Starting tomorrow, Room for Two is going on a virtual book tour. Below are the names of the reviewers (click on their names to read their blogs) that will be reviewing Room for Two over the next 30 days. Many thanks to Candace for setting this up!
I'll update this post with links (along with the links on the side of this blog) to the actual review once they're up.
Read below to see how you can win a free copy of Room for Two. This might strike some as a strange confession, but I’ve never been to a writing conference before. It’s not that I haven’t wanted to check one out but, for one reason or another, things have never fallen into place so I could attend. So I didn’t know what to expect when I presented at and attended Cedar Fort’s writing conference on Saturday.
Thankfully the writing conference turned out to be a fabulous experience. I did a good job on my presentation (or so everyone told me) and it was nice to meet people whose blogs I read or have only communicated with via email. Additionally I was also able to meet some writers whose books I’ve read and others whose books I’m looking forward to reading. (There’s a big pile of new books to read on my nightstand – which Marathon Girl has already begun to devour.)
The best part though was a piece of advice the keynote speaker gave at her presentation on what all successful writers have in common. Her advice gave the extra push I needed to make some small changes in my life and sprint toward finishing the first draft my next book. (I wrote an entire chapter last night!) Coincidently, this same piece of advice was subtly reinforced by an article in an essay titled “The Running Novelist” (sorry, no online version is available) by the Japanese writer Haruki Murkami in the June 9 & 16 issue of The New Yorker that I read Sunday afternoon. (No, it’s not running.)
I’ll tell you what this common trait is and how Murkami applied it to his life, and the small changes I've made in my next entry. Until then, I’ll offer a free copy of Room for Two to the first person that correctly guesses what trait all successful writers have in common. Guess by leaving a comment below.
Note: Those who attended the writing conference are ineligible to participate. :-)
Update 1: Per an email I received: 1) Yes, you can guess more than once but each guess has to be a separate comment. 2) I'll announce the winner (if any) on Friday.
Update 2: Four of the five comments are close. Yes, writing every day is important. But think of a specific trait or characteristic that describes the ability to do that. This trait isn't something that is unique to successful writers but to successful businessmen and women, sales people, and other highly successful professionals.
If you check out the menu bar, you'll notice I've added a Sightings tab. This is where I'll list my upcoming public appearances. There are two in the coming weeks. Book Signing
May 17, 2008 Pioneer Books 2820 E University Dr # 102 Mesa, Arizona 85213 2:00 - 4:00 p.m. Directions
Writing Conference
June 7, 2008 Cedar Fort Writing Conference 2373 West 700 South Springville, Utah 84663 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Presenters include Abel Keogh, Janet Jensen, and Eloise Owens. The cost is $25 and includes lunch. Seating is limited. To register call 801.489.4084.
Update: You can find out the details of the writing confrence here.
Yesterday I had the wonderful opportunity to talk to a literature class at Weber State University that is using Room for Two as one of their books. I was very impressed with the students and their questions, comments, and insight they had. The following are some of their questions and my answers I thought others might find interesting.
Q: What audience did you have in mind when you wrote Room for Two?
A: I was trying to write for a very broad audience. I wanted to tell my story in such a way that even those who have never lost a spouse, child, or had a friend or loved one take their own life could enjoy it. It seems to have worked. Though I’ve received a lot of positive feedback from young widows, young widowers, and suicide survivors, most of the emails I receive have been from people who don’t fall into any of those categories. No matter what group the reader falls in, however, the vast majority of respondents tell me the book has touched their lives in very positive ways.
Q: Why did you write Room for Two?
A: The biggest reason was that I read or, rather, tired to read a lot of “memoirs” about losing a spouse soon after my late wife’s death. I found most of them to be completely worthless. Most of the time the writer would try to make him or herself out as a “wronged hero.” I felt authors were being less than honest about their experience and were hiding their own faults and imperfections. Because of this, I had a hard time relating on any level to the story they were trying to tell. I wanted to write a book that, in my opinion, showed the human side of the surviving spouse as well as the pain that that accompanies the death of a loved one.
In the case of books that dealt specifically with losing a spouse to suicide, I thought the authors were trying to make excuses or justify the actions of their loved ones that killed themselves. Some of the books went as far to romanticize suicide. I find that to be extremely dangerous. The reasons people take their own life is very complex and trying to rationalize or validate their actions is impossible without being able to talk with that person. And since they’re dead, that impossible. Instead of justifying the actions of my late wife, I tried to portray the devastating effect suicide has on those left behind.
Q: There’s a strong religious undercurrent in Room for Two. After reading the book, one can tell that you’re very religious but you don’t much in the way of specifics about what faith you belong to. Was that intentional?
A: Yes. Outside of the mountain west, most people don’t know much about the LDS (Mormon) Church. I didn’t want to alienate or distract readers who are unfamiliar with the church. Hence the reason I used very generic terms to describe my religious affiliation. Those who are familiar with the LDS church will, I think, know what faith I’m a member of rather quickly.
Q: If you were to rewrite Room for Two for a Mormon-only audience, what would you change?
A: Nothing.
Q: How did you come up with the title for your book?
A: The working title of the book was Running Forward. However, that never seemed to fit with the story I was telling. One day I was editing a part of the book where I was struggling with making room in my heart for another person. Though the exact phrase “room for two” doesn’t appear in the text, while reading that paragraph, those words formed in my mind as I read it. I immediately knew I had the perfect right title for my book.
Q: I really enjoyed reading your late wife’s poem “Ten Toed Children of Eve” that was in Room for Two. Have you considered about publishing the rest of your late wife’s poetry?
A: I’ve thought about putting a website up that contained her poetry and some of her other writings. Right now it’s more of a time issue. I have other writing projects are more pressing.
Q: Which writers have influenced you the most?
A: Orson Scott Card, Ethan Canin, and my dad.
Q: How do you find the time to write?
A: I make time. Once my kids are in bed, I spend some time with my wife and then write until I can’t keep my eyes open. It’s easy to talk about being a writer but hard to actually put in the hours required to write something worth publishing. I went to school with a lot of “writers” that were more talented than me. However, I’m the only one with a book. Though talent has something to do with getting published, most of it has to do with dedicating the time to writing, editing, and rewriting your manuscript.
Q: Are you writing more books?
A: I’m currently writing a work of fiction. If I can hold to my self-imposed deadlines, I should have a publishable manuscript sometime this summer.
Q: Do you have any plans to write a follow-up to Room for Two?
A: Yes. After I complete this work of fiction, the plan is to write another book that picks up where Room for Two left off. The main focus will be on the early years my marriage to Julie. The working title is Seconds because the book is going to focus a lot on second chances, second marriages, second loves, etc.
I don’t have to show up for federal jury duty -- again. The case was either canceled or the defendant decided to take a plea. Whatever happened, my four months federal jury service is officially over – at least that’s what the recorded message stated. Sorry Jenn.
Though I think it would be interesting to serve on a jury, this service would have been very inconvenient had I been chosen. Room for Two is being used as a text for one of the classes at Weber State University and I'm scheduled to do a reading and take part in a discussion about it on Tuesday, April 22. Thankfully, there are no potential conflicts now.
By the way, if any of my readers are going to be in the Ogden area on Tuesday and want to attend, email me and I'll let you know the details of the event.
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For those who would like to give a personalized copy of Room for Two for someone on their Christmas list, you can order a signed copy at http://keoghcreative.com.
Until the end of the year I've lowered the price of each personalized copy to $12.50 plus shipping. All US orders are shipped priority mail so your order will arrive in 2-3 days.
For those who wanted to hear my interview on Healing the Grieving Heart but were unable to do so, you can download an MP3 of the show by right clicking here and selecting Save Target As....
Just a reminder that I'll be the guest on Healing the Grieving Heart radio show Thursday, November 8 from Noon Eastern (9 a.m. Pacific). The show can be heard by clicking here. Please note that because of scheduling conflicts, the show was pre-recorded so you won't be able to call in
I'll be the guest on Healing the Grieving Heart radio show Thursday, November 8 from Noon Eastern (9 a.m. Pacific). The show can be heard by clicking here.
I've posted a PDF of Room for Two's cover and first chapter if anyone would prefer to read it that way or send it on to someone who might be interested in the book.