A Visit with Tristi Pinkston

 I have a wonderful friend and writer as a guest today. Tristi Pinkston is the author of seven novels. She also is a freelance editor, homeschools her children, and is an active blogger. Her newest book, Dearly Departed, is the second in her Secret Sisters series. 

What is the first thing you remember writing?

I remember writing a little story called "Sue the Dog" about a puppy who wanted to be a ballerina.  I illustrated it myself, mostly stealing ideas from my older sister's artwork.  She probably hated me for that. 

You have written in different genres, mostly historical. What inspired you to write the Secret Sisters books?

I overheard someone make the comment that they felt as though their home teachers were too nosy about them, almost like they were spying on them.  My first thought was, "Hmmm.  What if our home teachers and visiting teachers really did spy on us?" I shared the idea with my husband late one night, and we batted ideas back and forth, each sillier than the last. Surprisingly, when I woke up the next morning, it was still a good idea. 

I would love to travel more. What is the most interesting trip you have ever taken?

When I was fifteen, I had the opportunity to go to Russia with a group of American teenagers to go teach free enterprise to Russian teenagers.  The trip was sponsored by a business school in Provo called The Jefferson Institute.  We got on a boat and cruised up the Volga River.  That was a totally amazing experience for me. 

Anyone who reads my blog knows how important I feel it is to have balance in our lives. One way I do that is by having hobbies. What hobbies do you have?

My hobbies have really gone on the back burner since I started writing and editing, but I enjoy scrapbooking, watching good movies, and trying new recipes. And of course reading.  That one, I'll always have time for. Even if I have to stop bathing to work it in.  

If you could do anything different in your writing career, what would it be?

I would have started meeting with a critique group earlier.  I didn't even know such things existed when I first started writing, and I can see how my first books would have been so much better with that extra input. 

Thanks, Tristi. As always, it has been fun talking to you.

Remember to take a look at Tristi's blog and if you are looking for a good read, pick up one of her books.

Written Word vs Movies

Tonight I get to have a guest blogger. My husband has a theory he would love some feedback on. Enjoy.

"Stephanie and I were out together last night and we had a discussion on the topic of inappropriate things in cinema and books. I shared that I find language and steamy scenes in books much more disturbing than on the screen.

"In response to her question of “why do you think that is?”, I came to the (unscientific) conclusion that having something inappropriate that pops up unawares in a movie is being “thrust upon us” and coming from the outside, where we can to some degree (and at least on the surface) reject it as someone else’s words or actions.

"When the same word or phrase is on the printed page, we read it with our own internal voice. So we are effectively saying the word or phrase, rather than hearing some crude or upset person on the screen say it.

"I think the same goes for steamy scenes (even the PG13 versions). When it is acted out on the screen, we absorb it as an observation of someone doing something and we don’t use our imagination – we take it for what it is. When we read it, we are using our imagination to fill in around the words and paint the picture, as we tend to do as we read any story. It becomes as much or as little as our imaginations choose it to be. At this point I think we are not passively watching, but in some way actively participating through the thought process.

"All of this being said, we of course recognize that watching or listening to inappropriate things is harmful to our souls and we need to be very careful in our selection of entertainment in all of its forms.

"I applaud all who seek to provide quality literature and movies that don’t subject us to the filth of the world."