The Forty-Ninth Issue

5/18/2024

“Does everyone know what time it is?”

Yes, it’s time for the news! Check out my latest bits on writing, upcoming events, works in progress, along with an author spotlight segment and music. Gotta have music.

Writing
One of the most challenging components for a writer is introducing the characters. Some readers want to know as much as possible about the players in the story, which can be accomplished by offering details about their size, shape, hair and eye color, age and demeanor. Other readers are comfortable with a general description. Their imagination can fill in the blanks. They can even include what the characters will sound like.

The greatest example of introducing a character I’ve ever experienced wasn’t in a book but in the movie “The Pirates of the Caribbean.” I’ve shared this clip with friends at different writing groups and it’s always been well received.

https://youtu.be/rQRsVM_uGMc?si=eCh96tg7bfgvg90V

I never liked books where a writer gives the reader all the details at one time, as if they were putting together a missing person’s report for the police. Or perhaps it’s like the profile for an online dating service. It’s my preference to share bits and pieces of each character as the story progresses. Readers will gradually learn more about them. To me it’s a more natural way of sharing that information.

          For example, with the Jefferson Chene character, as the first book unfolds, you learn he was abandoned at birth and his name is actually the intersection near downtown Detroit where he was found. I’ve had great feedback from readers who love to discover these parts of Chene’s background. It also helps them better understand his personality.

          Writers need to determine what method works best for them. When you’ve got a process that can deliver enough information so the reader can visualize what they look like, the rest of the story just flows better.

Events

The festival season is in full swing. Over the next few weeks, I’ll be at several locations in Southwest Michigan.
Craft Show in Marshall, May 18 & 19, 10 to 4. Celery Flats in Portage, May 24 3:30 to 7.
Art, Beer & Wine in Jackson, June 8, 2-7 Strawberry Festival in Coldwater 9 to 3.

Information for other upcoming sites is posted on the events tab on the website. So, if you’re looking for an autographed copy of any of the books, you’ll know where to find me.

If I’m not going to be anywhere close by, you can always email me a request to get a book sent via regular mail.

Work in Progress.

It’s almost here! After countless updates and revisions, two official rounds of edits and so much more, “Rules of Desperation” is about ready to be released!
Here’s the blurb from the back cover:
How far would you go to achieve the goal of your dreams?

All Nicholas Burr wants to do is traditionally publish a mystery novel. Sure, he’s had some success as a ghost writer for a young adult series, but that’s not the same.

It’s not even close.

Camille, his long-suffering wife, has had enough. She’s tired of being the bread winner. Tired of listening to him prattle on about his next project. Tired of…him.

Nicholas Burr is desperate. Would he do something rash? Something unexpected?

Something so outrageous it would get everyone’s attention?

Yet if there’s one thing he knows, it’s that he must follow the rules.

Meanwhile I’ve been able to do more writing on the Agonasti crime novel. Some new scenes have started to come together. As the saying goes, small steps can lead to big changes. That’s certainly true of writing.

Author Spotlight.
I have yet to meet Amy Klco in person. We’ve been together on several episodes of a Pages and Promotion podcast. Amy has a razor-sharp wit and a quick sense of humor. It’s time we learned more about Amy and her work.

Tell something about yourself and how you became an author.

When I was in 4th grade, each student had an assignment to make a book, complete with illustrations and a story. Those books were shared with 4th graders across the district. Each class voted on which stories they liked best. My story won 2nd place! And that is the moment I knew I was meant to be a writer. And I have been working towards that goal ever since.

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

Yes, please! I would love to see my fantasy series made into a movie (or a mini-series.) I think it would be so amazing to see an idea that once existed only in my head come to life on the silver screen.

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

I was about to say no, I couldn’t think of anyone. And then it dawned on me. I would love to have Morgan Freeman play the Old Willow Man from my fantasy series.

What is your writing process?

This is my writing process:
·       Think of an idea.
·       Let it germinate in the back of my mind until I realize that it will not let me go until I write it down.
·       Get to know my main character and the general situation they are in.
·       Sit down to start writing and see how things unfold.
·       Keep writing until I get stuck (or life gets in the way.)
·       Get unstuck using one of the following techniques:
o   go for a walk,
o   take a nap (I get some of my best ideas in that ½ sleep state),
o   or my new favorite is to brainstorm with one of my writing friends.
·       Write more.
·       Get stuck and unstuck over and over again.
·       Be surprised by the amazing, imaginative ideas that come along out of seemingly nowhere.
·       Push through to the end.
·       Finish it.
·       Share with my trusted beta readers.

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

Generally, my main character is the first thing that comes to me, after the idea of the book. They dictate everything else. The minor characters are often based on what the main character needs (help, advice, etc.) or what will propel the story forward.

However, I have at times had a character come seemingly out of the blue. In one book I was working on, I knew I needed another character, but I wasn’t sure who they would be. Then, as I was brushing my teeth one morning, I “heard” a voice saying, “Hello, I am Vivian Valencia. Like the oranges. Nice to meet you.” I rushed to my computer to get down the conversation. Vivian turned out to be exactly who I needed to really make the book work. I’m glad she took the time to introduce herself to me.

What is your latest book about?

It's called We Mask. Jessie/Jessica is a trans kid living in Florida to unsupportive parents. When their father says that “If my child ever told me they were gay, I would kick them out of the house,” Jess decides to run away from home.

Can you share an excerpt too?

Chapter 1

“Hey, Jessie,” my dad called to me as I was heading upstairs to my bedroom. “Where ya’ going? The Gators are playing. Don’t you want to come watch the game with your old man?”

“Of course I do,” I told him, doing my best to sound sincere. In reality, one of the last things I wanted to do was watch a football game with my dad. But the very last thing I wanted to do was get in a fight with him. So I smiled and sat down, acting like there was nothing I enjoyed more.

We watched for a while in silence, but I knew that wouldn’t last. The blissful silence never did. Before long, a commercial came on and the questions started once again.

“How come you never tried out for football?” he asked me, as if it had just occurred to him, as if he’d never asked me before.

“We’ve been through this, Dad,” I replied, as carefully as I could. “I’m no good at sports.”

“Nonsense,” he responded. “You’re my boy. Of course you’re good at sports. You just have to apply yourself a little. Get out there and move, use your body, instead of sitting in your room playing video games all day.”

“I like video games,” I mumbled, even though I knew I should just stay quiet. “I’m good at video games.”

“Anyone can be good at video games,” he replied. “That doesn’t take any talent. Now these guys,” he added, motioning towards the television where the game had resumed, “what they do takes real talent.”

“Talent I don’t have,” I reminded him.

“Talent you could have if you just applied yourself,” my dad snapped back. “Did you know that I was recruited to play for the Gators when I was your age?”

“Yes,” I responded, trying my best to keep the frustration out of my voice. I couldn’t even count the number of times my dad had told me about his glorious past as the star quarterback for his high school football team.

“I would have done it, too,” he continued, oblivious to the fact that he had told me this story so many times before. “If I hadn’t gone and knocked up your mom. That was before I found God and realized the error of my ways. Luckily her dad sat me down and helped me to understand Jesus’s plan for me. I took responsibility for my actions, married your mom, and got a job to support her. And you.”

“Yes, Dad,” I replied, since he was clearly expecting some kind of response.

“I gave up everything for you,” he added, as if I needed it spelled out one more time. “You owe me your life.”

“I know,” I said, again doing my best to sound grateful. “If it weren’t for you, Mom would have gotten an abortion and I wouldn’t even be here today.”

“She wanted to. But I knew better. We had already sinned when we conceived you. But murder? Nope, I was not going to have that on my conscience. People who kill babies go automatically to Hell,” he reminded me. “They’re almost as bad as faggots!”

I tried hard not to wince at the word. I should be immune to it by now, as often as I heard it. But the hate I could hear in his voice when he said it always cut right through me. What would he do, I wondered, if he ever found out that his precious boy, his pride and joy, his life, was one of them?

“You be careful, you hear,” my dad said next. “Sex outside of marriage is a sin, but women can be tricky. If you ever do anything, just make sure you use protection, you hear? You don’t want to end up like me,” he said, and then caught himself. “I mean, I have a great life. Everything turned out just fine, but… Just be careful you don’t get anyone pregnant. Keep your options open.”

“I will, Dad,” I told him. And that was one promise I knew I could keep. I was pretty sure I would never get a woman pregnant.

“And you should really go out for football this year,” he added, as if it were an afterthought. “It’s not too late. If you work hard your junior year, by your senior year, the talent scouts are bound to notice you.”

“I’ll think about it,” I replied.

“What’s there to think about? It’s a great plan! I’m glad you agree with me.”

“Sure, Dad,” I said, since there was clearly nothing I could say to change his mind. “Can I go upstairs now?”

“Don’t you want to finish watching the game?” he asked, as if either of us had been actually watching the game.

“I’ve got homework to do,” I replied, getting up before he could tell me no. “I can’t get a football scholarship if I don’t keep my grades up.” I had no chance of getting a football scholarship either way, but he didn’t seem able to grasp that concept.

“Smart,” he said. “Hit those books. But you will try out for the team this year, right?”

“Yes, Dad,” I replied before slipping off upstairs. “Whatever you say.”

What’s the next project you’ll be working on?
I have an idea for a science-fiction story dealing with AI. That’s all I’m going to tell for now. 😉

You can learn more about Amy and her work on the website.
https://www.enchantmentpress.com

Music

During a recent conversation, the topic of lists came up. I’ll often make a quick list of tasks I need to complete or check on. That triggered a memory from the John Sandford novel “Broken Prey”. A subplot of the story is protagonist Lucas Davenport receives an I-pod and has to pick his top 100 songs to download. Throughout the story, characters are making comments and suggestions about what tunes to include.

I’m not about to list my top 100. That’s impossible. But I do have a few songs that always get my attention. These are especially good for traveling and I’ll be on the road a lot over the next few months.

Here’s my top five favorites.