About the Book
Book: Landmark
Author: Pamela Poole
Genre: Inspired Southern Fiction
Release Date: July 2019
A daydream. A dance. A dangerous rendezvous.
After graduating college and arriving home to Painter Place in the summer of 1960, a young bachelor named Wyeth Painter dreams of living a quiet life. But his father sends him to London to teach an art class where he meets and falls for model Chrissy Carnet, an American from D.C. By the time he discovers the stunning young lady’s father is a fearsome international spy who brought them together, Wyeth’s heart is in chaos.
But Chrissy is determined to follow him and daydreams of creating a home on his island. With the Island Summer Dance looming ahead, Wyeth tries to protect Painter Place from any danger her presence might bring. Will Wyeth force himself to get over her, or can both their dreams intertwine and come true?
- 1. Do you set a plot or prefer going wherever an idea takes you?I do a loose plot with a technique Leonardo da Vinci created, called “Mind Mapping.” I start by drawing a circle in the center of a blank page, using the title or theme of the story or novel in the circle. Then, I segment 3 lines out to divide the page into roughly thirds, to mark the Beginning, Middle, and End. From those circles, I will branch out with the main ideas and goals of each third, with the idea that they will all lead to ups, downs, and a satisfying climax to the story before the end. With that in mind, my notebook of research, my character profiles, and prayer for inspiration, I set off to write. I make certain I actually have a satisfying point to the story before spending time wandering around. At this point, ideas may take me places I didn’t expect and dress up the story, but the point of the story is still there waiting for me at the end. I aim for simplicity, writing in Word on my laptop.
- 2. Do you pen down revelations and ideas as you get them, right then and there?I carry around a note pad and pen, even in the car, and when I hear a song title or lyric, see a sign, read a wonderful description of something, hear an interesting name, etc., I jot it down. At home, I take these scribbles to a notebook and list them until I can type them up and add them to a binder where I keep research and inspiration.
- 3. Do you need to be in a specific place or room to write, or you can just sit in the middle of a café full of people and write? I work best in a place with few distractions and where I can listen to spa-type music or epic movie soundtracks (no words). I can accomplish this with noise-cancelling headphones if needed, but I don’t prefer it. The measured music pace moves me along and encourages a sense of higher aspirations than the world around me.
- 4. How long does it usually take you to write a book? It takes me about 9 months to research, write, edit (over and over), and paint the cover painting of a novel for a designer. Truly, it is like having a child! I would be faster, but freaky challenges (spiritual warfare) always pop up in my life when I’m writing a book or teaching.
- 5.Do bits of yourself/friends show up in your characters? Certainly. One of the most drilled-in lessons I learned from other authors is to “write what you know.” Since my personality type is extremely rare, about .8% of the population (female INTJ on the Myers Briggs test), I can’t rely too much on my own except for main characters. My stories will never be populated with emotional people and “mercy” is sadly always the lowest on my Spiritual Gifts scores. On the other hand, logic, fierce loyalty, bold stands, creativity, spontaneity, and incredibly deep love will always be present somewhere in my books. These are things I know.
Fortunately, my life has been rich with both good and bad experiences and people, and I am a keen observer. I must do my best when writing about a secondary character and not all my cast will be convincing. I hope readers will consider them to be props that move the story ahead. For fiction in general, this is something readers should be aware of when they wonder why there aren’t many main characters who are minorities or have physical handicaps, etc. For authenticity, writers are more likely to stick to what they know and what inspires them.
Like Jane Austen, I love a large cast of characters with a big world to live in! Readers can find character lists in the back of my novels and on my author website.
About the Author
Inspiring Southern Ambiance
Pamela Poole’s love for the South inspires all her books and paintings. The setting for her novels and short stories in the Painter Place Saga is a fictional island between Charleston, SC and Myrtle Beach. Pamela lives life loving Jesus and her family as a wife, mother, and GiGi, and she is blessed with true friends. She and her husband Mark currently live in Raleigh, North Carolina, but she considers the Lowcounty of South Carolina “home.” Pamela is a member of various author and artist organizations.
“Now to Him who is able to do above and beyond all that we ask or think according to the power that works in us— to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.” Ephesians 3:20,21
More from Pamela
Hi, I’m Pamela Poole, and I live an amazing life as an artist and author! What makes my life amazing isn’t the things I get to do. It’s the scope of experiences, from devasating to incredibly wonderful, that are used by Christ to weave my story and make it one worth telling and living.
Have you ever noticed that people entertain themselves at the expense of the sufferring of others? What about the book you’re currently reading? Would you be interested in the story if the author didn’t drag the characters through excruciating ordeals so they could grow into a better person? We tend to pray for protection from trouble for ourselves and loved ones, then we relish reading or watching others as they cope with it. Their stories are the ones we find amazing. What irony!
In my latest novel, Landmark, I take readers back to the year 1960 to journey with the Painter and Gregoy families as they navigate through trouble on the verge of a tumultuous new decade. Their efforts to do the right things as they walk with Christ will not eliminate the valuable struggle ahead of them. Like other novels in the saga, Landmark is a nostalgic, entertaining, and wholesome story, yet it is packed with meaningful insights that encourage us as we set up our own landmarks to mark the times when Jesus was faithful through our struggles.
Landmark is the first book in the saga chronologically.
Blog Stops
Moments With Mercy, September 17
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, September 18
My Devotional Thoughts, September 19 (Author Interview)
Reflections From My Bookshelves, September 20
Pause for Tales, September 21
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, September 22
Texas Book-aholic, September 23
janicesbookreviews, September 24
Maureen’s Musings , September 25
Blossoms and Blessings, September 26 (Author Interview)
A Reader’s Brain, September 27
Just the Write Escape, September 28
Inklings and notions, September 29
Godly Book Reviews, September 30
Giveaway
To celebrate her tour, Pamela is giving away a grand prize package containing a Kindle, unique coastal kitchen towel, and an original 4×4 mini painting, “Atlantic Tides” (painted by the author)!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.
What a beautiful blog page! The scrapbook design is lovely. It's an honor to be interviewed for your page, and I appreciate your encouragement to readers and authors. -Pamela
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed the interview, thanks for the chance!
ReplyDelete