Weekend Peek into Bonnie's Mail Bag

Next week, we'll hear from another author about turning ideas into novels. Great stuff ahead!

But it's the LONG weekend, and I think we need something fun on the blog.

I thought it would be neat to offer a peek over my shoulder at some of the mail that's come in about Talking to the Dead. All of the following are verbatim, but are not necessarily the full content of the letter as some portions of the mail I get are people sharing their personal journey of grief. I also removed identifying information.

From a Canadian reader who won a copy of Talking to the Dead: "I have to tell one of the best novels I have ever read ! I love your writing style as it draws you in immediately. You also did a great job of making a difficult topic serious, but funny at the same time. I fell in love with the characters and wished the book didn't have to end."

From a woman who bought a copy from her local bookstore: "Thanks so much for writing this book! Your writing and characters got right into my heart for an all night healing! I couldn't put the book down and God really did a work on my heart! I will share this book with my friends!"

A reader in California wrote to say: "I am going to share the book with my daughter next. She would like to be a counselor and reads many books that may provide more insight into any of the situations she may one day become familiar with through her career."

From a friend and fellow author who had planned to read Talking to the Dead on the plane during her summer vacation: "I'm afraid I didn't read your book on the plane - because I finished it beforehand, leaving me nada to read! Not fair. Make your next book less compelling, 'kay?"

A Canadian reader shared her copy: "I absolutely LOVED it! I gave it to a friend to read who is 'against everything Christian' and she loved it!"

A US military wife wrote this: "I LOVED Talking to the Dead - it took me through a tough time of grief [. . .]. It comforted me as I grappled with my fragility, imperfections and God's acceptance - LIFE IS MESSY - how true! And God is love."

From a well read American reader: "I finished reading your book. I read over three hundred pages today. Why? Because I couldn't put the stinkin' thing down. Yes, I'm shouting! It was one of thee best stories I have ever read. Anything that can hold my attention for long, that can make me cry, get angry, and want to yank several someone's teeth out, goes straight to the top of my list as one of thee best reads in a long time."

And this last one comes from a reader in New Zealand: "I finished Talking to the Dead on the weekend and it was absolutely amazing! Easily the best book that I've read this year (and I've read a lot!) It was one of those great books where you find yourself forcing yourself to stop and put it down because it's just so magical and haunting that you don't want it to end because you know you aren't going to read another one as good for a long long time.

Your way with words and the plot and Kate and Jack and the way you pulled it all together. Wow! You should be so so proud. All those great endorsements didn't even begin to do it justice."

***

I hope you enjoyed this over the shoulder peek at my mail box. It is a humbling privilege to hear from readers and to share a bit of life with them. I answer every e-mail and snail mail myself - I simply wouldn't want to miss any of the joy that comes from hearing from, and talking with readers. It is, without a doubt, the best part of my job as a writer. For those who have written, thank you for the joy and hope and love you have shared.

If you've been thinking of dropping me a line, I hope you do. I'd love to get to know you!

And if you've read this far, you're in for a treat. Leave a comment to win a signed copy of Talking to the Dead!

I bid you good writing.

Manly Reading

Macho reading? Are there books manly men MUST read?
According to The Art of Manliness the answer is YES!

Even if you're not a man, this list off 100 must read books is fantastic.

Enjoy!

AND!
Announcing the winner of the book give-away!

Koala Bear - you have won a copy of Your Best You: Discovering and Developing the Strengths God Gave You!

E-mail me you snail mail address and I'll get your copy into the mail for you! Congratulations!!

I bid you good writing

Everything Changes - Even Readers

I was browsing a large bookshop in Saskatoon and nearly tripped over a table pushing a debut novel called Notes on the Refrigerator Door by Alice Kuipers (a fellow ‘Toontown dweller). I flipped through and discovered the entire book is a collection of short (even weensy) notes between a teenage girl and her mother. I thought – perfect bathroom reading.

I checked at the cash register. “How’s this one been selling?” The answer was the proverbial ‘hot cakes’ one.

While I don’t think it should be said the novel is being re-invented, I do see it is evolving (or de-evolving depending on your point of view) into something even Yann Martel hadn’t expected. It’s the dawning of the hyper-novel. Devoid of setting, descriptive, and, to a large extent, context, these hyper-novels take time to explore only the essentials. They get to the story and they drive it home fast.

And they sell just as fast. Why?

Because the hyper-novel didn’t just invent itself. It has come about in reaction to the changing demands of the reader.

Some say that the world is an increasingly busy place and busy people aren’t as inclined to take the time to read like they used to. I suppose so, but I think that is only part of the picture. The larger chunk – the one that commands most of the attention is the internet.

Today’s book buyer is not just an internet user; she is internet savvy. She is adept at creating universes in her imagination in milliseconds. She shops online, mentally creating a pleasant store environment where she can browse, buy, and leave with ease. When she requires information she can query international resources within seconds, tracking and comparing answers until she finds what she needs. She chats online with friends and strangers, interacting in space and time without benefit of an actual meeting place. She simply creates the environment in her head and then mentally and emotionally moves around in it.

She doesn’t need help creating the world in which characters can meet, interact, and live out a story line. She can do that herself. Just give her the essence and she will run with it.
Writers are responding to the shift. We hear the drum beat in the jungle pounding out the command: Get to the action! We stop –mid sentence – writing the glorious details of the country garden in which we have place our characters and go in search of short, pithy, pointed descriptions that give the reader the feel of a country garden without clonking the reader over the head with the red, red roses.

We search our brains for what Spunk & Bite author Arthur Plotnik calls the ‘megaphore’. That one-of-a-kind kapow metaphor that sums up (in as few scant words as possible) the universe of which we write. While Virginia Woolf fans weep, and D.S. Lawrence spins in his grave, we, the writers, slice off descriptive. We, as they say in the movies, ‘cut to the chase’. We do so, not because it’s the best way (is it?), but because, if we have hope of being published, it’s what we must do.

There are limits, of course. If your hero needs to dismantle a bomb –timer counting down – you can hardly have him fiddle with some wires and Ga-Zonk! Save the day. Still, it’s enough to know your hero is travelling on a speeding train that’s set to go up like a fireworks factory; the reader doesn’t want you to tell her what color the train is.

The affect of the internet on readership cannot be underestimated. Spend time online, and as you do, think like a writer. Catalogue your experience regarding your ability to create an environment in which you move through cyber-space. Notice how intuitive it is. Examine the few clues you need in order to fully understand and navigate through what is, essentially, a make believe place. And keep this information in mind when you sit down to write.