Linda McHenry

Tag: fiction

  • What Do Writing Fiction, Watercolor Painting, and Crystals Have in Common?

    What Do Writing Fiction, Watercolor Painting, and Crystals Have in Common?

    To answer the question, what do writing fiction, watercolor painting, and crystals have in common? the answer is: ME!

    I’m finding myself seeking something different from Social Media these days, something more in line with what matters to me. I know that sounds selfish (because it is) but maybe you feel the same way.

    Now that I’m semi-retired and able to spend more time doing what I love (writing fiction, watercolor painting, and crystals), I find that I prefer to “chat” with people who share the same interests. A flash of inspiration struck, so I’m now prompting conversations on these (and other interesting to me) topics on my blog over at https://lindamchenry.com/blog.

    Feel free to head over and join in the exchange! Some of the conversations appearing soon include:

    • What’s Your Favorite Type of Crystal/Gemstone? (posting at noon on Monday, 2/3)
    • Are You, or Someone You Know, a Highly Sensitive Person? (posting on Friday, 2/7)
    • Are You a Pantser, Plotter, or BOTH? (posting on Monday, 2/10)
    • Sometimes, Do You Just KNOW? (posting on Friday, 2/13)

  • What Kinds of Books Do I Read?

    I read all kinds of stuff, in all kinds of formats. I own thousands of books: hardcover, paperback, and ebooks on my Kindle. I subscribe to Kindle Unlimited, and definitely receive a great value for my subscription.

    Here’s the thing. I received a credit from Amazon that linked me to a page with all kinds of books I could apply the credit to. How does a person decide what book to buy?

    I suspect I have a serious issue–okay, I know I have several of them, but I’m talking about the issue relating to my preference for some writers over others. The genre of the book doesn’t matter to me, so long as the writer’s voice sucks me in. Sure, I prefer mysteries, suspense and thriller novels, and all kinds of women’s fiction–including romance. So, why could I not stop reading the first few pages of the first two books I looked at?

    Neither book is the type I’d normally read, which is why I looked at them. Stepping outside the box, you know? Here they are, you tell me why I found both authors’ voices gripping:

    By the way, my favorite book of all time is the Scarlet Pimpernel. (See? I told you I had issues.)

  • GUEST BLOGGER: Christy Dorrity

    GUEST BLOGGER: Christy Dorrity

    Christy Dorrity is a champion Irish dancer and writer whose debut novel, Awakening, was just released. She was kind enough to share her response to the question most writers hear more times than they care to: “Where do you get your ideas?”

    ***

    The answer is from everywhere. A spark of a new idea comes from something a three-year-old says while playing, from other books and movies, and sometimes from dreams.

    For me, one of the most fertile grounds for creating fantastic worlds and far-off lands comes from what is already here. Have you ever seen an octopus that can change color and texture to blend into his surroundings? Did you know that there are people who truly believe that faery folk exist? Have you ever really thought about the fact that giant lizards used to rule the earth? Did you know that technology has produced a 3-D printer that prints ears, livers, and kidneys with living tissue?

    The world around is so fascinating that I don’t have to go far for ideas.

    World mythology is one of those sources of potential for world-building and plot ideas. When I began researching Celtic mythology for AWAKENING, I was amazed at the rich culture and limitless idea-hatching possibilities. Mythology is filled with Hags who pronounce curses, men who turn into beasts in battle, and star-crossed lovers who are destined for heartache. You can’t ask for better material.

    AwakeningFrontCoverSmallTake Cliona, the banshee in my book. When I did research on the legends surrounding banshees, I found very little. She is in spirit form, and often attaches to a certain family, warning them with her wail that a death is about to occur. Travelers are warned not to pick up a lost comb; the banshee who often combs her hair by a stream may have left it behind. Some have seen the banshee washing bloody clothing in the river. By some versions she is beautiful, by others, she is frightening.

    In creating Cliona, I took what was already there and built on it—giving her motivations and a relatable backstory, while keeping true to original mythology. The elements are all there—the comb, the wail, the wraithlike figure, but the extrapolations are what give my story life.

    The make-believe stories that come from an author’s brain are really just an extension of the fascinating facets of the world around us. It’s like Captain Hook says, “Lie? Me? Never. The truth is far too much fun.”

    ***

    To learn more about Christy, visit her on her website, her Facebook page, or at Twitter.

    Awakening is now available on Amazon.