Meet the Author: Howard Gelmich – An introduction to his new novel “Rainbow Meadows”

Introduction

Howard Gelmich lives in western Canada. He has worked as policy analyst, taught marketing and business communication at City University in Hong Kong, and has been employed in Canada and in Hong Kong as an advertising executive and copy writer. Howard believes in the power of storytelling to not only entertain, but also to inform. His short stories have been published in various literary journals, including Djinni Magazine (the Massachusetts Cultural Council); The Nashwaak Review (St. Thomas University, Fredericton, New Brunswick); and Livina Press (independent magazine in the United States). When not writing, reading or working, Howard enjoys hiking, canoeing and gardening.

Rainbow Meadows Blurb

Injured, lost and alone in unfamiliar woods, Willow has been abruptly launched on an odyssey that changes her life forever. In the story-telling tradition of Watership Down and Animal Farm, this coming-of-age tale takes Willow, a spoiled and self-centered young calf, on a perilous journey in search of a new home.

Interview

Question 1: What prompted you to write this book?

The idea for Willow and her rainbow meadows came from a newspaper article about a cow who had become something of a local hero owing to her penchant for escaping from her home farm. It seems the animal took considerable pleasure from wandering freely around the countryside, and would not be denied the experience. The cow had displayed a great deal of ingenuity and tenacity in her efforts to escape the confines of her farm, but the most impressive thing to me was that there were a number of newspaper articles written about her. And the article that I read had been reprinted in my local newspaper, over a thousand miles away. Quite an achievement for a cow.

I thought that an animal with this much intelligence and persistence ought to have more than a few newspaper articles written about her – she deserved her own short story. As I worked on the story, it evolved into a novel. Willow became a well-rounded character who not only enjoyed freedom and independence, but also craved the love and friendship of those around her, especially the other cows in her herd. This was lacking in her life because of her stubbornly independent spirit and rather “curious” nature (it is my belief that curiousness is not viewed as a positive trait by very many pastoral animals). I soon realized that, while Willow’s intelligence and determination were qualities worth celebrating, she needed something more in order to find the love and friendship she so desperately desired. Willow needed to grow up.

In the end, Willow embarks on an exceptionally arduous and dangerous adventure that tests her courage and intelligence. Just as importantly, her journey teaches her fundamental lessons about life, family and friendship.

Question 2: How long did it take to go from idea to publication? And did the idea change during the process?

I wrote the novel on a part-time basis while I was developing my skills as a writer. It took me nearly two years to complete the first draft. I then let the manuscript sit for many years before I began the process of editing and revising — again working at it when I could find the time. It took almost a year to revise and polish the story until I was comfortable enough with the manuscript to publish it.

The concept expanded and changed a good deal as I worked on it. When I started developing Willow’s character, it was clear that there was more to be told about her personality and her need for love and acceptance than I could relate through a short story. Once I had committed to writing the novel, I developed a fairly large cast of characters and did my best to give each one of them their own distinctive character traits — their own biases, strengths, and weaknesses. The interplay between the characters made for interesting group dynamics as the animals journeyed together looking for a home.

Question 3: Were there any surprises in the writing process for this book?

Yes. This was an incredible learning experience for me. There were surprises and revelations about the characters, the plot and especially about the writing process. Perhaps a sometimes-overlooked part of writing is the amount of preparation and thought that goes into developing the story themes, creating the characters and then outlining the plot. For me, this pre-writing stage has become an integral part of my approach to developing a story. Yet once the characters and plot have been sketched out, and I begin to write, the plot ends up taking unexpected twists and turns all on its own.

I found that I enjoyed developing the characters. I discovered that a protagonist’s personality and deepest desires are what drive a story. Why did Willow have this need for freedom? How did her independent spirit impact the others around her? She was an animal who wanted both independence and love. How could she stay true to her curious nature, while developing better relationships with the others around her?

I also learned that writing is mostly about hard work. The words don’t often just pop out of my head and onto the page in a fit of inspiration. This is true for the most part, with the notable exception of story endings. The endings for Rainbow Meadows and the short stories that I have written, have occurred to me when I am about one third of the way through writing the story. So far, I have been able to just write out the last paragraph or two of a story with only a small of amount of revision and polishing. I don’t know if this will always be the case, but it is exciting when it happens.

Question 4: Were there any surprises or learning moments in the publishing process for this title?

I decided to self-publish my book and have faced a steep learning curve. The mechanics of posting the novel on Amazon’s platform including the publishing and layout requirements for paperback, hardcover and e-books, obtaining ISBN and Copyright, drafting a preface for the book and a story blurb for the Amazon sales page are just the beginning.

Marketing is another huge challenge. Finding influencers to review my novel by offering an “advanced reader copy” either by contacting them or through platforms like Goodreads, along with marketing on social media platforms like Instagram and X all require a good deal of knowledge, time and effort.

Question 5: What do you hope readers will get out of your book?

While this book is set in the mid-western United States in the 1950s, I believe the story’s themes are universal across generations and cultures. Yet, although they are universal, many of the themes in this story are especially important as young people grow up in an increasingly divided and hostile world.

People everywhere understand the need for love, friendship and family, and, at the same time, most of us want some sense of independence and the opportunity to grow as individuals. Willow had to learn how to balance these needs. 

While Willow’s courage, intelligence and stubbornness serve her well in surviving the hardships of her journey, her ordeals teach her to temper these qualities with genuine caring and concern for others. Willow learns how to balance her independent nature with a genuine love for others.

Starting off as a self-centered young animal, Willow eventually learns how to compromise with others. She even develops considerable leadership skills as she tries hard to help her friends.

Willow ends up travelling with an odd assortment of characters, each with a unique personality, and unique strengths, weaknesses and prejudices. She learns to value each of her companions for who they are, and comes to realize that whether we are great or small, we all have a place in this world and we can all make our own special contribution.

Forgiveness is another important theme in the story. Willow had been an exceptionally self-centered young calf and had taken advantage of the love that ten-year-old Jenny Caufield had shown her. But towards the end of the story, she desperately needs Jenny to forgive her past bad behavior. At the same time, Willow learns to forgive others, even the despicable Minnie the cat, who had done her best to ruin Willow’s life.

Question 6: If you could share one piece of advice with other writers, what would it be?

There are a number of things writers might consider as they progress in their careers: learn, practice, persevere and support.

1) Learning. Learn the craft of writing – there are many quality courses, articles, and even YouTube videos that can help emerging and veteran writers hone their craft.

Read as much as you can in different genres. Examine the ways in which successful writers approach their craft. Beyond the craft of writing, you might even discover an interest in a genre or style of storytelling that you had never considered before. Reading Katherine Mansfield’s short story, Miss Brill, and Robert Frost’s poem Stopping by the Woods on a Snowy Evening, taught me the power of literary stories and poetry. Literature can make a difference in people’s lives and in the larger society.

Also take the time to examine yourself and why you want to write. Do you want to entertain people with a best-selling science fiction fantasy adventure, or are you more interested in exploring the human experience with carefully crafted character driven literary stories?

Finally, whichever genre(s) you choose, write about what is important to you.

2) Practice. Another ingredient for success is to write. Just do it. As you develop your skills through practice, your own style and voice as a writer will emerge. These give life to your writing and they will help to set you apart from others. Your style will support the kind of story that you are writing.

Compare the writing styles of J.R.R. Tolkien, George Orwell, Daphne du Maurier, and Patricia MacLachlan.

In Lord of the Rings, Tolkien writes with a fluid style that is just perfect for his richly textured fantasy world.(1)

George Orwell in his book 1984, uses crisp, succinct sentences that reflect the harshness of life in his dystopian society.(2)  

In her story The Birds, Daphne du Maurier, writes with clarity and imagery to paint a wonderful picture of an idyllic rural setting and, at the same time, hints that something has changed — something ominous is in the air.(3)

Patricia MacLachlan, in her middle-grade novel, Sarah, Plain and Tall, uses a clear prose style and pacing that draws the reader into the lives of the characters and makes what happens to them important to the reader.(4)

3) Persevere. It is often said that it isn’t always the most talented writers that achieve success, but rather, success come to those who work the hardest and don’t give up. There are many accounts of famous writers who suffered a great deal of rejection before their work was finally accepted and ultimately celebrated. Remember, publishers, editors, reviewers and other writers, are just people, each with their own interests, preferences and biases, if and when your work is rejected, pause for a moment, learn from your mistakes and then keep going. Of course, don’t give up your day job prematurely.

4) Support. Establish community. Writing is a solitary endeavour, but we all need support and interaction with others – especially other writers. Find a group with whom you can share your writing, thoughts about the writing craft, and even some of your troubles. Be prepared to give thoughtful, meaningful feedback on other people’s work and to receive the same about your stories. A caring network of writing friends can be a great support. Remember that teaching or offering constructive criticism of someone’s work is a great way to help you to develop your own craft.

Editors, agents and other professionals in the publishing business can, of course, be a very valuable resource for any writer.

(1) “When Mr. Bilbo Baggins of Bag End announced that he would shortly be celebrating his eleventy-first birthday with a party of special magnificence, there was much talk and excitement in Hobbiton.”

- J.R.R. Tolkien

(2) “It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen. Winston Smith, his chin nuzzled into his breast in an effort to escape the vile wind, slipped quickly through the glass doors of Victory Mansions, though not quickly enough to prevent a swirl of gritty dust from entering along with him.”

- George Orwell

(3) “On December the third, the wind changed overnight, and it was winter. Until then the autumn had been mellow, soft. The leaves had lingered on the trees, golden-red, and the hedgerows were still green. The earth was rich where the plow had turned it.”

- Daphne du Maurier

(4) “Did Mama sing every day?” Asked Caleb. “Every-single-day?” He sat close to the fire, his chin in his hand. It was dusk, and the dogs lay beside him on the warm hearthstones.

            “Every-single-day,” I told him for the second time this week. For the twentieth time this month. The hundredth time this year? And the past few years?

            “And did Papa sing, too?”

            “Yes. Papa sang, too. Don’t get so close, Caleb. You’ll heat up.”

- Patricia MacLachlan