Consequences of Medical Unknowns by Gloria Oren

My second son was born in May 1983. He was born in Israel where doctor strikes are not an uncommon event. It was during such a time that he was born.

He weighed 8 lbs 11 oz at birth. I tried breastfeeding him and that lasted a week. He started losing weight and couldn't keep anything down. As soon as he finished the bottle of formula he turned into a bottle without a cap. Lay him down and out it came. I went home with him desperately trying to keep the formula in him, but his stomach refused.

What does a mother do? Especially one who has no clue of what might be going on?

I took him to the Well Baby Center for a routine check at the three week mark. The nurse wasn't pleased as he had lost even more weight. She looked at me and said, "If we don't get some kind of food in him, we'll lose him."

"Miriam," I said, barely able to talk, "what can I give him, he's only three weeks old? Hardly old enough for solid food."

She replied "I know this will sound strange, but as of today you will feed him rice cereal made with water and make sure it is thick. You will have to cut the hole of the bottle's nipple to enable him to suck on it. Come back next week and we will weigh him again. Should the strike end before that, I will get you in the first one the doctor sees when he gets back."

I thanked her and went home to pray this would work.

My son started to gain weight slowly and began to digest his food intake. Next step at five weeks we added thick blended fruit with carrots. If not for Miriam, who by the way received praise from the doctor as well, I might not have had a son today.

Had I known then what I know now, he could have thrived from the start. My son was born lactose intolerant. He couldn't handle my breast milk because I drank milk. He couldn't handle the formula because it had milk. When the doctor came back and added soy based formula we had no problems at all.

And if some dumb doctor a year later would not have switched him back to milk, he would have had a much smoother childhood. As it stood we found out about this some eight years later and it wasn't for another three years until a doctor actually had him tested for lactose intolerance. Now why did I say -- had I known earlier -- well my birthmother is lactose intolerant and my grandmother was allergic to milk. So knowing one's medical history can be very important and save one from needless hardships.

--© Gloria Oren--

Lieutenant Girl, Report to the Bridge. We’re Out of Coffee...

Lieutenant Girl, Report to the Bridge. We’re Out of Coffee.

Science fiction has come a long way. It exploded as a genre after World War II and reflected the changing world as women went into more professional roles. Stories began to have female scientists and professionals fighting monsters and alien hordes. Of course, the division of labor wasn’t exactly fifty/fifty. Even woman scientists still had to serve the coffee. 

While women’s roles in science fiction have improved dramatically, they are still often relegated to secondary characters. Even with a female lead role, the differences between the way men and women are treated in dialog and action sequences can be eye-roll worthy, if not downright bizarre. Case in point is the film Prometheus. The heroine, Elizabeth Shaw, has to have an alien entity removed from her body. Luckily, nearby is a medical surgical pod. Oh darn, it’s one that’s only for men. Say what? Yes, apparently scientists can send a spaceship hurtling across the galaxy, but scratch their heads at designing a medical facility to care for male and female crew members at the same time. Curse those lady parts. They’re just so complicated. Can you imagine a man in a science fiction film ever facing a similar dilemma? You’d never see a bunch of female doctors standing around shaking their heads. “So sorry, we can’t help you. It’s the testicles, you see. We can’t figure them out.”

In most science fiction the heroine’s journey parallels a hero’s. She must go from girl on a quest to woman warrior. At the climax, she confronts the enemy. Often, fighting is not one of the options offered for victory, it’s the only one. Except for her gender, she’s pretty much a clone of the males. Nothing is wrong with creating a woman warrior. These characters are often lots of fun, but why does this seem to be a requirement rather than an alternative in science fiction? Why do female and male characters have to be so similar? Why can’t a girl show a softer side without being thought of as weak? Such characters can be done well. Meg in A Wrinkle in Time is both smart and brave and doesn’t need a bazooka to rescue her father. All the women in Andy Weir’s The Martian are intelligent, strong, and interesting individuals. I suspect not one of them ever picked a bar fight.

Keep the women warriors, but let’s add more clever girls to the mix. They fight when they have to, but can also think their way out of a dangerous situation. Let’s put those in charge for a change and have them lead the other girls (and boys, too) on adventures. Above all, never exile them to boring, generic, secondary character status for being a girl.  

Q&A with Jo Ann Brown, Amish Christmas Blessings

How did you come up with the relationship between Amos and Linda?

JAB: Because the novella is part of my Amish Hearts series, I knew one of the Stoltzfus brothers would be the hero. It seemed like it was the turn for Amos, the brother who owns the general/grocery store at the Stoltzfus Family Shops in my imaginary Lancaster County town of Paradise Springs. Because readers wouldn't know a lot about him at the beginning because he's not been front and center in the previous titles, I decided to give him a heroine who knew nothing about herself. I hoped the readers would find it interesting to learn about the two of them together. As I'd suffered from a short-term memory loss (after an accident) thirty years ago, it seemed like a "natural" fit for Linda to go through some of what I went through.

What is your favorite part about writing holiday books?

JAB: It gives me a chance to celebrate the holiday twice in one year. While working on the novella, I had Christmas music on and simply enjoyed letting Christmas go from the "twelve days of" to an extra couple of months.

Do you have a signature Thanksgiving dish?

JAB: I do. I make what we call graham cracker pie. My grandmother made it every year for Thanksgiving, and I now do the same. It's simple -- graham cracker crust, vanilla pudding filling and meringue topping, but everyone in the family considers it an absolute necessity for the end of the meal.

When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?

JAB: I always spun stories for my younger sisters, but I finally put pen to paper when I was around 12. I was supposed to be doing a history assignment about the trans-Atlantic emigration, and, all of the sudden, the story of a 12-year-old girl making that journey filled my head. I wrote my first novel in high school and have since buried it at the back of my file cabinet.

How long does it take you to write a book?

JAB: It depends on the book and how the characters and story cooperate with me. Usually I can write the first draft in around 4 weeks. Then it needs to sit while I get disconnected with the story and start something else so I can come back for the final draft with fresh eyes.

Where do you get your inspiration for the Stoltzfus Family Shops?

JAB: The Amish are close-knit, and they drive buggies and make other decisions in the hopes of being able to spend more time together. So I thought: If all these brothers needed to make a living off the family farm, how would they keep that family closeness and still have learned skills to provide for themselves and family? Having them all working nearby allows the brothers to pop in and out of each other's stories.

How many books have you written? Do you have a favorite?

JAB: Over 110 books. My favorite is always the one I'm going to write next because I'm excited about spending time with the characters and to see how the story unfolds.

What book are you reading right now?

JAB: I'm reading science fiction at the moment -- just started Anne McCaffrey and Elizabeth Ann Scarborough's Power Play. I never can read what I'm currently writing.

What are your current projects?

JAB: I'm currently writing the 6th book in the Amish Hearts series. It's the story of Micah (the next to last brother in the family) and the girl who broke his heart, but now needs his help.

What advice do you have for writers?

JAB: Read, read, read and write, write, write. Repeat. Also don't think that every word you've written is golden. Any project can be made better through hard work and good editing.

Q&A with Marta Perry, Amish Christmas Blessings

How did you come up with the relationship between Anna and Benjamin?  

When I started thinking about writing this story, I began with Anna as the young midwife who was dedicated to her calling but still struggling for acceptance. I liked the character, with all her vulnerability, but I needed to find a hero who would complement her. So I began considering a man who had left the Amish to explore the outside world. They are both daring, in a way, but while Anna finds strength and satisfaction in her faith, Benjamin has looked for satisfaction in the outside world, only to find that what he really wants is home. The idea that the two of them had a past relationship which no one else knew about jumped into being when I started putting them on the page—one of those delightful things that surprise the author!

What is your favorite part about writing holiday books?

I’m a traditionalist, so I like to celebrate each holiday in the same way every year. Christmas brings back lovely memories of Christmases past—being a child on Christmas morning, seeing my own children with their eyes shining, and now enjoying my grandchildren’s awe and wonder. When I write a holiday book I get to experience it all over again through my characters.

Do you have a signature Thanksgiving dish?

The dish I consider my specialty for Thanksgiving is my pecan-crusted sweet potato casserole. For some reason, sweet potato casseroles come in long after the turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes and gravy in the Thanksgiving popularity pool, but I love the sweetness of the potatoes contrasted with the crunchy brown sugar pecan topping. If no one else wanted it, I’d eat it all myself!

When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?

When I was about eight, we moved to a community that had a wonderful library. My mother soon realized that she had a bookworm on her hands, and we spend many happy hours there enjoying stories together. But it was when I picked up my first Nancy Drew mystery that the longing struck. Most little girls read the books and want to be Nancy. I read that first one and wanted to be the person who created her. While I’ve never written a Nancy Drew mystery, I still owe her a great deal.

How long does it take you to write a book?

I think about the idea for a book for a long time before I’m actually ready to start writing, but I guess I can’t count that time! As for the actual writing, I allow myself three months for a shorter novel, like a Love Inspired, and four-five months for a longer book, like the romantic suspense novels I write for HQN Books.

Where do you get your inspiration for Lost Creek’s Amish community?

When I write about the Amish, I always write about Pennsylvania Amish, because that’s what I know. In recent years, more Amish families have been moving into our area of north central Pennsylvania and even farther north. So it was an easy choice for me to set my fictional Lost Creek in a valley very like the one in which I live. If I want to know what the scenery looks like, I just glance out the window.

How many books have you written?

I’ve had over sixty books published, as well as writing a few that never saw the light of day! Do you have a favorite? It’s very hard to pick a favorite, since that’s like choosing among my children. I think my favorite book is actually always the one I’m going to write next!

What book are you reading right now?

Right now I’m reading “The Friendly Air,” a romance by Elizabeth Cadell that was written some years ago. I recently discovered that those older books are seeing new life as e-books, and it’s delightful to re-discover books I once loved.

What are your current projects?

I’m writing a Lost Creek book for Love Inspired, tentatively called, “His Last Love,” as well as doing revisions on my forthcoming Amish romantic suspense, “Echo of Danger,” which will be out from HQN Books in May.

What advice do you have for writers?

Read what you want to write, but also read much more widely, especially non-fiction. You never know when two seemingly unrelated topics will come together in your imagination to create a book, and it will be something that isn’t exactly like everything else the editor has seen.

Q&A with Allison Leigh, A Child Under His Tree

How did you come up with the relationship between Kelly and Dr. Caleb?

Kelly and Caleb’s high-school relationship was introduced several years ago in The Rancher’s Dance.  At the time, I can’t say that I intended to reunite them in their own story, but the more I thought about it, the stronger appeal it had. 

What is your favorite part about writing holiday books?

It’s fun to wrap holiday trappings around romances.  The “feel good” sense that people have that time of year is a sharp contrast for those in turmoil.

Do you have a signature Thanksgiving dish?

Oh, goodness.  My signature anything out of the kitchen tends to be a dessert.  So I would have to say it would be an early sampling of my Christmas Storybook Cookies, which are decorated sugar-cookie cut-outs.  I can’t take credit for the name of the cookies—that comes from a really ancient magazine (I’ve been making them since I was a teenager), but I like to think it’s fitting for me as a writer.  Ha!  I also almost always make my Fudge Drop cookies, too, which are a lot less work and equally loved by my family year-round. 

When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?

Second grade.  Hands down.  But as I got older, I didn’t really think I could be a “real” writer until I actually sold my first book, Stay…. (This is NOT the advice I give aspiring writers, by the way.)

How long does it take you to write a book?

When I’m in the midst of one?  It seems to take forever.  Ha!  I don’t have the luxury of writing every single day, so that means I have to be diligent when planning my writing time.  I’m a terrible procrastinator and know that I work better under pressure. (Don’t know what that says about me psychologically, but there you have it.)  All that being said, it takes me anywhere from 15-20 very long writing days to finish a manuscript.  This is assuming that I have a fully fleshed-out synopsis first.

Where do you get your inspiration for Weaver, Wyoming?

As a girl, I lived for a few years in a small town in Wyoming.  It made an impression, to say the least.  I love small towns and I love open spaces.  Weaver is my mind’s perfect fantasy location.

How many books have you written? Do you have a favorite?

Fortune’s June Bride in 2015 was my 50th.  So that makes A Child Under His Tree my 52nd.  Hard to believe.  I can’t say that I have a true favorite, but obviously Stay… was pretty important as it was not only my first book, but my first book set in Weaver, Wyoming.  A lot of books have come as a result.

What book are you reading right now?  

Right now, I’m actually reading two:  a non-fiction book called None Braver by Michael Hirsh and a romantic suspense by Karen Robards called The Last Time I Saw Her.  Enjoying them both.

What are your current projects?

Currently, I’m finishing Wild West Fortune, which is one of the terrific Fortunes of Texas series of which I’ve been so fortunate to be a part.  Hard on the heels of that will be my next Double C title.  Both to be released in 2017.

What advice do you have for writers?

First off—if you write, you are a writer.  (Don’t take my path of not taking yourself seriously as a writer unless you’ve sold a book.)  But if you want to be a PUBLISHED writer…then write what you love.  And finish what you write.  You won’t ever get there if you don’t sit your rear in the chair and actually do the work.  I love writing.  I really do.  But doing the work?  That’s not always champagne and roses.  It’s hard.  It takes time.  It takes effort.  But when you write those last words of the manuscript and know you’ve given it your all?  It’s one of the best feelings in the world.

The Wishing World As A Movie by Todd Fahnestock

Thanks so much to What is This Book About for inviting me play with The Wishing World as a movie! With what can be done with CGI these days, The Wishing World is aching to be on the silver screen. It is a hugely visual book, and my kids and I have talked a lot about who would play whom. Here is what we came up with: 

Lorelei

Millie Bobby Brown from Stranger Things. No one delivers intensity like this girl, and Lorelei has to be intense. Any girl who is willing to chase her family across dimensions has to know how to “turn it up to Eleven.”

Fun Fact: Millie Bobby Brown’s character in Stranger Things is named Eleven. My son, had he been born a girl, would have been named Lorelei Eleven Fahnestock. 

Gruffy the Griffon

Dennis Haysbert from Mr. Peabody and Sherman. His is the voice I hear when Gruffy speaks in my head. Haysbert’s voice exudes strength and power. It also has a reassuring quality to it, all of which are completely Gruffy.

Pip the Toucan

Alan Tudyk from Zootopia, Wreck it Ralph and my favorite series of all time, Firefly. I’ve been a huge Tudyk fan forever, and I think he would bring the perfect element to Pip. Tudyk can make anything sound interesting, which is essential for a character who says everything twice.

Squeak the Mouse

Kristin Bell from Frozen. So if there’s ever a movie based on any of my stories, it has to have Kristin Bell in it because she’s just plain awesome. Did you see the clip from the Ellen DeGeneres show with Kristin and the sloth? If not, you have to YouTube it. She is overwhelmingly endearing and insanely talented.

Sir Real

Xolo Maridueña from Parenthood. As I was searching for pictures for this blog, I stumbled across Maridueña and he immediately struck me as Sir Real. He has the perfect look for it.

Theron

Gaten Matarazzo from Stranger Things. Every single child actor in Stranger Things is amazing, but my wife and I both agreed that Matarazzo would make a fantastic Theron. And he’s got the perfect crazy curly hair!

Ripple, Princess of the Eternal Sea

Raffey Cassidy from Tomorrowland. Oh my gosh. My kids and I fell in love with Athena from Tomorrowland from the very first scene. Cassidy has the accent and the bearing of the Princess of the Eternal Sea. Give her blue skin and eyes and she is Ripple. Even if The Wishing World never gets made into a movie, I would die happy if I could hear Raffey Cassidy do some of Ripple’s dialogue from the book.

The Ink King

Jack Gleeson from A Game of Thrones. Is there anyone that can inspire loathing better than the boy who played Joffrey Baratheon? Gleeson has the ability to evoke sympathy and revulsion in the viewer, both of which are essential for a great Ink King.  

So that’s our cast of main characters! Enjoy the story. I’ll see you all in Veloran.