Writing in Translation: Author Wendy Nelson Tokunaga

For the months of June and July, All the Blog's a Page (AtBaP) is looking at how culture plays a role in writing. I have a great lineup of six writers, and up next is a writer I enjoy, one who finds herself entrenched within the Japanese culture: Wendy Nelson Tokunaga!

Midori Saito, a young woman, fresh from Japan and too independent for Japanese society, refuses to heed her mother’s advice that marrying a foreigner will bring her nothing but trouble. Turns out Mom was right and Midori is now suddenly on her own in San Francisco. Will she be able to find her American Dream and the perfect dessert?

When asked How important is it for you to integrate your cultural experiences into your writing, Tokunaga said, "As you can probably tell from my photograph, I am not Japanese. I’m Caucasian, was born in San Francisco, and my Japanese last name comes from my husband. Both my novels are about Japan and Japanese culture. When I took my first creative writing class many years ago, the teacher required us to complete three short stories in a semester. And all three that sprang out of me were about some aspect of Japanese culture. I didn’t plan it that way, but that’s what happened, and it made me realize how important this culture has been in my life.."

Come by AtBaP to read more about Tokunaga's appreciation of the Japanese culture and to learn about her next book coming this fall: Love in Translation!


ALL THE BLOG'S A PAGE (AtBaP) - Where everything relates to writing[http://alltheblogsapage.blogspot.com]

Author Rachelle Chase holds CLASS on how to make writing SEXY!

Today at All the Blog's a Page (AtBaP), Rachelle Chase, author of SIN CLUB, holds class as she talks about sex and writing...and offers a little contest to those who can pen some sexy stuff, too!






For the month of September, AtBaP authors are talking about SEX; here's the question that was posed: Is sex an important component to develop in your writing? How are you able to weave it into a work AND also have a strong plot development?

Rachelle begins her discussion by stating, "I write erotic romance, so sex is VERY important. The way I weave it into the story and have strong plot development is by making sex a part of the story.

When my characters are doing nonsexual things or are talking about nonsexual things, there are sexual undertones. When my characters are having sex, the sex is moving the story forward – meaning, the hero and heroine are bringing their baggage, fears, dreams, etc. into the bedroom – and after sex, both are changed in some way. This change sends them down a new path, until their new beliefs about themselves are challenged up to and during the next sex scene, which then starts another change-and-down-a-new page chain of events, and so on. Until all the necessary change has occurred and my characters have become “new” people at the end."

What ELSE does Rachelle have to say about sex, writing, and her novel? Head over to ALL THE BLOG'S A PAGE today to read the rest of her response...and see how YOU can win a copy of SIN CLUB...and another gift, :-)

Also, make sure to check out authors Lauren Dane and Zetta Brown on AtBaP, too, as they both offer up their thoughts on sex & writing!

ALL THE BLOG'S A PAGE (AtBaP) - Where everything relates to writing: [http://alltheblogsapage.blogspot.com]

Sex & Writing with Author Lauren Dane

Today at All the Blog's a Page (AtBaP), Lauren Dane, author of FATED, talks about sex and writing!







For the month of September, AtBaP authors are talking about SEX; here's the question that was posed: Is sex an important component to develop in your writing? How are you able to weave it into a work AND also have a strong plot development?

Among other things - all of them juicy and frank, Lauren replied: "In truth, sex is wonderful material for a story. It’s rife with possibilities. Not just love and joy but anger, loss, connection, guilt, grief – it’s not only a great vehicle for emotion but physical action as well. An author can really show you things about her characters through a really well done, well placed sex scene."

What ELSE does Lauren have to say about sex, writing, and her novel? Head over to ALL THE BLOG'S A PAGE today to read the rest of her response...and also be sure to see what author Zetta Brown (Messalina - Devourer of Men) has to say about sex & writing, too!

ALL THE BLOG'S A PAGE (AtBaP) - Where everything relates to writing: [http://alltheblogsapage.blogspot.com]

Author Zetta Brown Talks about SEX & WRITING Today!

Today at All the Blog's a Page (AtBaP), Zetta Brown, author of Messalina - Devourer of Men, talks about sex and writing!

Messalina - Devourer of Men received a GREAT Book Bytes review from ChickLitGurrl: I absolutely loved this book! Didn't want to put it down. It's unique, it has hot sex (with a purpose), and the characters are like some I've never seen in books before. The first chapter alone will get you in the mood...in more ways than one. Messalina: Devourer of Men has much HEAT and much HEART. It's worth the buy! I'm looking forward to seeing what Zetta Brown puts out next.

For the month of September, AtBaP authors are talking about SEX; here's the question that was posed: Is sex an important component to develop in your writing? How are you able to weave it into a work AND also have a strong plot development?

What does Zetta have to say about sex, writing, and her novel? Head over to ALL THE BLOG'S A PAGE today to read her response!

ALL THE BLOG'S A PAGE (AtBaP) - Where everything relates to writing: [http://alltheblogsapage.blogspot.com]

Author Cynthia Polansky Discusses Faith & Writing @ AtBaP!

Today at All the Blog's a Page (AtBaP), Cynthia Polansky, author of REMOTE CONTROL, talks about faith and writing!






REMOTE CONTROL received a GREAT Book Bytes review from ChickLitGurrl: Even death can’t stop Judith McBride from controlling things like keeping her husband away from their sexy, yet dangerous accountant! Loved the humor, sensitivity, and enlightenment in Remote Control and how in the end, a simple truth remains: spiritual growth means relinquishing control and giving to a higher power.



Head over to ALL THE BLOG'S A PAGE today to read Polansky's response to this month's AtBaP question: How does your faith, your spirituality integrate itself into your writing?


Also, if you haven't yet, check out the wonderful responses by James A. Jimason ("Give Me Destiny"), Susan McGeown ("Recipe for Disaster"), Pamela S. Thibodeaux ("Tempered Joy"), Niambi Davis ("From Dusk to Dawn"), and Beth Fehlbaum ("Courage in Patience")!

ALL THE BLOG'S A PAGE (AtBaP) - Where everything relates to writing: (LINK)

Why Subscribe to All the Blog's a Page (AtBaP)?

ALL THE BLOG'S A PAGE - Where Everything Relates to Writing - is a monthly blogging series hosted by ChickLitGurrl™ in which writers and readers talk about writing and its relation to various topics!

In August, we're tackling FAITH & WRITING. In September, we'll be looking at SEX & WRITING, and in the upcoming months, we will be talking about such topics as gender, homosexuality, memoir, culture, death, and TV and movies.

Take the time to head to ALL THE BLOG'S A PAGE and read our wonderful works by the following authors: James A. Jimason, Susan McGeown, Pamela S. Thibodeaux, Niambi Davis, and Beth Fehlbaum. Our last FAITH & WRITING author for August will be Cynthia Polansky, who will go LIVE @ AtBaP Friday, August 29, 2008.

While you're there, take the time to SUBSCRIBE to ATBAP, too, so that you can kept in the loop to new updates and author features!

[Subscribe to AtBaP]

Author/Publisher Susan McGeown talks about Faith & Writing @ AtBaP!

Today at All the Blog's a Page (AtBaP), Susan McGeown, author and owner of Faith Inspired Books, talks about faith and writing...

...two things that go GREAT together in her novel, RECIPE FOR DISASTER...

Nothing could be worse than being a bride abandoned on her wedding day, right? Wrong. Try factoring in an unplanned pregnancy that shatters what is left of Karly Martin's dreams to be a missionary. But Karly is a survivor, stronger and braver than she ever thought possible. Giving up her son for adoption and accepting a missionary position with a Navajo mission school gives her the chance to build on the dreams she thought she had had to abandon. Slowly, she begins to heal. Earl Nezbegay sees to all of his responsibilities: caring for his quadriplegic sister, and her eleven year old daughter, and helping out at the Navajo mission school. Keeping busy enough not to think, keeping numb enough not to feel, and keeping distant enough not to interact. It's not exactly living, but it's surviving. Recipe for Disaster brings together two very broken people. Neither is looking for love, but then life isn't always what we plan or expect, is it?


The question asked this month @ AtBaP is How does your faith, your spirituality integrate itself into your writing and Susan, in discussing her relationship with faith states: Through my successes and my failures I am determined to be a woman of faith no matter what anyone says or thinks. (Picture me with my hands on my hips, my chin raised in defiance.) I want it to be my defining feature, the glue that holds all my pieces together. No matter what hat I'm wearing: mother, sister, daughter, author, aunt, teacher, friend, classroom helper, annoyed customer, neighbor, or stranger – I want it to be the first distinctive quality anyone notices. It's a noble goal but requires constant work.


Head over to ALL THE BLOG'S A PAGE today to read the rest of Susan's response and to share your OWN thoughts on faith and writing!


Also, if you haven't yet, check out the wonderful responses by Pamela S. Thibodeaux ("Tempered Joy"), Niambi Davis ("From Dusk to Dawn"), and Beth Fehlbaum ("Courage in Patience")!

ALL THE BLOG'S A PAGE (AtBaP) - Where everything relates to writing: (LINK)

Author Niambi Davis Talks about Faith & Writing Today!

Today at All the Blog's a Page (AtBaP), Niambi Davis - author of FROM DUSK TO DAWN - talks about faith and writing!





Something she knows a BIT about considering her novel...


Taliban wanna-be! Bible-thumping Crusader! Is this any way to begin a love affair? In the case of Ayo and Bilal, the answer is a resounding yes! After the dust from religious and familial wars has settled, the 42 year old widow and 32 year old appraiser fall deeply in love, until an unexpected diagnosis convinces Ayo that loving Bilal means letting him go. But has she underestimated the man who, in spite of a tragedy of his own, vows never to let her go?


The question asked this month @ AtBaP is How does your faith, your spirituality integrate itself into your writing and Niambi's first couple of sentences alone will make you want to read the rest of her response: I was a child when I first heard the word ecumenical. Once a year, the local AME, Episcopal, Catholic, and United Methodist congregations of our small town gathered together to praise the Lord. It was the only Sunday of the year when religion trumped race.


Head over to ALL THE BLOG'S A PAGE today to read the rest of Niambi's response and to share your OWN thoughts on faith and writing!


Also, if you haven't yet, check out the wonderful response by Beth Fehlbaum, author of COURAGE IN PATIENCE!

ALL THE BLOG'S A PAGE (AtBaP) - Where everything relates to writing: (LINK)