Tracey Cramer-Kelly's Blog, page 22

“No Easy Day” Lacks Emotional Punch

 If you are interested in recent history (especially as pertains to Taliban and Afghanistan/Iraq war), Mark Owens No Easy Day is for you. If you’re looking for emotion and how what he experienced impacted his life, his relationships, his psyche… you won’t find it in this book.

Perhaps I am biased; as a fiction writer fascinated with military characters, I am more interested in “after the war” and what soldiers experience when the bullets aren’t flying. I think (and I certainly hope) that killing people (and seeing them killed, or friends killed) would have a psychological impact on a person, Navy SEAL or not.

But this book was pretty much all factual. I looked everywhere, but only twice did I detect emotion (one of which was disgust directed toward Osama bin Laden). Only once did he mention the families of the SEALs, and that was basically “it’s better not to say too much.” Huh?? For me, not a very satisfying read.

I would have had more respect for him if he’d shared his inner turmoil (the final chapter hints at it, so I guess there was some) and how he came to grips with what he’d seen and done during his tours. I mean, if you’re going to write a book on this topic, why not lay it all on the line?

Why I Ride a Motorcycle (and Other Essays)

Collections in Which my Writing Appears

“Biker Dad and Two-Wheel Tranquility”

Published May 2010: For Daddy, with Love

For Daddy, with Love is a cache of 60 plus short stories, quotes, and anecdotes from daughters aged 5 years old to 70 years young which reveal the complex themes in the daughter/father relationship. Drawing from all walks of life, these moving personal narratives are sure to bring a smile, sigh, laugh, or tear to your eye.

“Biker Dad and Two-Wheel Tranquility” is a sweetly humorous look at what I learned about life by riding motorcycles with my father.

 

“The Great Motorcycle Spirit”

Published September 2010: Press Pause Moments: Essays about Life Transitions by Women Writers

This collection of beautifully crafted tales reflect upon change, adversity and celebration. As women we look at life transitions in many ways, sometimes one layered upon the other. However, when we press pause, as will happen when reading these stories, inner voices become quiet long enough to pay attention to what is going on within us and around us. We learn that true press pause moments are those points in time when we fully realize the need to make change happen, and become greater than our existing selves.

“The Great Motorcycle Spirit” is a sometimes funny, sometimes wistful look at the transitions in my life, as seen from the vantage point of riding a motorcycle.

 

“Why I Ride a Motorcycle”

Published May 2009: Why We Ride

“Why I Ride a Motorcycle” is a look back at almost 30 years of riding motorcycles (from age 11 to nearly 40), and how different an experience it was at different stages in my life.

At first, riding a motorcycle was a way to bond with my dad after my parents divorced (I was 11). The experience of riding changed when I began the transformation from girl to woman…

A Writer’s Guide to Handling An Assault Against Your Position

You’ve probably heard that you should “write from your heart.” But what if that means you’re at odds with your editor?

I don’t have that particular problem, since I’m self-published. But a conversation I recently “lurked” on got me to thinking…

There are some writers who feel they can’t say NO to an editor (especially those in the beginning stages of being a writer, a state I remember VERY clearly). There is certainly a time to take an editor’s word for it. But there are other times when I think you have to stay true to your character (after all, no one knows them better than you).

So, if you say NO to that editor (or publisher), do you have to walk away? It’s possible, I suppose. And the people-pleaser part of me cringes at that possibility.

But then I think, so what? There are SO many avenues to getting your book published nowadays… do you really need THAT editor (or THAT publisher)? As one writer pointed out, writers get the good, the bad and the ugly. “It just is what it is. What you have to be clear on is where you are. And then hold that position.”

And being that I write military characters, I liked this analogy from Eileen Nauman: In the military, it’s called an “assault against your position.” Getting that critical response from an editor is like stepping on an IED that blows your writer’s confidence apart.

So I think I’ll just keep on doing my thing… my way!

Military Investigating “Moral Injury” as Key Factor in PTSD and Military Suicide

For years the military has focused on FEAR as the main component driving PTSD. But veterans rarely mention fear; instead they talk about loss or shame, guilt or regret. They tried to be heroes, to protect the weak, save their buddy, take the hill. Instead they mistakenly killed civilians, forced themselves to drive past wounded children, failed to save their comrade.

Now psychiatrists in the Department of Veterans Affairs are investigating the possibility that “moral injury” and the guilt associated with killing and/or losing a comrade (survivor’s guilt) may be the key factor in PTSD and military suicide.

It is a “radical” idea, they say. It shifts the focus from what was done to the soldier, to what the soldier has done (or failed to do) to others.

To which my first response is: Well, duh!

Maybe the higher-ups in the DVA need to read romance novels. Perhaps in some respects, authors understand the human psyche better than psychiatrists, because we dig deep into it when we create characters (and we tend to make our characters suffer).

Authors have been mining the guilt associated with soldiering for decades. Guilt over loss of a comrade is a common theme not just in novels with a military hero, but novels with emergency responders such as firefighters, paramedics and search-and-rescue members.

This loss/guilt theme is one I explore quite a bit in my writing, and it’s evident in both of my books. In Last Chance Rescue, search-and-rescue team member Brad experiences guilt because he was unable to save a man drowning in a river; his comrade Jessie’s past as an Army medic is rife with guilt and loss, especially in relation to her best friend who was killed in action. In True Surrender, Major Aaron Bricewick becomes obsessed with a missing officer’s plight after his own torture; and a co-worker’s suicide nearly pushes him over the brink.

My books are just a small sampling; there are many excellent stories exploring this theme. So my question is: what in the world is taking the psychiatrists so long to figure this out?

Interview on Military Mom Radio

On December 10, I was interviewed on Military Mom Talk Radio. I had a great time with the hosts, Sandy and Robin (who are cool women in their own right).

We talked about how long it takes me to write a book (and where/how I find the time to do so). They immediately got my point, which is: if you just keep plugging away at it, who cares if it takes two years (my current time frame)?

I explained how True Surrender’s wounded veteran hero got under my skin and why the book means so much to me. They asked how I had gotten into flying helicopters and about my military background as a paramedic.

They even played a snippet of “Cool Rider” (which always makes me laugh because the song and the video were just so much fun to do). For a 13-minute radio segment, we covered a lot of ground!

You can listen to the show at www.toginet.com/shows/militarymomtalkradio. Look under “Recent shows” on the right-side bar. (Note: that bar/section does NOT appear on all versions of Internet Explorer, so I recommend you use a different browser.) If you want to jump right to my segment, it starts at minute 16.

The Book that Nearly Made me Miss my Flight

I read the first half of Hard Core while in the L.A. airport waiting for a red-eye flight home from a motorcycle show/business trip. I was so engrossed I nearly missed my flight call!

As regular readers know, I am a total sucker for tough-guy heroes who are hurt… who we get to see a vulnerable side of.

The situation that the main character (Cristian) was in couldn’t have been more so. With a gunshot wound and infection at the beginning of the book… I LOVED that his injuries/fever lead to him sharing a lot more of himself than we would otherwise have ever seen. (Great way to get backstory in too.) Little things like the fact that he’s afraid of needles and does not want to be called by his given name (for the first half of the book) gave me a clear picture of him. (And man, was that picture sexy!)

I love that the girl gets to be the hero (at least for the first half of the book). And this particular girl (Alana) had a few hang-ups of her own that made her real, such as an over-the-top moral code and a guilt/love relationship with her father. As one who also writes characters in medical or health crisis, and use that to show how it changes the character, I was looking for just a little more character change in her. (Seems Cristian did the lion’s share of changing in this story, and perhaps that’s perfectly fine.)

Everyone loves to hate the villain, and this one was downright nasty. I didn’t see his horrifying plan coming, so I got a great OMG moment there. A pleasant surprise was Cristian’s mercenary co-workers/buddies. They didn’t show up until half-way through the book, but I can see plenty of potential for them to have their own stories.

It’s sort of an expectation that the hero (Cristian) gets to save the damsel in distress at the climax. Which he does…and he doesn’t. I don’t want to say too much here, and ruin anyone’s enjoyment, but I will say that the author put a refreshing twist on this and drew out my reading pleasure. Looking forward to more from Jennifer Lowery!

“Cool Rider” Biker Chick Motorcycle Music Video to Release After New Year

It’s been awhile since I’ve talked about my “Cool Rider” biker-themed rock-n-roll music video.

I wasn’t entirely happy with the first version of the music video, so I revamped it. Then I showed it to a few trusted friends for their feedback. By the time I did that, the holidays were upon us, and I didn’t want the release to get lost in the holiday craziness.

Perhaps more important, I’ve been talking to motorcycle-related web sites (I admit to using my Leader Motorcycle connections!) to hopefully help launch it to a wider audience after the first of the year. (Which I would very much prefer!)

If you haven’t seen them yet, check out the 30-second Sneak Peeks as a quick diversion from your day. “Ordinary Guy,” “Pink Ladies,” and “Biker in the Mirror” can all be watched here.

And don’t forget you can now download the song from iTunes or CDBaby!

Swapping Questions about Navy Seal Book

Last week my cohort Kim did a week-long tribute of books/writers related to the military in honor of Pearl Harbor Day (check out her blog here). On Friday, she posted what she calls a “dueling review” (I might have termed it more of an interview).

Here’s the jist: We both read the book (see my review here), then came up with several thought-provoking questions for each other to answer about the book.

She asked me about scenes that resonated, why I was attracted to the book, and how I would classify the book. I asked her more specific questions, and since her answers are so insightful, I decided to re-post them here. Enjoy!

Tracey:   The opening scene of the book depicts a mission going south. What did you like about it (or not like), and how did that make you want to continue to read the book?

Kim:  I tend to shy away from Romantic Suspense, but Anne Elizabeth hooked me.   She wrote the scene in a away that it was compelling but not gratuitous.

Tracey:  The hero is a Navy SEAL who’s been sidelined by an injury and memory loss. What scene did you feel best displayed his core personality in dealing with this?
 
Kim:  Jack invited Laurie back to his apartment and she commented on his abundance of games.  Jack explained that he went to live with his grandfather after his mother died and his father abandoned him.   His grandfather played games with him to draw out the shell shocked six year old.   Jack commented that his grandfather had been in the Navy and Jack wanted to follow his Grandfather’s example of doing the right thing.  This scene blew me away.
 
Tracey:  The heroine’s backstory as a SEAL “pup” and her relationship with her adoptive SEAL father affects her attitude toward all Navy SEALs.   Why do you think she ultimately falls for a Navy SEAL?
 
Kim:  Although Laurie claims she does not want to date any military men, it’s hard to get it out of her blood.   Tracey and I are members of the RomVets – women veterans who are now writing romance (they write, I blog).   We have a Yahoo group for us to share … because we get each other.  Ultimately, Laurie “gets” Jack.
 
Tracey:  How did you feel about the “apparitions” or appearances of the hero’s dead partner? Did they add to the story?



Kim:  I commend Anne Elizabeth for giving Jack a means to wrestle with these demons.  Throughout the book, he feels guilty that his swim buddy died, leaving behind a family. In fact, his partner made several appearances to “kick Jack’s butt” over his guilt.  Since this is a HEA, its safe to say that Jack finds peace … have a hanky available for Jack’s final scene with his swim buddy. I think Anne Elizabeth left it to the reader to decide if it is his spirit or Jack’s imagination.

Hell on Wheels: Romantic Suspense Disguised as a Biker Novel

Okay, I admit it.

I first wanted to read Hell on Wheels (by Julie Ann Walker) because of the motorcycle angle (hot biker guys, yum, not to mention I’m a biker myself). And obviously, I have a weakness for military (or ex-military) veteran heroes in novels – especially if they’re injured (physically and mentally) like my hero in True Surrender. Throw in a juicy mystery or threat of life and limb, and I’m totally THERE.

And this book had it all.

A tortured hero (both literally and figuratively). A smart-ass heroine. Plenty of fireworks between the two, even as the hero tried to keep his feelings at bay. There were several OMG scenes (a torture flashback was particularly riveting – more graphic and gruesome than the flashbacks in True Surrender).

This book has a lot of vernacular and a stream-of-consciousness writing style. I tend to want to write that way in my own work but temper it down because, frankly, it’s hard to do well. And when it’s not done well, the story is harder to read. So I was impressed to find that was not a problem here! The writing style fit with the personality of the characters and the faster pace of the plot line itself (I won’t get into details about the plot, as you can find plenty of overviews on amazon).

Another thing that doesn’t usually work for me is multiple points of view, and that’s my only thumbs-down on this book. You do want “secondary” themes in a book, but you don’t want them to overshadow the main story. In this case, it was two other members of the Black Knights who are crazy about each other but won’t admit it (the subject of the next book in the series, I understand). And, it would also be good to differentiate by dialogue (the stream-of-consciousness style is just too hard to take when EVERY character is using it). At least when there was a point-of-view change, it was clearly delineated by a new chapter.

Yes, there were a few scenes that required a suspension of logic (I was thinking about a scene where he’s got a bullet in his shoulder but twenty minutes later he’s lifting her off the ground/against the wall), but isn’t that what we escape into a book FOR?

Humorous Harlequin Novel Excerpt

I can take no credit for what you are about to read. It was sent to me by another writer. I just know that romance readers (and writers) will get a kick of it, so I’m just “paying it forward”…

So here goes “Harlequin novel excerpt” (2012 version)…

He grasped me firmly, but gently, just above my elbow and guided me into a room, his room. Then he quietly shut the door and we were alone.

He approached me soundlessly, from behind, and spoke in a low, reassuring voice close to my ear. “Just relax.” Without warning, he reached down and I felt his strong, calloused hands start at my ankles, gently probing, and moving upward along my calves, slowly but steadily.

My breath caught in my throat. I knew I should be afraid, but somehow I didn’t care. His touch was so experienced, so sure. When his hands moved up onto my thighs, I gave a slight shudder, and partly closed my eyes. My pulse was pounding. I felt his knowing fingers caress my abdomen, my rib-cage. And then, as he cupped my firm, full breasts in his hands, I inhaled sharply. Probing, searching, knowing what he wanted, he brought his hands to my shoulders, slid them down my tingling spine to my panties.

Although I knew nothing about this man, I felt oddly trusting and expectant. This is a man, I thought. A man used to taking charge. A man not used to taking ‘No’ for an answer. A man who would tell me what he wanted. A man who would look into my soul and say…

“Okay ma’am, you can board your flight now.”