Fiction Friday! Fran Orenstein
*For the Summer Give-Away Hop click HERE!WHAT IS A WRITER?
by Dr. Fran Orenstein, Author, Poet, Presenter
Writing prose and poetry is the means I use to express myself. All artists have a unique talent or ability that drives them to create. From the first storyteller chiseling a picture on a cave wall, to today’s writer at a computer, the goal is to produce something they hope people will read. Personally, being a published author and poet is a fulfillment of a dream I have had since I wrote my first poem at age eight. Part of that dream is to leave a legacy for the future, whether it is simply a book my grandchildren will enjoy and pass on through the generations, to the ultimate dream of producing a classic that will live on forever.
As a writer you must be willing to keep putting ideas down in words, and really want to write. A friend who is a musician and artist said to me many years ago, “When are you going to call yourself a writer?” The question boggled my mind, for I did not consider myself a writer, even though I had been writing academically and professionally for much of my life. I was other things, but I thought, “Me, a writer?” Then one day, I woke up and realized, “I am a writer.” It did not matter what I wrote, I was producing articles, newsletters, papers, books, short stories and poems, and people were reading them.
Writing is a lonely art. Sometimes, days go by when the only communication you have is with the characters on the page. Then there are the days when nothing happens, words refuse to appear on the page, the book seems to drag, the characters are bland, and you are ready to give it all up. But suddenly there is a breakthrough; your fingers are off and running, and your brain surges forward with new ideas.
The ultimate high for a writer is the day the doorbell rings and someone in a brown uniform rushes away like a felon down your driveway. You open the door and there it is; a plain brown box. You haul it inside, paying no attention to your screaming back and run a blade carefully through the tape. You open the flaps and there they are snuggled in bubble wrap. You lift out the top book and hold it in your hands, then stare at the cover like it was the archaeological find of the century. You open it and the words you slaved over for so many months or years jump off the paper. Glancing furtively around to make sure no one is watching, you clutch it to your chest, and grin like a kid with a new toy.
That’s what writing is all about. Every book is a new baby; a new beginning. Murder in Duplicate (June 2013, World Castle Publishing) is a new writing genre for me, and the second novel written for adults. I’ve written children’s mysteries, but never an adult mystery. An avid reader of mysteries since the Nancy Drew series, people have nagged me for years to try writing a mystery. Finally, I gave in and loved doing it. Readers are enjoying it, so this may be my genre of the future, wherever that may lead. A series? Who knows what diabolical plots lie dormant in my brain? Stay tuned to for future books, events, and blog tours!
LINKS:
Webpage
Blog
Amazon
Blurb:
Romance mystery writer, Lily Aaron is a young woman looking for a forever love and inspiration for her popular books. On a lunch break from her job as a magazine editor, she meets a sexy, gorgeous man in a coffee shop, and falls hard. Is Ken Braun’s image as a successful attorney and charming companion all a façade, or is he the man destined for Lily’s future? Meanwhile, Ted Warren, an obsessed computer geek starts stalking her, calling her Laurel. She can’t get rid of him and before she can figure it out, Ted is murdered and Lily is now in first place as the killer. Lily struggles to prove her innocence, and deal with the enigma of a new man in her life and the secret behind Ted’s obsession and death. In a harrowing climax, Lily discovers the truth, but it may not be in time to save her own life.
Writing is a lonely art. Sometimes, days go by when the only communication you have is with the characters on the page. Then there are the days when nothing happens, words refuse to appear on the page, the book seems to drag, the characters are bland, and you are ready to give it all up. But suddenly there is a breakthrough; your fingers are off and running, and your brain surges forward with new ideas.
The ultimate high for a writer is the day the doorbell rings and someone in a brown uniform rushes away like a felon down your driveway. You open the door and there it is; a plain brown box. You haul it inside, paying no attention to your screaming back and run a blade carefully through the tape. You open the flaps and there they are snuggled in bubble wrap. You lift out the top book and hold it in your hands, then stare at the cover like it was the archaeological find of the century. You open it and the words you slaved over for so many months or years jump off the paper. Glancing furtively around to make sure no one is watching, you clutch it to your chest, and grin like a kid with a new toy.
That’s what writing is all about. Every book is a new baby; a new beginning. Murder in Duplicate (June 2013, World Castle Publishing) is a new writing genre for me, and the second novel written for adults. I’ve written children’s mysteries, but never an adult mystery. An avid reader of mysteries since the Nancy Drew series, people have nagged me for years to try writing a mystery. Finally, I gave in and loved doing it. Readers are enjoying it, so this may be my genre of the future, wherever that may lead. A series? Who knows what diabolical plots lie dormant in my brain? Stay tuned to for future books, events, and blog tours!
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| Fran's newest release |
Webpage
Blog
Amazon
Blurb:
Romance mystery writer, Lily Aaron is a young woman looking for a forever love and inspiration for her popular books. On a lunch break from her job as a magazine editor, she meets a sexy, gorgeous man in a coffee shop, and falls hard. Is Ken Braun’s image as a successful attorney and charming companion all a façade, or is he the man destined for Lily’s future? Meanwhile, Ted Warren, an obsessed computer geek starts stalking her, calling her Laurel. She can’t get rid of him and before she can figure it out, Ted is murdered and Lily is now in first place as the killer. Lily struggles to prove her innocence, and deal with the enigma of a new man in her life and the secret behind Ted’s obsession and death. In a harrowing climax, Lily discovers the truth, but it may not be in time to save her own life.
I'm both an author and a musician, and I can attest that any creative endeavor is something you must really want to do.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on your latest book, Fran!
I agree. It's too much work if you don't truly love it.
DeleteThanks, Alex. You can't smother creativity, it comes out in one way or another.
DeleteYour description of opening your first round of books from the UPS guy is priceless! I'm looking forward to that day! Thanks for sharing, Fran, and much success to you!!
ReplyDeleteYou'll get that day Cathrina! You're on the right track :)
DeleteHi, Elizabeth, HI, Fran....
ReplyDeleteWonderful emotion and set up to this post Fran! You certainly expressed it beautifully!
Good luck on your newest baby!
Elizabeth... thanks for featuring Fran!
And I received my new comfy shirt yesterday! Thanks! I know I'll enjoy many a nights sleep wearing it!
Fran is a talented lady!
DeleteI hope the tee serves you well for years to come :)
Love your description of lifting the first copy of your novel out of the box. I am sooo looking forward to that day. :)
ReplyDeleteSoon Melissa...you will do it!!!
DeleteSuch an awesome guest! It's good to meet you, Dr. Orenstein. :)
ReplyDeleteYeah, I feel like I should raise my hand when I send her an email question ;)
DeleteHa, ha! A long time ago in a galaxy far far away, I actually taught early childhood.
DeleteI really enjoyed your description of the UPS guy! Mine absolute runs from the door like a teenager leaving a prank.
ReplyDeleteI can't wait for the day I get to hold my own book with a snazzy cover like that.
My UPS guy brings dog treats...he's such a suck up.
DeleteI think that day will be coming soon Rena...you have a wonderful talent!
Thanks everyone for your comments and Elizabeth for inviting me to participate in the blog event. Hand on, writers...you too will open that box and watch the brown uniform race away.
ReplyDeleteYou're most welcome Fran. You're a lovely lady to spend time with. :)
DeleteGood job Fran, I enjoyed reading how you do what you seem to do so effortlessly. Looking forward to your mystery.
ReplyDeleteBillie
I have to add it to my TBR list also.
DeleteEvery book is a new baby; a new beginning. That is so true. Glad you had Fran over Liz.
ReplyDeleteMy pleasure Sheena-kay!
DeleteNice to meet you, Fran. That moment of calling yourself a writer is a momentous one - I still don't!
ReplyDeleteI don't either. I just filled out my kids football papers and under job, I put none. Maybe when the check can buy the groceries, I'll be more impressed with myself.
DeleteRight, in the next few weeks, we have to officially describe ourselves as writers, either on a form or to a stranger - deal?
DeleteYes, have to love it to keep doing it. It's certainly not the paychecks that keep me at it. :)
ReplyDeleteAmen to that Mary!!!
DeleteI always thought I wasn't creative because I couldn't draw, but being a writer takes creative juices too! It's taken a while to change my way of thinking.
ReplyDeleteGreat post!
Emily I can't draw either!! Nor do I decorate well. Writing is pretty much all I've got.
Delete"You lift out the top book and hold it in your hands, then stare at the cover like it was the archaeological find of the century."
ReplyDeleteROFL! I do believe no one has ever expressed it better. I've made two such amazin archaeological finds over the past few years and can hardly wait for the next one. :-)
Fran definitely has a way with words. :)
DeleteIt took me a long time to call myself a writer.
ReplyDeleteIt was a wonderful experience holding my book in my hands the first time.
You have a lovely book. One I enjoyed immensely!
DeleteGreetings Elizabeth and Fran,
ReplyDeleteFran, I understand and respect your thoughts, your process on writing. I write for therapy. I write as a shared experience. It's just me and the person reading whatever I've written. An intimate focal point.
I'm an amateur, if I can use that word. I'm under no pressure, no restraints and don't think of writing as a lonely art. For within the ambience, I'm immersed as the characters in writing. Characters I share, who talk directly to the reader and never an audience.
Wishing you much success and fulfilment with your book, Fran.
Thank you for bringing this awareness of Fran, Elizabeth.
Gary :)
Gary, I too started to write as therapy. I felt like everything in my life was dark and I had little to feel hopeful about. Writing and studying writing was a sanity saver. I used to feel lonely, once I wrote 'the end' and then had no clue what to do with the words I had strung together, but then I started blogging...made friends with wonderful people like yourself and now I am just happy, happy, happy ;)
DeleteNice to meet Fran! So is it a bad thing when you'd rather spend time with your characters than anyone else?? lol ....writer's last words before Hubby whacks her over the head ....
ReplyDeleteI hear ya Pk!! Little do people know, when I "zone" out...I'm really just hanging out with some very special people.
DeleteAwww, everyone. Thank you for the lovely response to my blog. YOU ARE ALL WRITERS! Do I hear the UPS truck? One of these days I'll catch him/her. Down here in Fl doors often open out so hurricanes can't blow them in and open. UPS always puts the box down in front of the door so it can't be opened. Have to go out through the garage and haul it in that way. Am I paranoid, or do they do it deliberately?
ReplyDeleteI have a really good UPS man...he always sets my packages on the chair on my porch. The Fed-Ex man...now he and I need to have a talk...LOL.
DeleteFran, you took the words right out of my mouth - when the very first book arrived (that I wrote) I nearly had an orgasm (can I say that here?) LOL
ReplyDeleteAnother great moment in my life was when my husband - now deceased - told some friends, "My wife is an author!" I was so proud.
You most certainly can say that word here :) It's the site of a romance writer, so it's all good.
DeleteEvery book is definitely a new baby, and one you fear for and fight for all the time. :)
ReplyDeleteExactly. I always thought of it as being my baby, you tend it, grow it up, and send it out to its first day of school with the total fear that someone will call your baby names and you will want to smack them.
DeleteGreat interview. Writing can be lonely sometimes, but it's so worth it.
ReplyDeleteMost definitely worth it! It really is quite like an addiction.
Delete