Here is the “Story behind the Story” from my fellow WWII-writer, Heidi Chiavaroli! Visit her blog here! From Heidi: At the age of nineteen, I remember grieving my great-great-grandmother’s death. She was 102, born in the year 1898. I was sad for the loss, of course, but sadder still to think I hadn’t taken advantage of the time I’d had with her. Asked her questions. What was it like to be a child in 1908? How did it feel to be married during the turbulent times of WWI? To watch a grandchild be born with a second World War raging overseas? She was history. Personal history that I...
Story behind the Story: Sandra Ardoin
This week, I’m featuring the “Story Behind the Story” of my three critique group partners. First up – going alphabetically – is the marvelous Sandy Ardoin! Visit her blog and website here. From Sandy: How does a novel take over twenty years to write? I admit to being slow, but that’s a bit ridiculous, don’t you think? Shortly after I first started writing twenty-three years ago, I gave myself an assignment to be read by my class. I wanted to “practice” writing mood and description, so I created a nineteenth century mysterious, slightly shady character who rides into town and checks into a hotel without revealing his name or...
Story behind the Story: Diana Symons
A few years ago, I had been laid off from work and wasn’t sure what to do with myself. I started a novel, which sadly, I didn’t finish. Then one day, like a bolt from the sky, I realized that I had forgotten my best friend’s birthday – not by days or weeks, but by months! She never said anything! I was horrified and racked my brain trying to think of what I could do to make it up to her. I was broke so I had to be creative about it. I decided to write her fairytale. Then I hand bound it with jewels on the cover. It...
Story Behind the Story: Caitlin Muir
Goodbye Mr. 7:45 was sparked by a game of “what if.” As a young and bored barista, I met many men at the coffee shop that I worked at. Some were good, some were horrible, and all of them had stories. Mr. 7:45 is based on a specific guy I had the hugest crush on but everything that happens in the story is purely fictional! Like Bailey, I was quite smitten with my own Mr. 7:45. Yes, there really are people that predictable in the world. He came in every day at exactly 7:45 in the morning. He would order his drink and then chat with me while I made...
The Story Behind the Story: Lydia Tsirozidis
“I live in Athens, Greece, and many of my sisters in Christ, here, are Filipina housekeepers for wealthy Greek families. The Lord moved me to write Skipping Mountains after hearing countless testimonies from these women about the abuses they suffer at the hands of the rich. Although treated worse than animals by their employers, these humble women continue to live godly for Christ Jesus.What cinched the plot for me was actually one instance where the tables turned–one housekeeper later saw her wealthy mistress end up destitute.” Thank you for stopping by, Lydia!
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