The life of an author is a great deal of fun.  Long nights spent talking with your imaginary friends, intense research rabbit holes, making up lies complete strangers will believe, and talking with readers at public events are just a few on a long list that makes living in the world of words an absolute delight. 

There are other aspects of the career path though, that aren’t as enjoyable.  For example, I’ve never met an author who described marketing, the technical challenges associated with cover design and interior formatting, or keywords and pricing particularly indulgent or even merely satisfying pursuits.

The truth is, committing to a career writing books is a lot of what Robert Downey Jr. and Russell Crow call “hugging the cactus.”  It’s often a solitary slog through long days of getting paragraphs just right, crafting personalities who clash and cohabitate in equal measure, and enticing interest for others in something that easily brings you happiness without any traps for them.  We spend countless hours begging shops and libraries to carry our books.  We become addicted to social media and the high of seeing that next review, even if it’s only three stars.  We spend more money than we will ever admit on conferences, festivals, and swag, pushing ourselves to become an “overnight success.”

If you asked, many authors would describe the editorial process as perhaps the sharpest point on the literary cactus.  It’s not the easiest thing to do… pass off your pile of moments of inspired greatness to another human with the foreknowledge that their focus will be to rip it to shreds.  It’s a challenge to “kill our darlings” for the greater good of a story, and harder still is being faced with a page full of more red swiggles than black text.  It can sometimes be enough to make you question your sanity when you chose this life.

Yet for me, the editorial process is one of my favorite things about being an author.  I recognize that I am not in the mainstream with this opinion, and I also recognize that the term “normal” may not apply to me… and I’m not quite sure I want it to.  That being said, I truly love the editorial adventure.

I had the privilege of sitting with my editor last night.  As I worked on my latest novel with her, I was reminded that as an author, there is no greater assist in crafting the spectacular than handing my work to someone who sees it through a different lens of perspective. My editor is the Amazing Kalli Connor, and she loves storytelling almost as much as I do.  She has a terrific ability to coax from me new ways to improve the tale, make the characters distinctive three-dimensional people rather than flat foils, and add sensorial depth to my worlds. 
Brainstorming with an editor, whose goal in life is to make my books amazing, challenges me to become a better writer.  Every time we sit together, a flurry of imagination flies through the room.  We play “what if…” and “that would mean…” and “is there something else hiding in there…” with so much enthusiasm, it simply doesn’t feel like work.

After several hours (six or seven, actually) of discussion and discovery, I came away with a plethora of new ideas to incorporate into my book… and each one will make the story so much better than it was when I began writing the thing two years ago.  She allows me to see my work the way a reader does – with fresh eyes and no expectations… except that it all makes sense.  Most importantly, Kalli has once again saved me from myself, identifying one of my biggest failings… this book actually starts at chapter three!  Don’t laugh.  That struggle is real.

Most writers don’t find a great deal of excitement ripping apart sentences and paragraphs, flipping a phrase around because the tense is wrong, or dissecting the story structure to remove the dead weight.  But for me, the editorial phase of book creation is the part I most enjoy.  Seeing a story evolve, grow, and become more interesting after having been under my editor’s microscope is tremendous fun.  Sure, I have some great ideas, but without an editor, they remain just that – rough draft ideas.  With an editor who not only shares my enthusiasm for the craft, but who also is not afraid to tell me when I can do better… that is when I accelerate toward success.

So, yes, I have a vast array of rewrites to work on… and I know there will be more coming as Kalli digs deeper into my story, but I’m so grateful.  My editor makes me a stronger writer, which means the stories I release into the wilds will be far more entertaining for readers.

Collaboration through the creative and editorial process can be simultaneously poignant, tentative, revealing, and exciting.  Drake helps me stay afloat and paddle through the unknown territory of a new story that needs to be told, while Kalli smooths out the rough parts, helping me identify the holes so readers don’t fall too far without a flashlight. 
​
In my work as an editor, I hope that I embolden my clients’ passion for storytelling the way Kalli inspires mine.

I've been a fan of Kristoffer Gair's work for quite some time, even back when he was somebody else.  With every book, he brings me a tale I never knew I needed with the expertise of a storyteller who knows how to reach the secret, magical places of imagination.

The 'prequel' to this book, Butterflies I Have Known, which I understand wasn't meant to have a sequel... gives us just enough information to want more story.  That's to be expected from Kristoffer.  Still, I didn't expect that Cristian would be the focus... I imagined it would be a different character; and I'm delighted I was wrong.

This book is a pile of enigmas wrapped in so much heart and soul, that the puzzle feels extremely personal.  I shared the aches, tears, and celebrated right along with the characters as they discovered all the answers, and more.  The sincerely emotional impact of the connection Cristian has to other characters is palpable, real, and I swear, I've felt these same things in my own life.  This is exactly why Kristoffer is such a superb storyteller.  He has a unique ability to take what I have felt and make me feel it again... even when I thought I'd forgotten.  And just for the record, I've never liked eggs, and now I have one more reason... but you'll have to read the book to judge for yourself! 

Each time Kristoffer introduces me to new characters and new places, I feel like I'm on holiday with them, and I want to settle in, hear their stories, understand their culture, and just listen.  Reading his pages, for this book, especially, felt a lot like sharing time with cherished friends that I haven't seen in a while.  I wanted to move through the story slowly, listening carefully to the details, and imagining through the adventure so I could perhaps touch a little of it myself...  and I certainly did exactly that.  Although this book was a comfortable read, not too challenging and not to fast, it didn't drag, either.  The pace was so perfect that I savored the story like a meal with lifelong friends I've never met.  It was an exceptional experience.

There are other characters that I would like to learn more about someday.  I don't know if Kristoffer has plans to share their stories publicly, but I'm sure that if I ask him nicely, he'll share a bit more with me.  And if you're interested in more... I sincerely recommend the Falling Awake series.  It'll connect dots you didn't know were hiding in plain sight.

Do you need to read Butterflies I have Known first, before Snow Angels In The Dust?  Nope... but you should definitely read them both!

About the Author: Yvonne Rediger was born and currently resides in Saskatchewan. She lived and worked in northern Manitoba, central Alberta, southern New Brunswick, and Vancouver Island, British Columbia.
Yvonne has been writing since she was in her teens. Her favorite genres are Urban Fantasy, Science Fiction, and Mystery each with a bit of humor and sometimes romance.

She is married to her scuba diving buddy who is also her sailboat captain. She has two grown children.
Yvonne is a past president of the Vancouver Island Romance Authors group (VIRA). She is a member of the Saskatchewan Writers Guild, Saskatchewan Romance Writers (SRW), and The Prairie Writers Guild.

Title: Storm Stayed Book Four in the Musgrave Landing Mystery Series
Genre: Mystery

Book Synopsis: Welcome back to Musgrave Landing. Accessible by ferry across the Samsum Narrows, this island village is home to some quirky characters and some even odder visitors. Sometimes the visitors bring misfortune with them and other times the villagers supply their own brand of trouble. Whether the people are locals or from away, apparently a few are capable of murder.

Maisy Wyatt, is on loan from Jane’s Eats & Treats to Mrs. Roque. The housekeeper has a grand vision for the Highmere House Conference Centre. She has spared no expense with the food or service for the minor literary celebrities who will be their first guests. It won’t matter if the December weather turns bad, it takes a lot to faze Mrs. Roque.

The other new employee Tiffany Zach, will work alongside Maisy to care and feed a cantankerous group of authors from Dunn Wolf Publishing. The situation doesn’t improve when the lead author and owner of the publishing house, Ziola Nutt, announces she has a six-figure media contract with a video streaming company. This news causes shock, disappointment, and anger among the rest of the writers when they find out she will not give them credit for their work, nor any of the royalties.

Worse still, the electricity goes out during a nasty storm. Cell phones are going dead, roads are blocked by fallen trees, and ferry traffic is halted. No one can get off the island. Not even the murderer.
​
Find the Book: https://amzn.to/408ro4H
Visit Yvonne’s Website: https://blackyvy50.wixsite.com/yvonnerediger/home
Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/ywnt67bx​
YouTube: https://youtu.be/hYajAAQwi3Q​

Every so often, I return to my high school reading list to check out the books that I haven't read in ages to see how my understanding of the writing has changed over the years.  Some, I must admit, I have forgotten altogether, so a reread is a good thing, and a fresh experience.  Others, I remember snippets, but not the details.  Such was the case with this novel.  Yes, I know it's a classic... yes I know almost everyone from my generation (and perhaps before) had it on their 'required reading list'... but sometimes when you're young, you don't like being told what to read, so you don't pay attention.  As we age, we attempt to rectify the mistakes of the past... or at the very least, give stuff a second chance.

I found my revisit to the Island interesting.  There were elements and details that I hadn't remembered... and new opinions that I found hiding in the pages.  To make this revisit even more interesting, after reading the book, I watched the 1996 film, with Marlon Brando, Val Kilmer, and David Thewlis heading the cast.  The similarities and differences made the book and film two very distinct experiences for me.

I found it interesting that in the book, one of the strongest themes was 'the law.'  The idea that the words we create to manage behavior, expectations, punishments, and rewards were direct results from spoken, memorized, and internalized words was compelling to me.  The emotional refrain seemed to be, 'what makes us men is the words we deem most important.'  Yes, these characters are also set apart from animals because they walk upright and don't eat meat, among other rules... yet the mere fact that they have governing rules expressed in language seemed to be the most influential part about what makes men, men (with the understanding that almost everything in Well's time was gender biased).  The point is, motivation to a desired behavior was extolled in the words.  Salvation, success, evolution... all was predicated on the fact that the difference is words and their focus on the meaning of those words.

In the film, however, the motivation was pain and control.  The film was 'updated' to represent the 'modern' era with a focus on technology and weaponry.  The motivation for men to aspire to be better was found in pain, control, and manipulation, rather than ethical choices.  If a character misbehaved, they were painfully tortured, with an electronic implant instead of being reminded of the strength found in the standards set by a community governed by a rule of law, reinforced by peer pressure and a culture that demanded compliance.  

Also, the strong preoccupation with a romantic relationship in the film that wasn't present in the book made this an entirely different story for me.  The book felt more like a social commentary, the film had more of a hero's journey and rescue theme.  The emphasis seemed to be placed more on the damage done because of the lack of respect for technology and the egotistic ramblings of a madman drunk on his own ambition, rather than the words we use to determine the ethics of community.  This distinction was very strong for me, and because of that element, I felt the book was far more powerful than the film. 

Another difference was the perspective of the storyteller in each edition. In the book, the story was presented in first person, the film in third.  For me, the book was far more disturbing because of the emotional proximity to the events and their impact on the narrator.  Without the distance that third person affords, the reader was forced to emotionally connect with the characters and nothing was distilled. The reader was compelled to look at things head-on, feeling through each moment.  The film audience could lurk behind bushes and watch from a distance, with little direct emotional entanglement.

Still, it was intriguing to notice how a different approach was taken with the book and the film, with each creator focusing on the story elements they thought most interesting or important to their audiences.  

I have no doubt my teenage brain missed these nuances when I read the book the first time, and so I'm glad I took the time to return to the work and experience it in a new way.  This experience reinforced my belief that old books never grow old, they just uncover new layers of our perception.

Yesterday, I took a break from the things that needed doing, and spent a bit of time at Leon & LuLu's Author event in Clawson, Michigan.  A couple of times a year, this wonderful shop invites local authors to share their books with readers, and a portion of proceeds go to serve the Oakland Literacy Council.  As you can imagine, I love this event.  It's the perfect opportunity to meet new authors, discover books, and serve charity all in one swell foop, while staying close to home!

As I strolled the aisles, I discovered author Diane Eurich Tracey and her book "A Tale of a School-Dazed Duck.  Of course, I had to stop and learn more... Drake would never let me hear the end of it, if I hadn't.

What I found is a delightful story about a mother duck named DIxie who aspires to raise her ducklings in an environment where they can learn and become the best ducks possible... so she makes her nest in a school's front yard!  Based on a true story, the tale is full of whimsy and amazing artwork by illustrator, Caresse C. Thiel.  This story is written in verse, with a meter that is wonderful for sharing a story that reminds of the importance of perseverance, inclusion, and how education can open new doors in life.

This will make a perfect gift for my young great-nephew... and keeping the book in the family, means I'll be able to enjoy it again! 

This author and illustrator team has written four other books, but sadly, I couldn't connect with her website or find the books on Amazon.  I will look for her at future local events, and I recommend you do the same.

About The Author: Heather Ashle has been reading fantasy novels for as long as she can remember and writing them about half as long. She has two degrees in English from Oakland University and currently lives in southeast Michigan. When she isn’t writing, she continues to immerse herself in the world of fantasy through reading, theater, music, movies, and events like Renaissance Festivals and Witches’ Bazaars. She also likes to work her magic in the kitchen, embarking on new recipes with the fresh herbs from her potted garden. Her favorite charity is the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, and she has participated in medical studies for the CF community almost continuously for the past eight years.

Title: A Transfer of Realms: Book 2 of the Realm Riders Series
Genre: Epic Fantasy

Book Synopsis: D’Erenelle is dying. Deadly swarms of soul-sucking Narxon infiltrate the realm.
Rhoswen of Stanburh, D’Erenelle’s yet-untethered Heir-Rider-in-hiding, must soon reveal herself and lead the Realm Rider forces to the sanctuary of another realm. Yet, in a desperate act to retain power, her uncle, King Badrick, engenders a plan that defies centuries of Realm Cycle precedent and threatens to expose Rhoswen before her dragon is even born. As Descents increase and more Rider forces fall to the Narxon, Badrick begins fracturing alliances to home in on the Heir Rider’s identity—and he seems to be fixating on those closest to Rhoswen.

Political division in the Exchange reveals secrets that were supposed to remain buried.

As a Transfer, Emmelyn Darrow can’t technically participate in the G’Ambit. But with the help of a Datist accomplice, she exploits the underground gambling ring to expose the wayward thinking her boss and other anti-realmers propagate. As her bets publicly unravel the Exchange’s mysteries, more and more members find themselves inexorably linked by the organization’s weavings. Those who want such knowledge to remain obscured will do anything to thwart Emmelyn’s plans... and punish her for her meddling.

With enemies around every corner, both heroines seek to uncover the truths that will propel their plans into the future—whether they can remain at the helm or not.

In A Transfer of Realms, book two of the Realm Riders Series, Heather Ashle’s tangled web of worlds and the memorable characters who inhabit them will send you racing to solve the mysteries surrounding imperfect heroes and tormented villains. But the real question is: which is which?

Find The Book: https://amzn.to/3NAd8u1
Find Heather’s Website: https://heatherashle.com/
Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/76ex2bpc
YouTube: ​https://youtu.be/P9yOpYDKtA4

Novels written by Indie Authors are some of my favorites because these writers take risks with their books, trying out unique narration styles, formatting presentations, and topics that one usually doesn't find in traditionally published works.  Trad houses thrive on what sells.  They're a bit more conservative, giving readers what they have already demonstrated they enjoy. Indie Authors thrive on pushing limits, ripping open envelopes, and playing with new approaches.  Indies give readers the opportunity to fall in love with something they might never have indulged by taking the "safer" reading path.

I discovered Indie Author, Vera West, at the Muskegon Art Fair this summer.  It was my first encounter with her, and we had a lively discussion about books, craft, and story diversity.  She's done something wonderful with her novel, Plucked, and it's worth sharing.

Vera's distinct viewpoint on writing a coming of age tale is to present the entire story in verse... like a long, free-form poem.  You might compare her book to spoken word performances heard at a poetry slam, but with a slower, more thoughtful pace.  The concept of writing a novel this way was intriguing to me.  Sure, there are epic poems out there... really old ones, like Dante's The Divine Comedy, Homer's The Odyssey, and Virgil's The Aeneid... that use this technique.  Still, this is my first time encountering the style in a contemporary story.  Am I living under a rock?  Quite possibly.  A quick Google search brought me more contemporary works written this way.  I need to expand my TBR.

Nevertheless, I was impressed with Vera's use of this uncommon formatting option in her novel, Plucked.  Her use of character perspective and her very precise vocabulary choices, not only in dialogue - which helped to understand each moment of the story on an intimate level - but also in narration - was excellent and fit well with the Young Adult genre.  I was extremely impressed with her very conscious choices in where to break lines, stanzas, and chapters.  Her breaks were deliberate, and these decisions made the emotion of the story stronger.  When a reader is forced into a hard stop at the end of a line, the specific meaning of the line, not to mention the individual words, have more contextual impact because they aren't run so closely together to form a scene.  This book entices contemplative thought because of the nature of pausing more often as you read.  Each line of this story came to me as a separate moment, and I felt I did a deeper dive into the story because of this required slower pace.   

At first, I was concerned that this format would make the book feel stilted, but I found it to be a very comfortable read.  The more thoughtful timing didn't force me to lose interest.  In fact the opposite was true.  Because I was more thoughtful as I took in the words from the page, I felt my interest in these characters and their story was heightened.  Yes, I read the book in segments, but I never felt disconnected from the tale when I picked it back up.  I didn't need to re-read the last few chapters to remember where I was.  The story was vivid and held my imagination extremely well.  Vera's characters were people I cared about and rooted for, and the emotion of the story was exceptionally relatable.  I felt a little voyeuristic at times because there were moments I felt like I was reading a teenager's journal.  I don't think that's necessarily a bad thing.  I think having the opportunity to eavesdrop on the internal thoughts and dreams of these characters made the story better.  It made the story more transparent, hiding next to nothing.  

If you would like to indulge in a different sort of novel reading experience, I highly recommend Plucked.  It's a refreshing read that will pleasantly stick with you for some time.

​The Book Club Play presented by The Inspired Acting Company (a 501c3) in Walled Lake, Michigan, ( https://www.inspiredacting.org/ )   was tremendously entertaining.  The writing was exceptional.  The cast and crew are certainly seasoned professionals... or if they're not, they fake it well!  The pacing was wonderful, and the performers seamlessly slipped into their roles.  Suspension of disbelief was well achieved within the first five minutes.  I was impressed with the cast's playfulness with each other.  I felt like these people knew and respected each other well; both as characters and as a company.  The direction was well done, and the blocking appropriately used the set to include the entire audience.  The designer's use of a single set played well with this script. The lighting and interlude music perfectly enhanced each scene's mood, and the use of the digital picture frame on the set wall not only as set decoration, but as a scene transition tool was an added delight.  Overall, it was an extraordinary performance.

​The Book Club Play is a fun voyeuristic experience of the shenanigans of a six-member book club who are being filmed for a reality-show style documentary as they select, read, and discuss various books… just as any book club might, sans camera.  The story introduces us to the characters who, while gaining greater understanding of the books they select, also learn more about each other and themselves.  It’s a delightful comedy, with several laugh-out-loud moments, tempered well with just as many introspective moments, making for a well-balanced show.  As an author and book lover, I was impressed by the playwright’s ability to sneak in references to 31 different books, either by title, plot, or character, and in some cases, all three.  These literary landmarks made this show highly relatable and engaging for me.  Most especially, the added book club questions on the back page of the program helped me feel a part of the discussion, even after the house lights came up.

​I would not have imagined that a theatre company could create a positive theater-going experience in a space anchoring a strip mall (with plenty of free parking), but The Inspired Acting Company does it masterfully.  The space is incredibly well-designed.  I don't think there’s a bad seat in the house.  I enjoyed the intimacy of the theatre.  Fewer seats in the house allowed me to focus on the play, rather than become distracted by a large crowd. The cushioned chairs were comfortable.  The thrust stage design enticed the audience to feel closer to the show.  The actors used the stage space with a relaxed style that removed barriers to audience engagement.  I appreciated the use of a more subdued sound system; hearing the actors voices more naturally rather than pumped through an overpowering speaker system made me feel a part of the performance rather than feeling disconnected at a distance. The cast, crew, director, and producer should be praised for creating a theatre company that is technically and artistically well-conceived, and a truly joyful experience.  

I highly recommend that you visit The Inspired Acting Company for one of their upcoming plays.  I promise, you'll have a great time!

​To learn more about the shows in their 2024/2025 season, visit their website at https://www.inspiredacting.org/ 
Or follow them on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/TheInspiredActingCompany 
Or call them directly at (248) 863-9953.