Once in a while you see a person that just leaps out at you and demands to be put in a book. This is one of them. When I first saw this little colonial reenactor I said, "Abby!" She's the little girl in my third book coming out August 2011 - the one you helped me pick a title for. You know, The Colonel's Lady vs. The Locket debate. And despite all the great feedback, I'm still undecided! It will be fun to see what my publishing team comes up with as I have a feeling it will be very different than anything mentioned here. I'm so glad The Frontiersman's Daughter won out over Dogwood Winter and Courting Morrow Little beat out Red River Daughter. So it's fun to imagine what the book to be will be named. Kind of like a third baby:)
That's the funny thing about publishing. Just about the time your second book is released they're already hard at work titling your third book and meeting about cover art. I should have another cover for you once October rolls around. And I'm already excited as it's my favorite part of publishing.But back to little Abby here. My husband thinks she looks grumpy. I think she's perfect. The tousled red hair. The intensity of her expression. She looks stormy and with good reason. But I'd best not say anymore lest it be a spoiler. And I want you to meet Abby on your own terms, not mine:)
You can never read your own book with the innocent anticipation that comes with that first delicious page of a new book, because you wrote the thing. You've been backstage. You've seen how the rabbits were smuggled into the hat. Therefore ask a reading friend or two to look at it before you give it to anyone in the publishing business. This friend should not be someone with whom you have a romantic relationship, unless you want to break up. -Margaret Atwood
Only bad writers think their work is really good. -Anne Enright
oh, I think she is absolutely adorable!! I can see where she would be a fun character to expand on in a book. Did you take the photos of her or did you find them someplace else?
ReplyDeleteLove the red curls!
Hi Laura, it's been forever since I have come to visit here.........and catching up on your posts have been such a wonderful read. There is so much about the publishing world that I still do not know all about.........you mentioned your writing team and wrote about the title decision of your book. Do you decide on what the book title would be? or do you have a group within your publishers that make that final decision? Do you find it hard to come up with a title once you are writing are finished writing a book? The little girl looks adorable and what you have commented on "Abby" makes me want to read the book now! Good luck in your future writing, and as always, your blog is so full of wonderful information. blessings,Kathleen
ReplyDeleteHow fun to see one of your characters come to life in the form of a living, breathing person who is a lookalike.
ReplyDeleteI've had the same experience, and it's incredible. I must get a strange look on my face when it happens because Gwynly invariably asks in a concerned voice, "What is it?" I reply, "It's John" or whichever character the person reminds me of, as if that explanation should suffice. However, judging by the responses I've received, more information is required for non-writer types, so I've learned to say, "It's John. That man over there looks just like the character from my first book." I get a polite smile in return. Apparently, a character sighting doesn't do as much for my dear hubby as it does for me. :)
Abby is a doll. I look forward to meeting her in your third book, whatever it's titled, and learning why a "stormy" look befits her.
Abby! Oh my goodness. What a treat to see her. Mind telling where you found the photos? Always looking for good ref sources for me ain characters, ye ken. :)
ReplyDeleteI love the MA quote. Made me laugh.
Is it weird that I'm jealous of Abby for getting to be a reinactor (I guess I'm spelling it wrong?) at such a cool place? I think that would be the coolest thing EVER!
ReplyDeleteI love the process of getting that great title. It's so hard! I think the ones you've chosen are perfect. I once sat down to write a story (for the paper) where I had the photo and title first...and then had to have a story behind it. That was tricky! but the photo ended up getting me an AP award! :)
Hope all is going well with the writing! You're painting with words!
Lisa, I knew you'd like little Miss A as you have such an adorable little Miss L! I wish I'd seen this little miss in person but she came to me via Flickr! - a photo site - from a Virginia reenactment of colonial days. Wish I knew her real name. She is certainly interesting looking and must have very proud parents close by!
ReplyDeleteThe quote made me laugh too, Lori:) I have a ton of them to share thanks to my pastor's wife who sent me an article on writing fiction from the London Times. They are a hoot!
ReplyDeleteSo glad you like Abby. She is amazingly real to me. I found her on Flickr! as I surfed colonial reenactments. Your pics you sent me beginning with the soldier and violin are so fine!! Thanks so much for that!
Keli, I knew you'd understand the thrill of seeing a character up close and personal:) And I'm chuckling at Gwynly as he is sooo supportive yet these non-writing men of ours truly don't bond with faces in a crowd, do they? I felt such JOY when I saw Abby. That qualifies me for the loony-bin in Randy's book:)
ReplyDeleteSo glad you want to meet Abby. She's the character I had to write in after the book was finished but boy, did she add a needed dimension overall!
Thinking of you and praying your revisions are going well. From what I hear from you, they truly are!
Grumpy or not, little "Abby" is just adorable! I can't wait to meet her in your book.
ReplyDeleteNow, I am eagerly anticipating the big reveal for your title and cover of Book #3.
Since you know your characters and settings so well, does it ever surprise you when someon "sees" them in a different way?
Heather, I had the exact same feeling when I saw her - one of pure envy:) I've never done a reenactment though I have period clothing (well, my granny made me some colonial and Civil War dresses and bonnets, a bustle, and mopcap, etc.). One of my favorite authors, Ann Rinaldi, started writing after doing many colonial reenactments on the east coast. She found plenty of fodder for her books and they are so realistic!
ReplyDeleteOh I love what you said about writing - painting with words. That sounds beautiful! Thank you.
Kathleen, It's wonderful to hear from you again! I've fallen behind on blog reading and commenting, too. In fact, yesterday/Sunday I kept my laptop off all day and that was a strange experience. It was nice to wake up this morning and hear from friends like you.
ReplyDeleteYou ask such good questions about the publishing process, much of which I didn't know till now either. When I submit a manuscript to my publisher on deadline, I always have it titled with what's called a "tentative title". The publishing team (editors and marketers) meet to discuss the book to choose the best title. Sometimes it takes several meetings to get it right and sometimes they stick with the author's choice. In my case, I'm glad they didn't! For Dogwood Winter, the marketing team said that readers don't like sad themes or winter and this would hurt sales. I didn't know this so was glad when they changed it to TFD. Looking back I see that Dogwood Winter tells you nothing about the book, etc.
Hope you enjoy Abby's story if you read it. She's sure worked her way into my heart, mute or no:)
I love her curly red hair, my daughter has really curly blond hair, A real blond, no dye and she has a dark haired little boy and girl both with curly hair.
ReplyDeleteMy hubby is a red head and our youngest son, I love everything about this little girl.
Laura you did good....
mamat2730(at)charter(dot)net
Edna, So glad to hear from you! You're back online after your computer problem at last! You're so blessed to have a curly haired gene in your family. Mine has always been stick straight:) Can't wait for you to meet Abby in book 3! You're on my list for book 2 in June:)
ReplyDeleteMary, Great question! It really does surprise me when others see my characters differently than I do but guess that is where individual imagination comes in and is so interesting. What REALLY amazes me is when the art team is able to come up with the very heart of your heroine physically and they haven't read the book! But I always spend months praying about the cover prior to this and feel they have some divine inspiration working with them:) It's sure a mystery to me!
ReplyDeleteSure hope you like Abby as much as I do! Since we are blessed with boys, it's always fun creating a little girl if only between the pages of a book - or then reading about her.
I want to take her home! Abby is so cute:)
ReplyDeleteMe, too, Kristen:) Maybe there's a little redhead in your future! Happy writing and reading and researching to you this week, dear friend!
ReplyDeleteShe is so adorable, yet she seems to have such depth in her expression. I am sure book #3 is going to be the best yet! Can't wait to read it (or #2- for that matter!!). :)
ReplyDeleteYes, Stacey, she looks like quite a character, no pun intended:) Love your wording - such depth, indeed. I know you must enjoy your little girl so very much. Since I didn't have one of my own it was extra writing about one and giving her girly things:)
ReplyDeleteOh, can't wait to send Morrow your way as you are my first winner of CML! I had another winner, Casey from Oregon, of a second copy. June is coming soon! And I should get those bookmarks anyday to include with those books. Thanks so much for your comments here - I sure enjoy them:)
Whoops, typos abound. I meant it was extra fun writing about one and giving her girly things:)
ReplyDeleteAbby is adorable! I've always been partial to red hair...especially curly red hair. My first crush in grade school was a boy named Douglas who had just immigrated from Scotland and he was a red-haired mischief maker! I think Abby might be as well. Looks like she's thinking about it anyway.
ReplyDeleteAh, Kav, Wonderful to hear from you. I like to think she might have Scottish roots! Actually, in this 3rd book she has Irish roots! That's dear to your heart as well, I'm thinking. I, too, am very partial to red hair. But it doesn't cover blonde well, so I'm told:)
ReplyDeleteA beautiful child!
ReplyDeleteI like your quote too. Our books get old to us, don't they? We still love them but sometimes we have to take a step back before working on them again. It's good to have a fresh pair of eyes.
Laura, Abby is a doll! My younger brother had bright red hair (orange) the whole time growing up, but no curls. He got so tired of everyone always touching his head to feel it.
ReplyDeleteNaming a third baby? Just the thought is exciting.
I loved the quote, and it's so true. Once, I let my hubby read my chapter and we got in a fight. I let other people read them now.
Laura, my dark blond hair doesn't hold a darker color for more than a week when it's long, but when I was growing it out post chemo, and it was still very short, I sported dark reddish brown hair and LOVED it! I'll go back to that color if I ever have short hair again. Before it goes gray, that is!
ReplyDeleteLorna, I would gladly take orange like your blessed brother:) And Abby is absolutely beautiful, isn't she?! I just want to SQUEEZE her and make her smile. I hope I'm blessed with a red-headed grandbaby one day as Randy's mom is a redhead. Somehow it skipped a couple of generations but I'm hoping...
ReplyDeleteI'm chuckling at your story of how husbands and our writing sometimes make a poor mix. Amen to that! I'll take an impartial critique partner any day:)
I pray that book is humming along for you and that trip you and Judy are about to embark on results in a ton of fun:)
Lori, I hope you have pictures! I think red would be preferable to gray, too:) Maybe we should do a double dare, cut our long blonde hair, and go red together! LOL, as they say!
ReplyDeleteHahaha so cute! Reminds me of when I was little dressing up for my towns local festival, Pioneer Days!
ReplyDeleteXOXO~ Renee
Renee, Woo-hoo! Glad to see you again! So looking forward to next week and your bloggy party! We're sure to have fun:) Hey, I did the pioneer thing too. No surprises there, I guess! Bless you.
ReplyDeleteFresh eyes, indeed, Britt. I sometimes lament that I'll never come to my book with the eyes of a new reader. Thank heavens for crit partners and critique groups! They make us tougher and better in the long run.
ReplyDeleteHope your WIP is going well this week. I need to catch up on my blog reading and you're one of them:)
That little girl is adorable! I love her hair and her whole look......unique looking but quite pretty! I bet she would be a very interesting character in a book....she looks very smart, and mischievous, ha. Thank you so much for that unexpected wonderful Starbucks gift card!! You shouldn't be sending that to me, but me to you. Thanks so much and your card and note were lovely! I can't wait to see all of you in December and am excited you have your plane fare etc. already. Time flies & I will remember your bday in April for sure. Hi to Randy and the boys from us too! :)
ReplyDeleteRhonda, Great to hear from you! I got your message by phone Saturday - we were gone all day for a fiddling gig. Paul thinks he's bringing his fiddle to Gatlinburg. NOT! Thanks so much for the call! I just wanted to know I'm thinking of you. And don't you dare do a thing for my birthday - think I'll just let this slip under the radar:) I sure miss you and can't wait to see you all. Our kids won't know each other as they've grown so very much!
ReplyDeleteShe is precious with that sparkle of defiance found in all of us. would love to paint her. So fun to put faces with characters to see what is truly in your mind!
ReplyDeleteLaurie, Oh yes, she certainly has that "sparkle of defiance." Love that! It's positively book-worthy:) And if you ever do paint little Abby I will be first in line to buy it!
ReplyDelete