Secrets Revealed: An Interview with Maggie Elizabeth Harrington Author DJ Swykert

Maggie Elizabeth Harrington is the story of a young woman in a remote 1890's northern Michigan mining town trying to save a pack of young wolves from a bounty hunter. A terse historical love story of a young woman's struggle with environmental and moral issues, concerning the slaughter of wolves, and the church's condemnation of her love for a young man, are as real in today's global world as they were for young Maggie over a century ago.

Maggie Elizabeth Harrington is suitable for young adult and adult readers.

   

I interviewed heartland author, DJ Swykert about writing Maggie Elizabeth Harrington:

Navigating Regional Differences

In the Heartland people are polite. We smile and nod when passing each other, politely wait our turn in queues, quietly whisper judgmental comments to each other so the person we are discussing won't hear us and feel offended. 

When eating together, we leave the last serving for each other--which usually means for the host or hostess, once everyone has gone home, as no one cares to break this unwritten law of polite society.

These are some of the ways Heartland people behave differently from, say, 

Remembering 9/11: The Things We Carry

I was at work. Tired. Not quite awake after spending a goodly amount of my sleep allotment writing a song the night before. 

I drifted down to the break room, sluggishly snaked around the few men filling the space, put two quarters in the coffee machine, and bent to straighten the cup. At fifty-cents a shot, I didn't want to waste a drop. As I straightened, lifting the black gold to my lips, I became aware of silence. 

No one was talking. 

Everyone stood like marble staring at the small TV hung from the ceiling, and from which no sound came because the volume was always set to mute.

What Marathon-Viewing Taught Me About Writing Story

In my last post I promised I would tell you what I learned about writing story from marathon viewing television and film series on Netflix during my recent convalescence. 

Before this I was a marathon viewing virgin. 

Creative Commons Photo by Flickr Member Espensorvik
(from http://www.flickr.com/photos/28478778@N05/5728487477/sizes/m/in/photolist-9JcZKt-bMputB-9JcZak-dCAyJg-eAKZSS-bm57U4-9WHT9f-7GCcyC-edyAVW-b3gjyr-avdHgo-8fUsUH-8bEHKJ-efUu2g-dwYo3z-dwYoug-drGF9A-drGvQB-dLrfTA-7RZPfQ-bxJ5r8-9NAMPR-8w3ARY-7HAr2J-7HAoZ7-dRoLCE/)

To be candid, I've been known to read a book through to the end even if I had to stay up all night to do it. Trust me, there are books and book series engaging enough to make me do that.  Book series have kept me engrossed for days and weeks at a time, depending on how many books there are in the series. 

While convalescing I was zonked on pain meds and found it difficult to concentrate well enough to write anything intelligible. My eyes wouldn't focus well enough to read. So I thought, why not?

I was surprised by what the experience taught me about writing.

How to Get Back to a Daily Writing Habit After a Break: Writing PT

I didn't break my ankle while exercising or while executing a karate kick. 

No, that would be too cool a thing to be able to share with others. (Yeah, you should see the face my foot connected with. Sure I broke my ankle, but I bet he won't try to mug anyone else!)

I fell off a step, like a little old lady, as I was walking out to my driveway where a fellow book club member was waiting to drive us to our monthly meeting. Yes, she saw me fall. To add to my embarrassment, two younger neighbors saw me hit the ground, and came running to pick me up.