Ask the Author: Brenda Marie Smith
Answered Questions (11)
Brenda Marie Smith
The mystery of where the spoons in our house disappear to? Lol.
I had a crisis in another marriage about 30 years ago that began as a mystery over where my husband was disappearing to, but that mystery was solved. Then it became a question of whether or not I could live with what he was doing. It was torturous, and I ultimately decided that I could not. Before I made that final decision, we were separated and he started seeing another woman. I dreamed about it, waking up and knowing it was true. There's a lot of drama I would be leaving on the table if I don't write this book. Thanks for the good idea!
I had a crisis in another marriage about 30 years ago that began as a mystery over where my husband was disappearing to, but that mystery was solved. Then it became a question of whether or not I could live with what he was doing. It was torturous, and I ultimately decided that I could not. Before I made that final decision, we were separated and he started seeing another woman. I dreamed about it, waking up and knowing it was true. There's a lot of drama I would be leaving on the table if I don't write this book. Thanks for the good idea!
Brenda Marie Smith
He said he'd heard the sound of one hand clapping, and he stole my heart. Later, he returned to haunt me as a ghost.
Brenda Marie Smith
Wow. Good question. A lot of her thoughts are my own, especially about the environment, but also her general internal dialogue. The way she thinks, and some of her physical ailments are a lot like me as well. And being old, but not quite as old as Bea, I have her fear of losing my faculties and my ability to take care of my family. Also, I'm kind of fierce like her, but I cuss a lot more than she does, lol. And I have two grown sons, three grown stepsons (no daughters), and only two grandkids.
But there are a lot of things different, too. I'm not very secretive; I'm pretty much an open book. I'm not angry with my husband, because he's more like Jack Jeffers than Hank Crenshaw, lol. I like to think I'm less controlling, but then I would, wouldn't I? My family would never let me get away with being too controlling. I don't have two million dollars or a secret stash of goods to survive an apocalypse. I'd be lucky if I have enough candles to survive a two-day power outage. But if I did have that kind of money, I would take care of all my family first, then I might buy an extra house and who knows what would happen? I've always had my eye on the house behind my own.
And I do live frighteningly close to the train tracks in South Austin, Texas.
But there are a lot of things different, too. I'm not very secretive; I'm pretty much an open book. I'm not angry with my husband, because he's more like Jack Jeffers than Hank Crenshaw, lol. I like to think I'm less controlling, but then I would, wouldn't I? My family would never let me get away with being too controlling. I don't have two million dollars or a secret stash of goods to survive an apocalypse. I'd be lucky if I have enough candles to survive a two-day power outage. But if I did have that kind of money, I would take care of all my family first, then I might buy an extra house and who knows what would happen? I've always had my eye on the house behind my own.
And I do live frighteningly close to the train tracks in South Austin, Texas.
Brenda Marie Smith
I'd go to a place with a beautiful, lush landscape where all my friends and family would be there, and where I could fly like a bird at will. Also a place where people weren't tearing up their own planet.
Brenda Marie Smith
I read two good books from Marisa Noelle, The Shadow Keepers & The Unadjusteds; a great, sweet beachy romance The Art of Falling in Love by Haleigh Wenger; Burning Bridges by Chris Bedell; Miracle Boy by Pinckney Benedict; Poor Children by April Ford; When the English Fall by David Williiams; A36, The Colony by Teri Polen; a fun mid-life crisis story from Steve McCondichie, Lying for a Living; and about three books for CP's that don't have official titles yet.
I'm currently reading Evangelicals in Hell by JC Paulk, and have more on my TBR list: The Parlor Girl's Guide, by Steve McCondichie, Unbreak Me by Michelle Hazen; and The Dragon Warrior by Katie Zhao, which I read in early drafts, and I can't wait to see the final product.
I'm currently reading Evangelicals in Hell by JC Paulk, and have more on my TBR list: The Parlor Girl's Guide, by Steve McCondichie, Unbreak Me by Michelle Hazen; and The Dragon Warrior by Katie Zhao, which I read in early drafts, and I can't wait to see the final product.
Brenda Marie Smith
I got the idea for If Darkness Takes Us mostly from observing the environmental degradation surrounding me, and from listening to progressive internet radio where these issues are discussed. One show in particular discussed the potential for my novel's inciting incident, and that spark came together with another idea of mine to have a grandmother and her grandchildren try to survive a disaster together. Next thing you know, I was writing the book.
Brenda Marie Smith
I have wanted to write stories since I wrote my first one as a five-year old girl. And I have a backlog of story ideas. I don't always wait for inspiration. I just start writing the ideas in my head. I get inspired when stories and characters come to life on the page. That keeps me going because it's so much fun!
Brenda Marie Smith
I'm working with a professional editor to finish my second novel, The Death of Us. It's a personal, post-apocalyptic tale of a different sort, and I'm very excited about it. I expect to get the book back from the editor next week, then I imagine I'll have some rethinking and rewriting to do. Plus I'll have to develop, or write, marketing materials, etc.
And while The Death of Us has been with the editor, I pulled out a sequel to my first novel, Something Radiates, that I started years ago and have been stripping out the obviously wrong parts. What remains is pretty good, but it's only about 15-20% of the book, which I have a fairly detailed outline for (unlike my other two novels). I still haven't settled on the book's name: Something Reverberates? Some Things Resonate? Reality Resonates? I don't think I've quite hit on the right title yet. I've been working with my writing group to think through the story, where it should start (in media res, right), and what order things should happen in. But I will have to set this book aside again when I get The Death of Us back from the editor.
Plus, I've been getting detailed instructions from my editor on how to improve the book blurb, or advertising synopsis, for Something Radiates. So, I've been busy.
And while The Death of Us has been with the editor, I pulled out a sequel to my first novel, Something Radiates, that I started years ago and have been stripping out the obviously wrong parts. What remains is pretty good, but it's only about 15-20% of the book, which I have a fairly detailed outline for (unlike my other two novels). I still haven't settled on the book's name: Something Reverberates? Some Things Resonate? Reality Resonates? I don't think I've quite hit on the right title yet. I've been working with my writing group to think through the story, where it should start (in media res, right), and what order things should happen in. But I will have to set this book aside again when I get The Death of Us back from the editor.
Plus, I've been getting detailed instructions from my editor on how to improve the book blurb, or advertising synopsis, for Something Radiates. So, I've been busy.
Brenda Marie Smith
Read tons of books, especially books of the type you want to write, and especially classics and books by renowned authors. Even if you read while you're tired or distracted, you will still absorb the rhythm and sounds of good writing. You will see how stories are constructed.
And then, write, a lot. Take classes, join writing groups, get feedback on your work and don't give up. Writing is a craft and to develop mastery requires practice, practice, practice.
And then, write, a lot. Take classes, join writing groups, get feedback on your work and don't give up. Writing is a craft and to develop mastery requires practice, practice, practice.
Brenda Marie Smith
It's so much fun! I love the challenge of it, the creation of imaginary people and imaginary situations, the sense of accomplishment when I get something right.
Brenda Marie Smith
Good question. Depends on what kind of writer's block I'm having. If it's simply a matter of not feeling in the flow of writing, I just write anyway, knowing that I can always come back later and punch it up, and that getting the story down in any kind of way at least gives me a starting point to work from. Writing is rewriting, so any writing, however poor, is not time wasted.
Now, if I'm having trouble deciding what should happen next in the story, I may take a day or two to think it through. Sometimes I make little hand-written charts or outlines. Sometimes I do some research. Often I seek the advice of other writer friends of mine. A writing group is invaluable -- people you can trust to be straight with you and help you polish and improve your work. And often in these cases, I just pick a direction and write it. I might write more than one scenario, then I compare and contrast until I figure it out to my satisfaction.
Now, if I'm having trouble deciding what should happen next in the story, I may take a day or two to think it through. Sometimes I make little hand-written charts or outlines. Sometimes I do some research. Often I seek the advice of other writer friends of mine. A writing group is invaluable -- people you can trust to be straight with you and help you polish and improve your work. And often in these cases, I just pick a direction and write it. I might write more than one scenario, then I compare and contrast until I figure it out to my satisfaction.
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