We four Wenches met on a writing site, drawn there by our need to learn more and get our writing out there. As our craft and friendship grew, we wanted to form a sanctuary to share our experiences and knowledge. But most importantly – to talk about the thing that brought us all together in the first place: our writing.
The future is bright for Wench Writers. The four of us are on different paths with our writing. Summer, with one novella published, is querying agents about her next novel. (Everyone send positive thoughts her way – it’s a scary road the one she has taken!) Rain, a published author of a novella, is currently working on a sequel to her first book. Pamela is gathering her strengths to follow Summer – compiling her dream-agent list and reading many books on publication. Nic is currently working on two novels as well as a book of memoirs.
We hope you follow each of us on our paths, and we will support you on yours. Among other things, Wench Writers will feature giveaways, book reviews, and guest interviews of people in the writing world. For those wanting your work read, we will hold contests for critiquing, so keep your eyes peeled and sign up for notifications!
Nic
Hi ya’ll! My name is Nic. It is mighty nice to meet you. I am a southern girl to my core and proud to call Dixie my home. The South's down-home welcoming culture has an abundance of smiles, grandmas, hugs, blessings, magnolias, kudzu, pecans, and sweet tea. It makes me who I am. I can't imagine living my life anywhere else. Read More
If you haven’t had southern-fried chicken, smashed potatoes, turnip greens, soup beans, corn bread and sweet potato casserole—well…you just haven’t lived yet. And don’t forget fried green tomatoes, sausage gravy, black-eyed peas, angel biscuits, grits, fried dill pickles, and buttermilk pie. Oh... so many heavenly comfort foods, but I have to stop somewhere. There’s a southern saying—food is love….
Now that my love of food and everything southern has been established, I’ll tell you other things I’m passionate about. I’ll try to be brief, but that word rarely pertains to me... I have a tendency to drift off subject. I forget what I’m talking about and go on random, unexpected tangents… I also overuse ellipses… and italics… two of my countless faults. Now what was I talking about?
A few of my favorite things…
A few things I enjoy are: watching reality-tv and movies, barns, laughing, adding -ish to the end of a meeting time, being organized, photography, useless trivia, and sitting on my front porch rocker with a great book, (especially a tear-jerker). But other than my love for God and my family and friends, I’m most passionate about writing. I rarely let a day go by without writing something; whether a novel, short story, poem, memoir, non-fiction or nonsense. This writing passion has been inside me since I was very young, but intensified once my children became independent and I had more time to explore my quieted dreams.
It’s ramble time! Drum roll…
Writing a story and reading a good book
Eating a dinner that somebody else cooked
Rainy day movies and sparkly toe rings
These are a few of my favorite things…
A few more of my favorite things…
Book: Gone with the Wind.
Author: Frankly, my dear… I don’t have a favorite.
Movies: Meet Joe Black, The Notebook, The Sound of Music, To Kill a Mockingbird, Cool Hand Luke, Schindler's List, The Shining...
TV Shows: So You Think You Can Dance, Modern Family, Desperate Housewives, Survivor, Big Brother, The Andy Griffith Show, Little House on the Prairie, The Amazing Race, The Bachelor...
Writing Genres: I love to read most genres, but I usually write nostalgic, south-infused, coming of age stories, romances, and memoirs.
A few of my not-so-favorite things…
I’ve told you about things I love; now I’ll touch on a few things I don’t: When someone’s nose is so far up in the air they’d drown in a rainstorm, food servers asking if I want my change (argh!), so-what book endings, touching someone’s feet (cringe!), when parents count to three, my crooked toe, heights, unwanted advice, apathy, and boiled okra (snot!).
About my writing…
I love nearly every aspect of storytelling and story writing. Being the sole creator of a story is exhilarating and liberating, but being a soul-creator of my characters and settings is most fulfilling to me. Imaginary people and places develop into near-tangible beings that exist in the real world. Oftentimes, my characters interact physically and emotionally with the setting, causing the scene itself to become an integral character in my book.
The tiniest nuances inspire me to write—an expression, scent, noise, or memory. I once was stirred to write a novel while leafing through a book of baby names. I came across a name I’d never heard before, and suddenly a spunky little girl who survived a horrific tragedy was born in my mind. I'm also inspired by the beauty and uniqueness of Dixie.
My favorite quotes:
My favorite quotes:
"The task ahead of us is never as great as the power behind us."
~Ralph Emerson
"Dear God, make me a bird. So I could fly far. Far far away from here."
~Jenny’s prayer in Forrest Gump
“There’s not an ounce of excitement, not a whisper of a thrill. And this relationship has all the passion of a pair of titmice. I want you to get swept away out there. I want you to levitate. I want you to sing with rapture and dance like a dervish… I know it’s a cornball thing. But love is passion, obsession, someone you can’t live without. I say fall head over heels. Find someone you can love like crazy and who will love you the same way back. How do you find him? Well, you forget your head and listen to your heart. And I’m not hearing any heart. ‘Cause the truth is, honey, there’s no sense living your life without this. To make the journey and not fall deeply in love, well, you haven’t lived a life at all.”
~William Parrish’s speech to his daughter in Meet Joe Black
Pamela
Some say I’m a dreamer. Some say I’m a fantasist. Some say I’m kidding myself. I say I’m a writer.
With a large family made up of mostly females, I’ve gotten used to answering to just about anything. You know you’re important when your mother streams off a list of names (none of which are your own) before giving up and calling you ‘um, you’. On good days, I was Teeny. To everyone else, I was Pamela. I live in Scotland, the country of my heart. My blood runs blue. How can you not love a country that deep fries Mars bars in batter? Read More
I write a variety of modern, Young Adult and historical novels, all with romance interwoven. 50% of my writing is done in my head whilst (attempting) to live my real-life instead of being in my pretend ones. The other 50% is done at my messy desk that anyone other than me would need a map to navigate. Both are done craving Thai Sweet Chilli Crisps. As yet, I’ve not been published. Just give me time. Just…give me time.
When I’m not at my desk dreaming up my latest love affair, I’m indulging in my other passions: walking in the woods near my house; taking gloriously long bubble baths; perfecting the ass-impression on my couch; movies; reading; discovering new music; IMing my fellow wenches; hide and seek; eating.
I find inspiration for my work in everyday life, from overhearing conversations to a beautiful day. Both can be fabulous writing exercises – imagine what the events were that led up to the conversation, what would happen after it, who these people are to each other. When a day is beautiful I do a lot of daydreaming, wondering what some of my characters would do if they were given a day like it. Music often inspires me and greatly influences my writing. So do hot guys, but for different reasons.
As with any writer, books are like my air supply. I adore reading, getting lost in a story – looking up and realising five hours have passed and, oh, desperate for a wee! I love the emotions books can invoke in me, and if written well, it takes nothing to get my water works going. Seriously. Almost anything can make me cry in a book. The most common, and easiest thing to get my eyeballs leaking is when a character I’ve grown to care about, especially a kid, dies. Or if they lose the love of their life. I blubber like a baby. Even when it’s meant to be a happy situation.
Real conversations make me laugh easily, the truer to life the funnier I think it is. What makes me happy is when there is great imagery and I can picture the scene with ease.
I HATE when it’s obvious the writer has taken the easy way out rather than searching for a better solution around the problem. When a character’s viewpoint is suddenly thrown into the mix, for no other reason than making the writer’s life easier. (Something I was once guilty of. Habit now broken.)
So, if you’re collecting info on me (that is, if you’re even still reading) cool! How are you? Hope I’m not boring you. Ahem. Anyway… Here are a few of my favourite authors and books…
Authors:
The one’s that keep me guessing: Jeffrey Deaver, Steig Larsson
The one’s that scare the beejesus out of me: Stephen King, Mo Hayder
The one’s that let me go back in time: Margaret George, Elizabeth Weir
The one’s that make me swoon: Richelle Mead, Cassandra Clare, Jeaniene Frost, Charlaine Harris
The one’s that make me giggle: Melissa Nathan, Jane Costello
Books:
There are way too many books that I’ve fallen in love with over and over again for me to even begin listing them. There are a few that stick out in my mind for a few reasons:-
The Book Thief because it kept me gripped from the first page and made me cry buckets at the end
The Boy In The Stripped Pajamas because it was so simplistically written but the heaviness of the situation was incomprehensible. And I didn’t see the ending coming a mile off. I’m still reeling.
The Nanny because it is, and always will be, my security blanket.
Ghost Soldiers because I read it for research for one of my novels. It still haunts my dreams.
Helen of Troy because, for a time, I got to live in the time of heroes.
The covers are always a must for me, but, as I am wiser in my years and now no longer with a disposable income, I don’t buy a book just because it has a pretty cover. (Last hardback I bought was almost twenty quid. Gorgeous cover, sucky book. Lesson learned.)
It bugs me when the same model is used for loads of different covers. It confuses me and I can’t help but think about the other books and therefore can’t completely enjoy the one I’m reading.
A gorgeous cover is like a gorgeous man. Beautiful to look at, but it’s what’s inside that really matters. No, really. Seriously.
Okay, the cover doesn’t hurt ;)
Some more useless information on me…
Fears: I’m possibly the biggest freakin scaredy cat that ever walked the earth. I’m also possibly the biggest lover of horror movies also. I’m a conundrum. Or weird. One or the other. Some of my greatest fears include:
Leaving my window open during the summer – Daddy Long Legs fly in and scare the crap out of me.
Spiders. My husband chased me with one and I started crying.
Recurring car crash dream I have. It hurts every time.
A pile of rejection letters fatter than the book I’m submitting.
Breaking my nose. Looks like it hurts.
Goals: I’m such a dreamer. Maybe that’s why I’m a writer. Whatever the reason, I’m a dreamer at heart and I believe the higher the goals the further you can aim, not the further you can fall and let yourself down. Dream big, little girl, that’s my philosophy.
Some of my realistic dreams are:
Create a fictional world – kind of like Middle Earth, but not so. I’d like to be ruler of a world, that would be kind of awesome.
Go on a book tour – I’ve barely travelled. This seems like a good excuse to.
Meet my fellow Wenches in the flesh – why the hell not? They’re awesome gals.
Figure out exactly how many potatoes (or pasta, rice etc) I need for the meal and cook only what I need – stop myself eating leftovers for the rest of the week.
Watch E.T. without crying – this seems an impossibility. Shall move it to my slightly unrealistic dreams list.
Some of my slightly unrealistic dreams:
Have my face on a coin – I like the thought of being able to fit inside someone’s pocket.
Reach my goal weight on the Wii Fit – hahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha
Meet James Dean – do I really need an explanation for this one?
Kiss James Dean – see above.
Watch E.T. without crying – I risk flooding the house whenever I watch it.
Love and Hate:
Love: Crisps, bread, cakes, tea, mochas, pasta, writing, popcorn, gummi bears, Diet Coke, Bud, Southern Comfort, abs, Wentworth Miller, books, cuddles with the little ‘un.
Hate: Spiders, vegetables, people who suck energy, liars, computers crashing, Jedward, tomatoes.
Faults:
Um….Can I have a few extra pages for this one????? Here are a few of my least crazy ones:
Bakery stalking, inability to NOT sing along to The Sound of Music, freaking out when my books aren’t organised, freaking out when my tea isn’t made properly, mixes up grammar, duvet hogging, prone to sunburn, easily sidetracked, rambling.
The path to Hell is paved with adverbs – Stephen King
(because I am fighting the war against adverbs)
A loveless world is a dead world – Albert Camus
(because I’m a romance writer, baby)
Break the spine of one of my books and I break yours – Mia James (By Midnight – A Ravenwood Mystery)
(because if you break the spine of one of my books then I break yours)
RainSomewhere in the middle of Canada you will find my cozy little house filled with books, furry critters, kids and a husband. I grew up in Calgary but have done some roaming since my early years. I've traveled all across Canada and have to say with some pride, it really is a beautiful country. Although, if I'm honest, I do long to visit my fellow Wenches in the places they love best. Read More
What I Write:
Hmm… well, I have written romance of the historical, paranormal variety, short stories in a multitude of genres, and poems that tend to be on the silly side. I love to explore all styles and though I have not chosen a niche for myself, I am loving the journey.
Published Work:
Heart of the Maze – A historical, paranormal romance novelette published through Breathless Press
Almond Cookies – short story published in the Wilkie Press and the Northwestern Herald
Nothing But Time - short story published in the Wilkie Press and the Northwestern Herald
Both papers have copies of several other of my short stories and I have been told they will publish them during slow news weeks and would like to see any others I might like to share.
Pastimes:
I read. Okay, so maybe I should elaborate. There is no place, not even as I sit and type this up on my laptop, that I do not have a book with me. When I get up to grab a tea and take a break my book will come along for those few minutes. I will manipulate the book with my left hand while my right moves along on autopilot. When forced to leave my books at home to attend things like weddings or Christmas parties I always – always – feel as though something is missing or been forgotten. (I know, it’s pitiful, lol)
Other than reading, my husband and I bought a Wii for the family for Christmas. We thought, naturally enough, that our children would play with it. Turns out, hubby and I spend more time playing Mario Kart and in the land of Zelda than any of our kids. Um… we have in fact hooked my sister and one of our adult children on the Wii so completely they have gone out and bought their own with the hopes of kicking our butts someday. (That, of course, will never happen, but it’s good that they are trying.) When we can, we play online with our grandson (yeah, we got him a Wii too) as he is too far to visit as much as we would like.
What inspires my writing:
Inspiration comes from life: An argument, a burst of laughter in a quiet room, a memory that tears at the soul, a single line of poetry, a sleeping child, a story on the news or even passed on from a friend. I love to write from a prompt. Give me a sentence and I’ll give you a story. Challenge me, I dare you!
What makes me laugh in books? What angers me?
Well, the only book I have ever thrown away – ever – pissed me off from the first chapter. A historical romance, sigh, right? Not so much when the female lead is raped violently and then finds herself falling in love with her captor and abuser. Seriously? There are few books I have not finished once started. (Even crappy ones have to end sometime, lol) There is no way I would want my young teenage daughters to read garbage like this and believe that true and endless love can be found with an animal like this. Oh! And that your love can tame the beast within him. Ugh! The book landed in a water filled ditch on the side of the highway. (Don’t forget, paper biodegrades!)
Now, what makes me laugh? I love a scene in any book that rings true, the absurd, the silly moments where the author puts me in that moment. The moment where the girl’s off the shoulder sweater falls down in front of the guy she’s hot for’s parents. (Bra optional.) Lord, I think I lived that moment, lol.
Favorites:
I love a book that captures my imagination. For me, Stephen King is a writers writer, you may not like the subject matter, but the style and technique are flawless and something to aim for. For any writers out there, his book, On Writing, is excellent. You won’t find out where to place your commas, but you will learn about the art of writing. I will read everything with the exception of Westerns and Autobiographies by serial killers. (Why on earth would I want to give them my hard earned money for their crimes?)
Fears:
Birds – seriously! They love to dive-bomb my frizzy hair! Heights – I cry like a baby at the top of a six foot step-ladder. Any kind of bug with the ability to bite or sting. Losing my car in mall parking-lots.
Goals:
A couple hours to pick Stephen Kings brain (not literally, that would be disgusting) and have him tell me what an awesome writer I am. Teehee! To continue to be published. To eat whatever I want without gaining an ounce. (Such a lovely dream that one, lol) To own a Mini Cooper.
What do you love/hate:
Love: strawberry shakes, love stories, my dog, family, warm rain, tea and hot cinnamon buns, fresh snow (gives me an excuse to snuggle with my fuzzy blanket and a book) library smells, newborn baby smell, the sound of laughter, fridge art done by little hands, holding hands, getting lost in a new book.
Hate: bugs (see fears, lol), liars, people who don’t listen, bird poop on my truck, gum on summer sidewalks, people who don’t poop scoop after their dogs, people who don’t wash their hands after going to the bathroom (Hm, seem to have an anti-poop theme going on, lol), being told to ‘calm down’ when I’m angry.
Faults:
I have no faults … Bahahaha!
Just kidding. Rude service brings out a streak of mean in me. The edit button on my mouth just disappears and I get loud and obnoxious. (Yeah, I’m probably that cranky woman in the line ahead of you slowing everything down, sorry.) I obsess on any new project I start but need to be pushed to the end no matter how much, or maybe because, I love it and don’t want it to end. I’m a compulsive comma user.
Quotes:
The road to hell is paved with adverbs – Stephen King (You may have seen this one on Pam’s, but when a quote is this good, it deserves to be repeated.)
Any man who keeps working is not a failure. He may not be a great writer, but if he applies the old-fashioned virtues of hard, constant labor, he’ll eventually make some kind of career for himself as a writer. – Ray Bradbury
It’s kind of zen question: if you write a book and no one reads it, is it really a book? – Lee Child
SummerThough I have a couple of pen names, I answer to just about anything, but I like the nickname Summer the best. It defines me. I love anything hot. Let your imagination run rampant on that one. At the chance of stating the obvious, I love summer. (The season; I'm not a narcissist.) I'm still trying to figure out how I ended up living in New York. Winter is harsh and summer is short. So am I--short that is. Read More
Pen Names: Summer Falls & J.M. Powers
Weird tidbits: I'm an United States Air Force brat. When someone asks where I'm from, I answer with a question. "You mean originally?"
Weird tidbits: I'm an United States Air Force brat. When someone asks where I'm from, I answer with a question. "You mean originally?"
You can call me a wench of all trades. (Um, that sounded wrong.) Let me clarify. I've worked at many jobs, from seamstress to bartender, preferably not at the same time.
I write quotes on sticky notes and post them everywhere. I'm not kidding. You can find me by following multi-colored sticky notes. On my computer, the wall next to my bed, picture frames, bathroom mirrors, kitchen cabinets, books, canned goods … you name it. So, to keep up my quote fetish, several of my favorites are peppered throughout my bio.
Fill your paper with the breathings of your heart. ~William Wordsworth
I write romance. I adore the discovery of love… even when my character is not looking for it. I close my eyes and envision what the main protagonists' feel, what they like, why they do the things they do. While I pour my morning coffee, (I open my eyes at this point), I wonder how the man in my story would like it. (The coffee, you naughty vixen!)
Zoe, a character in my published novella, Stellar Surprise, is… ahem, naughty as well, but with an innocent twist. I filled this book with fantasy, adventure and fairies, but with the reality of love.
I love writing. I love the swirl and swing of words as they tangle with human emotions. ~James Michener
I write to communicate the thoughts burning in my mind. I must extinguish that fire, or it singes every thought. It consumes me until the story is on paper. I confess I am a bit saddened when the story is over. I miss the characters I created.
Write your first draft with your heart. Re-write with your head. ~From the movie, Finding Forrester
The first draft is an adventurous journey, running downhill, unable to stop. The rewrites are the most difficult leg, uphill and full of cliffs to fall over. See the quote above? It hangs next to my desk. I throw darts at it.
Writing a novel is like driving a car at night. You can only see as far as your headlights, but you can make the whole trip that way.
- E. L. Doctorow
I relate to this quote. I am a "pantser."(To clarify—I write by the seat of my pants, with no semblance of an outline.) I certainly know the beginning and end of my story… but the rest unfolds as I write. I am along for the ride. My characters simply tell me which corners to turn.
It begins with a character, usually, and once he stands up on his feet and begins to move, all I can do is trot along behind him with a paper and pencil trying to keep up long enough to put down what he says and does.~ William Faulkner
I have always written, even before I could spell. (I promise my writing has improved since then.) As I grew, so did my need to write. While most teen girls flirted with boys, I hunched over a spiral notebook, scribbling about their lives … thus my first romance stories.
It is a matter of opinion, but I am a grown up now. My writing grew with me. I have a published novella, a finished a full-length romance, a nanowrimo 2010 novel, and a partial manuscript about Autism. I also write poetry, essays, and short stories. I told you I am sleep deprived, right?
What inspires my writing: A weird look from a stranger, a wink from Brad Pitt, a waitress dropping a tray on my head, a rabid raccoon stealing my granola bar--just about anything. I always have a pen, or at last resort, eyeliner, to jot down an idea. Last week I found a napkin in my purse with a single word scribbled on it. Healy. It's either the name of the wench that dropped the tray on me, or a new character.
Favorite authors: Terry Goodkind, Jean M. Auel, Sandra Brown, Ken Follett, Margaret Atwood, Hannah Howell, Mary Lawson and the fellow wenches of this blog.
Why I choose a book: I'm a voracious reader. I know judging a book by its cover is a no-no. I do it anyway. If the cover fails to entice me, I won't pick it up. Covers speak to me. Are you picturing a crazy wench listening to a cover?
Faults: When I'm furious, I tend to attack with sarcasm. Angry sarcasm is comparable to a bullet—wounding and unable to retrieve.(I am working on loading with blank stares instead.)
I can't pass up a dare—Cartwheels down a hotel corridor, publically impersonating a crow, caws and flapping included, and kissing a stranger. (He had a girlfriend. Not all dares are wise.)
I laugh when I shouldn't. I don't know why. Once, someone tried breaking to my house. I grabbed two steak knives, handed one to my sister, and started cracking up. I think our squeals of laughter scared the burglar away.
Fears: not getting an agent, bears, run on sentences, bugs, deadlines, and running out of steak knives.
Likes: chocolate, coffee, cabins, hot buttered buns, (interpretation optional) spinach and strawberry salad, chewy sweet tarts, and a glass of wine served by a shirtless man, (preferably Brad Pitt.)
Dislikes: rudeness, cigarette smoke, stupid book endings, liars, granny panties, bullies, road rage, and interruptions while thinking about Brad Pitt.
Goals: publication of each book, having the courage to throw popcorn at the people who talk during a movie, a flat belly, and driving a Mustang convertible with Brad Pitt's hand on my thigh. Humor me. Brad does.
