Oh boy, a new week of wonderful guests. Wanna know who’s stopping by?
Well, Wednesday, the lovely Patti Lacy is my guest.
Friday, we get to enjoy the sweetness of Audra Harders.
But today…
Get ready for the fabulous Siri Mitchell.
I just received Siri’s newest novel in the mail. A Heart Most Worthy. I can’t wait to read it. Siri is one of those authors who really likes to challenge herself as a writer. If you’d like to learn more about her versatile novel-writing background, check out this interview at The Writers Alley.
Siri gives us some insight about where her ideas come from. Check out the wonderful list of inspiring thoughts.
It seems like most of my recent novels have begun with something — some fact, some picture, some idea — that makes me go ‘hmm…’
A Constant Heart — Women poisoned themselves with their cosmetics.
Love’s Pursuit — A woman could be accused of doing something terrible (even though people ought to have known better) simply for what she was wearing.
She Walks in Beauty — Women ruined their health by wearing corsets.
A Heart Most Worthy — A group of woman at a dressmaking shop sewed wedding gowns for each other >>> to which was added the fact that Italian immigrants were the second most lynched group in America (after African Americans)
Hannah’s Heart — (I’m currently working on this one) There was at least one Quaker spy and there were several Quaker generals during the Revolutionary War. What made them decided to abandon their believes and take sides?
Other facts that have struck me and are waiting to be turned into stories somehow: Did you know if you put daffodils and tulips in the same vase, the daffodils will poison the tulips?; a woman who feels the urge to constantly re-arrange her furniture; in France, the Havilland China company imported American painters for their dishes — these people were regularly attacked and couldn’t go anywhere at night.
Rarely do any of these facts or ideas have anything to do with a plot. Sometimes, they’re not even about people…which can present some problems since novels are about people. But I just note them all down on a spreadsheet and when it comes time to choose what to write next, I review all the ideas and see which ones my subconscious has been working on.
My contemporary novels were different. Kissing Adrien was inspired by a non-fiction manuscript I’d written. Something Beyond the Sky was inspired by my own experiences as a military wife. Chateau of Echoes was my last-ditch attempt to get published, so I threw in all the elements I liked to read in a novel; I was also feeling homesick for France, so I imagined myself up in a castle. The Cubicle Next Door began as a book about a girl who used to be nice, but Jackie sort of hijacked it. Moon Over Tokyo I think was written in an attempt to explain Japan to myself.
Ideas are everywhere! I can’t turn all of them into novels, and sometimes my skill set has had to grow in order to be able to turn one of them into a novel, but somehow my brain seems to know which ones will work and which ones are just interesting facts to know.
Isn’t this fascinating?!? Look at all the various ways Siri finds her inspiration. Wow! And she has a wealth of books to prove that inspiration does pay J If you’ve never had an opportunity to read a Siri Mitchell book, get to Amazon or your nearest bookshop TODAY!! They are worth it!
And have I mentioned that she is SUPER sweet in person. Really, truly!
One quick inspirational ‘beginning’:
2 Timothy 1:8-10
He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, 10 but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.
Our good works, our writing, our love…none of them make God love us any more than he already does. You know why? He already loves us completely. He brought us into His kingdom as sin-cloaked rebels transformed by the grace of Jesus Christ. We were hand-picked, just because of love.
His love.
Extravagant, beautiful, unconditional, and far beyond our understanding.
He saved us. He called us.
Just because of love.
Grace.
I’ve only read a few of Sir’s books, but have loved them! She is a great writer and is so lucky to have such beautiful covers!
I loved hearing about your ideas for stories! Thanks for sharing!
I’m addicted to her books, Sherrinda. They are unique – and I LOVE unique 🙂
I have loved the orginal ideas Siri gives her books, I know each one will hold me captive, I’ll learn something about history and be completely swept away on the tide of a great book. I haven’t met a Siri book I haven’t liked and now I’m going through her backlist! Chateau of Echoes is on my nightstand and Kissing Adrien on my TBR stack! And since Pep got A Heart Most Worthy recently, maybe mine is coming soon?? GREAT books, I hope I get to meet Siri in person someday. 🙂
Case,
I know you’re a Siri Mitchell-groupie too 🙂
Just WAIT until you read Kissing Adrien.
Sigh.
I still swoon at the thought.
I haven’t read any of Siri’s books but they all sounded like they’d be very interesting. The covers are lovely. I’ll have to put them on my to find list.
Thanks for the interview. I enjoyed reading how she got the ideas for each book.
Pam,
Thanks for stopping by. Patti Lacy is my featured guest on Wednesday for more inspirational thoughts 🙂
Thanks, guys, for your enouraging words about my books! Hope you all enjoy the new one. I wish I could claim credit for those gorgeous covers, but they’re the work of my editor and Bethany House’s design team.
Coraggio!
-Siri