Not as easy as it looks

Given the high cost of fuel these days I'm lucky that I can take a commuter train into Chicago where I work. I'm also lucky because I write on my commute - something that would be quite challenging to do if I had to drive. BUT I have seen people do some crazy things while pretending to drive a car.

Anyway, it always amazes me when I tell people that I'm working on my first novel that their first response is, "I've always wanted to write a book." There's a mixture of dream like wishfullness and expectation that it would just pour out. I'm also often asked for the formula for writing a book the easy and quick way. Well, there isn't one - not really. If writing a book were easy to do everyone really would be be doing it.

The other thing that amazes me is that people really believe that once you're published you're instantly a millionaire. Ah, wouldn't that be nice!

A friend sent me a first person article from Senator Jim Webb on writing and I think he says it well. Here's the link:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/07/01/AR2008070101831.html

Writing is often described as a passion. Depending on one's perspective it might be a disease. Whatever it is, hard work and dedication is required. Writing is not for whimps. Check out my Independence Day blog if you have any doubt. Here's the link:

http://sleepingwiththeauthor.blogspot.com/

I also believe that becoming a published author comes with a certain level of responsibility, not only to one's readers but to other writers, especially aspiring writers. Writers are many things - entertainers, truth seekers, mentors, and often the collective keepers of societies memories and secrets. Just think where we'd be without all of Shakespeare's plays!

We're also discovering more and more about the past through the letters written by our ancestors. So, it makes me wonder what future generations will think when they read our blogs. How much insight will our blogs give to historians in the future?

Well - at least we're keeping some kind of record. I do shudder to think how much the text messages with those special abbreviations will confuse people. I mean, how much can OMG repeated over and over again tell anyone?

Oh, well, @TEOTD IMHO TIAD.

Hotdogging

Ah, the Fourth of July weekend.

As always, the Fourth of July weekend made me think of my old dog, Buster, who passed away a few years ago.

Yep. He used to love the Fourth of July.

Yeah, right, and he’d turn down a juicy steak and a belly rub.

I’m sure not many dogs are thrilled with bangs, pops, crackles, whistles and all of the other ear popping stuff that … especially …my neighborhood feels it has to detonate in order to properly celebrate our nation’s birth.

Buster sure wasn’t. He’d freak for the entire weekend and a few days before when diehard enthusiasts would prematurely shoot off their loads.

Shaddup, I’m talking about fireworks.

Anyway, it wasn’t that he was one of those little excitable yappy dogs. Buster was a basset, a breed known for their … well, shortness … and also for their calmness. They could usually sleep or eat through just about anything, except maybe a M80.

And bassets have other attributes, like an incredibly keen sense of smell, second only to bloodhounds and pregnant women; and jaw strength second only to pit bulls and gum-chewing little girls.

And though they are a gentle breed, when it came to food, Buster was a vicious beast, capable of a truly fearsome power beg. He was known to attack young toddlers bearing food by, tripping and snatching whatever kid-slimed mash of food was clutched in their grimy hands, looking to smear on anything non-Scotch-guarded.

Another thing that used to drive me nuts was when I was walking him and some kid would come running up, saying, “Hey look! It’s one of those hotdog dogs.”

Bassets are not the ‘hotdog’ dogs! The little ‘hotdog’ dogs are dachshunds, not bassets! Bassets are much larger … capable of squashing a dachshund with their aroma alone.

And they aren’t even related. Bassets were bred from bloodhounds in France hundreds of years ago. Dachshunds were bred from, well…, um…, hotdogs, of course.

When we were originally trying to decide what kind of dog to buy, I sold Sandy on the idea of bassets. I grew up with one, so based on first hand experience I knew that they are the friendliest dogs.

What I didn’t remember, or maybe it had been somehow erased, was the stink. Hound dogs can build up a stench until it literally becomes a physical presence.

Not that that was a bad thing. Little blocks of basset stink come in handy for a number of practical things around the house like propping open doors, tripping burglars and it can be sliced up and used for mulch.

Well, anyway, I neglected to tell Sandy about what a hound dog smells like, a crime for which she continuously found me guilty. For example, Sandy and I were watching a DVD when Buster, who had been lying in deep slumber (one of the more frequent basset positions), was suddenly roused by the one molecule of popcorn smell that accidentally wandered near his nose.

He came nosing around, seeking to Hoover up whatever popcorn that tumbles down my shirt. And there’s usually a lot, because when I eat popcorn, the whole object is to stuff as much as I can into my mouth. While this efficient technique keeps me from having to continuously dip my hand in the bowl, it also created a surplus that Buster felt was his charge to remedy.

So he’d come sniffing around, his stench following at a discreet distance. Sandy’s attention would be on the movie … until the stench wafted near her … and then she’d growl, “Buster, YOU STINK!”

Normally, I wouldn’t have a problem with this, but she wasn’t yelling this to Buster. She’s looking right at me, because it’s my fault we didn’t buy a poodle which is a lot smarter and better smelling than a basset, primarily because, as we all know, poodles are really descended from steel wool.

Yeah, those fireworks sure bring back memories.

Norm

www.normcowie.com

Fang Face (coming in 2009)

The Heat of the Moment

The Adventures of Guy … written by a guy (probably)

The Next Adventures of Guy … more wackiness

To Bookmark or Not to Bookmark

HELLO!

What another fabulous weekend! We had perfect weather here in the Midwest for our annual Fourth of July Party. My husband and I hosted about 50 people in our backyard for one of the best Fourths we've had in a while.

Saturday I headed over to Frontier Days and checked in with Morgan, Margot, and June, who were set up in a cozy tent autographing copies of their books. (Next year I'll get to join them!) I read June's ORDINARY ME on the front porch on Saturday, a read I highly recommend to anyone who hasn't picked it up yet. Today I started Margot's A HOTEL IN PARIS.

Holiday and weather-wise it's been a great weekend.

Promotion-wise, I am experiencing a little bit of confusion. There are so many ways to go out there. How do I get my name out? Is there a best way? My writers' group and friends here at Acme have given me some great advice, but how do I know what works best for me? Do I try them all? How do I measure return?

My biggest dilemma right now is do I do the bookmark thing or don't I? I've gotten various opinions for both sides of the argument, so I'm still stuck in the middle. For a writer, bookmarks seem to be the most logical way to go, after all, I'm trying to sell a book. But it seems that a lot of the time I'll be handing out a bookmark with the book. Which is nice (I always like having a matching bookmark in the books I buy), but doesn't make sense then from a promotional point of view.

Perhaps postcards or business cards that can be tacked onto grocery store, library, YMCA, etc. bulletin boards are the way to go. I simply don't know.

In other promotion areas, I've created an author page on Manic Readers (check them out through the link on my website if you get a chance), and have a list of dozens of other places to do the same.

All of this is a little overwhelming, I've got to say. There's been talk on one of the loops I belong to about how to balance all of this. How much time should authors spend on promotion versus writing/editing? We need to write to produce a product to promote so that it will sell and people will want more of our work, but if we spend so much time on promotion, where's the time to write? It's a dilemma we all face. I tend to get caught up in trying to figure out the business side of things, and neglect the writing portion.

Promotion can get quite expensive, too.

I am grateful for friends and colleagues who have experienced this already and have offered much needed advice. My publisher, The Wild Rose Press, also has fabulous resources in regards to all of this, which is wonderful. If anyone out there has any advice, I'd love to hear it as well. I need all the help I can get. (Especially creative and unique ways to promote...after all, I want to stand out from the crowd!)

Then the chore will be to sort through it all and figure out what I want to do.

I'm sure I'll muddle through.

Until next time (I'll be out of town next weekend, so look for another post the following week)...Happy Reading!

Debra

THIS TIME FOR ALWAYS
by Debra St. John
coming this summer from The Wild Rose Press
electronic release July 30, 2008
print release August 29, 2008
www.debrastjohnromance.com

HISTORY, LEGEND AND HISTORICAL FICTION by Robert W. Walker

Are Historical Figures and “Legends” of U.S. and World History Fair Game for an Historical Novelist?
by Robert W. Walker, historical and suspense novelist

Recently heard a questioning complaint against an author who depicted Julius Ceasar as a murderer and Mark Antony (Anthony) as a drunkard but heroic warrior, and Brutus as a Hamlet type character. I have heard via the grapevine of “historical plays” by one historical fiction author named William Shakespeare that these depictions are pretty close to his research. Legend has it that Will improved on Plutarch’s Ceasar. In other words, Will got some of his information from earlier writers (surprise!), many purporting to write “truth” as perceived by the earlier authors, some who couched their work in Greek and Roman plays. Shakespeare went on to write historical plays about Antony and Cleopatra, depicting them as human beings rather than statues; Willl wrote about historical events much closer to his own time as well—The Historical Plays of Shakespeare depict kings and princess clashing on the battlefield and behind closed doors. Do we hold Shakespeare to a higher standard or a lesser one than the historian who depicts Henry II. By the way, my money says Ceasar likely did away with a lot of people beyond those his armies conquered in order to hold onto power.

As both a suspense writer and historical novelist and researcher, I have my own take on working with historical figures in my novels. I have to begin by asking -- What do they say about history? When the "legend" becomes truth, print the legend. So how much truth is there in "nonficitonal" versions of history? How much do we know about the secret heart of any man? Including the historian? Like the guy who wrote Revelation in the New Testament? We know little of him and less of his motives, and few people know he was writing a condemnation of Rome. By the same token, how much do we know of what went on behind the scenes of the Lincoln Administration? He was not for instance a big proponent of his own Emancipation Proclamation; he was no doubt moved by the circumstances of slaves and he advocated against slavery, but there's a lot of "evidence" or "legend" that he used the issue to further his main cause--the maintenance of the Union. I've also read that he felt and urged freed slaves to make a country of their own--a new African nation. Okay and Adolph Hitler loved his dog. All the same, I am circumspect whenever dealing with "a legend" either one of EVIL or GOOD, or someone who has long stood on a pedestal. It's hard to argue with legendary characteristics or to depict a Lincoln or a Washington that does not convey the statue as well as the pedestal.

As a rule, I write about characters I have created who may have an opinion say of U.S. Grant or Sherman, etc., rather than bringing on Grant or Sherman; and I may have Mark Twain on the marquee, and I may have another historical figure walk through, but I did have to do a whole depiction of one of the Pinkerton boys -- William Pinkerton -- in City of the Absent. I eluded to an affair, to his having secrets, to his having regrets, and in effect I created a typical human being with some atypical characteristics. However, his main purpose in the book is to bolster and further define my main character—Inspector Alastair Ransom with whom he is at odds. He becomes the character I needed to further Alastair Ransom's story and character. Is that a crime? Does that slander Pinkerton? Will I be sued by his decendents—of whom there are apparently many? I can only do my respectful best to depict him not as a god but as a man. In the end, the two men have respect for one another but Pinkerton has as yet to stop working for “the man”--people in power—exclusively. Although he and his brother have ended all work as strikebreakers by 1893, something their father, Alan Pinkerton wished the agency to put an end to. By now they are concentrating on bank safety, rail safety, and chasing fugitives.

I got my "evidence" and "legend" about the Pinkerton Agency and family from a terrific historian and his book, which I give thanks to in acknowledgements in the first book in the series--City for Ransom. All one can really do is read, read, and read more, and in reading biographies and histories of a once living man or woman, make up your writer’s mind and depict the person you feel the "legends" have given you. If one reads and finds different renditions as I have over the years with Abraham Lincoln (read some British historians who take on American History), you have to in the end make up your mind as to what is and what is not relevant to your story. Who is and who is not relevant to your story. I co-wrote a book where in the end we have Fidel Castro come in to sort things out after all the murder and mayhem has taken place in his country. We depicted Castro as people might expect him to be while still healthy. We based all of his characteristics and even the way he spoke on a great deal of research—including videotape. I think we nailed him. This book, Cuba Blue, is still looking for a brave publisher who believes as my co-author and I do that readers would love our fictional heroine, a Havana cop named Qui Aguilera. Castro is a “force” throughout the novel but he is a person on the page, a man with his own agenda.

In the end, however, historical fiction is not altogether different from a lot of history. Early historical texts I was spoon fed in school still called George Armstong Custer's loss at the Little Big Horn a massacre while his and other Anglo wins in the War for the West and the governments; "Indian Problem" as great achievements of Manifest Destiny. This Manifest Destiny included (but did not say in the books) giving Native Americans smallpox (early germ warfare via diseased blankets) as well as removing them to a state of reservation now called Oklahoma on a death march ordered up by the President of the United States and backed by Congress. Ironic that George Custer’s middle name was ARMSTRONG as in strong arm.

So when I hear someone complaining about how some poor schlep like Julius Ceasar was treated badly in a Roman noir novel, I first assume the legend is being chipped away at by a thoughtful person who has done reams of research and put in hours, days, months, maybe years of blood, sweat, and tears and has read the other side of the arguments, and who has some acquaintance with actual historical research as well as the legend passed on from generation to generation—often spurious stuff. And so often, I have found that the loudest complainer, the one who shouts to the rooftops how bad the book is, how awful the author is to depict say FDR or another “giant” of history as having a moment of doubt, or a human frailty, who might display unbridled anger, etc., that complainer knows NOTHING of the facts and ought to read the books used by the author in the creation of his novel. I once had a complaint about the gun used by Alastair Ransom, that it did not exist in 1893, and yet I can point to it in the then Montgomery Ward Catalogue.

So often the historical novel depicts the historical figure far more as a man than a god (George Washington comes to mind here). My Dr. Christian Fenger who appears in the entire City for Ransom trilogy is depicted as a man and not as the "god" of Chicago's early surgical world in Chicago and the Midwest. He was an amazing surgeon, way ahead of his contemporaries and the man every wanna-be surgeon wanted to see in a surgical theater. However, in my informed opinion, much of his angst and sadness is depicted in his photographs alone. He is the picture of melancholy. That’s at the core then of my depiction of the man.

In essence, good, well-researched historical fiction imbues historical figures with more humanity than does a textbook. The novel centers on one figure, one set of events, one main plot, whereas most historical treatises cover a huge amount of time and space and often the entire panorama of history and as a result much is given short shrift—turned over to the footnote as often happens with the first major witch hunt in America at Salem Village, Massachusetts. This topic is my next historical. I wrote a 70 page history term paper in my junior year of high school on this. My graduate thesis for my Master’s in English Education was a novel of Salem Witch Craft. Over the years, I have read everything ever written on the subject, and I have come to deep, abiding conclusions about all the principal players and am now building the definitive historical novel on Salem entitled BLOODROOT. I have definite defined ideas as to how all of the characters are to be depicted, and all but a few are historical people who lived through it. There is no other way to depict historical figures other than the conclusions you come to via the research. And if you begin to fear being sued or pissed on for your efforts, you will never succeed in getting the novel written.

Look, depicting Abraham Lincoln as a serial killer might be over the top and indefensible but most serious historical novelists would know better. Allowing a “fictionalized” Lincoln to have thoughts of murdering someone—say one of his own Cabinet members, however, is not far from the truth and the legend. Depicting Adolph Hitler as a social philanthropist again might be ovet the top, but he did have an entire nation “feeding” out of his hand, so again it so depends on one’s purpose and the amount of work put in. I’d find an historical novel from the point of view of Hitler’s spiritual advisor of interest, but this is me. And this is entirely my humble opinion.

Rob Walker
www.robertwalkerbooks.com
www.robertwwalkerbooks.com
www.HarperCollins.com
www.Echelonpress.com

An Idea Takes Shape! by DL Larson

Last week I talked about Disney and sea turtles hatching along the coastal beaches of Florida. From that simple vacation tale sprang an idea for a children's book. So I did a little research on sea turtles, plus the techniques used for writing children's books.

I already have the premise of my story, a dab of make-believe wrapped up in the life cycle of the sea turtle. I've decided a picture book would work best to tell the story I have in mind.

Mama turtle swims along the shore, waiting for the tide to rise.

Using a storyboard technique, two pages facing open, I can better comprehend the flow of my story. Most picture books are 32 pages, with only a sentence or two on each page. I will write the words first but I'll keep in mind the different colors needed on the page, as well as the drawing that will enhance the two-page spread.

With the one statement above, I've already decided if this will be a character driven story or plot driven. Action will further move the story along. Kids want to be involved with the stories read to them. Even with brilliant illustrations, the words need to draw a picture in each child's mind.

The bright moon shines on the sandy beach and a big blue wave carries her to shore.

The thing about many Disney books, is there are too many words on each page. I've discussed this with other librarians and we are left wondering how Disney sells so many books, when most are too long to read in one setting. The goal for most authors of children's books is to have the book read in a short period of time. In this book, my book, I want to accomplish that too.

Another decision I have to make is what message do I want to deliver via my story. Is this topic strong enough to have a cause? A moral message? Perhaps educating others would be best. Or is this book just for fun and to develop a love of the written word? My story can have more than one purpose as long as it isn't presented in a heavy-handed manner. Nobody wants to be preached to, even small children.

So I've completed my first spread of pages. I'll continue on in this fashion, keeping in mind the final layout of the book in my mind. And just when I think I'm finished ... it will be time for editing! I'll undoubtedly have mistakes, too many words or not enough pages. I'll evaluate the flow of the story, examine the wording and tighten up the text. I may add a glossary. Kids love discovering the meaning behind new words. In my first line I've already discovered many children may not know what a rising tide is - it would be fun to explain that. I might even add pictures of the many sea turtles. The possibilities are endless.

All within 32 pages, of course.

Til next time ~

DL Larson

FRONTIER DAYS By Morgan Mandel

YA Author, June Sproat, Romantic Suspense Author, Margot Justes, Mystery and Romantic Comedy Author, Morgan Mandel in the back.

This year two special author friends and I will be selling and autographing our books in a booth at Frontier Days Marketplace, at Recreation Park, near Belmont and Miner, close to Stage West in Arlington Hts, Illinois on Saturday and Sunday, July 5 and 6 from 10am-6pm

Although I've been a Festival volunteer for over 15 years, autographing at Frontier Days is a new experience for me, but an appropriate one.

With the publication of my debut mystery, Two Wrongs, I crossed the line from unpublished writer to published author and entered a new frontier. Before, I wrote only for myself. Now, I write for everyone. What that means is I'm constantly busy getting word out about not only Two Wrongs, but also my new romantic comedy, Girl of My Dreams.

Some, but not all of the ways I've been doing this are autographing my books at booksignings, participating in panels, attending conferences, putting up displays at the library, even riding in the Festival parade with my brother and nephew handing out bookmarks alongside the car. I've also been known to stick my bookmarks and business cards at such out of the way places as advertising kiosks at rest stops or bulletin boards at restaurants.

In addition to that I spend countless hours on the Internet networking with fellow authors and meeting new readers. I created Book Place at http://bookplace.ning.com to provide a venue for booklovers and book industry people to promote their wares. I joined My Space, Good Reads, Bebo and countless other sites. Every day I get new invitations of places to join, many of which I accept. I've even become a book editor on an online magazine at www.juniorscave.com/morganmandel.html

My time is not my own which can be a discouraging thought. On the other hand, I love what I'm doing and do it willingly. You might say it's Frontier Days for me every day as I explore the territory of being an author.

Happy Fourth of July!
Morgan Mandel
www.morgan mandel.com
http://bookplace.ning.com
www.myspace.com/morganmandel
www.juniorscave.com/morganmandel.html
http://http://acmeauthorslink.blogspot.com
http://mysteryturtles.blogspot.com

In Transition

I know it’s been awhile since I’ve blogged but there’s a good reason. I’m in transition. It almost sounds painful and at times it has been.

I’m going through a separation from my husband and beginning the divorce process. Lots of that going around lately.

Lest you think I’m bitter - I’m not. Oh, I went through the required anger, bitterness, sadness, depression at first but then an amazing thing happened - I started to enjoy getting to know myself.

It was quite a journey being married to Todd and I can honestly say now that I don’t regret getting married. I learned a lot from Todd and from being married to him. Oh, there are things I wish I’d done differently, things I wish we’d both done differently, but now that my marriage journey with him is ending, I’m on a new journey. A journey to find out just who I am.

Lately my journey to the center of myself has been rather fun. I thought it would be scary but it’s actually fun and I’m surprising myself at almost every juncture and bend in the road. I’m discovering just how many people really care about me and I’m discovering just how much I care for them. I’m also discovering just how resilient I am. Given the childhood I came from - I'm extremely proud of myself. I'm no longer just surviving, I'm thriving.

I haven’t felt sorry for myself at all. I still love Todd - I suspect I always will - we just have different journeys to take now and the roads we’ve each chosen don’t mesh, overlap, or really connect that much anymore, and I've discovered that this is okay. Not so long ago I don't think I could have honestly said this because I lacked the sense of self, the sense of contentment to do so before now.

I feel very blessed - I have great neighbors, friends, an interesting and challenging job, a daughter who is almost finished with college, and a stubborn 15-year-old West Highland Terrier. Talk about resilience! I'm not living out of my car and I'm not in Iraq being shot at - since I'm a veteran I appreciate this more than most.

I'm reminded of the quote "It's better to have loved and lost, than never to have loved at all." Although I don't feel as if I've lost. I've had a chance to learn some things about myself and grow from that knowledge. Life is exciting and I'm enjoying the process. I finally understand the sentiment - Life is Good!