Wednesday, February 27, 2013

Writing

Writers write.  They also read.  I consider myself a writer who reads when I has time....and come to think of it, my writing falls in that category too.  Like many writers, I work a full time job and have a family.  You know the routine...work, home, dinner, homework, games, and the list goes on.  Unfortunately, I haven't figured out how to add extra hours in my day.  :)

Recently, I read that a writer isn't a writer if they don't write everyday.  Maybe that works for those people fortunate enough to make their living writing....or for those who require less sleep than I do.  I thought long and hard about this statement.  Does the fact that my life prohibits me from writing every day mean that writing is nothing more than a hobby at best?  I don't think so.  My story is always with me.  I think about my characters as I cook dinner.  I mull over my plot as I vacuum the floor.  And when time allows, I sit down and something wonderful happens.  My characters speak.  My story unfolds and I get the chance to do the thing I love...I write.

D.S. McKnight

Tuesday, February 26, 2013

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe

I close my eyes and I travel back in time - 2nd grade - Miss Charlotte Bridge's class.  I'm sitting on a large rug with my classmates listening to her read The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe.  It's the highlight of my school day.  It's the first time a story carried me away to another land and I have been hooked on a book ever since.  Without a doubt, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe is still one of my favorites.  I love that it was made into a movie...and I love the character Edmund.  As a child, I didn't think too much of Edmund.  As an adult, it is Edmund that I identify with...He's imperfect.  He  makes mistakes, he sorrows over those mistakes and ultimately, he is forgiven.

D.S. McKnight

Sunday, February 24, 2013

2013 Book 'Em North Carolina Writer's Conference and Book Fair

Yesterday, I attended the 2013 Book 'Em Noth Carolina Writer's Conference and Book Fair at Robeson Community College in Lumberton, NC.   The conference was free but the knowledge I gained - priceless.  One particular session was Book Promotion:  The Name of the Game.  Carolyn Howard-Johnson, Linda Morelli, and Susan Sloate were fountains of knowledge and inspiration. 

Of Dreams and Shadow is my first novel.  At times, the process of editing, finding a publisher, and working on a marketing plan seems so overwhelming.  It's a wonderful blessing to find people and organizations who are there to share their experiences and knowledge. 

D.S. McKnight