B is for Baggage

Jerome, AZ; Photo Credit: Doree Weller

I don’t know if it’s still on TV, but a few years ago, I discovered a wonderful (awful) show called Baggage, by Jerry Springer.  It was a dating show, and on this show, three women or men would have three different sized bags.  Each one of them would reveal one secret at a time to their prospective date by opening the bags, from smallest to largest secret.  I shamefully enjoyed this show.

One of the things I liked about the show (other than the pure train wreck value), is the same reason I like PostSecret.  We all have baggage.  We all have things we don’t want others to know, things that weigh us down.  But the thing about baggage is that it makes us who we are.  The interesting quirks, the skeletons in the closet are part of what shape us.

In books, baggage can be some of the most interesting parts of the story.  What would have Jane Eyre been without Rochester’s secret wife?  In On Little Wings by Regina Sirois, young Jennifer finds out that her mother is not an only child, which spurs her on a search for the “truth.”  In Beautiful Disaster, by Jamie McGuire, Abby has a huge secret she never wants anyone to know.  Even though she tries to hide it, the secret eventually finds her.  In each of these examples, the secret is eventually revealed, and everything turns out okay. I like the concept of secrets in fiction, and I like them even better when the truth is revealed.  It adds depth and interest to characters.  It adds a touch of humanness and gives me something to relate to.  No, I’m not hiding an insane wife in my attic, but when Rochester eventually tells his story, I felt sorry for his being duped by everyone around him, and I could relate to that moment when he realized that he was forever stuck with the consequences of a bad decision.

“The things you want are always possible; it is just that the way to get them is not always apparent. The only real obstacle in your path to a fulfilling life is you, and that can be a considerable obstacle because you carry the baggage of insecurities and past experience.”
-Les Brown

On Little Wings- A Review

I found On Little Wings, by Regina Sirois when I was reading past pitch winners from the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award Contest.  The pitch was so good that I ordered the book from the library.

The book follows Jennifer, a sixteen year old living in Nebraska, who finds an old picture stuffed in a book and finds out that her mother, who she always believed was an only child, has a sister.  Jennifer feels like her world has been turned upside down, and finds her aunt still living in Maine.  Jennifer’s mother won’t give her any answers, but she angrily gives permission for Jennifer to go to Maine to find her own.

Jennifer heads to Maine and meets her aunt, and a cast of quirky characters who mostly welcome her as one of their own.  Jennifer learns some truths about her family, but also learns a lot about herself.  This is a super quick read, and a lot of fun.  I don’t know that I’d buy it, but it’s really good.  It’s a nice relaxing read for adults or young adults, and would also be a good book for a book club as a conversation starter.  Enjoy!

Chaos and Contests

I just wanted to do a quick update.  I know I’ve been sporadic about blogging lately, and I miss it, so I wanted to tell all y’all what’s going on.

First, the new job is still stressful, and I’m still adjusting.  I think I’ve almost got it down now though, so hopefully I won’t use that as an excuse too much longer.  

Second, I’ve been fighting off my third round of this weird cold that’s going around.  I learned that it’s called a “crud.”  Yep, look it up.  It really is.

Third, and most important, I was getting my entry together for the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award Contest.  I’m super excited about this.  Amazon does an annual contest, and the grand prize, as well as a few first prizes, are publication.  I read one of the contest winners from last year, On Little Wings by Regina Sirois, and it was a great book.  I plan to work my way through other previous winners, but the point is that they publish good stuff.  On March 18th, 2000 entries will move into the next round of judging.  They only accept 10,000 entries, so that’s a pretty significant number that have been dropped in the first round.  On April 14th, 500 entries will move into the next level of judging, and the public gets to rate the excerpts.

I’ll keep you posted, even if I don’t make the first cut.  I think it’s really important for readers to support contests like this, because as an author, it can feel incredibly difficult to get noticed.  When readers take the time to look at contest entries, you’re telling publishers clearly what you find interesting.

So, that’s my excuse for not blogging.  But no worries; I hope to get back to it this week.  🙂