Tag: productivity

My Upcoming Novel Moves Closer to Publication

What happens when a family moves to a Midwestern town where no one breathes a word about a serial murderer on the loose? THE BARBIE KILLER

My next thriller will be published by Red Adept Publishing early next year. Inspired by true events—much more so than any of my previous novels—this book took longer to write than they did. As its release date approaches, I couldn’t be more excited or prouder of it. Here’s an update about what’s been happening and where things stand:

Several weeks ago, I finished working with my Content Editor to revise and polish the novel. This collaborative process involved focusing on elements like pacing and plot twists, and reimagining key scenes, characters and their relationships. Because of my editor’s spot on suggestions and expert direction, the finished story is much stronger and more compelling.

Then I was contacted by a talented cover artist at Red Adept, who sought specific input from me about the cover design. She explained the entire process, asked for my ideas and preferences, and soon shared a draft cover design for my review. The final cover hasn’t been decided yet, but I look forward to seeing it and sharing it with you.

The next step is the Line Edit, a detailed process to polish the prose and eliminate any errors. That process will be followed by proofreading, the last editorial step before publication. I’ll share more updates as the release date draws closer, including cover reveals, sneak previews, and all the details about launch events. Stay tuned!

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Character-driven or Plot-driven?

That was the underlying question at a recent event where I joined Donna Overly in an Amelia Island Writers presentation at bookstore Story & Song Center for Arts & Culture in Fernandina Beach, Florida. Drawing on her experience as the author of several books, including a novel series, and on lots of research, Donna began our talk by discussing character and offering lots of great tips to our audience of dozens of talented local writers.

Then, I segued to the topic of pacing and plot using a 9-box “Plotter/Plantser/Pantser” chart (“Plantser” is the hybrid and the one that probably best describes me lately). I spoke about the Hero’s Journey in Three Acts and explained the “Save The Cat” beat sheets commonly used in screenplays. Save the Cat has been a wonderful guide for me in writing my novels and my work of creative nonfiction (memoir).

The bottom line: both character and plot/pacing are important. Super important. Readers desire to relate to characters as much as they anticipate a hook, catalyst, midpoint, and finale – a satisfying ending. The story can include unexpected plot twist(s), of course, which commonly occur during the second half, especially as the stakes rise closer to the end.

So – do we start with character, or plot? For me, it’s both, and each needs to be compelling. Merci to Amelia Island Writers for the opportunity to delve into storytelling, to share what we’ve learned, and for the great questions posed during the Q&A afterward.

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Inspiration to Motivation: How to turn an idea into a compelling story

“That [idea] would make a great book/movie!”

At 9:00 a.m. on Saturday, February 24, 2024, I’ll participate in a panel titled “Inspiration to Motivation: Shifting a Notion into Motion” at the 2024 Amelia Island Book Festival in Fernandina Beach, Florida. The panel, moderated by contemporary women’s fiction author of The Knot series Donna Overly, will offer a behind-the-scenes glimpse into the creative process.

Panelists include: women’s adventure novel author Kristine Ochu; Florida Writers Royal Palm Gold Award winner of an unpublished manuscript Jane Buyers; legal thriller series writer and lawyer James Bruner; and me, author of an award-winning memoir, two suspense novels, and an upcoming thriller based on true events. Kristine, Jane, James and I will shed light on how we turn our ideas into narratives and discuss the challenges of turning an initial concept into a finished manuscript ready for publication. We’ll talk about how we stay motivated and disciplined as we work to complete our manuscripts, will answer questions from the audience, and will offer practical tips and advice to aspiring writers. Afterward, many of us will be available to talk with festival attendees and will have signed copies of our books available for purchase.

I enjoy talking about writing and the books that I’ve written and am working on, but I’m somewhat of an introvert—or maybe an introvert “with learned extrovert behavior.” I spend a lot of time alone, writing, but I also enjoy spending time with others, especially readers and other writers. I love “talking books” with those that I think of as “my people”—people who love to escape into a story and are curious about the craft of writing. Learn about panel participants here: donnaleeoverly.com, kristineochu.com, juliamcdermottbooks.com, idealsatwork.org (Jane Buyers), and thebikecop.com (James Bruner) and sign up to attend the panel here. Trust me, it’s a great idea to do so!

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List Post: Nouvelle Année – janvier 2016

  • Read my author interview by fellow Sister in Crime author Linda Sands on Wednesday, January 13 on her blog. I’ll be answering Linda’s funky questions about my book ALL THE ABOVE.
  • Then on Thursday and Friday, January 14 and 15, fellow Atlanta Writers Club member and author Rona Simmons will host me on the Virtual Village Book Festival on Facebook. From 10 am on 1/14 to 5 pm on 1/15, you can ask me questions on this interactive event!
  • Book 4 is ready! (See word count details below.) I’ll be revealing the TITLE soon. Estimated release date: late February or early March 2016.

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AND — 

Since this is my second “Nouvelle Année” Post, I thought I would look back to a year ago and add comments and updates. Here is what I wrote in January 2015. Comments are in blue.

  • Almost finished UN-decorating the house for the holiday season (This year, I got it done on the last day of 2015. Because I spent Christmas in France, there was less to take down.)
  • Writing back on schedule, after more than two weeks when I couldn’t remember what day of the week it was (Hmm..getting back on track TODAY!)
  • Several signed copies of UNDERWATER are available for purchase at Dunwoody Bakery, open Wednesdays through Saturdays (Alas, the bakery closed last year. If you would like a signed copy of UNDERWATER or ALL THE ABOVE, contact me, or order via PayPal on my Home page). 
  • Looking forward to my “Member Minute” talk at the Atlanta Writers Club meeting on January 17, 2015 at 1:30 pm, at Georgia Perimeter College (This year, I’ll be doing two virtual events in January – see above.)
  • On the horizon: My appearance at the Augusta Literary Festival on March 6-7. Looking forward to attending, meeting readers and signing books (No festivals coming up as of yet in 2016, but I’ll keep you posted.)
  • Planning the release of my work of creative nonfiction, titled ALL THE ABOVE this spring (It came out on March 24, 2015!)
  • Resolving to step up my exercise routine this year (Ditto.)
  • Cheering for the Cowboys and the Seahawks during the NFL playoffs (Not sure about this yet – Still celebrating Falcons victory over the Panthers!)
  • Happy that I’m traveling to Chapel Hill, NC in April and in May (I’ll be in the area this year in May again, and may be before.)
  • Glad to share family news with close friends and family. (Last year began with that good news.)

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Finally – a postscript for all you “Pizza and a Movie” post followers:

My Top 5 Movies of 2015:

  1. Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens
  2. Bridge of Spies
  3. The Gift
  4. Brooklyn
  5. Inside Out

And – here are 5 Movies I missed seeing, and want to see:

  1. Mad Max: Fury Road
  2. The Martian
  3. Creed
  4. Steve Jobs
  5. The Big Short *

*Actually, I saw this just after Christmas in France, but it was dubbed in French. I understood it 😀  – but still want to see the English language version soon.

 

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Join my Street Team!

I’d like to invite you to be a member of my Street Team! 

Once you join, you’ll receive my undying gratitude PLUS some cool surprises!

Click HERE to go directly to my new STREET TEAM TAB, learn the details, and fill out the Contact Form to request to be a member!

Merci mille fois!

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List Post, avril 2015 (April)

It’s a short list, but it’s a list!

  • Going to BUFORD, GA today from 4 to 8 pm with other local authors to participate in “Drop Everything and Read Month” at Queen of Hearts Antiques & Interiors! Come pick up signed copies of UNDERWATER & ALL THE ABOVE!
  • Thrilled with the responses so far about ALL THE ABOVE: My son’s battle with brain cancer. A reader: “Reads like a mystery…I was riveted by it…” FIVE STARS
  • Writing WIP (work in progress) daily, the end is in sight!
  • Reaching readers with a message about ALL THE ABOVE with more info about it…
  • Can’t wait to attend UNC Relay for Life in Chapel Hill on April 17! Help win the fight against cancer! More Birthdays!

Dear Buford Final

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List Post, mars 2015 (March)

  • Writing steadily…more on that later.
  • Enjoyed meeting authors and signing books at the 2015 Augusta Literary Festival! Thanks, y’all! Google the Augusta Chronicle for photos in its Sunday edition of March 8, 2015.
  • Looking forward to a research trip to Dallas this month.
  • Can’t wait to see the proof I ordered of ALL THE ABOVE, approve it, and release it on Amazon in paperback and Kindle!
  • Happy that UNDERWATER now has 60 customer reviews! If you enjoyed it, please add yours! Germany, you too!
  • In touch with the American Cancer Society to promote what they do and to publicize ALL THE ABOVE, the story of my son’s journey with brain cancer.
  • AND – grateful to UGA Relay for Life and UNC Relay for Life for posting info and photos about ALL THE ABOVE ahead of its release on March 31! Both events take place on April 17, 2015 – I will be at one, but wish I could be at both. More birthdays!!!
  • Waiting to hear from the German Cultural Center in Atlanta about a possible book signing – I have several copies of UNTER WASSER (UNDERWATER in German) that I’d love to sign. They have a book club, too!
  • Noticed it? My website TABS have changed. Check out ALL THE ABOVE – FAQ and BOOK CLUBS, with a “Contact me” form!

A complicated life, hopefully

When I was in my twenties, a co-worker in her thirties once told me that life doesn’t get any easier. “It only gets more complicated as you go along,” she said.

Barbara was raising a son on her own, and she didn’t have the level of education that I had. But she did have more work experience and more life experience. Her pessimistic words of warning didn’t go over well with with my youthful optimism. But for some reason, I never forgot them.

A few years later, due to a variety of reasons and circumstances, my husband and I suffered a devastating financial crisis. Some people offered sympathy, many judged us, and no one helped. Life had gotten a whole lot more complicated. With two young children at home, somehow we dug our way out over a period of years, on our own.

Then, we thought we were done with (major) complications. But we were wrong. Twice more, we faced unexpected and unpredictable upheavals – “issues” isn’t a strong enough word to describe them. Life was more complicated than we ever imagined it could be. We stayed together and leaned on each other both times, sometimes joking nostalgically about our first crisis and wishing we could swap the current one for it. After all, that time it was “only money.”

Our last crisis was a health one, and was by far the most serious and most frightening. Our entire world changed in one day, and we did the best we could to help our 19-year-old son survive brain cancer. For a period of six months, we lived on hope itself. After that – once he was cancer-free – we relaxed slowly and steadily over time. That son, the third of our four children, is healthy and thriving today.

Life is still, and more, complicated today. Other issues have surfaced and we are trying to deal with them as a couple and as a family. But when things seem insurmountable and scary, I think back to five years ago, and I know that somehow, we will get through whatever we have to face.

Last year, I wrote the story of my emotional struggle as our son battled cancer. It’s a work of creative nonfiction, a true story based on my memories (and tons of records I kept). Titled ALL THE ABOVE, the tentative release date is March 31, 2015, and the pre-release cover reveal will be in an upcoming post.*  I wrote it because I couldn’t not write it – and because I hope that reading about my experience as a mom and caregiver will help others who are facing a crisis that is way beyond complicated.

Because when you think about it, a complicated life is still life. And life is a very hopeful and wonderful thing.

* A portion of that cover is below

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List Post, février 2015 (already?!)

  • Writing back on schedule, after I had la grippe in January (despite getting my 1st flu shot in October)
  • Enjoyed meeting authors and signing books, after my “Member Minute” talk at the Atlanta Writers Club meeting on January 17
  • Excited that the Atlanta Chapter of Sisters in Crime (SinC) has nominated UNDERWATER for the Georgia Author of the Year Award (GAYA) in the Detective/Mystery category (which includes psychological thrillers) – winners will be announced June 6
  • Looking forward to Augusta in March and Chapel Hill in April (but don’t have to go back to NC in May anymore)
  • Can’t wait for the Feb. 24 release of UNTER WASSER, the German translation of UNDERWATER by AmazonCrossing
  • Ecstatic that someone I recently interviewed for research on my current work in progress (WIP) is currently reading UNDERWATER, and said he thinks I’m “a really good writer.” And, his assistant read it in a day, and loved it
  • Thankful to him and to a mutual friend of ours who also met with me, to help me fine tune some story details and make sure specifics are accurate and plausible
  • Very, very happy to find a new critique partner in my genre for my WIP…We’ve already exchanged several chapters and sent each other our feedback
  • Resolved to write more (non-list) posts on my blog this month as the days lengthen and springtime beckons

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