Pens, Paws, and Claws would like to welcome author, Darlene Foster to the blog!
Archive for the ‘Writing’ Category
- In: guest posts | Writing
- 24 Comments
I am very happy to be a guest of Charles Yallowitz at Legends of Windemere where I share some tips on how to find time to write. Charles is a prolific writer himself. Check out his amazing fantasy series.
Finding Time to Write
You have a great idea for a book. You’ve been thinking about it for a long time, probably years. But you’re too busy with a job, kids, aging parents, volunteer work and life in general. So you put off writing the book. But it is always there, nagging you, begging to be written. If only you had time to write!
Sound familiar?
For many, writing a book seems like an insurmountable task. So they never even start. That is where the problem is, they are thinking about writing an entire book. Like any large, time-consuming project, to make it happen the task needs to be broken down into doable amounts.
A good way to do this is to set goals – long term, med term and short term goals. These goals should be realistic and time limited. And that will be different for everyone.
A long…
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Winchester Writers’ Festival
Posted on: September 9, 2018
- In: Books | Dreams | Inspiration | Writing
- 52 Comments
In November of last year, I was a guest on Sally Cronin’s blog where I was asked to list two things on my personal bucket list. One of them was to attend a writers’ conference in Europe. A writer/blogger friend, Mary Smith, suggested I check out the Winchester Writers’ Festival, which I did. In June I attended this 38-year-old festival held at the University of Winchester with 300 other attendees, providing 50 talks, readings and workshops. I had a great time and thought I should share what I learned while there.
Entrance to the University of Winchester
I arrived Friday evening in time for dinner where I met other authors over stimulating conversation. Later I attended a talk by James Aitcheson who discussed researching and writing historical fiction which was interesting.
I stayed on campus and found my little room to be comfortable. I felt every bit a student.
My digs for the weekend. My room was on the second floor.
The next morning, after a good sleep and a hearty breakfast (there were even vege sausages!), we listened to the keynote address with Patrick Gale interviewed by Judith Henegan, Director of the Winchester Writers’ Festival. This prolific writer of 15 novels and counting, spoke about “A Life in Writing”. He offered some great advice and this is some of what I took away from the entertaining and informative discussion.
- Write in ink first
- Use setting as a character
- Place defines a person
- End with a glimmer of hope and leave some things unanswered
- Remember the reader in the second draft. (are they seeing and feeling what you want them to?)
- Children are good to have in a novel as they disrupt, are indiscreet and honest
- Readers respond to recognition
- Cut out unnecessary stuff, remove anything that reminds people that they are reading
- Learn to write by reading
- Time is a good editor
- Dialogue is good but can slow down the action. It’s OK to use reported speech sometimes
- Readers rewrite the book when they read it
I bought his book, “A Place Called Winter” and he signed it for me. He was very interested in the fact that I was raised near the area in Canada where the story takes place.
For the remainder of the day, I attended a number of workshops. One by children’s author, Patrice Lawernce, on “Whose Voice is it Anyway”. She discussed making your characters sound authentic by listening to how people talk and being perpetually curious, knowing their backstory and culture and getting under the skin of your characters.
Another workshop on “Creating a Picture Book”, was facilitated by Andrew Weale. He explained that you have to think visually as you write, write a lot, then pare it down to a few words as you let the pictures talk. Picture book stories can be generated by asking unusual, quirky questions.
“Twitter For Writers” by Claire Fuller gave me a few more ideas on how to maximize my time on Twitter. “Myth, Mystery and Magic” with Sarah Mussi reminded us that goodness wins in the end with examples through the ages. The hero should have a flaw, even if it is a good flaw like being too kind etc. The excellent dinner came with a guest speaker, Helen Dennis, who gave an animated talk about her route to success as a children’s author.
Sunday was an all-day workshop, “Casting the Spell of Place”, with Lorna Ferguson. I loved this as we were given prompts with time to write and share our work. A few points I took away with me.
- Cut out unnecessary details of description to avoid making it sound like a travelogue
- Don’t make lists
- Think of the reader and what effect you want to create
- Setting can create mood and atmosphere and help with plotting
- Location often takes the character out of their comfort zone
- It should transport the reader out of their ordinary world (armchair travelling)
- It should create a perception of the culture
- Description needs to be broken up with dialogue and action
- Be careful of information dumping, it will pull the reader out of the story
- If it doesn’t work, try a different setting!
Another point that came up which was very helpful for me and my stories is that a character can’t always have someone help them. They need to solve their own problems, sometimes in an unfamiliar location.
We were given a list of quotes. I love this one. Place is paramount. Annie Proulx
I also had two one to one appointments with authors who looked at the first chapter of Amanda in Holland and gave me great feedback.
With limited luggage space, I only bought two books, (amazing for me!) and an Elizabeth Bennet tree ornament to remember my time.
Elizabeth Bennett Christmas tree ornament
Charming bench on the grounds of the university
One of the many great buildings on site, the Business School
Staying in a historic city, meeting other writers and learning more about the art of writing made this a perfect break for me and just what I needed to continue with my writing. Thank you so much, Mary Smith, for this suggestion. Check out her interesting blog and wonderful books.
https://www.amazon.com/kindle-/entity/author/B001KCD4P0
- In: Books | guest posts | Writing
- 14 Comments
I am a guest today over at Jacqui Murray’s amazing blog, WordDreams. I answer her question, How do you create readers for life? See what I have to say.
One of my summer reading discoveries is Darlene Foster’s six-volume Amanda series. I’m a teacher-author so I’m always eager to find fresh books that my K-8 students will love. When I came across Darlene on her blog, Darlene Foster’s Blog, I have to admit, I was really excited. I’d never found a children’s travelogue series that would appeal to kids the same way fiction does. This series does. In it, kids travel all over the world, to those names that excite every adult–Amanda on the Danube, Amanda in Arabia, Amanda in Alberta, as well as three more fun world locations.
I asked Darlene if she would mind doing an interview for my blog–just one question. That’s all I had:
How do you create readers for life?
Because that’s what these books have the power to do–turn kids into readers. Here’s her answer:
Writing for children…
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- In: Books | guest posts | Writing
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I am so pleased to be featured on Jemsbooks Blog. Janice Spina is a prolific author herself with many kids books on her list of publications. Check them out. Even if you think you know all about me and my books, you might learn about a special talent I have!
INTERVIEW WITH AUTHOR DARLENE FOSTER!
Darlene Foster
Please help me welcome author Darlene Foster to Jemsbooks Blog Segment of Interview an Author.
It’s lovely to have you here Darlene. Please step up on the soap box.
Please tell us something about yourself.
I’m probably considered a late bloomer as I didn’t start writing seriously until later in life. But I have always loved to tell stories and made up tales in my head growing up on a ranch in southern Alberta. I recall pretending I was in exciting, foreign countries having an adventure. I had two wishes as a child, one was to travel the world and the other was to be a published writer one day. I have been very lucky as I have held wonderful jobs over the years, raised two amazing children, and been blessed with four grandchildren and two great grandchildren. My dreams have come true…
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Authors and Their Pets
Posted on: August 5, 2018
- In: animals | Dot | guest posts | Memories | Writing
- 41 Comments
I am so pleased to be the featured author on Pens, Paws and Claws, a wonderful blog that features authors and their pets. Don’t you just love the title of the blog? Check it out, especially if you love pets. Read about how I use animals in my books and how animals have affected my writing life. Of course, Dot is included.
Welcome Author Darlene Foster
Author Darlene Foster and her dog, Dot.
How do your pets impact your writing?
Spending time with my dog relaxes me and inspires ideas. When I get stuck, I take her for a walk and often return with fresh new ideas. She also gets me off my butt and away from the computer. When she thinks I have been there too long, she comes into my office with her ball and drops it in front of me, looking at me with those big puppy dog eyes. I just can’t say no. Before moving to Spain and getting our dog we had cats. They would sleep on my lap or on my feet while I wrote. A writer needs pets. They are great to discuss ideas with.
Who could refuse those eyes?
Do you include animals in your stories?
Living on a farm/ranch there were always animals around so I love animals of all sorts….
read more here and discover my funniest pet story
http://penspawsandclaws.com/welcome-author-darlene-foster/
Whether you are a writer or not, how have animals affected your life? Do you have a funny pet story?
Tags: antelope, author, author interview, dogs, Dot, guest post, memories, Pens Paws and Claws, pets, writing
#ABRSC – MJ Interviews Author Darlene Foster – Children’s Adventure Series: Amanda Travels
Posted on: July 22, 2018
- In: Books | guest posts | Writing
- 17 Comments
I’m tickled to be featured on MJ Mallon’s blog. Find out what I would do with a traveling onion and a few other things about me and my writing that you may or may not know.
A huge welcome to Darlene Foster who is over at my blog home today for a Q and A about her children’s adventure series: Amanda Travels.
Some of you might know that I like to interview using my nickname MJ…
MJ: I’d love to find out more about your amazing travel series featuring a twelve year old girl. Who is Amanda Ross and where does she like to travel to? What mysteries does she uncover/solve? What adventures does she have?
Darlene: Amanda Ross is an average girl living in Alberta, Canada and she is bored. On her twelfth birthday she makes a wish for travel and adventure before blowing out all her candles. The next day tickets to visit her aunt and uncle in the United Arab Emirates arrive in the mail. She has an amazing adventure in the UAE that includes a mysterious perfume flask, a beautiful princess, a…
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- In: guest posts | Writing
- 8 Comments
I was lucky to be interviewed by Ari Meghlen on her award-winning blog. I talk about why I enjoy writing and chatting with Jane Austen.
This week’s guest post is an interview with the lovely Darlene Foster, author of Amanda in New Mexico. Enjoy!
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