Digging Deep, by Boyd Lemon, Reviewed.

Subtitled, ‘A Writer Uncovers His Marriages’, this piece of autobiography is a fascinating and compelling insight into the mind and spirit of an American writer.

A reader from outside the sometimes insular and self-congratulatory arena of the USA, I found this memoir accessible, moving, entertaining and surprisingly informative about more than just the author and his wives. The reader is taken deep into the lives of the subjects. All are flawed and most reflect the human condition that prevents us from learning by our own mistakes, let alone those of others. The repeated patterns of ill-advised behaviour echo the lives of so many.

That the author was the instrument of his own downfall is the superficial judgment that first surfaces. But, as he digs deeper and reveals more of his early life, it becomes apparent that he, and almost certainly his wives, suffered from the consequences of inadequate parenting. The account recalled to mind an excellent book on that topic: everyone should read ‘They F**k You Up’, but that’s a different review.

Boyd Lemon is frank, courageous and surprisingly honest about his relationships with women, treating his wives and girlfriends with the unconscious disdain engendered by the values and traditions of the far right. He loathes his job, but is too much in love with the money and what it can buy to break out of the cycle that traps him in unhappiness. Living the American Dream, he is initially blind to the true consequences of an existence led in pursuit of material benefits intended to impress his peers. Does he finally discover the reality? You’ll need to read the book to find out.

There is intimate detail here; the emotional, physical, spiritual and philosophical threads that are woven into his life are untwined and laid before the reader to inspect and examine. I suspect the act of writing this autobiography has been deeply cathartic for him. As a reader, I felt involved, intrigued, irritated, exasperated, excited, hopeful and joyful by turns. This is a ride that takes you high and low and hides none of the ugly details, whilst showing you the delights and wonders life can bring.

I’ve had the book on my Kindle for a while and finally got around to reading it as it popped up next on the list. Although unable to read it all in one go, I was driven to return to it whenever an opportunity presented itself. Anyone interested in the lives of others, curious about writers, involved in a difficult relationship, unsure of their place in the world of work, or simply intrigued by what drives individuals to make the choices they make, will enjoy this book. I recommend it without reservation.

Related articles

• Author Interview with Boyd Lemon:

Writing, As A Woman.

A little over 3 weeks ago, my wife had a fall, resulting in a broken wrist. This, in turn, means I have to

do a lot more of the domestic tasks. I’ve generally done a few things around the house and made the car and garden my particular responsibility. But we’ve always shared the load between us. What I’ve come to realise, however, is just how much my wife does silently in the background whilst I’m tapping away at the keyboard.

This has educated me a little more in the difficulties that must be faced by many women writers, especially those who have children and/or another job. I’ve always been employed as well as doing my writing, at least until I retired from employment a few months ago. So, I’ve had some understanding of the way a writer must juggle other tasks with writing: not always easy and never very satisfactory. But this experience with my wife effectively out of action (though her independent spirit means she’s still tackling anything she can manage with one hand!) has shown me just how hard it must be for those women who write whilst caring for a family. We have only one daughter, now at university, but currently at home for the holidays and working in a local hostelry.

I’ve found myself washing up (glasses and pans) – a task I’ve previously done only occasionally. Organising the dish-washer for the ordinary crockery and cutlery. Washing clothes and hanging them out to dry ( a time-consuming job). Ironing (also time-consuming). Preparing meals (another job I’ve done from time to time rather than regularly). Shopping (neither of us likes this one, but we’ve generally done it together to make sure neither of us gets lumbered). Preparing packing up for Kate on her work days (yes, she could do it herself, but she has the social life of a student and she’s doing research for her dissertation, so I’d rather she concentrated on being a student at present). So far, I’ve not used the vacuum cleaner, as Valerie insists she can manage that one-handed. And the dust is starting to collect, so I’ll have to get that duster out soon. The weather has been generally kind, so the car has managed without a clean for a few weeks. But the grass keeps growing, so that has to be tamed, of course. And, if I don’t get out there with a trowel, the weeds will soon become a veritable jungle.  And, because she can’t drive, I’m also the chauffeur for when Valerie wants or needs to go places. There are lots of other ‘little’ jobs, of course, but it would be boring to enumerate them all. It all eats into the writing time.

But this is all temporary, of course. Once that pot comes off her arm, I know Valerie will go back to doing all these things and encourage me to spend more time writing. It’s those women who have no such relief from the daily grind that I’ve come to sympathise (dare I go as far as ‘empathise’?) with more over these few weeks. I’ve also come to admire them more. To continue day after day and still get those words down: that’s quite an achievement, ladies.

So, let me just say: Well done to all those women (and the few men) who write in spite of caring for their families. I admire your effort, concentration and spirit of determination. More power to you all.

Related articles

• Author Interview with Stuart Aken
• A Lot To Do Or Just No Time?
• Reminder: Special Issue of Women's Writing "19thC Women Writers & the Rise of the Bestseller" (9/2/2013)
• Self-Confidence: How do you feel about your writing?

Play With a Tiger, By Doris Lessing, Reviewed.

One thing that can be said with little fear of contradiction is that Doris Lessing's work is anything but simple and straightforward. She loves to wrap her characters and plots in multiple layers, through which the reader must pick his way, often with only minimal guidance as to direction and even, sometimes, intent.

Play With A Tiger was first performed at the Comedy Theatre, London, on 22^nd March 1964 and is set in the city. Whilst it's very much a play of its time, it nevertheless carries some of its themes fairly well into the modern day. Attitudes to unmarried mothers have changed for many, political normality has become anything but, and extramarital affairs are now so commonplace as to be almost expected, but the war of the sexes continues, for some, at any rate.

As Anna and Dave reconstruct their pasts and possible futures, their dialogue exposes their sometimes opposing, sometimes similar stances. The descriptive passages that take them back in time explore their development as people and depict the lives of their parents and families in ways that explain, to some extent, the way they are now. But there is an underlying tone of self-absorption and mutual distrust that was, as I recall, a very common situation for men and women at the time. I'm not convinced it is any better now than it was then, but the development of family planning aids has definitely made things different for the single woman in search of love without the wish to raise a family. This aspect of the relationship between men and women is so different now that modern audiences may have difficulty understanding the dilemma facing maturing women back in those early days of burgeoning sexual freedom.

Dave is careless and unaware of the reality of the effect of his philandering on the women he seduces and uses as an excuse to bolster his ego. He's not a character I can find much sympathy for, with his utterly selfish concerns. Anna is singularly confused and seems unable to make up her own mind about much that troubles her in life. She yearns to be as free as she believes Dave to be, and it's easy to understand this desire when set against the strictures society places on her.

There are asides, set-based devices, and other interactions that illustrate the differences between the male and female views of life at the time, and I suspect these would have worked very well in performance.  They don't translate well via the text alone, however. Would I go to see the play in performance?  I wish I'd seen it at the time, when so much more was immediately relevant, but I don't think I'd watch it today, unless it was substantially re-written to accommodate what has changed. For all that, I enjoyed the read.

Related articles

• Briefing For A Descent Into Hell by Doris Lessing (Vintage V-662 - 1981)

The American Election: a View From Over the Pond.

IN MY VIEW

Why should I care what happens in the USA Presidential election? It’s a sad fact of life that the USA has a hugely inflated influence in the world. US foreign policy impacts far more deeply, far more widely than the nation deserves, with its inward obsession. And that’s the problem: US policies, regarding the world as a whole, are entirely based on what’s best for the US, rather than what’s best for the world.

Obama at least has an awareness and an interest in what happens beyond the shores of his own continent. I fear not only for the women and the poor of America, but for the world as a whole if Romney succeeds in gaining the post of the most powerful man in the world.

Where Obama displays concern for the poor and disadvantaged, and tries his best, against strong opposition from the right, to do what he can for them, Romney has shown himself indifferent or even worse in his attitude to society’s victims. The wealthy have stripped the poor of their resources and rights for centuries and Romney belongs to that class of people who hold the view that the poor deserve to be poor. He has no conception of the realities of life for those without personal wealth. His attitude to women is appalling: his many statements demonstrate that he has no interest in the views of women and simply wants them to remain silent and under the control of men. This cowardly stance is fed, of course, by his religious background, which, in common with the backward paternalistic culture of many third world countries, considers women as second class citizens or, worse, as no more than goods and chattels. It staggers me that any woman could even consider voting for this man who appears to reside in a Hollywood version of the stone age, where men are depicted as superior beings and women are no more than decorative slaves expected to pander to male whims and fancies. Of course, it’s probable that such women have been brain-washed, often via extreme forms of religion, into not only accepting their subservient role but into evangelising this Neanderthal philosophy.

I hope, without any expectation of satisfaction, that the women and the poor of America will rise up and demand their rights by voting for Obama, kicking the right wing in the teeth for their lack of compassion and their inhumanity regarding all underdogs. There are just two days to go before the momentous decision is made. I appeal to all women, disadvantaged citizens, and right-thinking folk of the wonderful land of America to go out and vote for President Obama. The rest of the world will applaud you if you do. If you wonder how I know this, follow this link.

Author Interview with Pandora Poikilos

Who is Pandora Poikilos?
I have received some "get to know you" questions. So, here's a peek at the questions that have been asked, and the random ones that no one asked but I felt like answering anyways, in no particular order. 
Most popular question, is Pandora Poikilos a real name? 
Now, if it's real or not, after having it broadcast all over the internet am I really going to tell one individual who asks me in a blog comment? Some pseudonyms I have used include, Marjorie Abraham and Andrea Nelson.  
What do you think was the most difficult part of growing up and why?
Not too sure if I'm all grown up (loads more to grow mentally) but I'd have to say the most difficult part is learning that people you trust can betray you for the smallest of returns. 
How old are you?
Old enough, 17 April 1976
What’s the ideal dream job for you?
What I have right now. To write. 

Hello Pandora, please tell us about you, as a writer.

For as long as I can remember, I have always wanted to write. My first article was published in a local paper when I was 13. Not only did it feel like it was the best thing in the world, the only time when I feel right with myself is when I am writing.

Your book ‘Excuse Me, My Brains Have Stepped Out’ has been described as Women's Fiction; perhaps you’d you give us some insight into it in a few sentences.

The book deals with Anya's story which is woven into layers of misunderstandings, a rare neurological disorder and an issue that we all deal with, acceptance. More importantly the book deals with moving on. Life has a habit of handing us a pause button and sometimes we can't seem to move past it, this book doesn't show you how in a step by step way, it is proof that you can move past tragedy or loss.

How did you come to write this particular book?

I was diagnosed with IIH (Intracranial Hypertension) some years ago. Life has been difficult to say the least. I had a VP shunt surgery done last year. Writing a book was always a goal I had for myself and there's nothing like brain surgery to get you going and so the book was finished between pre-surgery jitters and post-surgery boredom.

Do you have a favourite character from the book? If so, who and why this particular one?

It would be the chapter and character known as "Calm Amidst the Storm" which talks about a friend who holds you up and takes you across the finish line when all you want to do is drop out of the race.

Where can people buy your books?

Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Smashwords for now. More sale venues will be coming soon.

Amazon - http://www.amazon.com/Excuse-Brains-Have-Stepped-Out/dp/0983197873/

Smashwords - http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/53084

What qualities does a writer need to be successful?

Resilience, Humility, Diligence.

What’s your working method?

I must have pen and paper. Traditional and old fashioned I know but my words will not come otherwise. Once it is written out, it is typed out, edited and so on. Also, I do set aside writing time which is uninterrupted time solely for working on my current book, short stories or my non-fiction pieces (also known as Dora's Essentials).

What’s the single biggest mistake made by beginner writers?

They give up too easily. They write to a few B-I-G publishing companies, get turned down and then they tell themselves it's not worth the effort. Imagine if Dickens believed everything people said about him.

To what extent are grammar and spelling important in writing?

I think it makes the difference between an easy read for the reader and a good writer who conveys his story. Neither can happen without good grammar and spelling. Understood, that all books cannot be perfect and errors can be found but when you find a spelling error in every sentence, what does that tell you of the writer and will the reader keep reading?

How much do you revise your MS before sending it off?

To the point that looking at it makes me want to throw up. I only send it off when I am sick of it. As long as I am turning the pages making changes, I'm not done with it and I'm not happy with it. And if I'm not happy about it how will my readers enjoy the book?

As a writer, to what extent do you think genre is useful in the publishing world?

I think it is very useful. It provides a sense of direction. You can't just write a book and say I wrote about 'everything'.

Many authors see marketing as a bind. What's your opinion on this, and how do you deal with it?

This a frequent and ongoing discussion isn't it? I think to a large extent the publishing industry has become a much wider circle than it used to be. But with this comes a large supply that may or may not have a demand for it. Hence, the process of coercing the supply towards the demand. I've had my moments when marketing has really got to me but utilising social media has been a wonderful tool in aiding my marketing efforts. But as with anything in life, social media marketing has to be consistent before successful results are seen.

What sort of displacement activities keep you from writing?

Noise. I get distracted easily with phones ringing, dogs barking. While this is not an activity it definitely flushes out ideas from my head.

What support, if any, do you receive from family and friends, or a writing group?

I have a few close friends I can go to and there is my partner (Peas as he is known to my readers) who becomes my virtual 'punching bag', critic and idea bag. I think it is important for any writer to have people like these around. It's one thing to have someone close to you read it and say, "that's a great piece" but it's completely another for them to say, "you can do better". Sometimes we become complacent and we need people close to us to nudge us along.

Is presentation of the MS as important as agents and publishers suggest?

I think it is. A well presented MS usually means effort. If the writer doesn't make an effort on his own MS, again, how will the reader be affected?

How long does it take you to write a novel?

About 3 months, it's the editing that takes me longer.

Who or what inspires your writing?

My partner, Peas. Call him a muse if you must but our conversations have sparked more than just one or two chapters of my work.

If there’s a single aspect of writing you find frustrating, what is it?

None that I can think of.

Is there a particular feature of writing that you really enjoy?

Reaching out to people. Nothing in the world tops the feeling of communicating with a reader who has something to say about your book.

Do you believe creative writing is a natural gift or an acquired skill?

I think it's a little of both, a pleasant mix if you must. It comes naturally then you tame it with some training and chances are, a masterpiece is born.

What are you writing now?

My second novel, Frequent Traveler, which will be released on November 6.

Do you have a website or blog where readers can visit?

Sure. My blog is - http://peacefrompieces.blogspot.com/ and

my website is http://pandorapoikilos.com/

Contact info is as follows
twitter - pandorapoikilos
facebook -pandorapoikilos
google talk - pandorapoikilos

Given unlimited resources, where would you do your writing?

On a beautiful island with very few people, a comfortable house and Internet.

Where do you actually write?

Curled up on my sofa with my MP3 player in my ears.

Author Interview with Valerie Douglas:

Hello Valerie. Please let us know something about you.

*gameshow voice* Well, Stuart, I’m happily married to my beloved husband of two years. We have two dogs (one psycho), three cats (one normal, one with one eye and one psycho-kitty. We also have an African clawed frog imaginatively named Hopper who, oddly enough, doesn’t hop at all, he swims. *grin*

I know you write sensual and erotic fantasy; perhaps you’d you give us some insight into Demon’s Kiss in a few sentences.

*laughing* I write epic, heroic, mythic and romantic, as well as sensual and erotic fantasy, Why does everyone always ask about the sexy ones?

Demon’s Kiss, though, was a great lot of fun to write, simply for the idea of taking what was commonly assumed to be the bad guy and making him the good guy.

How did you come to write this particular book?

Almost all my books come from a particular scene that pops into my head. In the case of Demon’s Kiss it’s the scene where Gabriel first sees Asmodeus. The reader, Gabriel and I start from that first vision of this immensely powerful demon, who’s chained but not cowed. He’s also naked. Hence the erotic part.

If you have a favourite character in your novel, why that particular one?

In the beginning, of course, it was Asmodeus, but by the end I was already seeing and falling in love with Ashtoreth. He’s the tortured hero but not angst-ridden as so many are these days. As with warriors in real life, he’s just trying to live the best way he can.

Where and when is this novel set and why did you make these specific choices?

Strangely, when I write erotic romance, while there might be fantasy elements, I almost always write contemporary as opposed to otherworldly. There’s also nearly always a subtext to my books, a concept or idea I’m trying to get across.

Where can people buy your book?

Demon’s Kiss is available almost anywhere―including from the publisher, Ellora’s Cave ―just search for my pseudonym, V. J. Devereaux. All of my Valerie Douglas books are available on Kindle, Nook, via Smashwords, etc. Just type my name in the search.

What qualities does a writer need to be successful?

Determination. It’s the one quality every writer needs. The determination to take that novel you’ve written to completion, then to edit it and polish it, to gather up the courage to stick it in an envelope, and face the inevitable rejection letters until the one where someone says “Yes.”

What’s your working method?

*smiles* I’m what some call a ‘pantser, I write by the ‘seat of my pants, I don’t plot or outline. The first idea comes in a flash of a scene and I run with it for as long as the muse is willing to dance with me. I’ve learned not to try to direct it but to simply be a part of it, transcribing what I see and experience with all my characters. I wrote the first draft of my epic fantasy in one great rush, 72 straight hours without sleep, only coffee.

That first draft informs the second draft and I almost always take that second run at it right away, filling in the details I picked up from the first draft, or expanding descriptions or characters. Then I walk away from it for a while, give myself some space. If the characters or story still call me, I’ll go back and make additions.

Finally, there’s the editing/polishing draft. Like all writers I have baaaaad habits. Too many thats, using that instead of who. Starting a sentence with There was. Not using active verbs―using walked instead of walking. Using begin or began―people don’t begin to do things, they DO them.  I have a whole list I go through. It’s also a great way to take yourself out of the book to catch other mistakes or to rewrite sentences for clarity.

What’s the single biggest mistake made by beginner writers?

That last step, absolutely. Most beginner writers think the story is done when they’re done writing it but that’s only the beginning. The second mistake is forgetting that writing is an art, publishing is a business. Business isn’t interested in art, it’s interested in making money. If selling books is your definition of success, as it is for most of us, then you can’t forget that.

To what extent are grammar and spelling important in writing?

Well, if you want people to read it and understand it, it’s crucial.

How much do you revise your MS before sending it off?

A lot, see answer 8. And that would be for a book like Demon’s Kiss. Something like The Coming Storm had twenty three drafts by my count. It originally had a prologue, which is now a separate novella, Not Magic Enough.

As a writer of fantasy, to what extent do you think genre is useful in the publishing world?

Genre is definition, not for the writer but for the prospective reader. Without it, they’d drown in novels, with no method for separating them. Unfortunately, genre can also be perception―ask any romance writer if they sometimes feel disparaged, if their writing is sometimes considered light or frivolous no matter how serious the subject.

Many authors see marketing as a bind. What's your opinion on this, and how do you deal with it?

Marketing can be tough or easy depending on how you view it. Some of it, like this, can be fun. Some―like searching for all the sites where you need to post information about your book―can be pretty tedious. If the muse doesn’t wake me up with a hot idea, I do the marketing stuff in the morning, with the promise of a glass of wine and writing later. My muse really likes a glass of merlot to get her going. *laughing*

How do you know where to begin a given story?

That’s not my choice, it begins where it begins. With The Coming Storm it was the ending, the scene in the Council Chamber. If you ever read it you’ll know the scene I’m talking about. Then I had to know how they’d gotten there to that place, who were these people? Finding out was a wonderful adventure. It took a while for me to accept that the prologue wasn’t necessary to the book but I loved the story of Delae and Dorovan, and then suddenly I had their story. On the other hand, Heart of the Gods opened with the first scene and just took off from there.

What sort of displacement activities keep you from writing?

Anything. I make jokes about my ADD―attention deficit disorder―but it’s very real. I’m very easily distracted, but if the muse is dancing it’s the one time I can be focused. A loud noise, movement can and has pulled me out, and I’m nearly a basket case until I can get back into the story. Which brings us to the next question. *grinning*

What support, if any, do you receive from family and friends, or a writing group?

Bless my husband, he’s incredibly patient and supportive, most of the time. If he was a reader he’d be beyond perfect but I’m blessed with a number of Facebook friends and fans who act as my beta readers and cheerleading squad.

Do you think presentation of the MS is as important as agents and publishers suggest?

It is for them! And if you’re sitting in front of them trying to get them to take your MS, it is for you, too. That’s reality.

How long does it take you to write a novel?

*grins* Until it’s done. The first draft can take as little as week of nonstop writing, but I wrote the first draft of Cooking Class (soon to be released erotic romance) in a weekend, dove right into the second draft and polished it the following weekend. It still holds up.

Who or what inspires you?

Everything. People. The kinds of people who went charging into the World Trade Center towers. Nelson Mandela―he was in prison for years, dreaming of the end of apartheid, when they finally let him out he wasn’t angry, just determined. Harper Lee, who wrote a single book, To Kill a Mockingbird, and changed the way a whole nation viewed race in the simple story of a child’s coming of age.

If there’s a single aspect of writing you find really frustrating, what is it?

That some think it’s easy, that anyone can do it. I’ve always believed that if I’m not feeling it, the reader won’t feel it. If they’re going to be moved, you have to be moved. I’ve written about difficult situations, extremely painful ones. There have been times I’ve been in tears. Then there’s the time and effort of getting published, of facing rejection letters and bad reviews, of handing off my baby to someone who may not love it as much as I do.

Is there a particular feature of writing that you really enjoy?

When the muse is with me and the images are flowing, there’s nothing like it, it’s the ultimate high. To enter that world, to listen to the conversations, to be a part of it and bring my readers with me is an incredible and indescribable experience, like watching and being in that world. It’s amazing.

Do you believe writing is a natural gift or an acquired skill?

Writing is an art and so a natural gift. Anyone can learn the mechanics of writing, can even write a novel, but to really bring a reader into it, to draw them with you, that takes passion. For example, the DaVinci Code was hugely popular, but do the characters still speak to you?  Now, think of the classics. Don’t a dozen characters leap to mind? I just recently had a fan e-mail me asking where the sequel to The Coming Storm was. She needed to know what happened to the characters next. That’s magic!

What are you writing now?

I’ve got three or four projects in the works. The aforementioned sequel (A Convocation of Kings) is in the final, polishing draft, and I’ve started a prequel to the entire series. I also have an idea for a sequel to Heart of the Gods but that’s still in the mulling it over phase.

Do you have a website or blog readers can visit?

Both. www.valeriedouglasbooks.com and www.valeriedouglasbooks.blogspot.com

Given unlimited resources, where would you do your writing?

Right where I’m at, honestly. Tropical breezes would be tempting but wasted if I can’t enjoy them, and they’d be too distracting.

Where do you actually write?

I have a writing room, and that’s its only purpose. It’s decorated the way I like it, comfortably cluttered with books and research. I have a cup heater for my coffee and blinds I can draw. Once my headphones are in place, the sound blocking is on and the right music is keyed up, I’m ready to write.