04/29/2008

By Amanda Linsmeier
Pink sequins. Elephants. Clowns. We all have an image in mind when it comes to the circus. In Water for Elephants, many of those images come to life in this sometimes gritty and always entertaining novel. Jacob is a 90-something year old man living out his last, unhappy days in a nursing home. While he has some moments of senility, Jacob is relatively adept for his advanced age. When he learns a circus is in town and he’ll get to see it, he is overcome with flashbacks of his colorful past decades before. After his parents are killed in a car accident during the Great Depression, Jacob drops out of college without taking his final exams to become a vet. He joins The Benzini Brothers traveling circus as their veterinarian and soon discovers circus life is much harder than it is glamorous. Between the sometimes awful abuses of the animals by others, the mistreatment of the workers and the inability to trust almost anybody, Jacob has his work cut out for him. The animals’ trainer, August, is an unpredictable, sometimes violent man given to bursts of temper one moment and undeniable charm at others. It makes matters even worse when Jacob falls for Marlena, the lovely wife of August. Loving Marlena only adds to Jacob’s frustration in which not only his job, but often his life is at stake.

Water for Elephants is a good novel. I was disappointed in that I had heard somewhere that Rosie, the elephant, is actually the main character and the story is told from her point of view and that wasn’t so. Although Jacob was an interesting character and I enjoyed reading about him, I suppose I was expecting something a little more unique. That being said, the best part about Jacob was reading about him in the nursing home at his advanced age. I haven’t read many books from an elderly person’s point of view and I could really sympathize with him. The circus parts of the book were very interesting but also somewhat sad. I felt bad for nearly every character involved, most particularly the animals. But for anyone who has ever seen a circus show, I’m sure they would appreciate the genuine historical details in this book as well as the behind the scenes look the reader gets. I am sure you’ll never look at a performing elephant the same way again.

Carla Neggers has written more than 50 novels – a dozen of them New York Times bestsellers. Her books blend chilling suspense and daring romance. Her romantic thriller The Angel, due out in paperback in June, is a finalist for a RITA – romance publishing’s Oscar.

Q: How do you respond to the charge that romance novels are “chick lit?” Have you seen an increase in the number of men who write romance? Any personal favorites?

A When I climbed a tree with a pad and pen as a kid, I just wanted to write the story that was in my head. That’s as true for me today as it was then. I love a mix of romance, suspense, action, adventure, but I try not to get bogged down in genre definitions and instead focus on the story. I’ve always known men who write romance, and men who include a strong romantic element in their books. Are there more today? Honestly, I don’t know, but I wish them well.

Q: You have said that “you never know what sparks an idea,” and have cited trips as one source. Can you give a couple of other examples (places, events, people, etc.) that have inspired you to write a book?

A: It’s actually rare that I can trace a story back to the original spark. I guess I’m more likely to remember the spark that happened while standing in a windswept Irish ruin than on a trip to the grocery store! In the case of the ruin, it was being there, captivated by my surroundings, that started The Angel, and later The Mist (due out in July) simmering. In the cast of the grocery store … well, it’s just a good place to let my mind wander.

Q: How important is “what if?” thinking when it comes to exploring/brainstorming ideas/possible scenarios for a book? How important is studying other writers in the genre in which one writes?

A: “What if” is a great way to push back all the “dos and don’ts” and “shoulds and shouldn’ts” and turn loose our creative minds. Doubts and constraints fall away. It’s also fun, because you’re not locking yourself into anything. You’re just asking, “Okay, what if …?” As for “studying” other writers – I love to read, and most writers I’ve met do, too. I prefer to turn off the writer in me and just enjoy the story as a reader.

Q: You’ve written so many books. Which is your favorite and why?

A: No fair! Truly, I can’t name a favorite. I just know that I did my best at the time with every book I’ve written. I’ve been fortunate to have started publishing at a young age and stayed at it - and I’m as excited about he books I’m writing today as I was when I first climbed a tree as a kid, dreaming of being a published author. Every book is an adventure. I loved diving into the story that became The Mist, which is due out this summer, and Cold River, which I’m finishing now. Writing for me is as fun, challenging and engaging as ever – I couldn’t’ ask for more than that!

Q: Some writers maintain the most important aspect of writing a saleable novel is character development. Do you agree or disagree? Why or why not? Any hints for new writers looking to flesh out their characters?

A: A story doesn’t take off for me until the characters are “there.” I don’t think of myself constructing characters so much as figuring out ways to get them to reveal themselves to me. I usually have to throw them into scenes and let them talk, do things, before I can even attempt anything as left-brained as a character sketch. For new writers looking for solid advice on this subject, I highly recommend Elizabeth George’s Write Away, especially the sections on how she approaches characterization. She’s a gifted teacher as well as a gifted writer.

Q: The Internet is moving more into the realm of publishing with Kindle, etc. What is your vision for the future of the printed novel?

A: That’s not up to me – I just focus on writing! I’m thrilled that readers will be able to download The Widow on Amazon for free from June 8 to 12, 2009. The Widow is the first book in my Boston-Maine-Ireland series. I love having books available in a variety of formats … hard, soft, e-book, large print, audio … it’s amazing.

Carlotta Holton is the author of Salem Pact, Touching The Dead and Vampire Resurrection, and is a member of the National Federation of Press Women and an affiliate member of the Horror Writers Association.

Last week, I wrote about the relevance of Leo Tolstoy’s Anna Karenina in modern day society. As we said before, WNW believes that, to understand the literary industry, you need to know the classics. To make this happen, we have decided to take a step back in time and examine the books that made us want to become writers, and perhaps more importantly, realize the significance of these works today.

Our mission to appreciate the classics will begin this week, when Edward Correia takes an insightful look at the American classic Moby Dick by Herman Melville. Edward’s review of this classic, which is posted in Book Reviews, compares the decision maker on the Pequod to the decision maker in the United States. Whatever your political stance may be, there is no denying that Melville’s portrayal of leadership, power and victory parallels the position our country is in today. After reading his review, the staff here at WNW feels inspired to re-read Moby Dick with our new lenses on, and to garner a new appreciation for this classic.

For those who haven’t read Moby Dick, consider this question: If Ahab does succeed in his quest for the whale, what next? What else do you think there is for him to conquer? For those who have read the novel, what do you think Melville would say about the current situation our country is in? As you are reading (or re-reading) Moby Dick, I ask you to consider these questions. Do you agree with Edward’s critique of Moby Dick? Email your thoughts to editor@writersnewsweekly.com

By Anil Giga

Many times we look at people around us and think how happy and contented they are. We form this opinion by glimpsing images of these people getting into a fine car, dining at upscale restaurants or because they are dressed in such a way that expresses success and contentment. Then we look into out own life and find all these problems: Someone you care about may be sick or has lost their job, there are financial problems and a lot of stress all around. The conclusion when this happens is pretty easy to guess. We feel “they” are happy and contented whilst our life is filled with chaos, making us unhappy. First, the thought that ‘they’ are happy and contented is in itself an image we have created and in fact may not be true at all. It is a known fact that some of the happiest and most contended people around are the ones we never notice! That’s right, they have nothing to prove, nothing to express and are not trying to make a statement by driving the right car, wearing the right clothes and being at the right places. To be truly happy and contended means that you are okay with your self and thus do not need to be someone you are not hence, you do not seek others’ validation and approval. This also means that some of the people we think are very happy because they project that state may actually be concealing their deep discontent. The fact is, the images we see of others never do tell the whole story. This might explain why one of the commandments is not to covet others’ possessions. Secondly, everyone goes through phases in their life, periods when things are going well and periods when we are struggling with problems. What we see really is a snapshot of one phase; therefore we really cannot tell what season waits for anyone around the corner. So focusing on whether “they” are happy is not only redundant but quite destructive because our real focus should be on our self. This means we have to accept who we are and our circumstance, warts and all! Being rich or poor, sick or in good health has nothing to do with real happiness, because this exists within the self, the soul. The soul does not get sick nor is it attached to material wealth. You see, each one of us comes into the world and is allotted a certain time. In this time we have to complete our very unique and beautiful tapestry. The circumstances that enter our lives are the stuff from which we discover the pieces and colors. That’s right; all the struggles, problems and good fortunes come to us for a reason and hide the lessons that will allow us to finish the picture. Just remember, in the same way that we often see the beauty and light from stars that are long dead, our legacy should be to complete our own special tapestry whose beauty will stay and inspire others long after we are gone. This happens when we learn to give, inspire and help others, no matter what obstacles are placed in front of us.

Anil Giga Bsc is the author of The Invisible Way (USA Best Book Award) and an Investment Professional in Calgary.

By Edward Correia

What makes Moby Dick, by Herman Melville, one of the greatest American novels? It is rich, almost too rich, in detail. When the rowboats are lowered, we feel the tension as the crew rows madly to the hunt. When the whale is lashed to the side of the Pequod and sliced apart, blood splatters over us. We see the blubber melted down and the whale’s head drained to make candle wax. A short rest and the voyage goes on.

But we do not read Moby Dick to learn about whaling or to feel the rush that comes when a harpoon is launched. We read it to watch obsession from a distance. Ahab, entangled by harpoon lines, reaches out in a death wave and beckons the crew to follow. They care nothing about the white whale but they are pulled down, too. We know there is a tiny dark spot in our psyche that could, under certain conditions, lead to an overpowering desire that might produce tragic results. But we cannot let obsession destroy our lives, can we? Relieved, we close the book and walk away. Our life goes on. We are not insane.

Call us the public. We see President Bush’s obsession with Iraq. Does he walk the halls of the White House at night imagining the victory we were promised years ago? Thousands of lives lost, madness in the streets of Iraq every day, no end in sight. Ensnared in his legacy and past promises, Bush beckons us to follow. Surely, he is not insane, like Ahab, is he?

By Carlotta G. Holton

Tess Gerritsen

Tess Gerritsen is a New York Times bestselling author of medical thrillers.

Q: Your experience as a physician is reflected in the landscape of your books. What advice can you give writers who want to parlay their expertise into a book?

A: Never assume that your own life occupation is uninteresting to anyone else. Every job has its little secrets, details that the general public would be fascinated by. They will give your story a true sense of reality and atmosphere.

Q: What are the challenges a writer faces when they opt to write a series of books featuring the same character?

A: The real challenge is how to keep those characters interesting and changing. You can't tie up all the loose ends in a book; you have to leave a few conflicts dangling. . . . what keeps a series going isn't the plot, but the characters.

Q: How does a writer balance historical data within the plot so that it complements rather than overshadows the entire book?

A: The historical data must always be secondary to the plot and characters. I happen to love history, but when I wrote THE BONE GARDEN, I didn't want it to overwhelm the story. History becomes the background, rather than the story itself.

Q: What have been the most successful promotional events for your books?

A: National radio interviews have been the most successful for me. The most readers I ever gained at one swoop was from an interview on the Art Bell show. I picked up many male readers who subsequently told me, at book signings, that they were introduced to my books thanks
to Art.

Carlotta Holton has just received her second award for Touching the Dead from the National Federation of Press Women Communications Contest. Click here to purchase the book.

Carlotta Holton is the author of Salem Pact and Touching The Dead, and is a member of the National Federation of Press Women and an affiliate member of the Horror Writers Association.

By Tyler Oaks

Tyler Oaks in Carmel, CA.

Two gray-haired ladies walked up to my table at a recent book signing. They stopped and stood side by side in front of me, each picking up a copy of Ruby Rest. After the usual scrutinizing of the title and compulsory scan of the back cover, one announced she would read page forty-five to see if she liked the book. Her friend explained that she was born in 1945 and always read page forty-five to decide if a book was worth purchasing. The sixty-three-year-old opened Ruby Rest and started to read.

I immediately realized that not only did the page have to be good, but it needed to sound good too. Page forty-five was put to the test aloud, with others listening in. It is a strange thing to have your words suddenly read back to you in an unfamiliar place by a person you don’t know. I sat there wondering what it was about writers that made them willing to open up their minds for anyone to gaze in. Taking off layers physically isn’t nearly as intimate as inviting people into worlds you’ve created from the inside out.

The woman only got through the first sentence of page forty-five. When she read, “My eyes wandering over the surfers” she stopped and smiled. Her friend said, “Well now you have to buy it.” They both did. Surfers win again.

I haven’t experimented in a bookstore yet but I did try the technique at home. First I chose all my best-loved books, took them off the shelf and turned to page seventy-eight in each one. I was disappointed. Not once did I discover a favorite passage. Next I tried again with my stack of books to read. I wasn’t intrigued by page seventy-eight in any of them. While this method of book buying still fascinates me, it must not work if you’re thirty. Maybe other birth years will have better luck than 1978.

Since in the end I couldn’t accept that seventy-eight was a total waste of a book page, I had to find an exception. Lisa See’s Peony in Love saved me. As I read about a lovesick maiden taking several trips carrying the best books from her father’s library back to her bedroom, I wondered what those books entailed. Although I’m sure there was nothing about surfers in them, I still couldn’t help imagine that one of those books in her arms held the 17th century Chinese equivalent.

Tyler Oaks earned her Bachelor of Arts in Spanish from California State University, Stanislaus and her Master of Arts in Spanish from California State University, Sacramento. Tyler lives in California's Napa Valley with her husband and twin daughters. Tyler is presently at work on her next novel.