Five Things - June 5, 2023

Welcome to my blog titled “Five Things” where you can expect just that - five random musings or reflections from the previous week or so. In addition, at the end of the blog, I’ll keep a running itinerary of our travel plans. For a photo gallery of our life on the road, our pets, and miscellaneous things I find interesting, you can follow me on Instagram @tabithalord.

So here are this week’s five things…

1. A fun thing happened the other day… My husband was filling out paperwork and had to list his emergency contact. The person at the desk saw my name and asked, “Is your wife the author Tabitha Lord?” Now, my work has certainly won some awards and had critical acclaim. Sales aren’t terrible, but I don’t have wide name recognition as a writer, so the fact that this gentleman, all the way out here in Colorado, knew who I was made me really, really happy. He said he loved my book and couldn’t wait to read the rest of the series. Sometimes, I feel like I am sending my books out into the void. I know this can be the nature of the beast, and the publishing industry is not for the faint of heart, but it’s worth it when someone falls in love with my stories.

2. Ray and I finally took the Jeep off-roading and it was amazing! We drove through mud, streams, up steep inclines, and down rocky trails. Great Sand Dunes National Park was another truly worthy destination. Besides thinking we were on Tatooine for a while, the vistas were spectacular and our back-trail experience a highlight of our travels.

3. It’s June already, and that means Denver Fan Expo is just around the corner! If you’re in the Denver area June 30- July 2, come say hello! I’ll be at the event signing books all weekend and moderating a couple of panels - ‘Not a Doctor, but I Play One in my Book’ and ‘A Hero, an Anti-hero, and a Villain Walk into a Bar.’

4. Writers, have you ever wondered if the idea you’ve been kicking around has enough substance to be your next novel? Amy and I had a fun discussion about this topic on our Author’s Buzz YouTube channel. Check it out here: Is My Idea Enough for a Book?

5. As we visit some amazing places, from the majestic mountains, to the stark desert, to the dense forests, I remember how restorative it is to spend time in nature. When I was a little girl, I loved nothing more than to be outside all day, climbing trees, picking berries and flowers, or lying on a bed of leaves staring at the sky. I couldn’t articulate it then, but for me, being in nature is a spiritual experience, where I feel connected to the world and at peace. I am so grateful to have the opportunity to experience some of the most beautiful, natural places in the world. “And into the forest I go, to lose my mind and find my soul.” – John Muir

“Not all those who wander are lost.” - J.R.R. Tolkien

Our itinerary subject to change:

June 2-10: Colorado Springs, CO

June 10-18: Granby, CO

June 18 - July 5: Central City, CO

July 5-9: Vernal, UT

July 9-15: Salt Lake, UT

July 15-22: West Yellowstone, MT

July 22 - August 5: Jackson, WY

August 5-10: Rock Springs, WY

August 10-18: Hurricane, UT

August 18-27: Coachella, CA

August 27 - September 5: Temecula, CA

September 5 - October 1: Santa Barbara, CA

October 1 - November 15: Pacific Northwest TBD

November 15 - January 3, 2024: Orangeland Park, CA

Monday Musings 11-7-22

I spent this weekend signing books at RI Comic Con, likely my last one in RI for a while. I’m always exhausted on the Monday following a Con, and this Monday is no exception, but it’s always worth it!

I love interacting with readers, aspiring writers, and fans. I especially love moderating panels and facilitating discussions on some of my favorite topics like world-building and character development. This year, we had several people stop by to tell us they always look forward to the panels we host. Super gratifying!

Character development, in the context of storytelling, is a great discussion topic, and our panel titled “A Hero, an Anti-hero, and a Villain Walk into a Bar” generated quite a lively conversation. If you missed the panel but are interested in the topic, here’s a post I wrote for another blog that captures some of the main points:

The Intersection of Plot and Character Development

It’s fun to explore the various aspects of creating a character’s backstory, defining and developing the hero, the anti-hero, and the villain, and considering the places where plot and character development intersect. Really, this last part is where the good stuff happens!

Developing your character’s backstory helps bring authenticity and depth to them. It helps explain why they are the way they are, and how they got to this point. But, your character doesn’t remain stagnant throughout their adventure. All the heartbreak, strife, love affairs, battles, and mistakes have an impact. They emerge on the other side of their grand tale a changed person. 

An Abridged Hero’s Journey

Think of it this way – a character’s essential character, and their backstory, informs the plot. Then, as the story moves forward, the plot pushes the character’s development. We can use a Cliff Notes version of The Hero’s Journey as an example. We meet the hero of the story just as they are ready to leave home on some sort of quest, adventure, or journey. Their life experience and personality up to this point helps determine how they respond to this call to action. Are they reluctant, over-eager, clueless, or jaded? Why?

Once the adventure begins, the character will meet challenges and have experiences that will further shape them. Their responses are initially influenced by their past and by their personality, but during the course of their journey, growth happens and change occurs. When the character returns ‘home,’ they have been altered by revelations, relationships, loss, and any other meaningful experience we choose to throw into their path.

Agency  

In the intersection of plot and character development, we can explore agency. Agency, in this context, is defined as the capacity of the character to act independently and make their own free choices. Rather than reacting, our character is acting.

Let’s use Katniss Everdeen in the Hunger Games as an example. When we meet Katniss, she volunteers to take her sister’s place as Tribute for the games. While this could be considered ‘acting’ in a way, I’d argue that based on her relationship with her sister, her personality, and all her life experience to this point, Katniss really couldn’t have reacted any other way.

However, by the end of the first book, after all the drama and trauma she’s faced, Katniss stands up to the game-makers and refuses to play. When she and Peeta decide they would rather both die than kill each other, there is real agency in the moment, and it’s a very powerful moment because of this.

The Cost is Real

Science fiction and fantasy writers tend to deal with grand adventures, epic battles, and not-so-subtle heroes and villains. We write big! Sometimes, this can be at the expense of character development. In order to bring more depth to this part of our narrative, an area we can focus on is showing the fallout of trauma on our characters.

If we’ve subjected them to loss, torture, or war, there should be an appropriate emotional impact. We may want our characters to be larger than life, but if we don’t at least acknowledge their pain and suffering, we’ve missed an opportunity to give them depth. If we rush them through a recovery after a devastating injury, or don’t give them any baggage after years of war, we are presenting a one-dimensional view of them. The hero, displaying only heroic qualities, is boring. It’s the struggle that our readers are after.

Plot and character development are inextricably linked in our storytelling. We can create a well-formed character, with a compelling backstory and personality, and use plot action to push their continued growth and evolution. 

The weekend was long but wonderful. If you stopped by my table to buy a book or simply to say hello, thank you. It really means a lot to me. As Ray and I wind down our time in RI and look toward our next great adventure, I’m so grateful to have met all of you and for the great memories!

IN OTHER NEWS:

Save the date! - The RI Author Expo is coming soon! On Saturday, December 3rd, meet your favorite local authors at the Crowne Plaza in Warwick. Signed books make great holiday gifts! More info coming soon…

Monday Musings - 10-31-22

October is a month with five Mondays, so that means this post will appear on tabithalordauthor.com and msmaggieclare.com. It also happens to be Halloween, and I’ll be spending the evening alone. Ray is out of town for work, and the kids now all live on the opposite side of the country. But, instead of throwing myself a pity party, I’m going to dress my tiny dog in a cute costume and give out candy to the neighborhood younglings. Then, I’m going to pour a glass of wine and binge watch something on Netflix. It really sounds like a lovely evening!

Halloween has always been a big deal for us. Ray and I had our first date on Halloween a million years ago, and we got engaged on the spooky holiday a year later. We’ve thrown massive parties over the years, provided that ‘special’ cider for the adults in the neighborhood, and could have outfitted our own horror movie with the number of costumes in our closets.

So, it might seem a little strange, and maybe a little sad, that I’ll be spending the last Halloween in our house all by myself. Well, me and the dog. But I don’t feel sad. I feel really excited. Next year, a new family will be here making new memories and we’ll be off on a grand adventure somewhere. When I look back, it’s with a sense of completion. When I look forward, it’s with enthusiasm and excitement.

IN OTHER NEWS:

I’ll be at RI Comic Con this weekend signing books at the ARIA table #621. Stop by and say hello! Here’s my panel schedule:

World Building 101 - Friday, Nov 4, 5:30-6:15 pm - Convention Center Room 552

Science fiction and fantasy stories transport readers to new worlds, from the wondrous to the weird. Solid world building is essential to invite readers into your story and keep them immersed. How can writers construct believable worlds in unbelievable settings? How can we bring authenticity to these imaginary places? How do we develop an internal logic for our stories that is both fantastical and believable? When imagination and writing craft successfully intersect, the results can be out of this world! If you are an aspiring speculative fiction writer, this presentation is for you. 

A Hero, an Anti-Hero, and a Villain Walk into a Bar - Sat, Nov 5, 11:30-12:15 - Convention Center Room 552

Your main cast of characters should be well-developed and multi-faceted. Each one has a journey and a backstory. Let’s break down character archetypes, and explore ways to bring depth and complexity to these fictional personalities. Join this lively conversation as we examine existing pop-culture heroes, anti-heroes, and villains, and discuss ways to breathe life into our own characters.

Monday Musings 10-17-22

It’s official. We sold our home of nineteen years! Over the next few weeks, we’ll be prepping our new RV for full-time living, finishing up a few projects around the house, and sorting and packing. We’re slowly checking items off our list in anticipation of the big move. It’s exciting for sure.

On my last post, I talked about managing expectations during this time. That way of thinking has allowed me to approach our giant to-do list with equanimity most of the time, still make some forward progress with my writing, and be present for all the activities, events, and relationships that are important to me. So far, so good!

Speaking of activities, I’ll be at Rhode Island Comic Con November 4-6 signing books and moderating panels with a fantastic group of local authors. Here’s more info on the panels:

Friday, November 4, 5:30-6:15 pm - World Building 101

Science fiction and fantasy stories transport readers to new worlds, from the wondrous to the weird. Solid world building is essential to invite readers into your story and keep them immersed. How can writers construct believable worlds in unbelievable settings? How can we bring authenticity to these imaginary places? How do we develop an internal logic for our stories that is both fantastical and believable? When imagination and writing craft successfully intersect, the results can be out of this world! If you are an aspiring speculative fiction writer, this presentation is for you. 

Saturday, November 5, 11:30-12:15 - A Hero, Anti-Hero, and a Villain Walk into a Bar

Your main cast of characters should be well-developed and multi-faceted. Each one has a journey and a backstory. Let’s break down character archetypes and explore ways to bring depth and complexity to these fictional personalities. Join this lively conversation as we examine existing pop-culture heroes, anti-heroes, and villains, and discuss ways to breathe life into our own characters.

These will both take place in The Convention Center - Room 552. Hope to see you there!

Monday Musings 8-29-22

Not only is this the last Monday in August, but it’s a month with five Mondays, so you’ll find this post on both Monday Musings and Dear Maggie. It’s also the first Monday we’ve woken up without any children currently living at home. Strange and bittersweet, for sure!

Last week was a whirlwind of activity. Our first stop was SoCal, where kid #2 finally screened his senior project more than two years after graduating from film school. We got to have dinner with all four of our children and their significant others, including our oldest who’s been deployed or underway for the better part of a year. After that, we headed to Portland, Oregon to get kid #4 settled into college. You can check out some photos below.

As I write this, half my brain is thinking about the programs I’m presenting at World Con in Chicago later this week. I’m excited for this five day event because it truly focuses on science fiction/fantasy readers, writers, and fans, and the presenters are a mix of artists, scientists, teachers, and professionals in their fields. While I love Comic Cons, they’re more pop-culture centric. At World Con, as much as I have to offer, I always feel like I learn even more.

I’ll have a table in the dealer’s room signing books for a few hours each day, so if you are attending, please come say hello. Here’s a look at the rest of my schedule:

• Panel: The Art of Running a Book Group - Thursday 1 pm

• Virtual Panel: Ways to Build Up to Actually Writing Your Story - Thursday 4 pm

• Virtual Reading - Thursday 6pm

• Panel: Work/Life Balance for Artists - Friday 10 am

• Panel: Developing Program Content - Saturday 2:30 pm

• Bullet Points Launch Party - Saturday 7:30 pm

• Virtual Panel: Short and Sweet: Crafting an Elevator Pitch - Sunday 1 pm

• Presentation: A Hero, an Anti-Hero, and a Villain Walk into a Bar - Sunday 4 pm

• Presentation: World Building for Beginners - Sunday 7 pm

• Presentation: Pathways to Publishing - Monday 11:30 am

Well, I’m ready to wrap this month and maybe fall into bed for a week when I get back next Tuesday! Talk to you all in September!

Monday Musings 2-21-22

The Monday after a weekend event always feels a little weird to me. When I have a book signing for a couple of hours, or even a whole day devoted to book stuff, I ease right back in to my day to day life and work. After a convention, though, I have to work a little harder at re-entry. First off, I’m tired. Three full days on my feet, chatting with strangers, participating in programs, and sleeping in a different bed takes a toll. But also, at a conference or convention, I’m totally immersed in a different space for days. It’s a little surreal.

Despite my exhaustion and transition challenges after the fact, I really do love these events. I always leave with little gems of wisdom, a truly special encounter with someone new, an engaging conversation to reflect on, and sometimes really good book sales.

Boskone is the oldest annual science fiction convention in New England. Smaller and a little younger than World Con, it is nonetheless a revered event, rich with history and attended by fans, legends in the field, and up and coming writers. It’s a special event to take part in for sure.

Some highlights from my weekend include sitting next to a science fiction historian in the dealer’s room. My delightful table neighbor heard I wrote space opera and proceeded to buy me one of the earliest space opera’s in the genre, published in the 1950’s. He then shared that this conference, Boskone, was named for the enemy empire featured in those stories. Before the end of the weekend, he’d purchased my space opera series. I felt a moment of pride and relevance that my work, in its own small way, has become part of a long, creative tradition in storytelling.

I always learn something new from the panels on which I participate, even when I’m the moderator who planned the program! At the World Building program, one of the panelists compared the opening scene of our novels to the on ramp of a highway. If we make the entry too daunting and steep, our readers may not be wiling or able to follow us on the journey. I thought that was a great metaphor to consider as I edit my latest manuscript for the seemingly hundredth time.

I had the pleasure of eating dinner with an author who is about to publish his thirtieth novel. Granted he started writing in his twenties, but still, what an achievement. I left that meal with extra motivation!

Sometimes writing is a labor of love, emphasis on labor. But when I hear that a reader loved my work, there really is no better feeling. This weekend, I sold the first book in the HORIZON series to a young man on Friday, and by Sunday he’d read it and was back to enthusiastically purchase the rest of the series. That kind of praise and feedback is priceless to an author. We sometimes feel we are toiling away in isolation, sending our words out into the void.

Anyway, I’m off to do some laundry and maybe take a nap, but by tomorrow, I’ll be ready to resume normal activities!

Monday Musings 1-31-22

It’s a month with five Mondays, which means this post will appear on Monday Musings and Dear Maggie. At the moment, I’m busy prepping for my next book event. For those of you who want to get their geek on, join me at Boskone February 18-20, 2022 at the Westin Boston Seaport. Boskone is the longest-running science fiction & fantasy convention in New England, and this year it is a hybrid (virtual and live) event. You can learn more about it and register HERE.

Here’s my weekend schedule…

VIRTUAL: Apocalypse Now and Then: Pandemic-Inspired SF/F/H Format: Panel
18 Feb 2022, Friday 19:00 - 19:50, Marina III (Westin)

How will the ongoing COVID-19 catastrophe inform apocalyptic fiction in our genres, moving forward? What will writers do with all their new material — from greater knowledge of epidemiology to personal experiences of loss, sorrow, anger, fear, or determination to increased optimism or pessimism about the human future?

Lurking in the Id, or How to Write a Really Scary Monster Format: Panel
18 Feb 2022, Friday 20:00 - 20:50, Marina II (Westin)

Clowns, zombies, vengeful ghosts. These things haunt our dreams and our collective psyche. But what does it take to write a truly scary monster? Crafting something terrifying requires more than imagining sharp teeth and sharper claws. We must dig deep to unearth that which keeps us up at night. How can we tap into this when writing and creating new monsters.

Group Reading (Fantasy): Mike Allen, Tabitha Lord Format: Reading
19 Feb 2022, Saturday 11:30 - 12:20, Griffin (Westin)

Worldbuilding — Mind Your Myths and Backstory Format: Panel
19 Feb 2022, Saturday 13:00 - 13:50, Burroughs (Westin)

There’s much to consider when constructing a mythical, magical, or futuristic world. One important factor: the foundation myth or backstory. What does the writer need to know? What does the reader need to know? When do they need to know it? How does the backstory impact the characters and current events in their world? Let's talk about how to effectively craft a backstory and weave it into your tale

Anatomy of a Relationship: Writing Characters Who Display Healthy Human Connections Format: Panel
19 Feb 2022, Saturday 15:00 - 15:50, Harbor II (Westin)

Move over emotionally constipated lone wolves! We're looking for characters who connect with each other in strong and compelling relationships. How can we build romances that are both healthy and riveting? How does a character's gender impact the cliches and problematic patterns we see, and how do we get past those in creating a character's ties to others? How do friendship and other non-romantic social connections get represented in positive and impactful ways? Let's also discuss the strong bonds that can form in subculture communities, rather than only having the token gay kid or the token immigrant.

Boskone is a fun, intellectually stimulating event, less focused on pop-culture like Comic Cons and more focused on science, books, art, games, music. If this sounds like your jam, please be sure to stop by the dealer’s room and say hello!