origins weekly

Diondre Mompoint

One of my favorite types of books to read is a book that challenges the way you think. This applies to both fiction and nonfiction. For example, a fictional book may question the way relationships work. Meanwhile, nonfiction books will open up new ideas and questions you may never have thought to ask before. We’ve all asked the question, “Where did we come from?”. However, have all questions been asked and answered? Author Diondre Mompoint answers more questions about where we come from with a biochemical approach.

What answers does he have about being an author? Read more to find out.

origins weekly
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What inspired you to write a book?

I’ve always wanted to write a book. I think it really came down to how and when? Well, it wasn’t until I started reading science books written by notable scholars. In 2021, I decided that it was time for me to do the same. I wanted to create the idea that anyone can write a book or anything they put their minds to. I was really inspired by other authors and my own doubt which led to the confidence in writing I have now.

Was there a book or author that you admired that played a role when developing your book?
Indeed, the author that admired me to write a book like I did was Dr. Michael Behe. He is the author of the book, “Darwin’s Black Book”. He is also most known for his idea of irreducible complexity and contributions to the ideas of intelligent design.

It is often said that in order to write something, you must believe in what you are writing. Do you agree with that?
Yes, I believe that your writing typical reflects whatever you’re going through at the time. While writing “A Paradoxical Life: Where Did We Come From?”, I whole-heartly believed my ideas had to be expressed. I wondered if there were other individual scientists or even the average person that questioned the origins of life in the unique way I did. With this burning question, I began to write and push what I believed in, with hopes of reaching people everywhere.

Do you have a set schedule for writing, or are you one of those who write only when they feel inspired?
I have tried countless times to set a schedule and it almost never worked. I am the type of person to write when I feel the inspiration or ideas come to my head. When the inspiration is there, I write it down on paper, my whiteboard or anything I can get my hands on. Many times I would be out grocery shopping or playing with my cat Roman and have a brain blast moment. These brain blast moments get written down and then compiled into the creative books or articles you see that I write.

Tell us about your writing style, how is it different from other writers?
My writing is pretty open to your own interpretation. I like to paint a picture for the reader, and they are able to create many images in their head for what I may be writing. It is not your structured writing that many are used to. I believe my writing makes you think outside of the box rather than holding your hand through the reading(unless I’m explaining something complex in a scientific book). I do this type of writing in “A Paradoxical Life: Where Did We come From?” and the same will be done for my upcoming book, “A Galactic Freedom: The Story of Iwaju”. Though the genre of the two books differs, the writing style remains the same.

What, according to you, is the hardest thing about writing? What would you say is the easiest aspect of writing?
The hardest thing about writing is trying to not keep up with other authors in certain genres and expect the same outcome. Let’s be honest, we all want our work to be in the hands of others to enjoy the long hours that we put into our creative. Unfortunately, this does not always happen. Getting the acknowledgment is hard and can sometimes discourage myself and other writers. However, the easy part of writing does help the hard part of it. The easy part of writing is getting enjoyment from it. Every time I pick up the book I wrote, it brings smiles to my face. I know this is my work of art and thoughts dumped onto a piece of paper; nothing is greater than that feeling.

Have you ever experienced “Writer’s Block”? How long do they usually last? Any tips you would like to share to overcome it?
I’ve definitely had writer’s block. I would typically face this when I would schedule time to write. The best advice I have is to write when you have thoughts flowing and immediately write it down. “A Paradoxical Life: Where Did We Come From?” was not written in a day. It was produced over long and short periods of writing over time. It’s okay to take a small hiatus and have the ideas slowly come through.

Any advice you would like to give to aspiring writers?
I actually have a list!
1. Just write.
2. Even if you think what you’re writing would not make sense, there will always be someone out there that will understand.
3. Do not doubt yourself and continue writing.

Are you working on something new at the moment?
Yes, I am working on a new book called, “Galactic Freedom: The Story of Iwaju”. This is a unique sci-fi about a boy named Iwaju from the village of Ugundu. After participating in the village’s annual Tribe Men ceremonies, he finds himself lost in a forest and takes portals that travels to new worlds. In the first new world he is captured and voyages through the Unknown Seas of Man. He eventually takes a second portal to a world that seems appealing, but he struggles with identity, resentment and guilt. The year is now 6070 and he writes distant memories of his journey to this new world.

Is there anything else you would like to share with our readers?

I would like to leave everyone with a quote. This is left in the preface of my book and for future books: “Keep your vibrational frequencies higher and your doubts even lower.”

You can be featured here too! If you’d like to submit an interview or guest post, please fill out our submission form, and we’ll get back to you within 7 – 10 days.

Sean Armstrong

Hello Smugglers! I received a copy of The Green Girl and the Serum from the author, Sean Armstrong. It is the first book in its series following Stacey Roberts, a woman with green skin. Why is she green? Why is she on the run? Who is she running from? I guess we’re both going to find out! In the meantime, learn what Sean has to say about being an author.

the green girl serum
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What inspired you to write a book?

I was inspired by a number of things at the time when I wrote my first two books in my green girl series I was one out of work and two broke up with a then ex-girlfriend. As a way of challenging and distracting myself I began working on the first two books.

Was there a book or author that you admired that played a role when developing your book?

There were a few authors who inspired me one of these was JRR Tolkien.

 

It is often said that in order to write something, you must believe in what you are writing. Do you agree with that?

I agree with this statement.

Do you have a set schedule for writing, or are you one of those who write only when they feel inspired?

When I get up first thing at six in the morning the first thing that I do is turn on my computer and write.

Tell us about your writing style, how is it different from other writers?

My writing style is very fast paced I do this due to the fact that I am aiming my books at Young Adults.

What, according to you, is the hardest thing about writing? What would you say is the easiest aspect of writing?

For me, the hardest aspect of writing is the editing side I would say that if anything, it’s one thing that I hate doing. The easiest side and most enjoyable aspect of writing for me is putting together the creative side character creation, plotting and mapping out the story and also the setting which to me is a character in itself.

Have you ever experienced “Writer’s Block”? How long do they usually last? Any tips you would like to share to overcome it?

Writer’s block, for me, is something which all writers experience to me what I normally do when I experience this is just take maybe an hour or two off from my computer and give myself time just to keep my mind free of thought. After I have had long enough, I am back at my desk writing.

Any advice you would like to give to aspiring writers?

Yes, push yourself, challenge yourself, and also never doubt yourself or your abilities as you might surprise yourself.

Are you working on something new at the moment?

Currently, I am working on the fifth and sixth manuscripts in my Green Girl series these books will complete my series, and once completed, I am looking maybe to work on a new project.

Is there anything else you would like to share with our readers?

I am a disabled author who suffers from mild cerebral palsy as well as mild learning difficulties.

You can be featured here too! If you’d like to submit an interview or guest post, please fill out our submission form, and we’ll get back to you within 7 – 10 days.

Celina Mattocks


Plenty of working mothers deal with the same societal expectations and battle the whisperings that working moms can’t have it all. Motivational speaker Celina Mattocks aims to help women with that negative self-talk in her debut novel, 54 Flights. Talking to Celina, we enjoyed learning where 54 Flights derived from and how it helps working women who are looking to start a family.

54 flights
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What inspired you to write a book?
My best friend from 7th grade and I would write stories after school together. I told her that one day I would write a real book. Years later, I was transposing more than a decade’s worth of journals from print to google docs when I realized there was a good story baseline here – one that could be shared with a broader audience.

Was there a book or author that you admired that played a role when developing your book?
I’m really into personal development and personality theory, so. I used the psychology theorists Karen Horney (social unconscious) and William Bridges (transitions) to structure my book!

It is often said that in order to write something, you must believe in what you are writing. Do you agree with that?
Yes!

Do you have a set schedule for writing, or are you one of those who write only when they feel inspired?
I was working full time, so writing was set aside for 8-10pm ET.

Tell us about your writing style, how is it different from other writers?
I am an action-oriented writer that prefers to write in a cause-and-effect manner. This comes from my study in Journalism and my professional writing in the business context. I flesh out my stories, adjectives, and descriptors after the fact.

What, according to you, is the hardest thing about writing? What would you say is the easiest aspect of writing?
The hardest part of writing is not being critical of my work. I see new areas for improvement each time I read! The easiest part is telling a story.

Have you ever experienced “Writer’s Block”? How long do they usually last? Any tips you would like to share to overcome it?
Yes, my writer’s block lasted approximately 6 months, in between my first and second drafts. I couldn’t even look at the manuscript. One day I forced myself to pick it up and realized it wasn’t so scary. My advice would be similar to Anne Lamott’s ‘Bird by Bird’ – the key message is to take it one day at a time.

Any advice you would like to give to aspiring writers?
There is no time like now.

Are you working on something new at the moment?
Yes! I’m publishing my book as a non-fungible token (NFT) and also using my book to speak to groups about banishing your negative self-talk and living your best life.

Is there anything else you would like to share with our readers?
Yes! My book is not only for women. One book review said it well; “54 Flights is a very engaging, even entertaining book that – quite literally – could change your life. Though seemingly written primarily for women, its main underlying message—transitioning from a focus on what we do to a focus on who we are—is universal, and most men would greatly benefit from reading it, and putting it to practice.”

About Celina Mattocks

Celina MattocksCelina Mattocks is an adventurous Management Consultant for a Global Fortune 500 company focused on enterprise-wide change enablement (people adopting large change).  “54 Flights” is her first literary work, a ‘Coming Of Self’ story where Alexandra struggles to banish Despy (her Despised Self) and live her full potential as a career woman turning mother.  Celina was educated at American University in Washington, DC where she earned her Master of Science degree in Organization Development, and Salisbury University in Maryland where she received a Bachelor of Arts with a double major in Communications and Spanish. Celina has consulted with many companies in the United States and overseas. She is a mother, wife, daughter, sister, and friend. You can follow Celina on her website www.leadlivelearn.com and on social media.

Twitter: @celinaryan1
Instagram: @LeadLiveLearn
Facebook: @54Flights
LinkedIn @CelinaMattocks
LinkedIn Page: Lead, Live, Learn

You can be featured here too! If you’d like to submit an interview or guest post, please fill out our submission form and we’ll get back to you within 7 – 10 days.

Need more help marketing your book? Click to find out more information about all of our marketing packages. We look forward to working with you!

Steven M. Moore


The Book Smuggler’s Den loves authors who reach out for online presence help! Steven M. Moore is the author of six series and many other sci-fi, mystery, and thriller novels, including the “Esther Brookstone Art Detective” mystery/thriller series and “The Last Humans” post-apocalyptic thriller series. We learned a lot from Steven about his writing experience and the advice he has for authors-to-be.

Steven M. Moore
Now available! Celtic Chronicles, “Esther Brookstone” #9 here

What inspired you to write a book?
Books, plural. Reading has always been an inspiration. I read a lot of mysteries, thrillers, and sci-fi as a lad (thrillers were called adventure stories back then). I had the hubris to think I could write them too. I waited a while to do that because life got in the way a bit.

Was there a book or author that you admired that played a role when developing your book?
Books, plural. Christie for mysteries, H. Rider Haggard for thrillers, and Asimov and others for sci-fi (although his Caves of Steel and The Naked Sun are also mysteries). It’s hard to pin down one major influence.

It is often said that to write something, you must believe in what you are writing. Do you agree with that?
No. Many of my characters express opinions I don’t share. The spectrum of human behavior is wide, and I cover a lot of it in my books to make the fiction seem real. My books are as complex as human beings are; I don’t do simple.

Do you have a set schedule for writing, or are you one of those who writes only when they feel inspired?
Now I spend a lot of time writing, but that includes novels and short fiction; blog posts about reading, writing, and the publishing business; reviews; and interviews. (I also have a separate blog for political articles.)

Tell us about your writing style, how is it different from other writers?
Writing styles are like fingerprints and DNA. I just try to maintain a balance between the various elements that characterize a story. I do believe in minimalist writing, though: I give readers just enough information so they can create their own images of characters and settings. That way they can participate in the creative process.

What, according to you, is the hardest thing about writing? What would you say is the most natural aspect of writing?
Storytelling is innately human, but the hardest thing to accomplish with fiction is to make it seem real, even if it’s sci-fi or fantasy. Probably what comes easiest for me in storytelling is dialogue. A person who read my very first novel Full Medical commented on that.

Have you ever experienced “Writer’s Block”? How long do they usually last? Any tips you would like to share to overcome it?
Never had it once. I got going after 9/11 because I collected what-ifs, plot ideas, character sketches, ideas for settings, etc. for many years, and still do. You can even jot these down at a coffee bar or restaurant! Reading a lot also gives you new ideas. For example, I always wondered why Dame Agatha didn’t team Miss Marple up with Hercule Poirot. The “Esther Brookstone Art Detective” series in a way is my answer.

Why do you call some of your novels “evergreen”?
While I’m very much into protecting our world’s flora and fauna, many authors’ books are “evergreen,” i.e., as entertaining and current as the day the writers finished their manuscripts. During Covid, I maintained my sanity by binge-reading complete series of British-style mysteries, for example; they were all evergreen! I fear that too many readers look for recent publication dates and ignore these evergreen books. My first novel, Full Medical (2006), is about human cloning; that’s still a hot topic.

Any advice you would like to give to aspiring writers?
Read, read, read, and write, write, write. If you’re a born storyteller, the ideas will come. Don’t have expectations that are too high, though. There are a lot of good authors out there writing good books. I know because I’ve read them!

Are you working on something new at the moment?
I just finished publishing the ninth and last novel in the “Esther Brookstone Art Detective” series titled Celtic Chronicles. I have several other WIPs I’ll get back to after a brief respite.

Is there anything else you would like to share with our readers?
Publishing runs the whole gamut from 100% DIY to the Big Five publishing conglomerates. Please realize that good stories can be found anywhere in that whole spectrum. While I’m a mongrel, having tried both self- and traditional publishing, many self-published novels compete very well with those Big Five ones. Use the blurb and “peek inside,” whether online or at your favorite bookstore; reviews; and websites like Smuggler’s Den to select books you find interesting, not those someone says “you just have to read.”

You can find more about Steven on his website https://stevenmmoore.com and be sure to follow him on social media!
Facebook: @authorStevenMMoore
Twitter: @StevenMMoore4

 

 

 

You can be featured here too! If you’d like to submit an interview or guest post, please fill out our submission form and we’ll get back to you within 7 – 10 days.

Need more help marketing your book? Click to find out more information about all of our marketing packages. We look forward to working with you!

March 2022

Guest Blogging Submissions
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I’m writing this letter from my hometown in California, excited to share with you the books I’ve enjoyed this month. This was my first time traveling with my mustache man and he’s loving getting a break from the cold. And I’m thankful for Nana and Pa watching him while I go to my favorite coffee shop by the beach and relax with a book. Fair warning, these reviews are short because I was enjoying the sand between my toes and didn’t have enough time to finish a lengthy review, on a plane, with a baby in my lap.

I’m sad to say that Submittable raised their rates by over $100 since I set up my submission page there in 2019 and as a small publication, I can’t afford to be there anymore. I have set up a new form on Google Forms where you can submit your pieces to the magazine. Our policies are the same as you can see below. Please note that we ask that you do not send more work until hearing back from us. Due to the volume of submissions, we can’t respond individually to submission status queries.

On a side note, and I must include this, The Book Smuggler’s Den is so sorry to hear the news of the passing of Foo Fighter’s drummer, Taylor Hawkins. I grew up listening to The Foo Fighters’ music and their most recent album was yet another hit. I read Dave Ghrol’s memior, The Storyteller, and highly (HIGHLY) recommend it. Because even musicians start out representing themselves independently and go on to change the entertainment industry. I believe the same goes for writers who self-publish. Rest in beats, Taylor.

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Fiction

Kill the Farm Boy, Delilah S. Dawson and Kevina Hearne
Demons of the Mind: A Psychogenic Thriller, Tamikio Reardon
Point of Direction, Rachel Weaver
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, J.K. Rowling
The Life She Was Given, Ellen Marie Wiseman

Nonfiction

The Accidental Tsundere: Dating for Late Bloomers, Loners, and Misfits, L.M. Bennett

Let’s Chat With Hailey Sawyer

Writing Prompts

Guest Post Opportunities

Guest blogging is a fantastic way to break out of your usual circle and reach an audience that may have never heard of you before. We are ready if you are! Send us your best work and remember to tell us about yourself and give us information as to where readers can reach you or purchase your book/services/goods. Due to the volume of submissions, we can’t respond individually to submission status queries. We will do our best to respond to your submission within 7 – 10 business days.

Blogs to submit to

Need more help marketing your book? Click to find out more information about all of our marketing packages. We look forward to working with you!

February 2022


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Happy February my lovely writers!

How are we doing on our reading and writing goals? I’m excited about this month’s book reviews. When I started the Book Smuggler’s Den in 2018, I had an idea of what I wanted my blog to be. Having blogged before on epilepsy, I wanted this blog to be more interactive and open to having others contribute. This then became the start of my now thriving business.

My husband is a business-savvy man and encouraged me to continue to make this site a business instead of a hobby. He recommended a few reads regarding business. At first, I thought I was going to be bored to tears with these reads. I do enjoy nonfiction, but I thought once I was out of school, I’d be out of having to read dry material. However, these February reads were upbeat and incredibly helpful for my business and my mental health.

If you’ve been wondering about our submission status, we are still open to having writers of all experience levels submit to our site. I’m sad to say that Submittable raised their rates by over $100 since I set up my submission page there in 2019. As a small publication and a free publication to submit to and read, I can’t afford to be there anymore. I have set up a new form on Google Forms where you can submit your pieces to the magazine. Our policies are the same as you will see when you fill out the submission form.

Being an author is a business and I hope you find these reads as helpful as I did.

Happy writing,

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Fiction

The Great Alone, Kristen Hannah
A Wrinkle In Time, Madeleine L’Engle
Half of a Yellow Sun, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Doctor Who and the Tomb of the Cybermen by Gerry Davis
The Life She Was Give, Ellen Wiseman
The Wife Between Us, Greer Hendricks & Sarach Pekkanen

Nonfiction

You Are A Bad Ass, Jen Sincero
Peak Performance, by Brad Stulberg, and Steve Magness
The Lean Startup, Eric Ries

Let’s Chat with Hailey Sawyer

Writing Prompts

Guest Post Opportunities

Guest blogging is a fantastic way to break out of your usual circle and reach an audience that may have never heard of you before. We are ready if you are! Send us your best work and remember to tell us about yourself and give us information as to where readers can reach you or purchase your book/services/goods. Due to the volume of submissions, we can’t respond individually to submission status queries. We will do our best to respond to your submission within 7 – 10 business days.

Blogs to submit to

Need more help marketing your book? Click to find out more information about all of our marketing packages. We look forward to working with you!

January 2022

“You get a new year, you get a new start, you get a new opportunity.” – Billy Butler

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Let the 2022 reading challenge begin! 

Last year went by in a blur as I tried to figure out this whole mommy thing. I read some wonderful reads, but not as many as I had planned on. As usual, my reading goal for this year is 52 books in 52 weeks. Now that I have my little mustache man under control (or I like to say so), I can definitely reach my goal and then some.

I’m already off to a great start reading some pieces by indie authors who contacted me over the course of 2021. Believe me. I haven’t forgotten about anyone in my inbox. Again, a little babe who finally figured out how to use his two feet now has me chasing him all over the house and away from my tablet.

If it appears we’re no longer accepting submissions, this is not the case. I’m sad to say that Submittable raised their rates by over $100 since I set up my submission page there in 2019. And, as a small publication, I can’t afford to be there anymore. I have set up a new form on Google Forms where you can submit your pieces to the magazine. Our policies are the same as you can see on our submission query page in the Den. Please note that we ask that you do not send more work until hearing back from us. Due to the volume of submissions, we can’t respond individually to submission status queries.

This final note on submissions is a biggie. Please know that we will not be accepting any pieces regarding the pandemic. This includes fictional pieces. The Den is a place to express yourself freely within reason. We do not accept pieces that are political, erotic, or anything too violent. To me, the pandemic was all of that and then some. All joking aside, we have some great writing prompts in this edition that can also be found in the Den if you are currently experiencing writer’s block.

Join me as we read as many books as possible and support our fellow indie authors!

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Fiction

Of Bees and Mist, Erick Setiawan
The Lying Game, Ruth Ware
Sphere, Michael Crichton
The Pearl Sister, Lucinda Reilly
The Outsider, Stephen King

Nonfiction

The Sacred Disease by Kristin Seaborg MD

Let’s Chat with Lily Iona Mackenzie

Writing Prompts

Guest Post Opportunities

Guest blogging is a fantastic way to break out of your usual circle and reach an audience that may have never heard of you before. We are ready if you are! Send us your best work and remember to tell us about yourself and give us information as to where readers can reach you or purchase your book/services/goods. Due to the volume of submissions, we can’t respond individually to submission status queries. We will do our best to respond to your submission within 7 – 10 business days.

Blogs to submit to

Need more help marketing your book? Click to find out more information about all of our marketing packages. We look forward to working with you!

Special Edition 2021

Sometimes the strength of motherhood is greater than natural laws. – Barbara Kingsolver

blogs to submit toOh Boy!

And I say, “Oh Boy,” because that’s what my husband and I were blessed with on August 30, 2020. 

What a time we live in. A time where I had a baby and had to take a break from the site. Now that my mustache man is more independent, and I have a general idea of what it takes to keep a human alive, The Book Smuggler’s Den is back up and running. I do apologize to anyone who previously submitted to the magazine and never heard back. Please understand that juggling a baby, marketing authors, and creating a monthly ezine took me some time to figure out how to balance my computer in one hand with a baby in another so that neither fall onto the pile of soiled nappies.

Being this busy and needing something to unwind with is why I love reading and writing. It gives you a break from reality, or if you’re nonfiction, a way to release any anxieties about life. In my postpartum state, I have been writing out my feelings, sometimes even deleting what I wrote on purpose because it was too angry. Nobody needs to read too much sass in a short story or essay. Saving some of that sass makes for a great addition to your next young adult novel, right?

The Book Smuggler’s Den has had a flood of book review submissions from the writing community. It makes us so happy to see how many people are giving the world something to enjoy! So many new authors and books to add to your reading challenge as we close out the year. Our featured author, Ron Yates, was a pleasure to speak to and read his new book, Ben Stempton’s Boy. We also spoke with children’s author Inger Brown about her picture book series, The Bobbling.

We invite you to come read about these authors and other book reviews we had a chance to read over the past couple of months. And a massive shout-out to any writing mammas out there. You have one of the most challenging jobs, and I commend you for your writing success.

Remember to support your local authors and bookstores!

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Featured Author Ron Yates

Ben Stempton’s Boy Book Review

Book Reviews

The Machine Murders by CJ Abazis

Access Point by Tom Gabbay

On the Market by Audrey Wick

Whisper of the Lotus by Gabrielle Yetter

Eli and the Mystery of the Hallowshine Dragon by Eve Cabanel

The Surreal Adventures of Anthony Zen by Cameron A. Straughan

Earthrise by Dr. Deborah Fleming

Author Interviews

Inger Brown, The Bobbling Series

Eric D. Goodman and Sally Whitney

Yang Huang, Living Treasures

Need more help marketing your book? Click to find out more information about all of our marketing packages. We look forward to working with you!

Lily Iona MacKenzie, The Ripening: A Canadian Girl Grows Up

Lily MacKenzie is one of the most accomplished people we’ve had the pleasure of connecting with. A Canadian by birth, a high school dropout, and a mother at 17, in her early years, she supported herself as a stock girl in the Hudson’s Bay Company, as a long-distance operator for the former Alberta Government Telephones, and as a secretary (Bechtel Corp sponsored her into the States). She briefly broke into the male-dominated world of the docks as a longshoreman, as the first woman to work on the SF docks, and almost got her legs broken. Lily founded and managed a homeless shelter in Marin County, CA, and eventually earned two Master’s degrees (one in Creative writing and one in the Humanities).

In addition to writing published reviews, interviews, short fiction, poetry, travel pieces, essays, and memoir in over 165 American and Canadian venues, Lily is the author of The Ripening. We’re so excited to learn more about Lily and her experience as a published author.

The Rippening: A Canadian Girl Grows UP
Coming of Age Fiction, Contemporary Women Fiction. Publisher ‏ paperback 267 pages, published by‎ Pen-L Publishing, October 9, 2021 Get your copy here.

What inspires you to write?
Actually, it’s the act of writing itself that inspires me. Once I’m writing, whether it’s poetry or prose, inspiration can easily appear.

When did you first consider yourself a writer?
When I was twenty-five and sharing a commute with a fellow worker, I amazed myself when the words flew out of my mouth, “I want to be a writer someday.” It was in response to her fascination about my stories of leaving home at fifteen, giving birth to my son at seventeen, and being our sole support. She commented that I should write about those experiences. I’d never consciously considered being a writer, though I had kept a secret diary when I was thirteen. But I was so afraid that someone might read its contents, I created a code language. Of course, I’ve totally forgotten it. When I went through a deep depression in my late twenties, I once again turned to keeping a diary to record what I was going through, and I’ve been writing ever since.

Why did you choose to write in your particular field or genre?
As a junior in college, I enrolled as an English major with an emphasis on creative writing. At that time, my focus was poetry. But I soon realized that poets had a more difficult time publishing than prose writers did, so I expanded my focus to include fiction and nonfiction.

Are you a full-time or part-time writer and how does that affect your writing?
I’ve always had to work, so I guess I’m a part-time writer, never having had the chance to write fulltime. Nor do I think I could! Since my daily writing goal is a minimum of one hour, I’ve trained myself to immediately start writing, and I try not to stop until my time is up, unless it’s a day when I can devote more of myself to my many writing projects. I’ve discovered that by writing one hour a day, in 365 days I can complete the draft of a novel, or a combination of many short stories, poems, and other types of prose.

What are some day jobs you have held?
Since I’ve claimed my writing self, I’ve made my living from teaching, not writing (only five percent of writers can support themselves from writing). And I love teaching. One thing I discovered when I was teaching rhetoric to college students, and it still applies to the creative writing classes I currently teach for older adults, is that my writing of poetry, fiction, or nonfiction is resembles teaching for me. Both give me an opportunity to investigate ideas, fears, interests, and obsessions—to ask and answer questions. The two roles complement each other.

What made you decide to sit down and actually start writing this book? Tell us more about your main character. What inspired you to develop this character?
The Ripening: A Canadian Girl Grows Up! is a sequel to my novel Freefall: A Divine Comedy (published in 2019). It was released on October 15, 2021. Tillie, a zany installation artist, is the main character in Freefall. I so enjoyed interacting with her while I wrote that book that I wanted to better understand her origins. In the follow up, then, I went back to the ‘50s, to a world that flashed green and red lights at women, the era that produced Tillie. Some had begun to challenge the dead ends their futures seemed to hold, and Tillie ends up being one of those girls.

The narrative weaves together the young Tillie with herself as a teenager, moving back and forth in time so we see what shapes her personality. Tillie lives briefly in her version of paradise when May, her mother, marries a farmer, Harold, and they move to his farm, not far from Calgary, Alberta. She has animals to play with, wide-open spaces to explore, and, for the first time, a father. Curious and precocious, Tillie churns butter, gathers and cleans the eggs for market, cleans the barn, cooks, and also washes floors and dishes, all before she is eight years old.

But while the ranch and its many animals seem like heaven to Tillie, she soon discovers that life isn’t predictable or stable. Nor is her new father. While he can be a nice guy, he also harbors a Mr. Hyde who periodically slips out. She learns to be careful around him, never knowing when his anger will surface and explode.

This is her first lesson in survival as well as coping, a word her mother often throws at her. “You must learn to cope,” she says. And so Tillie does. Until it no longer works. The story that follows shows the paths that eventually lead her out of the traps she creates for herself. It includes side trips to Vancouver, Toronto, and then San Francisco. But in her late teens, she ends up back in Calgary where she has a chance for a new beginning.

Tillie’s predicament in the ‘40s, ‘50s, and ‘60s isn’t new, even though women have made progress in establishing some equality in the Western world. But her grit and ability to face life’s challenges still are inspiring, the seeds for her later discovery of her artist self.

The novel demonstrates that we have the power to turn our lives around if we’re heading in the wrong direction. But it usually involves a struggle and a certain amount of pain before we can set off on a better path. An artist in the making, Tillie also creates herself in these pages.

What is your next project?
I don’t have another novel that I want to tackle just now, but I’ve recently completed a hybrid memoir entitled Dreaming Myself into Old Age: One Woman’s Search for Meaning. It’s seeking a publisher, as is my most recent poetry collection, California Dreaming. I also am always writing poetry, short fiction, and memoir.

What new authors have grasped your interest and why?
I don’t think I’d consider these authors new, but certain novels have had a profound effect on me at different stages of my life for various reasons. When I was working on my BA in English, I took a Modern American Novel class that did exactly what Lionel Trilling said such books should do: they read me as much as I read them. Faulkner’s The Sound and the Fury and his Light in August. Dreiser’s Sister Carrie. Hemingway’s The Sun Also Rises. And many more. Each book made me aware of elements of myself that were also manifested in the characters inhabiting the books.

Gabriel Garcia Marquez’s One Hundred Years of Solitude found me at a time when I needed a model for the magical realism approach that seems natural to me and inhabits much of my work. I LOVE that book and return to it often for inspiration.

In a similar mode, Roberto Bolano, a Chilean writer, has also inspired me. He diverges from the more familiar magical realist vein and creates his own genre, his own universe! I’ve read most of his books now, and they create a world that seems parallel to ours. He also steps beyond the usual fiction boundaries, violating our expectations of how a novel should unfold or end. I’m always entranced by his work.

And I haven’t mentioned W.G. Sebald yet, another writer who died far too young. He also has invented a new genre, a hybrid novel form. Again, I’ve read all his work, and I’m stunned by it.

I’m sorry that all of these authors are men when there are so many female writers I love as well, including the Irish writer Anne Enright. I’ll read anything she writes because of her sharp wit and illuminations of contemporary life. And, of course, my fellow Canadian, Alice Munro, a master of the short story and a terrific model for any writer.

Lily MackenzieThanks for reading, and please remember that authors appreciate honest reviews, wherever they are posted. You can follow Lily on her blog and social media the links below.

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Hailey Sawyer, Kenji and Yuki: A Japanese Tale

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Hello Book Smugglers! We hope the holiday season started off right for you. I love reading all year long, but the best part of this year is when your wallet gets a break from buying books. If you haven’t already sent your 2022’s to-read list to Santa, you’ll want to add Kenji and Yuki: A Japanese Tale to your list. Accomplished author, Hailey Sawyer has published a fantastic read about two women, sixteen-year-old Yuki and seventeen-year-old Kenjiro Furukawa. Both women are dealing with their own struggles and as luck would find them, they meet. They become fast friends through conversations, stories, and outings. The reader can only hope that through these experiences the two women can overcome their own life struggles. I’ll let Hailey, take it from here!

Was there a book or author that you admired that played a role when developing your book?

There were many different things that inspired/influenced the development of Kenji and Yuki: A Japanese Tale that I admired. One of those was The Catcher in The Rye by J.D Salinger. What I particularly enjoy about it is that, despite the fact that the book takes place in the 1940’s, Holden’s voice still sounds authentic even today. If you want to get an idea as to how to write an authentic teenaged character, I think Holden is still a good example.

It is often said that in order to write something, you must believe in what you are writing. Do you agree with that?

Oh absolutely! By believing in what you’re writing, it can make your work feel more genuine and soulful.

What, according to you, is the hardest thing about writing? What would you say is the easiest aspect of writing?

For me, the hardest part about writing is coming up with the middle part of a story. When I do it, it’s kind of like I’m traveling through thick fog in order to get to my destination. The easiest aspect would be editing the story. I feel that the editing process allows me to take a step back and really see what works and what doesn’t.

Have you ever experienced “Writer’s Block”? How long do they usually last? Any tips you would like to share to overcome it?

Yes, I have. In terms of how long these blocks last, it seems random. Some will be as short as an hour and others will be as long as a couple days. In my experience, I think one of the most helpful pieces of advice in overcoming writer’s block is rule number nine of Pixar’s 22 Rules of Storytelling that involves writing down what would not happen next. By getting those kinds of things out of the way, I feel like it makes it easier for me to figure out what I actually do want to happen next.

Is there anything else you would like to share with our readers?

A couple things actually. First, some people will suggest consuming good media as a way to learn how to write good stories. While I do agree with this sentiment, I think people should also consume bad media as well. By consuming both good and bad media, you obtain a much more well-rounded understanding of how to write and how not to write stories. Second, don’t forget to grab a copy of Kenji and Yuki: A Japanese Tale and drop a review of it on Goodreads, Amazon, or whereever else. Whether your review is positive, negative, or neutral, it’ll be greatly appreciated.

You can follow Hailey on her website at https://haileysawyer.wordpress.com. Stay up to date with Hailey via Twitter and Goodreads. and social media accounts.

Thanks for reading, and please remember that authors appreciate honest reviews, wherever they are posted.

 

 

 

 

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