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Q&A (& Giveaway): Jan O’Hara, author of Opposite of Frozen

On the whole, the town of Harmony did its best to live up to its optimistic name. the streets were neatly plowed, the sidewalks free of snow and litter, the storefronts cheerful and labeled with lettered script. The mountain ranges on either side of the valley were snow-peaked and set off by attractive architecture. ~ from Opposite of Frozen

Harmony is a good word to carry around in your front pocket these days. And books are always a great medium with which to promote such good will, whether they provide more information or ways to reason through chaos or if they simply offer reprieve from political dialogue…as in today’s feature, which invites us to indulge in a light-hearted love story.

cover image for Opposite of FrozenJan O’Hara’s debut novel, Opposite of Frozen, weaves humor, love, and light into its pages of mystery and romance with a story that revolves around the lively dynamics of a group of seniors citizens–walkers, canes, and all.

When Oliver Pike takes charge of his brother’s fledgling tour guide business, he anticipates guiding a bus full of aging clients on a easy ride from Edmonton to Los Angeles. But there’s trouble in the luggage compartment, namely Page Maddux, a half-frozen stowaway buried in a pile of discarded clothes. Oliver would have easily passed her on to paramedics, but the group of seniors insists on saving her from imminent death themselves, bringing her into their fold. Then begins a curious tale of stolen backpacks, missing tourists, and two stubborn hearts brought to bay.

I’m thrilled to host Jan today for a Q&A and am offering a free copy of her debut novel for one lucky reader (on Kindle or in paperback). Click HERE to enter the giveaway (deadline is Tuesday, November 22nd at noon).

Now, welcome Jan O’Hara!

Christi Craig (CC): In your novel, you paint a picturesque setting of a tiny town in the Canadian Rockies and–alongside the budding romance of Oliver and Page–slip in a little mystery. Elusive characters, tricky cell phones, and locks that won’t give. While Harmony is a fictional place, is there any truth in the mystique and magic of a small Canadian community?

jan-oharaJan O’Hara (JO): To some degree, I believe mystique and magic are in the eyes of the beholder. We encounter miracles every day, talk to ordinary heroes in the guise of our teachers, our parents, our grocery store clerks. Speaking for myself, I often fail to appreciate those special moments and people.

But as to the qualities of a small Canadian community, I don’t think they are all that different from their American counterparts, with the exception of the number and prominence of flags on display in residential areas, or the accents you’d overhear at the bank. Or the number of concealed-carry permits. Or the emphasis on football.

Okay. There are some significant differences. (I’ve got tongue planted firmly in cheek, in case that’s not obvious.)

Harmony, though, has a mystical quality I’ve never encountered in a real Canadian community: a benevolent and mischievous spirit. The authors in our series make use of him to varying degrees. In my case, because the overall tone of the book is madcap, he plays a significant and helpful role in pushing my hero and heroine together.

CC: Speaking of community, the “oldsters” (as Page calls them) stick together like a band of heroes to save Page from imminent death at the beginning through a little action and a lot of sass talk (who can ignore the pointed stare from a ninety-five year old with a cane?). And, they set Oliver straight near the end. I love that your romance novel includes such fun, atypical characters like this traveling montage of seniors citizens. As you were writing, did you develop a particular fondness for one in the bunch?

JO: That’s a little like asking a mother to choose a favorite from amongst her children! I appreciate different aspects of each of them. Paul Dubois is fun because he resists the stereotype of the rumpled, sexless senior. Mr. Lee is fun because he resists the stereotype of the inactive senior.

I’m partial to Avis. Of all the seniors, she mostly closely resembles my maternal grandmother with a motto which might be described as “give it a try”. Who couldn’t use a little more of that in their life?

If forced to pick one senior, I would choose Mrs. Horton, mostly because she kept her secrets and personality somewhat hidden until the epilogue. I really enjoyed her voice, when it came to me. It was strong and unexpected, and gave a broader perspective to a story told in a lighthearted tone.

CC: Your book is the second in a series of twelve about the Thurston Hotel, a series that incorporates the work of eleven different authors. In your interview with Sophie Masson on Feathers of the Firebird, you say that, “Without a commitment to the other writers in the group, I’m not sure I’d have pushed through to completion…OoF would not exist in its present form if not for the project’s boundaries and invitations.” Beyond deadlines and outlines that come in working on a collaborative project, what’s the greatest gift in being a part of a tight-knit writing collective?

JO: I’ve been blogging for some time and I read a lot about the publishing industry, so you might be forgiven for thinking I’d be prepared for publication. Not so! At least as pertains to me, there’s a vast gap between reading about something and understanding its application.

With a supportive community, though, when I encountered an obstacle or decision quagmire, there was almost always someone available who had already worked it through and was willing to loan their expertise. As a small example, I had help with distribution choices, formatting, cover design, and title selection. It’s enormously helpful to have a place to go where you can have your good instincts validated and bad instincts corrected, especially for your first book. And honestly? The amount of help I required was far too much for any one person to handle.

CC: What are you reading these days?

JO: For non-fiction, The Bestseller Code: Anatomy of the Blockbuster Novel. It’s a fascinating look at the commonalities between New York Times bestsellers as teased out by a text-reading computer program.

For fiction, I’m trying to keep up with my colleagues in the Thurston Hotel Series, which isn’t easy with a new release coming out every week.

That should be enough, but I got sucked into A Man Called Ove. It’s absolutely wonderful. Humorous and profound. It also features one of my favorite types of men: the kind that bristle and shout, but are principled marshmallows on the inside.

CC: Along with publishing Opposite of Frozen, you also have an essay on “The Health and Maintenance of Writers” in the recently released writing guide, Author in Progress (Writer’s Digest Books, 2016). With a debut novel under your belt and several thriving writers’ collectives at your back, what’s next on your docket?

JO: I have five partially completed manuscripts on my hard drive, of which three are a series of linked contemporary romances that revolve around a Texan family. (Don’t ask me why I’m drawn to that part of your wonderful country, but I am.) My daughter, who is an intuitive and helpful beta reader, insists I have to finish the first in that series. She wants to revisit one scene, which she read more than five years ago and still recalls as being “hysterical”. It’s hard to argue with that opinionated opinion, so I won’t, especially since she still lives at home and we get to share a dinner table.

Jan O’Hara lives in Alberta, Canada with her two children and husband (aka the ToolMaster). She writes a regular column for the popular blog, Writer Unboxed. Once obsessed with helping people professionally, she has retired from medicine and now spends her days torturing them on paper. See? Win-win scenarios really do exist. While Opposite of Frozen is Jan’s first published novel, she is hard at work on its successor. Visit her website, follow her on Twitter, like her author page on Facebook.

Don’t forget to enter the giveaway by Nov. 22nd for a chance to win a copy of Opposite of Frozen!

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Q&A (& Giveaway) with Poet, Cristina M. R. Norcross

“I want to want less / Freedom lies in / recognizing perfect moments / but not calling them perfect.” ~ from “Notes for January” in Still Life Stories

still-life-stories-coverSitting in a circle of friends recently, conversation turned to wanting to want less, to the serenity found in simpler things, like a slow and deliberate walk on a two-lane road in order to take in the sounds and scents around you and to feel the ground below your feet.

Cristina M. R. Norcross’ new chapbook, Still Life Stories (Aldrich Press, 2016), explores experiences and memories in poems such as “Notes for January” and “Where I Am From” (two of my favorites), taking moments of complexity that define who we are or what we become and sculpting them into a single thread or phrase–poems that speak to the power of meditating on one true thing.

Poetry at its finest.

I’m honored to host Cristina Norcross for a Q&A. In turn, she’s offering a copy of her chapbook, Still Life Stories, along with a set of poetry postcards, for one lucky reader. You can enter the giveaway HERE (deadline is Tuesday, October 11th at noon).

And while this Q&A focuses on Still Life Stories, Cristina is also celebrating the launch of another chapbook, Amnesia and Awakenings (Local Gems Press). If you’re local, stop by her double book launch and open mic event on Saturday, Oct. 15th, at Books & Company in Oconomowoc, WI (6:30pm). Look for me, I’ll be there!

Now welcome, Cristina Norcross.

Christi Craig (CC): I love the title of your chapbook; it works well to pull the reader in with the promise of images captured in time. Then you enrich those images with fragments of story and tiny lessons in living. What sparked these poems most often, settings or ideas?

cristina-norcrossCristina Norcross (CN): I guess I’d have to say that people sparked most of these poems. Although not every poem is a tribute to a person, over half of the poems are about people no longer with us, who have left behind a soul legacy.

My people poems “asked” to be written. Whether you believe in our connections to those who have passed on, or not, as a poet, I allow myself to be open to the story coming through. Many times when writing this book, I would get a feeling, a memory would come through, or for example, the scent of my grandmother’s favorite flower, Lily of the Valley, would appear. In each case, I knew that there was something I needed to write.

This collection of 25 poems was originally 56 poems. I started writing it back in 2008, before I moved from New Hampshire to Wisconsin. I kept writing, editing, tweaking, adding poems, and then cutting a big portion of poems out, until 2015. This book has had a long history and a brave journey.

In poems where ideas came first, there was also a sense of urgency to how the poem came into the world. Usually I would quickly write down the first line or 2 that came flooding into my head, and then it was up to me to do something with that raw material. I received many, inner writing prompts. I always wanted to see where the poem would take me. Every poem required edits and re-writes, but the initial thoughts would often come free flowing.

CC: One of my favorite poems in Still Life Stories is “Notes for January” for its reminder to slow down and soak up the life around you; there is beauty and comfort in simplicity and in “holding the sweet candy / of just enough.” Knowing writers might feel strange when asked which passages or poems of their work they love best, I’ll rephrase it a bit and ask which of your poems in this chapbook you cherish most?

CN: Thank you so much for your kind words about “Notes for January.” Oh boy, this is a very tough question. Many of the poems in Still Life Stories celebrate the voices of loved ones, or the loved ones of friends, who have passed on. These tribute poems, for those held dear, are ALL my most cherished in the book. I have poems for both my grandmother, on my father’s side of the family (“The Last Party”), as well as a poem for my husband’s Nana (“I Hear You”) in this book. For each of us, these were our longest living grandparents, so we had the honor of knowing them well into adulthood.

All of my grandparents were extremely special to me. All four of them have been the subjects of my poems in past books. There is a special connection between grandchildren and their grandparents. Perhaps, it’s because they get to give you cookies and Lifesavers candies, listen to your every word over cups of tea, and then send you on your way home with mom and dad. Or, maybe there is a sacred connection between generations, and that sense of history which grandparents preserve for us.

Growing up, I didn’t write everything down. Sometimes, I wish I had. Instead, I think I was taking notes with my heart, recording the essence, so that one day I could pay tribute to the deep love my grandparents gave me. Most of my enduring memories from childhood involve sitting around someone’s dining room table and sharing a meal, laughter, family stories, and just one, last raspberry thumbprint cookie.

CC: You are a co-founder of Random Acts of Poetry and Art Day. Can you tell us a little about this project, how it started and the impact it’s had on you or those around you?

image of poetry postcards from Cristina Norcross
Poetry postcards for the giveaway.

CN: Thank you so much for asking about RAPA Day! Random Acts of Poetry and Art Day is celebrated every year on February 20th by artists and writers, both in North America and abroad. We’ve been conspiring to bring beauty, joy, and kindness to others, through the arts, for 5 years now. February 20th, 2017 will mark our 6-year anniversary. My courageous and talented co-organizers are artists, Sonya S. Sinha (New York) and Jennifer S. J. Peña (New Jersey). (Jennifer S. J. Peña happens to be the cover artist for Still Life Stories.)

There is no event location and no registration necessary. The premise is pretty simple. Wherever you are on this day, simply do something good – give back to others through the arts. This can be in the form of donating books to a library or a shelter, randomly giving away a pair of handmade gloves to someone who is cold, leaving a small, boxed treasure of handmade earrings on a public bench, donating a framed photo or painting to a school, etc. The choice is yours!

We invite people to connect with us on the RAPA Facebook page, where each year we offer suggestions and ask participants to share photos of their Random Acts of Poetry and Art. I often hear from poets and artists, who take part, that they really enjoy doing this. It is good for the heart and soul. Just knowing that your art, perhaps, made someone’s day a little brighter, is the best possible feeling! My heart is always very full by the end of February. Each year we grow a little bit more. Visit our RAPA Facebook page to learn more.

CC: What are you reading these days?

CN: I just started reading a book by TED Talks presenter Kio Stark (When Strangers Meet: How People You Don’t Know Can Transform You). My husband and I love watching TED Talks for inspiration in our work. When I saw that Kio had a book, I did the one-click order thing (that click/order function is way too easy, and dangerous to the purse, but you can never have too many books!).

The premise of Kio Stark’s talk, and book, is that when we open ourselves up to the beauty of meeting strangers and engage in simple, respectful exchanges such as smiling, paying someone a compliment, or comparing notes on parenthood while standing in line, we enrich our lives and the lives of others. It is a wonderful book about the importance of human connection.

CC: What poem (or poet) do you return to again and again as sustenance for your spirit and creativity?

CN: I have many favorite poets, who nurture my spirit, but I would have to say that the 13th century, Sufi mystic poet, Rumi, definitely provides my poet’s soul with breathing room, wisdom, and a certain gentleness. When I am caught up in a flurry of deadlines and projects, I turn to Rumi. He reminds me to slow down and return to my breath. He encourages me to remember the very reason why I write – to connect with something deeper, something greater than myself.

I’ll end by sharing a Rumi quote, which I’ve shared on social media many times. There is both a sense of freedom, and also a true love of life, in these words:

This is love: to fly toward a secret sky, to cause a hundred veils to fall each moment. First to let go of life. Finally, to take a step without feet. ~ Rumi

Cristina M. R. Norcross is the founding editor of the online poetry journal, Blue Heron Review, and lives in Wisconsin with her husband and their two sons.  She is the author of 7 poetry collections, and her works appear in print and online in North American and international journals, such as Red Cedar, Your Daily Poem, Lime Hawk, The Toronto Quarterly, The Poetry Storehouse, The Avocet,Right Hand Pointing, and Verse-Virtual, among others. She was a semi-finalist in the 2015 Concrete Wolf Chapbook Competition and a finalist in the 2015 Five Oaks Press Chapbook Contest. Cristina was one of the co-editors of the project, One Vision: a Fusion of Art & Poetry in Lake Country (2009-11).  She is currently one of the co-founders of Random Acts of Poetry and Art Day and is a regular contributor to the Art Ambush Project. Visit her website for more information.

Don’t forget: ENTER the giveaway by Oct. 11th for a chance to win a copy of Still Life Stories. 

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Q&A with Anne Clermont, Author of Learning to Fall

“Back at home the walls of my bedroom were the same mossy green they’d been for the last ten years. My vet school textbooks lay disorganized on my dresser and in my reading nook. the kitchen was empty, and the sitting room still ached for laughter and conversation. ” ~ from Learning to Fall

9781940716787_Perfect.inddWhen pieces of our life crumble, the first thing we often do is go home in search of comfort and solace. But for Brynn Seymour in Learning to Fall, the act of returning home after the tragic death of her father brings as much heartache as reprieve. With the fate of Redwood Grove Stables and her father’s life’s work in her hands, the actions Brynn takes will mean losing the family ranch or letting go of her own life-long dream of becoming a veterinarian.

In a debut novel that builds around the world of horse show jumping, Anne Clermont gives us a page-turning story with an insider’s view of the strong competition; we read of one woman’s loyalty, her love for horses, and her realization of what matters most in a world where winning is everything.

I’m thrilled to host Anne as she talks about Learning to Fall and doubly excited to give away a copy of her book (courtesy of SparkPress). You can enter the giveaway by dropping your name in the comments OR by sharing this post (and tagging me!) on Facebook (@Christi Craig) or Twitter (@Christi_Craig). Deadline to enter is August 30th.

Now, welcome Anne!

CC: On your website, you say you were inspired to write ever since you took to the trails on horseback for the first time at sixteen years old. What was it about that ride that opened your heart to stories and storytelling?

Anne+Clermont+Author+Show+Jumping+BookAnne Clermont (AC): The summer I turned sixteen my parents took us on a long (and at the time seemingly grueling) tour of the US and Canada. While in Wyoming we came across a trail-riding place: one of those rugged, authentic cowboy places. I begged to be allowed to ride and for some reason my parents gave in (they usually didn’t). I had read of horses and open plains and ranches and cowboys, and I romanticized it to no end. Being able to finally ride a horse was magical and surreal in many ways, and after that ride I imagined living on a ranch, surrounded by horses, writing long novels. Stories have been a part of my life from the earliest time I can remember, yet that moment seems to be the moment where many of my dreams laid their foundation.

CC: In your novel, the theme of “letting go” returns again and again for the protagonist, Brynn, as she faces tragedy, difficult choices for her future, and the sordid side of competitions. What do you hope readers take away from Brynn’s trials and triumphs?

AC: I’m a dreamer. I always have been. One of my earliest memories is of laying in preschool during naptime, imagining flying out of the window with the help of magical angel wings. I would discover new worlds, travel, learn… What I didn’t expect as I grew up, and I’m sure many can relate, is that life doesn’t unfold in a neat, organized way, and sometimes it’s not that easy to follow your dreams.

Many of my plans fell apart, many were riddled with obstacles and unforeseen difficulties. There were moments when I didn’t think I could go on, where moving forward seemed impossible. But what I learned from observing those who were happy and filled with joy and love and success was that life is about adjusting, changing course, dealing with the blows that have come your way. Writing LEARNING TO FALL was my way out of a dark place, discovering who I was, finally saying ‘yes’ to a dream that was buried somewhere in the far recesses of my mind. As I wrote it I imagined that one reader, alone, curled up with my book, reading Brynn’s story. I imagined it inspiring them. Reminding them that sometimes life is about learning how to fall – then picking yourself up again. I still hope that it finds that reader and helps make their day a little better.

CC: Outside of writing, you are an editor and web designer, wife and mother, and more I am sure. How do all the roles you play come together to fuel your creativity and guide you to the next story?

AC: Our family recently relocated to the Pacific Northwest so that we could live a simpler life with much less stress and commuting than we had in the Bay Area. Life still isn’t simple, but every day I’m filled with gratitude and love for my husband and daughters who support me one hundred percent in my pursuit of writing. I don’t know if life will ever simply be about writing, but how could it? Living life, with all of its imperfections, is where I find inspiration and guidance to fill pages with made up characters and their stories – ones that hopefully touch and inspire readers.

CC: What are you reading these days?

AC: Right now I’m reading THE GIRLS by Emma Cline, THE HOUSE OF BRADBURY by Nicole Meier, and ALL THE LIGHT WE CANNOT SEE by Anthony Doerr. There are many other fiction and non-fiction books on my kindle and nightstand and they’re like candy! I don’t know which one to read first!

CC: Do you have a favored mantra that keeps you going when life or writing (or both) slow you down?

AC: We all have things we say to ourselves that either help us move forward or impede our ability to do so. So often I’ll tell myself, or even say it out loud, “I just can’t do/take this anymore! I give up.” But then I realize that if I do, I’ll forever wonder what would have happened ‘IF’. I have to fight against that voice and try to replace it, like a bad hard drive, with thoughts of: “Yes. Yes you can. You can’t give up just yet. You have to see this thing through and see where it takes you.” Then I go back to my computer/task/life event, and try to tackle one little bit at a time. Oh, and I couldn’t do it without yoga, long walks in nature, and my family.

Anne Clermont is a Canadian living in the U.S., born in Kraków and raised outside of Toronto. She spent fifteen years in California before relocating to the beautiful Pacific Northwest. She holds a BS in animal biology, and an MBA. Her background ranges from studying animal behavior to carrying out pancreatic cancer research at one of the world’s largest and most innovative biotech companies. Inspired to write Learning to Fall in part by her own experience of running a show jumping business, she now devotes her time to writing and working as a developmental editor. She lives on an island in the middle of Puget Sound with her husband and two children. Visit her website at anneclermont.com and follow her on Twitter (@anne_clermont).

Don’t forget to enter the giveaway: 1) drop your name in the comments OR 2) share this post (and tag me) on Facebook (@Christi Craig) or Twitter (@Christi_Craig) by Tuesday, August 30th!