Meet your neighbor: Natalie Cone
Published 12:00 pm Friday, June 13, 2014
- Writer Natalie Cone describes her personal style as “part bohemian, completely casual, with a splash of whimsical.”
If you’d like to learn to write or improve your writing skills, Natalie Cone offers some succinct advice.
“Write as much as possible, and read lots of books,” she said. “Reading and writing is a great way to learn your own style, and spending lots of time submerged in a craft is the best way to improve.”
It’s advice that has served her well. The mother of two and Springville area resident has been published in The Trussville Tribune, Outdoor Alabama Magazine, Earth Outdoor online journal, and at the Birmingham Botanical Garden’s blog.
Her short stories have been published in the anthologies Garden Nettles and Winter Wonders, the debut issue of Lookout Alabama magazine. A flash fiction short story she wrote won a writing contest and is published on the 99fiction.net website, and she publishes her own blog, www.nataliecone.com.
While spending a recent morning with her children at Big Springs Park, Cone explained how she developed her love for writing, identified writers she admires, and recalls one of the first things she ever wrote.
Writing: “I discovered the fun of it when I was a kid. I remember writing a book called The Shining Diamond with my best friend Laci. We wrote it on construction paper with yarn binding. That was so much fun. Laci marks my childhood, and I’m not even sure if she knows that. Later, I came to appreciate the enrichment of writing, I started doing it out of need, and it grew into something I’m very passionate about.”
Her style: “My voice usually ends up being young adult. I love writing about the inner strength of a young girl who is completely underestimated. I also like working with stories that have some paranormal elements and dystopian ideas, although most times I keep it down to earth.”
Writers she admires: “Ted Dekker and Frank Peretti, for their ability to combine Christian faith and adventure without essentially writing a Sunday school lesson disguised as fiction. And Anne Riley, for being a mother of two, full time Spanish teacher and still cranks out impressive quality word count on a regular basis.”
On her reading list: “Anything from Ted Dekker and Frank Perretti to Nora Roberts, Laini Taylor and Anne Riley. If it is adventurous, emotional, and exciting, I’ll read it.”
Is there such a thing as the Great American Novel? “Not by a single standard. Many novels have been so great that they became classics. However, because of people’s individuality, there are endless Great American Novels.”
If she were stranded on a desert island with one book, one CD, and one meal: “They would be my Bible, Celtic vocals, and steak and mashed potatoes.”
The food she could eat every day: “Seriously, Wheat Thins. You can dip them in anything or pile them high with anything.”
The food she hopes to never eat again: “The salad that harbored a stink bug. I will never, never forget it.”
Her favorite indulgence: “Solitude. As a mother, it is rare. But when I do have any amount of time alone, it is precious. Oh, and yarn. I love the colors and textures. Knitting calms me.”
Her favorite guilty pleasure: “Wine. I love a deep, velvety Merlot.”
How she describes herself: “Christ-follower, homebody, borderline hippie, and crazy for coffee.”
The best part of being a mom: “Twice yesterday my three-year-old patted me on the shoulder and said, ‘You’re a good mom,’ after covering me in hugs and kisses. I get to snuggle a four-month-old anytime I want. Being a mom is by far the most rewarding thing I have ever done.”
Something an acquaintance might be surprised to know about her: “I am a ghost addict. I love scary stories, creepy houses, and haunted locations. It fascinates me.”
