Empty Seats by Wanda Adams Fischer

4/25/2020

Debut author, Wanda Fischer, introduces us to her novel about baseball in the 70s:
They were all stars in their hometowns. Then they were drafted to play minor league ball, thinking it would be an easy ride to playing in the big time. Little did they know that they'd be vying for a spot with every other talented kid who aspired to play professional baseball. Young, inexperienced, immature, and without the support of their families and friends, they're often faced with split-second decisions. Not always on the baseball diamond.

I played Little League when I was in middle school. My position was right field, where I could do the least amount of damage. Truthfully, I had no real skills in baseball, but I loved the game, nonetheless. I collected baseball cards, now I wish I had not used them to make noise when I rode my bike. I did love that sound at the time.
I enjoyed this book more than I expected. Just to have an inside look at what happens between being the top player in school (only in my dreams) and going into the minor leagues was a thrill for me.
This book is so well written, it moves along at a nice pace with lots of dialogue and detail to keep it interesting and every page worth reading. Wanda captures the thought processes of young men quite well, whether they have dreams they aspire to or a desire for another beer.
The 1970s were a tumultuous time in America also and the small-town point of view is not ignored in this book.
The characters really come alive in this story, with excellent scene setting the action keeps the story moving along so well.
I award “Empty Seats” a score of 4.9 stars!

You can buy this book:
https://smile.amazon.com/Empty-Seats-Wanda-Adams-Fischer
https://www.goodreads.com/-empty-seats
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/empty-seats-wanda-adams-fischer

You can follow the author:
https://twitter.com/EmptySeatsNovel
http://wandafischer.com
https://www.facebook.com/EmptySeatsNovel

Tags: sports, fiction, family,

Copyright © 2020 Mark L. Schultz except for the author’s introduction

93 Comments

Wanda Fischer link

4/26/2020 11:50:52 am

Thanks, Mark. I think this novel is even more pertinent this year, when there's no baseball at any level--major- or minor-league--for people to enjoy. We're all in social-distancing mode, and those of us who love baseball are pining for those days of peanuts and crackerjacks, I think.

Mark

4/26/2020 01:20:19 pm

You are so right. Many of us long for some semblance of normalcy. It remains to be seen what that will be.
In the meantime, thanks for writing such a fun and interesting book.
First question.
Please, tell us more about yourself. Perhaps something a little bit beyond your bio on Amazon.

Wanda Fischer

4/26/2020 06:06:55 pm

I was born in Kingsport, Tennessee but grew up in the Boston area, in fact, in Weymouth, Massachusetts, which is where one of my characters, Jimmy Bailey, lives. I attended college for two years on a full-time basis but ended up leaving college due to financial issues, getting a job as a secretary at MIT in the late 1960s and finishing my bachelor's degree in English at Northeastern University while working full-time and going to classes at night. I met the person who would ultimately become my husband at the Boston College coffeehouse in 1966, although I was not a BC student. I was auditioning to get a gig at the coffeehouse; he was the talent manager. We have been married since 1973. We have two grown children and six grandchildren. I have recorded a folk music CD.

Mark

4/26/2020 06:17:53 pm

Thanks for letting us get to know you better. That is an interesting way to meet your future spouse. You are one up on me in grandkids. Just after Christmas, our fifth grandchild was born, Hezekiah is our first grandson.
New questions.
Are you a full-time or part-time writer?
What kind of work do you do? Feel free to skip that question, if you would rather not answer.
Does your work, or past work if you are retired, have any influence on your writing?

Wanda Fischer

4/26/2020 09:30:13 pm

I am a part-time writer. I am retired from a 40-year career as a public relations/marketing/media relations professional in not-for-profit and governmental agencies. I continue to do a folk music show on the Albany, NY-based National Public Radio affiliate one day a week.

I also did some journalism work in radio news work, but those were short stints.

My work does influence my writing. I draw on my experiences all the time. For example, I used my experience of having worked at a long-term care association as well as at a physical rehabilitation hospital in "Empty Seats." Readers will have to find out where that is in the novel.

Mark

4/26/2020 09:40:56 pm

Nice. I like that kind of work, though I have never done it professionally. I had nearly 20 years in retail, working for a drugstore chain and then a one-stop-shopping chain. I loved to help people solve their problems, it made me a good salesman.
Then I entered construction, and quickly learned it was a lot like retail, I still had customers and suppliers, not to mention a boss. I kept selling and enjoyed that career a lot also.
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.

Wanda Fischer

4/26/2020 09:52:17 pm

I had always wanted to be a sportswriter, from the time I was in high school. That was in the 1960s. I talked to a player from the then-California Angels, and he told me that it would be very difficult for a woman to become a sportswriter at that time because the "guys don't want women in the clubhouse or the locker room." He was very nice about it. Then I came involved in the Civil Rights Movement and the Vietnam War was raging, so I went into other things. When I retired, I decided I would, after all, write about baseball.

I had been singing The National Anthem at the Tri-City Valley Cats games, and I looked into the dugout when I'd go onto the field. I saw young men who looked very out of place, far from home, some who didn't even speak English. But when they went on to the field, they came alive when they played the game. That was why the novel became about minor-league baseball.

I think the genre chose me, ultimately.

Carol Coogan, a talented designer of Albany, New York, did the cover. www.carolcoogandesign.com

Mark

4/26/2020 10:06:46 pm

Sports writing could have been a good career, in a different time.
When I was still in high school, my first real job was as a printer's devil. I did all kinds of stuff and was fascinated by the old printing equipment. After awhile, the publisher asked me to take pictures at the high school games. I even tried my hand at writing an article once. I don't recall being asked to write a second article. I wasn't into sports nearly as much as I was into books.
I love that about you singing the national anthem. You made a great observation about those young players. Darn good story.
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?

Wanda Fischer

4/26/2020 10:21:45 pm

The title was difficult to come up with. I decided on it because somehow, the players "kept saying" that the ball makes a different sound when the stadiums they were playing in had a lot of people in the stands than when they had few spectators in the stands. When they were stars in their hometowns, they always had people rooting for them. They played in popular games to sell-out crowds. In the minor leagues, it wasn't that way. When a batter makes connection with a ball, the sound of a wooden bat is different in a full stadium rather than an empty one. Same thing when the pitcher throws to the catcher. The ball makes a different "pop" in a full ballpark as opposed to an empty one. Hence, empty seats. Ironically, this year, all the seats in both Major League and Minor League parks are empty.

I referred to my high school yearbook to make sure that I had first names that would be contemporary to the timeframe. Today's names like Chase, Joshua, Jason, Andrew, etc. were not in vogue when I was in high school. It was Jim, John, Paul, Bob, Pete, etc. I collect names for my stories. I have a notebook on the front seat of my car. If I see street names or vendor names, I write them down. Bud Prescott's last name came from a street in Albany, NY. Bobby Mangino is named for a car dealer in Saratoga Springs, NY. Bailey was the name of my primary care physician when I was growing up. Other last names came from my notebook of names--could have been from name tags of workers, musicians I know, street names, TV commercials--those are my best resources for last names.

Mark

4/27/2020 10:22:47 am

your title, "Empty Seats", certainly is appropriate in this time of stay at home. I never thought about how the sounds would be different in the ears depending upon the number of spectators.
I love how you have collected names. I know some authors use websites devoted to popular baby names, year by year. Our son and his wife named their first child, Hezekiah, they call him Kai, day in and day out.
New questions.
This is your first book on Amazon. Have you written others, that are published elsewhere or unpublished?
Will you be writing more?
Have you entered any writing contests?
Have you won awards of any kind for your writing?

Wanda Fischer

4/27/2020 11:02:54 am

I haven't published any others. I'm in the process of writing a sequel to "Empty Seats," because readers have asked for it. They want to know what happened to these guys because the ending was such a surprise. (I'm not telling!)

At first I began writing a book about the three characters when they were in their sixties, set in 2013. I had written about 40,000 words when I realized that was too big a gap in their lives. Now my work in progress is about the three of them, with more of an emphasis on Jimmy Bailey, with more "cameo appearances" by Bud Prescott and Bobby Mangino, and his sister Debbie Bailey. It's set in 1976. I've written about 82,000 words. It's still in the very rough stages, but I'm focusing more on it these days.

"Empty Seats" won a New Apple Award in 2019 in the Young Adult category, as well as an Independent Publishing Award, also in 2019, in the sports writing category. It can be a YA story or general fiction. I was very careful in the language I used because my daughter teaches middle school, and I wanted her to be able to use it with her sixth through eighth graders. My 10-year-old grandson has also read it cover-to-cover (he also reads Shakespeare--just like his father did at that age), and I didn't want him to be shocked that Grandma wrote bad language.

Mark

4/27/2020 11:18:09 am

Your fans will be happy when the new book is out. When do you think that will be?
Congratulations on winning those awards.If you get stickers for the cover, send me the new cover and I will put it on my website. In the meantime, you should consider mentioning those awards in the blurb.
I bet your grandson loves baseball also. How nice.
New questions.
I noticed that your book is in Kindle Unlimited. How is that working out for you?
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?

Wanda Fischer

4/27/2020 11:25:03 am

I will add those to the blurb on Amazon. Thank you for that suggestion.

I have not seen much of a benefit from Kindle Unlimited, except it has helped with reviews. People have left reviews on Amazon when they've obtained the book from KU.

I have sought agents without success. I have queried without success. At my age, I decided to self-publish because I wanted to get the book out to the public. Part of it was at the urging of a friend of mine who's a successful author. She told me the book was a quality piece of writing, and that I shouldn't keep waiting.

My grandson is a baseball fan, as is his father. My son couldn't have grown up in my house WITHOUT being a baseball fan. My daughter is a great baseball fan as well. It's in their DNA!

Wanda Fischer

4/27/2020 11:56:35 am

I think the new manuscript will be ready for a first edit by the end of May, if I keep going at the pace I'm going now. I miss being able to go to my wonderful library in Guilderland, New York, to write. I wrote about half to three-quarters of the first draft of "Empty Seats" at that library. It's a soothing place to write. No interruptions.

Mark

4/27/2020 01:46:19 pm

I am glad to hear your KU customers are leaving reviews, other authors have not reported the same success with reviews from KU readers.
So many authors have had a similar experience with querying and seeking an agent. The traditional publishing industry has been turned upside down by Amazon. It has been shrinking for nearly a decade, now. The profit margins have gotten so slim that traditional publishers are taking very few chances on indie authors. Some publishers won't even talk to an author unless they have an established fan base evidenced by a mailing list numbering in the thousands. Some industry insiders recommend that an author start building that fan base before they are done with their first book. Many blogs have been written on that topic.
Your fans will be happy when the new book comes out.
New questions.
After rejecting traditional publishing, did you consider an independent or hybrid publisher?
Or did you choose self-publishing as the best way and why?
How do you think your book compares to a book published by a major publisher?

Wanda Fischer

4/27/2020 02:44:00 pm

I approached a couple of independent publishers. I thought I had one lined up, but the deal fell through. I had paid a professional editor a serious amount of money to help me with this book, and the hybrid publishers wanted me to pay an equal amount again. I was a neophyte when I published this book and have learned a great deal about self-publishing, especially about the proofreading business (thanks, in large part, to having discovered your work).

I chose self-publishing because I decided that it was the best thing for me at that moment in time. I will consider other options when the next book is ready. I have learned so much about the entire process since I began writing this first novel. I've joined a couple of on-line author groups, have learned about the concept of beta readers, and have also delved into creative marketing concepts. I admit that I had a background in public relations and marketing, so I had a bit of an advantage on some other self-published authors, but it took every ounce of that knowledge to get the book out to readers.

I think this novel compares favorably to some books published by major publishers, but not all. I've been reading some newly published books from some of the "big houses," and I think this book could compare with some of them.

Mark

4/27/2020 04:29:59 pm

Hybrid publishers are considered by some to be barely one step above vanity publishers. I think some of them are actually pretty good, they are transparent about pricing and don't force an author to pay for something they don't want.
Editing is very important, I am not an editor. I do perform some of the functions of a line editor, but not all of them. I tell clients that I provide the greatest value after all of the editing and rewriting is done.
You are finding your tribe, congratulations! Author groups can be helpful.
I hope your marketing experience comes in handy.
New questions.
Do you have a favorite book by another author or just favorite authors?
Did you have a favorite book as a child?
Do you ever read a book more than once? If so, which one?

Wanda Fischer

4/27/2020 04:42:33 pm

I have so many favorite books, it's difficult to narrow it down. I'll give you two. One is from my college career, and it's "The Edge of Sadness," by Edwin O'Connor. It's a novel where I laughed and cried at the same time. The more recent one is "The Given Day" by Dennis Lehane, It's an historical novel that includes so many things I'm interested in--civil rights, baseball, Irish history, Boston history, police repression, and more. It's a huge novel, but well written and gripping.

My favorite book as a child was "Misty of Chincoteague" by Marguerite Henry. To this day, I have always wanted to visit the wild ponies on Chinchoteague Island, but have never had the opportunity.

I don't recall having read a book more than once; however, I have read Shakespeare's plays multiple times. My son is a big Shakespeare fan, and we make references to Shakespeare's works often.

Mark

4/27/2020 07:41:11 pm

Both of those books sound quite good.
I have become a fan of historical fiction. It's now my third favorite genre, right after science fiction and fantasy. I don't have a favorite time period at this point, I love good writing.
Growing up, I heard about the book "Misty of Chincoteague" a number of times. I remember thinking it must be a girls book if it's about horses. My sisters were really into horses. I never read it due to my prejudice at that time.
New questions.
Does writing have a spiritual or healing component for you, does it energize you or make you feel tired?
Why is it important for writers to tap into the emotions of the characters?
Have you ever done NaNoWriMo?

Wanda Fischer

4/27/2020 08:11:56 pm

Writing energizes me and helps me clear my mind of distractions. I have many distractions in my life, between family and volunteer activities, and sitting down to write and expressing things in writing, whether it's work on a novel or writing a letter (yes, I still write letters), is something I have enjoyed since I was in the second grade.

I think it's crucial for writers to understand the emotions of their characters. Otherwise, how can a writer develop meaningful dialogue for that person? The character's emotional state is critical to the decisions he/she makes, and the words that come out of that character's mouth in given situations. When creating a character, I have an idea from the get-go as to how that person will react when confronted by certain situations. Then when that character meets another one, it's much easier to figure out how they will interact.

It[s funny that you mention NaNoWriMo. "Empty Seats" started as a NaNoWriMo project initially. A friend of mine told me about it and said, "Hey, let's do this" in November 2016. I wrote 50,000 words and met the goal; she petered out at about 18,000 words. What is in the final version of my novel doesn't resemble much of what I wrote in November 2016, though. It gave me the foundation for what eventually became "Empty Seats."

Mark

4/28/2020 09:38:50 am

Many authors report a good feeling after a successful writing session. You are right inline with many others. You have been doing it for a long time.
The motivations and emotional state of characters is very important, as you describe so well.
You might be interested to know about the character creator that Rick Hall, one of my guest bloggers, has created. He includes some of the popular personality types as well as famous people and characters from history and culture. He says that the characters you develop or choose will be psychologically congruent. I think it's pretty cool just search for character creator in the search box.
Excellent! It's good to hear of a double success in NaNOWriMo! Making the 50k word goal is a win by itself. Polishing and publishing is a win also!
New questions.
What kind of preparation do you do before NaNoWriMo starts?
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?

Wanda Fischer

4/28/2020 10:03:30 am

The preparation I did prior to NaNaWriMo was minimal on my first try. I was such a novice at that process that I just sat down to write and did it. I had my characters in mind. They were compilations of people I had known or met during my baseball travels. However, when I did it the second time, and didn't use the material I came up with (although I did meet the 50,000-word goal again), I used one of the characters from "Empty Seats" and developed her. I wrote about Bud Prescott's grandmother as a suffragist, which is only minimally mentioned in my first novel. I had to do a great deal of research on the suffragist movement. I chose that because the year was 1918--the centennial of when women got the vote in New York State.

I am definitely an over-writer. "Empty Seats" had 140,000 words before it was pared down. It delved into a number of unnecessary tangents which I thought added to the story but the editor pointed out were avenues that took away from the main theme. Upon reflection, I realized she was right. Good editors are almost always right. As a writer, I rarely disagreed with her advice except for a word here or there. When I edit other people's work, I often have to give them similarly bad news about their overly written pieces.

I rarely have to add more; there's almost always too much. I guess I use the Faulkner approach rather than Hemingway's.

Mark

4/28/2020 12:07:17 pm

I like that suffragist theme. That is a great example of how a minor character can become center stage in a separate story that adds to the original. I hope you publish that one also.
I recently promoted a book, "The Perfect 36" a story about time travel and getting the 19th amendment passed in Tennessee. A fun story.
A lot of authors are over-writers. I don't know which is easier to deal with as an author. It seems like a natural thing, over-writing, to me. Especially in the first draft, that should be over written, it's important to get every thought onto the page. The first draft is just telling yourself the story, so the good parts can be picked out and polished in subsequent editing and rewriting. Fresh eyes on a manuscript are one of the good thing about having an editor and proofreader.
New questions.
Did you cut mostly descriptions, action, dialogue or whole chapters?
Do you save the parts that didn't make it into the final version?
Do you prefer dialogue tags or action beats in your books?

Wanda Fischer

4/28/2020 12:56:39 pm

I should get a copy of "The Perfect 36." I was born in Tennessee, and the story behind the young man in the state legislature who voted for the 19th Amendment is a great one! I will put that book on my reading list.

I cut three whole chapters and two characters. The characters were minor and were people Bud Prescott met while he was a student at Vanderbilt College (ironically, also in Tennessee!). The three chapters included encounters with those characters, and my editor made the point that the chapters did nothing to enhance or change the story. She was right. The chapters included some action, and, when I created them initially, they were supposed to foreshadow actions later in the book, but the editor, again correctly, demonstrated to me that the chapters were too obvious to be foreshadowing techniques.

I also (on my own) decided to cut a section that included an incident of antisemitism. I decided it added nothing to the story and might actually turn off readers.

I did save the parts that I didn't use. They may come in handy for later books.

My preference is for dialogue. I believe it brings the characters more to life if you hear their words come from their own mouth. I also use "asides" that give their inner thoughts to readers--almost a la Shakespeare's narrators in plays.

Mark

4/28/2020 02:10:27 pm

I hope you enjoy the story, it's sci-fi because it involves time travel. Other than that it's quite down to earth. There are buy links on my review.
You cut quite a bit from your story. I think your editor gave you good advice. I think you are wise to save the material.
Dialogue is a great way to move a story forward. It goes a long way to avoid information dumps, if done well.
New questions.
Have you ever used yourself or other acquaintances as a character for a starting point in a story? Would they recognize you or themselves in the story?
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?

Wanda Fischer

4/28/2020 02:58:43 pm

I didn't use myself or acquaintances as a starting point in this story or any others, but I do draw on people I have met through the course of my life. I

In "Empty Seats," however, I made a little fun of myself in the story. I referred to myself as "the roommate who was always writing letters to the editor about the Red Sox" in one instance, then, during one of the baseball scenes, I talked about a "middled-aged woman" who sang The National Anthem at the beginning of one of the baseball games. Jimmy Bailey looked at the singer and thought she "should be home baking chocolate chip cookies." At one time, I was a regular National Anthem singer for The Tri-City Valley Cats, an affiliate of the Houston Astros in Troy, New York. One of the players once asked me if I made chocolate chip cookies after I sang The National Anthem. I tucked that information into my bag of notes and used it in the novel.

The characters are compilations of people, so they may have some traits of people I know or people I've known way in the past. I did use the names of some real baseball players who essentially made cameo appearances, but they're famous people and they are fair game in that sense. I checked that with an attorney before I did that.

By using compilations of traits of some people mashed together to make one person, I believe that no one would recognize him- or herself in a story. That's my goal. I believe I'm fair game to make fun of myself in anything I write.

I think both the protagonist and antagonist are equally fun to write because they need to clash with one another, and it's important to know why they wouldn't be simpatico in the first place. In "Empty Seats," the first reason Jimmy Bailey and Bobby Mangino don't get along is that Jimmy loves the Red Sox and Bobby's a big Yankee fan. That's where it all begins.

Mark

4/28/2020 04:27:10 pm

I love all those references to yourself. I caught the reference to the letter-writing roommate, but not the National Anthem singer. Chocolate chip cookies are my favorite, with lots of butter in the batter and soft and chewy.
Very smart of you to check with an attorney.
When I hit the part about Bobby and the Yankees, I thought to myself, there's going to be fireworks.
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?
Which is more important to a story pace or flow? How do you control it?

Wanda Fischer

4/28/2020 06:18:48 pm

When I sit down to write, I just go. I get in a "zone," and just write. It means that I may have to move sections around because sometimes I get rolling in sections of interactions between characters and realize that those sections belong in a different place in the narrative. I've found that during the self-isolation during this pandemic, I've been more distracted at home by the two other people who live with me, so it's been more difficult to accomplish large periods of writing. My go-to place has always been my wonderful local library, which has been closed for almost two months. My writing sessions are not as long these days. I'm only getting in maybe one or two hours five days a week. When I go to the library, I can go for four hours at a time. I don't write on Saturdays because I do my radio show on Saturday night. I have to think "folk music" all day Saturday to accomplish that.

To me, flow is more important. I don't control it; it controls me. Once I get on a roll, I focus and the characters, whose personalities I've already developed, take over in many instances, especially with their dialogue, and they're in control about 80 percent of the time.

Mark

4/28/2020 07:53:32 pm

I have heard of that happening, writing in the zone, where everything seems to flow effortlessly from your fingers through the keyboard. I am also hearing similar difficulties from writers who are struggling to write in this crazy time. Some have mentioned it's harder with other people in the house. That makes a lot of sense to me. I would have a much more difficult time proofreading if I was doing it at the dining table, rather than in my office upstairs. So many authors have lost their favorite writing space because of the lockdown situation we are in.
New questions.
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?
What software do you use to write and publish your books, and why do you use those?

Wanda Fischer

4/28/2020 09:16:57 pm

I specifically wanted to set this book in a time when there were no cell phones or electronics that would distract the main characters from their quest to become Major League baseball players. However, I think the book relates directly to today's world because these young men face everyday challenges that we all face. It's more difficult, perhaps, when someone is 18 or 19 years old and hasn't had to make decision about what to do when they're confronted with the proverbial road not taken.

When someone loses a family member who had been your mentor for your entire life, and you're a thousand miles away, how do you handle that? When you're expecting to be promoted to the next higher level in baseball and you think you deserve it and not someone else, what does that do to your fragile ego? What happens when a close friend has a life-changing accident? What's your relationship with your father? Your mother? Your siblings? Eighteen-year olds often can't wait to leave home, yet when they do, they yearn to return to the safety of home.These young men, just like today's men and women, have to learn to navigate life, not just become better baseball players. It would be the same if they were engineers, plumbers, police officers, writers or physicians. They'd still have to learn to navigate life.

The one thing I hope readers will remember is that life is fragile, no matter who you are, and justice isn't always fair. People have to fight battles every day. Those challenges aren't always winnable, but they're worth the fight.

I write in Word. I haven't tried any of the other writer-oriented writing programs. I've heard of several but haven't investigated them.

Mark

4/28/2020 09:30:05 pm

It's pretty funny, no matter how much life changes and new distractions arise, there will always be distractions. Young people get a rude awakening so often when they move out of the family home. I know I did.
You brought out so many life-changing events in your book and I think that gives young adults a peek at what they might have to face also.
Life is fragile, it needs a lot of thoughtful care. There are so many choices to make. Unfortunately, sometimes the experiences we learn the most from occur because of bad choices.
MS Word has a huge, user base. It's probably the number one word processing software in the western world.
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?
Have you ever had the experience of the story swerving in a different direction than planned, as if a character was driving it?

Wanda Fischer

4/28/2020 09:44:40 pm

I have a composition notebook (yes, like the ones we had in grade school). Each project I'm working on has a different colored cover. That's how I kept track of all my projects in my day jobs. My desk was always a mess, but I found everything for every project by colors on the cover or on the file folder. I keep notes on the characters in the notebook with a tab for each person.

Beyond that, I'm a pantser when it comes to plot. I knew approximately what the plot was going to be when I started, but I didn't know at the outset which character was going to face which fate. As they began to interact with each other, their coaches, their family members, everything became crystal clear. I think Jimmy drove much of the story. I have a picture of him in my mind, waffling when making decisions, even when he was on the mound, pitching, and doubting his own talents, needing reassurance from the team's catcher.

In my work in progress, so far, I'm controlling the story, but it's possible that one of the characters will take me on a side trip as I'm on my way to finishing the novel. Sometimes the characters hold my hand and take me on a solid path. Sometimes not--but it's up to me to realize if it's the right one.

Mark

4/29/2020 11:54:06 am

The notebook idea is a good one. I use something like that myself. I use steno pads, you probably remember those from high school. I use one to track proofreading, one to track promotions and one to track the tweet data for the promotions.
You do sound like a plot pantster to me. Overall I might think of you as a hybrid of pantster and plotter. I heard an interesting tip from a pantster, the author wrote the book in reverse, starting with the ending and worked towards the beginning. It saved making lots of changes and made sure all the foreshadowing worked quite well.
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, acted, behind the scenes or written a play?

Wanda Fischer

4/29/2020 01:04:50 pm

For me, the easiest sense to write is the sense of smell. I wrote about the tantalizing aroma of newly-mown grass in baseball parks many times in "Empty Seats." That scent is intoxicating to me. I can't stand the smell of perfume in department stores or when people wear too much of it. In fact, it makes me ill. I have an overly keen sense of smell, which is sometimes a blessing, sometimes a curse. I can smell things that people can't, to the point where once, when I was still working, I detected a fire in our building before the smoke detectors went off. I told my boss. He thought I was crazy. I told him I'd go find it. He told me to get back to work. Forty-five minutes later, the smoke detectors went off. The fire was inside the walls, far away from where I was working. It did damage to our computer system, to the point where we didn't have computer access for five full days. I knew it was there! My kids used to joke with me that I should hire out as a drug-sniffing dog at the airport!

The most difficult one for me would be the tactile (touch) sense. I would have to think about the surface of a particular item in order to get the specifics correct.

I have participated in theater in a number of ways. I have acted and done work behind the scenes. I was involved in theater in high school on many levels. In college I was active in extemporaneous theater groups, in which we would go to class without knowing what topic or situation would be thrown at us, and we'd have to act it out. As a folk musician/singer, I found that experience to be valuable when I faced sometimes unruly crowds and had to come up with something funny to say in between songs to reach people whom I hadn't reached with the music.

I haven't written a play since seventh grade. My son is the playwright in the family. He has written a number of plays and is working on several others. He has a young family now, though, so the plays are on the back burner.

Mark

4/29/2020 02:19:31 pm

I think you are the first person to mention smell as the easiest to write about. You must me one of those people who have a super sense of smell. Some people can distinguish ingredients in a recipe, others find work as sniffers for blending perfumes and wines, especially sparkling wines.
You have had a lot of good experience in theater and other performing arts.
There are trolls everywhere, people who want to criticize because they like hearing the sound of their own voice.
New questions.
Do you think your experience in performing arts has helped you as a writer?
Has writing plays helped you in writing your books?
What kind of marketing are you doing or planning on doing for your book?

Wanda Fischer

4/29/2020 02:58:02 pm

I definitely think my experience in performing arts has helped me as a writer, as well as in marketing my book. I have made a number of appearances to promote "Empty Seats," as well as completed several radio and TV interviews. I'm certain those interviews were helpful in my marketing efforts.

I can't say one way or another whether writing plays helped me in writing books. I do think, however, that reading plays has helped. I'm a fan of Shakespeare, as well as some of the Irish playwrights, such as John Millington Synge, George Bernard Shaw, Brian Friel, Sean O'Casey, Brendan Behan and of course W.B. Yeats. I have to admit that my writing style is no where nearly as sophisticated as theirs, but it's great reading.

As far as marketing--I'm using social media (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram) and maintaining a presence via Amazon. I continue to seek avenues for interviews, whether print or electronic media. I've appeared on the nationally-syndicated show "Only A Game," which originates from WBUR in Boston, as well as on Albany, NY's NBC affiliate, WNYT-TV on their Sunday segment featuring women's accomplishments. I'm aiming for more podcast interviews and library appearances as well. I've done bookstore signings and last year called a few innings alongside the radio broadcaster for the Tri-City Valley Cats. Recently I met the new executive director of the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York. He's a friend of Rick Reichardt, whom I met outside of Fenway Park so many years ago. We had planned to get together in March--around the time the Hall was closed due to COVID-19.

Mark

4/29/2020 04:17:38 pm

Being able to do interviews certainly gives you an advantage over many other writers. So many are panicked at the thought of being in front of a microphone. It would be much easier for them if they could keep in mind that the audience wants to hear what they have to say. I have trouble in front of a microphone, unless there is a live audience. I have a stammering issue that has followed me most of my life. However, in front of a live audience I am able to feed off their energy and it carries me over and through the stammer. Not so with a podcast recording. My stammer shows up clearly and a lot of editing is needed.
Reading well-written literature of most any kind has got to be very helpful to a writer. Much can be learned from a person who is very adept with the written word.
All of those interviews have to be helping. You have hit some good-sized stations. Have you thought about cable access and even smaller operations such as college and high school broadcasting arts classes or clubs. You might also be able to get lecture opportunities in those classes, as well as book clubs, independent book stores and maybe even chain book stores, after the virus crisis is over. Don't forget the fraternal orders such as Kiwanis and Rotary.
New questions.
What kind of marketing has worked the best and the least for you for your books?
Speaking of marketing, why did you pick me to help promote your book?
Do you have a newsletter you send out to fans? Why or why not?
If you do have a newsletter, which mailing service do you use?
Is it the same one you started with or not? Why?

Wanda Fischer

4/29/2020 04:33:29 pm

The marketing that has worked the best was the national interview on "Only a Game," as well as word of mouth via my folk music connections via my national associations and meetings (Folk Alliance International, Northeast Regional Folk Alliance and Folk Alliance Midwest). I have had mid-success via social media, such as Twitter and Facebook, by having a dedicated Twitter and Facebook for the novel itself. I have joined author groups, sports groups, baseball-oriented groups and a group specifically for women interested in baseball. When I tweet to those groups, I make an effort to come up with different angles about the book. They have been retweeting and sharing my posts and tweets.

I haven't had much success with Facebook ads. I tried those when I first began marketing. Instagram hasn't given me much of a return on investment vis-a-vis time, either. I'm new to Instagram and may do better with it, the more informed I become.

I chose you to help promote my book because, first of all, I love Grizz. (I'm a dog lover from way back, and who couldn't love that face?) I like the way you come up with fresh ideas with your promotions for each book. I enjoy your tweets and know you have a large, wide-ranging Twitter following, and wanted to become part of that. I'm also quite impressed with anyone who can find grammatical and spelling errors. When I had my previous jobs, I had the reputation of being a grammar and spelling queen, but it's next to impossible to do that for one's own writing.

I don't have a newsletter. Maybe it's time to start one! I will investigate that possibility. I will have to investigate mailing services as well. I have collected some email addresses via my personal appearances at libraries and other speaking engagements.

Mark

4/29/2020 05:31:44 pm

You have maximized many opportunities and leveraged networking! Well done. That is the kind of thing that is necessary. You already know that marketing is a an ultra-marathon, rather than a sprint.
I am inclined to think ads by Facebook and Twitter really help Facebook and Twitter, and not much else. I triggered an ad by Twitter accidentally, it took me three days to figure out how to shut it off. They want over $200.00 for the three days. My stats dropped by about half for several weeks and have only returned to the previous levels.
Self-editing is very hard. No doubt about that.
Grizz was a beautiful dog, no question. We were so lucky to get the pick of the litter.
Many blogs have been written about getting and maintaining a fan base and an email list. You will find some elsewhere on my website, as I have already mentioned.
New questions.
How long does the research process take before you start to write a book or do you do the research as you write the book?
How many drafts did you go through to have a ready-to-publish manuscript?
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 a lot of wrinkles before publishing? If you don’t, why?

Wanda Fischer

4/29/2020 05:56:08 pm

The research question: On "Empty Seats," most of the research I did had to do with the history of the New York-Penn League in the 1970s. I wanted to have the main characters be part of a team that was fairly isolated and was also located in a town I'd spent some time in. When I saw that the Expos (who are now the Washington Nationals) had a minor-league affiliate in the NY-Penn League in the 1970s in Jamestown, NY, it was perfect. I contacted Minor League Baseball and got the dimensions of the old field and used that in the novel, as well as the names and affiliations of the other teams. Once I had that, I could begin creating the names and hometowns of the entire team and coaching staff.

This took about a day for that research to come together. If I had to fill in any gaps, I could do that as I went along.

For my work-in-progress, which is a sequel to "Empty Seats," I have been doing my research as I've been going along, because I'm quite familiar with the setting and where most of the action is taking place, in my hometown, and in Boston around Fenway Park. This was where I grew up, and yet, I still have to check my facts as I'm going along.

I have a book in mind that I started but have put on the back burner. It focuses on Bud Prescott's grandmother, whom I created to have been a suffragist during the fight for the right for women to gain voting rights. Even though that book is not top of mind for me right now, I have spent about 100 hours doing research for that book, and I'm nowhere nearly done at this point.

These comments demonstrate that I do the research in such a way that is appropriate to the project, on a case-by-case basis, not just an across-the-board way.

On "Empty Seats," I went through ten drafts before I considered it to be a ready-to-publish manuscript. I hired three proofreaders after having hired an editor, and yet, it still had typos in the final published book. I recognize that even the "big publishing houses" send out books with typos, but I was appalled. When I found those, I did have the manuscript fixed. I found most of them myself when I did the audio proofing for the audio book. I was under the impression that the ebook manuscript had also been fixed, but this was just done over the weekend, thanks to what you found, Mark.

I was so naive with the publishing process, I didn't even know what an alpha or beta reader was! I only found out about those concepts by joining a few online author groups. I have had several people volunteer to be alpha and beta readers for my next book(s). Although I didn't use that process the first time, I definitely will the next time. It makes perfect sense. I'm sure the big houses have a multi-step process prior to publishing, so why not someone who self-publishes? I learned so much--many things from my mistakes--with my first novel. I don't intend to make those same mistakes again.

Mark

4/29/2020 07:33:22 pm

Your varied research experiences certainly seem appropriate.
I have updated my review to reflect the corrections.
Big publishing houses have different types of editors, developmental, copy editors to name two. They should also have proofreaders. The more sets of fresh eyes on a manuscript the better.
Like so many other things in life, we learn by doing, none of us are experts when we start.
New questions.
Do you have a hero, real or fictional?
What are some challenges to writing Historical Fiction?
What happens when your historical sources don’t agree?

Wanda Fischer

4/29/2020 08:37:05 pm

I can't narrow the hero question down to fewer than these. They share a common bond: Caring for people and, in so many ways, giving their lives to improve the lives of others.

1. Pete Seeger, who stood up to Senator Joseph McCarthy and the House Un-American Activities Committee in the 1950s, and spent the rest of his life singing and protesting for civil rights, human rights, women's rights, the environment, peace, kindness and making the world a better place. He was humble, never seemed to realize how important he was, and just was who he was. I was MC'ing a benefit concert and he just showed up with his banjo slung on his back. He sheepishly asked if he could sing a song. Of course we made room for him to sing! Typical Pete.

2. Roberto Clemente: He was an all-star baseball player for the Pittsburgh Pirates. In the off season, he chartered a plane to bring supplies to hurricane victims in Puerto Rico. The plane crashed, killing him and the pilot. He died a hero.

3. Martin Luther King, Jr.: I idolized him, from the time I first heard him speak in 1963. He gave his life for poor people and to work for peace.

These are all people who worked for social justice, which is crucial to my life. People who read "Empty Seats" will see that, sometimes subtly, sometimes overtly. The music I listen to and play on the radio is filled with their message. I am hopeful it's at the root of my life and what I've taught my children.

Challenges to writing historical fiction: There's always someone out in the world who will say something to the effect of "No one named Jimmy Bailey ever pitched for the Jamestown Falcons. No one named Bud Prescott ever pitched in Memphis." However, history provides the basis; the fiction writer makes it from there. History has been the basis of writing since authors began telling stories. Even the Bible can be considered historical fiction in many ways.

When historical sources don't agree, the fiction writer has decisions to make. How accurate are the sources? Do they have the legitimacy of, for example, Doris Kearns Goodwin or David McCullough, or are they random internet postings? I would check more sources to check the veracity of sources and perhaps consult with professors at a local college or known experts on the subject.

Mark

4/30/2020 09:52:00 am

Some amazing choices for heroes. I didn't know that about Clemente.
Some people get too hung up on minor facts, ignoring the job of the storyteller, to relate truth in a fiction environment.
You have a good plan for researching variations in historical opinions.
New questions.
What is the most valuable piece of advice you have ever received from another writer?
What has been the biggest surprise in your writing journey?
Do you think a strong ego is an asset or liability for a writer and why?

Wanda Fischer

4/30/2020 10:40:20 am

The most valuable piece of advice I've ever received was from my seventh- and eighth-grade English teacher, Edward White. I keep a photo of him on my desk. He had a piece of my writing in his hand. I thought I was being creative with this writing sample. He sat down with me and said, "You need to learn to walk before you can run." He then went over the piece, line by line, noting where I might have pulled the writing together in a creative way. He saw what I was attempting to do, but I hadn't quite made it. I hear his voice when I'm writing almost every day. I tell writers that all the time: Learn to walk before you can run. That way, you'll soar.

The biggest surprise has been that, although I wrote published non-fiction, op-ed pieces, letters to the editor and journalism-style pieces in my professional work, I was astonished at how little I knew about publishing fiction. Today's publishing business is so different than it was just a decade ago. I have friends who have published through various companies, have agents, have cadres of books, and each one gave me different pieces of advice throughout the process. My mind was spinning throughout the process. I was surprised at how many mistakes I made despite that advice. I applaud those who have published books, both independent and through traditional publishing avenues. I only wish readers knew the many hurdles authors go through in order to take an idea to an actual book.

A strong ego can be both. A writer has to be willing to market him/herself but not be upset if that leads to rejection. A writer also has to be able to withstand both good and really bad reviews, both online and in person at presentations. A writer needs to learn to leave the ego at the door and learn how to laugh when someone criticizes his/her work of love. If someone lacks a strong ego in the first place, I don't think he or she will go forward with what it takes to go public. He or she will write for him- herself and leave it at that.

Mark

4/30/2020 12:21:46 pm

That teacher gave you some good advice. The line edit was the best thing. Just telling someone they failed and to make it better is nearly useless, by itself.
Yes, the publishing industry is amazingly different from what it was a decade ago. With Amazon turning that part of the world upside down, those ripples are still being felt. The traditional publishers are still contracting, their profit margins are so small; the Covid-19 crisis will likely be the final nail in the coffin for some.
Your answer for the ego question is quite good, ego must be made to serve the author and not the other way around.
New questions.
Can you describe the demographic of your ideal reader? Who is the person most likely to buy your book?
Do you have anything you consider to be your writing lucky charm?

Wanda Fischer

4/30/2020 01:30:35 pm

The demographic of my ideal reader varies. Some have characterized this as a young adult book, some as general fiction. Some have said it's all about baseball, but it's not. At first I marketed the book to baseball fans, but the more I delved into who was reading it, I realized that readers did not have to be a sports fan to buy the book.

Now, after having the book out there for a while, I'd characterize the ideal reader as someone who's interested in a realistic story about relationships and life's challenges with a side order of baseball.

My writing lucky charm has always been my dachshund. When my Willie died last year (on my birthday, no less), at the age of 15, it was a true loss. However, on March 5, just before social distancing hit, we added a new rescued dachshund into the family. He's 10 years old, but he acts as if he's five. His name is Oscar, and he's a real comedian. I have my lucky charm back.

Mark

4/30/2020 02:32:54 pm

I think of your book as modern historical fiction, seeing as it's set about 50 years in the past. It's modern enough that anyone can read it. The limited amount of violence makes it suitable for almost any age.
Your description of the story being 'about life's challenges and relationships with a side order of baseball' is perfect! I love it.
I am happy that you have your lucky charm back. When our fur babies leave us the emptiness can be staggering at times. We have not replaced our little guy yet.
New questions.
Do you struggle with writer's block, if so, how do you overcome it?
Do you see an advantage of writing under a pseudonym, why or why not?
If you branch out into a different genre, will you use a pen name, why or why not?

Wanda Fischer

4/30/2020 02:48:47 pm

I haven't struggled with writer's block yet. The closest to that I have struggled with since this social distancing began is that I have many disruptions in my small ranch home from the other two people who live here. My husband keeps the television turned up very loud, and my niece, who lives here, keeps coming and going, in and out, all day long. Even if I close the door to the room where I'm writing, I still feel the disruption in the writing process.

I can always write. I think that comes from having worked in places without a private office during my long career, but even in those places, I could put a sign up on my cubicle that indicate I was writing on deadline, and people wouldn't interrupt me. I look forward to being able to go back to my library to write.

I personally don't see an advantage of writing under a pseudonym. Some people choose to do this due to their other occupations so that the occupations that pay the bills don't interfere with their writing, and vice-versa. I see that as an advantage particularly for people who write fantasy, science fiction or romance novels. On a tour to Scotland several years ago, I met a successful romance novelist who used a pseudonym because she was an attorney who dealt with domestic violence victims and didn't want to confuse the two.

In my writing, I have always used my own name. I added my maiden name of Adams to my novel. In the past, when I wrote op-ed pieces for the local newspaper, I always used Wanda A. Fischer. Since I've used my hometown as part of my novel, and will again in the sequel, I used my maiden name to indicate to the people who knew my younger self that it was me who wrote about Weymouth, Massachusetts. It's also a tribute to my family. I would not use any other name.

Mark

4/30/2020 03:59:05 pm

You are making it happen, writing in a less than ideal environment. That is a testimony to your ability to concentrate.
That attorney had a good reason to use a pen name. I think every author that does use a pen name has a unique reason.
New questions.
Are there any issues that are peculiar to writing this genre that might not apply to other genres?
Do you read books in the genre you write in, so you are aware of what is going on in that genre?
Are there any writing styles or genres that you disliked at first but soon came to like?

Wanda Fischer

4/30/2020 04:24:46 pm

I was careful not to use questionable language in this book because I was hopeful that my daughter, who is a middle school teacher, could use this book in her classroom. An adult who read the book criticized me for that decision, saying, "For crying out loud, Wanda, these are baseball players! We know they use 'salty' language!" Perhaps that's true, but I wanted to have people of all ages read this book,without worrying about an age limit or an "explicit" label. Perhaps that comes from my radio background, where I'm sensitive to what can and cannot be played over the nation's airwaves.

I do read books in this genre. I real a number of baseball-oriented novels prior to self-publishing "Empty Seats." I didn't find anything quite like my novel, although many novels about baseball exist. Every one had a different twist, a different approach, than mine.

I participate in an online reading group that encompasses many different styles. I was never much of a science-fiction fan, but I discovered that well-written sci-fi is quite interesting. I read two volumes of a sci-fi/fatasy series and was impressed with the world the writer had created. It was complex, interesting and fascinating. I never would have picked up that book in a bookstore had I not been a member of this group. Another genre I learned about through this group was steampunk. I read an incredible book that I've been recommending to many others, thanks to this group, and it's in the steampunk genre. My mind has now been open to steampunk and sci-fi, when prior to joining this group, I might have turned up my nose to those two genres.

Mark

4/30/2020 06:33:08 pm

I for one would not complain about the lack of salty language. We know it exists and we use it when we want to. I am fine without it in the books I read.
Every author tells the same story in a different way. It's part of our individuality. A dozen authors with the same prompt will write a dozen different stories. I love it.
I am glad you are in that reading group. I am a solid fan of science fiction with fantasy as a close second. My favorite book of 2018 was a wild sci-fi novel about artificial intelligence gone berserk, seeking to eliminate all life from the Earth. I reviewed it, "Lenders" by Travis Bourne.
For many years of my life I wouldn't read anything else, besides sci-fi and fantasy. Since getting into book promotion I have read some really excellent books in many different genres, now I am a fan of good writing. Like you I read a couple of steampunk books in the last year, just for fun and I enjoyed them.
New questions.
What type of book is your favorite guilty pleasure to read or listen to for fun?
Have you ever read a book that changed the way you look at writing?
Do you think that a writer needs to read books, why or why not?

Wanda Fischer

4/30/2020 06:51:15 pm

I enjoy reading historical fiction for fun--mainly those about women in the past. I don't check those books for historical accuracy; I just enjoy what happens in the pages. I read one last year about Jefferson Davis's wife, who was quite young when they married. She was well educated and didn't believe in the southern "cause." Much of it was told in retrospect from a scene in Saratoga Springs, New York, which is near where I live, and I go there frequently.

Also last year, one of my friends gave me Dennis LeHane's "The Given Day." Although it didn't change the way I look at writing, it changed the way I look at my ancestry. My Irish ancestors in Boston took over the police and fire departments, and that book, which includes quite a bit of baseball woven in, told the truth about how brutal the police and fire departments could be to outsiders (i.e., anyone who wasn't Irish or of Irish descent). LeHane's writing is sparkling, intense, focused, as he introduces new situations and characters as he weaves them into history--the history of my own ancestors--through the eyes of the truth. That's the closest I can think of for anything that's changed the way I look at writing. I find myself thinking of certain scenes just about every time I sit down to write.

I do think a writer--a successful writer--needs to read books for the same reason I think successful songwriters need to read books. Writers of all kinds need to broaden their horizons by reading the craft of other writers. Grammar and sentence construction, including the way other writers use sentence fragments as powerful tools, can be useful to writers, especially novice writers.

Some writers I've recently encountered have incredible ideas and don't know how to harness them into a great story. I've participated in several writing groups in my area with people in that category. When they've asked me for advice, I tell them to read, read, read, and not only the same author. The response has been mixed. Some say they don't like to read because teachers in high school forced them to read assigned books. I tell them to make their own reading list by going to the library and taking out books, not buying them. My radio station has a great segment on Tuesdays of local book sellers who recommend books. That can be a good start as well. Read, read, read!

Mark

5/1/2020 10:18:55 am

Historical fiction is my third favorite genre. I enjoy learning interesting details about life in general and sometimes famous people in the past.
My teacher required me to read, that is one of the weakest excuses I have ever heard, for not reading. I heard one writer say he didn't want any other writing to contaminate his.
Reading widely is important, in and out of the genre. I would encourage a writer to read very popular books in any genre. Good writing is good writing.
New questions.
Would you agree or disagree with the statement: suffering is a requirement to be a good writer, and why?
Do you ever brainstorm with non-writers and if so, is it effective?
What was the best money you ever spent as a writer to enhance your career?

Wanda Fischer

5/1/2020 11:17:28 am

I don't think suffering per se is a requirement to be a good writer. However, as the three main characters in "Empty Seats" discover, the elements of suffering that happen via the challenges of everyday life (e.g., losing family members to death, losing vs. winning, disappointments, serious accidents, etc.) help a person develop his/her character and moral compass. I think those experiences, when added together, are what contribute to a writer's background.

If someone suffers endlessly, or is continuously depressed due to endless disastrous events in life (e.g., chronic illness, surviving disaster or war, loss of an entire family, etc.), he/she may use those experiences in writing as well. But I don't think that's a requirement.

I often discuss topics with non-writers that end up in my writing. Those are usually about sports or even politics. I wouldn't always characterize those sessions as brainstorms, but sometimes they evolve into lively discussions. I pick and choose what I use from those discussions in forming my opinions and my writing.

Best money I ever spent: Right after I retired from my "day" job, I took a two-month seminar in writing (two days per week) in Woodstock, NY, with a published author and editor, Martha Frankel. She runs an annual book event. The seminar had five people in the group. I had to apply to be accepted into the group. This was to help me make the transition from writing non-fiction for my job, which I had done for 40 years, to fiction and memoir.

Mark

5/1/2020 12:16:40 pm

Whether chronic or temporary, how we respond to painful events reveals a great deal about our approach to life and can alter and change us, sometimes irrevocably.
Because suffering of one kind or another is such a common experience, around the world, it forms a basis of commonality and empathy with characters.
Frankel's seminar sounds like a great choice!
New questions.
With the explosion of different streaming services, these companies are scrambling for content. Writers are going to be sitting on the top of the heap soon, because they are content providers. Have you considered shopping your content to these companies?
An ebook is only one form that writing can be consumed in, you already have audio and paperback available. Have you considered licensing large print, graphic books or plays?
Have you looked into foreign markets? Many different countries use English as an official language or a second language. Big Bad Wolf is a company that sells English language books all over the world in the millions.

Wanda Fischer

5/1/2020 01:22:47 pm

I didn't even know about content companies. I will have to look into that resource. I certainly would love to supply content to those companies.

I haven't considered licensing large print, graphic books or plays. I'm not sure "Empty Seats" would convert well into a play, but large print or graphic book format would certainly work.

Again, I had never considered foreign markets. This is a great idea. I will look into Big Bad Wolf and see what they offer. My nephew writes Spanish-language books. I think "Empty Seats" would be a great book in Spanish because so many people from Latin American countries are baseball fans.

Mark

5/1/2020 02:26:49 pm

It's not content companies, exactly, it's companies that produce films for the big screen, little screens, DVDs and streaming.
Two or three scenes from your book might make a good play.
There is going wide also, selling your books on other platforms besides Amazon.
All of these things are covered in blogs. You can find many of them by scrolling through my Highly Regarded Blogs page.
Your nephew might be a great asset for a Spanish translation of your book. Baseball is very popular in the Philippines also, I think.
New questions.
Do you subscribe to any magazines, newsletters, blogs or podcasts that enhance your writing career? Feel free to share as many as you would like.
What are your favorite reference books or websites for grammar and writing?

Wanda Fischer

5/1/2020 02:40:02 pm

I will check out your Highly Regards Blog page!

I don't subscribe to any magazines, newsletters of podcasts to enhance my writing, but I follow several: Writer's Digest (and all their writing contests and online seminars); Chick Lit Cafe; Woodstock Book Fair; Writing Community (on Twitter); RRBC (online). I subscribe to a couple of blogs through RRBC but I'm drawing a blank on the individual authors. I'm trying to subscribe to more blogs these days.

My favorite reference books are Roget's Thesaurus (not the online version--the actual book), Strunk and White (yes, that old dinosaur--it's served me well for many years), the AP Styleguide (because it's what I used in my 40 years of my "day job), and a plain old Webster's Dictionary. I use my computer's spellcheck, but I sometimes argue with the results that come up via the grammar checker.

Mark

5/1/2020 04:05:30 pm

Writer's Digest has some good content and they offer many kinds of classes.
There are a lot of good blogs out there. That is how I have populated my HRB page, with links from these blogs that hit my email inbox. I read them all and post links for the best. One or two a day, on average.
The AP style guide makes a lot of sense with your background. I use the Chicago Manual of Style, CMOS, as it's sometimes referred to. CMOS defers to Webster for details many times.
Computer spellcheck is a joke, most of the time. It misses so much of what I catch, every once and awhile, it alerts me to something I missed.
New questions.
Have you ever created a throw-away character that developed into a major player?
Do you ever put a story aside and come back to it at a later date; if so, how long before you return to it?
Why do most authors write in 3rd person POV instead of first and second POV?

Wanda Fischer

5/1/2020 05:24:06 pm

In "Empty Seats," Jimmy's sister, Debbie, is somewhat of a throwaway character. She appears here and there but doesn't play a major role. She will be a major player in the sequel I'm writing now.

I put aside a story relating to Soviet Union scientists who worked at Massachusetts Institute of Technology when I worked as a secretary there in the 1960s. I started writing it after I finished reading the Mueller Report. I've put it aside until I finish writing the "Empty Seats" sequel. I think it will probably be a while before I get back to it, and I think it will be a novella or a short story rather than a full-length novel. I've also put aside the novel about Bud Prescott's grandmother, who was a suffragist. I think about that one much more than the one about the scientists from the Soviet Union. I did extensive research on that one, and I have a pile of it to go through. May need more as well. Again, I don't think I'll be able to sink my teeth fully into that one until this one is finished.

I think most authors write in third person POV because it's easier to be an omniscient observer than to get into the mind of one character and be limited by that character's viewpoint. An omniscient narrator can be anywhere at any time. A single narrator can't get behind the scenes the way an all-knowing narrator can.

Mark

5/1/2020 07:22:53 pm

Did you plan for Debbie to be a central character in the second book?
I didn't know the Soviet Union had scientists at MIT in the 60s. I would imagine they were hatched very carefully as it was in the middle of the Cold War.
I think you nailed that one. It must be a lot easier to write in third person omniscient, even if the narrator is untrustworthy. Writing in first person has huge limitations. I reviewed a book a couple of years ago that devoted each chapter to switching between the main characters POV. The chapters were consecutive in action and it worked well. There was a crucial scene where it was told twice, once from each person's POV. It was a good story, well written.
New questions.
Do you think you were born to write or did you have to learn the craft?
What is the most difficult part of your artistic process?
What did you buy with your first royalty check?

Wanda Fischer

5/1/2020 08:21:12 pm

The scientists from the Soviet Union were defectors. They weren't there with the Soviet Union's blessing.

I think I was born to write. I started writing poetry and short stories when I was in the second grade. I wrote my first letter to the editor when I was in the third grade. (Of course now, I would probably be embarrassed by it, if I could find it!) I wrote for all my school publications from grade school to middle school through high school. I found some of my writing when we cleaned out my mother's house. I had tried to write a book when I was in the ninth grade. If you saw it, you would be able to tell what author we were reading in school! When we reading Poe, my writing had a many exclamation points and many indeeds! No one in my family had ever written anything. Both of my parents were high school dropouts (both dropped out in the tenth grade).

The most difficult part of the artistic process is organizing the end product. I have to determine what to keep and what's extraneous, and I also need to determine the flow of chapters. I need to move chapters around and make sure that everything flows properly.

With my first royalty check, I took my husband to dinner! Not a fancy place, just a middle-of-the-road place. We don't go out often, so it was a treat.

Mark

5/2/2020 09:41:33 am

Defectors, I haven't used that term in a very long time.
Second grade is an early start, I think that is really cool. A letter to the editor is a very grownup thing to do. Do you remember anything about the content of the letter or why you wrote it? Very nice that your mother kept the early writings. She must have been very proud of you.
Sequence and flow are very important. It's imperative to not bore the reader, keeping the reader turning the pages is critical, especially when your book is in Kindle Unlimited.
New questions.
How many times did you rewrite the first page, the first chapter of this book?
Do you have a “favorite” filler word or two that you have to keep taking out of a story, like “just” or like “like”? 😉
What was the earliest experience that made you realize that you could influence and change lives with the power of writing?

Wanda Fischer

5/1/2020 11:29:36 pm

In terms of Debbie's role in the second book: At first I hadn't planned on giving her a prominent role in the second novel, but as I wrote the first chapter, the idea of making her one of the top characters evolved. She became more crucial to the plot and interactions in the second book.

Wanda Fischer

5/2/2020 11:28:51 am

I didn't rewrite the first page all that many times. My editor and I went back and forth as to how to describe the smell of neatsfoot oil because I knew that most readers wouldn't know what it was. We made list of things it may smell like, and the greasy smell of an old body shop won out. I went to the local sporting goods store and bought a can of it to get it right.

As a journalism person, I know how important it is to get the lede right in any story.That's why I wanted to start with neatsfoot oil, to get people right into the feeling of what baseball players need to do to prepare for spring training and the spring.

I have to watch the use of the word "however." In journalism, it's a favorite transition word, but in fiction, it's not always the best word to use. Instead of "like," I normally use "such as."

The first letter to the editor I wrote was to compliment our music teacher for our Christmas concert. It was only a few lines long. It was something to the effect of, "Thank you, Mrs. So-and-so, for giving us so many great songs to sing for our parents, who are so busy working. It gave them a nice way to celebrate Christmas. Signed, Wanda F. Adams, third grade, Johnson School, North Weymouth."

In the 1960s, when I began listening to political music and saw the changes those lyrics were making, I was certain that writing could make a change in people's lives. When I heard speeches by people such as Martin Luther King, Jr., and even song introductions by Pete Seeger, the power of words became obvious to me. That's when I began writing letters to the editor focusing on social change and social justice. In the 1970s and '80s, I began writing op-ed pieces about the same thing, being careful to select topics that didn't interfere with my jobs, so as not to have any conflict-of-interest issues. I knew these were powerful when people actually wrote to the newspaper saying I was either wrong or I was on the right track.

Mark

5/2/2020 12:16:03 pm

Our olfactory sensations may be the most powerful of all, because they can trigger memories with lots of impact and importance. Most writers struggle with writing about that sense. I think you made an excellent choice.
Your first letter to the editor was overwhelmingly cute. I have no doubt there were lots of wonderful feelings engendered in adults.
Words and music have great ability to stimulate feelings and desires of many kinds. The folk music of that time was popular and gave many the impetus to speak out also.
New questions.
Do you have a hidden message in your writings for a particular person or group?
Do you have any Easter eggs hidden in your stories that only close friends or family members would recognize?
Do you believe that a good book will sell itself?

Wanda Fischer

5/2/2020 01:56:31 pm

I hope the message is that if someone gives you a gift, don't make decisions that will make it seem as if you don't want it. Don't let your insecurities get in the way. It's the old cliche of the good angel on one shoulder and the bad angel on the other. I use my writing to promote social justice in subtle ways. I think there's a lot of this in "Empty Seats."

Wessagusset Beach is one of those hidden "Easter eggs" you mention. Discovered in 1621 by members of the Pilgrims who were looking for another harbor, this beach was a place where English settlers allegedly, according to what we Weymouth-ites were taught in school, encountered Native Americans and "treated them well." Weymouth as a town was founded in 1622. Upon further investigation, I discovered that the Pilgrim representatives were NOT kind to the Naives and in fact treated them poorly. It's not enough, in the long run, from my perspective, to have named streets in town after some of the Natives they encountered (e.g., Squanto, Pecksuot, Massasoit, etc.). What they taught us in school was hogwash. So why not have another crime take place on that same beach?

Others we have mentioned before: Places where I inserted myself as a younger person (writing letters to the editor about the Red Sox) and more recently as a National Anthem singer for a minor-league baseball team.

I don't believe a good book will sell itself. Word-of-mouth marketing only goes so far. It's nice to have one's friends and relatives read and enjoy a book you've written. It's entirely different when people you don't know read and enjoy it. In order to reach the masses, marketing campaigns are crucial for success. I've seen poorly written books with great marketing campaigns sell thousands of books, while some terrific books with no marketing languish in the dust bins of literature. It would be great if simply being a good book would mean it would jump into everyone's shopping basket, but in today's world, that's not reality.

Mark

5/2/2020 03:48:04 pm

Keeping our insecurities from hurting those around us is difficult unless a person adheres to the rules of polite etiquette and showing gratitude at all times.
History is written by the victors. No question about that. Thanks for the information.
Another byproduct of the Amazon revolution. With so many books on the market, it takes a lot of work to get noticed by the masses. It also means that marketing can never really end.
New questions.
Some authors go to great lengths to get inside the heads of their characters. Some create a biography, find photos that match the picture in their head, fill out psychological profiles. What do you do in that regard, if anything?
Do you have any problems when writing about characters of the opposite sex, why or why not?
How do you balance the demands on your time as a writer with personal relationships?

Wanda Fischer

5/2/2020 05:54:10 pm

I had a picture of my three main characters in my head as I was creating them because they were composites of people I knew or had met during my life, or people I'd watched playing either minor-league or major-league baseball. I could have looked at my old baseball card collection or some of my old Kodak Brownie or Polaroid photos from the same time frame, but I had pictures burned into my mind of what they looked liked, along with the way their personalities would carry them through their lives. They came alive when I was writing their dialogue. I took notes on them after they said things; they just jumped off the keyboard at me.

I had no issues writing about these young men. I raised two children--a son and a daughter--and have five male grandchildren, only one granddaughter. I taught my son how to catch a baseball, hit a baseball, and all the baseball strategy he knew before he ever went out on the field. My husband was never a sports guy (although he is now, after 46-plus years of being married to me), so he wasn't the one who went out and had a catch with our son. I learned so much about the male "sports psyche" while my son was growing up. If that sounds sexist, it's not, because I taught him how to be a competitor without needing to be crazy.

I balance the demands on my time as a writer with my personal relationships by using caller ID on my phone and not picking up the phone when I'm on a roll during a writing session. I also prefer doing the bulk of writing at the library. That's been difficult these days because the library's closed. I try to give signals to the other people in my house by closing doors and not being rude to them if I think they have needs.

Mark

5/2/2020 06:26:59 pm

With your years of experience as an ultimate baseball fan, I am not surprised that it was so easy to visualize your characters.
I remember the Kodak Brownie camera, I think the first roll of film I developed was from a Brownie. I still have an old Polaroid camera, with a few pictures left in the cartridge.
Many fans place their identity with a team and their mood and self-image rises and falls with the fortunes of that team. They are the ones who put the "fan" in "fanatic"! It's fun to compete without being crazy. I love how you put that.
That's a good balance, a closed door should make a person evaluate whether the need can wait for a little while or not.
New questions.
Do you have any other passions or creative outlets to pursue if you didn't write?
Do you experiment with writing or prefer to stay in the safe zone?
What type of scenes do you find hard to write and why?

Wanda Fischer

5/2/2020 10:27:34 pm

I have many other passions in addition to writing. I'm a competitive tennis player with USTA tennis. I only play in the senior divisions now. I'm the captain of two teams (one is 55+, the other 65+). I am also involved in folk music and serve on the board of directors of Caffe Lena, which is the longest, continuously operated coffeehouse in the country. It's located in Saratoga Springs. I love to garden, but the fact that I have two artificial knees gets in the way of that sometimes.

I'm also a volunteer reader in the first grade in the Schenectady City Schools. This social distancing has gotten in the way of my working with the kids. They have an amazing teacher (I think she should be nominated for sainthood), and I miss working with her and her students.

I'm a folk musician, dabble a little in songwriting, although I'm more comfortable singing songs written by other people. My folk music show on the Albany, NY NPR affiliate keeps me busy as well. I receive between five and fifteen new CDs every week, and I need to preview them before I can play them on the airwaves.

I think I stay in the safe zone when I write. It's difficult to convert someone trained in journalism to experiment. Maybe I will some day.

I couldn't write any erotica. It's just not my thing. I don't think I could write science fiction, either. I don't have the right kind of imagination to develop new worlds. I have recently read some incredible sci-fi, and I've been so impressed with how detailed the writer's imagination is, and how she kept everything flowing with the imaginary world she created.

Mark

5/3/2020 09:36:38 am

I tried all the sports in my little high school. Tennis was the only thing I was any good at. I developed a blistering serve that was pretty accurate, nobody could return my serves. I was fine being a one-trick pony as long as I was winning my matches. One day, someone actually returned my serve and I was toast.
I understand how you miss the kids you were reading to. I taught a class of kindergartners in my church and really miss those kids.
Being a musician is very satisfying. I was pretty good at playing the stereo when I was in high school.
There are so many different ways to write a book, angles to approach it from, I think you will spread your wings and grow as an author at the right time. I understand about erotica, that type is not for me either.
New questions.
What did your family say when you announced your desire to be a writer?
What do they think now?

Wanda Fischer

5/3/2020 11:04:09 am

My mother and father thought it was "cute." I was a bookworm as a child. As soon as I learned how to read, I was at the Tufts Library in my hometown all the time. Every summer I participated in the summer reading programs. I loved reading. I started reading the local newspaper, the Quincy Patriot-Ledger, when I was in the second grade. I told myself that I would work there one day. My mother thought that was "cute" as well.

I was the first person in my family to go to college. My family stuck by me through that, even though it took me a long time to finish, due to financial issues. My husband's family, on the other hand, is comprised of intellectuals, all of whom have advanced degrees and come from highly educated families (even the in-laws). I'm the only one with only a bachelor's degree. Our two children have advanced degrees as well. But, conversely, I'm the only one who's published a novel, who's announced a baseball game and who's brought a tennis team to the national USTA senior finals. My husband's family has been supportive and impressed. My own family has always been supportive, going back to the dreamer I was in the second grade.

Mark

5/3/2020 01:29:56 pm

That is a great story! I love how supportive your family was and your extended family is. You carved out your space in so many ways.
New questions.
Do your friends and family members buy your books?
What area of your writing has the greatest need for improvement at this time?
Is there a non-writing skill you would like to have that might help you as an author?

Wanda Fischer

5/3/2020 01:48:13 pm

My friends and family members bought my book. Many of my folk music friends, some of whom I only know peripherally, bought the book as well. Many came out to bookstores and libraries to support me when I made presentations as well.

The greatest need for improvement? I think I need to stop thinking I'm done when I'm not. That comes from journalism as well as PR/media relations/marketing when I had hard-and-fast deadlines to meet. When I'm working on a tight deadline, something has to be finished when the deadline rolls around. When a member of the press calls and that person is on deadline, he/she needs a response by decline time. In writing fiction, and I'm in charge, I can make as many changes as I want/need to. I can work hand-in-hand with an editor to refine the writing without worrying about a deadline. When I look at "Empty Seats" now, I think there are places I might have been able to improve if I'd have taken just a little more time, or if I'd known about the concept of beta readers in addition to editors.

A non-writing skill? I wish I were better at bookkeeping so that I kept better track of my sales and expenses so that, when tax time rolls around and I have to pay state sales taxes, I wouldn't be scrambling to get everything together. I keep everything on an Excel spreadsheet, but I'm sure there's a better way.

Mark

5/3/2020 02:41:54 pm

You have great tribes to get so much support from them.
You are the boss. You batted that one over the fence. Your next book is going to be a much better book. You have learned a lot from writing and publishing your first book.
Check with other authors and learn how they handle that situation. Have searched on Twitter for authors in your area or state? You might find the perfect solution that way.That is an important skill to have.
New questions.
What will you do differently with this next book, in terms of publishing, if anything?
Have you ever developed a fondness or attachment to one of your characters?
With sequels, how do you handle the wishes of readers compared to your original ideas?

Wanda Fischer

5/3/2020 03:22:52 pm

I have been thinking about what to do in terms of publishing. Should I take my first book, with its good reviews and press, to a traditional publisher and see if they'll consider the sequel? Or should I go with self-publishing? I'm not sure yet. I think I have to have a semi- or finished product to make that decision. In the meantime, I'm talking to publishers and agents, the same way I did with my first foray into this crazy business.

While writing the sequel, I've become quite fond of Jimmy Bailey. The other two guys are special, to be sure, but during the sequel, Jimmy comes into his own. While he may have been insecure and unsure of himself in "Empty Seats," he starts to gain his footing, working with his overachiever sister Debbie in the second book, which has no title as of this time. I'm having some difficulty in coming up with a title that will make sense to segue with "Empty Seats" and yet stand on its own.

I'm going with my own original ideas. I'm hopeful that if readers liked the first book, they'll enjoy the second one. I have plans for a third one as well, so this will be the second of a trilogy about these three guys. Each has its own focus. And results. Baseball remains in the picture in all of these novels, but it's not the only thing.

Mark

5/3/2020 04:49:58 pm

Shopping the second book around is not a bad idea. As long as you have something they can see to understand where you are going with the second book. If you devote an hour or two the querying every week or two, it won't take too much time away from writing. Some publishers might want to change the title or something else. Researching blogs about this will be easy but time consuming also, so many have been written. Don't ignore the comments either, people freely talk about their experiences in the comments.
JB started out as a really nice all-American boy, then he made some bad decisions. His journey is going to be quite fascinating.
If you have subscribers to your website or your Facebook page, aka, your fan club. You can ask your readers for ideas about titles. Hold a contest, offer some kind of prize such as an autographed copy of your book.
I am sure your fans are looking forward to the next installment.
New questions.
How do you deal with a difficult section in a WIP? Have you ever read that section out loud to sort out the difficulty?
Do you use music or some other stimulus to cultivate a feeling within that will help you write certain types of scenes?

Wanda Fischer

5/3/2020 05:33:05 pm

I read dialogue out loud in difficult sections, but not anything else. Dialogue has to sound like things actual people might say to one another, so I try to shape the words as if someone were saying it to another person. If the words seem silly or out of character, I know they need to be changed.

As for other difficult sections: I will often Google or look into a history book about an event that's taking place at about the same time and place as what I'm writing about. It puts me into that time period so that I get a feeling about what my characters may be observing when they pick up a newspaper or hear a news broadcast on the radio or TV.

Two years ago, I did watch baseball games when I was writing the baseball scenes. The only baseball available now are reruns of playoff games or World Series games, and I'm not as inspired if these are between two teams I don't care for much. I'd rather watch a fresh Little League or college baseball game than one I already know what the outcome will be, if I'm looking for inspiration.

I don't usually listen to music, although I don't mind if someone else in the house (there are two others who live here) have music on and it's ultimately background music for me, as long as it's not heavy metal or hip hop. I can handle just about anything else. But I don't need it to write certain types of scenes.

Mark

5/3/2020 07:09:47 pm

I think reading the difficult passages aloud is a good idea.
Using famous historical events is genius, I love how you use that information.
I hate spoilers in movies, books or games. You are right, it's not the same, when you know the outcome.
New questions.
Is there any particular time of the day that ideas usually hit you?
Is it hard or easy to connect with your muse, why do you think it is that way?
For your own reading, do you prefer e-books or physical books?

Wanda Fischer

5/3/2020 07:28:21 pm

I always get my best ideas--whether for writing prose or writing a song--when I'm in the shower or driving my car. That's when it's hardest to write them down! Lately I have also had some strange dreams. One of my songwriter friends told me that I should write those down, if I can remember them, and maybe I can use those in future stories or songs. With some of the crazy things that have come up in my dreams, I'm not sure I'd want anyone to read about them!

I don't have a problem connecting with my muse. I seem to have more ideas than what I can harness. I think it may be due to my age. I never had time to sit down and do this kind of writing for years, and now I do. I feel like I'm way behind and am trying to catch up.

Definitely, I prefer physical books. One look around my house would tell you that. I do read ebooks, but my preference is to hold a book in my hand.

Mark

5/3/2020 09:07:06 pm

You are not the only person to get her best ideas in the shower. I will make the same recommendation to you. Get a Space pen and a pad of water-proof paper.
For the car, if you have hands-free control of your phone you can make a voice memo. Otherwise, pull off the road first.
One author I know gets her best ideas at 2:30 am almost every night. She wishes her muse would move to her time zone. She does keep a pad of paper and a pen on the night stand.
I hope you are keeping an idea journal. Short notes about the idea, you should be able to fit them onto a page or two. That way you won't lose the ideas.
New questions.
What are your thoughts on bad book reviews?
Have you thought about doing a book trailer?
Was it hard to find a person to produce audio version of your book?

Wanda Fischer

5/3/2020 09:26:18 pm

Bad book reviews: I try to learn something from every book review, whether positive or negative. The only one that upset me was one that included only four words: "Not a compelling story." I review books as well, and even if I felt that the story was a problem, I would never have written that. When I write reviews, I try to give constructive criticism. I don't mind criticism (and I have received some stern comments), as long as I can learn from them for my next piece of writing. It's part of the process.

I haven't thought about doing a book trailer. I don't know much about the process. I will look into that.

Finding a narrator: As a radio person myself, I could have narrated the book. However, I felt it should have been done in a male voice. I looked at producing it myself in a local recording studio. I went onto Audible and discovered that I could have the audiobook done without any investment of my own money by putting together a proposal and seeing if a producer would be interested in working with me. A producer responded affirmatively, and I then had many different voices who worked with that producer to audition. I spent hours listening to voices. I had a specific tone in mind, and when I found it, I knew it. Once it was recorded, I had to "audio proof it" to ensure that the narrator didn't make any errors. It was quite an experience.

Mark

5/4/2020 09:56:11 am

There are those not-so-cute trolls, that seem to think it's their job to make sure authors don't take too much pride in their work. They are like a dog that has problems with continence. Little dribbles wherever they go.
I tell authors that a bad review or two validates the good reviews. It proves it's more than a relative and their cats leaving reviews.
A book trailer is like a movie trailer, but for a book. There are different levels of quality, of course. I have a list of those on my Twitter page, also. Their usefulness is debated by some authors.
I think audio books are going to be a big part of the future. The key will be to achieve wide distribution through as many channels as possible. There are many countries that use English as the language of business and government, other countries teach English throughout school. Many millions of people access the internet only through a phone, so an audio book is the ideal way to consume reading material and listen to people who have mastery of the English language.
New questions.
How do you relax when you're not writing?
What is your favorite motivational phrase that keeps you going?
What famous person, living or dead, would you like to meet? A famous author?

Wanda Fischer

5/4/2020 11:57:14 am

When I'm not writing, I play tennis to relax. Not only is it exercise, it's also good to smack a little yellow ball to get rid of frustrations. I don't need to win, I just need to play. It's also a great way for me to relax because I play with a great group of friends whom I've met through tennis.

Quote from Satchel Paige: "Age is a question of mind over matter. If you don't mind, it doesn't matter." I had a huge photo of him in my office before I retired.

I would still love to meet Martin Luther King, Jr. When I think about the fact that he was less than half my age when he was assassinated, my heart breaks. I had always wanted to meet him when I was young. That still stands.

Mark

5/4/2020 12:45:09 pm

Tennis is good exercise, it does feel good to smash a yellow ball.
I love that quote from Satchel Paige.
Martin Luther King, Jr is a great choice. I would enjoy meeting him also.
New questions.
Have you ever thought about speaking to a college or high school writing class?
Have you ever contacted a book club and offered your book to them and also offered to speak to them?
Have you ever done any beta reading for another author?

Wanda Fischer

5/4/2020 02:24:05 pm

I had offered to speak to a high school writing class. Then the pandemic happened, so it never happened. I would love to speak to a college or high school writing class. I will pursue this again when/if school goes back into session. I think a community college might be receptive as well.

I have spoken to several local book clubs. It's a great experience. I had hoped to do more this year, but, again, the pandemic threw a monkey wrench into that plan. I've also spoken at several libraries. On opening day for baseball, I did a joint library presentation with a local man who wrote a non-fiction book about baseball. We got together before the presentation and discussed how we could interview each other for the session. I did the publicity, and both of us were interviewed for the local newspapers. The presentation attracted many people, mostly men, who came and asked great questions. A couple of them thought they'd be able to throw me off by asking tough baseball questions; they failed.

I was just asked to be a beta reader for an author who gave me a tough review. I would like to do beta reading for another author at some point. Haven't decided if I will do it for the one who gave me a tough review yet. He's an established, high-selling author. It may be too much.

Mark

5/4/2020 02:51:57 pm

When you are the expert and the audience is hanging on every word speaking in front of a group is a lot of fun. Nobody knows more about the book than you do.
That joint presentation must have been a lot of fun. It sounds like you hit a grand slam with the tough questions.
What an interesting request. He either has respect for your writing or he thinks he can bully you. I am sure you will make the right decision.
New questions.
What books do you think every author should read, and why?
Do you write poetry?

Wanda Fischer

5/4/2020 03:06:34 pm

What very author should read? That's a tough one. I think everyone should read Anne LaMotte's "Bird by Bird." Strunk and White's "Elements of Style" is another one I rely on. Marion Roche Smith has written a great book on writing memoir. And Annie Dillard's "The Writing Life" has been helpful to me. Many writers tell me they believe Stephen King's book on writing is essential; I read and enjoyed it but didn't learn that much from it. I've been writing for so long, it seemed to me that he was writing for people who were more beginners than I was.

The only poetry I write is in the form of song lyrics. I wrote a lot of poetry when I was younger, but now the poetry is converted into songs.

Mark

5/4/2020 05:18:21 pm

Good list of books.
I forgot about your music, I could have left that question off. I am glad I didn't.
Poetry is interesting. I never know how it will impact me, if at all, until after I have read it. I have reviewed two poetry books and was surprised at the feelings that were stirred up inside. I came away with new respect for poetry.
Last questions.
On average, how many words do you write at a time or how long do you spend writing in one stretch, in one day?
Do you have a favorite quote from a book?
Do you have a favorite scene in this book?

Wanda Fischer

5/4/2020 05:42:56 pm

I try to write between one and two hours a day. When I have access to the library, I can write between two and three hours a day. My goal is to write five days a week. I don't write on Saturdays because I do my radio show on Saturday nights, and I have to save my energy for that. Saturdays are a late night for me because I don't get home until about 1 AM on Saturday nights.

My favorite scene from "Empty Seats" is when Bud Prescott is pitching to Cuban Yulias Valderrama, who's defected from Cuba to play baseball. Valderrama, who's a power hitter, slams a home run off a Prescott pitch. As Valderrama's rounding the bases, Prescott gives him the thumbs-up sign because he's impressed with the great hit. Valderrama, who doesn't speak English at all, isn't used to the opposing pitcher's complimenting him for hitting a bomb off his pitch. Valderrama has to be stopped from rushing the mound by someone in his dugout who explains that this is something that happens in the USA: opposing teams encourage one another. The Cuban, as he's known, is still confused.

I can't think of a favorite quote from a book. I recently read "The Given Day" by Dennis Lehane and "The Road to Delano" by John DeSimone. I can't think of anything that jumped out of the pages at me. I can't recall back to my college days, either. Mostly I remember song lyrics these days. Perhaps a quote from Pete Seeger's "Old Devil Time":

No storm nor fire can ever beat us down
No wind that blows but carries us further on
And you who fear, old lovers gather round
And we will rise to sing it one more time

It's the final verse. Yesterday was Pete Seeger's birthday. Had he lived, he would have been 101 years old. He lived to be 94 years old. I think a lot about his wisdom--the way he sang, the way he wrote, the way he lived--in these days of the pandemic. "Old devil fear..We will rise to sing it one more time." That sums it up for me.

Mark

5/4/2020 06:09:41 pm

Writing steadily like that will take you far. No wonder you have little trouble connecting with your muse.
Home runs happen. Every batter wants one and every pitcher doesn't. In little league I didn't understand the relationship between the pitcher and catcher. Your book helped me in that respect.
I like that quote from Seeger's lyrics. It's one thing to take precautions, it's another to hide in the closet in fear.
I have another promotion to prepare for. I have really enjoyed our chat. Your fans are going to be happy when your sequel comes out. Thank you again for being such a good guest on the only live interview for authors on the internet.

Wanda Fischer

5/4/2020 06:18:22 pm

Mark, I have completely enjoyed your questions and the spontaneity of this entire process. Authors are fortunate that you do this, and I appreciate this opportunity to let people have an "inside baseball" look at what's behind my first novel.

I am hopeful that I will have the first draft of the sequel to an editor by the end of this month, and I look forward to studying the many informative blogs on your website. I also look forward to using your services for proofreading in the future. I have learned so much throughout this process. Your questions are amazing. I will continue to lean more as you post new blogs and questions about the other authors you interview.

All my best regards from the other side of the country. Stay safe!

Empty Seats by Wanda Adams Fischer

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