I’m thrilled to welcome Ruth
Kaufman to my blog this week.
RK: I live in Chicago, not far from Lincoln Park Zoo and Lake
Michigan. I’m also an actor and voiceover talent. On any given day, I could be
auditioning in person or from home, doing an on-camera and/or VO job, writing,
or working on releasing or marketing my books. I have a TV commercial running,
do a lot of e-learning narration and will soon film a recurring role in a web
series. If anyone is interested in that career, more info is at www.ruthtalks.com.
RW: How much of your personality and life experiences are in your
writing?
RK: It depends on the book and the characters. I make my medievals as
historically accurate as I can, so I endeavor to see the world through those
characters’ eyes in their time period. I wrote two contemporary humorous women’s
fiction novels (hwf) that are perhaps and perhaps not somewhat informed by many
years working in corporate America, my pursuit of acting, and (see below)
dating after 40. As they say: “Only my hairdresser knows for sure!”
RW: What kind of research do you do for a book?
RK: That depends, too. For my first medieval, I actually visited
Castle Rising in England, where the heroine lives. For my second, in which the
heroine is a stained-glass painter, I jumped through a lot of hoops to track
down a key book available only at the Art Institute of Chicago. My third book
features a bride tournament. I researched the rules and procedures for
jousting-type tournaments, but adapted them to what I thought they’d be if
women competed for a man’s hand in marriage. I set my hwfs and also part of a
time travel in Chicago to make it easier for me to see and know where they are as
the characters makes their way about town.
RW: Tell us about your latest book. What motivated
the story? Where did the idea come from?
RK: My most recent novel-length release, My Once & Future Love, is a medieval
Arthurian paranormal. The opening scene of a wounded man fleeing his enemies
popped into my head. Then I had to figure out who he was, who was after him,
who might help him, etc. He had a few secrets, and I had to figure out what
those were.
RW: Can you describe the funniest thing that ever
happened to you?
RK: How much time do you have? I’d say online
dating in general. If you’re in a relationship or off the market, you probably
can’t imagine what it’s like out there. I tell stories at live lit events about
my experiences, so at least something good comes out of them. At the last show,
the audience was so incredulous and laughed so hard I ran out of time before
the big finish. Unfortunately for me, every word is true....
RW: City life or country life? E-Book or paperback?
Zebras or elephants?
RK: City! I love going to the theatre and checking
out some of the many amazing restaurants in Chicago. I need to go a lot of
places for my acting career, so it’s great to have public transportation
because I can learn lines/read, etc. on the bus or train. Both e-books and
paperbacks have their purposes. I read e-books when I’m out and about so I don’t
have to add the weight of a paperback to my bag. I like paperbacks at home,
because even advancements in e-page turning aren’t quite as satisfying as an
actual book.
RW: What can we expect from you in the future?
RK: I’m planning to release those two hwfs (see
above), one in the spring and one in the summer. I’m working with a cover
designer on both covers. And perhaps I’ll release that time travel in the fall.
On the other hand, discoverability is such a challenge that I don’t know if I’ll
continue beyond this year.
RW: Which comes first, the story, the characters,
or the setting?
RK: The first scene, which has elements of all
three, almost always comes first. An image just pops into my head. For At His Command, I saw a woman collapsed
on a horse that was plodding over a hill in a forest. Then I “what if,” or ask
questions to expand upon what I already know. Who would see her, and what would
they do? If someone was following her, who would that be and why? Who is she,
where was she going and why?
I’ve had
a lot of improv training (and give workshops for authors). I think that helps
with this approach. In an improv scene, once something has been established,
you’re not supposed to negate it. Rather, you justify and heighten it. So if
you say, “I’m so glad I’m your sister,” I can’t say, “No, I’m not, I’m your
boss.” I can say, “And I’m glad you’re the little sister so I can boss you
around.”
RW: Are you in control of your characters or do
they control you?
RK: I’m a pantser (write from the seat of my
pants), not a plotter who outlines in advance. So I want them to take control
and let me see through their eyes. I think if I control too much, it might
sound like author intrusion...something I want to say vs. what the character
wants to say. I think my acting background and the experience of portraying
other characters in a variety of settings helps with motivation in particular.
RW: I’m always ready for (fill in the blank).
RK: Peanut butter and chocolate ice cream. Watching
“my” TV shows. I really enjoyed No
Tomorrow, adore The Good Place
and Crazy Ex-Girlfriend (and wish I
could be them), and confess that on many Monday nights my neighbor and I will
probably be watching The Bachelor. Dance Moms, anyone?
RW: Thanks so much for joining me, Ruth. One of
these days I’ll have to get downtown so we can get together. Maybe I can catch
a ride with the kids next time they take the great-granddaughter to the zoo.
Let me know when you’re going to be at a convention. I’d love to take one of
your improv classes. And now I’m going to have to go look up your commercial!
At
His Command
The Plot:
King Henry VI sends
Sir Nicholas Gray to protect the recently widowed Lady Amice Winfield from
undesirable suitors. Though Nicholas intrigues her, she yearns to run Castle
Rising without a man’s control.
Nicholas doesn’t
want the responsibility of marriage, but can’t deny he’s attracted to Amice. And
he’s surprised to finally find in Castle Rising a place he feels at home. A
kiss sparks desire neither can ignore, yet serving opposing factions seeking to
govern England threatens to pull them apart.
At court, the king
and queen reject Amice’s pleas and command her to wed a highly-ranked lord who’ll
provide connections and coin for the king’s depleted coffers that Nicholas
cannot. How can she follow the king’s command when she’s a scribe for his
rival? How can she marry another man when she’s falling in love with Nicholas?
Ruth’s Bio:
An
actor and storyteller with an M.S. and J.D, Ruth has had roles in independent
features, web series, pilots, national TV commercials, and hundreds of
voiceover projects. She enjoys chocolate peanut butter milkshakes and singing
in a symphony chorus. Learn more at www.ruthkaufman.com and www.ruthtalks.com.
Excerpt:
Sir
Nicholas Grey’s scout leaned forward in his saddle, holding up two fingers to
let the others know two horses approached. Nicholas heard only the slight
jangling of harnesses blended with wind rattling through the trees, but relied
on his scout’s uncanny ability to hear what no one else could.
He
and his eight men sat alert, deep enough in the forest to avoid being seen
while maintaining a clear view of the road through leafless branches. Nine
armed men could frighten travelers. ’Twas best to let them pass.
Each
man watched, each horse sinking deeper into chilling mire as a mud-covered,
black palfrey plodded over the rise in the road, its long mane whipping in the
frigid winds.
“No
rider,” Martin, the scout, murmured.
“Look
again,” Nicholas replied. At first, he too had thought the horse was riderless.
Now he could see a woman collapsed on the animal’s back. Her dark
hair draped down its flank, mingling with the horse’s mane. The palfrey placed
each step as if trying not to jostle its burden.
Another horse, this one a brown rouncey ridden
by a thin, balding man, galloped after the palfrey. A look of triumph
brightened the man’s face as he spotted the horse ahead of him. He bent forward,
extending his hand. Fingers like talons grasped the woman’s tangled hair.
“Mine!” he cried.
***
Amice Winfield jerked awake. Agony forced her
head back, allowing her to see the man who gripped her hair as though he’d
perish if he let go.
Harry Winfield.
She screamed. Arrows of fear pierced her as she
clawed at his fingers. Her horse bolted, leaving her dangling from Harry’s hand
by a small clump of hair. The long strands held for a few seconds, then tore
from her head.
Pain seared her scalp. She dropped into a
puddle, stunned by her fall and her stinging head, Amice could only stare at
her tormentor while freezing water soaked her clothes. How she hated him. How
she regretted her desperate flight from home. But what other choice did she
have?
Harry gaped at the dark tresses hanging from
his hand. He threw them to the ground as she struggled to rise. Panic gripped
her as his hostile glare changed to a slow, confident smile.
“There’s nowhere to run. I’ll catch you if it’s
the last thing I do,” he vowed. He leapt off his horse.
Amice tugged her sodden skirts, trying to haul
them out of the puddle. Where was her mount? Too far away to reach without
being caught, weighted down as she was. Sprays of water flew as she heaved her
skirts over her arm. Heart racing, she ran for the trees. A branch snagged her.
With a cry of frustration, she pulled the wet wool until it wrenched free.
Ignoring twigs tearing at her skin and icy mud
that sucked away one of her shoes, she forged ahead. She gasped for air as she
plunged into a tiny clearing, then came to an abrupt halt at the sight of a
group of mounted men. Slimy hair slapped her face and clung to her cheek.
Panting, cold air stinging her throat, she
sought a path to escape the strangers. Alarm coursed through her. She focused
on the man at the head of the group. Anxiety and uncertainty warred within her
though she sensed an almost tangible power emanating from him. The wind tossed
his chin-length black hair as he stared down with a stern expression.
Will he help me? Am I
better off with him or...? Before Amice could decide, branches snapped behind her. Harry
ran into the clearing. Instinctively she moved closer to the commanding stranger.
Contacts:
Twitter @RuthKaufman
https://twitter.com/RuthKaufman
Facebook Ruth Kaufman Author & Actress https://www.facebook.com/ruthtalks
Amazon Author Page http://www.amazon.com/Ruth-Kaufman/e/B00JH7Z40S
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Links:
Amazon: http://amzn.com/B00QPG52A6
