Christina Katz Productions - Latest Comments

Re: Day 16: 2012 Writer Mama Every-Day-In-May Book Giveaway: Heather Snow

Kristeen Moore — Wed, 16 May 2012 16:17:38 -0000

Writing was my very first love, and it has flourished into a long-term affair for me. It is important to me economically since it makes me money, but writing has always been an integral part of my life. I get a little bit of separation anxiety from writing on days that I take off (which are very few). Even if I am not writing for work, I at least have to jot something down creative to keep our relationship going. Sometimes we do hit dry spells, but we find ways to get creative and get the juices flowing again.

Re: Day 16: 2012 Writer Mama Every-Day-In-May Book Giveaway: Heather Snow

Cara Holman — Wed, 16 May 2012 15:38:25 -0000

I can best describe our relationship as
on-again-off-again. I’ve always been the steadfast one, and he of little faith.
Oh how I wanted to make it work in those early years, and as a consequence, tried
way too hard. It was only after I backburnered our little romance, and gave
myself a bit of distance, that I thought we might still have a chance together.
So I gave writing one more try 5 years ago. I see that we’ve both grown up a
bit in the meantime, and I really think that this time, we’re in it for the
long haul.

Re: Day 16: 2012 Writer Mama Every-Day-In-May Book Giveaway: Heather Snow

Judy — Wed, 16 May 2012 15:04:20 -0000

Gosh, I’d say my love affair with writing is constant,
however the ability to do it consistently ebbs and flows, likely because I seem
to be addicted to being over-extended. When I have a lull in my schedule, am well
rested (rare these mommying days) or prioritize my needs above those of my family,
my imaginative juices overtake me and I get to write away.

Re: Day 16: 2012 Writer Mama Every-Day-In-May Book Giveaway: Heather Snow

Pattie — Wed, 16 May 2012 14:49:34 -0000

I’ve been a cheater with writing—I have many mistresses: my
family, my friends, books, my job, and of course, the internet. I’m not as
dedicated as I’d like to be. Oh, I love to write, but I’m just not as good at
it as I’d like, and for many reasons I find myself easily distracted away from
writing. I wait for inspiration to strike like lightning, rather than actually sticking
with it to finish a novel over time, or an article in 1-2 sittings. Nope. I
bounce around like a vending machine rubber ball, from one thing to another. I'm firmly convinced the reason this lack of dedication is why I'm not as successful as my peers.

Re: Day 16: 2012 Writer Mama Every-Day-In-May Book Giveaway: Heather Snow

Krystyann Krywko — Wed, 16 May 2012 14:38:55 -0000

For the most part my writing life has been steady - with bouts of passion thrown in for good measure. The key for me has been not to give up on the relationship when the going gets tough - when things go off track or when your idea well has run dry. I make writing a daily habit - even if it means I only write down a couple of sentences or write an outline - I view it as a nurturing of myself.

Re: Day 16: 2012 Writer Mama Every-Day-In-May Book Giveaway: Heather Snow

Maribethpgraham — Wed, 16 May 2012 13:32:14 -0000

Writing with me was love at first write. The first time I let myself go and engage in a story I knew I found my purpose. All my characters are soul mates that live within my mind. There are many days that I feel like the neglected girlfriend. I sometimes think I expect so much from my writing and feel hurt when the reality differs from the dream. Thankfully my love for writing is unconditional or I would have ended the relationship along time ago;)

Re: Day 16: 2012 Writer Mama Every-Day-In-May Book Giveaway: Heather Snow

Camille D. Jamerson — Wed, 16 May 2012 13:30:08 -0000

My romance reminds me of my high school boyfriend.."Austin". I had the desire before I knew what to do with it. Just like Austin, My inexperience and frustration caused us to break up for awhile...there was a season I didn't/wouldn't write anything. But slowly but surely...a short article here, an interview there...led up to my first self published book. Austin and I have different lives now...I'm married to an awesome man, we both have children etc.. but even now, he has a "drawer" in my life. He is truly my friend and a holder of many secrets about me. I can count on him. I can call him from Jail or Jerusalem, and I know that he would be there for me. I am so blessed to have experienced a love like that, everyone can't say that. Writing is my constant...its always there. It too is the holder of many secrets and I can always count on it to be a place of safety for me. I will always have a place that is carved out for him...uh, I mean writing..I like who I am when I am with him...darn...I mean it!! :)

Re: Day 14: 2012 Writer Mama Every-Day-In-May Book Giveaway: Heather Vogel Frederick

Michele Thornton — Wed, 16 May 2012 11:33:23 -0000

I appreciate my ability to listen well, ask probing questions and give helpful feedback. I enjoy my ability to create stories out of the ether and to continue to pursue my lifelong dream of writing fiction regardless of the outcome. I am especially grateful for my ability to mentor my daughters. I'm also loyal as heck unless someone betrays me.

Re: Day 15: 2012 Writer Mama Every-Day-In-May Book Giveaway: Krysty Krywko

Sue — Wed, 16 May 2012 10:24:36 -0000

I really admire Geraldine Brooks’ work. From her Nine Parts of Desire, based on her experience
of living with Muslim women in the Middle East to March, which won the Pulitzer
Prize, as a reader I feel she’s truly passionate about whatever she is writing.
Turns out her childhood love of Little Women led her to research the American
civil war and use that backdrop to set March, which follows Mr. March, the absent father in Little Women. Her writing sings with a sense of reality.

Re: Day 16: 2012 Writer Mama Every-Day-In-May Book Giveaway: Heather Snow

Katie Ann Mosher — Wed, 16 May 2012 10:02:10 -0000

In my life my romance writing has always been there for me. Steady and strong my imagination just keeps rolling lol. I have been writing for years and always love it. It is the one place I'll turn when in need from a broken heart or excited with happyness. I'll write it down as soon as I can! Although Im a day dream and this romantic notion of mine might be whats slowing me down to succeed.

Re: Day 16: 2012 Writer Mama Every-Day-In-May Book Giveaway: Heather Snow

ML Gomes — Wed, 16 May 2012 08:41:30 -0000

Writing is a love-hate relationship, unrequited for years. Growing up I searched for my biological father and was rejected by him each time. Twenty years after his death two of my siblings came looking for me. My life poured out in our correspondence. Each time I expressed how our “father” influenced my life I learned something about him and about myself. As the relationship with my “new” brother and sisters developed I was excited, angry, joyous, hurt - on a daily basis.
Gathering documents since I was a child, encouraged, all these years by my childhood friend, in 2008 I recognized time was running out. By 2010 I had an outline and rough draft. Each time I revised I let go of a little anger and forgave my father a bit. Forgiveness has been a slow process. My writing improves with each revision. At the moment it’s in the final stages-the decision- memoir or novel? How to handle the next steps? I’m still intimidated about the family response to the truth but I can’t let that stop me. The need to finish forces me to push on.

The Book Club has been a tremendous source of inspiration and encouragement.

Re: Day 16: 2012 Writer Mama Every-Day-In-May Book Giveaway: Heather Snow

Sue — Wed, 16 May 2012 08:34:29 -0000

My romance with writing has been tentative with me as the
untrusting partner wondering if writing is really the one for me. Yet, like a
patient, supportive husband, writing grounds me when I lose touch with who I am
and gently pushes me to take chances and discover myself all over again. What
could be better?

Re: Day 14: 2012 Writer Mama Every-Day-In-May Book Giveaway: Heather Vogel Frederick

Ennivek — Wed, 16 May 2012 00:42:39 -0000

I appreciate the fact that I never give up, not totally. I may berate myself or not writing enough, for taking breaks that go on for months sometimes. But in my heart, I know lies a story and the ability to draw it out. I work in a high school and I see possibilities in every senior who comes to me for advice on what to do after high school; college, community college, military, job, mission, whatever. Those students who still want to be doctors but forgot to study and are leaving high school with 1.2 average?. Never mind, I tell them. Who wants to peak early? Better to make mistakes early, learn from them, and move on. It may take you a few more years than your classmate with the 4.0, but you can still reach your goal. Just work hard, keep the goal in sight and never give up. Works for novel writing too. No chance of me "peaking early," now, but that is no reason to give up.

Re: Day 15: 2012 Writer Mama Every-Day-In-May Book Giveaway: Krysty Krywko

Nathalie — Wed, 16 May 2012 00:36:53 -0000

So many rush into my head I can hardly pick one, so I'll write about the one that first came to mind: Kevin Sampsell. I read his book "A Common Pornography" to be polite when I met him at the Northwest Author Series. It didn't sound like my kind of book. I was surprised to fall in love with the rawness of it. The style of his story-telling was unique in that the chapters were short vignettes of his life strung together but also because he was so ... honest and somehow still gracious.

Re: Day 15: 2012 Writer Mama Every-Day-In-May Book Giveaway: Krysty Krywko

Lorraine Wilde — Tue, 15 May 2012 22:29:52 -0000

I admire memoirist Kim Kircher, author of "The Next Fifteen Minutes." Her memoir poignantly shares how she survived her struggle with her husband's liver cancer and transplant by focusing on what's right in front of her, just 15 minutes at a time. Her amazing attitude, developed through her life experience as a ski patroller and avalanche control explosives tech and EMT, shine through every chapter. Her writing is deft and I learned a lot about the use of simile and metaphor from her heartfelt words.

Re: Day 15: 2012 Writer Mama Every-Day-In-May Book Giveaway: Krysty Krywko

Mar Junge — Tue, 15 May 2012 21:41:41 -0000

I admire Markus Zusak, author of The Book Thief. Death, the novel’s narrator, says, “It’s a small story really, about, among other things:* A girl* Some words* An accordionist* Some fanatical Germans* A Jewish fist fighter* And quite a lot of thievery”.
I admire that Zusak puts so much care into the writing. He’s an incredible storyteller. He slips completely unexpected words into his analogies -- so much so that my copy of The Book Thief bleeds yellow highlighter. In Cindy Hudson’s interview with Zusak, he said, “People know when your heart is in a book . . .There are two magic acts I want to pull off when I write. One is creating a feeling that when you’re inside a book, you believe everything you’re reading even when you know it’s not true. And the second is an extension of that, which is you know it’s not true, you know it’s not real, but you believe it anyway.” My son, a creative writing major, gave this book to me for Christmas. I hope someday one of us will write as well as Zusak.

Re: Day 15: 2012 Writer Mama Every-Day-In-May Book Giveaway: Krysty Krywko

Mar Junge — Tue, 15 May 2012 21:41:29 -0000

What a coincidence that my post follows yours, since I quoted from your interview with Markus Zusak, the writer I most admire.

Re: Day 15: 2012 Writer Mama Every-Day-In-May Book Giveaway: Krysty Krywko

Cindy Hudson — Tue, 15 May 2012 21:29:10 -0000

When I'm reading nonfiction, I really like writers who can take a difficult topic and make it read like any good story. I loved how Vanessa Woods did this in Bonobo Handshake, and I also like how Malcolm Gladwell does it in his books. In fiction, my favorite author of all time is Gore Vidal. He's irreverant, wickedly satirical, and I feel like I can count on his historical accuracy on details.

Re: Day 15: 2012 Writer Mama Every-Day-In-May Book Giveaway: Krysty Krywko

Sarah Lindsey — Tue, 15 May 2012 19:47:19 -0000

So excited to finally be able to participate
again! I was having some internet trouble, but just got it resolved. Anyway...

Lately, most of my reading revolves around
reference books (which I really enjoy!). So naturally, the first writers that
come to mind as an answer to your question are the authors of those reference
books. There are three at the top of my list: Christina Katz, Linda
Formichelli, and Kelly James-Enger.

It was Christina's book, Writer Mama, that led me
to writing for publication. And one large reason for that was that her message
- it's possible to parent and write - was laid out in such detail and with such
a kind, guiding voice that I knew I had found my calling.

Linda's writing shows how knowledgeable she is in
her field, and explodes with energy and detail.

Kelly’s writing feels like an informed friend,
sharing her expertise in simple, easy-to-understand terms.

This is just skimming the surface in regards to the qualities I admire in these writers. :)

Re: Day 13, 2012 Writer Mama Every-Day-In-May Book Giveaway Winner!

Cara Holman — Tue, 15 May 2012 14:15:12 -0000

Thank you for your generosity, Christina! How exciting!

Re: Day 13, 2012 Writer Mama Every-Day-In-May Book Giveaway Winner!

ML Gomes — Tue, 15 May 2012 12:57:16 -0000

It's always a pleasure to hear happy mom stories. Both these lucky ladies had a moms who provided a strong influence on the direction their lives took.

Congratulations on winning the Writer Mamma books. I'm sure you will find them a huge help, I have several of Christina's books-Get Known Before the Book Deal and The Writers Workout have both helped me making many choices on how best to get to the next step.

Re: Day 13: 2012 Writer Mama Every-Day-In-May Book Giveaway: Christina Katz

Dee — Tue, 15 May 2012 10:11:43 -0000

Never mind. I just figure d it out!

Re: Day 13: 2012 Writer Mama Every-Day-In-May Book Giveaway: Christina Katz

Dee — Tue, 15 May 2012 10:05:07 -0000

Woo hoo! Okay, now what do I do?

Re: Day 13: 2012 Writer Mama Every-Day-In-May Book Giveaway: Christina Katz

christinakatz — Tue, 15 May 2012 01:24:36 -0000

If you did not win this one, come back on the 31st. I'll be giving away all three of my books with Author Mama! :)

Re: Day 13: 2012 Writer Mama Every-Day-In-May Book Giveaway: Christina Katz

christinakatz — Tue, 15 May 2012 01:24:05 -0000

Congrats, Dee. You've won a copy of Writer Mama!