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Guest Post - Writing for my life
by author of Daisy - Between a Rock and a Hard Place, Janis F Kearney
Saying Goodbye is Such Sweet Sorrow
One of the questions I get asked most often, as a writer, is, “How do you choose the subjects for your books?” That’s a really easy one for me. You see, I really never get a chance to choose my subjects, because…my books choose me. Believe it or not, I have no less than five books twirling around in my head, vying with each other to be the next one I write. It never fails that as I near the completion of one book, the next one pops into my head and keeps me up for nights trying to decide if the subject worthy of my time…and, one that would be of interest to readers.
I know, I’m sounding as if writing is a walk in the park. It’s anything but. I struggle just as much as the next writer with things like my story line, my characters, my plot, and even getting the time period correct. And, there is one thing that I struggle with a lot more than most writers – saying “The End,” gracefully. I have no idea when this problem appeared, but I certainly recall a number of workshop leaders asking if I was trying to go for a second book before ending the first. It’s like saying goodnight when you really, really enjoyed the company. Every half-funny story you ever heard gets thrown at your guest to get them to linger just a few minutes longer.
Does anyone have a good cure? I’m game for just about anything. One extremely conscientious instructor even told me that maybe I should try simply repeating the opening with just a little twist, and at least the reader would know that the story has gone full circle. Well…that didn’t work for me. My story ended up mimicking a little doggy trying to catch its tail.
Oh well, I’m getting better. The endings are getting shorter and shorter. And, truthfully, there are worst problems to have, like never being able to get past the opening paragraph! I do think I’ve detected the root of my problem… I simply love writing so much that I get caught up in my own stories, fall in love with my characters and never want to say goodbye. At least, not until they’re as perfect as I can make them. But, then, life isn’t perfect, is it? So, why should my characters or their lives be any different? A writer can dream, can’t she?
Like I always say, Writing is nothing less than a miracle, and for one more day…I am writing for my life.
About author Janis F. Kearney
Janis F. Kearney is a publisher, author, and oral historian. She was one of 19 children born to Arkansas Delta Sharecroppers T.J. and Ethel Kearney. She Graduated from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville with a B.A., in Journalism, and completed 30 hours in public administration, and Journalism.
Janis F. Kearney is a publisher, author, and oral historian. She was one of 19 children born to Arkansas Delta Sharecroppers T.J. and Ethel Kearney. She Graduated from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville with a B.A., in Journalism, and completed 30 hours in public administration, and Journalism.
She was hired by Daisy Bates in 1987 as Managing Editor of the Arkansas State Press. In 1988, she purchased the newspaper. She served as Personal Diarist to President Clinton from 1995 to 2001. She was the country’s first personal diarist to a U.S. President, and during that time, she also served as White House liaison to the U.S. National Archives.
In 2001, Janis moved with her husband Bob Nash to Chicago, where she began her writing life. In 2003, Janis, with her husband’s support, founded Writing our World Press/WOW! Books in 2003. Her first book, Cotton Field of Dreams: A Memoir was published in 2004. Her other books include Something to Write Home About: Memories of a Presidential Diarist; Conversations: William Jefferson Clinton…from Hope to Harlem; and Once Upon a Time there was a Girl: a Murder at Mobile Bay, her first fiction. WOW! Books has also published two other authors. Her next book, Daisy: Between a Rock and a Hard Place, is scheduled for publication, December 2012. Her third memoir, Sundays with TJ: 100 years of Memories on Varner Road, and her second Once Upon a Time there was a Girl murder mystery are both slated for publication in Spring, 2013.
Links:
Presidential diarist and author Janis F. Kearney transforms civil rights legend Daisy Gatson Bates’ life from black and white, to living color. The author, who interviewed Bates many times; recreates her conversations and interviews to “fill in” places left un-filled, and colors incidents and experiences, to bring Daisy Bates to life. Kearney plums the mysterious murder of Bates’ mother, and the orphan’s childhood; the young woman’s prophetic decision to share a traveling salesman’s life; her non-traditional role as co-publisher of an award winning newspaper; and her leadership role at a time, and place where women rarely led.
Between a Rock and a Hard Place is Daisy’s “look back” at her life, and…finally, a self-analysis of how, and possibly, why she became the Daisy Gatson Bates for which she is known throughout the world. Author Janis F. Kearney recounts the leader’s many friendships, relationships and associations that helps define who she was in the eyes of the world - from Presidents Kennedy, Johnson and Clinton; First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt; the Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr.; Roy Wilson, NAACP President; Thurgood Marshall and Wiley Branton, NAACP attorneys, Maya Angelou and Jackie Robinson… and countless others.
The author met Daisy Bates in the summer of 1969, at the age of16. From that moment, the high school student dreamed of working for the woman her father called one of Arkansas’ greatest leaders – black or white.
Praise
"Thank you to Janis F. Kearney for shedding a critical light on an often forgotten civil rights heroine. Daisy Bates was a woman who refused to be defined by society's rules on both race and place in America. An often controversial figure, Bates lived life on her own terms, for which she paid dearly. She was an American hero who loved her country for all its greatness; but courageously proclaimed it could and should be better." ~Sharon La Cruise, Producer
Blog Tour Giveaway
$25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash
Ends 1/27/12
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Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer http://iamareadernotawriter.blogspot.com and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.
Sharon x
http://www.beckvalleybooks.co.uk
http://www.beckvalleybooks.blogspot.com
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