The Thirty Eighth Issue

 

It’s that time again.  How is that possible?  Okay, so I took a long overdue vacation and disappeared for a couple of weeks to the other side of the globe.  Now it’s back to the Mitten State and just a week before summer classes begin.

Here’s my updates on writing, my latest project, an interview with another great author and music.  Let there be music.  But enough of the pontificating.

Showtime!

 

Writing

 

Recently I was reminded of a comment from an old creative writing professor. According to him, back in the days of pulp magazines, writers would get paid by the word, instead of a set amount for a submission. With that in mind, many writers would add unnecessary words to describe a scene or interactions between characters.  This did absolutely nothing to improve the story, but it did add to the paycheck if the work was accepted.

I’m not a fan of redundancies. Repeating something over and over or just saying the same thing in a different way is a sure way to drive me crazy.  More than once I’ve tossed a book aside when this occurs.

This happened last week during my trip.  Naturally, I’d taken a couple of books with me.  While reading one book, I noticed multiple redundancies.  One particular passage thoroughly disgusted me.  One of the minor characters arrived on the scene and ‘bounded’ out of his taxi. He then ‘bounded’ up the stairs of the house. Was he suddenly part kangaroo?

I realized that this was a pattern the author used throughout the book.  Not everyone bounded but their actions and conversations became redundant, with the same words and expressions repeated.  This work was by a popular author with one of the larger publishers.

The best way for me to describe this writing style is wooden.  There was something missing throughout the story.  Either the author or the editors should have spotted this and corrected it. Simply digging out a thesaurus would have offered more options and resulted in a better manuscript. I couldn’t finish the book.

We all repeat ourselves at one point or another. But as a writer, it’s my job to minimize these occurrences, unless they become vital to the way a character acts.

Work In Progress

 

It’s fortunate for me that Leo Agonasti is a patient man. I didn’t take my computer with me on the trip, so no work got done on the manuscript. There was a notebook in my pack, where several pages are now crammed with ideas for scenes.  So while I wasn’t at the keyboard recently, I was in fact working on the story.  With any luck and the holiday weekend on the horizon, I’ll have some time to flesh these ideas out and add more content to the story.

Meanwhile, the formatted manuscript for “Chasing Favors” was anxiously awaiting my return. Jamie, Malone and the cast of characters are getting closer to the release date in July. 

I may even try something new and have a launch party to celebrate the release of the book. The cover should be revealed in June.  Jamie insists she’s not vain, but she does appear on the cover.

Here’s another possible Jamie sighting!

                             Author Interview

 Once upon a time, in a zip code far, far away, I participated in my first book festival.  After setting up my space, I wandered about, talking to some of the other writers.  That’s when I first crossed paths with Diana Kathryn Plopa.  Not only does Diana write wonderful books, but she is a promoter with a passion for sharing new authors with the world. Diana hosts the Indie Reads Aloud podcast, of which I’ve been a frequent visitor.

So it’s high time to introduce you all to my good friend, Diana.  

 

Tell us something about yourself and how you became an author?

I’m a multi-genre author, writing coach, and book editor.  As mom to one son, Zachary (now a very tall adult person), I live in the Detroit area with my husband, Dave; and two dogs, Finnigan and Charlie.

I’ve loved books all my life.  I remember writing my first story at about seven.  It was a retelling of “The Town Musicians of Bremen” by the Brothers Grimm.  Notable differences in my version were that the animals were a rebellious teenager wild animal rock band (instead of a geriatric domestic folk group), and the lead singer was a duck.  I remember my first-grade teacher telling me that she thought it was very clever, and I was hooked on the idea of spending my life as a storyteller from that moment forward.  Just for the record, no, I have no idea whatever became of the manuscript (although I think it may be in a box in my basement with some old journals); and yes, I may actually rewrite it and publish it one day.  The story is still very vivid in my imagination.

Do you ever imagine one of your novels being made into a movie or television series? 

I haven’t ever really thought about the visual versions of my books.  I’m happiest in the world of words.  I dream in subtitles instead of images (except when I have nightmares about snakes, for some reason, my brain likes to torture me with those images – ick!)… Think of a dark screen with words scrolling up as if I was reading the dream on a page, similar to the opening sequence in “Star Wars” but not nearly as dramatic.  Yes, I know, I’m a bit strange.   I love it when people read aloud to me.  So, more than thinking about films or television, I often imagine who might narrate the audiobooks. 

Any favorite actors you’d cast in the lead roles?

In a utopian world, where all dreams come true, and cost is not a barrier… I’d like to have Jeremy Irons read “Free Will”; and Sting (as Thomas), Stana Katic (as Gillian), and Sandra Bullock (as Paige) read “A Tryst of Fate”.  I’ve heard all four read short stories aloud, and for whatever reason, I find tremendous comfort in all of their voices.

What is your writing process? For instance, do you do an outline first? Do you write the chapters in sequence?

This is a fun question, especially coming from you, and considering our frequent teasing of each other on this topic.  I’m a Passionate Plotter.  I start with a skeleton of beginning, middle, and end.  Then I narrow down the outline by adding chapter breaks, and then plot points of the individual scenes for each chapter.  But after that, Drake (my Muse) takes over.  I rarely write in an intelligent sequence.  Drake gives me ideas when they come to him, and so I find myself jumping around a lot to fill in the holes.  Then, when all the holes have content in them, I do a deep-dive self-edit from beginning to end for continuity, and then pass it along to my editor to handle all the final fixes. 
Tell us a little bit about the characters in your latest book.

Which one?  I’m working on five novels and novellas right now. 😊  The one I will finish first is a paranormal novel.  This story has an interesting cast of characters who come together for a writer’s retreat.  Among them is the retreat facilitator, an MSP detective, a librarian, a newspaper reporter, a photojournalist, a young widow, and an IT specialist.  Oh, and of course, the spirits they have to contend with throughout the story.

Do the characters all come to you at the same time or do some of them come to you as you write?
         As with plotting, I make detailed character maps before I begin to write.  I usually build out physical features and psychological enneagrams for each one so I have some idea of how they will interact and respond when Drake and I drop them into various situations.  But often, I find that once the writing process begins, the characters stand up and speak for themselves, often changing bits about themselves that I didn’t expect. 

Yes, the writing process can be mysterious, even for Plotters! 😊 I once had a main character abdicate her role as a central character, and I had to scramble to figure out who would be willing to take her place.  It was a tense few days.  But all ended well, and the switch made the story better.
What is your latest book about? 

My latest book (well, it’s actually Drake’s latest book) is a second collection of short stories.  The stories in “A Duck Echoes” all came from writing prompts, and are a little darker and weirder than those in “A Duck Quacks”.  Drake has never been a tremendous fan of the constraints of writing in short form, but the little quacker is getting braver with each new release. 😊

Can you share an excerpt too?
        Here’s a little bit of Drake’s latest collection of short stories: A Duck Echoes…

 BUT THE TOYS ARE COOL

“I’m offended.”

“What?”

“You heard me.  I’m offended.”

“Offended?  By what?”

“Not what, who.”

“Who?”

“Well, whom, actually.  Yes, offended.”

“By whom?”

“By, well, you, specifically.”

“Me?  What’s so offensive about me?  I’m a fairly decent fellow, you know.”

“Actually, no, I don’t know.  First of all, that sullen and unapproachable thing.  It’s inaccurate and seriously unkind.”

“Inaccurate?  I thought it seemed rather on-point, myself.  I mean, one can’t really go around having a bunch of chummy friends when you’re doing what I do all night.”

“Wrong.  Welcoming and kind; that’s closer to the truth.  It’s overly dramatic that you wander around all by yourself all the time.  There’s no realism in that whole ‘must-do-solitude’ thing.  Everyone knows we hang out in big groups.  We’re quite social, and loyal.  Well, at least you got the loyalty thing right.  But the rest of it – way wrong.”

“Well, it’s important, you know, to instill fear, at least a little bit.  Otherwise, what’s the point?  Nobody’ll pay attention.”

“The point?  Here’s the point, you’re propagating the myth that we can’t be trusted.  You’ve convinced everyone that we need to be avoided like we’re rabid or something.  And this loaner thing?  Do you have any idea what it’s like to convince the girls that’s not true?  I mean, do you even have a girlfriend?”

“Well, no… not really…I…”

“I thought not.  And why would you?  There’s nothing soft and cuddly about you.  No warmth, no sensitivity.  Have you looked into my big brown eyes?  There’s a lot of compassion in there.  What about your eyes?  Oh, that’s right, no one can see them.”

“Hey, I can be warm and cuddly…”

“No, I don’t think you can.  Whenever I’ve seen you, you’re out there roughing up guys and ruling the roost according to some warped sense of honor and justice.  What is all that?  Can’t you just go out and have a good time rather than flying off the handle all the time?  Oh, that’s right, I forgot – you don’t really fly at all, do you?  So pathetic.”

 “Hey!  I’m out there trying to do some good in the world, and what are you doing, eh?  Oh, that’s right, you’re flapping around willy-nilly, scaring people half to death, coming out of nowhere.  People are just out having a good time, camping and singing by the fire, and then you show up, scaring everyone’s girlfriends.  At least when I show up, I’m saving or helping someone.  Who have you helped lately, huh, dude?”

“I save plenty of folks, mister!  Rancher Joe, for instance.  If not for me, his cattle would die of dysentery, all those mosquitoes messing with their white blood cells.  Those little disease buggers would be infiltrating your steak and burgers if not for me!”

“There!  See, I’m improving your image.  People wouldn’t think you were a good idea if not for me.  They see me doing heroic stuff, then they jump on Google to find out what you’re all about.  I’m great PR for you.”

“Improving my image! HA! Thanks to you, people think I live in dank, dark caves and come with a big ol’ heap of retribution.”

“But I’ve got cool toys…You can’t top that one.”

“HA!  Toys!  See, you can’t even do it on your own.  You’re so inauthentic. You need a backpack of crazy gadgets to get the job done.  Well, I don’t need your silly toys. I do it all naturally.  Did you know that my crap is even good for people?  That’s right, buddy, I’ve got some of the best fertilizer around.  I bet you can’t say that about your crap, can you?”

“Yeah, well, what about that virus thing?  That’s a whole heap of violence if you ask me!”

“Okay, big guy.  Let’s take away all your nifty little toys, rip off your cowl, and cram you in a little cage with ten people you don’t know… Oh, and then stab you with a bunch of needles with who knows what in them?  How do you think you would do then, hmmmm, Mister Caped Crusader, Dude?”

***heavy silence***

“Okay, maybe you’ve got a point.  But I do have cool toys.”

“Yeah, I’ll give you that.  The toys are cool.”

What’s the next project you’ll be working on?

This summer, probably in August, I’ll release the first book in my political thriller series.  I’ve never considered writing a series until I began work on this project and realized that the story was so big that I had to break it up into four books.  I’m a little worried about that one because it’s a new challenge for me, but it’s a lot of fun to write.

I have a western novel that I started the year before COVID that I’d like to finish.  It takes place in the years of the Pony Express and focuses on the life of a young rider.  My plan is to release that in September or October.

I also have another children’s picture book coming out later in the year.  I’ve finished that story, and my husband, who illustrated my first children’s picture book and painted the cover art for my paranormal novel, is currently working on the illustrations.

And finally, my most daring experiment… I’m working on a suspense novella with just five characters, written entirely in second person narrative.  I hope to have that out by the end of the year.

 

You can find out more about Diana and all her books on the website. Just click on the link.

http://www.dkpwriter.com/

 

Music

          I like many different types of music.  One group that my son Travis got me hooked on years ago was the contemporary swing revival sound from a group known as Big Bad Voodoo Daddy.  They’ve been on the scene since 1989.  It’s impossible to listen to their music and get up and move.

 Here’s my top five hits.

Why Me? https://youtu.be/a3Z4RWZa9WA

Diga Diga Doo:  https://youtu.be/ufvmD9s76X0

King of Swing: https://youtu.be/xphZkAiJve0

Mr. Pinstripe Suit:  https://youtu.be/aBxfAs_skMA

You, Me & the Bottle: https://youtu.be/FkmgafBRdos

 

 

 

Here are the links:

Podcasts!

 

                

        One of my old mentors had a favorite expression. “Sometimes you’re good, sometimes you’re lucky, and sometimes, it’s a little bit of both”.   That’s always stuck with me.

          So maybe it’s a combination of being lucky and good that’s brought me this far with writing my stories.  But one of things that’s been a pleasant surprise is doing podcasts.

          Over the years, I’ve done a few of these, hoping to connect with different audiences and share some of my stories. Most were interviews, where you talked about the craft of writing, gave a little synopsis of your latest book and where people could find it.  Those were good, but they were lacking in anything that could really hook a reader.

          That’s what is so different from Diana K. Plopa’s “Indie Reads Aloud” program.  Diana does a brief intro, a little background on the author, then lets us read selected scenes from our books.

          I first met Diana at a book festival a long time back. She’s also an  author, editor, and promoter extraordinaire. We hit it off and have been friends ever since.  When she decided to start the Indie Reads Aloud program, I was one of the earliest guests.  The interest in her shows continues to grow.

          My fifth visit was released today.  You can now hear me read scenes from Stealing Haven, Devious and Vanishing Act from the Jamie Richmond series, along with The Wayward Path and Why 319 from the Jefferson Chene series. You can find links to each of those programs on the right-hand column on the blog.

          Listening to these podcasts allows you to sample a bit of the story. Then you can decide if what you hear appeals to you.

          We have such a great time doing these recordings that Diana has invited me back to read the rest of the books in the catalogue.

          Am I that good, or that lucky?  Or maybe, it’s a little bit of both. I’ll let you decide.

 

The Thirty-Seventh Issue

 

          

           The hits just keep on coming.  As quickly as one issue is wrapped up and posted, I strive to get things started for the next one. That means coming up with a new topic, an update and lining up another author to stop by for a visit.  Time, and timing, is everything.  With that in mind, let’s jump into the April issue.

 

Writing

         

          Over the years I have worked with a number of different editors at several publishing houses.  It’s been my practice to always submit the manuscript in the best possible shape.  This usually happens after several rounds of revisions and utilizing a small crew of beta readers who don’t hesitate to give me honest feedback.         

          When a friend recently asked about this process, she thought I’d be insulted that the editor wanted to make changes.

 

          “Not at all. I’m too close to the story to see obvious issues or mistakes,” I told her.  “A good editor can spot them.  A great editor can help guide me and the story, making it so much better.”

          Some editors just glance at the story, make a checkmark here or there and pass it on.  Then after it’s printed, mistakes are discovered. It’s too late to fix it now.  I always take the heat for anything that sneaks by. After all, it’s my work.  Any mistakes are mine.

This month I’m working with a new editor on the “Chasing Favors” manuscript. The latest adventures of Jamie Richmond came together well.  I’m pleased with the comments and suggestions the editor has made so far. We’ve exchanged notes on the first round.

 A great editor can make a tremendous difference in the story.

          And for that, I’ll always be grateful.

 

                                         Work in Progress

 

          The crime novel continues to move forward.  A couple of new characters have been developed. The research has become intriguing.  Since most of the story is set in 1992, I’m frequently jumping back to learn what was going on in Motown at that time.

          I don’t have a daily word count (never could work with that) but I do try to spend some time with this project each week.  With the current semester coming to a close, I’m hoping to have a few extra hours in the next few weeks to make great strides in the story.  

          Like many authors I know, the characters we create are real. I can envision the way they act, think and talk.  Some would say writers are more comfortable with their own characters than we are with family or friends.  I’m not arguing that.  But there are dramatic differences between my ‘crew’.  If Jamie was involved in this story, she’d be urging me to hurry up and get back to work.  Leo Agonasti is more laid back. He knows in the end his story will do him justice.  See how relaxed he looks!

 

Author Interview

 

          A few months ago at one of the author’s workshops that I facilitate for the local library, I met Samantha Moran.  During the session, Sam was able to share some of her work with the group.  The reaction was very positive.  Sam and I started talking afterwards.  Not only did I invite her to visit the blog, but Sam will be joining me at several upcoming festivals.

          Let’s get to know more about Samantha.

Tell us something about yourself and how you became an author.

Hello! I’m a proud graduate of Western Michigan University with a background in English Secondary Education. I am the mother to two amazing kids, and I’m also a Multiple Sclerosis warrior.

I’ve wanted to become an author since I was twelve years old. In middle school, I attended the “Live Poets Society” weekly meeting at the Northfield Township Library in my hometown (Whitmore Lake, MI), but at some point as I grew up, I stopped believing in my dream. I didn’t start writing again until I was twenty-five after my first child was born.

One day in 2017, I confessed to my husband that writing a book had always been my dream, but I felt like no one would want to read it. I had a plan for a book in my mind but wasn’t going to see it through. That night, he handed me my laptop and told me to get to work! Since then, we started our own imprint (Obsidian Inkwell Publishing, LLC) and I’ve released five works: “Stages of Grief,” Without You, Tales of Grief and Healing, Dealings in the Dark, and Bound and Betrayed. I have two more book releases coming this year, as well as a short tale.

Do you ever imagine one of your novels being made into a movie or television series?

If one of my books were ever to be made into a movie or television series, I would hope it was Dealings in the Dark. This is the first work in my ongoing Cursed Souls series. It’s a supernatural and occult horror with witches, demons, hellhounds, and a deal gone very wrong. This particular work lends itself to the screen because it’s short, fast-paced, and riddled with secrets and generational trauma. 

Any favorite actors you’d cast in the lead roles?

The two main characters in Dealings in the Dark are Alexandria Hendricks and Iroth, an insufferable demon. As I wrote these characters, two actors came to mind. Ironically, and completely coincidentally, the actress I would cast for Alexandria Hendricks has a similar name. I would love to see Alexandra Daddario fulfill that role. For Iroth, I envision Jensen Ackles. He had the right swagger to create the insufferable demon’s personality. 

What is your writing process? For instance, do you do an outline first? Do you write the chapters in sequence?

Typically, my writing process starts with a vague idea and free flow. I find it hard to sit and outline a book from the beginning. I sometimes write a brief summary of where I want the book to go, but not always. More often, I simply sit down and start writing. I work with whatever comes out, adjusting as needed. At about the halfway point, I start outlining what remains. Doing so once my mind has already latched on to the story helps me stay on track but still gives me creative freedom. 

Tell us a little bit about the characters in your latest book.

On February 1st, of this year I released a short work, Without You: A Novelette. Without You is a sequel to my first published work, “Stages of Grief.” In addition to the individual publication, I released Tales of Grief and Healing: A Complete Duology which contains both of these tales in one binding. My goal was to make the work more accessible for readers who needed different things. 

Without You: A Novelette tells the story of Owen, a character from “Stages of Grief,” who has recently lost someone close to him. In the wake of her death, he has to learn to live without this person and discover his new “normal.” This tale covers the ups and downs in the days following tragic loss. For example, it discusses the days that are so difficult that the character can barely take care of himself because of the crushing depression he feels, but it also covers the days that are surprisingly okay and how that’s somehow worse because he feels terrible about experiencing happiness without her there. 

I wrote this book because, though I’m only thirty years old, I have lost a significant number of people in my life. While it is fiction and does include a paranormal component (not scary), my hope is that it provides others with a safe space to process their losses and accept that their feelings are valid. We all need that. As I like to write in my inscriptions, hearts are always broken in the end, but you have to let the good things in. 

Do the characters all come to you at the same time or do some of them come to you as you write?

My characters tend to pop into my mind as they are needed. I try to begin the story with two or three main characters and fill in the blanks as the plot progresses. Sometimes, the side characters become my favorite! 

What is your latest book about?

          My latest release is Without You: A Novelette. Here are the back cover details:

    Life after loss is so hard to find, but you have to let the good things in.

Owen Josephson knows that life doesn't always end with death. He has spent his own life watching the ghosts of strangers’ pine after the lives they've lost and the loved ones they've left behind. But after a tragic loss, Owen is faced with a reality he never expected to endure. Without the one he loves most, Owen must learn how to move on with the life he has left and put her ghost behind him. Follow his journey in this heartrending tale as grief becomes hope after profound loss. 

Can you share an excerpt, too?

Certainly!

There are many different kinds of loss in life. Some are small, a favorite toy misplaced as a child or a missing ring of keys. Some are larger, more impactful and challenging, like a friend who moves away or a career ending. Then, there are the greater moments, profound in their depth, things that tear at your soul and leave you raw and empty. 

We try so hard to avoid these losses, even though they are inevitable. For most, the singular comfort in these endings is that they are final, absolute.

Death is meant to be a permanent departure. Those who leave us cease to exist on the earthly plane. They’re not meant to be in pain. We are. It’s devastating for those of us who are left behind. It’s a person-sized hole punched into the fabric of the universe at which we stare until we can no longer make out the edges.

It hurts, plain and simple, but then we somehow move on. We let go of that emptiness and continue with our lives, accepting the new job, splurging on that trip we always meant to take, moving into the new apartment, adopting a dog, or maybe making friends with the cute server at the bar.

The only thing that allows this forward momentum is the acceptance that nothing will ever change. Resisting death is futile, and abandoning life is obscene.

Most people don’t see what I see.

I know that “dead” doesn’t mean “gone.” I know that the ones who leave us can linger for weeks, months, and sometimes decades. I see the figures that trail behind weary travelers on the subway. They sit beside us in the cafes. They stare at our computer screens at work.

Death isn’t as final as everyone believes.

 

To read the rest of the prologue from Without You: A Novelette, visit my website here. I always post the first section of my published works there for free. 

What’s the next project you’ll be working on?

At this moment, I’m almost finished with my rewrites of The Ruin, the first manuscript I ever completed. This is the story that started it all, the one my husband insisted I write after I told him about my dreams on the beach in South Haven, MI. It’s been six years in the making, and I can’t wait to share it with the world! The Ruin is a crossover between literary fiction, urban fantasy, and Norse mythology reimagining.

Blurb:

For two years, twenty-one-year-old Kara Edwards has struggled to keep her mother alive after a terminal cancer diagnosis. She's working herself to the bone at a minimum-wage job and sinking deep into debt to pay for expensive treatments. Unfortunately, when the final procedure does not go according to plan, she’s run out of options. Her world teeters on the brink of collapse as she faces the reality that her mother is out of time. That is until her mother’s doctor offers Kara one more option, an expensive and illegal experimental drug called Novemion.

To make matters worse, her absent father is suddenly back in town, and he’s brought an unbelievable family secret with him, one that presents Kara with the strangest of opportunities. If his stories are true, she might be able to save her mother’s life with a dangerous supernatural ability, but it would put the whole of humanity at risk.

Once again, Kara is faced with an impossible choice, and each comes with a steep price. She can place her hope in the untested experimental treatment, give into the temptation of the mythical family secret and risk millions of lives, or allow the mother she idolizes to die.

What will she choose, and can she live with the consequences? 

You can learn more about Samantha and find her works at the links below.

www.samanthamoran.net

"Stages of Grief: A Short Story" (http://amazon.com/dp/B0B85VQML6)

Without You: A Novelette (http://amazon.com/dp/B0BQRTVG7R)

Tales of Grief and Healing: A Complete Duology (http://amazon.com/dp/B0BR8CNPPT)

Dealings in the Dark (http://amazon.com/dp/B0BFJNK2VX)

Bound and Betrayed (http://amazon.com/dp/B0BNGC5G53)

The Ruin (https://www.amazon.com/Ruin-Samantha-Moran-ebook/dp/B0BWVF17ST)

 

                                     Music

 

No newsletter can be complete with a musical guest.  I enjoy variety and both my Spotify and Pandora accounts have favorite tracks in many genres. This month Norah Jones has been popping up a lot. 

          Norah Jones established her catalog of hit songs beginning in the early 2000s. With her skills as a vocalist, pianist and songwriter, it didn’t take long before she began attracting worldwide attention.  Jones has been nominated for more than 40 Grammy awards, winning 14 times.

          Billboard magazine named her as one of the top jazz artists of the 2000 decade. 

          Here’s my top five favorites from Norah Jones. 

Don’t Know Why: https://youtu.be/tO4dxvguQDk

Nearness of You: https://youtu.be/hsczuCzyUs4

Come Away with Me: https://youtu.be/lbjZPFBD6JU

Shoot the Moon: https://youtu.be/TENV8IhpZ2A

Chasing Pirates: https://youtu.be/uTxythHY09k

 

The Thirty-Sixth Issue

 

Three years!  Seriously?  It seems like only a short while ago that I decided to switch from occasional posts to my blog and put together something more consistent.  I wanted to include my take on the various components of writing, along with updates on my current projects, an interview with another author or the occasional character, and of course, music. There must be music! 

And to make my newsletter a little different from so many others, I opted to release it on the 19^th of each month.  Starting with March made perfect sense, since that combination of numbers 3 19 will always be special to me. 

So here we are, three years later, with issue 36.   With a tip of the hat to the legendary comic, Jackie Gleason, let’s get the party started. 

                                   “Away We Go!”

Writing

 Writing is a solitary business unless you’re collaborating with another author. So whenever I get the chance to trade samples with others, I’m eager to take it. Recently I had the opportunity to participate in not one but two writing workshops. Being surrounded with others who are seriously working on their own stories is an absolute blast. About ten people were able to read excerpts from their projects and get feedback and reactions from the group. That’s priceless. In the interest of time, we kept it to a maximum of seven minutes, so that others would have a chance to read as well.

        During the second workshop, I was able to chat with a couple of people who were at the first session.  They both enjoyed hearing other writers share their scenes, but the more impactful part was the reactions they got.  Seeing the expressions on people’s faces and hearing the comments they shared is vital to any writer.  Getting that feedback can help take their efforts to the next level.

One lady said that she found those interactions inspiring and she’ll channel that into her own efforts.  I encouraged her to share her work with others next time.  The group is not a competition, it’s about supporting each other on the writing journey.

 

Work in Progress 

          The crime story featuring Leo Agonasti and his good friend Maximo Aurelio continues to develop.  Other responsibilities have kept me away from the keyboard more than I like, but different scenes, interactions amongst the players and more twists keep coming to mind.

For some reason three o’clock in the morning is often when inspiration strikes. Most days that’s enough to get my brain firing with different ways an idea could work into the manuscript. As soon as possible, I enter these ideas into the file and review them later in the day when I’m more alert.  As a nun in elementary school once said ‘crude, but effective’.  Call it what you like, but it works well for me.

 

The Virtual Event

          Last month’s virtual book festival was a tremendous hit. Many people participated, watching the antics from this crazy band of creative writers as we tried to identify the culprits.

          Multiple attempts by Diana, the facilitator and moderator of the group, to rein us in and keep the investigation flowing led to more hilarity and oddball questions.

          Diana, in her wisdom put replays of all the episodes on YouTube and created a yearbook of all the authors who shared their work and were part of this zaniness.  Links are provided here.  You might just discover a new favorite.  There are works in every genre.

https://www.pagespromotions.com/2023-virtual-festival-yearbook.html#/

https://www.pagespromotions.com/2023-event-replays.html#/

          

Author Interview

          I’ve been fortunate to connect with many great authors from different parts of the globe. There is so much talent out there, beyond our borders.  It’s my pleasure this month to introduce you to Lynn Griffin who hails from the United Kingdom.   Welcome, Lynn!

Tell something about yourself and how you became an author?

I’ve done a wide variety of jobs, from child-care to lecturer and along the way have met really fascinating people. Some of their stories have been funny, but some have been so shocking it would make your toes curl. I wanted to hug them. My education was nothing to shout about but I could read, and I could write, and I wanted to help those who couldn’t.  After all, at the very least it puts us all on a level playing field. Anyway, as said, I love writing and have been writing around the paid job for years. However, I’ve never had the confidence to submit my work until very recently. If it wasn’t for someone giving me a huge nudge with a “get it out there before you pop your clogs mate,” I don’t think it would have ever happened. When I was offered a contract by The Wild Rose Press, I couldn’t believe it. I thought it was a scam. Seriously! I double checked. Of course, it wasn’t. So, to anyone else out there thinking about submitting their work. If I can do it, then so can you.  

Do you ever imagine of your novels being made into a movie or television series? 

Absolutely. In fact, most of my readers have told me that it would make either a great movie or TV series, and the latest review on Goodreads suggests exactly that. Such a compliment!

When I write, I see everything in film as if it is happening right before my eyes. The trouble is when I bump someone off it can get a bit scary.

Any favorite actors you’d cast in the lead roles?

Hmm. Oh, my goodness. Richard E Grant, or Hugh Grant, maybe for the part of Uncle Jack, British, kind eyes, and great all-rounders. (Seems like there might be a bit of a name theme going on). But I’d also like to give a chance to an upcoming young actor for the female roles. I never forget where I started, and we all have to start somewhere.

What is your writing process? For instance, do you do an outline first? Do you write the chapters in sequence?
          I have an idea in my head and start writing. Then I stop and use a timeline on a flipchart to make sure everything works, then once the bones are there, I start fleshing it out. The trouble is my imaginary friends are really bossy, they shout at me in the middle of the night, when I’m shopping, anywhere in fact, and it can get a tad embarrassing. I find myself telling them to be quiet, whilst they are shouting at me to hurry up and get on with it. I get strange looks. But then I am weird. Stay weird I say.

Tell us a little bit about the characters in your latest book.

The Twenty-One-Year Contract is set 1950s London. But the story begins much earlier.  In 1939, Devilishly handsome Jack is a pilot, and an engineer and his skills much sought after across the world troubleshooting mining disasters. When Jack learns WWII is about to break out, his immediate instinct is to return to his native home in the UK to offer his skills as a Spitfire pilot.

In Brighton, Jack meets Cassandra. From the moment he sets eyes on her he knows she is the one. Deeply, madly, in love, he intends to ask her to marry him. Luck is not on his side. Cassandra returns to London, before he can discover her true identity. While fighting for his country he never gives up hope of finding her. But when he arrives in London, the street she has mentioned have been bombed, and though his search for her becomes a fruitless task, he never gives up hope.

Kathleen is a little wild, popular, fun, and talented. At fourteen her adoptive parents are involved in a tragic accident. Stricken with grief and guilt she takes a chance; she becomes Kate and runs away to the bright lights of London. She starts working for atelier where her talents are instantly recognized, but very soon she becomes drawn into the seedy underworld and is determined to put wrongs right.

Do the characters all come to you at the same time or do some of them come to you as you write?

There’s a mixed answer to this. My central characters are there, in my face. I know them instantly, but they have this habit of introducing me to their friends and acquaintances. I have to listen, don’t I?
What is your latest book about?

Fourteen-year-old Kathleen Gray— talented, a little wild, at times rebellious, but always popular—has a fun, easy life in rural Somerset, with a doting family. Suddenly, they are gone, she has only Uncle Jack. Try as he might, he cannot be father and mother to her. Kathleen takes a chance and becomes Kate Westfield, fending for herself in London, with a new life built on her hopes and dreams and new friends. She could hardly have imagined that one of those friends has a shoebox full of answers.

The Twenty-One-Year Contract – sequel (also standalone) to Secrets, Shame, and a Shoebox.

Can you share an excerpt?

        ‘After a glass of water, Jack made himself a cup of tea and returned to the job in hand. This was going to be much harder than he could ever have imagined. Working deep through the night, Jack methodically sifted through volumes of paperwork until light inched its way through the curtain. Though he felt thoroughly ready for bed, he continued searching, his aim to find at least a smidgen of information about his niece. Randomly tidying up as he went, Jack noticed an encyclopedia oddly extended over one of the top shelves. He tried pushing it back into place. It was jammed. It looked awkward. Pulling it out to check the depth of the book, he found a box file hidden behind. Upon the side panel was one word, capitalized in thick bold lettering: KATHLEEN. As the hazy sunlight grew, Jack pulled the curtains to lend natural light, took the file off the shelf, sat back in Henry’s chair, and looked inside. He ran his hand through his hair, exhausted, this was going to be far harder than he could have ever expected…’

What’s the next project you’ll be working on?

I have two works in progress. The one I’m focused on at the moment is a contemporary romance. I needed to write something fun and sassy and it certainly is. I am really looking forward to seeing it finished, though I know it will be a loss as I know I will miss Georgia, I love her and writing about her escapades.

Here are the buy links:

mybook.to/twentyone

https://books2read.com/u/3JER1P

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Twenty-One-Year-Contract

https://www.amzn.com/1509239723

https://www.amzn.com/B09THQKFJS

https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/isbn1509239723

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Secrets-Shame-Shoebox

https://wildrosepress.com

 

Music

 

          Since my guest Lynn hails from the United Kingdom, it was the opportune moment to feature one of my favorite bands from there.

         

The Rolling Stones have been entertaining the world for more than six decades now. Recognized by many as one of the most popular bands of the rock era, the Stones have sold more than 240 million records worldwide.  There are rumors about that the band may actually tour this year, but nothing definite has been announced. Yet.’

Here are my top five favorites.

Jumpin’ Jack Flash: https://youtu.be/qGd7SkdETro

Satisfaction: https://youtu.be/poXvMBhjSWk

Sympathy for the Devil: https://youtu.be/GgnClrx8N2k

You Can’t Always Get: https://youtu.be/Ef9QnZVpVd8

Can’t You Hear Me Knocking: https://youtu.be/3fa4HUiFJ6c