This Survived the Move

On February 23rd, I was faced with a challenge.  I had had a few weeks to think about how I was going to do it.  How I had been doing it was comfortable and simple, didn't require much thought.  I needed to think of a creative way to do this.  In that way, I wouldn't experience any heartache or distress.

I had to pack to get ready to move, to another city, to the next chapter of my life.  Though I had a special way to pack our wall clock, the drinking glasses and coffee mugs, the two cake domes, and the pictures (just to name a few things), there was one small thing I needed to pay even closer attention to:  My flash drive.

This contains eight years of hard work.

We knew this move was inevitable, we wanted it to happen.  The whole time, I had wondered where I was going to put this small but valuable device, which has all of my books, both past and present, on there.  

After all, although I can replace any of the fragile items, I cannot come close to restoring eight years of hard work.  Though I had backed up most of my books on Google Drive, I didn't want to lose this flash drive.  

What did I do?  I put it in my wallet; it has a pocket in there that has a zipper.  How can you tell you're a writer?  When you need to find a wallet that has a secure place to put an external hard drive.

This burden, the anxiety of working hard to keep this flash drive during a move, has now been lifted.  I'm now a stronger person, better able to focus on details, and most of all, a more passionate and dedicated writer.  I can't wait to see what even better things I will write.

My Mr. Holland's Opus Moment

I now have Wednesdays off from work so I can have some time to write during the week. At the moment, I'm still working on Twofold Love Comeback, in spite of feeling like I'm at a standstill with plot development.

Yesterday, I decided to "camp out" at the Chick-fil-a in Bearden, inside their study area.  However, when I got there, I was too wired to concentrate. (No, I had not had any caffeine.) It must have been because I had finally had a chance to write somewhere else other than at home and I had just had an edifying conversation with someone. 

If you know me, I can't write without music.  But nothing I played yesterday morning, from the Guess Who to Foreigner, seemed to work.

Then, I thought of this song:

Whenever I hear this song, the only thing I can think of is when Richard Dreyfuss plays a 45 of it in Mr. Holland's Opus.  I love how he says to his student, "These guys...can't sing...and have no harmonics...they're playing the same chords over and over...and I love it."  Because it's fun.  I have always thought the same way about this song ever since I first heard it.

I have to admit I was getting a little frustrated because I wanted to make good use of my day off, to have a productive, meaningful time to write.  But after I heard this popular song, I was relaxed and in a flow to write, though what I had written, in my humble opinion, didn't have much of that same thing.  But I didn't care.  I could always look at it later and change it.  Right now, I just needed to embrace a wonderful moment to pound on the keys as much as I could....because writing is fun.

What did I end up writing?  An idea for the start of the turning point in Twofold Love Comeback.  Approximately 1800 words later, I was satisfied, gathered up all my stuff, and went on to my other commitments for the afternoon.

I'm Considered His Equal

I've heard it said that after two weeks of something great happening to you, you are to put it behind you and look forward to something even better.  I will apply that principle to an awesome opportunity I had two weeks ago today.

Ever since 2014, I have gone to the Fan Boy Expo comic con, whether to go walk around and do my favorite pastime of people watching, to volunteer, or to sell my books.  It didn't occur to me at first that I could meet celebrities, and even attend their question-and-answer sessions and ask questions about anything about their career.  I recall attending the first one without meeting Sean Astin, one of my favorite actors from my childhood.  When I realized I could do this, I decided one of the reasons for me to attend this convention was to meet the celebrities.  In taking this up, I have met Anthony Michael Hall, Bruce Kulick (KISS, Grand Funk Railroad), Richard White (voice of the Gaston in Beauty and the Beast), Twiggy Ramirez (Marilyn Manson).

Two weeks ago, I met Dee Snider at this fall's Fan Boy Expo.  Those of you who are around my age range will remember him from the '80s, with that one much-controversial hit, "We're Not Gonna Take it Anymore".  Of course, Snider himself has gone on to many other things, not the least of which is publishing a few books and doing an unlimited number of things in the film industry.

Needless to say, I wanted to consider him a proud possessor of his own copy of Wise Turned Foolish.

But I had no idea it would exceed my expectations and...yes...even my dream. (I had had a great one a few weeks before this event.)

The following is the script of my few minutes with Dee Snider:

[Enter: Faye Wilson Walton]

Dee: Do you have something for me to sign?

Me:  No.  I have something for you that I will sign.

Dee:  Cool.  [Points to my Sinful Lilly t-shirt].  I love that t-shirt.

Me:  Thank you.  Sinful Lilly needs to open up for you someday. [Writes in book:  Dee- May you always want to rock!  Faye Wilson Walton October 2017.  Hands book to Dee.]

Dee:  As you may know, I've written some books, myself.  This is awesome what you're doing.  Keep it up.

Me:  Thank you. 

[Exit: Faye Wilson Walton]

I spent the rest of the weekend floating.  Why?  Because Dee, in the fast few minutes I had with him, considered me to be his equal.  

Ever since then, I've only wanted to write more and imagine myself talking with him about the great plans I have for my books.  

I'm sure it will happen...or something similar to that, which would be even better.

Based on the dream I had had prior to this meeting, and the reality being bigger and better than that, I only want to imagine things more.  

However, I will now move forward, considering my meeting Dee Snider as a stepping stone.  Yet it would blow my mind if our paths crossed again.  

All I can say is:  I can dream.

I Mention Your Hit Song in My Book

A year ago at this time, I was working hard at putting a bow on Wise Turned Foolish.  It had been a year and half of an emotional roller coaster, between the depth of the book and a personal health issue I had at the time.  

For those of you who have yet to read it, I will by no means give away the story in this post. But I will say I mention many classic rock songs by such legends as the Beatles, Van Halen, Foreigner

...and Ratt.

Yes, you guessed it:  "Round & Round."

To have this feature in my books allowed me to enjoy marketing it. I joined all of the Facebook group pages for rock music, especially those that honor a certain band, and included an Amazon link to this hot-off-the-press book. Though I knew I'd reach some fans, I never thought I would meet the founding member of one of the above-mentioned bands.  

This past Thursday, I had a chance to meet and hang out backstage with Stephen Pearcy, the lead singer of Ratt, now of the band that bears his name.  Once I noticed it was he, I stepped away for a few minutes to autograph the part of the book where the title of his biggest hit is in print in my book. 

It dawned on me that though I had given copies of The Long Road Around the Corner of Hope and Crawling to the Light to Michael Sweet, George Lynch, and Sean McNabb, I hadn't given it to one whose title of his biggest hit is in it.

Let me tell you what:  Stephen was so touched by it.  He went on to say he is an avid reader and would support me.  As I'm writing this, I find it so surreal I had an opportunity to personally deliver a copy of this book of mine to someone whom I started a "relationship" with via the airwaves back in 1984, only for me to write a book to let myself know how important that song was as part of an anthology of a soundtrack in my personal development.

In a few weeks, there will another rock star I hope I have the chance to meet.  And I will give him a copy of this book.  Who will it be?  For me to know, and for you to find out.  Please stay tuned.

Living the Rock Star Life, Author Style

In addition to all of the authors of various genres I have in my network, I also have musicians. I love having them in my corner because they too have the same challenges: writing new material, publishing, producing, marketing, and making the time for work and family obligations. I love talking with them, seeing them when I can, and reading about their victories and challenges in making their break, making a new album, or going on tour.



Over the next few months, I'm going to be at events for many weekends where I will be selling my books, after a week of hard work at my day job.  Some of them will be at night and will involve loading and unloading a plastic box full of books and table decor.  There may even be a preferred way of dressing.  In thinking about all of the places I will be, that ranges from jeans and t-shirt all the way to Sunday best.  For all of them, I have to stay on top of the flow of the crowd, making sure I don't miss a sale.

This past weekend, I was a rock-star author in the best way.  I attended the Knoxville Tattoo Convention.  I was there both Friday and Saturday, at my designated table, for long hours. Of course, I have to also include the time I needed beforehand to make sure I had plenty of books and other necessary resources and to locate the place in more than enough time.

After a long weekend, I slept most of Sunday and Monday afternoon and evening after work. It's now time for me to do more writing and preparing for my next "gig".  That will be next Saturday, September 9th from 9am-1pm at the Union County Library.  I look forward to seeing you there, to rock out with me! 

Decaf Books

A few weeks ago, I had to make an unexpected change to my diet.  I had to quit drinking caffeine due to a mild case of reflux.  Of course, my initial thought was, how am I going to write when I don't drink the liquid stimulant that allows me and many other writers to stay up late at night and think of great ideas?

For three weeks, I weaned myself off it.  During that time, I continued writing.  Guess what happened when I had less caffeine?  I was able to think better.  The ideas for my stories were coming easier to me.  I loved so much what was happening to me, it almost made me regret not having this happen when I was working on The Long Road Around the Corner of Hope or Crawling to the Light.

But then I had to remind myself this is a process.  I can only learn from it and move on and be better at this craft.

Secondly, it means my mind is getting clearer.  I couldn't help thinking of when I started on the second draft of Wise Turned Foolish.  I had just had a major surgery.  Two weeks later, I looked at it and noticed how disjointed everything was.  Though I was happy to write as an outlet for all of the pain I had had from endometriosis, I realized everything was so inconsistent and sometimes even repetitive.  I pretty much rewrote the whole story.

The same applies to my current work on Professional Fans and Twofold Love Comeback (formerly Two Suitors).  I've been busy decaffeinating them, making them clearer and have a better flow to them.

So much clearer I can think now because of not drinking any more caffeine, I can't get ideas on paper fast enough.  So if you need to talk to me, and I'm not available, I'm busy writing even better books.

How Do I Know I'm a Writer?

Three books into my author career (with a fourth one coming really soon), and I am just now figuring out what renders me as a dedicated writer.

Here they are:

• I make sure to take my laptop with me every time I go out of town.
• I have pens of various colors in my purse.
• I have pads everywhere around my house and even in my purse.
• Any spare time I have at home, and when my husband is busy with something at home, I write.
• When I have to try hard to not say the name of one of my characters, who is a portrayal of the person I'm talking to.
• When I hear autobiographical songs, such as "All Summer Long" by Kid Rock, and want to cry.
• I bristle every time someone says to me, "That is something to put in your books."
• Every other thing I talk about is my books.
• In conversations, I talk about my characters as if they are real people.  I've done this a time or two.
• I talk about something that had happened...only to find it was something I had written in my book, it didn't happen in real life.
• When my husband sees a car on a car auction show, it's one that one of my characters drives, and he asks me about it.  I give him the character and what book it is from.
• I quote things from my books in conversations.
• I would see someone and maybe even talk with them.  They look the way one of my characters would, and I try not to tell them so, even if those characters were good ones.
• Last but not least, when I consider my main characters my children.