Màiri Campbell ~ Seanachaidh
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Story Questions/Answers from Hema

30/3/2014

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Hemlata Vasavada (Hema) was born in Jodhpur, India, where she earned a master’s in philosophy. She immigrated to the United States in 1968 with her husband and their (then) one-year-old daughter. She is a member of Skagit Valley Writers League, where she has held offices of president, vice president and treasurer. Her articles and humor essays have been published in magazines and newspapers. Her novel, The Cascade Winners, set in Skagit County, will be in print soon. You can visit Hema's website here.

1. I get my story ideas through events in the news or experiences of others. For instance, my novel, The Cascade Winners, came from what I heard from my husband and his colleagues about their work experiences on the oil rigs and in the engineering office. That, along with mergers and takeover in the industries, bonds of friendship, and what if the friends could win a lottery.... created the seeds of my novel.
 
2.  I write the beginning first and follow the story in a chronological order.

3.  For my characters, I try to make a chart of their birth dates, family, physical attributes, likes, dislikes, education, jobs.

4.  I do my writing at my desk in a corner upstairs.
 
5. A story springs from an idea, an image or some event. The idea doesn't grow immediately. Sometimes I push it aside because I want to finish the project I'm working on. Once in a while, it persists and I start working on it. For example, after September 11, 2001, my husband and I were talking about where Osama bin Laden could be. We thought he could disguise himself as a Sikh ( a religion where people don't cut their hair) and cross the border to India. Instead of bin Laden, I started with a young man, Ahmed. The short story became, "The Accidental Terrorist." 

6.  Yes, I write in chronological  order.

My personal note to Hema. May your journey to eastern Washington be joyful and this new phase in your life amazing. All of us at SVWL will miss you.

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Story Questions/Answers from Heidi

23/3/2014

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Heidi Thomas is a member of Women Writing the West, Professional Writers of Prescott, and honorary lifetime member of the Skagit Valley Writers League. She is an avid reader of all kinds of books, enjoys the sunshine and hiking in north-central Arizona, where she writes, edits, and teaches memoir and fiction writing classes. To learn more about Heidi please visit her website.




1. Where do your story ideas start? My “Dream” series started from a spark of family history—my dad telling me that my grandmother had ridden wild, bucking steers in rodeos during the 1920's. That stayed in the back of my mind until many years later, when I decided to return to my first love of writing—fiction. Thus, Cowgirl Dreams, Follow the Dream, and the new Dare to Dream (coming out in May) were born. Plus, a non-fiction book about the old-time cowgirls of Montana, Cowgirl Up! will also be published sometime this year. All that from one tiny bit of information!

2. What do you write first? (beginning, middle, end) I usually start at the beginning, probably a hold-over from my journalism days to come up with a lead and go from there.

3. Character development, do you do anything special? When I first started writing I received feedback that my characters were “flat”, and I struggled with that until I started taking classes and reading lots of “how-to” books and articles. Emotion and conflict are key—what is the character feeling when X happens? And there has to be lots of conflict and obstacles to overcome.

4. Where do you do your writing? All on my computer. Sometimes I’ll jot down ideas in a notebook as I’m sitting out in nature, being re-charged, but the crafting comes at the computer.

5. A story usually springs from an idea, a character or a scene. Once that idea is planted - how do you make it grow? It’s always good to ask “What if?” You have a character who cares about something or someone, what if something happens to threaten that something or someone? How does the character react and how does he/she overcome whatever obstacles you throw at him/her? I do lots of research too, since my books are historical fiction—events that really happened can help give ideas to develop your own storyline.

6. Do you write in Chronological order or do you bounce around within the manuscript? I usually write in chronological order, but I made a discovery that helps if I get stuck in one place. Perhaps I know what I want to write at some point in the future, but don’t know how to get from point A to point B. If I go ahead and write that scene in the future (even the ending sometimes!) that will often give me ideas on how to bridge that gap.


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St. Patrick's Day... did you know these facts?

16/3/2014

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St. Patrick’s Day is tomorrow and many people have been or will be “Getting their Irish on” as some would say.

Some interesting facts that some of you may not know about dear St. Patrick.

1) It is believed that he was born in England, though it could have been Wales or Scotland. He was kidnapped when he was only 16 taken to Ireland and sold into slavery.

2) St. Patrick’s color was actually blue not green.

3) The “snakes” that he drove from Ireland were not snakes at all but people that did not follow the Christian faith.

4) The 17th of March is actually the date of his death.

5) Corned beef and cabbage is not a traditional Irish dish.

6) In Ireland it was a minor religious holiday up until the 1970’s. The holiday as we know it now was created in America.

7) It was not celebrated with getting drunk, stuffing yourself with food and partying into the night. It was spent in quiet prayer in church.

Those are just some of the things that many people do not know about this originally Irish Christian Holiday. So before blindly celebrating a holiday arm yourself with some facts. My thought to truly honour this man if one is so inclined then wear something blue, do not get stinking drunk and if it is what you believe then go to church and say some prayers.


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Story Questions/Answers from Rob

9/3/2014

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Growing up in the Pacific Northwest, Robert L. Slater wanted to be an astronaut or a rock star. At 42, he gave up those dreams to become a writer of science fiction and fantasy, where he can pretend to be both.

After nearly 20 years as a schoolteacher, and 35 as a teenager, he is beginning to have a hint of insight into that time known as young-adulthood. He has been in that hood a long time! Check out his website and he will be doing a release party at Village Books in Bellingham, WA on Friday March 14, 2014.


1. Where do your story ideas start?
Who knows? Well, many places: dreams, songs, off-handed comments heard over dinner at a restaurant written on cocktail napkins. It’s stereotypical, but it’s actually accurate. I have many odd story ideas written on envelopes, napkins, receipts and the sides of boxes that happened to be sitting next to me on a road trip.

2. What do you write first? (beginning, middle, end)
I often write the pre-beginning first. This is what happens before the story begins, also known as the preceding action. This is, of course, usually cut, only to be talked about in some hopeful future by high school and college English teachers.

3. Character development, do you do anything special?
Not consistently. The most important thing is to hear their voice. That usually tells me a lot about what they’re going to do and how. When they've got a voice they can tell me.

4. Where do you do your writing?
All over the place literally and figuratively. My novel was written in my classroom at Windward High School, Whatcom and Bellingham Libraries, Greene’s Corner across the street from my school, Wood’s coffee shops, New York Pizza, in my car, on a plane, in my bedroom and in Wilson Motor’s waiting room.

5. A story usually springs from an idea, a character or a scene.
Once that idea is planted - how do you make it grow? I actually need three things including the end. Sometimes those things are titles, a central character, a setting, or the plot. I don’t start stories any more that I don’t have an idea for an ending in mind.

6. Do you write in Chronological order or do you bounce around within the manuscript?
Yes. ;-)

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Loss of a loved one.

6/3/2014

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PictureClan Campbell Crest
I know that everyone deals with the loss of loved ones. But recently my husband and I were told of the loss of a very dear friend. Yes he'd been sick and going down hill for years but that does not lessen the blow or the pain of the loss.

My husband joined the Clan Campbell Society of North America under this gentleman. Lou had been the WA State Commissioner for the Society when Robert joined. Rob soon became a deputy commissioner and since 2008 he has been the state commissioner, Lou had moved up to the Vice President of the Society. Despite Lou's progressive decline my husband and I still would contact him and discuss things regarding the clan and the upcoming Scottish Highland Games. Despite the fact that he has not made it to any of the games the last few years, we along with many other people from a plethora of Scottish clans always look for him. Many of the others asking Robert or myself about how Lou and his wife are doing.

It has been with deep sadness that I have taken on the task to act as a liaison for the family with all the various Scottish clans. I love my fellow clansmen/women but they can all be a bit overwhelming at times despite the best of intentions. And as the family member in charge of getting everything arranged for her father's memorial, the last thing the poor girl needed was to deal with a large group of people that she was never involved with.

Lou, sweetie, I know that you are in a far better place now as you are no longer in pain. I promise you will be proud of the number of kilts that will be showing at you memorial. As the motto for Clan Campbell goes Ne Obliviscaris. You will never be forgotten.

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    Màiri Campbell lives in WA with her husband and their three dogs

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