Comments on Reading With Monie: Blog Tour and Q&A: Death at Solstice: A Gloria Dam...

Hi :) Thank you for sharing here today. I enjoyed ...

2009-12-12T03:29:10.580-06:00

Hi :)
Thank you for sharing here today. I enjoyed learning more about her & her writing.
Happy Holidays,
RKCharron

Great interview. Thanks so much for sharing! Sou...

2009-12-09T21:22:26.717-06:00

Great interview. Thanks so much for sharing! Sounds like a great series.

I am a follower

bacchus76 at myself dot com

Thanks and good night, Monie, Toni, Joseph and Ben...

2009-12-08T22:29:46.281-06:00

Thanks and good night, Monie, Toni, Joseph and Benita.

Thanks, Lucha. I find your response both helpful a...

2009-12-08T21:58:39.070-06:00

Thanks, Lucha. I find your response both helpful and informative. Thank you for taking the time to answer in such depth.

bgcchs(at)yahoo(dot)com

Hi Benita and thanks for visiting with me this eve...

2009-12-08T21:35:53.212-06:00

Hi Benita and thanks for visiting with me this evening. I feel that the relationship between a good editor and a writer is similar to that of a peer-reviewing (or mentor) teacher with another teacher. The peer reviewer is not there to judge or tell the other teacher what to do. But rather to explore with her/him possible ways to improve instruction, to keep it relevant and rethink techniques and strategies. Sometimes as writers, we fall in love with a scene, a minor character, or lines that detract rather than add to the development of character, plot setting, and fail to keep the language fresh, the tension tight (especially in a mystery story). But we are so involved, and we have so much invested in our novel, that we find it difficult to make the right decisions for the story. A sensitive editor will suggest, point out the places were further development is needed, or where there's unessential material, or explore with you ways to build tension, or to rework awkward sentences, etc. A good editor might be strong and direct without being incisive. Some incisive editors are great editors, just a bit overbearing and controlling. As a writer you have to keep in mind that both you and your editor want the best for your book. But you also have to keep in mind that the ultimate word as to what's added, deleted, or unchanged is the writer's, yours. It's your name on the front cover of that book. Then be ready to suffer the consequences if critics/reviewers agree with your editor in what had to be done and wasn't. I have been fortunate to have had very good editors, even one who was very incisive and a bit overbearing, but right on target. Hope this helps. Good luck with your editor, Benita. And thanks for stopping by. Abrazo,

Lucha

My question to Lucha- I am thoroughly impressed by...

2009-12-08T20:23:12.044-06:00

My question to Lucha- I am thoroughly impressed by your interview. I'm always curious about editor/writer relationships. I'd really appreciate it if you could tell just a bit about it.

Many thanks

I'm really intrigued and would love to read th...

2009-12-08T20:21:16.716-06:00

I'm really intrigued and would love to read this book.

bgcchs(at)yahoo(dot)com

Hi Joseph, I read most of them at different times ...

2009-12-08T18:07:39.544-06:00

Hi Joseph, I read most of them at different times in my life, some of them (in Spanish) as a young girl (Neruda, Ibarbourou, Sor Juana), others during my teens (like Hesse's Steppenwolf, Somerset Maugham's novels, Baudelaire's poetry, not mentioned). I guess the poets speak to the poet in me, something that attracts me to their poetry, even now. I remember reading and rereading Wallace Stevens' Death of a Soldier or the Snow Man, the Man with the Blue Guitar, The Creation of Sound and others. Stevens and I couldn't be more different in voice, yet his poems speak to me in ways that transcend culture and language. (I just got his Selected Poems and read one a night before I go to bed).It's the same with all the poets I love to read and reread. I've tried to like Gabriela Mistral but has never been able to, whereas Storni and Castellanos (poetry and prose) touch me deeply. I just like the way they make me feel. Mysteries I'm always reading. Some stay with me, others don't. I love Benjamin Alire Saenz's and Pat Mora's poetry and children's books, also not mentioned. Virginia Wolf and others were part of my 70's experience in Berkeley, painful yet so decisive in my life. Some have to do with my spirituality or lack of it, found in most unexpected ways in some of those authors I've mentioned in both my languages. I could go on, Joseph. But there isn't enough room here to do your question justice. Gracias, Joseph.
Lucha

Dear Lucha: thanks again. I am intrigued by the e...

2009-12-08T16:47:22.693-06:00

Dear Lucha: thanks again. I am intrigued by the eclectic list of influences that you list. Is it possible to note (perhaps even vaguely) what draws you to those authors/poets? (Undoubtedly, there may be a number of draws, but perhaps there is a common denominator?)

Also, thank you Monie.

All best, Joseph Morales

Thanks for visiting, Toni. Glad you enjoyed it. Ab...

2009-12-08T12:03:39.618-06:00

Thanks for visiting, Toni. Glad you enjoyed it. Abrazos,
Lucha Corpi

I really enjoyed this interview. What a great sto...

2009-12-08T10:59:32.019-06:00

I really enjoyed this interview. What a great stop on my blog reading this morning. Thank you Monie.

Good morning, Monie. Gracias for hosting me today....

2009-12-08T10:14:15.521-06:00

Good morning, Monie. Gracias for hosting me today. I will be available for comments and to answer questions at 10 a.m., 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. California time (PST). Abrazos, Lucha Corpi