Name of fiction work? And were there other names you considered that you would like to share with us? The Sound of Wings. The working title was The Butterfly Garden. My publisher asked me to change it as there is already a book on the market with the same. I reached out to my good friend and fellow author, Patti Davis, who had read the manuscript and she was the one who came up with The Sound of Wings—I absolutely love it.
What is the date you began writing this piece of fiction and the date when you completely finished the piece of fiction?I began writing this story in late summer 2015. My first draft was finished and edited by fall 2016, which was when I began pitching the book. I signed with an agent in summer 2017. We parted ways in fall 2018. I signed with my publisher in summer 2019. I have since edited and polished the book, and that is the history from start to finish.
Where did you do most of your writing for this fiction work? And please describe in detail. And can you please include a photo?I first moved to Cape May in 2015. I had a friend/designer (Jan Schmidt – Bottom Left) help me set up the house and she created a beautiful little work area for me (Bottom Right) with a writing table. I wrote the story from this desk upon which sit some of my favorite books on the craft of writing.
What were your writing habits while writing this work- did you drink something as you wrote, listen to music, write in pen and paper, directly on laptop; specific time of day? The bulk of my writing is done straight onto my laptop. I just find it so much easier to type, especially when my mind is a flurry of new ideas and my hand cramps from scribbling with a pen. I did have an outline and chapters put onto index cards, as it is helpful for me to be able to “see” the story. There was a moment when I found a missing link in the plot and once I had all of the cards laid out on the floor, I was able to see where the hole was and correct it.
I drink coffee or tea in the morning—never past noon—and club soda with lemon in the afternoon or kombucha tea. Sometimes, I sip wine later in the day and only as I am casually reviewing the work I completed for the day.
Please include just one excerpt and include page numbers as reference. This one excerpt can be as short or as long as you prefer. This is from the Prologue, Goldie’s point-of-view, Page 2
As she continued her walk, Goldie’s vision slipped back out of focus. The butterfly garden became a blur. Her head was foggy, her thoughts random. When was the last time she had a good cry? She was out of tears. It had been four decades since she watched Patrick take his last breath. Goldie became awash in a fresh wave of sadness. A longing for what was. For what she once had. She knew there was a sense of freedom to be had in succumbing to such anguish. Sitting in the eye of your pain as it draws you down onto hands and knees. A healthy episode of unabashed bawling when your spirit feels as though it may just split in two. Over time, sorrow that has been silenced for too long eventually infects even the good parts—Goldie could see that now.
Why is this excerpt so emotional for you as a writer to write? And can you describe your own emotional experience of writing this specific excerpt? I can relate well to those moments in life that draw us to our knees in sorrow and despair. In this scene, Goldie is mourning her late father-in-law, Patrick, whom she misses even though it has been many decades since he perished. I have seen a lot in my life and lost family members and can understand only too well how detrimental silenced sorrow can be and how it lingers inside of us.
Patti Davis Web page
Jan Schmidt Facebook Page
https://www.facebook.com/jan.schmidt.56863
Jan Schmidt’s Dragonfly Interiors Web Page
Julie Metz Design Web Page
https://www.metzdesign.com/
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