Huzzah! It’s time for another blog hop with the IWSG! Purpose: To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds!
The awesome co-hosts for the March 4 posting of the IWSG are Jacqui Murray,Lisa Buie-Collard,Sarah Foster,Natalie Aguirre, and Shannon Lawrence!
March 4 question – Other than the obvious holiday traditions, have you ever included any personal or family traditions/customs in your stories?
Interesting you should ask, as I’m currently writing my first ever holiday-themed story, a romance novella set in/around a neighborhood tavern at Christmastime. The series will play out over the course of a year, each new episode featuring one (or more) of the tavern’s staff or regulars. Of course, holiday traditions will play an important part in the series. Toward that end, I’ve been researching Tacoma’s dive bars—making a list, checking it twice, gonna find out who’s got the best pub grub and drinks. Fun!
Book One in this series mentions the protagonist’s Dad’s tacky 1960s aluminum Christmas tree, something we had when I was tiny, and a color wheel that grumbles as it rotates from red to yellow to green to blue. Anyone old enough to remember those?
My family doesn’t really have any special holiday traditions, other than playing Lotería (Mexican bingo with pictures) at Thanksgiving. My brother-in-law collects the most delightfully tacky, whacky prizes, and we mark our spaces on the cards with pinto beans. Great inter-generational fun! Maybe my tavern series could have a Cinco de Mayo event? Not an authentic Mexican celebration, I know, but very popular in bars. The patrons could play Lotería.
My husband’s family is very musical, mostly guitarists and vocalists, and our family gatherings involve playing and singing together. I love that feeling of blending our voices, so I put a guitar circle around a campfire in my most recent novella.
And I come from a family of teachers—both parents, my sister, and me, plus Hubs and sis-in-law. So far, three of my protagonists have been teachers or ex-teachers.
So there you go—a few family traditions do make it into my fiction. How about you? Do your family traditions wind up in your fiction? I’d be especially interested to see how this plays out with sci-fi and fantasy authors.
My February author event at King’s Books in Tacoma was a total dud as far as book sales, but I still had a blast talking with my fellow romance authors. I’m enjoying the lull between projects; as soon as I get a release date from my publisher, the promo whirlwind begins for Love, Art, and Other Obstacles, Book 3 in the Book Nirvana series.
A favor? If you or anyone you know is a fan of steamy contemporary romance, stories about artists, and new adult romance, I’m looking for advance readers willing to leave a review. Contact me at sadira@sadirastone.com. Thanks!
May the month of March bring you sunshine, flowers, and lots of productive writing time.
Okay, you had me worried that I had the wrong date for the IWSG…lol It is kind of fun ‘tucking’ real life memories into a story. I think they call it “Easter Eggs” when they do something like this in a movie. Bummer about the sales, but at least you are out there being seen.
Great post! I enjoyed reading it. Thanks for sharing.
I remember those aluminum trees in the 1960s with their color wheels, lol. In fact, we actually have a small pink and silver tinsel tree that we enjoy putting up in the family room. I enjoyed your post. Your new series is interesting. I like the idea of the tavern. Good luck with everything.
Regarding your “March 4 question,” I haven’t written about family “traditions,” but I’ve included quite a few personal experiences in my stories. Isn’t that the maxim – write what you know? Love your idea of the setting being a tavern – best of luck!
The story idea is so organic. I can see many a bar trying to bring in patrons through the celebration of life. 🙂
Anna from elements of emaginette
A family of musicians! Good to hear.
Sorry the book signing was a dud. Call it experience.
I remember those trees but we didn’t have one.
Well now, there’s some tough research for ya… pub hopping and sampling their grub. HA! Sounds like an interesting idea for a book.
My parents had one of those aluminum trees and color wheels. At first,I thought it was kinda pretty, but not for long. They had that tree, and my hubby and I had our real sweet-smelling Charley Brown trees. On the plus side, they gave us all of their old tree ornaments… which I still have today. 🙂
Alas, I won’t be able to do any in-person research in the foreseeable future. All WA State bars and restaurants are closed!