Welcome, Laura. How much of yourself do you
write into your characters?
So much! There
are hints and slivers of me in all of my characters, although none of them are
me. They all have their distinct identities. I danced ballet for years like
Claire, was on high school dance team like Lindsey and Melissa, lived in Atlanta for ten years
like Raven, have a silver cross necklace like Palmer, etc. Not to mention the
foods they eat and the music they listen to and the trips they take, plus all
the little things that might occur to the girls in my books that seem random to
a reader, but mimic real experiences of mine.
One afternoon
when I was in fifth grade I felt so much pride practically baking a cake by
myself, even working the electric beaters until … a strand of my waist length
hair tumbled into the bowl. In less than ten seconds, the beaters wound
themselves around that strand of hair and were up to my skull! Luckily, Mom was
in the kitchen. She yanked the cord from the outlet and saved me from who knows
what kind of damage those spinning pieces of metal may have caused. The tangle was
so severe, Mom had to cut the beaters out of my hair leaving a fist-sized chunk
of stubble on the top of my head. It took years to grow out! Needless to say I
almost always mix by hand now, and should the need for beaters occur (say
making meringues) I pull my hair back in a ponytail prior to mixing.
When did you first discover that you were
a writer?
In second grade,
we had to write a story and draw a picture that went with it, you know on that
kind of paper that had lines on the bottom for you to form your letters
correctly and space at the top to illustrate your work? I wrote a
three-sentence story about Sally the Skunk. It was the most exciting thing I’d
ever done. I was so proud of that piece of paper, or my creation. It planted a
seed inside me. From that time forward, I’ve always wanted to write more and
more stories and create more and more characters.
Tell us the range of the kinds of books
you enjoy reading?
I absolutely
love to read. I am typically reading two books at once. This always consists of
one nonfiction Christian book guiding me on ways to increase my faith. In this
genre, I just completed reading Called
by Ryan Pemberton and am about to crack open The Four Loves by C.S. Lewis. The other book I’m usually reading is
typically well-written, emotional fiction with compelling characters. I tend to
read a lot of young adult, because the emotions are so raw and genuine, and
because I write in this genre. But I’ll also read historical fiction and try to
dip into the NY Times Bestseller
list. I just completed I’ll Give You the
Sun (YA) and am so excited to dive into All
the Light We Cannot See (NY Times
Bestseller and historical fiction).
How do you keep your sanity in our run,
run, run, world?
I have a deep
faith and find peace and comfort in the fact that I don’t have to be in control
of everything. In fact, I’m not. Knowing God is in control and handing things
over to Him gives me breathing room in a hectic world. I also run to clear my
head and breathe in and breathe out.
How do you choose your characters’ names?
The same way my
kids pick names for their stuffed animals J. Really. I think about who the character is, what she or he
represents in a story, what they would be like to hang out with, and try to
think of a name that fits their
personality. Sometimes a name will just pop into my head, other times I’ll have
to let it simmer a bit, keeping my eyes peeled to names I see in my day-to-day
life, anything from an email I get from a customer service rep, to a name of
someone posting on a Facebook thread, to a list of names on a newsletter. When
I see the right name, I know it, and voila,
my character has a name.
What is the accomplishment that you are
most proud of?
None of my
accomplishments are mine. They are all gift. But the thing that brings me most
joy and fulfillment, besides my faith, is my family—my marriage to a wonderful
man and our four amazing children.
What is your favorite food?
Chocolate chip
cookies hands down. Actually the dough, before they’re even baked, and then the
actual cookies come in second.
What is the problem with writing that was
your greatest roadblock and how did you overcome it?
Getting published.
The publishing industry is highly competitive. Editors are inundated with
submissions. It is a challenge to get noticed amidst everything they’re being
sent.
A writing friend
suggested I get out a piece of lined notebook paper. Every time I submitted my
manuscript somewhere, she told me to write out the name of the publisher and
the date on a line of the paper. She told me not to give up until I had filled
every line on that paper! I know we rarely use pen and paper any more, but
there was something tangible about writing out each submission. It made the
submission itself feel like an accomplishment, which it is. It’s a lot of work
to put together a proposal, research a publisher, research an editor, write the
perfect query, and be brave enough to send it. This exercise also reminded me
not to give up after four or five submissions. That can feel like a lot, when
you’re putting yourself out there, but at that point in the process, there were
still quite a few blank lines on my page of notebook paper. Before I reached
the halfway point, my first novel, was accepted by NavPress.
Tells us about the featured book.
I had a close
friend in high school who was hospitalized for anorexia. I had another dear
friend in college who also had to go into treatment for her eating disorder. As
an adult woman, one of my friends was in a dangerous battle revolving around
her body image. Skinny began as my way to speak to them. To let these friends
know I understood what it’s like to be a female in our society with so much
pressure to be thin, to look a certain way. But even more importantly, I wanted
to let them know they are beautiful, just the way they are, just the way God
made them. Skinny started out as that, almost as a letter, a tribute, an
essay or a short story, but it evolved into a novel about a high school
freshman bombarded by the changes and pressures of high school, seeking to find
a way to regain control of her life. Skinny is young adult fiction,
because the character is fourteen, but my hope is it will touch a place in all
women’s hearts, reminding them that they were made in the image of God, and
therefore they are beautiful.
Please give us the first page of the book.
Melissa posed as
perfectly as a marble statue. Her head bent at a forty-five degree angle, her
fingers spread equidistantly, rigid, and exactly in line with her thighs. The
music pulsed in her veins. She inhaled and silently counted along with Todd.
“Five, six,
seven, eight.”
Even though he
was only five foot five, Todd had a booming voice that commanded the attention
of every girl in the room. The rhythm of the music vibrated from the speakers
on the church’s glossy gymnasium floor.
Like a
marionette brought to life by invisible strings, Melissa jerked her hands up,
forming a V with her arms, snapped her head upright, and flashed a radiant
smile.
“And turn, six,
seven, eight. Lift and lift and slide and slide,” Todd continued like a
metronome. The pulsating beat pulled Melissa’s body back and forth.
Abruptly, Todd’s
solid muscular body relaxed. The coach turned his back to the group of girls
and padded across the wooden floor to turn off the music.
How can readers find you on the Internet?
Website www.laurasmithauthor.com
Instagram: https://instagram.com/laurasmithauthor/
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/laurasmithbooks/
Thank you, Laura, for sharing this new book with us. It's an important topic to deal with. So much in our modern world tears down the self-image of so many girls and women.
Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.
Skinny: She was starving to fit in... (False Reflections Book 1) - paperbackSkinny: She was starving to fit in... (False Reflections Book 1) - Kindle
Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. Please tell us where you live, at least the state or territory. (Comments containing links may be subject to removal by blog owner.)
Void where prohibited; the odds of winning depend on the number of entrants. Entering the giveaway is considered a confirmation of eligibility on behalf of the enterer in accord with these rules and any pertaining local/federal/international laws.
The only notification you’ll receive is the winner post on this blog. So be sure to check back a week from Saturday to see if you won. You will have 4 weeks from the posting of the winners to claim your book.
If you’re reading this on Goodreads, Google+, Feedblitz, Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, or Amazon, please come to the blog to leave your comment if you want to be included in the drawing. Here’s a link:
Http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com
12 comments:
Thanks for hosting me here today, Lena!
I have to identify with the hair in the mixer episode. I did the exact same thing when I was that age! I don't remember having my hair chopped out of it, though. I wasn't allowed to stop using the mixer, either, as I was responsible for many of the family meals by that age. My mama did not think that was a sufficient reason to shy away from the equipment, but she sure stopped using the pressure cooker when she exploded it all over the kitchen! I took over all the pressure cooking duties after that. Same with the sewing after she drove the machine needle over her thumb nail. My mama was nearly blind, and I loved her to death, and miss her every day! Lisa in Ohio.
It is so important to highlight issues such as anorexia.
Mary P
QLD AUSTRALIA
HI Lisa in Ohio aka Granny's attic - I'm from Ohio too. Maybe us Ohioans are just prone to mixer episodes :). Glad you've survived all of it. Praying for that spot in your heart where you miss your mama.
Hi Mary Preston, Yes, I've had so many friends who have suffered with eating disorders I had to write about it. We are all Christ's beautiful creations, but the world shouts differently at us. I pray my writing will point people back to their maker and the way He fiercely loves them for exactly who they are.
It's great to see a book focusing on this issue. If it could help even one person to see them self in the true light and as a child of God it is so worth it. We are all different shapes and sizes and beautiful and so worthwhile just the way we are. I would love to read your encouraging book.
Deanne in Pennsylvania
Cnnamongirl(at)aol(dot)com
Enter me in your awesome giveaway!!
Conway, SC.
Thanks, Deanne! That's my prayer too! That readers will see their true beauty, realize they are Christ's beautiful creation! FYI - the giveaway here is for a paperback, but you can find Skinny for FREE right now on all e-formats; Kindle, Nook, iBooks, etc. Here's the link to Amazon
http://www.amazon.com/Skinny-starving-False-Reflections-Book-ebook/dp/B00QG7T3D6/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&sr=8-1-spell&qid=1432831768
Sharon Richmond Bryant
consider yourself entered :)
and please know you can download this book for free on any e-format, the link to Kindle is above :)
Sounds like a interesting book! Shelia Hall from Mississippi
Thanks, Shelia Hall! Hope you enjoy it. If you don't win the paperback copy, you can download Skinny free on all e-formats right now.
I have know a few with this and Dee from NE would find this book so interesting :)
Hi Laura & Lena! I used to be bulimic in Jr High so Skinny sounds like a book that will hit home for me. I'm completely healed of that awful controlling disease, especially after I watched one of my dearest friends, a friend I practically considered my baby sister, die of anorexia at the young age of 24. This sounds like a book I'll really enjoy!
Kristen in OK
kam110476 at gmail dot com
Deanna And Kam
Thanks so much for your comments. Yes, so many struggle with eating disorders. Kam, I'm so sorry that you struggled with this controlling disease and that you had to suffer through the pain of watching someone you loved so much be taken by anorexia. Praying God will continue to remind you how beautiful you are and that you were made in His image! Skinny is free on all e-formats now, so if you'd like to download for FREE here's the link :)
http://www.amazon.com/Skinny-starving-False-Reflections-Book-ebook/dp/B00QG7T3D6/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&sr=8-1&qid=1433168257
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