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Zine-Thyme
by Judy Bridges
Welcome to Zine~Thyme. A column dedicated to interviewing E-zine owners, Authors, and Publishers.
These authors found me(kinda-sorta) and I’m glad they did. They have a lot to offer the reading world.
I don’t know how “usual” co-authors are and I imagine most would be hard pressed to get along well through several months of writing together. This couple has it together relying on each other for their weak areas. Cool!
Karen and Paul Fredette, Western N.C. writers. Their series, "The Legend of Lavoda Branch", will focus on the unique locations and people of this area.
The questions I asked are directed at both of them and each of them gave their own answers.
I read three chapters of their upcoming novel. It wasn’t enough! The characters have quite a challenge facing their pasts.
On to the interview:
“Karen: We attempt to capture the spirit of the people here, especially those whose ancestors settled these coves way back in the 1700's!”
What brought you to the Western N.C. area, from where?
PAUL: My roots and most of my family are in New England. But after I joined a society of home missionary priests, I lived and traveled mainly in the rural south. I was always attracted to this area of the Smokies whenever I passed through, so when I was looking for a place to relocate after leaving the Society, I chose this area. I loved the Smoky Mountains but wanted to avoid the "touristy" parts. Madison County is rural with magnificent scenery but mostly undiscovered - just what I wanted, especially after I found two places on the Madison County map - one named Trust and the other, Luck. We now live within three miles of Trust and Luck!
KAREN: I grew up in northeastern Ohio and joined a monastery of nuns in Canton, OH. When I left the community after 30 years, I moved to West Virginia where I lived as a hermit for six years. During that time, I met Paul and when we realized we wanted to explore our relationship seriously, I moved to Hot Springs in these mountains which I also loved. Paul and I married in 1996, the same year we found our mountain chalet which is in the Spring Creek area of Madison County - quite isolated and perfect for fostering our various artistic endeavors.
How long have you been writing?
KAREN: I've been writing and publishing since 1969, mainly religious articles and poetry. I've also published a biography of St. Clare of Assisi (Clare: Her Light and Her Song - 1984, Franciscan Press) and an autobiographical account of my first four years as a hermit, (Where God Begins to Be - 1994, Eerdmans). I "allowed" myself to start writing fiction (short stories) after our marriage and discovered it to be the most exciting and energizing form of writing I've ever done - truly a "first love" rediscovered! “The Legend of Lovada Branch” grew out of what was initially a short story which just wouldn't stop unfolding...
PAUL: I began writing professionally in 1991 when I was appointed editor of our missionary magazine, The Glenmary Challenge. I've always enjoyed writing and know I have a gift for it but I don't call myself a "writer" in the sense that Karen is. I'm more of a "word-smith."
How long did it take you to get this book from being just a thought to being published?
KAREN: Paul and I were kicking some ideas around ever since I started "playing" with short stories inspired by this region. In 1998 Paul told me about Lost Cove, a place in Yancey County, which one of his co-workers had mentioned. That triggered a spark which gradually grew from a short story to a novel to a possible series. In 2000, I felt we had a manuscript ready to offer to a publisher... which turned into a two year search, first for an agent (since "everyone" said you needed an agent) and then for a publisher. Three publishers asked to see the entire manuscript and each time we were told we were almost accepted but ... I saw a Benoy Publishing ad in Writers Market online and, climbing out of a "slough of despond" into which I'd fallen, I sent out yet another query. I nearly fainted when I received "the" call from Buzzy which is every writer's dream: "I read your manuscript. I like it. I want to publish it."
PAUL: I enjoyed the writing part of producing Lovada Branch but found the hurdle of endless rejections excruciating. I think I would have given up long before Karen since I wasn't as used to the "facts of life" that a published writer has to deal with. It was a long four and a-half years but the results are worth it.
What inspires you to write?
PAUL: I'm inspired to write because I've got a bee in my bonnet that I want to share with others. Usually it's about values that mean a lot to me ... or ideas that take issue with some commonly held opinions. Stories can be great ways to convey serious challenges to the contemporary world.
KAREN: I write because that is what I am - a writer! I don't feel complete when I don't have a piece of writing in progress. Of course, I hope people will eventually read what I write...why else go through all the pain and trouble?
Is it hard working together writing a book?
KAREN: Yes!
PAUL: Yes!
KAREN: But so much more happens when two heads are working together. We can do it because we have deep respect for one another's abilities and talents. Usually an idea, a story, an image runs through my head which I throw out for Paul to chew on. He explores it - sees so much more in it than I did initially and then I run off to the computer to capture the beast. Paul reads the first draft and then begins to add his own portions, sometimes verbally; other times, in the text. Occasionally for a dialogue scene, we talk it back and forth in the persona of our characters and type it as we go.
PAUL: Karen does a lot of the first draft, then I come in as devil's advocate, editor, and insightful reader. What she writes strikes sparks in me and vice-versa.
Who makes the final decision when there is a difference of opinion during the writing process?
PAUL: It depends on what we have a difference over. We each have our own areas of expertise and strength. Karen generally creates the characters and understands them so I defer to her about how a person might act in a certain situation - though not always. She usually comes up with some of the twists in the plot - we decide together if they further the story or sidetrack the action.
KAREN: Decision making when there are differences is a back-and-forth business. A final decision is made only when we find something we can both live with. I often defer to Paul in matters of editing because of his experience in this part of writing. We both feel free to push our convictions strongly with one another and in the process, often come up with a solution of our differences that is ... well, just brilliant! This is one of the many advantages of working together.
Do you know how many books will be in this series?
We envision a minimum of three, more likely five books in the series given all we want to say and themes we hope to explore. We have so many possible directions to go that we have to be careful to maintain the particular focus of the book we are currently working on. It helps to know that we can follow up on tantalizing ideas in another book down the road.
I just have to ask; Do you see yourselves in your characters?
Paul: In part. After all, we are writing about things that really do matter to us personally. But we are not consciously using ourselves as models, anymore than other characters in the book mirror people we know.
Karen: All our characters are composites of real people so parts of each of us end up in Kyle and Wren, as well in some of the other characters. There is some physical resemblance of Kyle and Wren to Paul and I but definite differences as well. Since Paul and I sometimes work together on dialogues that Wren and Kyle have, they probably talk and relate somewhat like we do in the initial draft. That usually disappears in the course of the endless revisions as we work to keep them true to the characters we endowed them with in the beginning.
How much of this novel is based on actual myths/legends of the area?
Paul: Very little. The story itself is from our own imaginations, not from any legends we have heard.
Karen: We draw upon the rich, almost mystical aura of these old, old mountains and allow the setting to influence and ground our story in a real time and place. But the story itself is entirely our own creation.
You mentioned that you expected to see some of your books in print when you went to the conference. How did that go? How did it feel? When do you expect a full print and promotion of it?
We are still waiting! Printing and binding a hard cover book with dust jacket takes longer that the publisher estimated. There is a good chance we will have books in hand to send to all the people who have already ordered it before the end of July. We are waiting until we actually have boxes of books ready to sell before we set any dates for promotion - Launch Party, book signings, newspaper announcements, etc.. We plan to work first on local promotion and learn from that. We won't have money to invest in advertising until we get some royalties but, of course, royalties depend on sales so.... we will do what we can as we can and pray that word of mouth will generate enough local interest to finance more widespread promotion.
Do you set a specific time to write daily or write when inspiration strikes?
We write at different times, thanks to the challenge of sharing a computer. Fortunately our "best" times are not the same time so it works. Karen works as soon as she can get to the computer in the morning and spends about two hours before her creative energy runs down.
Paul works in the evening when his spirit is more tranquil (he has met some of his project goals for the day).
When we work together reading over a new section, it often happens while relaxing before our evening meal.
What virtue does a writer most need?
Patience! Add perseverance and talent and you have the makings of Great Writer!
The site for our book is still a dream but we are intending to begin working on it in August.
We are told we can expect to see the book within a few days. It is being bound and the dust covers being printed "as we speak". We are learning just how many things can go wrong in the book printing process as the publish date is repeatedly delayed.
Hopefully, when the Interview is finished, we will be able to give you the date for our Book Launch Party and possibly for a few book signings. We are hoping we can get an artists' grant to help with publicity.
Buzzy Benoy Publishing
After note; As soon as these authors get their site up and notify me where it is I will pass it on. I have enjoyed being in contact with them and certainly wish them much luck with the launch of their new book.
After all, I would love to finish reading the book!
Interview approved by: Karen Fredette
Just In: Karen and Paul are the proud parents of their bouncing newborn book! Web page and pictures coming soon!
Disclaimer: Any resemblance to any fictitious character is purely coincidental and all interviewees are genuinely human and not a figment or fragment of this writers imagination.
All information is current at the time of submission to “The Stump”
© J. G. Bridges
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