It's week Three of this incredibly fun blog hop! This week I have the wonderful
Sharon Poppen stopping by to share some tidbits into her own personal life. Be sure to answer the question at the end in my comments to be put in the draw for this week's prize!
Corinne, thanks so much for offering me this opportunity to
be featured on your exciting and teasingly erotic blog. The covers to your
books are fabulous and must draw quite a bit of attention and I hope sales.
(you can see Corinne’s blog for this week of our Best Summer Reading Tour by
going to Regan Taylor’s blog
www.regantaylorsworld.blogspot.com
.)
When shown the proposed cover for my book
Hannah, I didn’t care for
it. My publisher was much more in tune with what attracts a reader so I went
with her suggestion. She was right. When I did a book signing with several
other writers at our local Hastings Book Store, we attempted to get the
attention of the bookstore customers. All they had to do was talk with each of
us for a minute or two to be entered into a drawing for a $20 Hastings gift
certificate. I still smile when I think about a couple of young men who
politely listened to the other authors spiels about their books, but when they
got to me, one picked up a copy of
Hannah and turned to his buddy and
said, “Dude, this is the one. And they bought it. Sure glad I listened to my
publisher that time. Now, on to some questions I’m asked about this delightful
fun thing that absorbs my life – writing.
How do I do research?
I must admit, I’m not heavy into research, but there are
things that must be validated to make your novel believable to your reader. My
first novel was about the aftermath of the U.S. Civil war. Because the
characters had been so clearly developed in my imagination before I ever sat
down to write, I was able to ‘feel’ their emotional states and I was able to
write from the heart. But, items such as historical places, situations, foreign
language usage and the names of prominent people of the era had to be verified.
I use history books from that era, I surf the Internet and occasionally I find
an expert on the subject for some question and answer time. The early part of
the 20
th century was dynamic with change. Simple things like mailing
something, modes of transportation and acceptable fashions of the era create a
challenge to a writer who strives to remain true to the era of their story.
What is my least favorite word?
Can’t. When we utter that word, we sell ourselves short on
achieving our potential, no matter the challenge. Occasionally, we all have to
face that ‘thing’ that gets the best of us. But, it’s been my experience that I
learn so much about myself when I take on something mentally or physically
challenging and give it a darn good try. I may find that it is beyond my
capability. In those rare cases, I believe I come out all the stronger for
giving it a try and then say; “I tried,” rather than just selling myself short
with, “I can’t.”
What am I reading this summer?
I started reading 50 Shades of Gray by E. L. James.
I’m more than halfway through the book and I’m actually pretty bored with it.
The main characters are far too stereotyped as they engage in over described
sex. As a writer, we’re told to treat our readers to ‘show’, not ‘tell’. Ms.
James is telling me how to do these things, but other than the predictable
reactions of the two main characters, I’m left feeling like an observer. My
next read will be The Six Wives of Henry the VIII by Gladys Malvern. Her
novel Dear Wife was a favorite of mine when I was in my teens and it is
still one of my favorite books today.
Hope you enjoyed my take on things and now I’d like to treat
you to an excerpt from my novel Regardless due out this fall by Regal
Crest Entp. LLC.
After reading the excerpt, you can qualify to win a free book
this week and get entered to win a $50 Amazon gift certificate
on July 29th just by leaving a comment here on Corinne’s blog with
the answer to
the following question.
What is Michael Parker’s occupation?
Regardless
– Sharon Poppen (Due to be released Fall 2012)
(- The era is 2371 A.D. In this scene Tom, the
main character who is a Star Command Captain based in San Francisco, has
arrived at his parent’s ranch in Wyoming and is having supper with them, his
sister Barbara and her husband Tim.)
Tom
took a deep breath and began. “I’ve found someone else.” Aside from a gasp from
his mother, the words cast the room into an uncomfortable silence. Tom turned
to his father. “I met a man that, despite my efforts to deny it, I have fallen
in love with and I want to share my life with him.”
“Did
I hear you right? A man?” Barbara’s voice was incredulous.
“Yes.
A man. His name is Michael Parker. He’s a photographer that I met when Joanna
and I went skiing last fall.” Tom turned back to his father. “Dad?”
His
father looked at him as if he were meeting a stranger for the first time. “I
don’t really believe what I just heard.”
Tom
nodded. “I understand. I felt the same for a long time.” He eyes darted from
person to person. “I fought it. I really did, only to find that it was making
me miserable. Every aspect of my life was failing. I was making Joanna unhappy
to the point where she accused me of having an affair. When that happened, I
knew I had to face things and make a decision. I did that on Wednesday. From
that moment on, I can’t remember ever being happier or more at peace. Being
with Michael satisfies my soul. I feel as if I’ve know him for an eternity.”
He
paused for comments. When none came, he continued on to tell them about how his
wife had taken his admission and that he had called and asked his brother and
sister-in-law, Eric and Victa, to go over and be there for Joanna.
“Eric
knows?”
“Yes,
Mom. He knows.”
Picking
up on Tom’s disappointment, his father asked, “He did not take it well?”
“No.
He didn’t. He came to see me Thursday morning. I attempted to explain my
feelings, but in the end he disowned me.”
“Oh,
Tom.” His mother’s eyes filled with tears.
“Tommy.
I’m sure he didn’t mean it.” Barbara offered.
“He
sounded like he meant it.” Then to soften the blow, “But I keep hoping he’ll
come around. He’s not a bigot or homophobic. It just shocked him. Just like you
are now.”
Tom
had been honest with them and could only hope they would react with love.
Coffee was sipped, napkins were toyed with, but most noticeable was that eyes
were downcast. Sadness settled in, draping him in a feeling of rejection. He
loved these people; how could they turn their back on him? They hadn’t even met
Michael; it was unfair. Thoughts of Michael supplanted his feelings of
rejection with resentment. He stood up and spoke quietly.
“I’m
sorry you feel this –
“Sit
down.” His father commanded.
“I
don’t want to –
“I
said sit down.”
“Yes,
please sit down,” urged his mother.
Her
concern ate at his heart and he complied. He looked over at his father. Tom was
relieved to see only question, not revulsion or rejection in his father’s eyes.
Eventually the older man spoke.
“You’re
right. This is a big shock to us. We’ve just been told a beloved
daughter-in-law may be lost to us. A granddaughter could be hurt and scarred.
Our son, a normal HT, is having an affair with a man. You’re damn right we’re
shocked.”
Tom
opened his mouth to speak, but his father continued.
“But
first and foremost, you’re our son.” The words washed over Tom like a balm and
gave him a glimmer of hope. “We love you. We have always been proud of you. We
want you to be happy. So while we have concerns about the things I’ve
mentioned,” he reached over to lay his hand over his wife’s, “you are our son
and nothing, I repeat nothing, will ever change that. We’ll work through this.”
“Dad,
I can’t …” Tom’s voice caught.
His
father continued. “We all just need some time.”
Tom
nodded to his father, then looked to find his mother nodding though tears
threatened.
“Tom.”
Tim’s voice surprised everyone. “I don’t get out of this little valley much. I
guess you’d call me a country boy, so I’m not sure about a lot of the things
that go on in the big cities. But I know this. I’ve watched you grow from a
little boy, like one of mine, into the fine man sitting across the table from
me. I know you don’t rush into things willy-nilly. What you do with your life
and who you do it with, is your business. If this makes you happy, then who’s
to say it’s wrong. I just want you to know that Barbara and I will help you in
any way with Kelly. We’ll stay in touch with Joanna, but,” he paused and turned
to see Barbara smiling in agreement, “we’ll be happy to meet your new friend.”
It
was a long speech for Tim. Tom could only nod his thanks.
Barbara
slipped her arm through her husband’s and clutched his hand as she confirmed
his words. “Tommy, I couldn’t have said it any better. God knows human emotions
can be a mystery, so who can fault our choices when it comes to love.”
Tom
looked at his mother.
Her
smile was melancholy, but it was a smile. “When do we get to meet this young
man?”
“He’ll
be here tomorrow.”
(to
be continued)
AUTHOR’S BIO
.JPG)
Sharon Poppen (
www.sharonpoppen.com
) has won awards from Arizona Authors Assoc. and National League of American
Pen Women. Her western novels
After
the War, Before the Peace, Hannah and Abby-Finding More Than Gold are
available at Amazon Books, most web based book sellers and from her
website. Her work has appeared in such
publications as
A
Flasher’s Dozen, Desert Treasures, Skive, Offerings from the Oasis, A Long
Story Short, Apollo
Lyre and Laughter Loaf.
Her workshops on Journaling, Short Story Writing and Blogging bring rave
reviews. Sharon is a member of Lake
Havasu City Writer’s Group. Her gay/sci-fi novel
Regardless will be
available in print and ebook the fall of 2012.
List of Published Novels
After the War, Before the Peace
Hannah
Abby-Finding More Than Gold
Regardless (due out fall 2012)
