The Origin of My Second Book

From Amy:

We were originally hoping for a November 22 release of my Tiny Altars audiobook on Audible, but that date came and went while it awaited its turn in Quality Assurance for over two weeks. Now it's December 3, and the audiobook has arrived, which reminds me that books, like children, arrive in their own time and way, no matter how we try to control it.

Fun fact: From my first callings to write my personal narrative, I kept seeing the number 123 in association with my writing. This book always knew and was telling me what it wanted to be, even if I didn't see it.

The part of me that likes to watch such things notes that it's arriving nearly one year to the day that I first met K.O. Myers at Particulate Media, who created this audiobook with me. The meeting was an unexpected development, but a fortuitous one.

There's what we think we're doing, and there's what wants to happen. Then we start wrap our head around what's really there. Especially in narrative craft.

In this episode, I talk about the surprise of mothering twins. This book, Tiny Altars, was like that. Unexpected. I didn't want to write about the dollhouse on the cover that represents something much bigger than me. I thought I was writing a different book when this dollhouse origin story snuck into my manuscript. I tried to fit it into my German-themed book. The dollhouse image took over. It had its own story it wanted to tell. Not about Germany, but a story much closer to home. I'm so glad I let it.

Which is how it ended up on the cover. The origin story of the dollhouse wraps up this episode. I hope you enjoy.

Let me also introduce you to K.O. Myers, the producer of this episode and my Tiny Altars audiobook.

K.O. Myers is the founder an lead editor of Particulate Media, a full-service audio production company that helps podcasters and audiobook presenters sound more professional without sacrificing their authenticity.

https://particulatemedia.com

K.O.'s Podcast is https://roll-factory.captivate.fm

https://www.facebook.com/particulatemedia

https://genvexed.bsky.social

Amy Hallberg is the author of Tiny Altars: A Midlife Revival and German Awakening: Tales from an American Life. She is the host of Courageous Wordsmith Podcast and founder of Courageous Wordsmith Circle for Real-Life Writers. As an editor and writing mentor, Amy guides writers through their narrative journeys—from inklings to beautiful works, specifically podcasts and books. A lifelong Minnesotan and mother of grown twins, Amy lives in the Twin Cities with her husband and two cats.

 

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