April is the Cruelest Month?

In his famous poem, "The Wasteland," acclaimed poet (and St. Louis native) T.S. Eliot wrote:

"April is the cruelest month, breeding
Lilacs out of the dead land, mixing
Memory and desire, stirring
Dull roots with spring rain."

In many ways, April 2011 has not only been cruel, but devestating. Mother Nature showed her raw fury on Good Friday with the tornado that caused damage and destruction in Missouri and Illinois. Thankfully, no one was injured. Sadly, the tornadoes that whipped through the South last week left death as well as destruction. All who have been affected by these storms are in my prayers.

I was also saddened to find out that last week, New York Times bestsetting author Beverly Barton passed away from a massive heart attack. Beverly was a "steel magnolia" from Alabama and a robust and sassy romantic suspense author whose books I've reviewed, as well as interviewed for Bookreporter.com. Although I never met Beverly in person, after reviewing so many of her books and reading her answers to my interview questions, I felt as if I knew her--and I respected her as a writer.

That's the sad news about this past month.

Now for the good news:

My lilac bushes by the front porch are blooming, and their sweet fragrance greets me every day.



This week, my husband and our grandson spent time out at our country place in Osage County. Our grandson is on spring break. With all the rain, the Gasconade River (which abuts our property) is up, but it didn't keep them from having fun. The found several pounds of morel mushrooms and saw turkeys and deer. I can't wait until they come home later today day so I can see all the pictures they took.


My granddaughter had a good month, too. In the middle of the month she traveled to Columbia after winning first place and the right to represent this district in a state-wide leadership conference. Her soccer team won 1st place in a local conference and her team was undefeated (until last night). The team that defeated them last night "played dirty," with slide tackles and faking injuries when our players had breakaways. And sadly, one of her teammates was injured and had to be carried off the field.

April was also a good month for members of my critique group.

Alice Muschany won a 1st, a 2nd, and a 3rd place award in the sponsor and chapter categories at the Missouri Writers' Group Conference. Marcia Gaye won a 1st and a 2nd place in the sponsor and category awards at the same conference.

Claudia Shelton, also a member of my critique group received outstanding news. She is a finalist in the Daphne Du Mauier Award for Excellence in Mystery and Suspense. Her unpublished category suspense (Please Be Careful) was among the five finalists. Keep your fingers crossed.

April was a productive month for me personally:

* I won 1st place in the President's Award category for Best Short Story at the MWG conference this month for published short stories. My story, "Criminal Minds," had been published in Hot Flash Mommas, A Shaker of Margaritas by Mozark Press.
* My personal essay "Read Away Vacation" was published in Flashlight Memories by Silver Boomer Books.
* Two of my short stories have been accepted for anthologies to be published later this year.
* I finished three reviews and two interviews for Bookreporter.com and Teenreads.com.

And finally, who could not be swept up by the pagentry, drama--and yes love--of the Royal Couple, William and Kate, in yesterday's ceremony in London?



Now that April is behind us, with its mixed memories and desires, I wish you all a wonderful month of May.

Thanks and Winners

The response to Clara's interview was overwhelming.

Thanks to Clara for her graciousness and generosity. Also thanks so much to everyone who posted a comment or a question for Clara.

Here are the winners selected to win copies of Clara's books:

Alice wins Willie and the Rattlesnake King

Judie wins Hill Hawk Hattie

Patricia S. wins Hattie on her Way

Please e-mail Clara claragillowclark (at) gmail (dot) com to make arrangements to receive your books.

Note: As part of the WOW! Blog Author's Tour, one day next week I will host Mari L. McCarthy, author of Peace of Mind and Body: 27 Days of Journaling to Health and Happiness.

Interview (Part II) and Giveaway with Clara Gillow Clark

As promised, here is Part II of my interview with children's author Clara Gillow Clark.

DBP: Your website mentions you are from a family of seven children; I am also from a family of seven children. How did coming from a large family influence you to become a writer?

CGC: Coming from a large family means that you have a lot of relationships and a lot of interesting dynamics among siblings. My parents both loved to quote long passages of poetry, we always had books around, and my older sisters were great readers, so I guess all of those things were influences.

DBP: What is the best writing advice you’ve ever received?

CGC: It was actually from an interview with Judy Blume who wrote that if you keep at it [writing], you’ll start to catch on—I tell kids when I do workshops that it’s the sort of aha! moment of learning to ride a bike or even before that learning to tie shoes, zipper a jacket, or button your own dress/shirt for the first time. I’ve had several of these writing aha! moments over the years and it’s euphoric when it happens. The worst? If writing isn’t easy for you, you shouldn’t bother.

DBP: As a children’s author, you talk at libraries, schools, and conferences. What tips can you give to help other writers prepare to give presentations?

CGC: Always practice your presentation until you can do it without a script. Beyond that, once you arrive, forget about yourself—be friendly, be funny, and make eye contact.

DBP: You have a website. You also have an amazing blog http://claragillowclark.blogspot.com/ where you post about writing and books. I am a follower and a frequent visitor. On your blog you also sponsor contests and giveaways, as well as interviews with other children’s writers. How has the Internet changed the way writers connect with readers and other writers?

CGC: The Internet is time consuming and has challenged us to prioritize our time better, but it’s also created a much stronger sense of community for writers both in support of each other and in the craft, as well as being an amazing place to meet readers. Writing can often be a lonely life because we do need to have solitude for creating, but with the internet, we are always able to reach out and connect.

DBP: Speaking of contests on your blog: What can you tell us about your Spilling Ink Writing Contest going on right now?

CGC: Thanks for asking about that. I ran this contest last year for the first time when Spilling Ink, A Young Writer’s Handbook co-authored by my friend Anne Mazer and Ellen Potter, was released. The response was great so I decided to make it an annual event with cash prizes and autographed books for Young Authors in grades 4-8.

DBP: That is so cool! What a generous and thoughtful way to encourage young writers to achieve their dreams! Any last thoughts about writing or words of advice?

CGC: Write what you care about—it’s the internal conflicts not the external ones that matter the most.

DBP: Your advice about internal conflicts is so true. Now, final question: What is the best way for readers or writers to contact you with questions?

CGC: Message me on facebook or Twitter--@claragillow), leave a comment on my blog, or e-mail me: claragillowclark(@)gmail(dot)com

Thank you so much, Clara, for being so generous with your time and words of wisdom.

To all my visitors, thanks for stopping by and reading what Clara has to say. If you haven't already done so, be sure to leave a comment to be entered in a drawing to win a copy of one of Clara's books. Winners' names will be posted by the end of the week.

Interview (Part I) and Giveaway with Children's Writer Clara Gillow Clark

This week I’m pleased to welcome Clara Gillow Clark to Donna’s Book Pub. Clara lives and writes in the Northeast corner of Pennsylvania, where she is author of five children’s historical novels.

Clara has not only agreed to be interviewed, she has also generously offered to give away an autographed set of her Hattie Belle Basket children’s book series. Three lucky vistors who leave comments during Clara's visit will receive a copy of one of her books. The titles are: Hill Hawk Hattie; Hattie on Her Way, and Secrets of Greymoor. Clara will personalize and mail direct to the winners after the comment contest ends.

DBP: According to your website, you wrote about four novels before your first one was published. You now have six published novels with more in the works. Will you please talk about the importance of persistence for writers and tell us about your published books?

CGC: For most of us who aren’t born with the gift like Mozart’s, persistence both in practicing the craft and in submitting our work is the only road to publication. I’d pretty much given up on my first book, Annie’s Choice, when I met an editor from Boyds Mills Press who knew I was writing and asked if I would submit a manuscript. I know it sounds like overnight success, but it really wasn’t. Annie’s Choice is based on my mother’s childhood growing up in the 1920’s and about her desire to go to high school. My second book, Nellie Bishop is about my great grandmother whose father wagered her in a poker game and lost. Willie and the Rattlesnake King is historically accurate, and although Willie was Nellie’s brother, his story is fictional. Those three titles were published by Boyds Mill Press. The Hattie Series is published by Candlewick Press.

DBP: Why do you write children’s historical fiction, and what is your favorite period in history?

CGC: Good question, but a tough one. I love reading anything about the history of woman/mankind, so one particular time period isn’t more compelling to me than another. I first started writing my family stories and that’s why I got hooked into the time periods in which I’ve written.

DBP: Will you please share with us how you research the time period you are writing about in your novels?

CGC: I read everything about the time period I can find, visit the area, if it’s outside of my own home stomping grounds. I visit museums, historical societies both of which often have wonderful oral histories rich in details of everyday life. I also read old newspapers on microfilm, which proved to be invaluable for all my books. I also read the bibliographies of history books to find more sources.

DBP: Wow! That's dedication! Your dedication to getting the details of the period right shows in your books. I recently read—and loved—SECRETS OF GREYMOOR, in the Hattie Belle Basket series. In the novel, Hattie moves into her grandmother’s crumbling mansion, where she must adjust not only to living in a new place without her father, but also being the new girl at school. What I love about this book, beyond the setting and characters, is the sense of mystery, suspense, and secrets. What inspired you to write SECRETS OF GREYMOOR?

CGC: Thanks, Donna. I’m glad you loved the book. I loved writing it! I fell in love with all the characters in Hattie on Her Way so much so that it was heartbreaking for me when that book was completed. There was that, plus I’d always hoped to discover a mystery in our attic; I didn’t, so I decided to create a little one for Hattie to solve that included the reminder of the most important treasure of all. The greater mystery for Hattie was actually in Hattie on Her Way which has a dark family secret.

DBP: In Part II of my interview, Clara will share writing advice, offer tips to writers on how to prepare for presentations, and tell us about a special contest going on over at her blog. Don't forget to leave a comment for a chance to win a signed copy of one of Clara's books. They make perfect gifts for that special child, grandchild, niece, nephew, student, or any reader who enjoys stories with historical settings.

Storms, Luck, Randomness and Winners

A fierce strom with tornadoes blew through our area last night leaving damage and destruction in its wake.

Thank God, we are okay and suffered no damage. Just across the Missouri River, folks living in the cities of Maryland Heights and Bridgeton in Missouri, and on across the Mississippi River, people in Granite City, Illinois, weren't as lucky.

Lambert International Airport suffered damage and has been closed, and there were some minor injuries reported.

My sister Bridget's mother-in-law and sister-in-law's homes not far from Lambert were damaged, although I haven't heard how badly yet. They were all at the Cardinals' game last night and came home to the bad news. My brother Tim works for the City of Maryland Heights, but I haven't talked to him yet to find out how badly the damage is there. I also haven't talked to my friends and former co-workers who live in Granite City, but I pray their homes were spared.

The good news is no one lost their lives in this terrible storm.

There's no smooth way to segue from a discussion of the powerful tornado that touched down on Good Friday to an announcement of winners in this week's contest--except possibly the connection between the phenomenon of randomness and luck. In last night's storm, some neighborhoods were hit hard, while others were unscathed.

So, I'll just plunge ahead:

* The name selected at random to win a copy of David Lee Kirkland's book of poetry, Tanka Moments: A Man's Journey is: SIOUX

* Due to the overwhelming response from visitors commenting on my two-part interview with Lou Turner, CEO of High Hill Press, Lou has decided to give away not one, not two, but three copies of Jory Sherman's Master Course in Writing book.

The three lucky winners selected by Lou are: Bookie, Marcia, and Barb Hodges

To all winners, please e-mail me at dvolkenannt (at) charter.net to make arrangements to get the books to you.

Until next week, I wish you all a joyful Easter, and I pray for good weather and quick healing for all those affected by the Good Friday storm.

Interview (Part II) with Louella Turner, CEO of High Hill Press -- and A Special Giveaway

As promised, here is Part II of my interview with Louella Turner, CEO of High Hill Press.

Today Lou answers questions about some of her authors, explains the process from acceptance to publication, shares some advice, and gives her contact information. She has also agreed to answer questions from visitors. So if you have a question about High Hill, the publishing process, or anything related to writing, leave it and Lou will answer it.



Oh, and Lou is also giving away a copy of Master Course in Writing by Jory Sherman. One lucky person who posts a comment or a question either on today's post, Monday's post, or on A Book A Week, my other blog, where I have reviewed Jory's book, will be entered in a random drawing to receive a copy of Jory's book.

Now, on to our interview:

Who are some of the authors you have published, and what are some of the titles in your catalogue? We've published the well-known Spur Award winning western writer, Dusty Richards. This fall we're launching Cactus Country, an idea that Dusty had last fall for publishing strictly westerns. We're doing an anthology of western short pieces to go along with it. The project is getting a lot of attention by some big names in the industry. Jory Sherman, a Pulitzer finalist, published “Master Course in Writing” with us, and we have his poetry collection coming out in the summer of 2011. “Geese to a Poor Market” by Lonnie Whitaker, a St. Louis attorney, was published in the summer of 2010. Brenda Brinkley, a Missouri native, published her first children's picture book in her Brenda's Barnyard series in the fall of 2010, and we're now finishing up the second in her series about a camel named Cleveland. All together we have published nearly 50 titles under High Hill Press, and worked with another publisher in Texas on 8 other books. We have another 40 books scheduled for the next 12 months.

Please describe the process from acceptance to completion of a project. When we get a query it can often takes weeks to respond. But if we like the idea for the book, we'll then ask for samples. If we like what we read we ask for the entire manuscript. If we decide it's a book we want to publish we call the author and then the adventure begins. A book usually takes between 8 and 12 months of work before it's actually published. Once in awhile we do one quicker than that in order to have it ready for a conference or event the author wants to attend. But the speed between query and publication depends on the amount of editing needed in the book, and our schedule.

In addition to being a publisher and an editor, you are a Pushcart Prize nominated writer. With so many writing awards and publishing credits of your own, what writing accomplishment makes you most proud? Just the fact that I've ever managed to write anything that people want to read is amazing to me. I love to write. I don't do as much of it as I'd like because of the time I spend on High Hill projects, but I still manage to polish a story here, or start a new one there. Lately I've been revising a western I wrote years ago. I've been very lucky in my writing career and managed to find a New York agent who has a bucket load of patience with me and is waiting for those revisions. My goal is to have at least one book published in NY before I die. So I've got plenty of time.

Do you have any advice for writers just starting out, or even those who have been writing for years? Do it because you like it and don't let anyone dash your dreams. If you simply want to publish a few stories or essays or articles, go for it. If you want to publish a book, you can do that too. If NY is your goal, don't give up. If you'd like to go with a small press, there are a ton of good ones out there. The word can't should never be in a writer's vocabulary.

What’s the best way to contact you or to find out more about High Hill Press? Probably e-mail. HighHillPress@aol.com But don't expect an answer right away. When I'm working frantically to get a book out on time, I often don't respond to e-mails right away. And if I ask for a sample of your writing, don't write back the next day and ask if I liked it. I recently had a client write to me to say her friend told her that she should bug a publishing house to get their attention. That is NOT the way to do. Just because we're small, doesn't mean we're not as busy as the big publishing houses. We're probably busier because our staff is smaller. Just be patient. While you're waiting, edit, edit, edit.

Thanks for visiting with us, Lou, and for sharing your wealth of advice, experience and knowledge.


I will post the name of the lucky winner of Jory Sherman's Master Course in Writing on Friday.

Interview (Part I) with Louella Turner, CEO of High Hill Press

I'm pleased to welcome Louella Turner, CEO and Publisher of High Hill Press to Donna's Book Pub.

Full disclosure: Lou is one of my dearest friends. She and I met about twenty years ago at a critique group and have been friends ever since. She not only is a Pushcart Prize nominated writer, for the past three years she and her husband Brian have operated High Hill press, a small publishing company dedicated to publishing well written books that otherwise might not have gotten noticed.

In Part I of our interview, Lou discusses how she got started in the publishing business, the mission of High Hill, what types of books she publishes, and the services her publishing company provides. My questions are in black, and Lou's responses are in blue.

You and your husband Bryan are CEOs and publishers of High Hill Press, a small press. Can you share with us a bit about your background and what inspired you to begin High Hill Press? My background is all over the place. I enjoyed a long and successful career as an artist, art teacher, and a Tea Room and shop owner. Then in 1992 I retired to write, and in 2008, my husband and I formed High Hill Press. After attending a writer's conference, I realized there was a need for something in between NY, and the Print on Demand publishers that were popping up like mushrooms. A good friend of mine published a beautiful book with Publish American and was very disappointed. On the way home from the conference I talked to my husband about starting a retirement business and that's what we did.

What are the goals and mission of High Hill Press? We want to publish as many great books as we can. New York overlooks so many wonderful stories and writers because their goal is simply to make money. Our goal is to hopefully break even, which gives us a great advantage over NY. We can take our time with an author that might need a little direction. We also look at the author too. I've recently had a query from a woman who grew up on a river boat. How neat. Her story needs a little tweaking, but I think working with her will be wonderful. We've also got a client that was a famous country western singer. He wants to tell the story of his younger years, NY is only interested in his music years. So we're doing one book for him, and hopefully NY will do the other.

Do you specialize in any area of publishing, or are you open to all types of submissions? We'll take a look at any genre. The only requirement is that it be written well.

What are your criteria for submissions? Query letter? Synopsis? Proposal? Personal pitch? Word of Mouth? We try not to advertise too much but we're still getting an average of 80 contacts a month. We ask that they send the first and last chapter of a novel, a short story or two of a collection, a chapter and further chapter outlines of a nonfiction. And we want a bio of the author. If it looks like something we want, we ask for the entire manuscript and then we do what I refer to as the long and windy phone call. I won't work with someone I don't feel comfortable with, and that phone call tells me alot.

What services do you provide that sets High Hill Press apart from most other small presses? A High Hill book will stay in print as long as the author wants it to. And while we're working with the author, we try to use as much input from them as we can with title, layout, and cover designs. Lately I've also been working on making our layouts prettier than the average perfect bound book. I'm paying attention to fonts and chapter headings. Most small press just do a simple layout, we're trying to make ours special.

Tune in Wednesday for Part II of the interview, when Lou will discuss her process for accepting manuscripts and what authors can expect after they sign with High Hill. She will also announce a giveaway of a book by one of her authors.

Book Giveaway - Tanka Moments: A Man's Journey by David Lee Kirkland

In honor of national poetry month, I'm giving away a copy of a book of poetry written by David Lee Kirkland, a long-time writer friend.

David, or Kirk as many of us call him, is an award-winning poet, novelist, short-story writer, storyteller, Templar, fiddler, and frequent wearer of kilts.

Tanka Moments: A Man's Journey, published by High Hill Press, is his latest published work.

Packed in the slim volume are 265 tanka and dozens of haunting illustrations, which capture the essence of the book. The tone of poems ranges from playful to serious, uplifting to thought-provoking, romantic to down-to-earth.

Here's a sampling:

27.

Children's eyes

Even averted

See so much

How can we wonder

Where lessons are learned?

37.

Rattlesnake

Head poised, tail shaking

Fair warning

If only people

Were so courteous

43.

Learning to drive

On Dad's old Mercury

No second gear

Transitions are not smooth

Between youth and manhood

254.

Hungry birds huddle

Outside below the feeder

Hopeful, eager

Our children gather inside

Seeing presents by the tree

If you would like to win a copy of Kirk's poetry book, here's what you need to do:
* Leave a comment
* About your favorite poet or poem or your thoughts on poetry
* Between today and April 20th
* Be sure to include an e-mail address so I can contact you if you win
* I will pick one name at random from all who leave comments.
* Winner will be announced on or around April 21

Good luck, and Happy Poetry Month!

Mysteries of the Ozarks and Welcome

Last week I posted a brief review of Mysteries of the Ozarks (Vol III) on my A Book A Week blog.

If you like reading about the Ozarks, local history, or mysteries, check out the anthology, which is newly released from High Hill Press. Volume III is full of lovely stories, and the cover is amazing.

I have a story in Volume I and another one that will be included in Volume IV, which will be published later this year. Check out my review of Mysteries of the Ozarks Volume III if you get a chance.

Also, I would like to welcome my newest follower to Donna's Book Pub.

Welcome Tiger85. Thank you for being a follower, and I hope you visit often!

Scare the Dickens out of Us Ghost Contest

During a presentation at the MWG conference last weekend, mystery writer and keynote speaker Elaine Viets encouraged writers to enter contests.

The following is information about a contest she recommends. The entry fee for adult writers at $20 is a bit steep, but the prizes are generous and it's for a good cause.

Friends of the Clark Library is sponsoring the "Scare The Dickens Out of Us" ghost story writing contest.

First place prize of $1000, second place prize of $500 and third place prize of $250 will be awarded this year for the best original, previously unpublished ghost stories 5000 words or less that are submitted.

For younger writers, The Junior Scare The Dickens Out of Us ghost story contest, which follows the same rules, offers $250 for first place for writers aged 12-18.

This contest is a fundraiser for the Friends of the Dr. Eugene Clark Library in Lockhart, Texas. The main contest requires a $20 entry fee and the Junior contest a $5 entry fee. The contest is privately funded. All entry fee money goes directly to the Friends where it is donated to the library for library projects.

Entries are accepted beginning July 1.
The contest postmark deadline is October 1, 2011.

Full rules are at the Clark Library Friends website. No publication is involved. Writers retain full rights to their stories. The contest is open to published and unpublished writers, and to local, national and international writers as well. The only rules are that you write an original, unpublished ghost story and that it be 5000 words or less in length.

Good luck if you enter.

Lost and Found

Over the weekend, while I was at the Missouri Writers' Guild "Just Write" Conference (more about that later this week), my hubby and our grandson spent the weekend at our country place in Osage County.

The weekend had near record-breaking temperatures, so Walt and Michael--along with Harley our black lab--took advantage of the warm weather. The guys cut grass, plowed fields, rode four-wheelers, and explored.


Harley ran alongside wherever they went and even took a swim in the Gasconade River, which abuts our property for about a third of a mile.

I took these photos along the riverbank last summer.

While Michael was out exploring, he spotted something poking out of the earth not far from the riverbank. At first he tought they were bleached rocks, but he noticed they were shaped weird. After he dug them out, he saw they were large bones.

Walt confirmed they are bones, probably very old ones, but too big to be deer bones. He thinks they might be remains from a cow, horse, or mule--back from when our "farm" was actually a working farm, decades ago.

When Michael showed me his find last night, his eyes widened, and he held them almost reverently. He asked what kind of bones I thought they are. Not having a clue, I suggested he put them in a bag and take them to school and ask his science teacher.

On the topic of discovery, and in a stroke of coincidence, I received the Woman's Day newsletter today. Low and behold one of the featured articles contained stories about amazing metal detector findings. The stories are fascinating, but the one I will be sure and show Michael is the story about the seven-year-old Virginia boy who unearthed part of a Civil War sword last year.

So, while we await the opinion of Michael's science teacher about the bones, my question is: Have you ever discovered anything mysterious or found something you treasure?

Sisters of the Quill Award

After Tuesday's post about Forgotten English, many commented that they liked or loved the modified term I came up with: "Sisters of the Quill." One person wrote it gave her the shivers.

I really like the term, too. In fact, after reading the comments I decided to create a Sisters of the Quill Award. I played around with Clip Art and Power Point, and with some help from my hubby, I came up with the logo on the left.

The very first "Sisters of the Quill Award" goes to the eight people who commented about my post on Tuesday.

As a recipient of this award, you have been deemed a quill-driver, a writer, a scribe, a schrivener, an author worthy of recognition. You are welcome to share this award with deserving writer friends. All I ask is you mention you received the Sisters of the Quill Award from Donna at Donna's Book Pub.

Without further ado, I'm awarding the First Generation Sisters of the Quill Award to the following bloggers and quill-driving writers:

Sioux

Cathy C. Hall

Linda O'Connell

Mary Horner

K9 Friend

Janet

Tammy

Clara Gillow-Clark

Congratulations, Sisters of the Quill. Hope you enjoy your award, and don't forget to write!

Donna

Forgotten English Word for the Day

Today's word from my calendar of "Forgotten English" is quill driver.

Here are two definitions:

From John Hotten's Slang Dictionary, 1887: "A schrivener, a clerk; satrical phrase to 'steel bar driver,' a tailor."

From Francis Grose's Classical Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue, 1796: "A clerk, a scribe, or hackney writer. Brother of the quill, an author."

Of all the definitions, I like "brother of the quill," although "sister of the quill" is more fitting since I'm a woman.

So, here's my sentence: Being a quill driver doesn't pay all my bills, but at times it does give me thrills.