, years ago. It never brought any work in, only a nibble or two. I gave it up.
Paid by the hour. There are some editors who charge by the hour, most charge by the word. Considering you didn't lose your intellectual property rights or your royalties, you came out fairly well. It could have been much worse. Needless to say.
Many authors give similar advice. The writer has to own the story and navigate between well-meaning advice and garbage. Perspective is everything.
New questions.
Is using Twitter and other social media part of your marketing strategy?
Did you use ads on Amazon or other platforms such as Facebook or Bookbub?

Reply
Shirley Lorraine Hoisington link
9/1/2020 07:52:42 pm

I have used Facebook for a while after I learned to maneuver around it. I still think I'm missing a lot but I muddle through. I think, after your help Mark, I will find Twitter much easier to use. It's still a jungle to me but I assume it will get easier.

No, I've thought about advertising on Amazon but just have to figure out what's involved and if it will bring book sales. I keep getting a message on my computer that Bookhub is dangerous (you wrote Bookbub so maybe it's different. I'm not sure what Bookhub is all about. Shirley

Reply
Mark
9/1/2020 11:04:17 pm

It gets easier, the more you spend time on Twitter. Riding a bike was hard at first also. You are right, Twitter has an ugly side, it is a jungle at times, you have to be on your guard.
Yes, ads on Amazon are tricky, quite a few blogs have been written about them. Dave Chesson at Kindlepreneur.com has been researching this topic for some time.
Bookbub is different, changing one letter is one way the shysters get you.
New questions.
How do you think your book compares to a book published by a major publisher?
Have you thought about offering a large-print edition of your books?
Have you thought about doing an audio book?

Reply
Shirley Hoisington link
9/2/2020 12:05:38 am

I think it's just as good as any other book I've bought. The quality is great, the cover is beautiful. I was very impressed. I've bought hundreds of books over the years and I think this is better quality than I used to buy. I love the size of the bigger paperback book.

Until and if I become known, I will stay with what I have. I have some trouble reading anymore but the print in my book is easy for me to see. It's 10 point. We actually considered 12 point but it would have been a much bigger book at a much bigger cost.

Yes, I was asked about doing an audio book but until I have a bigger distribution, I don't want to spend the money. Shirley

Reply
Mark
9/2/2020 11:10:19 am

I have no doubt the book looks good in physical form.
One of the nice things about an e-reader is being able to adjust the font size on the fly.
Many writers are reluctant to expand the offerings of their book precisely for the reasons you mention. Anecdotal evidence supports the idea that the more ways consumers can find and consume a book the better the sales are. It's a tough choice.
New questions.
Do you have a favorite book by another author or just favorite authors?
Did you have a favorite book as a child?

Reply
Shirley Lorraine Hoisington link
9/2/2020 02:44:00 pm

Do I have a favorite book or author? It's hard to make a decision between all the good mystery writers, but yes, I found a British author, Angela Marsons. She writes crime fiction and she is from the Black Country in the West Midlands. From the time I picked up her first book, I couldn't wait to get the next one. Her stories tell me so much about British life which is different from ours.

I've just recently found another British author, Rachel Abbott, who writes psychological thrillers. She is a self-publisher with 7 novels and has sold over 3 million copies. You almost have to like Criminal Minds to read either of these authors, but their writing and storytelling is superb.

An American author that I really love is Robert Dugoni. I've read all of his books and my husband loves his books as well. I especially like his Tracy Crosswhite series and hope to see another one soon. I've pre-ordered his next book which is coming out spring of 2021.

As a child, I loved all animal stories. Call of the Wild was one of my favorites. I looked for bear, tiger, dog and cat books; or any type of stories that included animals,

Reply
Mark
9/2/2020 04:07:25 pm

It is hard to choose a favorite author. Each brings something unique to story telling as an art. It would be easy to list a dozen or more favorite authors, each in a different genre.
I have not read any of those authors. For most of my life I was focused on science fiction and fantasy. Cozy mysteries and historical fiction are now near the top of my list.
A Bloody Hot Summer is a wonderful book written by Trevor D'Silva, I reviewed a while back. Put his first name in the search box and it will pop up his books. I enjoyed both a great deal!
New questions.
Do you ever read a book more than once? If so, which one?
Does writing have a spiritual or healing component for you, does it energize you or make you feel tired?

Reply
Shirley Lorraine Hoisington link
9/2/2020 05:57:31 pm

I will look for that author. I like to find new and exciting authors. Mary Stone is my newest and I read all of her stories in a row. They were “I can’t put down” stories.

Yes, I’ve read many books more than once. I think I mentioned Gone with the Wind and Jane Eyre books. I read books by an author when I was young which had a religious tone to the stories; and she was based in England. Her name was Grace Livingston Hill. A funny story! I lived in North Carolina and reading material could be scarce at times. I had one of her books that had the last few pages missing. I read and re-read it but never knew the ending. Years later, after we moved to Oregon, I was able to find her book and read the ending. I think it had “kinda” lost its charm by that point!!
Many authors will tell you that writing can be painful. You put yourself into the story and you feel the characters pain, joy, guilt, and many of their emotions. You know they are not real but it seems as if they are. I read my book over and over again during the editing process and I never failed to cry and laugh with Miranda. There were times when my grief for her, (from events in my own life) was real and I felt it deeply.
I know several artists. I’ve been told that they can experience the same feelings and at times it’s hard to let go of a painting. It’s because they put a part of themselves into the painting and letting it go hurts.
I’ve felt elated from several hours of writing when things seemed to fall into place. I’ve felt exhausted from trying to figure out the right wording for certain sections of the book. I’ve felt totally frustrated when I wrack by brain trying to describe something, or a character, and it just feels wrong. At these times, I walk away for a day or two or longer and when I come back, I’m usually able to correct the issue.
I think to answer your question, it is both. A spiritual and healing component. I’ve been able to put some of the ghosts from past to rest because of my writing. If I’m struggling with thoughts and feelings that seem to overwhelm me at times, I often write about what’s going on.
I once had a very painful and chaotic relationship with one of my daughters. Even with counselling I was unable to fix the problem, and my life just felt turned upside down. When an issue would come up and I was angry and felt helpless, I would write her a letter. It calmed me down and gave me some perspective. I never sent the letters. It would have created an unbearable wall between us and I did not want to lose my daughter. Today, we are best of friends. If I had sent all the letters I wrote, I don’t think that would be the case. Shirley

Reply
Mark
9/2/2020 07:17:36 pm

Finally, you got the rest of the story. Apologies to Paul Harvey. Very cute. I would have done the same. I almost always finish a book. The percentage of unfinished books for me is less than 0.1 percent. The last book was about four years ago, maybe five. There were a dozen errors on every page, it became too painful to finish and it was starting to bore me also.
When I am reading a well-written book, I am experiencing those emotions also. Probably not as much as the author, but it certainly happens to me. Even my eyes get all sweaty at times. ;-)
Writer's block is a terrible thing and many writers have different ways to deal with it. A little time and space is a good one. Physical activity unrelated to the writing is another. Especially if it is easy to do without a lot of thought involved. Other authors work on a different project or perhaps a side story to the main WIP.
That's wonderful that you were able to work through some of those difficult situations. Will you destroy those letters before you die or will you let your daughter find them? That had to be a lot of work. It is wonderful that your relationship with her is so good now.
New questions.
Why is it important for writers to tap into the emotions of the characters?
What was your goal in writing this book? Did you achieve it?

Reply
Shirley Lorraine Hoisington link
9/2/2020 08:08:59 pm

I actually tore the letters up after writing them. It was cathartic just to write them. I certainly don’t want any found after I’m gone!! It would undo everything and probably make her a bitter woman. No, I love my three girls too much to leave a legacy like that. To simplify things, she always made wrong choices in men, ending up married to a controlling psychopath (the psychologist’s word, not mine) for 14 years. Her life choices made my life miserable and she blamed me for what her life was like. She’s now free of him and has complete custody of her beautiful 7-year-old. There are a lot of scars, but she’s a writer and an artist, so she will work through it.
It’s just my opinion, mind you, but if a writer doesn’t tap into the emotions of the character, their writing will probably be stale, uninteresting, dull, or lifeless. The characters have to become alive to you as a writer. They have to seem real or you’re just putting words on paper that have no depth. As in mystery writing, I would assume, especially when the subject is children, the author feels the child’s pain as well as that of the family; especially a mother’s loss of a child. I assume the writer would also come to hate or despise the murderer or abuser, and root for them to be brought to justice. Of course, there’s always that middle ground where your character is a mix of good and bad. That’s where the fun comes in!
These are emotions you feel while writing but you don’t carry them over into your life. They are characters in a book, after all!
I simply wanted to write a good book and have it published. Yes, I achieved that. But, to me the real surprise and shock came when I heard from one reader after another that they couldn’t put it down. My book is a success way beyond my wildest dream, and I just want more readers to enjoy it. As far as profit, there isn’t much, but that’s OK.
I have attended two book clubs and it was so interesting because I got a lot of questions fired at me about Miranda and Cindy and their relationship with each other. I had more than one twin attending and they were very complimentary about the story line but also had some hard questions about why I wrote the story the way I did. It was fun!
My book has now been out for a year and even though I have to figure out how to branch out and publicize it to get more readers, I’m still very happy with the results. Shirley

Reply
Mark
9/2/2020 08:48:14 pm

I am glad you destroyed the letters. Very wise. Your daughter was in a very bad place. I am very glad she is free of him.
Your opinion about writing to tap into the emotions of the characters measures up with every other author I have interviewed. They all agree with you. Readers connect with characters and situations on an emotional level as well as others, but without the visceral connection the story becomes flat and colorless because the characters are that way. That story I didn't finish years ago? The protagonist was a character without emotions, a brain defect caused her flat affect. Emotions are important.
Speaking to groups of readers was a wonderful experience for you! They validated your writing so much! Congratulations.
New questions.
Has your life turned out differently than expected or planned?
Have you ever done NaNoWriMo?

Reply
Shirley Hoisington link
9/3/2020 01:29:58 am

No, my life definitely did not turn out as I wished. I’m not sure if I had a plan but at the age of 16, I was sent via bus to a church summer camp in Orr, MN from Fairview NC. My dad had moved to Oregon several months before but for some reason I wasn’t told what mom and dad’s plans were. I was left completely in the dark. While I was in Minnesota, my mom and sister moved to Oregon, leaving me to take the camp bus on the Medford. I had to ride with the US mail carrier to Eastern Oregon. To say I was traumatized is an understatement. I started 10th grade and in December, then my dad up and moved to Junction City, Oregon again with no warning.

At an early age my dad became a member of a huge church which I would call a cult today. It was worldwide and we were controlled in what we wore, what we ate and what we could do. (no makeup, and long skirts in the mini skirt era.) My dad was a good church member so he did everything he was told to do. As a result, we were ostracized in school, among our relatives, and everyone else.

I married my husband in the same organization and we raised our 3 girls in the church. But, by that time things had changed somewhat so even though it was hard on my children, it was not as bad as what I went through. I can’t say I was unhappy and miserable but I always felt like I was left out of so many things. We travelled to church festivals once a year in many parts of the US and the world so we were able to experience and see a lot of things others do not.

In the meantime, we were moving a lot. My husband was a historian so he worked for the church. We moved to Texas when we got married and a year later to California. Less than a year later we left that church and moved back to Oregon. We lived in Washington for a short time as well. My husband went to work for Pacific Power in Portland which bought a coal mining company. They transferred us to Sheridan, WY for 3 years then to St Charles, MO for 7. Then the company went back to Portland for a year where it was bought out by an English company who moved us to Gillette, WY where we lived for 14 years until my husband age 58 passed away.

I moved from Gillette to Vancouver in 2007 and lived as a widow for 8 years before I met my wonderful husband. Because I had moved so much and each time tried really hard to make friends, only to leave them behind; I struggled to make some friends my age. It was really hard and I was depressed a lot through the winter months. Writing and reading was my savior at times.

This shut down because of Covid-19 has been very hard for me. Not because I’m unhappy or bored but because for the first time in my life I was able to get settled in one place and make some wonderful friends. I know everyone is struggling and my heart goes out to all of you.

To answer your question, I would have liked my life to be different, but I also learned about myself and taught myself to cope with whatever situation I found myself in. I am very resilient, and my life gave me some wonderful material to write about.

You piqued my interest about NaNoWriMo so I looked it up. I think I might participate. Sounds intriguing. I hope I wasn’t too boring about my life’s travels. Shirley

Reply
Mark
9/3/2020 10:36:38 am

That was a lot of moving. That summer camp experience seems very unusual.
Most of us experience life different from our plans, if we even had plans. There is so much out of our control, especially when we depend upon our parents. The only thing we can control is our response to what life brings us.
The covid lockdown has been hard on so many people.
Not nearly as hard for me compared to others. I had been staying home a lot after retiring from construction. Spending almost all of my time reading and proofreading, which I love doing. I was volunteering at my church teaching kindergartners. That is what I miss the most, the kids and camaraderie with the other volunteers.
Many authors form groups for mutual support and fun during NaNoWriMo. Some authors do a lot of planning and plotting to get ready for the contest. Outlines, character sheets, timeline and maybe a map. So they can keep on writing all month long. I hope you sign up.
New questions.
Are you an under-writer or an over-writer? When the first draft is done, do you need to add more to flesh it out or do you have to cut material because there is too much?

Reply
Shirley Lorraine Hoisington link
9/3/2020 02:24:25 pm

I am an under-writer and I like it that way. I can always add to the story but I never want to take away from it. It's so easy to add dialogue, a trip or excursion, an incident in their lives, or other things. If you overwrite, you will have to look at everything and decide which is less important than other parts in order to take things out.

When I originally wrote Beyond Despair it was about 160 pages 8 1/2 x 11, 12 point. Published it is about 340 pages 6 x 9 10 point, if you take off the extra pages. As you can see, I added a lot before it was finished. I added a trip to the mountains on horseback and all of the Rogue River episode later, plus a lot of added dialogue, and inter reaction with other characters. Shirley

Reply
Mark
9/3/2020 03:13:20 pm

Being the underwriter works very well for you. I must agree, it would be easier to add more rather than take away material.
Some writers are on the other end of that line. As they write the first draft, they pour everything possible onto the page, trying to get it all out of their head. Then they start the second draft and delete some scenes, reorganize the timeline, change characters or settings. There is a lot that needs to be done sometimes.
No matter where a writer lands, there is always work to be done.
New questions.
What do you do to flesh out the characters for your stories?
Do you prefer dialogue tags or action beats in your books?

Reply
Shirley Lorraine Hoisington link
9/3/2020 04:51:50 pm

I look at the character and figure out what I want for that person. I try to see their character, persona, and looks. It's not easy and I struggle with descriptions of what my characters look like. It sometimes takes me several variations before I'm satisfied. Are they a serious work alcoholic, funny, fun loving, compassionate, empathetic, or something else. Are they young, middle aged or old? For me personally it's one of the harder parts to writing. You have to know what you want them to be or become in your story before you can really flush out their character.

You will need to explain the other question. I'm not sure what you mean by the words. Shirley

Reply
Mark
9/3/2020 05:15:48 pm

Many authors struggle with visualizing the characters. Those that are artistically inclined might draw pictures of the characters they see in their minds eye, others not so gifted might look on the internet or in magazines until they see someone who matches the vision in their mind.
One of my talented guest bloggers, Rick Hall, has created a free tool that lets a writer develop a psychological profile for characters. Hit the search box and put Rick's name in to see all of his guest blogs, including the one about the character creation tool. I hope you find it useful.
Dialog tags are the he said or she said that appears on one end or the other of dialogue in a story. An action beat eliminates as many of those as possible and utilizes the character making a face, moving or engaging in some kind of physical activity. It can be as little as a wink or frown. It could be running across a room and throwing a punch.
Action beats can keep the story moving at whatever pace the author wants.
New questions.
Do you base your characters on people you know or have met, or is it easier to just invent them completely?
Have you ever used yourself as a character for a starting point in a story?
Would a friend or family member recognize you in the story?

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Shirley Lorraine Hoisington link
9/3/2020 08:28:59 pm

I will certainly look at Rick Hill’s information. Sounds like a really good tool.

One of my biggest gripes while I’m reading is to have too much dialogue between characters where there is no indication who is speaking. I’ve found myself reading and rereading a section to try and find out who is speaking so I’m pretty careful about that. I use the person’s name with something interesting added; for instance, “Oh no,” Cindy cried; or After talking for a few more minutes Miranda hung up; or when two people are talking “I’m scared Sandy.” That denotes who is speaking.

I will use he said or she said if it’s easy to follow who is speaking. Otherwise I try to use something to offset it. I doubt if I would be comfortable using dialogue tags unless I understood a little more about how they are used.

It is easier for me to invent my characters. I guess I haven’t known enough interesting or fascinating people to use them as characters!

No, I’ve never used myself because I don’t feel like I’ve experienced enough of life to use myself. I might make my character boring or dull!! I have used myself or my girls in articles I’ve written about some of the things that have happened in our lives, but I’ve never done anything with them.

A friend or family member might recognize some of my stories from where I grew up and things we did together, but no, they wouldn’t recognize the person as me in my book. They could think I patterned this story after my beautiful blonde twin nieces though. I suppose I did in a way but I was not around them very much until the last few years. I’ve been able to visit with them some since I moved back to Washington. Now, the other two books I’m working on probably has something to do with parts of my life, but not me per say. Shirley

Reply
Mark
9/3/2020 09:16:10 pm

I know what you mean about losing track of who is talking. I have found it tough at times also. Maintaining clarity is essential.
In your example, "Oh no," Cindy cried. That is a dialogue tag. There are a lot of words that can be substituted for said. Some writers get the thesaurus out and make as many changes as possible to get away from the boredom of 'said'. Dialogue tags require special punctuation also. That bit of dialogue can be changed into an action beat, "Oh no." Tears flooded Cindy's eyes. The action beat isn't part of the dialogue, it is its own sentence.
One of these days maybe you will write about being trapped in a cult. Then your personal experiences may come to the forefront.
New questions.
If you used a close friend or family member in a book, would you tell them or make sure that they wouldn't recognize themselves in the story?
Which is more fun to write, the protagonist or the antagonist, and why?

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Shirley Lorraine Hoisington link
9/4/2020 09:45:00 am

Now I know what you mean by your "showing" not "telling." Ha!

If I planned on using a family member I would ask first. If I used parts of their story with changes and the names were different, I would think about it.

As you know from Beyond Despair I didn't have a true protagonist. I didn't have anyone the readers would love to hate. I did have questions and comments from my book club members who didn't exactly think Roger was a good guy. So, I'm not sure.

I have started a book where the father did something unforgivable to his daughter (not sexual) so I think I will be writing him in a antagonist. We will see. I tend to root for the good guy in books and movies so it will take some thought to write in a good antagonist. Shirley

Mark
9/4/2020 09:59:53 am

Action beats are one part of the show-don't-tell mantra. Another part, depending upon genre, is excessive back story especially at the beginning of a story. Information that sets up the motivation of characters should be revealed on a need-to-know basis. Spread that around and tell it when it is needed and no more.
Like a real human, Roger was a complex character. Miranda actually was both protagonist and antagonist. Her choices helped and hurt her in turn.
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?

Reply
Shirley Lorraine Hoisington link
9/5/2020 12:53:23 am

I don't have a specific routine for writing. But no, I don't think I write in a straight line. I go with the flow of what's in my head and sometimes it might be at the middle or end. You talked about back story. I struggled and struggled with that. I had way too much about Miranda's misery in the first drafts of the book. I kept toning it down, but it seemed like she was just a whiner about how miserable and hurt she was. It took a lot of work to get it to the point where I felt satisfied. I think I took out about half of the first 3 or 4 chapters and reworked and reworked them before I was finished. I had to think of something to put in its place and that's why I came up with a lot of the other things she did.

I also think ahead to other people in the story but I don't like a huge number of characters either so I'm very specific about what and who I want to add. I sometimes get completely lost in stories that jump from one character to another and sometimes there are 10 or more in the first few chapters. I like complex characters that make you know who they are instead of wondering who you're reading about.Too many characters often cause you to have to go back and look to see who the writer is talking about. Shirley

Reply
Mark
9/5/2020 10:23:48 am

Quite a few writers operate like you do. They listen to the muse and write what is suggested. I think it's one way to avoid writer's block.
Rick Hall wrote a guest blog devoted to the idea, he called it non-linear writing. You might enjoy it.
Other writers are different, they march straight through the book, from 'once upon a time' to 'the end'. This works for them quite well, by their own admission.
I am glad you cut a lot of Miranda's misery wallowing out. It was the maximum amount I could handle easily. She needed to interact with other people and engage in activities to get out of her own head, for at least a few minutes. Well done.
Having lots of characters can be challenging. One of the best ways I have seen for coping with this as a reader is using first person POV. With short chapters, each from a different character's point of view, action and scenes can be described quite well. Plus the reader gets to know and understand each character and what they care about.
I recently reviewed "Alpha Dawn", a sci-fi novel written in that manner. I enjoyed a lot because it was written in first person POV like I described.
New questions.
Which is more important to a story pace or flow? How do you control it?
Did your writing process change much from your early writing to your current book or did it stay the same?

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Shirley Lorraine Hoisington link
9/5/2020 04:37:27 pm

Actually I don't think one is more important than the other. If the pace is slow and laborious, you will lose a reader. If it's too fast, the reader misses a lot of details that should have been included. You have to keep the pace moving but with enough details to keep the interest of the reader. Too many details without the story moving will also lose a reader.

For the flow, the reader has to get your descriptions and understand the story's elements. If a reader has to scan backwards into your story to understand what's happening then the flow is bad. There's a whole world of knowledge out there about writing and so much information. If we could retain all of that knowledge, writing would be simple.

Unnecessary breaks in sentences, too much punctuation, too long or short sentences all break the flow and pace of a story. One of the tricks I was taught was to read my writing out loud. I've often caught problems by doing this.

I think I achieved a lot of the pace and flow issue with my book Beyond Despair. One of the ways of knowing if you have done so is that readers can't put the book down. I've sometimes read a book from night into the next morning because I simply couldn't stop reading. I had many of my readers tell me they couldn't put my book down, or hated to have to stop because they had other things to do.

Shirley

Reply
Mark
9/5/2020 05:04:07 pm

You are right, that was a trick question. Both are important and in the proper measure will contribute a lot to reading pleasure.
For most of my life I read only sci-fi and fantasy. I am so glad I have broadened my horizons. I have read some really good books in genres I would not normally have considered. Your book is one of them. Yes, it was hard to put down at times for me also.
Reading out loud is a good trick for self-editing also.
New questions.
Now that your book is published, is there anything about it you would like to change?
How do you think your book relates to the world we live in today?
What is the one thing you hope readers will remember from your book?

Reply
Shirley Lorraine Hoisington link
9/5/2020 09:25:01 pm

Yes, I would like to get rid of the few errors that I didn’t see, and maybe a few punctuation issues but I wouldn’t change anything about the story. I love it. My husband even loved it even though he reads mostly adventure, intrigue, and crime solving stories. You, and several other men have also read it. I love the Rogue River adventure. I went on that trip when I was in my 20’s and plan on taking it again in the near future.

I’m not sure it relates to the world we live in except to show that no matter what life throws at you, if you are resilient and have the will to do so, you can get past it and build a good or better life for yourself. Miranda was in the depth of despair but she didn’t let it destroy her. She made decisions about her life and went on to make a better life for herself.

I just hope they will love the story of identical twins, Miranda and Cindy; the struggles they went through and what happened to their lives. I hope they remember that no matter how rough things may look there’s always a way out if you work on the problems and don’t give up and admit defeat. There can always be a brighter tomorrow. Talking things out with others is so important and I think they will see from Miranda’s story that things may have turned out differently if she had confided in someone. Shirley

Reply
Mark
9/5/2020 09:36:27 pm

Every author would love for their books to be free of errors.
Riding a Rogue River Jetboat again will be a lot of fun! I would like to do that again also.
Those are important lessons. A person never really loses until they quit trying. Sometimes it is a daily battle and must be fought in smaller chunks. Seeking help is a great idea. But it runs contrary to the American way at times, rugged individualism and all of that.
New questions.
We already talked about your favorite authors. Do you have a classical author or poet, you admire?
If you could meet your favorite author, what would you ask them?

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Shirley Lorraine Hoisington link
9/5/2020 10:54:20 pm

Margaret Mitchell, Charlotte Bronte and Elizabeth Barrett Browning

I would ask Margaret Mitchell why she only wrote one book. I know that today, Gone with the Wind would not be accepted or read by most people because of the subject matter, but I've never read anything like it and probably never will. She was an American Journalist and wrote about the times she lived in. Scarlett was so real and as a reader you sympathized with her, at times despised her, wanted to shake her, and loved her. What more could you ask for from a character. Shirley

Reply
Mark
9/5/2020 11:01:23 pm

You are right. MM was an amazing writer, she really knew how to bring out the real person at the moment.
Scarlett's motivation was to preserve her home through most perilous times, to the exclusion of all else. She knew that the home was her anchor, and without it she would be swept away like all the other refugees from violence.
New questions.
What software do you use to write and publish your books, and why do you use those?
How do you keep track of all the characters and events in your books?

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Shirley Lorraine Hoisington link
9/6/2020 12:24:13 am

I use Microsoft Word. It seems the easiest to work with, and it was what I learned to use when I started using a computer.

I don't have a problem keeping track of my characters. For one thing, I don't have very many, and for another, they became real to me when I was writing my book. I came to know them as a person and related to them. It's just part of being a writer. Shirley

Reply
Mark
9/6/2020 09:51:49 am

Microsoft Word has a huge installed user base. So many businesses use it and so do a lot of writers. I use it myself.
I particularly use the 'comment' feature when I am proofreading, I do not make any changes in a manuscript beyond adding or removing a space between words or sentences.
You did have a small number of primary and secondary characters in your book, that makes a lot of sense that you were able to track everything.
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 at some point with post-its or note cards?

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Shirley Hoisington link
9/6/2020 05:27:13 pm

Not so far. My characters seem to go in the direction I wanted them to go. I added a lot of details along the way that I didn't have planned so I suppose in a way it did, after the fact. I have an idea for a story in my head, with the two or four main characters and I start from there.

I'm afraid I don't do an outline. I sit down and start writing. A short version of the story just seems to flow for me, and then the hard work starts. I've spent many a night trying to sleep only to jump up and write something down that occurs to me. I keep a notepad by the bed just for nights like this. I've had my biggest breakthrough's in this way; when I'm not trying to write but inspiration hits. If I don't write it down when I think about it, it will be forgotten. I do my research on a subject while I'm writing that part of it, not before. I know that an outline and detailed notes are probably the best way to write but it just doesn't work for me. Shirley

Reply
Mark
9/6/2020 05:58:38 pm

You have been very fortunate so far. I have heard from quite a few authors that this happens, to some more than others. Some have told me they try and fight it, with mixed results. Most seem to like the the way the story turns when following the muse.
That makes you a pantser or pantster, depending on how you pronounce it. You jump right in and write. I like your process, you start with a short story and build it up and out, until you are happy with the results and length.
You are not the only writer that is visited by the muse in the early morning hours. I know one author, she reports receiving regular visits from her out-of-synch muse at 2:30 am many mornings each week. Like you she keeps a pen and a pad of paper on the nightstand. Another writer shared how her best ideas appear when she is in the shower. I suggested a pad of waterproof paper and a Space pen. The Space pen writes even underwater. She was happy with that.
Plotting does work for a lot of writers. Some will plot out an entire series, that is very helpful for planting hints and foreshadowing. Other writers do an outline after each chapter is written, it helps to find details, if your outline is sufficiently deep.
New questions.
Do you have defined space for writing at home, or are you a coffee-shop writer?
Do you listen to music or have the TV on when writing at home, or do you need quiet?

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Shirley Lorraine Hoisington link
9/6/2020 06:32:43 pm

I can absolutely see how you would almost have to do outlines if you were planning a series. It would be impossible to keep up with what the characters of book 4 did back in book 1 without one. At least I would think so. Several of my readers, including my husband, want to me write a sequel to Beyond Despair. I can't mentally find the story so I probably will never write the sequel. I already know Cindy's story, and would have to really think to write one for any children that Miranda has.

I have an office and quiet space. I love background noise to almost everything I do except writing. I need total peace and quiet.

Reply
Mark
9/6/2020 06:59:09 pm

Some authors write a series in a step-by-step fashion. It's important for the reader to start at the beginning. Others write a series more generally. The reader doesn't have to start with book 1, because the author gives hints about the past as needed, but it does improve the experience for the reader.
I am sure your fans would like to hear Cindy's story. Her sojourn in the land of Haute Couture would be a winner without a doubt. Writing about Miranda's children would be interesting also.
I need quiet for proofreading. I don't need any quiet for only reading. I can read anywhere.
New questions.
Action, dialogue, or narration; which is easiest to write?
Of the five senses which is the easiest to write and which is the hardest?
Have you ever participated in theater in some way, acted, behind the scenes or written a play?

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Shirley Lorraine Hoisington link
9/6/2020 07:23:07 pm

I think narration is hardest for me. I can put an action scene together and I do well with dialogue. It's getting the parts in between to work with the action and dialogue. I have a difficult time with show don't tell. It's tough to show how someone is feeling instead of telling how they are feeling.

I thought about it for a while and maybe taste and smelling is the hardest for me, but unless I have an exercise in front of me I can't be sure. I don't think sight and hearing are a huge issue, but I'm not sure about touch. Shirley

Reply
Mark
9/6/2020 08:26:05 pm

Every author struggles with one or more of those aspects, in varying degrees of course.
The show don't tell is hard for most writers. I think it's in part because we are naturally born story tellers. Telling story the first time means a lot of descriptions. The trick is to paint the necessary picture in the reader's mind with actions, dialogues and a minimum of narration or description. Using action beats instead of dialogue tags are one tool that every author has at their disposal. A grimace can show anger and frustration; skipping along can display happiness.
Most authors agree with you, sight and hearing are the easiest to write about. That is how we get a high percentage of information about our immediate environment.
If a character was blind, hearing would become the most important sense, of course, followed closely by touch and smell/taste. Not many authors write about blind characters. I think there is an opportunity there.
New questions.
What kind of marketing are you doing or planning on doing for your book?
In your experience, which marketing avenues have been the most rewarding or profitable?
Speaking of marketing, why did you pick me to help promote your book?

Reply
Shirley Lorraine Hoisington link
9/6/2020 09:05:31 pm

I actually don't know what I'm going to do about marketing. I've taken a seminar from a speaker at Luminare Press in Eugene, Or. She's very knowledgeable but I'm afraid that's it's too much for me to figure out. I suppose I will use Kdp, Kindle Direct Publishing, in some way. I don't think Facebook is the way to go. onlinebookclub.org keeps pushing me to use their advertising but the expense is astronomical. I have paid for book shelves with them but I couldn't tell if it did me any good.

If any of your followers have a good idea about promoting books besides building email address, getting influencers, etc I would love to hear.

Mark that might be a good question you could ask on Twitter and see what feedback you get. Maybe there are some avenues that most of us don't hear about.

I picked you to because I overheard you at the Portland Book Fair speaking to someone about promoting books. I walked up to you and introduced myself and that's how I got here. I'm very glad I did because this has been a really good experience for me.

I've been hesitant to work on my second book because of the expense and problems with promoting Beyond Despair. It's already written so now I just have to do the work and thanks to you, Mark, I'm actually excited to finish my children's book and get started on my novel.

The name of my children's book is Pampa and her Friends, subtitle The Miracle of Friendship. It's about an elephant and other animals. Shirley

Reply
Mark
9/6/2020 09:35:41 pm

Shirley, you are not alone. Marketing and promotion are the biggest nut to crack for almost all authors. A significant shift in mental operation is required to be a good book marketer. The writer gets used to wearing the creative hat while writing, editing and rewriting the book. It starts out as a very solitary process, especially for the first draft. After that, others are brought in with skills the author doesn't have, as needed. Editing, proofing, formatting, cover making, publishing on different platforms, etc. Sorry to say, all of that was the easy part, because once done, it is done. Marketing is never done. Thousands of blogs have been written about this very subject. There are many aspects to it, also. There is nothing like a one-size-fits-all solution. Successful marketing requires time or money or both. I recommend to authors that they devote an hour or two, every week or two for marketing activities.
This is when the creative hat must be taken off and the business hat put on your head firmly. It will be very helpful to read as many blogs as possible, I have several on my Guest Blog page, starting with Martin's "Grab Your First 1000 Readers", there are several others also. There are dozens of links on the Highly Regarded Blogs page also, put marketing or promotion in the search box.
Next spring and summer, more bookstores should be open, as well as open-air markets, fairs and other events outdoors. Having a presence at as many as possible would be good in Oregon because you set your book in much of Oregon. You can push the local author angle by seeking free interviews/publicity with local small-town newspapers and the bigger newspapers also. Seek interviews with local TV and radio stations, large towns have local cable access, they are frequently starving for original material. Colleges and even some high schools have broadcasting arts curricula and clubs. These are possibilities also. Anywhere tourists congregate are potential opportunities also, motels, restaurants, museums, gift shops. At the minimum, a counter card with a picture of your book and a scannable QR code will net you sales. You may also be able to get counter space for a small standup holder for a few books, they might buy them or take them on consignment. Be sure to include a full-size picture of the cover and QR code in case the books sell out. Put a phone number or ordering info on the backside of the holder for the merchant. Whenever you are placing books ask about book clubs in the area, you may be able to sell a few there also.
The only real guarantee is nothing will happen if you do nothing.
Some authors struggle to get an agent or a traditional publishing contract, they think the publisher will do all that for them. Not true any more. The author is still responsible for their own success. The business hat becomes so very important.
I am glad you are getting ready to finish your children's book. That is exciting. It sounds very cute.
New questions.
How long did it take you to write the first draft?
How many drafts did you go through to have a ready-to-publish manuscript?

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Shirley Lorraine Hoisington link
9/6/2020 11:19:40 pm

I think it took a couple of weeks, maybe more. I don't remember exactly anymore. It was in 2001. My husband brought a laptop home from work and I just started writing. I had been taking a creative writing class, so when I started writing, it just seemed to flow.

I don't know the number of times I edited it before it was published. I edited the first 2-3 chapters several times before I was happy with it. My editor and I broke it into 4 parts and went back and forth about 3 times on each section. In the meantime, I printed it out several times and reworked it with pen and paper and then went back to the computer. It was a long drawn-out process.

I didn't know what a QR code was and I looked it up before answering you. There seems to be a lot of information and offers to create them. Do you have a website you recommend which is easy? Shirley

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Mark
9/7/2020 10:03:02 am

Your first draft flew off your fingers! That is great.
A lot of writers don't save drafts as they edit, so they don't know how many drafts they went through. Other authors keep track of drafts, they might set the first draft aside for a few weeks and then go through it again, creating the second draft. Rinse and repeat they have a third draft. Then they might send it to beta readers.
After processing all the feedback from the beta readers, the fourth draft is created. After a number of rounds of editing and rewriting several more drafts might be created.
The final round of proofreading and polishing makes it ready for publishing.
The process is long and extensive. The results are well worth the effort.
I do not know of a good site for creating a QR code. I suggest searching for blogs about that topic.
New questions.
Do you get ideas for future books or stories while writing a book?
When does inspiration strike for you?
What do you do to preserve these ideas?

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Shirley Hoisington link
9/7/2020 02:13:38 pm

Yes I am constantly thinking about writing so my subject for my 2nd and third books became a reality while writing Beyond Despair.

Thoughts about something to write about is always there but I don’t always write. It’s only when a real story that I think I can run with starts to make itself felt that I actually get serious.

I have a lot of files on my computer, one with a completed novel, one with an inspired beginning with several pages, a short story and various other subjects and some poems. Shirley

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Mark
9/7/2020 02:31:01 pm

A lot of authors have made similar comments. Sometimes if feels like a flood of ideas while they are working on the WIP. I have suggested they write the ideas down in a notebook, it will preserve them and get them out of their head, allowing them to focus on the current story.
I am glad you have several things to work on. That is a good solution if writer's block ever strikes, just work on another project.
Last questions.
A lot of new authors struggle with finding beta readers. Because, after the first draft is done, fresh eyes and feedback become very important.
Do you have alpha-readers and/or beta-readers to help you smooth out some of the wrinkles before publishing? If you don’t, why?
If you do, how did you find them?

Reply
Shirley Lorraine Hoisington link
9/7/2020 03:10:19 pm

Because this was my first experience at writing, I didn't have friends or acquaintances read it at the end. I relied on my editor. But, saying that, my first reader was my creative writing teacher who loved my story. My mother and others read it after I had a good version but before it was completely fleshed out. My daughter, who is an avid reader, went camping with her dad and my book! I guess he didn't get much attention from her because all she wanted to do was read! I know that relatives don't really count in the long run but it made me content that the book was good. A guy I was dating read it a few years ago, and I printed out portions and had my current husband read it as I was working on it.

When my next book is ready I will definitely branch out on my readers.

I am attaching a poem that I wrote a year or less before my husband was diagnosed with cancer and passed away. I'm sure it's not correct in the world of poetry, but you might like it.

The One Who Walks Beside Me

His hair is turning gray
And the years have left their mark
Lines are beginning to appear upon that beloved face
But the eyes are still the same
Filled with love, purpose and determination

The children are now grown, and have lives of their own,
But I often hear his voice filled with kindness and love
As he speaks to each of them of their lives.
I see the love and appreciation as his eyes often stray
To the myriad pictures portraying years gone by.

At the dawning of each new day,
I feel a special affinity
With the universe, and those around me.
And my thoughts often return to the past.
Because of the one who walks beside me.

Many years have passed as he’s been a constant at my side
He’s seen the birth of his three children
Watched them grow into happy, confident adults
Because of his tutelage, caring and presence
Always there, always strong

I’ve been amazed at the tender care
With which he treats his loving mother
As if she’s the most precious soul
And I know she holds the secret
Of his loving care of the children and I

My thoughts often stray to times of yesteryear
As I imagine the high pitched, happy laughter
Of a daughter as she was lifted high, and held in protected arms.
Or remember the beautiful sight of a small child whose eyes are filled with awe
As she sits on her dad’s lap and listens so intently to the story she is being read.

I’ve seen the pain unrestrained
As he releases his only grandchild
To the loving parents who will nurture and raise him to adulthood
And I know the sweet face is engraved on his heart
And the longing to hold him is ever present

I pray for many years to come,
Of laughter, grandchildren and travel to far off lands
Or just a quiet walk on glistening snow, bathed in moonlight
As I lay upon my bed listening to the sound of his gentle snore
The words I whisper mean so very much
Please let him stay until my life on earth is done

Shirley

Reply
Mark
9/7/2020 03:17:53 pm

It was nice to get that kind of feedback from family members.
That is a lovely poem. I really like it. Another genre for you to publish in.
I have another promotion that starts tomorrow. So we must bring our time here to a close. I have enjoyed our chat a lot and look forward to more books from you.
Until next time, keep on writing.

Reply
Shirley Hoisington link
9/7/2020 03:35:11 pm

Mark it has been my pleasure. I’ve learned a lot that I didn’t know or hadn’t thought about. You have encouraged me, and not criticized. I will definitely use the resources you have mentioned and will utilize your website. You are a caring and kind person and I hope we meet again. Thank you for teaching me to Twitter. I plan on making it a part of my life. Till we speak or meet again, your friend Shirley

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"I'm very pleased with all your efforts. Twitter promotion and proofreading were beyond what I expected with a book review. Your suggestions throughout the process of refining both books helped me immensely. I look forward to working with you again."   A.E.H Veenman “Dial QR for Murder” and “Prepped for the Kill”