Here we go. Another month has passed and it’s time for the news. Some insights about writing, details on upcoming events, my current project, a contest (yes, a contest!) an interview with an award-winning author and of course, music. Gotta have music. Ready? Let’s go! Writing “Details matter in an investigation.” That’s a quote from Jack Reacher, Lee Child’s popular character. But details also matter in your story. Sometimes it’s the little things that can catch a reader’s eye and make them say ‘Wait! What?’. Many people will just keep on reading. Others may flip back through your book, checking their memory against what you wrote. Details matter. But even the best writer can get something wrong. It may get past the editors, who do not have any experience or knowledge about a particular matter. Or they may assume the writer knows exactly what they are talking about and choose not to question it. I don’t know everything. Never claimed to. So, while working on a story and I need information on a subject, I often turn to an expert. That has led me to interview people with a vast array of knowledge and skills. I’ve talked with doctors, police officers and attorneys. I’ve interviewed a young lady who was an aerobics instructor. Another conversation was with a lady who trained dogs to detect human remains, which some people refer to as cadaver dogs. There have been discussions with IT professionals, a gun collector and countless others. Why bother, you may ask. Because details matter. Or as some people would say 'the devil is in the details.' And it’s important to me to get it right. I don’t want an error to distract you from enjoying my work. No doubt some errors will still sneak by me. But it’s important to minimize them. Events Outdoor festivals are drawing to a close as the weather in Michigan turns a little unfriendly. The last one on the calendar is Coldwater’s Apple Harvest Festival on September 21. I have also been invited to Durand for the Fall Author Extravaganza on October 12. This one is held in a historic train station. Works in Progress With all the activity running from one festival to another and the new semester at school beginning, I’ve had only a little time to work on the crime novel. Last week I was able to add a couple more scenes and expand on the action here and there. I’m closing in on 55,000 words. Not bad with a target of 75,000. Hopefully I’ll find more time once these last couple of events are done. Still a long way to go before I can put it in front of the beta readers. It’s a good thing Leo Agonasti is a patient man. The Contest: Seeking Jamie Richmond This year I’ve been participating in many art festivals and events to display and sell my books. As any salesperson worthy of a commission would say, you need multiple pitches to attract customers to your products. That means I have one set that relates to the Jefferson Chene police procedural mysteries, a pitch for the new release Rules of Desperation and of course a different spiel for the Jamie Richmond series. Truth be told, Jamie is one of the most memorable characters I’ve created. She’s intelligent, clever, loyal, diligent, loving and possesses a real smart-ass attitude, along with a sharp sense of humor. Did I mention she’s a redhead? Yep! Physically, Jamie has been described as slender, standing about five foot seven, with emerald, green eyes. She’s in her early thirties. One of my pitches for the Jamie books comes into play when a redheaded female passes near my table. Author Cecilia A. Garcia, who has shared my booth on a few occasions, refers to this pitch as ‘shameless’. I’ll ask the lady if by chance she modeled for one of the covers. That usually leads to a smile. Sometimes it results in a sale. As Cecilia said ‘shameless!’ Recently I shared this with Melissa Keir at Inkspell, who publishes the Jamie series. She replied, ‘I hope you have a bunch of redheaded women of various ages who follow you from event to event, just to talk about your books.’ And that’s when inspiration struck. Why not have a little contest, seeking possible Jamies? Until the end of September, any ladies can submit a picture holding up one of the five Jamie Richmond mysteries. You don’t have to be a redhead. You could share Jamie’s spirit of curiosity, stubbornness and vitality. While there is no redhead on the cover of “Vanishing Act” it’s still an integral part of the series. The grand prize winner will receive a $25 Amazon gift card. Second, third and fourth place winners (in the US) will receive an autographed copy of “Stealing Haven”. If you’re a winner outside the country, you’ll get a free e-book. Winners will be drawn at random. To sweeten the deal, the winners’ names will be used for characters in an upcoming Jamie Richmond novel. There are still a few days left to enter. Pictures can be sent directly to me at [email protected]. Ready for your closeup? Author Spotlight I’m always interested in meeting other authors and learning more about their journey to publication. It seems like just last week that Julie Navickas appeared on the scene, but she’s been around a little longer than that. Julie is part of the Inkspell Publishing family. She’s making great strides with her romance series. Let’s learn more about Julie. Tell us a little about yourself and how you became an author. When I was a graduate student, I enrolled in a scriptwriting course for fun. I completed a full-length film script and simply tossed the manuscript in a drawer when the class concluded. It sat there for over a decade before I pulled it out again. That script was the inspiration behind my first contemporary romance novel, I Loved You Yesterday—which became book one a trilogy in August 2022. My passion for creative storytelling stemmed from this experience. I now have five published books with a six due to launch in November. Beyond my author career, I work full-time at COUNTRY Financial in corporate communications as the division’s editor. I also teach in the School of Communication at Illinois State University. I’m a mom to three and have been married for 13 years. Do you ever imagine one of your novels being made into a movie or television series? Of course, I do! I write spicy, contemporary stories with a guaranteed HEA. I’ve been told many times that my books would make for perfect Hallmark or Lifetime movies—and I’m totally on board with that! Any favorite actors you’d cast in the lead roles? I’ve had a crush on Orlando Bloom since I was a teenager, so beyond any doubt, I’d cast him in a lead role without any hesitation. What is your writing process? For instance, do you do an outline first? Do you write the chapters in sequence? The first six books I completed were plotted out chapter-by-chapter. I mapped out the entire story before I wrote a single word. However, for my most recent novel, Rudderless in Love, I took the pantser approach and let the story reveal itself as I moved along. I like both approaches! They’ve both served me well. Describe the characters in your latest book. My most recent release is Finding Love, book two in the Clumsy Little Hearts trilogy. Rachel Prescott is the female main character. She’s a hopeless romantic who has been unsuccessful with online dating. She falls in love with Miguel Rodriguez, a restaurant owner with a broken heart. It’s a story about finding love with an imperfect person, but learning along the way how perfect they are for you. Do the characters all come to you at the same time or do some of them come to you as you write? More or less, I have a strong vision for my main characters before I start drafting. I like to create character profiles in advance to really understand their motivations, flaws, and internal conflicts. When it comes to secondary characters though, they typically emerge as the story progresses. What is your latest book about? Who says you can’t find love over a plate of mushroom ravioli? Rachel Prescott has always dated the wrong men. Each relationship begins with hope, but within months ends with “nope.” The harder she tries, the harder she fails. That is, until the new owner of Pier Ninety-Two, Miguel Rodriguez, spots her wallowing over her latest dating disaster in his restaurant. Easily smitten with the brown-haired beauty, Miguel offers her his heart. Or at least, what’s left of it. Because Miguel has had his own troubled past finding the right woman. With the echo of lost love still haunting his heart, he convinces himself he’s ready to move on—and who better with than the spunky, sexy, and strong-willed, Rachel Prescott? Over a bottle of wine (or two), Miguel and Rachel instantly connect. And by the end of the evening, it’s more than their shared plate of mushroom ravioli left steaming. Can you share an excerpt? Miguel lifted his hand and cupped her forehead. Heat warmed his fingers as another chill wracked her body. “Miguel?” she whispered and turned her face toward his. “Hmm?” “I don’t remember the last time someone brought me soup when I was sick.” His smile widened, growing with each passing second as their easy conversation flowed. “What are neighbors for?” Her big brown eyes forced his stomach to somersault, sending his nerves into overdrive. His skin tingled, rippling shivers across his skin as she pressed a soft kiss on his cheek. “I don’t know what you are yet, but you’re more than just a neighbor, Miguel Rodriguez,” she whispered and draped the blanket across his lap, too. Gripping the remote control, Rachel gestured to the screen and smiled. “Stay for the Two Towers?” He pressed a kiss on her temple and pulled her closer. “Count me in for the Return of the King, too.” What’s the next project you’ll be working on? My next book, Chasing Love, book three in the Clumsy Little Hearts trilogy releases on November 19, 2024. Beyond that, I just completed the first draft of Rudderless in Love, a romantic suspense story. I’m unsure what my publication plans look like for this one yet, but I’m excited to see how it plays out. Here are the link where you can find Julie's books The Trading Heartbeats trilogy: I Loved You Yesterday: https://books2read.com/u/mZpoRp I Love You Today: https://books2read.com/u/3kDKEO I’ll Love You Tomorrow: https://books2read.com/u/mV2zMl The Clumsy Little Hearts trilogy: Trusting Love: https://books2read.com/u/meLndg Finding Love: https://books2read.com/u/4Dj6yr Music Crosby, Stills & Nash were a powerful folk- rock supergroup from the late 1960s. David Crosby, Stephen Stills and Graham Nash were known for their intricate harmonies. The trio had a significant impact on the American culture. They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame both as the trio and with other bands they performed with. While it has been years since they toured, their music remains popular today. Here are my top five favorites.
Southern Cross: https://youtu.be/Bw9gLjEGJrw?si=NeQG3wkwMQa5lnjx Marrakesh Express: https://youtu.be/0TYq9RjdYYU?si=D__bmf_DVLIkDU4P Love the One You’re With: https://youtu.be/SY4HI_vqf0c?si=G411s0ivL618WKcu Suite: Judy Blue Eyes: https://youtu.be/ZGT0P0XJRFM?si=hOyKGWrZvEFSKNTF Just a Song: https://youtu.be/_UoneXjfBC0?si=Qa4BlXae2DvlNFsF
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