Kristina Riggle's Blog
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Mar.02.2011
Frank Mallett, a vicar in THE CHILDREN’S BOOK by A.S. Byatt, meets an author whose work he admires, but finds himself “annoyed that this robed person, with his electric black hair, was more the owner, so to speak, of the imagined rocks and stones and elder bushes than he, the reader.”
The next line...
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Jan.31.2011
I did something ill-advised this morning. I read anonymous comments on a blog. That’s always a bad idea for one’s blood pressure.
The blog in question was from screenwriter Josh Olson. It’s great, read it here: http://blogs.villagevoice.com/runninscared/2009/09/i_will_not_read.php
Be warned, it’s...
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Jan.10.2011
So I got MY LIFE IN FRANCE, by Julia Child, as a Christmas gift. I’m not a foodie. I’m not, in fact, much of a cook at all. In her memoir, when Julia waxed eloquent, oft times partly in French, about pressed duck (ew) or some such exotic dish, I tended to skim the gory details.
So why did I love...
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Aug.17.2010
THE LIFE YOU'VE IMAGINED features four characters connected by a family business. In honor of today, August 17, being Launch Day, I'm having a contest. Take a picture of yourself at a local business in your town (if you're really camera shy, take a picture of your hand, or your knee, or something)...
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Aug.02.2010
This blog is an expanded response to a post today at Allison Winn Scotch's blog. (Link here: http://www.allisonwinn.com/ask-allison/2010/8/2/setting-aside-a-beloved-manuscript.html ) A writer asked Allison for some advice on when to give up on a manuscript.
This is what I believe: NO WRITING IS...
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Jul.22.2010
Before I found my current agent, just as I was finishing up the manuscript which would be my debut novel, I was pretty well broke and Christmas was coming, and I couldn't let down my kids. We needed money and began to look into holiday temp work. At one point I carried an application out of the...
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Jun.30.2010
June, 2006: We’ve moved into a new house. I’m writing my, let’s see, third unpublished novel, while my second unpublished novel continues to be rejected by publishers. Money is tight because of the move. We want to have a second child, but that’s not happening, either. I can’t afford much day care...
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Jun.16.2010
Dear Anne Tyler,
Thank you for teaching me about marriage, and about the power of a quiet story.
Let me explain. I was nineteen or so, maybe younger, because I was at a garage sale with my mom. I always browsed the books and this particular day I picked up Breathing Lessons for 25 cents. That is my...
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Apr.14.2010
I'm co-editor for fiction at Literary Mama, an e-zine dedicated to publishing writing for and about mothers and motherhood. Or, "writing for the maternally inclined." In June of every year, we want to hear from fathers.
Start sending in your fatherhood fiction now, Dads of the writing...
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Apr.12.2010
I attended the Rally of Writers in Lansing, Michigan this weekend, and among the many pleasures of the day was listening to keynote speaker Thomas Lynch, a poet and essayist of note, not to mention a funeral director and fellow Michigander.
I found him engaging and approachable, and his keynote...
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Mar.11.2010
Today found me at my local library, stocking up on research material for my third book, with the working title of HERITAGE HILL. As is typical of my books, its characters are really screwed up, often in ways I haven't experienced myself (whew), so off I go to the library.
Though I often pine for...
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Feb.05.2010
The other night, I stood in my son's doorway, exasperated and trying not to be. In the mangled wording of the grade schooler, he was saying, "My imagination is getting away with me". He was seeing monsters everywhere, even when closing his eyes.
This was history repeating itself. Many...
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Dec.16.2009
Once upon a time, I had my whole life planned out: every career move, the year we'd buy our first home, when we'd have children... every step.
Then my body betrayed me. My plan of having a child at 25 was derailed by a mysterious inability to conceive. At the same time, the journalism career I had...
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Nov.20.2009
I'm so happy to announce a new book deal! I'm thrilled and grateful and yes, proud. It's a two-book deal, which means Books Three and Four (since Book Two, THE LIFE YOU'VE IMAGINED, is completed and scheduled for August 2010).
What does this change for me? I'm tremendously fortunate to have this...
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Nov.16.2009
So, I had this long, sentimental post about malaise and momentum and writing advice, only I bored myself to death writing it so I figured I should spare you. Aren't you glad, Red Room?
See, I've been sick lately. Not gravely ill, but sick enough to be unproductive for many days in a row. I have at...
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About Kristina
A novelist and short story writer living in West Michigan. My first novel, REAL LIFE & LIARS, was a Target "Breakout" pick and a Great Lakes, Great Reads selection. My second novel, THE LIFE YOU'VE IMAGINED, was honored as an IndieNext Notable...
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