Subject: Inside an Author's Life + Books That Inspire Me

For Readers

Hi Friend,

Beginning of the Year Writer's Life

I can't believe it's already March! I spent January in Rapid City and February in Southern California, making slow progress on editing my next novel. Rewriting tends to go slower than writing the first draft.

I submitted a proposal package to an editor who asked to see my next novel, so we'll see how that goes. For now, my goal is to get the book completely finished. Once I'm happy with the final version, I will focus all my attention on publication.

When not writing, I've enjoyed spending time with my pets, especially the cats, since they do not get to travel to South Dakota with me when I'm there. I bought them a new castle and put it together for them, and they seem to like it.

I've also been doing a lot of home cooking: shrimp ramen, healthy yogurt; I need to lose some of my holiday weight! I also too a trip with my niece to her favorite coffee shop: Roast the Dead! It was spooky and fun.

Books I've Read

I'm currently reading The Stranger in the Lifeboat by Mitch Albom. I've probably read every one of his books because they are intriguing. He's the author of The Five People You Meet in Heaven, Tuesdays with Morrie, and many other thought-provoking books.

The Stranger in the Lifeboat asks the question, what would you do if you called out to God to help you and he showed up? A group of people on a lifeboat find a guy in the middle of the ocean, three days after the yacht they were on explodes. The man says he is the Lord.

At one point, the main character is speaking with the Lord:

"Did you know that when I created this world, I made two Heavens?"

"When you created this world," I mocked.

"Yes," he continued. "Two Heavens." He pointed. "Above and below. At certain moments, you can see between them."

Little Alice was staring at his face. Why she idolizes him so, I can't say. I don't imagine she understands anything he's talking about.

"Just stop, OK?" I said. "Can't you see we're slowly dying here?"

"People ae slowly dying everywhere," he said. "They are also continuously living. Every moment they draw breath, they can find the glory I put here on Earth, if they look for it."

I liked this for the same reason I liked the passage I shared with you last week from The House of Angels- it suggests that life is worth noticing and that while we are alive, we should enjoy it. Every day we live, we have one less day to enjoy, so why not make the most of the days we have?

The entire premise of the book is provocative. Those on the lifeboat do not believe the man is God. Most of us wouldn't, either. Even when they suspect he might be who he says, they act offended that he would show up.

Like always, Mitch Albom makes his readers ponder life questions and what it means to be a human being. This is definitely a good book to read.

For Writers

Author Interviews

One of my goals for 2025 is to promote other authors and their books. I love to discover new writers, and I believe many book lovers do, too. So, once a month, I will interview an author, so that they can share a little about themselves, but also, give some writing advice of their own.

This month, I had the privilege of interviewing author, Juanita E. Mantz, who wrote a wonderful memoir about her childhood in the Inland Empire - a working class community in Southern California made up of a group of towns and cities best known for the miles and miles of orange groves (past) and warehouses (current). Her many stories create a rich tapestry of what it was like to grow up in a working class family in the 1980s in the IE. She writes about family dysfunction and alcoholism (heavily), but manages to keep the stories upbeat. She shows that in between the fights, the pain, and the struggle, they had love and were happy.

The story is highly relatable, and Juanita is funny, interesting, and someone I'm excited to introduce you to.

If you are an author and want to be interviewed, drop me a line!

If you are just starting out as a writer or you've ever said, "I'd love to write a book" then visit my How to Write a Book group on Facebook to read more of my blogs about writing for free, and to chat about your project and ideas with others.

You can also join my 12-Month Novel Writing Program. The next cohort launches in March.

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