A new post, finally! How many years has it been?
My second book, which I started working on soon after my first book was published in 2008, has finally been published. Hallelujah! Time to celebrate with a new post.
Why has it taken me almost twenty years to write Waking In A Sea Of Dreams? After writing Between The Deep Blue Sea And Me, it occurred to me that this would a trilogy. I had no intention of writing a second book, but I suddenly (yes, suddenly!) realized that the dad’s story (Moana’s father) needed to be next. There were too many unanswered questions about his life in the first book.
I started writing, thinking it would begin with his birth in 1942, but realized after a couple pages that the story needed to begin at the beginning of time. After arguing with myself that I know nothing about ancient Hawaiian history and can’t possibly start there, I gave in, putting the manuscript aside and spending the next couple of years researching. This included reading everything I could find, including attempting to learn enough Hawaiian that I could read old newspapers. It also included talking to cultural experts, who graciously shared their manaʻo with me. It does not cease to amaze me how much of this journey has been – and continues to be – guided by intuition, otherwise known as ancestral or spiritual guidance.
The epiphanies pushed me to stay committed, but they are only part of the background story. I finished writing drafts, turned them in to my publisher and received feedback that basically resulted in having to start over… and over. First the manuscript read too much like a history book as I tried to include everything I had learned from my research. Then the ending was too weak. Then the characters sounded too much alike. And so on. Over the years I went through several editors, and I have nothing but gratitude for all of them. I cringed every time I saw their comments, but I never disagreed with their feedback. It is because of them that not only is this book is finished and published, but I am very happy with it – as are my editors.
On a broader reflection, I have been blessed to have not only great editors but also great canoe paddling coaches. There is little difference between the encouragement, the feedback and the commitment of coaches and editors to push me to be better.
And so I’m still writing and still paddling. Working on the third book now – Aunty Puamana’s story. Because her story does start with her birth in 1922, it will be historical fiction, a new challenge, learning the intricacies of Hawaiʻi’s history during this period.
That’s it for now, mahalo for reading.
