I am so pleased to have Gail Kittleson here today to share some 'writing talk' with us. Gail and I have been online friends for quite some time now, and I've come to have a great appreciation for her. Not only her writing—I really enjoy her books—but also her editing skills, which have come doubly in handy since we are co-writing a fun, cozy mystery. I think I can safely say we're both having a blast with this story.
Gail, welcome to Whispers in Purple! Let's talk writing!
♦ ♦ ♦
The
Gift of Writing
by Gail Kittleson
I've always thought of
writing as a gift. And lately, even more so, because I've had some eye problems
that preclude spending much time w/my laptop. I've never thought of the need to
promote my writing as a gift, but am realizing perhaps it is.
Meeting new
people has always been the frosting on my cake. What better way to meet them
than making cold calls to slews of libraries and speaking with directors? So
many of them seem eager to accommodate a writer and familiarize themselves and
their clients with our work. How this be less than a gift?
Discovering an
eye condition that limits my computer time has led me here. But maybe it's
where I should have gone long before this. The writing addict in me says
nothing counts like putting in long hours composing and editing, but my recent
positive experience with setting up my first "book tour" has me
rethinking this.
Some
library directors, near retirement, still see aid to set up book talks or
pass my information along to their successors. Others that sound younger and
energetic, make time to chat with an older writer who calls out of the blue.
People person that I am, after wallowing in self-pity for a while, now I wake
up excited to launch into my ever-increasing list of libraries.
Today, an honest
director in a small Iowa town said, "Oh, I'd love to host you, and your
World War II series sound fascinating, but I've had poor luck getting our
community to attend library functions. However, why don't you contact one of
our Main Street stores - they've done well enticing participants for other book
talks.
So I did, and
I'm "on," as they say. In fact, my appointments for book talks have
risen to eight, possibly nine for this first venture into touring. Planning my
route out, I feel somewhat like a traveling salesman must have decades ago. But
I still remember how the Fuller Brush Man found an avid customer in our
farmhouse. Mom was always glad to see him drive in so she could buy some new
vegetable brushes or spices.
Maybe I'll
report in on my success after the tour. Does that tell you I'm expecting to do
well? Of course, doing well is subject to interpretation, but I never fail to
be encouraged when I find two or three new readers. I'll be glad to get home,
certainly, but hoping that those who heard me speak and bought my book will
become fans. I may say, "I don't know why I kept putting this off … it was
great fun!"
So if you think
of me the week of November seventh, please send up a prayer for alertness while
I'm driving and the gift of joy in this endeavor. Really, it's ALL about
writing!
Gail Kittleson
DARE TO BLOOM!
♦ ♦ ♦
Gail
Kittleson lives in Northern Iowa with her husband, where they enjoy family and
friends. In winter, Arizona's Ponderosa pine forests provide another setting
for her historical women's fiction stories.
Gail's a late bloomer, devoting
herself to writing after instructing college writing classes and cheering
others on. She now teaches a creative writing class and facilitates women's
workshops/retreats on spiritual growth, creativity, and memoir/fiction writing.
She and Peggy Phifer also are SLOWLY co-writing a cozy mystery.
Leeann Betts writes
contemporary suspense, while her real-life persona, Donna Schlachter, pens
historical suspense. Leeann has released four titles in her By the Numbers series,
with Broke, Busted, and Disgusted due
for release November 2016. 
