#astone'sthrow

I am a Mommy. I love my daughter very dearly. She's great! The timing of her birth was not so great. When I found out I was pregnant, I was in a delicate career stage. After having my daughter, who cared about little things like careers? Right? When I read the synopsis for A Stone's Throw, I empathisized with the main character immediately. Then, I wondered about the author who wrote this. Yep, she's a Mommy, too. 

Meet:

Alida Winternheimer.

1. Where’s home?

Minneapolis, Minnesota. I love the lakes and forests in Minnesota, and having four seasons—though I’m sick of winter at this point. And I love living in a metropolitan area with a vibrant arts community.

2. What’s the name of your most recent book?  If you had to sum it up in 30 words or less, what would you say?

The Murder in Skoghall will be out in May. (How about 40 words or less?)

Jess starts over in a rural arts community with her dog, an old farmhouse, and a dream. But the house needs work, the puppy is difficult, and the locals aren’t welcoming…especially the murdered woman haunting her new home. 

 3. Did you picture any specific real-life people when you created your characters?

No and yes. I did not base the characters in A Stone’s Throw on anyone specific, but some of the events in the book are based on things I’ve experienced. I wouldn’t want to go through what Gemma or Simona go through, but I’ve lived enough to write those things from a place of truth.

4. When did you first consider yourself a writer?

I’ve been a writer for as long as I can remember. My oldest existing story is “Henry Humbug.” I think I was eight, but was writing before then. I have a clear memory of developing that story after a friend told me the storyline in The Trumpet of the Swan by E.B. White, so in a way, I was emulating a master.

5.   What was the oddest thing you ever had to research while writing?

One of my works-in-progress is set in medieval France and is about a mystic who is burned at the stake by the Inquisition for heresy in 1310. Early in my relationship with my partner, Scott, we went to dinner with some of his friends—people I was meeting for the first time. Dinner conversation turned to my research and various methods of torture used by the Inquisition. I regaled them with methods of execution and how the executioner could at his discretion provide mercy…but sometimes the Inquisitor would forbid mercy. It made for an interesting dinner!

6.   Is there anything that helps you write?  (Any specific place, snacks or background noise?)

I write with music on. It has to something fairly mellow and very familiar to me. Anything unfamiliar will call my attention away from my work. The music also masks any outside sounds and prevents me from being distracted by those. As a result, I find I’ll know the first couple of songs on an album or playlist really well, then don’t know anything because I tune it out. It also means I can listen to the same album over and over and over….

7. How long does it usually take you to write a book?

Between ten weeks and ten years! Honestly, Some of my work began over a decade ago and is still in progress. However, I wrote the first draft of The Murder in Skoghall in about ten weeks. I was hoping to hit 80,000 words in one month, but we got the flu and then I got busy with parenting stuff. The draft wound up being around 120,000 words and took about ten weeks. If you can clear away other responsibilities and make writing as close to a full time job as possible, you can write a novel in a few months or less. Revision is another matter entirely, but it’s good to get that first draft done quickly. Get the story on the page. Go from there.

8.   Have you read any books more than once?  Are there any you’d love to read again?

I’ve read The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver three times. I would definitely take it to a desert island. And I’ve been meaning to reread Edith Wharton’s Ethan Frome for a long time. It’s on my shelf, but I keep getting busy with research and work required reads.

 9.   What do you think about book reviews?

They’re great if they’re honest. I’ve spent many years in critique groups and MFA workshops listening patiently while people pick apart my work. I’ve also had my share of short stories rejected. I’ve learned to discern between useful criticism and when someone just doesn’t get it, or worse, is biased somehow. I love useful criticism. When someone can help me see what’s wrong with my writing, she’s helping me improve it. Also, then I know any praise is sincere because she wasn’t afraid to give me her honest critique.

10.   Do you have a day job?  A family?  How do make time to write?

I have a blended family with three teenagers and I’m training a service dog (see www.alidawinternheimer.com/servicedog). Finding time to write is my biggest challenge. I commit myself to a schedule, then something throws a wrench in the works. I rearrange my schedule, recommit, and so on. I dread summer break every year because I work at home and the kids are home. It’s a concentration thing—I need a quiet house to write.

 11.   What tips do you have for aspiring writers?  What have you learned along the way?

Actually, I have a lot of tips for aspiring writers. I’ve been keeping a writer’s blog at www.wordessential.com/blog for years. If I had to pick a few words to share here, I’d say, first, find a mentor. That might not be an individual who takes you under her wing, it might look like taking writing classes, joining a critique group, absorbing all the advice you can find, and learning constantly. Second, read the kind of works you’d like to write. Third, put it to practice. All the how-to and examples won’t do you any good unless you actually practice writing.

12.   What’s next for you?  Any current/future writing project?

I’m preparing The Murder in Skoghall for publication. It will be out in May. That’s the first book in a ghost story/mystery series.

I’m also plotting a dark dystopian book and a romantic comedy. I think of myself as witty or dry-funny, so writing humor that makes people laugh outright might be a challenge. But I’m excited to try it.