by Delores Topliff, @DeloresTopliff

It’s a well-known fact that Margaret Mitchell’s husband told her, “For God’s sake, Peggy, can’t you write a book instead of reading thousands of them?” She did not write Gone with the Wind as a historical panorama but as epic romantic fiction. Her preparation was to write a society column for an Atlanta newspaper for many years and then to handwrite Gone with the Wind on stacks of paper for ten years more. I’d like to know what her husband said once she achieved great success Maybe, “Please, Peggy—write another one!”

Mystery writer, Erle Stanley Gardner, created criminal lawyer Perry Mason while working in a law firm and absorbing terminology and trial strategies. He passed California’s bar exam but found actual legal practice bored him. Instead he cranked out over 20,000 popular law stories using two-fingered typing until he made enough money to hire secretaries.

When asked why his heroes always defeated villains with the very last bullet in their guns, he said: “At three cents a word, every time I say ‘Bang’ … I get three cents. If you think I’m going to finish the gun battle while my hero still has 15 cents’ worth of unexploded ammunition…, you’re nuts.”

American alphabet mystery series author, Sue Grafton, worked as a hospital medical records specialist and learned to observe and ask the right questions. She became friends with police officers, detectives, coroners, social workers, and barkeepers, gleaning authentic details for her excellent Kinsey Millhone, private investigator series.

Years ago I had a temp job working for the US Corps of Engineers retyping their manual for assembling and disassembling tanks in detailed step by step procedure. That boring job bought groceries for my kids, but also helped me absorb the principle that the steps for assembly are exactly opposite to those for disassembly. That also taught me life and spiritual lessons that apply to book writing.

All life experiences strengthen our writing, even those that are painful and difficult. Nothing is wasted. If you don’t see the purpose of an experience initially, ask the Lord and He graciously gives understanding.

Remember, successful writers like Sue Grafton take stock of what they know, define what they don’t, and ask the right questions to fill in the blanks for writing authentic, captivating books.

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Wilderness Wife

Set in frontier Canada in 1810, Marguerite Wadin MacKay believes her 17-year marriage to explorer Alex MacKay is strong—until sudden fame destroys it. He returns from a cross-Canada expedition to announce their frontier marriage is void in Montréal where he now goes to make his fortune and choose a society wife—not one with native blood. Marguerite thinks her life is over but trusts God to chart a life for her girls. Wilderness Wife also releases this Sept. in large print through Center Point Press, Knox, Maine.

Topliff’s earlier novels are Books Afloat, a WWII historical, and Christmas Tree Wars about two feuding Wisconsin Christmas tree farmers whose niece and son try to generate revenue by competing to provide the White House Christmas tree. Only can win, but it’s complicated when the competitors falling in love. Strong Currents, sequel to Books Afloat, releases Nov. 29, 2022.

Delores Topliff is from Washington State near the Columbia River where she wanted to operate a houseboat library for residents without books. That and the entry of a Japanese submarine into the Columbia during WWII inspired her debut novel, Books Afloat. She married a Canadian so enjoys U.S. and Canadian citizenships. She teaches online for the University of Northwestern-St. Paul, Minnesota near her two doctor sons and families. She brags on her amazing grandchildren and is something she didn’t think she’d be—a snowbird dividing her year between Minnesota and Northeastern Mississippi, staying busy both places writing, speaking, and teaching. Find blogs, books, and more at delorestopliff.com and on Facebook at Delores Topliff Books.