Welcome Mat Wednesday is back with guest author Wendy Paine Miller

Remember back in the day when I welcomed a special guest every Wednesday here at the blog…and called it Welcome Mat Wednesday? Remember how much fun that was? Then remember how things got c-r-a-z-y for me and I took a little break?

Well, break over. We may not have a guest every week, but I do have a fun line-up for the next few weeks starting with an author whose blog I’ve been following for some time: Wendy Paine Miller. Her novella entitled The Disappearing Key just released and it is fantastic, people. Parents who combine their genetic and engineering know-how to save their baby’s life, a teenager who is sick of secrets and a missing key that could ruin everything…it’s a must-read.

Wendy’s here today answering a few questions. Enjoy the interview and afterward, seriously, go get yourself a copy of The Disappearing Key.

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1) Okay, the concept for this story is just so cool and unique. Can you tell us a little about how you came up with it?

wendy-512x640Every time I answer this question I uncover more inspirations that threaded into this work. The beginning of The Disappearing Key was inspired by my college friend’s loss.

I had an assignment in elementary school that fed into this work as well. We were asked to make selections regarding our future child’s eye color, height, talents, etc. The genetic implications of this lesson stuck with me.

As a mother and an introspective soul, I’m fascinated by the letting go process that plays out in parenting.

Finally, I greatly appreciate the potentially powerful way women can impact one another. I intertwined the lives of women from three different generations, giving each a powerful secret, fears, and a vast capacity to love in order to see what they’d do with each.

2) I read some of the endorsements for The Disappearing Key (you have some awesome ones!) and one endorser used the word “daring” for your storyline and the way you examine right and wrong and all the in-betweens. Did it feel daring to you writing this?

All writing is daring when done right. Let me explain, in order to write realistic characters I challenged myself to dig deep. That, to me, is daring. Revisiting some of my own moments of grief, fear—some of my own secrets.

I refuse to censor my characters and the stories they’re fighting to share. I’m not surprised my characters ended up wrestling with such things because I know I do on a daily basis. I’m not sure that’s daring as much as it is honest.

3) How’s it felt these past couple weeks seeing your book talked about around the web, knowing it’s in readers’ hands?TheDisappearingKeyCover

It’s been truly rewarding. I didn’t realize how encouraging it would be to have people respond with such overwhelming enthusiasm. I love how those who’ve read it bombard me with questions. This makes me want to sit in on every single book club discussing my novella!

4) Light question! If The Disappearing Key had a soundtrack, what songs would make the list?

Some songs that come to mind:

“Held” by Natalie Grant

“True Colors” by John Legend

“Clocks” by Coldplay

“Somewhere Over the Rainbow” Israel Kamakawiwoʻole

Sidenote: My smile was a mile wide when I saw Coldplay on the list!

Wendy is a native New Englander who feels most alive when she’s laughing, reading, writing or taking risks. She’s authored nine novels and is currently writing what she hopes will be your future book club pick. Her work has been published in numerous anthologies and online sites. Wendy lives with her husband and their three girls in a home bursting with imagination and hilarity. She’s represented by Rachelle Gardner of Books & Such Literary Agency.

Wendy, I loved your comment about honesty…made me think about that fact sometimes being honest is being daring. And vice versa. So readers, has a moment of honesty ever felt daring to you?

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    Comments 23

    1. Thanks so much for featuring me, Melissa (and for sharing your impression of my novella)! Love that you asked about the songs. Music is highly influential for me.
      Excited to pop back in throughout the day!
      ~ Wendy

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        And thank YOU for being here today, Wendy. I loved your novella…made me instantly want to read the other nine books you’ve written. You have such a lyrical writing voice. I love it!

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    2. What a treat to see Wendy here with you today, Melissa. Two wonderful women at once. That’s a 2-for-1 special that really excites me.

      Wendy, I have your story on my Kindle Fire. Downloaded it some time back eager to devour it. I knew I was in for a treat just because you wrote it, but now that I’ve heard more about story story, I’m intrigued by the unique plot.

      I love that you’ve been receiving great feedback from readers. What has been the most uplifting comment so far? What comment has made you chuckle, in a totally good way? And what comment has made you sigh with contentment because your story met someone’s need in a special way?

      1. Aw, Keli–you are a 2 for 1 special all on your own! Always love your encouragement!!!

        Most uplifting are some of those blow my mind review on Amazon! It was pretty cool how my mom’s friend surprised her at their book club by making an announcement about this “excellent” new book she read. My mom’s eyes popped when she went on & on about my novella.

        Chuckle, hmm. Maybe some of the comments wondering about how the heck I came up with this idea. It makes me chuckle, too, people! 😉

        Meeting someone’s needs ties directly in to what I posted on my blog yesterday. Of all people, I was deeply moved that the woman I dedicated the book to got so much out of it.

        Love these questions!
        ~ Wendy

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    3. Hi Melissa and Wendy!

      Wendy, I’ve heard such wonderful things about The Disappearing Key and I can’t wait to dive into it! I love your choice of songs for a soundtrack… “Held” is one of my favorites!

      Let’s see… “Has a moment of honesty ever felt daring to you?” Yep. Every time I post on my blog. It’s a tricky balance sometimes in knowing what to share. (Not that my life is all that interesting! lol) I think it has to do with transparency. I always try to be as “real” on my blog as I am in person. And being “the real deal” feels very daring at times. But freeing. 🙂

    4. I can’t wait to read your story, Wendy! I haven’t had many spare moments since returning from ACFW, but I’m determined to read it soon!! 🙂

      Mel, you asked about whether being honest has ever felt daring. I am a pretty open book, but honesty feels daring — and scary — when confrontation is involved. I’ve had to mend friendships in the past that were littered with misunderstandings along the way, and coming clean about how I really, truly felt, was one of the most daring things I’ve ever done. It was frightening because I didn’t know what would happen. I didn’t know if I’d lose a friend or not. Thankfully, God was in those situations and the talking things out helped. But it took courage. For sure.

      1. Makes sense that situations like that would require courage, Lindsay. In college a friend and I used to call it “killing the weirdness.” All kinds of weirdness can creep into relationships. It’s worth it to stamp it out or get things out in open air whenever possible. Daring, but also as Cynthia said, freeing too. 😉

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        “Killing the weirdness.” I like that Wendy.

        And Linz, we’ve had talks on friendships and hard conversations…and yeah, that kind of honesty between friends, especially friends who’ve hit a rough patch, is tough…and daring. It takes courage to be the one to say, “Okay, we’re going to talk about this.”

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    5. Looking forward to reading your novella, Wendy, and totally enjoyed this interview and discussion. I didn’t grow up in a very talkative family. My mom used to like to quote my grandfather who said not to talk about religion and politics and we’ll all get along. So… for me, sometimes just speaking up is daring. 😉

      1. I’m reading a great book with my daughter called The Lions of Little Rock where the MC struggles to speak. It’s been a powerful reminder of what words can do. Sandra, thanks for the encouraging words! (Oh, and I think in many ways my family was “too” talkative. Four girls…) 😉

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        I smiled at your comment, Sandra, and then at Wendy’s reply–about four girls and possibly being “too” talkative. 🙂 We had four kids in our family…it’s funny, when we were kids, I was probably the least talkative…somehow I think I may have transitioned into the most talkative. But I can definitely think of times when speaking up was daring.

    6. Hmm,,
      Daring and honesty. Yes, I had to make a really hard decision when I was 13 and it’s affected my life ever since — for the better. My whole world changed based on the decision to be honest. It was an incredibly hard decision to make. But in the end it was for the best.

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        Alena, to me, you are someone who has this amazing way of doing the whole “speaking the truth in love” thing. I really appreciate that about you…one of about a gazillion things I appreciate about you!

    7. I think EVERY time I’m honest it’s daring. Because, let’s be honest (har, har!) it means putting myself out there for all to see – warts and all. Sounds like this is a fabulous book!

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