Sunday, August 17, 2014

Why I Write Blog Hop-Why Does Carol Shenold Write


 
 


WHY I WRITE

My best friend, Amy Shojai, tagged me to join her in a “Why I Write” blog hop. Amy and I have been in a writing group together for twenty years. She not only is she an animal behaviorist with multiple cat and dog care books, but she’s written two “Thrillers with bite.” “Lost and Found” and Hide and Seek.” Visit her at http://amyshojai.com

     Why I write has always been a difficult question to answer. So, here are several reasons.

  1. By the time I was in third grade, I realized I could read every book in the library, even if I couldn’t understand it. I was so excited. That’s when I fell in love with books and words. I couldn’t get enough of reading and listening to others read, like my grandmother.
  2. In school I was in the library club, wrote book reviews, and was the kid who enjoyed writing essays. My sister and I took the bus to the downtown Dallas library every week during the summer and checked out as many books as possible. I should have known even then that I would be destined for the writing life.
  3. I wrote my first book when romances were the first big thing. I saw writers on television talk about being writers and for some reason figured out you did not have to live in New York to be a writer. I was a little slow to pick up on that.
  4. I wanted to be published, but even more, I wanted to give other people the same pleasure of getting lost in a book that I also enjoyed. I’ve learned a lot.

The writing life is hard, long, and difficult to break into. If you focus on the on the end product, you might get lost. Focus on the journey, enjoy the writing and editing, send off the manuscript and write the next one. To make a living as a writer, be willing to write fiction, non-fiction, teach and spread your wings in multiple directions.
 

  1. Back to why I write. I love books and stories. My grandmother was a wonderful story teller. She told me and my sister scary tales at bedtime, to my mother’s lasting horror.  For me, the creation of worlds allows me to get lost in other lives and reading allows me to enjoy worlds created by others. I love Post apocalyptic and paranormal tales. 
  2. I’m finally retired from 50 years of nursing. As much as I love writing fiction, nonfiction pays more quickly. I’ve been writing non-fiction, medical-technical and pet related. So, even though I can now write full-time, I have to divide writing time between paying gigs and fiction. But, I’m doing what I always wanted to do, full-time, and love it.
  3. The most difficult part of the writing life for me, is the fact that writing time takes away from reading time and I love reading. Never have enough time for reading, never have too many books. Never have enough time for all the art I want to create.
 

Now it’s time for me to tag a couple of other writers.

Rinda Elliot has written the Beri O’Dell series,”Dweller on the Threshhold” and “Blood of an Ancient.” She also loves making wine and gardening. Go visit her at https://relliott4.wordpress.com

 
 


Tabitha Shay is a romance writer who writes witchy titles such as “Witch’s Brew” Witch’s Heart” Witch’s Moon” Now she’s added angels to the mix and you can meet the Angels from Deadwood. You can visit her fun website at www.tabithashay.com

 

Be sure to come visit me at www.carolshenold.net or http://carol-carolsinkspot.blogspot.com. “Fairy Dust”, “Privy to Murder” and “Bloody Murder” are all available at www.Amazon.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wednesday, August 6, 2014

New Discovery

I've discovered Elizabeth Von Armin and "Elizabeth and her German Garden." Beautiful writing, and can so identify with this Edwardian writer, her views on nature, gardens, babies, books, neighbors and visitors. Solitude is to be prized when you can find it.


Don't make the mistake of thinking the real life Elizabeth was a shrinking violet. Born in Australia, raised in England, married a duke, lived in Germany, had a divorce, an affair with HG Wells among others, died in the US in 1941. Acerbic sense of humor and definitely a feminist.


So enjoying a book I would never have picked up if my Grand daughter had not invited me to join her book club. Many thanks to Nikala.