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Author

A Conversation with J. Scott Savage

June 19, 2024 By LDSPMA Leave a Comment

Tech executive J. Scott Savage had always dreamed of becoming an author; however, it wasn’t until the collapse of a $100-million deal to sell his internet company that he turned to writing to relieve stress. He explains, “I would write a few chapters, and my sister, DeAnne, would read it and go, ‘Hey, this is great. You’re going to write more.'” Encouraged by his sister’s positive feedback, he sent his high-tech thriller to Covenant Communications, a small Utah publisher. Six months later, they offered to publish his book. Looking back at his first novel, J. Scott says, “There are a lot of things that I would have done differently with that story now… But at the time, because there were no aspirations of getting it published, I didn’t know enough to know what I was doing wrong.” Despite facing numerous rejections after his first acceptance, he continued working toward his dream of writing books. He says the obstacles are all part of the process, and making mistakes helped him learn what he knows now.

Initially, he thought, “Okay, that’s it. I’m an author. I’m going to quit the high-tech world. I’m going to go buy a cabin by the lake, and then I saw my first royalties, and I was like, oh no, I guess I won’t do that.” If he had depended on the income from being a writer during the first two decades of his writing career, he would have likely given up. Instead, he realized that creators must engage in creative endeavors out of love for their art rather than financial gain. “You never want to tell someone, hey, you can’t make a living at this, because you can make a living at any creative endeavor. But you’ve got to start doing it because you love it because most creative people are not making enough money to live off it. And oftentimes, it’s combining it with something else or a different approach.”

Later, J. Scott transitioned into writing middle-grade fantasy books. He recalls, “So, I started writing adult books, didn’t think I could write kids’ books, but I eventually discovered that [writing middle-grade books] was… my calling, and my very first middle-grade book came out literally within months of… another recession.” He used the severance pay from his tech job to embark on a school tour to promote his debut middle-grade book. His efforts to promote the book weren’t successful in the way he had hoped, but he loved inspiring children to read and write. He recalls, “Looking back, though, what felt like a failure was where I really learned to do what I do now.”

J. Scott highlights the importance of treating young readers respectfully instead of talking down to them. When he visits schools, he shares stories from his own childhood that kids can relate to, like growing up with ADHD, wearing an eye patch, and going to speech therapy. He says, “As a writer myself, I think it’s valuable to know that someone who has published numerous books believes that others can do the same. My message to aspiring writers is to find their unique voice, make an impact, and celebrate their differences.”

In a world filled with countless distractions for children, J. Scott aims to provide opportunities for kids to learn to express themselves through writing. “Sharing stories can help us understand each other’s perspectives and appreciate our differences.” His two goals for nurturing empathy in young writers are to show them that reading and writing are fun and safe. “I tell them there is no wrong answer. I’ve had some somewhat questionable things that we come up with, whether a butt monster or a farting unicorn or whatever, but the thing is that once they know that there’s no wrong answer, that it’s not a right and wrong test, it changes things.”

Teachers verify that his teaching technique works, citing instances where children previously hesitant to write were inspired to craft engaging narratives, such as a story about a farting chipmunk. In the past, the teachers would have rejected this idea for being inappropriate, but because of his advice, “literally, by the end of the day, [the students] had put together a five-page story.”

By fostering a love for books in school-age children, J. Scott has been able to instill within them a desire to read that lasts throughout their lives. He is often approached by young adults who say, “I know you don’t remember, but when I was in fifth or sixth grade, you came to my school. I hadn’t read anything, but after your assembly, I wanted to read that, and I finished that book, and I told my mom I wanted to read more. I just wanted to come and thank you… it’s because of you coming and visiting my school that I love reading now and that I’ve continued to read.”

J. Scott’s life lessons and personal triumphs echo through the pages of his books. His narratives, replete with compelling characters navigating challenges, inspire readers embarking on their personal journeys. According to him, reading about characters in challenging situations triggers the release of specific chemicals in the brain. When young readers immerse themselves in books, the same chemical reactions occur. This phenomenon has a transformative power. Readers see their favorite characters triumph over adversity and think, “I can do that too!”

The positive messages J. Scott gets from readers and teachers help keep him motivated when the business of writing becomes discouraging. He points out that the goal isn’t necessarily to write the next bestseller, but to sell enough books to keep writing more. Despite facing times when he doubts himself and money is tight, he finds strength in moments when people tell him that his stories or classes made a difference in their lives. He shares a story about a friend who wrote a book that didn’t sell well. He assured her that it wasn’t her fault—it’s just how the publishing world works sometimes.

J. Scott encourages new authors to involve loved ones in their writing journey, seek local mentors and organizations, and use the internet to connect with like-minded individuals. He emphasizes that the gift of writing is a calling from God to impact lives positively. “Whether you’re writing your first book or your twentieth book or whether you’re selling a lot of books or not, whether you’re touring or whatever—I feel like you’ve been given that talent as a calling, and magnifying your calling doesn’t guarantee you’re going to make a lot of money or be famous, but it does guarantee that you’re taking those talents and you’re doing something with them.”

This article is based on the Called to Create podcast featured during Season 3, Episode 8. You can listen to the full podcast here.

Filed Under: Articles, Called to Create Conversations Tagged With: Author, middle grade, young adult

How I Research for a Historical Project

March 31, 2023 By LDSPMA 2 Comments

By Heather B. Moore

Some people love research, while others don’t. They want to get into the meat of writing as soon as possible. But if you’re planning to write a historical novel or other project, research is vital to developing the story and bringing credibility to your work. As the author of dozens of historical novels set in eras ranging from ancient Israel, Mesopotamia, the Georgian era, the Regency era, the Victorian era, the early 1900s, World War II, the early Cold War era, and the 1980s (yes, that’s considered historical now), I’ve learned a few tips and tricks to help me tackle each project as it comes along.

Search for Sources

I search on Amazon or other new/used book sites and decide if there are books that I’d like to own so I can have them constantly at my fingertips. If possible, I like to get the paperback version to annotate, the ebook version to do a quick search for a particular key element, and sometimes the audiobook to immerse my brain in the era. I own all three versions of some research books. You can also search Google Books and find older digital books that are absolutely free. YouTube has recently become a key source for me with the plethora of documentaries and shorter historical pieces that are available.

Determine Which Sources to Use

Since you can’t read every book written about a subject (unless there are only a few), you might have to be selective. On average, I read five-ten books about a historical subject in preparation to write a book. Some sources are a gold mine. Other sources might just be more of a quick reference to verify the uniforms worn by a particular army during a specific war. Online articles (including Wikipedia) can be great quick go-tos. You can check at the bottom of the articles as well for further sources as needed.

Research Key Elements

Don’t try to be the expert, but research enough to flesh out your story and bring authenticity. You probably don’t have ten years to research everything you can about Italy in the seventeenth century, but you can zero in on several key elements, situations, and cultural points in order to create a vibrant story that makes the reader feel as if they’re looking into the era through a camera lens.

What are these key elements? Start with the five senses.

  1. Touch—what do things feel like? Are your characters sitting on stone benches? Bamboo chairs? Scratchy woolen blankets?
  1. Sight—what is your character seeing? A bombed city? A river meandering through hills covered in small wooden huts? Tropical trees? Sand and rocks?
  1. Hearing—what sounds are in the setting? The puttering of a small vehicle? The clattering of horses’ hooves on cobblestone?
  1. Smell—does your character live on a farm? By the ocean with the scent of sea breeze as a constant companion? Is it spring with blossoming fruit trees?
  1. Taste—what kinds of food surround your character? Do they spend their days in preparation? Is food a main part of their day? What plants and crops are native to the country you’re writing about?

More elements include:

  1. Major historical events during your story’s timeline. You can’t ignore a major historical event (or weather event, for that matter) if your story covers that day/week/month/year. If for some reason, you do decide to ignore or brush over a major event, document the reason why in your chapter notes or an author note as a disclaimer.
  1. Government/politics. Just as our modern lives are framed by the laws of our land, so are historical characters’ lives. What types of laws were in place? How were criminals dealt with? Were there discrepancies between the sexes or racial groups?
  1. Religion. Even if your character isn’t religious, others around them will be. Religious beliefs can also be a major character motivator, so make sure you aren’t skipping over it in a main character or sub character.
  1. Setting. A historical setting becomes a character of its own. By writing about the past, you are researching old information instead of brainstorming new ideas and inventing new things, like you would for sci-fi or fantasy. The setting can affect characters’ choices and motivations. A story set in the middle of a Minnesota winter has a completely different feel than one set in sunny San Diego.
  1. Dialogue. This can be debated both ways, but generally keeping your dialogue free of modern cliches is very important. Most readers don’t want to read formal, stilted, cumbersome dialect, so find a handful of words that will keep your reader immersed in the historical era. Depending on your time frame, instead of “kitchen,” you might say “cooking room,” or instead of “bedroom,” you might use the more historical-sounding “bedchamber.”

Start Writing

You don’t need wait to write until you have done your research. Doing both at the same time is often necessary. I’ll typically start with research—reading sources and taking notes—and when I feel like I can effectively write the first few chapters of the book, I’ll begin writing, knowing there might be some stopping points along the way to deep dive into more sources. I try not to write too far ahead of my research, though, or I run the risk of writing an entire scene that has to be greatly revised.

Everyone’s method will vary, but hopefully something from my journey will be useful to you.

Heather B. Moore

Heather B. Moore is a USA Today bestselling author of more than ninety publications, primarily historical and #herstory fiction about the humanity and heroism of the everyday person. She attended Cairo American College in Egypt and the Anglican School of Jerusalem in Israel. Despite failing her high school AP English exam, Heather persevered and earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Brigham Young University in something other than English. Heather dives into the hearts and souls of her characters, meshing her love of research with her love of storytelling. You can learn more about her on her website.

    Filed Under: Articles, Craft Skills, Professional Skills, Publishing, Writing Tagged With: Author, history, research, Writing

    LDSPMA Member Spotlight: Bradley McBride

    December 11, 2021 By Spencer Skeen Leave a Comment

    Bradley McBride currently lives in Gilbert, Arizona.

    What are some names of the books or other media you have created?

    • “Up on the Housetop: A Christmas Story,” released November 23, 2021. It’s my first foray into fiction.
    • I have been blogging for eleven years, first as Middle-aged Mormon Man, now, as ThusWeSee.com (since President Nelson threw down the gauntlet).
    • One blog collection book: “There’s a Message in There Somewhere.”
    • One collection of new material: “There’s a Message OUT There Somewhere.”

    What inspired you to become a creator of media?

    I’ve always enjoyed writing. After being released as a bishop, I found I had a lot of time on my hands yet still much to share, so I started a blog. Eleven years and 1500 posts later, I’m still at it. I like sharing my thoughts about gospel topics and my testimony to anyone and everyone.

    What has been the highlight of your career so far?

    Getting a shout-out from an Apostle at Women’s Conference was great, but the highlight is the steady stream of notes and comments I get from readers who connect with what I am writing. It is a great joy to be able to help people in their struggles, amplify their faith, and share what is most important to me.

    What was the best advice you’ve ever been given in your creative journey?

    I was told to “be myself” (by the Spirit). My interpretation of that was not to write to chase readership but to write what I feel and what is in my mind and heart. It has made the journey a great personal growth experience for me.

    What advice do you have for someone just starting out in your field?

    You be you. Write what is important to you. Don’t chase trends. Always stand strong in your support of the Gospel and the Church and its leaders. Do not compromise orthodoxy to stir up controversy, and/or contention.

    What keeps you inspired in your daily creative work?

    The ever-evolving nature of life in the Gospel. Challenges change. Faith ebbs and flows. There are always new things to talk about, to study, and to discuss.

    What would you like others to know about you or your creative process?

    I didn’t start writing for public consumption until I was almost fifty, and I didn’t create any fiction until recently at sixty. However, I believe that a life lived gives me much more fodder for creating, and my life’s experience in the Church gives me perspectives that might be unique.

    In what ways do you feel you have been able to be a voice for good in your creative pursuits?

    I feel that I have a gift for taking complex Gospel subjects and doctrines and finding ways to teach and discuss them that make them more understandable. I also enjoy walking the tightrope between spirituality and humor, all the while standing as a witness of Christ, His servants , and His Church.

    If you want your spotlight to link to your website or any of your social media platforms, include the URLs here.

    http://www.ThusWeSee.com

    Filed Under: Member Spotlight Tagged With: Author, blog, blogger, Bradley McBride, humor, Latter-day Saint Publishing and Media Association, LDSPMA, LDSPMA Member Spotlight, Middle-aged Mormon Man, novella, There's a Message in There Somewhere, Thus We See, ThusWeSee.com, Up on the Housetop: A Christmas Story

    LDSPMA Member Spotlight: Michael Young

    December 6, 2021 By Spencer Skeen Leave a Comment

    Michael Young currently lives in Tooele, Utah.

    What are some names of the books or other media you have created?

    Nonfiction:

    • Chapter and Verse (volumes I-III)
    • Before Sunset
    • Song of the Saints
    • In the Quiet Heart

    Fiction:

    • A Past with Two Faces
    • First Things First
    • The Lost Barge
    • The Penultimate Dawn series:
      • The Hunger, The Thirst, The Longing
    • The Canticle Kingdom series:
      • The Canticle Prelude, The Frozen Globe, The Skyward Isle
    • The Last Archangel series:
      • Age of Archangels, The Last Archangel, The Last Kingdom, The Last Struggle
    • The Chess Quest series:
      • Paladin:Pawn, Nemesis:Knight, Rook:Revenge, Bishop:Betrayal, Sovereigns:Song
    • Advent Anthology series:
      • Carol of the Tales, Angels from Their Realms of Story

    What inspired you to become a creator of media?

    I’ve always had an active imagination, and I read as many book as I could growing up. As I got older, I had some amazing literature and writing teachers, and I wondered if I could write down some of the stories in my head. I wrote my first novel in high school to prove to myself that I could do it, and then I’ve been writing ever since. It has been a wonderful way to express myself in a way that nothing else quite does.

    What has been the highlight of your career so far?

    The highlight was seeing one of my novels on the shelf in a major bookstore for the first time. It had taken a lot of work to get there, and it validated everything that I had done up to that point and helped motivate me to keep going and to keep improving.

    What was the best advice you’ve ever been given in your creative journey?

    Create to serve and to uplift. When you use your God-given talents for good, you are entitled to his help and blessing. His grace will enhance your natural abilities and allow you to create things much greater than you would on your own. Talents are meant to be shared, and you can be a light to the world, the proverbial city on the hill, if you take the time to climb the hill.

    What advice do you have for someone just starting out in your field?

    Ask yourself if you are a patient person and if you have a thick enough skin to put yourself out there. There is a lot of waiting around, a lot of long, thankless hours of work, and there will always be people who want to put you down. If you can work with that, move forward and don’t look back.

    What keeps you inspired in your daily creative work?

    I’m constantly inspired by music. I hear different songs and they drive my creative juices and inspire my writing. That’s the great thing about being in a choir that meets every week as I’m constantly exposed to high-quality music to keep me going.

    What would you like others to know about you or your creative process?

    I’d like other people to know that everything I do is meant to inspire and uplift others. I think there is no greater calling in art than to use your talents to serve and uplift others. Before I start any project, I ask myself how it is meant to help others.

    In what ways do you feel you have been able to be a voice for good in your creative pursuits?

    Many of my works have been specifically aimed at spiritual topics and helping people appreciate the scriptures and religious music better, but even my fiction is geared toward morality and nobility. I never want to club people over the head with a moral in my stories, but if you look, you should be able to take away truths that I hold dear.

    If you want your spotlight to link to your website or any of your social media platforms, include the URLs here.

    http://www.authormichaelyoung.com

    Filed Under: Member Spotlight Tagged With: A Past with Two Faces, Advent Anthology, Angels from Their Realms of Story, Author, Before Sunset, Carol of the Tales, Chapter and Verse, choir, First Things First, In the Quiet Heart, Latter-day Saint Publishing and Media Association, LDSPMA, LDSPMA Member Spotlight, Michael Young, music, series, Song of the Saints, talents, teacher, The Canticle Kingdom, The Chess Quest, The Last Archangel, The Lost Barge, The Penultimate Dawn

    LDSPMA Member Spotlight: Mary Beesley

    November 27, 2021 By Spencer Skeen 1 Comment

    Mary Beesley lives in St. George, Utah.

    What are some names of the books or other media you have created?

    Dragon Blood and Wolf Pack are books 1 and 2 in the Draco Sang Trilogy, a YA fantasy series.
    To Unite a Realm is my adult fantasy.
    Betting on Love, is my romantic comedy.
    My next project is a women’s fiction piece.

    What inspired you to become a creator of media?

    When I found out I was going to have a fourth child, I got discouraged and overwhelmed. God inspired me to start writing stories. At first it was a place for me to be creative and decompress, then I fell in love with it. I took classes and worked hard to practice and improve. I write because I want to, and I’m good at it.

    What has been the highlight of your career so far?

    The first moment when I was reading my manuscript and I realized it was good, really good. It hit me that I’d finally found what I want to do with my talents and time. That sense of rightness and belonging has filled me up and fueled me through hard writing sessions and painful rejections.

    What was the best advice you’ve ever been given in your creative journey?

    Don’t give up. Take a rest, but don’t quit.

    What advice do you have for someone just starting out in your field?

    Be patient! With yourself and your work and your editors. Read a lot. Becoming a great writer takes time. Enjoy the journey because there is no finish line. Give yourself grace and trust your gut. Art is subjective, don’t let someone else’s negative option of your creation become your own. Your voice is unique and important. It will take time and effort and learning to be a good writer. Put in the work.

    What keeps you inspired in your daily creative work?

    Nature. Being out among the beauties and intricacies makes me want to create. Observing humanity. Reading books, essays, and poetry. And of course, writing. Writing begets writing.

    What would you like others to know about you or your creative process?

    My creativity is incredibly important to me, and I try to honor it. I respect my writing time by making sure to schedule it when my mind is most active and fresh. I own my art. I write from my heart and don’t force stories that don’t feel genuine or important. It’s hard work to write well, and I expect round and rounds of edits. The time at the keyboard is only a fraction of all that goes into a story. Thinking time is vital, and I don’t skimp on listening to the silence and going on walks.

    In what ways do you feel you have been able to be a voice for good in your creative pursuits?

    In all my books, I aim to show the light and hope amidst the darkness. There is pain and grief in every life. I try to be real about that place but show the rays of goodness and courage that are there to be found.

    If you want your spotlight to link to your website or any of your social media platforms, include the URLs here.

    https://www.marybeesley.com/

    https://www.instagram.com/marybeesleywriter/

    https://www.facebook.com/MaryBeesleyAuthor

    Filed Under: Member Spotlight Tagged With: adult fantasy, Author, Betting on Love, Creativity, Draco Sang Trilogy, Dragon Blood, Latter-day Saint Publishing and Media Association, LDSPMA Member Spotlight, Mary Beesley, romantic comedy, To Unite a Realm, Wolf Pack, YA fantasy

    LDSPMA Member Spotlight: Maleah Day Warner

    October 23, 2021 By Spencer Skeen Leave a Comment

    Maleah Day Warner currently lives in American Fork, Utah.

    What are some names of the books or other media you have created?

    Lies of the Magpie is my debut memoir and the 2020 AML award winner for Creative Nonfiction. I also host the Power Principles Podcast.

    What inspired you to become a creator of media?

    My fourth grade teacher told me I would be a writer, and I believed her.

    What has been the highlight of your career so far?

    Meeting Alex Boyé at LDSPMA conference 2021, of course!

    Winning the 2020 AML (Association for Mormon Letters) award for Creative Nonfiction was thrilling and an absolute surprise. Many thanks to AML for boosting my confidence as an author. 🙂

    What was the best advice you’ve ever been given in your creative journey?

    Ally Condie said she gave herself permission to take her time in her writing journey. This advice has helped me to be patient in the LONG process of becoming a writer and the even LONGER journey to publication.

    What advice do you have for someone just starting out in your field?

    Be willing to be really bad at your craft. You have to be bad BEFORE you can be good. But no one wants to be bad, so we procrastinate creating. Go ahead and be bad. Produce that cringe-worthy first draft. Clunk through the gag-inducing second draft. Imagine that you’re required to produce 200,00 really awful sentences before your brilliance can shine. Then you can sit down and start writing junk. Jeff Savage says you have to dump a whole lot of manure on your page before the flowers will grow.

    What keeps you inspired in your daily creative work?

    Most of the day I wrestle with enormous amounts of self-doubt. When I’m on top of my creative game, it’s remembering my WHY that keeps me going. And reading. When I lack motivation, reading gets me back on track.

    What would you like others to know about you or your creative process?

    I love mothering and writing and try to combine the two whenever I can. I want to see more stories with mother protagonists.

    My mission is to educate, validate, and elevate the work of mothering.

    In what ways do you feel you have been able to be a voice for good in your creative pursuits?

    I believe that a healthy world starts with healthy mothers. Postpartum depression, anxiety and mental health issues are a huge battle for mothers right now. I also believe in the healing power of story. Maybe a mom who feels alone and is struggling can find hope, healing, and an enormous hug and boost of encouragement from reading my story.

    If you want your spotlight to link to your website or any of your social media platforms, include the URLs here.

    [email protected]

    Instagram: @maleahdaywarnerwrites

    https://www.facebook.com/maleah.warner

    Filed Under: Member Spotlight Tagged With: AML, Association for Mormon Letters, Author, creative nonfiction, Latter-day Saint Publishing and Media Association, LDSPMA, LDSPMA Member Spotlight, Lies of the Magpie, Maleah Day Warner, memoir, mothering, mothers, Power Principles Podcast

    Member Spotlight: Sue Lamoree

    September 18, 2021 By Trina Boice Leave a Comment

    Sue Lamoree is from Camano Island, Washington

    What are some names of the books or other media you have created?

    I wrote The True Adventures of Carbon (a middle-grade novel). My short stories appear in the following anthologies (two are listed under the name Susan Hutchinson): The Healing Touch of Horses: Stories of Courage, Hope and the Transformative Power of the Human/Equine Bond; Horse Crazy: Women and the Horses They Love; and A Cup of Comfort for Dog Lovers: Stories that Celebrate Love, Loyalty, and Companionship.

    What inspired you to become a creator of media?

    Twenty-six years ago, I was diagnosed with Transverse Myelitis (TM) which resulted in partial paralysis from the neck down. Through the grace of my Heavenly Father, I learned to accept and manage my situation with humor and dignity. I soon realized the journey isn’t easy and we can often benefit from the support of others. This insight inspired me to share my humorous, spiritual, and sometimes challenging anecdotes about life from a quadriplegic perspective.

    What has been the highlight of your career so far?

    When one of my blog posts reached an individual who had been newly diagnosed with TM, we corresponded for a short period of time in which I felt our conversations may have helped dampen her fears associated with the unknowns of her new life. Most individuals with spinal cord injuries (myself included) start out with a minimal understanding of the resources available to them. I love sharing my knowledge and experiences with people to lighten their concerns.

    What was the best advice you’ve ever been given in your creative journey?

    Don’t just get into the head of your characters; follow their emotional journey as well. Delve deep into their feelings and demonstrate those emotions through actions, conversation, and consequences rather than telling the reader how the character feels. Readers are more likely to stay engaged in a story if they can identify with the character’s emotional transformation. And always deliver on your promises. Whatever the story presents as the premise, make sure it’s resolved, good or bad.

    What advice do you have for someone just starting out in your field?

    Always write from the heart despite what’s considered popular and write for yourself whether you think it will sell or not. I’ve learned through my own process that writers love to write—so write!

    What keeps you inspired in your daily creative work?

    I really hope that my message reaches individuals facing any type of adversity. Life can be full of joy regardless of our circumstances as long as we allow ourselves to turn things over to our Heavenly Father. I have experienced His love and recognized His hand in my life more than I ever have. The world actually opened up to me since my diagnosis, and I have blossomed in a way I didn’t think possible. I want to share those experiences with others and hope to lift a few heads in the process.

    What would you like others to know about you or your creative process?

    I don’t really have a creative process. I draw from things that are familiar to me and my own experiences. Then I just let the characters speak for themselves and write, rewrite, rewrite, and rewrite.

    In what ways do you feel you have been able to be a voice for good in your creative pursuits?

    My stories tend to focus on the positive aspects of my life, and I find humor in almost everything that happens to me. By sharing these perspectives in my writing and the podcasts I’ve participated in I’ve been able to demonstrate that we can always find a way to view life from a half-full vantage point.

    If you want your spotlight to link to your website or any of your social media platforms, include the URLs here.
    keeprollingon.co

    Filed Under: Member Spotlight Tagged With: A Cup of Comfort for Dog Lovers, adversity, advice for adversity, Author, Horse Crazy, keep rolling on, Latter-day Saint Publishing and Media Association, LDSPMA, middle-grade novel, Mormon, quadriplegic, spinal cord injury, Sue Hutchinson, Sue Lamoree, Susan Hutchison, The Healing Touch of Horses, The True Adventures of Carbon, Transverse Myelitis

    LDSPMA Member Spotlight: Bonnie K. T. Dillabough

    September 11, 2021 By Trina Boice 2 Comments

    Bonnie K.T. Dillabough currently lives in Richland, Washington.

    What are some names of the books or other media you have created?

    I wrote the Dimensional Alliance series, including The House on Infinity Loop, Infinity on Fire, and Mirrors of Infinity with the 4th book in the series coming out in November 2021: Ripples of Infinity. The eventual scope of the series will be about 15 books. My books are science-fiction that read like fantasy. Dragons and dwarves and fantastical creatures…high-tech, dimensional travel, and alien encounters—all of this and more.

    What inspired you to become a creator of media?

    I’ve been writing since my early years and spent 15 years in broadcast television, but I always wanted to write novels. An active life as a veteran, mother of 6 (now grandmother of 17 and counting), and life happened. Then one day, I had the joy of interviewing Mercedes Lackey. When I timidly remarked I had considered writing a novel, she said, “So put your butt in the chair and write!”
    I did. Two weeks before my 64th birthday, The House on Infinity Loop was published in 2018.

    What has been the highlight of your career so far?

    Probably the opportunity to interact with fans and potential fans of the books has been the highlight. I have one science fiction/fantasy convention under my belt (before Covid) and some author talks. One of the most fun highlights was being accosted in a local bookstore because someone recognized me. They were there to purchase my books and asked for me to sign them in the aisle of the store. I don’t think it had occurred to me that I would ever be recognized like that.

    What was the best advice you’ve ever been given in your creative journey?

    Definitely to write and to associate with other writers, starting with NaNoWriMo just after getting the emphatic advice from Mercedes Lackey. Through groups such as The Alliance of Independent Authors and Aspiring Authors, I’ve had the opportunity to learn the ins and outs of the publishing industry.
    These connections and the continuing education I have received have led me to realize that no author is an island. We do some of our best work as we help one another.

    What advice do you have for someone just starting out in your field?

    Write. Seriously, I know that sounds over-simplistic, but unfortunately, it is too easy to get wrapped up in details that have nothing to do with telling your story. Get the story out of you before you worry about editing or anything else. Then get educated. There are so many traps laid for aspiring authors and most of them involve taking shortcuts. Do your due diligence. Join writing groups. Don’t fall for the wiles of those who only want your money. Get advice from people who are actually selling books and have a following. And don’t compromise your principles.

    What keeps you inspired in your daily creative work?

    Reading good writing for one thing. I’ve been re-reading favorite books in my genre to learn from those who have mastered the craft. People like Brandon Sanderson, Orson Scott Card, J.K. Rowling, and Brandon Mull. Their styles are all different, and yet, as I read their books, not as a fan but as a writer, I realize there are certain things they all have in common. I try to emulate the things that fit my style and avoid the things that don’t fit.

    What would you like others to know about you or your creative process?

    I am what is known in the writing arena as a “pantser,” meaning I write by the seat of my pants. I don’t do outlines. But I still know where I’m going. I write the last chapter or scene in my book in the beginning. This gives me something to shoot for. Admittedly, by the time I get there, I often have to do some re-writing, but that’s ok. Knowing the end from the beginning has a lot to be said for it. Also, my writing is character-centric. I know my characters very well.

    In what ways do you feel you have been able to be a voice for good in your creative pursuits?

    The focus of my books is about how working together accomplishes so much more than working alone. Some of the values I try to teach as I entertain are the value of kindness, why judgmentalism is counter-productive, that there is a “creator of all things,” that science and belief are not opposites, the importance of family, the concept of redemption, and the idea that creation is much bigger than we can imagine.

    If you want your spotlight to link to your website or any of your social media platforms, include the URLs here.
    https://DimensionalAllianceHeadquarters.com

    Filed Under: Member Spotlight Tagged With: Author, Bonnie K. T. Dillabough, broadcast television, Dimensional Alliance, Fantasy, Infinity on Fire, Latter-day Saint Publishing and Media Association, LDSPMA, LDSPMA Member Spotlight, Ripples of Infinity, Sci-fi, Science Fiction, The House on Infinity Loop, Writer

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