Talkshow Thursday: Welcome Wendy Wilson Spooner

Talkshow Thursday: Welcome Wendy Wilson Spooner!

Linda:  Thanks for joining me today. Congratulations on the release of your debut novel Once Upon an Irish Summer. What was your inspiration for the story?

Wendy: I still catch my breath when I think of the trip to Ireland I took with my parents and husband a few years ago. It was while exploring the original estate connected to my Irish ancestors that the seed sprouted to write about Allen Hamilton, the oldest son of my 3^rd great grandfather.

LM: The age old question for writers – are you a planner or a “pantster,” and what is your favorite part of the writing process?

Wendy: I started out as a pantster. Now I write with a loose outline I learned called “Story Beats” designed by Ara Grigorian and Janis Thomas, creators of the Novel Intensive Writer’s Workshop in Southern California. I’ve written seven chapters in two days with this method, which I highly recommend.

LM: In addition to your fiction, you’ve also written lots of nonfiction. What do you do differently for the two genres? The same?

Wendy: Nonfiction is totally different for me because I’ve never written anything lengthy of that genre. But I write from my heart for nonfiction, even when I’m writing a professional article for the field of Genetic Genealogy, my other day job, which requires a lot of citations and a more cerebral approach..

LM: What do you do to prepare yourself for writing? (e.g., listen to music? Go to a certain place in your home?)

Wendy: I grab my favorite snacks, water, comfy clothes, and a blanket and whatever else I need to hunker down for hours.

LM: Research is an important part of writing, especially historic fiction (and you’re a professional researcher!). Did you discover any “aha” sort of tidbit(s) that you knew you want to include in Once Upon an Irish Summer?

Wendy: Oh my, yes. SO many tidbits. When researching a historical figure that left behind fifteen boxes of papers and letters, as well as a legacy left in who his descendants became, I had quite a job in honoring the main historical character and his family--in sticking to actual history and filling in the many blanks. That’s why Once Upon an Irish Summer took three years to write!

LM: Here are some quickies:

Wendy:

Favorite childhood book: The Magic Summer by Noel Streatfield. Funny that it takes place in Ireland in the Summer! Hmm, was I influenced much?

Favorite food: Ice cream. Does that count as a food?? I think it DOES.

Favorite vacation place: Disneyland

LM: What is your next project?

Wendy: The next book in the series! This story is a continuation of the present-day main characters, and in the historical timeline, it goes back in time to the little sister who was left behind in Ireland when her favorite brother set off for America.

LM: Where can folks find you on the web?

Wendy:

Amazon https://www.amazon.com/Wendy-Wilson-Spooner/e/B084BPSQH4?ref_=dbs_p_pbk_r00_abau_000000

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/wendyspooner/

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/authorWendyWilsonSpooner/?modal=admin_todo_tour

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/wendy.w.spooner

Author Website https://wendywilsonspooner.com/

Professional Genetic Genealogy Site https://knowmyroots.com/

About Once Upon an Irish Summer:

Two teenagers, two centuries, one city.

1817 Ireland: Allen Hamilton crosses the Atlantic alone to find a way to save his family from imminent financial and social ruin before it's too late. Instead, he is met with prejudice, sickness, and starvation.

2018 Fort Wayne, Indiana: A gift young artist struggles with debilitating grief after a sudden death in her family. When she unearths Allen Hamilton's noble rise from rags to riches in Antebellum America, their shared connection inspires her own healing and renewed inspiration.

Based on a 200-year-old letter collection, Once Upon an Irish Summer brings to life and weaves together this true story of romance, mystery, and hope.

Pre-Order Link: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B082LWVX3H

Talkshow Thursday: Meet Debut Author Jeanne Dickson

Talkshow Thursday: Meet Debut Author Jeanne Dickson

Linda:  Thanks for joining me today. Your debut novel, Grounded Hearts, was released in June of this year and is set during WWII. (My favorite time period!) Where did you find your inspiration for this story?

Jeanne: My father was stationed in England during WWII. Issued with a weekend pass, he decided to fly to the U.S. Army base in Northern Ireland, and then visit family who lived nearby. Once there, he borrowed a bicycle and peddled across the border into Eire, “Free Ireland.” A few minutes into his ride, a member of the Garda, the Irish National Police, stopped him. The officer told him to turn his army jacket inside out, or he’d have to arrest him as a combatant and send him to the K-Lines internment camp. My father did as directed and continued on his way without further incident, which was fortunate because 240 soldiers from both sides of the conflict faced internment in Ireland during the war.

Remembering the story, I started the “what if” game. The more I researched the period the Irish called “The Emergency,” the more fascinated I became, and a WWII romance between a downed RAF pilot and a feisty midwife emerged.

LM: That is fascinating. I love books based on true stories. First novels are often the result of a long journey toward publication. How did you get started as a writer, and how did you decide to seek publication?

Jeanne: Grounded Hearts is my debut novel, but not my first book. I penned five or six novels before I finally received my first contract. During this long slog to publication, I sometimes wondered why I thought writing fiction was a good idea, but when God puts something on your heart, it’s foolish to resist.

LM: Amen to that! The age old question for writers – are you a planner or a “panster,” and what is your favorite part of the writing process?

Jeanne: While I plan the novel’s journey, I allow for detours. It’s a process, and honestly, every book is a bit different. The “what if” is my favorite part and then research to back up my premise statement.

LM: Writing about a different era and culture required lots of research.What tidbit did you discover during that phase of writing that created an “aha” moment for you?

Jeanne: Ireland was neutral during WWII? What? They interned combatants? What?

LM: What’s the quirkiest thing you’ve ever done?

Jeanne: Well, I guess I’m still doing it. I have a collection of Barbie dolls that I dress up as my characters in whatever book I’m working on. They’re my muses. And my only weakness. Maybe.

LM: How fun! What is your next project?

Jeanne:  I’m currently working on a contemporary romance. A woman falls in love with her contractor as she struggles to renovate an inherited Irish manor house, but when she discovers a buried body, it throws into question the role an ancestor may have played in the girl’s death, and the discovery of an ancient fairy ring creates friction in the town, pitting traditionalist against progressives.

LM: Ooooh. Sounds intriguing! What advice can you give to not-yet-published writers?

Jeanne: Don’t give up and don’t be in hurry. Getting published is going to take more time than you might think. Learn your craft. Find a writing community to hang out with because you are not alone. I belong to RWA and ACFW. It can be hard, but don’t be shy and go to conferences. I found many friends, my agent, and my editor at conferences.

LM: Where can folks find you on the web?

Jeanne:

Website: http://www.jeannemdickson.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Jeanne-M-Dickson-660226910801814/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/jmdickson1

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeannedickson/

Email: author.jeannemdickson@gmail.com

Purchase your copy: 

Amazon

Barnes & Nobel