Mundie Moms

Friday, January 15, 2010

Friday In the Fort with Hourglass Author, Myra McEntire



We've had so much fun with the wonderful authors we've gotten to know but Myra McEntire has taken the concept of FUN to a whole new level.

Just in case you wanted to know more about Mundie Moms Founder, KatieB and me, the resident twitter-a-holic, hop on over to Myra's blog
- Writing Finally . She's done a very professional, in-depth interview with us and yes, we're still laughing about it.

But mostly, we're looking forward to the release of Myra's debut novel, Hourglass. It's being released in Summer 2011 by EgmontUSA.

Mundie Moms Author Interview with Lindsay Eland, author of Scones and Sensibility

We are very excited to have Q&A with author Lindsay Eland!! Her debut book, Scones and Sensibility was released December 22nd by EgmontUSA.

MM: How do you juggle being a Mom and finding time to write?

LE: I think all of life is a juggling act, especially for us multi-tasking-Moms. But when we place priorities on those things that are most important to us, the juggling becomes a bit easier because everything is where it should be. Of course, this means that my house isn’t the cleanest house, and the pile of laundry can easily become something that resembles a pile of leaves that my kids jump into, but my kids also see me going after my dreams, and enjoy the fact that I can laugh easily and have fun with them because I don’t feel drained or overwhelmed.

MM: Many Mundie Moms are aspiring writers. Can you share with us a typical writing day schedule?

LE: Of course! Anything for aspiring writers, especially those who have the even harder job of being moms as well! My writing secret…the reason I have gotten anything done at all, is that I keep a strict rest-time with my kids. When they were younger it was a naptime, but now that they’re older it is merely two-three hours where they have to go somewhere other than our tiny little office, or wherever it is that I find myself parked with my computer. They can play together, come up with their own games and/or crafts, and basically do anything except light something on fire or cut each other’s hair. The only rule being that they cannot interrupt me! This is the time where I get the majority of my writing down each day so it is both precious to me, and has become precious to them as well since they have a blast with each other. On the weekends, my wonderful husband usually gives me a solid two-three hours at a coffee shop or the library where I can work in quiet with no distractions. Other than those times, I sometimes have my computer sitting on top of the counter with my current WIP on the screen. In the midst of baking, cooking, or a brief five minutes in between helping with homework, I can get a paragraph or so written or do a little brainstorming. I think Mom’s that are also writer’s have to be equally creative in the ways that they find time to write as they do in the actual writing that takes place!

MM: We'd love to know how you work in outlining, editing, and character building between spin cycles!

LE: Like I mentioned above, many times I have my computer sitting on the counter so that I can easily jot a few things down and brainstorm. I also keep a little notebook…I think this is my fifth one…easily accessible so if I feel my computer will be in jeopardy up on the counter…ie, a game of Tigers is going on, or the kids are helping me make dinner or dessert…I still have a place where I can write things down. Ideas and thoughts can easily flutter away or follow the banana bread into the oven and never come out, so it’s important to keep something handy to write things down on.

MM: Also, what do you do when you experience Writer's Block?

LE: Whenever I hit a road bump in a manuscript and I just feel like I’m stuck with no idea how to get out, I fre-ewrite. Free-writing is basically just writing down all of your thoughts…Every. Single. One. Writing with no worries as to if it makes sense or if it’s following the outline, or if something is spelled right or if you’ve completely gone off the track. It’s just a way that I allow myself to explore possibilities, characters, plot, and scenes until they come together. Sometimes I free-write for two days and other times I figure it out in an hour, but it always helps me get unstuck.

MM: We love playlists. Did you listen to any music when you wrote Scones and Sensibility and if so, can you share with us a name of a song?

LE: Well, unfortunately I cannot listen to any music whatsoever when I’m writing if there is someone singing. I love, love, love to sing. I sing in the shower, in my head, in the car…everywhere…so I’ve found that if I’m listening to a band I love while I’m writing, I either transcribe the lyrics into my manuscript unknowingly or I completely stop writing all together. That being said, I do love to listen to music while I write, it just has to be instrumental. So I’d say that one of my favorites to listen to while I wrote Scones was the theme music for the new Pride and Prejudice (fitting, I know)…it kind of sweeps me away.

MM: Besides Jane Austen, what other writers inspired you?

LE: L.M. Montgomery is a favorite. She managed to create one of the most endearing, funny, sympathetic, and delicious characters in all of literature…Anne Shirley! Also, Kate Dicamillo, Richard Peck, Polly Horvath, and Shannon Hale! So, so many!!

MM: We love Shannon Hale and Kate Dicamillo as well! You've been writing since Fifth Grade, do you remember the plot of your very first story?

LE: Oh yes! It was a story called What Can You Learn From a Giflyaroo about a lion named Walop who learned through a series of events to accept himself just the way he was. It was a dreadful story that gave me the wonderful taste of writing!

MM: Was there a deleted scene or outtake that you could share with us?

LE: I’m actually a very spare writer. Spare in that I usually do not have enough when my novels are done, so for Scones I didn’t have very many, if any, deleted scenes. I usually write the bare bones with a few layers and of course, I think it’s perfect….and of course, it’s not. For Scones it was all “add, add, add.” And I don’t mind that at all because I find adding much easier than cutting, since I can always think of something more to say…it’s harder to cut things that I think I NEED.

MM: How would Polly, your pastry delivering, matchmaking, 12yo protagonist, describe you?

LE: Overly-romantic just like her, upbeat and positive, driven and determined…and always full of hope.

MM: And have you ever made a match, yourself?

LE: Thank goodness, NO! Though I wouldn’t be completely against the idea of doing a little canine matchmaking (as Polly did) since I don’t think dogs require much in their prerequisites for a mate.

MM: Do you currently have a WIP? And can you share anything about it with us?

LE: Oh dear…my agent will laugh if she reads this and my editor will probably glance at the clock and the calendar simultaneously (editors can do that you know). Do I have a WIP? Yes…and no. I do have a one right now because I always try to have some mss at some stage (this can range form a tiny seed of an idea to a complete re-write) that I can work on when something else is finished or turned in or I’m waiting for feedback on a mss. I am a writer, and thus, I always need to be writing…it’s a flaw and a blessing at once. So…right now I am currently brainstorming and writing and free-writing about whether I should try and salvage a mss that is in complete tatters (really, it is quite pitiful to look at), begin writing a new novel, or completely rewrite another. But when I know which one I am going to do…I’ll let you know more ;)

MM: What three words would you use to describe your book?


LE: Fun, heartwarming, and delicious


MM: If you could give us one piece of advice for writing, what would it be?

LE: know everyone hears these all the time, but they’re true…they really are! READ, WRITE, and DON’T GIVE UP! Read the pro’s cause they know what they’re doing. Write because obviously you will never get published if you don’t write, and you’ll never get better if you don’t write. And then don’t give up, not ever. It’s only when you give up that you know you’ve failed.

And then, I’d add an important clause about revision to those three. Do not be afraid of revision…everyone has to revise, and I’ve found that revising is one of the most satisfying parts of writing. Taking something good and making it wonderful.


MM: Thank you so much for taking the time to answer our questions Lindsay. We really appreciate it.

LE: Thanks so very much for having me!

You can find out more about Lindsay and her books by visiting her site here:

Freebie Friday Contest!


We are giving away 1 ARC for The Iron King (thank you to Harlequin Teen) when we reach 315 followers on our blog!!!

The winners name will be randomly drawn and announced on the blog. The winner will then have 48 hrs to contact us. If we don't hear from the winner by that time we'll then draw a new winner.

To enter all you have to do a is leave us a comment letting us know you're:
*a blog follower and
*leave your email address
That's it! Nice and simple. Good luck to everyone!!!

We'll be chatting with Julie Kagawa Feb. 18th!!
You can read more about The Iron King here:



Don't forget about our Thoughtful Thursday contest we're hosting with Author Myra McEntire going on here:



One winner will win 4 books! One of which is the new release by Dia Reeves, Bleeding Violet (thank you to Simon and Schuster).
You can read more about Bleeding Violet here:

**We we will have another give away for an ARC of The Iron King, outside of this contest. Be sure to stay tuned to our blog after this contest ends to find out how to win another copy**

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