People often ask me how much of yourself do you put into your fiction writing. I can honestly say I’ve had a great deal of fun taking bits and pieces of my life and twisting them into a fictionalized version of the emotions, people, events, and settings I’ve used in my stories.
This was especially true when I wrote On Cue which tells about a young woman writing a musical to benefit a local historical museum. I, along with a friend, actually wrote a musical several years ago in support of a local historical village. That experience helped provide much of the research for ideas for some of the character types used in my fiction. It supplied wonderful insight into the backdrop of the book’s setting. We learned correct stage vocabulary which was important in developing the voice of my hero, a drama professor, reluctantly forced to help direct the heroine’s amateur musical. My co-author and I had our own share of drama as we worked to get our musical produced. I used the emotion from those times to amp up the feelings and actions taking place. Whew, that was a lot of drama. Time for some fun…
I enjoy a good laugh and couldn’t resist putting something amusing in On Cue. My husband and I have had several pets during our lives together. Those animals brought us both pain and pleasure. Some of the humor in my novel was derived from our past critter’s antics. Their actions might not have seemed humorous at the time but when we look back, we can enjoy those events with laughter. Jezebel was a nickname that our sons gave to one of our basset hounds because they didn’t like picking up messes created by her mistakes and destructive habits. I knew there had to be a hound with that name to lighten the drama in the story. Our dog’s real name was Angel, but she didn’t live up to that moniker very well. She wasn’t perfect but we loved her anyway.
God loves us but he often gives us many adventures, challenges, and opportunities throughout our imperfect lives. Some things are thrilling and raise us up. Some we must laugh or cry about. Others teach us that we must rely on our Savior to help us make it to the other side of deep chasms. When we realize that God gives us the tools to make it through our journey then hope arises like the happy ever after that we fiction writers like to have in our stories.
Writing the happy ever after for On Cue took a long time and many revisions. As we travel through this world God helps us, as authors of our own stories, make revisions as we journey down our path. Sometimes it only takes a gentle word of encouragement to keep our efforts on track. Other times it takes a harsh critique of our work to force us to make a major rewrite of the story of our life. There will be lessons to learn and changes to make but if we are willing to keep trying, then eventually we can achieve a positive outcome. My happy ending for On Cue came after many workshops, critiques, and revisions shaped it into a manuscript that was appealing to a publisher. Don’t give up when rough and discouraging times come. Learn from them and grow. Write or read for your enlightenment and enjoy the journey as you look to God as the author of your faith.
Ginny’s musical may save the local museum, but restoring her trust in men is another matter. When theater professor Scott finds himself coerced to direct her musical, they must work through humorous misunderstandings and a couple of pet disasters, until they finally discover that forgiveness and trust produce perfect harmony.
Places to purchase: Amazon | Mt Zion Ridge Press
Bettie Boswell is an author and illustrator for both Christian and children’s markets. She holds a B.S. in Church Music from Cincinnati Bible College and a Masters in Elementary Education from East Tennessee State University. She taught primary grades and elementary music for many years.
In addition to On Cue, she has written articles for Christian and Music periodicals. Her musicals have been performed at schools, churches, and two community theater events. She currently has two children’s books in the educational market and has contributed to lesson plan and devotional books. When she isn’t watching grandchildren, writing, drawing, or composing, she keeps busy as a minister’s wife and church musician.