by Renée Riva
8. Describe your writing process.
My writing process begins with a mix of true life events and what-ifs. I tend to write about topics I feel passionate about and put them into a fictional story. I’ve heard you should “write what you know,” so when I set out to write a story, I often include as much true life material as necessary to make it credible and believable. Then I make up all of the what-ifs, fun characters, and favorable outcomes. I pretty much know how the story begins and ends, but I’m a firm believer in letting my characters write the story once we get going. That is the miraculous part of writing that I find so enjoyable and amazing; when you feel like you’re just along for the ride, but your characters take on a life of their own.
A typical day of writing would begin with scoping out a place to write with my laptop. For instance, my favorite spot right now is sitting on my living room couch in front of my Christmas tree, watching the snow with Andy Williams Christmas music playing. I’m into atmosphere, but once I start writing, I’m gone to wherever my story takes place. I stay in that place until I’m yanked back out, usually by one of my kids yelling, “Mom, dinner’s burning!” Then I remember I’m a mom, not my main character, and I have a family that is probably hungry. If I’m in a crucial spot in the story, I might sneak back later at night when everyone’s in bed.
9. Can you share a particularly memorable encounter with a reader?
Some of my young readers invite me to teach writing workshops at their schools. When I tell the kids they will each have a story of their own by the end of the class, half of them look at me like I’m crazy. I put a fun visual of a desert island up on a screen in front of the classroom. The kids get to decide why they are there, how they got there, what happens to them during their stay, and how, or if, they ever get rescued. Without fail, the kids all come up with a great story, and most of them can’t wait to read it to the class. One time a teacher came up to me after the workshop was over and said, “I just wanted to tell you that the little boy who just read his story is autistic. He’s usually very withdrawn, and that is the first time he’s ever volunteered to share something in front of the class. I’ve never seen him so excited about anything before.”
I think everyone has a brilliant imagination somewhere inside of them just waiting to be sparked. I’m so amazed and honored when I see someone excited about writing.
10. What is one fact about yourself that readers might find most surprising?
I guess it might surprise people to know that I never thought of being a writer when I was growing up. Although I loved to write, I thought authors were a supernatural, predestined people group, like Santa Claus, The Beatles, Dr. Seuss, and The Tooth Fairy. I was planning to be a veterinarian with a farm full of stray animals. I did end up being an author with a farm full of stray animals, but no veterinarian degree.
Saving Sailor Readers’ Guide
Saving Sailor is a story about seeking and holding out for God’s best in life and love. It’s about looking for more, asking for more, and expecting more than just the status quo. For A. J., the search for God, truth, and true love began at a very young age. A. J. was a perceptive child and picked up on the contrast of lives lived for God, through faith in Jesus Christ, as opposed to lives lived for self. God offers us so much more than the world can ever offer. We are constantly lured by what comes cheap and easy. We need to know God to be able to see through the lies and temptations that lead to lost hopes and painful heartaches. Those who have fallen short need to know of God’s redemptive love that leads to forgiveness and restoration.
As C. S. Lewis stated in his book Weight of Glory:
We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he can- not imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.
We, like A. J., have an inner need to find meaningful purpose and fulfilling relationships in our lives. God knows how to fill those needs deep within our souls. Why settle for “making mud pies in a slum” when God is offering us “a holiday at the sea”?
Questions
1. Have you ever wondered why you are here on earth?
2. Do you feel there might be a deeper purpose for your life than what you’ve experienced so far?
3. What do you feel are your gifts, talents, and natural abilities?
4. How are you able to express or use some of these gifts, talents, and abilities in your work, relation- ships, and everyday life?
5. Do you seek out people of godly character in your friendships and relationships?
6. Do you feel you deserve to be treated with respect, admiration, devotion, and loyalty in your rela- tionships with others? Do you sense you are being treated this way? Do you strive to treat others this way yourself?
7. My dad, after fifty-two years of marriage to my mother, passed away unexpectedly. I feel that his greatest legacy to our family was his devotion and faithfulness to my mom. All five of us kids have grown up in a loving, secure home and have gone out into the world seeking the same qualities in our own mates that he possessed. I pray that our own families will be blessed with the same legacy. Can you think of a couple you know who have faithfully kept their marriage and family together over many years? What fruit is evident to you from this type of commitment to one another?
8. I have watched a number of my closest friends go through divorce due to infidelity. Not only did it tear their families apart, but my friends’ lives have had to revolve around lawyers, court dates, and custody battles for years afterward. Even a single act of selfishness in the area of infidelity can affect an entire family for a lifetime. Can you think of a couple who have been split apart due to infidelity? What effect has this separation had on the family? In what ways does it continue to cause pain and heartache?
9. In seeing this contrast, are you motivated to be very cautious in the choices you make in your own relationships when it comes to marriage?
10. Our culture tends to disregard the sacredness of marriage and family. It’s almost fashionable to trade in a mate, the same way a person might trade in an old car for a new one every few years. There is often little concern for the hearts and lives being destroyed in the process. In light of the high divorce rate, is this something you feel you should discuss with your mate?
11. There are a number of good books dealing with prevention of cheating and lying in marriage and in family. Can you think of ways that might help to keep yourself and your mate faithful to one another? An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure when it comes to broken hearts.
12. If you have been hurt in this way, or have hurt another in this way yourself, do you believe in the God of second chances, forgiveness, and redemption? Are you willing to give Jesus a chance to direct your life, believing that the One who made you and loves you most knows what will make your life all that it is meant to be? He has promised never to leave you or forsake you (see Heb. 13:5). Do you dare to take Him at His word and trust Him with your life and marriage?
If so, here’s to your “holiday at the sea.” …
Invite Renee Riva
to Your Book Club
Transport your book club behind the scenes and into
a new world by inviting Renee Riva to join in your
group discussion via phone.
To learn more, e-mail Renee directly at
[email protected].
If your school or organization is interested in having Renee Riva for an author visit or writing workshop, please contact her Web site at www.reneeriva.com.
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