Ask the Author: Camron Wright
Answered Questions (15)
Camron Wright
The Young Reader Edition is a shorter, more concise telling of the story. The sentences are generally shorter and for the sake of brevity, some of the details have been left out. That said, if a group were discussing the story, where some had read the Young Reader and the rest the regular version, they would likely not notice. (It’s personal preference, but if you’re an adult and you have a choice, I’d suggest the regular version.)
Camron Wright
We don’t know for sure what was wrong with the child (speaking of the real Sang Ly and her son). What we do know is that Sang Ly had taken him to several doctors—western doctors who couldn’t help—and yet the old Cambodian healer cured the boy with a single treatment. I joke that I want to go back and find out what the black tar-like substance was that he used because I want to start a pharmaceutical company. To this day, Sang Ly remains convinced it was the healer who cured her son. I hope this helps.
Camron Wright
Thanks for the question. In Khmer, it would be typical for them to shorten names, particularly English names they weren’t accustomed to pronouncing, so it was really just to ring more true to the Cambodian culture.
I hope this answers your question.
All the best,
Camron
I hope this answers your question.
All the best,
Camron
Camron Wright
I do mention in the book’s epilogue that he completely recovered, “a miracle that she [Sang Ly] attributes to the Cambodian healer…” We don’t know what ailment the child had or what substance the healer used, but when I returned three years later with my son, we found the boy to be very healthy. As for another book, if you loved The Rent Collector, I would suggest you pick up my book The Orphan Keeper. It’s similar in genre and style—an amazing story about the journey of a young boy who was kidnapped in India. It’s 95% true and rather unbelievable—but it happened. Thanks again for your support. Camron.
Camron Wright
The Rent Collector was inspired by a documentary called River of Victory that my son shot in the garbage dump in Cambodia. The fictional part of the story—the reading and literature side—is a topic that I’ve been intrigued with for years, the notion that common themes tend to repeat over and over again in classical literature (such as the Cinderella story). When Sang Ly’s story came along (via the documentary), it felt like the perfect opportunity to weave into the themes of reading and literature that I’d been studying for years. All said, thank you for your kind words. They are sincerely appreciated.
Camron Wright
Thank you, Linda. Your kind words are sincerely appreciated, and absolutely, we can all use more hope in our lives.
Camron Wright
The rents the people paid at the dump were small by our standards. I don’t remember exactly how much Sang Ly had to pay, but it would have been perhaps $10-$15 a month. Remember, however, that when we went back to find the family—after the documentary and just before the book was released—they were earning the equivalent of about $2.50 per day, and that was used just to pay for food to eat.
Camron Wright
Perhaps, though there is nothing in the works at this time. (I'm currently busy on a new story.) However, I appreciate the suggestion and will keep it in mind.
Camron Wright
I still do a little bit of web design and marketing for a client, but try to spend as much time as possible writing. As with everyone who is busy—work, family, community, church, etc.—life can sometimes feel a little bit like a circus. I think the key with writing (and everything) is to find the proper balance. I don't always succeed, but I keep trying.
Camron Wright
I was introduced to Taj Rowland through a friend and once I heard Taj’s amazing story, I knew immediately I wanted to write it. Not just because it begins in India, but also because it’s one of those stories that comes along very rarely. It took some convincing, but ultimately Taj thankfully agreed. It was a pleasure to play a part in bringing this inspiring story to market.
Camron Wright
The Orphan Keeper is based on the real-life story of Taj Rowland, who was kidnapped as a child in India, sold to an orphanage, and then adopted by unsuspecting parents in the United States. It’s a story about discovery, determination and finding our place in the world.
Camron Wright
I read. Studying other creative writing styles motivates me to try to create something similar.
Camron Wright
Write! Focus vehemently on your story. Don’t settle for mediocrity. Study every word, sentence, page and chapter—over and over again. Spend less time worrying about your road to success and more time brooding over words that will artfully communicate what you need to say.
Also, don’t give in to fear. If you let the fear of failure easily dissuade you, you’re likely not cut out to be a writer. I think all writers live with the fear of failure, but there comes a time when the fear of giving up on your story is more haunting than the fear of seeing it through.
Also, don’t give in to fear. If you let the fear of failure easily dissuade you, you’re likely not cut out to be a writer. I think all writers live with the fear of failure, but there comes a time when the fear of giving up on your story is more haunting than the fear of seeing it through.
Camron Wright
After wrestling for hours with unruly words and having nothing to show for my effort but drivel, a sentence or paragraph will suddenly fall into place, as if it’s a gift from heaven. Then, as I re-read the whispered words, realizing they are perfect, all cares fade away and for a brief moment, life is both breathtaking and humbling.
Camron Wright
If part of a story isn’t coming together, I’ll skip to a different section. (I seldom write chronologically.) Other days, if I’m struggling to focus and the writing feels labored, I find reading an author with a similar style to mine can help kick my creativity into gear.
That said, writing is often difficult. It can be mentally exhausting. The words and ideas seldom flow easily. When the writing is especially demanding, I think it’s sometimes best to push through the frustration and plow forward. On rare occasion, when I do, I’ll dig up a useful nugget that I’d otherwise never have found.
That said, writing is often difficult. It can be mentally exhausting. The words and ideas seldom flow easily. When the writing is especially demanding, I think it’s sometimes best to push through the frustration and plow forward. On rare occasion, when I do, I’ll dig up a useful nugget that I’d otherwise never have found.
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