David’s Song
Welcome to my blog April. Thank you for taking the time to answer a few
questions about yourself, your book David's Song, and your business.
Q. Tell us about you latest work – title, genre,
etc., - and why you wrote it?
A. By the latest work, I guess you mean David’s Song. I have a hard time pinpointing a genre
for this work because it’s not traditional romance, even though it has plenty
of romantic elements to it... But it also has some women’s fiction elements as
well. So I think it’s some kind of
blend. I wrote it after having an
experience that made me think about choices I had made in my life and how those
choices affected my future. Does that
make sense?
Q. What draws you to you genre(s)? Why is this type of story compelling to you?
A. I love, love, love stories about
relationships – and kind. Whether it’s
between parents and children, friends, siblings, or my favourite, between men
and women, I love watching how relationships grow and change. The more I can get involved in a characters
struggles and growth, the happier I am.
I’d rather learn through their struggles than through my own mistakes.
Q. What is your writing process like? Do you map the whole thing out or do you just
let it unfold?
A. When I start a project, I usually have an end
in mind...something I want to accomplish.
Then, I just start writing. At
some point in the process I usually do map out where the story is going just to
keep me from wandering off on a tangent.
I do find that characters have minds of their own and the farther I get
into a story; the more they like to surprise me. It’s kind of fun! But sometimes I have to rein them in and
direct them to the end I want.
Q. What kind of research was involved?
A. There wasn’t really much research involved
with David’s Song . I used locations I was familiar with. I did do a little internet research on trends
of the 80’s and 90’s.
Q. How much of YOU makes it into your
characters?
A. This question made me laugh, because people
believe Jeremy is based off of my husband.
When in truth, both David and Jeremy have qualities that my husband possesses. As for me – I relate well to Annie and her
shyness around men. I think she has done
a better job of growing out of that than I have. I am still incredibly uncomfortable in a
group of men. I just don’t know what to
talk about. I believe that every writer
builds characters from people they know and from their own experiences.
Q. How do you balance the need to have time to
write with the needs of family, society, etc.,?
A. I am fortunate that most of my family is
grown. My two youngest children are in
school full time. So I tend to organize
my other responsibilities in the morning.
Now that I’ve said that – if I get in a particularly intense moment in
my writing, all bets are off.
Q. Have there been any authors in particular,
that inspired your writing?
A. I can’t think of any. Of course I love Jane Austin (who doesn’t?),
but I would never presume to compare my writing to hers. I also love Shakespeare – because he tells
such compelling stories. I someday would
like to be able to draw characters as compelling as his.
Q. Is there a story you want to tell behind or
about your work(s)?
A. The seeds of David’s Song began when I ran into a man who I had had a giant
crush on in my early college days. We
were casual friends, but nothing more ever developed from that friendship. When I saw him again (it had been nearly 25
years since we had last spoken) I was pleased that he remembered me. Of course, because I had had such a crush, I
never forgot him. We only spoke for a
few moments. I met his wife and his
oldest son. And then I walked away
wondering what would have happened if I had not changed schools all those years
ago. In changing schools, I met my
husband and we married. It was several
years later when this old crush of mine finally married. The questions that arose from that meeting
gave rise to Annie’s journey in David’s
Song.
Q. What other projects re you currently working
on or about to start?
A. Well, David’s
Song is the first of a trilogy. The
next book in that series, Jeremy’s
Promise, I am hoping to publish later this year. The entire trilogy is written and in various
stages of revisions and polishing. I
also have another novel, entitled The
Night is Gone, that is also being revised at the moment. The
Night is Gone is a YA novel about a young man struggling to overcome a drug
addiction. He’s seeking a way to forgive
himself and to find forgiveness from his family and God. I am hoping to submit that novel to a contest
later this fall. I have two other novels
in progress. One is historical in nature
– a romance. The other is, not sure how
to describe it – it’s still in the beginning stages.
Q. Could you share some of your marketing
strategies? Which ones are the most
effective in your opinion?
A. This Bookblast/ Blog Tour is my first real
attempt at marketing. I have done a
couple Goodreads.com giveaways, but not much else. I’m just getting my feet wet in the marketing
area.
Again,
thanks April for taking the time to share your
knowledge with us. We appreciate you and your work.
Good
luck with your current and future publications.
Excerpt
“Are you
alright?” he asked. I couldn’t believe that he was coming into perfect
form and I was starting to fall apart. I couldn’t answer him. I
didn’t need to. He could see the anxiety all over me. He took my
face in both of his hands. “Annie, we’re back in the classroom.
We’re just having fun. Winning doesn’t matter.” His smile grew
wide, his blue eyes intense. “It’s just for fun!”
I nodded and tried a few more deep breaths. Just
for fun, I told myself.
“Ladies and Gentlemen, finalist number 241!”
I forced a smile as David led me to the long right
corner of the dance floor. The crowd was cheering loudly. He stood
before me in waltz position, his hand extended and inviting.
“Annie, do you want to dance?” he said quietly, a gleam in his eye.
I wanted to cry. “David, I would love to dance,”
I said, and I stepped into his arms. Suddenly the audience melted
away. The judges, the competition disappeared. The lights above the
dance floor that had felt so intense before began to narrow and drift far away
into those radiant November stars I had dreamt about. David swept me into
the trance of an exalted waltz. We were alone. Alone with the
music. Alone with our steps. Alone in the grace of each other’s
arms.
Description
A psychologically subtle, yet compelling tale about how the instinct and need for love overcomes self-doubt and personal inadequacy.
About Author
April R Talley was born and raised in the Rubber City, Akron, Ohio in 1959. She is the youngest of six children. She attended Brigham Young University for a time, but withdrew to work fulltime for Osmond Productions in Orem, Utah as a member of The Osmond production staff. After a brief stint working in television, she returned to Akron to finish her education. She graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Mass Media Communications in 1981. April later worked as vice president and part owner of a dance and sportswear boutique. Married in 1982, she is the proud mother of seven children and is deeply involved in volunteer work for her church. April spends her time working on future projects, caring for home and family, and traveling. David’s Song is her debut novel and the first of a trilogy.
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