Tag Archives: Jane Austen

The Artist’s Corner – Writing Faithfully with Author Deborah Edmisten

October 16, 2023 By in The Artist's Corner Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

I met Deborah Edmisten a few years ago at a writers’ group, and while we didn’t become instant friends, I’m glad to say that our friendship has grown with my renewed attendance at the group. We were participants at an author event recently, where we had time to speak more personally, and I read three of her books, which I thoroughly enjoyed. That was when I knew I had to share this wonderful, talented woman of faith with my followers. Without further ado, I’d like to introduce Deborah Edmisten.

Tell me a little bit about yourself.

I’ve been married to my best friend for thirty-five years, I’m the mother of three sons and one daughter, a mother-in-law to three incredible individuals, and grandma to five unique and wonderful grandchildren. I was saved by the Lord in my early 20s; a miracle I’m grateful for every single day of my life.

I grew up in Akron for the first ten years of my life before my family moved to Canal Fulton when I was in fourth grade. I’ve lived in the Northeast Ohio area the entirety of my life except for a three-year-stint in Jacksonville, Florida, for my husband’s job with Goodyear.

We have an amazing church family which we cherish. We’ve been with them for twenty-two years, and we’ve experienced both tragedy and joy together.  It’s a gift to have that kind of a bond with a group of people, and we don’t take that for granted.

What has your experience been?

I had several different jobs before I became a stay-at-home mom after the birth of our first child. Camera sales, bank teller, office clerk at a wholesale seafood company, receptionist, and then administrative assistant at a financial services company.

Regarding training and my writing, this may make you laugh, but I’ve had absolutely no training in writing other than high-school creative writing classes and some mentoring in my early twenties from Sharon Mondragon, the author of The Unlikely Yarn of the Dragon Lady. I attended a Midwest Writers Workshop at Kent State Stark with Sharon in the late 80s. That is the extent of my training in the field of writing.

Did your work experience lead to the pursuit of writing? If not, please expound upon what led to your decision to write.

No, my work experience didn’t lead to the pursuit of writing. I knew from a young age that I wanted to be a writer. My fourth grade Christmas list (that I still have) verifies this; I asked for reams of paper so I could become a writer. Though I wrote poetry and short stories during and after high school, my dream of writing didn’t come to true fruition until I lost my mom in 2005. For some reason, her passing caused me to have a “now or never” moment, and I dove in and have been writing ever since.

How did you develop your passion for writing?

I guess I would say that I didn’t develop a passion for writing, rather, it developed in me through my passion for reading. From a very young age, I found books to be absolutely magical, and that view into other worlds between the pages of books gave me a profound desire to write.

What or who is your inspiration?

Wow, this is such a tough one to answer! There are so many authors I read growing up and in adulthood who shaped my worldview and birthed in me a desire to write.

To name a few of them: L.M. Montgomery, Agatha Christie, Dorothy L. Sayers, Wilson Rawls, E.B. White, Fern Michaels (Mary Ruth Kuczir), Jane Austen, Charles Dickens, John Bunyan, C.S. Lewis, and John Newton, to name a few.

Do you put yourself into your writing?

Elements of myself are in some of the characters I’ve created, but I haven’t modeled any one character solely on me.

About which subjects do you enjoy writing?

I enjoy writing about subjects that are meaningful and cause people to reflect deeply on many of the challenges that we encounter in life. Some of the topics I’ve incorporated into my books are domestic abuse, alcoholism, slavery, the Underground Railroad, anxiety, suicide, marrying a person who doesn’t share your faith, human trafficking, immigration, etc.

I enjoy the challenge of creating a story that tackles tough topics but is also entertaining.

What does your writing process involve? What’s your routine?

I used to write early in the morning at our dining room table, but after going through an intense season of anxiety and severe sleep deprivation in late 2021 and into 2022, my routine has changed. I’m not sure why, but now I do better with writing in the evening in my husband’s home office where we relax in the evening. Life is strange like that, isn’t it? I don’t write every day, though; I write when an idea comes to me, so that makes my writing sporadic.

Have you been featured in a magazine or other publication?

My middle-grade and tween books have been featured in several different editions of Story Monsters Ink magazine; a prestigious magazine and valuable resource for teachers, librarians, and parents when looking for quality teen and children’s books.

I’ve also been featured on a few author blogs – which is always fun!

In which contests have you competed?  What awards have you won?

I’ve entered the Story Monsters Approved contest, The Purple Dragonfly Book Awards, and the Royal Dragonfly Book Awards. My tween time-travel series won the Story Monsters Approved seal of approval and my middle-grade books have won honorable mentions in both the Purple Dragonfly and Royal Dragonfly book awards. All three contests are prestigious and reputable, and I feel very blessed to have received recognition for my work from these contests.

Do you write for people (professionally or personally?) How does a client contact you?

My In Time series was written at the request of the children of a good friend of mine, but other than happily complying with that request, I haven’t written for anyone else professionally or personally. I’ve done some editing for fellow writers, but not professionally. Being a busy grandma, I’m not sure I’d have the time to write for others, so I doubt I would venture into something like that at this point in my life.

What’s your favorite story that you’ve written?

From a spiritual standpoint, my favorite book is Many Waters. I think it deals with profound issues of faith in an honest and real way, and that’s very satisfying as a writer.

The Red Dress is probably my next favorite. It deals with topics near and dear to my heart. In many ways, it’s a rough read, but the reality of history is often difficult to dissect, but that process is still necessary.

What’s your dream story to write/writing project?

I think it would be incredibly fun to write a play and see it performed on stage.

What’s one aspect about writing that you absolutely love?

I love seeing new worlds come to life and how connected I feel to my characters; the good and the bad. I love that my characters often tell me which direction they want to go, despite what I thought should or would happen to them. That aspect of writing is so rewarding.

What’s your biggest complaint with writing?

That I’m not as prolific as I wish I could be. In the writing world, I’m considered a Pantser – a writer who writes from “the seat of their pants” as they’re inspired opposed to a writer who outlines extensively before starting a writing project. I have to wait for ideas and storylines to form in my mind, and that isn’t necessarily always a quick process.

Would you like to work full-time as a writer?  If so, how do you envision this occurring?

All things considered, probably not. This wouldn’t be true of all writers, but I believe for me, writing full-time would deplete my creativity and make the writing process burdensome.

Do you write alone or in collaboration with another writer? Have you ever been part of an anthology?

I write alone. Being a Pantser, I’m not sure what a collaboration would look like, but never say never, right?

Yes, a short story of mine was included in the anthology, In Review: The Eclectic Works of The Write Stuff Authors Group and an essay in the anthology In Conclusion: The Eclectic Works of The Write Stuff Authors Group.

Where can someone find you online?  Do you have a website?

You can find my website at Nothing Hidden

I’m on Facebook at Deborah Edmisten, Author

You can also find me on Instagram @deborahedmistenauthor

War and Peace

July 22, 2019 By in Books, Movies & Music Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

One of the first things I noticed that people do when they discover you are reading War & Peace is to inquire which version it is. This seems to be a very important question because everyone has a favorite translation, and it would take the cannons of Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture to blast them out of the stronghold of their opinion on which version is best. Having only read the Pevear and Volokhonsky (henceforth P & V), I must admit that I am not, at this time, qualified to give an opinion on the superiority of one translation over another. I am, however, going to give my opinion on the novel as a whole.

This was my first experience with Tolstoy, and I went into the reading with certain expectations. Perhaps those expectations, which were rather high, diminished the novel for me. I was excited at the prospect of reading a classic Russian author for the first time (an event which had been put off for over a year due to the relocation of the classic literature book group I attend), and even more thrilled to be reading the P & V translation per the recommendation of the book group facilitator. The P & V, if not the newest then at least among the newest Russian to English translations, had been hailed by one article in particular as trumping all that came before.

I’ve read many articles and blog posts since purchasing my P & V copy, and if they’re not touting the reasons why the translation they’ve put forward is best, they’re at least pointing out the best qualities of most of the versions out there. I’m tempted to read the Garnett, Maude, and Briggs translations, but after that I’ll call it quits. I liked War and Peace, but I did not love it.

Somewhere along the way I assumed that a work written by a Russian author would be marvelously passionate, full of brilliant prose, and replete with vivid description. I expected the author of said work to be akin to a male, Russian Jane Austen or Charlotte Brontë. That was not the case.

War and Peace was, as a friend described, an easy, accessible read, and while reading it, my attention remained focused on the story. However, as soon as I set it down to read another, more engaging book, War and Peace became easily forgettable. That did not mean I couldn’t pick it right back up where I left off, but there was no revisiting interesting portions, mulling over well-written passages, or enthusiastically detailing the novel over coffee with a friend. I told only a few people that I was reading the novel and did not comment on it unless a guest happened to notice it on my reading stack. In short, it was often bland to the point of boring.

I laughed aloud at several portions of the story and wondered if Tolstoy was writing a parody of Russian aristocracy. That would have been unexpected and interesting. As I progressed and continued to be underwhelmed, I pondered whether or not P & V’s translation was too literal, and if that was what rendered the story flat and the main characters dull. There was a small reprieve during the middle section where Tolstoy shined a little more light on his characters, but by then it became clear that he could not decide between writing a military history or historical fiction. It appears he chose to do both. The passages did not blend at all. They were patched together haphazardly not unlike when one used a Band-Aid when what he really needed was a sturdy piece of tape. The Band-Aid will hold but not very well.

For this reason, the fictional accounts succumbed to his overbearing and oft-repeated opinion that he alone knew exactly why the war transpired as it did. By the last third of the book, Tolstoy’s belief that more than any French or Russian historian he alone had it right, combined with the war itself, became its own character. As the book neared its conclusion, I gave up any hope that the predictable storylines would end with any satisfaction. In that respect, I was not disappointed.

Any interesting tidbit of writing was bestowed upon the peripheral characters such as Dolokhov, Kuragin, Denisov, Marya Demetrievna, and Mademoiselle Bourienne. Their dialog and actions roused interest in the story, and all too often they were discarded the moment their purpose had been served. For example, I truly thought Pierre would be the character to evoke a response in me. He was, after all, the illegitimate son who inherits everything right out from under those who believe they are more deserving. He should have been the scoundrel, the rogue, the one to upset Natasha and Andrei’s engagement. But no, that was Dolokhov who, although a villain, became the character I loved to hate whereas Pierre bumbled his way through his marriage, the war, and the story in general.

I know there are many people who love War and Peace—who believe it is one of the best works ever written—and to them I say, “God bless you.” I’m truly happy for these people. Unfortunately, many who adore War and Peace cannot say the same when they find out one does not absolutely love it as much as they.

I own two more books by Tolstoy which I do plan on reading. I’ll not allow one mediocre book to entirely sway my opinion against a writer nor will I let it keep me from reading other Russian authors. As with any book I read that has been called a classic, finding out exactly why the book earned this label is always of interest to me. In the case of War and Peace, I wondered if the strength of Tolstoy’s reputation as a writer carried the book into literary prestige.

Although I did not fall in love with War and Peace, I would not discourage anyone from reading it. This review is my opinion, and whether or not you agree with me is irrelevant. What is important is that you decide for yourself which books you will read, and then formulate your own opinion of them.

A Little More Persuasion

July 4, 2017 By in Books, Movies & Music Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

So, having recently read Jane Austen’s Persuasion, naturally I had to watch the movies to see which one did the best job of capturing all that the novel is.  I’ll give the readers following my blog a few moments to finish laughing.  But seriously, if I had to choose one as my favorite, it would be the 1995 adaptation starring Ciaran Hinds and Amanda Root.

With that being said, I must also admit that reading the book first will be extremely helpful because there is a large cast of characters and detailed storylines to keep track of.  Without the benefit of a reading, the movie might seem patchy, as if much is left unexplained.

I believe the reason no movie will ever completely depict Persuasion, or any book for that matter, but in particular Persuasion, is because much of the prose describes what the characters are thinking and feeling.  We have an in-depth view of Anne’s heart that can only be conveyed on screen by her expressions.  The same is true of Captain Wentworth.  However, when the characters do speak, there are no wasted words.

The thrill of romantic tension Jane Austen infused in her novel comes out well in the 1995 Persuasion.  Again I found myself wanting the movie to hurry up and relieve Anne’s and Wentworth’s agony, but just as quickly wishing to prolong the scenes so I could relish them over and over.  At the conclusion of the novel, I felt as if I was leaving dear friends behind, and the movie engendered the same emotions as well as put faces on said friends.

And then there is the kiss in the 1995 Persuasion when Anne and Wentworth finally overcome their insecurities and presumptions regarding each other.  Ciaran Hinds and Amanda Root do it the best as we’re given the view from just over Wentworth’s shoulder as he’s leaning down to make contact with Anne’s lips, and she closes her eyes right before they touch.  Let the squealing and sighing commence because it is, in my humble opinion, the best onscreen kiss ever.

As for Ciaran Hinds and Amanda Root, they do a wonderful job portraying Wentworth and Anne.  He is classically handsome with high cheekbones and a regal bearing.  Never is Hinds’s Wentworth the pretty, spoiled rich boy next door.  Amanda Root’s Anne embodies Jane Austen’s own sentiment of being “almost too good for me.”  She is perfect as the plain but pretty woman past her bloom who later revives the blush upon her cheeks the closer she comes to her one true love.

The 2007 adaption of Persuasion starring Sally Hawkins and Rupert Penry-Jones is not bad, but it’s not great.  I would never dissuade you from watching to make up your own mind.  My biggest complaints are that some characters’ lines end up in the mouths of other characters and too many scenes are consolidated which lessens the impact of what takes place.  There is also a titch too much creative licensing going on and four times the director employs the technique of having Anne (Sally Hawkins) look directly at the camera as if making eye contact with the viewer thus conveying the depth of her feelings at the moment.  Once would have been sufficient to make us feel Anne’s pain.

Wentworth in this version is handsome but not dashing, and Anne’s hair looks as if it needs a good washing.  As for the kiss at the end, Anne has been running to catch up to Wentworth, and she pants too long and too hard.  Then the scene drags on forever, I have to assume because of the director’s instructions or perhaps to give Sally Hawkins time to catch her breath, and the moment is spoiled.  It is actually more embarrassing than romantic.

One saving grace is Anthony Head as Sir Walter, Anne’s father.  It’s almost frightening how well Head portrays the depth of shallowness and vanity to which Sir Walter has sunk, caring little or nothing for those around him who he deems worthless including his own dear daughter, Anne.  Kudos to Head for making me hate this character because I have to admit, sometimes I love a character I can hate.

There are a couple TV mini-series based on Persuasion from the ‘60s and 70’s and a modern adaptation all of which I’m sure I’ll miss.  Until a glowing review for one of them comes from a friend or follower, I’ll stay with the novel and the 1995 movie.

No Persuasion Necessary

July 3, 2017 By in Books, Movies & Music Tags: , , , , , , , , , , 10 Comments

No one will ever have to persuade me to read Jane Austen as I will always do it willingly.  The fact that my classic literature book group chose Persuasion as our July novel pretty much sent me over the moon.  Now here’s the big reveal for this blog post:  I’ve never read Persuasion.  My only experience with this particular novel is the 1995 Ciaran Hinds and Amanda Root movie by the same name.

Still, having viewed the movie and possessing a basic understanding of the premise of the story, I found the romantic tension Jane Austen managed to write into her slim volume to be unexpectedly amazing and toe-curlingly satisfying.  Without smut or foul language, Persuasion is every bit as intense as the feelings one endures when watching the love of his or her life walk into a room and believing he or she completely out of his or her reach.  Because, after all, this is exactly what our heroine, Anne Elliot, believes of the dashing Captain Wentworth.

Another point I found quite remarkable is that for a small novel it had quite a cast of characters all with diverse and interesting lives intricately woven into the tale.  Jane Austen does this exceedingly well, and I never lost track of a single character.  I’m not sure if Charlotte Bronte’s comment of “very incomplete and rather insensible” is toward all of Austen’s works or Persuasion in particular, but I have to disagree with her.

Of course there are always the villains at whom we boo and hiss and wish upon them more of a comeuppance than they receive, but the character of Anne Elliot with all her selflessness and caring far outshines any of the unpleasant people in the book.  And, if we’re willing to admit, we should all be a little more like Anne and not wish these people ill.

While I’m usually the first to give up on a character for being a simpering doormat, Anne Elliot never comes across this way.  Her heart, although broken, is made roomier to care for the people in her life whether or not they love her in return.  She isn’t an unbelievable do-gooder, but rather an example of the quality of character to strive for.

The romantic in me believes Anne and Captain Wentworth live happily ever after despite any threat of war that would take him away from her or the notion that they had to wait for him to be rich enough to be worthy of a baronet’s daughter.  Regardless of the mindset of the society in which they were born, raised, and lived, I believe the fundamental strength of who they are at heart is the true source of their happiness and love for each other.

My Classical Education

May 10, 2016 By in Books, Movies & Music, Writing Toolbox Tags: , , , , , , 2 Comments

My Classical EducationI stopped reading Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice forty-two pages before the end of the book. I am familiar with the conclusion, and I have viewed both the Jennifer Ehle version of the movie as well as the Keira Knightly version (the Jennifer Ehle is far superior), and yet I put the book down for no other reason than to extend my own enjoyment. I’ll never tire of the tension between Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy, Jane’s sweet disposition, or even Mrs. Bennet’s endless rambling and scheming plans to marry off her daughters.

Pride and Prejudice is the first in a list of books that I am reading not only for pleasure but also for a close study of classical literature as suggested by Francine Prose in her book, Reading Like a Writer. The language alone inspires me to write better. I do have to wonder, though, if Jane Austen would have liked the benefit of word searches. While her pet words do not detract from the story in any way, she does have a few that she repeatedly employs. I find it encouraging that someone who is considered a master of writing and storytelling made such a simple error, and it is certainly one that I am willing to overlook.

Most importantly, what I am learning from reading Pride and Prejudice is that great writing appears in many different styles that transcend time. I may acquire a few talents from Jane Austen, and being compared to her would be no small compliment, but I have a voice of my own to hone and hopefully will do so until one day, when someone reads a passage from my books, they will be able to say, “Clearly, this is HL Gibson’s writing, and it is remarkably well done.”