, is a segment spotlighting authors, specialists, and friends who brave my countless questions day in and day out. It's the best way I can share with you all, the many people who taught me the bizarre things I know, who satisfy my thirst for knowledge and adventure, and who keep me motivated.
Teresa is not only a great blogger, she's a warrior. And well, I love warriors. I find her posts not only inspiriting but they motivate me to get out and write. Check our her blog,
to see for yourself how talented this woman is! We met when she stopped by my blog way back in 2011. We've shared a few laughs over the years, and now a few tears.
So how
did you become a blogger?
Back in 2006, I joined a Q&A forum. I read comments left by
others about their blogs. I didn’t even know what a blog was. So I
investigated. The blogs were called livespaces and they were powered by MSN.
That’s where I cut my virtual blogging teeth. It was fun, and I found friends
aka followers pretty fast. Some of them are still on my followers list and vice
versa.
Looking
back, I have to smile at that experience. What it was when viewed through the
simplifying rearview mirror was a bunch of bumbling, late-middle-agers working
together to figure out a new technology. When one of us learned something, we
all did. I still recall the thrill of adding music to my blog, and a guestbook.
We did okay for old folks. ~Laughing~
That's awesome! We didn't even have Internet around here in 2006. lol.
What rewards have you found from running such an intriguing and diverse
blog?
I'm still so glad I jumped into blogging—head first. It is such a marvelous thing. The best part has been the people. Incredibly talented writers, creators of stories, crafts, and advice. But more than anything, it’s how the people all reach out to each other, offering support, virtual hugs, a pat on the back or a kick on the behind when others desperately need one. I’ve had low days when a comment on my latest post just lifted me right up. And I like to think I’ve done that for others upon occasion.
What
are you currently working on?
I am working on a novel titled Across the Night Sky. It’s a SciFi Romance. One day in 2005, the writing bug
hit me hard. I’d written poetry before, but never fiction, let alone a novel. Yet…there
I was. I knew the story I wanted to tell, but was still unsure about how to
write it. I talked with my daughter who has a BA in English—I’m running on high
school English classes. My main boggle—that I didn’t identify until months
later, was that I was falling back on “How to write a research paper.” It’s
okay. You can laugh. I do. (lol). It was what my formal education had taught
me. We’d never even covered short story writing or fiction at all. Sad, huh?
Back
to my boggle: It was half POV, and half fiction vs. research. Yikes! I know. So
how on Earth did I EVER manage to write a book? I asked my daughter this:
“Should I write it so that the readers know what the character is feeling,
thinking, doing?” In retrospect, I think I was asking if I should step back and
tell the story in a clinical, detached sort of way, or should I wade into it,
emotions and all—because it could get messy. My daughter made it genius-simple
for me. Her answer, “If you don’t empathize with the characters, the reader
never will.”
The rest is history. Four months later I was writing the final lines in a 700 page,
tear-jerking tome.
My mom loved it. She kept asking me when I was getting it published. ~laughing
again~. She thought the sender of the first form rejection letter was
completely off his rocker. (He wasn’t). It was so far from being ready to be
published. This October will mark 10 years since I started penning that book.
It had so many problems that if I hadn’t promised my mom I’d get it published,
I would have walked away from it.
My mom was admitted to the hospital in Oct 2010 with trouble breathing. She
turned 83 the day she was admitted. The last time I spoke with her was a few
days later, I was leaving her hospital room after visiting her. I’d almost
reached the door when she asked, “So, what all is involved in this publishing
process? Because I am getting a copy of the book for Christmas, right?” (I’d
decided to pay to have a couple of copies printed as the book stood—so she’d
stop heckling me about getting it published).
The
question stopped my exit. I turned around and went back to my chair beside her
bed. And I delved into what was involved with self-publishing. She really loved
the story—and I’d written two more books in the series—for her. I never really
thought they’d see publication.
The really important thing about that question she asked me was that I spent 20
more minutes with my mom. And I got to hug her and tell her one more time, “I
love you mom.” And that I’d see her soon.
She had a massive heart attack while still in the hospital. Her DNR never made
it to her chart. They resuscitated her, sort of. She never fully came back. On
her best day, she was childlike. But she couldn’t swallow, and her stomach
rejected the liquid through the feeding tube, and then she’d try to throw up,
but she couldn’t swallow and she’d end up choking and struggling. And she had
intense pain and…and… Her kidneys failed. They put in a port for dialysis. Two
days later the port failed…
We stopped all aggressive treatment.
She went into hospice. My daughter and I took the night shift, keeping vigil at
her bedside. During the day, I hastily typed the ending to the series and I
read it to her while she lay wordless, expressionless, dying one moment at a
time. For ten days… And I promised her, again, through tears, that I’d get it published
for her.
And
that’s it. The book I’m working on. The book I’ve been working on since I
finished writing it. I really think it’s getting close. For my mom. I don’t
know where my writing will go after I get this one out there. But the journey
has been incredible.
And
you know what got me this far? Other writers. Writers I’ve discovered through
my blog, through Twitter, Facebook, and weekly writing memes. They’ve offered
endless advice, crits, and encouragement. So, back to the answer about the best
thing to come out of running a blog. All the people I’ve met.
I am a tough cookie to get crying, but I have to admit to a few tears on this answer.
What
book would you recommend as "this is a book every writer should read”?
Definitely, Stephen
King’s “On Writing”.
Loved it.
Do
you over-write or under-write?
Ha! Can’t you tell from
these answers, Tanya. I’m long-winded, so I lean toward overwriting. I’m trying
to cure it. I do better now. A professional editor who read ATNS as a favor to
a friend of mine commented that there was some overwriting.
What amazes you about being a writer?
There’s nothing remarkable about me. But when I tell people I’ve
written a book, they all think I’m semi-famous, or my life has suddenly become
incredibly interesting to them. And I find that kind of fascinating. Has your
experience been anything similar, Tanya? I live in a world where I don’t
actually know any writers. My husband tells me that just finishing writing a
book—even if it’s never published, is amazing.
I know what it means to work on a book for ten years. You are remarkable to me. As for how others see us... we'll talk. lol. I have stories.
What are you most proud of?
I’m most proud of my children. I think all three of them are good human beings.
I think they’re kind to other people. Nothing can top that…
What one thing did you
learn that you wish to pass on to other parents? Or writers? Or adventurers? or
star voyagers? Almost everyone will offer advice to you. Take it all with a
grain of salt. But be grateful for every bit shared. It comes well-intended,
even if it won’t work for you. That goes for writers, parents, and adventurers.
Other star voyagers? The sky isn’t the limit. It’s endless. It’s a dicey place.
Keep your ray-gun primed and your dagger sharp. Never offer your hand for a
handshake--you could end up missing fingers. And when you’re tempted to give a
big, old, human smile, remember that in some alien cultures, baring your teeth
is a challenge—a risky one.
Ha! Thanks for such an emotional peek into your life! I am SOOOOO happy you stopped by!
