I want to thank and welcome author, L.R.W.
(Linda) Lee for sharing her personal writing journey with us on my blog today.
So let’s get this book launch party started…
How long have you been writing, Linda?
Professionally, I’ve been writing since 2012, but I’ve written lots before
that.
Wow, that’s not too long ago, you’ve certainly come a long way! Where
did you get your idea and inspiration to write Book 2 of the Andy Smithson
Series: Venom of the Serpent’s Cunning?
I’ll address that more
from an overview of the series rather than book 2 alone. Andy Smithson is a
seven-book allegorical, coming-of-age, fantasy adventure. When I was 8, I read
C. S. Lewis’ The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe and I knew I wanted to write
a children’s fantasy adventure, but not just any fantasy adventure. I wanted to
write one that was also an allegory with a deeper meaning. The specifics were
not clear, but the passion was there.
I remember having a
sense that I did not have a narrative of deeper meaning to share as I grew up,
but I always looked for one. It was when I brought on a partner to help me grow
a multi-million dollar company I had founded that I observed that my
partner/mentor was teaching me philosophies for business, but also narratives
that were significantly changing how I lived my life, making it more peaceful
and meaningful.
After selling the
business in 2012, I knew I wanted to share the uncommon life principles my
mentor imparted to me with readers in the hope that after spending several
hours with me, their lives might be better, not just having been entertained,
but impacted longer-term. A few of these uncommon principles include
overcoming frustration, impatience, fear, and jealousy. As well, they include
understanding why it makes practical sense to tell the truth, and understanding
that success in life comes from responsibility, diligence, and dignity to name
a few. As you can tell, this is my passion to accomplish through my books!
As for the specifics of the Andy
Smithson series, I’ve always loved books set in medieval times with castles and
sword fighting, so the world of Oomaldee evolved easily in my mind. The
specifics arose as I thought through what scenarios might help me create a
riveting tale while also accomplishing my objective of imparting uncommon life
principles as part of the story line without hitting kids over the head with
lessons that killed the story line.
I believe there’s a memoir in your future, Linda! What sets Venom
of the Serpent’s Cunning apart from other books in the same gene?
This series includes uncommon life
principles and does not just entertain. Hopefully, parents will understand that
allowing their kids to read this series will not only help with reading
practice, but will also reinforce principles they seek to impart to their
children. I don’t know of any other book that accomplishes this as an explicit
objective of the author. It’s what I call a “full move”, accomplishing multiple
objectives at once.
As an author, Linda, what is your writing process?
I start by inventing what a specific
book needs to accomplish in the grand scheme of the seven-book series. From
that, I put together a rough outline of the book. I think through the various
characters that exist and think about how each needs to grow. This then has me
invent the events I will use to produce said growth. From there, I flesh out
more details with the scenes. For example, if a chapter needs a character to
use a specific tool, I look back in the outline and invent where I will
introduce said tool earlier in the book. Once I think I’ve got a solid outline,
I go back and force myself to justify each chapter and specify how it moves the
action along while accomplishing the goal of character growth. If I find I
can’t justify a given chapter I nix it - no sense in writing a chapter that
doesn’t accomplish anything. By the time I’m done with this process, I usually
have the full book in my head and can move and dance with it. Only then do I begin
crafting sentences.
Some people prefer just sitting down
and writing. I can’t do that. I need to work through this process so I know
where I’m going. It also significantly reduces rewriting and editing, which I
do not enjoy. I also find that as I have the whole novel in my head, the
characters start doing things I didn’t expect and the plot evolves from there.
It always amazes me how rich the characters make the book when you let them
loose in this structure.
Yes, sometimes those characters have a mind of their own. How long
did it take for you to start and finish Venom of the Serpent’s Cunning?
It took me approx 7 months to write the second book, including the outline. I’m
hoping to reduce my time further for book three and beyond.
Do you have any advice for other writers?
Believe in what you’re doing and
stick to it. If you don’t believe in yourself, no one else will. And, if there
is a reason you are passionate about writing (like me sharing uncommon life
principles), only you can hold that narrative and see it through.
What’s next for L. R. W. Lee, the author?
Book three, Andy Smithson: Disgrace of the Unicorn’s Honor is in process. I’m
hoping to publish it in Fall 2014.
And I wish you success with your next book release! Okay, here’s
one for me, since I’m writing a time travel series—If you could time travel
anywhere into Earth’s past, where would you go and why?
I’d definitely go back to medieval times or maybe renaissance times
(accommodations were a lot nicer) when people lived in castles. I’d love to
experience life in a king’s castle with hidden passages and all manner of
mysteries as well as go on adventures with knights. Of course, I wouldn’t want
to have to face off against a valiant swordsman… oh my…
Synopsis
of Andy Smithson Series:
Venom of the Serpent’s Cunning, Book 2
Eleven-year-old Andy Smithson returns
to Oomaldee to retrieve the second ingredient needed to break a 500-year-old
curse enacted to punish the current ruler for murdering his older sister when
she was 15. Not one to forgive easily, Imogenia’s spirit is bent on
thwarting Andy to preserve the curse and naively aligns herself with the evil,
scheming Abbadon. Things go from
bad to worse when a creature Abaddon conjures from the darkest magic
steals the Stone of Athanasia, the source of the ruler’s immortality, causing
the king and his wizard Mermin to fall gravely ill. Andy is forced to
choose between retrieving the stone to save those he loves or obediently going
after the second ingredient. What will he chose? Will he be able to save the
King and Mermin?
As well, as part of the book launch tour, you
have the opportunity to win 9 fantasy adventure ebooks from highly acclaimed
authors. To enter go to L. R. W.’s website at http://www.lrwlee.com/#!giveaway/chq4.
4 bread bowls (or if you prefer, large Kaiser buns). Click HERE to see how to make one.
