Blogger: Wendy Lawton
Location: Books & Such Central Valley, California Office
Weather: High eighties
Because today is Labor Day in America—a national holiday—I’m going to indulge in a purely personal post for today. Tomorrow I’ll don my agent hat again.
For me Labor Day has always been the official start of a new year of sorts. When I was a child, it meant I started school in a brand new grade with a new teacher. The day offered a fresh start. I’m guessing I attempted to reinvent myself on Labor Day far more often than on New Year’s Eve.
The day after Labor Day seems to mark a rebirth of the publishing industry as well. The rigors of the two major book conventions, BEA and ICRS, are over, vacations are finished, the weather settles down into book lovers’ favorite autumnal patterns, and the publishing gears begin to grind once again.
So, if I’ve made my point that it is a new year of sorts, let me reflect on my big discovery of the past year: Despite the doomsday pronouncements of experts over the electronic future of books, I am more in love with story than ever before.
In the thirty years I worked dual jobs as a writer and doll designer, I always said that my mission was to “tell stories in porcelain and paint pictures with words.” My mission has never changed despite how the media for storytelling changes. Over the past year I’ve rediscovered the power of story in traditional books, in e-books, in audio books, in art, in music, in theater and in swapping stories with others.
I’ve already written about how attached I’ve become to my Kindle. The interesting thing I discovered is that I am reading twice to three times as many books for pleasure as I read before I started using Kindle. Where do I find the time? We canceled our television service January first, so that freed up some time. And because the Kindle is always along, I redeem many minutes that were wasted before.
Favorite books on Kindle this year? It’s hard to pick since I’ve read so many treasures, but I’d have to say, Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows, and The Help by Kathryn Stockett.
And I’ve always loved audio books. There’s nothing like snuggling into a favorite spot with a cup of coffee, listening to someone read a story. Now that I can instantly download books to my iTunes library instead of sending for audiobooks on tape, I’m listening to more books as well. I just downloaded Philippa Gregory’s The White Queen, read by Bianca Amato. Now I just need to find that cozy corner and a few hours. Other favorite audiobooks? Two short stories by Isak Dinesen, Babette’s Feast and Sorrow’s Acre, read by the inimitable Colleen Dewhurst; Out of Africa, also by Isak Dinesen, read by Julie Harris; and The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency series by Alexander McCall Smith, read by Lisette Lecat.
How about books designed with artistic typeface, printed on leaves of paper and covered in artful covers? I will ever be a book collector. In this new year I pledge to fill in my collection of favorite children’s illustrators—Patricia Polacco, Jan Brett, Susan Jeffers, Tasha Tudor and others. I will continue to build my antiquarian collection of illustrators—Jessie Willcox Smith, Ethel Franklin Betts, Maud Humphrey, H. Willabeek LeMair, Kate Greenaway, Elizabeth Gordon and so many others. I’ve almost finished my C. S. Lewis, Madeleine L’Engle and Dorothy L. Sayers’ collections. And I’ve read dozens of wonderful contemporary books this year. Traditional books are still my media of choice for nonfiction.
So what about story in other media? My favorite story for theater this year was Wicked. My favorite for film? We’ve been on an Agatha Christie marathon this year. We’ve watched every single brilliant David Suchet Poirot film, including the film about the making of the films. In music, my favorite story song is Hallelujah by Jeff Buckley.
So all of that to say this: There is no need to be fearful about changes in the way a story is delivered. From the very first time someone sat on a stone and said, “Once upon a time. . .,” there is nothing more powerful than story. With each new year technologies change and markets change but story endures. If you are a storyteller, including you nonfiction writers who have stories of a different kind to tell with much more direct application, someone is waiting to hear your story no matter how it’is delivered.
So what stories have made a difference in your life in the last twelve months? And how were those stories delivered to you?
I wholeheartedly agree, Wendy. Storytelling will never end. I’ve met several young “authors” and storytellers (under 10 years of age) and they are already using their imagination in telling stories. What wonderful opportunities they will have to share them in ways we can’t even imagine today.
I’m in the middle of Guernsey Literary and Potato Pie Society in my Sony Reader and loving it! Wicked is one of my favorite musicals but right up there with it is the new Mary Poppins musical. It’s wonderful–lively and sweet.
Happy Labor Day! Here’s to new beginnings!
Wonderful, encouraging post!
I make great use of audionooks as well as traditional ones. Book about marginalized people seem to have dominated my reading this year – AIDS orphans, immigrants, the sick- and I appreciate the excellent writers who identify and being the stories to light.
I also loved the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society and, for a change of pace, was mesmerized by an older book by Ann Rule, Dead by Sunset. Haven Kimmel’s Zippy was fun.
We’re leaving on vacation this week and I’m taking an assortment of books, including ones by Alice Sebold, Karen Kingsbury, Lisa Samson, Melody Carlson, James Scott Bell, Debbie Macomber, Jodi Piccoult, and Kim Edwards. I don’t plan to do anything but read and write for three weeks! (I wait all year for this!)
All these stories are in book form but I’m seriously considering putting the Kindle on my Christmas/birthday list (for the next several years LOL). Wendy, your post has also inspired me to visit the library for some audio books on the drive north to Lake Chelan.
My family and I have a hoot with audio books – they are wonderful for long car rides with young children. We refused to give in to the DVD in the van phenomenon, we listen to Ann of Green Gables, and Adrian Plass, and Stuart McLean (and laugh our heads off).
We don’t have Kindle in Canada (don’t get me started!) but my friend and neighbour recently brought one home – a gift from her sister in Texas, fully loaded with books aplenty, including mine 🙂 – and she has spent more time reading than she ever did before. She adores her Kindle – reads more, and has stores of books she wants to read to her two young children.
I’ve always been in love with story, and I love books. But my favorite way of having stories delivered to me has never changed – I love to sit with friends, old and new, and talk and laugh and share the stories of our lives, how our day went, or of the remarkable thing that happened at work. I love how lively conversations bring out photo albums and newspaper clippings, and stories of “long ago when we were young”. I love discovering the unusual, amazing stories of people I meet. And we all have them!
Cheers!
I just paused my audio book so I could concentrate on commenting. 🙂 Listening to Patrick O’Brian’s THE FAR SIDE OF THE WORLD, read by Simon Vance. He’s a wonderful reader. Next up in the audio pile is THE GUERNSEY LITERARY AND POTATO PEEL PIE SOCIETY, which so many have mentioned favorably here that my expectations are high.
My favorite newly discovered author from the past year is Linda Nichols, published by Bethany House. LOVE her books. They’re full of selah moments. The spiritual journeys of her characters are of a depth and richness I want to write for my own characters.
Most anticipated new release is Diana Gabaldon’s AN ECHO IN THE BONE, Sept. 22. I’ll get to meet her in person this year, after knowing her on line for over a decade.
The writing craft book that stands out to me from this past year is Donald Maass’s THE FIRE IN FICTION.
As for non-fiction/research, THE DIVIDED GROUND by Alan Taylor (the history of New York during the American Revolution) has been priceless and absorbing. Tracking down and watching a hard-to-find copy of a movie called THE BROKEN CHAIN, with Pierce Brosnan and Eric Schweig, which depicts much of what I’ve researched, gave me chills.
Wendy, I love the NO. 1 LADIES DETECTIVE AGENCY books read by Lisette Lecat. “Have you slept well, Maa?” 🙂
I recently listened to the first two Harry Potters on audio cassette during long drives. The drives ended up not being long enough, and I’ve been listening as I drive around town. Amazing how I could get through those two books in two weeks even that way!
I hadn’t revised the books since I read them, hiding under the blankets with the flashlight so my children wouldn’t know all those years ago when the books were deemed subversive by some. I had forgotten the sheer delight of Rowling’s words and clever irony. Lots of fun, and now I’ll return to the library–soon I hope–for #3.
Sigmund Brouwer, “Out of the Shadows.” It’s fiction, but the ongoing theme was forgivness. All I can say is be prepared to go to bed in the wee small hours of the morning because he’s a page turner.
I’ve been hearing about the Kindles but haven’t taken the plunge. Mayyybe this will be a new beginning!
May I add to favorite children’s illustrators?
Jeri Landers exhibited at a local fair this past weekend and I immediately bought her first book. (She’s working on #3 now.) She is both the illustrator and author.
http://www.jerilanders.com
I’ll check on the others you mentioned as I’m in the market for someone to do the cover for my first book. Suggestions would be welcomed!
Stories that made a difference to my life – the story of my Mom and how she has continued to keep her focus on Jesus Christ after her debilitating stroke in June, 1998. It is an honor to be her daughter – she is an amazine woman…
and I guess the book I’m trying to finish rewriting, since it’s been rattling around here for several years in my mind and it wants out!
It is a pleasure to read these posts. Thanks to all participating!
Wendy, what is the third favorite book you read? I read Gurseny and The Help and I love them both!
Tricia
Is there anybody who did NOT love the Guernsey book? I bought it for a niece in January and thought I had better make sure it was good before I passed it on. ;o) It was. It really was.
Bought on the recommendation of a bookstore employee, for what it’s worth. I hadn’t heard of it before then.
Wendy,
I’ve always run on the Labor Day as New Year’s calendar. It just seems natural as I’ve either been in school or teaching my children for almost my whole life. I imagine even when the kids are grown and gone, Labor Day will signal time to get down to serious work.
I finished reading THE HELP on your recommendation and I loved it. It ranks up there with A THOUSAND SPLENDID SUNS as one of the best reads of the year. We were discussing good use of back story at a meeting tonight and I think THE HELP does it brilliantly.