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HERE to see the tour schedule.
Welcome to The Wormhole and my day on the tour.
It is my pleasure to feature: Kimball Fisher and
Finding the Baby Jesus.
Kimball has stopped by for an interview:
? When did you first realize
you wanted to be a writer?
I'm not sure I ever wanted to be a writer--I needed to be a
writer. The stories build up inside me until they have to come out. Writing is
therapy.
? How many jobs did you have
before you became a writer?
Lots. I started working when I was 14 at a florist. Then I
sanded fiberglass sail boats for a while, sold men's clothing all through
school, and after college I became a factory manager and then a consultant on a
special type of organization where all of the employees act like managers. My
graduate degree is in something called Organizational Behavior and I've been
writing business books and doing consulting with corporations for a long time
as a result. FINDING THE BABY JESUS is my first piece of fiction.
? How long does it take you to
write a book?
I'm not sure how to answer that question. My five
non-fiction books took anywhere from 4 months (brutal) to a little over a year
each (better pace). I started FINDING several years ago and worked on it off
and on for about a year in total. That's about two weeks per finished page.
I've been working on a middle-grade action adventure called THUNDERBIRD FEATHER
for several years so far (off and on again). There is a sneak preview of the
first chapter at the end of FINDING.
? What would you say is your
most interesting writing quirk?
I'm really focused. I can write for 10 hours without
stopping. It's not always a good thing (ask my patient and wonderful wife). I
have never once had writers block. I'd like to have it sometime. I'd enjoy
taking a pause at the computer to think. But everything just pours out like
that blue-colored non-fat milk. Thin. Runs everywhere. My problem is trying to
keep it contained. Most of my time is spent re-writing rather than
writing--percentage-wise I'd estimate maybe 70% of my time. Also I type weird.
I've produced thousands of pages using only the middle finger of my right hand
and the middle and forefinger of my left.
? Do you have a routine that
you use to get into the right frame of mind to write?
Nope. I'm ready when I wake up. Sometimes really early.
? Where do you write and how do
you write ~ on paper, typewriter or computer?
I'm a computer guy (MacBook Pro). But I often only type at
the computer. I do the actual writing in my head all day long--in the shower,
when I'm watching TV, when I'm driving. It's a problem. Sometimes my sweetheart
looks at me during a conversation and says, "You're writing right now,
aren't you?"
? Where do you get your ideas
or inspiration for your characters?
Conversations. Observations. Friends. Family. Dreams.
People at the mall. Stuff that jumps into my head with no apparent connection
to anything. What I'm always looking for is what drives people. What makes them
human. Loveable. Unique.
? How do you decide what you
want to write about?
Wow, that's an interesting question. I don't think of
writing as a planned process. I just start thinking things up that i have to
get on paper to organize. I'd like to be one of those people who outlines. But
I'm not. I start at the beginning and write a few chapters. Then I start over
and over again from the beginning pushing a chapter or two farther each time.
When I feel okay about the beginning, I start the process over again from the
middle until I can get all the way to the end. Then I start revising. Finally I
polish.
? Where does a book start for
you ~ characters, plot, ending?
Used to be plot. Now it's characters. So far I've never
known the ending until I was at least half-way through the book.
? What is the first book you
remember reading by yourself?
I grew up with the Dick and Jane readers, so I suppose
those were the first. But my earliest clear memory of reading an entire book
alone is THE BOOK OF MORMON and THE ISLAND OF THE BLUE DOLPHIN when I was
eight. The next book I read was A WRINKLE IN TIME. Loved it. Launched me into
THE HOBBIT and THE LORD OF THE RINGS trilogy.
? What are you reading right now?
Jan Karon's IN THE COMPANY OF OTHERS. I really love her
Mitford Series. I'll start the second book in THE HUNGER GAMES series shortly.
Collins's breakneck action pace with solid character development is amazing to
me. And I just re-read Paulsen's Newbery Honor book THE HATCHET. Wonderful,
simple story. No frills. Compelling. Reminds me of why I like to write for
middle-graders who are just learning to love reading.
? What do you like to do when you are not writing?
Read. Go to movies. Make writing pens and stained glass
windows. Garden. Remodel the house. Do anything with my wife.
? What is your favorite comfort
food?
It's a tie between meatloaf (my wife's recipe with ketchup
and brown sugar baked into the crust) and thick chicken curry with mild spices.
? What do you think makes a
good story?
Good characters. Good characters. Good characters.
Authentic and compelling voice. A non-boring plot.
? Are you a “plotter” or a
“pantser”?
Pantser all the way. I'd love to try to be a plotter. Maybe
I'll try it for my next book.
Fun random questions:
· dogs or cats?
Dogs. Cats have too much attitude for me. Plus, I'm allergic.
· Coffee or tea?
I'm a practicing Mormon so I have go with herbal tea. I
especially like this South African variety called rooibos (Red Bush). We use
these little straws filled with honey in it. Awesome.
· Dark or milk chocolate?
Neither. All chocolate in our family goes to my wonderful
wife. She deserves it (AND MORE) for living with a writer.
· Rocks or flowers?
Awesome question. Rocks! I would honestly cover my walls
with slab granite if I could.
· Night or day?
Day. Living in Portland
makes you vitamin D deficient. I crave sun.
· Favorite color?
Blue-green. Soothing. Makes me think of my favorite sport:
Snorkeling.
· Crayons or markers?
Markers. But only the juicy fine-tip type.
· Pens or pencils?
Both. Pens must be
home-made of exotic woods with smooth ink distribution systems. Mechanical
pencils with extra-fine soft leads are also a must. Both need to be on my desk
at all times.
More About Author Kimball Fisher
Kimball Fisher writes novels for young readers. He is also a best-selling business author, professional speaker, and management consultant. Some of his past jobs include: sailboat builder, ghost writer (not as scary as it sounds), illustrator, and factory manager (more scary than it sounds). For fun he builds furniture, stained-glass windows, and writing pens.
He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Humanities (with minors in English, Asian Studies, and Japanese), and a Master of Organizational Behavior degree from Brigham Young University. He and his amazing wife Reenie live in Portland, Oregon, where they have seen pheasants, coyotes, and a bobcat in their own backyard.
Finding the Baby Jesus by Kimball Fisher
After being forced to wear lederhosen for the annual holiday card picture, twelve-year-old Chris thinks that the least his parents can do is get him the Tony Hawk skateboard he wants for Christmas. But when he recovers the hand-carved Baby Jesus that everyone thought had been destroyed in a fire the year his Grandma died, Chris realizes that some gifts are even more important than skateboards.
When the author had to discontinue a cherished tradition of reading Christmas stories out loud with his family and holiday guests each week in December, he wrote Finding the Baby Jesus. He had been unable to locate enough meaningful stories that could be read in a single sitting with wiggly children.
Purchase
Links
Book Blast
$25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash
Ends 12/26/12
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My thoughts:
I LOVE Christmas stories, all types of Christmas stories. I was excited to have the opportunity to read this one and I am so very pleased that I did.
This little book is packed with all that is the meaning of Christmas. I was thrilled that we hear it from a child.
This is one I will be sharing with friends and family. A MUST read for the holiday season.
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