About the Author...
Author of newly released "The Bone Sword", Walter Rhein was born in northern Wisconsin. After earning a degree in English literature, he began traveling and teaching English in various parts of the world. Currently, the author splits his time between South America and Wisconsin.
A new book, wife Zulma and new baby....
The culture in the United States and Peru have some significant differences; however, parenting is a universal language. Finding time to write, balance work and responsibilities of family is something all of us struggle with...I asked author, Walter Rhein, how this affects his writing schedule.
Taking care of daughter Sofia has been the greatest privilege of my life. I don't know if it is because I was raised to be forward thinking, or if it's just how I'm wired, but there has never been any doubt in my mind that 50% of the child-rearing responsibilities are mine. However, even with that mentality, I found it was hard to pry my daughter away from her mother. I say that affectionately, but there is a certain amount of truth to it.
I think any young parents are going to find that they've just been hit by a nuclear bomb's worth of new worries and concerns. My wife felt she had to be by Sofia's side 24/7, and that if she faltered even in the slightest it meant that she was a "bad mother". This, of course, led to her nearly collapsing from exhaustion, so I had to figure out ways to get Sofia to myself so that mommy could sleep. My wife is, of course, a wonderful mother (and I tell her that all the time, a all new fathers should), but I think it's natural to try to do too much, especially when you have something as unquestionably precious as a beautiful little baby in the house.
We've settled into a good routine now. Sofia takes two or three of her daily naps on my chest (I'll remember every second of those naps forever I think). She's already almost four months old and she's getting HUGE!
As far as how it has affected my writing schedule, I am definitely cramming my writing into free moments rather than setting aside time for it these days. There are days when I just get rolling and Sofia starts crying so I run and take care of her. In the past, interruptions used to bother me a little bit. But honestly, if it's my daughter crying I am instantly 100% focused on her.
It's pretty easy to get her giggling again. Usually, she just wants to nuzzle into my chest and go to sleep (and that's fine with me...I can write again when she's too big to cuddle)!
She is a beautiful baby...
Spending 10-years in Lima, Peru, meeting wife, Zulma and finding time to write... I know I should be spending time talking about the author's new book, The Bone Sword, which is wonderful, but I'm fascinated by the time he spent in Lima, Peru because I think it is a wonderful opportunity to experience life instead of "reading about it" so I asked about his time and writing while down there.
I didn't meet my wife until about year seven of my time in Peru, so I had nothing to distract me from writing. Having time to write was the main reason I went to Peru. It's very inexpensive to live down there and, as a writer, your income is generally limited. I figure that if you're going to have your "starving artist" period, it might as well be in a place that only costs you pennies a day to live.
Peru is a great environment for creative pursuits. In the US, people are very "achievement" oriented, but in Peru, they're a little bit more accepting of the idea that you're committed to some sort of artistic or philosophical endeavor.
In addition to writing, I spent a lot of time teaching. I was also an editor for a few publications which was great for learning the craft of writing and making new contacts. Despite all that, it was definitely a "road less traveled" sort of lifestyle. There were many nights that I laid awake at night wondering if I was making a horrible error. I usually took solace in the fact that, if nothing else, I was learning Spanish and that, at least, should be a marketable skill.
Things seem to have worked out though!
I'm looking forward to visiting Peru again and showing it to Sofia. She's a daughter of two worlds after all which is pretty exciting!
Being bilingual in the United States is a terrific advantage....readers learned from the first interview with Zulma that she is working as a Bilingual Assistant which there is a great need for in the States...as a daughter of "two worlds", Sofia will probably also grow up learning both languages!
"Getting out of your own way...the difference between good writing and great writing"...This is a quote from writer, Walter Rhein and I think it is significant advice to a writer trying to find their "true voice"..not an easy thing to do...here's what he said..
He started out by stating that this is actually a question he has been pondering a bit lately since he is about to start teaching an AP English class. The class is filled with very bright students who know the value of good grades and are making a sincere effort to be the best they possibly can. To that end, part of the class structure is to do "grammar diagrams" in which they break down the works of great writers into their component parts and then analyze them.
He goes on to state that although he feels that this is a good exercise for learning what adverbs, gerunds and prepositional phrases are; he doesn't know if it is a good exercise for actually "learning how to write."
I think one of the most important things about writing is that it has to come naturally. It can't be artificial, overworked or forced. Essentially, the most important thing a writer can aspire to do is to take himself or herself out of the equation.
The counter-intuitive part of this is that when you are writing well, you are, in fact revealing yourself. You see, it's best when you just present yourself honestly and hope that presentation makes a connection without underscoring it too much. It has to be subtle and potent and all at the same time. For example, when your wife gives you a gift on Christmas, that's nice and everything, but it doesn't surprise you because it's Christmas and you are kind of expecting a gift. But, compare that to the times when you come home from work after a bad day, and without saying anything or asking you about it, your wife puts her hand on your back and just renews the sense of self and your positive equilibrium. That's the difference between good writing and great writing. In great writing, you get of of your own way, don't try so hard to create some "magical moment" and just let the feelings flow.
Note to self...wishing I would have asked a follow up question here on what exercise the author might assign his AP English class to help them get out of their own way and find their true voice...Reading his book, The Bone Sword, I could sense the author's "true voice"....I really think this is the difference between a "good read" and a "great read".
Incorporating life experiences into writing has to affect your writing...I asked the author how his 10-years in Lima, Peru, meeting his wife, Zulma and a new baby affect his writing....(if you can't already tell...I've enjoyed getting to know Zulma, her family culture and what it's like to balance work and family with a writer).
Writing is a great way to process the things that have happened to you. Each and every one of us carries regrets and these are the types of things that eat at you as you turn them over and over again in your mind. If you are not careful, you can be a little too hard on yourself and even punish yourself in a way that is far more brutal than is warranted for any transgression you might have committed against anyone.
In writing, you only have your own experiences to draw on. All good characters are idealized representations of yourself and the bad characters are the parts of yourself that you despise. It is fairly common knowledge that bad characters are always a little more "interesting" than good characters and this is probably because we're all so hard on ourselves that we can't conceive that we really know what "goodness" even is. Taking a step back, this tendency is reassuring (people who think they are 100% right all the time are terrifying!!). However, it is really too bad that aspiring to greatness requires so much self-chastisement.
The "Bone Sword"... If you like an action packed, can't put down type of read, you will enjoy author Rhein's new book whose main character, Malik, a deserter on the run emerging from the swamps of Plaiden to seek only shelter, food and some necessary time to take the chill of fever out of his bones...a barroom brawl lands him in deep trouble with local authorities and he escapes into the mountains with two orphaned children who have the power to heal. (At first, I wasn't sure if he was a good guy or a bad guy as he entered the tavern....but Rhein's description of how Malik is hunted down in the forest made me feel like I was right in the action). He is relentlessly pursued by Father Ivory and his Nightshades, and finds himself in a Sir Lancelot type of revolution that weaves in Malik's former Captain, a legendary swordsman who will not cease until Malik and his followers are eliminated. Malik faces an inner battle of demons and his former master in a duel that will determine the fate of the people of Miscony and their freedom.
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