Several years ago I attended the SCBWI summer conference and one of the wonderful people I met was Rachel Marks. Super talented as both a writer and an artist, she had an incredible joy for life, due in part to being a cancer survivor. Rachel was rooming with Paige Britt and both of them had […]
I’m so excited to tell you that the audiobook of WISH YOU WEREN’T is live! I didn’t realize after approving the final version that it would take Audible nearly two weeks to listen to it to make sure the quality was up to par, but I’m glad they did. Because that ensures that anyone who […]
Today I have a treat here on the blog – best selling author
Samuel Park. I “met” Sam through blogging, shared his excitement when his book sold, gave my opinion when he chose his author photo. It's so much fun to see blogging friends do well!
His novel,
This Burns my Heart, was recently released in paperback and he has generously offered to give away a copy to one lucky blog reader. Isn’t it a gorgeous new cover? Even more evocative than the original.
Sam, I’m so happy to have you here!Thank you so much for having me on your blog. I remember when my book became an Amazon Best of the Month, you were one of the first people to email me and congratulate me, and I really loved that.
Oh, well, I’m kinda nerdy that way. I get ridiculously excited when I see press about people I know. (See my blog post on Friday for proof!) I don’t read a lot of books for grownups, but I have to tell you that I loved This Burns my Heart. There was one scene near the end, where they’re in the park listening to street musicians – omigosh, the longing, the covert thing with the hands – I don’t want to give away too much, but it was so beautifully written. Did it take a long time, getting the prose just the way you wanted it?I think it's a tricky balance. On the one hand, you have to hold the reader's attention through beautiful language, almost like poetry. And I think this is particularly true nowadays, with all the competition from other mediums, and the availability of so much other (often free) entertainment--beautiful language is the only thing fiction can offer that other mediums can't. But I also believe that in order for the reading to become an immersive experience, the reader shouldn't even notice the language, and just become engulfed by the story.
I suppose in a way I just described the difference between literary and commercial fiction. The goal for me, then, is to find scenes where it feels organic to pause and engage in some beautiful language. Like the scene you're talking about--the descriptions of the musicians and the song involve lyrical language, but they're also embedded within the plot, since that's what the characters are listening to in that very moment. You look for moments where those two things can overlap, or where the fast moving plot can discreetly cede way, for a moment, for a beautiful reflection, or a metaphor.
English is not your native language, and yet you have a doctorate and you’re a professor of English. I know you decided as soon as you could read that you wanted to be a writer. What made you want to be a teacher?I think it started when I was six years old and I would put mine and my sister's teddy bears and dolls in front of me and pretend that I was giving them a lecture. I don't remember what I would teach them, but it must've been pretty engrossing, since they would never move. Also, growing up, I always loved teachers. I was a classic teacher's pet, you know, the one the teacher would put in charge whi
I can’t even begin to tell you how happy it made me to readthis yesterday in
Publisher’s Weekly.
Because I remember back in 2009, when Katie was depressedafter the SCBWI conference. She thought she had finished writing a fabulous book, but editors andagents didn’t. They liked the concept but thought it needed major reworking.
I remember reading the first five chapters after she startedrevising and thinking, holy crap, if this book doesn’t make it big, thensomething’s wrong with the world.
I remember how excited she was when she had multiple agents trying to sign her,how sad she was when her book made it to acquisitions, only to be turned down. I canhear her voice in my head right now, encouraging me as we both went throughSubmissionitis.
Katie worked for YEARS revising and submitting and revisingsome more. She thought this book was dead. She even wrote a post, almost exactly one year ago, called "The Death of a Book." To have it come back to life, and insuch a big way, it’s karma people. Good things have come to the woman who wroteand revised. And waited.
I am so proud of you Katie, so thrilled that the world isgoing to get to read your book, see your movie and wear your lip gloss! YES! Itcouldn’t have happened to a nicer person.
Read the
Publisher's Weekly story then go congratulate her
CONGRATULATIONS, KATIE!!!
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By: Sherrie Petersen,
on 6/10/2015
English is not your native language, and yet you have a doctorate and you’re a professor of English. I know you decided as soon as you could read that you wanted to be a writer. What made you want to be a teacher?
What a great story. And it sounds like an amazing book. I love stories with that poetic edge to them. And that is so cool about the Today show! Congrats!
I remember advising about Sam's author photo, too. :) The new cover is beautiful and I'd love to win a copy!!
Congratulations on all your success, Sam! I'm so happy for you, and you inspire all of us.
Would definitely love to win a copy. And I loooved this interview! He just has such a grounded, humble, positive energy about him. (And a way with words, obviously.)
This in particular spoke to me:
"I think it's a tricky balance. On the one hand, you have to hold the reader's attention through beautiful language, almost like poetry. ... beautiful language is the only thing fiction can offer that other mediums can't. But I also believe that in order for the reading to become an immersive experience, the reader shouldn't even notice the language, and just become engulfed by the story."
Thanks to both of you.
well, this interview warms my heart. :D
I also remember before Samuel sold the book and how wonderful it was when he did, but all these fantastic following events are extra fine.
I particularly loved reading how he weaves lyrical writing in so it is natural to the storytelling. Excellent advice.
Sounds like a great book. I also found his take on cover design very refreshing, although I don't know if I could maintain that level of detachment. I would love to win this book.
Congratulations, Samuel! It's so good to hear how supportive S & S have been. It seems like more and more is being left up to the author.
Sounds like a fascinating book. The interview was terrific. Thanks for that and for running the give-away.
Laura: It IS an amazing book. And can you imagine having people on the Today Show talk about your novel? Very cool.
Faith: Isn't it funny that we were both there to advise on the photo and now it's in the hands of thousands of people? Inspiring for sure!
Kristan: Sam does have an amazing way with words and an incredibly positive energy. I'm so glad you loved the interview. I loved doing it!
Tricia: Isn't wonderful to see someone you know do well? It warms my heart too. His writing is quite lyrical and beautiful but still readable and page turning. Such a good story.
Ivanova: I agree -- it would be hard for me to stay detached about the cover! Although he wound up with a fabulous hard cover and a gorgeous paperback, so maybe there's something to that!
Sharon: I liked hearing how supportive S&S was, too. I've heard so many people saying that authors need to do so much themselves. It's good to know that publishers DO still support debut books and authors.
Rosi: Glad you enjoyed the interview. Thanks for stopping by!
I loved Sam's book, and yes, especially that scene you mention in this post. He is such an eloquent, elegant writer.
Great interview, you two!
I didn't realize Samuel's book has been out that long. For some reason I thought it had just been released.
The best part about having stuffies for students is that they don't talk back. Unlike some of my classmates back when I used to play teacher with my dolls.
That must have been amazing to see that the book was on the Today show. Wow, I would have literally asked someone to pinch me!