Twisting Topeka (29 page)

Paul Swearingen

Happiness is a Cold
Pistol

Having written and
published eleven young adult novels, you’d think that
Paul Swearingen
would
have no trouble in dashing off a short story for this project. Not
so! Short stories are just as difficult to craft as novels are.
(The only thing more difficult is writing a query letter for a
novel.)

Swearingen retired in 2009 after 34
years of teaching English, journalism, and Spanish, including nine
years at Highland Park High School and eleven at Topeka High. He
collects many things, including books, multi-band radios, Macintosh
computers, cameras, radio station coffee mugs, vinyl records,
historical books about Kansas, original artwork, and old rusty
tools which he proudly displays in his workshop. In other words,
his home is now a low-quality museum.

What is your writing
background?

All of my novels are young adult, two
post-apocalyptic.

What real-life alternate or
speculative twist for Topeka do you anticipate or fear?

Another tornado, or my own house
catching on fire.

What’s the most important
writing advice you’ve received?

1. Set butt in chair. 2. Write, and
don’t stop until you’ve completed enough to reach a
goal.

How do you make time for
writing?

Being retired, time is not a problem
for me. I usually write in the afternoon, though.

S. R. Thompson

A Library for Every
Kid

Once upon a time,
S. R. Thompson
saw the
word “UBIQUITOUS” splashed across a huge billboard. After that, she
was off on the high adventure of tracking down the meaning and use
of this word--and all words. Her life consists of looking high and
low, searching the highways and byways of experience, down one
trail and up another for all kinds of words and their meanings, to
string them together into stories and poems that showcase The One
who is present, everywhere, at the same time.

Why did you want to
participate in the Community Novel Project?

Every day I have a different colored
pen in my hand and am laying colored ink onto all kinds of paper
products. The love of writing is a part of me. The Community Novel
Project just seemed like high adventure, a fun project, and offered
help from Miranda Ericsson and Lissa Staley--a perfect combination
for learning more about story-writing and publishing.

What was the inspiration
for writing your story?

Because our family has
spent endless hours of enjoyment in the public library of Topeka
and this was a Community Novel Project sponsored by the library, it
seemed only natural to attempt to write a short story about a true
event in the life of Topeka and the library. Also, the “twist” in
my short story came one day, making the bed, as I glanced at the
spine of a volume on a pile of books. I was inspired to write the
story in the format of best-selling author, Brooks, in his
book,
World War Z
, in which each interview added and heightened the story
plot-line.

What have you learned about
self-publishing in this project?

Much has changed over the decades in
the publishing world. If a writer does not keep up with technology,
it becomes almost impossible to publish.

What is your writing
background?

I have written 2
(self-published) books:
Conquering
Holidays For Jesus Chris
t
and
How to Bible
Study
as well as
Knock, Knock, Who’s At the Door
(a
birthday poetry book about dogs) and two fictional short stories
for the Kansas Author’s Club writing contest--”
A Proper Love”
(Romance--First
Place--1994) and
“On The Wings of Kansas
Winds”
(Historical Fiction--Second
Honorable Mention--1995). I will try my hand at just about any
genre of writing. Currently, I am working on an alphabetical poetry
book.

How do you make time for
writing? Do you write on a schedule, or write for a certain amount
of time each day, or do you only write when you feel
inspired?

Writing, for me, is a combination of
all of the above. However, writing starts my day--usually
journaling--from about 5 a.m. until around 9 a.m.--and ends my day
in the evening hours. It takes a love of words and life,
discipline, hard work, being cognizant of schedules, and a measure
of inspiration.

Also Available From Topeka
and Shawnee County Public Library

Read more from the Topeka and Shawnee
County Public Library’s Community Novel Project at
tscpl.org/novel.