A Writer in the Making...

Waiting for You: A Story of Loss, Grief, and Love by Allison Williford is exactly what its title and subtitle suggest. It truly is a story of loss, grief, and love. Kylie and Adam are the main characters who meet at a concert. Kylie only goes because of the coaxing of her best friend, but deep down she knows she’s too young to live her life alone and isolated. Kylie’s gotten used to being by herself. In her world, it’s just her and her mother. Adam is a rising musician, looking for an opportunity with his band named Waiting for One. When he sees Kylie at the concert, he’s intrigued. He wants to get to know her. Despite her reluctance, Adam pursues her. Kylie gradually starts to open up, but when tragedy strikes, she retreats to her old ways. She pulls away from Adam, but is he willing to let her go? My emotions truly went on a roller-coaster ride. I found myself getting emotional as I went through the ups and downs with these characters. There is heartbreak, gri...

  Forever Mine by Aimee Martin tells the story of Blake Thompson and Kellina McDonald. Blake’s past has left him heartbroken, and a former abusive marriage has Kellina wanting a better life for her and her young daughter, Gracie. While Kellina trusts God to keep her and her daughter safe, Blake wants nothing to do with God. He has his reasons and he’s so closed off that Kellina decides to reach out to help him. What’s the problem? Blake doesn’t want help. He doesn’t want to change. Most importantly, he doesn’t want to open his heart to anyone. The problem is that his willpower is no match for the determined Kellina. Even when he meets her daughter, he’s immediately taken with little Gracie, who brings the headstrong cowboy to his knees. Literally. As Blake gets to know Kellina and her daughter, he discovers he does want something more. The question is, does he have the courage to do it? Also, is Kellina ready for a man like Blake? She’s suffering from a past too...

Ever read a book and wondered, “I just started this and I’m finished already?” The plot was amazing but the ending came too quickly. The characters were real and authentic, but the words “The End” are read before you know it. Or the book is too long and your brain is just about fried. Reading one more page will make you pass out from exhaustion. You wonder, “Is this over yet?” and “How many chapters do I have left?” I’ve read books like this in both categories. I’ve read books where I thought the story was over too soon. The plot had me gripped, but I think the author could have gone more in depth with the characters. Perhaps there should have been another scene to bring the climax of the story to a new height. On the other hand, I’ve read books where the story was too long. It felt as if the story was dragging and not “getting to the point.” I wanted to physically shake the characters myself because I wanted to get to the “good part.” By the time I finished, I needed a ...

When writing your book, which do you think is best? Is it more effective when you’re reading from the mind of the character, or from the narration of the author? What grips you from start to finish? Knowing that you’re listening to the character share his or her story or the author sharing on the behalf of the character? Which is best when it comes to a novel or fiction book? I’ve read books in first person and in third person, and I have to say each is interesting in its own way. While I’m used to reading third person, the recent stories I’ve read have been written in first person. It took a while to get used to, but I did feel a connection with the writing of first person. Instead of the author telling me the story, I received it firsthand from the mouth of the character. In a way it feels more real. On the other hand with third person, the author has the ability to bring you into the character’s mind, heart, and feelings. It takes more creativity I think to describe the fee...