The Thirtieth Issue

 

September!  With its arrival, we get cooler temperatures, less bugs, students (and teachers) are back in school. And last but not least: Football!  The trees are slowly beginning to change colors. The local apple orchards are getting busy.  It’s all part of my favorite time of year.

A couple of the events that were on the calendar have fallen through, but that gives me more time to focus on some other projects.

No sense stalling.  Let’s get to the news.

 

Writing

 

One of the aspects about writing that I never considered when first starting out is the promotion of your work.  Writing a story and getting published is a major accomplishment.  Finding effective ways to promote your stories is an entirely different situation. Getting the attention of potential readers is no easy feat.

Like many authors, I try to post on social media sites that I think will connect with the audience. But that takes time and energy and needs a lot of attention. Lately I’ve had the opportunity to try something else.

Podcasts have been growing in popularity for some time now. As luck would have it, I’ve had three different events all come together in the last month.  In late August, the Portage Library invited me to read some scenes from “The Wayward Path” and talk a bit about the background of the book and my writing process. 

A while back, I did a show called “Indie Reads Aloud” with Diana Kathryn Plopa, where I was able to answer a few questions and read the opening section for “Why 319?” That hit the airways in early September.

This last week I was a guest on the For the Love of Books podcast.  I talked about the synopsis and several of the main characters of “The Wayward Path” and read a quick excerpt.  There was also time to share some anecdotes from my earlier writing efforts.

Each podcast was a different experience.  I learned a lot from them. With any luck, these will attract new readers. Simply follow the link to give them a listen. 

Here are the links for each event.

Portage District Library: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CLH0o849QxY

Indie Reads Aloud: https://anchor.fm/diana-kathryn-plopa/episodes/Episode-45-Mark-Love-with-Why-319-e1ngqv7

For the Love of Books: https://emmapalova123.podbean.com/e/author-mark-love-pens-the-wayward-path/

 

Work In Progress

 

Late last week I was able to write those two little words that never fail to send a little jolt of electricity down my spine. 

The two words?  The End.

The fourth Jamie Richmond novel, currently titled “Chasing Favors” is now complete.  Right now it’s about 66,000 words. I’ve gone through the manuscript several times, adding a little more detail here, sharpening the dialogue and description there.  Holding true to Jamie’s character there are several subplots at work here, along with the primary mystery. And of course, her romance with Malone continues.

Once it was done, I sent a note to my intrepid crew of beta readers. Each had been contacted recently, to make sure they were interested in checking out the manuscript.  I’ve grown to depend on their efforts. It’s not uncommon for one of them to spot an error that went right by me. That can happen when you’re too close to the story.

This could be a photo of one of my beta readers.

I have also contacted Melissa, the primary force with Inkspell Publishing, with an update.  She will patiently wait until I get the reactions from my beta readers before sending her the manuscript.  Then it will be my turn to wait and see what she thinks.

Meanwhile, I’m going to begin the research for the next book. This one may go outside the confines of my two series. I’ve got some ideas percolating. But they need a little time.  

 

 

Character Interview

 

It seems only fitting with the completion of “Chasing Favors” that Jamie Richmond would be in the spotlight today.  In addition to her own series, Jamie has appeared in two of the Chene mysteries.

She’s become a formidable presence in my writing efforts.  

Here's a possible photo of Jamie.

Welcome back, Jamie.

(Smiles sweetly) Thanks.  It was beginning to feel like I’d worn out my welcome here.

That’s hardly the case.  Any reflections now that your fourth novel has reached the finish line?

I like it. There are so many issues going on, it feels like a snapshot of my everyday life. You get a glimpse at my own writing, some of my closest friends and my curiosity.  Oh, and don’t forget my stubbornness. That goes with the territory. Which is probably why I keep nudging my way into the Chene books.

Chene has turned to you on more than one occasion. How does that work out? And does it create any tension with Malone?

(giggles) Chene understands my level of curiosity. He also knows that as a reporter, I did a great deal of research.  Over the years, I built a large database of contacts, people with expertise in many interests and industries. So when he’s in the middle of an investigation, Chene has learned to count on me. I see it as helping a friend.  As much as I like Chene, Malone knows he’s got the key to my heart.

Yet every time you see Chene, you kiss him. What’s up with that?

Chene came to help when Linda and I needed him the most. I’ll never forget what he did. Kissing him is just another way of thanking him for being there.

Your background is journalism. How does that relate to your efforts writing mysteries?

After my first year as a reporter, I persuaded my editor to let me follow up on what looked like a couple of unrelated crimes. That required a lot of interviews and research to chase down the story. I met with many police officers and started connecting the issues. The final story was a major coup for the paper. They gave me the title of ‘investigative reporter’, which sounds like a type of private detective.  I started gathering ideas for books. All that time doing research and conducting interviews came in handy. It helped hone my writing skills.

Isn’t your father a police officer too?

(Another sweet smile) Bert is a captain with the state police. He’s also Malone’s boss. Yeah, I know, it’s complicated.  Bert is my stepfather. Peter Richmond, my biological dad, died in an accident when I was just seven. Bert’s been the father figure in my life for more than twenty years. There’s no doubt I picked up a few tricks from him along the way too.

Can you share a little about the new book?

“Chasing Favors” continues that crossover action. By that I mean some of the people you find in the Chene books appear here to. Although Chene isn’t it the picture, he’s mentioned a few times.

Do you have a favorite Jamie Richmond mystery?

(hesitates) That’s like asking a parent with multiple kids to pick their favorite. I’m going to say, ‘the next one’.

 

 

Music

 

The Eurythmics, a favorite duo from years ago continues to make regular appearances on the streaming services.   Annie Lennox and Dave Stewart grew to popularity in the early 80s.  After ten years together, Lennox began a solo career. Stewart was sought after for his skills as a producer.  They reunited for a few more years in the early 2000s.

 

Together they sold more than 75 million albums worldwide. Lennox and Stewart were elected to the Songwriter’s Hall of Fame in 2020.  In 2022, they were elected to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Here are my top five favorites.  The last clip includes a duet with Lennox and Al Green.

There Must Be an Angel: https://youtu.be/RCdneDxFRYQ

Sweet Dreams:  https://youtu.be/qeMFqkcPYcg

Would I Lie to You: https://youtu.be/Uhpu2N4rQZM

Here Comes the Rain Again: https://youtu.be/OojeUDY3iZE

Put a Little Love in Your Heart: https://youtu.be/S3J_3mcOwdQ