I’ve Been Tagged…OUCH!

Terrie Hope at Thought Fort tagged me…ouch!

“Terrie, that hurt…you’re supposed to tag EASY!” said Damon.
“DIDN’T tag you that hard, silly!” Terrie answered as she flicked my silver scale back to me.
Dragon-tag can be a painful game sometimes.

So starts a story idea…my keys hit the keyboard, and possibilities flicker before my eyes as characters morph from playful children into dragons or other more mild-mannered animals.  Those two could have easily become dolphins in the flash of a idea. Or the tag could have escalated into a full scale war between kids on the block.

I wonder why it works that way, sometimes… but most times I just wonder what’s coming next as a story appears.

Thanks Terrie for tagging me, and here’s the answers to your questions.  I’ll make some new questions at the end, tag some new people, and see what our fellow writers share about themselves and their creative selves.

1.  If you could be a character from a book you’ve read, who would it be and why?

Although there are many characters that would be fun to be, there’s only one that I think I would be… because I felt so one with him when I read the books.  It would be Samwise Gamgee from Lord of the Rings. He was Frodo Baggins’ gardener. Samwise was a support person, an encourager–I think I am that way in most of my relationships. And, though you may not think it, there’s real adventure in a role like that.

2. Do you have a favorite place to read? In the garden? Your favorite chair?

I’ll read wherever it’s quiet.  My study, the couch, the swing in the pond garden.  I love to read,  but I am a slow reader… I suppose I should say deliberate, not slow.  I chew the pages well.  I dare not miss any innuendos about characters or plot.  Thus–and since I’m male and prone to one-track-mindness–I need a quiet place.

3. What was the first book you remember ever reading?

Gosh…that was so long ago.  I am sure it was a Dick and Jane book, a treasure of course for my generation. Dick and Jane and Spot were pretty normal, but very solid. The first book I enjoyed? Probably any of the early Dr. Seuss books, particularly Green Eggs and Ham.

4. If you could only read one book for the rest of your life, what would it be, and why?

That’s got to be the Bible.  God discloses all things human and all things eternal there.  What I know and understand about myself, about others, and about Jesus and the universe we are in are all addressed there.  It exposes my brokenness and offers hope.  It expounds grace to human desperation.  It tells us–and shows us how to be–the creatures we were originally meant to be.

5. Favorite author?

C. S. Lewis.  Have you read “The Silent Planet” or “Perelandra” or “That Hideous Strength?”  Great tales.  But there’s so much more he’s written.  Recently Kristi Holl referenced his “Letters to Children” on her blog, and I’ve just got to get a hold of that.

6. Do reviews influence your choice of reads?

Yes.  Time is of the essence lately, although I’m retired.  I read the reviews, and even a few negatives won’t deter me if there are any positives.  The most powerful push toward a book? A recommendation from someone I know. My daughters pointed me recently to “Inside of a Dog” by Alexandra Horowitz, and “Last Child in the Woods” by Richard Louv.

7. Fiction or Nonfiction?

Fiction…although, as you see in Question 6, I’ve read non-fiction most lately.  But fiction is endearing, especially when it has a root in facts and truth.  So, my writing is definitely a lean toward fiction.  I’m waited nervously for my first non-fiction assignment with the ICL Writing for Children to be returned.  It was different for me, and I was pleased, and surprised, to see what my instructor said about my article.

8. Have you ever met your favorite author?

No.  There are so many, of course, and I have wanted to meet any author.  Then, at the SCBWI Arkansas conference, I did-Katy Duffield, who wrote Mr. McPeeper’s Cows are Missing. I did my best not to blubber her with a thousand questions and ask silly things and make a fool of myself–stay cool, Damon, stay cool, I told myself.  She was great, and a wonderful help.

9. Actual books or ebooks (Kindle, Nook, etc?)

This is a difficult question. It may be so for all of us, if we answer honestly.  Some have jumped on e-books. My wife is reading her fourth novel (or fifth?) on the Nook she got for Christmas.  I read a Kindle book on writing, and loved it (heck, it was right there on my phone, so easy).  Bethany loves her MeeGenius books, her iStory books. The revolution is here.  Forever Becky and I have been listening to audio-books from Audible.com–I’m a monthly subscriber.  But, it’s hard to say we’re done with print.  Not true.  Picture books, I’m sure, will be forever.

How’s that affect my writing? I’m just not sure yet.  E-publishing is growing in leaps and bounds and even traditional publishers are giving it due and much attention, I understand.  I wonder sometimes where my first publication will end up–in what form, I mean.

10. Classic or Modern Novels?

I have read classics… but I like modern novels.  I love discovering and thinking about how our fast changing world is affecting, and is affected, by fast changing people.

11. Book Groups or Solitary Reading?

I haven’t ever joined or participated in book groups…wouldn’t know where to begin a comparison.  I’m a solitary reader, I suppose.  Although Becky and I have listened to books together…is two a group?

NOW.  Who will I tag?

HERE’S THE RULES…

The Tag rules:
1. You must post the rules!
2. Answer the questions and then create eleven new questions to ask the people you’ve tagged.
3. Tag eleven people and link to them.
4. Let them know you’ve tagged them.

HERE’S MY PEOPLE TO TAG…some I’ve not met on line, just curious as to who they are.
If they are tag weary they may not reply…check them out anyway.

Rebecca Besser – who loves dark mystery…

Allyn Stotz– who loves to dream with words…

Ruth Schiffmann – who is in luv with words…

Melissa Staehli – who loves a child to the moon…

Sharonda McPhee – who loves animals…

AND HERE ARE MY SEVEN QUESTIONS…

1. What was the ‘big bang’ that got you into writing seriously?
2. How do you manage your writing time? What frustrates, or what excites you, about time to write?
3. Who in your life moves or inspires or enables you to get into your writing?
4. If you could be a character in a book or story, who would you be and why?
5. If there was one ‘physical’ thing you could bring into real life from a story or book, what would it be?
6. What’s your favorite season of the year…and do you write about it?
7. Where do you want to be in 7 years, in your writing life?