Van here... (then the featured act... Barbara Avon!)
I wasn't sure what I'd find when I joined the #WritingCommunity on Twitter. Some of my expectations were met. I see many folks shouting about needing followers, doing A LOT of #writerslifts, shotgun posting Amazon links to their books, and not having a whole lot of interest in discussing writing, more than simply discussing that they are writers and have books.
This I expected.
What I didn't expect was to find genuinely good people (yes, by nature I am cynical)... people who want to support others, discuss writing, create virtual friendships, and even sometimes read this blog.
Barbara Avon is one of those good folks. One of the best.
Below, she tells us about her experiences with writing... and includes info on how you can get your eyes on some of that writing!
Enjoy...
Why I Choose To Write From the Male Point of View
Like many, I started this journey as a teenager, writing angst-filled poetry. I always dreamed of writing a novel. When a significant relationship ended in 2002, I decided it was time to gut myself of my feelings by creating a fictional world and characters that represented who I am.
As a young woman, I read Nicholas Sparks, and Richard Paul Evans - both renowned for writing "Love Stories". I wanted to prove to myself that I could "do better" and behind my pen, I became someone else. I became Peter Travis (my very first protagonist.)
As a woman writing from a male perspective, I was able to script that which I, myself, find most romantic. Maybe the breakup I was going through added some heat to that fire. I sat down in my little kitchen and had the time of my life. I walked down the street, writing notes on Post-its as I walked. I wrote at the office. I wrote on the bus. I wrote in my sleep. Keep in mind that I was not active on social media. In fact, there was no social media to really speak of. I was simply a writer at heart, determined to make the title "real". I wanted to call myself an author.
The story practically wrote itself, and in 2015, with my husband's encouragement, I released the book into the world after a lot of wasted dollars. I didn't know Self-publishing existed back then, and used a high-end printing house to print hard copies, which I then sold on Facebook. (Yes, I finally gave in and joined social media.)
It never even occurred to me that as a woman, I should write a female protagonist. I essentially was Peter Travis, as well as his love interest, Briana. As authors, we wear many hats. We are like actors who take on different roles to fully experience their craft. Shortly after, I branched out, and I'm now a multi-genre author - that actor with many roles.
"The Christmas Miracle", a stand-alone novel, is Peter's fourth book. At this point (the book is set in 2007), Peter is a 62 year-old married father, and bistro owner. He has had to endure many hardships in his life including the one he faces in "Miracle", and I couldn't imagine having started my career without him. After twenty published novels, and many different protagonists, I wear my title as Author, proudly, and I owe it all to him: a fictional character.
I will continue to write all my books from the male character's perspective, because that soul that experienced teenage angst? That person that was so desperate for love? The one who loves deeply, and sacrifices everything for love? That person is me, and being the hopeless romantic that I am, I want my readers to lose themselves in my world, just as I lose myself. (Or, more accurately, where I find my true self.)
Right now, through to the end of #ChristmasInJuly, you can meet Peter for free by downloading an eversion from this link. https://www.barbaraavon.com/christmas-2018
The paperback is available on Amazon. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08BF44HGX/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i18
I hope you love him as much as I do.
Thank you so much for featuring me. That young woman who wrote her first book at her little kitchen table thanks you. I'm extremely honoured.
ReplyDeleteThe blog was lucky to have you!
ReplyDelete