Wednesday 1 April 2020

#IWSG post. Guest Post - Yolanda Renee - Birthing doesn't have to be murder. Writing real-life experiences in your novel.

Hi all!

For April's IWSG, I've invited my good buddy and WEP co-host Yolanda Renee, to tell us something we didn't know about her and her writing. We've been communicating much more during this time of Coronavirus, keeping each other's spirits up. How are you doing? Australia has stringent social distancing laws, (only 2 people allowed to meet now), so it's great we're all so digitally connected. Something came up in one of Yolanda and my conversations, and it just happened to coincide with the first day of her blog tour. As the IWSG is about our insecurities/securities, I'll let you make up your mind where Yolanda falls.

After her post, you'll find her tour schedule and buy links and a Rafflecopter Giveaway. I hope you'll support Yolanda on her tour through MC Book Tours.


Top Site for Writers


Alex's awesome co-hosts for the April 1 posting of the IWSG are Diane Burton, JH Moncrieff, Anna @ Emaginette, Karen @ Reprobate Typewriter, Erika Beebe, and Lisa Buie-Collard!

Please visit if you are able!



Writing Your Real-life Experiences Into Your Novel

In Murder, Just Because there's a birth scene. I won't give away the details, but I will admit to writing the scene based on personal experience. I thought I'd take a moment to explain that here, and no, I won't be going into the gory details. I did that in the book. 😊

When I first learned I was pregnant, I was determined to give birth at home. No doctor needed to be involved. I mean, really, women have been giving birth as long as wo/man has walked the earth, but with all their intellect and mechanical gadgets, doctors figured they had a better way. Nope, I didn't buy it. I was very secure in my decision and took steps to make my vision reality.

I found a licensed midwife, but her caveat, she only delivered in the hospital. Damn, foiled again. But at least I'd be in a birthing room with a midwife. I capitulated, much to my husband's delight. He, of course, thought I'd gone off my rocker. Sometimes the decisions we make, we have to push forward in our self belief, even if distracted by those who don't 'see' it.

The big day came, or should I say night. Midnight. No sleep for us. My water broke. Off to the hospital. I'd been on my feet walking in circles around the apartment for hours. I knew it was time, I'd been having contractions all day.

We arrived at the hospital after one am. Straight to the birthing room. The contractions became stronger and stronger as they do. The midwife was dealing with another patient, someone who'd already given birth five times, and since this was my first, she was sure I'd take all night. She left us alone to get on with it, which was fine with me. I was full of self belief. I could do this alone if need be. 

The midwife thought I was just overreacting to the pain and offered 'drugs' as help. NO! I insisted. I need to push. She just threw her hands up and walked out of the room. The rigid tilt of her back said: Stupid primigravida! What would she know? First baby! Pfft.

I did what my body told me to do, and before anyone knew what was happening, I was cradling my son. Pushed him out and pulled him up into my arms. The rest of them, husband included, crowded around, just stood and stared. They hadn't even prepared the bed for delivery. 

But, hey, I wanted to do it my way, and I did. Jason, my son, got an APGAR point total of 10. An Apgar score is a 1 to 10 rating the summarizes the health of a newborn.

Newborn tests positive for COVID-19 in London | Live Science

We were home by noon that day. 

The stereotypical births portrayed on television are done for the laugh track, but most women think only of the child and act only for the child. Suppression of pain, control of breathing, and only thoughts of having a healthy birth is how it's truly done, and that's how I did it and wrote it in my latest novel.


DISCLAIMER: I know that isn't always the case, and that delivery can go all wrong with no fault on anyone. I was clearly blessed. My go-it-alone decision was validated. And I pray for the same for every pregnancy.

Thank you Yolanda. I'm not sure if I was supposed to be, but I was highly entertained. Go girl!

Murder, Just Because


Short Blurb:
The Snowman is back, and as his bloody rampage continues, terrified Alaskans increasingly doubt Quaid’s abilities. In a deadly game of cat-and-mouse, Jenkins starts picking off the people in Quaid’s life… and drawing closer to the most important person in Quaid’s life...his wife. The Snowman’s cruelty knows no bounds,  but the object of his hate knows no fear!

Tagline:

The Snowman’s cruelty knows no bounds, but the object of his hate knows no fear.





Bio:


Looking for a new adventure, Renee recently moved to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. A storyteller from a very early age, an avid reader, and with an education and background in business and accounting, becoming a writer only made sense. And writing mysteries pure logic.






More titles from Yolanda:

MURDER, JUST BECAUSE
LINKS
Author Links:
 Email: yolandarenee@hotmail.com
If you want to follow Yolanda's tour, here is her schedule:


Murder, Just Because Tour Schedule

April 1            Denise Covey – Guest Post - Writing Your Real-Life                                  Experience Into Your Novel
                        Mythical Books – Q & A & Excerpt List
April 2            Constantine – Guest Post - Creating a Serial Killer
April 6            Mystery Writing is Murder – Guest Post How I Wrote My                          Mystery
                        Spunk on A Stick – Feature
April 7            Lisa Haselton’s Reviews and Interviews – Q & A
April 8            The Warrior Muse – Top Ten List of Literary Detectives
                        Random Thoughts – Excerpt & Feature
April 10          Ellen Jacobson Author – Q & A
April 13          Christine Rains – Writer – Review & Excerpt
                         Alex J. Cavanaugh – Guest Post -Top Ten Murder Movie 
April 15          Elizabeth Seckman, Author Guest Post - Heaven on Earth
April 17          Writer’s Gambit – Q & A & Excerpt
April 20          Tara Tyler Talks – Interview
                        H.R. Sinclair – Guest Post - How to Write a Thriller 
                        Rockin’ Book Reviews – Review & Top Ten  Highlights of                         My Life
April 24          Write with Fey – Guest Post - Evil Exists
April 27          Just Jemi – Q & A
April 29          Thoughts in Progress – Review
May 1             Celticlady’s Reviews – Feature



GIVEAWAY DETAILS:

This tour-wide giveaway is for a complete set of the Detective Quaid Mystery series books for one winner, paperback copies of MURDER, JUST BECAUSE for five winners, and a Kindle copy of MURDER, JUST BECAUSE for 10 winners.

To enter the giveaway, just click on the Rafflecopter widget below and follow the instructions. The widget may take a few seconds to load so please be patient. If the widget doesn’t show up, just click HERE and you’ll be directed to the widget.


Thanks for stopping by and be sure to follow Yolanda on her week-long tour HERE. You never know what you might find out. Do you enjoy watching a character grow from one story to the next?


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Yolanda is the host for the April WEP challenge. She has written a preliminary post today about the new challenge. Check it our HERE. Get ready to post on April 19. Hopefully, if you're doing the A-Z, you can fit your flash or poem into the letter of the day.


If you enjoyed Yolanda' post, please tweet!


@YolandaRenee #booktour #guestpost  #WritingReal-lifeExperiencesinyournovel https://dencovey.blogspot.com/2020/03/iwsg-post-guest-post-yolanda-renee.html
@DeniseCCovey @MasonCanyon

51 comments:

Yolanda Renée said...

Thanks, Denise, entertainment was what I was going for. I appreciate you so much. Not only for posting during my tour but for holding my hand during this crazy time we're in!

Elephant's Child said...

A friend of ours had all her children in hospital, but I think the longest she ever stayed was an hour and a half. Sadly three of her four children were born with cystic fibrosis - though of course that would not have changed no matter where she gave birth.
I always love Yolanda's writing - though it frequently gives me a severe case of the grues.
I am looking forward to getting my greedy mitts on this one too.
Huge congratulations - and thanks.

dolorah said...

Babies really do come on their own schedule :)

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

Hi Denise and Renee - well all I can say is congratulations to you and Jason ... a fun read - as I've never given birth. Good luck with the book - it sounds a very good read .. Murder, Just Because - perfect at this time ... we need to be entertained.

Thanks too to you both for organising WEP ... take care and look after yourselves - all the best - Hilary

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

I admire that you women can go through it as I don't think a man could do it. You certainly went home fast.

Nilanjana Bose said...

So cool to be in and out so quick! :) Nice to read a 'natural' birth story too - life-affirming.

I'm getting the heebie-jeebies thinking about how this loveliness is going to be connected to a murder mystery though!! :) :)

Natalie Aguirre said...

That's awesome that you could go home so quickly. I like the idea of home birth but doubt I would have done it if I could have gotten pregnant. I've been watching Call the Midwives, which has many stories about home births in the late 50's and 60's in England that I love. Congrats on your book.

Susan Flett Swiderski said...

Very interesting! I had no idea that birth scene was grounded in personal experience. (Up to a point... thank goodness!) Can't say our first baby was quite as accommodating... he was so darned big, he got stuck. :)

Pat Garcia said...

Hi,
Since I have never had kids, it was interesting reading about your first birth. Somehow or another, I missed the announcement by Mason for your book tour. Even though I cringed when it comes to the murder scenes, I like your style. Sorry, I missed this one.
All the best and take care.

Shalom aleichem,
Pat G @ EverythingMustChange

Yolanda Renée said...

Thank you, Sue. Sorry for grues! A hospital stay is never fun.

Yolanda Renée said...

They do and I was happy Jason was so accommodating. Hi, Donna!

Yolanda Renée said...

You take care too, Hilary. Entertainment is going to get us all through this!

Yolanda Renée said...

LOL, I have no doubt Alex, no doubt. :)
I hate hospitals, always have.

Yolanda Renée said...

It's my favorite scene in the book. I think it will be yours too. Natural birth is the only way to go. What I learned then about breathing and centering oneself helped tremendously when I had a heart attack. Funny how calm I am when it's me, but how I lose it when it;s someone else. :)

Yolanda Renée said...

I stopped at work first to show off my son. LOL More people do home births now. I love that show. Thank you, Natalie!

Yolanda Renée said...

Up to a point, most definitely. LOL My next baby wasn't so accommodating. He came fast too, but he came out blue with the cord around his neck. Hubby called him a smurf and the doctor wanted to throw something at him, but of course her hands were full. This time we were in a delivery room with all the paraphernalia and I stayed for 3 days. Why? Because going home meant work. LOL

Yolanda Renée said...

Thanks, Pat. That's okay, it's a busy time! Stay safe, and stay well!

Mason Canyon said...

Yolanda, I knew you were an amazing woman. I just didn't know how amazing.

Denise, thank so much for sharing Yolanda's story and being a part of her tour.

L. Diane Wolfe said...

I've never been through it and not sure how I would've wanted to go through it.

Yolanda Renée said...

You're too sweet, Pamela, thank you!
And Denise, you too!

Liza said...

A true case of what was meant to be.

Yolanda Renée said...

Your own way, I'm sure! Hi, Diane!

Yolanda Renée said...

So ture, Hi, Liza!

cleemckenzie said...

That's using true life experience to the max! Great to hear you have a new mystery out, Yolanda.

Chrys Fey said...

You were a Warrior Mama, Yolanda!

The title of this post (Birthing doesn't have to be murder) made me laugh because there's a birthing scene in Frozen Crimes. ;)

Hi, Denise!

Olga Godim said...

Both my children's births were pretty easy, comparing to some others, but I can't imagine doing it anywhere but in a hospital. I'd have been horrified if I had to give birth at home. It was comforting for me to know that medical people were there, a step away and ready to help, even if I don't remember their names or faces.
Congrats on your book, Yolanda!

Yolanda Renée said...

Thanks, Lee. I use a lot of those in my writing.

Yolanda Renée said...

Credit the title to Denise, she's the creator. It is a good one though. I can't wait to read it! Thanks, Chrys.

Yolanda Renée said...

I agree, Olga. When my second son was born he was blue. I was glad to be in a place where he was instantly taken care of! But, silly me, I had other ideas the first time around. :)

Jemi Fraser said...

That is a FABULOUS birthing story!! Love it! :)

Denise Covey said...

My pleasure to host my buddy, Mason.

Denise Covey said...

Organizing WEP is our constant delight Hilary, as are special friends like you. Stay safe.

Denise Covey said...

You're welcome. We need each other at this time. Indeed, always. Keep safe my friend.

Joylene Nowell Butler said...

Give birth, then home the same day!? That's amazing. Congratulations on your new book, Yolanda. I'm thrilled for you.

https://joylenebutler.com/phyllis-zimbler-miller-covid-19-when-words-are-all-we-have/.html

Yolanda Renée said...

Thanks, Jemi! :)

Yolanda Renée said...

Thank you, Joylene! I like to get thing done. :)

Diane Burton said...

Denise, thanks for encouraging Yolanda to tell her story. When will doctors or midwives learn to trust a mother? So glad everything turned out well. As you say, that's not always the case. Congrats on your new release. I'm intrigued.

Yolanda Renée said...

Hi, Diane. Thank you for your kind words. I like intrigued! :)

J Lenni Dorner said...

Great post. Sounds interesting.
I was born far away from any hospital or doctor. My parents were alone, by choice. Here I am, in my 40s, so guess it worked out.

Lynda R Young as Elle Cardy said...

Congrats, Yolanda! On both counts. I love that you knew what you wanted and achieved it.

Denise Covey said...

Diane, it’s a great story isn’t it?

Yolanda Renée said...

It sure did! Hi, J Lenni!

Rebecca M. Douglass said...

Ah, that explains the bit I saw from you elsewhere about childbirth being easy! Yes, you were blessed. My own experiences were a bit different, and I was glad to have the hospital staff on hand. But yours makes a great story! Thanks for the guest post here, and good luck with the new book!

Yolanda Renée said...

It's never easy, it just seems that way afterward. My second was a bit different, and I was glad the hospital staff was there too! Thanks, Rebecca!

Toi Thomas said...

Thanks for stopping by my blog and your kind words.
My sister delivered in a birthing room with a midwife for two of her pregnancies.
Thanks for sharing Yolanda's tour. I wish her all the best with her release.

Yolanda Renée said...

Thank you, Toi!

Susan B.Rouchard said...

Thank you Denise for sharing Yolanda’s post. Happy that you are safely well in Australia. All calm in Toulouse France, some cases around us, friends, but no one seriously ill. Take care, stay safe and have an inspiring Easter and Spring.
Yolanda, I’ll root with you for natural birth all the way. Three, delivered, quickly and healthily with midwife in hospitals favoring natural birth and breastfeeding, so I was very lucky and grateful for that. Unfortunately the French and Soanish healthcare system didn’t cover births at home with a midwife, so I didn’t really have a choice. Agree with you that your choices affect the outcome of your experience to a large extent. I learnt early on in my first pregnancy that the energy you needed to deliver was equivalent to running a marathon, so I ‘ trained ‘ my body and brain accordingly. As to breastfeeding, I am convinced it is the best way to keep a baby healthy and he will carry this strength with him all his life. A fearful approach to motherhood, pregnancy and birth can affect the emotional state of the child, I believe, so if you can’t conquer that fear, I would advise women not to have kids. Have and inspiring Spring Yolanda. Take care and stay safe.

Yolanda Renée said...

Thank you, Susan. I studied and did my homework. My intent was to do everything to insure my child a safe entrance to the world. Disappointing doctor appointments before finding a mid-wife had a lot to do with that. Thanks for sharing your story!

Beverly Stowe McClure said...

The story of your son's birth is beautiful. Congratulations. And also on your new book.

Yolanda Renée said...

Thanks, Beverly! That means the world!

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