Pearl Trees - A Useful Research Tool

Hi, some thoughts on researching a novel and other writing.....

Research methods and tools are all over the internet, and if you want you can purchase these ideas and tools for large and small sums of money. I have only invested in one: Pearl Trees. 

Below is an example page (from my Pearl Trees site) on how I am researching my latest novel, Finding Juliah (sequel to Shells ...). I show two categories, but you can create as many categories as you like. You'll notice I am also researching 'church history' for my genealogy blog. My grandmother had a jail ministry, I've been told, so I'm learning about early Tacoma ministries.

For 'Finding Juliah' I have a lot to learn about Thai culture. Pretty daunting to  be honest, because I want to be as authentic as possible in my writing. Pearl Trees helps a lot and is easy to use. If you find a website of interest, just copy the link into Pearl Trees. Easy-peasy. There is a yearly fee (can't remember exactly how much), but it doesn't break the bank. Worth it from my perspective. So, to sum up, Pearl Trees is reasonably priced (or try a free version), easy to use, stores your research, and is a tremendous help with organization.

Sharon M. Himsl, Writer / Author

          Published: Evernight Teen

The Shells of Mersing

         

Memories Shape Our Lives and the Stories We Write - Remembering a Father's Love

Nene - Hawaii's state bird (taken by author in Maui)

At the novel's opening fourteen-year-old Callie Davis lives in a foster home with her little brother Lucas. Their mother is missing in Thailand and their father has been dead for two years. Yet the sounds of the hospital equipment and their dad's final words as he lay dying on a hospital bed still affect Callie deeply. When she escapes with Lucas and stows aboard a sailboat, they become quite close with the captain's elderly mate Clancy. 

Missing their father more than ever, both warm to his affection and Norwegian charm as they would a grandfather. When Clancy nearly dies in the shark attack, Callie can barely cope with the possibility he just might die....let alone his dog too. Callie struggles to stay strong for her brother's sake and knows she must focus on finding her mother above all, but it's a tall order for a fourteen-year-old girl.

It was not hard for me to imagine how Callie and her brother felt. I lost my father suddenly in my early 30s and later a favorite uncle in his late 80s. I drew upon the loss and feelings I had back then to tell Callie's story in particular. As the oldest of three siblings in my family I understood the responsibility of being the oldest. Below are some brief remembrances of my own father. I could write more about him, but when drawing upon your emotions as a writer, it helps to define things simply.... 

Remembering A Father's Love

When I was young my father and I 

did gymnastics in the living room with barely a care.

Slapping his knees, he flipped me high in the air.

When I was young my father waited patiently below, 

smiling and calling out to me to let go.

High atop the tall slide I let my fingers slip, oh, oh, oh.

When I was young my father built me a scooter 

with old scrap wood and roller skates. 

Pushing off with one foot, I raced to show my playmates.

When I was young my father turned an army blanket

into a beach trampoline. 

Everyone took turns riding the wild horse machine.

When I was young my father sanded the rust,

pounded out dents, and painted a bicycle blue.

So I could have a bike that was fresh and new.

When I was young my father built a wooden swing set

in the backyard for my brother and me.

There we pumped our legs to our heart's content, wild and free.

 When I was young my father drove a van to work 

but around town drove a big fat Buick.

Where I sat in the back and always got carsick. 

 

When I was young my father loved to go fishing

in the bay with my grandfather in his boat. 

They caught plenty of fish, both liked to gloat. 

When I was young my father relaxed to the beat of Tommy Dorsey.

He snapped his fingers, smoked, and drank lots of whiskey. 

But mostly, he took time to love and recognize me. 

~~Sharon Himsl

My handsome Daddy, Robert P. Hammond - Tacoma

(Commodore, Day Island Yacht Club)

Sharon M. Himsl, Writer / Author

          Published: Evernight Teen

The Shells of Mersing

         

Catching a Moment in the Garden - Working on Sequel to Shells

Where I sometimes go to walk

I have been gardening and plotting a sequel to The Shells of Mersing. So far, the working title is Finding Juliah. I want Callie and Lucas to meet their sister, and their mother Marsila is desperate to find her. 

 Let me know your thoughts in the comments below. Are you curious about anything else?

Gardening is a wonderful exercise. 

I create stories in the garden

Gift plants from friends...

Beautiful forsythia in full bloom....

Pots waiting to be potted...

Gardening exercises the body and soul. 

Most of all, it gives me time to think about what I want to write next. 

Don't be afraid to be yourself

The "Things We Collect" Inspire and Impact Our Lives

WISHING YOU A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS AND WONDERFUL HOLIDAY! Had wanted to write the IWSG December post and share a holiday series similar to last year's 'Words of Old at Christmastime', but couldn't fit it in, so sharing an interview of me instead and the latest news, Mom's Big Move. Two gifts along the way this season! 

We're buried, truly buried right now in minute by minute details. I've been helping my mother move into a retirement home this month and it's been pretty darn time consuming for the family. The move is still underway as my husband and I (and others in family) help her downscale the furniture and get rid of a lifetime of stuff--the things we collect over time. Helping her say goodbye to favorite things and finding treasures in the mix hasn't been easy. The good news is Mom will be living only 45 minutes away. For most of my married life, I have lived a good day's ride or more away. Mom is doing fine, I might add, a bit frazzled with the change but eager to get some semblance of her life back.  

I know some of you have shared similar moves. Did any of you do this over Christmas? What a delight it was to see the retirement home beautifully decorated for the holiday when we arrived. Being we were all borderline nervous with the pending change, the decorations were a bonus in helping with the transition. After hanging a Christmas wreath on the balcony railing and displaying Mom's lighted tabletop Christmas tree, her tiny studio apartment began to sparkle with charm. Turns out December isn't a bad time to move. 

If I may indulge, below is an interview of me that took place in November, published on Jennifer Macaire's blog, but few read. Kind of proud of my answers because they explain why I wrote this book. There is a Christmas scene in the book I happen to adore, where Callie and Lucas find a tiny Christmas tree ornament in the Mersing market. They secretly display the tree on Lucas's red T-shirt surrounded by gifts for their newly found Muslim family. It was risky on their part, given the family doesn't celebrate Christian holidays, but the gesture turns out well for both sides of the family. I won't tell you what happens :-)  The ornament in the scene is based on one from my collection. Love how the 'things we collect' inspire our writing, don't you? 

Christmas tree ornament from collection.

(As first published...Jennifer Macaire: The Shells of Mersing by Sharon Himsl: "Today I'd like to welcome Sharon Himsl, whose debut novel, "The Shells of Mersing" will interest young adult readers")

Me: You begin with a sailing journey from Seattle. Was there a reason for this?"

Sharon: Yes. I wanted Callie to know there are people in the world she can trust. Her father is dead, her mother is missing, and she has just witnessed a grisly murder. She has her little brother to take care of, but she has never felt more alone. The captain (Eric) becomes a father figure who proves valuable in locating her lost mother. In Hawaii, Callie faces the gray areas of trust with Uncle Azman and his questionable forgiveness.

Why is the second half of The Shells of Mersing set in Malaysia and Thailand?

It’s hard to say which had more impact. My stay in Malaysia in 1995-1996 or the novel that resulted. I only know that when my husband accepted a teaching position at a Malaysian polytechnic in 1995, nothing would ever be the same again. I joined him three months later, following a job lay-off at the telephone company where I had worked for fifteen years.

What was it like becoming an expat?

Huge learning curve. I received travel specifics and instructions for expats from my husband’s stateside employer about what to wear and what not to do in a Muslim run country. For instance, knee length skirts and tops with capped sleeves (no bare shoulders, please) were recommended.

Your main characters Callie and Lucas travel to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia alone. Are their impressions yours as well?

Some of the sights, sounds and smells they experience are straight from my diary. Malaysia was over 50% native Malay (Muslim), 35% Chinese (Buddhist), and 15% Indian (Hindu) in 1995. Each ethnic group has their own language and dialect, but they use English to communicate publicly. Callie and Lucas are relieved to hear English spoken at the market in Kuala Lumpur when they lose their way. The Muslim girl Hayati is based on a teen girl I met on the bus in Kuala Lumpur.

Callie and Lucas meet their Muslim family in Mersing, Malaysia. Do they experience any religious conflicts?

Yes. Malaysians are a religious people. In 1995, expats were warned not to share their Christian faith or pass out bibles if so inclined. It was likewise illegal for Chinese and Indian Christians to do so. I couldn’t resist putting Callie in a situation where she accidentally gives a cousin a Christian flyer handed to her at the market. She has a brief falling out with her Muslim family. As Muslims do not celebrate Christmas, Callie and Lucas then find a way to give gifts to their aunt and uncle, and cousins.

Where did the idea for The Shells of Mersing come from?

I was volunteering at a local orphanage in Kluang, Malaysia. I learned that one of the boys (aged 7) had been rescued from domestic slavery. I was aware of human slavery, of girls mostly, but my shock level jumped to a new level. This was the little boy I had made yarn dolls with at Christmastime. My heart was melting. I then learned that human trafficking and slavery did indeed exist in Malaysia and more so in Thailand to the north. From this experience a story grew.

In Thailand, Callie and Sam kiss for the first time and learn to trust each other. Did you find inspiration anywhere?

Yes. I imagined Zac Efron and Vanessa Hudgens when I wrote about Callie and Sam. The innocence of first love portrayed in Highschool Musical 1 was my go-to source. I must confess also, that my husband and I very much relate to their romance. We were high school sweethearts♥♥.

Excerpt: Floating Market scene in Bangkok:    

“…The air buzzes with the din of boat engines winding down and taking off.

Sam takes my hand when it’s time to board. Eric beams at us from across two rows, noticing. That obvious, huh. Earlier he was worried about the prison arrangements tomorrow, but I’d rather think about this cool guy holding my hand. I can’t think about Mom right now, because every time I do my thoughts go dark and I’m instantly depressed. Not today, not now.

Sam squeezes my hand. “You okay?” he shouts over the engine.

He always seems to know. “I’m fine.” And I am, just gazing into his light brown eyes.”

Who is your ideal reader?

Teen girls primarily (13 up), and anyone who identifies with a teen’s point of view in an otherwise out of control adult world. The choices made at the brink of adulthood can have a powerful effect on one’s future, even when the odds are against success. Callie’s experience ranges from losing a father and mother and being placed in a disreputable foster home, to fending off smugglers and human traffickers, and then finding favor with the King of Thailand. On the other hand, a seventy-plus year old male relative of mine said he identified with the characters and cried at the ending.    

(Print & E-Book) (Suspense, Mystery & Romance)

Amazon

Evernight Teen

Barnes & Noble

Short synopsis: When notorious Uncle Azman disobeys orders, and secretly sends Callie and her younger brother Lucas to meet their mother's sisters in Mersing, Malaysia, 14-year-old Callie hopes their troubles are over. After all they have endured, what more could go wrong? Their American dad is dead, Mom is missing, and their foster dad in Seattle was murdered, with Callie falsely accused. Pawns in a crime operation gone awry, Callie and Lucas barely escaped being targeted by their uncle's sinister boss for sale in Thailand’s human trafficking market. Although Uncle Azman's turnaround was a miracle, Callie knows that real safety lies with family in Mersing, where they can begin searching for Mom, but a shell box, a ruby, and a boy named Sam from Chicago are about to change everything.

Short Bio:

Sharon spent more than ten years developing The Shells of Mersing, a story first outlined in Malaysia in 1996. With a B.A. in American Studies, she has a soft spot for history and other cultures. Malaysia is a rich storehouse of culture, with its Malay, Chinese and Indian populations. Today she is working on a second novel (a sequel to Shells…) at her home in Eastern Washington, where she lives with her husband on the edge of a desert runway . . . but that’s another story! 

Blogs:

https://shells-tales-sails.blogspot.com/

http://sharonmhimsl.blogspot.com/

Nice Article by Local Newspaper

Our local newspaper highlights members of our small community on a regular basis, and it's an honor to be included. Never forget how important community is, whether it's the public, your family and friends or a professional group. Always be grateful and never take this kind of support for granted.