A Special Weekend Writer's Feature: Larry Kaplan

Today I'm happy to introduce Larry Kaplan, who's stopping by on his blog tour to promote his new release, House of Ghosts. And at the end of this interview you'll find details on how to win his book! Here's a blurb to whet your reader's appetite:

Imagine that Raymond Chandler wrote The Winds of War and you can begin to understand why House of Ghosts is such different and compelling detective story. Detective Joe Henderson is the modern incarnation of Philip Marlowe--hard boiled, hard drinking, hard loving, delightfully cynical, offering wry observations of life in the age of Starbucks.

The tale begins in the sweltering summer of 2000 when Preston Swedge, an alcoholic recluse and World War II veteran, has died in Westfield, New Jersey. At his estate sale, retired local police detective Joe Henderson discovers a 1944 diary describing a rogue attempt by a Jewish-American pilot named Paul Rothstein to drop his bombs on Auschwitz's killing complex where nearly 300,000 captives were about to be murdered.

With the fortitude of a Maccabean zealot and the patriotism of an American freedom fighter Rothstein had set out to defy his commanders who had prohibited any attempt to save Jewish lives. Joe Henderson's curiosity launches him on a crusade for the truth and a shocking revelation when he tracks down the last living witness who can solve the mystery of why the raid never happened.

Epic in its breadth, House of Ghosts sweeps effortlessly from contemporary Westfield, New Jersey to the Princeton University of 1939, and on to the aerial battle above Italy and Poland in 1944. Along the way you'll meet up with notables such as Charles Lindbergh, Treasury Secretary Henry Morgenthau, Jr., General Fulgencio Batista, and Alina Gilbert, the exotic dancer who helps to make this the hottest summer on record.

Larry, welcome to Allie's Musings. Can you tell us a little about your background?

I graduated from the NYU College of Dentistry in 1979, completed a residency at the Mt. Sinai Hospital, NYC and have been in solo practice practice since 1983. I live in Bucks County, Pennsylvania with my wife Anne, two dogs, four cats, and a parrot named Boeing. Michelle and Richard are my children from my first marriage.

I grew up in a middle class section of Union, New Jersey with my parents, Jack and Selda and older brother, Ron. A child of the 1950s, I played punch ball in the street, didn’t go to camp, and didn’t talk back. It was a world where kids rode their bikes to get where they needed to go, mothers stayed home, and no one had two cars. And most important, people gave a damn about each other.

My dad was a dental technician; this inspired me to go into dentistry. So, in 1979, I graduated NYU's College of Dentistry, then completed a dental residency at Mount Sinai Hospital, NYC. I stayed in Jersey, opened my dental practice, and lived the life of a successful suburban doctor. That could have been the whole story of my life. But that wasn't the way it turned out.

Do you ever suffer from writer's block? If so, what do you do about it?

I’ve been blessed or cursed with a fertile imagination and have never faced dealing with writer’s block. I have more plots than time to write with three manuscripts currently under construction. My problem is when writing a novel, I lapse into the motor-mouth mode and have to edit and re-edit, paring out the extraneous.

Describe your writing space...

My desk isn’t sterile. It looks completely disorganized, but as hard as it is to believe, I can find everything at a moment's notice as long as the moment is extended and stretched. Being locked in an undisclosed location doesn’t work. Occasionally, I’ll shift to the porch and hang out with the cats.

What do you like to do when you're not writing?

Unfortunately, my writing career to this point hasn’t allowed me to give up my day job. Running a full-time dental practice and dealing with the detritus of daily life fills out my calendar. Anne and I are active in a number of community organizations that pinch into our off hours. Living in the “country” two minutes from the Delaware river affords plenty of recreation choices. Last but least, the four legged “kids” filter into the mix and my big-mouth parrot is never short on demanding shoulder time.

What was one of the most surprising things you learned in creating your book(s)?

I’m not interested in writing the run of the mill mystery. Anyone can murder a character, commit the most heinous crimes, and live an alter-ego existence. While the Joe Henderson mystery series carries many of the same characters, different issues are examined—historical, medical, and political. Contrary to my mother’s opinion that she has the two smartest boys, I spend an inordinate amount of time researching a topic. I find it amazing that I can conceive, do the research, and cobble the bits together. Maybe my mother is right after all.

What is your favorite movie? Did it inspire your writing in any way?

I’ll be fifty-seven in July and that puts me on the cusp, no dental pun intended, of being an old geezer. I don’t watch a lot of movies, but do tune in Turner Classics on the cable. The flicks of Bogart and Gable, tough guys doing right in the end somehow filter into my writing. The war picture Twelve O’clock High with Gregory Peck played into the House of Ghosts character Paul Rothstein.

Larry, thanks so much for being here today. Is there anything else you'd like to mention?

Writing is tough. It is a full boar commitment, filled with promise, joy, anticipation, and rejection. I’ve learned not to take things personally, to put the rejection slips in the folder marked “dumb bastards” and to keep at it.

Readers, I hope you've enjoyed today's peek into Larry Kaplan's world. For a chance to win an autographed copy of his novel, go to his tour webpage and enter this PIN: 3738. And have a great day!

A Special Friday Feature: An Interview with Tamela Quijas

Happy Friday! I'm pleased to welcome author Tamela Quijas today...enjoy her interview!

Tamela, welcome to Allie's Musings. Tell us a little about yourself...when did you first begin writing? Was there an event or moment in your life that triggered your desire to write?

I am a fanatical reader and began writing in my early teens. For many years, I would write novels then carefully pack them away. Recently, I decided to fulfill my lifelong dream and become a published author.

Tell us about your latest writing project or published title.

Currently, I am putting the finishing touches on my latest paranormal romance, Blood of the Beast. I'm hoping to have the novel available on Amazon in a month's time.

Set in New Jersey, the tale involves a police detective (Valentina Kureyev) who is investigating a series of unexplained murders that are plaguing her city. With the aide of an obscure museum curator (Demetri Daskova), who harbors dark secrets of his own, she seeks the serial killer that haunts the streets.

Valentina is a complex individual. She's been with the city's police force for a number of years and, as Demetri phrases it, she's gritty and abrasive. Val is dedicated to her job and is obsessed with finding the serial killer that is leaving bloodless corpses on the doorsteps of her community.

Demetri is in charge of the Russian Antiquities Department at the local museum. There are matters about him that are unexplainable and dark. The murders, and the unwitting involvement of a local priest, brings the two individuals together.

The curator forces Val to accept his assistance in locating the killer, enlightening her with the unknown and the unexplained.

Perhaps matters would have been simpler if Val's grandmother wouldn't have a picture of Demetri Daskova in her possession: a Photograph that is over a hundred years old.

Ooh, sounds great! Now, how do you go about developing your characters?

That's a tough one to explain. My characters have a basic outline in my head that evolves as I write. I haven't any formula, each person seems to burst from the computer with every word.

What advice would you give to new writers just starting out?

Patience. New writers require a lot of patience in the publishing and writing fields. There isn't anything that just happens overnight and don't ever be discouraged. Writing takes an immense amount of dedication.

What kinds of books do you like to read? Who is your favorite author?

I read everything! My favorites have always been Jude Deveraux and Johanna Lindsey. Others: Dan Brown, Stephen King, Dean Koontz, Alexander Dumas, Edgar Rice Burroughs, there are too many to name.

What do you find most difficult about writing? What do you find most exciting or rewarding?

The most difficult thing about writing is not being too obsessed with the edits. I can edit a novel to death!

The most exciting---seeing my work in print and actually holding it in my hand. Secondly, having a fan that 'sees' the images I have attempted to portray in my work.

How do you balance writing with the rest of your life?

I have to force myself to not spend more than four hours a day on a Work In Progress. Otherwise, there is an obsessed fanatic in me that will write from dusk til dawn.

Do you ever suffer from writer's block? If so, what do you do about it?

I HATE writer's block. When I wrote Angel's Fire, Demon's Blood, I suffered a writer's block that took two weeks to overcome. It was debilitating in all aspects, I couldn't focus on reading, writing, or watching tv. I finally found something that made the dreaded curse disappear----I read excerpts of my project to one of my daughters (I have seven children) and she started asking the who, what, where, when and why questions. Before I knew it, fresh ideas began to pop up. My teenager is currently my sounding board for story development...Bless her heart.

What do you like to do when you're not writing?

I homeschool my youngest son and juggle motherhood with my seven children, all ranging from ages 30 to 8 years old. I cook a lot, if that's not obvious by the headcount in my home. Also, I enjoy chatting with my fans and friends on the internet.

Tamela, thanks so much for being here today! Anything else you’d like to mention?

Please stop by http://tamelaquijas.wordpress.com or http://www.myspace.com/tamelaquijas and visit with me! I would love to hear from you!

An Interview

"Doing business without advertising is like winking at a girl in the dark. You know what you are doing, but nobody else does." ~Steuart Henderson Britt

I forgot to mention this when it was posted, but here's a fun author interview I did over at Wendy Burt-Thomas' blog last month, when One Night in Memphis came out. You might find out a thing or two you didn't know about me, or the book!

Writers' Wednesday: An Interview with Charity Tahmaseb and Darcy Vance

Welcome to Writers' Wednesday! I'm thrilled today to be hosting Charity Tahmaseb and Darcy Vance on their blog tour to promote their debut novel, The Geek Girl's Guide to Cheerleading. Here's the blurb for this fantastic YA novel:

When Bethany -- self-proclaimed geek girl -- makes the varsity cheerleading squad, she realizes that there's one thing worse than blending in with the lockers: getting noticed. She always felt comfortable as part of the nerd herd, but being a member of the most scrutinized group in her school is weighing her down like a ton of textbooks. Even her Varsity Cheerleading Guide can't answer the really tough questions, like: How do you maintain some semblance of dignity while wearing an insanely short skirt? What do you do when the head cheerleader spills her beer on you at your first in-crowd party? And how do you know if your crush likes you for your mind...or your pom-poms?

One thing's for sure: It's going to take more than brains for this girl genius to cheer her way to the top of the pyramid.

Darcy was kind enough to chat a little about the book and the background of this writing duo...

Darcy, congrats on your release! You both must be so excited! Can you tell us a little about your background?

I’ve been a college dropout five times – mostly because I couldn’t decide what I wanted to be when I grew up. Despite that, I’ve worked in Human Services most of my adult life, first in unemployment offices, then at an agency that served children and now I work as the Volunteer Coordinator for a mental health center.

Tell us about your latest writing project or published title.

The Geek Girl’s Guide to Cheerleading is a novel for teens and young adults. It’s about two smart, kind of geeky girls who, through an unusual set of circumstances, find their way onto the varsity cheerleading squad. It’s the story of their season on the squad.

Geek Girl’s Guide started out as my co-author’s solo novel. She had written the first several drafts of it, and it had already finaled in at least one contest, before I got involved with the project. Charity was seeking an agent to represent the book when, through another unusual set of circumstances, I had a conversation with an agent about her story. He asked me to encourage Charity to make changes to the manuscript and resubmit, but Charity was reluctant. I badgered her about it relentlessly and even went as far as rewriting her first chapter for her, but nothing would change her mind.

Then my son was diagnosed with cancer. Charity was a huge support to me during those first weeks after the diagnosis – her inbox was always open. When I sent her a message thanking her for being such a good friend, she responded right away saying something like, “I just wish I could do more but we live so far away from each other; it’s not like I can pop down the street and deliver a hotdish to you.” But the next day she did exactly that.

She sent another email to me, inviting me to join a private online group for just the two of us. In her invitation she said, “Remember that story, the one about the geeky cheerleaders? What if we worked on it together?” Charity knew that I needed something else to think about besides my son being sick. She also knew that I needed money – cancer is a really expensive thing to fix.

We worked on the book together throughout my son’s illness. My son’s treatment was a success and so were our efforts with the book. Eleven months after my son was first diagnosed, his doctor told us she thought everything was going to be okay. By that time, Charity and I had revised the entire novel, found an agent, and our agent had sold our book to Simon Pulse!

Last week, on June 13th, my son celebrated two years of being cancer free!

Wow, that's such an inspirational story! What advice would you give to new writers just starting out?

Write because you love it – even on those days when writing doesn’t love you back.

What kinds of books do you like to read? Who is your favorite author?

I have always been a “streaky” reader. As a child, I once spent an entire year reading nothing but basketball novels. I’ve had periods of reading only historicals, only fantasy, only mysteries, only women’s fiction. These days, I read a lot of Young Adult novels – partly as research, but also because I love the stripped down, “story first” way many of them are written. I’ve also been trying to revisit some classics and occasionally I read adult fiction like Jodi Picoult, or mysteries (I heart Sue Grafton) just so my entire reading life isn’t all about the OMG ; )

My favorite adult author is John Irving (A Prayer for Owen Meany, World According to Garp) and my current favorite YA author is John Green (Looking for Alaska, An Abundance of Katherines, Paper Towns).

What do you find most difficult about writing? What do you find most exciting or rewarding?

The most difficult thing about writing for me is starting. If I can make myself write those first sentences of the day, then I generally enjoy my writing session. I am easily distracted though, so it doesn’t always happen. The second most difficult thing for me is plotting. Oh how I stink at it! My characters would prefer to meander endlessly down the path of doing and talking about nothing of consequence. The most rewarding thing about writing is the writing itself. I just really enjoy seeing those words pop up on my computer screen – and then there’s that moment when I type ‘The End’ … that’s pretty delicious too!

How do you balance writing with the rest of your life?

Poorly.

What do you like to do when you're not writing?

READ! I love to read. I also like to listen to music, especially live music. I like to hang out with friends and family, watch movies, play Tetris, and go for long, aimless drives in the country.

What was one of the most surprising things you learned in creating your book(s)?

Hands down, it was this: When Charity and I first started working together on this project, parts of it were hers and parts of it were mine. Along the way, it started to become impossible to tell who wrote what. The novel became our characters’ story. It was magical!

That's so cool...OK, last question: What is your favorite movie? Did it inspire your writing in any way?

My favorite movie changes all of the time. I like movies but I suspect I don’t like them in the same way an afficianado does. To me, they are entertainment. I can’t remember much about them even a week later. Having said that, I would LOVE to write a story like Slumdog Millionaire. That was amazing!

Ah, yes...Slumdog Millionaire. I'll second you there! Darcy, thanks so much for being here today, and best of luck in your blog tour, sales, and future projects!

Good News!

"All human wisdom is summed up in two words: wait and hope." ~Alexandre Dumas

Actually, today's good news is not mine, but my friend Liz's, who just found out that her manuscript Playing for Keeps has been recommended to the senior editor at Harlequin Blaze! A line editor had requested it at a conference, and she sent it in I think about 6 months ago (Liz, correct me if I'm wrong). Here's the perfect lesson in patience too, because I've heard how slow-moving NY publishers, esp. Harlequin, can be in responding to submissions. 6 months is a long time to wait and hear whether or not your baby is cute enough to win that modeling contract :)

But...yesterday she got the email from that original editor that the story was moving up to the senior line editor. So I suppose there's more waiting to come now, but still, it's an exciting day for her. Do me a favor and drop by Liz's blog to tell her you're keeping your fingers crossed for her, OK?

Overheard in Passing

"I find television to be very educating. Every time somebody turns on the set, I go in the other room and read a book." ~Groucho Marx

Just a quick story for Monday:

I was at a BBQ yesterday afternoon with a bunch of good friends, and one of them (a rough and tumble kind of guy) said to me, "Hey, I bought your books the other day and gave them to M____ (a mutual friend's mother)."

Me: "Wow, that's nice. Thanks."

Him: "Yeah, and you know, I started flipping through them when I was waiting in line. They're pretty easy to read. I actually got caught up in the story for a minute."

I laughed. Hey, if this guy can get caught up for a minute, it must mean I'm doing something right!

What's in a Title?

"Books have to be read (worse luck it takes so long a time). It is the only way of discovering what they contain. A few savage tribes eat them, but reading is the only method of assimilation revealed to the West." ~E.M. Forster

How much does the title of a book influence your decision to read it? Or at least to pick it up in the store and ponder? I'd say book titles don't normall have a huge effect on me, but if I see an intriguing/very different one, it probably will catch my eye.

Yesterday at my local RWA meeting, the discussion turned to titles; specifically, to the fact that one of our members recently submitted a manuscript to a Harlequin line and changed the title to be more in keeping with what they look for. Apparently they like to include "key words" in their titles, that their faithful readers will recognize and look for. (secret, baby, brother, baron, bride, etc.) Another of our members, published in Harlequin Historical, agreed, though she said it doesn't matter what title you use when you submit, because Harlequin will change it. In fact, she has been asked to submit up to 50 -- yes, 50!! -- titles for a single book for them to consider.

In addition, Harlequin will use those "key words" even if they don't have much to do with the plot. "Bride" is one of the most famous. The first book our Harlequin Historical author published had the word "bride" in the title they decided on, even though the story had nothing to do with one. When she explained this, they said, "Well, does the heroine get married at the end of the story?" "Um, yes...there's a proposal, anyway." So, because there was a HEA with a marriage on the horizon, the word "bride" remained part of the title.

Interesting, right?

I've seen discussion on some author loops about writers who would never agree to a title change if they got a publishing contract, while others don't care at all what their book is called. Me, I've been lucky enough at this point to have my titles kept exactly the same as when I submitted, but I would probably consider changing them if asked. I mean, it's the publisher's job to know what sells and what their customers like and look for.

What about you?

Ah, the Weekend...

"Above all, be true to yourself, and if you cannot put your heart in it, take yourself out of it." ~Anonymous

Busy, busy day here today, with lots on the agenda...

The first is my local RWA chapter's annual luncheon -- always a nice event that tries to get all us members together. Check out our new website -- and also notice that we're having a Writers' Networking Luncheon in September. If you're a writer located in the metro-NY/Hudson Valley/western CT area, consider joining us!

*****

Started reading Loving Frank the other day. It's a historical (romance) novel about the supposed true-life love affair between Frank Lloyd Wright and Mamah Cheney. I know a little about Wright, but I never knew about the affair, so I'm interested. Plus the reviews on the book jacket are great, so I'm really looking forward to getting into it. Here's one of those:

It's a rare treasure to find a historically imagined novel that is at once fully versed in the facts and unafraid of weaving those truths into a story that dares to explore the unanswered questions. Frank Lloyd Wright and Mamah Cheney's love story is--as many early reviews of Loving Frank have noted--little-known and often dismissed as scandal. In Nancy Horan's skillful hands, however, what you get is two fully realized people, entirely, irrepressibly, in love...Loving Frank is a remarkable literary achievement, tenderly acute and even-handed in even the most heartbreaking moments, and an auspicious debut from a writer to watch.

I'll let you know what I think!

Time for Another Trailer

"Make it simple. Make it memorable. Make it inviting to look at. Make it fun to read." ~Leo Burnett

Well, since the release date for One Night in Napa is coming up in about 6 weeks, I've been thinking about making a trailer for it. I haven't done a lot (any) promotion for it...which is bad, but it's the end of school and CRAZY busy. Not a really good excuse, but an excuse all the same. Anyway, since it's an e-release I'll focus more on online promo, obviously, but a trailer should probably be one of those.

Lately, on the Samhain Author discussion loop, there's been talk of a trailer-making class -- whether they translate into sales, where to post them, how to make a professional-looking one. I'm not sure they do in fact translate into sales, but it's all part of the bigger strategy of branding one's name. The more places your author name appears, the more likely it is that readers will remember it.

So...maybe I'll start playing around with ideas. I do like the creative process; it just takes a while to find photos and music and put it all together. Then it's off to upload it to as many places as I can find. And if you have any suggestions, please share!

A Smile for Thursday

Got this from a friend the other day and figured it was pretty much perfect to share...

One morning a husband returns after several hours of fishing and decides to take a nap. Although not familiar with the lake, the wife decides to take the boat out. She motors out a short distance, anchors, and reads her book.

Along comes a Game Warden in his boat. He pulls up alongside the woman and says, " Good morning , Ma'am. What are you doing?"

"Reading a book," she replies, (thinking, "Isn't that obvious?")
"You're in a Restricted Fishing Area," he informs her.

"I'm sorry, officer, but I'm not fishing. I'm reading"
"Yes, but you have all the equipment. For all I know you could start at any moment. I'll have to take you in and write you up.."
"For reading a book," she replies,
"You're in a Restricted Fishing Area," he informs her again,
But I'm not fishing. I'm reading"
"Yes, but you have all the equipment. As I said, you could start at any moment. I'll have to take you in and write you up.."
"If you do that, I'll have to charge you with Sexual assault ," says the woman.
"But I haven't even touched you," says the game warden.
"That's true, but you have all the equipment. For all I know you could start at any moment."
"Have a nice da,y ma'am," the warden said, and he left.

MORAL: Never argue with a woman who reads. It's likely she can also think.

Writers' Wednesday: An Interview with Jennifer Shirk

Welcome to Writers' Wednesday! I had the pleasure of meeting today's featured author, fellow Samhain author Jennifer Shirk, at a conference last fall. She's agreed to let us peek into her world today, so enjoy!

Welcome, Jennifer! Can you tell us a little about your background?

Sure! Gee, I’d love to say I’ve been writing since I could pick up a pen, but I only started writing about 4 or 5 years ago when my daughter was a toddler. Up until then, I was your average friendly neighborhood retail pharmacist.

When did you first begin writing? Was there an event or moment in your life that triggered your desire to write?


Well, I guess like any writer, I first started out as a reader. I started reading when I became first became pregnant. After my daughter turned a year old, I decided to try my hand at it—in between diaper changing, and naps, and cooking and cleaning. LOL!

Tell us about your latest writing project or published title.


My latest—and only right now—The Role of a Lifetime just came out in print this past March. It’s a romantic comedy about an actor, Ben Capshaw, who does some “training” at a preschool for an upcoming movie role. He becomes enamored by a young teacher and starts to question the objective he’d originally laid out for his life. But this woman’s been burned by an actor before, so Ben has his talent cut out for him convincing her he’s not just looking for a temporary part in her life—but one for a lifetime.

Sounds like a winner! Now, how do you go about developing your characters?


When I have a story idea, I already have a vague sense of what my characters will be like to fit with the plot. Then once I name them and start writing, they kind of develop on their own.

What advice would you give to new writers just starting out?


I totally feel like a broken record saying this but… KEEP WRITING. The more you write, the more your style changes, the more you learn, and your voice really begins to develop and grow. I’m living proof!

Do you ever suffer from writer's block?


If so, what do you do about it? Heck, YES!! But it’s not really writer’s block. If I get “stuck”, then I know I just made a mistake somewhere in my story and I either can’t figure it out or am too lazy to figure it out. But realizing that is half the battle. So I make myself step back and look at my story from beginning. Then I know it’s time to outline to come up with some possible solutions to the problem.

What do you like to do when you're not writing?


Eat—er, I mean, cook, hang out at the beach, read. (Sometimes in that order!)

Jennifer, thanks so much for being here today. Anything else you’d like to mention?


I just wanted to thank, Allie, so much for interviewing me! Also, readers can check out my website: http://www.jennifershirk.com/ or my blog: http://www.jennifershirk.blogspot.com/

I love hearing from readers, so if you’ve read my book (and liked it) please feel free to e-mail me and tell me. (Even if you didn’t like it, you can e-mail me) LOL!

Thank you!

Confessions of a Plot Junkie

This is the title of an article in this month's Writer's Digest. It's an interesting piece that talks about the difference between "literary" and "genre" fiction. FYI, the first is usually considered to be more character-driven, with a focus on word choice and phrasing, and the second is considered plot-driven, with less focus on diction and more on conflict and storyline.

Which is better?

Well, of course, it depends who you ask. The "classic" works of fiction are usually considered literary, and MFA programs often feel that literary fiction is what "serious" authors should aspire to write.

Then, of course, you look at best-selling authors like Stephenie Meyer or J.K. Rowling, and the mammoth success of their books makes one think that popularity and sales trump all.

I don't know that I favor one over the other. I love certain works that would be considered literary fiction, and as an English major/teacher I probably lean in that direction when I think of my favorite authors. But then again, every once in a while I'll pick up a page-turner that definitely falls into the genre fiction category, and it will captivate me.

A New York Times best-selling author I met this past year said (more than once, because I heard this from her at 2 different venues) that she wants to be the author whose book you cannot put down, the author whose book makes you stay up until 3 am or call in sick from work to finish. She is a genre fiction author and proud of it.

In the interest of full disclosure, the Writer's Digest article concludes that genre fiction shouldn't corner the market on plot-driven stories, that literary fiction authors could learn a thing or two about writing stories that are beautifully crafted AND impossible to put down. So here's the question that concludes the article, and I'll pass it along to you:

Which do you think is more important in your writing: A well-plotted story, or a tale with less action and more robust language and meaning? Or is it possible to have both?

Writer's Digest: Random Tips and Stories

I mentioned the other day that I was making my way through the latest issue of Writer's Digest. Since I actually took some guilty pleasure time yesterday to lie out by the pool and read it cover to cover, I thought I'd share some interesting tidbits with you:

Jason Roeder shares a few pieces of advice, including this one: "If you're going to write, you'd better get used to the word 'no'" and the fact that if you're doing a public reading, "a typical audience slips into REM sleep at about the 35-minute mark" (35 minutes?! No way I could read that long...but I digress...)

In the great central article "Publishing 101," which attempts to explain everything an author should know about the publishing process, the #1 tip is that authors MUST be prepared to market and promote their own work. However, there's also a great gentle reminder to balance that: if you spend too much/all your time marketing that first baby of yours, you'll never write anything else...and continuing to write is your primary job/passion.

I also liked this piece of advice: when working with an editor, hold onto the things that are really important to you. I have learned WONDEFUL things about writing from all my editors; almost always, they are able to point out areas of weakness, sections that needed change or clarification, and the result was a better story. Occasionally, though, you might feel strongly about keeping a plot point/name/character/etc...and if that's the case, then don't give up too easily. Explain to your editor why you want to keep your plot point/name/character the way it is. She might agree. She might still ask you to change it. But don't ever be afraid to have that conversation.

And how cool is this: Marianne's friend Charity Tahmaseb, whose debut novel The Geek Girl's Guide to Cheerleading I mentioned a few days ago, is quoted! She says, "The one thing that really stands out is how many times I ended up reading the entire book, in manuscript and page-proof form...As it stands now, the only book I've read more than my own is Pride and Prejudice." This is true as well, folks: by the time your book hits the shelves, you'll be so tired of reading through it, first for major revisions and then for minor edits and then again for typographical errors, that it's likely you'll never pick it up to read once it appears in print!

Finally, there's a great article on plot vs. prose, the debate between "literary" and "genre" fiction. More on this tomorrow...

Weekend Interview with Mary Stanton

Welcome to a special Writers' Weekend interview with mystery author Mary Stanton! Mary's new release is Angel's Advocate, and at the conclusion of this interview, we'll share info on how you can win a copy!

Mary Stanton has been writing professionally most of her adult life. Born in Florida, Mary grew up in Japan and Hawaii, and came to the continental U.S. to attend undergraduate school. She attended St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota and received a B.A. in philosophy and literature from the University of Minnesota. She dropped out of law school and a master’s program in rehab therapies.

Before starting to write full-time, Mary held a number of jobs, including a nightclub singer as part of Sheik’s Singing Sextette, a medical examiner for Social Security, an insurance claims adjuster, and a copy writer. In 1985, Mary founded a marketing communications firm which was sold to Hutchins, Young & Rubicam.

A member of Mystery Writers of America, Sisters in Crime, and the International Association of Crime Writers, Mary is married to Robert J. Stanton, and has three stepchildren: John Robert Stanton, Harry Cole Stanton, and Julie Stanton Schwartz.

Mary Stanton divides her time between an 850-head goat farm in upstate New York and West Palm Beach, Florida.

Welcome, Mary! Can you tell us a little about your background?

I was born in Florida, and brought up in Japan and Hawaii. I moved to the continental United States when I was 18, to go to undergraduate school in Minnesota. I remember my first winter; after being raised in tropical and temperate climates, it was the first time I realized that weather could kill you.

When did you first begin writing? Was there an event or moment in your life that triggered your desire to write?

I always think of myself as a storyteller, rather than a writer. (a 'writer' is Faulkner, or Fitzgerald, or Margaret Atwood.) And i started telling stories early on--mostly to my two little sisters. My first 'novel' was a story about a girl and a horse, written in long hand, on those three hole punched lined notebook paper we all had in school. I was 12, I think.

How do you go about developing your characters?

My characters are a combination of people I know well, people I've met, conjecture about what people are like in news stories, and my own sort of fuddled imagination.

What advice would you give to new writers just starting out?

Write. You're not a writer unless you do it.

What kinds of books do you like to read? Who is your favorite author?

When I'm not working, I read 5 to 6 books a week. I try to read one of everyone new in the mystery genre, and that is proving to be difficult, since there's so much of it. And I read my favorites as soon as a new book comes out. Right now, I'm reading Steven Saylor, Jane Haddam, and Lee Child. But that will change next week. Reginald Hill, and Ton and Enid Schantz' re-issues of the old English classics are favorites, too. I also read The New Yorker, The Atlantic Monthly The Economist and the NYTimes, the Wall Street Journal and the local paper.

How do you balance writing with the rest of your life?

It's really hard. Somebody said you can write or have a life. Not both. Whoever said it, never said a truer word. We have 900 goats and 300 sheep here in upstate New York, and my 95 year old mother in law lives with us, and my youngest just had an adorable baby. Fortunately, we have a lot of excellent help.

Wow! That IS a lot going on! Do you ever suffer from writer's block? If so, what do you do about it? What do you like to do when you're not writing?

Garden, swim, hike, clean the horse stall, ride my horse, play with my goats, go to the gym, eat, and bake. And read. Reading is at the top of the list.

What was one of the most surprising things you learned in creating your book(s)?

Surprising things? As far as writing itself goes, it's surprisingly hard to get people in and out of rooms with repeating yourself. As far as book creation itself--I was surprised how much background chat goes on in my head when I work. Bits of songs, old, half-forgotten poetry, that sort of thing. I finally started beginning my chapters with some of it.

When you write, do you use the computer or compose by hand, oral dictation, or some other method?

I handwrote my first novel--which was 140 thousand words--on legal-sized yellow pads. I rewrote it seven times.

Now I write on my lap top.

Mary, thanks so much for being here today!

Readers, Mary Stanton is giving away a signed copy of her book, Angel’s Advocate, to one lucky tour visitor. Go to Mary’s book tour page, http://mary-stanton.omnimystery.com/, enter your name, e-mail address, and this PIN, 9363, for your chance to win. Entries from Allie's Musings will be accepted until 12:00 Noon (PT) tomorrow. No purchase is required to enter or to win. The winner (first name only) will be announced on Mary’s book tour page next week.

Writer's Digest

"Work every day. No matter what has happened the day or night before, get up and bite on the nail." ~Ernest Hemingway

Does anyone else get Writer's Digest? They always have some great info: articles about the writing/publishing biz, bios of new authors, contests, etc. Just got mine yesterday and I can't wait to page through it. Interestingly, the very first piece of advice in the article "Your Publishing Survival Guide" is Stop reading the trades. That is, don't drive yourself crazy trying to keep up with trends/agent sales/etc. Just write. Not sure what I think about that. I mean, I agree with the "just write" piece, but so much of the industry tells you that you should know what's being bought and sold right now, so to just abandon it altogether...hmm...

They're also apparently sponsoring a contest -- "The Business of Publishing" -- in NYC in September. Here's the website, if you're interested. Looks like they'll have some good info/speakers.

Random Ramblings...

"Sleep on your writing; take a walk over it; scrutinize it of a morning; review it of an afternoon; digest it after a meal; let it sleep in your drawer a twelvemonth; never venture a whisper about it to your friend, if he be an author especially." ~A. Bronson Alcott

I haven't written a word in a week, except my second installment of the Romance in the Backseat Short Story. Which, by the way, was intended to get the actual romance back on track. A couple of the other participating authors emailed each other to say, "Hey, what's up with all the secondary characters and ridiculous side plots...especially in a short story?" It's interesting to see that in a round robin, apparently, each author wants to up the ante and make her section a little crazier and more conflict-filled than the last.

But I think it was Anton Chekhov that said something about only needing 1 or 2 characters to tell a story. It's a good reminder.

Anyway, I did manage to get the 2 main characters in the round robin story alone together for a brief period of time. I haven't read yesterday's installment, so I think I'll venture over there now and check it out. Want to join me?

Writers' Wednesday: An Interview with Kathy-Diane Leveille

Welcome to Writers' Wednesday! I'm so happy that author Kathy-Diane Leveille is joining me today...enjoy!

Hi, Kathy! Can you start by telling us a little about your background?

I’m a former broadcast journalist with CBC radio. Seventeen years ago, when I was home on maternity leave with my youngest son, I dug out an old file of story ideas and started scribbling. By the time the date arrived when I was supposed to return to work, I had already decided that I didn’t want to keep putting my dream of writing fiction on the back burner. Since then I’ve done different jobs, including being a janitor and typing medical transcription, to give me the time and energy to pursue my passion. My first book, Roads Unravelling, a collection of short stories set on the Kennebecasis River where I live, was published a few years ago. '>Let the Shadows Fall Behind You released this spring is my first novel.

When did you first begin writing? Was there an event or moment in your life that triggered your desire to write?

I wrote my first poem when I was in Grade 1:

Oh Father Dear, I’m glad you’re here
So we can celebrate this day, with a Doran’s beer.

Of course I didn’t understand why my teacher’s eyes rounded with horror when she read it. That was my first lesson in discovering that not everyone will welcome the truth in what you write. My mother sewed paper together for me so I could write books when I played library, but I really didn’t have any desire to write until I was in Grade 6. I was secretly in love with our new teacher from Toronto, Miss Matthews. One day Miss Matthews glided to my desk, scarf fluttering, to tell me how much she loved the story I’d written, and how it would make a great radio play. I was stunned. I had had no idea that the words I scribbling like mad onto the page would actually elicit such a strong and positive response in someone else. It was my first inkling that words were powerful. I wrote and produced a few radio dramas that year, and also wrote and directed the class Christmas play.

Tell us about your latest writing project or published title.

I had so much fun writing my new suspense novel. It’s fascinating to see how my initial idea has grown into the multi-layered plot of '>Let the Shadows Fall Behind You:

On a grey morning in Northern Ontario in 1978, when the first fat snowflakes drifted down erasing all the familiar landmarks, Nikolai Mirsky headed out the door of the haunted cabin he shared with his lover, Brannagh Maloney. And disappeared…

Brannagh, a Natural Science Illustrator, struggled to collate the data from their bird count through the long winter. By the time the icicles began to melt, she was filled with a growing dread that the infamous wilderness preservationist wasn’t returning.

When Brannagh left New Brunswick, ten years ago, she swore it was for good. But now her best friend, Annie, won’t stop worrying about her, and won’t stop hounding her to come back for a reunion of their childhood all-girls club The Tuatha-de-Dannans. Brannagh finally relents, but she refuses to go to her childhood home and face her irascible Grandfather. Instead, she hides out at her Grandmother’s summer cottage, even though it is far too close to the woods where her mother was murdered. As Brannagh struggles to put to rest the questions surrounding Nikki’s disappearance, she finds it impossible to ignore the family secrets circling the most tragic disappearance of all. Brannagh learns that nothing magical will ever change her past, but the fierce love of friends holds the power to transform the future.

How do you go about developing your characters?

I usually begin by simultaneously visualizing a situation that causes an upheaval in life, and hearing a character’s voice emote their reaction to it. It’s a very strange process and definitely has my husband worried some days; especially when he dusts the books on my research shelf: Handbook of Poisons and Crime Scene Investigation.

LOL! What advice would you give to new writers just starting out?

Rule number one: Write. Rule number two: Write. Rule number three: Write some more. I think it’s really important to exercise your true voice, test it, settle into its strengths and weaknesses, and learn to trust it BEFORE you attend workshops. If you attend how to sessions too soon, the tendency is to try and act on the information with the left brain and copycat what is being taught. If, however, you already write in your true voice, you will trust your gut instinct to take the information taught and adapt any parts of it to your style to enhance it, and discard the rest. How do you know if you’re writing in your true voice? The words catch fire on the page, the room disappears and you are humming along on that magic carpet ride in your imagination to a wondrous new land.

What do you find most difficult about writing? What do you find most exciting or rewarding?

The most difficult thing about writing is returning to the page when the initial excitement over a story idea has worn off and I’m riddled with doubts about my ability to translate the vision to the reader. However, I’ve learned through the years that I must keep going back, that eventually the doubts fade and something sparks and I fall in love with my characters all over again. It is that moment, ironically, that is the most exciting about writing for me, because I always learn something new from my character’s journeys.

Do you ever suffer from writer's block? If so, what do you do about it?

Of course! I believe it comes with the territory. At first, I despair, convinced whatever I’m working on should be tossed. But usually after reflection, a long walk or a trip to the library, I realize I need a break from the writing. For me writer’s block comes because the well is dry. I need to get out and enjoy life. It usually takes 1-2 days before suddenly a window opens in the block (when I’m doing something totally mundane like having my tooth drilled), and suddenly I’m antsy to be set free to grab a pen and paper.

What was one of the most surprising things you learned in creating your book(s)?

In Let the Shadows Fall Behind You I learned that to live fully in the moment you need to terms with the past and let it go.

Kathy, I'm so glad you joined us here today! Anything else you’d like to mention?

Thank you so much for inviting me to be your guest, Allie, and meeting all your readers. Please let me know what you think of '>Let the Shadows Fall Behind You at shadowsfall@kathy-dianeleveille.com. I’d love to hear from you.

Happy Reading!
Kathy-Diane

http://kathy-dianeleveille.com/
· Let the Shadows Fall Behind You
· Hardcover: 288 pages
· Publisher: Kunati Inc. (April 1, 2009)
· Language: English
· ISBN-10: 1601641672
· ISBN-13: 978-1601641670
Thank you!

Win a Copy of One Night in Memphis!

Hey, all: you can win an autographed print copy of One Night in Memphis today only, over at The Romance Studio's Book a Day Giveaway! Click right here to enter...

Cover for One Night in Napa!

Here is my beautiful cover for One Night in Napa (releasing in ebook around the end of July). Isn't it gorgeous? I just love it. And I linked it to the excerpt, so if you'd like a sneak peek, go ahead and read. Warning, though: for some reason the first few paragraphs are posted twice on the Samhain site -- it isn't like that in the book, I promise! The webmaster is supposed to be fixing it soon...

Check Out my Samhain Blog

Hey all, I have a short blog post over at Samhain today, celebrating the print release of One Night in Memphis, and I'd love it if you stopped by to leave a comment so I don't feel too lonely ;) If you've already read the story, even better...you can leave a "You have to buy this book!"comment to entice all those on-the-fence readers to hurry out and get their own copy.

And...drum roll...tomorrow I'm posting the gorgeous cover for One Night in Napa right here! Ooh, I can't wait. The art department has really outdone itself this time!!