The Importance of Mentors & a Book Review

What is a mentor?  

Merriam-Webster defines it as a trusted counselor or guide, tutor, or coach. 

To take it one step further, I'd say that a writing mentor is a writer and/or author who has experience beyond one's own abilities and expertise. Would you agree? 

I think there are several kinds of mentors. There are those that we have a long term relationship with and others where we gain counsel over short periods of time. Formal or informal, a mentor can offer many benefits, such as:

• Sound advice - Whether for a specific question, genre, or the writer's life in general, they've "been there, done that" and can share time tested counsel and illustrations, lending insight and guidance.
• A good example - They are someone worth emulating, one who possesses credibility and has set a standard worth following.
• An objective opinion - Often we're too close to our own work; a neutral stance offers valuable perspective and feedback.
• Encouragement - Since they've tread where we hope to, they can offer the boost needed to stay the course. This can enhance confidence and productivity.
• A listening ear - Sometimes we just need to talk, no matter where we are on the journey, and a non judgmental ear can help sort things out.

If someone is looking for a writing mentor, where might they find one? 

• Writer's Relief offers a few tips in this post.
• Chip MacGregor shares further insight here. 
• The Write Life discusses options in 5 Reasons You Need a Writing Mentor. 

Other avenues include: 

• Writing groups - Great local and online options are available for all levels.
• Workshops/conferences - Find regional, national, or online webinars in every genre.
• Social media - Blogs, Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Goodreads, etc. 
• Writing courses - The right course can be a great source of info and counsel.
• Coaching - Coaches offer customized, one on one interaction.

While having a writing mentor is not a requirement, it can be a great benefit on our journey.  These points illustrate something we probably already know, too. As writing friends, we mentor each other in some way on occasion. So whether we adopt the official title of mentor or not, large or small, our contributions impact others. I think that's a very good thing. :) Thank you all for your part in my writing journey!

My Mentor Story

I met MaryAnn Diorio about 16 years ago through a New Jersey writing group. This lovely and talented author was kind enough to help me get over many "newbie writer" hurdles, lending wisdom, encouragement, and wonderful advice. During this time, I participated in a coaching session she offered by phone, but she graciously answered my questions prior to and after that, and still does to this day.  

Early on she said, "Call yourself a writer." That little piece of advice impacted me greatly. It lent the confidence and vision to move forward into what I felt led to do. MaryAnn was also one of my first editors, signing me on as a contributor to one of her popular newsletters. I am forever grateful that she took time to invest in my life.

Just in case you didn't know, MaryAnn holds a Ph.D. and MFA, and in addition to coaching, she is a teacher, blogger, and author who's written fiction and non fiction books. I recently had the privilege of reading one of her novels and thought I'd share my review here. If you haven't yet read any of her work, I encourage you to do so. :)


Book Review - The Madonna of Pisano by MaryAnn Diorio


Maria Landro harbors a horrible secret, one she dare not share with anyone. Shunned by friends and the community, she works to support her son and help her mother save the family farm. Local priest Don Franco has secrets of his own. Terrified that these secrets will come to light, he builds a complicated web of pride and deceit. Luca Tonneta knows heartache and shame, but also knows the freedom of God’s redeeming power.

As these three Pisano residents’ lives intersect, they learn much about themselves and God’s amazing love and power to heal hearts. From realistic characters to a plot full of heartbreak and secrets, this book offers surprises and a good dose of grace. MaryAnn Diorio capably shares a difficult and intricate story that illustrates challenges that most of us can relate to on some level. This story of forgiveness and redemption held my attention from beginning to end. Two thumbs up!

Do you think mentors are necessary? Has anyone mentored you on your writing journey? Have you mentored anyone? What are you reading this week?

Happy writing,

Karen


Photo credit: Free Images: Benjamin Earwicker

Mystery, Murder, and Favorites with Ann Gabhart

Ann Gabhart is back! I'm excited to help celebrate her latest release, Murder at the Courthouse. She's offered a copy to one of my followers, so please check out the giveaway details below.

Here's a peek at the back cover:  

After a few years as a police officer in Chicago, Michael Keane has no trouble relaxing into the far less stressful job of deputy sheriff in his small hometown. After all, nothing ever happens in Hidden Springs, Kentucky. Nothing, that is, until a dead body is discovered on the courthouse steps. Everyone in town is a little uneasy. Still, no one is terribly worried—after all the man was a stranger—until one of their own is murdered right on Main Street. 

As Michael works to solve the case it seems that every nosy resident in town has a theory. When the sheriff insists Michael check out one of these harebrained theories, his surprising discovery sends him on a bewildering search for a mysterious killer that has him questioning everything he has ever believed about life in Hidden Springs. 

Bringing with her a knack for creating settings you want to visit and an uncanny ability to bring characters to life, A. H. Gabhart pens a whodunit that will keep readers guessing. 

Ann and I thought it would be fun to ask her main character, Michael Keane, about some of his favorite things. This is how he replied:

Favorite food/s – Cindy’s pecan pies at the Hidden Springs Grill are hard to beat. Especially if you tell her to warm it up a little and add a scoop of vanilla ice cream. If I ate that all the time, I’d have to work out twice as much. Then freshly caught fish from Eagle Lake fried in a skillet over an open fire when I’m camping out in rough country near the lake have to be on my favorite list. There’s just something extra good about eating fish you caught yourself while watching the sun sink down on the western horizon of the lake. 

Favorite beverage – I’m a police officer. That means coffee, black and strong, is as necessary as water. 

Favorite sport – I guess I’d have to say fishing. That counts as a sport, doesn’t it? I like getting out on the lake in my motor boat and throwing out a line. But I also have an old rowboat that I like to get in and slide out on the water. Especially early in the morning while the mist is lifting from the lake. The only noise is the dip of the paddles, the birds welcoming the sun, and sometimes a fish jumping up out of the water to try out the morning air and flopping back down with a little slap sound. 

Favorite piece of advice someone's offered over the years – Here’s something Aunt Lindy told me not too long ago after I moved back to Hidden Springs from Columbus, Ohio. “You young people are always in such a hurry you forget to notice what the good Lord is doing in your life. The Lord wants you right here in Hidden Springs.” I don’t know if I could call that my favorite piece of advice, but it is something that I have to consider. I don’t want to be in too big a hurry to notice the blessings of my days. I do feel as if I belong in Hidden Springs. That makes some problems for me since the girl I’ve loved since we were kids thinks a town like Hidden Springs is the last place she wants to be. 

Favorite quote – My Aunt Lindy shared Lamentations 3:22-23 with me years ago. It’s the verse she read over and over while I was in a coma after the terrible accident that killed my parents and almost killed me. She said she read this every morning as she prayed for me. 

It is of the LORD's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. 

Hard not to have that be a favorite since I’ve always been sure it was Aunt Lindy’s love and prayers that pulled me out of the black abyss I was in and gave me a second chance at life. 

Favorite hobby – There is that fishing I’ve already mentioned. But I also like to delve into the history of the Civil War. Some of my great, ever so great uncles fought in the war. Not all on the same side. They were brothers divided by the war. Now I read Civil War histories and collect Civil War weapons. I’ve taken part in some of the Civil War re-enactments. The last one I did, I was a Union soldier like my Uncle Pascal. I was one of the soldiers who charged the enemy line and didn’t make it home. So for most of the re-enactment, I was playing dead on the field of battle.

Favorite way to relax – I guess I’d have to say being out in that rowboat with my dog, Jasper. Or sometimes just sitting on the porch of my log house as night falls with the whippoorwills calling and Jasper asleep beside me. Of course, Jasper wakes up when the coyotes start yipping and howling. 

Favorite season – I like all the seasons down on the lake, but Spring and Fall might be my favorites. Winter is good too, but if too much snow falls, it makes responding to emergency calls when I’m off duty difficult. I want to be there ASAP for the citizens of Hidden Springs and Keane County if they have a need for police protection.

Favorite thing about Hidden Springs – I like that people know one another. It’s a good thing to walk down the street and greet friends and neighbors by name. It’s like a big town family. That’s not to say we all love one another in Hidden Springs or even all get along. Many extended families have plenty of disagreements among their members at times. So do we in Hidden Springs, but in times of trouble, folks step up and help one another out.

Thanks for inviting Michael over for an interview, Karen. Now he’s going fishing! 

Thanks for stopping by and allowing Michael to share with us, Ann. :) Wishing you continued success with your books!  

    About Ann 

A.H. Gabhart is Ann H. Gabhart, bestselling author of many novels, including Love Comes Home, the 2015 Selah Book of Year winner and her popular Shaker novels. She also writes about family life, love and now mystery in small towns like the one in Kentucky where she grew up. She and her husband have three children and nine grandchildren and still enjoy country life on a farm near that small town, but she’s happy to report that nobody was ever murdered on her hometown’s courthouse steps. To find out more about Ann’s books or to read her blog, visit:

Ann's Website
Ann on Facebook
Purchase Murder at the Courthouse 

Giveaway Details

Ann is giving away one paperback copy of Murder at the Courthouse. To enter, please note the following:   

1) Open to U.S. residents only.  
2) Please leave your email address. 
3) You must be a Google Friend Connect Follower of Write Now (on sidebar). 
4) Giveaway ends Friday, October 23 at noon Eastern Daylight Time. Winner will be contacted via email and have 36 hours to respond or another name will be chosen.  

What's your favorite way to spend free time? Have any questions for Ann?

Happy reading and writing,

Karen