Writing, Books & Waving Backwards

2013 Savannah Book Festival: A Treasure Trove of Talent- Al Gore, T.C. Boyle, Richard Paul Evans, Claire Cook & more

/ V.L. Brunskill / 1 Comment
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Telfair Square

Last year, in a post titled, Stephen King, Pat Conroy Inspire at Savannah Festival, I wrote about all of the inspirational, thought-provoking moments at the 2012 Savannah Book Festival. As many of you know, my passion for writing runs neck and neck with my passionate belief in open records for adoptees.

This was my fourth time attending the Savannah Book Festival. The last two times, I attended with a wish in my heart and a manuscript in the works.
This year, I had to quell the urge to skip from presentation to presentation, because while I am still looking for an agent, Waving Backwards is done, and I have started my next novel.  The FREE book festival has been a part of my growth as a writer, and gives me the rare opportunity to meet authors, and like-minded humans who adore books.

This year’s event opened for me with author James Patterson on Friday, February 15th at the Trustees Theater. Although his talk was short, I was thankful to have a question answered during the Q & A period.  After Patterson described writing 50-60 manuscripts at one time, all  from detailed outlines, I asked for clarification, “You mean you write 50-60 books at once? I just finished my first book, and that seems overwhelming.” His answer, “It’s not for you. Now that you’ve written the first book, don’t worry about PR, marketing and sales. Write your next book.”  I am taking his advice.

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Hoda Kobt

Saturday morning, February the 16th, opened with bright-eyed, svelte, TV personality Hoda Kobt from the Today Show. Hoda discussed her recently released book, “Ten Years Later: Six People Who Faced Adversity and Transformed Their Lives.” She was delightfully awake for 9AM and the crowd loved her.

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Al Gore

From the balcony of the Trinity United Methodist Church, I was  privileged to watch Ex Vice President Al Gore speak next.  His speech explored the themes presented in his book, The Future  and his points on the  climate crisis were animated and well-received (even though Savannah is primarily a Republican city). I have to admit, I was waiting for a few Q & A zingers. They never came, as Gore went over the allotted presentation time. He stayed on to sign books.

From church, I skipped over to the Telfair Sculpture Gallery, to see Susanna Sonnenberg discuss her books, She Matters and Her Last Death.  Softspoken, elegant Susan seemed a beacon of hope to many in the audience dealing with the loss of loved ones.

T.C. Boyle

T.C. Boyle

After a breathtakingly, brisk walk up and down Broughton Street during the lunch break, I went to the Telfair Rotunda to secure a seat front and center for T.C. Boyle. The author of World’s End, East Is East, The Road to Wellville, The Tortilla Curtain, and many more bestsellers, T.C. read his short story- The Lie.  He is one of the most stunning writers of our time.  I wish he had spoken a bit more about his career, but was thrilled to be in the same room with an author who’s command of the English language gave me the urge to bow when I met him.  Oh, if you are reading this T.C., I have no idea what you inscribed in my book, but I’ll cherish it anyway.

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Richard Paul Evans

Richard Paul Evans was up next, and his presentation was refreshingly down to earth and forthright.  Evans revealed a few childhood scars, and the fact that he suffers from Tourette syndrome. Evans is the author of dozens of inspirational, hopeful, faith based books including, The Christmas Box, A Winter Dream, The Walk, and Michael Vey.  His writing style is touching and heartfelt. Evan’s foundation, The Christmas Box International funds shelters for battered children. Having been an unwilling shelter guest as a child, this charity is near and dear to my heart. After the presentation, I spoke to Evans and that brief, emotional moment turned into the start of my next novel. Believe me, no one was more surprised by this than me!

Last but certainly not least in my Saturday at the Savannah Book Festival experience, was the incomparable, bubbling and enthusiastic Claire Cook.  Claire Cook is the ClaireCook2author of the much acclaimed book turned movie Must Love Dogs.  Her story of getting started as a writer at the tender age of 45,  kicked my can-do attitude in the can-can. Claire talked about the surreal experience of walking on the red carpet, and dished on the joys of working with John Cusack, Elizabeth Perkins, and Christopher Plummer. At the end of her presentation, Claire took a picture of the audience. A whirlwind of wonderful is the best way to describe this talented lady!

The closing ceremony for the festival was back at the Trustees Theater on Sunday, with guest author David Baldacci. Baldacci’s speech was not followed by questions. However, his story about speed boating with Ex President Bush Sr. was an absolute hoot.

As another Savannah Book Festival fades into memory, I am settling in for a year of productive writing, and prayer that the next time I attend, I will be a published novelist. Forget skipping, at that point I’ll float from speech to speech.

Bravo Savannah Book Festival coordinators, and blessings to all for a year of great reads and miracles,
Vicki-lynn

Life in Limbo: Encouragement for those in Search

/ V.L. Brunskill / 2 Comments

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“In all of us there is a hunger, marrow-deep, to know our heritage, to know who we are —and where we have come from. Without this enriching knowledge, there is a hollow yearning, there is the most disquieting — loneliness.”- Alex Haley – Roots

I share this quote today to encourage adoptees in search, and to remind everyone of the normalcy of the need to know.  You are the product of past generations, and deserve to know everything that went into the making of you.

As I work on my book, I often reflect on the past with disappointment. My formative  writing years and the idea of a writing career, started after I was reunited with my birth family. Before that reunion, my focus was clouded by a sense of incompleteness.  I was a stranger to everyone, even myself,  a blank slate,  looking, clinging and begging for a genetic map to guide me.

There is a sense of mourning that comes with wondering who I might have been by now, how many books I might have published, if only I was whole enough to begin writing novels earlier in life.

Many adoptees feel as if their lives are stalled,  in limbo, until they search. The search, even when unsuccessful is a vehicle to freedom. Finding is a miraculous rebirth, where two become one. Suddenly, the infant with one set of parents, is an identifiable part of the adoptee whose surroundings are a foreign landscape to which they have adapted.

Of course, much of the content in my book ‘Waving Backwards’ could not exist without the experience of searching seven years for my birthmother and another five for my birthfather.  The need to know was overwhelming and all encompassing, and those feelings deserved to be explored and shared.  So the very thing that held me back from finding my life’s passion, is also the thing that enables my first novel to exist.

Many adoptees are labeled angry or insensitive for demanding open records. If only we thought of their searches as essential to ignite the meaningful endeavors of their lives, perhaps we would not judge as harshly.

Stephen King, Pat Conroy Inspire at Savannah Festival

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This post is a tad off the adoption search topic. However, as  I  continue to edit ‘Waving Backwards’, the inspiration of other authors is  important to me.  I hope that the insights shared will be of some interest to other writer’s (and fans) who stumble upon AdoptionFind.

This weekend, I attended the Savannah Book Festival and was privy to the expressive hilarity, and brilliance of four authors:

  • Pat Conroy– ‘Beach Music’, ‘The Great Santini’, ‘Prince of Tides’, and so many more.
  • Melissa Fay Greene– ‘Praying for Sheetrock’, ‘The Temple Bombing’, ‘No Biking in the House without a Helmet’
  • John Warley- ‘The Moralist’, ‘Bethesda’s Child’
  • Stephen King– ‘Carrie’, ‘The Shining’, ‘Pet Sematary’, ‘Shawshank Redemption’, ‘The Green Mile’, ‘Misery’, ’11/22/63′ and many more.

The session featuring Pat Conroy, and his longtime friend  John Warley was a comic (think Martin & Lewis) presentation of Conroy’s writing life. One of the south’s most beloved writers, Conroy talked about the time he shared with Warley at The Citadel, among the “meanest people I ever met.” Warley gifted Conroy with most of the allotted presentation time. However,  Warley’s tale of moving to Mexico for a year to write, left me writhing in jealousy!

Pat Conroy spoke of his father ‘The Great Santini’ and when Warley suggested that Pat’s Dad was “not that bad”, Conroy went into detail about the abusive Marine who raised him. As a writer, and the adopted daughter of an abusive man, I was interested in the way Warley viewed the abuser, without an inkling of the evil wrought in private quarters.

Conroy also explained how the publisher of  ‘The Great Santini’ said of his main character that, “No one is that evil” and that Pat should, “Make him human.”  Pat did so, adding kindnesses to the character that were foreign to the real man.  As a result of that comment, I spent hours yesterday adding humanity to my meanest characters.

Melissa Fay Greene‘s session was a laugh a minute! Greene, who is best know for her successful and serious non-fiction works, has penned the book ‘No Biking in the House without a Helmet’.  ‘No Biking’ chronicles the adventures of parenting 9 children, 4 biological and 5 adopted from far away lands. Greene shared with the audience a handful of the funniest, most poignant parenting moments, and did so with a genuineness and animation that was heart-warming.

Stephen King’s presentation to a sold out theater of 1300, was a literary trip through the horror master’s past works, and plans for the future. We learned that a sequel to ‘The Shining’ titled ‘Dr. Sleep’ is forthcoming. We also learned that King has another of the ‘Dark Tower’ series in the works.

King talked about the movie version of ‘The Shining’, polling the audience to see who had read the book, as opposed to seeing the movie, and praising the ‘bookies’. He discussed Jack Nicholson’s performance in the movie, saying, “He seemed nuts from scene one.”

King also shared the moment when Stanley Kubrick first called to discuss the making of ‘The Shining’ movie. King painted a scene as vivid as a novel excerpt saying, “There I stood in my skivvies, shaving cream and blood dripping down my face.” Kubrick’s first words to King went  something like (not a direct quote), “So Steve, all ghost stories are essentially optimistic, don’t you agree.”  King wondered, “what will we discuss next, the existence of God?”

King’s also revealed that, “Of all monsters, werewolves are my least favorite.” The reason, werewolf stories are laden with too much detective work.  King earned a collective chuckle when he brought up the latest iteration of werewolves by Stephenie Meyer, author of the ‘Twilight; series, saying “now they’re all sparkly. and romantic.”

When King suggested that he is an “everyday Joe” and that anyone can do what he does, I thought,  maybe not everyone, but at least I’m giving it a whirl.

There were MANY more sessions at the Savannah Book Festival, and I extend my sincere thanks to those who worked so hard to pull off the amazing festival!  Who knows? Maybe someday it will be my turn to inspire.