BWW Members Share Their Experience at Local Author Fairs

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local book fairCurious about what goes on at local author fairs and how you might participate in one? BWW published authors Georgann Prochaska, Janet Souter, and Dorothy Winsor offer advice and insight after their recent participation at the Schaumburg Library Local Author Fair.

How does a local author get included in this type of fair?

Georgann: Research. Look up the library website and also type “author fair” after the library’s name. Look for author fairs a library may have had in the past. Call them to see if they will be having a future fair. Ask to be on their list if they do. Decide how far you want to travel. Check out libraries well in advance.

Janet: I’ve learned about fairs mostly by word of mouth. I found this website, but so far it only lists book fairs in the South through March 2022: https://www.bookreporter.com/book-festivals.

Dorothy: I search for author fairs online. Also, I ask BWW friends. Continue reading →

Origins of The Space God Memoirs Podcast

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BWW member Alex Oleksiuk, pen name A.M. Arktos, describes the journey of writing and producing his upcoming podcast series, The Space God Memoirs.

Alex Oleksiuk, creator of Space God Memoirs

Alex Oleksiuk

As I near the final stages of launching my first audio fiction podcast,  I can see that my years spent in the Chicago improv scene, acting classes, and a number of voice-over lessons have paid off.  I chose the audio format as it seems the best medium to bring my characters and world into existence.

The podcast story is set in a science-fantasy universe of soul powered technology, galactic warfare and sentient starships. Space God is a tale filled with action and adventure, a touch of humor, and a dash of spirituality.  It is a continuing story told by Keph, a young adventurer from a backward planet, who finds himself pulled into a conflict of cosmic proportions.  The original idea for the series came to me in a dream, though it features an amalgamation of ideas inspired from role-playing games, ancient astronaut theory, and all the weird media I’ve consumed over the years.

By the time I finished the first draft I was writing with audio in mind.  Like many people I enjoy listening to fiction, and in recent years I’ve gotten more into audio books than paper ones. I knew it would be a daunting task.

The early stages of preparing Space God were similar to writing a novel.  Writing drafts, editing them, re-arranging the chapters, removing characters, adding characters, putting together swathes of lore that was mostly for my own reference, etc.  I went through multiple revisions of what became the first season of Space God, assisted by constant commentary from my faithful BWW writers group.  I spent many moons during the pandemic poring over my documents and refining my work, delving deep into the Space God universe and channeling Keph into this reality. Continue reading →

Moving the Lessons of History Forward in Fiction

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Ed Plum historical fiction novel

Writer Ed Plum

Ed Plum taught social studies and English integrated studies for thirty years at Barrington High School.  A Scripps-Howard grant funded Ed’s masters’ thesis, “A History of the Church of God (New Dunkers) 1848-1962.  He authored eight articles from the thesis for The Brethren Encyclopedia, Vols. 1 and 2, Philadelphia, 1983. He’s working on a historical fiction novel.

You were a high school social studies teacher. What historical time period intrigues you most?

The question is somewhat like asking who my favorite child is. I am most intrigued by periods of major cultural, technological, intellectual, and social change because of the varied responses to these changes. I’ve spent a fair amount of time studying the nineteenth century that created the political contours for the world I’ve lived in for 74 years.  Classical Greece and Chinese civilization interest me for the philosophy and literature.

What made you decide to write rather than read, study or teach from books?

 My pedagogy prepared me to write historical fiction.  I collaborated with others in designing social study problems for the classroom.  Students assumed a character’s identity from a specific time, dressed in costume, and attempted to achieve a particular objective, i.e., convince a Medieval town council to adopt sanitary measures to prevent the spread of a plague without revealing one’s modern identity. Writing a historical novel contains a more compelling narrative and has a wider impact than instructional material.

Your story is set during World War II with characters who are conscientious objectors (COs). How did you go about choosing this as a subject for your novel?
 Continue reading →

Sung Kim Shares the Struggles and Aspirations of a Self-Taught Writer

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Writer Sung Kim

Writer Sung Kim

Sung Kim is a South Korean immigrant who came to the United States in 1984 at the tender age of ten with his parents and older brother. Sung’s practice in writing short stories has led him to the current challenge of working on two novels simultaneously. He has a degree in art and shares his thoughts on what it’s like to be a self-taught writer.

You are a graphic designer by trade, what attracted you to putting words on the page?

As anyone who enjoys reading, I too, since a young age, always wondered if I could write a book. When I first came across Cormac McCarthy I thought if only I could write just one paragraph or even a sentence like him, I would die a happy man. So, one day, after a long period of procrastination, I sat on my dining room table, pictured a scene in my head, and just wrote. To my surprise it was quite good. To this day, I think what I wrote on that kitchen table might be my best paragraph yet.

Why and how are you working on two novels at once?

It comes from my short story writing habits. I always write multiple, that way if I get stuck on one, I can continue on with another. I was hoping that it will carry over to novels, but so far it doesn’t seem to want to work as I am stuck on both novels. I am finding novels are a completely different animal from short stories. Continue reading →

John Maxwell on Being a Not-Yet Published Writer

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Profile of BWW member John MaxwellBWW member John Maxwell has not published any books yet. He is working on a young adult fiction story about a troubled boy who encounters an old wise man who agrees to take him down river in a canoe so the boy can reach his ailing mother. John is also working on a non-fiction book that shares the lessons he’s learned as a sales training mentor to small business owners. In this interview he shares his thoughts on the unromantic parts of being a not-yet published writer.

How often do you stare at a blank screen and produce nothing worthwhile?

It happens frequently. Too often I sit down with the intention to write and I have nothing in my head. Sometimes I’d just jump into it and write a few paragraphs. Then I read it and decide that what I have written is crap and I just delete it.  I know the formula to break this is to change my surroundings or immerse myself in other creative work. When my brain is re-stimulated, the content can begin to flow again.  Continue reading →

Welcome to the Young Adult Fantasy World of Author Dorothy Winsor

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Author Dorothy WinsorDorothy Winsor is a former English professor at Iowa State University who taught technical writing. She served as editor of the Journal of Business and Technical Communication and won six national awards for her research on the communication practices of engineers. After retiring, she turned her talent to writing for a much different audience. She now writes young adult fantasy books published by U.K.-based Inspired Quill.

You’ve written and published five young adult fantasy books since 2015. How do your stories come to you?

Usually, they’re sparked by something I read, or hear on the news, or see on TV. When I find myself thinking, “Huh, that’s interesting,” it often means that’s an idea I can twist or slide a little sideways to create something new.

For example, I got the idea for The Wind Reader when my husband was watching the old TV show “Psyche.” That show is about a fake psychic who’s approached by the police to help solve a crime. When he succeeds in doing so, he’s stuck having to keep faking it convincingly.

I write YA fantasy and the idea of fake psychic made me think of using a fake fortune teller. My central character is marooned in a city far from home. To earn enough to eat he fakes being able to tell fortunes. Then he accidentally tells a true fortune for the prince and is taken into the castle to be the royal fortune teller, where, like the character in “Psyche,” he has to keep faking it convincingly in the midst of an assassination plot. Continue reading →

BWW March Writing Prompt Submissions

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Thank you to those who submitted their response to the March writing prompt: Describe a brief encounter you had with a stranger that has stuck with you. For example, an encounter that taught you a life lesson, allowed you to discover something about yourself, or was just a beautiful/ugly moment you’ll never forget.

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Guy at a Gas Station

Homeless guy waves me over tonight in town. We’ve talked on a few occasions. He’s sometimes a genius and other times confused, but always kind. Gives me 2 bucks. I refuse. He’s says, “You gotta take it. Somebody gave me pizza and a big jug of Pepsi. I’m good.”

I say “No, man, keep it for tomorrow.” He says, “I can only take it one day at a time.” We agree. I give it back to him tomorrow morning in front of the Mobil station.

by Tom Fenwick

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T.D. Arkenberg Discusses Writing and Publishing in Multiple Genres

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T.D. Arkenberg

 

Todd Arkenberg is the author of three novels, two non-fiction books, and a collection of short stories that have received multiple honors and awards. Arkenberg received a BA degree in Literature from Northwestern University and an MBA from The University of Chicago. He is an active member of the Barrington Writers Workshop. See his website at tdarkenberg.com

 

 

Why, in your late 40s, did you decide to forgo your career as an airline executive to write full time?

After 23 years in various executive positions at United Airlines, I decided the time was right to leave the corporate world. I’d just completed a major project to create a platform and framework for cultural change at the airline. I’m proud of my work at United and still consider many of my colleagues, dear friends. A supportive spouse with a good job made my risky decision possible. Continue reading →

A Valentine Poem by Toni Louise Diol

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Made For Me

He folds me

into warm arms,

a safe place

that has been mine

for fifty-four years,

and will belong to me

for as long as we

both shall breathe.

 

He holds my hand

during long walks

through woods,

mountains or along seashores.

 

Over the years,

we have inhaled

sea air

pine scents,

camellias,

and fields of wild flowers,

beneath the sun, moon

and stardust

twinkling down on us.

 

I fit into the hollow

just beneath his chin,

the place

meant just for me.

 

–Toni Louise Diol

Author Cynthia Ripley Miller Merges Adventure, Romance and History

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Cynthia Ripley MillerCynthia Ripley Miller brings the past to life through her Long-Hair book series set in fifth century Rome. Miller holds two degrees and has taught history and English classes. Her third book “A Sword Among Ravens” was just published.

Why do you choose to write romantic historical novels?

Even as a teen, I was captivated by classic stories like Ivanhoe, Romeo and Juliet, The Count of Monte Cristo, War and Peace, Pride and Prejudice, and many more. I enjoy escaping into a world of adventure, intrigue, romance, and drama. I feel at home and comfortable writing romantic adventure stories set in historical settings. I taught history, and I find the cultures, traditions, and beliefs of the past fascinating. I also enjoy a good love story.

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