Local Authors to Participate in our Book Fair

The Write It Right conference is quickly approaching! We're very excited to have a number of local authors participating in our local author book fair at the end of the day. As you can see from the list, the authors span all ages and genres.

The authors participating include:

Vincent Genovese, The Pottsville Maroons and the NFL’s Stolen Championship of 1925; The Angel of Ashland; The Remarkable Discovery of Manny Faber; Billy Heath: The Man Who Survived Custer’s Last Stand

Stephen Pytak, The .40-Caliber Mouse: A Modern Tale of Vengeance

Patricia Rowe, The Other Side of the Desk: A Teacher Remembers.

Patricia Klatch Shenyo, GOD?

Tisha Tolar, Gen-X

Jodi Webb, Pennsylvania Trivia: Weird, Wacky, and Wild.

Susan Wisnewski, Owner, Lazy Dog Café and Coffeehouse (venue for authors and artists)

We'll feature one last author interview this Wednesday!

Why I Write

by Rafael Figueroa

One day I was standing in the back of a C130 cargo plane at the end of the retractable ramp with a drogue parachute line secured to my harness. A smiling airman, who would not be jumping today, assured me that they had simulated this kind of emergency drop countless times and that the jumper almost never died. Was he kidding? There was no way to be certain.

With one last nod in my direction, he pulled the two red levers, one up and the other down. The relative quiet of the cargo hold gave way to a roar better measured in its fearsomeness than in decibels as articulating hydraulic pistons forced the rear end of the plane to open. I was quite sure that the aforementioned airman was looking to me. He would generally need a signal of readiness from me in order to deploy the small parachute in his hand, the very parachute that was fastened to my harness via a sturdy hook. Once he dropped this drogue parachute, nothing short of the hand of god himself could stop it from dragging me out of the plane and into the skies high above enemy territory.

The airman looked to me to give him the signal, but I couldn't stop looking out at the dark emptiness beyond the end of the plane's cargo ramp. Years of training prepared me for this moment, but the most fleeting spark in my brain overcame my training, the spark of fear. In a panic, I reached for the clip on my harness that attached me to the drogue line. This motion must have approximated the signal that the airman anticipated because, in that same moment, he pitched the parachute out into the night.

Time slowed as the line tethering me to the night itself pulled taught. Have you ever ridden in a glass elevator? If you do it often enough, you notice a brief moment as the elevator begins to accelerate wherein it almost seems like the world outside begins to move rather than the elevator itself. In much the same fashion it seemed like the cargo hold around me suddenly accelerated to 300 miles per hour in the blink of an eye. In that moment I paused to reflect on the fact that none of this had ever happened… not to me at any rate.

You see, I made up every word of this story out of my imagination. I did take a ride on a C130 once, I've ridden in glass elevators, and I once saw a movie where people were deployed from a cargo plane in a manner similar to what I described here, but that's about all the truth there is to this little story. Though none of this really happened, I now own a little piece of what it would be like if it had, and so do you. That is why I write.

Interview with Patricia Rowe

Patricia Rowe is a retired teacher who has taught in schools in Illinois, Minnesota, Michigan, Rhode Island, and Pennsylvania. Her first book, The Other Side of the Desk: A Teacher Remembers, relates stories shared by her students throughout her teaching career. It is her hope that her book encourages readers to make the most of their public school system, and to hold them accountable for the material they teach their students. Patricia sat down with us to talk about her experiences writing her first book.

BDWN: Thanks for speaking with us, Patricia! Can you tell usa little bit about your book The Other Side of the Desk: A Teacher Remembers?

PATRICIA: This book relates memorable moments that a teacher shared with her students during her lifetime career. Days in school can be happy, sad, sometimes funny or exasperating, but never boring . I see teaching as a serious and important opportunity to assist students to build productive lives and good citizens.

BDWN: How long did it take you to finish writing the book?

In 1957 I began to save stories of classroom happenings. I just wrote them up briefly in longhand (no typewriters) and stuck them in an envelope. In 2008 my husband was placed in an assisted living facility so I had extra time on my hands. I became aquainted with a person who was skilled in computer technology who needed some work so I told her I would pay her to type it up for me. Then I discovered she knew all the computer language and was set up to actually upload, download and she actually got me hooked up with the publisher and was willing to do the editing etc. In the meantine, I also moved to be with my husband. So the end of March, I was connected and by September it was published.

BDWN: We're always interested in learning about other writers' processes and work schedules. What kind of writing schedule works best for you?

PATRICIA: Personal discipline is very important . I schedule in a bit of writing daily and keep an eye on the deadline. I did not grow up in a family that pushed education; we were just common, hard working folks. I believe that God put it in my mind to save the stories. Later I wanted something to share with my family and someday, maybe would share it. Then at this particular time, I was motivated to write up the stories. Then the thought came to me that I can not just tell stories, but must have an introduction and a summary, or conclusion. Then my computer friend showed up and she filled the need for a computer programmer type person. At 75, I had only basics. I found an ad that I tore out of a Sword of the Lord newspaper in the 80's about "Have You Thought of Writing a Book?" That is where the interest ended. Then when I found the ad, we talked about it and I sent for information and before I knew it I was under contract, with the publisher. The initial typing , which I did, took about 6 months with no direct plan. Then when my friend began to type the work, edit and we moved ahead with specific direction, from March to September - 6 months of a rewriting- editing, pattern until published.

After I had determined to get it published, a personal discipline was needed to keep at it and work with my computer person as a team and we stayed with it. To accomplish this task there should be a daily amount of writing/editing to maintain a proper level of interest and passion for the message.

BDWN: What was one of the most important lessons you learned in your teaching career?

PATRICIA: The important message that I learned began with my undergratuate education which was that you must establish a purpose, keep your eye on it, use a system to fulfill it . That need for a purpose will probably be the guide for your life. If you do not have a purpose then your direction and outcomes are questionable and unsuccessful. You can not be successful if you do not know what it is that you want to succeed it. That focus is essential.

BDWN: What have you been hearing from your readers?

PATRICIA: The mentor who referred me for a scholarship in 1952 has read it and said,".. your book is one of the best educational books i have ever read and I believe every educator should read it." She is an author , in the Education Hall of Fame in Illinois and Professor Emeritus,Retired. I cherish that review.
All others have said how much they have enjoyed it and one young father just Sat. night told me that he sat down after work at about 10:30 and started reading the book. He said "the next time I looked it was 2:30 - I couldn't put it down." My mentor also said that each of the stories " is like a mini novel". I am thrilled with the positive responses I am getting.

BDWN: What do you hope readers will take away from this book, and from your teaching experiences?

PATRICIA: It is my hope that the readers will understand that just because children are in school, they are not necessarily in a safe place, are not automatically being educated, and the parenting must not stop when their children are in the hands of someone else- even if it is the public school. It has to be a partnership. Children are in school- away from the values of their home every day, all day for 180 days among all kinds of children, beliefs, behaviors which are influencing their children. Be a full time parent. Teachers- think about what it is you are doing with other peoples children who will be tomorrow's citizens.They get one chance at each grade.

BDWN: What's next for you?

PATRICIA: I am trying to move along with my life story for my children to have because we have not been together except for a week or 2 a year, and I must pass on to them how good God has been to me and to share His blessings with them so they can pass those values along to all generations. Also I want to do my part to help get our country back on its feet . I believe that the school must get back to its purpose and leave the family values to the family. The parents must once again learn to discipline their children, teach them the values on which our country was built , enforce them and LIVE THEM!! If in the years I have left I can have a part in this I will have achieved my purpose.

Pre-Registration Now Closed

Pre-registration for the BDWN Write It Right Conference is now closed, but that doesn't mean you'll have to miss out on the region's first writers' conference! Walk-in registrations will still be accepted on April 17, so don't worry if you lost your registration form or are still undecided about attending. We'd still love to meet you!

We have 2 weeks until the big day!

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Kudos to our friends at the Greater Lehigh Valley Writers Group, whose "Write Stuff" conference was held on March 27 at the Four Points Sheraton in Allentown. Our keynote speaker, Kathryn Craft, was this year's conference chair. She and her committee did an outstanding job! Jodi Webb and I (Sara) attended, and as always, we got a ton of great information from the sessions we attended. The highlights for me (Sara) was Molly Cochran's session on "Finishing Your Novel" and Maureen Sangiorgio's talk on writing magazine articles; Jodi spoke highly of Jordan Sonnenblick, and we both attended sessions with their keynote, author and creative writing teacher James (How to Write a Damn Good Novel) Frey. Jodi and I both made agent appointments (my first time doing so) and despite a case of the jitters, we both received encouraging responses from our respective agents. For those who have never attended GLVWG's conference, make it a point to try to get there next year--you'll be glad you did!

Interview with Patricia Shenyo

EDITOR'S NOTE: As part of our Write It Right conference, the Black Diamond Writers Network will be holding a local author book fair at the end of the day. Over the next few weeks, we'll be introducing you to some of the authors participating in the book fair and talking to them about their writing projects. First up is Patricia Shenyo.

Patricia Klatch Shenyo is an ordinary person like most of us – a wife, a mother, a grandmother, and by profession a high school Business Education teacher, now retired. She taught in William Allen High School, Allentown, PA, Woodbridge School District, Woodbridge, NJ, and Bishop Hafey High School, Hazleton, PA. She has been involved in Church ministry as an Extraordinary Minister of the Eucharist, teaching religious education classes to high school juniors, and serving on various committees for over thirty years. First-hand experiences with God’s healing power has solidified her convictions in God’s great love for each person, His willingness to do what is best for each, and His burning desire to bring each to eternal happiness in heaven.

As a high school Business Education teacher realizing that high school students, college students, and sometimes adults seldom have a clear vision in determining which direction to take their lives, Mrs. Shenyo developed a highly successful project for her students to help them realize their ambitions. This project was later written and published in the form of two booklets, Making Wise Career Choices and Getting The Job You Desire. Both booklets have been recently rewritten to give the most up-to-date information. They will also be available on the Website along with her newly published book, GOD?

BDWN: Thanks for speaking with us, Patricia. Can you tell us about your book, GOD?

PATRICIA: Most people have questions about God. This book gives insight and answers to perplexing questions regarding God. Is there a God; can we prove His existence? What is He like? Is there a spiritual realm – heaven, hell, purgatory? Has anyone ever seen them? Are there truly miracles; do they occur today? . . .and so much more is contained in the first section of the book.

The second section deals with what does God say. It goes through the ten commandments and gives Bible references as to what God expects. It also explains God’s goodness, His love, and His willingness to forgive our most grievous offenses.

The third section explains what kind of help God offers to us, His great love for us and His desire for each person to have eternal salvation. It gives insight as to why God allows good people to suffer and why it is important for a person to forgive someone who hurt him/her.

The fourth section tells the reader what’s in it for you and for me – what God has in store for those who love Him.

The book “carries on a conversation” with the reader. It is interspersed with charming anecdotes, stories of great hardship and courage, tales of terror, of human suffering and healing, of forgiveness, and stories of trust in God. All the stories are true. It is a book of great hope and encouragement to everyone, even the most abject of sinners.

BDWN: Religion is such a delicate subject. How did you treat the various beliefs that are out there?

PATRICIA: Each person is treated with the greatest respect from the devout Christian, Jew, Muslim to the agnostic, atheist, and everyone in between. I believe that there are many paths to God and each person has the right to worship or not to worship at all as he/she so chooses.

BDWN: What drew you to writing this type of book?

PATRICIA: Many people have a hunger for something or someone that can give them happiness not only in this world, but in eternity. I believe that someone is God. Each person needs to know that there is a God Who loves him/her unconditionally and is willing to do whatever it takes to grant salvation. The secret is in the choosing.

BDWN: How long did it take you to complete the book?

PATRICIA: The book was completed in seven months. I began writing in March of 2009 and finished in September. There were a few little changes and insertions that I made after that.

BDWN: What kind of response have you been receiving from your readers?

PATRICIA: I have had the book for only two weeks and have already sold 60 copies and have given out 11 complimentary copies for a total of 71. In addition, there are others who have told me that they want to buy a copy of my book. All this is by word of mouth. People are coming back to me and telling me how much they are enjoying my book. I am amazed at the wonderfully positive comments coming even from those I don’t know very well as well as those who are not of my own religious affiliation.

BDWN: What other projects do you have in the works?

PATRICIA: At present my focus is to get my book up on a Website and hopefully to sell it over the Internet; then see where it will go from there. Since this is my first book, there is much that I need to learn. So, I am taking things slowly – one step at a time.

5 Things I Learned About Writing

by Rafael Figueroa

1. Blank pages are more intimidating than pages full of half-baked ideas.

While the writing process varies from author to author, they all start each new project with a blank page (be it paper or a computer screen). The first few times I ever wrote a creative story, I would stare at the blank page for a time, gathering my thoughts and trying to develop the `best' place to begin. More often than not, the page remained blank. There was something about the blinking cursor or the clean ruled lines of a notebook that just stared me down. On some level, the notion of befouling the virginal space with anything short of brilliance seemed wasteful.

As my confidence grew and I cultivated an approach to writing that worked with my personal strengths, I was able to forge ahead more often. However, the blank page remained an early obstacle to each endeavor. At some point, I discovered the fine art of editing and a new world opened up to me. Rather than find the right place to start, I started wherever I pleased and then revised my way to a satisfactory work. For example, this very article originally started with `thing number 2' and a much different example than the one you are reading now.

The moral of the story is to identify and eliminate the intimidation of the blank page by whatever means fits your way of thinking. For me, it was as simple as finding that editing my half-baked ideas was easier than waiting for the idea to fully form before starting. If you wait long enough for anything you run the risk of forgetting what you are waiting for.

2. The truth will set you free, but it can be a hindrance.

Early on, I wanted to have all the facts straight. I couldn't have my hero shooting fifteen rounds from his police issued 9mm Berretta pistol, if in all actuality, contemporary policemen were issued 6 round capacity .357 Magnum revolvers. When it came to mentioning what kind of gun the cop was using, I'd hit the books (or do a quick Google search). Sure enough, I'd get the information I needed to make the scene accurate, but the passion to write left me while I switched hats from author to researcher and back again.

Nowadays I write when the spirit moves me and research when I have writers block. I have accepted two core ideals. Firstly, that a compelling story defies the facts as long as what is presented is plausible. Secondly, anything that halts the creative process is a hindrance and will not make your writing better. While we don't want the medieval knight performing CPR on a fallen comrade, we don't necessarily have to stop writing our story to make sure that the Saxon blade was in common use in the 14th century. If you aren't sure, your readers probably aren't sure either… unless it is a critical matter that could pierce the suspension of disbelief, trust them not to Google it.

3. The moral of the story is… really not my job.

Some of my earlier writings were bad for a whole host of reasons, but one thing that was particularly dominant was my overarching need to tell people what I wanted them to take away from the story. If the moral was `drugs are bad,' I'd go at length to show how bad they were, tell you they are bad, and then tell you that I told you that they were bad. What this demonstrated, above and beyond the fact that I was a novice, was lack of trust. I didn't trust my reader to get my message, so I over-delivered it. I also feared that the reader might misinterpret misdirection as advocating.

At some point, I realized that it was OK. Whatever the reader takes away from your work, they took something away. It may not be what you intended, but that's fine. Don't sacrifice the flow or substance of your stories to get some lesson across. Put it there in a natural way and trust the reader to understand it.

4. Ego can be a problem… both having too much and too little.

I'm no Stephen King, but boy do I know how to run myself through the grinder. Guess what, there was a time when Stephen King was some unknown, workaday nobody who just happened to have a few screws loose. Just like us, he used the pen to tighten things up. He got famous. Good for him. Just because nobody on the face of the planet is clamoring for your next novel, it does not mean that such will always be the case. Conversely, just because everyone in your coffee clutch gives your work glowing reviews, it doesn't mean that those five editors that sent you those five rejection letters were wrong for doing so.

At the end of the day, we are all just folks. From the powerful to the powerless… if you prick us do we not call 1-800-LAWYERS? The key to finding my comfort level in writing was managing my ego. I write well, but so does the janitor at the Hazleton Wal-Mart. My story idea is better than the last movie I saw, but there are ideas better than mine that will never see print let alone be made into movies. In the end, I decided to write the stories that I would like to read, share a part of myself with whoever is willing to read. Any judgment about the quality of such is for the reader alone to decide. Getting so prideful as to scorn rejection/criticism is equally as self-destructive as having too little pride in my work to share it.

5. In the end there was the beginning.

As in art and film, great works of writing are never finished, only abandon. Early on, I never finished a story. I would write a significant portion of it, get the characters developed, set the plot in motion, and tighten the tension to the breaking point. Then I'd just walk away and find something else to write about. People hated me. It was like that TV show you found and loved that was cancelled midway through the first season, leaving you unfulfilled. It's not that I was sadistic… well I was sadistic but that had little to do with leaving my stories unfinished. I failed to finish many of my early stories because I was afraid.

I'm sure that we have all followed some book, TV show, or movie through to the end only feel as though our time had been wasted. A plot, laden with possibilities, must eventually give way to a conclusion in one final form. The joy of setting up the plot lies in tempting the imagination with those possibilities and the danger of resolving the plot is that the reader's imagination might be better than yours. I never learned how to pick the best ending; I only learned that ending the story was just the beginning. After I chose an ending, I was free to go back to the beginning and change anything or everything. The most important part of ending the story was that it was my ending.

Spring Break

Word Mine's been on a little bit of a break this week--some of our members are gearing up for the Greater Lehigh Valley Writers Group's "Write Stuff" conference and doing a last minute push for our own Write It Right Conference, coming up in just a few short weeks!

We'll be back next week with tales from the front lines.

Happy Writing!