Ask the Author: Katie Foth
Answered Questions (9)
Katie Foth
My older sister died in 1995 in a car crash near Monterrey, Mexico, while she and her boyfriend (a Mexican executive) were returning from a business trip. I hadn't kept in good touch with my sister, partly due to distance and our divergent life styles. The details I learned when I attended her funeral just didn't seem to add up properly. I don't have much interest in writing murder mysteries, but there's fodder here for a good story--glamorous parties, business intrigue, family betrayal, cultural confusion, language barriers--and a call for a strong female detective. A guilt-ridden sister, perhaps.
Katie Foth
Thank you for contacting me. I did mail the package on 12/20/2016 and sent it first class parcel through the United States Postal Service. The tracking number was 9500 1214 1962 6355 0027 31. I used the online tracking look-up, and the result says "Delivered, Front Door/Porch ZEPHYRHILLS, FL 33542." So I'm not sure what happened. I don't know what else to do except to send you another copy, but first I would appreciate your confirming that the address provided was correct. Please e-mail me at katiefoth@gmail.com, and I'll e-mail you back to confirm what address was given to me. Thanks, and I do apologize that there's been a problem.
Katie Foth
Wonderful that you've starting writing again. What kind of genre are you writing? I have three grandchildren (ages 3, 6, and 8) who live two hours away from me (though they have lived with me for short periods while their family was between moves). I go through withdrawal pretty regularly. Fortunately, my son and daughter-in-law are wonderful parents and good about sharing. They usually let me take the girls one weekend a month (or so--it's not planned). That gives them a nice break (and date night). They usually drop off, and I drive back.
But around two weeks after their visit, I start going through withdrawal again. My husband and I joke about that! It helps to call them via FaceTime or Skype. I've also mailed them notes or small crafts I've made for them. Or stories (I've written them into some of my stories, and they like that). Any way you can possibly stay connected will help. I can't imagine going two months with no contact. Yes, that would hurt.
I'm assuming if your grandchildren lived with you, you probably have lots of pictures of them. Try using those pictures to tell a story. You can assemble and share your work through SmileBox.com (slideshow with captions) or SnapFish.com (photo book). You didn't say how old your grandchildren are, but if they're still preschool, you could make them a board book through PintSizeProductions.com. I made one for my oldest granddaughter called THE BIG SISTER BOOK, and she loved it.
Yes, I think writing could help you heal. I've always found it a good way to sort through my feelings and experiences. I hope you do too.
But around two weeks after their visit, I start going through withdrawal again. My husband and I joke about that! It helps to call them via FaceTime or Skype. I've also mailed them notes or small crafts I've made for them. Or stories (I've written them into some of my stories, and they like that). Any way you can possibly stay connected will help. I can't imagine going two months with no contact. Yes, that would hurt.
I'm assuming if your grandchildren lived with you, you probably have lots of pictures of them. Try using those pictures to tell a story. You can assemble and share your work through SmileBox.com (slideshow with captions) or SnapFish.com (photo book). You didn't say how old your grandchildren are, but if they're still preschool, you could make them a board book through PintSizeProductions.com. I made one for my oldest granddaughter called THE BIG SISTER BOOK, and she loved it.
Yes, I think writing could help you heal. I've always found it a good way to sort through my feelings and experiences. I hope you do too.
Katie Foth
When I decided to start a children's adventure story for my granddaughter, my mind skipped back to my visit to a foreign country. I remembered exploring the city's little alleyways, shops, and park. That became the setting for the old city of Santo Prospero, which Penny's modern apartment building overlooked in PENNY AND THE SEER'S BALLAD.
For LEGENDS OF ELLANDRIA, my world sprang from many different sources--memories of Narnia and and Redwall and The Hobbits and Peter Rabbit and The Rescuers and Gregory the Overlander and Mrs. Frisby... I love the charm of folk tales, and that love also inspired me to attempt a similar but original collection of stories.
For LEGENDS OF ELLANDRIA, my world sprang from many different sources--memories of Narnia and and Redwall and The Hobbits and Peter Rabbit and The Rescuers and Gregory the Overlander and Mrs. Frisby... I love the charm of folk tales, and that love also inspired me to attempt a similar but original collection of stories.
Katie Foth
Tough question! Inspiration seems to come more readily when I'm well-rested and not pressured with other tasks (such as housework or family events). For example, I recently decided Whimsy Gatan should have another adventure of her own, this one a sea-faring escapade. So I researched different sea creatures and stumbled upon a frilled shark. Bingo! The perfect villain!
Names often fascinate and inspire me. For the story above, I browsed through websites for baby names and discovered Velmanor, who became the walrus queen, and her son Mogens, who recently inherited the crest of Fathom.
Then I ask what could go wrong. Tord kills Mogens, of course, and steals the crest of Fathom. He terrorizes the Pershing Sea, and Whimsy Gatan decides she must stop him. There's my seed idea, and I have what I need to start working through Whimsy's story.
Names often fascinate and inspire me. For the story above, I browsed through websites for baby names and discovered Velmanor, who became the walrus queen, and her son Mogens, who recently inherited the crest of Fathom.
Then I ask what could go wrong. Tord kills Mogens, of course, and steals the crest of Fathom. He terrorizes the Pershing Sea, and Whimsy Gatan decides she must stop him. There's my seed idea, and I have what I need to start working through Whimsy's story.
Katie Foth
I am currently working through the fourth revision of LETTERS TO ELSA, the sequel to ANNETTI, and I'm in the early planning stages for Begetter Tales #3, PENNY AND THE ANTHEM OF THE BEGETTER'S BAND. I have ideas for MORE LEGENDS OF ELLANDRIA as well.
Katie Foth
Start with something worth saying (lessons from life experiences). Don't get discouraged. Keep writing. Connect with others and learn from their feedback, even if it's hard to hear. Evaluate your strengths and weaknesses as a writer, and work to improve weak areas. Develop the courage to cut and the patience to revise.
Katie Foth
I don't think there's anything a writer likes better than the satisfaction that her readers devour and enjoy her writing... unless, of course, it's actually making a decent living based on her creations.
Katie Foth
Usually I try to push through those periods when no ideas spring to mind. Because I have so many characters (over 115) and locations (over 60) for the Begetter Tales series, I've made myself a set of character and location cards to help keep details consistent. I will sometimes shuffle through those to see if they spark any ideas. Sometimes it's helpful to take a nap, which clears my mind. Sometimes I connect with a friend and listen to the problems they're facing--and work a similar problem into my plot.
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