Writing What You Do NOT Know

So which way is it?
Should an author stick to writing what he/she knows?
Or is it okay to step out into the wide blue yonder?

My agent is a tiger.
Not a REAL tiger, but similar enough.

I adore her, largely because she believes in me--believes in my talent.
The downside of that is she never lets me rest.

So when she told me to write a historical proposal, I wrote an inspirational about the formation of the Texas Rangers. I'm not THAT old of course (my children think I am), but I live in Texas, and I can IMAGINE what it was like in the 1800s. I can READ history books.

Those proposals are out there.
Publishers are slow to make decisions.
But my agent doesn't let me rest very often or very long.

She next suggested I write an Amish proposal.
I balked, I himm-hahhed, then I said no.
After all, I had other things I was working on.

She said okay, then she said, "You really need to do this."
I KNEW NOTHING ABOUT THE AMISH.
(Though Best-selling Amish writer, Amy Clipston is a friend of mine.)

Eventually I realized I needed to trust her, and I dove in, read a lot, and finished the proposal in a month. Two weeks later we had a request for the complete manuscript.

Now I'm deep in Amish world, though I haven't stepped foot inside an Amish community.
I'd like to--I'm quite smitten with their lifestyle now.

I may not KNOW any Amish, but I can LEARN.
And perhaps that's what writing, and reading, is all about.

~Rylee
RyleeAndrews@gmail.com

ps - follow my progress by watching the meter to the right. I hope to finish A Journey Home within the next month!

In Remembrance

Some of you know I live very near the town of Killeen and the Ft. Hood Military Base.

On Thursday, one of the elementary schools in the district I teach was on lock-down . . . and of course many of the students I teach (high school and college students) feel directly affected by the occurrences which took place.


I'd like to dedicate this blog in remembrance of those who lost their lives Thursday, and in honor of those who risked their lives to save others.

If you'd like to leave a message . . . I'll see that they are posted to my bulletin board for students to read.


Rylee
RyleeAndrews@gmail.com

Fall Daze

I know. It's terribly goofy to have a PUN in your title, but my FALL DAYS feel like a DAZE--so I thought you might forgive me.

Yesterday I had a bumble bee, two Raggedy Anns, several bleeding doctors, a few phantoms, some characters I didn't recognize, a ballerina that I KNOW was on the football field as a defensive tackle (no one dared question him about the skirt but he was really laughing it up), a fairy, and the list could go on . . . Remember I don't teach kindergarten. I teach high school and college students!!! I must say all assembled creatures were well-behaved and enjoying themselves.

In addition to my teaching life is my family life (all those related to me laugh) and my writing life. I know many of you are nodding in understanding. We all wear different hats; don't we? It's part of the joy of this crazy thing we call living and living fully. (I was munching on Halloween candy while driving to handbells to practice Christmas music, and YES -- I did edit a few papers in the car after I parked and before I walked in. ARGH! My head hasn't exploded yet.)

Do you know what I think is one of the most precious gifts I received from my parents?

The gift of laughter. We recently passed emails between family members regarding my father (he went to be with the Lord 12 years ago) and what I think of when I think of my dad is his hands--they were gentle and large and he always held my hand as he walked me to the car, and his booming laughter. But my mom laughs a lot too. It's a different kind of laugh, but it's still there, even at 71. And you know her life has not been easy, but she would say a lot of people have a harder life than she does.

So this fall, as I'm dodging teens (or rather trying to put Shakespeare between their antennas) and polishing manuscripts at five a.m., I'm going to stop and remember the sound of my parents' laughter. Or pick up the phone and listen to my mom's. And when something makes me want to screech, maybe I'll just chuckle instead.

Blessings,

Rylee

RyleeAndrews@gmail.com

When a drought ends

I'm sure you've all heard it.

In TEXAS "Droughts end in floods, and floods end in droughts."

My husband officially declared our drought had ended yesterday.

The small town south of us had received between 4 and 8 inches of rain in one evening. (Big range, I know - - - I never heard the official count.)

In our town, school officially started two hours late due to flooding of some low-lying roads, or low-water crossings--as we call it in the country.

The quote for the day was from my friend's daughter. She attends the high school where I teach. When her mother went in to tell her she did NOT have to get up with her alarm because we were going in late due to weather, the daughter replied, "Is it SNOWING?"

It's October in central Texas folks. Our high last week was in the 90s, and today it will be 68. Snow is not in sight. I can SEE her poking her head out of her covers hopefully and asking though. Teens are such fun!

In fact, both pictures on today's blog are from last weekend. My sister and brother-in-law were here visiting . . . and we hiked out to a local state park. As you can see, it looks a little like spring. Yes, I believe the drought is officially over (for now), and for that we are all very grateful. Rain is something we have prayed for every day for the last year, maybe two.

And the Lord does answer prayers.

My mom would say, "Be careful what you pray for," but at this point, most of us are even grateful for a little flooding.

Here's hoping your fall is bringing you a few pleasant surprises as well.

~Rylee