I got a surprising amount of reading done in December. But after turning in the final draft of Dancer’s Flame for edits, and finished my NaNoWriMo project, I was pretty wiped and it was time to feed the beast…I mean, the muse. Plus Grandma stayed with us for two whole weeks, so I got to do a lot of after-dinner curled up in a chair reading while the shrieks of bedtime carried on without me.
In three words: short, sweet and (pretty) sexy. This had all the markers of something I’d like in terms of setup but it wasn’t particularly memorable for me – though that’s perhaps a length issue.
Verdict: I’d pick up anything by Rowan again, but this wasn’t my bag.
What if your new next door neighbor was a nosy Hemsworth brother? Would you kick him out of bed (or off your lawn)? The best part of about this book for me was the friendship between Isla and her friends. They are loveable and zany, and so maybe some of their “helpful” interventions were over the top, the best (laugh out loud) moments of the book came when they were on the page. I was less in love with Leo, and I don’t read enough light-hearted rom-coms to judge but some of his behavior was too invasive.
Verdict: More Kant, less creepy next-door neighbors!
Full disclosure, Eva is a friend and a trusted beta reader. She writes charming sexy contemporaries about everyday people (I mean, billionaires and dukes are fun, but veterans and construction workers need love too!) Her series centers around a strong group of female friends, who navigate the challenges of their lives and love together. Basically my catnip.
Verdict: If you haven’t checked out her Girl’s Night Out series, you must!
A little confession: I read my first Tessa Dare in October 2017. Seriously. I’d just gone off historical romance altogether for a long time, and only after a little prodding did I pick up Courtney Milan’s Brothers Sinister series, which was smarter, and funnier than I expected. It was my gateway drug, which brought me to Tessa Dare. The audiobook of Romancing the Duke had me in stitches doing dishes. And as a long time geek, her loving and hilarious take on fandom won me over. If audiobooks are your thing, Dare’s narrator is one of the best.
Part of Castles Ever After series, I love Dare’s focus on unconventional heroines. I also love how sure they are of themselves and their desires. The romances are about finding their matches, not finding someone to prop them up.
Verdict: Romancing the Duke sets a high bar. This comes pretty darn close.
I read these out of order, and I’m glad. A Week to be Wicked was by far my favorite. It’s essentially a road trip story, and all of the little “stops” are hilarious, but they also illuminate the characters as they are and as they grow. Nothing is wasted in a Dare book.
I loved this book. It started it months ago but finished it in one crazy rush on a Saturday morning, curled up under the blankets like I used to do when I was a kid. The storytelling is wondrously simple and childlike, yet very sophisticated in the themes and not at all naïve. The book covers an enormous span of time, but never feels rushed. The near future setting is convincing and terrifying, but at heart, it’s a love story between characters, but also of the nexus between technology and magic.
I’ve been participating in NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) since 2011.
There have been a few gaps, particularly the last two years while Geeklet went from being what my husband I affectionately dubbed the larvae stage to something a little more self supporting. Each time I came to NaNoWriMo with a different commitment. The first year, was just seeing if I could get the thing done. 50,000 words of a novel in a month. I called that year the good the bad and the ugly. And the result was successful, if mostly ugly.
Subsequent years were a repeat on the theme with minor changes. I had no problem hitting the word count, but the results lacked structure (where is this going?) and cohesion (what is this all about?), and all invariably wound up confined to a “trunk,” a folder on my hard drive that my husband has strict instructions to delete on my death 🙂
I kept active in my local short story writing and critique group, refining my process. I learned to prep, which mostly included reading books on writing in the month before to start priming my subconscious writer with technique.
In 2013, when I wrote Death’s Dancer during NaNoWriMo, I did something entirely new. I plotted the novel start to finish, with scenes and character backgrounds and arcs. When I was successful, I still had a lot of ugly to clean up, but I also had a complete novel.
This year, my goal is to consciously use the technique tricks I’ve learned (and am learning) to shape the writing as I go. I’m working with a full plot again, and writing slower. As my teachers would say “moving with intention.” We’ll see how it goes.
For my first NaNoWriMo, prep consisted of making sure I had lots of coffee, and somewhere to charge my laptop. There are tons of fantastic books on the theory, practice, and politics of writing (Stephen King’s On Writing to Joanna Russ How to Write Like a Woman) in addition to classes and workshop on writing, but my theory is I have the rest of the year to sort through that. I tend to keep books with short, digestible sections that I can pick up when I get stuck to help jog my writer brain through humor, ass-kicking, or lightbulb moments. Through choice, recommendation or accident, here’s what’s in my pile of prep:
bird by bird – Anne Lamott – I’ve owned a copy of this from my first creative writing class in college. Lamott is one of my favorite essayists. She’s honest, self-effacing, no-nonsense and compassionate. Though the book had practical technique tips I read it for the humor, and the perspective and the loving ass kicking. (Recommended essays: Polaroids, The Moral Point of View, and Publication)
Writing the Breakout Novel – Donald Maas – The king of tough love for aspiring authors, but it’s hard to argue with his experience as an agent. While a bit formulaic, there’s no lack of practical examples and advice. (Recommended: Characters and Subplots)
You Are Doing a Freaking Great Job – a little book of quotes for motivation and the occasional cheer up. (“The best way out is always through.” Hellen Keller)
The Morgan Greer Tarot deck – I’m terrible at reading spreads, but I love drawing a card at the start of my writing session and considering how it might fit in with a scene or character. It’s also a nifty screen break to rest my eyes on when I need a break, or get stuck in a scene. The images are simple, evocative and packed full of symbolism that tickles my brain.
Write Away by Elizabeth George is also new to the pile this year, and one of those books I wish I had read years ago. It’s full of practical advice (George’s research process alone is humbling) and one of my favorite thing: examples. George has an example to illustrate every point, from popular fiction to literature. She’s encouraging and compassionate but does not give a shit about your excuses. (Recommended: Baby Steps First, The Value of Bum Glue)
Full disclosure, I’m glad I didn’t read the more technical/commercial books in the pile when I was a baby writer. There is something valuable to knowing my own voice before I started having a lot of input. Each one of these books, included my beloved Lamott, has a moment which I realize I’ve chanced on some bit of advice or perspective that I just don’t agree with. There is no magical formula to writing, everyone has to find their way, and while it’s helpful to look for guidance and examples, it’s also ok to disregard the stuff that just doesn’t ring for you.
Tl;dr – Everyone’s process is different, and mine says it’s ok to cherry pick the stuff that works for me and disregard the rest.
(It’s also why I reread my favorites, or parts of them, many times: sometimes a tip or trick that doesn’t resonate the first or second time, may be exactly what I need the fifth or 12th time)
The rest of my pile is odd bits and knickknacks: a pencil bag with assorted pens and highlighters, post-its – and a killer recipe for cookies from the launch party for my friend Eva Moore’s Girl’s Night Out series. Because, I guaranteed you there will be emergency motivational cookies needed at some point this month.
If you prep for NaNo, what’s in your pile?
How I Stay Sane
My family moved twice this year. We bought a house this summer. A beautiful, old house that needs love (read: contractors). We also have a 3-year-old. The sequel to Death’s Dancer, Dancer’s Flame, is winding it way through edits after an extraordinary delay (see: moving woes). Book three is drafted and needs a revision so badly it hurts. And WINTER IS COMING…or at least the holiday season. The days of my sitting down at the computer for long hours with nothing to do but get words done are (at least temporarily) a memory. I am, not so eloquently, fucking tired most days.
Still, the irony is I need NaNoWriMo to prove to myself I can still make the word count, even with life turned up to 11. A couple of things are saving my mental health right now:
Write first: Once the Geeklet is off to school, I beeline back to write. If there are things at home that I know will distract me I stop at a coffee shop and write for and hour or two after. Otherwise I go home, crank the heat in my office, turn on the music and get to work. Even if I don’t meet my word count, I feel better sitting down at night when my brain is less on knowing I made a good start.
Drink lots of water: No joke. For a coffee and red wine fiend this is admittedly a challenge. When I was a river guide, one of the first clues that someone was dehydrated was that they were cranky AF and pretty much useless for decision making. It’s true on land also.
Get appropriate and interesting exercise: I hate the gym. I don’t run (unless I’m being chased). It’s too cold and wet to rollerblade. But I started taking an adult beginner ballet class in October. Once a week, for 1.5 hours I put on tights, a leotard and ballet slippers and move my body. It is often awkward and I usually feel ridiculous at least once. But I always feel better after class. On days that it’s clear/warm/dry enough I bike the Geeklet to school. There and back is 30 minutes of cardio. I also have a small trampoline – which we bought for the Geeklet, but somehow wound up in my office- and I occasionally bounce around on before and after taking a break.
Eat: And don’t wait so long that I make stupid food choices. Low carb, protein rich is my preference for lack of brain fog in general, so I do my best to keep it up all month. YMMV.
Treat yo-self: To celebrate my word count for the week, I took myself to a movie (yes, Thor). I did not regret the loss of writing time.
Set achievable goals and rewards: I’ve heard of things like a piece of chocolate, a handbag, a cocktail, carbohydrates. Next week Ibeyi tickets are dangling over my word count for the halfway-ish point. You do you.
Make friends: Buddy up online or IRL. This writing business can be lonely. Make sure you have human interactions on a daily basis. I fully intend to make the local meet up this Sunday…I hope.
Most importantly: Stay flexible. Shit happens. Words don’t come. Life intrudes.
The Kindle edition of Death’s Dancer is now just 99¢ on Amazon.com as part of the reader’s favorites summer sale. From romance to thrillers, YA to chick-lit, sci-fi and fantasy, the sale has something for everyone. Here are a few that I enjoyed recently:
This one is my paranormal catnip: a competent heroine and a powerful hero in way over his head. Wonderful world building.Awesome historical where the truth really is stranger, and more intriguing than fiction. Brings an extraordinary era to vivid life!Strange goings on in a mysterious town. Check. It’s a little bit Sleep Hollow meets X-Files meets Dresden Files.A gripping thriller about a grieving widow searching for answers after the mysterious death of her husband.A quick-stepping mystery featuring a snarky, hilarious heroine. Perfect for the beach or a hammock on a sunny day!A heart-wrenching who-done-it that weaves two mysteries through time to an epic, startling conclusion.
Coming soon: Death’s Dancer swag. I’ll be at a couple of local events this fall, so I just placed my first order for giveaway prizes like this logo mug, and swag like stickers for the awesome (fictional) Praha Dance Academy.
This is just a test run, we’ll have some in colors (red and gold, of course) so stay tuned!
I’ll be at Magic Mirror Comics in Mill Creek, WA on July 22 as part of the “Not At A Con” event. Magic Mirror has been a huge supporter of Death’s Dancer, and I’m excited to join them with books for sale and signing. I’ll also be giving away goodies *see above and a chance to win a gift certificate for Magic Mirror. Check out the Facebook event page for details.
I’m super excited to announce that a story set in the world of Death’s Dancer is appearing in Summer Solstice, the Kindle Press author anthology. Summer Solstice is the third collection in a series of seasonally themed anthologies featuring short stories from 25 Kindle Press novels.
I contributed “Best Served Cold,” a mini-adventure featuring fan-favorite Azrael’s enforcer Gregor Schwarz. I’m tickled by how many of you enjoyed Gregor’s droll personality and wit, he’s a one-of-a-kind, and this one’s for you!
For the latest release news and info, follow me on Amazon or subscribe to the newsletter!
In other news, it’s entirely untrue that when you recieve 50 Amazon reviews you get a unicorn. (I check the mailbox every day and I do have Prime) I did get to meet this little sweetie at a friend’s birthday party, which was awesome:
Seriously, thank you to everyone who has left a review on Amazon or Goodreads. No matter what you thought of the book (and I’m not going to deny the sheer delight at the number of you who liked it, squee!!) I’m thankful that you took the time to share your opinions with others.
But maybe you’re not the review type. There are lots of other ways to show love for Death’s Dancer and other books and authors you enjoy. Here are a few suggestions*:
Buy a copy – If you got your copy as a gift, or through Kindle Scout, consider buying a copy as a gift, or donating it to your local library.
Speaking of libraries – Request a copy at your local library. This earns you double karma points, because you’re not only supporting an author, but helping other readers who may not have the resources to buy have access to books!
Word of mouth – Recommend it to a friend, co-worker, fellow book store browser. Mention it on your Twitter TL or post on FB. I don’t know about you, but books recommended to me by friends are always bumped to the top of my “to buy” and “TBR” lists!
Follow/Like/Subscribe – Most authors are all over the intertubes (er..interwebs…ah…) most of us have websites, newsletters, Twitter accounts, or Facebook pages. A few of us go overboard on the socials and have Instagram or Pinterest accounts. And others…we’re approaching junkie status, but you get what I mean, right? My point: whatever social media is your flavor, your favorite author is probably there. And the best way to find out about new releases and bonus materials is to follow along. If you are afraid of getting bombarded, try following the author profile on Amazon, Goodreads or BookBub, which only alerts you for specific, limited events.
Book club – Part of a book club? Suggest it as a read. Not part of a book club? Start one! I love book clubs, even if you only spend 15 minutes talking about the book itself you’ve provided an avenue for necessary social interaction in ways we don’t often get in this “connected” age. This is a great way to support authors, boosting their book sales when your entire club buys the book, and contributing to word of mouth. As a bonus, if your book club choses Death’s Dancer, I’m happy to join you over Skype or Google Hangouts for a 30 minute Q&A session – for free! Double bonus, if you’re in a 20 mile radius of Seattle, and scheduling allows, I’ll join you in person.
Write the author – Let them know you what you thought of the book, and that you’d love to read more of their work. (A small proviso: do remember that authors are people too with families and jobs and health issues and concerns. We are also not machines. So kindness and gentle encouragement will get you a lot farther than demands…)
Make fan art – are you the artistic type? Have a way with charcoals, pencils or paints? Why not create (and share) your image.
Support your local bookstore and an author – booksellers want to know what people are interested in. If you have a favorite indie bookstore, let them know. Many hybrid and independently published books (like Death’s Dancer) are available through Ingram, which means that they can be ordered by your local bookstore as easily as a traditionally published book. Also, they’re available on Indiebound.org
* I did not come up with this list on my own. It was inspired, in no small part, from posts here and here.
I’m celebrating my birthday the entire month of June with giveaways of Death’s Dancer on Amazon (ebook) and Goodreads (print) To enter, click the links above, or, for Goodreads the giveaway widget below:
No purchase is required for either, though Amazon restricts entrants to US residents. The good news is that Goodreads does not, and I’m happy to spring for shipping to give international readers a chance to get their hands on a copy. A little something from me to you.
I had the pleasure of speaking with Sarah for the GSMC Book Review Podcast. We dug into what inspired Death’s Dancer, breaking genre boundaries, Kindle Scout, and even children’s book illustrators (a subject I’m learning quite a bit about, sharing a roof with a preschooler). Click the link for the complete interview at the GSMC site or listen below:
Unfortunately, there were some problems with the recording on my end, so my audio is a little tinny, but Sarah did a great job of cleaning things up as best she could and making me sound remotely intelligible.
Wee had a great time, and I encourage you to check out more of Sarah’s podcast. A thoughtful reader, Sarah features author interviews as well as book reviews from a wide variety of genres. You can find out more at the podcast website or on iTunes.
Amazon Publishing released a new tool for its authors, and one of the coolest bits of data we now have easy access to is our most highlighted quotes. I was delighted to find these two were your favorites:
“Who walks into a wolf’s den and comes out alive? Her father’s old joke came unbidden as she stepped forward. A wolf.”
“Sleep came on him as a thief, consciousness stolen like a forgotten coin from his pocket.”
Did you have a favorite line? Leave a note in the comments!
***
Other news. Still plugging away at book two. I’m almost (almost) done with what’s turning out to be the third (fourth?) pass, but the good news is I’m much happier with where it takes Isela and Co. Next, off to beta readers and my editor.
I’ll be reading on Tuesday, May 9th at the Vermillion in Seattle at 7pm as part of the At The Inkwell reading series. The theme of the night is “The Morning After” :
Life is filled with great parties, bad dates, national tragedies, personal successes, and other transformative events that shape us. But what do we do the morning after these events? Come hear Claudia Castro Luna, Steven Barker, Hannah Faith Notess, and Jasmine Silvera as they read work about days spent in the wake of big nights.
If you’re in the Seattle area drop in to say hi, have a glass of wine and listen to me loosely interpret the theme with what happens “the morning after” being seduced by a necromancer. Copies of Death’s Dancer will be available for purchase during the intermission. It’s a free event and part of the regular series of authors reading their work. Makes a great mid week date night, and Vermillion has a great bartender.
Jessica Knauss was no stranger to publishing when her contemporary paranormal fantasy “Awash in Talent” was selected for publication by Kindle Scout. A lifelong traveler, former librarian, and translator, she has also published short stories, translations, and an epic historical novel set in medieval Spain.
I’m delighted to have this opportunity to find out more about what makes “Awash in Talent” unique from her previous work, how her real life influences her writing, and what she’s working on next!
On to the INTERVIEW!
(Because our initials are so similar –JS and JK–I decided to go with formatting our conversation for attribution. Jessica’s responses are Italicized.My questions, and follow-up comments are bold. )
Jasmine Silvera: In what ways did this book surprise you?
Jessica Knauss: Hi! Glad to be here! Everything about AWASH IN TALENT has been a surprise. The fact that it exists is perhaps the biggest shocker. It’s divided into three parts, and I added to the first story gradually, over several years, as a break from the historical accuracy required for my epic tale of family and betrayal, SEVEN NOBLE KNIGHTS. When I finished my historical novel, I picked up AWASH IN TALENT and was surprised by the way the zany ideas just kept coming. The best surprise was when it passed through the Kindle Scout process and Kindle Press picked it up!
I have to say I love that format of the interconnected novellas! It gives a really interesting view of the world from perspectives of different people in it!
Glad you liked the format! It kind of fell together.
I’m impressed by the enormous range of your work: In what ways is Awash in Talent similar (or different) to other books you’ve written?
Aside from the sequels I’m planning to write, none of my writing has much in common with the rest of it. Why write about the same thing over and over again when there’s so much else to explore? AWASH IN TALENT bears some similarity to my other contemporary fiction because of its fast pace, whimsy, and logical extremes. In this novel, I’ve got the lens opened up wide on my quirky view of the world.
Oooh, sequels?! That brings me to my next question: Will you continue to write in this world, if not, what’s your next project?
I’m currently working on an unrelated fantasy story, also set in Providence, Rhode Island, and which also seems to be burgeoning out of control. And along with my ideas for a SEVEN NOBLE KNIGHTS sequel, I’m also developing the further adventures of Emily, Beth, and Patricia from AWASH IN TALENT.
Providence features heavily in AWASH IN TALENT. Is that something that comes from your background?
I did my PhD in Providence, so I was there for five years, and loved the city so much! It’s the place I go back to whenever I have an idea for a contemporary story.
The vividness of the setting is one of AWASH IN TALENT’s major strengths. I love fully realized physical settings. You can almost see the leaves on the trees!
I’m excited to see where the characters from AIT end up…Who was your favorite character to write?
While writing from Emily’s point of view, the world seems strange and new. Mostly she surprised me with her observations and crazy actions, but if I had to imagine what she would do in a given situation, I imagined what I would do and took that to the opposite logical extreme. It’s so much fun to live through her a life I could never live for real. I loved her brand of cuckoo!
It took me a while to realize what an unreliable narrator she was going to be, although when I looked back i realized the signs were there all along. Was that a challenge to write?
Yes. My writers group kept asking me to clarify why Emily was doing something, and I had to just keep saying, “Wait for it! It’s coming!”
Speaking of challenging characters, was Emily the most challenging character to write, or did another character earn that title?
Patricia, Emily’s therapist, was probably the most challenging in the end. Patricia is psychic—she reads people’s minds whether she wants to or not—and it was challenging to show the reader what that would be like, and also to get the reader to sympathize with her. She’s under tremendous stress and makes some poor decisions, but I still wanted the readers to like her, at least a little.
I’m right in the middle of Patricia’s section, and I admit, it’s a bit heartbreaking.
Oh, I hope that’s a good sign…
I mean, I feel for her, but also for the people around her. And I’m a bit worried about her husband at this point. I want things to turn out ok for her, but it’s a nailbiter. But, no spoilers Next question: What was your favorite scene to write?
Kelly’s first day at the Pyrokinesis Management Academy introduces the important characters puts all her insecurities on display in what was a really emotional scene to write. She’s called out for not following rules she wasn’t aware of! The embarrassment! The unfairness!
Ugh, flashback to high school!
Are you a ‘plotter’ or a ‘pantser’? Something in between?
For my historical fiction, I plotted, heavily. Charts and graphs and story guides. I couldn’t let myself write something that wouldn’t honor real history. But AWASH IN TALENT’s characters were so strong, they directed the story and basically wrote their own version of history to go with it. It wasn’t so much my writing by the seat of my pants as it was following strong direction from surprising characters.
Sounds like you had clear direction for where the stories were going. So, what was the original inspiring moment for this book (if there was one!)?
I remember it like it was yesterday, reading a National Geographic article about the hominin fossils in the Middle Awash of Ethiopia and imagining a sassy college student learning about paleoanthropology there—and her bizarre family, who she doesn’t necessarily want to be there with her. The first line of the novel, confusing and shocking as it is, came out fully formed, and then I had a very bossy character on my hands.
I thought it was interesting that the story started in the “cradle of humanity” as you explore a set of characters who may or may not be a next iteration of human evolution. Am I reading that right?
I love that interpretation.
How did you come to write about this topic?
The magical powers some people wield in this world came about because they seemed like the thing that would annoy Emily the most! Her sister’s extraordinary Talent makes Emily envious and like she’s been left out. There’s nothing she can do to seem more impressive than her sister. That evolved into a look at the way we treat difference in society.
I thought you handled the “price and privilege” of powers interestingly. For some characters it’s clear to see how their powers provide an advantage, for others, it really makes life difficult. Patricia has quite a bit of both, actually!
To depart from the book a little: What’s your favorite movie and why?
THE PRINCESS BRIDE. It never gets old! It has a little of everything, something for everyone, and gave my writing a lot of its whimsy. It probably also directed me to study medieval Spain (whose literature I ended up getting a PhD in), because—Inigo Montoya. Need I say more?
I walked down the aisle to the theme from that movie, lol. Love Princess Bride!
So cool! I should’ve done that.
Mr. Silvera does an amazing Mandy Patinkin as Inigo impression. It’s pretty much how I knew he was The One.
Now I’m really jealous!
And our final question of the day! Do you draw from your life when you write?
I love to work in images based on things my friends and family have said. For example, Emily’s and Beth’s conversation about zombie babies came from something my dear late husband was musing about offhandedly one day. And yes, at least one character in AWASH IN TALENT has some basis in a person I know—Lakshmi is based loosely on my best friend. I admitted it to her and I’m pretty sure she’s okay with the portrayal. Thanks so much for a great interview!
