Jean – Wisconsin breeds the fantastic.
We are home to peculiar, toothsome beasts like the Hodag, devourer of all-white bulldogs (or hamsters, if you’re not careful).
We are home to unique, word-some writers like Neil Gaiman: “There’s that tiny off-kilter nature in the Midwest that’s in the details,” he says when asked about writing here.
We are home to hidden towns, small growths of community where railroads and highways meet, places that no one finds unless they mean to find it. Picturesque, perhaps? Plainfield was indeed picturesque once—until Ed Gein was arrested in November of 1957. You may know the rest. Basically, Gein inspired many of the fictional horror icons we know today: Norman Bates, Leatherface, and Buffalo Bill are all rooted in the reality of Ed Gein.
We drove through the wild patches between the hidden towns often when I was a child. I never tried to occupy myself with books or toys in the car. There was too much to see, out there in those scattered homesteads, too much to wonder about. What happened inside that dying barn?
Why is that gravel drive roped off, and where does it lead? Where are all the people for those rusted cars littering the field?
This is the Wisconsin I live in now. The land dips and rises in unexpected places. The trees may crowd a rural highway so much you can lose yourself driving, only to have the tunnel burst open to sunshine and a white-crested river running beneath a bridge you’d swear had never seen a car before. In the small farming town of my youth, I could stand on the lone highway through town and hear snowflakes land beneath the orange street lights.
The short stories began as a writing experiment last year. My husband had been listening to John Carpenter’s Lost Themes, and a story began to shape in my head of a child dying at the hands of a cuddly creature before a dark skulking thing gets involved. When I showed the short story to my publishers, they encouraged me to write more short stories as little introductions to the universe of Charlotte and these imprisoned shapeshifters. Thus Tales of the River Vine was born, with stories following both antagonists and protagonists across the years.
The challenge with such “prequels,” as they are, was to find emotional centers without chipping away at the emotional arc of Fallen Princeborn: Stolen. Take the last story of the collection, “Tattered Rhapsody.” Originally I intended the story to be called “Dirty Charlie,” featuring Charlotte the Wise-Ass taking on some gang members at her high school for profit. I even had little hamsters involved in the fight, bringing a gang member down after he crashes on their cages. I don’t think I have to tell you what these hamsters were named… 😉
But the story felt wrong. I couldn’t pin it at first. Charlotte’s there, she’s showing her strength, her protective instincts for her kid sister. And yet, the story felt…heartless.
Then it hit me: Charlotte’s heart doesn’t speak with her fists. It speaks with her music.
And just like that, the story’s heart found a pulse, a rhythm both despairing yet defiant. Just like Charlotte.
(Don’t worry—two hamsters still manage to make a cameo in the tale.)
I hope you enjoy reading “Tattered Rhapsody” and the other Tales of the River Vine and telling me what you think. They’re all FREE on Kindle, Nook, and other publishing platforms!
Three years ago, you may as well have asked what it’s like to juggle three bowling pins with spikes on fire.
Back when I was trying to write in bedlam, I stole whatever time I could before dawn. The television usually bought me at least an hour in the day to outline, draft dialogue, or keep up with my blog. The children’s naptime never felt long enough, but I made due. Once the boys began preschool, I could at least promise myself one hour of writing time a day. Doesn’t sound like much, does it? But that’s the thing about writing and keeping a job and running a household: every minute to write’s a blessing. Sometimes those days crash and burn. Other times—like when the boys didn’t have school—we found other ways to be creative.
Now that Blondie, Biff, and Bash are in school all day, I always have time for writing, be it for the blog, editing, drafting, etc. Granted, summer’s still a trial, but because I didn’t give up on writing when time was scarce, I have many stories to share here in the daylight hours.
Honestly, not many. I studied in Ireland for a summer, and checked out important places in James Joyce’s life. While this was definitely cool, I was downright ecstatic to drive to Illinois and see the wardrobe that helped inspire C.S. Lewis when he wrote The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. Nostalgia played its part, I’m sure, but it was also a real thing connected to a fantasy. How often does one see and touch real doors to another world?
Research can feel like a big time-suck, but when it comes to publishing, DO YOUR RESEARCH! There are so many scammers out there with their “author services” and “exclusive anthologies.” They’re going to talk you up, make you feel amazing, and before you know it you’ve paid four digits for lousy editing on a slap-dash affair no one’s going to see. Scope out the small presses. Join author groups online to gather recommendations for editors, book designers, and cover artists. Your story deserves to be seen, but only when it’s ready.
Yes, an author platform really does help. Don’t think of it as yet another time suck; rather, treat it as the regimented prose exercise. Reading countless other voices, writing tight posts on a regular basis—all helps the craft, not hinders it. No, it’s not the novel you dream hitting the best-seller list, but making a website, commenting on social media—these simple actions give your name an author’s history. Other writers/publishers/agents/readers can trace your name back to studies, comments, and whatever else you write. You build that platform, you build a writer’s resume for the publishing business to see.
Yup, that’s a while ago, but life tends to fill the years, and in my case, I had just become a mom. Postpartum depression hit hard. Very, very hard. I felt very cut-off from life. I couldn’t feel the joy of motherhood. I found myself often staring out a window, trapped in walls yet somehow exiled outside of feeling. I’d look upon my sleeping baby and feel nothing but guilt because I couldn’t feel complete with motherhood.
Then a friend introduced me to the awesome challenge that is National Novel Writing Month. From November 1st-30th, you are to write 50,000 words of a story not yet started (that’s cheating. Outlines are permissible, though.). The story may need more than 50K words, but what matters is that you reach that length in thirty days.
I swung it that year, and felt AMAZING. I was escaping the trap, driven to feel with characters outside of this world. I couldn’t just sit and dwell on individual lines or plot points—I had to keep going, and because I had to march on in the narrative, I found myself marching on in real life, too. I wasn’t staring out the window waiting for minutes to pass. I was…I was back, you know? I felt a part of life again, enjoying the touch of my daughter’s tiny hands around my finger and her boundless grey-blue eyes. I reveled in these things. I felt…complete.
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Oh, I am so beyond blessed and honored to have Shey as a fiend–FRIEND. I mean Friend. And even you, all you little precocious furry wonders. I could give you all hugs and gingerbread houses decorated in Kit Kats and M&Ms! xxxxxxxxxxx
I know I got a fiend..oops… friend in you. Hope it was ok. I had to lay on an impromptu Halloween ‘do’ for my grandie. I knew he was coming by jsut to trick or treat but years back I used to do a big bash for the local kids where I lived before. it was quite a thing looking back and my younger girl obvi thought…you could do something sort of like it for the wee man… She arrived with apples and pancakes to hang up earlier after she dropped him into nursery so I thought….ok… You win;.
LOL! Oh it’s wonderful when there’s a Halloween to-do! Blondie and Bash were keen to have a Halloween party, but with the book’n’all I just couldn’t work out a plan. Perhaps next year will be that year.
I used to this fancy evening where there would have been about 70-80 in during the course of it. All ages, many pupils, many with friends but strangers too. I would have the dining room which was in the old washhouse all done up to a theme and be dressed for that theme and they’d always be a game for that theme. AND a lot of improvising. There were prizes and all one for one child in each group. Wine for the parents. It was quite a night and the queue would be out through the yard and along the street and they would stand and wait. My folks could hardly get in or out. Anyway no-one can find our house now. It’s one of these hidden ones so no-one comes on spec. Nice in away to have that peace but my younger girl obvi wanted a wee show for her boy so I sprung into action but that was like at lunchtime. It was just a nice hour or two of apple dooking, us being dressed up, treacle scones, I did some card tricks for him. My other girl was there and we all did a wee turn. he seemed to enjoy it
Great post Jean …umm … Shey, especially the interrogation by a Bedlam Of Hamsters 🙂 ❤
Oh..they well lost it this post I am afraid…
I think my daughter’s drawing wound them up a bit. 🙂
Us? Ninsinse. Bit Shey widn’t till uz who did it? Bit now we no…
The dear friendly little dudes.
Just you watch out–Blondie’s been keen for a gaggle of pets, and she may find you all need to live in her chaos… 😉
If she proiises nt to cut off our hids then we will git the suitcases.
The dudes
Hmmm. She won’t, but Biff and Bash are another story…
Jean, sorry to hear about your post partum depression but wonderful to know you wrote yourself out of it. Writing is an amazing therapy. Great advice for new writers too. Thanks, Shey, those dudes are so on form these days, I look forward to our get-together! xxx
I am hoping that if Bobby Bub runs the show this will be less of a rammy. Hopefully too they will have forgotten all about fiends. Jean is amazing the way she’s kept going through thick and thin. xxxxx
Thank you so very much, you and Shey both! I tell students and comrades both that writing is a must for one’s emotional sanity. xxxxxxxx
Oh indeed it is x
Great post! Loved how you incorporated the hamsters!
We had awe chat about including them. Probably a big mistake… xxxxx
The hamsters are never a mistake!
AW… Leslie xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx I am sure that will improve their little tempers…
Thanks for reading! One can’t possibly visit Shey without seeing them, too. 🙂
More’s the pity x
Ive never met them, yet sometimes I dream about the hamsters. Weird.
That is cos we ir speshul
Love
the dudes x
These must be nightmares, Leslie. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Lovely interview, such a lot of interesting thoughts and insights.
Jean did a great job. Glad you enjoyed Cath. x
thanks, Friend! 🙂
Wisconson sounds such a fantastic place, Jean. As you said about Neil Gaiman’s comment of the off-kilter magic of the midwest which he caught so magnificently and powerfully in his American Gods (one of my favourite novels for its haunting imagination and profound sense of time and place), it certainly is a fascinating mircocosm, a sort of world within a world of ancient magic and powerful myth that stalk the very soul. May it continue to inspire your work for many years to come. Paul
Thank you so very much for your kind words, Sir! I can’t imagine writing anywhere else. My characters may cross countless worlds and back, but every landscape will have a touch of the Wisconsin I know and love. 🙂 xxxxxx
Thanks Jean
Isn’t it great to see an area become a character? Now then Jean there’s a new ‘fiend’ for you. Paul is a huge fan of Neil Gaiman. I thought when I was getting this ready yesterday Paul is sure to like this comment. Great to see you Paul x
Thanks Shey – American God is a book I could reread many times
I was minding that x
A fiendishly delightful interview. Many thanks.
And many thanks to you for reading it! 🙂
Thank you…’fiend.’ xxxx
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A great group of shorts, and I know the novel is going to rock it! Jean’s journey is in itself a novel, one she may even decide to write one day. Kudos and great hope for her success (and yours, Lady Shey)! oxoxo
AND yours Lady Pam. Maybe Jean will decide to write that one day. She has certainly stuck in through thick and thin. x
As have we – fearless ladies we are! ✍️🚀🤩
Exactly . xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx We dah best !!
Great interview, Dudes. Kudos. I used to imagine all kind of things lived in the old houses and crofts on the island I grew up on. Imagination is the best toy. xxx
And you see how it has inspired you xxx
❤
Thanks so much for reading!
Fabulous! I never think research is a time suck. I adore researching. I get to be informed.
Jean Lee, your book, Fallen Princeborn Stolen sounds wonderful.
I’m slowly working my way through many books. At this time, I am reading Loving Lady Lazuli. Yours is now on my list.
Shey, great post!
Tell the Hamsters to chill! xoxoxo
I fear they have …lost it. Well Silv has… She does every so often. It is tough wearing a purple hat all day you know.
Oh huzzah! Shey’s on my list, too. I can’t wait to dive into her amazing stories next year. Thanks so much for reading!
xxxxx Jean
Great post!
Thank you so much!
Luisa xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
❤
The drawing is … daring, I would say. Hope the Dudes have learned their lessons though. Thank you for the wonderful interview, I love your Tales of the River Vine, Jean, and your fantastic blog. xxxxxxxxxxxx
lirned ower lessin? excuse is ????
the dudes.
Inese, the drawing appears to have set them off. That is as much as I dare say ,,,,,,
Visuals are more powerful than words 😉 …
From the lips of a wonderful photographer. xxxxx
Hee hee! Honestly, I didn’t know what Blondie was going to do. I merely asked her to draw a Halloween picture starring hamsters. Morbid little girl, I must say. 😉 Thanks for reading, Inese! xxxxx
Blondie gave them some food for thoughts 🙂 xxxxxxxxxx
She did indeed xxxx
What an amazing interview! Jean Lee, you are diligent and devoted to your children and your writing. I am inspired. Congratulations on everything. I will download what is free. Of course Shehanne’s new book and several others are in line before yours, but at least I will have them! Thank you Jean Lee & Shehanne!
Resa, your latest gowns are jaw dropping. I got them through Holly on House of Heart after my wp reader went awol and refused to load. So thank you for everything you do xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Thank you so very much! Your creativity with fabric tells its own story, to be sure. I hope you enjoy the tales when you can! xxxxxxxx
Oh you two ladies are wonderful fiends 😉 Clever interview Shey and to Jean Lee I want to say I really enjoyed when you said about the story finding a pulse and rhythm… Giving heart to a story is so important and I’m glad you were able to do that with the character of Charlotte 🙂
Christy, how lovely to see you. I know you are a busy lady at the mo x I think a heart is very important to a story otherwise it’s just a scenario and some characters residing in white space. xx
Thanks so much, Christy! Yes, it’s so cool to find the passion behind the characters so I’m not just talking about an adventure, but helping someone live it. 🙂
“A wish for you on your birthday, whatever you ask may you receive, whatever you seek may you find, whatever you wish may it be fulfilled on your birthday and always, Wishing you a very happy and fun-filled birthday!”
That is lovely of you Sarah. Thank you. I misbehaved thoroughly yesterday and I am going to do the same today xxxxx
Hi my name is Anjali, and you misbehaved???? I didn’t got it.
Amjali, I have mixed this up with another email and thanked Sarah as YOU. Believe me she is as bemused. Both wishes came in together. Trust me. Thank YOU so much and please forgive me. These are beautiful wishes. It all comes of too much celebration yesterday and just thinking about this buffet I am away to make for my family xxxxxx
No worries, enjoy your time, lot’s of love 💕💐
Anjali, Sarah said the same. But I thought AHHH. Anyway, got the buffet done, Got the fireworks set out. Jut hoping it doesn’t rain now. Lots of love to you. xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Thank you!
Bonjour ou Bonsoir SHEHANNE
après le silence de la nuit
chaque jour renaît
avec le chant d’un oiseau joyeux
pour que nos réveils soient gais
la rosée pour rafraîchir nos pas
et le soleil au rendez-vous
moi je te souhaite une très belle journée ou soirée
Et tout ce que tu désires
Bisous, BERNARD
Good day my friend. Lovely flowers and wishes. Hoping your day is nice too x
GROS BISOUS
How lovely, thank you!
Loved this post. I was interested to hear about Jean writing her way out of depression with NaNoWriMo. My son and I were both in a low last year and wrote ourselves out of it by participating in the November writing binge. I just read the start of Jean’s novel on Amazon. Wonderful writing style. It seems my to-read list is getting higher and higher, which I blame on you, Shey – what with your books and those of people you have guesting on your blog! xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
OOPS. Sarah, I have a TBR pile like that. It got out of hand with all that’s going on re setting up my own biz but hey, I will get it sorted. PULEASE accept my apologies. xxxxxxxxxxxxxx I think writing can just pull us through so much. It’s an escape world to go to when things aren’t great, a safety valve, a place to hide from everything else. Glad to hear you and your son found it helped pull you out that low, cos yes there is also the discipline of siting down every day and kicking the brain into gear. xxxxxxxxxxxx
There are also times when you have to accept it’s impossible to write and just let it go, or the stress flies off the richter scale! I’m in one of those places at the moment, Shey …sigh… but at least am managing to get in sneak reads (mostly by having an extensive breakfast time, as it’s the only part of the day when I don’t fall asleep over a book). xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Lol..I am one of these who if I don’t write something, I will fly off that scale. BUT I understand there’s times that nothing comes and whatever you write is not worth it. May you pass whatever phase you are in soon Sarah. Bottom of my heart, may you xxxxxxxx
Thank you so much for reading, Sarah, and I’m so happy to hear you got intrigued with the story’s start! Writing’s just so, so important for the internal balance, emotionally, mentally, and more. Keep sneak-reading whenever you can, because life’s not going to drop that reading time into your lap. That lap’s usually filled by my kids. 😉 Thanks again!
I am terrible sorry for people who suffer from post-natal depression. My sister did and it was very hard for her. How wonderful that writing helped you though that time. It is a very healing undertaking. Lovely post, Shey.
It’s a terrible thing to suffer as everyone thinks you should be happy indeed. So very sorry to hear about your sister. xx I think that writing helps us through so much. The days when you feel unable to function because of things in your life but can sit down and enter another world,…well..,need I say more? Also in terms of depression of feeling overwhelmed of not sliding down a slope, the brain needs kicked into action and what better way to do it than set yourself a goal with the writing.
Thank you so much, Robbie! Depression’s never entirely gone, but what matters is that we never give in. We fight back with whatever we have, and for me, that weapon is words.
Congratulations on the book, Jean Lee! I really enjoyed the interview, especially hearing about your inspirations. Now that you’ve entered Shey’s hamster world, there’ll be endless drama and priceless wisdom from the Master 🙂
Carolee, the dudes are most upset that we may be doing a collaboration with Resa……. and Inese. (OOPS, just saying and also that we will NOT tell the master .)
LOL! Bring on the drama.
Shey that is SO exciting!!!! Can’t wait!
Me neither x
Jean, I enjoyed reading about you writing process. It was encouraging and I admire your courage. 🙂
Lovely to see you Carol. Glad you enjoyed xxxxxxx
Thank you so very much, Carol! I’m glad you enjoyed it.
Nice blog
Thank you so very much. I am glad you enjoyed xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Shey is awesome, isn’t she? 🙂
Jean…the check is in the post….. What did we agree aqain???? xx
xxxx 🙂 xxxx
Yes she is
You are too kind. I will need to send you all checks in the post for these comments xxx
Hee hee!
Bonjour mon Ami , AMIE SHEHANNE
Ce jour
je regarde le ciel et je pense
je m’évade et m’envole dans le plus grand silence
voir un monde meilleur
Je rêve, je m’imagine que le bonheur est
sans challenge,ni concurrence,ni vainqueur,ni vaincu
Voir tout le monde avec le sourire
Regarder les enfants , courir , sauter , s’amuser ,
en cette période de Noel tout est beau
Aimer toujours aimer quoi de plus beau
sans le dire on peut le montrer , quel joli cadeau
Je passe te souhaiter une bonne de journée ou soirée
Gros bisous . Bernard
Nice one
Thank you so much for reading x
As you see, I can not stop reading your story especially when the dialogues are very realistic for your characters. It must be that you give part of your smile to your words that sound melodious when read.
You are so very kind, you’ve made my day today. The little furry folks were not on their best behaviour here. BUT they are thrilled you came by to read them. Thank you so very much. The best day to you. x
Thank you
Mi amigo, las gracias son mias x
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