Christine Kohler

Oct 10, 2013 7:19 AM EDT

I lost the first 12 chapters of the most recent draft of my YA novel in a computer battle and you've motivated me to finish rewriting those chapters. I've bullied my computer in to submission so it can never pull such a stunt again,

- Betty J. Erickson

Oct 10, 2013 11:00 AM EDT

Betty, thank YOU for the encouragement. I miss teaching and so this is my way of giving back to the writing community. You encouraged me today by letting me know this article inspired you to press through despite difficulties--not just those of the techno-kind, but rewriting and revising.

btw, I highly recommend investing in Carbonite and using the free Dropbox. (Neither companies give me a penny of compensation to say this.) I had a major meltdown in 2010 when my laptop was stolen one day before I began a huge (i.e. big bucks!) job as consultant and lead editor on a project. I decided I never wanted to go through that much stress again over losing my computer without warning. That's when I did a little investigating in the best way to back-up everything instantly, and invested in Carbonite and Dropbox.

- Christine Kohler

Nov 11, 2013 10:06 AM EST

Jacquelyn Mitchard is one of my favorite authors, and I think it's wonderful that she's with Merit Press.

Christine, your book sounds fascinating!

- Julie Musil

Nov 11, 2013 10:35 AM EST

Thanks Julie! I'm very honored to have had Jackie--Oh! (as in Oprah Winfred Book Club)--Mitchard select my novel NO SURRENDER SOLDIER! I, too, have read many many novels by Jackie. One of my favorites, besides her debut, is SECOND NATURE about the woman who received new skin. To me it's very deep about inner and outer beauty.

- Christine Kohler

Mar 17, 2017 4:48 AM EDT

I just came to your blog while researching Jacqueline. Great interview!

- Carol Baldwin

Mar 17, 2017 6:06 AM EDT

Carol, as an update, Merit Press is now an imprint of Simon & Schuster. Jackie is still editor of Merit.

- Christine Kohler

Sep 20, 2013 9:31 AM EDT

I'm grateful that you see how war is almost genetic in the way the after effects are handed down to subsequent generations. I believe this too and it's one of the reasons I am so passionate about peace!

More and more my writing seems to be about war and peace.

- Joyce Moyer Hostetter

Sep 24, 2013 11:31 AM EDT

I, too, am passionate about peace. "Blessed are the peacemakers." Matt.

When I was studying Shoichi Yokoi's ordeal surviving in the jungles of Guam for 28 years after WWII, and then wrote about this experience through my fictional character Isamu Seto, I didn't think about looking at symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress. Yet, once the story was done, and I was reading it in the editing stage for my publisher, it became very clear to me that Seto certainly suffered from extreme PTS.

In NO SURRENDER SOLDIER the different characters show a complex web of how war has affected them all, even Kiko who is 15 and has not lived through a war. It also shows how character is formed by the war, some remain bitter, some afraid, yet some have the courage to break the bonds and courageously move forward in life, living it in kindness and compassion. This is a cross-roads Kiko faces from the first chapter on--how will he deal with the after-effects of war?

- Christine Kohler

Aug 13, 2013 1:30 PM EDT

I enjoyed hearing your journey with this novel. It definitely shows the need for persistence as well as willingness to constantly learn and improve. Congratulations!

- Lillie Ammann

Aug 13, 2013 2:53 PM EDT

Thanks Lillie! You know me, bull-headed. When I do something, I'm like a speeding freight train.

One thing I saw time and time again while teaching ICL is that it's not always the most talented writers who get published, it's the most persistent.

It's an honor to know you are reading my blog and took the time to respond. Thanks for your friendship, even if we haven't seen each other for a long time.

- Christine Kohler

Mar 31, 2023 7:25 PM EDT

As the author of 100 nonfiction books (including 20 fully illustrated books for children), Paul F. Davis needs a literary agent to sell the foreign rights to his books worldwide.

- Paul F Davis

Sep 30, 2013 7:00 PM EDT

I enjoyed you interview, found it very interesting and educational. It gave me a feeling it was completely honest and heart-felt. I look forwarding to the release of your new novel.

- Robert W. Hess

Oct 01, 2013 6:38 AM EDT

Thank you, Robert. Hope you enjoy reading it.

- Christine Kohler

Jul 20, 2013 5:40 AM EDT

Another recent book dealing with rape is Alina Klein's, RAPE GIRL. Alina was actually raped as a teenager and she unflinchingly deals with the aftermath on a young woman's life.

- Shannon Hitchcock

Jul 20, 2013 10:47 AM EDT

Thank you, Shannon, for adding this title by Alina Klein. I have not read this novel nor had the privilege of meeting Alina. Beth Fehlbaum has also been very open about having been sexually abused as a child and so her books deal more directly with the active abuse and aftermath than my book does.

It would be interesting to know if Alina's book is being taught in schools and how teachers have handled the topic.

- Christine Kohler

Jul 15, 2013 4:28 AM EDT

I think that, just like everything else in literature, you can't make blanket statements about whether something "should" or "shouldn't" be in a novel. You make valid points both for and against prologues, so the answer is (and always will be)..."it depends." Great article!

- Kym Brunner - author of Wanted: Dead or In Love

Jul 15, 2013 5:01 AM EDT

As a writing teacher, my guideline for prologues was that they should be necessary to both the internal and external arcs of the story.
Or put another way, if you need it, use it. If you don't, don't.
Blanket rules about writing don't do much for me. There always are exceptions, the trick to success being: whatever it is, do it brilliantly.

- Cynthia Leitich Smith

Jul 16, 2013 6:03 PM EDT

I agree wholeheartedly with you both, Kym and Cyn. And thank you for expressing the 'test' so brilliantly, Cyn!

- Christine Kohler

Jun 27, 2013 4:04 AM EDT

Thanks for sharing your story on the changing book publishing industry. Sometimes I wish it would slow down a bit, but not all the way back to 1985! Congratulations on your upcoming release. Sounds like you are jumping right into the whirlwind of promotion and fun! Best wishes..

- J.Q. Rose

Jun 28, 2013 12:20 PM EDT

Thank you, J.Q.! I don't want to turn back the calendar to 1985 either. But I can't begin to count how many times I say to myself, "If I were younger and starting over..." then remark on something I would do. The problem is, like most things in life, is that it is the wisdom of hindsight which makes us reflect how we would do things differently. And no one singly has that hindsight. That's why I advise people to join organizations such as SCBWI and listen to voices of experience of older authors.

- Christine Kohler

May 26, 2013 7:04 PM EDT

That is a beautiful picture. Takes me back to the stories I heard when I was younger of Pearl Harbor.

- Debbie Klein

May 29, 2013 1:51 PM EDT

I have been a fan of Layne Johnson's paintings (and picture books) since I bought WHEN HORSES RUN FREE. But when I saw FARMER GEORGE, still in the F&G (fold and gather) stage, I became entranced with Layne's work. Not all artists can paint realistic portraits and even fewer as realistic as Layne. His paintings are stunning! http://www.laynejohnson.com/

- Christine Kohler