FAQs
Following are answers to questions I frequently get asked. If you have a question you don’t see answered below, feel free to contact me and I’ll add it below!
What are you working on now?
Revisions for my fourth novel. I also have two writing projects right behind that. Time will tell which one pulls ahead of the other. Right now they’re getting equal time as I get to know the characters–in some ways I watch a story unfold just like a reader does. I always have a general idea of how I want things to go, and that makes up about 25% of my writing, but the other 75% flows from that.
How is the life of the heroine from GOOD THINGS and TABLE MANNERS (Deidre McIntosh) similar to your own? Are you two alike?
Deidre’s life and mine aren’t that similar, but one thing we do share in common is that we both now lead more simple lives. I’ve never lived in Washington nor had a career in television, though I’m always up for trying something new.
What about Marissa in SWEET LIFE? You and your husband made the move to Hawaii. Is any of it autobiographical?
That’s always the challenge when you write about where you live, and a few details definitely overlap! Yes, we did make the move to Hawaii in 2000, but we came without jobs and completely on a whim. I was 7 months pregnant with my first child at the time. We came on vacation, felt the call to Hawaii (we’d been to every island several times except the Big Island; obviously we saved the best for last), went home and sold everything, then made the move from San Francisco a couple of months later.
What I did take from my own experience is the challenge of moving to a new place, and the unexpected friendships that form. I love the town of Waimea (Kamuela), so I used that as the setting for SWEET LIFE and added some colorful details as well. We do homeschool our kids, and sneaking that into my books keeps it interesting (although unlike Pansy, my daughter didn’t like it for the first year). That’s one area where Marissa and I are alike—I wouldn’t have believed you if you told me that I would one day homeschool my kids, but I’m so grateful now that we do.
If you always knew you wanted to be a published author, why did it take you so long to finally do it?
Life is great at offering distractions and detours, and I took most of them. I had some trepidation and self-doubt, too, and I played the self-sabotage card for a while, but truthfully I knew in my heart that publication would eventually happen—it was just a matter of time. When I turned 37, it became very clear to me personally that the time had come and I needed to make a commitment to follow through. So I finally did.
Is there going to be a sequel to GOOD THINGS? I want to know what happens with Deidre!
As the saying goes: one good thing leads to another … and yes! The sequel was be published in August 2009, and is entitled TABLE MANNERS. You can read more about it on my BOOKS page, or go to your local bookstore and pick it up!
I have a manuscript and I think it’s pretty good. Do I need an agent or can I approach a publisher directly?
If it’s fiction, you need a literary agent. If you live on the Big Island, you can take one of my workshops or arrange for a consultation. Surf the web for more information and think about attending a writer’s conference. There are several good books on finding an agent: Guide to Literary Agents and Writer’s Market, are two titles that are updated annually. Michael Larsen and Jeff Herman also write several titles that cover more specifics about what literary agents do. Read the acknowledgments of books similar to yours and find out who their agents are—it’s important to find an agent that has a track record in your genre.
If it’s nonfiction, you still may want to consider finding a literary agent. Do your homework: determine which publishers are most likely to publish your work—smaller publishers sometimes work with the author directly (their submission guidelines are usually posted on the website) while larger ones may require an agent. If you are thinking about self-publishing, Dan Poynter is an excellent resource and should be your first stop. Also, John Kremer’s 1,001 Ways to Market Your Book is an excellent resource. You can find them both online.
I also want to mention two books that I love: Brenda Ueland’s If You Want to Write and Anne Lamott’s Bird by Bird. They’ll remind you as to why you got into this writing business in the first place. And thank goodness for Natalie Goldberg (Writing Down the Bones and Wild Mind) who unlocked all of our creativity back in the 80′s.
A complete book list of recommended reading for writers is here. I also have a reading list for memoir and how to get a literary agent in my amazon store here.
I’ve been in a writer’s rut for the past year—at this rate I’m worried I’ll never finish my novel, much less get published. I’m completely stressed out. How do you get past writer’s block?
I wish I could say to power through it, but that advice never worked for me. If I could have powered through, I would have, but for some reason I couldn’t. I’m a big believer that you’ll do what you need to do, when you need to do it. So if your writing’s not flowing and you’re feeling despair and stress, STOP. Give yourself some time off from writing, and then choose a date in the future you’re going to jumpstart your writing again. Kick it off by taking a writing workshop, or a publishing workshop, attend a writer’s retreat, or join a writing circle. Find a writing partner. Go to Starbucks and do a writing prompt for 10 minutes – don’t worry about your novel or any other writing that’s in progress. Just write. Guilt and fear are terrible motivators, and not very effective for me. If you really feel stuck, visit Byron Katie at The Work for a different perspective .
Do you go to writers’ conferences? I heard it’s a good way to network but they can be brutal with critiquing your work. They’re also expensive.
I don’t do a lot of writers’ conferences, mostly because it’s hard for me to get away. I also have a geographical disadvantage for most large conferences. But for aspiring writers I think it’s worth looking into, because you’ll get a real education about the realities and the business of writing. I’ve found in the 20 years I’ve taught writing that this is the area that a lot of writers are unprepared for.
Also, good teachers (which are not necessarily the same as good writers) will help you develop your craft. I do think that some conference environments are competitive and can be hurtful, and I personally don’t share my work with many people so I can’t speak to this. All I can say is that there will always be people who love your work and those who don’t. You have to have faith in yourself and in your writing, and take it all with a grain of salt. If you are serious about publication and don’t know where to start, I’d recommend looking into a writers’ conference for the sheer education of it (I think it is inspiring to block off a few days just for you and your writing), but it’s by no means a necessary part of being a successful writer or published author.
We’re planning a trip to Hawaii and I’d love to have it coincide with one of your classes. Do you publish a calendar?
I use my newsletter to announce upcoming writing and/or publication workshops, both in Hawaii and on the mainland. I also offer online/distance workshops and include those details in my newsletter as well. To sign up, just enter your information in the box on the left menu bar. I don’t spam and I don’t share your information, and unsubscribing is easy. You can also email me if you have a specific date in mind and I’ll do my best to get to you as soon as I can with a response
How do you write with young children?
I don’t always have the luxury of being able to write a full thought and it can be frustrating (okay, it is frustrating). But several seasoned authors (who are also moms) told me straight out that you just have to choose: wait until the kids are older or just make it work. I chose the latter, mostly because I didn’t want to wait any longer than I already had (to read more about that, click here). But it’s not easy and there are times where I’m jealous and resentful and all that good stuff. And then I get through it and somehow manage to finish what I’m working on. I would probably get a lot more done if my children were older or in school or if I didn’t have them at all, but what would be the challenge in that?
Honestly, I think that having a life as full as I do forces me to be less attached to my work in that I am not as afraid to edit my work mercilessly. If I need to cut something, I do. I don’t have the time to fret over losing something I thought was critical but no longer is, so out it goes. My goal is to write the best stories I can under the circumstances, and having children keeps you on that path.
My family is planning a trip to Hawaii. Any advice on where to stay and what to do?
Oy! First, which island are you planning to visit? I live on the Big Island, and can’t really give you advice for any of the other islands (Maui, Oahu, Kauai, Lanai are the main tourist destinations). A great resource is the Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau. That’s a great place to get started. Another great resource is 101 Things to Do (and you get to choose your island!). And if you golf or are thinking about taking up the game, you have to visit us at The Spirit of Golf Academy, the golf school my husband and I own that focuses on the mental aspect of the game. Do a search for past posts relating to Hawaii and travel to Hawaii.
Here are some of my favorite things about Hawaii: Big Island Candies, Volcano Rainforest Retreat, Volcano Garden Arts and Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. Sunset walks on Hapuna Beach. Whale watching. And, of course, chasing rainbows in Waimea, home of Marissa Price and SWEET LIFE.
I’ve heard that Mia King is a pen name. Is that true?
Yes, it is. My real name is Darien Gee. I chose to write under a pen name because my husband, Darrin Gee, had his first nonfiction golf book, THE SEVEN PRINCIPLES OF GOLF, released a month after GOOD THINGS. Since our names are so similar (Darrin and Darien—our friends and the electric company can’t even keep it straight), I thought writing under a pen name would eliminate any confusion. Alas, my husband still gets the occasional odd look and is sometimes complimented on writing contemporary women’s fiction. Best laid plans, of course, because my fourth novel, FRIENDSHIP BREAD (forthcoming from Ballantine Books in 2011), is coming out under my real name. It’s a bit different from my Mia King titles, which is why that’s happening, so it looks like we’ll be battling the similar name dilemma after all!
Do you have any contests going on?
When I run a contest I usually blog about it and post on Facebook, if it’s really big, I’ll send something out to my newsletter subscribers. If you are subscribed to my newsletter you’re automatically entered into any future contests … how great is that?
