The Face of a Monster: America’s Frankenstein by Patricia Earnest Suter

8/19/2018

Multi-volume author, Patricia Earnest Suter introduces us to her book about a real monster in America:
The year 2018 will herald the 200th anniversary of Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley's Frankenstein, or The Modern Prometheus. The timing seems right for the story of a real monster. German-born immigrant Anton Probst arrived in New York in 1863. Within two hours of his arrival he enlisted in the Union Army. During the American Civil War, Probst bore witness to mankind's brutality. Afterwards, he became an inmate at the disreputable Blockley Almshouse in Philadelphia.
Frankenstein was first conceived by Shelley in 1816. Her monster was an embodiment of abandonment and loneliness, feelings Shelley shared. In despair, the creature resorted to violence. Fifty years after Frankenstein's conception, Anton Probst adopted characteristics of Shelley's monstrous creation. He became Philadelphia's first mass-murderer when he slaughtered members of the Christopher Dearing family.
After his death, Probst's story continued. The creature that he had become left a deep impression on the people of Philadelphia and New York. Researchers used Anton Probst's body to show the effects of galvanization, the same means by which Frankenstein's monster stirred to life. Incredibly, similarities surface between Shelley and her circle, her monster, and events that transpired when the blood of innocents was shed an ocean away. One defining difference is present. Unlike Shelley's creature, the story of America's monster is very real.

I read Mary Shelley’s book, “Frankenstein”, about 5 years ago and I really enjoyed it, far more than the movies, with the possible exception of "Young Frankenstein" by Mel Brooks. So, I was quite interested in reading Patricia Earnest Suter’s book, thinking it was another novel.
I was pleasantly surprised to realize my assumption was wrong, this book is a comparison of the nameless monster created by Dr. Frankenstein and a German-immigrant mass-murderer in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, after the Civil War.
Even though the subject matter is quite grisly, leading up to the brutal death of a family, the writing is superb. Patricia has done an amazing amount of research and has woven a wonderful mix of reality and fiction, drawing staggering parallels between the two. I love knowing details and backstory behind significant events, and Patricia delivers a huge portion for all aspects of the major characters and driving forces. Patricia kept my attention the entire time, she moved the narrative along at a good pace and the focus never waned. There is also an extensive section of notes and source material, for those who wish to really dig in.
I award 4.8 stars to The Face of a Monster: America’s Frankenstein!

You can buy this book:
https://www.amazon.com/Face-of-a-Monster-Americas-Frankenstein-ebook
https://www.goodreads.com/book/the-face-of-a-monster-America's-Frankenstein
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-face-of-a-monster-patricia-earnest-suter

You can follow Patricia Earnest Suter:
https://twitter.com/TrishSuter
https://www.linkedin.com/in/patricia-earnest-suter
https://www.facebook.com/patricia.suter.925
https://www.instagram.com/patriciaearnestsuter
https://www.goodreads.com/author/Patricia_Earnest_Suter

Tags: Murder, true crime, trial procedures, police procedures, mayhem, 19th century, immigrant, immigration
Copyright © 2018 Mark L Schultz except for the author's introduction

51 Comments

Patricia Earnest link

8/20/2018 12:00:08 pm

Thank you so much for your review and comments! They are much appreciated. Best! PCES

Mark

8/20/2018 12:20:59 pm

You are very welcome, Patricia. I am glad you wrote this book because I enjoyed it so much!
Where and when did the inspiration for this book first strike you? Was comparing Probst to Frankenstein's monster part of the original vision? Has any new information about Probst or Shelley come to light since you finished your book?

Patricia Earnest link

8/20/2018 02:03:00 pm

I am glad you enjoyed it! I first came across the murders of the poor Dearing (Deering) family in 2009-2010. I was researching Susanna Cox. Anton Probst stared from an article about the chapbooks of Pennsylvania Germans. I looked deeper into the story. As I pulled articles about Cox, I did the same for Probst and the Dearing family. As I read those related to Probst, I expected to find mention of Shelley and her monster as the language used to describe the Philadelphia murderer reminded me of her novel.The idea to compare monsters took root then. Once Susanna Cox was finished, I immediately outlined The Face of a Monster but could not get the idea to meld. Meanwhile, I had other projects but The Face of a Monster was like an earworm. It never let go and the Dearing's story deserved telling. As the anniversary of Frankenstein approached, I revisited the concept. I was further encouraged when I saw others made the connection between the two monsters. This time everything fit together beautifully. Even if a stretch, the intersections between the Frankenstein monster and Probst were worth a mention. And then there was the H. H. Holmes connection.
A couple of new books have been released about Shelley, in addition to a movie. To be completely honest, I have them all but have been unable to dig into them as deadlines have loomed. At this moment, I am unaware of any new information regarding Probst or the Dearing family. As the date we had chosen for publication neared, I finally obtained a copy of a rare chapbook about the murders. People are often aware of the Barclay and Peterson chapbooks but not the Alexander version. Probst's death certificate surfaced. Those finds resulted in last-minute revisions. Thank you again. I hope your readers enjoy the book as well.

Mark

8/20/2018 02:32:34 pm

That is an interesting story. It seems to me that this was a story that wanted to be told! I am glad you didn't shelve it. The Dearing's were building their American dream, day by day, until Probst decided to cash in. Like the old fable, killing the goose that lays the golden eggs does not work in the long run.
Susanna Cox, what is her story about?
Have you written other books also? Tell me about those.
Reading about Mary Shelley's life was so sad, it made the plight of the nameless monster even more poignant. Any thoughts on why Mary did not give her monster a name?

Patricia Earnest link

8/20/2018 07:15:45 pm

Susanna Cox was a Pennsylvania German (sometimes called Pennsylvania Dutch) indentured servant convicted of infanticide in Pennsylvania in 1809. After a short investigation, and even shorter trial, she was convicted and hanged. She also served as a metaphor for changing attitudes towards crime in the USA. A ballad was written about the crime and her final days. Many came to believe she was innocent. The ballad kept her story alive through the years. I was lucky to work with my parents on the project. They wrote about the ballad and its printing history while I took the telling of her story. Much of Cox's history has disappeared (the court records were lost, what was thought to be her remains were found and then lost, etc.) whereas Probst received a surfeit of coverage. Interesting as to what difference fifty years makes.
I've written Peter Montelius (Peter Montelius: Teacher and Printer, Printer and Teacher) a Pennsylvania German printer and schoolmaster. A majority of that particular effort is a catalog of his known printed works. It is a different type book than Susanna Cox or The Face of a Monster. And The Forgotten Nephew: D.E. Lick and Old Stumpstown is a small history of Old Stumpstown, Pennsylvania through the eyes of one of its later residents. I've collaborated with my parents on other volumes concerning the printed works of Pennsylvania Germans and I occasionally contribute to "Endpapers" a periodical for the Delaware Bibliophiles. Your last question brings up a memory that still makes me laugh. I was at a book signing for Susanna Cox at the Kutztown Folk Festival soon after Cox was released. A fellow came barreling towards me, clearly in a huff. I'm going to paraphrase a bit, because this was eight years ago, but he said that he did not agree with me. She was guilty and deserved to hang no matter how I felt about capital punishment. I was astonished. I excluded any discussion of capital punishment except to say attitudes were changing and did not include or talk about my personal beliefs at all (which no one but my family knows). Nor did I make any interpretation as to her innocence or guilt. I presented facts as I found them. I explained that historians do not invent information or put their views into studies. To this day, I carefully try to avoid any self in a work of nonfiction. So why did Mary Shelley keep the monster nameless (notice she did give him a gender)? I will bow to author and historian Anne K. Mellor on this question, "...Shelley's purposes are primarily ethical rather than epistemological or aesthetic. She wishes us to see that human beings typically interpret the unfamiliar, the abnormal, and the unique as evil." I get her point. If Shelley had named the monster, let's say "George," suddenly the monster is not so monstrous. It was a wise choice.

Mark

8/20/2018 08:20:36 pm

Very interesting, thank you for sharing about your other works. I am sure at least one person will be looking those up, especially people with ties to early Pennsylvania and the Pennsylvania Dutch.
Susanna was accused of serious crimes, infanticide is terrible. Was there ever talk of witchcraft also?
You are an historian, and it sounds like your parents are as well.
Do you feel like you were born to write?
What are your earliest memories of writing?
How old were you when you discovered the power of the written word? Do you remember what that was?

Patricia Earnest link

8/21/2018 12:49:57 pm

The witchcraft question in regards to Cox has come up previously. There was no mention of it in accounts, trial notes, newspaper mentions, the song, her "confession," etc. contemporary with the trial.
I consider myself to be incredibly lucky to have had my upbringing. Having thinkers as parents opens so many doors.
As a child, I struggled to read, let alone trying to write. We moved a lot, so it might have affected my ability to learn the skill but I was placed in classes for kids who were behind. It wasn't until about second or third grade that a teacher finally explained the entire concept in a way I understood. After that, I excelled. Thankfully, because books became my constant companions through many moves and "new kid in school" episodes. Only then did I consider writing. At the age of ten, I created my own newspaper..The Mississippi Journal. (I think, it was a few years ago.) The periodical which contained made-up stories and stick figure drawings had a limited print run, I am sorry to say. At the University of New Mexico, I studied psychology and sociology. I never thought about pursuing writing professionally until 2008.

Mark

8/21/2018 01:26:47 pm

Very interesting, about the witchcraft thing.
Having to move a lot is tough, when you are young. We finally settled in one place when I entered the sixth grade.
Your newspaper sounds very cute. Did your parents save any of your issues?
New questions.
When you are writing; does it strengthen or weaken you?
What do you consider to be your writing lucky charm?
Do reading, watching movies and listening to music help you be a better writer?

Patricia Earnest link

8/21/2018 02:20:37 pm

I think the moving was tougher on mom, more than anyone. I suffer from serious wanderlust. If the opportunity presented itself even now, I'd pack up in a heartbeat. They probably did save some of the newspapers but I haven't seen them for years. Knowing mom, she saved them.
Does writing strengthen or weaken me? Yes. As many writers can attest, the stories are always THERE. Like the Dearings, they need to be heard. Once on paper, it feels awesome, like a weight has been lifted. Until a news set of ideas leaps in to take their place. In addition to the internal pressure, there are external concerns which can be strengthening or weakening. Depending. Endless rejection, poor reviews, or like the fellow I'd mentioned who had his own agenda with Susanna Cox can all be ...difficult to handle. I thought the Face of a Monster was a fantastic idea, none of the publishers I approached agreed until it was too late. By then, I'd self-published. As for the rest, use them as learning tools. But it is tough,
As cliche' as it may be, my children are my lucky charms. I have the three best kids on the planet (sorry everybody else) and they are my sun, moon, and stars.
Movies or television, not so much. It is not interactive and my mind drifts. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy favorite shows but I cannot say they influence me. Music can invoke feeling if I need it. Thoughtful: Bob Dylan. Angry: Metallica, Soothing, classical, and etc. but silence can be golden.I always read. At any given time I have 4-8 books going, depending upon mood. Always 1 horror/sci-fi, 1 nonfiction (science, art, or history), 1 philosophy or poetry, and 1 whatever. I keep four in my travel bag and 4 by my bed. The creativity of others is always an inspiration. And if I need good versus bad with a certainty that good will win? I always have a Louis L'Amour at hand--even though I have his novels pretty much memorized by now.

Mark

8/21/2018 04:59:42 pm

You certainly out read me. I now have no more than two books going at one time. Not counting proofreading. Most of the time, it's one.
Moms save a lot of stuff, no question. Do your kids write?
More times than I can count, have I heard an author say the story had to come out. That's why I think I am not an author, I don't feel a story trying to escape my head.
New questions.
Your kids are your lucky charm, I love that. What is your writing Kryptonite and how has it affected you?
Is it important for writers to tap into the emotions of the characters?
Is a big ego an asset or liability to writers?

Patricia Earnest

8/22/2018 02:41:51 pm

LOL. I had the down time on reading when I did not understand it as a child and again when my kids were young. I did not read much, then. I'm just catching up to everyone else!
My children don't write but they are willing (maybe captive, I'm not admitting a thing) sounding boards for ideas. All of us read. Books are like Tribbles in this house--they reproduce. I know, libraries, right? They end up costing us more in late fees than if we just buy a book.
I have a theory that if you are a reader, you can be a writer. Although the focus is a little different. You might surprise yourself.
Kryptonite: That which plagues every author. Me, myself, and I. Am I good enough? I believe that was a part of the original delay with The Face of a Monster: America's Frankenstein. Who am I to write about Mary Shelley? What if no one likes my books? My idea sucks. My idea is awesome. No, it really, really sucks. An author's inner dialogue can be terrible.
Emotions: Absolutely. If you don't feel it, why would you expect your reader to feel anything? I found writing about the murders, especially of the children, incredibly difficult. So much so, that in the many revisions, I would skip over those parts. Finally, I had to focus and just do it. I told myself that I would not be doing the Dearing family, Elizabeth Dolan, or Cornelius Carey any justice if I brushed off their deaths. In 2010, I still had my mother but not by the time I finished the book. The grieving mothers was another difficult area.
Interesting question about ego. Overall, I see ego as a liability. I've seen it tear organizations apart because one or two people were more concerned with what they got from an institution instead of paying attention to what they should be doing to further the collective mission. On the other hand, a recognition of your abilities, or lack thereof, can be a good thing. Recognition of and focusing on what you are good at.is an aspect of ego but it is a constructive part. .

Mark

8/21/2018 10:04:59 pm

Great answers! Books are tribbles, no doubt. I love books and maps too! I always enjoy a book more if there is a map attached to it!
I have been toying with the idea of writing a booklet about growing an account on twitter. I average 40-60 new followers every day on twitter. It used to be more, but I quit inviting people to follow me, because the follow up took too long.
I think you honored the Dearing family and the others quite well. I could feel the sensitivity in your treatment of them and everyone else. A lot of respect.
New questions.
Is there really a such thing as writer's block and how do you overcome it?
Do you see an advantage of writing under a pseudonym?
Is suffering a requirement to be a good writer?

Patricia Earnest link

8/22/2018 01:35:04 pm

Oh, I love maps!
I am still learning my way around Twitter. My one regret in the social media quagmire is not beginning Twitter sooner. I truly enjoy the camaraderie between authors, reviewers, readers and others.
Shelley already mattered. I wanted to elevate the Philadelphia victims, that hardworking family and their indentured servant all trying to build their dreams. They deserved so much better. Thank you for your kind comments, it makes me feel like I accomplished what I set out to achieve.
Personally, I am lucky. I've never had writer's block. There is always some idea in my head. I just want to live long enough to get it all on paper.. I do occasionally blank out at a moment when I want to share an idea but can't quite get it there. I put a series of dots in that area and keep going. Otherwise I risk losing other insights.
It is not really a pseudonym. Earnest is my name. Suter would have been my married name and was the name I used for years but... Actually, it is a long, boring story that involves a lot of table-pounding, swearing, and hair-pulling when I get going. Maybe later. I do need advice regarding pseudonyms. I am working on a piece of fiction. I know Steven King, Dean Koontz, and others have written using different names. As far as I know, it is always fiction. Jonathan Maberry writes both as Jonathan Maberry but his nonfiction relates to his fiction. Mine would not. I've been trying to find blogs and recommendations from others who have crossed genres. I'm curious as to how readers feel about it, also. Any advice is appreciated.
Is suffering a requirement to be a good writer? That is a fantastically tough question! When my aunt died, It was sad and I felt for my cousins. I did not completely understand what it was they were going through until I lost mom to the same disease. As I said, then writing the children and mother's sections of The Face of a Monster was terrifically difficult, both as a mother and a child. Some of the drafts might have even had stains from moisture. Coffee or tears? I'll never tell. I think, it would have been more difficult to understand the profound sorrow felt by Shelley at the loss of her loved ones, William Dearing, Mrs. Dolan, and the Duffys if my life was one of sunshine and roses. On the other hand, I feel like a whiny baby if I say my life is full of suffering. It is not. Comparatively, my life is one of sunshine and roses. I mean when I think of others who are abused, or those that suffer chronic illnesses or addiction. I've suffered but it is nothing close to what some go through every day. But I think I could write about their predicaments. So is suffering necessary? Maybe not. Maybe it is empathy that is necessary.

Mark

8/22/2018 02:11:56 pm

Great answers! Thank you for sharing so much of your self and experiences. Since we live in an imperfect world, surrounded by imperfect people, I think suffering is inevitable. We don't all suffer the same, by any means, but it can make us bitter or make us better, by being empathetic towards others who are in the midst of suffering.
I have heard two thoughts about pen names. First, it lets an author keep different genres separate, non-fiction from fiction; the possible downside is that it also limits your audience from crossing over. Second, by writing everything under one name, the audience from one side can find your other works. That is not always a good thing though, particularly when non-fiction and fiction are involved. To me, your non-fiction writing
is so entertaining I don't see a problem mixing fiction and non-fiction, unless you have written some scholarly papers. In that case, use a pen name.
I know an author who is writing in several genres, major characters are crossing over also, she is writing under one name.
New questions.
Are there any authors' writing style that you disliked at first but soon came to like?
Have you ever read a book that changed the way you look at writing?
What are three things, that you wish you knew before you wrote your first book?

Patricia Earnest link

8/22/2018 06:02:30 pm

Thank you again for your kind words about my writing--and for the advice. It is always appreciated.
Ambrose Bierce. I did not like his style at first. A teacher made one of his stories a required assignment. I don't remember what it was but it was not "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge." I read the story unwillingly, thinking "what is this and why does my teacher hate me?" It was a short story but I struggled the entire week to finish. It was probably my first introduction to pre-1970's writing and naturalism. We discussed it in class. I read it again. And again. Then something clicked and I loved it. I asked my parents to buy every Ambrose Bierce anthology and the Devil's Dictionary.
Simon Winchester's The Professor and the Madman. It was the first narrative nonfiction book I remember reading. For me, it opened a door in that history did not have to be told in a scholarly format. History can read like a novel, if done correctly. I have to credit Winchester for opening my eyes in that regard. To this day I have bought that book repeatedly because it walks away. I'm probably his best repeat customer--all on one book.
1. So earlier I said I wasn't influenced by movies, I guess I lied. When I first heard the following line from a character in Terminator, "Think of it this way, in a hundred years who's gonna care?," I took it as a nice way to rationalize when something embarrassing happened. Now, with maturity, I see that one little sentiment has so many layers. Now, I take it to mean without risk there will be no recognition. Maturity has given that, and other, insights.
2. This goes with 1, but confidence. I will never be Steven King. But I could be Patricia Earnest Suter (or pseudonym). I won't know unless I try.
3. The realization that time flies. If one wants to write? They should be writing because...tick-tock.

Mark

8/22/2018 06:34:40 pm

Thanks for giving us the inside scoop! Those are great answers!
Winchester's book sounds interesting. That quote from Terminator is rather profound, thanks for pointing that out.
New questions.
Why do most authors write in 3rd person POV instead of first and second POV?
What was the best money you ever spent as a writer to enhance your career?
What is the most important thing you learned from publishing your first book and this book?

Patricia Earnest link

8/22/2018 08:14:19 pm

As it turns out, I am always happy to talk about myself--I just didn't realize it before. LOL. Seriously, great questions. And my opinions regarding POV are my personal opinions only. I am not trying to offend anyone. I recently tried to read a book that was written in first POV. The main character came off as incredibly egocentric but I do not believe that was the intent. If so, it made the character unlikable. To top it off, the character was a celebrity, therefore, already the center of attention. With the first person POV...Well, I just, I think it is a fine line that an author has to walk so characters and their books don't come across as "me, me, me." In this work of fiction that I am writing, I began by using the first person POV and quit for exactly that reason. The protagonist was becoming too self-oriented for my taste. The second POV? Yeesh. Very hard to get away with it successfully. Are you familiar with the paintings by Diego Velazquez? The person looking at his painting, the viewer, is included in the scene by the characters in the painting. Brilliant! I could look at those all day. In a book, the author has to do it page after page. Tricky, tricky. I do not like reading 2nd person POV so will probably never tackle it.
Money well-spent? 1.College 2. All the time spent buying and reading books and 3. Hannah Hargrave. 1. Although I did not study writing per se, the experience opened doors and I took several writing and literature classes. If the study of psychology and sociology doesn't lend itself to character creation, I don't know what would. I even went back for a second degree, this time tackling chemistry, so ended up writing different types of papers Experience is always useful. (I didn't finish that degree-life got in the way). 2. When you are constantly working the brain and reading the works of talented authors, I think it allows you to construct and put your own ideas into usable formats more easily. I would suggest reading the works of others is incredibly important. And there are libraries so not always costly. 3. Hannah Hargrave was my publicist on this past book and she was AMAZING. She tackled so many emails and came up with so many ideas for marketing that I was too worn out to handle or think of alone. See: discussion of marketing below.
Whew boy--I've actually learned a bunch. One book was published via a publisher. The other was not, so I've had to learn the differences between the two methods of publishing. Luckily, Amazon's Create Space makes it quite an easy process. However, authors have to balance marketing, writing, editing, proofreading (now I've found you so that will be a huge help), social media, websites, and etc. did I say marketing? That alone is a LONG and time-sucking process. Hannah was amazing. I understand the rewards from being self-published can be enormous. BUT study up. I want to write but find I am instead running around like a chicken with my head cut off. I'm up at 5:45 to get to work and often don't stop until 9:00 at night, as long as my eyes hold out. And I am very often visited by characters and ideas at 2:00 in the morning so end up scribbling things down then. (when in college I solved math problems that I could not solve when taking tests--argh.). I call these my "Eureka Moments." I love the insights, I just prefer they not come at 2:00 in the morning but that is their chosen time for no apparent reason. Self-publishing means freedom but it is not for the faint of heart.

Mark

8/22/2018 09:09:32 pm

Wonderful answers, Patricia! I am learning a great deal. I ask the question about POV of every author, I am starting to understand the 2nd person pov. I am going to need to look those paintings up, because that might help.
I agree with you, first person pov can be fraught with problems, not the least of which is head-hopping. That drives me crazy. When done well, first person pov is wonderfully intimate. I have come across one book that does it really well. The author used two main characters and alternated their individual pov. Sometimes the chapters were concurrent, most often they were consecutive. It worked quite well.
Thank you for sharing the distillation of your experience on both sides of the publishing fence that was more than I hoped for. You confirmed what others have said quite well. Not many have done both traditional publishing and self or independent publishing. I think I prefer the latter term.
New questions.
What is the most difficult part of your artistic process?
Do you ever put a story aside and let it stew and comeback to it at a later date? If so, how long before you revisit it?
Do you subscribe to any magazines, newsletters, blogs or podcasts that enhance your writing career?

Patricia Earnest link

8/23/2018 10:33:58 am

These next two thoughts were my 2:00 am visitors--SMH. You are right, I do enjoy a 1st person POV when the author hits the right stride. I didn't mean to come down so hard. It just so happened the last one I read, did not. "Independent publishing" is far better.
The most difficult part of my process is actually physical. I hand write all major parts of a project on scrap paper (usually the backs of drafts of previous projects). My hands hurt after writing and entering it on the computer but I love the feel of paper and pen. It gets my mojo flowing.
Trunk books (stories) I think they are called. The Face of a Monster was a definite trunk book and in that case seven years passed between the first and last drafts. I have many others. In order, my writing day goes along as: 1. Whatever I need to write or do for work. At the moment, I am helping dad revise mom's last book. 2. If I've entered any contests or promised an article for "Endpapers," I will meet deadlines. I just finished an horror short for Storgy Magazine's competition. The experience was a hoot and I hope to enter others. Deadlines always take precedence. 3. Whatever screams the loudest for attention. Last time, it was FOAM. Afterwards, I began a WWI fiction based on an item I have from York, Pennsylvania. It was not flowing well and this current project began to vie for attention anyway. I'll eventually go back to the WWI piece. Maybe it will become a short story? Who knows. The current project has so many offshoot stories and possibilities, it could well keep me occupied the rest of my life.
To be brutally honest, no. I have zero spare time. It always comes back to a story one of my literature teachers shared. One of the greatest of American authors, possibly Vonnegut but she could not remember for sure, was pestered by his alma mater to speak to aspiring authors. He continuously refused until one day he got tired of being asked. The lecture hall was full the day he arrived. Not even standing room was left and lines of students squeezed together in the halls trying to hear. The curtain opened and silence descended. The curmudgeonly author strode out on stage with his folding chair. Making a big deal of opening it up and sitting down, he looked out at the audience. He glared at different points so everyone knew they were included. The author adjusted the mike. "So you all want to write? Then why are you sitting here? You want to write, go home and write."* He then collapsed his chair and left. I believe Steven King has also intimated as much. Not that blogs about writing, podcasts, and etc. don't have their place. I was looking to them for help with the pseudonym dilemma. Recently, I read a fascinating piece about labeling books with triggers, another about book reviews, and etc. but I seek them out as opposed to signing up for subscriptions. On a personal note, I get more communications in a day than I can respond to--I don't want to feel guilty about leaving more unread messages. I DO read book reviews of trusted reviewers.You, Leonard Tillerman, Mother Horror, among others. I am starting to collect a list and "trusted" being a key word. I have seen many on Amazon who are clearly more interested in putting forth their agenda (often political) as opposed to giving an honest rating. In spite of that, reviews are an exceptional learning tools.
*I paraphrased for the author. Those were not his exact words but it was precise sentiment.

Mark

8/23/2018 11:35:04 am

Seven years, that is a long time. You must have despaired many times about FOAM. Thank you for persevering, this is such an interesting and entertaining piece of American history.
I think you are the first author I have spoken with that starts the process manually. I have found myself doing the same thing, in the past, when I have written my website pages. My blogs are written completely on my laptop.
The Vonnegut story is great! What a shock for everyone involved! That's almost as good as Calvin Coolidge's two word reply.
New questions.
How long does the research process take before you start to write a book?
What software do you use to write and publish your books?
Do you have a hidden message in your writings for a particular person or group?

Patricia Earnest link

8/23/2018 02:41:10 pm

Research: It takes as long as it takes. I wouldn’t think anyone would want a poorly researched true history. I went to historical societies across Pennsylvania for Cox, Montelius, and FOAM. Luckily, the Readex system at the University of Delaware allows access to old newspapers. The Smithsonian is also beginning to scan and share those relics, too. Thankfully I had the foresight to grab articles about Probst and Cox at the same time. In 2010, I had most of the newspaper articles already in hand when I wrote that first FOAM draft. Then I put it aside. At a book fair, I saw the Probst chapbooks, one in German and one in English--nudge. In 2014 or so, I was at the Allentown Paper Show. A vendor friend pulled out an old cabinet card to show me and asked if I knew the kid. My jaw dropped as I looked at sole-survivor little William Dearing—nudge, nudge. I believe that is when the need to relate their story became relentless. Anyway, by late 2016, I had received enough nudges that I decided the story must be written. And the timing of H.H. Holmes exhumation was amazing. I was going to visit the grave of the Philadelphia victims anyway but dad caught a news story stating Holmes was being exhumed at the behest of his family—in the same cemetery! I decided it was a great time to visit the Dearing family, Carey, and Dolan. I had no prior knowledge as to how close Holmes is to them. Another last-minute revision, but well worth it. And then when I realized it was the 200th anniversary of Frankenstein? It all came together.
All of the librarians, bar none, at the historical societies, libraries, and museums were amazing. It makes research so much easier. The research for Cox was for the most part contained in Pennsylvania. Although, some newspapers in the mid-Atlantic region reported her story. Much later and after the book was published, we found her ballad had been printed in Canada! The Philadelphia murders were known countrywide. The librarians at the New York Public Library just happened to be collaborating with the Bodleian Library on an online Shelley perspective. The Library of Michigan sent a copy of the rare chapbook to my library. Even weeks after I reached to to them, the New York Public Library's librarians contacted me with articles they’d found on my behalf. At the last moment they found the Kentucky connection. It was another last-minute revision but well worth it. In all, FOAM was seven years of research and would have been longer except for everyone’s help. Do you see what I mean? Everything had fallen into place by 2016.
Word and "after the deadline" to correct mistakes after dad and I have made many editorial passes. In the previous question about money towards the book I mentioned a publicist but forgot another area where I invested heavily. That was the book design by David Provolo. He designed the cover and the interior. In doing so, he formatted everything for me and I did not have to do a thing beyond uploading and downloading when prompted on Create Space and Ingram Spark.
Absolutely! In an unexpected turn of events, I found FOAM structurally mimics the later edition of Frankenstein. Psychologists might say my subconscious made it so. Okay. It was still a pleasant surprise to my conscious self. So, I left it alone, thinking it might prove fun for readers. I have a few sneaks in which I did not credit Shelley but lines from Frankenstein fit a certain scenario so completely I used a sentence, or most of a sentence without quoting Shelley. I inserted these “sneaks” sparingly, maybe one per chapter, if that, but they are there. I thought someday I’d run a contest to see if readers could find them. Readers take note!

Mark

8/23/2018 03:16:00 pm

What an amazing, seemingly unrelated, sequence of events. There were a lot of people who contributed many small and important bits!
That would be a fun contest for Shelley fans!
New questions.
Do you believe that a good book will sell itself?
Do you think good marketing can overcome the limitations of a mediocre book?
What is the biggest myth about writing that would help aspiring authors?

Patricia Earnest link

8/23/2018 06:32:58 pm

Do I think a good book will sell itself? At one time that might have been true. No longer. There are so many books competing for acknowledgement. Sometimes the good can get buried.
Yes, I think good marketing can really create a craze over something that is rather meh. Remember the pet rock! Timing is important, too.
Biggest myth to help authors: As I researched FOAM, my expectation was that I would eventually run across someone who compared Probst to the Frankenstein monster. The only time it ever happened was by our contemporaries. As I discussed in FOAM, Frankenstein's first edition sold out quickly.--500 copies. That's it. Shelley later sold her rights. All told, she received little money for a creation that has endured and engaged readers for two centuries. The point being, Shelley is better remembered now than she was known then. Unthinkingly, I had approached my angle from a modern perspective. Everybody knows Frankenstein NOW. They did not in 1866.
The point being an author works hard, struggles and becomes a capable writer. All those little inspirational quotes say success will come. Maybe it will--but it might not. There are no guarantees in life. And there are no guarantees in THIS life, meaning something written now may catch on a hundred years later. This isn't meant to dissuade anybody but be realistic. Isn't there an old joke about starving artists? As I've taught my kids, have a plan and then have a back-up plan.

Mark

8/23/2018 06:48:34 pm

I think you are right. Compared to even 50 years ago, the marketplace for books has shrunk in that there are so many different ways to consume information, as well as so many different forms of communication. Books and libraries are still very important, but they are quite a way from the top of the list.
That is good advice to your kids We can't all be famous, not even for 15 minutes.
New questions.
Have you gone on any literary tours? If not, do you have an ideal plan for one?
Is there a book that makes you cry no matter how many times you read it?
There are many unethical practices in publishing, which one is the most unbearable?

Patricia Earnest link

8/23/2018 07:19:06 pm

Literary tours. Do you mean like an author's getaway? No, I haven't been able to get away because of work or kids or commitments. Now that the kids are grown, I intend to become more involved in author groups and conventions. I thought about going to the NY Book Expo but opted to send FOAM with the Jenkins Group, instead. I do little exhibits occasionally. For instance, I will be exhibiting at the upcoming Lancaster Printer's Fair on 15 September 2018 in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
A book that makes me cry? Easiest question, ever.. Wilson Rawls' "Where the Red Fern Grows" or "Summer of the Monkeys." Either or. I've read WRFG so many times I don't even need to pick it up to start tearing.
So many unethical practices. It may not fall under "unethical" but I am finding this new "hybrid" publishing to be confusing. You know, the author chips in money to be published with a company. I am not sure what the author gets from the arrangement that they would not get just being an independent. Yet, it is a growing system. I don't know how I feel about it. However, taking an author's ideas and tweaking slightly and then making it into a movie or something is the most heinous practice. Everyone wants it for free. I mean, I'd prefer not to pay most things, too but I provide a service just like any other professional--I want a paycheck. Taylor Swift has done a commendable job protecting her "brand." Authors need to organize and demand similar protections.

Mark

8/23/2018 07:34:53 pm

My question wasn't very clear. I will fix that. I was referring to a literary blog tour, where the author visits several blogs and they talk about the book for an hour and then move onto the next blog. How about book signings in the real world?
I have never heard of a Printer's Fair. That has to be all about books. Doesn't it? Last year, I went to the NW Book Fest, here in Portland, Oregon. I had a blast walking from booth to booth talking to authors! I closed the place down.
There is a group of authors starting to organize. A woman's magazine prints a lot of short stories and have recently changed their contracts. Many of the authors are talking boycott, because the new contract puts them at a tremendous disadvantage. They will lose a lot of their income under the new rules.
New questions.
What is the most valuable piece of advice you have ever received from another writer?
How do you celebrate when you publish a book?
What did you buy with your first royalty check?

Patricia Earnest link

8/23/2018 08:00:23 pm

No, I haven't done a literary blog tour--but it sounds like a blast. This year's Printer's Fair is going to have a focus on potato-printing, I believe. And Chris Fritton The Itinerant Printer will be there along with many demonstrations of the art. I will be there with our books covering the history. As that one section of FOAM discusses Frankenstein's printed history and the printed history covering the murders, it fits.
I believe the most valuable piece of advice was the anecdote regarding the author, although it was not directed at me. "If you want to write. Write." Although, recently I've had the fortune to cross paths with a talented author on Twitter and she added to it, "If you want to write." Read. I think that is a balanced approach.
Hold on to your hat. I game. (I take that you are only as old as you feel, literally. And I still feel like a teenager.) I'm always a little down, like a piece of me is missing once a project ends. Video games are perfect distractions. I allow about a week to complete one game on a couple of different levels. Dead Space. Resident Evil. Silent Hill. Dishonored. Only allowed after the successful completion of a book.
LOL. I bought the item I want to write about for the WWI project. It always goes to another project.

Mark

8/23/2018 08:40:17 pm

Pat has game! I love it. You might like next week's book review. I read a story from a genre I didn't know existed. Have you heard of RPG Literature? It mixes playing the game with real life interludes trying to solve a mystery in the role-playing game. It's sci-fi and fantasy with a touch of steampunk. I enjoyed it a great deal.
Now you have piqued my curiosity. Can you tell me what the WW1 item is? My dad was in the military, my step-dad, and me.
New questions.
How do you balance the demands as a writer and personal relationships?
Do you have any problems when writing about characters of the opposite sex?
In your experience, which marketing avenues have been the most rewarding or profitable?

Patricia Earnest link

8/24/2018 09:49:16 am

I love that first line. Yeah, I've got game. I'd thought with my sci-fi piece that I might try to get someone to base a game on it. Part II not this prequel. I think it will lend itself. But I'd never looked into RPG literature. It sounds fascinating.
It is a friendship book from York Pennsylvania created by Elizabeth Ziegler. Most friendship or autograph books have lines of poetry signed by friends (think “Violets are red...” type poems). They are fairly uniform. Ziegler personalized hers. She created a template which asked each of her friends about their physical descriptions, favorite songs, activities, ice cream, girl and boyfriends, and etc. Using Ziegler’s entry, we know that her favorite piece of jewelry was a "Wedding ring" and that her aim in life was "To have fun." She loved painting, nut sundaes, tulips which she describes as "two lips" and her favorite song was "I want to go back to Michigan." It humanizes these teenagers. Ziegler created it Mar 1915 just a couple of months before the sinking of the Lusitania and the kids added to it through 1917. This is easily among my favorite artifacts.
To be frank, I don't balance much well. I don't only not have zero extra time, it is in the negative. A friend and I once joked that we would each like two hundred more years. As we started comparing projects it became clear we each need over a thousand more years to finish. A lot of my communication takes place via email, even with family, and I am often in the position of having to pick and choose what I can or cannot answer in a day. I WILL get back to everyone. It might just take some time and my kids will always take precedence. My husband is as equally busy. Our paths have always crossed only occasionally. The kids are lucky to exist. The only break I take is a week each year with my friend (sister), who lives in your neck of the woods. We take turns visiting one another—although that has been disrupted for the past couple of years.
If I struggle, it is writing my own gender. I’m not a girly-girl. Neither is my daughter so I can't use her as a muse. I don't want my female character (the one I am writing now) to be blah, but I'd started the book with her sister who has a lot more quirk. I would like this protagonist to be feminine yet strong. Unfortunately, quirky and noisy is more interesting than solid and dependable, traits this character must exhibit. I always think of Scarlett and Melanie in Gone with the Wind. Scarlett comes off as strong and Melanie not as much. No. Scarlett was a squeaky wheel, Melanie got it done. I haven't read the book in years but that was my take away. The struggle is making that solid and dependable femininity interesting and not a trope.
In my experience, mom's business being a good part of my experience, direct mailing has been the best avenue. Then conferences but those are specifically geared to Pennsylvania German studies. After that a website (I am trying to get one set up for my imprint but my webmaster has had terrific health issues and I've been swamped. It is momentarily non-existent. I only have my web page). I'd been told I needed to have a greater social media presence. I have been enjoying it but I finally found someone who put forth numbers about SM actually selling for authors. And I'm a numbers gal-they don't lie. SM does little in terms of sales for authors. Don't expect to sell through SM, that little. Social media’s strength is from the networking aspect.

Mark

8/24/2018 01:11:03 pm

While I have never heard of a friendship book, it does not surprise me in the least. Writing letters was so much more common back then, compared to a century later. The book is a natural extension of that. It's very easy for me to imagine all of her friends circulating their own copy of a friendship book.
The balancing of time is really tough. I spend most of time now on my business, sitting in front of my laptop or reading my kindle.
Not every woman is a girly-girl, I bet there is a lot of women just like you. We are all a mixture of varieties, that's part of what makes us unique, like everyone else.
Do you want to give your Direct Mail provider a shout out or do you handle all that yourself? How big of a mailing list did you buy to start or did you build your list over time?
I think you are right, social media is great for networking, not so much for selling. Most of my customers report a significant increase in followers from the week-long promotion.
I have already asked some questions, I will add only one more now.
This could be a big question for you. What do you think of the current discussion about the ethics regarding historical fiction or is it a free-for-all?

Patricia Earnest link

8/24/2018 02:37:28 pm

Mom, Corinne P. Earnest, handled everything--the direct mail, creating the mailing list, writing, marketing, all of it. She was an under-appreciated marvel who really advanced the study of Pennsylvania German fraktur and Taufscheine (simple version: illuminated manuscripts often recording a birth or birth and baptism).
Louis L'Amour wrote historical fiction, his characters often crossed path with historical figures. They didn't interact, really. James Michener also wrote historical fiction but neither, that I can remember, put words into a figure's mouth. I was always careful to say, as an example, that I don't believe Shelley would have disproved of science. But she isn't here and I can't ask her. Written into a work of fiction, the author is 1. putting words into a historical figure's mouth and 2. Giving that figure a nature/nurture/experience structure that they might or might not have had. 3. They are also giving a personality and series of reactions and responses to that person. If the author isn’t careful, or has an agenda, they might ascribe attributes that were never there in the first place. I don't know. I don't think I would like someone telling me how Edgar Allen Poe would respond in a given situation.
I have a diary of a woman whose son suffered polio. She was keeping this diary at the time Jonas Salk had developed his vaccine but it was too late to help her child. I thought she would be overjoyed at the discovery of a vaccine. She was not. She was clearly suspicious. It goes back to that fellow who approached me at the Susanna Cox book signing. The one who was so sure I had found her innocent and was equally sure I was against the death penalty. He might or might not be surprised by what I think. He hasn’t walked that mile in my shoes. All I can think about right now is Sarah Palin. Like her or not-- it isn’t the point. She never actually said she could see Russia from her house. It was Tina Fey in an SNL skit. Yet, it is now often quoted as fact. One little joke has become a matter of public record. An awful lot of mis-information is around. We need to be careful.

Mark

8/24/2018 03:30:17 pm

Your mom was amazing, no doubt! She carried a big load!
Thank you for shedding some light on the historical ethics issue, that makes it easier to understand. I would agree about not putting fictional words into the mouth of a historical person in their milieu. Some kind of disclaimer would be very important. Some time back, I saw a quote about not trusting quotes you see on the internet, attributed to Abraham Lincoln. Ha ha.
We can't even trust videos now, the technology exists to change what a person is saying in a video clip, not just the voice track but the mouth movements to match.
Scary stuff.
New questions.
Have you ever grown an attachment to one of your characters?
When you have a difficult section in a WIP do you read that section out loud to sort out a difficulty?
Have you read any fictional books that have changed your perception of that style of writing?

Patricia Earnest link

8/24/2018 07:04:38 pm

Oh yes. Fictional and not. Mary Shelley, the fellow I just turned in for a short story competition, the victims on the Dearing farm, and one of the doctors and the preacher in the Cox saga. I think they really tried to make an effort on her behalf. I just killed off a character in the sci-fi piece, it made me terrifically sad. I think that connection is why I feel adrift after a project's completion.
Yes. Reading aloud really gives the brain a different perspective and it catches mistakes it has otherwise memorized. Also lulls in a manuscript. Those areas that are kind of a drag. For some reason when you hear them, you recognize an area that is dragging on and slowing the narrative.
Yes. Poetry. I was not a particular fan, although I did not hate it, until a teacher read Emily Dickinson. The line "As I could not stop for death, he kindly stopped for me." Changed my view entirely. The sentiment drew me in to her poetry but also opened new doors. Dickinson and Emerson are two favorites but it extended to Shakespeare, Homer, and others I am no scholar and could not have an intelligent discussion about any of it. This is for my own pleasure.

Mark

8/24/2018 09:55:33 pm

I am not surprised about the feeling you have experienced as an author. I feel a good deal of that myself just as a reader. I recently read and reviewed a collection of short stories "Love Around the Table". These were contemporary romance, and I was amazed at the quality of writing and how each story made my eyes sweat. A very pleasant surprise to discover how much I enjoyed these stories.
I use the read aloud technique also with a difficult passage. Keeping the pace going is an important part of a well-crafted story.
Poetry is an interesting and complicated subject for me. Sometimes I get mixed up in the layers and am not sure which way to turn. I have read some interesting stuff recently. I have reviewed a couple of poetry books by Wendy E Slater, she call it shamanic poetry, if I recall correctly.
New questions.
Do the reviews of your books make an impact on how you write subsequent books or volumes?
Is it hard or easy to connect with your muse, why do you think it is that way?
Are there any secrets people are bound to find when they read your books?

Patricia Earnest link

8/24/2018 11:12:24 pm

Do the reviews of my books impact how I write? I've been lucky in that I've been graced with good reviews.* But it would depend. Reviews in which I hit someone's trigger (one reviewer, for instance, wouldn't tackle FOAM because of the murder of children. It turns out she had lost a child. I will forever feel terrible and insensitive for even asking her to review it but I did not know.) well, that is something personal to the reader and cannot be helped. If it was that my errors in research or writing were called into question, I would do everything I could to correct the situation. I do not like putting forth a poor product.
I have various muses, depending upon the project. The times I really get driven are by critics or even poorly worded comments by friends such as "well, I like reading famous authors." That really puts a fire in my belly.
If you can't tell by my long-winded answers, I enjoy talking and I always shoot for honesty. I am an open-book and I've never cared for mind games. So no, no secrets. Sneaks, like in Frankenstein or vague references to favorite books, movies, etc. will be in my sci-fi work but I don't think that is a "secret."
*One sub-standard review was posted on Ebay. It was not even clear that the "reviewer" even purchased or read Susanna Cox but he felt that it was male vs. female and that I am prejudiced against men. The infant died in 1809. Cox's employer was male. The justice of the peace was male. The sheriff was male. The under-sheriff was male. Her three lawyers were male. The prosecuting attorney was male. The judge was male. The jury was entirely male. The coroner was male. The doctor who tried to defend her was male. Another doctor was called to the stand--also male. The executioner was male. The father of the baby was male and the justice of the peace knew his name but never revealed it.The preacher who offered comfort was male. The governor who was called upon to commute her sentence was male. No women were called to testify and Cox never took the stand. I don't know how I could have handled it any differently. To me the "reviewer" looks like someone with a silly agenda and no understanding of history.

Mark

8/25/2018 01:19:55 pm

I think you nailed it, Pat. Some people serve their agenda instead of actually contributing something meaningful. I look at something like that as junk mail, I acknowledge it came in my mailbox, but it has no significance for me.
You are right, sometimes a person has a good reason for not being able to follow through on a book review. That is like walking through bushes and tripping on an exposed root, you couldn't see the root but it still caused a stumble. You just keep moving on.
BTW, I love your long answers.
New questions.
Do your friends and family members buy your books?
Do you proofread, edit your own books or use a professional?
What are the main advantages of being self-published as opposed to getting a book deal?

Patricia Earnest link

8/25/2018 05:54:10 pm

I have the best friends a person can have. Very supportive and yes, they buy my books. Or, I should say, they buy the narrative nonfiction. I can understand that not everyone wants a catalog of the print work of Peter Montelius. Family is, well, “hit and miss” is the best description. Better move on from that, LOL.
In the past, we have proofread and edited our own books. With three sets of eyes on a draft, it was not problematic. Now, a proofreader/editor will be a good investment and free up some time. Additionally, my sci-fi piece is not something dad would enjoy. I will feel better having additional eyes on it. One's brain sometimes misses a mistake. It corrects the error for the author who thinks they are reading it right.
Strengths of having a publisher. They used to shoulder much of the production cost. I am not sure that is always true anymore. In FOAM, I enjoyed having control over the design and deciding which pictures to use and how. The rights to use a picture can be expensive. The image of older Shelley cost several hundred dollars, for instance. It was my decision to include them or not. In Susanna Cox, we procured many of the images and the publisher made the final decision. However, we received a stipend for those that cost. They also provide editing, proofreading, and indexing. Some of the burden is lifted from the author. The big benefit of a publisher or agent is that they have the marketing and networking contacts that an independent author might not have. A foot in the door, so to speak.
Freedom is one of the biggest benefits of independent publishing. This includes both creative freedom and life beyond the book. There were two major segments removed from Susanna Cox that I believed important to her story. The editor disagreed. He might have been right, who is to say? But I found them important. In FOAM if I believed information was imperative, I had no one to argue the point. Also, re: Susanna Cox, I cannot engage in any further writing of her story or no movie-making according to the contract. The Reading Theater Project (Reading, Pennsylvania) wrote and performed a play about Susanna Cox. I was able to consult but that was the limit of my involvement. (I was also supposed to be there for the performance but ended up hospitalized. It was a sold-out show!). That will not be a problem with FOAM as I maintain all rights to my work.

Mark

8/25/2018 06:22:01 pm

Sometimes friends are our real family, in some ways.
You are so correct, our brains do lie to us when we are trying to self-edit. Sometimes it's almost as bad as spell checkers. We know how the prose should read and our brains trick us with the ideal rather than the reality. Fresh eyes are paramount for effective proofreading.
You displayed some of those differences quite well. I never thought about movie rights and such. Is it hard to copyright material? I am wondering if I should copyright my original material on my website?
New questions.
Do you think independent publishers can produce a book as good as mainstream publishers?
How do you convince readers to give you a book review?
What do you think about book trailers?

Patricia Earnest link

8/25/2018 09:05:04 pm

Not at all. The US Copyright (I can't think of the full name right off the bat) is quite easy to work with and I would copyright your website, if not every posting. People need to protect their pictures, as well. Certain large websites, I won't name names, feel they can use your pictures if it shows an item that is old enough to be in the public domain. NO. If you took the picture of the item, you own the picture. I would make sure it is protected. Images are quite desirable now. ...and hijacked quite often. Always protect your work.
Absolutely. Remember, I keep four books by my bed at all times? At the moment, three of the four have been written and produced independently. I just finished two others that I believe were independent. Traditional publishers and literary agents aren't infallible and they get tons of submissions. I can think of a couple of books that the author was rejected when going through traditional channels. Luckily, they believed in their work and independently published, doing quite well. Some were later picked up by traditional agents.
Funny question. I suck at getting people to review. I know friends have read FOAM and told me they thoroughly enjoyed it. One copy passed through a family of seven. All wrote to tell me it was great (they are not the type of people who would lie to spare my feelings) and I can't get them to write a review. My son's girlfriend tried posting a review but Amazon keeps rejecting it (3 times now). And on Goodreads, someone with the name of Patricia Suter gave FOAM five stars. It looks like I rated my own book. Reviews and I mix as well as oil and water. I have been cursed to go down in history as the Review-Free author. Review-Free might even by my super-hero name--call me REF for short.
Book trailers, I don't know. They are cool, I'll be the first to admit. I like looking at them. But they seem geared towards those who might not read. Not one has persuaded me to purchase a book. They have, however, made me wish the book was a movie. So is that doing what they are meant to do? I don't know. A friend insisted FOAM needed one and created it. I am forever grateful. See? Best friends in the world.

Mark

8/25/2018 09:37:36 pm

Thanks for the tip about copyright. I will do some research.
You are a great consumer of independent publishing! I guess I am also. Very few of my book reviews are of mainstream published books.
You have a lot of company in terms of getting people to leave reviews. It is a common lament among most authors. I keep hoping someone will share the secret to hundreds of reviews, I am beginning to think there is no secret.
New questions.
Have you ever tried a promotional price of $0.99 or giving a book away for free? Some authors do this to build a mailing list, they give it away on their website.
What famous person living or dead that you would like to meet? A famous author?
Have you ever thought about speaking to a college or high school writing class?

Patricia Earnest link

8/26/2018 01:28:11 pm

Keeping the difference in mind between a professional reviewer, someone who puts up reviews but is not a blogger or professional, and those who rate books…Writing a worthy review is a time-consuming process. This is why many friends/acquaintances/etc. don’t tackle reviews, they are all busy. Furthermore, even if they adopt a pseudonym, a person performing the review is putting themselves out there. I’ve got four friends who’ve out and out said they are too uncomfortable (the most introverted of the introverts). I see no problem in an author seeking professionals. Just so long as the professional keeps it honest. No one will believe someone who rates everything five stars. And yes, I am always looking for people willing to provide honest reviews.
I actually have mailed quite a few books off for free. I intend to do more promotions and giveaways.
All dead. I had a dream long ago that a living actor I liked came to my door. I was so excited and startled I turned to run and hit my face on a newel post knocking out all my teeth! The tv series Community did a similar bit in which Donald Glover's character met his idol, LaVar Burton. Glover's character was so horrified he ran screaming through the halls and ended up catatonic in a room. I really sympathized. I'll leave the living be. I would like to talk to Pennsylvania’s Dr. William Stoy and his wife Elisabeth Maus Stoy. They need to clear up a few points for me regarding a nonfiction I am working on. I would love to meet Mary Shelley. I have a long list of questions to ask and I’d like to know if I got her right. Eleanor Roosevelt. Talk about a smart, cool woman. Winston Churchill and Mark Twain. Except for Shelley and the Stoys, I don't think I'd want to engage with the others but wouldn't it be fun to be a fly on the wall?
I spoke to the Reamstown Historical Society about Peter Montelius. I've spoken about Susanna Cox at a few venues. Recently, I addressed the Fellowship of American Bibliophilic Societies. If I am fully honest, public speaking is not my favorite way to engage but I will do it, if possible.

Mark

8/26/2018 04:47:38 pm

You make an interesting distinction between a professional and an amateur book reviewer. I think I am a hybrid. My reviews are not an in-depth analysis of a book. I approach a book as a reader, how much I enjoy the book is dependent on how well it is written. Anything that interrupts the smooth flow of reading is a problem that needs to be addressed. Spelling issues and missing words are some of the things I encounter in every book.
You might be interested in knowing I have several lists on my Twitter home page, these are lists of people who provide services to authors including reviewers and book bloggers. You and every other author are welcome to avail yourself of the lists, that is what I have started them for.
I love those latter choices, I don't know anything about the Stoys. Being a fly on the wall sounds really good to me for the others.
New questions.
Are there any books you think every author should read?
Have you ever felt like giving up or taking an extended break, what did you do?
What are your thoughts about mentoring other writers?

Patricia Earnest link

8/26/2018 06:52:23 pm

I would STRONGLY recommend authors visit your Twitter page, as well, it is quite helpful. If I were to take up book reviews professionally, I would also approach it from the reader's POV. When I review now (not as a professional but to get the author a review), it is from that perspective. Personally, I hate getting tangled up in pronoun usage. Nothing shifts me out of a story like trying to figure out which character "he" might be.
My list would reflect a high school's reading list. Catcher in the Rye, everything Orson Wells, Vonnegut, Bronte, Bradbury, Dickens, and etc. My kids did not have to read Johnny Got His Gun, I would suggest that novel and now teachers can use the "Metallica" angle. How cool is that? Watership Down is highly recommended. Beyond the classics, I strongly suggest Steve Toltz's Fraction of a Whole. His character development is stupendous. He made it look easy. I strongly believe the better read an author is, the easier the writing process.
2016. Mom's final year. It threw dad and I for a loop. We are still re-grouping as to whether to put fiction or nonfiction first. As it stands, we focus on nonfiction in the morning and fiction in the afternoon. But quitting crossed both our minds. It took some months but I redirected my energies into FOAM.
No, I don't think I would tackle mentoring. It is time consuming and time is something I don't have, anyway. That is not to say if someone shoots me a question, I won't answer. Or when someone asks for insight on Twitter, I'll answer. That is different, I think.

Mark

8/26/2018 07:30:50 pm

There are a lot of aspects of grammar that can be confusing, when the rules are sorted out and properly applied, the reading tends to be smoother.
That is a great list of books. Tell me more about the Metallica angle, I am not familiar with it.
Losing your mom had to be so hard. She sounds like she was such an important part of the team.
Working both sides of that fiction/non-fiction fence like that sounds like it's working well for you and dad. I bet it eliminates a lot of writer's block issues. I have suggested to authors in the past to have multiple projects going concurrently, even short stories and entering contests can break that logjam wide open.
I think most authors are like you, taking on an apprentice is impossible but answering a few questions online is very doable. I have found most authors are happy to share.
New questions.
Is there any particular time of the day that ideas usually hit you?
How do you relax when you're not writing?
What is your favorite motivational phrase that keeps you going?

Patricia Earnest link

8/27/2018 12:19:14 pm

Metallica bought the rights to Trumbo's Johnny Got His Gun and wrote the song "One," the music video shows clips from the JGHG movie. Teachers would have so many angles to approach it with, it would make an incredible pop-culture study. It is probably being taught somewhere--I'd like to take that class!
I wasn't kidding--2:00 a.m is my "Eureka!" time. I don't know why, it has always been an active time for me. Before I needed ideas for books, it was the problem-solving time. It was the moment I would dream I was missing a test and shoot out of bed running down the hall of the dorms, in my pj's, trying to get to a non-existent test. Or I would come up with the answers to questions that I had missed on tests. In high school, it was the perfect time to think of that response to an insult someone had delivered. 2:00 a.m. is my creative time, much to my disgust.
Reading or, as I said, playing games in between projects. If my kids are visiting those include board games and pinochle. Lunch or dinner with friends. Antique and book shows. Art shows. Programs put on by historical societies. As I said--I need a thousand more years.
It's a song. "I get knocked down but I get up again You are never gonna keep me down." Tubthumping by Chumbawumba

Mark

8/27/2018 01:05:17 pm

I have heard of Metallica, aren't they a death metal band from the 80s? I have never been much into music, it is a background thing for me. Most of the time I turn it off if it intrudes into my foreground.
0200! What a terrible time for sparks of genius! I bet you keep a pad of paper beside the bed, to write those inspirations down. Or do you leave the computer up and running all the time, for those must-have notes?
Board games are a lot of fun! I have fond memories of playing pinochle with my mom in the family antique store, when I was in high school. You have a nice variety of activities to recharge with. We both need a thousand years. My goal is much simpler, I just want to read almost every book out there.
I love that song title! I have never heard of it, of course.
New questions.
Do you write or read poetry?
Is there something, as a writer, you feel you need the most improvement in?
Is there a cause you are passionate about?

Patricia Earnest link

8/27/2018 02:15:41 pm

Pen and paper by the bed. I understand about music, I rarely listen when writing and think silence is underrated. Funny, as a child that was my goal. Once I caught on to the reading thing, I wanted to read every book written. It was a sad moment when I realized it could never happen--unless I freeze my brain. I'm keeping that option open.
Yes to both. I find poetry to be relaxing and conducive to letting emotions surface when I am ready to deal with them, not when I am standing in the grocery store.. Usually, I only write small bits of poetry and often for purposes of humor. I'm not very good.
Yes, I would like to be up to Steve Toltz's level of character development. I am struggling with my character who is shouldering the burden of being a dependable person. Dependable is often equated with "boring." I don't want to dumb her down, period. And I don't want a sharp-tongued character, just to make her interesting because she is nice (another trait seen as boring). It is not coming easily.
In no particular order 1. Animal welfare 2. Veteran welfare 3..Enlightenment. Television and the small bits of information found on the internet--which have zero substance or context--are killing brain cells at an alarming rate. Not that I don't watch tv or play games I am not trying to demonize anything but everything in moderation. Except reading--stave off Alzheimer's and read a book.

Mark

8/27/2018 02:50:05 pm

I guess we have a lot in common. Abuse of any kind makes my blood boil.
I bet the poetry exercises slight different creative muscles, I am glad I asked about that. Would you like to share one of your humorous poems?
Since still water runs deep, I can appreciate the difficulty you are experiencing. Froth and sizzle are easier to describe.
New questions.
Where do you find inspiration for your books?
How do you fight against plagiarism?

Patricia Earnest link

8/27/2018 05:00:22 pm

I cannot think of one of the humorous ones off the top of my head and I'd have to try to dig them out from a memory stick, somewhere. For a recent #satsplat with a mythological bent, I offered (from memory):
Hephaestus was grisly to gaze upon
but his craftsmanship was rivaled by none,
Pandora was exquisite to behold,
upon mankind an evil she bestowed.
I like layers in poetry Hephaestus created Pandora and etc. .
Sometimes, a sliver of a story will appear when researching another narrative. For instance, I found Probst and the Dearings while researching Susanna Cox. At the same time, another interesting case fell into my lap about a man who tried fighting for his humanity. I tried to start it but the time is apparently not right because it came to an abrupt halt. I'll try to tackle it another day because his fight deserves to be told. Re: the fiction. I don't know. The one I am working on at the moment was there, somehow.
Me plagiarizing: I don't ever want to steal from anyone, period. But it is difficult. I have one of those memories...not quite eidetic but good. Age might kick it off, someday but for now I worry I've copied others without realizing it. If so, other authors, it is because I LOVED your work. I tend to dump what I don't like.
Others copying me? I don't divulge much of what I am writing until I feel it is at a point that no one else would be able to do all the research and writing before I finish (nonfiction). I haven't had to worry in fiction arena yet. I've mentioned photos and they are a huge problem. I have to watch out for images in our books showing up on those websites that I won't name and go through the process of explaining that while the item (a paper or broadside) might be in the public domain...it is MY picture and therefore copyrighted. They cannot go through books, snap pictures and use them however they see fit. I am lucky that I also have friends and colleagues who tell me when an item appears on one of those sites but it is a battle. I have a cartoonist friend and she has to watch that her work doesn't appear without her permissions. Often the people remove her signature so she does not even get advertising. Protect yourself.

Mark

8/27/2018 05:18:33 pm

Cute little poem, thank you for sharing it. It beats roses are red … . I hope you are able to restart the story about the man, some day soon.
I could see how the pictures would be a problem. You are lucky to have extra eyes out there, and a reasonably small pond makes detection easier also.
I have really enjoyed our conversation over this week, Patricia. I am looking forward to seeing your future writing also. I am starting a new promotional week tomorrow and have lots of proofreading to do. Perhaps we can pick this up again in the future. Don't be surprised if someone else comes along and asks you a question or two.
Until next time, take care of yourself and keep your pencil sharp.

Patricia Earnest link

8/28/2018 11:34:33 am

I'm always happy to answer questions. Thank you for everything. It has been a ton of fun. Best, Trish

The Face of a Monster: America’s Frankenstein by Patricia Earnest Suter

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