Author Norma Enochs, aka L.E. Bounds, gave a presentation Monday to the Fine Arts Club of Poplar Bluff about her book, “My Brother’s Keeper,” and her writing journey.
Enochs, a school librarian at East Carter County R-II Elementary School for the last 20 years, said she is constantly surrounded by literature in addition to being a voracious reader.
“I live in books every day,” she explained, particularly in the K-12 range. This was part of her inspiration to write. The rest came from an idea she simply could not let go.
“My Brother’s Keeper” is set in a world where Cain’s cursed descendants roam the Ozark Mountains, among them twins Okla and Newton. Okla is outwardly afflicted by Cain’s curse and lives in hiding. Newton looks and acts like a normal human but lives with an inner darkness he does not acknowledge or understand. They realize they need each other as industry booms and the outside world closes in on early 20th century Missouri, but they may not be able to accept what the future holds.
Readers will see an immediate resemblance between Okla and his clan and the legendary Sasquatch. On the surface, Enoch’s book is a historical adventure about Bigfoot — that is the explanation kids like most — but it is also a story about good and evil, and accepting one’s self and others.
“I just think there’s a whole lot more to tell between good and evil,” she told listeners, explaining everyone lives with the potential for both. She added, “It’s the accepting of that whole person that makes us whole.”
Enochs credits her daughter for inspiring “My Brother’s Keeper” when she came across the idea of Bigfoot as a monstrous descendant of Cain, who was cursed for killing his brother Abel in the book of Genesis, and wrote a story for school about it. Her daughter then put the paper away and forgot it.
“Well, I couldn’t stop thinking about it,” Enochs said.
With that itch to tell the story and much encouragement from friends and family, Enochs started her book and joined a writing group.
It was harder than anything she had ever written before. For starters, writing 50,000 words to make a decently long book seemed insurmountable. She also had to take breaks because writing some character experiences was emotionally draining, since they were based on those of her and people she knew.
“Sometimes when it hit close to home I’d have to set it aside and digest that,” Enochs said.
Enochs’ first step was to figure out what the story meant to her as the writer.
“The story has to mean something,” she advised. “Give the reader something to relate to.”
Next, she had to figure out how to get from the beginning to the end. Enochs described herself as halfway between planning and spontaneous, jotting down an outline but willing to veer away from it if necessary.
“Sometimes I wrote scenes I honestly did not know would happen,” she elaborated.
Another step in and of itself was to persevere through writer’s block and doubt.
“Everyone has blocks at some point, it’s up to you to make tricks to keep yourself going,” she said.
One of her tricks was to set a timer for 45 minutes, which usually led to her finding a flow and going longer. She also listened to old bluegrass music to get into the setting.
Everyone’s writing journey looks different, she said, but she hopes more people will embark on it.
“I think everyone has a message to share, and I encourage everyone to write,” she said.
After two years of writing and six months of editing, Enochs dedicated “My Brother’s Keeper” to her daughter who inspired it and her grandfather, a talented storyteller.
She chose a pen name based on her maiden name and selected a hybrid publishing route through IngramSparks, which let her publish without an agent but ensured her book could be ordered through any major retailer, including Amazon and Barnes & Noble. They also guided her through the publishing process.
“They take you through all the steps to write your book. I never realized there was so much to do,” she said.
Enochs is proud of herself and her story. She is thrilled whenever middle school students tell her they enjoyed her book.
“Whether it sells two copies or two billion, I’m proud of it,” she said.
The presentation ended with her announcement that “My Brother’s Keeper” is the first of four planned Young Adult books in the Sons of Cain series. Enochs hopes to publish book two next spring.