It all began one afternoon when I was trying to find something to read. I grabbed my iPad and got to browsing on Amazon. I downloaded sample after sample and just couldn't find what I was looking for. I'm a huge fan of young adult literature and fantasy, and I just wasn't finding something to spark my interest.
Finally, after about the fifth or sixth book I'd started, I looked at my husband in frustration and said, "Ugh, I could write something better than this!"
"Then do it," was his response.
That gave me pause. Hmmmm, could I really write a book? What would that entail? How would I begin? What would I do with it if I ever finished?
I didn't do anything about it immediately, but the thought kept roaming around in my head, until one night as I was putting my daughter to bed. As was typical, she asked me to tell her a story at bedtime. Usually, the stories were ones that I made up about her and that night was no different. I began telling her a story about the day she was born, how there was a great snow storm. I told her that only exceptional children, like herself, were born during that storm - that's how powerful it was.
Long after she'd fallen asleep, I sat by her bedside and wondered....What if there was a storm so great that the children born during it couldn't help but gain a bit of its power? What if they went on to lead their people? What would happen if some of them were lost?
I immediately went downstairs, opened my computer, and began writing.
For four years I wrote off and on (more off than on, truth be told). I would hand off sections to my husband and he would read it and tell me to keep writing, but life would get in the way and Anya's story would go no further.
Until....on a whim, I sent the story to a friend - the half written story, mind you. I will never forget the messages I was getting from her throughout the night. She was intrigued. She was surprised. She wanted to hear more. "You've got to finish this!" she said.
My husband was supposed to like what I wrote, but the idea that others might was the motivation I needed. So, I set about writing, and in record time I'd finished. It is unbelievable to me that this week I began writing my third book. Most of all, it astonishes me that so many people have read and responded to the story that began one night after bedtime. It's amazing. Absolutely, amazing!
How About Those Characters?
The Chosen is, to me, a character driven story. Each of the characters' perspectives and motivations are important to drive the plot and help the reader connect to what is going on. One thing that I thought would be interesting, is to see the story from multiple perspectives. Because of that, I thought I would offer a few questions to get you thinking about the characters:
- What do you think of the multiple perspectives?
- What character do you feel the closest connection to?
- What character are you most like?
- What character are you most not like?
- Do the characters in the book remind you of any other characters from other books you've read or movies you've seen?
- Choose one character. What three words would you use to describe them? What movies, books, songs, etc. do you think they would like?
Now It's Your Turn
I've offered some ideas for you to write about, but you certainly don't have to use them. Write about whatever you want connected to The Chosen, chapters 1-8.
My vision is that you will create your own post and share your thoughts with the group. Then, we all can comment on each other's posts and have a dialogue.
You are free to begin writing. On Sunday, July 17th we will "officially" move on to the next section of the book.
Have fun! Happy reading and happy writing!!
