Kuimba by Priscilla B. Shuler

11/7/2021

Multi-volume, multi-genre author, Priscilla B. Shuler introduces us to her story, “Kuimba” set in the American South a little over 100 years ago:
South Carolina, 1914. Ophelia Smith’s life changed completely when she heard his beautiful singing. After hours of hard labor, the first-time mother feels blessed when the blue-eyed baby comes out of the womb making sweet music instead of cries. Naming him Kuimba for his enthralling voice, she proudly shares him with others who become enamored with the newborn… unaware of an older boy whose eyes are filled with hate.
Over the years, Ophelia watches in awe as her child grows up healing people through his touch and being visited by holy beings. But she struggles to protect him from the brutal attacks of a savagely jealous young man whenever he’s out of her sight. And when angels warn her that God has one more task for the youth before calling him back to Heaven, she fears the looming fate that threatens to take him away forever.
Will Ophelia’s magnificent son achieve his destiny and bring light into the world?
KUIMBA is a spellbinding standalone historical fiction novel. If you like captivating characters, spiritual wonders, and divine fate, then you’ll love Priscilla B Shuler’s religious southern tale.

This story is set in the American South 1900s and I enjoyed it quite a bit. The title character is most unusual because he sings throughout the book. That is far from the most unusual thing about Kuimba.
Much of the dialogue is heavily accented and that worked well for me because I have heard many southern accents. There is a lot of regional flavors, descriptions of the times, and mores of people who lived then.
The other characters play very important parts also. I like the level-headed attitude that so many of them have. I also like how many of them experience drastic changes for the better as a direct result of knowing Kuimba.
I award 4.8 stars to "Kuimba"!

You can buy this book:
https://smile.amazon.com/Kuimba-Priscilla-Shuler-ebook
https://www.goodreads.com/-kuimba
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/kuimba-priscilla-b-shuler

You can follow the author:
twitter.com/ShulerPriscilla
https://priscillabshulerartistauthor.com
https://www.amazon.com/Priscilla-B.-Shuler
www.facebook.com/priscilla.shuler.33

I have reviewed another book by Priscilla that I enjoyed quite a bit:
www.wordrefiner.com/book-reviews/favored

Copyright © 2021 Mark L. Schultz except for the author’s introduction

49 Comments

Priscilla B Shuler link

11/7/2021 01:01:36 pm

Thank you SO much for your wonderful review of Kuimba. I feel certain your efforts will enhance the sale of this little novel.

Mark

11/7/2021 01:40:28 pm

You are welcome, Priscilla. I was blessed and encouraged by your book.
Here is the first question.
Please, tell us more about yourself. Perhaps something a little bit beyond your bio.

11/7/2021 02:04:27 pm

Am presently residing in a lovely ‘retirement village’ - Springfield Place, in South Carolina. My husband (of 70 years) is 92 and yet is ambulatory… albeit very slowly. We continue to enjoy the sweet interaction with our fellow ‘inmates’. I do think this fellowship helps keep us alert and viable.
At this stage of life we finally find we’ve ‘time on our hands’. Bubba spends time reading or playing solitaire games on his computer, and I fill my hours through several ventures.
I tell my friends that “at least it keeps me off the streets”.

11/7/2021 02:20:40 pm

Married for 70 years is quite an accomplishment. Social interaction is an important factor in living a vibrant life.
My wife and I have recently passed our 45th anniversary. We are catching up to you.
You are well experienced in your retirement. We are only a few years into our retirement.
New questions.
Are you a full-time or part-time writer?
Did your work, before retirement, have any influence on your writing?

11/8/2021 12:28:16 pm

I didn’t even think of writing seriously until after I was 75. Up until that time, I was busy with my family of children and grandchildren and helping in the ‘hands-on’ construction of our initial retirement house… partially begun before my husband left us for his tour of duty to Vietnam. Somehow, at 75 I began to slow down and begin to breathe and considered trying to write.
I had a full-time porcelain shop where I made dolls ‘from scratch’ - to repairing dolls of every ilk. Too, I designed and sewed clothes for my girls and grand girls. Along with making jewelry for everyone in the family. I would not deign to sell anything because I considered it a time filler.
My first little book was a fictionalized account of an exciting ‘coon hunting adventure’ for my eldest son when he turned 10 and we were on leave to his grandparents' home in South Carolina. The brothers (his uncles) had planned an all-night foray into the Wateree River Swamp in search of the beautifully furred creatures.
That little book was well received by the family. Heartened by their reactions, I ventured into the ‘impossible scenario’ of TWO CAN PLAY. The first of my six books.
I only write when I’m not painting or paper crafting or caring for my husband. I do have two works presently on my computer… a fiction I’ve possibly entitled ‘THE ENCOUNTER” as well as a mix-mash of my memoir. Truly… in my 89 years, my life has been unbelievable by the standards of everyone of my friends, until I’m nearly loathe to share much of my experiences with the world. Only my children and immediate family could understand it’s factual.
And, yes… I have incorporated a great deal of my experiences into my novels. I attempt to write what I know. When I delve into scenes about which I have no - or very little knowledge, I research, research, research.
Presently, I’m attempting to fashion 10 Christmas Journals as gifts for the ‘girls’ in my Dentist’s Office. Nine ladies work there, plus I must make one for his wife.

11/8/2021 11:11:40 am

It sounds like you have had an exciting and varied life. Plus, you have fully activated several artistic and crafty skills.
Research can be fun! I always enjoy learning something new. You have avoided a common pitfall for many authors, sharing all of the new research in their book. The dreaded info dump causes a lot of readers to close a book and never return to it.
New questions.
What inspired you to write this book?
Why did you choose this genre, or do you feel the genre chose you?

11/10/2021 11:20:44 am

Honestly, I don’t believe i, myself, would ever have come up with the basic idea of KUIMBA. I must credit my (very artistic) son, Victor, with the idea of an angelic blue-eyed black baby. Vic suggested I end the book with his death at the hands of his nemesis… R.Ed. I could not abide such an ending, so I held that climax about mid way, and entered the world of his murderer. I simply prefer happy endings for all my books. I believe hope lives in love and happiness.

11/10/2021 11:36:37 am

I am glad you did what you did with the death of Kuimba. I very much prefer a happy ending also. Surveying the lasting effects of Kuimba on the people around him was a great idea. It does offer hope to many.
New questions.
Who designed the cover of your book? Feel free to drop a link if appropriate.
What do the elements on the cover represent? It is not as simple as I first thought.
Was it hard to come up with the title? What was the process?

11/10/2021 11:53:33 am

Need I say that Victor designed and executed the cover for the book. In fact he made most of the covers of the novels, except one-FAVORED. He was recovering from an injury and unable to do that one, so I painted the image used in oils on canvas. My editor/formatter used it for that cover.
I know Victor put a great deal of thought into this cover, incorporating the heavenly realm with the golden Angel’s wing surrounding the beautiful boy with his stunning blue eyes.
Many people do not realize that such a ‘blue-eyed’ phenomenon does actually occur, albeit rarely, and is usually accompanied by fear and distrust of those surrounding the person.
As for the title, Victor, too, gave that name to his idea because in some African dialect it simply denotes music-singing.
When my son first suggested this idea to me I asked him why he couldn’t write it. “I don’t have time…” And, since I’d already written five novels he assured me “and you can do it!”

11/10/2021 12:21:51 pm

Victor is quite talented. When I first saw the cover, I thought Kuimba was standing in front of a window with drapes on both sides. A second look clarified that there was a large wing on Kuimba's left. Later, I realized the wing was attached to an angel.
The rejection of someone with different colored eyes in that circumstance is not too surprising. I didn't know it was a factual thing, though. Thanks.
The title certainly fits well.
New questions.
Were the character names difficult to develop? How did you choose them?
What other books and genres have you written?

11/10/2021 01:49:24 pm

Ah… one of the things I enjoy most about writing is attempting to ‘fit’ my characters with names to portray them. When I realized Ophelia was a tall, rather big-boned woman imbued with great strength, Olympia came to mind, but Ophelia suited her better. Marvin, her husband, is a milder individual and I felt his name showed his temperament. I’m probably all wet in these assumptions, but I suppose we writers must start somewhere in our attempt to portray our characters’ strengths and weaknesses any way possible… names are important to me.
As for the other books; I suppose my long-lived life has given me such varied experiences until I find it difficult to stick to one genre. I have a sexy romance (Two Can Play), the saga of a disillusioned preacher man (Daddy Jack’s Place), a small-town, rape/murder mystery (Favored), the life of an English orphan boy who rose to great fortune in (Rat). And lastly, is a tale of an illegitimate heiress raised by a scar-faced gypsy woman in (The Medallion).

11/10/2021 01:55:11 pm

Names are very important to authors for a variety of reasons. There are websites that post popular boy and girl names by year or decade that can go back for over a hundred years. That can be very important for writers of historical fiction. I don't think Bambi would be suitable for a Regency Romance. You are doing great with your character names.
Nice spread of genres. I like it. No one is going to put you into a little box, writing wise.
New questions.
Have you entered any writing contests?
Have you won awards of any kind for your writing?

11/10/2021 02:57:30 pm

You know… I THINK I did enter some some sort of writers contest once… as well as I recall, I paid some amount to enter in order to accumulate enough to award to the winner. I cannot recall ever hearing any more about it. Then there was a writers publication containing the word: Train in the title.. (now closed) that had monthly awards for entries. I sent a short story and copped Honorable Mention. That thrilled me no end!
I’ve written many short stories through the years and have a lot of them on a blog site.

11/10/2021 03:33:03 pm

There are a lot of contests out there, many different types and not all of them are on the up and up. Here is one cut-and-paste link to learn more: https://annerallen.com/2019/05/beware-bogus-writing-contests Anne is one of my favorite bloggers, I have links to many of her blogs on my Highly Regarded Blogs page, elsewhere on my website.
Short stories are a great way to test out an idea and to improve writing skills. A lot of authors sell short stories on Amazon and other platforms.
New questions.
I noticed that your book is in Kindle Unlimited. How is that working out for you? How many books have you put in KU?

11/10/2021 03:40:31 pm

I was advised to install all my books into KU. I THINK they are all offered via that venue. I do not know IF that helps or not since I know very little on how it’s promoted or used.

11/10/2021 04:20:22 pm

Kindle Unlimited is an interesting beast. It offers readers books to read for a monthly subscription price. Authors are paid a fraction of a penny for each page that is read by each reader. If the reader decides to stop reading that book, the author doesn't earn any more from that reader. Amazon used to demand an exclusive multi-month contract to have the book in KU. Therefore, the book could not be placed on other sales platforms for that length of time. Hopefully, you have received monthly deposits from Amazon/KU for all the pages read.
New question.
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?

11/10/2021 04:56:12 pm

On my first book… Two Can Play, I sought out an agent and he was SO kind in working with me trying to correct everything that was wrong. He was finally satisfied and informed me that he would contact me IF he was able to snag a publisher. Meantime I found an editor that I’ve been with for years and she led me to the cheapest route; that of self-publishing through Create Space (now KDP) with Amazon. At some point in time I asked the agent to release back to me Two Can Play - which he did, and then I had Rachel install it into KDP also.
I’ve received offers from one Publishing Company to let them publish The Medallion, but I simply could not afford the cost and then again, I don’t know what I’d do with 100 copies of the book.
Maybe I really don’t know enough about that industry and if I ought to attempt that route.
I ‘looked into’ one of the oldest viable publishing companies in the States and went so far as to compose a query letter to test the waters… but never completed the process. That’s on the back burner for now… probably until after the holidays.

11/10/2021 05:41:39 pm

FYI You are free to use a video trailer of Kuimba published by Words of Hope and Optimism. It can be accessed via my website.
Great. I’ll see you tomorrow.

11/11/2021 08:15:36 am

That is a nice video. I would suggest that you replace the YouTube link with the original video file, if that is possible. That way people will stay on your website longer instead of being tempted away by YouTube.
That Publishing Company was at best a hybrid publisher, but more likely a vanity publisher because they are requiring you to buy 100 copies of your book. Some vanity publishers require an author to be many more copies than that.
What would you do with 100 copies of your book? You would sell them to people you meet, if you kept a box in the trunk of your car. If you ever spoke to a group of people at a book signing or a public reading you could sell them there.
Almost all authors are responsible for the marketing and promotion of their book, even when published by a traditional publisher. A lot of blogs have been written about the topic of marketing and promoting books. There are several excellent guest blogs elsewhere on my website and I have links to many different blogs on the Highly Regarded Blogs page. Put marketing or promoting in the search box below.
Here is one idea. Pursue the Local-Author angle. Seek to place your books, using a small, cardboard, counter-top display where ever people gather, such as restaurants, museums, tourist attractions, spas and beauty salons, to name a few. Put a picture of the cover on the inside of the displayer and ordering instructions on the back. Offer them a wholesale price on the books so you make something up front.
It is very hard to get picked up by a publisher or an agent. Many traditional publishers don't talk to authors, only agents. Agents don't get paid until a contract is signed. Honest agents never ask for money ahead of a contract.
Amazon has blown the world of Traditional publishing apart. So many of them have disappeared because they couldn't survive on the slim and slimmer profit margins. These publishers don't take chances anymore. They know how many copies of a book they must sell to survive. Anything below that number is ignored.
New questions.
How do you think your book compares to a book published by a major publisher?
Is there a book that makes you cry no matter how many times you read it?

11/11/2021 05:55:16 pm

From everything I can fathom, KDP is on par with any publisher as far as clarity of print, cover stability, and size. I do know that if it weren’t for the availability of self publishing My novels would never see the light of day simply from the fact I cannot afford the costs attendant upon being published by the big publishing houses. That is, if they even chose to accept my books.
If a novel that I’m reading brings forth tears of sorrow or even of joy I tend to believe that it’s a worthy read. The greatest though, is when I surprise myself with an outburst of laughter, causing my husband to sit up and ask, “What’s so funny”? Forcing me to read it to him so we both can enjoy it.

11/11/2021 06:10:19 pm

KDP does a good job.
A traditional publisher does not ask for money up front. The publisher bears all of the costs of bringing the book to market. They have to print more books than they need to keep the cost per book down. Now you can see part of the balancing act traditional publishers face. They also allow bookstores to return any unsold copies for a refund. Even if the publisher gave the author an advance, that is all the author sees until book sales have paid for that advance. Then royalties start to roll in, more or less.
Then there are the hybrid publishers which ask the author to pay for part of the production costs and in return shore more of the profits with the author in the form of royalties.
Finally, there are the vanity publishers. they want to make a profit also and will publish anything as long as the author's pocket can fund the venture. That funding can happen before publication or after by buying hundreds or thousands of books from the publisher.
My wife and I do that also. If we read something funny or pithy we like to share it with each other. Online T-shirt ads provide a lot of fodder for us.
New questions.
Do you have a favorite book by another author or just favorite authors?
Did you have a favorite book as a child?
Which of your books is your favorite, and why?

11/11/2021 06:39:53 pm

There are many books that have ‘stayed with me’ through the years but one in particular seems to surface In my mind ahead of the rest. Vagrant Viking by Peter Freuken (probably spelling his name incorrectly) impressed me through many years. I love all the classics like Magnificent Obsession for one. My favorite author of all time is John Grisham. I’ve read everything he’s written. Was a ‘Mike Hammer’ fan for a while. I love Nicholas Sparks. When it comes to push and shove I think I simply enjoy books as a whole.

My fathers Aunt visited us when I was a child in the first grade and she presented me my very first book titled “A Child’s Garden of Verses”. I kept it until it literally fell apart. I still remember two of the poems I memorized from its pages.

Now that’s difficult to pick one of my ‘babies’ as a favorite. To me each one carries its own beauty and features and strengths as well as weaknesses. If I were forced to choose one, it might be FAVORED, yet again…. Maybe RAT, or THE MEDALLION. No… DADDY JACK’S PLACE. KUIMBA and TWO CAN PLAY are in the running. Really I cannot choose.

11/11/2021 07:51:39 pm

I have never heard of that book, of course. What is funny is I am reading a book about vikings right now. Thorfinn and the Witch's Curse by Jay Batista. Set in the British Isles in the 9th century. I am enjoying it. Historical fiction is one of my top 5 genres to read.
That aunt was a lovely person. I was given books by many relatives for years when I was growing up. I read them all multiple times.
It wasn't fair of me to ask you to pick a favorite. Most multi-volume authors cannot do it either.
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?

11/11/2021 08:27:11 pm

That’s a difficult concept to wrap my head around. Being a deeply Spiritual woman to begin with, I must believe every endeavor I undertake feeds something inside my psyche. Everything I write is flavored by my connection with my Religious Beliefs.

Energize? I would confess that when I’m in the throes of a novel emerging that I’m usually so ‘energized’ that often I’m forced from my bed to sit bleary-eyed in front of my computer typing out my thoughts and ideas that simply won’t let me sleep.

I don’t really know the ‘down pat’ answer to your last question, but through the process of actually writing I confess I literally live in the scenes … seeing the surroundings, smelling the odors, hearing the sounds, seeing the faces of the characters. Somehow I believe being in close proximity to my characters I cannot help but experience their emotions and bring them alive.
When I walked in the character of R.Ed on my way to kill Kuimba I actually scared myself and rebelled from his decision to use the axe to cleave Kuimba’s head. I had him cast the weapon aside and instead pummel him with his fists.

11/12/2021 06:40:50 am

There are a lot of writers like you that suffer from sleep deprivation caused by their muse. Some try to write a few succinct notes, hoping they can understand what their muse was saying in the morning. I know one author that hears from her muse almost every night at 2:30. She keeps a notepad and pen beside her bed.
Reading for me can be almost as intense as writing is for you. I am deeply affected by what I read, if it is well written.
You demonstrated the 'pat' answer quite well. Connecting with the characters on an emotional level makes a lot of difference in how well the reader engages with a book and reads it to the end.
New questions.
Have you ever done NaNoWriMo?
If you have, what kind of preparation do you do before it starts?

11/12/2021 10:31:47 am

I know absolutely nothing about the NaNoWriMo you speak of. Should I be interested?

11/12/2021 03:03:09 pm

You did some research and emailed me your thoughts. I agree that it is not a practical experience for you.
Many writers use the deadline to spur them further in their writing. A lot of authors band together into mutual support groups and make a party out of it.
New questions.
Are you an under-writer or an over-writer? When the first draft is done, do you need to add more to it to flesh it out or do you have to cut material because there is too much?

11/12/2021 07:49:25 pm

Not ever having been educated into the different procedures to produce a novel, I cannot declare whether I’m an under-writer or over-writer. Thus far it has taken only one word or thought to prompt my mind toward writing an entire novel. And once I begin with a scene or two, I find sometimes that I must back up to incorporate important points. Once that’s done I’ll ‘catch up’ to where I was and continue.
I don’t know what a ‘first draft’ is… my novels are usually fleshed out all along the way. I have been known to cut one paragraph in favor of another written differently or viewed through the eyes of a different character. I suppose one would conclude that I self-edit as I write? I’m not sure.

11/12/2021 09:31:05 pm

You have found your way to write and it works for you quite well. Some authors do extreme editing as they write and frequently lose contact with their muse. Their effort to write a perfect first draft is self-defeating.
Let me backup a bit. The conventional wisdom is to forget about editing, spelling and grammar in general. The sole purpose of a first draft is to get the idea out of the writer's head. If it ain't on paper how can you edit it? I think you get the gist.
Many authors will let the first-draft manuscript sit for a few weeks. Then the author will go over it again refining the plot and characters. The second draft. Boom.
They might repeat that process or send it to a few beta readers. Using the feedback from the beta readers, a third draft is created. Put it away for a few weeks and edit again. Fourth draft.
Now, the plot and characters should be pretty firm and major plot holes plugged. Some grammar work, filling in or removing portions for clarity. Fifth draft.
If the author is feeling really good the manuscript is off to the editor. After getting that back and fixing and rewriting, it might go back to the editor again. Sixth draft.
Another round of repairs and rewriting. Seventh draft.
Now the manuscript is sent to the proofreader for final scrutiny of spelling and polishing the manuscript. After responding to the proofreader's work. Draft eight. Then to publishing.
That is the general process, not all writers follow all of these steps in this order.
New questions.
Have you ever used yourself or other acquaintances as a starting point for a character in a story?
Would they recognize you or themselves in the story?

11/12/2021 10:49:17 pm

Never used myself particularly in a story, but yes, I definitely used other people as characters... either fully or partially. If authors attempt to write ‘what we know’ how can we not help but write the characteristics of acquaintances into our novels. And as well, incorporate our own selves into our stories by sheer coincidence.
Only one particular individual might recognize themselves but I hope they never do succeed. Their life was traumatic. I attempted to camouflage their story to aid in anonymity. However, I do believe their story ought to have been told.

11/13/2021 06:49:31 am

You are right. To respond to the suggestion, 'to write what you know' includes all aspects of your environs as you know it. A writer can do little else. I find that writers are good observers of human nature and usually very discreet. People react in different ways to the idea of unknowingly providing a small bit of inspiration for a character and not always in pleasant ways.
Telling the story of another person can easily be cloaked in completely different circumstances and places as necessary to protect their identity. Their story can even be wrapped in multiple layers of fiction if needed. There are many stories that need to be told.
New questions.
Which is more fun to write, the protagonist or the antagonist, and why?
What is one thing you hate about your protagonist and one thing you love about the antagonist?

11/13/2021 09:42:00 am

I suppose I ought to take this present novel -KUIMBA, into consideration in attempting to answer this one. Getting into the heart/mind of Kuimba was easy. I loved his innocence. His love for all things and everyone… His recognition of Lucy’s abject love/worship for him.
Getting into R.Ed’s mindset wasn’t easy. I don’t think I have ever been aware of anyone with as deep a hatred for another human being as I needed to embody this character. I conjured up mental pictures of the Nazi murderers’ ruthless treatment of innocent throngs of people to herd into cattle cars/concentration camps/starvation/guinea pigs… etc to attempt to wrap my mind around such hatred caused me pain. I believe the root of such behavior is bound by the fear of being influenced by whomever … so for protection you find the best shield is hate, which gives power against love.
I think having love triumph in the conversion of R. Ed was like taking a deep breath of relief. I could complete the book beneath a more benevolent umbrella.
I do have difficulty producing a viable antagonist. I fear my other books will reveal this ‘weakness’.

11/13/2021 12:13:02 pm

R.Ed. was a great, despicable character. As you say, his hatred ran deep. He seemed to be afraid of the goodness shining from Kuimba. I think R.Ed. recognized the intrinsic holiness in Kuimba and R.Ed.'s evil nature couldn't stand it.
It's easy for me to imagine your relief when R.Ed. was converted. I was reminded of Saul when he was on his way to Damascus to imprison more followers of Yeshua. Saul's dramatic conversion experience earned him a new name, Paul. It was appropriate for a similar change in R.Ed. He adopted his given name of Richard for the rest of his life.
I think you have a good handle on the evil that can live in a person's heart because you also know the good that can flow from a person's heart. The biggest issue that some authors face with an antagonist is not making the character fully dimensional. Most every person has good and evil within. Even a bad person thinks they are the hero in their story, the way they see it. It never hurts to provide a minor positive trait or two even with the worst of characters.
New questions.
Which is more important to a story pace or flow?
How do you control it?

11/13/2021 01:12:36 pm

Since I really don’t know the difference between ‘pace’ and ‘flow’, I can’t see how I could control it. My writing comes simply from my thoughts in whatever randomness accumulates to force my hand to record them. I am aware that every so often a thought will be entered that interrupts the meaning of where I’d hoped to go, and I call that phenomenon a ‘snag’ which either needs rewriting or deleting.
I like to tell a story from beginning to end, however, often circumstances occur that need to explain the back story of the certain situation. Like in The Medallion. I opened the book when our young heroine was around 10 years of age, and soon realized I had to give her back story in order to tell readers how she arrived to this point in her life.
I hope I’ve answered your questions satisfactorily.

11/13/2021 01:34:48 pm

Pace has to do with how fast a person reads the story. Short words are good in scenes with a lot of action. Long words will slow the reader down.
Flow has to do with how well the sentences work together. The two words are somewhat related in terms of writing.
I think there are a lot of writers like you. They like to write in a straight-line fashion.
Backstory is important and necessary to provide context for the reader. The question that many struggle with is how much backstory to provide. To much can result in boring the reader and seeing the book closed, thus ending a beautiful relationship between reader and book. Many writers provide only enough backstory to meet the needs of the moment, that can result in several sections throughout the book given to backstory.
New questions.
What is your writing routine when you sit down to write?
Did your writing process change much from your early books to your current book or did it stay the same?

11/13/2021 04:14:04 pm

Routine? This makes me laugh. The only routine my husband and I have is making sure we make it to the ‘Independent Dining Room’ at noon, if we want to eat.
As for writing there is no routine. I live a life (have always) of interruptions. I never know when I’ll find a few moments in which to work on my paper crafts, or break out the paints to indulge in some artwork, or to ‘heat up’ my computer to write. I write ‘by the seat of my pants’ so to speak. … in snatches. This gives me the need to reread almost every time I sit to add to my story. I read from several pages back to get myself worked into the emotions of my story in order to ‘rev up’ my creative juices and actually get the flow going.
Nothing evolved from the earliest of my writings through to the ones that are waiting in my computer. It’s a literal ‘hit or miss’ venture. Maybe if I didn’t have so many varied interests or if I didn’t have the sweet burden of caring for my beloved husband, I might actually form a routine or sorts. But, (if I could) I wouldn’t change my life for anything.

11/13/2021 05:19:45 pm

I love that, a life of interruptions! Except the interruptions are important and unplanned. I think we all live a similar life. After I retired we were busier than before. I understand a little bit. I do a lot of things for my wife that she cannot do for herself.
It must be quite nice having varied creative pursuits.
A lot of writers are writing by the seat of their pants. They have to read back into the story to find their place to continue. You have lots of company in that way.
New questions.
Now that your book is published, is there anything about it you would like to change?
How do you think your book relates to the world we live in today?

11/13/2021 07:49:33 pm

The changes to Kuimba that I’ve often thought of was the omission of Richard and Vivienne’s wedding. I really thought deeply about it before I closed it out, but finally concluded such an event might tend to draw one away from the ever-presence of Kuimba. I wanted to keep him ‘alive’.
I doubt greatly a book like Kuimba has much credibility to most readers of today. I might consider that someone who is acquainted with our Father God in a personal way could relate to this miracle child and enjoy this bit of fiction. … Or possibly Kuimba might serve to introduce a reader to the possibility of The Highest Power as a probability. We can hope, can’t we?

11/14/2021 07:28:49 am

The wedding was quite an affair. It opened the eyes of Richard's father also. If I recall correctly.
Your book does a credible job of displaying good and evil. It delves into the clash deeply. The miraculous transformation of R.Ed is impressive also. I think there are a lot of people who will find it interesting.
New questions.
What do you do to launch a new book when it is first published?
Have you ever participated in a book blog tour, why or why not?

11/14/2021 10:20:25 am

LOLOL. FYI I omitted the wedding Richard because I did not want to interrupt the readers thoughts to that end. I wanted to maintain Kuimba as a vital/vibrant entity.
Now to answer your questions. Believe it or not, when I had Rachel edit and begin putting my books up for sale on Amazon’s CREATE SPACE … ( now KDP) I didn’t know about launching anything. I was naive to any sort of marketing and thought the book might be sold by the description/cover by the book-searching masses. After I’d written 6 novels the only people who bought them were my family and maybe a couple of friends. And, only one of them ever posted a review. At that point in time I began to realize I needed to push to get my books noticed. Realizing too… living on a budget to hold my husband and myself in shelter and food until we leave this earth, I have a very limited resource. Consequently, I sought varied (often wasteful) ways to promote my books. Spent a LOT on a computer marketing course which was mostly over my head because of the simple fact I didn’t ken the computer jargon used by the instructor. He was indeed patient in this two-for-one education to get me through the course… which I promptly forgot. I was able to produce my website by his excellent help. Then I spent a nominal amount to have KUIMBA and The Medallion professionally critiqued. That was beyond worth. Through these past couple years KUIMBA is being given the royal treatment, and the review of The Medallion caused me to rewrite.
If/when I complete the two works in my computer I’ll actually do a bonafide book launch.
Never participated in a book blog tour. I fear I don’t know what that is. And would I have the time (schedule-wise) to commit to the possible stringent requirements?

11/14/2021 05:08:59 pm

Obviously, I am thinking of a different event in the book, not the wedding, that wasn't there. I have read three books since reading yours and proofreading.
As you have learned along with so many other authors, getting your book noticed takes a lot of time or money. You can pay book promoters to get your book noticed, when you don't have a lot of time. Beware of those who promise sales, unless they are using your money to buy your books for others to read and post a review.
If you, like so many other authors, aren't swimming in money then the promotion of your book lands on your shoulders. Even with most traditional publishers the promotion of your book will only get done if you do it.
There are a lot of blogs written about marketing and promoting books. There are many different ways to do it. There are a couple of guest blogs on my website plus I have links to many other blogs on this topic. Put either of those terms in the search box below.
A blog tour is organized by a book promoter. It is conducted online and usually involves the author answering some questions from several to many different book bloggers. These questions and answers are formatted into an interview and the cover and your picture is presented on the many different websites. It is all virtual and sometimes more than one social media platform is used also.
There is a similar type of promotion with the RRBC, Rave Review Book Club. There is a charge to join the RRBC but I don't know what it is. I also think there are other programs similar.
On my Twitter page I have lists of people who provide services to authors. Book reviewers and book promoters are two among many on that list. Always check their requirements carefully before approaching them.
New questions.
What else are you writing these days?
Do you have a classical author or poet you admire?
What popular modern authors have influenced you?

11/14/2021 07:10:59 pm

WOW! You are multi faceted! And have a mind that is capable of cataloging multiple themes at one time. How you can do that is amazing. I can barely stay put on doing one thing at a time. In any event. You are very intelligent.
As for what I have resting in my computer waiting impatiently for my input … tentatively titled AN ENCOUNTER deals with a wealthy middle- aged business man intent on suicide. He has lost his business by the nefarious under dealings of his wife and partner and he’s too dispirited by the knowledge to fight. … Heading out into the snowy night to his supposed fate, his vehicle skids into a lone walker on the shoulder of the highway. From this point I gleaned the title.
Edgar Allen Poe and Charles Dickens are my favorite classic authors, and Robert Burns and John Milton my favorite poets. Although there are more I love I didn’t want to get carried away.
There are so many modern day authors that I admire that I feel ill prepared to select one or two that have made a difference in my enjoyment of reading.
John Grisham is the top, I think, but Jean Grainger is fabulous. This is just to name a couple.

11/14/2021 09:51:38 pm

I have been absorbing a lot of this stuff for years. It's nice to let some of it rattle out every once and a while.
An Encounter sounds like an interesting story. I hope you finish it.
Those are great choices.
New questions.
What software do you use to write and publish your books, and why do you use those?
How do you keep track of all the characters and events in your books?

11/14/2021 10:44:46 pm

I use the office 365 Word installed in my Dell computer. It helps greatly because I can write a scene in several different ways and not lose anything. I doubt if I could outwrite Word’s ability to hold any manuscript. I like my ability to write thoughts out to the side so I can come back later and flesh out the ideas to insert where needed.
Once I’ve completed the manuscript I ship it off for editing and formatting and eventually installed in Amazon’s KDP. I use this because it’s convenient.
As I begin developing my story I have a spiral notebook where I hold all pertinent data separated out for time lines, names, characteristics of each person, surroundings, etc.

11/15/2021 07:13:08 am

Almost every author uses Word. I use Word also for proofreading. I use the commenting feature for proofreading suggestions. I don't like to make changes to a manuscript beyond adding or subtracting spaces and that only with the author's permission.
It is very convenient to be able to move sentences, paragraphs and entire pages around as needed.
A large number of authors keep a character bible or book log with some or all of the similar information as you do. As long as that is kept up to date it is very useful. Some who don't plot out the book in advance will create a plot outline after each chapter is written. It sounds like your notebook fills that purpose admirably.
New questions.
Have you ever had the experience of the story swerving in a different direction than planned, as if a character was driving it?
Do you have defined space for writing at home, or would you be a coffee-shop writer, if we weren’t stuck in the Covid mess?

Priscilla BbShuler link

11/15/2021 10:33:13 am

I don’t know if there’s something wrong with my mental processes or not, but really, I never know where I’m headed until I begin to actually write. I have a vague idea that springs from a single word or thought which brings me to begin writing. The word: ‘scrabbling’ was spoken when someone used it to describe playing that particular board game. The word hit my brain like a description of rats playing a game of Scrabble. From there I saw a filthy alley way where there were vermin, feral cats and emaciated dogs scrabbling for food as well as the ragged orphan boy. Hence… RAT. I don’t really know what direction a book will take… except with KUIMBA. I hesitated writing this suggested book because I knew my hero would be murdered. I began without any freedom to follow my mind’s leading. Only until after the murder, was I free to conjure any path my mind found worthy.
As far as dedicated space in which to write… I don’t have the space nor inclination to ‘dedicate’ my computer desk just to writing. That place is loaded with crafting papers, stacks of ideas for journal ephemera, copies of my books, a few family pictures, scattered notebooks. But! With one swipe of my forearm, I can clear a ‘dedicated’ space to sit and write. I understand there are folks who must have a pristine area in which to do their best work… not being raised to experience any place for myself in our house, I became accustomed to living wherever I found myself. Consequently, I can be productive amid self-produced chaos. My craft desk looks like a whirlwind settled there, but I know where everything is and what I need is easy to locate (usually).
In some sense, I suppose I DO have a dedicated space in which to work after all.

11/15/2021 12:25:57 pm

Your mental processes are just fine. I think a lot of pantsters write just like you do. Their numbers are legion. You have lots of company and didn't know it.
That is so cool how that image appeared in your imagination. I love it.
I admit that my desk is not pristine. I work there a lot and need to be surrounded with the things I use frequently.
You have claimed your space quite thoroughly. Everyone knows it is yours and yours alone.
Last questions.
Do you listen to music or have the TV on when writing, or do you need quiet?
Action, dialogue, or narration; which is easiest to write?

11/15/2021 12:58:16 pm

Silence please. Which is ever in short supply in our apartment. Bubba is in an adjacent room with the TV on, or playing games nearby on his computer with their attendant sounds invading my mind. I’ve found the prime time for my writing to be in the ‘dead of night’ (now those words just conjured up a new book awaiting… ).
No way is one thing easier to write than another. All attributes in a story have equal footing as far as I now. Action must be experienced in my mind, narration is accomplished while I, myself am above the fray as an onlooker, and dialogue finds me inside the speaker. When in a two way conversation I switch from character to character. This is the only way I know how to live my story in order to relate it to the page.

11/15/2021 03:24:11 pm

I think a lot of authors need quiet when writing. Most want to have their own office, many don't. A few have told me they need music playing in the background some say that certain music inspires them for writing certain scenes.
I need quiet when I am proofreading. Otherwise anything can be in the background when I am reading a good book.
Some authors have a favorite type of writing that they find easiest of the three, they also struggle with one of the other two. It seems to me you have it pretty easy if all three are about equal in difficulty. It works well for you and that is so important to bring your stories to life.
I have another promotion that starts tomorrow. So we must bring this conversation to an end. Thank you for being on the word refiner channel, you have been a marvelous guest. I have enjoyed our discussion a great deal.
Until next time keep on writing.

Kuimba by Priscilla B. Shuler

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