Saturday, March 12, 2011

Lynda Schab: Mind Over Madi, I Mean Matter!

Lynda Schab as a baby cutie and short model

Lynda Schab got her writing start in greeting cards. From there, she went on to write articles, web content, and dozens of short stories, many of which have been published in articles and anthologies. She has been a finalist in several national contests, including the RWA chapter’s Get your Stiletto in the Door, and American Christian Fiction Writer’s Genesis contest for the past three years. 
Award-winning Lynda Schab

Currently, she handles several monthly freelance assignments. She is the Grand Rapids Christian Writing Examiner and the National Christian Writing Examiner for Examiner.com. A few months ago, she also started as a regular book reviewer for FaithfulReader.com.  

Lynda's childhood shaped her to infuse humor into handling her obstacles and trials, so as an adult that same unique outlook shapes her characters in their conflicts. Be on the lookout for Lynda's byline in days to come and watch her hair (read below to find out about that.) Let's find out some more about Lynda's childhood and how she outgrew all those haircuts:


Childhood Ambition: Modeling. I was convinced I would be the first 5’4” runway model.
Lynda's senior photo: She wanted to be the first 5'4" Runway Model
Fondest Memory (from back then): Going up to my grandparent’s trailer on the lake every summer. Lots of great memories of fishing with my grandpa, swimming, canoeing …I was heartbroken when my grandpa died and Grandma had to sell the place.
 Proudest Moment (from back then): Graduating from high school. There were times I wasn’t so sure I would. LOL.
My Three Sons? Another one of Lynda's haircuts at age 11 and the last family photo before her parents' divorce
Biggest Challenge as a Child or Teen: My parents’ divorce – definitely. I was twelve when they split up and I was told later that this is the toughest age for kids to go through divorce. Lots of stuff that I struggle with today stem from that time in my life. I went through a period of hating my dad, getting near-failing grades, rebelling in various ways, and major insecurity issues. Yet, at the same time, in so many ways, I am so thankful to have gone through it, as it shaped me into the person I am today. By the grace of God, I turned out okay. Then again, my family might not completely agree with that statement.
Oh, the hair~! Lynda says: "Mom, how could you!"
 
My First Job (paid or unpaid—something you feel is significant) : My first “real” job was working at Kentucky Fried Chicken. I hated it. Unfortunately, or fortunately, depending on how you look at it, the job didn’t like me either. I got fired for – and I quote – “not doing the dishes fast enough.” That, and I couldn’t quite grasp the dark meat/white meat thing. Hey…I was sixteen, what can I say?

Childhood Indulgence: Ice cream. Was then, is now! Only now my indulgence turns into big bulgence. Ugh.
Our trip to Kentucky--I was often mistaken for a boy with some of my haircuts!
Favorite Outfit as a Child: Oh, wow. Um…I honestly only remember the dreadful outfits my mom used to make me wear on picture day. My favorite worst outfit was a matching light blue pants and top that kids at school used to tease looked like pajamas. And don’t even get me started on the haircuts I was forced into. The Dorothy Hamill cut, the Toni Tennille cut…there were a couple of years I was mistaken for a boy. Seriously.
Lynda age 4 with decent hair

Favorite Childhood Movie and/or TV Show: I’ve always been a huge television and movie lover. The first movie I remember seeing in the theater was "The Apple Dumpling Gang." I think if I had to name a favorite, it would be "The Wizard of Oz." Never tired of that one, even if the wicked witch did visit me in my dreams. Television-wise, favorites included "Happy Days," "Eight is Enough," and "The Land of the Lost" (which was nothing like Will Ferrell’s disgusting movie version, by the way). I also remember my dad wouldn’t let us watch "Scooby Doo" because it was too scary. Yet, he took my brothers and me to the midnight movies to see "Jaws" in 3D. Am I the only one who questions this? 
Lynda Disney Parade - During a trip to Disney World in Florida, she was selected to be in the parade. :-)

Favorite Childhood Book: Every time we’d visit my grandparents, I’d pull the Dr. Seuss books off the shelf, two in particular - oversized copies of The Sneeches and Yertle the Turtle. Loved those. As I got older, I devoured books. The Bobsey Twins series, The Little House on the Prairie series, Cherry Ames, Ramona the Pest…I do remember a series I read as a teenager that I couldn’t get enough of. It was by author John Benton and all the titles had individual girl’s names. The main characters were prostitutes, drug addicts, and alcoholics and they always found God, ending up at a Christian half-way house. I haven’t been able to find those books since. But they affected me deeply at that time.

Favorite Childhood Activity/Pastime: This sounds really silly, but I used to lie on my bedroom floor against my closet and throw a super ball up at the wall for hours, making up story after story. Then again, it may not sound all that silly to those who know me. LOL. Another thing I loved to do was write stories and draw caricature pictures to go along with them. I also used to rework popular plays like Cinderella, changing the words, for my cousins and me to perform. And, of course, reading was always at the top of my list of things to do.
Lynda in another haircut and on the phone (with her imaginary characters?)
Did you pass notes or have a pen pal as a child? Both. I constantly wrote notes and letters to my friends and boyfriends. I also had a Pen Pal from Ohio. I wish I could remember her name.

Best friends?: They changed through the years. I had lots of good friends, but I’d honestly say I never had a friend who totally “got” me and that I clicked with as much as when I started meeting other writers. 

Any Childhood Pets? We had several parakeets. Only one at a time, though. Tiki was the bird we had the longest. He eventually died from starvation because no one fed him. I still feel guilty about that. TikiToo didn’t last as long but at least we weren’t to blame for his death. We also had the longest living goldfish in the history of the world, I think. He lived for several years. Until someone poured beer in the bowl at one of my B.C. (before Christ) parties. Not one of my proudest moments. (I hope I don’t get hate mail about this. I’ve repented…really!) 

Anything else you would like to share with readers about your childhood which affected the writer you have become? I started out writing poetry (horrendous, horrendous poetry). The first short story I remember writing was called The Summer I Went to Honolulu, with caricature drawings to go with it. My 6th grade teacher loved the first few pages and encouraged me to submit it to a particular contest. I never finished it and never entered. I regret that, but I remember that as being the first time I considered writing as a possibility for me.


Check out Lynda's very popular blog: On the Write Track

More from Lynda:

Lynda, now, with a great haircut, I might add
"My ultimate dream is to get published in full length fiction, so that’s what I’m striving for. I do feel I’m getting closer. I signed with my agent, Terry Burns of Hartline, a year ago and he is working to sell my first novel, Mind over Madi, a contemporary women’s fiction with elements of humor. I have a few other projects started, including a mystery that finaled in the Genesis two years in a row, another women’s fiction, as well as a newly started YA. 

Other than that, I keep pretty busy with my freelance work. I write monthly newsletters, am the new member welcoming committee, and maintain the blog for FaithWriters.com. I also review books for http://www.faithfulreader.com, and am a contributing blogger for http://www.thebarndoor.net. In between all of that, I regularly submit material to magazines, greeting card companies, and other markets and am slowly building my portfolio."


About Lynda:
Lynda is represented by Terry Burns, of Hartline Literary, who is working to sell her first novel, Mind over Madi, a Women’s Fiction with elements of humor. 

She lives in Grand Rapids, Michigan, with her husband of twenty-two years and two teenagers, who keep her young and provide much inspiration for the humor found in her fiction. She is also a member of the writing team for her church’s creative arts department.
Leave Lynda a comment or ask her about how to final in writing contests!

POSTSCRIPT: Lynda has now published her book, Mind Over Madi!  Dreams really do come true!

Mind Over Madi: (Published by OakTara)

Madi McCall admits her husband lacks a little in the romance department, but all in all, he’s been a good husband, a good father. Now, though, she suspects Rich is having an affair with Fawn Witchburn, the mother of one of his fourth-grade students. To say Fawn shows off her “assets” more than should be legally allowed in public is an understatement, and Madi’s insecurities kick into high gear. When, in a heated moment, she asks Rich to leave and he complies, Madi is forced to deal with her issues--issues of love and trust she’s tried so hard to avoid. Issues that trail all the way back to her childhood and make her act like a total moron.