Thursday, April 25, 2013

Finish the Sentence: Common Threads

What's up with this photo?
      Most people who know me would agree that I am a passionate person. But passionate about what?

     When I think about the books I've published, the manuscripts I'm working on now, and the stories I've written, I see a few common threads that show my passions more than just about anything else.

     I am passionate about the cause of the oppressed. Whether its the political prisoners languishing away in North Korean labor camps or the Japanese-Americans shipped off to relocation centers during World War Two, the downtrodden and destitute are always popping up in my work.

     I also find it interesting that my three published short stories, my novel, my kids book, my memoir, and my current work in progress all touch on issues of disability. I never planned it that way. One of the characters in my new kids series has a feeding tube, which he hauls around in his super-cool backpack. In my debut Christian novel, a desperate North Korean father sends his disabled daughter across the border into China. And in my current work in progress, Saving Natalie, readers are introduced to a mentally-handicapped hospital janitor named Moe who is one of my favorite characters to show up thus far in my writing career.

     I can't imagine writing anything if I weren't passionate, and I'm thankful for the opportunity to use pen and ink (ok, actually laptop and internet) to share my passion with others.

Random Fact #13: I never had any cavities until I went off to college. You can guess what happened next!

Link-Up Love: Thanks to Finish the Sentence Friday Hosts: Kate of Can I Get Another Bottle of Whine…, Janine of Janine’s Confessions of a Mommyaholic, Stephanie of Mommy, for Real and Dawn of Dawn's Disaster!

Finish the Sentence Friday

17 comments:

  1. Definitely sounds like you do have a lot to be passionate about and your books sounds amazing. Thanks for sharing and linking this up with us. Hope to see you back again next week!! :)

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    1. Thanks for hosting the linkup Janine. It's such a great idea. I love your wedding picture on your post. It's stunning!

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  2. I'll have to go through my stuff and see if I can find a common thread. Off the top of my head, no. Unless it's that things don't always go quite the way you expected. Maybe.

    Are you going to introduce Moe in a WIPpet? I'd liek to meet Moe. :-)

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    1. Regi- your common theme is chocolate.
      And yes, I'll introduce Moe but it might be a while! He doesn't come in until later and he plays a really minor role but I get goose bumps thinking about him. Pathetic, no?

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    2. Not pathetic, no. :-)

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    1. Thanks Kerri, I'm sure we share some of the same passions ... even though my post doesn't include a picture of Goofy...

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  4. I've still never had a cavity and I'm 41. I should have had 10 considering I don't recall brushing my teeth the entire time I was 10 years old. I've had braces and root canals though. I'm passionate about the oppressed too. The underdog.

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  5. It is interesting how things like that sneak in whether you want them to or not. Great post! Your books sound great.

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    1. Thanks Michele, yeah a lot of these things I didn't even think about until writing this post actually! Just saw on your blog you're working on your nursing training. Good luck to you!

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  6. Your characters sound interesting. I like books that showcase people with disabilities because in real life, I've met many. Everyone goes through crap in life. When events or genetics conspire to leave a permanent mark on a person's body or brain, it is a constant reminder of the imperfections we all carry around hidden. How people react in the face of that can be saddening or inspiring. I find the inspirational kind pops up a whole lot and I love that about life.

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    1. I've read some great books about people with disabilities. I find it intriguing and often inspiring as well.

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  7. What a wide range of stories; they sound like very interesting reads! Congrats on the awards!

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    1. Thank you for the congrats Terrye! Where in Alaska do you live?

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  8. I love that you're passionate about the cause of the oppressed. And your books sound amazing!

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    1. Thanks Krisit! I hope you enjoy them if you get the chance to read them one day. Until then - have a GREAT Weekend!

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