March 17, 2009

Anne McDonald: I will open in prayer, go over protocol and introduce our guest. Lord, thank You so much for blessing every area of our lives...for meeting our needs and for just loving us. Please be with us tonight as we learn how to hone our craft. Let our words glorify You and bless others. In Jesus' name, Amen 

Protocol reminder: When the floor is open to questions, please raise your hand by typing ? for questions, ! for comments, and wait to be called on in turn. 

To keep us from stepping on each others' toes, please type "ga" when you have finished typing.  

Tonight, I'm excited to introduce a fabulous writer. I normally dislike first-person stories, but I was so swept up in Fireflies in December that I didn't notice. Please welcome author Jennifer Erin Valent. Jennifer, thanks so much for joining us 

* Annie leads the applause 

Jennifer Valent: Thanks so much for having me. I'm thrilled to be here! Thanks for the great words on Fireflies! 

Anne McDonald: Jennifer could you give everyone a brief blurb on Fireflies?  

Jennifer Valent: This is a coming of age story about a 13-year-old girl who faces the realities of prejudice in her rural VA town. Her best friend comes to live with her family, but as her best friend is black, the family finds themselves ostracized. 

Dragon Riding Mouse: I am still in the middle of reading Fireflies. I LOVE it so far! How are you able to write so visually, not to mention in first person?  

Jennifer Valent: I really think my love for films helps, honestly, because I see scenes in my head like a movie. 

Dragon Riding Mouse: (I see it that way, too!) 

Jennifer Valent: Once I get into the main character, I'm able to see things through her eyes. I'm so glad you feel present in the story when you're reading it! I'm very into setting, as well. Once you put them into a solid setting, everything comes alive. 

Anne McDonald: Where did you get the idea for Fireflies?  

Jennifer Valent: I really sat down with the sole purpose of writing a southern drama. it was the characters who made the story. Once I was able to get them established and interacting, the fact that they existed in the south in 1932 made it all come together. 

Spitfire: How long have you been writing, and what inspired you to start? 

Jennifer Valent: I've been writing for about 6 years. I started out writing kids books, which makes perfect sense since I've been a nanny for over 15 years. I then went into writing articles, and eventually tried to give a novel a shot. Now I'm hooked! 

Anne McDonald: What is the biggest challenge you face in writing? 

Jennifer Valent: Probably being creative when I need to be. It's hard to turn it on just because you need to write. I hate writers block! 

Trope: How long did take for you to get Fireflies to the point you were ready to submit to an agent? 

Jennifer Valent: It took me 6 months to write it. I already had a contact at a publishing house, so I immediately asked him to read it. He liked it, but couldn't get it through committee, so I continued to submit and try to improve as I went along. I probably edited it about 3 times before I really felt it was where I wanted it. 

Anne McDonald: What are your biggest strengths as a writer?