Regina Doman's Updates

Introducing: Fish & Rose T-Shirt!

2011-12-07T17:01:00.005-05:00

For Christmas, I have a VERY special t-shirt that I'm posting on Zazzle for you. Created by artist Mary MacArthur, this shirt features both Fish and Rose in an imaginative setting that captures their passionate love and innocence. The opening words of the book "I love him more than poetry ... I love him more than song" are quoted on the shirt. Rose, arrayed as a princess, plays her violin in a thorny clearing while Fish, revealed as a knight, approaches.

When Mary first posted this image a few years ago on the Fairy Tale Novel Fan Forum, I knew I wanted to buy it from her. And now we have it: just in time for Christmas!

The shirt can be printed on a short or longsleeved shirt of the pastel color you choose in the size you want. The shirt shown is only $21.95 from Zazzle. Click here to buy it. Order by Dec. 15th for guaranteed Christmas delivery. (Order right now using order code DECDELIGHT11 and get 15% off!)

Happy shopping, and look for more products with this image on it from Zazzle! (PS: Email me if you have something in mind you want to see this image on.)

Buying a Kindle? Stock it with Catholic Fiction!

2011-12-02T14:03:00.017-05:00

Buying a Kindle this Christmas?
Buy it stocked with Catholic Fiction!

Click here to see a list of our books!

Not doing e-Books yet?
For signed copies (the kind printed on paper)
visit us at our new website

PS: Let me know if you'd be interested in posting this ad in your own blog sidebar or post! Thanks!

John Paul 2 High Book Trailer

2011-11-01T14:25:00.001-04:00

PRE-ORDER JP2 High Book 3: Summer of My Dissent

2011-10-14T14:56:00.005-04:00

Toward the end of September I obtained the rights to publish the John Paul 2 High series. We are working like crazy to put new covers on the books and release Book
3: Summer of My Dissent by November 1.

All three books are available for PRE-ORDER at http://www.fairytalenovels.com/RetailOrders.cfm#JP2H

We plan to release Book 4 by Easter 2012.

Christian Manga: Many Are Called...

2011-08-28T20:54:00.006-04:00

A wedding is prepared... a lost princess is sought ... an enemy is faced ... all before dawn...

As a longtime Christian, I've seen LOTS of retellings of Christ's parables, and I'm sort of used to how the storyline of such retellings goes. No surprises, heavy morals.

If that's true for you as well, I invite you to experience MANY ARE CALLED.

This offbeat steampunk manga is a compilation of Christ's parables of the End Times like you've never seen them before. Think the parables of Ten Bridemaids plus the Two Servants. Plus the overarching narrative of The Parable of the Banquet. And oh yeah, there's a villain and a lost princess as well. And a prince and his loving Father who remind us greatly of ... well, you can guess.

Now, a disclaimer. I'm a professional fiction editor, and I do work for the company which published this book, Manga Hero. However, this book was in prodution when I was first hired so I had nothing to do with its creation.

The narrative, written by Gabrielle Gniewek, is original and inspired. As for the artwork, veteran manga artist Sean Lam tops himself in this highly-detailed rendering. This is manga at its best: showy, gritty, flash and fire.

Sure, there's a message: what parable doesn't have a message? But instead of snatching at trying to be "relevant," the creators keep the message timeless, as Christ would have wanted it. They allow the parable to speak for itself. "Many are called: few are chosen." Sad, but true.

If you (or someone you know) can't get enough of the Japanese-inspired comic books called manga, check this one out. You'll be in for some nice surprises. In particular, I liked the obscure but tantalizing glimpses of Christ and his apostles in the frame of the story, including two Sons of Thunder and a eyeglass-wearing Apostle Matthew. If Gniewek and Lam revisit Christ's parables in manga form again, I hope we'll see more of them.

MangaHero is known for their comic book series on the apostle Paul and the Biblical heroine Judith, as well as for their recent comic on Pope Benedict XVI (read it online for free!). You can find more of their books at www.mangahero.com and you can ask for the book at your local Christian bookstore or order it on Amazon.

So as we head back to school this fall, keep your eye out for this new book! Speaking of school, teachers, parents, religious eduction directors, youth group leaders, anyone who works with Christian youth: MANY ARE CALLED is one manga comic you've got to get your hands on!

Pass the word!

Catholic Writers to Convene August Conference in Valley Forge

2011-07-11T14:28:00.004-04:00

Press Release

June 9, 2011

Contacts: Ann Margaret Lewis, Catholic Writers Guild President

Phone: 317-755-2693 email: annlewis@joesystems.com

Karina Fabian, Catholic Writers Guild Secretary

Phone: 719- 924-5578 email: karina@fabianspace.com

Writer: Clare Bills, Catholic Writers Guild Publicity - email: clarebills@live.com

For Immediate Release

Catholic Writers to Convene August Conference in Valley Forge

Valley Forge, PA--The third annual Catholic Writers’ Conference LIVE will take place

August 3-5, 2011, at the Scanticon Hotel Valley Forge in King of Prussia, PA. Sponsored by the Catholic Writer’s Guild (CWG) and the Catholic Marketing Network (CMN), it will be held in conjunction with CMN’s annual retailer trade show. The Catholic Writers Conference LIVE provides Catholic authors with a prime opportunity to meet and share their faith with editors, publishers, fellow writers, and bookstore owners from across the globe.

CWG President Ann Margaret Lewis said this year's conference will, “focus on marketing and selling one’s written work.” Highlights of the conference include:

· Over 30 sessions taught by professionals in writing, marketing, blogging and publishing

· Pitch Sessions where writers may meet privately with representatives from four publishers

· One-on-one coaching sessions. For $35 an author can have a 30 minute private consultation with a specialist who will review their manuscript and guide them toward publication.

· Rapid-fire readings. Published authors will each have five minutes to read a selection from one of their books. A mass book sale and signing will follow.

Lewis says the conference comes at a modest cost. “Registration for the jam packed three days is only $90 for CWG members or $100 for non-members. And we have a special price of $42 for students. Our conference allows you to connect personally with Catholic publishers and retailers, to show your work, learn the craft and network.” Priests and religious are invited free of charge, but must register at the email address: http://www.catholicwritersconference.com.

This year’s conference speakers include:

· Catholic publishing representatives Claudia Volkman of Servant Books/St.Anthony Messenger Press,

· Regina Doman, author of numerous young adult and children’s books and acquisitions editor for Sophia Institute Press,

· Donna-Marie Cooper O’Boyle, EWTN TV host of "Everyday Blessings for Catholic Moms" and author of numerous Catholic books including “Mother Teresa and Me,”

· Michelle Buckman, author of the young adult novel “Maggie Come Lately” and the adult drama “Rachel’s Contrition,”

· Angela Breidenbach, author of “Gems of Wisdom” and

· Patti Armstrong, co-author of the best-selling Amazing Grace book series and author of “Catholic Truths for Our Children, Stories for the Homeschool Heart.”

Past attendees gave glowing accounts of their experiences at the conference:

· Carol Bannon, author of the children’s book “Handshake from Heaven,” said, “Attending this conference has been the best thing I have done for myself professionally.”

· Writer Melanie Cameron concurs, “I recommend this conference as a resource for any author (or wannabe) at any stage. You will walk away empowered!”

· Maureen Martin, a consultant and trainer said she attended to connect with other professional Catholics. “It was such a wonderful, nurturing environment where we could share our faith and our love for literature.”

The Catholic Writers Guild, a religious non-profit organization, sponsors both this live conference in August and an online conference in February to further its mission of promoting Catholic literature. “Our conferences are totally focused on encouraging faithful Catholics to share genuine Catholic culture and faith in their writing no matter what genre,” says Lewis. “These events are integral to our mission of ‘creating a rebirth of Catholic arts and letters.”

Also at this year’s conference, the CWG will be presenting its first ever Catholic Arts and Letters Awards (called the “Lilies”) for the best in Catholic fiction. This award will recognize one book in the adult market and one in the children’s market for its literary merit.

Information for the Catholic Writer’s Conference can be found on the conference web site: http://www.catholicwritersconference.com.

The CWG is a professional group of writers, artists, editors, illustrators, and allies whose mission is to build a vibrant Catholic literary culture. The organization is loyal to the teaching authority of the Roman Catholic Church.

- End -

Interviews and further information available upon request.

Shadow of the Bear in POLISH!

2011-01-13T13:24:00.007-05:00

I am pleased to announce the release of Shadow of the Bear in its first foreign translation: POLISH!

Yes, Cień Niedźwiedzia: Wspotczesna Basn is available now at Polish sites online.Since my husband is half-Polish and our family has a devotion to both Saint Maximilian Kolbe and Sister Faustina Kowlalska, both Polish saints, we were delighted when we were approached by the Polish publisher for this edition. When we discovered that they are the diocesan publishers for the Diocese of Katowice, the original diocese of Karol Wojtyla, later Pope John Paul II, we were even more thrilled.

We just received six copies of the new edition in the mail today, and they are beautiful, with thick glossy covers and beautiful inside flaps, a detail not often seen on American paperbacks. The publishers did their own typesetting, including lovely sihlouettes of dark and light roses on the chapter headings:

And, what is even more charming, they used a dark rose to indicate sections in Rose's viewpoint, and a white rose to indicate Blanche's, as you can see from this section of the climax:

Thus we are very excited about our first foreign translation. To some authors, a Polish translation of their work might not be a big deal: a Spanish translation might yield a bigger market. But for me and my family, who owe so much physically and spiritually to the Polish people, having the first foreign translation be into the native language of John Paul II is simply fitting. One might even say perfect.

So if you have any Polish friends, please let them know about this new translation! And tell them that there's more to come: the publishers hope to bring out the rest of the "Snow White and Rose Red" trilogy as well within the year. Black as Night is up next for translation.

In the meantime, we have been contacted by a Spanish Catholic publisher, and I understand I have some Mexican fans who would love to see a Spanish edition.... I joked to my husband that we'll have to ask St. Josemaria Escriva (and Teresa of Avila and Blessed Miguel Pro) to help us out with that one!

And check out the : we had fun reading the Google translations. (There's no Amazon for Poland, but it looks like it can be ordered through Amazon Germany)

Regina speaking at Catholic Writer's Conference at Valley Forge in August!

2010-07-12T14:08:00.004-04:00

Catholic Writers to Hold Conference in Valley Forge, PA
Press Release: please re-post and pass this on!

The second annual Catholic Writers’ Conference LIVE will be held August 4-6, 2010, at the Scanticon Hotel Valley Forge in King of Prussia, PA. Sponsored by the Catholic Writer’s Guild and the Catholic Marketing Network (CMN), and held in conjunction with CMN’s annual retailer trade show, the Catholic Writers Conference LIVE provides Catholic authors with a prime opportunity to meet and share their faith with editors, publishers, fellow writers, and bookstore owners from across the globe.

This year's conference will feature presentations on such topics as market tips and time management for busy writers, poetry, creating evil characters, working with an editor, creating winning proposals, journaling and much more.

Speakers include Catholic publishing representatives Claudia Volkman - General Manager of Circle Press, Regina Doman - acquisitions editor for Sophia Institute Press, and Tom Wehner - Managing Editor of the National Catholic Register, all of whom will also hear pitches from writers.

Among the other speakers are Mark Shea (Mary, Mother of the Son), Michelle Buckman (My Beautiful Disaster), Donna-Marie Cooper O’Boyle (Mother Teresa and Me), Susie Lloyd (Please Don’t Drink the Holy Water), and Publicist Lisa Wheeler from the Maximus Group.

Regina Doman (author of Alex O'Donnell and the 40 CyberThieves) will speak on "How to Create Evil Characters if You're a Good Catholic," "Working with an Editor," and will be participating in the Fiction Writing and Publisher Panels.

Additionally, the Catholic Writers Guild will present its first-ever achievement award for excellence in Catholic Arts and Letters to Rick Hinshaw, editor of the Long Island Catholic.

“Attending this conference has been the best thing I have done for myself professionally,” Carol Bannon, author of the children’s book Handshake from Heaven, said of the 2009 conference. Her fellow writer Melanie Cameron agreed, saying she left the last conference re-energized. “I recommend [this] conference as a resource for any author (or wannabe) at any stage. You will walk away empowered!”

The Catholic Writers Guild, a religious non-profit organization, sponsors both this live conference in August and an online conference in February to further its mission of promoting Catholic literature. “Our conferences are totally focused on encouraging faithful Catholics to share genuine Catholic culture and faith in their writing no matter what genre,” says CWG President Ann Margaret Lewis. “These events are integral to our mission of ‘creating a rebirth of Catholic arts and letters.”

To register go to catholicwritersconference.com.

Alex O`Donnell and the 40 CyberThieves!

2010-07-07T11:58:00.011-04:00

Remember this guy? He was first introduced in Waking Rose, but even first-time readers will quickly warm up to the sword-wielding Alex O'Donnell and his adventures with his nearly technophobic girlfriend Kateri Kovach, and yes, forty cyberthieves in this high tech thriller.

Alex returns from college to find that his dad, a hacker-turned-software programmer, has developed the Mouse Catcher; tracking software with a cute Super-Cat interface.

But more ominously, his dad has discovered a mysterious website which leads to sudden wealth. But at what cost? Read the Prologue to find out more.

Other computerized cats are featured in the book, including the most unusual override computer protection program ever invented: an animated samurai security cat who prevents other people from using the internet until they have defeated him in a virtual swordfight.

Practical, hard-working Kateri Kovach is suspicious of all this high-tech hoopla and tries desperately to keep the O`Donnell family running smoothly, mainly by cleaning up after them. One of her biggest worries is finding a job and figuring out how to break up with Alex. Yet, she finds herself evermore immersed in the O'Donnell family activities - playing video games with Alex and his younger brothers Sam and David, caring for their mother suffering from MS, and battling the samurai security cat. Mayhem, martial arts, and murder ensue even as Alex pursues marriage with Kateri who wonders why she's letting herself be a part of the madness. But in the end, it might just be the anti-technological Kateri who saves the day...

TO BUY THIS BOOK:

>OPEN "SESAME"

Read the Prologue and more by clicking here!

Bookstores, libraries, & booksclubs click here for special discounts!

CONTEST: Are You My BIGGEST Fan?

2010-07-07T11:45:00.000-04:00

To coincide with the release of Alex, we're having our first Fairy Tale Novel Online Contest to find out: who's the biggest fan of the Fairy Tale Novels? If you think you're it, prove it by entering this contest! Get points by posting reviews, wearing fan t-shirts, getting your school or library to buy the books, and any other creative ideas you can come up with! Win prizes including a hardcover edition of Alex and lots more! The contest takes place through August 31st. Enroll and see the progress of the other competitors by clicking here. Hope you have fun!

My Cup of Tea...

2010-07-07T11:34:00.000-04:00

I had the chance to do a new kind of event my friends had dreamed up: a Fairy Tale Novel Tea Party! It was my friend Theresa's idea: she said to me, come to my house, bring your books, and I'll invite my friends to meet for tea and cake and we'll chat and have fun! We held the first ever FTN Tea Party at her house in Alexandria, VA, this past March, and we all enjoyed ourselves so much that we did another one at the Findley's house in Williamsburg, VA two months later!

So I've decided that, if you live within a couple hours driving distance of me (I live in northwest Virginia), let me know if you'd like to host a Tea Party of your own. Hostesses can earn free copies of the Fairy Tale Novels or other thank-you gifts. And if you see that I'm speaking at another event in your area, email me if you'd like to host a tea party of your own around the same time.

Fairy Tale Novel Fan Gathering (aka ReginaCon) - in Minnesota?

2010-07-07T11:17:00.003-04:00

In June we held what some are calling ReginaCon 2010, but which I still prefer to call the Fairy Tale Novel Fan Gathering at our house (the Black Cat Inn) and on our property (Shirefeld) near Front Royal, Virginia.

This year Elizabeth Hausladen took over the organization and brought our activities to a whole new level of creativity! This year we had:

Our own adaptation of The Importance of Being Earnest - by the Shirefeld Players
Morning Rosary (of course)
Narnia Treasure Hunt
Midnight Swimming (spontaneous, but boy was it fun!)
Blueberry Picking (yummy!)
Thrift Store Shopping (for the women)
Stone Masonry (for the men while the women were shopping)
Weapons Demonstration with Andy O'Neill and Ben Hatke
Writing Sessions with Regina
Talent Show Night
Marriage Vocation Talk With Andrew: Preparing for Marriage - How to Live Happily Ever After
Film Workshop by Elizabeth Hausladen, director of The Shadow of the Bear film
And the finale was the Jane Austen Ball with music by our friends The Woodhouse Band.

We met new friends, were reunited with old ones, and had a wonderful time! Thanks to all of you who joined us, and to the parents who worked to make this event happen!

Photo Gallery of ReginaCon 2010 by Paul Xavier

Check out this video montage of the event!

Fairy Tale Gathering 2011?

We're hoping to do the Fairy Tale Novel Fan Gathering 2011 in Minnesota, possibly in early June.
Right now we're searching in earnest for a family or group willing to host us for the weekend.

Got any ideas?

Email us now and let us know!

Thanks so much!

Summer Events & Recent Conferences and Talks

2010-07-07T10:59:00.000-04:00

April 16 & 17, 2010 - I gave two talks at the Mad Anthony Writers' Conference in Hamilton, Ohio (near Cincinnati) on "Decoding Fiction Submission Guidelines" and "Writing Evil Characters." It was great to meet Ohio writers!

May 21 & 22, 2010 - I and my husband, Andrew, spoke at the Dayton Catholic Homeschool Conference in Dayton, Ohio about imagination, suffering, men & women, marriage, and fatherhood. We also SOLD OUT of 40 preview editions of Alex O'Donnell and the 40 CyberThieves!
Talks from this conference are available for FREE DOWNLOAD by clicking here.

Summer Events
Eastern Pan Handle Homeschool Conference in Shepherdstown, WV has been POSTPONED until March 2011.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

WHAT: CMN & Catholic Writers Conference

WHEN: August 3-6, 2010

WHERE: Valley Forge, PA

WHY: I will participating in these events and will be available to sell and sign her books.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

WHAT: Chesterton Conference

WHEN: August 5-7, 2010

WHERE: Mt. St. Mary's University in Emmitsburg, MD

WHY: I will be speaking about The Evangelization of the Imagination on Saturday morning, August 7.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

WHAT: Midwest Catholic Family Conference

WHEN: August 6-8, 2010

WHERE: Wichita, KS. Century II Convention Center

WHY: To get your copy of the official released edition of Alex O'Donnell and the 40 CyberThieves!
The Jeff & Jo Hauge Family will be managing a vendor table for the Fairy Tale Novels.

Fairy Tale Novel Fan Gathering This Weekend!

2010-06-22T08:33:00.000-04:00

If you are local to me in Virginia, I just wanted to post the schedule for the third Fairy Tale Novel Fan Gathering, held at my home, which we call The Black Cat Inn and organized by Elizabeth Hausladen, moderator and founder of the FTN Forum and director of the Shadow of the Bear movie.

Fairy Tale Novel Fan Gathering 2010
Thursday, June 24th

9 AM Rosary

12:00 Angelus and lunch

1:30 writing workshop on fiction by Regina

3:00 Swimming at Shirefeld and hanging out

5:30 potluck supper (if you come for any meal, either bring a dish or snack to share or $ to contribute)

7:00 PM Talent night and concert by Marie Miller

8:30 PM The Importance of Being Earnest by the Shirefeld Players

Friday, June 25th

9 AM Rosary

10:30 Marriage vocation talk by Andrew

12:00 Angelus and lunch

1:30 Narnia Treasure Hunt (Please RSVP to Elizabeth H [writebymoonlight@gmail.com] if you want to participate in this costumed event)

3 PM Weapons demonstration (tentative time)

4:30 Film workshop by Elizabeth Hausladen (director of the Shadow of the Bear movie)

6 PM supper

7:30 Fairy Tale Character Mystery Party (to participate in this costumed event, email Elizabeth H [writebymoonlight@gmail.com] to RSVP)

Saturday June 26th

9 AM Rosary

10:30 Writing Workshop #2 with Regina

12:00 Angelus and Lunch

1:30 Thrift store shopping in Front Royal for girls/fishing for guys

3:00 Weapons demonstration (alternate time)

4 PM Supper

5 PM Mass at St. John's

8:00 PM Jane Austen Ball with music by the Randolph Family (please RSVP to Elizabeth H [writebymoonlight@gmail.com] to participate in this event: particularly guys are welcome!)

Hope to see you there!

Editor's Desk: Showing Vs. Telling

2010-05-13T08:23:00.001-04:00

A break from Alex work to give my opinion on a question that frequently comes up for new writers:

Yesterday a friend commenting on my posts asked:
Just out of curiosity, what is your view of showing versus telling? I wonder this because there seems to be this very hard and fast rule currently that everything possible must be shown rather than told. But if you go back some years and look at what is considered great literature, there is a lot of telling. I recently read a short story from the 1930's by John Cheever which was almost entirely telling, but a really good story.
How do you approach this in your own books, and how do you approach it when looking at a manuscript for Sophia Press?

As a hard-and-fast rule, eliminating all "telling" from your story is usually impossible. Some telling is nearly inevitable: there's no easy way to inform your reader a character's age, for example, without telling. (It's much easier to say, "he was about thirty years old" than to show him having a 30th birthday or to have a friend say, "Now that you're thirty, are you going to settle down?" etc.)

My philosophy, inasmuch as I even have one on the subject, is that both showing and telling should serve the demands of the story. Some stories demand more telling than others. But there are a couple of caveats new authors should remember:

In our culture, movies are the predominant medium, with television being the second most-predominant medium. As Walker Percy acidly observed, more people will watch one Superbowl than will read any particular New York Times Bestseller. So most of us bring our viewing habits to our reading habits.

How does this affect storytelling? Well, we literary types can moan and groan about the predominance of the visual as much as we like, but the fact is, our audience (who, from my view, we are here to serve with our stories, not to teach) prefers that their stories be visual. They enjoy them more, they read them more, they find those stories more moving, more powerful, more entertaining.

This is the main reason why "telling" has fallen out of fashion since the 1930s: because most modern readers find excessive "telling" is boring to read, simply because it's dificult to visualize, and the modern reader reads by drawing heavily on his visual imagination.

Also there's the element of impatience and escape. When I say that modern readers are impatient, it doesn't mean we only want short stories: quite the contrary! But we have a lot of stress and distraction in our lives, and we don't want to have to work so hard at trying to enjoy our entertainment: we appreciate it when the story helps us launch into escape mode immediately by immersing us in action or conflict or another world.

We modern readers like the sense of being immersed in a story, part of the action, flowing along with the narrative. We like it when our books read like movies: when we can just sit back and watch it all go by. When the narrative is halted for any reason, it can be jarring. So authors shouldn't do it, unless they have a very good reason to.

And, let's be honest, authors make the most money when their books are bought and made into movies. Books that contain more showing than telling are easier to translate into film: hence are more likely to be bought. Any writing teacher worth his salt is going to point that out to his students.

So if your story requires telling (and some do), make certain that the telling is:
a) humorous and entertaining, stylistically fun to read
or
b) heavily visual so that your reader isn't bored.
I've always been a very visual writer (I think in images and don't consider myself a particularly strong stylist) so accepting the viewpoint of the modern reader hasn't been difficult for me. I *am* in many ways, a modern reader myself! I don't have a literary background, and studied television, not literature, which may indicate my inclination. Scriptwriters must think in images and seldom, if ever, are allowed to tell their audiences anything. But I don't believe that this is a hard-and-fast rule for books.

As an editor, again, I primarily look at storytelling technique to find out if it is adequately serving the story. I don't start out with a set of rules in my head and look at a manuscript to find out if it obeys them: I open the MS and read it the way any reader would.

But when I come to a part that is wooden, clunky, or boring, I stop reading and try to figure out why. That's what editors do. And yes, sometimes the reason it's boring is because the reader has yanked me out of the story in order to subject me to several paragraphs of telling. This is really annoying when I was enjoying being immersed in the escape, or the argument, or the complex situation the character was grappling with. Once you've been sucked into the story, you don't like to leave.

Or, if I'm not interested in the story at all, I often discover that the reason I'm not is because the author is summarizing action and events instead of involving me in it. They're telling me about how the character responded to, say, his mom's death or his father's betrayal instead of showing me and letting me have a chance to feel the character's pain or rage.

I don't notice 'telling' if the author uses it to explain action I've just seen and am interested in knowing more about. I don't mind 'telling' if the author halts the narrative to give some funny commentary on what the characters have just been doing. So long as I'm entertained, I'm good.

But most authors whose MS I read have not yet mastered the storytelling form, and so 'telling' for them is an easy-out, a way to dump information on the reader, or to moralize or preach to me. They often don't recognize what a jolt they've given me, their reader, when they halt the story for a 'telling' session. They don't realize how non-engaged I am when they start their story by giving me information that doesn't seem releveant to me instead of pulling me into a fascinating situation.

It's a tricky operation, storytelling. And for most beginning authors, the mantra "show don't tell" is useful because it helps them learn to see their story the way their readers will: it gets them away from summarizing and keeping us distant from the action and instead forces them to learn to let the reader share in the action.

Some masters of storytelling will always be able to break the rules and still entertain us. But for beginning writers, learning the parameters of their audience, and accepting their limitations and needs, will be more helpful than setting out to ignore rules they haven't yet mastered.

Hope this helps!

Preview Edition of Alex available May 21st!!!

2010-05-10T11:42:00.000-04:00

... So our entire family is working hard to make our Preview Edition Release Deadline for Alex O'Donnell, which, I'm delighted to say, will means that the Preview Edition of Alex O'Donnell and the Forty Hackers will be available for sale at the Dayton Catholic Homeschool Conference! So if you are in or near Ohio, and want you very own limited-edition copy of Alex, come to the Fairy Tale Novels table at the conference on May 21, 2010 and pick up a signed copy from me! The Preview Edition of my books are released specifically in honor of a particular conference (Waking Rose was released at the Midwest Catholic Family Conference of 2007, and Midnight Dancers at the Illionois Catholic Homeschool Conference of 2008) and bear a stamp stating this fact on the same page. They're highly limited-edition (we only run about 50 copies or less of each edition) and they probably all contain some typos, since they're released before we are able to do more thorough read-throughs. However, the Preview Edition is a chance for fans to get a first-look at the new book and to own edition that might someday (possibly) become highly collectible.

(We'll do another Preview Edition for the Minnesota Catholic Homeschool Conference on May 28-29th, but I won't be at that conference: Elizabeth Hausladen, director of The Shadow of the Bear movie will be manning the Fairy Tale Novels table. Those copies of Alex won't be signed, but they will be available.)

The official release date of Alex will probably be sometime in June: and this time we'll be able to take pre-orders. Stay tuned for further details!

Editing Alex: The Importance of the Read-Aloud

2010-05-10T11:18:00.005-04:00

Alex O'Donnell and the Forty CyberThieves marks an important milestone for me: this the first book where the final edit involves reading it out loud to my own children. For one thing, I have two teenagers now (13 and almost-15), which is a somewhat nerve-wracking development. For another thing, Alex has turned out to be a surprisingly family-friendly book: my 6 year old and 10 year old are avidly following the story as well. (This should be good news to all the 14-year-old readers who are still waiting for parental permission to read The Midnight Dancers and Waking Rose!)

An important component of the final edit of a book is the Read-Aloud. Now, I confess that I haven't done an official read-aloud since Black as Night. Reading your manuscript out loud to a small audience is a great way to do a thorough edit quickly, and I bet it'll weed out typos better than Microsoft spellcheck. But there are other advantages to doing a Read-Aloud, which I'll list for those of you who are writers (or who want to be!).

Basically, the Read-Aloud has a way of making even the Writer (who is thoroughly familiar with the work) a Listener, and gives that crucial Outsider's Perspective that's so critical to the editing phase. But these are the aspects of the work that particularly stand out when you read it out loud to an audience:

1. Awkward phrasing.
If you can't read it out loud smoothly, you'd better rephrase it. Some of the manuscripts I see for Sophia Institute Press could be easily ironed out if only their authors read them out loud before submitting. If this is your bugaboo, start reading your early drafts out loud (hint: make a friend read it while you listen). Reading aloud the final draft will hopefully eliminate the clunkiness.

2. Inconsistencies
If someone stands up in the same paragraph (without sitting down in between) you or your audience will probably notice it. Also basic fact checks. ("Hey, you just said ten percent of a million bucks is $10,000: is that really true?")

3. Rhythmn
Andrew Pudewa opines that fine writing style comes by hearing, not from seeeing, the written word. Poetry and plays come alive only when they're read aloud. Same with a novel. Rhythmn, the "third dimension" of the novel, so to speak, is thrown into sharp relief when the book is spoken. If your writing has style, speaking will reveal it. If it doesn't, same thing.
I don't consider myself a particularly strong stylist. It's something I'm working on (and teen fiction is rather style-lite, so I don't work on it much). But the Read-Aloud is an invaluable aid to developing this intuitive writing virtue.

4. Humor
I'm not a very funny person, and the jokes I make in speech tend to be either a) lame or b) too esoterically subtle to be recognizable. Writing gives me a chance to actually try to sound funny, but it's still a lot of work for me. If you've read one of my books and laughed at something, chances are it's because I rephrased it and rephrased it and fiddled with it until it got a laugh out of me. Reading-aloud has a way of generating even better punchlines. Sometimes your audience might even suggest a better one for you. :) And on the basic level, humor is all about rhythmn, so see #3.

Some of the characters in Alex have rather corny humor (ie: like mine) but others actually need to be funny. And pulling the humor out of a situation is always tough. Working on humor in a manuscript, I find Mark Twain's aphorism is particularly appropriate: "The difference between the right word and the almost-right-word is the difference between the lightning and the lighning bug."

Violence Experts for Alex: Nunchaku vs. Katana

2010-05-06T00:56:00.001-04:00

Any book about Alex O'Donnell is going to involve fighting--and the fifth Fairy Tale Novel, Alex O'Donnell and the Forty Cyberthieves is no exception! In fact, this book has more (and more elaborate) fight scenes than any I've done thus far.

Of course, being a rather wimpy and terrified person myself, I still don't know much about any kind of fighting, so that's where I depend on the two friends I've termed my "violence experts."

They've helped choreograph the fight scenes for my last three books, and they always make those sessions so fun to work on. This time I finally thought to bring a camera to one of our sessions, which was helpful not just for creating memories but for referencing various stances in the book text itself.

In the left-hand picture, they're demonstrating how to use nunchucks (or Japanese: nunchaku) to neutralize a sword by locking the blade in the chains. One scene in Alex O'Donnell involves the Japanese katana sword and the flail weapons. It's very interesting to see these two very different weapons interacting with each other.

In the right-hand picture, they've switched weapons to show me how someone with nunchucks would attack someone with a sword. (I think that if you click these photos, you can see the larger versions.)

So as you can see, work on Alex O'Donnell and the Forty CyberThieves is proceeding at a pretty good rate! I hope to bring you more news of the book soon. In the meantime, check out the new Alex section on the Fairy Tale Novels website, and if you think you're the biggest fan of the Fairy Tale Novels, prove it to the world by entering our contest and winning a free hardcover of the new book!

Enjoy the pictures, and stay tuned for more news on Alex!

Rough cover for "Alex O'Donnell and the Forty Cyberthieves"

2010-04-16T10:09:00.001-04:00

Check out the rough cover for the

FIFTH BOOK in the Fairy Tale Novel Series,

Alex O'Donnell and the Forty Cyberthieves,

coming Summer 2010!

Mad Anthony Writers' Conference

2010-04-09T07:29:00.001-04:00

April 16 & 17, 2010 - I will be taking pitches for books and giving two talks at the Mad Anthony Writers' Conference in Hamilton, Ohio (near Cincinnati).

1. Working with Editors - Decoding Fiction Submission Guidelines

2. Writing Evil Characters - How to Create Evil Characters when You're a Good Person

Come join us if you can!

Alex O'Donnell Photo Shoot!

2010-04-07T12:10:00.000-04:00

Work on Alex O'Donnell and the Forty Cyberthieves continues! I hope for a summer release date for this fifth installment in the Fairy Tale Novel Series. Last night we held a photo shoot in Tariq's Oriental Rugs on Main Street in Front Royal.

Our inveterate photographer Craig Spiering (http://www.spieringphotography.com/) took over a hundred photos, which we'll get next week. We've yet to decide on a model for Alex, so we took photos of several different Alex's. My "violence expert" Andrew O'Neill was on hand to coach folks in their sword stances, and he was kind enough to pose for a few photos as well.

Here you can see Andrew O'Neill, the original inspiration for Alex's character, posing with a Japanese katana while Craig captures the action. Some gorgeous rugs in the background.

Here you can see Angela, modeling for Kateri, talking with the owner, Mr. Tariq Khawaja, who was kind enough to let us hold a photo shoot in his store after hours.

When we get to the point of shooting photos for the cover, that's a good sign that we're entering the final stretch for finishing a book! So stay tuned for more word on Alex soon: and if you want the chance to pre-order, click the sidebar button to join my email list for the fasted updates on Alex!

Calling All Actors! - Film Extras Needed for The Shadow of the Bear Movie

2010-03-26T14:02:00.000-04:00

ReginaCon 2010!!

2010-03-09T12:22:00.004-05:00

(aka Fairy Tale Fan Gathering)

As we've done for the last couple years, I and my family will be hosting another Fairy Tale Novel Fan Gathering for my fans June 24 - 27 (Thursday - Sunday) at Shirefeld at the Black Cat Inn, our home near Front Royal, Virginia. Last year, the fans started calling the event "ReginaCon", thus the new name.

This year Elizabeth Hausladen (seated in front, wearing a white, flowered, full-length dress in the photo above) is helping to organize the event and activities. Here are some of the activities planned or possible so far:

Our own adaptation of The Importance of Being Earnest - by the Shirefeld Players
Other skits/Talent Night
Jane Austen Ball
Masquerade Party
Thrift Store Shopping at the best thrift stores in Front Royal! (for the women)
Fishing and/or Stone Masonry (for the men while the women are out shopping)
Writing Sessions with Regina
Marriage Vocation Talk With Andrew: Preparing for Marriage - How to Live Happily Ever After
Film Workshop - by Elizabeth Hausladen, director of The Shadow of the Bear film
Narnia Treasure Hunt
Weapons Demonstration

Please feel free to contact Elizabeth with any questions about this event.

FAQs about ReginaCon 2010

Who's invited? Any of my fans, their friends, or family.
Arrivals and Departures. Generally speaking, guests that are driving are invited to arrive anytime after 9am on Thursday (June 24). However, if you would like to arrive early, that's fine as long as you are willing to help us prepare for the activities. For those guests that are flying into Dulles Airport, we will have two pick-up times: Monday evening (June 21) for those that are arriving early; Wednesday evening (June 23) for those that are arriving in time for the activities on Thursday. For those guests making a return flight on Sunday (June 27), we will be making a run to Dulles Airport Sunday late afternoon/evening. If you need to be dropped off or picked up at times other than the ones mentioned, you may need to coordinate with other fans or friends in the area. There are simply too many activities happening at Shirefeld that we've had to limit the number of airport runs we personally make.
Lodging
1. THE BLACK CAT INN (our house): We will be able to accomodate up to about 10 people in our house. Pretty much, this is a first-come, first served arrangement. To reserve your place at the Black Cat Inn, contact:
  Andrew the Innkeeper.
2. SHIREFELD (our property): We have plenty of flat space on our property for tents and camping right near the house. A family from Iowa camped in our front yard at the previous ReginaCon, and it worked out well.
  (ALLERGY ALERT: We have cats, chickens, sheep, and llamas.)
3. HOTELS: There are also a number of hotels in nearby Strasburg, Virginia.
Food - We are asking for a $25 contribution per person to go toward food, or you can bring the equivalent in food/drinks to share.
Media - As much as we know that those of you who come to the gathering just can't help sharing it with all your friends back home, we're going to ask for limited use of cell phones, laptops, and individual movie watching during the gathering. This gathering is a rare chance for you to meet other fans face to face. We think it makes more sense for you to spend time with the fans that are here instead of constantly chatting, texting, and webchatting with friends someplace else.
Attire - Since this gathering will include both men and women in the generally warm month of June, we are asking that both genders take some particular thought and consideration in dressing discreetly out of respect for the opposite gender. Given that some of the activities include plays, skits, and masquerades, you are encouraged to bring costumes for those or purchase something suitable from the local thrift stores. Finally, please remember to bring proper attire for going to church on Sunday.

Again, please contact Elizabeth with any questions about this event.

Catholic Writers' Conference Online

2010-02-26T09:53:00.001-05:00

Catholic Writers Conference Online - Feb. 26 - March 5, 2010. PRESS RELEASE

March 3, Noon-1pm ET: I will be "talking" online about Catholic Fiction

March 3, 1pm-2pm ET: I will be taking pitches for fiction.

ReginaCon 2010!!!

2010-02-26T09:46:00.000-05:00

(aka Fairy Tale Fan Gathering)

As we've done for the last couple years, I and my family will be hosting another gathering for my fans at Shirefeld at the Black Cat Inn, our home near Front Royal, Virginia. This year we've set the date for June 24 - 27. Details to follow soon... Stay tuned!

Getting Ready to Work on Alex O'Donnell's Book...

2010-01-18T13:44:00.000-05:00

As many of you know, I'm planning a fifth Fairy Tale Novel, hopefully to be published this summer, based on the further adventures of Alex O'Donnell and Kateri Kovach, two characters who appear in Waking Rose. I finished the first draft this summer, and am now having some tecchie friends review the book for me. Why? Because this is my first attempt at a techno-thriller and I hope it's not too laughable. But it is supposed to be a fun, almost campy book, and in that way, I hope it's something readers will laugh at. After the relatively serious books of Waking Rose and Midnight Dancers, Alex's book (tentatively titled "Alex O'Donnell and the Forty Cyberthieves") should be a fun diversion.

So stay tuned for updates! As befitting a techno-book, I'm attempting right now to streamline communications by using my Facebook page (I attempted to make a fan page for myself, which I hope you will consider becoming fans of: the link is on the blog sidebar) and Twitter to do updates. Please forgive any accidental overlap, and if you think of it, pray for me as I write! I know the prayers always help my writing, so it's no small request. And hopefully I will have more of an update soon!

NEW bumper stickers and more for Christmas on Zazzle!

2009-12-15T14:23:00.000-05:00

create & buy custom products at Zazzle

A fan asked me for bumper stickers for Christmas presents, and I finally got to creating them and uploading them to Zazzle today! At last there's a "Someday my Bear will come" bumper sticker, and one that says "My Bear Came" or "My Fish Came" for those of you already happily married to your prince. There's also a new Midnight Dancers t-shirt, and a few other little things I promised those of you who emailed me to ask. If there's something you want that you don't see, go ahead and email me your suggestions!

And there's free shipping on all orders over $50 on Zazzle for the rest of this week: use the code ZAZZLEGROUND at checkout to get the discount. Have fun looking!

Booksigning THIS WEEKEND

2009-12-14T14:30:00.001-05:00

Busy December! This Friday I will be giving talks at St. Mary's school in Rockville and Mother of God school in Emmitsburg. Then on Saturday, I'll be at St. Philomena's Bookstore for a booksigning! If you live in Maryland or nearby states, please come down to the bookstore, which is near the wonderful Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes. I will have copies of the Fairy Tale Novels and John Paul 2 High on hand, as well as other Sophia Institute Press and Chesterton Press books. I hope you can join us!

Details:
Booksigning at St. Philomena Bookstore
12 PM to 2 PM
200-4 W. Main St, Emmitsburg, MD directions

Speaking at Samuel's Library THIS WEEKEND

2009-12-11T07:22:00.000-05:00

Hi all!
If you are local, I wanted to let you know that this Saturday (tomorrow!) I am speaking at the public library in town, Samuel's Public Library to the Teen Creative Writing Club. Note: The talk will be at 11 AM, not at 2 PM as I had previously thought! (So if you know anyone who was going, be sure to tell them about the time change!) Happy feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe!

I'll be speaking on "Which Comes First: The Plot or the Characters?" trying to answer a common dilemma for writers, and also sharing how I learned to structure plot, detail characters, and most importantly, create a unifying premise for a story.

FREE SHIPPING: this week only!

2009-12-08T13:41:00.003-05:00

Just wanted to let you know that we are offering free shipping on all the Fairy Tale Novels this week (till Friday Dec. 11). Since this is also the last week we can order books for Christmas presents, we thought this would be a nice Christmas present to all of you!

Books are shipped directly from the printer. Lisl Eats Dirt, Our Fairy Tale Romance, and the Fairy Tale Novel Paper Dolls are also part of the sale. Go to www.fairytalenovels.com to order. Happy shopping!

"My New Favorite Books: The Fairy Tale Novels"

2009-12-04T20:33:00.001-05:00

I have to say I was bowled over by the detailed review that Sarah Reinhard gave the Fairy Tale Novels at her blog, "Just Another Day of Catholic Pondering." I have to say I was honored and flattered that she praised everything from the writing to the book design to the handling of faith issues (and I wanted to do a little dance when she mentioned not finding any typos!). Here's an excerpt:

I see the sort of excitement and enthusiasm that I feel for Doman’s series in the Twilight saga that’s sweeping the nation. I have some reservations about Twilight, but here is my answer to that need that those books seem to answer: Regina Doman’s phenomenal Fairy Tale novels: The Shadow of the Bear, Black as Night, Waking Rose, and Midnight Dancers. Here’s a list of reasons why I will not only be purchasing all of these books for myself and for all the nieces and girls in my life, and why I think it is well worth your investment too ...read more...

Thank you, Sarah, for the wonderful review!

My Review of Awakening on GoodReads

2009-12-04T19:25:00.000-05:00

Awakening by Claudia Cangilla McAdam

My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I edited this book for Sophia Institute Press, and I have to say the story grabbed me from the first. Claudia McAdam really is an amazing writer who captures the soul of a teenager very well, in my opinion. I used to think that time-travel Bible stories were passe, but this one proves me wrong. Perhaps it's because Claudia works hard to immerse you in the time period of Christ, seen through twenty-first century eyes.

It's hard to retell a familiar story in a vibrant way, but Claudia McAdam succeeds in doing this in Awakening. I was honored to edit this fascinating book for Sophia Institute Press. I hope you'll give it a read!

View all my reviews >>

Christmas Orders for the Fairy Tale Novels

2009-11-25T12:21:00.002-05:00

If you're planning on ordering any of the Fairy Tale Novels directly from us through our website for Christmas, make sure you do it soon! Order your hardcovers on or before December 7th and your softcovers by December 11th! These books are shipped directly from the printer, so we can't have them signed, unfortunately. But if you miss those dates, you can always get them from local bookstores that stock the novels or from Adoremus Books, Catholic Child, Catholic Company, Family Life Center (special sale for $14.40!), Southwell Books (for UK readers) or of course, Amazon. God bless your holiday shopping!

Paul and Rachel -- Dolls!

2009-11-24T17:24:00.001-05:00

Don't tell my daughter, but this Christmas I'm giving her dolls based on two of my book characters, Paul Fester and Rachel Durham! How did this happen? Well, this Christmas, one of my favorite toy companies, Nova Natural, began selling their wonderful Evi dolls as dressable dolls!

For years my children have been playing with these dolls, made of wool and cotton by a fair-trade labor cooperative, which are available in various fairy-tale characters, including knights and princesses. But my girls kept trying to change the clothes on the dolls, which are sewn on the bodies. I asked Nova Natural if they would consider carrying dressable dolls, and this Christmas season, they have them at last!

Click here to see pictures of their dollhouse family which come with removeable modern clothing. I ordered the father and mother dolls, and so this Christmas, my oldest daughter and I are dressing up two of them as characters from The Midnight Dancers!

(A caveat: The Midnight Dancers is "PG" (parental guidance suggested), but my husband read it aloud to my ten-year old (with judicious edits). That's how she knows about the characters and she loves them.) Here you can see some of the clothes 'in progress.' In the photo above, the doll Rachel leaves aside her apron for the glamorous dancing dress (finished!), while juggler Paul Fester (played by the father doll) tries to reason with her. Paul's shirt and vest are in progress, and his jeans came with the Nova Natural doll. (PS: Yes, I know that Paul should have brown hair, but I didn't think of that till after I got the dolls!)

And here we have Paul instructing Rachel's younger sisters Linette and Debbie (played by the Nova Natural boy and girl dollhouse doll) in the fine art of juggling. (Again, I should have ordered the blond girl doll (who is adorable) to play Linette, but I had already gotten the boy doll. He's actually destined to be a knight doll, and a present for my son -- but I had him pose for the photo first.) The rainbow cloth the dolls are dancing on is destined to become Paul's harlequin vest -- and yes, I'll be making him a black ninja outfit.

Now that the Evi dolls are dressable, I see myriads of possibilities: I've started making dress patterns for princess dresses for them. If you buy an Evi Doll and want to have a look at my pattern, email me and let me know!

So if you like dollhouse dolls and are looking for a natural and modest alternative to a Barbie doll or Polly Pocket, I highly recommend the new dressable Evi dolls. With a little bit of sewing, you can make them into princes, princesses, fairies, Our Lady of Guadalupe, the saints -- the options are limited only by your imagination. Check them out here!

A Cool Review of The Midnight Dancers

2009-11-11T22:28:00.000-05:00

Check out this neat review of The Midnight Dancers from Treasure Chest for Tweens!

Here's an excerpt:

I wasn’t surprised at all to find a solidly good story with realistic Christian characters. I was surprised by the story in ways that… well, surprised me:

~ a main male character who reflected the self-sacrificial love of Christ.
~ a positive reflection of Protestants and Catholics with a refreshingly genuine Catholic character.
~ the presentation of Eastern medicine/martial arts blending with Western in a way that does not assume an unnecessary dichotomy.
~ a presentation of truth about the feminine and masculine woven in a way that’s bound to make certain modern feminists yearn for what they do not yet understand that they have missed.

Thanks for the thoughtful review, Tween Lit Crit!

PS: Notice the spiffy new cover on The Midnight Dancers? I finally got a non-fuzzy photo. :)

And here's a short review of The Shadow of the Bear by Sacred Heart of Jesus Academy at Homeschool Blogger.com.

Congratulations to Joanna Fons!

2009-11-11T20:45:00.000-05:00

Fairy Tale Novel Fan Joanna Fons won the "New Face" of the SHOP ad competition. Joanna wrote to me asking me to cast a vote in the competition and said, "I'm really surprised since I don't even think it's that great of a picture of me, but still really excited!" I wasn't too surprised that she won the competition! Take a look at the blog post here.

Congratulations Joanna! I hope this is a good first step into the fashion world for you!

Maidens By His Design Workshop This Weekend

2009-11-11T20:36:00.000-05:00

I'll be at the Strasburg Presbyterian Church this weekend selling books at the Maidens By His Design workshop hosted by my friend Doran! Check out her really cool ministry here. I'll be selling the Fairy Tale Novels, John Paul 2 High, and Awakening, so if you're in the area, come by and do some Christmas shopping!

Get the Fairy Tale Novels at your local EBM

2009-11-03T15:13:00.003-05:00

Have you ever heard of an EBM? The Expresso Book Machine is a revolutionary invention, an "ATM for books." You tell the machine what title you want, and the machine will print, bind, trim, and deliver the perfect-bound, full color cover, library-quality paperback book to you while you wait: about four minutes. Click here to find out more.

EBMs are starting to appear in bookstores and someday may even be in libraries. Right now, about two million titles are available to be printed through an EBM--and the Fairy Tale Novels are among them. It's hard to believe it, but through a strategic partnership, all tiltles available through our printer, Lightning Source, are available at an EBM, which means that our books could potentially be available anywhere in the world--so long as there's an EBM nearby.

So if you spot an EBM at your bookstore, just know you've found one of the fastest, easiest ways available to get your own copy of The Shadow of t he Bear, Black as Night, Waking Rose, and The Midnight Dancers. And if you use an EBM to buy one of my books, let me know!

Hey! I'm an Editor Now!

2009-10-28T15:31:00.000-04:00

I just realized I never blogged about the job that I've been doing for the past year or so: mainly, being a fiction editor for Sophia Institute Press. Of course, I've mentioned John Paul 2 High, but I just realized that I haven't mentioned some of the other fiction I've done for them, including the mystery Bleeder, and the hot-off-the-press teen fiction Awakening. So I'm posting links to the books, and I wanted to let you know that each of these books was carefully edited by me, just so you all would have more good Catholic fiction to read! Catholic Reluctantly, Trepasses Against Us, and Awakening are all teen fiction, but Bleeder is for older teens and adults. Check them out by clicking on the links in this post, and happy reading!

Review of Waking Rose

2009-10-28T15:10:00.001-04:00

Check out this cool review of Waking Rose on Rosemary-Sauce.blogspot.com: and please feel free to let the reviewer know that you read it by commenting on her blog! Thanks much!

To see excerpts of other reviews, click here.

New Reviews of Trespasses Against Us

2009-10-05T14:58:00.003-04:00

Check out these reviews of Book 2 of John Paul 2 High at http://www.johnpaul2high.blogspot.com/.

And don't miss this TV interview with JP2HS author Christian Frank!

In the Catholic Spotlight

2009-09-28T12:51:00.006-04:00

Check out this fun interview I did with Chris Cash and Catholic Spotlight for Catholic Company today. We talked about the Fairy Tale Novels, editing books for Sophia Institute Press, and John Paul 2 High. I had a bit of a cold when I gave the interview, but aside from the hoarseness, I think I did okay. Click here to listen.

I also mentioned two new books that I edited for Sophia Institute Press, Bleeder, and the on-the-verge-of-being-published Awakening. I'll be spotlighting both books myself later on this week. Enjoy!

"Catholic Fiction Finder" in the NCRegister

2009-09-17T12:25:00.004-04:00

The National Catholic Register did an interview with me about my position as fiction editor for Sophia Institute Press. If you're a Register subscriber, you can read the article by clicking here and entering your password. (Sorry, I don't have a copy of the text to show all you non-Register subscribers!) It was a fun interview to do: hope you enjoy it!

Chat This Thursday at Ora et Laboro

2009-09-14T15:46:00.002-04:00

Hi all!
I'm a guest chatter at the homeschool message board Ora et Laboro. If you're a member and want to chat about writing, publishing, or your own work, I'll be doing a chat on Thursday night, Sept. 17th, from 8-9 PM EST. If your mom is a member, teens can join the chat as well under their mom's account. Hope to see you there!
Peace and good
Regina

Paper Dolls of the Shadow of the Bear!

2009-09-10T15:36:00.012-04:00

This post is late, late coming, but I've been wanting to spotlight a book I released this summer with Chesterton Press: Fairy Tale Novel Paper Dolls of the Shadow of the Bear. How did this book come to be? That's an interesting story!

Years ago, a reader asked me if I would ever make paper dolls out of my characters, and I admitted that I'd never thought about it. Well, just this past year, I heard from Cassandra Stevens, a fan, who sent me a paper doll of Rose Brier that she had made, along with Rose's complete wardrobe, including peacock-patterned skirt, opera outfit, and prom dress! I was enchanted, and begged her to make more. She went on to produce a Blanche doll with appropriate clothes, and with some encouragement, dolls of Bear and Fish as well to round out the set.

I was delighted, and decided to produce a book for Fairy Tale Novel fans showcasing Cassandra's dolls. On Lulu, you can see a preview of the dolls and the clothes, but for the best-quality option, click here to order the book from us (it has a stiffer cover, and since the dolls are made to be cut out the cover, that makes a difference!).

I asked this talented artist (pictured left) to tell us more about herself, and she wrote that she lives on a farm in Central Minnesota with her family and an assortment of animals and pets. She writes that she is a voracious reader, and her "sketchbook reflects her current reading list."

When I met Cassandra's family this past summer, I was shocked to discover that they didn't own a single copy of the Fairy Tale Novels: she'd created the clothes from the books in exacting detail with a borrowed copy! Well, I quickly rectified that, and told her to pay particular attention to The Midnight Dancers, just in case she feels the itch to do another paper doll book. So be sure to check out Cassandra's work, and enjoy!

The Deathly Hallows Lectures by John Granger

2009-07-30T18:52:00.004-04:00

If you love Harry Potter and really loved Deathly Hallows, then this is one book you'll want to get your hands on. Hogwarts Professor and homeschool dad John Granger has produced his seventh book on Harry Potter, fittingly enough, centered around Book Seven: The Deathly Hallows Lectures: the Hogwarts Professor Explains Harry's Final Adventure. Also fittingly, it contains seven essays on the literary and symbolic aspects of Book Seven, ranging from horcruxes to hallows.

Warning: for serious fans only. If you have questions or concerns about the Harry Potter series, I highly recommend the book that changed my mind on the subject, Looking for God in Harry Potter, also by John Granger. But if you've read and relished the world's most famous Septology several times, then this book will help you go deeper, and in some places, is just as fun to read.

There are essays on the significance of faith in the book: how the entire book pivots on Harry's nearly supernatural decision to trust a man who he now knows is flawed and fallen. The question of what role Christianity plays in the book is thoroughly and wonderfully examined from a faith-based perspective. There are some interesting speculations on the relationship of Snape's Lily to Dante's Beatrice. Mirror symbolism, the three levels of meaning of the book, the role postmodernism plays in Rowling's storytelling, and examining certain high-profile symbols such as triangles and eyes are additional fascinating pieces to read. Granger rounds off the book with 31 questions submitted by fans on his website, http://www.hogwartsprofessor.com/.

And (most interesting to me) in the first two chapters, John Granger follows up on the exegesis he began in Looking For God in Harry Potter: the use of alchemical patterns in the book which in some ways determine the plot. In this way, Harry Potter, like Shakespeare's plays and Dicken's novels, follows an alchemical outline which turns on the purification, washing, and transformation of a human soul into spiritual gold. If you devoured Granger's theories on this subject in his earlier pre-Book-Seven analysis, you won't want to miss Essay 2: The Alchemical End Game.

I enjoyed this book over several summer evenings with tea and a comfortable chair, and it was delectable reading. I highly recommend it for everyone who feels that Book Seven was a triumph of storytelling. This book will give you more insight into why and how.

Joshua Michael, In Memoriam

2009-07-08T07:19:00.004-04:00

Three years ago, on this day, my four-year-old son Joshua left this world for the next.

I still miss him so much.

My brother and sister just sent me this photo from baby Joshua's baptism. We didn't own a camera at the time he was baptized, so this was a gift our family truly appreciated. There are more photos on Joshua's website.

In this photo, my husband Andrew holds Joshua for the final blessing by our parish deacon, Richard Demers. Deacon Demers had the unusual privilege of baptizing Joshua and then, four years later, giving the beautiful homily at his funeral.

Please remember our family in your prayers today. Thanks so much.

The Shadow of the Bear Wins BEST Audio Drama Show of the Year

2009-07-08T07:14:00.004-04:00

Press release from Chesterton Press.
July 8, 2009.

MP3 of Award Presentation. (Shadow begins at about 22 minutes into the show.)

Based on the book by Regina Doman, The Shadow of the Bear audio drama has won the Sonic Society’s 2009 Uni Award for Best Audio Drama Show.

The Sonic Society (http://www.sonicsociety.org/) is a Broadcast/Podcast out of Halifax, Nova Scotia Canada. It showcases the very best of Modern Audio Drama from around the world. On their show during November 2008 the Sonic Society featured the entire 4-hour audio drama of The Shadow of the Bear, produced by Andrew Schmiedicke and written and directed by Regina Doman of Chesterton Productions (http://www.chestertonproductions.com/).

At the end of May 2009, the Sonic Society invited its 50,000 listeners world wide to nominate their favorite show for its 2nd Annual Uni Awards. The finalists in seven different categories were chosen by popular vote and announced on the Sonic Society’s blog on June 9. The listeners then voted on the finalists. After all the votes were in, Jack Ward of the Sonic Society said, “The Shadow of the Bear won by a clear majority the "Best Audio Drama Show".

“I couldn’t be more delighted,” said Regina.

“So many people helped to make this happen,” said Andrew. "It was like God brought all these people together so it could happen."

Joe Miller donated the production studio and sound equipment to make the audio drama in 1999. Most of the cast came from Christendom College, Front Royal, Virginia; but there were also some from Canada, and Leonardo Defilippis of St. Luke Productions (http://www.stlukeproductions.com/) played both the villain and the victim in the show. The band Scythian (http://www.scythianmusic.com/) gave permission for their performance of the “Drums of Belfast” to be used as the opening and closing music for the drama, and Johnny Doman (http://www.johnnydoman.com/) and Francis Fast wrote and performed most of the music used within the drama.

Ken Fast of Northern Rain Studio in Canada (http://www.northernrainstudio.com/) handled all the post-production. After receiving the digitized recordings of the actors and actresses, Ken and his team edited and mixed the performance with music and sound effects. “I think it’s a great example of how we can all work together no matter where we are,” Ken said. “Through the power of the internet we can transfer it, and way up here in Alberta, we can do the sound track.”

And the result of this cooperative work is fantastic. Not only did The Shadow of the Bear win the “Best Audio Drama Show”, it was also a finalist in 4 other categories:
Best Sound and Editing by Northern Rain Studio
Best Script by Regina Doman (http://www.reginadoman.com/)
Best Actress for Theresa Ford Fisher’s performance of Blanche Brier
Best Actor for Alex Fedoryka’s performance of Bear

The Shadow of the Bear is about a mysterious young man, who lands on Blanche and Rose Brier's doorstep in New York City. The two sisters have conflicting opinions on whether or not he is dangerous. Even as Blanche learns to trust him, her fears that Bear's friendship threatens their family prove terrifyingly true. A modern retelling of the classic Brothers Grimm fairytale, “Snow White and Rose Red”. For more information about this story and its sequels, visit http://www.fairytalenovels.com/.

Recommendation: The Scribbler's Guide to The Land of Myth

2009-07-07T14:26:00.006-04:00

I first heard about The Scribbler's Guide to the Land of Myth because the author, Sarah Beach, and I are both fans of Janet Batchler's blog. I've really enjoyed getting to know the folks who hang out around Jan's site, and Sarah is one of them.

But the topic piqued my interest because of course, I'm a scribbler, and since I deal with fairy tales, myth and archetypes are a topic of perennial interest to me. So I bought Sarah's book. I assumed the high price was because it was a small publisher: I was not prepared for the 400+ reference tome that arrived in the mail from Amazon!

I could not have been more delighted with the Scribbler's Guide. It is a fantastic reference guide for any writer who dabbles in myth. I suspect the fantasy writer might need something more arcane, but for a contemporary novelist like myself, this book was perfect, a great way to bring depth and symbolism into my writing.

With copious references to many contemporary and classic films (Sarah's background is film/television), Sarah examines mythic elements ranging from the Hero's Journey to Archetypes to the Seven Deadly Sins to Mother/Father Figures to Symbols ranging from Fire to Autumn to Twins to Strength. Helpful mythological and historical references are included throughout. Sarah's Christian faith is operative in this book as she examines the mythological and symbolic significance of Christ, King David, and other Biblical figures.

For those interested in story structure, Sarah covers the Hero's Journey in depth, including an analysis of the differing versions (Joseph Campbell's, Christopher Vogler's, as well as five others), plus her appendix includes notes on the Anti-Hero's Journey, The Grail Quest Journey, Maslow's Hierarchy of Need, and other narrative structures. I can't think of a better tutorial or overview of the different quest narratives available to today's writer.

This book was a fascinating read, and one I know I'll be sending young and experienced writers to again and again. If you're a writer of any genre, pick up The Scribbler's Guide before you set off to write your next novel. For a reference book, you can't beat the price, and most reference books aren't half this much fun. Don't leave home without it!

Finished the Draft: Alex O'Donnell and the Forty Hackers

2009-07-07T12:00:00.003-04:00

Just wanted to tell folks that yesterday after a mad day at the computer (working nearly 8 hours straight) I finished the first draft of what will hopefully be the next Fairy Tale Novel: Alex O'Donnell and the Forty Hackers. It's a LONG WAY from being publishable -- I couldn't even begin to tell you how much it needs to change. But the first rough draft is done, and that's the first step. We might be one-third of the way there!

What comes next? Well, in the case of this novel, lots of research. As you can guess from the title, this is my first 'tecchie' novel, and I'm no tecchie. So that means that I need to start learning. When I write before I research, I have a better idea of exactly what sort of research I'd need. I don't necessarily like to do research, but I've learned that a stronger book is worth the price.

So, lots of research to do. (And yes, I will gladly take advice from any tecchies out there who know anything about computer hackers who could help me out or help me fact-check. Email me at regina@reginadoman.com if you want to help.)

It also took an entire draft for me to figure out just what's going on in the relationship between Alex O'Donnell and Kateri Kovach. Now that I know, I have to go back and rewrite those parts (most of the book!).

So the rewriting commences now. After I finish draft one, I start re-reading the book. Whenever I get to a boring part or a place where something is missing, I start rewriting from that point. The next day, I read it again. (I've described this process at length here.)

How long will this take? Who knows? My goal was to get my rough draft done by August, so I'm way ahead of schedule, a rare occurrence! (I was very conscious of how many of you were praying for me during this draft, and I'm sure that had something to do with it.) So it looks like we may make a 2010 publiction date for the next installment of the Fairy Tale Novels. Stay tuned, and keep praying!

Oh, and I started this post for those of you who like to pester me with--I mean, ask me questions about the book. Check this FAQ (or better yet, the Fairy Tale Novel Forum post "And Everything Else") before you ask a question, then fire away!

This August: Fairy Tale Novel Fan Gathering II

2009-06-25T14:13:00.008-04:00

I wanted to make a long-overdue announcement about the Fairy Tale Novel Fan Gathering this coming August 13 through 16.

What will we be doing? Here's the possible schedule so far. We are doing many of the events that were popular at the last Fairy Tale Novel Fan Gathering and including some new ones. Of course much of this schedule will depend on the weather and on the times guests need to arrive and depart. So we're flexible!

August 13, Thursday
- 8:30am-8:45am Scriptural Rosary
- Most of this day is an informal time for Regina, Andrew and their children to socialize and get acquainted with their guests.
- Dinner.
- 6:30pm-9:30pm Traditional Folk Music and Dancing with the Woodhouse Band. Meet Veronica Randolph, the model for the Black as Night cover

August 14, Friday
- Breakfast
- 8:30 AM Mass...for those who would like to go. (St. John the Bapist Catholic Church)
- Second Breakfast.
- Scriptural Rosary.
- Depending on the weather, possible canoe ride down the Shenandoah River
- Lunch
- 3:00pm-3:15pm Divine Mercy Chaplet.
- Picking peaches at Hartland Orchard
- Dinner
- 6:30pm-9:30pm The Miller Sisters Concert
Meet Marie, Carol Lynn (model for Rachel from The Midnight Dancers cover), & Theresa Miller who will play Christian music for us.

August 15th, Saturday
- Option for 8:30am Mass.
- 2nd Breakfast
- Scriptural Rosary.
- Hike up Buzzard Rock. 2-mile hike. (George Washington National Forest)
- Lunch and rest.
- Divine Mercy Chaplet and Crowning of Mary on the Feast of the Assumption.
- Swordplay and juggling with the Cor Guys featuring some friends who were models for the Sacra Cor students from Waking Rose
Preparation for Lord's Day supper and celebration
- 5:30 Saturday evening Mass option for travellers
- Lord's Day Supper & Celebration.
- 6:30pm-9:30pm MYSTERY THEATER. The Pirates of the Caribbean meet the Princess Bride - The Urn of Gravagna. (Come in costume!)

Sunday, August 16th
- Mass at St. John the Baptist Church
Note: Mass Times are 7:00 am, 8:30 am, 10:45 am (Novus Ordo Mass, Latin) and 12:30 pm (Tridentine Mass, Latin) We will probably attend the 8:30am Mass, but others may go to one of the other Mass times listed above. Of course, the non-Catholic attendees may go to a church of their denomination, but they are also quite welcome to come with us!
- Visit to Joshua's grave.
- 1:00 Brunch and guest departure
- For any guests who remain, weather permitting, we might have games, swimming, and picnic at nearby Elizabeth Furnance Picnic Park in George Washington National Forest.
- Farewells to departing guests.

Click here to see more details, also available at fairytalenovels.com.

For details about lodgings, contact andrew@reginadoman.com. Hope you can make it!

See My Brother At Creation 09!

2009-05-29T23:19:00.004-04:00

I almost can't believe it, but my lil' brother Martin Doman is going to be leading worship for the Catholic Mass at the Creation 09 music festival. For those of you who've never heard of it before, Creation is a massive Christian music festival held in the hills of Pennsylvania, sort of like an annual Woodstock for Christians that typically showcases the top Christian bands in the country. I remember when I was back in middle school, my best friend, an evangelical Christian, raving about what a wonderful time she had when she went to Creation with her church youth group. I never dreamed my brother would be on stage there one day! I've long ago stopped following Christian music but I still have a soft spot in my heart for it. I admit I still listen to and enjoy such golden oldie artists as Dion, Don Francisco and The Imperials (I know, I have no sense of what's cool in music! My numerous musician-siblings are constantly telling me that!). I'm amazed and heartened to hear that Creation now offers a Catholic Mass on site for Catholic participants: it seems we've come a long way in relations with our separated brethren. And I'm pleased that festival attendees will get a chance to enjoy the vibrant and reverent music my brother creates and sings. So if you were planning on going to Creation, you can say hi to my brother for me. He's asking for prayers on his website: so I'll join in asking you to say a prayer for him too!

1st Ever Catholic Writer's Conference - register now!

2009-05-22T10:50:00.002-04:00

Please spread the word about this cool conference I'm speaking at in August specifically for Catholic writers, especially fiction writers! I'll be speaking on problems with creating evil characters. Hope to meet you there!
Peace and good
Regina

M E D I A R E L E A S E

CONTACT: Ann Lewis Karina Fabian
Phone: (317) 755-2693 Phone: (701) 727-6662
E-mail: annlewis@joesystems.com e-mail: : karina@fabianspace.com
For Immediate Release

Catholic Writers Guild, Catholic Marketing Network Hold Writers’ Conference

Somerset, NJ--The Catholic Writers' Guild, in conjunction with the Catholic Marketing Network, will host its first-ever Catholic Writers’ Conference LIVE! at the Doubletree Hotel & Executive Meeting Center, Somerset, NJ, from Aug 5-7, 2009. The conference will host publishers, editors and authors from all aspects of the Catholic writing world, including magazines and devotionals, novels and educational materials. The panel discussions, presentations and workshops will cover all aspects of writing including generating query letters, crafting a good story, worldbuilding, marketing finished works and more. In addition, editors from several Catholic publishers will be on-hand to share their wisdom and hear authors propose their works.

The Catholic Marketing Network's International Trade Show, held at the neighboring Garden State Exhibition Center (http://www.gsec.com), will serve as the exhibition floor for the writers’ conference, giving writers a chance to browse the booths, meet with publishing companies, pitch their books to publishers, have their work critiqued at a private critique session and chat with the published authors at book signings at the Catholic Writers’ Guild booth. CMN will also be hosting daily Masses and rosaries at the Doubletree Hotel, and Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament at the exhibition center. Other CMN events including the seminars and inspirational talks scheduled for Tuesday, August 4 will be held at the Doubletree.

Presenters for the writers’ conference include: author/Sophia Press submissions editor Regina Doman (Angel in the Waters); Pauline Books and Media Editor Sister Maria Grace, CEO of Ignatius Press Mark Brumley (How Not to Share Your Faith), Susan Brinkmann editor of Canticle Magazine, Lisa Wheeler, Executive Vice President of the Maximus Group (PR and marketing firm for The Passion of the Christ), author/Ascension Press publisher Matt Pinto (Do Adam and Eve Have Belly Buttons?), Claudia Volkman, General Manager of Circle Press, Tom Hoopes, Executive Editor of the National Catholic Register, and mystery author John Desjarlais (Bleeder) among others.

"This is a fantastic opportunity for both writers and publishers to connect," said science fiction writer and Catholic Writer's Guild President, Karina Fabian. "The CMN has been especially generous in offering to share it facilities and programs with us, which really enhances the quality of the conference for attendee and presenter.”

Conference Coordinator and CWG Vice President Ann Lewis adds “There will be a lot of good information, encouragement and learning opportunities for Catholic authors at our live conference. Our goal is to help good Catholic writers to get published. The world needs their words.”

The Catholic Writers’ Guild has hosted two highly successful on-line conferences.
To register or for more information, go to www.catholicwritersconference.com. Registration is $80 through June 1st, $99 through July 31st and $110 at the door.

Trespasses is HERE!

2009-05-19T16:26:00.003-04:00

Order it now.

And don't kill me when you finish it: all I can say is, Christian Frank is working hard on Book 3. :)

The Midnight Dancers Onstage!

2009-05-12T14:53:00.007-04:00

A few weeks ago at the Milwaukee Homeschool Conference I was privileged to see the very first stage performance ever of one of my books, The Midnight Dancers.

Around Christmas, a group of Wisconsin homeschooled teens had approached me about adapting the book for the stage, and with their encouragement (or should I say, harassment!) and help, I managed to write a script for them based on the book, which they cut down to 50 minutes in order to meet the constraints of the conference time slot. The play was performed on Friday night during the conference and I was so impressed! Even with simple staging and costumes, the teeanged actors gave a performance of warmth, humor, and depth.

The leads in particular were phenomenal: the lead role of Paul Fester is so difficult I had wondered if it would be unperformable, and Rachel Durhams's part is so large that's she onstage and talking for nearly the entire play. But the teens who played Paul and Rachel mastered the parts wonderfully. I was particularly moved during two new speeches I wrote especially for the play: Paul's speech to Rachel on beauty, given during a nighttime garden scenes, and Rachel's speech to Paul after the whole adventure is over.

The actors who took on the parts of Colonel Durham and the villain, Michael Comus, were also wonderful. Michael Comus in particular was so creepy I squirmed every time he came onstage! And the other sisters -- from bookish Cheryl to ditsy Prisca to shy Melanie down to the perky youngest girls Debbie and Linette -- were perfectly cast. And they all assured me that they had a blast putting on the play! I can't tell you what a fantastic experience it was for me as an author to see my story being captured and brought to life in front of my eyes. Many thanks to this troupe of teens for that memorable experience.

Since I have a feeling other homeschool or youth groups might be interested in doing a performance of their own, I'm planning to offer the script for sale, as soon as I work out some kinks in it. I hope to offer the script for sale at http://www.fairytalenovels.com/ with this arrangement:

For a one-time performance right fee of $50, a small group can put on the play for an agreed-upon number of performances: performances they can charge admission for and make money on. (This way I don't have to worry about groups sending me a percentage of the sales, etc.) The performance fee will include a downloadable file of the script which they can print out and copy as many times as they need for their group.

Since I know that there aren't many plays out there that offer parts for twelve girls, I'm happy to be able to make The Midnight Dancers available for sale sometime this summer. If you are interested in getting a copy for your group, email me at regina@reginadoman.com and that will inspire me to finish my revisions sooner!

And just in case you're interested, I'm working on a similar stage adaptation of The Shadow of the Bear for another group, who has a smaller group without a lot of girls. So stay tuned for more details!

My Sister's First Solo Album

2009-05-01T19:01:00.020-04:00

Allow me to share with you one of the great delights of my life.

For years, one of my favorite musical experiences has been to listen to my sister Alicia sing. (Alicia is two years younger than me but is taller and looks older than me, so most people assume she's the older one!) Her voice is my favorite kind of female voice -- high, strong, and clear. For years she's sung with choirs and as a backup singer for other professionals, and more than once she's been tapped as a soloist. But up until now, she's only sung on other people's CDs. If my memory is correct, I believe she's appeared as a soloist on four different albums thus far with three different groups.

But finally, she's come out with her own album, and I am so excited to be able to share her music with you. Her first album, Beloved, is now available from her website, http://www.aliciahernon.com/. Produced in conjunction with my brother Martin Doman (who sings backup and duet with her on several of the tracks), this album is dedicated to women in all stages of life, from girlhood to betrothal, from marriage to motherhood, from the grieving mother to the consecrated religious. It is, fittingly enough, titled Beloved, to emphasize that all women, at every stage of life, are beloved by Christ.

Alicia (who, unlike me, publishes under her married name, Hernon: not her maiden name, Doman) considers herself a singer, not a songwriter or composer. She surmises this by comparing herself to the various composers, musicians, and songwriters she's worked with over the years, including those she's related to. But I think she's mistaken to undervalue her talent as a songwriter, and, lucky for us, the more than half of Beloved are her original compositions. Perhaps Alicia hasn't written many songs, but the ones she has written are a handful of gems, beautifully constructed, memorable, loved by many, and sung in Alicia's unfailingly lovely voice.

Since it's not every day that Alicia produces an album, and since this one is long-overdue, forgive me if I treat you to an in-depth review of my all-time favorite singer/musician/songwriter who also happens to be my sister.

First track on the album is The Cry of the Beloved, which Alicia wrote as a mere college student but which has become a perennial favorite and even became the title track of a Steubenville conference album. It's known more popularly in some circles as "Draw Me, O King": the lyrics are based on the first chapter of the Song of Songs.

Draw Me, O King! I will follow you eagerly:

draw me, O King, to your rooms!

The love that you give is sweeter than wine:

how rightly you are loved!

How rightly you are loved!

The chorus has a sprightly melodic line, and it's been used as a responsorial psalm in more than a few weddings, including my own. :) This is the third time Alicia has been asked to record this song, and this version, with my brother Martin Doman singing backup, will not disappoint old fans and will hopefully win many new ones. My ultimate dream is to see this song incorporated into Catholic hymnals. To hear a clip, click here.

Second track, another fruit from Alicia's college years was a growth in her devotion to Our Lady. And from this meditation and love came another gem, the deceptively simple and utterly passionate song, Maria. The song's verses consist of the first parts of three of the most popular prayers to Our Lady: the Hail Mary, Hail Holy Queen, and Memorarae: the chorus contains variations on the Litany of Loretto together with the heartfelt cry: Maria! It sounds so easily constructed, but the combination is a breathtaking solo piece that few forget once they've heard it. To hear a clip, click here. To see Alicia's thoughts on this song, click here.

The third piece on the album is a duet for engaged couples, sung with my brother Martin, called The Ring. True disclosure: this song is based on a poem I wrote of the same name. I've been trying to recall why I wrote it and for whom, but shortly after I wrote it, Alicia set it to music, making it a far more beautiful creation than it was originally. This is one of the few songs that currently doesn't have a sample track on Alicia's website, but perhaps Alicia will post it soon. Here are the lyrics of the original poem, which don't quite capture the intricate interplay of harmonizing and voices that you will hear on the CD:

The Ring

My sister, I ask you in this hour
Unfolding with the morning flower,
to stand with me and make a vow.
No more shall you be freedom's slave
but since your life you freely gave,
take servanthood in freedom now.
The ring, the round of eternity,
I place on your hand, I give to thee,
a symbol of your love for me.

A promise drawn out through fire and sand
Now gleams in silver on your hand
Eternity that enshrines your finger,
I stand to be yours as life is long:
clasp my hand, and be my singer.
Draw near to me and be my song.
The ring, surpassing old and new,
clings to your hand just as I do:
a symbol of my love for you.

I know I had originally thought of it as a song sung by Christ to the devout soul (hence the term 'servanthood' in the first verse) but Alicia's arrangement has been used to celebrate weddings and anniversaries, where servanthood would refer to the mutual submission found in marriage. I suppose the first verse could be sung twice, with the appellation, "My brother..." to emphasize this.

Fourth track: You're the One. I absolutely love this song, a recent composition by Alicia for her husband, Michael. This song so wonderfully captures their deep friendship and romantic love: and I know that others will see their own marriage in its easily-hummable lyrics. You have to hear it.

Fifth track: Conquer Me. I have been waiting to hear this song again for years. In 1997, when my daughter Rose was baptized, Alicia sang this song after the baptism. The lyrics are from the mystic Hadewijch of Belgium, and Alicia was so moved by them, she set them to music. Any woman, any soul who yearns for union with God, who wishes that God could overcome all the inner resistance and residue of sin and selfishness within them will appreciate this song. I'm just delighted to have a recorded version of the song I've been humming now and again to myself for these past twelve years! Enjoy! To hear a clip of this song, click here.

Sixth track: "Talitha Cumi." Alicia was kind enough to dedicate this song to me, as well as to all mothers who've suffered loss. Another duet by Alicia and Martin, this song is a poem written by a woman to her child who died. A heartfelt reflection on Christ's words to the little girl he raised from the dead. To hear a clip of this song, click here

Seventh track: Up to the Moon. This song by Kim Hill captures my sister's love for her children. Alicia is one of the most motherly persons I know, and her love of music and motherhood is manifested in her eight highly musical children and her years of teaching Kindermusik classes to young children. When Alicia sings to children, she's most in her element. But next time, I'd like to hear her record one of her own original lullabies.

Eighth track: As I Kneel. As befitting an album that has so much to say about women, children, and motherhood, Alicia included this traditional hymn to our Lady, sung with her little daughter Maggie. If you're not familiar with this enchanting song, this version is an excellent introduction.

Ninth Track: The final rousing psalm, "Give Thanks to the Lord" reflects Alicia's committment to her parish music ministry: a fellow singer set this Psalm to music for their parish Easter Vigil, and Alicia loved it so much she decided to record it. It gives the entire CD a liturgical coda, bringing us from the individual soul to the embrace of Mother Church praising her Bridegroom.

Bonus Track: Scripture Medley. Not only does Alicia teach Kindermusik, help with her parish choir, she also homeschooled for many years. In order to help her children memorize Scripture, she set several short verses to music. While this track departs from the meditative soft music of the rest on the CD, it's enjoyable to hear Alicia interacting with her children and being a mom, coaching them to give a spirited rendition of "Children, obey your parents" and "Be holy, for the Lord your God is holy." The last song, an old favorite camp song, "Rejoice in the Lord always" is a fun ending to an enjoyable solo album.

Alicia writes on her website, "by her very nature, a woman is made to give herself away." As if to emphasize this, although this CD is $18 post-paid, all profits from album will be donated to pro-life causes. So please, visit http://www.aliciahernon.com/ and take a listen to the clips. If you like what you hear, feel free to buy a copy. And please spread the word! Thanks!

Trespasses Against Us: Pre-order Book Two!

2009-04-07T16:47:00.010-04:00

It's here. At last.

I am pleased to announce the second installment in a book series that's very close to my heart, John Paul 2 High Book Two: Trespasses Against Us. The saga of seven students in a Catholic start-up school and their tempestuous relationship to the massive secular school next door continues and intensifies. As Series Creator (and as you know, I prefer the title Series Queen) I have to say I think this is even better that Book One, Catholic Reluctantly. More suspense. More action. More craziness. More Catholic truth.

Celia Costain finds it tough being thought of as the perfect principal's daughter at John Paul 2 High. Being Catholic has never been easy, but now Celia’s friends are all dating and say she’s uptight. Celia can deal with that, but how can she relax with someone stalking her friend Allie?
And no one will tell her what’s really going on!

So click here to pre-order the book! It won't arrive in time for Easter, alas, but you could always ask your parents to order it for you and put a note in your Easter basket saying it's coming!

...And (My) Last Word on the Twilight Series

2009-03-20T10:08:00.003-04:00

My rather long-winded reflection is up on HollywoodJesus.com if any of you care to read it. For you moms who've been asking my opinion of the series, this article is for you. Thanks for wanting to know what I thought!

Here's an excerpt:

So I suppose I consider the books . . . problematic, especially (now here I’m going to speak to the moms who are reading this) for those readers who are still growing up. Considering that many girls aged ten and just above are reading books, since the word is out that the books are ‘clean’ with ‘no sex,’ I’m afraid too many impressionable minds are being primed learning to fall in love with a man who just doesn’t exist. I actually feel really sorry for the teenage boys who are having to compete with Edward.

As a romance writer myself, I try to be kind to the average guy. While it’s laudable to create an idealized hero that will raise the standards of girl readers, I’m not sure it’s fair to make him so beyond the pale that no average guy can aspire to be like him. read more...

ADDENDUM: Arianna Clark commented on my post on HJ and brought up this one point which is SO obvious I can't believe I overlooked it:

Furthermore, I never really noticed a meeting of minds or of a friendship between Edward and Bella, which I have always understood to be essential to a marriage or any meaningful relationship.

AMEN! Yes, THAT was missing from the series in a very large way. In fact, there are notable instances of Edward making fun of the things that Bella loves, such as her vintage truck and Wuthering Heights. If there *is* really common ground between them aside from each other, it's really buried deep.

Tickled a Sleeping Dragon Today?

2009-03-20T09:48:00.001-04:00

Harry Potter and the Sleeping Dragons by Nancy Solon Villaluz

My review

rating: 5 of 5 stars
I thought I couldn't learn any more about Harry Potter. NOT that I am an expert, but I'd thought that my several re-readings of the seven Harry Potter books, plus reading analyses of the books by Christian analysts John Granger and Janet Batchler (as well as other forgettable secular ones who were more concerned with fitting Harry Potter into the Hero's Journey or getting facts wrong in their rush to come out with a book to please screaming HP fans) had covered me. It took this book by Nancy Solon Villaluz to prove me wrong. Talk about the tip of the iceberg!

Once I signed on to her quirky style (which is laid on a little too heavily in the beginning: I got impatient, particularly with the autobiographical material, and nearly put the book down in the early chapters) the book revealed itself, like Dumbledore, to be more than just a funny old schoolmaster. I am pleased to have discovered this treasure. If you are a fan of Harry Potter, especially if you aren't convinced of its Christian roots, read this book.

If you're NOT a fan of Harry Potter, I'd recommend the books of John Granger instead, as Does Harry Potter tickle Sleeping Dragons? is really for the diehard fan who has exhausted herself reading the Septology over and over and is looking for something else to chew on. Read and enjoy tickling! PS: There is a planned sequel: apparently Ms. Villaluz has more up her sleeve....

View all my reviews.

Snow White and Rose Red Cake Topper!

2009-03-17T23:19:00.002-04:00

Planning a Fairy Tale Novel wedding? Hoping for one someday? Check out this so neat floral cake topper by longtime Shadow of the Bear fan Therese Heckencamp (she's also an author of teen fiction!). Therese wrote one of the first reviews of Shadow of the Bear on Amazon, and it's hard for me to believe that she's now married, having kids, still writing books of her own, and creating cake toppers on the side! And if you need a cake topper for any occasion, visit www.floralcaketoppers.com.

Belatedly Breaking Dawn!

2009-03-12T12:17:00.003-04:00

I just realized that my article on Breaking Dawn was published on HollywoodJesus.com back in January, and I never told you all! Here's the link to it, and an excerpt:

Stephenie Meyer took on the question of whether or not it’s worth it to be a human being and answered it with all the logic of a romance novel: not really. Better to be a vampire, with lots of money and designer clothes and a dangerous lifestyle with your soul-mate for eternity. The Twilight saga started out as a fantasy that could have been a novel about real things. It ended up being just another fantasy. read more...

I've promised a retrospective on the series that gives my overall take on the books, but it hasn't been published yet. I promise to let you know when it's posted -- hopefully earlier than three months later!

I'm Be-Zazzled!

2009-03-05T16:31:00.008-05:00

create & buy custom products at Zazzle

I am very pleased to announce that we have switched over our t-shirt line to Zazzle.com. Today I uploaded the last of the "classic" designs and am pleased to introduce a number of new t-shirts in color as well!

I made all the t-shirts as "customizable" as possible, so it's possible to get any design in just about any color or style. You can also choose whether or not to get a design as a hoodie, unisex tee, kid's size shirt or -- the options are nearly limitless!

Also I threw together a few new designs for coffee mugs, tote bags, even a "Bear Lives " beer stein. And I'm very proud of the "Winsome" button I made for those of you who want something small to give to a potential "Fish."

So go ahead and check out my gallery at Zazzle! (http://www.zazzle.com/reginadoman*) And if you can't find what you want, email me, and I can probably make it up for you! Have fun!

Coming Soon: Trepasses Against Us!

2009-03-04T10:00:00.003-05:00

Yes, Book Two of John Paul 2 High is almost here: I just sent Trespasses Against Us to the publisher for proofing last night! We're still working on the cover photo, or I'd post it here for us. I really hope fans enjoy this book: Christian Frank has pulled it off again, and I think this book is even better than the first one! It chronicles George Peterson's "descent into darkness" as he starts seeking revenge against his enemy, Tyler Getz. Meanwhile, Celia Costain is trying to deal with the effects of dating as the school splits up into couples -- and she's not allowed to date. So more tension, more craziness, and more Catholic truth -- coming soon at John Paul 2 High!

Stay tuned for the cover and Chapter One -- coming soon!

Running into the Arms of God

2009-02-13T14:14:00.003-05:00

If you have a moment, take a look at Amy Welborn's reflections on her husband Michael Debruiel's death at her blog here. The word "Euthus" stood out for her as a description of his life. Read the post to find out why.

I had the great blessing of speaking to the person who was on the treadmill next to Michael and was the first to come to his aid. ....(she told me) there was no struggle or consciousness of what had happened, no words, no stopping, clutching of chest or struggling for breath. He simply dropped mid-stride and within a minute had stopped breathing. ....One of Michael’s coworkers wrote that since Michael died while he was running, she imagined him running right into Jesus’ arms. He was looking for Jesus, and finally, being finished running that race, reached him at last. read more

As a writer, I can appreciate how Amy was able to write so beautifully and so eloquently in the midst of her grief. That is often how it is, for writers.

Please pray for their family. And if you want to help support the family by buying one of Michael's books, (this is Amy's request) please do so.

Very Sad News

2009-02-04T12:55:00.006-05:00

I write with great sadness to tell you of the death of my friend Amy Welborn's husband, Michael Dubruiel. Yesterday at an Alabaman gym, Michael collapsed and could not be revived by paramedics.

I first knew Amy when she was a single mother writing columns and reviews for Our Sunday Visitor. She took an interest in my writing for teens and my novels, which her daughters enjoyed, and she was generous in recommending my books to others through her popular blogs back when every little bit of publicity I could get made a difference. I was thrilled when she married fellow Catholic writer Michael Dubruiel.

Between the two of them, they have authored over twenty books, separately and together, including Amy's popular book De-Coding Mary Magdalene and Michael's bestselling The How-To Book of the Mass. Their latest jointly-written book is John Paul II's Biblical Way of the Cross.

I can only imagine how the family has been devastated by the loss of this good husband and father, not to mention their breadwinner. I don't yet know of an address where donations could be sent, but I am sure that any would be appreciated: I will post if I can find one. In the meantime, I know that buying Michael's books would help them all through this difficult time period.

Michael Dubruiel was a man who put his whole life as much as possible for the service of Christ and His Church. May his soul rest in peace.

Reviews of my Books...!

2009-01-21T11:52:00.005-05:00

Just wanted to let you know about two blogs that have reviewed the Fairy Tale Novels!

The Damm Family Blog has posted wonderful reviews of the first three books: here's an excerpt:

These novels are geared toward teens (14+), but I thoroughly enjoyed them. They were a meaningful distraction during my hectic days as a wife and mother. What I loved about them? They are simply excellent stories with excellent character development. The characters are real—ordinary people embracing extraordinary circumstances—in genuine, caring relationships. You wouldn't mind knowing them in real life, or having your children know them. Ms. Doman does a beautiful job of weaving the Catholic faith into her stories, eloquently, without being preachy; the characters live their faith in real, everyday ways. The handling of various issues, even sensitive ones, is done very honestly yet discreetly. Read More...

And Against-All-Heresies gave a cracking review of Catholic, Reluctantly, the first book in the John Paul 2 High series I created for Catholic teens. Though the book is not written by me, I am its proud midwife. Here's a section of that review....

You really should order it here. You will not be sorry.

...I enjoyed reading them just as much as my daughters did. This book does not shy away from real issues. There are no pollyannas here. The characters are so real that you want to reach out and text them. Or IM them. They are people you would like to have as friends. They are people we would like our teenagers to be and maybe people that we wish we had been. Read More...

BTW to answer some concerns, a message was accidentally sent out from Sophia Press to the effect that Book 2 will not be out for another six months. I am pleased to say that we plan to have the book out a lot sooner than that! But as for a firm date, I don't have that yet. Let's just say we will be working as hard as we can to get it into your hands around Eastertime. Pray for us!

Too Awesome Trailer!

2009-01-07T14:27:00.003-05:00

You have got to check out this awesome trailer for my book! As some of you know I gave permission for some students to make The Shadow of the Bear into an independent film. Here's a link to the blog and the first teaser trailer (very short), which gives you glimpses of the three main characters. I don't know about you, but I'm excited!

John Paul 2 High Book Two...

2008-12-29T11:41:00.003-05:00

For all of you who've asked me: when's the next John Paul 2 High Book coming out?

Right now Book Two is written and it's at the publishers. I don't know yet when they will be bringing it out: but I know this much: if they hear from you readers, they'll probably speed up the process!

So please direct any and all inquiries about the release date for Book Two to:

orders@sophiainstitute.com or call 1-800-888-9344.

Here's hoping for Book Two early in the New Year!

Merry Christmas! And a Present....! (?)

2008-12-26T11:12:00.007-05:00

Merry Christmas to all of you! As per my occasional tradition, I wanted to post a Christmas present for you all. There are some secret doors on the Fairy Tale Novel website (see the FairyTaleNovel forum for more details) but I also thought I'd post this video made by my siblings, just to show you what they do when I'm not around...

Some of you may know that I'm the oldest of ten children (yes, Martin Doman of Steubenville song fame is my younger brother, and so are the various other Doman men who've sung at various conferences and venues: I occasionally get asked that). For years our family has been a fan of Roger Whittaker's first Christmas album (available on iTunes) and his eclectic Christmas tale Darcy the Dragon, a somewhat odd song about a dragon who goes Christmas shopping one year with disastrous results. It's been somewhat of a tradition to do a skit of the song on Christmas eve: I remember fondly the version I directed during my teenage years that featured my brother David dressed in a newspaper-stuffed garbage bag playing the hapless Darcy while my various small siblings played the elves, shopkeepers, and forest friends.... Alas, today David is a surgeon in Texas and I am a staid novelist encsconced in Virginia with my own family, so our holiday skit-making days are behind us for now.

However, there are still single and young-married Domans at home, with time on their hands on Christmas Eve, and this year they decided to do their own version of Darcy. It was comadeered by my sister Jessy Sheguit, while Johnny Doman (of the John Paul 2 High team) videotaped, and the inestimable Joseph Doman did the puppets. Anna and Maria Doman (who are a high school student and high school teacher respectively) did special effects. And the Token Teenager (from the JP2High team) was on hand to witness the madness, and did what any sensible person would have done: stand by with a bucket of water in case the show turned into inferno...

They posted the resulting movie on YouTube, so I invite you to enjoy. I have no idea if you'll find it as funny as I do. But if you do, be sure to check out the Director's Cut by Johnny and Joe Doman. (PS: Ignore the other Darcy movie done by someone on drugs - same song, but not really worth watching... you want the one posted by jessysheg).

Also there's an interview with me as part 3 of their Christmas special (the December 25 post) at Radio Drama Revival. My husband and I talked about the Shadow of the Bear audio drama, which is enjoying a run on a couple of sites devoted to audio dramas including RDR. Check out the interview if you like.

A Blessed Christmas!!!!

Shadow on Radio Drama Revival!

2008-12-10T13:55:00.004-05:00

Good news! The audio drama of The Shadow of the Bear is being featured on Radio Drama Revival this week and next. They won't be playing the entire thing, but they're featuring some pretty long selections, so if you want to try out the audio drama (which, btw, you can download onto your computer or iPod for just $15), take a listen!

On St. Max's Book

2008-12-08T17:27:00.003-05:00

Since it's the feast of the Immaculate Conception today, I figure it's only fitting that I honor our Lady by a post on the very topic. From an email I received last week:

Subject: Maximilian Kolbe book?

Hello Regina, I listened to you last night on Life On The Rock. It was not only interesting, but inspiring! Plus, you have a great laugh!

During your appearance, you mentioned the Influence of Maximillian Kolbe and his explanation of Mary and the Holy Spirit. If I'm not mistaken, you mentioned the name of a specific book, either by St. Kolbe, or about him, that talks about this teaching. Do you remeber the name of that book?

Hi Pete,
Thanks for your email! So glad you enjoyed the interview on Life on the Rock.

About St. Max's book, there is a bit of a difficulty there, because the saint was working on his book when he was martyred by the Nazis: so the definitive theological treatise on Mary and the Holy Spirit he planned was never completed.

However, there are books written by others that attempt to summarize his teaching and what his book would have contained. I believe the official one is The Immaculate Conception and the Holy Spirit by a French Dominican: Here is the title on Amazon: it is a tiny little book, and I have no idea why they are charging so much for it.

However, perhaps Marytown would have a copy of the book for a more reasonable price. I think it was only about $7 when I bought it.

But for myself, I first encountered St. Max's teaching in an out-of-print book called The Spirit and the Bride Say Come: Mary's Role in the New Pentecost by Fr. George Kosicki and a co-author: here is the title on Amazon.

I am delighted that I could find it for you on Amazon: last time I checked, it was unavailable. And the price seems to be right. :)

Glad to pass on the word about my favorite saint!

Happy Feast of the Immaculata!
Peace and good
Regina

EWTN show was great!

2008-12-05T20:49:00.003-05:00

Just wanted to thank everyone for praying for me! I had a great time being interviewed by Fr. Mark and Doug Berry of Radix on Life on the Rock: it's the most fun I've ever had being interviewed: those guys really made me feel at home.

If you haven't caught the show, you can still catch the encore shows this weekend on EWTN: it's airing again at 11:00 PM EST. And it will be available for the rest of this week at this link here. To find it on the website, go to the streaming video page, scroll down to "archived video" and click on the Life on the Rock link in your preferred resolution.

Thanks again to all of you for your support and prayers!

Watching Me on EWTN

2008-12-02T19:29:00.003-05:00

Hey there! I'm getting ready to leave for Alabama (we are driving: pray we have safe travels!), and I wanted to let you know that you can watch my Thursday interview on Life on the Rock online at http://www.ewtn.com/ at 8 PM EST. Click here for the exact link or just go to http://www.ewtn.com/ > Television > Live TV.

If you think of it, pray for me!!!! Thanks!

PS: I'm pleased to report that by now over 100,000 copies of my children's book Angel in the Waters has been sold. Woo hoo! If you've never seen it before, you can read the whole thing online. Enjoy!

PPS: Fan Rachel let me know that the Fairy Tale Novels are all on Amazon now!
Shadow of the Bear softcover -- hardcover
Black as Night softcover -- the hardcover should be up there soon...
Waking Rose softcover -- hardcover should be coming soon....
Midnight Dancers -- the softcover - the hardcover will be available later on)

I'm Going to Be on EWTN!

2008-11-13T11:04:00.005-05:00

Okay, so here's the official blog announcement: I will be a guest on EWTN's Life on the Rock on Thursday, December 4th at 8pm EST! I'll be talking about Catholic teen fiction, including the Fairy Tale Novels and John Paul 2 High. Hope you all can tune in!

Hope and Loose Ends

2008-11-12T09:47:00.002-05:00

Today I'm the guest blogger on Barry Michael's blog The Tail End. He's doing a "Festival of Hope" all this month. Check out my essay on hope that I submitted to him by clicking here.

The First Fairy Tale Novel Fan Gathering a Success!

2008-11-03T14:44:00.003-05:00

I just wanted to say how much I enjoyed having the fans who came over our house for the first-ever Fairy Tale Novel Fan Gathering. Though I was really unsure as to how it would work out, I am so glad everyone had fun! I was rather glad that the main attraction wasn't really 'meeting me' so much as "meeting other fans," and for that, I have to thank all of you who came at being so welcoming and inviting to one another!

Elizabeth, who as "Elenatintil" blogs and runs the Fairy Tale Novel forum, posted updates about what we did on her blog. (She's also making the student film of The Shadow of the Bear.) Check out her writings about the week!

So are we planning on doing it again? Well, there will be another fan gathering in St. Paul, Minnsota on Sunday April 26th: email me if you want details. And Andrew and I are talking about doing another gathering at our home sometime this summer: probably just an extended weekend this time. So stay in touch and let me know if you want to be updated about the next one!

How I Write Books

2008-11-03T14:38:00.003-05:00

From time to time, I have emails from readers wondering what kind of techniques I use to write my books, and I thought I'd post my answer to one young author, Katie S., in case you would find it helpful. (Thanks Katie, for allowing me to post it!)

1. How long does it take you to write the general rough draft for a book. What comes after that?

Anywhere from a month to a year to ten years. It depends on how strongly I feel about the story and how much time I have. :) When I am working on a book continuously for several hours a day, about a month. After that, the REAL work of writing begins. I start reading the story, and as soon as I come to something that's confusing, boring, or doesn't fit, I start rewriting it. When I do this, I save the story as a new file with a date attached (ie: The Midnight Dancers 10-9-08) so if I change something and decide I don't like it, I can just revert to an earlier saved version and start over. I read and rewrite, read and rewrite, read and rewrite at least ten times.

When I can read the book without desiring to rewrite anything, I give it to someone else to read, usually my husband. If he likes the book, (and I trust his judgment so much: he is so skilled as a reader and editor and he is also hard to please) then I know it's pretty darn good. I had to search for a long time to find someone as good as him to be a reader/editor. If you are lucky, maybe someone in your family can do that for you. If not, you might just have to keep searching for a friend who is willing to do that and can give you advice that actually will make you a better writer. Writer's groups can help. But good editing is a rare skill that is difficult and time-consuming: I always say that when I finally met a really really good editor, I married him!

2. How do you organize a book before you write it? Do you simply let it take you where it pleases (this is what I tend to do) or do you make and outline for it almost as you would for a paper.

I have done it both ways, but in my experience it is much easier if you use an outline. Because otherwise, when your writing runs out of steam, you don't know where to go, and tend to just put the story aside. But if you have an outline, you can say to yourself, "Okay, I have to write the part where she convinces her friend to believe her." You might not want to write it, or when you write it, it might not be very good, but at least you wrote it. Real writing is in the rewriting, like I said above. An outline is a very useful tool. Plus you can revise your outline as you write, and that's easier than revising what you've already written.

3. What about your ideas for your books? Does this come from hours of planning and thinking things out or does it "just come to you"?

Both. Mysteries take a lot of planning on my part, because I'm not naturally gifted in that area. I am blessed to have a small circle of creative friends I can call on: when I get stuck or need to solve a problem or create a clue, I usually go and talk it out with them. They've come up with lots of ideas for me. So yes, hours of planning. But planning with a group of friends is really really fun for me (it's part of what started the John Paul 2 High books - see www.johnpaul2high.com). I'm not like JK Rowling, who needs to go off by herself and think and plan.

4. Also, could you explain a little on how you base your books on fairy tales. Once again, how do you sort it all out?

I start with a fairy tale I love, and think hard and for a long time about what the story actually means, what it's about on the deepest level. When I know what it's about on the deepest level, then I take that deep level and translate it into modern life. For instance, I think that on the deepest level, "Snow White and Rose Red" is about complementarity: about two very different siblings joining their gifts to help one another and others. You notice it's not just Rose and Blanche who help one another, but Bear and Fish as well. I had to make sure that translated. I also take key elements that we associate with the fairy tale -- for instance, the dark woods of "Snow White and Rose Red," the colors of black, red, and white in "Snow White," and ensure they appear in the story in some form, somehow.

I don't really try to be clever in finding new ways to tell the story: I'm more concerned that the story feel like the original fairy tale. For instance, at one point, a large amout of Black As Night took place in an office. I just could not make that office feel like anything that was in the original tale, so I got rid of the office building, and used Elaine's twisting house full of stained glass and mirrors instead as the setting for the climax (it slightly echoes the witch/queen's palace in the original tale). It's a lot of trial and error, and a lot of writing! But the end product makes it fun.

Thanks for writing, and please pray for me!
Peace and good
Regina

Hey hey hey, Shadow's back on Amazon again!

2008-10-27T10:45:00.004-04:00

Okay, some of you will be thinking,"What? Shadow of the Bear has been on Amazon since last year, through Amazon merchants. And of course I can get old copies of the Bethlehem version on Amazon."

True, true. But now for the very first time, my edition of Shadow with the new cover can be ordered directly from Amazon! This is because my husband and I decided to bow to the inevitable and officially become publishers, with ISBN numbers and everything. After several months of work, we have the new edition all set up with Lightning Source, who funnels orders directly to Ingrams, Spring Arbor, and big distributors like Amazon.

So what does this mean? This means you can go to your library and ask them to get a copy of the new Shadow in hardcover, and they can. You can ask your local bookstore to stock it, and they can order it right from the usual distributor they use for everything else. You can order copies for Christmas from Amazon and take advantage of FREE Super Saver Shipping! And it hopefully means lots less work for me and more time to work on writing the next book. :)

In just a week or two, hopefully the rest of the books will be up on Amazon as well. They'll be listed as "in stock" on Amazon: give me a shout out if you see them there before I do. And as usual, I will beg your generousity in supplying reviews for the book on Amazon: just cut and paste your reviews from the older editions if you like.

So click here to see the Amazon page of the hardcover edition of Shadow of the Bear. Feel free to rate it, review it, or just enjoy seeing the book easing out "into the mainstream" at last!

Blessing God's Way in Steubenville!

2008-10-06T21:35:00.002-04:00

If you are a female student at Steubenville, or a mom with daughters who lives in the area, you might want to check out this Blessing God's Way conference my sister Alicia is helping to organize. This is a 'coming of age' program for moms and daughters that, although not Catholic, does a wonderfully insightful job of communicating the tremendous significance of women and women's bodies in God's plan. If you've never thought of your monthly cycle as having any significance theologically, you need to attend this conference! If interested, click the link!

Waking Rose reviewed at Binnorie O Binnorie

2008-10-06T10:58:00.002-04:00

Check out this review at Rosa's blog, Binnorie O Binnorie: if you like it, feel free to comment! Here's an excerpt:

One thing I love about Regina is that she doesn't feel the need to bombard the pages of her books with explicit details about painful subjects. Instead, she handles the situations with grace, providing the reader an insight into the pain that the character is experiencing rather than the details of the event which acted as a catalyst to the character's internal struggle. Fish is now one of my all-time favorite literary characters. His struggles are so hurtful that I felt actual physical pain as I read the book.
Written by a devout Catholic homeschooling mother, The Fairy Tale Novels are memorable reads, full of epic plots, real characters and Christian truth. Read more...

Catholic Reluctantly on the Pondering Catholic!

2008-09-22T11:31:00.003-04:00

Wow! Check out this great review of John Paul 2 High Book One on "Just another Pondering Catholic..."

My favorite aspect of this book was the fact that, despite having “Catholic” in its title, this book would be great for ANY teen or young adult. There’s no “secret Catholic stuff” included - you don’t have to be a Catholic or even understand anything about the Catholic Church to enjoy this book. One of the main characters isn’t a practicing Catholic and isn’t very familiar with things Catholic, and when the kids at her new school mention things - such as the Divine Mercy Chaplet - she doesn’t understand. And though she does sometimes feel like an idiot, we readers get a natural explanation (and a reminder of just how hard it is to be a teen, and to feel like you don’t fit in) that’s not ponderous or overly cerebral. Read more...

If you're an adult thinking about buying Catholic Reluctantly for your teen, you should read this one.

In other news, I send Book 2 off to the publishers last week! So if the editing process goes well, I hope you'll see the next exciting installment soon.

The Shadow of the Bear movie!

2008-09-18T16:33:00.002-04:00

I have been very neglectful in keeping this Updates updated, but I've been meaning to tell you all that I've given permission for a student film of The Shadow of the Bear to be made. Elenatintil, whom some of you know as the founder and moderator of the Fairy Tale Novel Forum, has decided to plunge in and try to make the movie I know you're all wanting to see. So go over to http://theshadowofthebear.blogspot.com/ and subscribe to the posts to keep updated. (As you can see by checking the blog, if you had to depend on me, you'd be way behind!)

Enjoy!!!!! And pray: if prayer helps my own books so much, I can only imagine how much it will help this movie.

Interview with Time With Tannia

2008-09-15T10:56:00.002-04:00

I forgot to mention earlier that I'm the featured author for September on the blog Time with Tannia by Tannia Ortiz-Lopes. It was a lot of fun to do the interview: she asked very thought-provoking questions! You can find it by clicking here. Here's an excerpt:

Are you working on new projects?
Right now I'm in the thick of launching the John Paul 2 High series for teens (www.johnpaul2high.com). It's a kind of fun "pulp fiction" series, about the adventures of seven kids in a new Catholic high school. I'm the overall editor for the series, and I love it. The first book, Catholic, Reluctantly is out on amazon now. It's not pious tripe: it's a pretty gritty story about real teens with real issues. I think Catholic teens from any kind of background will find it speaks to them where they're at.
Going back to missing Joshua, after he died, I found myself drawn to start writing another series of novels, which is now in the planning stages. Read more...

Catholic Reluctantly for Bookstores!

2008-09-09T16:53:00.002-04:00

Up until now, Catholic, Reluctantly has been a print-on-demand book, but this week I learned that sales are such that Sophia Press is about to do a traditional print run on the book and enter it into their bookstore program: hooray! This means wider distribution for us and hopefully more sales! I'd like to encourage readers who liked the book to ask their local Catholic (or secular!) bookstore to consider stocking Catholic, Reluctantly. It's distributed through Ingram.

Bookstores not on Sophia Press's regular bookstore program can click here for terms of sale and wholesale prices. For bookstore terms, for our terms). And any youth ministers or teachers who want to order the book for use in their classroom can get a discount for orders of 5 or more books. Email Sophia Press if you're interested!

Two Neat Sites for Teens and Their Parents

2008-08-25T19:02:00.004-04:00

Hi all,
Just had to tell you about two cool sites I discovered this summer for teens and their parents. The first is Maureen Wittman's blog No Question Left Behind. Blog author Maureen says,

This is a place where teens can go and feel comfortable talking about heavy and not-so-heavy topics. It is a peer-to-peer platform where teens can trust that their fears, struggles, and questions will be heard and answered by those who struggle with the same issues.I put together a team of teenagers and young 20-somethings to answer the questions of teens. The team worked to answer all inquiries in the framework of Catholic teaching. I already have 200 Q&A's ready to roll so you can count on this blog being around for the long term.Please pass the word along. If you work with youth in your high school, parish, or diocese, please link from those websites or mention in your bulletins.

So check it out!

Earlier this summer my daughter and I attended a great day conference by my friend Doran Richards on Maidenhood: it was a good, Scriptural, very positive presentation of the changes that take place in a girl's body that make her a woman. Doran did such a wonderful job of presenting the material discreetly and beautifully: my daughter's reaction was not "ick!" but "Wow!" I wish I had gotten this presentation when I was twelve years old: I can still remember the uncomfortable classroom lecture by a health teacher on menstruation, down to the smell of the lineoleum. But at the Blessing God's Way presentation, we spent the day making raspberry leaf tea, discussing ways to take care of the body God gave us, reading Scripture, and making a fun scrapbook. Really much more memorable. Just so you know, this isn't a "sex education" talk: not at all! My eleven-year-old daughter was very comfortable (and she freezes up pretty quickly when she's not!).

One of my favorite parts of the talk was when Doran, (who is totally pro-life and anti-contraception as well) explained how the birth control pill alters and disrupts the cleansing cycle of our bodies, and my daughter was disgusted by the very concept of the thing. I think Doran's right on the money when she perceives that the best way for Christians to raise kids who are pro-life and Christ-centered in their thinking on fertility is for Christians to tackle this part of a girl's education. She does a wonderful job! So if you have a pre-teen daughter, check out this program!

The Midnight Dancers reviewed on HollywoodJesus.com and Shelfari

2008-07-28T15:42:00.003-04:00

There's a review up of The Midnight Dancers on HollywoodJesus.com. Go take a look and feel free to add your comments to the review. The same review is quoted on the Shelfari site: if you're a member of that site, please feel free to rate and comment on The Midnight Dancers there. Thanks for your comments!

"Paul" responds to "his" book

2008-07-28T14:39:00.002-04:00

Some of you know that I based Paul Fester (of Waking Rose and The Midnight Dancers) on a two of my friends (and several of my brothers!). One of the "Pauls" is my friend Ben Hatke, who probably gets identified more as Paul than the others because he juggles and loves ninjas (but he is not in the Army, or a med student, and he married a girl very much like Rose Brier). Ben read the manuscript of The Midnight Dancers ages ago, but he just read the published version this past weekend, and sent me this email. Thought you might enjoy it, and it made me laugh.

To: regina doman
Subject: You Ruined Everything!

Not really. But I did stay up till 1:30 reading your book. Even though I knew the ending -which must mean it's pretty good. And so this morning I woke up late, and grouchy and tired. You see the awful power you have over peoples lives? Please, please use it for good. Write books that are easily cast aside. I suggest a nice dictionary, or "how to" book.

Anyway, I enjoyed all the changes/developments -even though there were actually fewer differences in this draft than I expected there would be. So thanks! This is definitely my favorite of your fairy-tale series. I hope there is more in store! But, as you know, I am a sucker for ANYTHING with a batman-esque scene like where Paul disappears into the shadows and Rachel says "thank you" even though she's not sure if he's there or not.

--ben

Thanks Ben! I promise to use my powers for good, but of course that will result in a conflict of interest between being true to my talent and the public's need to finish their homework assignments.... ;)

Midnight Dancers Reviewed on Experimental Living

2008-07-24T19:34:00.002-04:00

Another cool review from Sarah Modene has appeared on her blog Experimental Living. Here's a snippet:

What I most appreciated, however, was Ms. Doman’s portrayal of how legalism can achieve the exact opposite of the purpose its proponents pursue. Restriction and suffocating rules are almost always the cause of downfall within conservative Christian circles. I hesitate to call these denominations- or cults, if you will- Christian, as the doctrines they promote are hardly in line with the Bible’s message of love, holy ambition, and evangelism. Ms. Doman effectively reveals the emotional and spiritual havoc wreaked on the lives of the children whose parents are sucked into legalistic circles.
Of course, legalism isn’t only to blame. But it certainly is a driving force in the numbers of “Christian” teens and young adults turning to darkness instead of light. Read more...

Twilight Review by me

2008-07-23T22:26:00.002-04:00

Many of you have asked me my thoughts on Stephenie Meyer's vampire book series, starting with Twilight. I finally got around to reading them for HollywoodJesus.com as a review series anticipating the release of the new book, Breaking Dawn, out August 2.

My reactions to the series are mixed: I want to see where she's going with the series and whether or not she intends to do something more than write a very clever romance-fantasy series. Here's a snippet of my review:

Is it a parable? Or is it just a romance story? Is Meyer exploiting a choice dramatic situation or trying to tap some kind of message? Hard to tell. Twilight, determined by Bella’s first-person narrative point of view, could be female fantasy no deeper than shimmers in a puddle. And the book gives ample room to voice the conventional young-romance mix of sex, love, and death-longing, the recurring theme of so much teen poetry and art and rock songs: you can practically see the movie posters and hear the sound track already as you read it. But Edward, the moral compass of the story for all of his toying and sarcasm, might be the way for the author to angle in on a deeper meaning about male and female sexuality.... read more.

Fearfully and Wonderfully Made Conference

2008-07-17T11:02:00.006-04:00

For any of you who are near Front Royal, on Friday and Saturday I'll be attending this conference as a vendor at the New Hope Baptist Church. The conference focuses on the three stages of a woman's life: maidenhood, childbirth, and menopause. I'll be selling Angel in the Waters, of course, but I'll also have my Fairy Tale Novels on hand. If you like, come by the church during the vendor times and I'll sign a book for you! Please spread the word to anyone you think would be interested.

Fearfully & Wonderfully Made Conference

Schedule:
Friday, July 18 – for women of all ages:
8:00 – 8:45 Registration/Vendor Time
9:00 – 9:50 Introduction to Blessings God's Way

10:00 – 10:50 Women Serving Women

11:00 – 12:00 Celebrating Womanhood

12:00 – 1:00 LUNCH – Vendor Time!

1:00 – 1:50 Erasing Fear

2:00 – 2:50 How to Mentor

3:00 – 3:50 Trusting God’s Design

4:00 – 5:00 Breakout Session – Q & A

Saturday, July 19 – for Mothers and Daughters:
8:00 – 8:45 Registration/Vendor Time

9:00 – 12:00 Maidens by His Design Workshop

12:00 – 1:00 Lunch – Vendor Time

1:00 – 3:45 Maidens by His Design Workshop

4:00 – 5:00 Creative Memory Paper Album Craft Time

From Doran Richards, conference organizer: We will be making sample Red Raspberry Leaf Tea and having breaks and Q & A time with so many other fun things… great bonding time with our daughters! We will take a class photo in the morning on Saturday – have developed during the day and will have them for our paper album craft for the girls to have a great memory of their day out!
Please pass on to your friends, family, homeschool group and organizations. Thank you and hope to see you there!

Join us for our conference: July 18, 19, 2008 - for women of all ages!

Click here for more information or to register.

New Hatke/Lozano book!

2008-07-15T09:53:00.003-04:00

Just had to tell you all that Ben Hatke, my illustrator for Angel in the Waters, has done another tremendous book with author Neal Lozano. Check out this sweet children's book, What Can I Give God?

It's the third one in Neal's series of "blessing" books for kids: the first two are Will You Bless Me? and Can God See Me in the Dark? As usual, the books are quality hardcovers with handsome typesetting.

I love Ben's illustrations of Christ and Our Lady in particular as Lozano retells the Gospel story of the loaves and fishes. If you have a chance, check out the website at www.willyoublessme.com.

Remembering the Girards

2008-07-14T11:25:00.002-04:00

On July 5th, I had the honor of attending the funeral for Thom and Marc Girard. It was by far one of the most profound funerals I have ever been to.

I discovered that for Thom and Marc, Catholic knighthood was not a fuzzy, abstract concept, but a real way of life. One lament of modern men is that today's lifestyle provides no "initiation" for men, no moment at which boys can say, "Now I am a man." Thom didn't merely regret this fact: he actively sought to change it by creating a Catholic initiation for boys, including endurance tests and skill training. Marc had just completed the course and two weeks before his death, he was "knighted" by a Franciscan priest and vowed to always defend the Catholic faith and serve Christ and Mary.

As the Franciscan father read aloud at the funeral the vows Thom had written whic Marc had made, I was moved to tears, as were many in the church, by the daringness and beauty of them. I will go so far as to call Thom Giard a cultural genius for being bold enough to incarnate his ideals into an actual way of life. Marc was laid to rest in chain mail, and Thom was buried with the great sword of the Franciscan friary, which they gave to him in honor of his service to Catholic men.

And as I watched other new ceremonies unfold: the flying of a Marian banner over the coffins in the cemetery: the formal presentation of the widow of the deceased with a white banner as a commemoration of the departed: I was not the only one who felt that a significant moment in the recreation of Catholic manhood had just taken place.

One of the friars there present wrote:

All of us, including myself, take so much for granted. I was always so busy that I did not give Thom nearly the amount of time I should have. My loss.

The grace of our consecration to Our Lady we also take for granted. So much more could be done with a knighthood based on Marian Chivalry. Time is too short not to see this. The men have pulled together in the last week in the face of this tremendous loss. It is my prayer that we recognize this grace for what it really is and not let the hour of our visitation pass...

We are all looking for something transcendent and beautiful in life. Thom and Marc have gone before is in finding it. We have also, in a sense, found it too. It certainly hasn’t been what we expected, but I for one treasure not only memories of the last week, but the overwhelming providence of God hidden just beneath the sorrow. We cannot forget or become complacent, too much has been lost in the service of our Queen and too much is at stake. To arms, then, in the service of the Queen.

I hope that this is indeed a new birth for Catholic knighthood. I also feel I've been complacent in my own consecration to our Lady, and in the work she has for me to do. Please join me in praying for all Catholic men, and in thanking God for the gift of Marc and Thom Girard.

To learn more about the Knights of the Lepanto, Thom's apostolate, click here.

I am continuing to accept donations to the Girard family. Please use the PayPal button above to donate, or send checks to The Girard Family Fund at Bank of America, 590 West Main St (Rt 82)Norwich, CT 06360.

Live Chat Tonight With the Catholic Writer's Guild!

2008-07-13T15:43:00.002-04:00

Sorry for the late notice but tonight I'll be chatting online with the members of the Catholic Writer's Guild. If any of you are writers and haven't joined, consider this a great opportunity! Go to http://www.catholicwritersguild.org/ and follow the instructions at the top to join.

In tonight's chat, I'll be answering any questions about writing and publishing, but I'll specifically focus on my experience of self-publishing on Lulu this past year.

Those of you who are members, I hope to chat with you online tonight!

Joshua Michael July 26, 2001 - July 8, 2006

2008-07-08T10:51:00.000-04:00

I loved him so much.

The Passing of a Young Knight

2008-07-02T10:35:00.011-04:00

Marc Girard, 18, looked like your ordinary Catholic teenager. But he was not.

He had a Facebook page. He was a part of the Fairy Tale Novel Forum (even though, like most guys, he hadn't read the books :) ). He was careless about spelling. He hated having his picture taken. His avatar was a man making funny faces. To his four younger siblings and to most of his friends, I am sure he sometimes seemed very ordinary. Even though he took his Catholic faith seriously, and sometimes challenged his high school friends on different issues.

His friend Paul Ethier was surprised when Marc told him that he was planning to join the Franciscan Friars of the Immaculate, who had a friary near the Girard home in Griswold, CT. Marc was accepted as a postulant, and was going to join the Maine, NY friary in August.

The Girard family had been through a lot. Last year they suffered two hardships in a row: first, their home burned down. The only thing in Marc's room that survived the fire was his picture of Padre Pio.

The family lived on a trailer through the winter, but then this spring, the property was foreclosed.

Marc's father Thomas was working hard to keep the family together. In his free time he helped the Friars of the Immaculate on their outreachs: this past spring he was "Grand Master" knight for their group, The Knights of Lepanto, as Catholic fathers and the friars "initiated" their sons into Catholic knighthood. The photo at the top shows Marc carrying a "penance pack" of 15 pounds of rocks during the "intiation."

Thomas found a new house for the family, and they were going to move on the first day of July, yesterday, in fact.

The day before the big move, Thomas took his two sons, Marc and Lucas and daughter Hannah swimming at a pond down the street from their old house. There was an island a short distance from the shore, and they decided to swim out to the island.

Marc took his younger brother Lucas, 11, along and they swam safely to the island. Mr. Girard took their daughter Hannah, age 7, in his arms and came along behind them.

Hearing his sister Hannah screaming, Marc turned back and the boys saw her bobbing in the water. Their father was gone. Marc stopped several feet before reaching the island. He sent Lucas ahead and went back for his father and Hannah.

Marc swam out to Hannah. He pushed her towards shore until she was safe, told her to pray, and then dove back in to find their father.

He died trying to save him.

Rescue personnel speculate that Mr. Girard died of a heart attack suffered while swimming. Marc was brought to the hospital, barely alive. His mother Carol, some of his friends, and the Friars of the Immaculata prayed with him. He received the Annointing of the Sick and was blessed with a relic of St. Padre Pio. Then at 1:50 AM, on the Feast of the Precious Blood, he died.

It is terrifying how fast death can come. Earlier this past month, Marc was on the forum (screen name: The Illustrious Marceg) and on his blog, joking and laughing with his friends, running for "President" on the forum against Barak Obama and Mr. Darcy, and offering "words of wisdom" about following one's vocation:

Topic: Lord, what are You calling me to do? (Read 460 times)
Illustrious Marceg

Peasant

member is offline
Joined: Feb 2008

Gender: Male

Posts: 30
Re: Lord, what are You calling me to do?

Jun 19, 2008, 10:35am

I was so happy to find a thred wich focased on vocations. Just some words of wisdom, First, you are so right when you say long and short term vocation. Like being a good student was mine and being a good son, but now that I'm done with school. It's now to be a good son as well as a good friend. In August I will be leaving to enter the FI (Fransican Friars of the Immaculate) and am very excited about doing so. The thing is though, in my case, I'm almost poitive that this is Our Lords will for me, but as I grow closer and closer to the day i leave, I get spiritually attacked more and more (with emotions and worries such... I'm not talking about Emily Rose stuff ). I was warned by two very holy Friars about temptation and think it would be very helpful to everyone on this fourm especally for those who are looking into religious life. And that is that you will be tempted in ways you didn't think were possible, and if you do end up entering religious life it's still pretty hard. Its the transistion of being more contempt and 'unplugging' your self from the world. Many of the Saints went trough temptation and trial so just be prepaired and persivere. This also goes for those who are asking the question "what do you want from me". Satan will try to lead you against your vocation, just pray, hope, and don't worry and you'll end up doing His will.

Marc was ready to follow his call from God. But this week, he was called to be a hero. And he answered, without hesitation.

I am so sorry that Marc couldn't save his father, and that he couldn't save himself. But I am struck by his courage, and I will always remember him. Marc's friends were unanimous in calling him, immediately and from the start, a true knight.

I'm a novelist: I write modern adventures in which young adults carelessly tagged as "knights" and "ladies" battle modern demons and dragons. My friends and I play games and hold ceremonies similar to that of the Knights of the Lepanto: serious but always a bit tongue in cheek. We have to ask ourselves at some point: is any of it real? Are we really knights and ladies, or are we just moderns playing an odd game?

And then life overtakes us, and for a moment I recognize that for some of us at least, it is real. For Marc, it was real. He truly attained knighthood.

Just now I went on the Fairy Tale Forum and voted that Marc be elected president-forever of the Forum. Post mortem yes, but I think his qualifications are out of this world.

I love to write about young men who are heroes: it's one reason why I retell fairy tales. Marc Girard is a hero to me, a real knight of Our Lady and the Sacred Heart. I am so honored that he was part of our little online group and that our paths intersected for a short time.

Please pray for Carol Girard, and for the remaining children, Adam,17, Jaqueline, 15, Lucas, 11, and Hannah, 7. Pray especially for Lucas, who witnessed the entire tragedy.

As the Girard family has been under such financial stress, I can only imagine that this tragedy has left them even more at risk. I would like to ask the Christian community to consider helping them during this hard time. I know how much it helped our family when we suffered the loss of our son Joshua: please let this family know that they are not suffering alone.

Condolescences and donations can be sent to:

Carol Girard
c/o the Ethier Family

133 Lake Shore Drive

Pascoag, Rhode Island

02859

UPDATE: a fund has been set up for the Girards at the local Bank of America.

Bank of America

590 West Main St (Rt 82)

Norwich, CT 06360

Until I find out if they have a way to make donations online, I will continue to collect donations through my PayPal account and send them to the Bank of America fund.

My husband and I attended the funeral at St. Mary's Church in Connecticut. It was beautiful. I hope to post more about it later.

St. Padre Pio, pray for us. The first martyrs of Rome, pray for us.

For more about the Girard family, see this link from the Friars of the Immaculate.

Update: Since some of you have asked, by all means feel free to copy or excerpt this post for your own blog or email. And yes, the family does need financial help. If you would like to make a donation through Paypal, you can send a donation to me at regina@reginadoman.com. Attach a note saying that your donation is for the Girard family and specify the amount in your email. I will make sure it gets to them.

I am looking into finding out if they have a paypal account of their own that we can use instead: when I find out anything, I will post. But for now, feel free to use my address, and I will have the money sent to them. Thank you!

The Midnight Dancers is on Amazon!

2008-07-01T13:11:00.004-04:00

For those of you who have been waiting, you can get The Midnight Dancers through Amazon Merchants by clicking here.

And could I ask any of you who've read the book already to consider posting a review on Amazon? Feel free to just copy something you've already written about it (say, on your blog).

Oh, and if you have reviewed the book on your blog or website, please let me know! Email me at regina@reginadoman.com.

Hooray! My Talks Are Available on CD!

2008-06-27T14:21:00.004-04:00

Well, for the first time I can point readers towards an easy way to get a hold of one of my talks. Thanks to LCE Media and the Illinois Catholic Homeschool Conference, my talks are now available to order online!

First off is my talk "No Matter What Happens, Blessed Be His Name," about our son Joshua's death and some reflections on suffering. I gave this talk at the Wichita Catholic Conference last year, but so far as I can tell, it was never offered online for sale, and I actually never heard it myself (though I am told it turned out well). If you have anyone in your life who has experienced tragedy, they might find this talk helpful (I know from my own experience that so little can be helpful at those times).
$7.50 click here to order

And next is my talk on writing, "Evangelizing the Imagination" which I've given dozens of times but which has never, to my knowledge, been successfully recorded. I love this talk: I can't wait to hear the CD to see how it turned out. Those of you who read The Midnight Dancers will particularly understand what I'm getting at in this talk. If you are a writer yourself or interested in becoming one, this talk should interest you. But for those of you who aren't, the talk gives some neat insights into the critical role that fiction and stories play in our imaginative life and in our faith -- just in case you thought it wasn't important.
$7.50 click here to order

Also my own Knight in Faded Blue Denim, my husband Andrew gave an awesome talk on chivalry in the modern world, "Becoming a Knight in Shining Armor" to the teen boys. Check it out! Even though my name is on the talk, I didn't do any of the talking. Unusual for me, I know. :) For those of you who wonder if chivalry is dead, Andrew illuminates a path for modern chivalry and the weapons of the modern Catholic knight.
$7.50 click here to order

If you're interested in having me speak to your group, these CDs will give you a chance to hear what I sound like and what I speak on. At any rate, I'm very happy to have them available at last. Enjoy!

SPOILERS! Questions About the Midnight Dancers...

2008-06-17T21:20:00.004-04:00

This post is for those who've already read the book The Midnight Dancers and who have questions about it. If you're a member of the Fairy Tale Forum (which I recommend: it's free, safe, moderated, and a lot of fun) you can ask your question there (and I've already answered some in the Midnight Dancers area). But for those who can't join or haven't joined, feel free to ask away.

I'll start out by posting the answers to two common questions:

Q: Where can I find the fairy tale this novel is based on, "The Twelve Dancing Princesses?"

A: On the book's website, I've posted the fairy tale here, courtesy of Sur La Lune Fairy Tales, which has excellent annotated versions of many popular fairy tales. In my novel I borrowed elements from both the original Grimm's (which I prefer) and the French version (with a garden-boy as the hero) of which I am less fond.

Q: When will the book be available in hardcover?

A: I hope to have it available for the Christmas season, so hopefully by the fall. I'll be posting on the website about it when it is available. It will most likely be the same price as the hardcover of Shadow of the Bear: $25.00.

Which Fairy Tales Will Become Novels Next?

2008-06-17T20:59:00.005-04:00

Because I'm getting a lot of new readers, I thought it would be a good idea to recap some questions previously answered in the comments boxes on the blog and on the FAQ pages of the Fairy Tale Novels Site.

One question that is I've been hearing a lot is this one by Minni Mo:

I was wondering what fairty tale the next(there will be more right?!) novel will be based off of?What princess stories do you plan on doing in the future? Will you be doing only Grimm brother fairy tales?

So I thought I'd give a summary of where things stand right now. As I've said in the comments boxes, right now my immediate plans are to work on one of these two tales:

Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves
For some time I've had a novel sketched out about the further adventures of Alex O'Donnell and Kateri Kovach (both introduced in Waking Rose) based on this fairy tale. It would be the first story I'd tackle that's not in Grimm's collection. I can't say much about this book, mainly because I haven't written it yet, :) but I have revealed that it's about Alex's dad's misadventures with computers. Stay tuned for more on Alex O'Donnell and the Forty Hackers! (working title)

Rumplestilskin
For those of you who really want to know what Fish was doing in the years between Black as Night and Waking Rose, this book should shed some light. While Fish is studying at a state university, he discovers that a top scholar, an international student (tentatively named Helene) is being blackmailed by an anonymous man. I've only written sections of this book, but I have to say it looks to be a dark, creepy book, which is sort of appropriate for Rumplestilskin, which is (like Snow White) a rather dark story, all things considered.

As for other fairy tales, I have a few others planned out about which I wish to be coy for now. I might even start mining the King Arthur stories and the Adventures of Robin Hood.

However, I will say that I have no plans to turn either Cinderella or (sorry) Beauty and the Beast into fairy tale novels.

Why? I love both fairy tales, but honestly, they've been done as modern stories over and over and over again, sometimes quite well, and I don't think I'd have anything more to add. That's the basic reason why. I'd rather illuminate the more obscure ones than plow again through well-worked soil. But who knows? Some day I might get an idea about one of them.

Thanks for the question!

Obscure Fairy Tales: Snow White and Rose Red

2008-06-12T14:58:00.002-04:00

I love this story. I think it's even better than its more-famous counterpart. Except that if you look at it a little too closely, it kind of doesn't make any sense whatsoever. Okay, fine, even if you look at it from a mile away, the narrative is a total mess. But who cares? It has a talking bear! Talking bears are always good!

My husband found this very funny commentary on the fairy tale "Snow White and Rose Red" by author Sarah Beth Durst, author of Into the Wild and Out of the Wild.

In the course of her research for her fantasy novels, Ms. Durst started noting and commentating on obscure fairy tales. Check out her post on my favorite fairy tale. Here's an excerpt:

One day in the woods, the girls find a dwarf with his beard stuck in a crevice of a tree. He cries to them for help. To free him, they cut off a bit of his beard. He shouts at them, "You uncouth hooligans! How dare you cut my beautiful beard!"

The famous Snow White has Sleepy, Dopey, and Sneezy. This Snow-White has Fussy. I'm rather fond of Fussy Dwarf. Read more...