Tyler Tichelaar over at Children of Arthur was kind enough to interview me about my writing and I thought all of you may want to see it.
Category Archives: About the Author
W is for What Do You Want to Be When You Grow Up?
“Daydreaming” by Eugene de Blass. Image is public domain ({{PD-1923}}). Source: Wikimedia commons
A woman I used to work with told me a story in which her then four-year-old son asked her, “Mommy, what you do you want to be when you grow up?” The woman, nearing forty, burst into tears and sobbed, “I don’t know!”
Sound familiar? Chances are good you’ve had a similar conversation with yourself at some point in your adult life. I know I have, and recently. It’s astounding to me that our society expects us to make decisions that will affect the rest of our lives when we’re only 18 years old. I don’t know about you, but at that age, the fog of teenage uncertainty was just beginning to clear and I didn’t have a clue what I wanted to do. I went into business because it was safe – I knew I’d always have a job. Somewhere along the way, one of my English professors recognized I had a talent for writing and encouraged me to pick up a second major (thank you, Ben Moore!). Even then I didn’t know what I was going do. I didn’t want to teach or be a journalist, and I knew that living off of creative writing (which was nothing more than an occasional hobby at that point) was going to be too risky for my scaredy-cat nature.
I ended up in public relations as a result of the last class I took in college. Since I began my career, I’ve gotten my master’s degree, won awards and gotten my professional accreditation. I love what I do, partly because it involves writing, and it’s a creative way to support myself while I pursue my dreams. (To any of my co-workers who are reading this, yes, I am happy in my job; please don’t take this post the wrong way.) While being your own publicist is about as smart as representing yourself in court, I know having a PR background will certainly come in handy once my writing career takes off. (If nothing else, maybe it will keep me from putting my foot in my mouth publicly!)
But a few years ago I came to the realization that while I love what I do, my true passion – the thing that dominates my thoughts and brings me the most joy – is fiction writing. That’s when I really got serious about my first book. In doing that, I’ve read a ton of books on Celtic history and culture and rediscovered a love for history that, for some unknown reason, I had left behind after high school. Recently, serving as our corporate historian at my day job reminded me how much I love to research.
“A Pensive Moment” by Eugene de Blass. Image is public domain {{PD=Art}}{{PD-1923}} – published before 1923 and public domain in the US. Source: Wikimedia Commons.
If someone asked me today what I want to be when I grow up, my answer would be vastly different from what I ultimately answered in college, thanks to my life experience. Sometimes I wish there was a “do-over” option once you hit your early to mid-thirties and have had a chance to experience a little bit of life. But that’s where dreaming comes in. We’re never to old for that. I used to think that once you became an adult and got out into the real world, the need to dream would end because you’d have everything you’d ever want. But if anything, the importance of dreaming increases, because as you get more successful, your ability to change your circumstances increases as well.
I’m no longer afraid to chase my dreams. Of course I want to be a best-selling historical fiction/historical fantasy novelist. And while I work toward that at night and on the weekends, I’m doing everything I can to learn from my day job how to be versatile, hone my writing skills and handle stressful situations with grace and poise. Meanwhile, I’m planning for a dream trip to England next summer and beginning to seriously consider someday getting my Ph.D. in history from Oxford (I’m not worried about money or practicalities yet – those weigh dreams down in the early stages). Meanwhile, I’m trying to change my mindset to view every part of my life as a learning experience that I will take with me no matter where my career takes me.
For anyone struggling with balancing a dream and a day job (I bet that’s most of us!), I highly recommend the book Quitter by Jon Acuff. Contrary to what the title may imply, it’s not about up and quitting your day job. It’s about what I’ve just described, finding happiness in what you do while using it to help make your dreams a reality. And that’s not only good for us, it’s good for those who employ us as well. Talk about winning!
What about you? What do you want to be when you grow up? Have you ever found yourself with changing interests and dreams? How have you handled it? How do you balance the demands of a day job and a dream job? What are your dreams for your future?
G is for Giveaways & Getting to Know You; H is for Happy Blogiversary
Saturday, June 16, is the first anniversary of Through the Mists of Time. I have presents to give away, but more on that later (see end of post). I can’t believe a year has passed already! Thank you to everyone who continues to come around week after week and listen to me babble. Your support means more than I can say. Hopefully by this time next year I’ll be able to announce an agent and a publishing contract.
I’ve been wanting to get to know my readers for quite some time now and what better time than the one year blogiversary? Please tell me a little about yourself in the comments. You can answer any of the questions below or maybe tell me about where you live, how you found Through the Mists of Time, what keeps you coming back, what you like about Arthurian legend. What are your hobbies? Are you a writer, a reader, a history buff or something else? What topics do you want to hear about on this blog? The better I know you, the more I can tailor posts to your likes.
And because it’s only fair, I’ll answer some questions, too. Here’s a little Q&A – yes, I’m interviewing myself. Hey, it’s not any weirder than 99% of the other things that go on in my head. (These questions come from the New York Times Book Review column “By the Book.”)
What book is on your night stand now?
Insurgent by Veronica Roth, Angelology by Danielle Trussoni, Arthur’s Britain by Leslie Alcock and Imagine by Jonah Lehrer. And in my car’s CD player is the audio book Hard Bitten by Chloe Neill.
What was the last truly great book you read?
People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks. She’s an amazing writer with a rare gift to be able to truly transport you in time (through 500 years in this book) and space (several different countries). I learned a lot about recent and Medieval history while reading it and its a truly fascinating tale, based on the true story of a mysterious codex – which I didn’t know when I read it.
Do you consider yourself a fiction or a nonfiction person? What’s your favorite literary genre?
Both. Nonfiction: history and religion, some biographies. Fiction: historical fiction, fantasy (especially urban fantasy), YA (dystopian and paranormal), general fiction, cozy and regular mysteries (Sue Grafton is as hard-boiled as I get), and intellectual thrillers. As a general rule, I stay away from chick-lit and anything marketed as woman’s fiction.
What were your favorite books as a child?
I remember my mom reading a lot of Bearnstien Bears books to me as a child. Francine Pascal’s Sweet Valley Twins and Sweet Valley High books were the books of my pre-teen and teen years. C.S. Lewis’ Chronicles of Narnia series shaped my love of fantasy and I still remember reading The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin in 6th grade. I won’t go into the books we had to read in school that permanently traumatized me (I’m looking at you, Where the Red Fern Grows).
If you could meet any writer, dead or alive, who would it be?
Christopher Marlowe. I think I had a thing for him in a past life. I’d also love to know if there’s any truth to the conspiracy theory that he didn’t really die in a bar fight and that he was actually Shakespeare. I doubt it, but I like the idea.
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**GIVEAWAY DETAILS
I’m giving away a copy of The Art and Craft of Writing Historical Fiction by James Alexander Thom and the Mutefish CD On Draught. (Remember them from my Ireland travelogue? No, it’s not my CD. This one is still in the shrink wrap.) If you’re interested in either gift, let me know in the comments and I’ll pick names out of a hat (please include your email address so I can contact you). Because I’ve combined two posts, I’m keeping this one up for a week, so you have until June 20 to comment and qualify to win.
Even if you don’t want the gifts, please say hi and tell me a little about yourself. I look forward to getting to know you!
What’s In A Name?
I just wanted to let all of you know I’m changing my pen name and so the URL of this site will change. There is an author in Australia who uses the name I’ve been writing under for the last year and I have no desire to be confused with another writer. My new pen name is Nicole Evelina. I’m going to try to get a redirect from this site to the new one, but we’ll see how technically proficient I am. Wish me luck!
Four Things Keeping Me Sane
Okay fine, my sanity is a bit questionable, but you know what I mean. A blogger/author friend of mine frequently posts lists of things she loves, so I thought I’d share four things that are helping transform my inner world:
- Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott – My best friend has been raving a
bout this book ever since I met her and although I’m only two chapters in, I can see why. It’s a must read for all writers. It has reminded me of the real reasons why I’m doing this whole novel writing thing: I love to write and I love to read and I want to write something others will love to read. Getting published will just be icing on the cake. (For those curious about the title, her dad once told her brother that he’d get through a school report on birds “bird by bird,” the same way we get through novels, paragraph by paragraph.) 
Dream Angels – This is an online community founded by musician Lee Safar for people who are focused on making their dreams come true. Dream Angels is all about choosing the path you want to live, working through the fear that stops you, and making it happen. A new site will launch this weekend on www.leesafar.com, but in the meantime, check out the Dream Angel Youtube channel where Miss Lee (as she likes to be called) posts video blogs about the Dream Angel process. 
- Tazo Chai Tea Latte Mix – This is the best stuff I’ve ever tasted. The smell and taste are inspirational and comforting at the same time. It’s like the woman from Mistress of Spices (if you haven’t seen the movie or read the book, it’s a good one) came into my life and gave me exactly the right blend I need for where I am right now. And best of all, it comes in decaf, so we don’t have to worry about me having a stroke or heart attack.
- All of you – Thank you to everyone who has volunteered to be a beta reader, listened to me talk about my book (especially those of you lucky enough to hear every single idea that springs to mind – good, bad and ugly), or supported me in any way. Writing can be lonely if you don’t have a strong support group – and I have one of the best.
So that is where I’m finding my strength and Zen right now. What about you? What works in your life? Please, share your tips and experiences in the comments. We can all use a few extra sources of positive energy in our lives.
Why Arthurian Legend?
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Knights of the Round Table [Public domain], from Wikimedia Commons
The long answer? ::Takes a deep breath:: Well, for one, fads come and go, but Arthurian legend has endured for 1500 years. I’m proud to be putting my own stamp on it. But the truth is, I’ve been fascinated by this story since I was a little girl. I grew up on the musical Camelot and have always been attracted to the story. Heck, I’m the girl who wanted to have Guinevere as my confirmation name, but the nuns wouldn’t let me since there is no St. Guinevere. (I went with my next favorite myth and picked Marian instead, not understanding until years later just how appropriate that was for me.)
Other little girls latched on to Snow White or Sleeping Beauty, but Queen Guinevere was my fairy tale princess. I have hazy recollections a turning the pages of a book with colorful photos of castles and knights and ladies in long dresses. That’s where my imagination lives, deep within that world. And I’m happy there.
During my freshman year of college a friend of mine gave me a copy of The Mists of Avalon for Christmas. To this day, it’s one of my favorite books, but I hated Marian Zimmer Bradley’s portrayal of Guinevere as a meek, agoraphobic, Christian queen. Shortly after, I read a book that, while not all that believable, centered on what happened to Guinevere after Arthur’s death and I realized you don’t hear much about that. All you ever read (if anything) is she ended her days doing penance in a convent.
I started to wonder what did happen to her the fall of Camelot. And what was her life like before Arthur? I ran through all the stories in my head and realized Guinevere is rarely portrayed favorably and hasn’t really had a chance to tell her story. Viola, she came into my head and a story was born – one that has persisted for over 10 years and will hopefully be hitting your bookshelves in the next few years.
Author, Promote Thyself
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’m the first to admit I’ve been dragged into this blogging thing kicking and screaming (almost literally) and am more than a little late to the party. I’ve been reading for years now that any writer seeking to break into the market or maintain a fan base needs to blog. But up until recently, I never understood why. To me, a blog was just a waste of time I could be using to write. But not anymore.
I’m not exactly sure why my opinion changed. Maybe it’s because with a fully edited manuscript just waiting for an agent, I finally feel like I have something to promote. Maybe I’ve finally started to see myself as an author with a potential fan base rather than a person with a full-time job who writes as a hobby. But the important thing is the light bulb finally went off and I’m here.
So, what can you expect from this blog? Honestly, I have no idea. A little bit of everything would be the easiest answer. Once I get an agent, I hope to blog about the publishing process as each step happens, filling in between with whatever is on my mind. And of course, once a book is published, I’ll blog about it and how it was created (but until then my plots are top-secret). In the meantime, it’s whatever comes to mind, whenever it comes to mind. Maybe a few of my writer friends will even be willing to do guest posts. Three topics you won’t be seeing here: my personal life, politics or my religious views (I’m not ruling out discussion on religion in general, just my private beliefs). I do wish to maintain some privacy. Oh and you won’t see me bashing other writer’s work. If I don’t talk about it, just assume that either a) I haven’t read it or b) I didn’t like it.
Oh, you want to know who the crazy girl is behind the keyboard? I go by my pen name, Nicole Evelina, but you can call me Niki, if you’d like. All my friends do. I write novels that fall somewhere between historical fiction and fantasy (that’s a subject for another blog post). My completed manuscript is the first book in an Arthurian legend trilogy focusing on Guinevere. I’m writing the second book now and the third is in outline form. I also have plans for a fourth book that will overlap the first two, but tell the story of another character from that person’s point-of-view. That’s about all you’re going to get out of me on plot until I have a publisher and feel it’s safe to say more publicly.
I’m on Twitter as @nicoleevelina, if you’d like to follow me. It’s one of the easiest ways to learn about new blog posts, and perhaps a little more about me. Thanks for reading. I hope you stick around; it’s going to be one crazy ride!
If you have something to say, please leave a comment using the “comment” link below. It’s after the categories and tags. I know it’s hard to find, but I can’t customize that. Sorry.
Writing Process? No Thanks, I Have Characters in My Head
My characters are almost like children. They narrate, hold conversations, give me plot points and yell at each other in my head. And I know when a character wants attention. (It’s almost like having an annoying brother or sister poking at you.) Sometimes it’s amazing and other times it’s frustrating as can be. Especially when they start talking when I’m driving or in the shower, or anywhere else I can’t write down their running commentary. A few times they’ve been nice enough to repeat the entire scene later. Most of the time I just somehow remember it. Sometimes I even “see” the whole scene like I’m watching a movie. (When that happens, I know it’ll be a good one and likely will make it through all the editing.)
And then there are the characters themselves. No two are alike. Some reveal themselves slowly, in their own sweet time. Take Arthur. He’s very mysterious; getting him to reveal anything is like pulling teeth. And I think he likes it that way. Isolde, on the other hand, waltzed into my head complete and promptly informed me she wants her own novel (hence, book four). She pretty much took over and became a much more central character to my first book than I thought. Now in the second book, she pops in and out as she pleases. Still other characters don’t seem to come alive until I’ve found an actor or actress who both looks the part and has the talent to pull the character off – then watch out! There’s no stopping them once they get going.
All of this to say, I really don’t feel like I’m in control of my writing. It’s more like I’m channeling an outside wisdom or something. Sometimes when I write, right in the middle of a scene one of my characters will do something I never expected or don’t understand. I spent most of one scene literally saying out loud, “Okay, where are we going with this? What’s going on?” But by the time I finished writing the scene (with no premeditation on my part), it was not only really good, it became key to the plot.
I have an outline, note cards, a plan, all that traditional stuff, but that doesn’t mean my characters care. My first book went pretty much according to plan except for a scene here and there, but the second book is taking on a life of its own. Characters are showing up sooner than I expected, dying sooner than I planned or having different relationships than I thought they would. So much so that I had to sit down and re-outline the whole book once I was about a quarter of the way into writing it. The things I’ve already written stayed the same, but it was nearly impossible to try to match an old outline up to a new timeline.
And the even crazier thing is, I’m finding out I’m not alone. A few days ago I had the amazing privilege of meeting author Alyson Noel (future blog post to come on that). When asked how her Immortals books came about, she said her main character, Ever, came into her head with a story to tell. That’s exactly how my book series happened. Guinevere started talking in my head and demanded her story be told. Alyson also said she talks to her characters more than her husband. Sadly, I think I talk to my characters more than any actual people I know.
A few weeks ago, Dianne Sylvan, a writer I follow on Twitter (@dslyvan), said “Here’s something you should know about writers: we are not fully in control of the story we’re writing…If we’re doing our jobs, it’s like we’re possessed by our characters; we live in multiple worlds at once. It sounds woo-woo, but it’s true.” And that’s pretty much how it works for me. I’ve also read interviews where Sue Grafton has been asked what’s coming next and she answers, “I don’t know. Kinsey [her main character] hasn’t told me yet.” Even JK Rowling has said that Harry Potter pretty much walked fully formed into her head (much like Isolde did with me).
At least if I’m crazy, I know I’ll have some pretty good company (and some amazingly entertaining stories) in the loony bin. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have to go break up a fight between the voices in my head. With any luck, they’ll write the next chapter for me.
If you have something to say, please leave a comment using the “comment” link below. It’s after the categories and tags. I know it’s hard to find, but I can’t customize that. Sorry.