It’s Tulip Time. How many Dutch Words can you translate?
Singapore, Michigan
One of my inspirations for Natural Attraction was a family history written by my aunt. It included details of emigration from the Netherlands, a great-grandpa stealing a mail order bride, and the lost town of Singapore, Michigan, swallowed by dunes following deforestation. I remember visiting the former site of Singapore with my Uncle Vern via a dune schooner ride. In internet-translated Dutch, Clementine’s hometown of Spookstad (sister city of Singapore) means “ghost town.” Here’s an old family photo, taken after the town of Singapore was lost.
For a fictional version of Singapore and its neighboring town of Spookstad, check out Natural Attraction.
The Unbearable Lightness of Romance
There’s plenty of lighthearted science in Natural Attraction. As I wrote it, I had a hard time deciding if it should become scifi or romance. Both include passion, mystery, discovery. I went with romance because the romance industry is a nice place. As Emma Teitel points out, in romance the female always wins. And the man always wins. What’s not to love? Have you read about all the fighting over the scifi Hugo Awards? I’m glad to have made the decision to go with a happy genre where women support each other. Romance can be clever, fun, and funny. The first romance novel I ever read was The Changeling Bride by Lisa Cach. It was creative, informative, sexy, and it made me laugh–and think. Almost like the ideal partner. Almost like science itself. And as someone who was once part of a Shakespeare festival, I can tell you that those romantic happy endings are a lot more challenging than the sad ones. As Malia Wollan points out, romance springs from “a desire to see goodness in the world.” Glad to be a part of the romance industry! There can’t be too much love in the world.
A poll about the 70s
I wanted to set Natural Attraction in 1871 because it was a time of great social change. Not only was slavery just abolished, evolution was shaking up world views. The discovery of sperm and egg cells was ushering in sexual equality. If I set a novel in the 1960s or 70s, what science comes to your mind?
Little Touches
I must admit that I like and read ebooks (and print books). Getting my novel published has given me a new appreciation of the flexibility that comes with print books, like this little vine to indicate a scene break.
Meetings and a poll
I just got back from a scientific meeting. The great thing about being a mature scientist is that your student does the work of presenting. I couldn’t resist taking a photo at the U of Iowa, my alma mater. Also, today Natural Attraction went up for pre-sale for Kindle and Nook.
Writing tips from Rick Bass
Author Rick Bass (The Ninemile Wolves,The Hermit’s Story, and many others) visited my Short Story Writing class today. He read from his work, talked about being a geologist (and the moral choices that scientists face), the importance of nature, and reviewed these tips for good writing, paraphrased by me: 1. Make your first sentence your second strongest and your last sentance the strongest. 2. Use no more than 10% back story. 3. Discipline yourself to write every day. 4. Make your protagonist active. (It’s tempting to make the person a passive observer, but don’t.) 5. Sense details and specificity make the story believable. 6. Create trouble for your protagonist–isolation, uncertainty, etc. 7. Emotion, emotion. Here’s a photo with Rick and three of my students who were brave enough to have a photo snapped. 
Costume Coincidence: Pella Tulip Time
Natural Attraction begins in the Dutch American town of Spookstad, Michigan. The Granny in the story wears a dress very much like that worn by Pella, Iowa’s Tulip Court this year. Here’s a look at the costume from Groningen.
Catherine Haustein 