A Visit with Tristi Pinkston

 I have a wonderful friend and writer as a guest today. Tristi Pinkston is the author of seven novels. She also is a freelance editor, homeschools her children, and is an active blogger. Her newest book, Dearly Departed, is the second in her Secret Sisters series. 

What is the first thing you remember writing?

I remember writing a little story called "Sue the Dog" about a puppy who wanted to be a ballerina.  I illustrated it myself, mostly stealing ideas from my older sister's artwork.  She probably hated me for that. 

You have written in different genres, mostly historical. What inspired you to write the Secret Sisters books?

I overheard someone make the comment that they felt as though their home teachers were too nosy about them, almost like they were spying on them.  My first thought was, "Hmmm.  What if our home teachers and visiting teachers really did spy on us?" I shared the idea with my husband late one night, and we batted ideas back and forth, each sillier than the last. Surprisingly, when I woke up the next morning, it was still a good idea. 

I would love to travel more. What is the most interesting trip you have ever taken?

When I was fifteen, I had the opportunity to go to Russia with a group of American teenagers to go teach free enterprise to Russian teenagers.  The trip was sponsored by a business school in Provo called The Jefferson Institute.  We got on a boat and cruised up the Volga River.  That was a totally amazing experience for me. 

Anyone who reads my blog knows how important I feel it is to have balance in our lives. One way I do that is by having hobbies. What hobbies do you have?

My hobbies have really gone on the back burner since I started writing and editing, but I enjoy scrapbooking, watching good movies, and trying new recipes. And of course reading.  That one, I'll always have time for. Even if I have to stop bathing to work it in.  

If you could do anything different in your writing career, what would it be?

I would have started meeting with a critique group earlier.  I didn't even know such things existed when I first started writing, and I can see how my first books would have been so much better with that extra input. 

Thanks, Tristi. As always, it has been fun talking to you.

Remember to take a look at Tristi's blog and if you are looking for a good read, pick up one of her books.

Critique Friends

I love my critique group. We are few, but I so enjoy getting together these with fellow writers. As one of them said, "I've never enjoyed being critiqued so much." Every time I learn so much and get so much encouragement. Tonight the meeting was just what I needed. I stalled out on my NaNo writing after the first day, but with some brainstorming tonight, I just may have found the direction I need to go and I'm ready to tackle my word count again tomorrow. Thanks girls!

My only complaint is that we are so few. So if anyone knows of any other writers in the Southern Alberta area who are looking for someone to go over their work with I fine tooth comb, send them my way. I know this is short, but I need some sleep. I've got lots of writing to do tomorrow.

Friday

First of all, I just want to remind you to click the link in the sidebar to take you to the list of books eligible for the 2008 Whitney Awards. The list is 41 books long and always growing. Start reading and nominating your favorites at the Whitney Awards site.

One of my dearest friends, Sue Ann, passed away a few years ago and I still miss her terribly every day. One of the things we shared was a love - or obsession - with embroidery and needlework. She was amazingly talented and spent much of her life learning and developing new talents. This week her husband is packing up everything so he can move to Arizona and be closer to his children. He called me and asked if I would like to have Sue's needlework patterns. I was touched that he would think of me and told him I would like that. I came home with five large boxes full of books and leaflets collected over 30 years. So I spent the afternoon going through the patterns and putting aside things I already had, or things that didn't interest me, and then trying to organize the space where I keep my patterns to hold the Sue's collection. I will never have to buy another pattern again, and it is nice to see her name written in her handwriting on the different pieces.

Then my husband and I drove too the city for "date night"- mostly just running a few errands. We stopped at the thrift store, which is one of my favorite places to buy books. Tonight I found Chicken Soup for the Writer's Soul, I can't wait to crack it open.

Of course, no trip to the city is complete without a stop at Walmart to pick up some milk on the way home. We always joke that if you want to see your friends and neighbors but just don't have time in your busy schedule, head to Walmart on Friday or Saturday night and you are bound to run into half the town. Tonight was the same and we ended up going for treats with my sister and her husband, as well as saying hello to numerous other people.

I am still way behind on my writing for this month. I haven't made it past the spot that is giving me so much trouble in the latest manuscript yet, but I am still working on it and know the inspiration will just bowl me over one of these days.

And that's my Friday.

Lost and Found

Sometimes, the internet is a nothing more than a time waster for me, but other days I am amazed at the cool things that can be accomplished with the technology. I love that I'm part of a community of writers who support each other and provide friendship of people who understand a writer's brain. I love being able to do research from home wrapped in my blanket with a mug of hot chocolate by my side.

The other awesome thing about the internet is meeting people. On October 10th, I was reading a blog by Connie Hall titled "Skeletons in the Closet". In it she tells about a reunion she attended for a great grandfather that came to America from France in the 1700's. As I read her story, the name of the grandfather sounded familiar to me. I quickly pulled out my own genealogical records and looked up the name. Sure enough, they matched. I contacted her and through a series of emails, we discovered that we both descended from the same man and are distant cousins. What are the odds we would end up attending the same writer's conference last year and would both be writers?

I have been searching for an exchange student who lived with my family in 1989.Since we lost touch I do the occasional internet search, but I never get anywhere. Having just her name and knowing that she is from Denmark just didn't give me enough to go on. Yesterday I was doing some time wasting to give my brain a break from the writing, so I went to my Facebook page and caught up with things that are going on among my friends. I decided to do a search for this girl. I've done this many times in the past, but usually only get two people who come up with a similar name. Neither of them ever look right, but yesterday a name came up that was exactly right. I emailed her asking if she had ever lived in Alberta as an exchange student. This morning there was an email waiting for me. It is her! I am so excited to get in touch with someone I consider a long, lost sister. I can't wait to see what kind of things she has been up to in the last decade.

I'm grateful for the technology that makes it possible for me to connect with people and now I'm excited to use the same technology to catch up with a lost and found friend who lives halfway around the world.

Not a Stalker After All

So something else interesting happened on my trip to Arizona. Friday morning, my brother's phone rang with a call for me. He said it was Autumn. I immediately went through a list of people in my head to see if I knew anyone named Autumn. The only person I could think of was Autumn over at Autumn Ables. Sure enough, it was her. With a little help from my husband she got my brother's number and called. My brother kidded me that I had my own personal stalker, but Autumn assured me she wasn't. All kidding aside, I am glad she called. We met for lunch and had a good visit and I am looking forward to seeing her again at the LDStorymakers conference in March.

It impressed me that she placed the call. I get stressed meeting new people and if I had found myself in her place, probably would have thought about calling, but getting up the nerve would have been another thing entirely. I appreciate her reaching out and I loved getting the opportunity to meet someone else who shares the writing bug with me. Getting to know others continues to show me how much we all have in common and I love having more people to call friends. Like Autumn mentioned on her blog, having online cheerleaders is a great thing. It really is a small world and I can't wait to meet more of my cheerleaders at the conference this spring and have a chance to visit with Autumn again.

Happy Thanksgiving

Today we are celebrating Canadian Thanksgiving. It is a fitting conclusion to an eventful and stressful week. Even though I have had very little time to spend on the computer in the last week, I have had plenty of time to think. Since the death of my nephew, we have been surrounded by family and friends. We have cried and laughed together. We have had time to reflect on life and death. And today,I have been thinking about the many things I am grateful for.

This year I am grateful for people. As we grieved together and family members came from as far away as Arizona, I felt so blessed to belong to this particular family. They truly are a strength and inspiration to me. I couldn't ask for better people to call my own. I am also grateful to the people in our community. So many of them offered condolences and help to my sister's family and other family members that live in town. I think all of us have had our fridges stocked, and have had many phone calls and visits offering comfort and support. The beautiful thing about this, is that my sister has only been in town for a short while. But people were still there for her.

I am grateful also for the country I live in. Canada is a beautiful place to live. It is wonderful to know that I can count on my children receiving an excellent education. I love the many freedoms that we enjoy.

I am also grateful for all the gifts and talents that my Heavenly Father has blessed me with. I used to lower my head whenever anyone would tell me I was good at something. But I have learned in the last year to accept these compliments gracefully. We are all given gifts, and I am trying to develop mine and share them with others.

There are so many other things I am thankful for. It is so important to take the time to remember them, and remind myself of how good life really is, despite, or because of the trials. So I wish a Happy Thanksgiving to my fellow Canadians and anyone else who needs a moment to stop and be grateful.

Out with the Girls

Tonight I went out with my sister-in-law, mother-in-law, step-daughter and several other friends. We went to the Cheesecake Cafe. There must be something about cheesecake and women. I noticed several other groups, all consisting entirely of women, and all indulging in cheesecake. The food was really good and the company interesting. And of course I came home feeling like I ate far too much.

So what is it with us women? We all want to watch what we eat, we all complain about our weight, and yet given half a chance we gather around tables in restaurants all over the country and eat things that will show up on our hips within twenty-four hours. I've heard the reasoning behind it. Food is a social thing and allows us to sit and visit for hours.

Even among family, we get together and the first thing we ask is "Do you want me to bring anything?" (Of course we mean food.) Kids bring their friends over and always say, "What can we have for a snack?" Church falls in the same category. There is always an over-abundance at every potluck supper or Relief Society activity.

So how do we get around this? How do we socialize with our peers and family without the food aspect. Wouldn't it be nice to meet and sit and visit in a quiet place where we can actually hear each other, rather than competing with the noise of the restaurant? I really did have fun tonight, and it was great to get out of the house, but if anyone has any ideas about how to get around the whole food thing, I would love to hear them. And my scale and tape measure thank you in advance for your wisdom.