Anytime you pick up a work of fiction, you’ll find a plot. Writers often talk about plotting. Even way back, it sounded boring to me. Too similar to an outline. But when I sat down to write my recent novels, the first, Joe the Dreamer: The Castle and the Catapult, published in 2013; The Lady […]
Behind the Scenes: Author Ada Brownell exposes insane asylums of 100 years ago
In the early days of asylums, people who had seizures were thought to be lunatics or demon possessed. The public thought the same of those with Down’s Syndrome. Even paralyzed people were committed to asylums because the public believed paralysis was caused by humors in the brain. I once worked as a reporter for The […]
The Story Behind My Novel, by Ada Brownell
The Minnie Shepherd I knew moved with rhythm in her bouncing step, her white curly head bobbing up and down. Her almost-five-foot frame leaned forward as she walked, the result of back problems. Wrinkles etched her wide smile, decorated with white false teeth. Minnie was my grandmother. At age 90, she still performed for family […]
What inspires author Ada Brownell?
By Ada Brownell What inspires my writing? I’d say it’s the Lord and my family. More than one wise writer has said an author can’t be successful unless he or she experiences life, and what better way than with family? My husband and I had five children. He was a railroader and often came or […]