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An Interview
With ER!-This week eBooks Rock! rocks
with young adult suspense author, Eloise Barton. EB- Finding Mariah is about a young woman who discovers that small towns can hide secrets. So can families. Finding out those secrets will change her life forever--if she survives! Why young adult? I originally wrote this as a traditional romance. It was rejected, so I filed it away. Five years later, my friend Linda Singleton reminded me I'd told her I thought my heroine sounded more like an enthusiastic teenager than a stressed out career woman. She asked me to see if could rewrite the novel as a YA and enter it in the Golden Heart, so they'd have enough entries to keep the YA section alive. She's a good friend, so I said okay, and pulled the novel out of my file. After I got through being sick (I sent THAT to an editor?) I rewrote it drastically, (kept the main characters and the main secrets; got rid of the kitchen sink) entered the Golden Heart, and made the Finals. I didn't win. (Melinda Rucker Haynes was the winner that year, with Ghostly Acts.) However, as a Finalist, I helped start The Golden Network, the RWA Chapter for Golden Heart Finalists. Our second year, we held the Golden Contract Contest. Since we were all Golden Heart Finalists, and 'that close' to being published, Mary Wolf of Hard Shell Word Factory agreed to offer the winner of our contest a contract. I was a Second Place Winner, but Mary offered me a contract anyway. I was so excited I could have flown home from Chicago without the airplane! ER!-Are there any scenes in Finding Mariah that were inspired by your own childhood experiences? EB- The
getting lost scenes? My family will tell you those are
true! The scene on the nursing home porch--that happened
to me, and with a teenager's ER!-Is there a book out there that you're just dying to write but for some reason haven't? EB- Several! The Scottish Historical - I keep buying research books and seeing scenes in my head. The series set in America in the 1800's that I call "Jonathan's Women: The Mother Who Risked Her Life to Save Him; The Wife Who Defied Her Family to Marry Him; The Daughter Who Must Deny Him to Keep Her Family Alive." But I'm still working full time, so I can't commit the time necessary to research and write a historical. But "The Mystery Hidden in Grandma's Manuscript" - that's a possibility. (With a better title!) Maybe as a sequel to "Finding Mariah." ER!-What would you say has been your biggest writing challenge? EB- Finding the time to write. First there were all the children--and now the grandchildren. I've had two periods of three years each when I was a full-time writer. That's when my books were written. Now I'm a full-time cashier for the California State Fair. I like my job, but it sure interferes with time to write! ER!-Is there anything out there that you'd like to do, but haven't yet been given the opportunity? EB- Travel to Scotland to do some on-location research. Travel down the Mississippi to research "Jonathan's Women." What I'd really like would be the opportunity to use all I've learned about publicizing your book from "Finding Mariah" and apply it to "Heart's Home"--the manuscript I sent to Mary Wolf at Hard Shell Word Factory. I keep telling her, "It's a good book! Trust me!" But she insists on making her own decision. I don't mind waiting, so long as her final decision agrees with mine! ER!-Is there a book that you've written, but we'll never see? Why? EB- "Watch Out For The Alligators" - the story of the blending of Ken's five and my four children into one big happy--well, interesting family. After seven rejections, I had the manuscript critiqued and was told, "You've got too many characters. You must cut some of them out." Which ones of my children do I cut out? I can't do that. So that is the book only the family will read. ER!-Why did you decide to write in the electronic industry? EB- When I heard First Prize in our Golden Contract Contest was a publishing contract, I said, "Published? I can do that! What's an e-pub?" Since then, I've learned a lot, and shared what I've learned with every group I've talked to. It's exciting being on the cutting edge of a new way of telling stories to people, but a little scary. And you've got to have a tough skin. Someday, I want to so successful I'll be able to say, "See? I told you so!" to all those who right now are looking down their noses at the e-pubbed authors. ER!-If you weren't a writer, what would you be doing? EB- "Grandmother in Charge of Extra-Curricular Activities" - going new places and seeing new things. And reading all the books in my To Be Read pile! ER!-Of all the character's you've written about, who would you say is most like you? And why? EB- Elsie
in "Watch Out For The Alligators" IS me--but
sweeter, kinder, and more understanding. (It's fiction. I
can do that!) Mariah's tendency to get ER!-What's the non-writing world like for you? Is there a husband, a boyfriend, slaves hidden in the basement? Children? EB- As I
said, Ken had five children and I had four when we got
married. We lost one, but raised eight. Now there are 25
grandchildren (26 come July). ER!-Many readers wonder what's
going on in an author's head, and here's the part where
we find out<g>. EB- Sweet kind chubby little scaredy-cat grama who dreams of having adventures. That's why I write stories. ER!-(Finish this sentence) On a Saturday night you'll find me... EB-Taking a family member to a play or musical; reading a book; reading and answering my email; or writing our monthly Family Newsletter. (I know; I ought to say: "Writing my book." But reading books is research; email is business; and writing the newsletter is good practice. Isn't it?) ER!-If I were a cartoon character I'd be... EB- Mary Jane, from "Mary Jane and Sniffles." (If anybody reading this is old enough to remember those characters!) Or Mighty Mouse; "Here I come to save the day!" ER!-If I could have one wish, I would wish... EB- For my family to be happy and healthy. And me too! ER!-What kind of car do you drive? EB- 1991 Honda Civic ER!-What kind of car do you *want* to drive? EB- 2001 Honda Civic ER!-Answer the following
questions as quickly as possible, but feel free to expand
on any of your answers (Hey, it's not a test).: EB- Hard to choose. "Ice Castles." "Turning Point." "Star Is Born." "Hope Floats." "1776." "Honeysuckle Rose." "Braveheart." "Rob Roy." ER!-Favorite song? EB- Almost anything by Enya or Yanni ER!-Favorite snack? EB- Chocolate covered cranberries are my latest favorite. Any kind of nuts or chips. ER!-Favorite book? EB- "Outlander" by Diana Gabldon; "Morning Glory" by LaVerle Spencer; My latest favorites: -"Pig in a Park" and "The Last Enemy" by Pauline B Jones; "The Godmother Sanction" by Patricia White. ER!-Typewriter or computer? EB- Computer! Absolutely! ER!-Soup or salad? EB- Salad, almost always. ER!-Pre-planner or blind leap? EB- Pre-planner, definitely. ER!-Turkey burger or steak? EB- Turkey burger. Or Rotisserie Chicken. ER!-Slacks or jeans? EB- Jeans. ER!-Boxers or briefs? EB- Briefs ER!-Are blondes really more fun? EB- My blonde daughter is outrageous fun. We brunettes are just quieter about it. ER!-Have you ever held anyone hostage? EB- No ER!-If no, would you? EB- I don't think so. ER!-Do you believe in love at first sight? EB- Yes. But I think you'd better take a long second look before acting on it. ER!-Are aliens real? EB- Seems likely. ER!-If you could vote members off of Gilligan's Island, who would get the boot first? EB- We need them all! ER!-If Godzilla and Superman got into a street fight (no weapons allowed), who would win? EB- Superman. He could outthink Godzilla. ER!-What is one thing about you that very few know? EB- I can be a real bitch. But I keep that well hidden. ER!-What is your greatest fear? EB- That I'll be a nothing; a nobody. That I'll have wasted my time on this earth. That I'll have caused someone pain by what I did or did not do. ER!-If you could be anyone (dead or alive) who would you be? And why? EB- Me, but braver, stronger, more disciplined. I have so much potential. Why can't I get my act together? Me, happier -- remembering to see the joy all around me and to stop worrying about what I can't change. And remembering to take pride in what I have done (over 100 stories and articles published, and one book) and to stop kicking myself for what I haven't done. (The books I dream of writing will come someday. When the time is right.) ER!-And finally (and you can take your time on this one:-)), what's next for you? Your next book? Writing venture? Goal? EB- My goal for this year: to read 100 books and lose 20 pounds. My next writing venture: To look at those four children's books I've written; rewrite as necessary, and get them out to a publisher. My next book: Doing this interview has helped me see the Scottish Historical and the 1820's Historical are fuzzy dreams; not practical right now. But "The Secret in the Manuscript" is possible--if I focus on it and Just Do It! |
