Introducing Lillian Fogg—Writer and Mama Extraordinaire!

By Ann Charles
Spinner Mama

Today, I’m hangingout with Lillian Fogg, a wonderful, witty, funny mom/author who manages to balance writing with two young kids. Lillian goes by the name, Sassy Mama, here on Plot Mamas. She is going to help me out by stepping into my once-a-month Saturday spot so that I can focus on writing the next book in my Deadwood series.

Lillian lives in the Greater Seattle area with her husband, two young children, and golden retriever Cleopatra. As a pre-published author, she writes Regency-set historical romances and belongs to Romance Writers of America (RWA), the Greater Seattle RWA chapter, the Eastside RWA chapter, and the Beau Monde chapter. When she’s not writing or playing with the kiddos, she can be found at the gym trying to work off those final stubborn pounds of baby weight.

AC: When did the writing bug first bite you?

LF: I believe I was 8. I wrote my first “book” for a class project and called it “Devil’s Island.” I even dedicated it to my brother. I know the writing bug had bit me by then because the bio in the back of the book stated that when I grew up I wanted to be a writer. I wrote a lot of stories as a kid, but didn’t realize I could be a romance author until 6th grade, when my teacher told the audience at my graduation that she expected to see a romance novel out of me someday. Best compliment ever!!

AC: Friends and family aside, what are the five things you cannot live without?

LF:

1. Coffee. Coffee. And more coffee. Or tea, if it’s the afternoon. Ah hell, better just make this one caffeine.
2. Pen and Paper—I’m counting them as one, because what’s the point without one or the other? I write by hand, so it’s more important to me than my computer. And writing on walls would only get me into trouble with the hubs.
3. Music. I am always listening to music or singing (and not well, I might add.) Music is something I feel. It rattles around inside me. The hubby says I have a low dance threshold, which means I start dancing VERY shortly after hearing a song start. Yep, doesn’t take much for my inner dancer to come out.
4. Books. But every writer says that. It’s a no-brainer. I wouldn’t be writing manuscripts with the goal of publishing if I didn’t love books. However, I am notorious for loving the smell of books, especially old ones, and I’ve even claimed I would pile all my books up and sleep on them . . . Yeah, it’s a sickness.
5. Humor. I love laughing until my sides ache and tears are streaming from my eyes. I especially love when my kids make me smile—which is pretty much every day.

AC: Every Plot Mama has a Mama ‘handle’? What is the story behind yours?

LF: I picked Sassy Mama because when I let my guard down I am incapable of keeping my sarcasm to myself. When my hubby and I started dating our courtship was built on sarcasm. The hubs is always saying he fell in love with me because I’m feisty—and that’s the type of heroine I love to read and write. When you’re writing Regency-set historicals, a sassy heroine makes for the most interesting situations. I’ve always been proud to be a spirited woman . . . though I can be quick to anger, LOL!

AC: Tell us about your writing—what genre/sub-genre do you write, how long have you been writing, and where are you in the whole publishing process?

LF: I write Regency-set historical romance, concentrating on the social issues of the time. I love the aristocracy, the strict conventions, and the otherworldliness of it all. Who hasn’t dreamed of waltzing in the arms of a handsome duke? And all those rules? Well, sometimes rules are a lot of fun to break. But as a history major, I have always been fascinated by social issues and how they affected people. And I’ve always wanted to include a little bit of grit in my stories. I wrote my first historical romance in 10th grade and from then on I played around with writing stories set in different eras. It wasn’t until 2004 that I decided it was time to get serious. I took a year-long certification in romance writing course through the UW (yes, the class really did exist and it was taught by a former Silhouette editor.) I realized that I should be writing Regency-set historicals because that’s what I always gravitated to—even though I studied medieval history in college. I got the first 150 pages written but then got preggo in late 2005—everything was on hold until my daughter turned a year old. So, in 2007 I picked it up again and was determined to finish my WIP. By early 2008 I did just that and also had a few requests. I got my RWA Pro status and started work on my second WIP. It took me less than 6 months to complete it, but by then I was pregnant with my son, and it was a high-risk pregnancy filled with lots of ultrasounds, light bed-rest and an active preschooler. I’ve been back at it for about 9 months now and have spent the time trying my darnedest to figure out how to edit my WIP. Editing sounds so easy, but unless you know what you’re doing, it’s a waste of time. Luckily, I’ve been fortunate to have some great mentors in my life who have helped me figure out what I’m doing. I’ve got my WIP out with an editor and an agent, but have been working the contest scene to get feedback. I’m hoping to have all edits done by the end of summer so I can start querying this fall. Once the editing is done (I can’t wait!!), I will start on revising my first manuscript. I know, I know, I should probably shove it under the bed and let it live with the dust bunnies, but I really believe in it. I love the story idea. I love the social issue in it. And I seriously did it no justice the first go round. Oh, and I should mention, any writing I get done, I do during the 2 hours my son naps and occasionally in the evenings.

AC: What is your favorite kind of books to read? Who are some of your favorite authors?

LF: Of course I love to read Regency-set historicals, but woman cannot live on that alone. I actually love reading history books. I always make a point of reading an American Revolutionary War book in the weeks leading up to the 4th of July. And my genre makes it necessary to read British history books. When I’m not reading those, I like contemporary romance, action/adventure, and anything that includes history in it. With my young kids, I don’t get as much time to read a book as I’d like, so if I don’t have a book in hand, I always have Archaeology Magazine or National Geographic. Or Us Weekly. I’m not gonna lie, I love gossip. And it balances nicely with the stuffy, though interesting, scholarly mags. Some of my favorite authors are Julia Quinn, Delilah Marvelle, Johanna Lindsey, Susan Elizabeth Phillips, Jane Porter, James Rollins, Katherine Neville, Charles Dickens, Jane Austen . . . the list can go on and on. It’d probably be easier to ask which authors I don’t like

 

Thank you, Lillian, for such fun answers. And thank you for joining Plot Mamas. I can’t wait to read more about your writing life and mom adventures!

 

An Interview with Our Own Rider Mama—Susan Schreyer

This month, I thought I’d share this great interview with our own Rider Mama, Susan Schreyer, who posts here on Plotmamas every other Saturday.  Susan was kind enough to grant me this interview last year.  Since she answered my questions, she has published her second book, Levels of Deception, and received rave reviews for it.

Without further ado, here’s Susan:

AC:  You have been around horses for much of your life. How does your love of horses influence your writing? How do you use your knowledge and ease with all things horses to reach your niche audience?

SS:  I think anything one is passionate about translates well into writing. I strive to bring emotion to my readers. It’s how we connect across the written page. As a horse-person, I am thrilled when I can read a book that gives me an authentic look at the connection that exists between horses and humans. Because so many riders are also readers, I know at least part of my readership will relate to the relationship between my main character and her horse. When you can do this, people in that niche will feel drawn in and committed to your story world. They’ll tell others who are similarly inclined, and word of mouth is a powerful marketing tool.

AC:  Last fall, you hopped into the indie pool and published your first book. What were the three most eye-opening things you learned about being an indie author?

SS:  One—it wasn’t nearly as difficult as I anticipated. I took a deep breath, went to the happy place in my mind and when I’d calmed down I read the directions.

Two—The planning and executing of launching an indie book is not that different from being a new author for a publishing house, except …

Three—All the rules are mine, all the decisions that others have imposed on them are … mine! All the executive business decisions are … mine! It’s so empowering I don’t know why everyone doesn’t do it!

AC:  Multiple times, I have witnessed you proudly owning up to being an indie author. When someone approaches you with disdain for the self-published, how do you respond?

SS:  It’s very true that some people still don’t realize how dramatically the publishing industry has changed—even in the last year. But, to be honest, no one has ever challenged me on my decision or tried to convince me it was a bad one. Seriously. No one. And I’ve always been ready to defend my choice. Of course there are people who think less of me when they ask who my publisher is and I tell them it’s me, but they generally drop it. Eventually I know they’ll come to realize it’s a brave new world, and maybe meeting someone like me who embraces this new opportunity and is making the most of it will help to change their minds.

Once in a while someone will ask me a lot of questions about becoming an indie author and I have a chance to explain the benefits and the process. One-hundred percent of the people I’ve had that conversation with walk away with a huge amount of respect and enthusiasm for what I’m doing. They can’t imagine why anyone would want to publish the “old” way! It always delights me when I can let someone in on what an empowering experience this is.

AC:  What do you think an indie-published author has to do differently when it comes to tackling marketing and promotion compared to a traditionally published author?

SS:  Honestly? Not much. The process of promotion and marketing is very much the author’s responsibility these days, regardless of the format or what “publisher” it comes from. The idea is to get our books into the hands of readers, and spread the word that our books are available. Readers (for the most part) don’t care who published the book—they want a good read.

AC:  You are in the process of publishing your second book as we write. What new lessons have you learned with the preparation for this next book?

SS:  Having been through the process once, I’ve learned it takes far less time and effort than I originally thought. In other words, it’s no longer scary. I made some mistakes the first time, and the world didn’t come to an end. I can put my concentration where it belongs—on the story itself, and the steps I need to do to promote it once it’s available to my readers.

AC:  You recently went through the process of making your first book a Print-on-Demand (POD) book through Createspace. Besides the actual process, what is different in the creation of a POD book compared to an E-book?

SS:  Format! They are totally different! And it’s not just the lack of page numbers! With a print book you don’t want, for example, your dedication to be on the backside of the title page. Well, duh. You have to build in blank pages! And the cover! It needs a back! And room for the spine, and you have to choose what size the book will be. Holy Cow! It is a picky-person’s dream come true. E-books are so straightforward in comparison.

AC:  You’ve been working toward getting published for a few years and now you’ve had the experience of being an indie author. If an newer author approached you and asked if indie was the way to go, what would be your answer?

SS:  Do it. If you want hands-on control over your career, do it. But first, know what you want, what you truly want to accomplish by publishing your work. Know what is important to you. Only when you can answer those questions should you make a decision. Then go forward, ready to learn, with no apologies.

***

You can find Susan  here at Plotmamas every other Saturday. She has a wonderful website: http://www.susanschreyer.com/.  You can also visit her at one of her two blogs:  Things I Learned from My Horse (http://thingsilearnedfrommyhorse.blogspot.com/) and Writing Horses (http://writinghorses.blogspot.com/).

*Originally printed in First Draft, the newsletter of the Sisters in Crime online chapter, The Guppies.

Favorite Quote of the Week:  “Mommy, can we go get a Frozen Coke?”—Chicken Noodle as I was getting ready for work today. That little kid has my number!

Least Favorite Quote of the Week:  “Would you line edit this 70-page document on a banking software assessment? They need it back tomorrow.”—My boss at my dayjob

Don’t Lose Your Joy

by Wendy Delaney
Yo Mama

Years ago, my husband and I attended a church service in which the pastor ended his Sunday message with some simple words of advice: “Don’t lose your joy in the parking lot.” It was just before Christmas, snow was on the ground, and last-minute Christmas shopping frenzy was in the air. We all laughed, but when you have a list of a bazillion things to do and very little time to do it in, joy can feel like it’s in short supply.

There have been many times in my life that it felt next to impossible to be a working mom and a writer and hold on to anything remotely resembling joy. I’d power through my work day single-mindedly. Tamping down my emotions, my goal was (and sometimes still is) to just forge through the crapola du jour. Then I’d come home to a note from my son’s teacher, and I’d have to ask the question that I got so tired of asking, “What do you mean you didn’t hand in your homework? We worked on it together last night!” In response I got no eye contact and a shrug. My little darling might as well have taken a Tommy gun to my diminishing reservoir of joy, especially when five minutes later he’d ask what’s for dinner.

Moms, if this sounds at all familiar, I salute you with my extra-large aspirin bottle. Whether you do it alone or if you have a partner/husband (or Mrs. Clinton’s village), raising well-adjusted little darlings isn’t easy. How do you do it without periodically losing your joy? Hey, if I had the answer to that question, I’d be writing non-fiction books and you’d see me on the talk show circuit. All I know is that there’s a lot of truth in the expression, “this too shall pass.”

In the meantime, what can you do in the “challenging years” to help yourself build up a supply of joy to ride things out when times get tough? Number one on that list needs to be something that feeds your soul. If you’re a writer—and I know this is hard for a lot of us—please protect your writing time. Carve out whatever time you can to nurture your creativity. Yes, you’re crazy busy, and there’s those bazillion things to do, but can you find thirty minutes in your day to pursue your heart’s desire (whatever that may be)? Make the most of those thirty minutes and watch the joy meter rise.

For me and my husband, once our kids became old enough to stay home alone, we implemented a Friday “date night” in which all talk about homework and parent/teacher conferences was forbidden. It became our rekindle the flame night. Twenty years later, after graduations, births, deaths, and all the messy stuff of life, it still is. Without fail, “date night” brings me joy. Although there are times I question his taste in movies. (I absolutely draw the line at Stormship Troopers!)

What other advice can you busy moms offer to stay sane on those crazy days (that sometimes last for years!) and not lose your joy?

Grow a Pair!

Today, I thought I’d share some of my favorite quotes and with a twist from the usual—I’d give quick examples of how I have applied them to my writing career. I’d love to hear in the comments about how you have done the same with some of your favorite quotes, showing me how you’ve made them work for your career (writing or non-writing).

Here we go:

• “Grow a Pair”—Taken from a conversation I had with author Amber Scott. // I’ve had to make some direct calls to distributors, acting on behalf of Corvallis Press. Because I’m the author of the current book we are pushing, the fear of rejection gives me the jitters before every call, but I have had to “grow a pair” and call anyway. With every call, I grow less anxious and more educated about the publishing industry.
• “Girls fight for keeps!”—Paul Franklin // I was in the Indie Book Collective’s recent Blog Tour de Force Cage Match against an excellent male author, Gary Ponzo (his book Touch of Deceit is a big hit on Amazon and an exciting read). I had to go head-to-head with him to win reader comments, the author with the most won.
• “If your ship doesn’t come in, swim out to it.”—Jonathan Winters // I have yet to have my “ship” come in, any of them. I wear my arm floaties constantly and just keep diving in the water headfirst and doggy-paddling away toward that ship that keeps showing up way out on the horizon.
• “Your readers are your Sales force. Give them the tools to market your books for you.”—Mark Coker // I just ordered a bunch more magnets and posters to send to my publicist and give away to readers. I also am preparing to order another thousand free chapter-sample books for the summer tourist season in the Deadwood area. I’ll ship these to my publicist and die-hard fans there to give out all over the Black Hills and lure more readers.
• “Courage is being scared to death but saddling up anyway.”—John Wayne // Okay, let’s be honest about something. Writing is fun, but it’s also often tough and scary with a lot of negative what-ifs thrown in. Promoting and marketing is even scarier, with hives and headaches added. Reading reviews is gut-wrenching. But I do this daily (as do many of you). This quote applies every damned day. 

Now you tell me some of your favorite quotes and how you’ve made them apply to your life, work, writing, etc.

Favorite Quote of the Week: Mr. Biddles (upon picking up litter left in the forest): “Sometimes people are pigs.” Chicken Noodles’ reply: “Yeah, and sometimes people are cows, too.”

Least Favorite Quote of the Week: “Did you remember to pay the property tax bill?”—Mr. Biddles (The taxman left me a bloody stump for an arm after taking his piece of me.)

Happy Saturday!  ♥ Ann

Do you speak Children-ese?

by Ann Charles
Spinner Mama

Do you speak Children-ese? Unfortunately, I don’t. I keep thinking I know Beaker and Chicken Noodle’s language, but almost every night, they show me the error in my thoughts.

For example, tonight Beaker and I had a discussion about Darth Vader, the kids’ goldfish (not the heavy breathing, black caped villain). Beaker explained to me how the fish has a red hat on its head and I need to get gloves for it. Can you imagine trying to put fin-gloves on a goldfish? I told him that the Darth’s fins are plenty warm, no gloves needed. I thought I was speaking in plain Children-ese. He informed me that I was incorrect and if I wasn’t going to put the gloves on Darth, he would. Again, I spoke in my best Children-ese … which was not clear to him.  Five minutes later, he finally gave up the argument and went to watch Robots. Whew!

Finally, it’s time for a Friday night, well-earned glass of wine, right? Wrong. Chicken Noodle has her extra big rubber ducky in her hands and wants me to fill a storage container full of water for it to float in. It’s 9:30 p.m. (aka bedtime).
She’s insistant.
I’m insistant, too.
She demands water before her duck cries.
I tell her to inform Mr. Ducky that I will not be manipulated with crying. 
Chicken Noodle starts to cry.
I tell her that I will let Mr. Ducky play in water in the morning.
She says she doesn’t want to play with him anymore and throws him down.
I pick him up and head for the bedroom door.
She cries she needs Mr. Ducky.
I silently roar at the ceiling then tell her to get in bed and hand the dang duck to her. I turn to leave and inform her I’m going to brush my teeth.
She calls out, “Mama, I love you.”
I say, “I love you, too, Chicken Noodle.”
She says, “After you brush your teeth, will you bring back some water for Mr. Ducky?” 
CRIMINY! Did we not have this argument this already?   

If only I knew how to speak their language, we wouldn’t go through an Abbott and Costello ”Who’s on first?” routine every night.  I keep trying to learn. I’ll probably have it down by the time they start speaking Teenage-ese. How many of you struggle with Children-ese? How many of you pull out tuffs of hair after arguing with a four-year old every night at bedtime?

A New Mama!

I’d like to introduce a new Plot Mama who will be sharing Saturdays with Susan Schreyer (aka Rider Mama) and me. Her name is Wendy Delaney, also known as Yo Mama. Wendy writes fun-filled romantic mysteries set in the Pacific Northwest. She makes her home in the Seattle area with her husband and is a happy empty nester with two grown sons. Wendy will be here once a month to hang out with you all. Please stop back by in two weeks and say, “Hello!”

Favorite Quote of Week: “Your book, Nearly Departed in Deadwood, is a finalist in the RWA® Golden Heart contest!” —Spoken during a phone call from an RWA board member. WOO HOO!!!

Least Favorite Quote of the Week: “Mommy, my tummy hurts.” —Followed by tears and then a scramble for the puke bucket as Beaker fell victim to the flu bug. Next came me carrying dirty blankets to the laundry room. Vomit. Lovely. Poor Beaker.

Nearly Departed in Deadwood Hits the Shelves—See for Yourself!

by Ann Charles, Spinner Mama

I’m dancing jigs galore this week and not because of St. Patrick’s Day. My lovely publicist in Deadwood, South Dakota, has been taking my book around to local retailers and has hooked up with two in particular that I’m positively thrilled to tell you about.

NDD in the Adams Bros. Bookstore

First, the Adams Bros. Bookstore inside the Adams Museum (in Deadwood, South Dakota) is now carrying Nearly Departed in Deadwood. Let me tell you a quick story about my history with the Adams Museum. As a kid who used to hang out in Deadwood while my mom worked at one of the tourist shops on Deadwood’s Main Street, I frequently visited the Adams Museum for two reasons:

1. It was air conditioned. On those hot summer days when even the shady spots had me sweating, I sought out air conditioned venues like a moth to a back porch light bulb.
2. It was free. The Adams Museum takes donation from patrons. I would drop fifty cents (which seemed like a lot to me as a kid) in the donation box and spend an hour or two walking through the exhibits, reading everything I could so they wouldn’t think it was loitering, learning a lot about the area’s history in the process.  

Because of all those hours spent in the Adams Museum, it holds a very near and dear place in my heart, and having my book in the bookstore there is a huge honor. 

NDD in Homestake Visitors Center

Second, the Homestake Visitor Center (in Lead, South Dakota) is also carrying Nearly Departed in Deadwood in their wonderful gift store. The Homestake Visitor Center has been a “must-visit” stop for me every time I travel to the Black Hills. The Open Cut mine fascinates me, and since the second book in my Deadwood Mystery series (Optical Delusions in Deadwood) includes references to the Open Cut mine and bits about Lead’s history, I’m thrilled to have my book right there in the middle of town. Next time I visit the Open Cut and Homestake Visitor Center, I will have something new to stare at besides the hole in the ground. They’ll probably have to kick me out at closing time.
 

* * * * *

Favorite Quote of the Week: “Mama, I love all tons of you very much!”—Chicken Noodle. (I wonder how many tons she thinks I weigh. Ha!)

Least Favorite Quote of the Week: “Residents from the areas surrounding the Fukashima nuclear facilities are being checked for radiation contamination.”—A generic headline. First the quake, then the tsunami, now radiation worries. My heart goes out to these people who have had to endure three horrific events within a week’s time, and the worries and stress and sadness are far from over.

♥ Ann