Wording and Arting...maybe Crafting is the right word?—My Novel Freshman Experience

Words have power...that was the premise of my Everything But books.  I think it's true.  

I rarely refer to myself as an author. It feels too pretentious a word. I'm a writer.  As a working writer, I write for food not some higher purpose.  Okay, sometimes I write for a bit of a higher purpose, but mainly because my kids like to eat.

Basically, I play with words for a living.

For years I've joked that I'm not writing...I'm Wording.

So I guess that means, now that I've gone back to school, when I go to the studio I'm Arting.

I don't know, arting sounds too high falutin for what I do in ceramics class.  I'm a novice.  This term, I gave myself permission to simply experiment.  To see what I can do in clay.  But more than that, I'm experimenting with glazes.  They are such a mystery.  What they do on one project won't necessarily hold true for the next.  (Those pieces up above are for a "quilt" I'm making. It was a great way to play with a lot of glaze.)

I picked the theme Folk Art for the term.  No, we didn't have to pick a theme, but it really worked well for the things I'm arting...nope, that still doesn't seem to fit.  Crafting.  Yeah, I like that.  And it fits for both arting and wording.  I'm crafting art or stories.  

Crafting.  I think I might stick with that.

I have a friend on Facebook who calls  Renaissance Woman because I do a lot of weird things.  I'll confess, I do try a lot of stuff.  From splitting wood, to making beer and bread, to ceramics, to writing...

I've made baskets, quilts, afghans, and embroidered projects...

But here's the thing, I like trying new things.  I like figuring out how things work.  I like...crafting.

And I like knowing little bits about lots of stuff.  I really does help with my books.  Speaking of which, I'm working on a new idea that combines both wording-crafting and arting-crafting.  I'll share more on that later.  

Holly

PS. My love of crafting shows through in so many of my books.  Here's a few:
Spoons (I carved the spoons on the cover)
Just One Thing
Carry Her Heart
Once Upon a Valentine's

Book Stories: Just One Thing

I spent most of my career writing for publishers and their guidelines.  And I loved it.  Those guidelines gave me a roadmap.  I knew how far off-roading I could go.

But I had this story that nagged at me.  It was a story that wouldn't fit into the guidelines of my publishers.  It was a story that was definitely more of an off-roading story.  

So...

I wrote Just One Thing on my down-time over the course of a year.  A friend said she set aside Sundays for playing with writing, and I liked that...so I started calling it my Sunday Book. I didn't worry about what a publisher would say...I just wrote it for me.

When I was done, I sent it out to my agent and she loved it.  She sent it out to publishers and we kept getting back the nicest rejections.  They all said things like..."We loved it, BUT we don't know what to do with it."  LOL

Finally, a publisher took a chance with it.  And it turns out, readers don't always need to have a book that fits neatly into a category.  Just One Thing was one of my earliest Romance+ books...books that focus on a heroine's journey.  Her journey includes a romance, but romances isn't the reason for that trip and it's not her ultimate destination.

I'd written two other more emotional books that in hindsight were my first steps into Romance+ market, even though I didn't know it at the time.  Same Time Next Summer and Briar Hill Road set me off down that new path.  And I'm still traveling down it.

(On a side note, for those who follow me here or on Social Media, you know I'm taking a ceramic class.  You can see how much I wanted to try this art in Just One Thing...there's a wistful homage to it.  And now that I'm actually taking it, I realize that this is a case where my fiction really inspired my reality!)

If you haven't checked out Just One Thing, I hope you'll give it a try.  

Holly

PS If you like Just One Thing, my Romance+ story,
check out the rest:

Same Time Next Summer

Briar Hill Road

Words of the Heart Series:

Carry Her Heart

These Three Words

Hold Her Heart

Book Stories: The Book

In the interest of truth, every book I write is a story.  I thought we should start there.

I'm starting a new blog series called Book Stories that will be small stories about the way a book came into existence.  Maybe what inspired it.  Maybe something that happened when I was writing it.  Maybe what the story meant to me.

I've found that when I go out to speak, those are things people always ask about.

I'm starting with The Book.  It's a short story.  So this is a short Book Story.

I found a copy of Gene Stratton-Porter's The Harvester at a housesale.  I was so excited because I love her A Girl of the Limberlost and never read The Harvester.  I brought it home and found...

Who does that?  I was steamed, not because of the $1 I'd wasted but because someone messed with a book.  

I stewed about that book for a few days, wondering why someone would ruin a perfectly good book.  What could be so important?  And then voila...I had an idea. And that idea grew into a story.  That's how it normally goes for me.

And that's the short story on how this short story came about.  I also took the pictures for the story.  I wanted to mimic the original illustrations.  So that's my picture on the cover and the rest inside.  It's The Harvester sitting on one of my quilts.  
Now that you know a bit about how it was written, I hope you'll check out the story.  It's at Amazon, Kobo, and B&N.
I hope you enjoy the new Book Stories series!  Some will be current books, and some will be about older books.  If you have a question about a book, feel free to send it to me and I'll see if I can answer it!

Holly

Come for a walk down Briar Hill Road.

I am so thrilled with this cover!  And I'm equally thrilled Briar Hill Road is coming back out!  It was originally published in a short-lived Harlequin line that died as the book was released, much to my bitter disappointment because this book was a true book of my heart.  

It was the first book in what I consider my Romance+ stories.  But more than that, it was an homage to my mother-in-law and in some ways, one of the most autobiographical books I ever wrote.  My mother-in-law, Dort, was my best friend.  We used to joke that if my husband divorced me, I'd let him keep the house and the kids...I'd keep his mom.  LOL  He never thought that was a good joke, but we did.  She had breast cancer, but seemed to beat it...and then it came back.  Losing this amazing woman to such a horrible disease still hurts.  There's a hole in our family.  This book was an homage to her and to her battle.

It won Romantic Times Reviewer's Choice Award Winner and
Reviewers' Choice Award Winner.  

I was sad that the line was fizzling as it was released, because I poured my heart into this story.  Oh, I think I do this with every book, but because this book was for Dort, it was different.  So I'm thrilled it's coming back out in March!  The ebook's up if you want to preorder it, and they're supposed to be adding the paperback any day now.  

While you're waiting for Briar Hill Road's release, check out my other Romance+ books:
Same Time Next Summer
Just One Thing
Words of the Heart Series:
Carry Her Heart
These Three Words
Hold Her Heart

Holly

PS. A reader, Cindy Carlson, wrote a song for Briar Hill Road (how cool is that?). You can listen to the entire thing on my website and I clipped it in this video.

New Perspective

I've talked a lot about going back to school in My Novel Freshman Experience posts here.  I've given my first workshop on Finding Your Sequel, talking about trying new things.

And I've sold my first article about trying something new.  If you're an RWA member, it's in the February issue.  If you're not, let me sum it up...try new stuff.  It will make your life better.
Yes, you can see why I'm a writer, right?  LOL

But that, in essence, is the theme of the article, the blog posts...and my enthusiasm for going back to school.  I've known for a while that I wanted to try pottery.  I have a nice collection of stoneware that I love.  I wrote about a potter in Just One Thing.  And I was inspired while I worked on some ceramic wooden spoons to write a short story, appropriately entitled, Spoons.  (Sign up for my newsletter and read it for free for Valentine's!)

I hope you find something new to try this year.  Something new that enriches your life.  Something that makes you see the world in a new light.  Something that gives you...well, glee!  

Holly

PS. Talk about going back to school...Check out my PTA Mom Trilogy.  Three Single Moms.  Three Holidays.  Three Love Stories!

Same Time Next Summer...in the middle of winter!

Sometimes you hear a song and think...this.  This is the book.

The lyrics resonate, for me as a writer...and as a reader.  Today I really listened to Ed Sheeran's Perfect and thought, Same Time Next Summer.  Keri Noble's Piece of My Heart is another song that fits this book perfectly.  That idea of a teenage, summer romance that grows into friendship, and then someday grows into something more.  It's a timeless theme for both songwriters and book writers.  Same Time Next Summer just got rereleased as a paperback!

Holly

Confessions of a Party Crasher

This is one Party you don't want to miss!
Read, Confessions of a Party Crasher!

Reviews:"...a funny tale of falling in love when you least expect it, best friends, and off-beat mothers..." We Write Romance

"...a sweet, entertaining romance..." ~RT Bookclub

"Hilarious situations, deep emotions, and lots of love make this one party you won't want to miss." ~Cat Cody, Romance Junkies

"Confession of a Party Crasher is an entertaining frolic. I know whenever I see Holly Jacobs name on a book I can be guarantee that I am are going to have one laugh after another..." Lydia Funneman, Writers Unlimited

"Confessions of a Party Crasher is a book about relationships and life. As always, Holly Jacobs uses plenty of zany humor to enhance the story and make it dazzle." ~© Kelley A. Hartsell, May 2006. All rights reserved. 

"CONFESSIONS OF A PARTY CRASHER is a charming romantic story, where love is made even more special with laughter." Amelia Richard, cataromance.com 

My Second Term—My Novel Freshman Experience

School started again last week.  I'm so excited to be back.  Ceramics II is a lot of independent work so I've spent the week thinking about what I hope to accomplish with the class.  What sort of work I want to produce.

It's not that much different from the questions I asked when I started writing.  I grew up reading science fiction and fantasy.  I jokingly say that Tolkien, Lewis, Heinlein and so many raised me.  Only it's really not much of a joke.  They did.  I grew up in Middle Earth, Narnia and on the spaceship Dora.  That's what I thought I'd write.  And yet, I was drawn to romance because it was about relationships.  I loved taking a man and a women, throwing a multitude of hurdles in their way, and watching love wins. 

So, now I'm starting my second term of college and asking myself, what do I want to accomplish in this class.  We were asked to propose seven projects for the term, but more than that I wanted to find a theme for the term.  I've mulled for a week and finally landed on Folk Art.  According to the Museum of International Folk Art, it's "the art of the everyday."  So I wrote my seven proposed projects with Folk Art in mind.  From Santas, to birds, to quilts, to...  Oh, this is going to be so much fun!

I'm hope this term sees my ceramic skills grow!

Holly

Here's My Novel Freshman Experience posts from the first term!

Part 20
Part 19, 
Part 18,  
Part 17, 
Part 16,  
Part 15, 
Part 14, 
Part 13, 
Part 12, 
Part 11, 
Part 10, 
Part 9, 
Part 8, 
Part 7 
Part 6, 
Part 5, 
Part 4, 
Part 3, 
Part 2, 
Part 1

A Day of Beauty...Birds Edition

 A Day of Beauty...

Birds Edition

Erie is cold and snowy, so it was time to get out for another day of beauty.  And of course, I always know where to go to find some beauty...I headed downtown to the Erie Art Museum.  There was a new exhibit I was anxious to see.  But first, I stopped by Erie's newest coffeehouse, Ember and Forge. (You can see my reflection in the door...I try to get one in each Day of Beauty photo.) I think finding a new coffee hangout is definitely beautiful, so it fit my day's theme!  

Coffee in hand, I walked the block to the Erie Art Museum.  I so enjoy taking a walk through the exhibits and just browse, but this time I went with a purpose...I wanted to see the Daniel Burke collection.

Dan Burke is a local artist and teacher.  I love that so much of his art centers on birds. He talks about why on his bio page in a video. 

When I wrote Hold Her Heart, there was a younger character who was engrossed by birds.

“You like birds?” I asked.

She nodded, sending more wisps of hair bolting from the ponytail holder. “Yeah. I like ’em all. When we used to go to the beach, I’d take bread for the seagulls. Logan says they’re flying rats, but I like ’em. Did you ever read Jonathan Livingston Seagull? I think that’s why,” she said, not leaving me time to answer. “They’ve got snowy owls out on the peninsula now and bald eagles. And blue herons. Oh, and there’s a whole part of the beach they close down every spring ’cause they hope some birds nest there. Plovers I think. I’d like to go to the peninsula and spot them, but Mom’s not really up to that, so we just watch them back here. I got her garden certified as a wildlife habitat last year for her birthday. There’s a little plaque near the house.”

From where we sat at the back of the garden, the house was only just visible through the bushes and trees. In the summer, when all the leaves were full and green, I didn’t think you’d be able to see it at all. “I’m sure Piper loved the present.”

“I think so.”

“I don’t know much about bird songs, but I’ve always liked learning what groups of birds are called. They’re all something different,” I said. “A murder of crows, a raft of ducks, an unkindess of ravens.” I thought about Jonathan Livingston Seagull and added, “A squabble of gulls.”

I think that's why Burke's art spoke to me.  Like, Fiona, I love birds. He inspired me to try my hand at birds in the studio.  I don't think I quite have the heads right, but for a first attempt, I'm happy with them.  He said in his video that you need 10,000 hours to be proficient at anything.  I've got a few hours to go! LOL  Spring term started, so I'll be getting a few more hours in!

If you're in Erie and haven't seen Burke's Callings exhibit at the museum, it's time to head down and give yourself a Day of Beauty.  And if you're not from Erie, come visit!  And you can visit us in Hold Her Heart and so many of my other books!  I love my hometown and I love bringing readers here for a visit. 

Holly

PS. Here's my view while I work...the birds give me endless hours of glee!

Cooks and Books...Mexican Lasagna

In my last Cooks and Books video, I made Taco Seasoning Powder..today I'm making Mexican Lasagna with it. Watch until the end, I mention how to get young hockey fans to try it!

Hope you enjoy!

Holly

Back to School...Again. (A Novel Freshman Experience)

 The new term starts today at the University!

Ceramics II here I come. 

I spent last evening thinking about what I want to do this class.  And it struck me...I've been here before.  You know the place when you're learning a new skill...it's when you know just enough to be dangerous.  

When I started last term, I hadn't taken a test in...a very long time.  And other than a ceramics class in high school, which worked with slip and molds not clay, I'd never done anything like our ceramic class.  But I so love it.

As I was thinking about projects I want to try, I was suddenly reminded of when I started writing.  I'd been a reader my entire life.  I met some lovely writers online who supported me and cheered me on (the Dreamweavers were amazing!) and I wrote with sheer joy.  I'd been a reader all my life and wrote with just enough knowledge to be dangerous.  I'd never given thought to POV or hooks.  I read articles and talked to people, but that was all secondhand knowledge.  I learn best by doing, so back then I just did.  I just wrote.

That's what Ceramics was last term.  I read assignments, listened to lessons, but I learned the most when I just made stuff.  Not everything was a success.  LOL  But everything taught me something.  I made mistakes and hopefully I won't make them again.  

I can't even begin to tell you how much I enjoyed the class.  And it influenced my writing in so many ways.  I wrote an article that will be out in February about creativity and new experiences.  I wrote a short story that will be out free for newsletter subscribers sometime soon.  (Not a subscriber?  Join here.)  And my agent and I were talking about my success with the Maid in LA series (Quincy is one of my bestselling series) and she asked me to consider putting together a new cozy mystery series.  You might see shades of my going back to school in it! 

All in all, my first term back in college was a huge personal success.  I found something I love and it pushed me to new insights about me and my career.


Just imagine what my second term might bring!  Have you tried out something new lately?

Holly

You can check out my first term's Novel Freshman Experience posts at:Part 20, Part 19, Part 18,  Part 17, Part 16,  Part 15, Part 14, Part 13, Part 12, Part 11, Part 10, Part 9, Part 8, Part 7 Part Six, Part 5, Part 4, Part 3, Part 2, Part 1

PPS Hold Her Heart is on sale today!! It's a good book to talk about today because it's a story of discovery, too!