A Random House publicist saw my initial review on the hardback debut of The Improper Life of Bezellia Grove and offered to give one of you readers a copy of the new paperback release! Read on for details!
Bloggers and would-be authors (not always one in the same) often clutch a tight little fear that BIG TIME Bloggers and Published Authors won't have anything to do with those not yet swimming in bigger ponds. I say create your own reality and…not true. Just one example is one of the most gracious authors and people I've ever met: two-time novelist Susan Gregg Gilmore. I am enamoured by her kindness, generosity, grace and poise. And, I'm privileged to call her friend. I've written about her several times–from the time I literally stumbled into her fiction writing workshop: The Courage of a Writer, Victory Dance of the Heart, a review of her delicious debut novel, Looking for Salvation at the Dairy Queen (Smooth. Silky. Southern) and a review of her brilliant second work of fiction: The Improper Life of Bezellia Grove. Thanks to the generosity of Susan's publisher and Susan, herself, in addition to the giveaway of the paperback version of The Improper Life of Bezellia Grove, (see details below,) I've asked Susan to share a pointers tips about writing:
"People often ask me what my advice to other writers is." says Susan. "Simply put, I’ve got three tips—
#1 GET TO KNOW YOUR PEOPLE
Before you even write word one of your story, spend some time getting to know your characters. I sit in bed with a legal pad and write all sorts of details – color of her favorite pair of shoes, why she eats ice cream but hates ice cream sundaes, how many brothers and sisters she has and so on. I write pages like this. This is an exercise Lee Smith taught me. It is extremely effective.
#2 SPEND TIME IN THE CHAIR (and this may be the most important of them all)
If you don’t sit yourself down, nothing is going to happen. It takes that daily routine of immersing yourself in your character’s world for the story to appear on the page. Even if you’re just staring at a blank screen, it takes that time of focus for the magic to happen. I am at my desk for a minimum of two hours a day five days a week. When I’m on a deadline, like now, you’ll find me there eight to ten hours a day.
#3 PULL OUT YOUR RED PEN
Be ready to revise, revise and then revise some more! The revision process is really where your words begin to sing. So don’t be afraid to get in there and really spend the time making your work better. About a year ago I put aside 140 pages and started my novel over. You have to be willing to do that, no matter how hard it is."
Susan concludes: "Enjoy the process!" (Thanks, Susan!)
Here's a smidgen from my February review on Bezellia:
The Improper Life of Bezzellia Grove is a story inspired in part by Gilmore's own childhood of growing up "privileged" white (like many of us,) in a South that was more than unequal for people of color. The Improper Life deliciously spans from Nashville's beginnings through centuries and recent decades, as told by a girl-turned woman named Bezellia–the fifth in her family to bear the name. Only, as you've probably guessed, she bore it not so according to expectation. Gilmore serves up the comfort of tasty Southern genre, as she did in Looking for Salvation. There's food, family and a little craziness thrown in, peppered with religion–that must-have ingredient of Southern fiction. Read the entire review here.
So, who wants a luscious, free read? A REAL book you can hold and turn the pages?! (I prefer that kind!) This paperback giveaway will end two weeks from today, on Friday, September 9. When you read that week's publication of the new ArtsFriday post, your chance is up and I'll select the winner using Random.org. Leave me a comment below specifically relating to this blog post's topic, such as: Have you read Susan's books? What did you love about them? If you haven't read them, why do you love Southern fiction? Or, if you are a writer, what is your favorite tip, either original or above (and why)? Be creative! Good luck!
I haven’t read Susan’s books, so this is my chance! I read and have commented on her blog and she seems like a lovely person. Plus, I love her advice for writers. Good stuff.
I haven’t read Susan’s books. I admit to being very out of touch with current fiction. I read mostly non-fiction – about autism or special needs. I miss fiction. I do enjoy a good story that takes me far away to another place or another time (or both) for a little while. Random dot org, have favor on me! *grin*
Yay! What a wonderful post and contest, Leisa.
I haven’t read Susan’s books, but my curiosity is roused now. 😉 She seems delightful and I love her advice to writers. (Don’t you love hearing from other writers?)
I’ve been toying with the idea of going back to my first love of writing fiction, so I find this encouragement timely.
What a wonderful giveaway! And great tips!
Your description of this book makes me yearn to read it~and has since the first time it was mentioned. I don’t know what treasure lies within, but I’m certain that it is treasure nonetheless!
I’m always looking for a new favorite author! If I don’t win the giveaway, I will definitely be tracking Susan’s books down based on your review.
Leisa, I have no time to read books – I read my Bible – and books to dig into what it says – and I read a gazillion blogs – so don’t enter me – I just came by to read you. Now if you give away something YOU”VE written – I want in on that! Hope all is well Leisa. God bless!
Enter me! Love a free read and this one sounds great. Thanks also for posting her writing advice. Always looking for encouragement and these tips are great. Can’t wait to read the book – need a good one now! Love a strong female protagonist and sounds like this one delivers. Thanks!
I would love to read this book. Also very happy to find our blog.
Oops! I meant your blog!
I finished reading “The Improper Life of Bezellia Grove” on August 25th. It was my 83rd book this year. My daughter said that Susan was a good read. Went straight to the library and had it ordered from another library. Now I want “Looking for Salvation at the Dairy Queen”. I only read books from new authors one time. If it is good I’ll go out of my way to find all their other works. This author is worth going out of my way for. The story is so true, since that is the time period I grew up in, ufortunately. Now I look back and see that it was just a time period, much like the 1800’s that the people at the time didn’t really know they were thinking wrong, or doing wrong by owning other people as slaves. It was just the way life was until someone came along to demand changes. And fortunately this time period and later was a great time for changes. The story is entertaining as well as truthful. So very 1950’s and 60’s. Enjoyed reading it immensely!
Congratulations, Mary Bernard. You’re the winner. Please email me with your mailing address so that Random House can email you a copy of Susan’s book.