Catching up with Deanne Wilsted

If life is a journey, then the Genre-istas can certainly celebrate having enjoyed every mile along the way. Thank you so much to the crew for having me back to help celebrate this Sixth Blog-O-Versary! I am so proud to be counted among the amazing group of writers that have helped contribute to the blog’s success. 

To help celebrate the success of Romancing the Genres, I’m offering all of my Kindle books for just $.99 on Amazon for a short time from May  22^nd. You can find them here: amazon.com/author/deannewilsted

Throughout the ups and downs of parenting, moving, and publishing, my characters have continued to inspire my writing and driven me to get their stories out there. 

I completed and published my third novel, Molto Mayhem, set entirely in Italy. It has received great 4 and 5 Star reviews on Amazon… especially for my descriptions of Italy. Part Letters to Juliet, part Notting Hill, Molto Mayhem captures the reader's heart with quirky characters and delicious descriptions of food and setting. I tried to treat perceptions of grief, religion, and Italy in the book with my usual trademarks of humor and honesty. 

After receiving my rights back from my publisher for my second novel, Untangling the Knot, I have redesigned the cover and re-published so people can continue to find this sweet romantic story about Gabriella the church wedding coordinator who unintentionally gets all the plans wrong due to her growing attraction to the groom and his kids. In particular readers have really resonated with my depiction of the kids and the church priest in the story. And I wanted to make sure the novel would continue to be available (with some edits, but otherwise unchanged) along with my first novel, Betting Jessica, and my newer one, Molto Mayhem. 

Finally, my creative brain is back in gear with the start of a new novel set in England. It is a mother daughter journey this time…. With a little romance thrown in. The conflict? Mother wants to visit Jane Austen tourist sites, while her daughter is only interested in Harry Potter. Can commercial and literary fiction co-exist for this mother daughter duo? Or are the two genres, and the two characters’ personalities, perhaps not as far apart as they might imagine? 

I’m writing my own journey as I go along but love to share it with fellow travelers. 

You can drop me a note at dwilstedauthor@outlook.com or follow along on my journeys inspired by love at:  

Twitter  - https://twitter.com/dwilsted 

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/DeanneWilstedAuthor/ 

Website - http://www.deannewilsted.com 

Overheard on ... Romancing The Genres

By Deanne Wilsted

“How do you research your books on Italy?”

Deanne and Friend

I am so thrilled to be asked back as a guest on Romancing the Genres, and especially to post about such an interesting topic. Thanks for inviting me!

As many of you know, I have two books published, one of which, UNTANGLING THE KNOT, was set partially in Italy. More importantly, I had such fun writing about Italy in that book that I decided to set a new story entirely there. Both books base the main character in Tuscany. But in the new story, MOLTO MAYHEM, the main character travels all over Italy on a hunt for missing religious icons and a mysterious company. It’s a fun book, filled with food, and place and crazy characters. I hope to have it out this year, but in the meantime, you can check out more about it here.

And, while I could talk about MOLTO MAYHEM all day, what I was asked to write about was how I actually researched the setting for the two stories, while sadly stuck at my desk (or local Starbucks) here in the Northwest of the US.

My writing process is pretty organic… no elaborate 3x5 cards for me with plot points and character arches. Although I begin with a synopsis, my characters tell their story as I take them on their journey. And, what I have found, is that by writing about interesting locations, the characters have tons more to say. So that, as much as characters driving my plot points, setting does as well.

I’ll give you an example, in MOLTO MAYHEM, the hero, being English, thinks all can be solved over a cup of tea. They are travelling in Salerno and I need them to see something interesting while they are there. First I have them simply stop for Gelato, but it doesn’t give me enough of a sense of the quirkiness and history of Italy and doesn’t add any depth to the characters. So, I begin to research Salerno and the surrounding area. I find something intriguing, a special garden attached to a university and known for being a spot where students learned about herbal remedies. Like a dog with a bone, I dig deeper. It mentions words like Tisaneria and The Four Humours. I do more research, expanding it out to my local tea shops to speak with people who might know more. I find I am immersed in the ancient world of Hippocrates.

I’ve added an excerpt of this section to my website so you can read it there if you are interested. But suffice to say, this takes my characters into a completely fictitious, and hilarious encounter with two Italian men. And later, it directly results in the main character having dreams that help resolve a major conflict in the story.

It is misleading to suggest, though, that my process is entirely by the seat of my pants. Knowing that the story was set in Italy I put in place a few key pieces of support before I got farther than the first chapter:

1.     I researched the best translation and/or slang Italian websites, and had them on my favorites bar, ready to use at a moments notice. Some favorites: http://dictionary.reverso.net/english-italian/café, http://becomingitalianwordbyword.typepad.com/,  and http://www.italylogue.com/about-italy/italian-idiomatic-expressions.html

2.     I downloaded a map of Italy, with roads marked. And I favorite an Italy site which could calculate driving distances/times.

3.     I pulled out all of my old photos, brochures, and books from past trips to Italy and kept them with me as I wrote.

4.     I don’t use Pinterest, but I did make my own version of a pinned wall on my computer, with inspiring photos of Italy, the architecture (which plays a major role in the story) and people.

5.     I downloaded my favorite Italian songs as a soundtrack while writing.

6.     I watched a bunch of movies in preparation for, and then whenever I needed some inspiration while, writing. My favorites were: Only You, Under a Tuscan Sun, Letters to Juliette, and a new addition, The Trip to Italy.

Once I began writing, I used the above resources to help me research locations, themes, words, and cultural details. I also used Google Earth to get down to the road level of any towns where I sent my characters. (Here’s an example for the map where the Tisaneria is in Salerno: https://www.google.com/maps/place/Giardino+della+Minerva/@40.68123,14.753565,15z/data=!4m2!3m1!1s0x0:0xb6d3b7de2db48795)

To me, the very best part of setting a story in a foreign locale is the chance to get to know more about the culture and the people there. (It also doesn’t hurt that in some cases you can write off research trip expenses directly related to your writing…. But check with your accountant before making an assumption on this:>) I took two trips to do fact checking on my Italy stories. But to be honest, most of the detailed Italian information came from the above research.

It is tricky not to let web surfing take over your writing time… especially when you have set your story someplace as wonderful as Italy. But at least in my case, my characters wouldn’t let me ‘stop-over’ very often before they would demand I send them on to their next adventure.

Here’s to you own virtual trip to Italy or wherever – may it be a Journey Inspired by Love.

Ciao,

Deanne

Overheard on... Romancing the Genres

“Do you think Jesus lit a menorah?”

November is Holiday Story Time at Romancing the Genres- a gentle reminder I get every year to begin browsing holiday children’s books for my daughter. One of the books I found this year, called A CHRISTMASMENORAH: How a Town Fought Hate, by Janice Cohn, challenges the typical expectations from a Holiday book though.

During this last year my monthly Romancing the Genres post has explored the question of literary tension. Now, with a new year almost upon us, I’ve decided it is time to change the focus a bit- from tension to character depth. Who are the characters we love (or hate?) as readers and writers? Why do we relate to them? How do they draw us in or push us away?

As a writer I consider this question often. But it was while looking at Holiday stories that I finally grasped the greatest barrier to writing deep characters: stereotypes.  Just as last year I discussed how sentimental clichés affect authentic holiday writing, the example of Jesus as a character enlightened my understanding of easily trapped we can become in stereotypes. Without deep point of view the sweet character easily becomes Pollyanna while the buxom blond becomes Marilyn Monroe.

Our stereotype of Jesus is informed by the traditions of him and Christmas which have been built over centuries. Somehow Jesus in a manger goes directly from baby to adult with few images of his life in between. But somewhere along the line this baby grew up, first becoming a toddler, then a young boy, and then, even a teenager. Just like all kids his mom and dad probably fought with him. He had friends- people he liked and didn’t like. He even may have grumbled about his studies. And though he probably didn’t light a menorah, other than in the temple it was very rare back then to have candles, he did celebrate Hanukkah.

To write a ‘Holiday Story’ is to include all of the aspects of the season, not only the ones that stem from stereotypes.

Last year I proposed a writing/reading exercise about avoiding clichés. It seemed appropriate to bring it back out this year with the twist of developing a holiday character who didn’t enjoy any of these stereotypical holiday symbols. Give it a try, and then ask the guest authors what they do to avoid stereotypes in their writing.

Here are some traditional Holiday items. Without using any of these symbols, can you write a holiday paragraph from one character’s point of view? Include it in the comments section so we can all appreciate the hard work. Or as a reader, let us know the non-traditional triggers that remind you of the holidays.

Either way, whatever you do, do NOT use any of these words or symbols:
- Turkey, stuffing, gravy, etc.
- Christmas Tree
- Stockings
- Candy-canes, gold coins
- Santa or his reindeer
- Sugar-plums (or any reference to the Nutcracker)
- Pilgrims, Mayflower
- Cookies
- presents
- candles
- dreidel

Here is to a wonderful Holiday Season for everyone.

Deanne Wilsted
www.deannewilsted.com

Overheard at... the Lan Su Chinese Garden in Portland

“Listen to the fragrance.”

This line from a poem inscribed in the Lan Su garden has haunted me since I read and blogged about it a year ago (Overheard at... Art in the Pearl). I love the idea that our senses can be used to understand what is beyond our traditional comprehension. As Romancing the Genres plunges into the heat of August, we bring with us a focus on reader resources, spotlighting guest bloggers on the topics or book reviews, book clubs, and libraries. More than the blogs themselves, I am looking forward to hearing comments from our readers (wink, wink… that would be you!) about which resources they use to help them choose books.

Obviously dedicated readers know all about Goodreads and are probably well trained in how to use the Amazon system to narrow down their favorite picks. My husband is a pro, for example at searching Amazon for new books coming out by his favorite authors and then saving them to his wishlist or getting on the waiting list for when they are available at the library.

But when I look back, it seems like my favorite books have found me. I have been riding on a train and seen a cover that struck me, or been searching for one book and found something entirely different that called out to me. Like the moment when we ‘listen to a fragrance,’ sensing the presence of a great book is sometimes so unconscious I am not even sure most of us could articulate why or how it happened. All we know is that we walked into Barnes and Noble prepared to buy The Hunger Games (because, of course, we saw it mentioned on some great blog or something;>) and walked out with a copy of love poems.

And if sometimes that relationship, like many, deceives us and we sell the book back to Powells for a pittance, well, so be it. Because the very best reader resource I know is our own open mind and our willingness to try.

By Genre-ista: Deanne Wilsted

Author of BETTING JESSICA and UNTANGLING THE KNOT

www.deannewilsted.com

@dwilsted

Overheard at... the beach

“My son wrote this really clever, funny story when he was in fourth grade. I’ve held onto it thinking maybe someday he’d want to publish it.”

I am convinced when we look back someday we will find this is the age of the writer. There is such promise in the opportunity to make our work available to readers. And nowhere is this clearer than with young writers and poets (or sometimes those who are both!)

July on Romancing the Genres will spotlight young writers. Young writers bring their own perspective and voice to writing. They also bring fresh content that can sometimes seem controversial to adults. It is a fine balance, I think, between promoting their writing style, their academic learning and their freedom of expression.

It is fitting for this post during our charitable subject month, that I get the opportunity to thank some wonderful organizations out there who are helping kids learn to walk this balance while supporting and building their motivation to write:

-          Our very own, local, Willamette Writers has a nationally known program for kids, Young Willamette Writers (http://www.willamettewriters.com/YWW/yww.htm)

-          826 National aims to “provide under-resourced students, ages 6-18, with opportunities to explore their creativity and improve their writing skills…” and much more! (http://826national.org/about/)

-         Another local organization, Write Around Portland, “…Bring(s) free 10-week creative writing workshops to hospitals, schools, homeless youth shelters, senior centers, low income apartments, prisons, social service agencies and treatment facilities…” (http://www.writearound.org/index.html)

-         The Association of Writers and Writing Programs takes the learning back a level, by supporting those who teach kids how to express themselves (showing how to build a well, so to speak rather than building it for them) (https://www.awpwriter.org/about/our_history)

-         Young Writers Society is an online community for young writers age 13+ (http://www.youngwriterssociety.com/)

-        The Young Writers Project out of VT and NH has a great format for others to use in supporting young writers (including developing fun writing prompts to kick start imagination) (http://youngwritersproject.org/)

-         Who hasn’t heard of NaNoWriMo? But did you know they have a special Young Writers Program: (http://ywp.nanowrimo.org/)

The list could go on and on. Whether you are an established author, or a new writer, getting involved in one of these organizations helps all of us, kids and adult volunteers alike, continue to grow as writers.

Deanne
Journeys Inspired by Love
www.deannewilsted.com
Follow me - @dwilsted
or     https://www.facebook.com/DeanneWilstedAuthor

Overheard... while traveling

“Her stories are all about place.”

I have been looking forward to the Genre-istas May blogoversary for months. To celebrate, we are hosting International writers and sharing what makes locale so special. Those who know me will realize why I have been so excited; I love writing about place. And my most special place is Italy. It got a brief cameo in my last novel, UNTANGLING THE KNOT, and claims the entire setting for my next one. Place is so important to my writing that it is even in my tagline, Journeys Inspired by Love.

What is it about place that inspires me as a reader and a writer? It feels colorful to me, filled with food, and scenery and accents and architecture. The light is different in each location (think Picasso on the Riviera). The color of food is unique to place. I visualize the reds of pasta and wine in Italy versus the earth tones of spices in Morocco. All of these things can be used to show, rather than tell, about the place.

Of course there is also accent or language, and in this authors are cautioned to be careful. I recently read a fantastic guest post on Kristen Lamb’s blog, discussing dialogue. In it the guest, Les Edgerton, reveals the challenges of writing great dialogue. One of these pitfalls is when the words selected actually pull the reader from the story and remind them they are reading. Some examples of this are: overuse of a single word, like an endearment, using dialogue tags other than said, and overuse of a foreign language or local slang. I can recognize myself in this last one as I had to edit 40 Brilliants (said by my British hero) out of my current manuscript (and p.s. foreign language always goes in italics; just f.y.i.).

Since all of these things, and more, make up an authentic international story, May will be a great month to ask questions of our guest bloggers who might have advice on the scent of their foods, the color of their sky, the sound of their traffic and alternate words to use for describing when something is really fantastic.

Buona Fortuna,

Deanne
www.deannewilsted.com

Overheard on... Romancing the Genres

“She cleared the bleachers and saw him make his way around the side of the stadium where he spotted a pair of brothers playing catch with their young dad. The camera and Max were indistinguishable.”

My lovely writer friend, Kathy Dunnehoff has managed to bring us older women back to school in her book, BACK TO U.  By doing this, she is able to draw from, and recreate the nostalgia of college days- including the fun and craziness of college sports games. In this scene the hero and protagonist are competing to see who can take a better photo of the game. Gwen, the protagonist, can’t imagine Max taking anything but a gritty shot and he is trying to prove her wrong.

Although BACK TO U isn’t strictly a sports romance, it uses the role of sports as a third character in the book. Through the football players Gwen befriends and her growing appreciation for the sport, we watch her character change and develop. At the same time, Ms. Dunnehoff is able to use the tension (see how I got that in there) that derives from our idealized version of sports (the two kids playing catch with their dad) versus the reality (cracking skulls, cheering- sometimes drunk- crowds, winning at all costs). Through this tension we get to see the boy that Max was vs the man that he has become, just as we observe a transition occurring within Gwen.

April is Romancing the Genres sports romance month. We will have some great sports authors visit to show us what it takes to use the sports theme in romance. I hope, as part of this, they will explore how sports help them develop character and story tension.

Meanwhile… here are some nostalgic sports pictures. If you are up for the challenge, try to list the sweet, idealized themes in the picture, and then compare it to the reality of what was probably happening. As always, I love to hear your thoughts, so be sure to leave a comment with what you encountered while completing this exercise.

Cheers - Deanne
www.deannewilsted.com
@dwilsted