Ask the Author: Frances Schoonmaker
Answered Questions (9)
Frances Schoonmaker
Hi Noah. I'm working on a new book that the classes where I piloted The Black Alabaster Box asked for. Some of them wanted the characters to go all the way to California on the Santa Fe Trail and were a little out by the fantasy twist at first--in fact, I revised the character of Old Shep to bring the fantasy element forward so they'd be prepared for it. Now I'm digging deeper into the new research on trails West, particularly the incredible diversity of the people who traveled them.
Thanks for asking.
Thanks for asking.
Frances Schoonmaker
There was nothing I could do to prevent it. I was forced to sit down and read a horror story when I HATE HORROR STORIES!
Frances Schoonmaker
I would go to Middle Earth and spend the entire time at Bag End if Bilbo and/or Frodo would allow me to sublet. And I'd promise not to make off with any of the silverware.
Frances Schoonmaker
I enjoyed reading A SIDE OF SAB0TAGE by C.M.Surrisi, whom I met at the Malice Domestic conference this spring. And, as I love a good mystery, I read Francis Duncan's SO PRETTY A PROBLEM and ECR Lorac's MURDER BY MATCHLIGHT--both are classics. I'm eager to get into Clark Riley's WHAT IF THEY LIED, JUST A LITTLE?
Frances Schoonmaker
You have to have a good story.
Frances Schoonmaker
Keep a notebook of ideas. You may not use them right away, but they may be just the thing later.
Keep working on your craft.
Mostly, keep thinking about the story--it has to be a story you want to read.
Then don't give up. I often thought that if I hadn't had a meaningful career in education before I started writing fiction, I'd have been left with a battered ego after the many rejections by agents and publishers!
Keep working on your craft.
Mostly, keep thinking about the story--it has to be a story you want to read.
Then don't give up. I often thought that if I hadn't had a meaningful career in education before I started writing fiction, I'd have been left with a battered ego after the many rejections by agents and publishers!
Frances Schoonmaker
I try not to deal with it by heading for the cookie jar.
Sometimes I find that I can write may way through a block--just keep writing, I call it "blabbing away." Usually it turns out better than I thought or I can use what I wrote elsewhere.
Or I focus on another part of the story I'm working on or another project for awhile.
Or I go for a walk. This works when I'm blocked because I've been pushing too hard. I quit thinking about it consciously and enjoy the walk.
Sometimes I find that I can write may way through a block--just keep writing, I call it "blabbing away." Usually it turns out better than I thought or I can use what I wrote elsewhere.
Or I focus on another part of the story I'm working on or another project for awhile.
Or I go for a walk. This works when I'm blocked because I've been pushing too hard. I quit thinking about it consciously and enjoy the walk.
Frances Schoonmaker
I've just sent off the second book of The Last Crystal trilogy to my editor for marking up. Then I'll be working on re-writes for "The Red Abalone Shell".
Frances Schoonmaker
This book, "The Black Alabaster Box", is part of a trilogy. I wrote the last book first. The idea occurred to me years ago when my daughter was small. We were visiting family and I learned that my uncle-in-law and his little brother made a train trip from Kansas City to Sacramento alone every summer. I kept thinking about the possibilities for adventure and misadventure for kids on a train. It wasn't until I retired that I was able to really give it the time it needed--and do the research. The Black Alabaster Box emerged as I tried to figure out the back story.
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