tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-78395321563396476132024-03-14T08:53:02.302-04:00MYSTERY WRITERS UNITEAn online community where writers can meet to talk about the art, joy and passion of mystery writing. Mystery Writers Unite will address issues that writers face to bring their "idea" to a novel; topics like: plot points, character building, editing, self-publishing, writer's block, basic writing tools and resources and author interviews. If you like mystery writing or just like to write, I hope you will visit often and share in our community.Becky Illson-Skinnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03385266286139995349noreply@blogger.comBlogger138125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7839532156339647613.post-91989112794256257732012-02-27T05:00:00.020-05:002012-02-27T09:29:31.023-05:00It's Been a Blast :-)<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Hi everyone,</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS9FdTnsUxW-Pn4C7KsKty8TbrtDjVthdPzBnBYuvE3OBCQ27h3l_cICXAjA1qA4jhxPMuXEjpJzBDFcgGyZZ9VeNkSsz9-Fee9ST2tGgTv4iLNXVLP-hg-VWSvPO6gH9if20fGdAv5PY/s1600/images.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS9FdTnsUxW-Pn4C7KsKty8TbrtDjVthdPzBnBYuvE3OBCQ27h3l_cICXAjA1qA4jhxPMuXEjpJzBDFcgGyZZ9VeNkSsz9-Fee9ST2tGgTv4iLNXVLP-hg-VWSvPO6gH9if20fGdAv5PY/s1600/images.jpg" /></a><span style="font-size: large;">After agonizing for the past week about what to do about MYSTERY WRITERS UNITE, I've come to the conclusion that I simply can't do it anymore and expect to ever get my own book complete. In addition, and to be honest, I just don't have any insight left to share.</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">As a mother of two that works full time and has a significant other in her life, I've been spread pretty thin since I started this blog. It takes a lot of time and energy to come up with post ideas and to share yourself with strangers as to your inner fears and outer opinions and I want to thank all of you that made this journey with me by visiting the site and leaving your comments. To you bloggers that have been doing this for years, my hat is off to you....you ROCK!</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">To all the friends I've made, all the best to you in your future writing projects!! To those of you that didn't see my point of view...well, you win some and you lose some.</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">To Katie, thank you for all you've done to help improve MYSTERY WRITERS UNITE and for being my friend! For all of you that follow Katie -- don't fret! You can still do so by visiting her personal website at: <a href="http://kateburnsauthor.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">http://kateburnsauthor.wordpress.com/</a> </span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Happy writing everyone!</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Becky</span></span>Becky Illson-Skinnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03385266286139995349noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7839532156339647613.post-65420062072120807202012-02-25T05:00:00.007-05:002012-02-25T05:00:09.085-05:00Poetry Corner ~ Calling all Poets!!<style>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJSfpU8dxhEj-24_vHQG09gdndH8Fjq5lU-CtNIE-HosrryIbqQSP8yF-5egk7qGnFqGK_aplNQ581bDaYTPrWwfE3d22QNZyZBxrvLruUVl7EacuzJ3coTJrRLMYxF6KJV_fzyDd0yWc/s1600/What-is-Poetry-Wordle.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJSfpU8dxhEj-24_vHQG09gdndH8Fjq5lU-CtNIE-HosrryIbqQSP8yF-5egk7qGnFqGK_aplNQ581bDaYTPrWwfE3d22QNZyZBxrvLruUVl7EacuzJ3coTJrRLMYxF6KJV_fzyDd0yWc/s200/What-is-Poetry-Wordle.gif" width="200" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">“Little Person”</span></b></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">She sits there; the strong one,</span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Perched high on that throne,</span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Ruthless and calculating to all who meet her,</span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Because a scared little person is who she really is inside,</span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">She deflects by joking about all her bitter situations,</span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">As if nothing ever really deeply troubles her,</span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Her soul hidden by armored walls,</span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">She’s crumbling and her soul is almost non-existent,</span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">They want to get close to her and help her,</span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">The fools want to fix her problems with their weak bandages,</span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">They want to coddle her like a small child,</span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">But she won’t let them manipulate her any longer.</span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Written by Becky Illson-Skinner</span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">September 20, 1996 </span></div>Becky Illson-Skinnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03385266286139995349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7839532156339647613.post-84774085728972595822012-02-21T05:00:00.000-05:002012-02-21T05:00:02.708-05:00This Time It's Personal.You.<br />
<br />
Yes, you.<br />
<br />
I know you.<br />
<br />
You do, too.<br />
<br />
You know who you are. You say whatever crosses your mind -- or your ego, or your mood. You spill it out as an aside. You spew it over email. You 'joke' it out. Then you run. You will ruin a day and walk away. You will say something that haunts a person years from now in a weak moment.<br />
<br />
And you will smile, like you didn't know you did it. Like you were possessed, or absent during the launch of the weapon. And what follows is your alibi. A shrug. A grin. An invitation to drinks. What, me? Say something like that?<br />
<br />
I know what you are.<br />
<br />
Coward.<br />
<br />
I study you, you know. I look carefully, head cocked, at your body language: before, during, and after you launch your missile. I have a little black box for you. It tells me a lot about what you are doing when you do it. I can reconstruct the crash. I can discern and dissect the pressures that brought you to this act of desperation.<br />
<br />
I won't rise to your bait. I won't stoop to your level.<br />
<br />
I will write you. I will write you as I see you. So, better duck, kiddo. You, hero of your own tale, will have your flaws laid out, bit by bit, until you are displayed on ice like a filleted fish at market. Try not to worry, I will be doing the same to myself.<br />
<br />
And the next time you spew on me?<br />
<br />
I will smile.<br />
<br />
Here's a tip. You are special. But you are not special because you are different than anyone else, you are special in the way that every human being is special. You are exploring your potential. Great! Guess what? Others are, too. If the only kind of exceptional you can be is at the expense of others being exceptional in their way, if there's no room in your vision for that, guess what? You've missed the whole fucking point.<br />
<br />
You are not better than everyone else. Or even anyone else. And that's ok. In fact, it's the only true fact of our short, grasping, questioning existence. It's the only answer anyone ever comes to on their deathbed that gives a person any peace. It's knowing, really knowing, that we are all in this together.<br />
<br />
So get over yourself. There are plenty of people who like you when you are simply you. Myself included.<br />
<br />
I'm still going to flay you open in my writing, though. Girl's gotta have a reason to write.<br />
<br />
Kate<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Becky Illson-Skinnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03385266286139995349noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7839532156339647613.post-37916279244183277382012-02-19T05:00:00.010-05:002012-02-19T05:00:06.071-05:00Poetry Corner ~ Calling all Poets!<style>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJSfpU8dxhEj-24_vHQG09gdndH8Fjq5lU-CtNIE-HosrryIbqQSP8yF-5egk7qGnFqGK_aplNQ581bDaYTPrWwfE3d22QNZyZBxrvLruUVl7EacuzJ3coTJrRLMYxF6KJV_fzyDd0yWc/s1600/What-is-Poetry-Wordle.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJSfpU8dxhEj-24_vHQG09gdndH8Fjq5lU-CtNIE-HosrryIbqQSP8yF-5egk7qGnFqGK_aplNQ581bDaYTPrWwfE3d22QNZyZBxrvLruUVl7EacuzJ3coTJrRLMYxF6KJV_fzyDd0yWc/s200/What-is-Poetry-Wordle.gif" width="200" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">“Ghosts”</span></b></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">My ghosts they taunt me from the sidelines,</span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Laughing all the while for my benefit,</span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">If I could only decipher their words of advice,</span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Maybe I could unwind all these twists,</span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">But they are so muffled all rambling together,</span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Their words and actions don’t register in my mind,</span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Hercules a pillar of strength is what they see,</span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Don’t they realize that their taunting is killing me?</span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">If they would just shut up or go back to sleep,</span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">I could finally be at peace within my soul,</span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">I know it is my fault; after all, I am the one that invited them in,</span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">I just never imagined they would stay so long,</span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">And nobody ever told me how to get rid of them…</span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Written by Becky Illson-Skinner</span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">September 9, 1996</span></div>Becky Illson-Skinnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03385266286139995349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7839532156339647613.post-3305499152049016532012-02-17T05:00:00.037-05:002012-02-17T05:00:05.479-05:00Fiction Writers ~ Why We Do What We Do!!<style>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Hi everyone!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=mystwritunit-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0307359514" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1_VQHLkVZluyjCOrW7nx-VLte2awzdwcApSklGQaV2b-wF8_GXqIWv926uCG9GmqrEB5wclI7_AdNaNpVnRtAqLcWJpA4qNOSzBamtaG2Ukm5CwaIE1D7B1jx0YWVJpJGGnPK0xePc_E/s1600/jessica-lloyd.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1_VQHLkVZluyjCOrW7nx-VLte2awzdwcApSklGQaV2b-wF8_GXqIWv926uCG9GmqrEB5wclI7_AdNaNpVnRtAqLcWJpA4qNOSzBamtaG2Ukm5CwaIE1D7B1jx0YWVJpJGGnPK0xePc_E/s1600/jessica-lloyd.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Jessica Lloyd ~ May She Rest in Peace</span></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-size: large;">I was visiting my boyfriend’s parents and the discussion turned to books…my favorite topic being that I love to read and write! My boyfriend’s mom, Diane, likes to read true crime and as you all know I like to read fictional mystery. Keeping an open mind, I borrowed a couple of books from her (I am out of reading material of my own) and thought I would give it a try.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">The first book I read was “A New Kind of Monster”, written by Timothy Appleby, which is an account of the secret life and crimes committed by ex-Army Colonel Russell Williams. To say that this man was a monster is an understatement but there are really no other words to describe such an animal as this! </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2QaeR1zCq0e7PO6MHuArAWwiliunahaCis3lfLd9MAMPu5BJGrFb3LtwFJB3ytNACNMCbWebgu4HUqnlztNAvXEt6X663C183x4DDJxl3BvM5YY7bPQTwgBLhC0CVc8oixb-XGDkpMho/s1600/Marie_France_Comeau1_250.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2QaeR1zCq0e7PO6MHuArAWwiliunahaCis3lfLd9MAMPu5BJGrFb3LtwFJB3ytNACNMCbWebgu4HUqnlztNAvXEt6X663C183x4DDJxl3BvM5YY7bPQTwgBLhC0CVc8oixb-XGDkpMho/s200/Marie_France_Comeau1_250.jpg" width="142" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Marie-France Comeau ~ May She Rest</span></b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"> in Peace</span></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-size: large;">As I read this book I was a bit more than “disturbed”, I was angry and saddened by the atrocities that his later victims had to endure. I was even more disturbed by the fact that this individual could have lived such a double life for so long and nobody, not even his wife (which I find hard to believe) ever had an inkling that something was going on. Simply amazing!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I chose this book because the crime happened close to home and as you read this post, please don't think I don't feel for the victims. As a victim of crime myself (my brother was murdered in 2006), I know what you are going through and my heart goes out to each and everyone of you. This post is not about the crimes that transpired...it is about the writing. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">The other most notable thing for me as I continued to read this book was the fact that the writing, although the subject matter was interesting, just didn’t’ keep my interest the way a good book of fiction does. In some ways this bothered me. Here I am reading a book about REAL events that impacted REAL people and the book can’t keep my interest and I have to struggle to finish reading it. I kept thinking….What is wrong with me?!? Turns out – nothing as I’ve given things some thought since I finished the book and I believe I’ve pin pointed the reason for this phenomenon. What this kind of writing lacks, compared to the books I usually read, is interaction between characters and the drama unfolding all around those characters when life is spinning out of control. As writers of fiction, this is what we bring to our story. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">We bring our reader through a series of events that start with introducing our main characters and giving them personalities of their own followed by the events that lead up to the “main event”. We complete the story by wrapping everything into a nice neat package that tells the who, what, when, where, why, how and any other little bit of information we may want to add so everything that the reader has enjoyed makes sense to them. It is entertaining.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">I’m not sure where I am going with this post or even why I felt moved enough to write about it here on MYSTERY WRITERS UNITE except to say: Keep doing what you are doing and producing great fictional writing for those of us who love to burrow in on a cold winter day and be entertained by fascinating fictional characters who do bad things.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Happy writing everyone!!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Becky</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">P.S. <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0307359514/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=mystwritunit-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0307359514">A New Kind of Monster: The Secret Life and Chilling Crimes of Colonel Russell Williams</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=mystwritunit-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0307359514" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /><br />
wasn't a "bad" book...just not my usual type of read. </span></div>Becky Illson-Skinnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03385266286139995349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7839532156339647613.post-16045521437575970852012-02-15T05:00:00.001-05:002012-02-15T05:00:03.324-05:00Want Your Bad RomanceKate Burns<br />
<br />
As I write this, Valentine's Day is winding down into the soft pinkness of evening (well, it would be soft pink in the Island resort I should be living in -- but it's February in Canada, so not), and couples everywhere are setting up and knocking down their romantic expectations. And let's not overlook the Singles... like my boss, the beautiful Natalia, who said today, quite cheerfully, "What Scrooge is to Christmas, I am to Valentine's Day." A Love Song, if I ever heard one.<br />
<br />
And I, rushed off my feet by life and work (sound of whip), catch the Carleton Cards Store folding mall-door by the red-lacquered nails of the clerk attempting to shut it and beg for two minutes to pick a card for my husband. The same one who managed to get <i>my</i> card and chocolates to me this morning. Sigh. Valentine's.<br />
<br />
So, it puts me in mind of romance and reality. Romantically, we writers of mystery and suspense will breeze through that love scene/sex scene/developing relationship character arc and somehow weave it seamlessly into a tale that not only beats with terror and discovery but throbs with hidden lusts and need, fulfilling the reader in ways not dreamt of by Fabio.<br />
<br />
And then we attempt it and... oh, my sweet gods, is it ever awful. Soul-cringingly, rip up your printouts, awful. Like something that could win a contest awful!<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5JlD5a_5AB5kuG0RqKorxoZS12GuSEGK3QYdyAbGjPyoAVib1r4JTCuKvNQnX4TuktOhMK03OHDsQ3lQWix8UUxMnWdSwOD2oX3xUM1w9Fju5r3WpvTCN_m4gT_He2Ai36iw5cS1dhTk/s1600/arts_harlequin-fabio_220.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5JlD5a_5AB5kuG0RqKorxoZS12GuSEGK3QYdyAbGjPyoAVib1r4JTCuKvNQnX4TuktOhMK03OHDsQ3lQWix8UUxMnWdSwOD2oX3xUM1w9Fju5r3WpvTCN_m4gT_He2Ai36iw5cS1dhTk/s320/arts_harlequin-fabio_220.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
<b>She resolved to end the love affair with Ramon tonight... summarily, like Martha Stewart ripping the sand vein out of a shrimp's tail... though the term "love affair" now struck her as a ridiculous euphemism... not unlike "sand vein," which is after all an intestine, not a vein... and that tarry substance inside certainly isn't sand... and that brought her back to Ramon.</b><br />
<b><br /></b><br />
<b><i>Dave Zobel, Manhattan Beach, California (<a href="http://www.bulwer-lytton.com/lyttony.htm" target="_blank">Bulwer-Lytton Fiction Contest </a>Winner 2004)</i></b><br />
<br />
But how do you go from horrid to torrid, without breaking your main plot?<br />
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
We mystery writers may think we don't have to write romance. After all, we write important stuff! Dark, creepy, suspenseful, thought-provoking stuff. But truthfully, it will be in there, in every story we write. Whether it's the fraught relationships of our main characters, the sudden attraction the the Wrong Guy, unwanted attention from a true <a href="http://mysterywritersunite.blogspot.com/2012/02/empathy-for-devil.html" target="_blank">Villain</a>, we will at some point need to inject <a href="http://mysterywritersunite.blogspot.com/2011/12/luuuuuve-scene-aka-secks.html" target="_blank">love in various forms</a> into our work.<br />
<br />
I trust you will all do that. But first... BUT FIRST! Show me the purple! Give it up in the comments, the worst, most florid romantic sex prose evah!<br />
<br />
I want your <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qrO4YZeyl0I" target="_blank">Bad Romance</a>.<br />
<br />
Kate Burns</div>
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<br />Becky Illson-Skinnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03385266286139995349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7839532156339647613.post-55385328508554449112012-02-13T05:00:00.060-05:002012-02-13T05:00:09.777-05:00Handling a Harsh Book Review<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Hi everyone,</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnvZ3iFA24omYZ0Z4CSshlSs2DPCX44mmIm8PTZ24_q5daOpdCNjhVO1Sd4ysRF8PW5IO38E3kzVqRpVh3H1-eG_5mZkxxqj8iJBUhJ6a7PmV6Go649ETmcIvLBG2x-i-ag3KKSNrlo-4/s1600/james-patterson-190.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnvZ3iFA24omYZ0Z4CSshlSs2DPCX44mmIm8PTZ24_q5daOpdCNjhVO1Sd4ysRF8PW5IO38E3kzVqRpVh3H1-eG_5mZkxxqj8iJBUhJ6a7PmV6Go649ETmcIvLBG2x-i-ag3KKSNrlo-4/s1600/james-patterson-190.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">James Patterson</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Okay, so you've finally finished your book and it's on the market and a couple of hundred or maybe even more have bought it. You are thrilled and you should be! Congratulations :-) Things are humming along and you are feeling pretty proud when you log into your Amazon account and come across a harsh review of your precious work. HOW could that be?? Don't worry...it happens to everyone from time to time. Believe it or not, not everyone that reads your book is going to like it or think it's great. That is part of writing...there will be people who love what you do and how you do it, there will be people that will read it and go "meh" and others that will read it and dislike it for whatever reason.</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Don't be too hard on yourself at this point! Even the best known authors of our time like Stephen King, James Patterson, or John Sanford (a few of my fav's) don't always write winners every time. It doesn't mean that you suck or you are a bad writer. Maybe you type of writing was too fast or too slow for someone. Maybe your writing isn't their usual genre of reading. Maybe they wouldn't know a good book it if hit them in the head! Instead, take what they have to say and give it the weight it deserves. For example, if they criticized the grammar then perhaps your next book should be edited by a copy editor instead of yourself and uncle Ted or if they said the plot was thin then maybe you could look at working up a stronger plot for the next book. </span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">The bottom line of today's post is that every writer should use a harsh review as an opportunity to learn about your writing technique and to pick up tips on how to improve your writing skills. Take those negative comments and use them to strengthen your writing muscle! </span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Have a great day everyone!</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Becky</span></span>Becky Illson-Skinnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03385266286139995349noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7839532156339647613.post-55800455739748219512012-02-11T05:00:00.011-05:002012-02-11T05:00:02.322-05:00Poetry Corner ~ Calling all Poets!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJSfpU8dxhEj-24_vHQG09gdndH8Fjq5lU-CtNIE-HosrryIbqQSP8yF-5egk7qGnFqGK_aplNQ581bDaYTPrWwfE3d22QNZyZBxrvLruUVl7EacuzJ3coTJrRLMYxF6KJV_fzyDd0yWc/s1600/What-is-Poetry-Wordle.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJSfpU8dxhEj-24_vHQG09gdndH8Fjq5lU-CtNIE-HosrryIbqQSP8yF-5egk7qGnFqGK_aplNQ581bDaYTPrWwfE3d22QNZyZBxrvLruUVl7EacuzJ3coTJrRLMYxF6KJV_fzyDd0yWc/s200/What-is-Poetry-Wordle.gif" width="200" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Yeah! It's POETRY TIME AGAIN :-)</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span> <style>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">“Strength”</span></b></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><br />
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</div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">That visitor of strength I love to hate,</span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Although I adore you most of time and look at you in awe,</span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">You’re so decided so sure of your direction,</span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">You often leave me in the dust to deal with the pain,</span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">I feel like such an undecided fool,</span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">I need you to come and plant roots in my mind,</span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Never abandon me again,</span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Help me to decipher between all the right and wrong,</span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Give me the strength to heal and thrive,</span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Don’t leave me on the edge living in greyness,</span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Let me see things through vivid laughing eyes,</span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">I need that armored shell of strength surrounding me,</span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Because with it, I will flourish!</span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Written by Becky Illson-Skinner</span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">September 8, 1996</span></div>Becky Illson-Skinnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03385266286139995349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7839532156339647613.post-64872532252077445232012-02-09T05:00:00.001-05:002012-02-09T05:00:10.455-05:00On the Slowdown: ProcrastinationOh my god. I thought novel two would be easy. After all, it's a continuation, really. All of the main characters are familiar, I have the plot in my head, and noted in a variety of places, ideas are coming fast and furious, but I have not sat down to write since before Christmas.<br />
<br />
I... I... ok, I'll come clean. I am a procrastinator. It's too dark to write. Or too sunny outside, I should be out there. The laundry is behind. My family is hungry, how selfish of me to write instead of cooking something nice for dinner, and maybe some cookies. And bread. And maybe I should cook meals for the week...<br />
<br />
<br />
And tonight, shoving actual writing out of the way again, I am attending a Capital Crime Writers meeting at the Ottawa Public Library. Tonight's topic: <a href="http://capitalcrimewriters.com/events/the-art-of-arson-investigation-feb-8/" target="_blank">The Art of Arson Investigation</a>. For serious! Who can miss that?<br />
<br />
So, 5000 words and counting. Only 75, 000 to go.<br />
<br />
I'll start tomorrow.<br />
<br />
Kate BurnsBecky Illson-Skinnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03385266286139995349noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7839532156339647613.post-58401289369175112372012-02-07T05:00:00.000-05:002012-02-08T17:01:14.332-05:00Empathy for the DevilKate Burns<br />
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There is a terrible story playing out in the national news right now. The Shafia family, who lived in Montreal, was brutally carved in half two years ago when the patriarch decided his first wife and three of his daughters had dishonoured the family enough to warrant a death sentence. Not only did he plot their deaths by beating and drowning, he coerced his second wife, the biological mother of the girls, and a son (their brother) into participating. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFvJ3nC6Jycd8CEJODN2-dFphts2SCJGcnZDNJcw5PVJArHSguj-3wKQkgXydCp_mEDxeEmKtHv1jobtuFt2REK0kemZmSE_OrmnOThAFv7sFzyMuoUUSX1xLVMcif0W8nIctmnoTFy0s/s1600/shafia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="206" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFvJ3nC6Jycd8CEJODN2-dFphts2SCJGcnZDNJcw5PVJArHSguj-3wKQkgXydCp_mEDxeEmKtHv1jobtuFt2REK0kemZmSE_OrmnOThAFv7sFzyMuoUUSX1xLVMcif0W8nIctmnoTFy0s/s320/shafia.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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The court appearances, testimony and released wiretap conversations of this awful trio have illuminated a chilling plurality in all of their personalities. From the love they professed to have for the victims, to the rigid culture of their family (influenced by Afghani culture), to the blood ties, to the arrogance displayed post-crime, there has been a wealth of insight into the inner workings of the evil mind. Brought to us cheap, courtesy of CBC and The Ottawa Citizen. <br />
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There are so many more questions than answers about the nature of evil that it remains our most enduring fascination. More than sex, or love, or math, we ask our scientists: How does the mind of evil work? How does it influence the will of others? We ask each other: How did we not see evil coming? And we ask evil itself: <i>How could you?</i><br />
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How a writer does or does not answer that question can become a defining characteristic of their work. It's worth the effort, when you go to the trouble of putting life-threatening obstacles before your characters, to find out from your muse why the villain is there. <br />
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And there is a difference, definitely, between an antagonist and a <i>villain</i>.<br />
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An antagonist will thwart the goals of your protagonist, stir up conflict, pull your main character out of their comfortable world, and serve to highlight your protagonist's hidden strengths. But an antagonist may have redeeming personality qualities which preclude them from becoming truly evil. Romance novels often set up the male hero as antagonistic, only revealing their heroic qualities near the climax.</div>
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A villain, on the other hand, does all of the above, but with motivations and goals that are out of the realm of ordinary. </div>
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I'm sure you're familiar with 'Sympathy for The Devil'... However, the title of this post refers to empathy. How do you, as a writer, climb into the motivational skin of Evil?</div>
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How do their beliefs affect their behaviour?<br />
What drives them to cross the lines that they cross -- mental illness? Perceived slights? Unrequited love?<br />
And once they cross those lines, how far are they willing to go, and why?<br />
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Every villain, don't forget, is the hero of his/her own tale. That means you, the writer, has to illuminate at least a hint of that tale, or you risk writing a flat cartoon of a character.<br />
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Being a villain could be an occupation: hit man, mob enforcer, guerrilla soldier. Or, your villain could be a regular person who makes a dreadful mistake, and whose actions become more and more desperate as he/she attempts to cover it up, hide from it, fix it, etc.<br />
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What is in the heart of your villain is different than that of other characters. Think about the emotions and guiding characteristics of a person whom you may never understand. Selfishness. Grandiosity. Disrespect. Violent tendencies. Your villain may feel love -- grasping, clinging, stalker love. Or pity -- the kind of pity that makes them put creatures out of their misery.<br />
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It's worth asking, too, what <i>isn't</i> in their heart. Things like self-awareness, a sense of personal responsibility, emotional balance, empathy, sympathy, respect for the rule of law, a sense of community, humility, genuine love, patience.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVEVg5Kl2Q3RHmgEbMANz43W4iwxJQcaIPkImHN96pRUbcDD20R1VL5I6cVIZWsnB5JFS0h6CV1Z3czTiZne4Adq9c3FHdu5PaGZcUU9vbXvefxKigHuYowwEthdoga00hXWm-0VZhTeA/s1600/75328_180778_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVEVg5Kl2Q3RHmgEbMANz43W4iwxJQcaIPkImHN96pRUbcDD20R1VL5I6cVIZWsnB5JFS0h6CV1Z3czTiZne4Adq9c3FHdu5PaGZcUU9vbXvefxKigHuYowwEthdoga00hXWm-0VZhTeA/s1600/75328_180778_2.jpg" /></a>Your character may exhibit any of these traits or emotions at one time or another...<br />
Love: Buffalo Bill in 'Silence of the Lambs' and his little dog Precious. "Don't you hurt my little dog!"<br />
Patience: The killer stalking the babysitter, waiting in the dark for hours.<br />
<br />
Picture this: a man is turned down for a loan at the bank. This loan would have secured his financial future, he could have bought the business, married the girl. Now both are gone. What does he do? Does he sit around and think, "I'm going to work double shifts and pay my bills on time and wait, train up some more on my chosen field of business, come back someday, buy a business and marry a nicer girl. That'll show those bastards at the bank." That's what most people would do. The villain? Nope. He'll rob it. Maybe even hurt somebody.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbSeWkoz00Y0uZgKcxk-1GK5_2U7O3XS3W8OsQyekkKvJHBLIKx1g6VEpzaPh8QCWf2qGWu_2jiihPG0rt-itjFhb9d5el3hur4m4GS3b6X5aFd91RC0n9daR1OJHY478sebCqBzulLzU/s1600/Burke_Profile.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbSeWkoz00Y0uZgKcxk-1GK5_2U7O3XS3W8OsQyekkKvJHBLIKx1g6VEpzaPh8QCWf2qGWu_2jiihPG0rt-itjFhb9d5el3hur4m4GS3b6X5aFd91RC0n9daR1OJHY478sebCqBzulLzU/s1600/Burke_Profile.jpg" /></a><br />
An act of evil doesn't have to be over-the-top to turn a character from merely oppositional to evil. Think of Carter Burke from 'Aliens', all wide-eyed innocent expression, quietly turning off the monitor displaying the silent desperate cries for help of Ripley and Newt. He knows they will die. He does it anyway, for goals that are so nasty, so contrary to humanity, that it's hard to imagine him without horns and a tail.<br />
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And our real-world example, of course. Mohammad Shafia -- a walking, talking example of evil. A waking nightmare in a respectable suit.<br />
<br />
Kate Burns<br />
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<br />Becky Illson-Skinnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03385266286139995349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7839532156339647613.post-90257880863568849602012-02-05T05:00:00.014-05:002012-02-05T05:00:06.283-05:00Poetry Corner ~ Calling all Poets!<style>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJSfpU8dxhEj-24_vHQG09gdndH8Fjq5lU-CtNIE-HosrryIbqQSP8yF-5egk7qGnFqGK_aplNQ581bDaYTPrWwfE3d22QNZyZBxrvLruUVl7EacuzJ3coTJrRLMYxF6KJV_fzyDd0yWc/s1600/What-is-Poetry-Wordle.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJSfpU8dxhEj-24_vHQG09gdndH8Fjq5lU-CtNIE-HosrryIbqQSP8yF-5egk7qGnFqGK_aplNQ581bDaYTPrWwfE3d22QNZyZBxrvLruUVl7EacuzJ3coTJrRLMYxF6KJV_fzyDd0yWc/s200/What-is-Poetry-Wordle.gif" width="200" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">“The Cell”</span></b></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">She is a prisoner so alone in her cell, trapped there, the key nowhere to be found.</span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">A ray of light filters in. Is that a ray of hope?</span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">No…it’s just a crack in her mind.</span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">The dampness here is never ending and the sell of mold attacks her senses.</span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">In the darkness she claws at her cell until her fingers bleed from desperation and decides to quit.</span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">She huddles in a corner as the tears fall in silence.</span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Truly painful in their wake...</span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">How long will these walls hold her captive?</span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">When will she be paroled for all her good deeds?</span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Nobody has any idea because they are no aware,</span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">That she is trapped here and screaming for rescue.</span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">So they all go about their lives and leave her there to rot.</span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Written by Becky Illson-Skinner</span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">September 21, 1996</span></div>Becky Illson-Skinnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03385266286139995349noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7839532156339647613.post-68508549717655332142012-02-03T05:00:00.011-05:002012-02-03T05:00:09.319-05:00Out of the Mouths of Babes!<style>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTqxQdh_lQ_nEboLVH-8dq1etPn2ox6uwdSeJQ9Nypw5guhn8XBn7WwONuDQEQQ2hM0DEQM6r6d9GDmeB85Lughn_4FUG9Zk7CaZI74ocZeuSfpeF7Ii8tgs1SECaN5fLMDZzoHPnehf0/s1600/IMG_0574.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTqxQdh_lQ_nEboLVH-8dq1etPn2ox6uwdSeJQ9Nypw5guhn8XBn7WwONuDQEQQ2hM0DEQM6r6d9GDmeB85Lughn_4FUG9Zk7CaZI74ocZeuSfpeF7Ii8tgs1SECaN5fLMDZzoHPnehf0/s320/IMG_0574.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Virginia and Kirsten ~ Friendship!</span></span></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Hi everyone,</span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">I had a very cute conversation with my eight-year-old daughter, Kirsten, the other day and thought I would share with all of you what comes out of the mouth of babes from time to time….</span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">The conversation came about partly because Kirsten has heard me say that “I am working on my book” for the past year and because my good friend an MYSTERY WRITERS UNITE co-author, Kate Burns, had visited their class at school to talk with them about what it takes to have a story and write a book. </span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Kate’s talk must have been inspiring because she announced that her and her friend Virginia (Kate’s daughter) had started to write a book. I looked at her both pleased and surprised and asked when that happened. She looked at me so seriously and said, “Just recently but we’ve already got the first page almost done.” </span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">I replied, “I see, that’s really good. What is your book going to be about?”</span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">She said, “It is about friendship I think and we are really good at coming up with ideas.”</span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">I said, “That is really cool sweetie.”</span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Then she replied, “We need to come up with a boy character though because one of the girls has to meet someone and fall in love.” </span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">This took me a bit by surprise and all I could think is you better come up with two boy characters so they can both fall in love or there may be problems (smile). </span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Anyhow, I decided to share because it just goes to prove with a little imagination, some plot planning and the desire to write…you can do it. </span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">I have no idea when we will see the finished version of Kirsten and Virginia’s book but I do look forward to being one of the first to read it. </span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">For other authors or aspiring authors out there…let us all take a page from the eight-year-old book of life and dive into whatever your latest project is! Do it with freedom of mind and pure heart and I’m sure it will all work out. </span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Have a great day everyone!</span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Becky</span></div>Becky Illson-Skinnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03385266286139995349noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7839532156339647613.post-53047387813962002692012-02-01T05:00:00.026-05:002012-02-01T05:00:04.777-05:00Author Interview ~ Jane Issac<style>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUZIYVd9MyM3pNEVhdkOh42WWBRcVFFlDwJoPpIMSdFJZsgkDWiJsHggOibq3xtt5lGnnJ03O4vW_aBavjta1mc-_3MyXd1spWDJdE_MDgT23-t23uyq3AOJ58M61jNTmY1SxUlO8DHCI/s1600/Profile+Pic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUZIYVd9MyM3pNEVhdkOh42WWBRcVFFlDwJoPpIMSdFJZsgkDWiJsHggOibq3xtt5lGnnJ03O4vW_aBavjta1mc-_3MyXd1spWDJdE_MDgT23-t23uyq3AOJ58M61jNTmY1SxUlO8DHCI/s320/Profile+Pic.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">MYSTERY WRITERS UNITE is EXCITED to be supporting the work of Jane Isaac author of the newly released AN UNFAMILIAR MURDER (see below). </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Jane Isaac lives in rural Northamptonshire, UK with her husband, daughter and dog, Bollo. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Jane studied creative writing, and later specialist fiction with the London School of journalism. Her non-fiction articles have appeared in magazines, newspapers and online. An Unfamiliar Murder is her first novel.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">--- Interview</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><b>MWU:</b> Let me start by saying thank you for agreeing to let MYSTERY WRITERS UNITE interview you, it really is a pleasure to support all the hard work that authors do! Now for the fun stuff!! If one of your children was approached and asked what your biggest writing quirk is, what would they say?</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><b>Jane Isaac:</b> I love to listen to music when I write. My tastes vary according to my mood and what I’m working on at any particular time, ranging from a blast of Muse, Guns n Roses or the Chilli Peppers, to the gentler Snow Patrol or Keane (at present).</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The problem is I have a tendency to sing a tune I’ve listened to for the rest of the day, and it usually collapses into a hum of a favorite couple of lines, repeated incessantly. Sounds great in my head, but drives my ten year old mad! </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><b>MWU:</b> Aside from the main character in AN UNFAMILIAR MURDER, who is your favorite character and why?</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><b>Jane Isaac: </b>An Unfamiliar Murder is essentially the tale of two women. Anna is</span> fighting to prove her innocence, whilst Helen is trying to prove herself in the senior echelons of the police force, whilst juggling the demands of parenting teenage sons. I have a very strong connection with both these women.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">Aside from these, it would have to be Anna’s boyfriend, Ross. Ross teaches at the same school as Anna, but has aspirations of being the next Sir Ranulph Fiennes. He’s sporty, fun loving, caring and undemanding – perfect boyfriend material. I fell in love with him more and more as his character developed and he still holds a special place in my heart.<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><b>MWU:</b> What is one of your favorite chapters or scenes in AN UNFAMILIAR MURDER and why is it your favorite?</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><b>Jane Isaac: </b>Oooh, good question. It would have to be the scene that features on the cover. It’s difficult to elaborate without giving too much away, but Anna is called to meet a very undesirable character. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">It took quite a while, and a lot of research into serial killers and psychopathic behavior, to construct. Even then, I re-worked it several times to achieve the right level of suspense without the use of graphic violence. Goose bumps still spiral into my back when I read it back. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><b>MWU: </b>Now that you’ve completed this book, is there a character in it that you may want to go back to at another time and write about them again?</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><b>Jane Isaac: </b>Yes and yes. </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">In DCI Helen Lavery, I sought to avoid the divorced, alcohol obsessed detective, instead creating a career woman who juggles a lifestyle balance of a demanding job and single parenting two teenage sons. I wanted a character that readers could relate to, so that we <i>feel</i> her journey.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">Less than a quarter of the way through the novel I realized that her character could develop in so many ways, beyond the boundaries of this story. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">I’m currently working on a sequel in which she faces new challenges, and thoroughly enjoying stretching her character further.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><b>MWU: </b>Another question I ask every author I interview. Do you ever experience writer’s block? If so, how do you cope with it?</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><b>Jane Isaac: </b>Absolutely! Music helps a great deal and, if I’m really struggling, I quit and read someone else’s work which usually ends up inspiring me. Otherwise, I work on a new blog post. Apart from my personal blog ‘Caffeine’s Not a Crime’, I also write ‘Diary of a Newbie Novelist’ at <a href="http://www.newbiewriters.com/"><span style="color: windowtext;">www.newbiewriters.com</span></a> and general posts for The Pajama Club. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><b>MWU:</b> What did you learn from writing AN UNFAMILIAR MURDER?</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><b>Jane Isaac:</b> The benefit of a good editor! It’s tempting to wrap your arms around your favourite lines, but if they don’t drive the story forward let them go. A good editor improves your work and makes it better.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Also, actually writing the book is only one facet of the journey. If you want to get your work out there, you need to be prepared to invest your time in marketing and promoting. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><b>MWU:</b> If you had less than a minute to tell a perspective reader what they could expect from AN UNFAMILIAR MURDER (you are at a trade show and someone has stopped by your booth) what would you tell them? Go….</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><b>Jane Isaac:</b> A dead body in your flat and a night in a cell. A police enquiry that uncovers secrets that link you to the victim and turn your life upside down. A killer lurking in the background.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Who are you and who is coming to get you?</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Grip hold of your seats, you’re in for a rollercoaster ride. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Every family has secrets… </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><b>MWU:</b> What can your readers expect next and when can they expect it?</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><b>Jane Isaac:</b> I am currently working on the sequel to An Unfamiliar Murder entitled Murderous Consequences, which I hope to have finished by the summer. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><b>MWU:</b> Is there anything you would like to say to new writers, new readers or current fans of your work?</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><b>Jane Isaac: </b>Writers: read as much as you can in your preferred genre. Write everyday – even if you’re just jotting down notes - and write something you would like to read yourself. I’m a sucker for a good page turner, so I sought to write a novel that I couldn’t put down. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">New readers: If you like psychological crime thrillers, with strong female characters, that will worm their way under your skin until the very end – then this is the book for you. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Fans: I have two short stories entitled ‘Duplicity’ and ‘Perilous Truths’ out this summer in crime anthologies. Check out my website at <a href="http://www.janeisaac.co.uk/"><span style="color: windowtext;">www.janeisaac.co.uk</span></a> for more information.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The synopsis for AN UNFAMILIAR MURDER:</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6KFW0VzJGjsdGrnggfZzTsjdMGtE7yZPazPh6Dk7nSi86s92XSv8BxYv1dh7Pwf52JOVfAwLwTuDFPnpt7wvsyDgZYLQQv9KmyKHun7TeRhgHxOj7n5hSuGtxjPtPpdMpzswXPoK1CuE/s1600/AUM+Cover%281%29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6KFW0VzJGjsdGrnggfZzTsjdMGtE7yZPazPh6Dk7nSi86s92XSv8BxYv1dh7Pwf52JOVfAwLwTuDFPnpt7wvsyDgZYLQQv9KmyKHun7TeRhgHxOj7n5hSuGtxjPtPpdMpzswXPoK1CuE/s320/AUM+Cover%281%29.jpg" width="216" /></a></div><div style="background: white;"><strong><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 14.0pt;">What lurks beneath a normal, healthy skin?</span></strong></div><div style="background: white;"><br />
</div><div style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white;"><strong><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal;">Arriving home from a routine day at work, Anna Cottrell has no idea that her life is about to change forever. But discovering the stabbed body of a stranger in her flat, then becoming prime suspect in a murder enquiry is only the beginning. Her persistent claims of innocence start to crumble when new evidence links her irrevocably with the victim... </span></strong><b><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"></span></b></div><div style="background: white;"><br />
</div><div style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white;"><strong><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal;">Leading her first murder enquiry, DCI Helen Lavery unravels a trail of deception, family secrets and betrayal. When people close to the Cottrell family start to disappear, Lavery is forced into a race against time. Can she catch the killer before he executes his ultimate victim? </span></strong><b><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"></span></b></div>Becky Illson-Skinnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03385266286139995349noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7839532156339647613.post-49730143349358966592012-01-30T05:00:00.014-05:002012-01-30T05:00:10.055-05:00Mystery Writers Unite News<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrIO06o0Vz-sojFLmKpyh4wzVfD-cNUuGBB8ffhy_1opbvZ6-YcusvCTokVDRJrZukZ1LxGmJNz9fIbWy_6TU-8YuSQ3zwS65JXBrwcLDzSisTkYve7VEaSqGZixj6dVv_jkRRl6OxRkc/s1600/imagesCAMP5O2S.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrIO06o0Vz-sojFLmKpyh4wzVfD-cNUuGBB8ffhy_1opbvZ6-YcusvCTokVDRJrZukZ1LxGmJNz9fIbWy_6TU-8YuSQ3zwS65JXBrwcLDzSisTkYve7VEaSqGZixj6dVv_jkRRl6OxRkc/s1600/imagesCAMP5O2S.jpg" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Hi everyone,</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">After several months of running MYSTERY WRITERS UNITE, I'm pooped!! I didn't realize just how much time and energy blogging can take out of you and I'm finding that I don't have enough left over time between coming up with post ideas, conducting author interviews and preparing content that I have any time left to write. As such, starting in February new blog posts will be posted every second day instead of every day.</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">I'm hoping this won't detract from the readership that has built over the past 4 months because I do enjoy the fact that people come to see what is posted on the site...it is the entire reason for having a blog. At the same time, there is only so much time in a day and I really do want to finish my book sometime this year.</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">I hope everyone understands and has a great day!</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Becky</span></span>Becky Illson-Skinnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03385266286139995349noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7839532156339647613.post-17437051720408086412012-01-28T05:00:00.009-05:002012-01-28T05:00:06.299-05:00Poetry Corner ~ Calling ALL Poets!<style>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>The Painter</b></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKuuMskAm8aRJuMI4z2RtO4OIv2zZ8QL4k-VRC4mRW4im5qw-S9Cngcr6DKqsfzAQDvYg1SWVM7ub20ICY4owQkgPNzX56B4U05QbEHw1QyZEE8KrgksUROqrzT9zYODSkpAsg9KfAquI/s1600/poetry3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="209" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKuuMskAm8aRJuMI4z2RtO4OIv2zZ8QL4k-VRC4mRW4im5qw-S9Cngcr6DKqsfzAQDvYg1SWVM7ub20ICY4owQkgPNzX56B4U05QbEHw1QyZEE8KrgksUROqrzT9zYODSkpAsg9KfAquI/s320/poetry3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">The canvas is ready and my brush is poised,</span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">I’ll be the painter and fill this blank space,</span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">The scene I wish to aspire to is attainable,</span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">With all its warmest and richest shades,</span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">There are only ripples of darkness in this picture,</span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">I see a sky so blue and clear,</span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">With a few white clouds sporadically placed,</span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">After all, life would be so boring without some challenges,</span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">I also see a huge mountain that forms to a peak,</span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Representing that most roads worth traveling are usually up hill,</span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">But when you reach the top fulfillment shall be present,</span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">At the top of this mountain is a castle in all its glory,</span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">In which I shall of course be queen,</span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Living my life as I see fit and happiness around me,</span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Below this is a valley that is flourishing with flowers and trees,</span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">The colors are so enticing and beautiful,</span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">That the onlooker can almost feel their rhythm and joy,</span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">And then of course there is a gorgeous waterfall that flows into a river,</span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">The most vibrant color that you’ll ever lay eyes on,</span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">You’ll want to search it time and time again,</span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">To see if you can find all the hidden treasures there,</span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">This is so picturesque and calming for the soul,</span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">That I lay down my brush and feel satisfied.</span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Written by Becky Illson-Skinner</span></div>Becky Illson-Skinnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03385266286139995349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7839532156339647613.post-84173873451349064952012-01-27T05:00:00.013-05:002012-01-27T05:00:02.460-05:00Working with an Editor ~ Part II<style>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB_q2y3X8oTyxYeZoU-J32-vxLrB0_yquY2FDlNQYQ38wH8kkLi3gDfJ-8_lKIGVsT8xkZOFjPA2uoXnOBZk7HVBufsWMKcDWA3cTeLlsmoQIAwkckuOT1SfmqW5ROA3QnvnB7nt_Ax-w/s1600/editing_red_pen1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB_q2y3X8oTyxYeZoU-J32-vxLrB0_yquY2FDlNQYQ38wH8kkLi3gDfJ-8_lKIGVsT8xkZOFjPA2uoXnOBZk7HVBufsWMKcDWA3cTeLlsmoQIAwkckuOT1SfmqW5ROA3QnvnB7nt_Ax-w/s320/editing_red_pen1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="standard" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="t3"><b>Working with an Editor ~ Part II</b></span></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><br />
<div class="standard" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="standard" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="t3">I’m going to say the following again because it is important and because I can :-) Having your work edited by someone OTHER THAN YOU is a necessary evil because you won’t see your writing errors – you are too close to your story and far too familiar with what the words should say to notice, in some cases, what they do say. You’re just going to have to trust me on this one!</span></span></div><div class="standard" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><br />
<div class="standard" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="t3">On Monday, we examined some common misunderstandings about editors and we are going to finish today by looking at some questions you may want to ask of a perspective editor and for those of you that still think you can do it all on your own, I will give you a checklist of things to look for when editing your book: </span></span></div><div class="standard" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><br />
<div class="standard" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-left: 36pt; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="t3">1.<span style="-moz-font-feature-settings: normal; -moz-font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span class="t3">What type of editing services do they offer?</span></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><br />
<div class="standard" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-left: 36pt; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="t3">2.<span style="-moz-font-feature-settings: normal; -moz-font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span class="t3">What fees do they charge?</span></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><br />
<div class="standard" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-left: 36pt; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="t3">3.<span style="-moz-font-feature-settings: normal; -moz-font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span class="t3">When are fees due (up front, upon completion of work)?</span></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><br />
<div class="standard" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-left: 36pt; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="t3">4.<span style="-moz-font-feature-settings: normal; -moz-font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span class="t3">How long will it take for them to edit your book?</span></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><br />
<div class="standard" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-left: 36pt; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="t3">5.<span style="-moz-font-feature-settings: normal; -moz-font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span class="t3">How much control do you still have with edited content?</span></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><br />
<div class="standard" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-left: 36pt; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="t3">6.<span style="-moz-font-feature-settings: normal; -moz-font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span class="t3">What type of books do they read in their spare time?</span></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><br />
<div class="standard" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-left: 36pt; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="t3">7.<span style="-moz-font-feature-settings: normal; -moz-font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span class="t3">What kind of books have they edited?</span></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><br />
<div class="standard" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-left: 36pt; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="t3">8.<span style="-moz-font-feature-settings: normal; -moz-font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span class="t3">How are they with meeting deadlines?</span></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><br />
<div class="standard" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-left: 36pt; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="t3">9.<span style="-moz-font-feature-settings: normal; -moz-font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span class="t3">What format does your book have to be in for editing purposes?</span></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><br />
<div class="standard" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-left: 36pt; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="t3">10.<span style="-moz-font-feature-settings: normal; -moz-font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span class="t3">Can they provide references?</span></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><br />
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</div><div class="standard" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="t3">For those of you that still think you can be your own editor, I don’t agree but can’t stop you so here is an editing checklist of things you should look for and consider:</span></span></div><div class="standard" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><br />
<div class="standard" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-left: 36pt; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="t3">1.<span style="-moz-font-feature-settings: normal; -moz-font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span class="t3">Does your story have a good hook?</span></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><br />
<div class="standard" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-left: 36pt; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="t3">2.<span style="-moz-font-feature-settings: normal; -moz-font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span class="t3">Is there a prologue and do you really need it? Try reading the story without it and see if it makes a difference.</span></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><br />
<div class="standard" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-left: 36pt; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="t3">3.<span style="-moz-font-feature-settings: normal; -moz-font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span class="t3">Do you consistently stay in 1<sup>st</sup>, 2<sup>nd</sup> or 3<sup>rd</sup> person?</span></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><br />
<div class="standard" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-left: 36pt; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="t3">4.<span style="-moz-font-feature-settings: normal; -moz-font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span class="t3">Have you balanced your writing enough between action, dialogue and narrative summary?</span></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><br />
<div class="standard" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-left: 36pt; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="t3">5.<span style="-moz-font-feature-settings: normal; -moz-font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span class="t3">Does the action have a purpose and does it move the story forward in a believable way?</span></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><br />
<div class="standard" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-left: 36pt; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="t3">6.<span style="-moz-font-feature-settings: normal; -moz-font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span class="t3">Have you, in any part of your story, drifted off into a realm that doesn’t fit with the rest of the story?</span></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><br />
<div class="standard" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-left: 36pt; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="t3">7.<span style="-moz-font-feature-settings: normal; -moz-font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span class="t3">Are your plot twists feasible and believable?</span></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><br />
<div class="standard" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-left: 36pt; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="t3">8.<span style="-moz-font-feature-settings: normal; -moz-font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span class="t3">Does your plot and all of your subplots become resolved by the end of the story?</span></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><br />
<div class="standard" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-left: 36pt; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="t3">9.<span style="-moz-font-feature-settings: normal; -moz-font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span class="t3">Is your dialogue necessary to move the story forward? Is it advancing the plot?</span></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><br />
<div class="standard" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-left: 36pt; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="t3">10.<span style="-moz-font-feature-settings: normal; -moz-font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span class="t3">Did you manage to keep your characters in character and are they true to their character arc?</span></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><br />
<div class="standard" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-left: 36pt; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="t3">11.<span style="-moz-font-feature-settings: normal; -moz-font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span class="t3">Does the protagonist of your story have a clear character arc?</span></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><br />
<div class="standard" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-left: 36pt; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="t3">12.<span style="-moz-font-feature-settings: normal; -moz-font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span class="t3">Does your story engage a reader’s senses through descriptions that allow the reader to get a sense of the setting and to visualize characters?</span></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><br />
<div class="standard" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-left: 36pt; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="t3">13.<span style="-moz-font-feature-settings: normal; -moz-font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span class="t3">Have you shown your readers what is happening instead of telling them?</span></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><br />
<div class="standard" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-left: 36pt; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="t3">14.<span style="-moz-font-feature-settings: normal; -moz-font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span class="t3">Does each chapter or scene stay in a single point of view?</span></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><br />
<div class="standard" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-left: 36pt; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="t3">15.<span style="-moz-font-feature-settings: normal; -moz-font-language-override: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span class="t3">Check, double-check and triple-check your story for spelling, grammar, and punctuation! </span></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><br />
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</div><div class="standard" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="t3">Happy writing and editing everyone!</span></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><br />
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</div><div class="standard" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Becky</span></div>Becky Illson-Skinnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03385266286139995349noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7839532156339647613.post-86321905297940463532012-01-25T05:00:00.046-05:002012-01-25T05:00:00.041-05:00Author Interview ~ Sevastian Winters<style>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj9x7wPT085G59lsYOCQsHolv8G-G9YVcRm9LjJugdWDFGISVHZCesmPwrrDCEDBvaBLTHvSKn9zwy1GGZN8FHE7pysLKGHMeMxCNuHvkQt0Om_ID-rHaBpCRgVZoxfh52D2ciZEpRdOg/s1600/SvenWinters.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="70" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj9x7wPT085G59lsYOCQsHolv8G-G9YVcRm9LjJugdWDFGISVHZCesmPwrrDCEDBvaBLTHvSKn9zwy1GGZN8FHE7pysLKGHMeMxCNuHvkQt0Om_ID-rHaBpCRgVZoxfh52D2ciZEpRdOg/s320/SvenWinters.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 12pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">MYSTERY WRITERS UNITE is THRILLED to be supporting the work of Sevastian Winters author of BONFIRE STORIES, THE TROUBLEMAKER, THE NON-CONFORMISTS GUIDE TO GETTING OUT OF DEBT, HOW I ARE BECOMED A VERY MUCH GOODER AUTHOR (love this title!) and WOLF’S RISE (see below). </span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">Sevastian Winters is a story teller's story teller. An author who firmly believes that characters have the inalienable right to be themselves, good, bad, and ugly, Sevastian enjoys injecting his characters into impossible situations.<br />
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A faced paced, action author who grabs you and pulls you through the pages, never stopping to let you breathe, Sev's got some stories to show you. So lace up your running shoes and let's go! </span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>--- Interview</b></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>MWU:</b> Let me start by saying thank you for agreeing to let MYSTERY WRITERS UNITE interview you, it really is a pleasure to support all the hard work of fellow authors! Now for the fun stuff!! What would you say your biggest writing quirk is?</span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Sevastian Winters:</b> Thanks for having me. Hmm…. My biggest writing quirk… When I finish a book, before I release it, I print out a copy and light it on fire. I figure that one man’s masterpiece is another man’s kindling, and if anyone is ever going to burn one of my books, I want to make sure I’m first. </span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>MWU:</b> Aside from the main characters in THE TROUBLEMAKER and WOLF’S RISE, who is your favorite character and why? </span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Sevastian Winters: </b>To tell you the truth, if I had it to do again, I’d re-write the Troublemaker. It probably won’t help my bank account to say this, but it’s not a very well written book. The story is good, but the execution is so embarrassing that I nearly took it off of the market recently. Now to answer your question: I really love my minor characters. I think a writer has to, if they want to get any traction with readers. People are complex. No one is fully good or fully bad, and especially when a character has limited ‘on screen’ time, the writer has to figure out how to bring them to life…to create a person instead of a prop. If I had to pick my favorite among them, I’d likely go with T.J. from Wolf’s Rise. He’s a walking paradox, and I love that.</span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>MWU:</b> What is one of your favorite chapters or scenes in THE TROUBLEMAKER and WOLF’S RISE and why is it your favorite? </span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Sevastian Winters:</b> Bar none, my favorite scene in those two books comes from the Troublemaker, shortly after a couple is forced to endure the trauma of delivering a still-born baby. I’ve never gone through that pain personally, but after writing the scene I could barely get out of bed for three days. The scene itself is incredibly visceral, purposefully disjointed, and perfectly human.</span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>MWU:</b> Now that you’ve completed several books, is there a character in any of them that you may want to go back to at another time and write about them again?</span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Sevastian Winters: </b>Well, for sure, I am writing a number of sequels to Wolf’s Rise. Next in that series is <i>Wolf’s Cry</i>, with releases at the end of March. I’m also planning to write a book called <i>My Hat’s Funeral</i> which I intend to pen as “Bill Collins,” a minor character from <i>Wolf’s Rise</i>, who wrote a novel and movie screen play by that name. I like the idea of littering the story universe with odes to other stories. I think that is a fun little way of saying thank you to fans who stick with my work. </span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>MWU: </b>Another question I ask every author I interview. Do you ever experience writer’s block? If so, how do you cope with it?</span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Sevastian Winters:</b> Writer’s block is cured by but one thing: <i>Writing!</i> Show me someone with writer’s block and I will show you a person who is wrapped up in being a writer instead of being wrapped up in chronicling a story. When all else fails, ask your characters what is next. Then write it. Writer’s block doesn’t happen for people who are sitting at their desk with the story file in front of them. For those starting with a blank file, looking for characters or a story, I recommend the story formula I teach in my book <i>How I are Becomed a Very Much Gooder Author.</i> I defy anyone to use that story formula without finding a story to write.</span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>MWU:</b> Writing THE TROUBLEMAKER must have presented some interesting challenges being that the subject, even in this day and age is still pretty taboo, what where they and how did you overcome them? </span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Sevastian Winters:</b> Actually, it didn’t present any challenges for me in the slightest. I write the story that’s there. I don’t care too much about who the reader might be. I know from the outset that there is always a market for a well-told story, even those whose subject matter is considered taboo. A writer’s job is to act as a camera and microphone… never a commentator. The characters themselves must live out their truth on a page…whether that truth bears any resemblance to how I feel personally as an author or not. I work from the premise that every character has an inalienable right to be themselves. As such, I start with characters and then I put them into the pressure cooker of story to find out what will happen next. I don’t believe a person can be a very good writer until they fully grasp the truth of that. Maybe that makes me a bit pompous… I don’t know. I just know that, for me, showing the character’s truth is far more important than whomever might be offended by it. </span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>MWU:</b> If you had less than a minute to tell a perspective reader what they could expect from THE TROUBLE MAKER or WOLF’S RISE (you are at a trade show and someone has stopped by your booth) what would you tell them? Go….</span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Sevastian Winters: </b><i>Wolf’s Rise</i> is the werewolf novel for people that don’t like werewolf novels. It’s a military thriller… Werewolves meet the <i>Bourne Identity</i>. If you like six-page descriptions of drapes, <i>Wolf’s Rise</i> isn’t for you, but if you like books so jammed with action that you can skip your cardio workout at the gym for the week, then lace up your running shoes and come run with the big dogs!</span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>MWU:</b> I just love the title of your “HOW I ARE BECOMED A VERY MUCH GOODER AUTHOR” publication! Can you give readers a glimpse into why you wrote this book and how it can help aspiring writers like me?</span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Sevastian Winters:</b> Having read dozens of books on writing, I came to realize that most books on writing discuss writing as a business or writing as a craft, but none of them discuss it as both. Having worked for ten years as a marketing professional and six years as a corporate CEO, I am well acquainted with some things to which most authors have very little exposure. I’m no expert, and I am wary of anyone who says they are, but I have done my homework. I wrote this book as a cheat sheet, to help writers bypass some of the mistakes I’ve made along the way. No matter if you’ve been writing for ten minutes or ten years, <i>How</i> <i>I are Becomed a Very Much Gooder Author</i> has something that will make you say “wow! I never thought of it like <i>that</i> before!”</span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>MWU:</b> What can your readers expect next and when can they expect it?</span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Sevastian Winters:</b> I am releasing two new novels in the Spring: <i>My Eyes Face Forward: Memoirs of the Serial Killer</i>, and <i>Wolf’s Cry</i>, the first of several sequels to <i>Wolf’s Rise</i>. </span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>MWU:</b> Is there anything you would like to say to new writers, new readers or current fans of your work? </span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Sevastian Winters:</b> Yes, please. To new writers, I say, excellence is its own reward. Learn your craft. To new readers, I say, never read a book just because you have it. Life is too short to read bad books, eat bad food, or collect bad art. Read what really appeals to you, and if a book doesn’t keep you riveted, put it down and go find something else. To new fans, I say Thank you. I am honored and I promise continued dedication to excellence.</span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span> </div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>The synopsis for THE TROUBLEMAKER:</b></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 12pt;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy_LOdEKJG0191BbTeZHqTZnMXb_apbRC8Y38dkOV6cYHBQWyMP90ZyZv2FqJHqBg6FKBudG1whhIxtrvp3Veap2Ur3VBNjx7H23FmNa9KxRe2ajB73-H071If6nTPnIy67DgFh2m3bhU/s1600/trcover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy_LOdEKJG0191BbTeZHqTZnMXb_apbRC8Y38dkOV6cYHBQWyMP90ZyZv2FqJHqBg6FKBudG1whhIxtrvp3Veap2Ur3VBNjx7H23FmNa9KxRe2ajB73-H071If6nTPnIy67DgFh2m3bhU/s1600/trcover.jpg" /></a><span style="font-size: large;">Tyler Wabash has more to deal with than just an abusive childhood in a single parent household. He (<i>or rather she</i>) was also born in the wrong body. Join Tyler on the Journey of a lifetime as he grows from a troubled little boy named Tyler into a triumphant woman named Renee. Sometimes life is as much about the journey as it is the destination. (Author note: This book was written before I realized that line editing and content editing are different skill sets. I am taking steps to have this book properly line edited by Feb. 1 2012). </span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>The synopsis for HOW I ARE BECOMED A VERY MUCH GOODER AUTHOR:</b></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 12pt;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjjKhQOmJC888Ewm0sS_4uzF5HkyCBDHJW-1aZgGHH1MnyWYEI1UE939kR9KmHIGHOLPw-r259cXSA_MMa3Wqa32185t9cTA1TqaRLrJ6Xi4R90hYRKfYN5RUNz5g1lAzqSFU6whO_N8I/s1600/Cover+Howie.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjjKhQOmJC888Ewm0sS_4uzF5HkyCBDHJW-1aZgGHH1MnyWYEI1UE939kR9KmHIGHOLPw-r259cXSA_MMa3Wqa32185t9cTA1TqaRLrJ6Xi4R90hYRKfYN5RUNz5g1lAzqSFU6whO_N8I/s1600/Cover+Howie.JPG" /></a><span style="font-size: large;">Ten years as a marketing professional, followed by six as a corporate CEO and 5 years of writing full time, have given me a unique perspective on the business of being an author. From learning how to brand yourself, to starting the next book after your fans have begun to review the work you just finished, <i>How I are Becomed a Very Much Gooder Author</i> takes you through the steps, one by one, from aspiring author to very much gooder author, all the way, helping you avoid the pitfalls that I've found along the way in my writing and publishing journey. I don't claim to be an expert, but I have absolutely done my homework. Consider this book your cheat sheet. No matter your experience as an author, I guarantee, it will be worth every penny of the $3.99 eBook cover price.</span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-bottom: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>The synopsis for WOLF’S RISE:</b></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2k8JU02yqlqffL9iwGoD-2zA2Bp4BXDPmxff_eVxzyvqKy0amz6v-IxY3iw7lxoyDKckHiydnHKz6btEfj8U8dBSMh3VXhv_4zyUP2mDMmf7tvV5fckSniffFrnGUqldhD1nDda-jFsM/s1600/wr13.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2k8JU02yqlqffL9iwGoD-2zA2Bp4BXDPmxff_eVxzyvqKy0amz6v-IxY3iw7lxoyDKckHiydnHKz6btEfj8U8dBSMh3VXhv_4zyUP2mDMmf7tvV5fckSniffFrnGUqldhD1nDda-jFsM/s1600/wr13.JPG" /></a><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The military thought they were making the perfect weapon. Unfortunately for them, they were right! Werewolves meet the Bourne Identity in Volume I of this adrenaline packed LupoSapien Project series.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">To purchase any of these titles, click on one of the links below:</span></span><br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1453604278/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=mystwritunit-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1453604278">The TroubleMaker</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=mystwritunit-20&l=as2&o=1&a=1453604278" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /><br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006GTU176/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=mystwritunit-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B006GTU176">How I are Becomed a Very Much Gooder Author</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=mystwritunit-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B006GTU176" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /><br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006PIWMI4/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=mystwritunit-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B006PIWMI4">Wolf's Rise (The LupoSapien Project)</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=mystwritunit-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B006PIWMI4" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />Becky Illson-Skinnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03385266286139995349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7839532156339647613.post-66902234278844315492012-01-24T05:00:00.000-05:002012-01-24T10:11:26.097-05:00Throwing Together a Quick PlotKate Burns<br />
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On Thursday, I have been asked, as a 'real author', to speak to my daughter's grade 3 class on the subject of how to take an idea and turn it into a real story.<br />
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Good question! But, like the class already asked, how?<br />
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Well, let's throw together a quick plot. <br />
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We'll start with a little Trouble. <br />
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Every good story starts, of course, with trouble. Not little trouble -- losing your car keys, or forgetting to let the dog out -- but <b>Trouble</b>. Like, say, if you lost your car keys in a bad part of town and found yourself running for your life as two rival street gangs open fire on either side of you. While delivering (stolen) diamonds for your abusive boss. That kind of Trouble.<br />
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The snowflake method is good for plotting. It's a good one for that nagging 'what happened next' question.<br />
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Basically, you write out a beginning situation: <i>Martha gets up at four o'clock every morning to start her day's work in her parents' bakery. She slaves all day, quitting at dusk only to drag herself home and fall into bed, exhausted. Her chances of meeting a man with her head in the oven are slim to none.</i><br />
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And an end situation: <i>Martha emerges as a heroine, having solved the mystery of the arsons in the neighbourhood. The blue-eyed fire investigator she sleuthed with has proposed to her, and she finds the confidence to break out on her own as a special events caterer.</i><br />
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An inciting incident: <i>Four o'clock in the morning. Locks her keys in the car and is stuck outside in the alley behind the bakery. While waiting for a locksmith, Martha sees someone running out of the alley. She smells smoke, then all hell breaks loose as the tenement building next door explodes into flame. </i><br />
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With a dangerous complication: <i>He sees her, too.</i><br />
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With some serious trouble in the middle: <i>Martha is nearly cooked when her ovens malfunction. Is it a freak accident? Gross negligence that could cost her parents the business? Or an attempt on Martha's life?</i><br />
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Some serious sleuthing: <i>She comes across a clue to ovenly sabotage, a motive, along with a few possible suspects.One of whom just started working there.</i><br />
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One Red Herring: <i>The bakery's new cashier lives rent-free in a nearby warehouse, and is an anarchist. He believes home is wherever a person squats and would defend it with knife, gun or burn it to the ground before anyone else got to it. He's attractive, if a little high-strung.</i><br />
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An obstacle: <i>The anarchist cashier likes Martha. A lot. She goes out with him a couple of times, only to discover that although he doesn't believe in ownership for property, he's pretty possessive regarding women.</i><br />
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And a twist: <i>A little google is a dangerous thing: Martha comes to suspect the fire investigator of being an arsonist himself! </i><br />
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Or three: <i>Trouble is, she's falling in love with him</i>. <i>And the cashier can see it, too. Whenever the investigator is around, she can't seem to shake loose her anarchist barnacle.</i><br />
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Weave in a Subplot: <i>Martha's parents are not only not supportive of all the crazy things she's been doing, it looks like they may actually try to have her committed. It turns out her mother went through a 'crazy' phase in her own youth, only to have her dreams dashed and her heart broken by tragedy. She has been shielding her daughter from the same fate, by hiding her away in the family business.</i><br />
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And how about a title? Even just a working title: <i>The Scent of Fresh Murder</i><br />
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Poof! A story! And all I did was start with a beginning situation, ask myself (or my muse) a few questions, and answer them according to some plot points I know I'll need.<br />
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And that is where I think I'll take those kids.<br />
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Stay tuned Thursday for <b>what questions to ask while building a plot.</b><br />
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Happy Writing!<br />
Kate Burns<br />
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<br />Becky Illson-Skinnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03385266286139995349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7839532156339647613.post-8785316551864224772012-01-23T05:00:00.021-05:002012-01-23T22:19:44.205-05:00Working with an Editor ~ Part I<style><!-- /* Font Definitions */@font-face {font-family:Times; panose-1:2 0 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;}@font-face {font-family:"MS 明朝"; mso-font-charset:78; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:-536870145 1791491579 18 0 131231 0;}@font-face {font-family:"Cambria Math"; panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:-536870145 1107305727 0 0 415 0;}@font-face {font-family:Cambria; panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:-536870145 1073743103 0 0 415 0;} /* Style Definitions */p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-unhide:no; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; margin:0cm; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"MS 明朝"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}p.standard, li.standard, div.standard {mso-style-name:standard; mso-style-unhide:no; mso-margin-top-alt:auto; margin-right:0cm; mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; margin-left:0cm; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Times; mso-fareast-font-family:"MS 明朝"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}span.t3 {mso-style-name:t3; mso-style-unhide:no;}.MsoChpDefault {mso-style-type:export-only; mso-default-props:yes; font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"MS 明朝"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}@page WordSection1 {size:612.0pt 792.0pt; margin:72.0pt 90.0pt 72.0pt 90.0pt; mso-header-margin:35.4pt; mso-footer-margin:35.4pt; mso-paper-source:0;}div.WordSection1 {page:WordSection1;}--></style> <br />
<div class="standard" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="t3"><b><span>Working with an Editor ~ Part I</span></b></span></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB_q2y3X8oTyxYeZoU-J32-vxLrB0_yquY2FDlNQYQ38wH8kkLi3gDfJ-8_lKIGVsT8xkZOFjPA2uoXnOBZk7HVBufsWMKcDWA3cTeLlsmoQIAwkckuOT1SfmqW5ROA3QnvnB7nt_Ax-w/s1600/editing_red_pen1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB_q2y3X8oTyxYeZoU-J32-vxLrB0_yquY2FDlNQYQ38wH8kkLi3gDfJ-8_lKIGVsT8xkZOFjPA2uoXnOBZk7HVBufsWMKcDWA3cTeLlsmoQIAwkckuOT1SfmqW5ROA3QnvnB7nt_Ax-w/s320/editing_red_pen1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="standard" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="standard" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="t3"><span>Having your work edited by someone OTHER THAN YOU is a necessary evil because you won’t see your writing errors – you are too close to your story and far too familiar with what the words should say to notice, in some cases, what they do say. You’re just going to have to trust me on this one!</span></span></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><div class="standard" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="standard" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="t3"><span>Finding the right editor for you can seem like a daunting task and if you don’t know the difference between the types of editing that is offered from one person to another and you may think you are getting something that you are not. That’s why it’s important to educate yourself! </span></span></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><div class="standard" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="standard" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="t3"><span>We will look at some common misunderstandings about editors in order to guide you through some of this process and then I will provide some common check list tips for you to follow when looking to hire an editor on Friday in “Working with an Editor ~ Part II”.</span></span></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><div class="standard" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="standard" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="t3"><span>It is important to remember that some editors may edit work from several different genres, but for the most part, editors specialize. They can’t be experts on everything and if the editor you are considering has integrity and morals they will tell you flat out if they are not the right person to be editing your book (tread carefully and ask questions before you commit to working with anyone).</span></span></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><div class="standard" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="standard" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="t3"><span>Editors employed at publishing houses do perform editing and if you are being pursued by a publisher that doesn’t offer editing services for free prior to publication, you are probably working with a self-publishing service (e.g., vanity press) and not a book publisher.</span></span></span></div><div class="standard" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><div class="standard" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="t3"><span>Editors need to know the marketplace in order to assist you in preparing book proposal and if you can find a savvy book editor, especially one who has ties to publishers, you will maximize your ability to get your book proposal sold.</span></span></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><div class="standard" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="standard" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="t3"><span>All editors DO NOT do the same type of work! There are several different types of editors: </span></span></span></div><div class="standard" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><div class="standard" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="t3"><span><span></span><b>In-house Acquisition Editors</b> – buys the rights to books and oversee their <span> </span>publication, acting as a liaison with many different departments. Often, they <span></span>are not the person that will do the actual line editing or structural editing of <span></span>your book.</span></span></span></div><div class="standard" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="t3" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span><span></span><b>Developmental Editors</b> – will restructure manuscripts, clean up writing and <span></span>make it less awkward and more consistent and add in transitions and <span></span>headers. This type of editor is sometimes referred to as a heavy-line editor, a <span></span>structural editor or a book doctor. They will often, but not always, help you <span></span>to develop your story and their services and fees vary.</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><div class="standard" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><div class="standard" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="t3"><span><span></span><b>Light-line or Copyediting Editors</b> – don’t address the structure of the book, <span></span>the voice or the tone. Instead, they fix grammar and punctuation; decide on <span></span>styling, fact check, and not inconsistencies (this is the type of editing I offer <span> </span>authors). A copyeditor or light-line editor doesn’t necessarily do <span></span>developmental editing and a developmental editor will often only do minimal <span></span>copyediting.</span></span></span></div><div class="standard" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><div class="standard" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="t3"><span>Note:<span> </span>even though developmental editors do very little copyediting as they get the book into shape for the publisher, when they are finished their work they will turn the manuscript over to someone whose expertise is in copyediting and proofreading. Even if the developmental editor happens to be a great copyeditor as well, they know it’s better to have a second set of eyes looking at text that has become extremely familiar to them. Proving my point from the beginning of this post – having your work edited by SOMEONE OTHER THAN YOU is critical!</span></span></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><div class="standard" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="standard" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="t3"><span>Whatever type of editor you decide you require, </span></span><span>don’t wait to find a professional to work with until three weeks before publication because editors are often booked up months in advance.</span></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><div class="standard" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="standard" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span>Remember to check back on Friday for “Working with an Editor ~ Part II” to get your checklist for working with an editor.</span></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><div class="standard" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="standard" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span>Becky</span></span></div>Becky Illson-Skinnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03385266286139995349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7839532156339647613.post-6300195033398460212012-01-22T05:00:00.043-05:002012-01-22T05:00:08.362-05:00What Can YOU Write in 6 Sentences?<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Hi everyone,</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">I can't believe it but after two weeks of the survey being active on the site and leaving it up to YOU to decide what kind of content you would like to see....well, there have only been 5 votes (THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!). To be honest, I thought there would have been more considering we have over 1000 page views a week.</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4dTBLKPzdRluYdjtM7EACoYgx-w6mhCzV2SbkCFBVKXRNI9dGtglpmyaLtgyLSV63tA4ZUrQXIqL1-V8yeWDp0MniH4f1O_BhaB7qQ2N6GwyDWcc42R0EXzWVobTBvReHZ7tKe4Dy2oc/s1600/rant.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4dTBLKPzdRluYdjtM7EACoYgx-w6mhCzV2SbkCFBVKXRNI9dGtglpmyaLtgyLSV63tA4ZUrQXIqL1-V8yeWDp0MniH4f1O_BhaB7qQ2N6GwyDWcc42R0EXzWVobTBvReHZ7tKe4Dy2oc/s320/rant.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Why is it so hard to get feedback from viewers? They come and they visit but seldom do people post a comment or, as in this case, take a few seconds of their time to cast a vote to help determine what kind of content this site will have for them in the future. I put in a lot of time and effort into this site and the limited interaction from our readers is frustrating (yes, that is a depiction of me pulling out my hair...lol). </span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">I'm going to give it a couple more weeks and see if the numbers improve. If they don't, then I think I will cancel Sunday posts all together.</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">If you want to cast your vote, check out the choices available by clicking here: <a href="http://mysterywritersunite.blogspot.com/2012/01/what-can-you-write-in-6-sentences-or.html" target="_blank">Sunday Content Vote</a></span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Have a great day everyone!</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Becky</span></span>Becky Illson-Skinnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03385266286139995349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7839532156339647613.post-29367985677982542442012-01-21T05:00:00.008-05:002012-01-21T05:00:01.349-05:00Poetry Corner ~ Calling ALL Poets!<style>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Sometimes</b></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKuuMskAm8aRJuMI4z2RtO4OIv2zZ8QL4k-VRC4mRW4im5qw-S9Cngcr6DKqsfzAQDvYg1SWVM7ub20ICY4owQkgPNzX56B4U05QbEHw1QyZEE8KrgksUROqrzT9zYODSkpAsg9KfAquI/s1600/poetry3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="209" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKuuMskAm8aRJuMI4z2RtO4OIv2zZ8QL4k-VRC4mRW4im5qw-S9Cngcr6DKqsfzAQDvYg1SWVM7ub20ICY4owQkgPNzX56B4U05QbEHw1QyZEE8KrgksUROqrzT9zYODSkpAsg9KfAquI/s320/poetry3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Sometimes I feel so numb and sometimes I feel so focused and sometimes I feel so confused and sometimes I feel so useless and sometimes I feel full of joy and sometimes I feel so bitter and sometimes I feel so complete and sometimes I feel so empty and sometimes I feel so directed and sometimes I feel so lost and sometimes I feel so controlled and sometimes I feel I’m wild and sometimes I feel satisfied and sometimes I don’t and sometimes I feel lonely and sometimes I feel crowded and sometimes I feel strong and sometimes I feel weak and sometimes I’m so scared and sometimes I have courage and sometimes I have goals and sometimes I have no idea and sometimes the two blend into one of the same and there is no way I can tell which one is really me – the great chameleon and sometimes I’m quite certain of who I am and what I’m about.</span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Written by Becky Illson-Skinner</span></div>Becky Illson-Skinnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03385266286139995349noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7839532156339647613.post-83231431311905100512012-01-20T05:00:00.010-05:002012-01-20T05:00:06.482-05:00Finding a Publisher ~ Part II<style>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFsWV68Ubq4Log9U5t5Se4tan3rriZ1VNo2EyF4RveHkJ2jTbjI8pe9zCswUSXKK2_ZDgJP1u3juD3UJSAaM55bydenu8n4Zn1_7beBAW-5hqHeinWOtdMdSOdpEiSXdNXGPExBSZD0cE/s1600/images.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFsWV68Ubq4Log9U5t5Se4tan3rriZ1VNo2EyF4RveHkJ2jTbjI8pe9zCswUSXKK2_ZDgJP1u3juD3UJSAaM55bydenu8n4Zn1_7beBAW-5hqHeinWOtdMdSOdpEiSXdNXGPExBSZD0cE/s1600/images.jpg" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span>Finding a Book Publisher ~ Part II</span></b></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span>Hi everyone and welcome back! To recap from Monday’s post, we looked at he first 5 steps that need to be completed in order to find a publisher, which were as follows:</span></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span>1. <b>WRITE THE BOOK</b> </span></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span>2. <b>DEFINE YOUR AUDIENCE</b></span></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span>3. <b>RESEARCH THE MARKET</b></span></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span>4. <b>DO YOUR HOMEWORK</b> </span></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span>5. <b>PREPARE YOUR MANUSCRIPT</b></span></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span>6. <b>SUBMIT YOUR BOOK PACKAGE</b> – only send the editor exactly what is requested. If you are mailing a large manuscript, use a box for this purpose (available at stationary or office supply stores). Address it to the editor by name and make sure your package is sealed securely but don’t use a half a roll of tape.</span></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span>7. <b>INCLUDE A STAMPED, SELF-ADDRESED ENVELOPE</b> – make sure you send a large enough return envelope (depending on if you want your manuscript back or not) and sufficient postage.</span></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span>8. <b>PREPARE TO WAIT</b> – it can take two months or longer to receive a response to your query and can take up to six months or more to find out if the publisher is interested in your manuscript. </span></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span>9. <b>KEEP WORKING</b> – don’t wait to find out if your book is being picked up or not, get started on your next book or begin building a network of followers for when your book does hit the shelves.</span></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span>10. <b>DON’T GIVE UP</b> – it’s hard but you need to try not to take rejection personally as there could be numerous reasons as to why your book may not be a good fit for one publisher to the next. Move to the next publisher on your list and remember it take time, effort and usually many submissions to get published.</span></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span>Two common questions asked are:</span></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span>How do I copyright my work?</span></b><span> Good news! It is not necessary to register your work with the Copyright Office to protect it. The fact that you’ve put your book on paper places it under your copyright. You can declare copyright ownership by typing the words “Copyright (year) by (your name)” on the first page of your manuscript.</span></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span>Should I get an agent?</span></b><span> Usually first-time authors look for an agent AFTER a publisher has expressed interest in publishing your work. You will want the agent to help negotiate your contract.</span></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span>Best of luck to everyone!</span></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span>Becky</span></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div>Becky Illson-Skinnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03385266286139995349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7839532156339647613.post-29417734757673596022012-01-19T05:00:00.000-05:002012-01-19T15:05:41.062-05:00The Most Boring ThingKate Burns<br />
<br />
Here's an exercise to keep your writing muscles limber.<br />
<br />
Find the most boring thing that happened to you today... or, perhaps, the most boring thing you did. Now, write a paragraph about it. Here's the catch: when you are finished, it should be the most nail-bitingly suspenseful piece of writing ever.<br />
<br />
<br />
I turned my boss's really boring commute into this:<br />
<br />
<b>Two Hours Late </b><br />
<br />
Tallie's nails tick-tick-ticked on the steering wheel. The dash clock blinked its seconds, but minutes snuck forward while her eyes were on the road. It's still ok, she thought. Still closer to nine than ten. Tallie punched the radio on. That woman was still droning on about art in the community. "Ugh." She slapped it off.<br />
<br />
Any other day. <i>Any</i> other day, it would have been fine to be late. She looked out the window to her right. Would it be faster off here? No. The lineup of cars with their exhaust mingling with the sleet ran all the way back behind the exit she'd just passed. Tallie breathed out slowly, let her head sink down onto her hands.<br />
<br />
If only it were Monday. Why did it have to be a Tuesday? Nothing good ever happened on a Tuesday. She wondered if the lawyers knew that. Hers was a good one, a real detail guy, Dad said. He'd have noticed, surely.<br />
<br />
If it was Monday, she'd just be on her way to work. She'd be late, but she wouldn't be rushing. Could never rush. Tallie hoped she could still go to work after this was over.<br />
<br />
<i>Tuesday. Seven months, twelve days ago. First Tuesday in April. Late for work, driving too fast. The light. Yellow, then red. Pushing it. The white Honda. The driver, a woman. Her face, surprised...</i><br />
<br />
The car behind her honked, startling Tallie. She looked at the clock. Nine fifty two. Then she knew. The woman was already there, waiting. Waiting to see if Tallie had any sense of remorse. The woman would be at the hearing, right now, Para Transpo driver smoking in the hall, waiting to take her back to her own busy schedule: physio, group, crafts.<br />
<br />
So would the judge.<br />
<br />
Happy Writing!<br />
Kate Burns<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Becky Illson-Skinnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03385266286139995349noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7839532156339647613.post-64946918111187648482012-01-18T05:00:00.001-05:002012-01-18T14:16:39.114-05:00Author Interview ~ Alan McDermott<style>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-e_CnRbE4Jk0/TwHdVPcd8rI/AAAAAAAAAec/SXkZHtJ06IM/s1600/jambalian-profpic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-e_CnRbE4Jk0/TwHdVPcd8rI/AAAAAAAAAec/SXkZHtJ06IM/s1600/jambalian-profpic.jpg" /></a><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">MYSTERY WRITERS UNITE is DELIGHTED to be supporting the work of Alan McDermott author of GRAY JUSTICE (see below). </span></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">Alan lives in the south of England and is married with beautiful twin daughters. When he's not creating clinical software for the NHS he writes short stories for his daughters and thrillers for everyone else. In his spare time he wishes he has more spare time...</span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>--- Interview</b></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>MWU:</b> Let me start by saying thank you for agreeing to let MYSTERY WRITERS UNITE interview you, it really is a pleasure to support all the hard work that indie authors do! Now for the fun stuff!! If your wife was stopped at the grocery store and someone asked her what your biggest writing quirk was, what would she say?</span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Alan McDermott:</b> Definitely the faces I pull! When I’ve written some dialog I tend to re-read it making the facial expressions I would expect of the characters. By taking part in the scene I can tell if it feels realistic. I don’t mind her laughing if it gives me the effect I’m looking for.</span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>MWU:</b> Aside from the main character in GRAY JUSTICE, who is your favorite character and why? </span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Alan McDermott: </b>That would have to be Abdul Mansour. I wanted to create someone who was dark to Tom Gray’s light and I think I captured that in his character. This is a man for whom human life means nothing, and he is willing to sacrifice anyone to achieve his goals. I found Gray’s character quite easy to relate to, but Mansour was anathema to me, so it took a lot of work to create him. I wanted someone who had a single purpose and was ruthless to a fault, and I think I managed to achieve it.</span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>MWU: </b>What is one of your favorite chapters or scenes in GRAY JUSTICE and why is it your favorite? </span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Alan McDermott: </b>That would have to be the battle scene towards the end. I wrote the majority of the book with that scene in mind and I couldn’t wait to get it down on paper. The book took me a year to write but that scene was done in a day and a half. I added as much detail as I could and a few readers have commented on how vivid it was. </span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>MWU: </b>Now that you’ve completed this book, is there a character in it that you may want to go back to at another time and write about them again?</span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Alan McDermott: </b>I plan to bring Andrew Harvey back in the third book. He was the MI5 officer tasked with stopping Tom Gray, and while he was doing his very best he was hamstrung by Gray’s excellent planning and the short amount of time he had. I actually felt sorry for him at the end of the book and he was the first one penciled in for a return.</span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>MWU:</b> Another question I ask every author I interview. Do you ever experience writer’s block? If so, how do you cope with it?</span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Alan McDermott:</b> I had a bad case with Gray Justice and I’m going through something similar with the sequel. With the first book I didn’t write a single word for ten weeks. I’d gotten so hung up on maintaining a daily word count that I was trying too hard, and I found that putting it aside and forgetting about it let me come back with fresh ideas. If I hadn’t taken that break I don’t think Gray Justice would be the book it is today. In fact it was heading in a different – and not very plausible – direction at the time.</span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">In the current project, whenever the block sneaks up on me I simply close the book and take a step back. That lets me gather my thoughts and consider the next line. Once I have that committed to paper the rest of the scene seems to fall into place. It has meant a longer process than I would have liked but I feel it is worth it in the end.</span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>MWU:</b> What did you learn from writing GRAY JUSTICE?</span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Alan McDermott: </b>Going back to the previous question, I have learned not to put words down just for the sake of reaching a deadline. Writing is like chess: you have to think a few moves ahead, and every scene I write has to take subsequent chapters into consideration. I am constantly revising the outline and I’m not afraid to go back and change a scene in order to help develop a new idea. This does slow the process down, but I would rather take a year to deliver a great book than spit out something I’m not proud to call my own.</span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">I also learned the value of having a good editor. With Gray Justice I published it within a few hours of finishing it, and boy did I pay for that! I have had to upload several new versions as errors have come to light, and I won’t be making that mistake again. I have an editor lined up for the sequel, a certain Becky Illson-Skinner.</span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>MWU:</b> If you had less than a minute to tell a perspective reader what they could expect from GRAY JUSTICE (you are at a trade show and someone has stopped by your booth) what would you tell them? Go….</span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Alan McDermott: </b>It’s a rollercoaster ride from start to finish, with twists and turns and an ending that no-one sees coming. The action scenes are vivid, the tension builds throughout and you’ll be carried along in the most original story you’ve read in a long time. As one reader put it, “Think Law Abiding Citizen and you’ve only scratched the surface.” While that was a fabulous film, I wasn’t trying to match or emulate that story: I was aiming to deliver a fresh twist on the vengeance theme, and I’m confident I delivered.</span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>MWU: </b>What can your readers expect next and when can they expect it?</span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Alan McDermott: </b>I am currently working on the sequel, which I hoped would be out in late February 2012, but I recently revised the outline (again!) so I’m hoping to get it on the virtual shelves by the end of March. </span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>MWU:</b> Is there anything you would like to say to new writers, new readers or current fans of your work?</span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Alan McDermott: </b>To new writers: try to imagine your book on the big screen. The music industry is constantly churning out covers and the film industry is giving us remakes of classics, yet there is so much original material to be tapped in the indie market. Come up with something never seen (or read) before and you have a great chance of making a name for yourself. I have had so many people tell me that they would love to see the film version of Gray Justice at <a href="http://thekindlebookreview.blogspot.com/2011/12/kindle-book-review-reviewers-choice-day.html"><span style="color: windowtext;">http://thekindlebookreview.blogspot.com/2011/12/kindle-book-review-reviewers-choice-day.html</span></a> and that was always my original dream. It’s a real compliment when my work has the same impression on others.</span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">To anyone about to read my book, the ideals of Tom Gray are his alone. I could have had him accept the decision of the court, but that would have meant the world’s shortest novel with a piss-poor ending. Instead, I ask you to suspend disbelief and indulge him in his endeavors.</span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">To my current fans, I can’t thank you enough for the reviews and messages of support. When I started out on this journey I was a man alone but now I feel like the father of thousands, with the responsibility to deliver time and time again.</span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>The synopsis for GRAY JUSTICE:</b></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mpcIYplbZgQ/TwHdfjroaNI/AAAAAAAAAeo/ZHXkyXdV_i4/s1600/mzi.nllgzgtm.225x225-75.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mpcIYplbZgQ/TwHdfjroaNI/AAAAAAAAAeo/ZHXkyXdV_i4/s200/mzi.nllgzgtm.225x225-75.jpg" width="133" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When a son is killed by a career criminal who spends just a few months in jail for his crime, the father can either accept the decision of the court, or make his voice heard: When it happens to Tom Gray he chooses the latter and takes retribution to a whole new level. His five-day campaign reaches a global audience and targets the British government, who need him alive, but four thousand miles away an up-and-coming figure sees the chance to make a name for himself and travels to England with one mission: kill Tom Gray.</span></span><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12pt;"></span>Becky Illson-Skinnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03385266286139995349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7839532156339647613.post-34013292796877089602012-01-17T05:00:00.000-05:002012-01-17T05:00:00.174-05:00It's My Birthday...no, seriously. Happy birthday to me, happy birthday to me, I don't feel like writing, barking up the wrong tree....<br />
<br />
Love you all, Goodnight!Becky Illson-Skinnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03385266286139995349noreply@blogger.com2