The process of creating with Shawna C. Jones @GoddessFish #Memoirs #Biographies

Today we have author Shawna C. Jones visiting. Welcome!

What would you like to tell readers about yourself?
* My author bio: Shawna C. Jones lives in the US, when she's not traveling the world. She lives with her husband and "inner demon" quite peacefully now. She is continuing her mission of helping others, and encouraging young people to travel and follow their dreams.

Please tell us your process for creating an antagonist.
* For my book, I did not have to invent an antagonist. She already had a place in the story, and I knew just where to put her. I changed a few things about her so she would not be recognized on the street, so to speak. The problem with writing about a true story is, you want to keep the facts intact, but without making the characters recognizable to others. I realized that the people who were around us at that time would recognize our identities. I decided I had to be fine with that, regardless of the consequences. Even so, I called it a fiction, when I knew parts of it weren’t.
* If I were to create an antagonist in a different book, I would look at the traits of celebrities, politicians, real life humans dead or alive, and even cartoon characters. I’d find someone the opposite of who I am, and make that person an antagonist. For me several come to mind: Sarah Palin, Yosemite Sam, Marilyn Monroe, etc. These are the ones I can think of off the top of my head. Notice that there are still many differences between these personalities. If you’re wondering why I chose Marilyn, it’s because she portrayed everything that I don’t like about women: A woman who uses men, acts innocent, uses her body or looks but acts dumb, to get what she wants. This is her character and not who she was a person. I liked who she was underneath, but not the superficial parts she played.
* I would then start creating a composite character based on this information, and add or subtract the qualities I wanted. Imagine someone looking like Sarah Palin but with blonde hair, skinny body, and blustering like Yosemite Sam every chance she gets, but around men turns into Marilyn Monroe. And I would change the traits as I wrote, to fit whatever I was writing about. Now I might have Marilyn with dark hair talking like Sarah Palin but amp it up with more Yosemite Sam, or leave it as it is. I would play around with this and add more personalities, or change them however I wanted to. That’s the beauty of fiction, but not when you’re basing your book on a memoir.
* Another way I might create one, would be to relax and get into a more meditative state. I would then think of a trait such as “annoying”, and see what image showed up. For me a two year old showed up asking a lot of questions. Now I have a starting point for this particular character. I would write it down, and then work on the next trait. Soon I’d have a good idea of what I’m looking for, and could change it at any time.
* So this would be my process for creating an antagonist.

A look into the story

~ Blurb ~ * Shawna grew up with a secret that she couldn't share with anyone. She thought of it as her "inner demon" and it shaped her life. When she became an adult, it sent her on a quest to try to find her Real Home. In Paris, she fell in love with a fellow traveler who changed her life, for better or worse. Their relationship was full of discovery and of lessons learned.
* How could she come to terms with her "inner demon"? Can we change our fate or karma? Does love really conquer all?
* This book is based on a true story of an independent woman's search for her true self and the meaning of life, and how she found answers in unexpected places. ~ Excerpt ~ * I meditated in my Paris apartment the day before leaving for London.
* Hurricane John had picked me up and tossed me around high in the air, and then pounded me on the sand. Like my aunt’s tea cup, I broke into pieces and lay at the bottom of the ocean. I wished sharks would eat me, but none came. But there was a gentle manatee that floated by and pushed all of my pieces together with her nose. Slowly, I became whole again. I found a shield and an arrow lying on the ocean floor, and quickly picked them up. I climbed on top of the manatee, and she easily carried me to the surface. I walked out of the water with my treasures and lay in the warm sun letting it heal my wounds. I closed my eyes for a time.
* When I opened them an eagle was hovering above me, staring at me. I realized its message of freedom and strength, and soaring to new heights. I would be happy with or without John. I really did not need him. I never did. A connection to the divine was at hand and I needed to prepare. Change would be coming, and I welcomed it with open arms.
* London. Home again. I felt like I could breathe once more. My new life had begun and I waited for the stirrings of new growth to move me onward and upward. No more going backwards ever again, I swore to myself.
* I moved in with Trina. We became friends when I worked in London. A successful lawyer with room to spare for a lost American gal. But not for long, I hoped.

Buy Twist of Fate here... Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Smashwords

Find Shawna C. Jones here... Website | Facebook | Goodreads

Thank you for joining us here today, Shawna C. Jones! It was a pleasure getting to know you and your story.

ANNOUNCEMENT! Shawna will be awarding the winner's choice of a $50 Amazon GC, a $50 Starbucks GC, or a crystal from Middle Earth Store in Mt. Shasta to a randomly drawn commenter during this tour! So be sure to use the Rafflecopter below, leave your name and email with acomment, and visit the other tour stops (find them here: goddessfishpromotions-virtual-nbtm-book-tour-twist-of-fate) for a greater chance of winning!

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