Sometimes I walk down little Main Street Waynesville, or drive Soco Road in Maggie Valley, or follow Good Man Roger into Ingles Supermarket as he shops for groceries and I wander the aisles touching things and going “hmmmm…food good, like food…,” or hurry into the drugstore for a miracle face cream to make me look like my author photo, and I suddenly think, “Oh! Wait! I’m a published author.” I lift up my head from bright-colored packaging and muse, “Right this very moment, someone may be reading my Virginia Kate story….” I inhale that moment with the mountain air. I swallow it down and it enters my blood and rushes through my veins and fills my marrow and I’m full full full of how wonderful it all is. As if I can think, “My time has come at last.” Without hubris, for humility covers my head like a gentle hand staying the jittery jumping up and down in glee. There are moments of such clarity, those that stop me short in the peanut butter and jelly aisle. In those moments I feel gratitude, and a surreal fascination with the entire process of writing and books and language and publishing.
Then there are the moments of terror. The expectations I heap upon myself. I lie in my bed in my little log house in my quiet cove at Killian Knob in the beautiful western North Carolina smoky mountains (and that setting in itself is cause for feeling so very lucky) and the anxiety will curl itself around my innards. What if this very moment someone is reading my book and thinks, “This isn’t very good. I think I’ll put it down and read something else…” oh horrors! What if I don’t sell many books? What if the next book isn’t as good as the first? What if I let everyone down? Oh Chicken Little, be quiet! The sky is not falling.
There is such contradiction in this process of having your dream come true. For me, the dream was to see my Virginia Kate novel published and to know that she is being read and enjoyed. I’ve accomplished that. Everything else should be lagniappe. But when those little voices creep up and tell me that I need to do more, and more, and even more, that is when the joy of the language, the characters, the readers, the accomplishment of writing and publishing a novel is not enough and more more more must be done.
I like me better when I’m walking through life and suddenly stop and that beautiful realization pops me upside my pea-head that I actually did it. I wrote a novel and that novel is published and that novel could be, right at this moment, read and enjoyed by someone out there somewhere. This is what the journey should be all about.
My challenge to all of you is to stop where you are at this moment in your life, savor who and where you are—hold close to you the Right Now moment. For everyone else has given us a big ole break, so why haven’t we given ourselves one?
Right now. Right here at this moment, a mountain breeze flies down from the ridge and brushes against my face, a bird’s bright eye watches me, a chipmunk fills its cheeks with seed, the creek sings its journey song to the river to the ocean, the sun tips greening trees, and I feel a connection to every creature, every living being—through words and thought and life. Thank you for reading: Now … what is your Right now; Right here moment?
Questions: Feel free to post any question you’d like. Kathryn Magendie will be stopping by to answer your questions.Giveaway: Kathryn Magendie has generously offered to send one lucky viewer a signed copy of her book. Ask Kathryn a question and you’ll be entered.
Rules: The guidelines for this giveaway are a little different. Read closely.
• You must be 18 years or older
• US and Canada residents only
• Leave an email when you ask your question
• Twitter about this and you’ll be entered twice
• Post about this event on your blog and be entered for a third time.
• Giveaway will be held May 30th
Have a question & the comment box won't do? Send an Email
62 comments:
I tweeted!
My right here right now moment is the fact that I am now part of a loving family who supports me in all I do and all I need! The flowers are blooming and the rain is doing the job I need to do!
Great blog!
Thank you, Kathryn, for guest posting! Loved your book and I think others will too. I'll get the ball rolling with a question. I hope this isn't too personal. Was Bell Bridge Books your first publisher? If so, what made you decide to try there?
Hi! I'm curious if you, Kathryn, write on paper with a pen, or straight into the computer? Thanks!
L
stuparyk@sympatico.ca
No need to enter me as I just finished it this morning and put up a mini review (so to speak). The book is so wonderful, it is hard to believe it is a debut novel. I just loved it! Whoever wins it will be lucky indeed.
I absolutely love the post. I swear the writing is so great that it alone makes me want to buy 'Tender Graces'. J. Kaye, thank you for featuring Kathryn and kathryn, thank you for such an inspiring (and funny) post.
Hello Tami - I love a good rain. Thanks for tweeting.
J. Kaye: Yes! This is my first published book and they are my very first publishers. I liked their motto "Southern Fried Fiction" and the fact that they are all strong businesswomen.
L, I write straight onto the computer! Gone are the days when I wrote everything in long-hand and then had to copy it to computer. I used to think I couldn't "write" on the computer -I cured that! Besides, I can't read my own handwriting most of the time *laughing* - oh, it's awful.
Kaye -Thank you so much for your words... I appreciate it *smiling*
Lilly - Thank you for the compliment - now I'm all blushing and tee-heeing...and grinning. I appreciate your words about my words.
My right now moment is the fact that Tami posted before me! Nahhh, just kidding. It's peaceful and sunny, all my dogs are happy and teens are at their games/work. My right now moment is I have three beautiful, smart, accomplished and humorous teen aged daughters. A husband who really does try hard to be good, wonderful friends and an awesome family!
Thanks for bringing to mind my right now moment! Sometimes we need to be reminded!
Hey, I tooted. Oh, wait, that doesn't sound right. LOL
Love the book, as you know, so let somebody who doesn't already have a copy win!
Great interview and idea for an interesting post. :)
Last Nerve - that sounds like very nice things to be happy about Right Now *smiling*
Hi Angie! So glad to see your smiling face...even if you tooted.
I liked what Kathryn wrote about the right now. We all need to do that at times! I can tell from the way she wrote this that I would like to read Tender Graces.
Kathryn, how did you get the idea for this story, Tender Graces?
My right here moment was tonight watching my poor 14 year old with a broken arm sitting on the bench while his team plays baseball. We live their dreams with them and when they hurt we hurt even more I think. But I am thankful his injury wasn't worse and he'll be back to playing in a couple weeks. This sounds like a wonderful book I'd really enjoy reading.
Who inspired you to become a writer?
msboatgal at aol.com
My right here moments come when I'm sitting on the bench by the back door with a cat or two on my lap, listening to the birds singing.
Loved Kathryn's post. My question is where did you first see your book for sale and how did you feel when you saw it?
No question from me - I just wanted to say Thank You for reminding all of us to be thankful for where we are right now. Gotta love when universe/willbe says hey listen to me.
I don’t have a question but I did want to let Kathryn know that I enjoyed the post. She expressed the joys and fears of being an author perfectly.
Jane Kennedy Sutton
http://janekennedysutton.blogspot.com/
jane@janesutton.com
Hi Sharon! I had this little short story and Angie Ledbetter said, "This Virginia Kate has much more to say - this is your novel, Girl, write it!" And she poked me with her stare of "I mean it!" *laugh* And she was right, VK had so much more to say. But, I did take a significant event from my life as an "idea" - how a mother gives up her 3 children one by one..although the book is fiction and not my life, that even interested me.
Scottsgal...Your poor son! I rememeber when I broke my arm as a kid and it seemed forever before that dang cast came off! You know what inspired me? Book! I was a Library Fool as a kid (we couldn't afford books. I still love books and words and language inspire me.
PS - Y'all will have to forgive my typing fast and making typos on my last comment! Lawd! I haven't finished my Deep Creek Blend coffee yet - brain fog! *laugh*
Kat, I love the bird's singing in my mountain mornings! Well, I saw my books in Osondu Bookseller's window! I wish I'd have taken a photo. I was so excited, but I felt like crying.
Windy *smiling* ...that ole universe is smart, isn't it?...
Hi Jane - yes, it's like a roller coaster ride some days, but, I feel very lucky indeed, even when I'm screaming in terror on the way down that fast free-fall!
Hi! Just posted about this on Win A Book. No need to enter me.
What a fantastic post...thank you so much for sharing your thoughts, worries, insecurities, and Right Now moments.
Where you live sounds absolutely breathtaking.
I know you are still savoring the joys of your debut novel...but I'm wondering what is in the works for the future?
ktulanko AT aol DOT com
Hi Kathryn! Thanks for the giveaway. How much input did you get to have in deciding the cover of your book?
Thanks for the giveaway :)
hurdler4eva(at)gmail(dot)com
Hi Bridget, thank you!
Kara, I am working on VK Book2! I'm excited to hear Virginia Kate's voice again.
Amber, I had an image in mind (a painting by Lorelle Bacon called Spring Fever) but, the publishers explained why we couldn't or shouldn't do that. So, I had to re-adjust my feelings about my cover! But, then they sent the cover image that became TG's cover and it was love at first site! If I had not liked that cover, they would have tried something else, but ultimately, they decide that most of the time - same as the final title.
Thank y'all for the interest - this is fun!
Do you re-read your book after it's in print? I find myself doing that with articles I write and I still sometimes think, "Hey, that's pretty darn good. I can't believe I wrote that!"
reading_frenzy@yahoo.com
What a lovely posting. You actually caused me to stop and wonder why I wasn't savoring my right now moment!
I have so much to be thankful for.
Where do you do most of your writing?
Many thanks.....Cindi
"Tweeted!"
http://twitter.com/cmh512/status/
1654659190.
Thanks!
Cindi
jchoppes[at]hotmail[dot]com
What a great post Kat! You inspire me once again...I love your challange to stop in this moment and savor who and where I am at. Right now this is very hard for me to do but I will try!
How old were you when you knew you wanted to write or that you were created to write?
LuAnn - I was warned by an author not to read my book after it was published - but how could I not? If it is good enough to send out to the world, it should be good enough for me to read as a reader, and that's just what I did - my ritual is to read in bed at night, so, I picked up my book as if it was another authors and read it like a book.
Is it so wrong so say I liked my book? *laughing* - I love VIrginia Kate...plain and simple. Did I see things I'd change? Only at first, then I was into it and didn't think about anything else.
Cindi, Right now I have VKbook2 opened ready for when I close these comments (which I am very much enjoying!) and I am sitting on my porch on my mountain cove at Killian Knob. But, when it's too chilly or dark to write out here, I write in a leather chair in my tiny little study surrounded by books.
Smiles4u-- You know I can't remember exactly when? I'm facinated by writers who say "I knew I wanted to be a writer since I was five..." Well, I just can't remember -all I do remember is my voracious reading habits, my adoration of books and the library -from a very young age. My mom says I talked about being a writer as a young girl, but I don't have a memory of that until I was maybe in 6th or 7th grade.
It was always about language and words, I think....
When did you first decide to
savor the moment right now? Was
there something special that caused
you to decide? It's an excellent
way for all of us to live and I
don't do it often enough. Thanks
for the reminder. I will be anxious to read the book.
jeanereads{at}sbcglobal(dot}net
jeanereads - I did it right at that moment I was writing that! *laugh* - sometimes that's what our writing does for us: we have sudden epiphanies. I find myself "looking ahead" so much, I have to stop to look at the now. With this debut book, everything is a "first" so I hope to enjoy those firsts!
My question: How did you become interested in words and how did you learn about them. My mother used to read the dictionary.
I posted about the contest on my blog. http://wynsbooks.blogspot.com/2009/05/j-kayes-contests.html I really like the interview, very intelligent with a fun aspect that makes me want to read the book.
My right here right now moment is that I am happy spring has arrived and I have a holiday coming up.
Wyndy
wyndyc AT gmail dot com
Hi Wyndy....Because of books! Reading to "figure out how writers write" never was an issue - I read to find different worlds, or be different places, or "be" someone else, or just because I liked the story or character or animal or whatever.
I'm not a structured writer - it just comes out of some black hole in my head and I'm always surprised at how it just appears.
Kathryn, while I was reading Tender Graces I kept thinking what a great script it would be, because it played out in my mind's eye like a movie. Have you been approached regarding movie rights yet?
Hi Deborah! - No, I haven't been contacted. I'm still a little teeny fish in a big ole ocean and I am sure I'm not even on the radar of those big ole movie makers! *smiling* Thank you for reading TG - appreciate you.
I want to thank all of you for your wonderful comments, your "nows," and your questions....
Thank You! This was fun....
I agree that the blog post alone is beautifully written. My question is...Are any of the characters of the book based on real people you know?
pamelashockley(AT)netscape(DOT)net
JKaye....I don't have a blog but I did post this on the networking site I belong to. Thanks. aliadam from FR
pamelashockley(AT)netscape(DOT)net
I would like to be entered. My question is.. Where do you get your inspiration for your books?
ilovebabynoah707@yahoo.com
Refered by FR:Aliadam
i'd never read Kathryn Magendie before but this sounds very interesting! pls enter me in contest
i am a follower via email.
thx!
gaby317nyc AT gmail DOT com
My here and now is enjoying Spring. In the Midwest, we've been waiting extra long this year for it to arrive. The trees are budding now and it's safe to plant. It's a great time. The green world is offering up its potential.
My question for the author:
How long did it take you to complete your book?
I'd love to win a signed copy!
What do you love most about writing your books?
angelkisses22505[at]aol[dot]com
Pam - the Mee Maw character was based on my own Maw Maw - although I did take liberties, of course. but for the most part, the characters are just characters...however, it's hard not to have an amalgam of people in certain characters. But other than Mee Maw, I didn't have any one person in mind with a character. They let me know who THEY are *laugh*
Sheila - Always with a character. That's where it always starts. I will start with one line that comes from the character...maybe I just have an image of that character standing there, or doing something, or telling me something. So it always starts from there. I never think about where it comes from, or think about plots. I just really really want to know where this character is going to take me and what they have to say!
Christine: That's always hard for me to answer, since I wrote up a 200,000 word HUGE manuscript not knowing where I was going or what I was doing or what and who and where and when *laugh* - then I halved it and began working on it. Once I was really serious that it would become a novel and I wanted to have it published, it took several months to get it in shape. But the original huge ms where I just went mad and insane and wrote it all was several years ago.
Knowing what I know now - and what for example I'm going through now, it would take me a few months to write up a good solid draft, then we'd be into editing and etc, which could take another month or so.
But it does all depend on the story, how involved it is --and now much "practice" a writer has - TG was my first novel, so I was a deer in the headlights! now I know a lot more of what to expect and how to pull it all together, etc.
:)
Brandy - the discovery! That's the most wonderful part - the actual sitting down and finding that Voice of the character and suddenly nothing else in the world matters- everything fades away. I am in that world and the characters are leading me along, and I find out about them - oh, it's the discovery, the language, the beauty of words.
Second best is actually holding the published book in my hands and then reading it as if it were someone else's book ...that's pretty durn cool, too *smiling*
Darn! Im not from Canada or the US so I dont qualify for the giveaway still would love to tell you about my right now moment....I have several you know.........When im reading a good book and no one interrupts me, when Im floating in the pool with the water lapping my face and licking my toes, when I'm sitting with husband and just holding him and sniffing his face, and the latest one to this list is when Im sitting at 2.30 in the morning the wind from my window blowing in my face writing away on my computer..............Im grateful that I am blessed with so many wonderful moments.............Why the name Tender Graces Kathryn???? i love the name; it catches your eye and has your attention.............have a nice day...........
Anonymous - wish I knew a name so I wouldn't have to call you "anonymous"! - Well, my publishers picked Tender Graces and I fought it at first - I thought it sounded too ... oh, I don't know ...tender-y and gracy-y *laugh* -- But, the title has received a lot of good comments and I came to love it, too. There is that redemptive quality in the book that calls forth the idea of "grace," not in a "religious" sense, unless one would want to interpret it in that way (one person called the book an allegory), but in the way grace lends beauty and truths and balms to hurts...a settling in of peace and acceptance, too.
In addition to my earlier entries:
+I'm a follower & subscriber via googlereader. Also, I hadn't listed my email subscriber address - (mrolapus AT yahoo DOT com)
+I'm a friend on Amazon (mrolapus AT yahoo DOT com/mangosteen)
+ I'm also part of the ARC Challenge - but that's not hosted on this site, so not sure if this qualifies
+ I'm participant #258 in the Support Your Local Library Challenge
thanks!
gaby317nyc AT gmail DOT com
Great post and I'd love to read the book.
Do you ever see someone looking at your book in the bookstore and want to recommend it to them or tell them, "hey, I wrote that?"
melacan at hotmail dot com
booksobsession(at)gmail(dot)com
What job do you think you'd have if you were not an author?
First off, the cover to this book had me from the beginning! Then I went and read some reviews and now Iknow that I WANT this book. If I don't win it, I will buy it! :)
My right now moments:
**Watching my last two at-home boys play baseball 3-4 nights a week.
**Watching my oldest child, Sarah's tummy begin to grow as she prepares to give us our first grandchild later this year.
**future moment: Watching my second child, oldest son, walk down the aisle at his long awaited college graduation in June.
My question: Where did your ideas for your characters personalities come from? Made up or based on real people in your life?
Thanks for this lovely give-away--
*smiles*
Kim
kimmery4(at)yahoo(dot)com
My right now moment, comes each and every day...when I wake up beside my husband each morning. He traveled so much, for so many years...it's so great that he's home most nights now!
Thanks
libneas[at]aol[dot]com
My right now moment is that one of our grandsons (we have six) who is on the Varsity team for his school just made it into the state finals. This is his first year on the team as a sophomore. We are so proud of him.
kathryn, aren't we lucky to live in NC. I don't live in the mountains, actually on a beautiful lake. But as a transplant I love the southern gracious hospitality. Has the Maggie Valley area always been your home?
I blogged this wonderful giveaway at:
http://gourdcrafter.blogspot.com/
roylsue(at)telpage(dot)net
I subscribe via RSS
Follow on Twitter
Added you as an Amazon Friend
Joined Yahoo Challenge group
kolists [at] gmail [dot] com
Books On The Knob
I subscribe via RSS
Follow on Twitter
Added you as an Amazon Friend
Joined Yahoo Challenge group
kolists [at] gmail [dot] com
Books On The Knob
What time of the day do you normally write at?
lovinfitch(at)aol(dot)com
Pam! It did happen! I was in the local indie bookseller and a woman walked by and as she did, she noticed my book displayed and she picked it up and looked at it, then put it with her other book - I said, "that's my book!" and we talked a moment - *smiling* ...it was very cool and exciting!
Ashley, Hmmmm...that's a hard one. I had other jobs - worked in an office for years (ugh! drove me nuts!) I was also a personal trainer, and was quite good at it - I think I'd do something like that.
Hi Kim; thank you. I never think about where the characters will come from, they just come. For example, I never think, "I'm going to pattern Miss Darla after so and so...." she just showed up out of that black hole in my head that holds all the story and characters. However, sometimes as I'm writing a character, I'll notice similarities to people - many times they are a combination, an amalgam of people. When I try to use someone I know as a character, it never works, ever. The characters have to be "their own," always! :) But real life always slips in, I think.
Neas - sounds very lovely! (and Kim- congrats on your exciting times~! I forgot to say!)
Sue - I love the water - if I didn't live in the mountains, I'd want to live near water (we do have a rushing creek in front of our little log house). But no, MV has not always been my home, although it feels like HOME in all the ways it can. My father was a restless man and we moved around a lot. I was born in West Virginia and have lived in Virgina, Texas, Ohio, North and South Louisiana, and my final home: Western NC!
Everyone - I am enjoying your Right Here moments - even when I forget to say something about them! But, they give me a smile. I am so intent on answering the questions, I forget to say something about your comment!
Alexa, I write during the day. I get up, have coffee and take care of emails, etc, take a mountain walk, and then get to work - I work until the late afternoon or early evening and unless I really need to keep going or want to keep going, or something pulls me back, I take the evening off...but I also can write 7 days a week, so I have to force myself to take a day off sometimes! :)
Gaby - the Support you Local Library Challenge sounds interesting! I am all about supporting our libraries ...libraries were my sanctuary as a child and young adult....*smiling* I still love walking into the library and seeing and smelling all those books!
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