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A new year. An opportunity to shift gears, to try something new, to create new stories, new characters, new conflicts. I’m considering adding more events to the calendar this year. It’s a matter of timing and geography to see if it all works. Meanwhile, there’s no stopping the news. Here’s my latest take on writing, my latest work in progress and an author interview to get things going.
Let’s roll.
Writing
Authors will tell you that
writing is a solitary effort, unless you’re collaborating on a project. One of the best moments for a writer is the when
you get feedback from readers. Sometimes
that comes in the form of a review.
Others it can be face to face, or through a message or email. If you’re a member of a writing group, feedback
can come after reading a segment of your work.
Many times I’ve been
approached by people wanting feedback on their stories. I explain at the beginning that my thoughts
and comments are strictly my own, and that I don’t know everything. I’m a proponent of constructive criticism. It’s
not my role to slam someone or crush their hopes and dreams. If I can offer a suggestion, I’ll do so. Then it’s up to the writer to decide whether
or not my thoughts are worth consideration.
Two examples come to
mind. One was from a recent writer’s
workshop that I facilitate. The participant
read five pages of his sci-fi story. When
he was done, I asked a few questions, related to what year the story was
set. That led to a quick discussion with
the others about things that may no longer exist fifty years from now, like
business cards and smartphones. The
writer was delighted with the reactions from everyone, jotted multiple notes
and used this feedback to make improvements on his story.
The second one was from a
stranger. This guy found me on social
media and dropped the name of Donald Levin, a good friend who also writes
mysteries. He wanted me to read his ‘thriller
novel’ and give him some reactions. I offered to try it.
Sadly, I couldn’t get past
twenty pages. The writing was dull, the
characters did nothing to get me interested and there was no hook to pull me
into the story. Here’s a line that I
remember, only because it was terrible. ‘He
looked at me like I was an idiot. “Are you an idiot?” he asked.’
I sent the story back,
with a note that it wasn’t for me. I encouraged him to take some creative
writing classes or find a local writer’s group.
The response was a simple ‘okay’.
Afterwards I checked in
with Don. He explained that out of the
goodness of his heart (which proves he’s a much nicer guy than I am) Don read
the entire book and sent the man pages of notes and suggestions. The guy’s
response was ‘sorry you didn’t like my book.’
Feedback. It’s important.
What you do with it as a
writer is just as important.
Work in Progress
Work on my crime novel
continues, with 14,000 words written in the first draft. Ideas for new scenes crop up and demand my
attention. The cast of characters is
growing. Another possible conflict is
peeking around the corner of my imagination as well. One of the challenges is that the story is set
in 1992, so that requires more research about what was going on in Detroit 30
years ago.
I’m working in a couple of
flashbacks, which would occur in the mid to late 1970s. The idea is that these will help give more
background on Leo and his relationships.
All of this will help readers understand his motivations and actions in ’92.
I’m still waiting for the
inspiration for a title to arrive, but that’s not unusual. More than half of “The Wayward Path” was
written before I hit on the title. Two
thirds of “Chasing Favors” the new Jamie Richmond novel, was written before
that title came to me.
Virtual Book Festival
Author Interview
A couple of months ago I
participated in an author event at a local independent bookstore. They wisely limited it to five authors in the
shop, so we weren’t constantly bumping into each other. During the event, I met Cecilia Garcia. We talked for a bit about her series and I
invited her to stop by for a visit.
My pen name is Cecilia A. Garcia.
Cecilia was my confirmation name in high school, and I always thought it would
be fun to be able to use it life. I have always been a writer, ever since I was
young. But I didn’t take it seriously until a few years ago. While I was
deployed to Iraq in 2004, the concept for the Always Forward series came
to me. But it would take me close to 17 years before I would find the courage
to begin writing the story. 2020 was the perfect time to get started. Since
then, I have written and published three novellas in the series.
Do you ever
imagine one of your novels being made into a movie or television series?
Yes! I have always envisioned the series being a
series on Netflix or Hulu. The format of my chapters sets it up to be like episodes,
where each chapter focuses on a different character. Many readers have also
mentioned that they can see Always Forward as a show.
Any favorite actors you’d cast in the
lead roles?
Josh
Sanders- Sean Patrick Flannery
Emily
Sanders- Elizabeth Moss
Rodriguez-
Vincent Vargas
Rosita-
Jenna Ortega
Tara
Sanders- Saoirse Ronan (maybe)
What is your
writing process? Do you do an outline first? Do you write the chapters in
sequence?
I consider myself a little unconventional. I do
start off with a rough outline, at least to keep me focused. But I let the
characters lead me where they want the story to unfold. I may write a few
chapters in sequence, but if another character is screaming at me, then I will
write what they tell me to write. I then go back and reread everything, and
focus on where the gaps are, and make the choppy parts flow better.
Tell us a little bit about the
characters in your latest book.
Since my books are a series, the main characters do
not change. Emily Sanders is a Sergeant in the US Army. She is deployed to Iraq
in 2004. Her convoy is ambushed, and the Humvee she is in is hit by an IED and
flips over. Emily and Grant, another soldier are knocked out, and ultimately, get
left behind. When her unit goes back to retrieve any bodies, she and Grant are
missing. For fifteen years, she is a prisoner of war. Meanwhile, her husband,
MSG Josh Sanders, is forced to bury an empty casket when the remains of Grant
are found and Emily is presumed dead. Josh goes on to raise their two
daughters, Tara and Alicia. Tara, the oldest, never gives up hope that her
mother is alive. She refuses to believe Emily is dead since there was no proof.
The series follows Emily, Josh, Tara, Alicia, and
Roddie- Emily’s best friend, through the years after Emily goes missing. War
impacts everyone, not just the soldier, and Always Forward highlights
this in many facets.
Do the characters all
come to you at the same time or do some of them come to you as you write?
I always
knew Emily, Josh, and Tara. But the rest have come to me as I write. I try to
incorporate people close to me in real life, either by using their names, or
aspects of the characters. (I always get permission to use names.) For example,
Rodriguez’s character is based off my husband. His first name in the book is
Camillo, which is my husband’s first name.
What is your latest
book about?
“Carry On” is book 3 in the series: Emily
Sanders was a prisoner of war for over fifteen years. After her rescue, she has
to recover from multiple surgeries. But the physical recovery is only part of
the new battle she is facing. Sanders also must learn how to face her traumas
and cope with not only those she has been through, but also with survivor's
guilt. She was essentially brought back from the dead, yet two of her buddies
are gone forever. Can she cope with this guilt? And will she be able to carry
on?
Here's an excerpt from
“Carry On”.
Chapter Six- Rodriguez:
“Sanders, Sanders, do you
copy Sanders?” Rodriguez wakes up to the radio going off, but how can that be?
The earpiece was in Sanders’ ear. His head is pounding, and he feels pressure
on his neck. He tries to open his eyes, but his eyelids are so heavy. He
finally gets his eyes to open, but everything is a blur. Why the hell is
everything upside down? Rodriguez thinks to himself. He licks his lips, but his
mouth is parched.
Rodriguez slowly turns his
head to the right when everything comes back to him. There was an IED attack,
and their truck had flipped over. He looks all around him, and there is shit
everywhere. He tries to scream out for Sanders but can’t get the words out.
After a couple of tries, he finally gets a few words out. “Sanders! Grant!
Simmons! What the fuck?”
He is having difficulty
breathing, and it is clear that he needs to get himself out of the Humvee. No
responses come from him calling the rest of the crew’s names. Rodriguez
determines he has to get out of the vehicle. With all the pressure on his neck
and shoulders, he somehow manages to unbuckle his seat belt. He works on
finding the door handle, which proves to be more difficult than he anticipated.
Being upside-down poses an extra level of complications to getting out.
Suddenly, a burst of small arms fire begins to go off outside the Humvee, which
gives him the last push he needs to find the handle and get out of the vehicle.
The door opens, and Rodriguez falls out on the dirt road. “FUCK!” He yells as
he lands on his left side. He lies there for a second, but the gunfire keeps
him moving quickly. He rolls over onto his belly and begins to low crawl to the
back of the flipped-over Humvee. He stays low to the ground, and as he
approaches the back of the vehicle, he understands where the insurgents are
shooting from behind a building. Simmons is sitting with his back to the
Humvee, and the M-915 truck behind him is parked precariously close to their
blown-up truck.
What’s the next project
you’ll be working on?
I am
currently working on Book 4- Left Behind. It will be released (tentatively) on
5/25/23. I will also be writing and publishing Book 5- Not My Mother’s Daughter
later this year. Both books are part of the Always Forward series but
focus more on the other characters and how Emily’s imprisonment impacted them.
You can learn more about Cecilia on the links below.
https://www.instagram.com/authorceciliagarcia/
https://www.facebook.com/authorceciliagarcia
MUSIC
Gladys Knight’s music has entertained generations. Known as the ‘Empress of Soul’ the singer
songwriter has been performing for more than sixty years. Gladys rocketed to
fame as the lead of Gladys Knight and The Pips. Following a number of top hits
and 3 Grammy awards, she launched a solo career that earned her 4 more Grammys.
The group was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Vocal Group
Hall of Fame.
Rolling Stone Magazine named Gladys as one of the 100
greatest singers of all time. In 2022 Gladys was recognized at The Kennedy
Center honors.
Here are my top five favorites.
Neither One of Us: https://youtu.be/uSw7vulUfME
You Are the Best Thing: https://youtu.be/8FT5QF4JZUA
Heard it Through the Grapevine: https://youtu.be/WWvwP72FuVg
End of the Road: https://youtu.be/th_Xndt96Hs
