I am so pleased to be able to host a guest post by multiple authors from the newest Of Words and Water 2014 anthology in support of WaterAid. Author photos are courtesy of profile photos posted on Goodreads. Read about the people who have contributed to this anthology, starting with editor Jay Howard! Kudos to Jay for bringing a wonderful group of authors together for such a great cause!
Jay Howard, Author and Editor
 Author and Editor Jay Howard I live, work and write in the county of Somerset in England. I have published two novels, Never Too Late and New Beginnings, an anthology of short stories published in support of Saluki Welfare Fund, called As the Sun Goes Down, and recently published a second anthology called Similar Differences. I am currently working on my third novel, A Strong Brew, in collaboration with poet Ryan Stone. Smashwords | Amazon | 1. What inspired you to contribute to the anthology? In 2012, just before Christmas, we had a cake sale for WaterAid, so the global water situation was on my mind. I got a bit tipsy during the holiday and suggested to my online author friends that it wasn’t fair that we had so much to drink and others had so little, not even a glass of clean water; we should use our talents to share our good fortune. And, like Topsy, it just ‘grow’d’. 2. Rain, snow, or ice? Why? Rain, after a hot spell, when I'm sitting in my garden listening to the plants drink deeply and sigh with relief. 3. Can you tell us a little bit about your story? Both stories were inspired by topics set on the Goodreads Weekly Short Story group’s forum; one was ‘your favourite song’, the other was ‘red letter’. I don’t have a favourite song as such, but I’ve always like Moon River. As for red letter, the topic was meant to be ‘red letter day’, or ‘red letter’ as in correspondence or the alphabet, but my immediate response of hilarity on the forum led to a challenge to write a story that involved a red condom. I really must learn better control of my mind, or at least restrain the fingers on the keyboard! |
Elizabeth Los, Author
 Elizabeth Los, Author Elizabeth uses writing as therapy, her release from everyday stress. At night, after work and once the children are finally tucked in bed, for the fifth time, she sits at her laptop and lets her imagination flow. Elizabeth has produced short stories, one of which will be published in an anthology. She had a blast writing a Sherlock Holmes fan fiction story entitled A Case of Need, based on the BBC’s Sherlock. By July 2011, her first novel, Second on the Right, had been completed. She spent several years polishing the story in order to provide a high quality product to the public. Second on the Right is her first professional novel. She currently lives in Southern California with her husband, children, as well as a rambunctious Black Labrador and an enormous yet lovable Saint Bernard. Twitter | Smashwords | Blog | Facebook Goodreads | Amazon | 1. What inspired you to contribute to the anthology? I met Jay when I was just starting out as an Indie author and on Goodreads. She was so kind and helpful, the way I think all of us should be towards each other. No question was too dumb for her! When I learned that she was starting Of Words and Water, I thought it was an amazing project and a worthy cause. But I wasn't yet comfortable with contributing yet. I needed to work on improving my writing some before attempting any such story for this anthology. All of the writers in both the 2013 and 2014 anthologies are quality writers. It was in 2014 that I contacted Jay privately with an idea I had for a short story. She gave me guidance that I needed so I could contribute this year. It isn't about the recognition. It's about helping support such a great cause and at the same time some great authors that I'm honored to consider friends. 2. Rain, snow, or ice? Why? Rain! I love the gloomy weather. I've always been partial to it. I remember visiting Florida, specifically Epcot Center. My favorite part was walking around the lake and the skies opening up in an unexpected downpour. It was awesome! 3. Can you tell us a little bit about your story? Two o’clock in the afternoon. A typical scene, an ordinary room. For hundreds of people, this would be the perfect time to rest, an intermission from the stresses of life. To Evie Frye sleep had been the enemy, and the sleep yet to come will threaten her grip on reality. 'Sleep' was inspired by my own experience with sleep paralysis, though, at the time I really didn’t know what ‘it’ was. Working in the medical field, I imagined the worst. I had recently read Michael J. Fox’s book, his experience with Parkinson’s disease. I never voiced my concern, but it was in the back of my mind, nagging me on a daily basis: What form of malignancy was taking over my body? |
It wasn’t until one night, while watching television of all things, that I discovered what it was. On the show, one of the characters had casually mentioned the term ‘sleep paralysis’. Though it wasn’t important to the plot and I had never heard of it before, nevertheless a curiosity sparked within me. That’s when I began my search for information.
I’ve found this to me true: the unknown is frightening. Not knowing why my body is acting outside the normal can be nerve-racking. And though the Internet can hold many wonderful resources, it can also be a detriment. When typing in my symptoms, I could have easily diagnosed myself with Parkinson’s, a malignant brain tumor, a viral/bacterial disease. The list is endless.
What is sleep paralysis? Our bodies are amazingly designed. When we fall asleep, the brain releases a chemical that causes a temporary paralysis, no doubt to ensure that our bodies receive the most amount of rest possible. When the brain has had rest and it is time to wake, the release of the chemical is halted. The body gradually returns to wakefulness and the chemical is now inactive, thus allowing the body to move again. What happens in sleep paralysis victims is when the brain wakes, the chemical is still being produced and, subsequently, the body is still being paralyzed for rest.
I’ve read articles in medical journals that speculate sleep paralysis has been experienced and documented for years. But in centuries past, the victim has felt a weight on their chest or body, as if something were sitting on them. Or, they’ve felt a “presence” in the room. It is hypothesized that these feelings or symptoms are the result of sleep paralysis. On my first experience, I had felt a presence in my room, but since coming to understand the condition, I’m no longer fearful.
I’ve found this to me true: the unknown is frightening. Not knowing why my body is acting outside the normal can be nerve-racking. And though the Internet can hold many wonderful resources, it can also be a detriment. When typing in my symptoms, I could have easily diagnosed myself with Parkinson’s, a malignant brain tumor, a viral/bacterial disease. The list is endless.
What is sleep paralysis? Our bodies are amazingly designed. When we fall asleep, the brain releases a chemical that causes a temporary paralysis, no doubt to ensure that our bodies receive the most amount of rest possible. When the brain has had rest and it is time to wake, the release of the chemical is halted. The body gradually returns to wakefulness and the chemical is now inactive, thus allowing the body to move again. What happens in sleep paralysis victims is when the brain wakes, the chemical is still being produced and, subsequently, the body is still being paralyzed for rest.
I’ve read articles in medical journals that speculate sleep paralysis has been experienced and documented for years. But in centuries past, the victim has felt a weight on their chest or body, as if something were sitting on them. Or, they’ve felt a “presence” in the room. It is hypothesized that these feelings or symptoms are the result of sleep paralysis. On my first experience, I had felt a presence in my room, but since coming to understand the condition, I’m no longer fearful.
Kerry Dwyer, Author
 Kerry Dwyer, Author My life changed tremendously when I moved from the UK to south west France with my husband. This was not solely due to the cultural differences between the two countries. I also moved from a city to a country life, became a mother and later an English teacher. In London I had worked in finance and my life was one big rush. They take things a lot more slowly here in a little French village. I have now slowed down several cogs and really appreciate the way of life I have here. I love nature and walking in the countryside around my home. If you would like to find out more please visit KerryDwyer.com. | 1. What inspired you to contribute to the anthology? It is a wonderful charity, with one simple aim that everyone can relate to. Clean water to drink for everyone everywhere should be a basic human right. Many people don't know that huge numbers of people cannot access this one basic human need. Getting the word out to as many people as possible is as important as donating. 2. Rain, snow, or ice? Why? Snow. Because people don't mind going out in the snow, unless it's a blizzard. Ice is good in a gin and tonic but not on the roads. Rain refreshes but snow does that also when it melts. Snow has the gift of amazing people, even those who have seen it before. 3. Can you tell us a little bit about your story? My story and poem were both inspired by modern day living. More and more people are concerned about leaving the security of their own environments. Some parts of the story are from my own experience. They are both quite personal but everyone I showed these pieces to related to them on some level. |
Gloria Ng, Yours Truly :-)
 Gloria Ng, Author Gloria Ng is an Oakland-based mother of three who writes on Owl Time. Her work has appeared in anthologies, including YELL-Oh Girls! Emerging Voices Explore Culture, Identity, and Growing Up Asian American. (HarperCollins, 2001) Seeing the lack of bilingual books to read to her children, she created the Amazon bestselling Mama Gloria Chinese-English Bilingual Books series. Well Water Woman is her first independent work for an adult audience. For forthcoming book updates, visit GloriaNg.com or sign up for her newsletter. Twitter | Smashwords | Blog | Facebook Goodreads | Amazon | 1. What inspired you to contribute to the anthology? I saw the call for submissions and immediately felt drawn to contribute, even though the prior anthology had little to no nonfiction represented. Having hauled water from a well in China in my early teens, I remembered how heavy it was. To think of people who didn't have access to clean drinkable water spurred me to action. In fact, it was because I saw the call for submissions around the same time I was thinking about my grandmother that my book Well Water Woman came to be. That book wrote itself within days and by New Year's Eve 2013, the book was out. 2. Rain, snow, or ice? Why? Ice. I love how it cools my drinks, especially agua fresca. I can drink those any day, any time. Plus, if you have a high-powered blender, you can make your own "vanilla ice cream" by adding 4 cups of ice with 1 cup milk and a dash of vanilla extract. If you want an extra rich taste, use coconut milk instead or some other high-fat milk such as buttermilk... Hey, I live in California, so coconut milk wins hands down as a dairy alternative... (The vanilla ice cream recipe is not from the book linked to the word agua fresca above. The recipe actually came right out of my blender's complimentary recipe binder.) 3. Can you tell us a little bit about your story? "Roots to Water" is about my first trip with my family to mainland China, where my father is from. The village was a stark contrast to the urban areas to which I grew accustomed. However, not everything is so nicely separated into dualities of urban and country, male/masculine and female/feminine, and so forth with growing up in the Chinese diaspora. In fact, I'm still excavating for more to further elaborate upon my other grandmother. That book will write itself as well when the time arrives... |
Download the new FREE eBook of short stories and poems from an international group of authors:
Of Words and Water 2014
No gift too small: no thought insignificant
Of Words and Water 2014
No gift too small: no thought insignificant
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