How can it suddenly be November? Wasn’t the sun shining yesterday with balmy
breezes and warm temperatures. Actually
here in Michigan we hit 70 degrees several times this month, so the idea of
cold and snow and ice being just around the corner is a difficult concept to grasp.
Regardless, it’s time for the next issue of my
ramblings about writing, a glimpse at a work in progress and an interview with
another talented author. Of course,
there’s music to be shared and this month bring a little change in pace.
So to quote legendary comedian Jackie Gleason “Away We
Go!”
Writing
Many people know that I don’t work with an outline.
It’s too restrictive for me. I haven’t used one since elementary school and
even then, I wrote the outline after completing the assignment. If you listen closely, you’ll hear the good
Catholic sisters spinning in their graves at my admission of this education
related sin.
The method I use seems bizarre to some people. I begin
with just a basic story idea in mind and my main character. Then I write a scene to get things
rolling. This may not necessarily be at
the beginning of the story. It can be anywhere.
I rarely know how the story will end, so it’s not like I write the tale
in reverse. It could be a setting, or a
bit of dialogue. I may overhear a bit of
conversation or witness something that triggers an idea that becomes part of a
story.
Often the character’s actions and comments will
trigger ideas about what happens next or what should have happened before.
As more scenes are written, I’ll start to put them in
some kind of order or sequence. When
they add up, then I can go back and see what’s missing and figure out what is
needed to tie the story together. I know
this style doesn’t work for everybody. But it works for me. Life isn’t orderly.
Why should my writing style be that way?
Work
In Progress
Lately my free time to write has been somewhat limited
with other demands on my schedule. But
the ideas keep coming. I’m working on the third novel in the Jefferson Chene
series. I take every opportunity to
spend a little time that gang. In
addition to the investigation, I’m inclined to continue developing the
relationship with Chene and Simone.
Recently during a chat with Elle Nina Castle, my
collaborator on “Don’t Mess With the Gods” Elle (pronounced Ellie, if you’re
wondering) commented about Michigan being called “The Mitten” in reference to
the shape of the lower peninsula. What followed was a mini-geography lesson and
her suggestion that this sounded like something Chene would do with
Simone. Inspiration struck! And just as
I described in the section above, there was the idea for a scene with the two
of them. Here’s an excerpt of that. Bear in mind this is a Work In Progress, so there’s no guarantee it will make it into the
final book.
Elle Nina Castle
In this scene Chene and Simone have met for a quick
drink. Simone’s eager to talk about something other than the investigation he’s
working on at the moment.
“Do you realize in the time we’ve been dating, there are still
so many things about you I don’t know?” she said.
“I’m an open
book.”
That earned me a
burst of laughter from her. “Yes, and I’m Venus de Milo.”
“Nice to see you,
Venus.” It was impossible not to smile with her, no matter how tired I was.
“What do you want to know? Keep in mind we both have a very early morning.”
She thought that
over briefly. “How did you ever learn your way around town after being raised
in an orphanage? I’m pretty good with
the area, but you seem to know where everything is.”
I motioned to
her. “Raise your left hand.”
She did, giving me a quizzical look.
“Welcome to Michigan. You know the lower peninsula is shaped
like this.”
“Of course.”
Taking her by the wrist, I turned her palm so she could see it
in the dim outdoor lights. “Down here, near the heel of your thumb, is roughly
where Detroit is.” I slid two fingertips across the surface toward her index finger.
Her skin was soft and warm. “This gets you near Dearborn and maybe a little bit
towards Westland.”
Her shoulders were swaying a little. Simone gave me her
undivided attention.
“A little further this way, it gets closer to Romulus,
Belleville and Ann Arbor.” I continued in what would be a western direction,
then moved up from the palm to the base of her first two fingers. “Livonia,
Plymouth, Northville, Farmington, Novi and Wixom are this way.”
Simone drew a deep breath and moved in front of me. She turned,
pressing her back against my chest. Her hips were moving in rhythm with her
shoulders. In the background, the jazz music seemed to grow louder. “Keep going,” she said.
I dragged my fingertips back toward her thumb. “Southfield,
Royal Oak, Clawson, Birmingham. Further east you get Mt. Clemens and St. Clair
Shores. A little lower, you have the Grosse Pointes.”
Without noticing it earlier, I was matching her movements, a
slight sway of the shoulders and hips. She leaned back against me. My left hand
still held hers. At some point my right hand found her hip. Movement at the
doors of the saloon caught my attention as the waitress started to come check
on us. She hesitated, flashed a smile and ducked back inside.
“Chene.” Her voice was little more than a whisper.
“Yes?”
“Either take me home or I’m going to jump you in the parking
lot.”
“What about your early morning?”
“I’ll be fine. The question is,
will you be?”
I couldn’t see her face, but knew she was smiling.
“Without a doubt.”
Simone turned around in my arms. “You’d better kiss me now, to
keep me interested.”
“No man alive could resist that request.” A long, slow kiss
followed. Then she pushed me away, grabbed her purse and headed for the
door. I threw cash on the table, nodded
to the waitress and followed.
At her apartment, Simone returned to the comfort of my arms.
“You expect me to believe you know your way around town because
of landmarks on your hand?”
I shrugged. “That, along with maps and a GPS.”
Author’s
Interview.
Tammy
Mannersly
With the wonders of technology, we’re able to enjoy
the works of writers from around the globe, without leaving the comfort of our
own home. Which is important in these days of a pandemic. So it’s time to get to know Tammy Mannersly,
an award winning author who has plenty of stories to share.
Where
are you from?
A stunning seaside town just
north of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
What’s
your ‘someday’ or dream vacation spot and why?
It’s my ultimate dream to go
to Bora Bora and stay in a little hut out over the water. Living in Queensland,
I’ve been to my fair share of islands, but there is something particularly
spectacular about Bora Bora. I also love swimming and am a waterbaby at heart,
so anywhere with a beach or pool is my kind of vacation spot.
What’s your favorite thing to do for relaxation?
Going for a walk along the beach with my dog or watching a good movie.
Any
favorite hobbies?
Between work and writing, I
don’t always get time for my hobbies, but when I do I love to swim, read, draw
and go bushwalking.
How long have you been writing?
It happened naturally on
it’s own when I was in primary school. I used to try to re-write my storybooks
at first and then started creating my own characters and storylines. It’s been
a driving passion ever since.
Are
you able to write full time or do you also have a job/career?
I write part-time and work at a library for most of the week and some weekends.
Is there a particular genre that you write?
Or more than one? What led you to
there?
Growing up, I used to write
a lot of fantasy and paranormal romance. It wasn’t until I gave contemporary
romance a chance that I finally found my niche. I’d still love to write in
other genres though—maybe try fantasy again one day, or even horror.
Do you use friends or family as characters in your work?
I aim not to, although some
of my friends and family try to find themselves in the work. However, I have
used many of my personal life experiences and those of friends and family as
inspiration for my storylines.
What authors had an impact on you growing up and as an adult?
I read many genres growing up, but lived for books with romance in the narrative. In my teens and early twenties, I loved anything by Laurell K. Hamilton, Meg Cabot, Anne Rice, J. R. Ward, Patricia Briggs and Sherrilyn Kenyon. Now, I enjoy reading more non-fiction, especially Jon Ronson, Linda S. Godfrey and various autobiographical works. I think all of my favorite authors have had an impact on me in some way and have helped me develop and improve my writing style over time. It’s hard not to be influenced by other authors, especially when you enjoy their writing so much that it stays with you.
Has
anyone in your life influenced you or encouraged you to pursue your interests
of writing?
I’d never considered writing
as a career pathway until my grade 7 teacher suggested I apply for entry into a
Brisbane-based writers camp. From there I met and participated in workshops
with published Queensland writers and learned that there were more
opportunities than I’d realized. I received similar encouragement from my
English teachers in high school and went on to study creative writing at
university. My parents have also grown to be especially supportive of my
passion and I love sharing my achievements with them.
What
is your favorite aspect of writing? Your least favorite?
I love coming up with ideas for new stories and characters, and roughly planning the trajectory of the love story. It’s always so exciting to create something new, knowing that anything is possible. My least favorite aspect of writing a book would probably be those moments of self-doubt that hit you along the way. Sometimes you doubt yourself, other times it’s the storyline, but every time it takes a lot of determination and positivity to fight your way through and continue until the work is complete.
What aspect of writing would you most like to improve on?
There are too many things
to mention just one, but I believe that my technique and style get gradually
better with each book.
Do you have any “must haves” with you while you’re writing?
I must have the TV on, usually with a familiar movie or TV show running. I can’t work in silence or with music. I find silence can become unnerving and music always sways and changes the emotional aspects of my dialogue and character interaction. I must also be able to sit cross-legged or be able to stretch my legs out or else I get uncomfortable.
Is there a common theme or item that appears in each of your work?
Water and swimming pools occur a lot throughout my work because of my absolute obsession with the two. I also like to write about my favorite places in Australia and the special local spots I frequently visit.
What have you learned the most from being in the writing business?
Quite a lot over the years, really. Here are a few
tips: Perseverence is key. Don’t give up on your passion. Writing is extremely
subjective. Rejection isn’t the end of the line. Just believe in yourself and
stick to your goals. Don’t compare yourself to anyone else. Everyone experiences
their own journey in this industry.
Tell us about your latest work:
I actually wrote this book, “Finding His Zen”,
during our isolation period of the pandemic. I had set myself a goal to
complete a novella by a particular deadline and didn’t want the changing
circumstances in the world around me to affect that. Considering everything else
happening at the time, I found the book relatively easy to write and ended up
being very pleased with what I’d created. “Finding His Zen” is a short sweet
romance about valuing simple things and listening to your heart.
Blurb:
Swimming superstar, Sebastian DuMont, agrees to
headline the reopening of the Poseidon’s Shore Health Club at a discounted fee,
grateful for an excuse to visit his beloved hometown. However, he hadn’t
expected to be tempted by the lovely Zenia, owner and operator of the fitness
facility.
All of Zenia Andino’s dreams come true with swimming
superstar, Sebastian DuMont, attending her gymnasium’s reopening. She’d
idolized him as a teenager with his poster pinned to her bedroom wall, but
meeting the hunky celebrity in person gives her heartbeat an excited new
rhythm.
Before they can test the waters, Seb’s agent interferes and Zen’s fame-hungry sister alludes to an affair with the Olympian. Will Seb keep up the lie for continued fame and fortune? Or is it finally time to follow his heart and feed the special spark he felt with Zen before the opportunity extinguishes forever?
How did you decide on your story plot?
Actually, the story was inspired by something that occurred to someone in my family. They work in the fitness industry and were having a celebrity help promote the re-opening of a local, seaside health and fitness center. There was no magical love story in real life as both parties were in relationships and from different generations, but it got me thinking about the possibilities.
Describe how this method works best for you. Outline or ‘seat of the pants’?
I always do a little of both. I need a basic outline
to know where I’m heading. I basically try to have the big points roughly
mapped out, but how I reach them is usually “seat of the pants”. I also have a
tendency to let my characters drive the story, so sometimes those big plot
points change depending on my characters wants and needs.
Do
you have a favorite scene you’ve written? What makes it special?
There’s a scene in Finding
His Zen where Sebastian and Zenia go for a walk on the beach with Zen’s golden
retriever. It’s something so simple and yet, so pleasurable and relaxing—just
being outside, enjoying the sun, sand and water, and seeing the grin of delight
on the dog’s face. I absolutely love it and it’s one of my favorite things to
do in my personal life!
Here’s an excerpt from the story.
“So, do you think there might be love in the air?” Sara, the reporter
from the Courier Mail enquired again.
A wide, ecstatic grin was like a gash across Lexy’s face. She gazed up
into his eyes, searched them for a second before once again acknowledging the
assembly. “When it comes to Seb and me, anything is possible.”
At that, the bottom fell out of Seb’s stomach and he felt as like he was
riding the steep, rushing decent of a rollercoaster dip.
The audience erupted at Lexy’s answer, newly galvanized and interested in
the possibility of a sexy affair to report on and obsess over. The insinuation
of a relationship made Seb feel sick, nausea roiling in his gut. He wanted to
correct the mistake, but couldn’t see a way out without embarrassing both of
them.
Seb felt a pat on his shoulder as the raucous roar of the gathering
continued, the audience’s arms waving, camera’s flashing and he heard Mayor
Jones commend him.
“Congratulations,” the older man said, his tone genuinely joyous,
oblivious to the reality.
With his heart racing, palms sweating, his gut churning on the verge of
sickness, Seb cast a look at the one person in the world whose opinion really
mattered to him in that instant. He caught Zenia’s eye, saw her solemn smile
and…seeing that look, her fallen spirt, had pain stabbing into his heart,
breaking it a little.
What the hell had he done? What the hell
had he agreed to? And what could he do to show Zenia that his true interest lay
with her and not her sister?
BUY LINKS:
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08CY8NY6M
Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/finding-his-zen
BN: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/books/1137341973
Itunes: https://books.apple.com/us/book/id1523544097
You can find out more
information about Tammy and her work on her website: www.tammymannersly.com or by visiting:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tammymannersly
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/16935790.Tammy_Mannersly
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tammymannersly/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TammyMannersly
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/tammy-mannersly
Music
Variety is essential to life and that applies to music
as well. This month’s featured artist is Jesse Cook.
This award winning Canadian musician mixes a blend of
jazz, new world and flamenco with a touch of gypsy to his popular tunes.
In addition to writing his own songs, Cook also films,
directs and edits his own music videos.
Here’s my top five favorites. I hope you enjoy them.
Double Dutch. https://youtu.be/hOjctd1mNME
Mario Takes a Walk. https://youtu.be/c_X0KET2gh0
Hembra: https://youtu.be/i9srZFMhCZU
Once: https://youtu.be/Rw65ol7VeEA
Shake: https://youtu.be/AmF69DqUyOs
