So, I'm feeling rather blah lately. I think it's because I've been pushing so hard to get this book done and while I'm sooooo close, that actually makes me feel worse. It feels like I should be able to just push through, tuck my head down and sail through it. But no. I'm in the last 91 pages of editing or so, and here's where it all falls apart. Well, not really, but it's where most of the revising/rewriting is needed. Mainly this is because when I was writing it, I was so close to the end of the story and on such a roll, I didn't want to stop to reason some things out. The last 100 pages or so are right in terms of the events that happen, but sometimes I didn't take the time to explain why certain characters are where they are or why they're doing what they're doing. I knew and that was enough for me at the moment. *sigh* Now that is no longer the case.
It's like running a marathon that never ends. You keep passing milemarkers, but the finish line is still hanging out there like a mirage in the distance. I know this isn't true, but I'm having a glum day.
I'm also still working on the outline for the mystery project and while I've been making good progress, I think that's part of my problem. It's hard for me to be in the same stage with two different books at the same time. Granted, with the mystery project, I'm still trying to get the major events in the book in order and making sense, and I'm much farther along than that with the sequel. But they're both still in the revising/editing/rewriting stage--which is the stage that is the hardest for me because in the process of trying to make your work better, you're also picking it apart, finding all the weak spots and the things you don't like. Every book has some problems that need to be fixed--that's okay--but when I'm in this stage of analyzing and testing everything to make sure it holds water, so to speak, it feels like the whole book is nothing but weak spots and things that need to be fixed. In order to find and fix the bad, you sort of stop seeing any of the good bits. And with two of them in this stage...ugh!
It's most fun to start a new project while I'm in the editing/revising/rewriting stage of another project because the high of the new writing balances out the low of revising. But that's how I got myself into this mess. And I promised myself I would not continue this mess. I've got four (4!)manuscripts* at home in various stages of completion, thanks to my previous habits. I don't need more in that pile. Those are all just revisons/edits waiting to happen.
Also, I just checked my goals that I wrote for 2005 and found that with just over a month to go, I haven't completed any of them!!! I was supposed to get the sequel finished and to RuneStone by the end of 2005. Well, that one, depending on how these final chapters go, I might be able to still make. The others,which included revising Bitter Pill and sending out query letters to find an agent, I haven't even come close to. I did, however, write a nearly 400 page long book (the mystery project) that wasn't even on the radar at that time in January. So, maybe I can cut myself a little slack there. I also wrote a 300 page Bitter Pill prequel that was supposed to be only a short story (yeah, that's why I don't write them) that I hate so much I haven't even looked at since I finished it--and yes, I finished the draft, I'm compulsive that way. My thinking was originally just to provide some new content, then as the story grew longer I thought maybe it would be good enough to actually be the first in the series instead of Bitter Pill. But it's not. It's kind of forced and yucky because I knew who the murderer was from page one and that always spoils it for me.
So maybe the problem isn't the goals being too optimistic but rather my own ability to stick to them instead of getting distracted. Hmm.
And finally, last night at Big Bowl, I got an empty fortune cookie!!! And I'd actually looked at it before opening and thought, "I hope it says something good." Ha! And please don't send me emails about how people who get empty fortune cookies have bad things happen to them because I just don't think I can take that right at the moment : ) I'm trying very hard to remember that I'm faithful and not superstitious--though, I'm probably getting what I deserve for looking for kernels of wisdom and/or support from a slip of paper tucked in food.
Blah. *sigh*
*The four manuscripts are the as-yet-untitled Sequel, Bitter Pill (A Rennie Harlow Mystery), Sleep Tight (A Rennie Harlow Mystery), and the mystery project. Oh, and if you include the Rennie Harlow prequel that sucks, that would be five, I guess. Shoot.
Tuesday, November 29, 2005
Tuesday, November 22, 2005
Happy Thanksgiving (a little early)!
Just a quick note...I'm going to be taking a break from the internet for a few days to celebrate the holiday. Your regularly scheduled blog will return on Monday, most likely : )
Sequel update...I'm finally finished with most of the dreaded Chapter 15, editing-wise. I was stuck there for almost a week, going in circles. Most frustrating. I've got roughly eleven chapters to go. The ones toward the end will probably hold me up the most as I've got the most revising to do there. I didn't think Chapter 15 needed that much revising, so it caught me by surprise. However, the chapter and the book are now better for it, I believe. I've also started work again on the mystery project again, just trying to make all the major plot events fit. I threw in a bunch of subplots in the first draft that will probably end up in another book, or so I hope!
Enjoy the holiday and safe travel to everyone who's going somewhere!
Sequel update...I'm finally finished with most of the dreaded Chapter 15, editing-wise. I was stuck there for almost a week, going in circles. Most frustrating. I've got roughly eleven chapters to go. The ones toward the end will probably hold me up the most as I've got the most revising to do there. I didn't think Chapter 15 needed that much revising, so it caught me by surprise. However, the chapter and the book are now better for it, I believe. I've also started work again on the mystery project again, just trying to make all the major plot events fit. I threw in a bunch of subplots in the first draft that will probably end up in another book, or so I hope!
Enjoy the holiday and safe travel to everyone who's going somewhere!
Monday, November 21, 2005
Unleashing the inner Asha and A Rant on Author Etiquette
I'd hoped to have photos to go along with this entry, but we're still working on the getting them from the camera to the computer process. Hopefully, if you're reading this tomorrow (Tuesday) there will be a photo or two to accompany this entry.
Holiday Book Bash Details
For those who are interested in such things, I wore black pants (the wide-legged kind with cuffs, made of this really smooth, flowy material), a v-neck camisole and a black v-neck mini-sweater with a black fake fur collar. As soon as I saw the sweater in the store, I knew I had to try it on. It totally reminded me of something Asha would have or wear. For those who haven't read The Silver Spoon (and why not I ask you?!?), Asha is the very powerful, somewhat ethically-challenged and kind of scary/sexy leader of the rebel Observers. That's another one of the tricks I've learned over the last few years of writing. If you're trying to get into a character's head, dress like they would. It works, sometimes to a frightening degree. Of course, this does not mean that you'll be seeing me in leather pants any time soon. *grin*
All the authors I met were very nice. I ended up sitting next to Rich Lindberg, who knows someone I work with at my day job! He writes about crime in Chicago among other things. I bought his book, Return to the Scene of the Crime: A Guide to Infamous Places in Chicago. Very cool!
Rick Kogan, host of WGN Radio's Sunday Papers, sat on my other side. He invited me to be on the radio! I need to send my book and a note to follow up with him.
A Rant on Author Etiquette
I've met quite a few authors over the last couple years, mostly as a fan of their writing and sometimes in the context of being a fellow writer. And it's interesting to note that most of them, including the really, really famous ones, have been very nice. They smile politely, answer your questions, thank you for buying their book, make a little small talk as they sign your book and generally leave you with a positive feeling about your experience.
I think it's about honoring the people who spend their hard-earned dollars on your creative work when they could buy someone else's. Or buy a DVD instead. So, I've always endeavored to make people feel welcome when they come to a signing or event that I'm attending. I appreciate them taking a chance with me, spending their $16.50 on a new, unknown author, and I try to let them know that. Whether it's taking the time to chat with them, asking them a few questions about themselves or just straightforwardly telling them I appreciate the opportunity to share the world of Zara and Caelan with them. Even with little old me, some people, believe it or not, are nervous to approach and get their book signed! It takes maybe three minutes to make them feel comfortable and convey my gratitude.
That's why I was really dismayed and a little irritated at the behavior of one author in particular. And no, I'm not going to mention a name. I'd waited until the end of the event (so that the crowd would die down) to get a book signed by this particular author, one I'd heard of and shared a YahooGroup with. Now, I did not, by any means, expect this author to know me as a writer or treat me any differently than any other fan of his/her writing. But if this is how they others were treated...I wouldn't buy any of this person's other books. I'm having trouble talking myself into reading the one I bought, just because of this!
When I approached the author, (I'm going to refer to the author as T.A. from here because the author is really tiresome to keep writing out) T.A. was deep in conversation with another writer at the next table. I waited politely to be acknowledged, which I was, with a wave forward. I approached, and handed T.A my book. T.A. made a brief comment about the spelling of my name (which is something I always do when signing a book for people whose name can be spelled a half a million ways--Stacey, Stacy, Stacie, Staci, Stacee). Just as I opened my mouth to talk about being two Chicago authors on a certain Yahoogroup, T.A returned to her conversation with the writer at the next table. T.A. finished signing my book and shoved it back across the table to me without a break in the conversation or even looking in my direction.
Seven words. Not a one of them was "thank you" or "nice to meet you" or anything of that nature. I didn't even rate eye contact! I couldn't believe it.
Laurell K. Hamilton, who has sold way more books than T.A., has always been very nice to me and as far as I can tell, all the fans who are fortunate enough to meet her. Not that being famous is an "out" for rude behavior either, but it might help explain it (too many fans, too little time, etc.)
I didn't have to spend money on T.A.'s book and frankly now, despite the fact that the book itself looks interesting, I'm kind of sorry that I did. Of course, a portion of the money from that night went to support writing scholarships and journalism internships, so that's good, at least. I remind myself though that you don't have to like the person to like the book. There are authors who you expect to be at least a little like their main character and it's jarring when they aren't. Usually because you know that the main character would be awesome to hang around and have fun with and the author...isn't.
What do you guys think about this? Do you think I'm overreacting? Possibly because I have expectations for how I treat people and how others have treated me? Or, maybe T.A. was just having a bad day. Just curious...
Holiday Book Bash Details
For those who are interested in such things, I wore black pants (the wide-legged kind with cuffs, made of this really smooth, flowy material), a v-neck camisole and a black v-neck mini-sweater with a black fake fur collar. As soon as I saw the sweater in the store, I knew I had to try it on. It totally reminded me of something Asha would have or wear. For those who haven't read The Silver Spoon (and why not I ask you?!?), Asha is the very powerful, somewhat ethically-challenged and kind of scary/sexy leader of the rebel Observers. That's another one of the tricks I've learned over the last few years of writing. If you're trying to get into a character's head, dress like they would. It works, sometimes to a frightening degree. Of course, this does not mean that you'll be seeing me in leather pants any time soon. *grin*
All the authors I met were very nice. I ended up sitting next to Rich Lindberg, who knows someone I work with at my day job! He writes about crime in Chicago among other things. I bought his book, Return to the Scene of the Crime: A Guide to Infamous Places in Chicago. Very cool!
Rick Kogan, host of WGN Radio's Sunday Papers, sat on my other side. He invited me to be on the radio! I need to send my book and a note to follow up with him.
A Rant on Author Etiquette
I've met quite a few authors over the last couple years, mostly as a fan of their writing and sometimes in the context of being a fellow writer. And it's interesting to note that most of them, including the really, really famous ones, have been very nice. They smile politely, answer your questions, thank you for buying their book, make a little small talk as they sign your book and generally leave you with a positive feeling about your experience.
I think it's about honoring the people who spend their hard-earned dollars on your creative work when they could buy someone else's. Or buy a DVD instead. So, I've always endeavored to make people feel welcome when they come to a signing or event that I'm attending. I appreciate them taking a chance with me, spending their $16.50 on a new, unknown author, and I try to let them know that. Whether it's taking the time to chat with them, asking them a few questions about themselves or just straightforwardly telling them I appreciate the opportunity to share the world of Zara and Caelan with them. Even with little old me, some people, believe it or not, are nervous to approach and get their book signed! It takes maybe three minutes to make them feel comfortable and convey my gratitude.
That's why I was really dismayed and a little irritated at the behavior of one author in particular. And no, I'm not going to mention a name. I'd waited until the end of the event (so that the crowd would die down) to get a book signed by this particular author, one I'd heard of and shared a YahooGroup with. Now, I did not, by any means, expect this author to know me as a writer or treat me any differently than any other fan of his/her writing. But if this is how they others were treated...I wouldn't buy any of this person's other books. I'm having trouble talking myself into reading the one I bought, just because of this!
When I approached the author, (I'm going to refer to the author as T.A. from here because the author is really tiresome to keep writing out) T.A. was deep in conversation with another writer at the next table. I waited politely to be acknowledged, which I was, with a wave forward. I approached, and handed T.A my book. T.A. made a brief comment about the spelling of my name (which is something I always do when signing a book for people whose name can be spelled a half a million ways--Stacey, Stacy, Stacie, Staci, Stacee). Just as I opened my mouth to talk about being two Chicago authors on a certain Yahoogroup, T.A returned to her conversation with the writer at the next table. T.A. finished signing my book and shoved it back across the table to me without a break in the conversation or even looking in my direction.
Seven words. Not a one of them was "thank you" or "nice to meet you" or anything of that nature. I didn't even rate eye contact! I couldn't believe it.
Laurell K. Hamilton, who has sold way more books than T.A., has always been very nice to me and as far as I can tell, all the fans who are fortunate enough to meet her. Not that being famous is an "out" for rude behavior either, but it might help explain it (too many fans, too little time, etc.)
I didn't have to spend money on T.A.'s book and frankly now, despite the fact that the book itself looks interesting, I'm kind of sorry that I did. Of course, a portion of the money from that night went to support writing scholarships and journalism internships, so that's good, at least. I remind myself though that you don't have to like the person to like the book. There are authors who you expect to be at least a little like their main character and it's jarring when they aren't. Usually because you know that the main character would be awesome to hang around and have fun with and the author...isn't.
What do you guys think about this? Do you think I'm overreacting? Possibly because I have expectations for how I treat people and how others have treated me? Or, maybe T.A. was just having a bad day. Just curious...
Friday, November 18, 2005
Just a quick note...
The Holiday Book Bash went really well! Kendall College, where the event was held, was spectacular. Food was awesome, too : ) I met a bunch of new people and made some good contacts. My husband took a picture of me in my new outfit, which I will try to post here over the weekend or early next week.
Wednesday, November 16, 2005
Shopping
All right, tonight I'm braving the retail world in the hopes of finding something suitable to wear to the Holiday Book Bash tomorrow. Thank you for helping me with the definition of "dressy casual."
I'm at page 242 in editing on the sequel--yea! That's just over halfway. The book, as it stands now, is about 415 pages or so. Quite a bit longer than the first, but a lot has to happen! I'm off work tomorrow and hope to accomplish more editing tomorrow and over the weekend. My goal is still to get it to first readers in November. It's just going to be a lot closer to the end of November than I would have liked. Oh, well.
In assembling a Christmas list last night for family, I discovered that Serenity is going to be out on DVD by December 20!!! So, those of you who never made it to the theater to see the movie (for shame!) will be able to buy or rent it in a little over a month. I'm so excited to see it again. It left the movie theater so quickly, which is probably why they were willing to release it on DVD for Christmas.
Okay, I hope tomorrow night goes well. I'm nervous! Wish me luck : )
I'm at page 242 in editing on the sequel--yea! That's just over halfway. The book, as it stands now, is about 415 pages or so. Quite a bit longer than the first, but a lot has to happen! I'm off work tomorrow and hope to accomplish more editing tomorrow and over the weekend. My goal is still to get it to first readers in November. It's just going to be a lot closer to the end of November than I would have liked. Oh, well.
In assembling a Christmas list last night for family, I discovered that Serenity is going to be out on DVD by December 20!!! So, those of you who never made it to the theater to see the movie (for shame!) will be able to buy or rent it in a little over a month. I'm so excited to see it again. It left the movie theater so quickly, which is probably why they were willing to release it on DVD for Christmas.
Okay, I hope tomorrow night goes well. I'm nervous! Wish me luck : )
Monday, November 14, 2005
Holiday Book Bash--Clothing Advice Needed!
So you know I'm one of the authors at this big event on Thursday, and I'm having a major girl moment here. I don't know what to wear. I've been told "business dress (after work) or dressy casual." But I don't know what that means exactly. Being one of the few fiction writers there and not a famous journalist (as most of the other authors are), I really don't want to stand out in a bad way, you know? I don't want to go over the top, but I also don't want to look like a slob.
I've got a black cocktail dress (always makes me think of Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman when I use this phrase), but I would never wear this to work. Ever. I have a nice pink sweater and black pants that I wore to the reading at Twilight Tales last winter. But that doesn't seem dressy enough.
Any suggestions on what dressy casual might mean in terms of specific wardrobe pieces? I'm not opposed to buying a new outfit. I just don't know what to buy!
I've got a black cocktail dress (always makes me think of Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman when I use this phrase), but I would never wear this to work. Ever. I have a nice pink sweater and black pants that I wore to the reading at Twilight Tales last winter. But that doesn't seem dressy enough.
Any suggestions on what dressy casual might mean in terms of specific wardrobe pieces? I'm not opposed to buying a new outfit. I just don't know what to buy!
Thursday, November 10, 2005
Oh, that was kinda dumb.
Most of you have already heard me ranting about query letters. They're like a super intense form of a cover letter, except instead of trying to interest someone in hiring you, you're trying to interest someone in buying your book.
All kinds of theories abound as to how to make the query letters more attention-getting without being annoying. This includes coming up with a catchy hook, displaying your dazzling fiction credits, mentioning authors who've generously agreed to give you a blurb, any awards you've won...and famous writers that you've studied under. That's where the big "duh" on my part comes in.
My senior year at Valpo, I took a seminar in creative writing, which was more like an independent study type thing. We worked on a major piece of fiction--novella or a series of short stories--and the professor would provide feedback. My professor for the class was Walt Wangerin. Okay, I know he's a pretty famous writer, but at the time, that didn't really register with me. Then, later, when I started sending out query letters for The Silver Spoon, I considered mentioning it, but since he writes more religiously-themed works and I was writing sci-fi romance, I thought I might be stretching it a bit.
Yesterday, I read this article on CNN.com about Anne Rice's new novel about Jesus (which I've read the first few pages of and it sounds really interesting). It mentions that Professor Wangerin also has a novel about Jesus coming out. It also happens to mention that he's a National Book Award winner. The National Book Awards are like, in my opinion, the Emmys or the Oscars but for books instead. (Stephen King took home the big prize a couple of years ago, which I believe he totally deserves because no one can scare the pants off you better and still come up with amazing character-driven stories like Shawshank Redemption and Stand by Me, and there was a large discussion about commercial versus literary fiction and which is more worthy. Which is total bullsh*t. If it's a good story, that's all that should matter.)
Anyway, after reading this, I decided to investigate what Professor Wangerin won his National Book Award for. 1980, The Book of the Dun Cow. Category? Here's where the duh part comes in--SCIENCE FICTION!!! Technically, I think it's more fantasy than science fiction and mentioning it probably wouldn't have made a difference, but still. To say that you learned from a National Book Award winner is probably a good thing to mention.
Duh, Stacey.
The funny thing is that to me, it didn't matter one way or the other. I learned in his class just as I learned in all my other writing classes. All of my professors, in one way or another, made me a better writer. But this business aspect to the business--name dropping, etc.--that's something I'm still trying to get a handle on.
*sigh*
All kinds of theories abound as to how to make the query letters more attention-getting without being annoying. This includes coming up with a catchy hook, displaying your dazzling fiction credits, mentioning authors who've generously agreed to give you a blurb, any awards you've won...and famous writers that you've studied under. That's where the big "duh" on my part comes in.
My senior year at Valpo, I took a seminar in creative writing, which was more like an independent study type thing. We worked on a major piece of fiction--novella or a series of short stories--and the professor would provide feedback. My professor for the class was Walt Wangerin. Okay, I know he's a pretty famous writer, but at the time, that didn't really register with me. Then, later, when I started sending out query letters for The Silver Spoon, I considered mentioning it, but since he writes more religiously-themed works and I was writing sci-fi romance, I thought I might be stretching it a bit.
Yesterday, I read this article on CNN.com about Anne Rice's new novel about Jesus (which I've read the first few pages of and it sounds really interesting). It mentions that Professor Wangerin also has a novel about Jesus coming out. It also happens to mention that he's a National Book Award winner. The National Book Awards are like, in my opinion, the Emmys or the Oscars but for books instead. (Stephen King took home the big prize a couple of years ago, which I believe he totally deserves because no one can scare the pants off you better and still come up with amazing character-driven stories like Shawshank Redemption and Stand by Me, and there was a large discussion about commercial versus literary fiction and which is more worthy. Which is total bullsh*t. If it's a good story, that's all that should matter.)
Anyway, after reading this, I decided to investigate what Professor Wangerin won his National Book Award for. 1980, The Book of the Dun Cow. Category? Here's where the duh part comes in--SCIENCE FICTION!!! Technically, I think it's more fantasy than science fiction and mentioning it probably wouldn't have made a difference, but still. To say that you learned from a National Book Award winner is probably a good thing to mention.
Duh, Stacey.
The funny thing is that to me, it didn't matter one way or the other. I learned in his class just as I learned in all my other writing classes. All of my professors, in one way or another, made me a better writer. But this business aspect to the business--name dropping, etc.--that's something I'm still trying to get a handle on.
*sigh*
Wednesday, November 09, 2005
Texas residents--I have a question! Soda or pop?
Hello, friends and family in Texas! If you guys have a minute, can you shoot me an email or post a comment here and let me know this: Do Texans refer to soft drinks as "soda" or "pop"? Does it matter depending on the region? If so, I'm talking about West Texas.
I suppose it's just a small thing and probably doesn't matter that much because Zara is pretty much anything but native to Texas, though she has spent most of her life there. But I know this is one of those hot-button language issues that might jar someone out of reading the story long enough to say, "Hey, they don't say 'soda' in Texas!" Like if she wanted to get a drink out of the bubbler or something. No, I'm not making fun of Wisconsinites for their word choice. After all, I'm from Illinois and we refer to it as a water fountain, which I'm told is supposed to refer to things like Buckingham Fountain.
I think my friend Ed used to have a map of the U.S. outlining which states said soda and which ones preferred pop. And which ones were really unusual and used "Coke" to refer to all soft drinks : )
Anyway, here's a fun little language quiz on this very topic (how vocabulary varies based on location). Please don't be offended by the whole Yankee/Dixie thing. I don't know that anyone would be, but just in case. It's just about language, not anything else. I took it once and ended up right in the middle (50%, A Dixie but barely) and then I took it again, thinking more about my answers and ended up at 47% which made me a Yankee. I'm not too surprised that it's not clear, as I spent a few years living in the Carolinas when I was young. Plus, southern Illinois can be really Southern. I also lived there for a few years as well.
Other language things I think about...what's the difference between a sofa and a couch? Why do some people use one word over the other? Is it regional? Generational? I believe I've also heard it referred to as a davenport or a divan. This has nothing to do with the sequel. This is just me, thinking too much : )
I suppose it's just a small thing and probably doesn't matter that much because Zara is pretty much anything but native to Texas, though she has spent most of her life there. But I know this is one of those hot-button language issues that might jar someone out of reading the story long enough to say, "Hey, they don't say 'soda' in Texas!" Like if she wanted to get a drink out of the bubbler or something. No, I'm not making fun of Wisconsinites for their word choice. After all, I'm from Illinois and we refer to it as a water fountain, which I'm told is supposed to refer to things like Buckingham Fountain.
I think my friend Ed used to have a map of the U.S. outlining which states said soda and which ones preferred pop. And which ones were really unusual and used "Coke" to refer to all soft drinks : )
Anyway, here's a fun little language quiz on this very topic (how vocabulary varies based on location). Please don't be offended by the whole Yankee/Dixie thing. I don't know that anyone would be, but just in case. It's just about language, not anything else. I took it once and ended up right in the middle (50%, A Dixie but barely) and then I took it again, thinking more about my answers and ended up at 47% which made me a Yankee. I'm not too surprised that it's not clear, as I spent a few years living in the Carolinas when I was young. Plus, southern Illinois can be really Southern. I also lived there for a few years as well.
Other language things I think about...what's the difference between a sofa and a couch? Why do some people use one word over the other? Is it regional? Generational? I believe I've also heard it referred to as a davenport or a divan. This has nothing to do with the sequel. This is just me, thinking too much : )
Tuesday, November 08, 2005
Whining again. Please feel free to ignore.
Whenever things get a little stressful, as they happen to be at the moment, I start yearning to be some place fictional. Not all that surprising, I guess, considering I've spent the majority of my life with my nose buried in a book, either mine or someone else's. Just lately, though, as I've been working through the last of the Silver Spoon sequel, I find myself yearning to write a new Rennie story. I love that little town, Morrisville, which is based on this real little town. The real town, though, I think probably lacks the hot, former-rebel-turned-morally-upright sheriff, and probably also the very high body count that exists in Morrisville. Kind of a bummer about reality, I guess : )
But what I love about Rennie's world is that it's predictable in some way. It's a mystery series. Someone's dead, and you just know poor Rennie is going to stumble over the corpse. There will be quirky townspeople and the sheriff's utterly hateable and yet somehow strikingly pitiful (in that you can't help but feel sorry for her a little bit...or so I hope) wife will do something awful. But nothing quite awful enough to convince Sheriff Bristol that he'd be better off without her...at least not yet.
But the first book in that series isn't even published yet. Wait, scratch that, I haven't even finished revisions in it to try sending it out. I've been told it doesn't have enough of a "hook" to stand out in the crowded mystery market. That may be true, but that doesn't make me love it any less. I've got a draft of the second book written and ideas for at least book three and four. *sigh*
I was told (not by anyone here) that I should make it a paranormal story. It does have leanings that way anyway. Rennie is always finding dead bodies in Morrisville--not all of them, mind you, but more than the average citizen. She doesn't have any particular gift, other than bad luck and the inability to mind her own business. But it's not like an actual power or anything. It's just Rennie. That's how she is. Some people win the lotto. She finds dead bodies. Some people just have a knack for reading people's expressions. Rennie has the knack of knowing when an unanswered knock at the door means trouble instead of someone's just not home.
True, there may be some paranormal element involved, but I don't want to get into her having a "power." Because then you have to worry about what the power feels like, and how does it feel different when someone dies naturally versus being murdered, and how close in proximity does she have to be to be able to "sense" a death. Ugh. The whole first book came about because I needed a break from all that stuff in writing The Silver Spoon. I wanted to write a book set in this world, with this world's rules. Rennie is just a normal person with keen observation skills and a knack for finding trouble. Sort of like a grown-up Nancy Drew. Only not as annoying (Nancy was a little overconfident at times for someone who kept getting chloroformed and her head stuffed in a bag) and with a much hotter and forbidden love interest. Surely, I can't be the only person who wants to read something like that, right?!?
I want these stories to get out there. I do. I know that changing them might make them more marketable, but I think it would also change what I love about them. I don't even know why I'm worrying about it now. I've got to finish edits to about twenty more chapters in the sequel and then the mystery project is also needing some serious attention. I guess I'm thinking about it because I'm remembering how much I loved writing those books (not that I didn't love writing the others but this was pure, write-in-bed-with-the-alphasmart-late-into-the-night-trying-to- type-quietly-so-as-not-to-wake-my-husband-while-giggling-with-delight joy!) I write for myself first, of course, but it's hard to feel torn between the Rennie books and ideas I have that I think might sell well. Of course, it's times like these that I remember Ron Moore's advice, which was advice from some other guy that I can't remember, "Don't whore yourself." Which I take to mean, do what you love and don't sell out. But "don't whore yourself" sounds much snappier, right? : )
Done whining now. Thanks. : )
But what I love about Rennie's world is that it's predictable in some way. It's a mystery series. Someone's dead, and you just know poor Rennie is going to stumble over the corpse. There will be quirky townspeople and the sheriff's utterly hateable and yet somehow strikingly pitiful (in that you can't help but feel sorry for her a little bit...or so I hope) wife will do something awful. But nothing quite awful enough to convince Sheriff Bristol that he'd be better off without her...at least not yet.
But the first book in that series isn't even published yet. Wait, scratch that, I haven't even finished revisions in it to try sending it out. I've been told it doesn't have enough of a "hook" to stand out in the crowded mystery market. That may be true, but that doesn't make me love it any less. I've got a draft of the second book written and ideas for at least book three and four. *sigh*
I was told (not by anyone here) that I should make it a paranormal story. It does have leanings that way anyway. Rennie is always finding dead bodies in Morrisville--not all of them, mind you, but more than the average citizen. She doesn't have any particular gift, other than bad luck and the inability to mind her own business. But it's not like an actual power or anything. It's just Rennie. That's how she is. Some people win the lotto. She finds dead bodies. Some people just have a knack for reading people's expressions. Rennie has the knack of knowing when an unanswered knock at the door means trouble instead of someone's just not home.
True, there may be some paranormal element involved, but I don't want to get into her having a "power." Because then you have to worry about what the power feels like, and how does it feel different when someone dies naturally versus being murdered, and how close in proximity does she have to be to be able to "sense" a death. Ugh. The whole first book came about because I needed a break from all that stuff in writing The Silver Spoon. I wanted to write a book set in this world, with this world's rules. Rennie is just a normal person with keen observation skills and a knack for finding trouble. Sort of like a grown-up Nancy Drew. Only not as annoying (Nancy was a little overconfident at times for someone who kept getting chloroformed and her head stuffed in a bag) and with a much hotter and forbidden love interest. Surely, I can't be the only person who wants to read something like that, right?!?
I want these stories to get out there. I do. I know that changing them might make them more marketable, but I think it would also change what I love about them. I don't even know why I'm worrying about it now. I've got to finish edits to about twenty more chapters in the sequel and then the mystery project is also needing some serious attention. I guess I'm thinking about it because I'm remembering how much I loved writing those books (not that I didn't love writing the others but this was pure, write-in-bed-with-the-alphasmart-late-into-the-night-trying-to- type-quietly-so-as-not-to-wake-my-husband-while-giggling-with-delight joy!) I write for myself first, of course, but it's hard to feel torn between the Rennie books and ideas I have that I think might sell well. Of course, it's times like these that I remember Ron Moore's advice, which was advice from some other guy that I can't remember, "Don't whore yourself." Which I take to mean, do what you love and don't sell out. But "don't whore yourself" sounds much snappier, right? : )
Done whining now. Thanks. : )
Monday, November 07, 2005
Grey area
I watched Grey's Anatomy last night. Great show. Love that show. It is the only reason I look forward to Sunday nights, and I do now look forward to Sunday nights. Also, watched Desperate Housewives. Another interesting show, if not as much a favorite for us (my husband watches DH too) as it was last year.
But what occurred to me as I watched both of these shows was this: Wouldn't it be nice if we had voice-overs in life like they do on both of these shows? Cool, calm, collected statements at the beginning of each day that would hint if trouble was ahead, and wry summaries at the end of the day to help remind of us of the lesson learned from the day's events, just in case it wasn't particularly clear. You know, stuff like: "It's not the destination but the journey" and "_________ realized that fear, as much as it helped her achieve, kept her from truly experiencing life."
Some of this desire for a voice-over in life, I would suppose, is actually desire to know if I'm heading in the right direction and learning the lessons I'm supposed to be learning (rather than the ones I choose to glean from certain circumstances) along the way. In some ways, it would be a lot easier--and not necessarily as boring as it sounds--if life were scripted.
Being the socially inept type in high school (I'm not sure that now is all the different *grin*), I used to try to script dialogue ahead of time for social situations. It's not as hard as it might sound. I'd just think of something to say to someone and try to predict their response and then mine in return. I'd usually get pretty close because my high school was small and I generally knew enough about the person to guess how they'd respond. This person loves shopping--ask about the new Von Maur store (this was a very big deal when I was in high school). This person loves sports--talk about the Bulls game last night. This was when the Bulls were cool and I'd happen to be in the room, reading a book, when the game was on and would therefore know enough to fake my way through the rest of the conversation the next day.
Plus, in high school, as awful as it sounds, people stayed pretty close to the stereotypes they projected...or wanted to project. You had the cheerleader-types, the jock-types, the cool smart people, the dorky smart people...you get the idea. I fit in none of the categories and so therefore found myself having to find ways to make conversation with all kinds of people.
I still do this now, scripting in my head. When I'm nervous or angry or pretty much any strong emotion. I'm fairly sure that I didn't have a single conversation with my very first boyfriend (summer between freshman and sophomore year in college) that wasn't in some part scripted by me ahead of time--and if that didn't signal doom for that relationship, I don't know what did. *grin* (I met my husband shortly after that and knew he was the one because neither one of us could shut up!)
With writing, bits of dialogue are usually what come to me first. I hear a character long before I ever see him or her. I love that : )
But life, real life, seems less and less scriptable. In high school, it was easier because 11th grade is inevitably followed by 12th--short of dropping out and/or becoming a teenage parent (both of which happened in my school way more often than you'd think--small town in central Illinois, what else is there to do?). Now, it's like the whole world is open with possibilities...which is great, unless you're lost and trying to find your way, or want to make sure that the way you've chosen is the "correct" one. Occasionally, a properly-timed voice over could be very helpful.
This truly in-depth navel gazing session brought to you by...a truly fabulous and funny book by Megan Crane, English As A Second Language. I read it this weekend (click on the link to read an excerpt) and loved it. It totally brought back memories of college, which made me all nostalgic. It's about a woman who hates her job but has no real direction in terms of what she'd rather do instead so she decides to enroll in grad school in England...because an ex-boyfriend said she'd never get in. She's an English major, of course, (is it still a major when you're in grad school?) and I loved how she described the somehow miraculous appearance of a paper when it feels like all you're doing is floudering and flailing on the page. I remember that!
It's a hysterical book. I laughed out loud so many times and I also found more than a little truth in the story, which is what makes a good book in my opinion.
So...anybody want to go to grad school with me? Just kidding...I think.
But what occurred to me as I watched both of these shows was this: Wouldn't it be nice if we had voice-overs in life like they do on both of these shows? Cool, calm, collected statements at the beginning of each day that would hint if trouble was ahead, and wry summaries at the end of the day to help remind of us of the lesson learned from the day's events, just in case it wasn't particularly clear. You know, stuff like: "It's not the destination but the journey" and "_________ realized that fear, as much as it helped her achieve, kept her from truly experiencing life."
Some of this desire for a voice-over in life, I would suppose, is actually desire to know if I'm heading in the right direction and learning the lessons I'm supposed to be learning (rather than the ones I choose to glean from certain circumstances) along the way. In some ways, it would be a lot easier--and not necessarily as boring as it sounds--if life were scripted.
Being the socially inept type in high school (I'm not sure that now is all the different *grin*), I used to try to script dialogue ahead of time for social situations. It's not as hard as it might sound. I'd just think of something to say to someone and try to predict their response and then mine in return. I'd usually get pretty close because my high school was small and I generally knew enough about the person to guess how they'd respond. This person loves shopping--ask about the new Von Maur store (this was a very big deal when I was in high school). This person loves sports--talk about the Bulls game last night. This was when the Bulls were cool and I'd happen to be in the room, reading a book, when the game was on and would therefore know enough to fake my way through the rest of the conversation the next day.
Plus, in high school, as awful as it sounds, people stayed pretty close to the stereotypes they projected...or wanted to project. You had the cheerleader-types, the jock-types, the cool smart people, the dorky smart people...you get the idea. I fit in none of the categories and so therefore found myself having to find ways to make conversation with all kinds of people.
I still do this now, scripting in my head. When I'm nervous or angry or pretty much any strong emotion. I'm fairly sure that I didn't have a single conversation with my very first boyfriend (summer between freshman and sophomore year in college) that wasn't in some part scripted by me ahead of time--and if that didn't signal doom for that relationship, I don't know what did. *grin* (I met my husband shortly after that and knew he was the one because neither one of us could shut up!)
With writing, bits of dialogue are usually what come to me first. I hear a character long before I ever see him or her. I love that : )
But life, real life, seems less and less scriptable. In high school, it was easier because 11th grade is inevitably followed by 12th--short of dropping out and/or becoming a teenage parent (both of which happened in my school way more often than you'd think--small town in central Illinois, what else is there to do?). Now, it's like the whole world is open with possibilities...which is great, unless you're lost and trying to find your way, or want to make sure that the way you've chosen is the "correct" one. Occasionally, a properly-timed voice over could be very helpful.
This truly in-depth navel gazing session brought to you by...a truly fabulous and funny book by Megan Crane, English As A Second Language. I read it this weekend (click on the link to read an excerpt) and loved it. It totally brought back memories of college, which made me all nostalgic. It's about a woman who hates her job but has no real direction in terms of what she'd rather do instead so she decides to enroll in grad school in England...because an ex-boyfriend said she'd never get in. She's an English major, of course, (is it still a major when you're in grad school?) and I loved how she described the somehow miraculous appearance of a paper when it feels like all you're doing is floudering and flailing on the page. I remember that!
It's a hysterical book. I laughed out loud so many times and I also found more than a little truth in the story, which is what makes a good book in my opinion.
So...anybody want to go to grad school with me? Just kidding...I think.
Friday, November 04, 2005
How cool is this?
Last spring after my visit to Valpo, an alum contacted me and asked me to take part in a charity event next November (meaning now). I said yes because it sounded like a neat event for a good cause (writing scholarships, internships for journalism students, etc.)
So, now it's that time and I've been getting more and more information about the event. It sounds like it's going to be great! The really cool part is that I'm one of only like 30 Chicago authors participating (we're being called 30 of Chicago's top authors--hee!) and I recognize a lot of the other names. Other Chicagoans probably will too. Ilyce Glink--financial reporter for WGN, Rick Bayless--celebrity chef, Terry Savage--nationally syndicated columnist for The Chicago Sun-Times, and more. I'm especially excited to meet chick-lit author, Stacey Ballis. : ) We are the only two "Stacey"s in Chicago on the gigantic Chick lit Yahoo group list serv.
The Chicago Headline Club Holiday Bash will be held on November 17 at Kendall College. There will be an appetizer and dessert buffet. You can get your food, watching a cooking demonstration, and buy a whole bunch of great books and get them signed. There will also be a raffle for ten boxes of books, each worth $150.
I'm going to try to paste the flyer itself in this entry, so you'll be able to get more information. But you can also visit their website at www.holidaybookbash.org. Tickets are $65 a piece, but the money is going for a good cause. And if you can get a group of ten to go, you'll save $15 per ticket. Email me if you want to go and I'll start putting together a list. If we get ten names, everyone saves $15!
I'm also guessing, given the number of famous journalists attending, that we'll probably get some good media coverage--awesome! And I'll be one of the few fiction authors in attendence and the only sci-fi author, as far as I can tell. Yea! I think. Unless it would be better to have a lot of sci-fi authors so you can be sure to draw a crowd of sci-fi fans....hmm. Not sure about that. But either way, I'm excited.
It sounds like it's going to be a cool event. So, if you're looking for a fun night out in the city, consider this, won't you please?!?
So, now it's that time and I've been getting more and more information about the event. It sounds like it's going to be great! The really cool part is that I'm one of only like 30 Chicago authors participating (we're being called 30 of Chicago's top authors--hee!) and I recognize a lot of the other names. Other Chicagoans probably will too. Ilyce Glink--financial reporter for WGN, Rick Bayless--celebrity chef, Terry Savage--nationally syndicated columnist for The Chicago Sun-Times, and more. I'm especially excited to meet chick-lit author, Stacey Ballis. : ) We are the only two "Stacey"s in Chicago on the gigantic Chick lit Yahoo group list serv.
The Chicago Headline Club Holiday Bash will be held on November 17 at Kendall College. There will be an appetizer and dessert buffet. You can get your food, watching a cooking demonstration, and buy a whole bunch of great books and get them signed. There will also be a raffle for ten boxes of books, each worth $150.
I'm going to try to paste the flyer itself in this entry, so you'll be able to get more information. But you can also visit their website at www.holidaybookbash.org. Tickets are $65 a piece, but the money is going for a good cause. And if you can get a group of ten to go, you'll save $15 per ticket. Email me if you want to go and I'll start putting together a list. If we get ten names, everyone saves $15!
I'm also guessing, given the number of famous journalists attending, that we'll probably get some good media coverage--awesome! And I'll be one of the few fiction authors in attendence and the only sci-fi author, as far as I can tell. Yea! I think. Unless it would be better to have a lot of sci-fi authors so you can be sure to draw a crowd of sci-fi fans....hmm. Not sure about that. But either way, I'm excited.
It sounds like it's going to be a cool event. So, if you're looking for a fun night out in the city, consider this, won't you please?!?
*****
The Chicago Headline Club presents its first
Benefiting the Chicago Headline Club Foundation
Great food, better drinks, terrific entertainment, and the chance to meet and mingle with some of Chicago's top authors and journalists.
November 17, 2005 • 6:00-9:00pmKendall College, 900 N. North Branch Street, Chicago, IL
60622
Cost: $55 Chicago Headline Club Members/$65 non-members (in advance)$75 after Nov. 10.
Admission includes appetizer and dessert buffet, plus cooking demonstrations from the School of Culinary Arts at Kendall College and Celebrity Chef Rick Bayless. Cash bar (one free drink included with admission).
Register online now at www.holidaybookbash.org.
Holiday Book Bash RafflePrizes include 10 boxes of “Mystery Books,” each valued at more than $150.Raffles are $2/ticket or $10 for 10 (best deal)Drawing to be held the evening of the Holiday Book Bash.
Proceeds benefit the Chicago Headline Club Foundation, which supports journalism literacy efforts at area high schools, provides college scholarships for journalism students, and awards stipends for unpaid internships at top media outlets in the metropolitan area.
Get a jump on your holiday shopping by buying books written (and personally autographed!) by these Holiday Book Bash authors...
Jon Anderson, City Watch: Discovering the Uncommon Chicago
Stacey Ballis, Sleeping Over
Rick Bayless, Mexican Everyday
Melda Beaty, My Soul to His Spirit: Soulful Expressions from Black Daughters to Their Fathers
Steve Bogira, The Reader Courtroom 302: A Year Behind The Scenes in an American Criminal Courthouse
Rich Cahan, Real Chicago Sports
Kevin Coval, Slingshots: Hip Hop Poetics
Carolyn Crimi, Henry and the Buccaneer Bunnies
Doug Cummings, Deader By The Lake
Jonathan Eig, The Luckiest Man: The Life and Death of Lou Gehrig
Elizabeth Flock, Me and Emma
Hillary Frank, I Can’t Tell You and Better Than Running At Night
Al Gini, The Importance of Being Lazy
Ilyce Glink, 100 Questions Every First- Time Home Buyer Should Ask (3rd Ed.)
Barbara Joosse, Mama, Do You Love Me?
Stacey Klemstein, The Silver Spoon
Rick Kogan, America's Mom: The Life, Lessons and Legacy of Ann Landers
Rich Lindberg, Return to the Scene of the Crime: A Guide to Infamous Places in Chicago
Ted McClelland, Horseplay: Life at the Track
John Mullin, The Rise and Self- Destruction of the Greatest Football Team in History: The Chicago Bears and Superbowl XX
Ron Rapoport, The Immortal Bobby: Bobby Jones and the Golden Age of Golf
Terry Savage, The Savage Number
Troy Taylor, Weird Illinois, Ghosts of the Prairie
Michael Warr, Powerlines: A Decade of Poetry from Chicago’s Guild Complex
Sam Weller, The Bradbury Chronicles: The Life of Ray Bradbury and Secret Chicago
Sandra Yamate, Ashok by Any Other Name
Holiday Book Bash sales handled by The Book Stall, Winnetka.
Holiday Book Bash Committee Members
Ilyce R. Glink, ThinkGlink.com
Rob Hess, HurricaneNOW.com
Sylvia Ewing, WBEZ
Molly McDonough, ABA Journal
Howard Dubin, Manufacturers’ News
Steve Rynkiewicz, Chicago Tribune
Ben Bradley, WLS-TV
Tim Jackson, WGN-TV
Ellen Fiedelholtz, WGN-TV
Holiday Book Bash Advisory Committee
Rick Kogan, Chicago Tribune
Richard Roeper, Chicago Sun-Times
Alex Kotlowitz
Sponsors
The Book Stall, Winnetka
HSBC - North America
Kobrand Corporation
PR Newswire Chicago
The Chicago Headline Club presents its first
Benefiting the Chicago Headline Club Foundation
Great food, better drinks, terrific entertainment, and the chance to meet and mingle with some of Chicago's top authors and journalists.
November 17, 2005 • 6:00-9:00pmKendall College, 900 N. North Branch Street, Chicago, IL
60622
Cost: $55 Chicago Headline Club Members/$65 non-members (in advance)$75 after Nov. 10.
Admission includes appetizer and dessert buffet, plus cooking demonstrations from the School of Culinary Arts at Kendall College and Celebrity Chef Rick Bayless. Cash bar (one free drink included with admission).
Register online now at www.holidaybookbash.org.
Holiday Book Bash RafflePrizes include 10 boxes of “Mystery Books,” each valued at more than $150.Raffles are $2/ticket or $10 for 10 (best deal)Drawing to be held the evening of the Holiday Book Bash.
Proceeds benefit the Chicago Headline Club Foundation, which supports journalism literacy efforts at area high schools, provides college scholarships for journalism students, and awards stipends for unpaid internships at top media outlets in the metropolitan area.
Get a jump on your holiday shopping by buying books written (and personally autographed!) by these Holiday Book Bash authors...
Jon Anderson, City Watch: Discovering the Uncommon Chicago
Stacey Ballis, Sleeping Over
Rick Bayless, Mexican Everyday
Melda Beaty, My Soul to His Spirit: Soulful Expressions from Black Daughters to Their Fathers
Steve Bogira, The Reader Courtroom 302: A Year Behind The Scenes in an American Criminal Courthouse
Rich Cahan, Real Chicago Sports
Kevin Coval, Slingshots: Hip Hop Poetics
Carolyn Crimi, Henry and the Buccaneer Bunnies
Doug Cummings, Deader By The Lake
Jonathan Eig, The Luckiest Man: The Life and Death of Lou Gehrig
Elizabeth Flock, Me and Emma
Hillary Frank, I Can’t Tell You and Better Than Running At Night
Al Gini, The Importance of Being Lazy
Ilyce Glink, 100 Questions Every First- Time Home Buyer Should Ask (3rd Ed.)
Barbara Joosse, Mama, Do You Love Me?
Stacey Klemstein, The Silver Spoon
Rick Kogan, America's Mom: The Life, Lessons and Legacy of Ann Landers
Rich Lindberg, Return to the Scene of the Crime: A Guide to Infamous Places in Chicago
Ted McClelland, Horseplay: Life at the Track
John Mullin, The Rise and Self- Destruction of the Greatest Football Team in History: The Chicago Bears and Superbowl XX
Ron Rapoport, The Immortal Bobby: Bobby Jones and the Golden Age of Golf
Terry Savage, The Savage Number
Troy Taylor, Weird Illinois, Ghosts of the Prairie
Michael Warr, Powerlines: A Decade of Poetry from Chicago’s Guild Complex
Sam Weller, The Bradbury Chronicles: The Life of Ray Bradbury and Secret Chicago
Sandra Yamate, Ashok by Any Other Name
Holiday Book Bash sales handled by The Book Stall, Winnetka.
Holiday Book Bash Committee Members
Ilyce R. Glink, ThinkGlink.com
Rob Hess, HurricaneNOW.com
Sylvia Ewing, WBEZ
Molly McDonough, ABA Journal
Howard Dubin, Manufacturers’ News
Steve Rynkiewicz, Chicago Tribune
Ben Bradley, WLS-TV
Tim Jackson, WGN-TV
Ellen Fiedelholtz, WGN-TV
Holiday Book Bash Advisory Committee
Rick Kogan, Chicago Tribune
Richard Roeper, Chicago Sun-Times
Alex Kotlowitz
Sponsors
The Book Stall, Winnetka
HSBC - North America
Kobrand Corporation
PR Newswire Chicago
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