Guest Post: The Heretic in Me by Kathleen Maher

To quote the very eloquent Kathleen Maher, “Readers’ taste in fiction is so subjective, and the writing of it so difficult, that it still takes all my nerve to continue. Yet I can’t imagine stopping”. This will probably strike a chord with most writers, it certainly does with me, so I am thrilled to be able introduce Kathleen with this great guest post. Welcome Kathleen, and thank you.

Many thanks to Amelia for giving me this platform to write about my passion, which is writing fiction.

I wanted to write fiction, it seems, as soon as I knew what is was. As a child I could see that fiction presented life as art. It distilled and validated my impressions. In contrast, non-fiction was interesting but rarely affected me to the core.

When I first attempted creative writing in elementary school, I earned praise without knowing why. This encouraged me, but, without guidance, it took years to find my way. I didn’t stop because the challenge of writing fiction filled me with such adrenaline that hours passed like minutes. Readers’ taste in fiction is so subjective, and the writing of it so difficult, that it still takes all my nerve to continue. Yet I can’t imagine stopping.

In the late 1990s, I woke up one morning with the character of Malcolm Tully, the diarist of Diary of a Heretic, at large in my mind. His comical sincerity, self-scrutiny, and hypersensitivity would not let me rest.

Malcolm is a reluctant cult leader, so I researched cults, and as the plot grew palpable (albeit vague as usual) I wrote the first draft. As thoroughly as Malcolm had claimed me, putting his story in words took me five years.

Rewriting has always been especially difficult for me, because sheer passion is not enough to carry it off. So in 2006, I created a blog, named after Malcolm’s diary (Diary of a Heretic), and began rewriting his entries as posts.

Serial online fiction is not especially popular, but serves me well. The form forces me to construct every line toward the conclusion. Online episodes cannot carry a superfluous word, let alone a tangent; few atmospheric descriptions or overwrought introspection. Diary of a Heretic, being a diary, depends on both. But the blog forced me to pick up the pace. Malcolm’s voice remains florid, but the final version, imperfect as it is, improved because of the blog’s forced discipline.

I rewrote Diary of a Heretic many times and put it away, I thought, indefinitely. My husband, who’s a wonderful writer and editor, revived it, because after reading it countless times, he still finds it entertaining. He formatted it for Amazon’s Kindle. Now I am reading it with fresh eyes, and although I see much to improve, I am happy to see my character Malcolm alive on the page.

Much of Malcolm’s diary is unsuitable for a family blog, but here is a short passage that conveys a bit of Malcolm’s (and my) passion:

We both stared at our feet until I couldn’t stand it, and blushing horribly, tried this: “Is it just me or what? Remember when people would say that?”

She smiled, answering, “When I was fourteen, I said, ‘Is it just me or what?’ And, ‘Whatever.’ And, ‘As if.’ ”

“‘As if’ came later, I think.”

We hugged. I pressed my cheek into her hair, which wasn’t as blonde as I remembered it, but much softer and straighter, smooth and reassuring. A veil of pure silk dried in balmy air after a fresh rain. I rubbed my cheek there and my hand played with the feminine waves. A sigh escaped and she pulled away. “I missed you, too, Malkie.”

…I never know what’s going to bring on a crying jag. “Is it just me or what?” was never, before or after its currency, said in earnest. People never said it unless they were referring to something indisputable, guaranteed to draw consensus.

So which do you think? Is it just me or does the irreversibility of time never let up? Is it just me or are there days when you, too, can’t get past every moment lost? I want every moment back: The good because they passed too fast, and the bad because perhaps with another chance, I could make them right.

Kathleen Maher is the author of Diary of a Heretic, a novel available on Amazon Kindle, and Underground Nest, a novella available in most e-book formats. She is a lifelong writer, with a number of short stories published in literary journals, print and online. Her fiction has won finalist and semi-finalist status in numerous literary contests, including the Iowa School of Letters Award for Short Fiction, and the Drue Heinz Literature Prize. Her blog, Diary of a Heretic (www.diaryofaheretic.com), features serialized short stories and novellas.

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Amazon’s Author Page
Diary of a Heretic on Kindle
Underground Nest on Kindle
Facebook
Facebook Author’s Page
Twitter: @kathleenmaher

Children’s Book of the Week and Other Book Reviews

This week’s children’s book reviews are up over on my website. Please drop by and see them. As ever, I hope you enjoy my varied choice of books and the reviews of them, and, of course, my choice for Book of the Week. Don’t forget to scroll down the page at Mungai and the Goa Constrictor where you can read the full reviews of all the books.

Children’s Book of the Week: 

The Velveteen Rabbit by Marjery Williams

Other Books I Have Reviewed

A Doctor of Divinity by Shelley J Reeves

Rufus and Magic Run Amok by Marilyn Levinson

Buddie – The Trampolining Bear by Sarah Cooper

SPOTLIGHT: Hearts for Sale! A Buyer’s Guide to Winning in Afghanistan

I think the best introduction I can give to this immensely readable and inspiring book is to quote one of the many 5 star reviews it has received.

“Farzana Marie has done a HUGE service to us all, first by having been there in Afghanistan, serving the Afghan peoples and building the kind of rapport and respect that she talks about in the book. Second, she has told her story beautifully and tactfully, letting us experience a bit of the wonder of connecting two very distinct cultures and peoples using some very simple and thoughtful approaches. Third, she has provided a clear map of how to move forward towards a truly helpful, respectful and supportive relationship between our two countries that could actually make a difference! I’m sharing this opportunity with others. Everyone should read this book.” ~ John Hervey 

Hearts for Sale: A Buyer’s Guide to Winning in Afghanistan is a powerful blend of story and strategic insight, Farzana Marie provides a unique and timely perspective on the conflict in Afghanistan. Realistic and optimistic, she draws on over ten years of personal connection with Afghanistan, including two years deployed as a U.S. Air Force officer, to urge clear thinking and action in the national interests of both the United States and Afghanistan. Arguing that it is not too late for humble, victorious partnership with Afghanistan, “Hearts for Sale!” advocates a vision-oriented, rather than numbers-oriented U.S. policy approach that honors the profound sacrifices made and heeds the desires of informed citizens.

In these pages, Farzana tells true stories of her engagement team’s 350 plus missions around Afghanistan, including a near-miss motorcycle accident, a gutsy trip to the Panjshir Valley to visit Massoud’s grave, an unusual ceremony at the Governor’s mansion in Herat, the infamous “bread incident,” and “Lunch with the Taliban.” Placing these stories in the context of poorly understood realities about the conflict in Afghanistan, Farzana clarifies why Americans should care about what happens there, makes the resounding case for the possibility of positive outcomes, and gives clear recommendations for how to achieve them.

“Amazing. I never heard such hopeful words from Afghanistan!”  ~ Andrew Strauss

“Farzana offers us a deeply strategic analysis combined with heartrending stories of triumph in human strife and war. I do not use the word lightly, but there is genius at work here; the blending of intellect and emotion is poetic and brilliant.”  ~ Emma Rhodes

About the author:

Farzana Marie is a student working on her PhD in Middle Eastern Literature at the University of Arizona’s School of Middle Eastern and North African Studies.  Her research focuses on Persian literature, especially Afghan women’s poetry.  She also writes and translates poetry.  She holds a B.S. in the Humanities from the U.S. Air Force Academy and an M.A. in English from the University of Massachusetts, Boston.  She served as an active duty officer for over six years, including two consecutive years of deployed service in Afghanistan (2010-2012), where she previously served as a volunteer teacher in Afghanistan orphanages (2003-2004).  It was in 2003 that she received the gift of her Afghan name, Farzana, which has since become her writing name and part of her identity.

Farzana is the President of Civil Vision International, a non-profit charitable organization focused on positively influencing international relationships through connecting, informing, educating and inspiring citizens.

 Hearts for Sale is available to buy on amazon.com

100% of the proceeds will go to Civil Vision International, the non-for-profit organization that Farzana Marie is President of.