Eva Pasco's Blog, page 32
October 23, 2019
Eva’s Byte #235: Curtains—or, so I Thought!
Well, another nice mess I’d gotten myself into!
Not one to shy away from writing about my mechanical ineptitude or lack of tech savvy, it’s easy for me to trip wires. The latest mishap occurred while flying through the air with the greatest of ease on my keyboard trapeze.
In the midst of drafting chapter 36 within my Work in Progress, the metaphorical lights went out. The “view” of my document metamorphosed into read mode, the tool bar disappeared, and editing was not enabled.
A doomsday prepper prepared for life’s uncertainties, such as a computer crash, I am mindful of safeguarding my document by emailing myself copies to two accounts at the end of each writing session. So, undaunted, I downloaded one of the reserve copies, and moved it to the file my novel occupies.
Horrors! A cloned copy in read mode under the same restrictions!
Now panicking, thinking it was curtains for me, I placed a call to my computer tech. Lo and behold, I had to leave a message. Darn! A writer who burns the midnight oil, it’s hard for me to believe there are people who set reasonable limits to their work day.
Like Mr. Magoo, the cartoon character, I stumbled upon the solution purely by accident or Divine Intervention. With nothing to lose, I clicked on the tippity top of the screen in my document.
Voila! Thenceforth, I was able to get the toolbar back, and navigate view mode from there.
I’m back in the saddle, resuming my journey along the arduous trails of a writer.
Necessity is the mother of ingenuity!
Authors Den Page:https://tinyurl.com/yycm7d2w
Not one to shy away from writing about my mechanical ineptitude or lack of tech savvy, it’s easy for me to trip wires. The latest mishap occurred while flying through the air with the greatest of ease on my keyboard trapeze.
In the midst of drafting chapter 36 within my Work in Progress, the metaphorical lights went out. The “view” of my document metamorphosed into read mode, the tool bar disappeared, and editing was not enabled.
A doomsday prepper prepared for life’s uncertainties, such as a computer crash, I am mindful of safeguarding my document by emailing myself copies to two accounts at the end of each writing session. So, undaunted, I downloaded one of the reserve copies, and moved it to the file my novel occupies.
Horrors! A cloned copy in read mode under the same restrictions!
Now panicking, thinking it was curtains for me, I placed a call to my computer tech. Lo and behold, I had to leave a message. Darn! A writer who burns the midnight oil, it’s hard for me to believe there are people who set reasonable limits to their work day.
Like Mr. Magoo, the cartoon character, I stumbled upon the solution purely by accident or Divine Intervention. With nothing to lose, I clicked on the tippity top of the screen in my document.
Voila! Thenceforth, I was able to get the toolbar back, and navigate view mode from there.
I’m back in the saddle, resuming my journey along the arduous trails of a writer.
Necessity is the mother of ingenuity!
Authors Den Page:https://tinyurl.com/yycm7d2w
October 16, 2019
Eva’s Byte #234: True Colors
In my neck of the woods, the oak and maple trees are beginning to show their true colors in a splendid array of orange, red, and yellow. An artist’s palette to behold, there’s a scientific reason behind it. Simply put, as the days get shorter and the nights become longer, trees are less able to replenish chlorophyll due to receiving a lesser amount of sunlight. So, to fortify against winter and prepare for the next growing season, each deciduous tree seals itself off, which stops the replenishment of chlorophyll. The leaves’ true colors then emerge before eventually falling off their respective trees.
In my capacity as a writer whose primary genre is Contemporary Women’s Fiction, it is my responsibility to show my characters’ true colors in order to create “Lit with Grit”. Just as a New England autumn season evolves before a leaf’s true colors emerge, so must my characters through the trials I put them through.
Actions speak louder than words for the evolvement of character traits. That’s when the reader sees their true colors: Reliable, Loyal, Dishonest, Immoral, Cunning, Unselfish…
Writing novels laced with realism and fully-fleshed characters is a lengthy and intense process for me. Therefore, I find it most endearing when I receive positive feedback from readers on the subject of character development. In that regard, I’m sharing a brief excerpt from a 5-Star review published at Amazon for my multi-award winning novel, An Enlightening Quiche (2016):
It was filled with fascinating, three-dimensional characters who seem to live and breathe on the page, the dialogue between them was honest and believable, a trick many authors never seem to achieve.
Furthering my WIP from Part 2, chapter 35, my characters must be evolving to show their true colors if I’ve become so attached to their personas, they have the wherewithal to incite tears from the situations I’ve placed them in.
No doubt about it, the bold brushstrokes wielded to create credible characters who show their true colors flourish from the writer’s heart.
Authors Den Page: https://tinyurl.com/yycm7d2w
In my capacity as a writer whose primary genre is Contemporary Women’s Fiction, it is my responsibility to show my characters’ true colors in order to create “Lit with Grit”. Just as a New England autumn season evolves before a leaf’s true colors emerge, so must my characters through the trials I put them through.
Actions speak louder than words for the evolvement of character traits. That’s when the reader sees their true colors: Reliable, Loyal, Dishonest, Immoral, Cunning, Unselfish…
Writing novels laced with realism and fully-fleshed characters is a lengthy and intense process for me. Therefore, I find it most endearing when I receive positive feedback from readers on the subject of character development. In that regard, I’m sharing a brief excerpt from a 5-Star review published at Amazon for my multi-award winning novel, An Enlightening Quiche (2016):
It was filled with fascinating, three-dimensional characters who seem to live and breathe on the page, the dialogue between them was honest and believable, a trick many authors never seem to achieve.
Furthering my WIP from Part 2, chapter 35, my characters must be evolving to show their true colors if I’ve become so attached to their personas, they have the wherewithal to incite tears from the situations I’ve placed them in.
No doubt about it, the bold brushstrokes wielded to create credible characters who show their true colors flourish from the writer’s heart.
Authors Den Page: https://tinyurl.com/yycm7d2w
October 9, 2019
Eva’s Byte #233 – The Price is Right!
For Indie authors whose books are enrolled with Amazon’s Kindle Direct Publishing…
I mention this program because it’s the one I opted for when publishing my Contemporary, Mr. Wizardo (May 2019):
As of October 9th, the Paperback Edition, originally listed at $5.99, is currently retailing for $2.80.
The Kindle Edition, originally listed at $2.99, is currently retailing for $2.80.
A die-hard fan of The Honeymooners reruns, a classic American TV sitcom starring Jackie Gleason portraying Ralph Kramden, a working-class stiff who drives a bus for the Gotham Bus Company (Oct. 1, 1955 – Sept. 22, 1956), my initial reaction was that of uttering one of Ralphie Boy’s—“Hamina-hamina-hamina-hamina!”
Aren’t most self-published books retailing in the $.99 - $4.99 range feasibly priced?
Purportedly, according to Amazon’s knowledge base, it’s either:
You’ll sell more books at the discounted price.
They want to free up warehouse space.
Nevertheless, whether an Indie author publishes exclusively with Amazon—KDP Direct or Select; or distributes “wide” – we have our work cut out for us when it comes to marketing our books. The price might be right, but does the cover and content entice a reader into making a purchase?
At any rate, here’s an out-of-context, Kramden wish for making sales at any price to increase our book rank—“Bang! Zoom! Straight to the moon!”
Authors Den Page: https://tinyurl.com/yycm7d2w
I mention this program because it’s the one I opted for when publishing my Contemporary, Mr. Wizardo (May 2019):
As of October 9th, the Paperback Edition, originally listed at $5.99, is currently retailing for $2.80.
The Kindle Edition, originally listed at $2.99, is currently retailing for $2.80.
A die-hard fan of The Honeymooners reruns, a classic American TV sitcom starring Jackie Gleason portraying Ralph Kramden, a working-class stiff who drives a bus for the Gotham Bus Company (Oct. 1, 1955 – Sept. 22, 1956), my initial reaction was that of uttering one of Ralphie Boy’s—“Hamina-hamina-hamina-hamina!”
Aren’t most self-published books retailing in the $.99 - $4.99 range feasibly priced?
Purportedly, according to Amazon’s knowledge base, it’s either:
You’ll sell more books at the discounted price.
They want to free up warehouse space.
Nevertheless, whether an Indie author publishes exclusively with Amazon—KDP Direct or Select; or distributes “wide” – we have our work cut out for us when it comes to marketing our books. The price might be right, but does the cover and content entice a reader into making a purchase?
At any rate, here’s an out-of-context, Kramden wish for making sales at any price to increase our book rank—“Bang! Zoom! Straight to the moon!”
Authors Den Page: https://tinyurl.com/yycm7d2w
October 2, 2019
Eva’s Byte #232: Longhand Silver
*Penned or pecked—what’s your favorite masterpiece of classic literature?
As of late, I’ve been electronically challenged. From a previous blog, “Sucking it Up”: On Thursday, September 5th, at 11:00 PM, I couldn’t for the life of me, get a picture on my TV set, necessitating I get a new one.
True Confession: I’ve only turned on the set once since acquiring it.
On Sunday, September 29th, at 9:30 AM, my computer technician carted my hard drive away to upgrade it.
True Confession: I started experiencing withdrawal symptoms hours before the designated time approached for me to sever ties with the Internet.
In my capacity as an Indie author, my PC is a lifeline to market and promote my published works. Of primary importance—for or each of my writing endeavors, the words pour from my heart and soul, creating a current for my fingers to tap dance along the keyboard, transferring story remnants to a Word document for safekeeping.
An avid reader, my vast Kindle library is also on my PC. Needless to say, not a page turned for the duration of my exile—only 24 hrs.
Although my presence on social media was curtailed, I managed to keep up my writing momentum the old-fashioned way: pen and paper.
Longhand!
In the process of finishing the draft for chapter 34 in my Work in Progress, I penned the last section in entirety. Sure it was more time consuming to compose mechanically without the electronic convenience of the “delete” key, but I managed. A fait accompli after two rewrites!
True Confession: For a fleeting moment, I felt a soulful connection to those beloved authors of yesteryear who produced the world’s most renowned classic literature, either penned or pecked on a typewriter.
My heartfelt thanks to Emily Brontë for penning one of the most moving novels I’ve ever read—Wuthering Heights, published in 1847, under the pseudonym, Ellis Bell. Her solo published work is considered a classic in English literature.
Authors Den Page: https://tinyurl.com/yycm7d2w
As of late, I’ve been electronically challenged. From a previous blog, “Sucking it Up”: On Thursday, September 5th, at 11:00 PM, I couldn’t for the life of me, get a picture on my TV set, necessitating I get a new one.
True Confession: I’ve only turned on the set once since acquiring it.
On Sunday, September 29th, at 9:30 AM, my computer technician carted my hard drive away to upgrade it.
True Confession: I started experiencing withdrawal symptoms hours before the designated time approached for me to sever ties with the Internet.
In my capacity as an Indie author, my PC is a lifeline to market and promote my published works. Of primary importance—for or each of my writing endeavors, the words pour from my heart and soul, creating a current for my fingers to tap dance along the keyboard, transferring story remnants to a Word document for safekeeping.
An avid reader, my vast Kindle library is also on my PC. Needless to say, not a page turned for the duration of my exile—only 24 hrs.
Although my presence on social media was curtailed, I managed to keep up my writing momentum the old-fashioned way: pen and paper.
Longhand!
In the process of finishing the draft for chapter 34 in my Work in Progress, I penned the last section in entirety. Sure it was more time consuming to compose mechanically without the electronic convenience of the “delete” key, but I managed. A fait accompli after two rewrites!
True Confession: For a fleeting moment, I felt a soulful connection to those beloved authors of yesteryear who produced the world’s most renowned classic literature, either penned or pecked on a typewriter.
My heartfelt thanks to Emily Brontë for penning one of the most moving novels I’ve ever read—Wuthering Heights, published in 1847, under the pseudonym, Ellis Bell. Her solo published work is considered a classic in English literature.
Authors Den Page: https://tinyurl.com/yycm7d2w
September 25, 2019
Eva’s Byte #231: Creative Detours
*Lately, where have you detoured to, away from your artistic pursuits?
Just as it behooves us to veer off the beaten path along life’s journey to regain our mental footing, I believe it’s worthwhile to shift focus with our creative endeavors.
While my main squeeze remains that of my current Work in Progress, and I’m rounding the bend to completing chapter 33 in this Contemporary, I often take sporadic detours writing memoirs. Separate and apart from those compiled in 100 Wild Mushrooms: Memoirs of the ‘60s, thus far, I’ve published 71 on my web page at Authors Den.
Most recent titles: “Homespun Goodness,” “The Bigger Picture,” “Impact Statement,” “Logistics,” and “Probable Cause”.
I rarely post them on social media due to the “chew and shoo” nature of devoting just enough attention to scroll past posts requiring 30 seconds of our time. Bombarded by sensory overload, most of us—myself included, often fail to take those worthwhile detours. Testing the waters, I shared “Homespun Goodness” on my timeline this week, and posted it elsewhere—proving my point.
On that note, I’m grateful for the warm reception my stories, articles, and blogs receive at Authors Den. Seven of my memoirs grace the top 20 “Popular Memoir Stories”.
Regardless, for me, it’s all about self-gratification and self-preservation. One who values privacy and covets solitude to write—no one has to be watching to validate my artistic pursuits.
Wishing those who’ve come this far in reading my blog, all the best in your creative endeavors, by whatever means you employ to fulfill you dream.
Authors Den Page: https://tinyurl.com/yycm7d2w
Just as it behooves us to veer off the beaten path along life’s journey to regain our mental footing, I believe it’s worthwhile to shift focus with our creative endeavors.
While my main squeeze remains that of my current Work in Progress, and I’m rounding the bend to completing chapter 33 in this Contemporary, I often take sporadic detours writing memoirs. Separate and apart from those compiled in 100 Wild Mushrooms: Memoirs of the ‘60s, thus far, I’ve published 71 on my web page at Authors Den.
Most recent titles: “Homespun Goodness,” “The Bigger Picture,” “Impact Statement,” “Logistics,” and “Probable Cause”.
I rarely post them on social media due to the “chew and shoo” nature of devoting just enough attention to scroll past posts requiring 30 seconds of our time. Bombarded by sensory overload, most of us—myself included, often fail to take those worthwhile detours. Testing the waters, I shared “Homespun Goodness” on my timeline this week, and posted it elsewhere—proving my point.
On that note, I’m grateful for the warm reception my stories, articles, and blogs receive at Authors Den. Seven of my memoirs grace the top 20 “Popular Memoir Stories”.
Regardless, for me, it’s all about self-gratification and self-preservation. One who values privacy and covets solitude to write—no one has to be watching to validate my artistic pursuits.
Wishing those who’ve come this far in reading my blog, all the best in your creative endeavors, by whatever means you employ to fulfill you dream.
Authors Den Page: https://tinyurl.com/yycm7d2w
September 18, 2019
Eva’s Byte #230 – Spotlight
For this week’s blog I thought I’d share 5 light-shedders on my published works or myself as a writer—spotlighted during various author guest spots or interviews. Only 5 because I’m a proponent of the KISS method: Keep it short and simplified!
*You’re cordially invited to share the spotlight by adding your own personal interest tidbits to any one or more of the following questions:
1- What drew you to writing?
Already a proficient typist by the age of nine, courtesy of my mother’s tutelage, the catalyst which served as my writing inspiration occurred when I was twelve years old. A malfunction in the electrical wiring caused our doorbell to ring automatically. This prompted me to compose, “The Mystery of the Midnight Doorbell,” a short story involving secret codes and a smuggling ring.
My overactive imagination soon spurred several mysteries and serial spy thrillers. In high school, I wrote a romance novella which earned its place on a library shelf. The rigors of college, and the demands placed on a rewarding teaching career, shelved further creative writing ambitions until I retired from the profession. With time on my hands, midlife restlessness reactivated my dormant imagination.
2 – What is the strangest subject or topic you’ve ever written about?
In my mind’s eye, the strangest subject I’ve expounded upon which propelled my first published novel, Underlying Notes (2008), is that of “fragrance addiction”.
3 - What has been your greatest moment as a writer so far?
I’ll single out is my unsolicited interview with TIME news reporter, Jeninne Lee- St. John. Conducted by telephone, she delved into the driving force behind my debut novel, Underlying Notes, shortly after its publication. (March 17, 2008 print issue): "Scents and Sentsitivity".
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/art...
4 – What do you think makes a good story?
Since my primary writing genre is Contemporary Women’s Fiction, for me it’s blurring the demarcation lines between fact and fiction by overlapping them so they’re indistinguishable.
5 - Name your favorite comfort or reward food.
Since I don’t like to break my stride at the keyboard, I’ll “import” just desserts to my office. I enjoy munching on a Nestle’s Crunch bar and sipping Dunkin Donuts iced coffee—vanilla or mocha.
Authors Den Page: https://tinyurl.com/yycm7d2w
Eva Pasco’s Amazon Page:
http://www.amazon.com/author/evapasco
*You’re cordially invited to share the spotlight by adding your own personal interest tidbits to any one or more of the following questions:
1- What drew you to writing?
Already a proficient typist by the age of nine, courtesy of my mother’s tutelage, the catalyst which served as my writing inspiration occurred when I was twelve years old. A malfunction in the electrical wiring caused our doorbell to ring automatically. This prompted me to compose, “The Mystery of the Midnight Doorbell,” a short story involving secret codes and a smuggling ring.
My overactive imagination soon spurred several mysteries and serial spy thrillers. In high school, I wrote a romance novella which earned its place on a library shelf. The rigors of college, and the demands placed on a rewarding teaching career, shelved further creative writing ambitions until I retired from the profession. With time on my hands, midlife restlessness reactivated my dormant imagination.
2 – What is the strangest subject or topic you’ve ever written about?
In my mind’s eye, the strangest subject I’ve expounded upon which propelled my first published novel, Underlying Notes (2008), is that of “fragrance addiction”.
3 - What has been your greatest moment as a writer so far?
I’ll single out is my unsolicited interview with TIME news reporter, Jeninne Lee- St. John. Conducted by telephone, she delved into the driving force behind my debut novel, Underlying Notes, shortly after its publication. (March 17, 2008 print issue): "Scents and Sentsitivity".
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/art...
4 – What do you think makes a good story?
Since my primary writing genre is Contemporary Women’s Fiction, for me it’s blurring the demarcation lines between fact and fiction by overlapping them so they’re indistinguishable.
5 - Name your favorite comfort or reward food.
Since I don’t like to break my stride at the keyboard, I’ll “import” just desserts to my office. I enjoy munching on a Nestle’s Crunch bar and sipping Dunkin Donuts iced coffee—vanilla or mocha.
Authors Den Page: https://tinyurl.com/yycm7d2w
Eva Pasco’s Amazon Page:
http://www.amazon.com/author/evapasco
September 11, 2019
Eva’s Byte #229 – Sucking It Up!
*What could you forego without missing it at all?
“Suck it up, Buttercup!”
I’ve done exactly that this week—when on Thursday, September 5th, at 11:00 PM, I couldn’t for the life of me, get a picture on my TV set.
Blankety-blank!
Attributing it to something I was doing wrong with the remote due to my lack of mechanical ability, I persisted by pressing the “on” and “off” button. To no avail, I called my service provider who would have tutored me step by step in testing the cable box connection.
The hairs on the back of my neck stood on end at the thought of squeezing behind the entertainment center and tracing a wire. My reluctance to do so based on my true confession of mechanical ineptitude automatically negated the next suggestion: Unplug the cable box and trade it for another at their store. My only recourse was to wait for a service technician to make a house call on Tuesday, the 10th.
For an Indie author in the throes of a WIP, and a plethora of books to read on my Kindle, it’s been relatively easy sucking it up.
Instead of winding down for an hour to watch a true crime segment on the ID channel, I’ve either been writing or reading until midnight. As a result, I’ve tweaked chapter 31 to 1426 words after subdividing it to encompass chapter 32 at 545 words. I’m writing chapter 33, resuming from 440 words.
Although I hoped to make more progress in my reading, I’m still lagging behind because of striking the keys while the iron is hot in furthering my novel.
Nevertheless, I could very easily forego watching television in preference for reading, having already sucked up my self-imposed exile in a television-free zone.
Authors Den Page: https://tinyurl.com/yycm7d2w
Eva Pasco’s Amazon Page: http://www.amazon.com/author/evapasco
“Suck it up, Buttercup!”
I’ve done exactly that this week—when on Thursday, September 5th, at 11:00 PM, I couldn’t for the life of me, get a picture on my TV set.
Blankety-blank!
Attributing it to something I was doing wrong with the remote due to my lack of mechanical ability, I persisted by pressing the “on” and “off” button. To no avail, I called my service provider who would have tutored me step by step in testing the cable box connection.
The hairs on the back of my neck stood on end at the thought of squeezing behind the entertainment center and tracing a wire. My reluctance to do so based on my true confession of mechanical ineptitude automatically negated the next suggestion: Unplug the cable box and trade it for another at their store. My only recourse was to wait for a service technician to make a house call on Tuesday, the 10th.
For an Indie author in the throes of a WIP, and a plethora of books to read on my Kindle, it’s been relatively easy sucking it up.
Instead of winding down for an hour to watch a true crime segment on the ID channel, I’ve either been writing or reading until midnight. As a result, I’ve tweaked chapter 31 to 1426 words after subdividing it to encompass chapter 32 at 545 words. I’m writing chapter 33, resuming from 440 words.
Although I hoped to make more progress in my reading, I’m still lagging behind because of striking the keys while the iron is hot in furthering my novel.
Nevertheless, I could very easily forego watching television in preference for reading, having already sucked up my self-imposed exile in a television-free zone.
Authors Den Page: https://tinyurl.com/yycm7d2w
Eva Pasco’s Amazon Page: http://www.amazon.com/author/evapasco
September 5, 2019
Eva’s Byte #228: The Investment
*What are you able/willing to invest in fostering a belief?
Any investment involves a risk or gamble, whether lucrative or a long shot.
This week, in my capacity as Indie author, I paid the entry fees for submitting my Contemporary novella, Mr. Wizardo (May, 2019) to two writing contests:
2019 Indie Diamond Book Awards (Best Book & Writing Contest for Indie & Self-Published Authors) in the category of “All Fiction under 45,000 words”: Literary Fiction.
2020 Readers’ Favorite 12th Annual Award Contest in the category of “Fiction – Realistic”.
In my opinion, any win—Gold, Silver, Bronze or honorable mention—if applicable, is a cherished honor. The promotional perks can’t hurt either. Personally, I’d covet the digital award seal to affix on the book cover. To me, these badges are on a par with 5-Star reader reviews, reinforcing the merit of one’s book. In fact, the favorable reviews Mr. Wizardo has received thus far since its recent publication, provided the incentive for me to enter it.
As well, previous awards for other books I’ve written, buoyed my spirit in fostering a belief in rainbows (I’ve only included those awards from venues requiring entry fees):
100 Wild Mushrooms: Memoirs of the ‘60s (October, 2017)
2018 New Apple Summer eBook Awards for Excellence in Independent Publishing: Solo Medalist Winner
2018 TopShelf Award Finalist in the Category of Memoirs (Other)
An Enlightening Quiche (September, 2016)
2018 Golden Book Award - 3rd Place Winner
2017 New Apple Annual Book Award: "Official Selection"
2017 ATAI 5-Star Badge
Patting myself on the back, set aside—I know there are plenty of books written by Indies I respect and admire which deserve an award. It all boils down to what we prioritize in promoting our work.
Regardless, I will always maintain that book reviews are that pot of gold at the end of the rainbow worth waiting for.
Authors Den Page: https://tinyurl.com/yycm7d2w
Any investment involves a risk or gamble, whether lucrative or a long shot.
This week, in my capacity as Indie author, I paid the entry fees for submitting my Contemporary novella, Mr. Wizardo (May, 2019) to two writing contests:
2019 Indie Diamond Book Awards (Best Book & Writing Contest for Indie & Self-Published Authors) in the category of “All Fiction under 45,000 words”: Literary Fiction.
2020 Readers’ Favorite 12th Annual Award Contest in the category of “Fiction – Realistic”.
In my opinion, any win—Gold, Silver, Bronze or honorable mention—if applicable, is a cherished honor. The promotional perks can’t hurt either. Personally, I’d covet the digital award seal to affix on the book cover. To me, these badges are on a par with 5-Star reader reviews, reinforcing the merit of one’s book. In fact, the favorable reviews Mr. Wizardo has received thus far since its recent publication, provided the incentive for me to enter it.
As well, previous awards for other books I’ve written, buoyed my spirit in fostering a belief in rainbows (I’ve only included those awards from venues requiring entry fees):
100 Wild Mushrooms: Memoirs of the ‘60s (October, 2017)
2018 New Apple Summer eBook Awards for Excellence in Independent Publishing: Solo Medalist Winner
2018 TopShelf Award Finalist in the Category of Memoirs (Other)
An Enlightening Quiche (September, 2016)
2018 Golden Book Award - 3rd Place Winner
2017 New Apple Annual Book Award: "Official Selection"
2017 ATAI 5-Star Badge
Patting myself on the back, set aside—I know there are plenty of books written by Indies I respect and admire which deserve an award. It all boils down to what we prioritize in promoting our work.
Regardless, I will always maintain that book reviews are that pot of gold at the end of the rainbow worth waiting for.
Authors Den Page: https://tinyurl.com/yycm7d2w
August 29, 2019
Eva’s Byte #227 – Sappy vs. Snappy Love Lines
Oh, snap! Speaking from the perspective of an Indie author in my capacity as both writer and reader, I enjoy brisk dialogue between characters. Dialogue advances the plot of a story and has potential to bring out themes.
My snap judgments:
There’s nothing worse than unrealistic, lame dialogue—particularly if it comes across “sappy” as in Love Story, the overrated, melodramatic best-seller by Erich Segal:
“Love means not ever having to say you’re sorry.”
(Spoken by Jenny, played by Ali MacGraw, in the movie—“Love means never having to say you’re sorry.”)
Same difference! This snappy love line is not only lame, but gives poetic license to a callous character to demean women.
An example of dialogue coming across snappy and sincere is spoken by Catherine Earnshaw in Chapter 9 of Emily Bronte’s Wuthering Heights.
“My love for Heathcliff resembles the eternal rocks beneath: a source of little visible delight, but necessary. Nelly, I am Heathcliff! He's always, always in my mind: not as a pleasure, any more than I am always a pleasure to myself, but as my own being.”
These snappy love lines effectively internalize the anguish and mental cruelty two tragic lovers inflict on each other throughout their destructive relationship.
And, snappy love lines from Marc to Augusta in Chapter 31 of An Enlightening Quiche, my own novel in the genre of Contemporary:
“I’ve always loved you. I refrained from pursuing you because I failed you once and I’m not man enough to handle you. Gabe might be able to, but he can’t go the distance. The only guy who’s loved you for as long as I have and just as much, if not more, is Duke! He’s the only one I know who can go toe to toe with you and have your back.”
*If you’re so inclined, drop a snappy love line from a book you’ve read, or from one you’ve written.
Authors Den Page: https://tinyurl.com/yycm7d2w
Eva Pasco’s Amazon Page: http://www.amazon.com/author/evapasco
My snap judgments:
There’s nothing worse than unrealistic, lame dialogue—particularly if it comes across “sappy” as in Love Story, the overrated, melodramatic best-seller by Erich Segal:
“Love means not ever having to say you’re sorry.”
(Spoken by Jenny, played by Ali MacGraw, in the movie—“Love means never having to say you’re sorry.”)
Same difference! This snappy love line is not only lame, but gives poetic license to a callous character to demean women.
An example of dialogue coming across snappy and sincere is spoken by Catherine Earnshaw in Chapter 9 of Emily Bronte’s Wuthering Heights.
“My love for Heathcliff resembles the eternal rocks beneath: a source of little visible delight, but necessary. Nelly, I am Heathcliff! He's always, always in my mind: not as a pleasure, any more than I am always a pleasure to myself, but as my own being.”
These snappy love lines effectively internalize the anguish and mental cruelty two tragic lovers inflict on each other throughout their destructive relationship.
And, snappy love lines from Marc to Augusta in Chapter 31 of An Enlightening Quiche, my own novel in the genre of Contemporary:
“I’ve always loved you. I refrained from pursuing you because I failed you once and I’m not man enough to handle you. Gabe might be able to, but he can’t go the distance. The only guy who’s loved you for as long as I have and just as much, if not more, is Duke! He’s the only one I know who can go toe to toe with you and have your back.”
*If you’re so inclined, drop a snappy love line from a book you’ve read, or from one you’ve written.
Authors Den Page: https://tinyurl.com/yycm7d2w
Eva Pasco’s Amazon Page: http://www.amazon.com/author/evapasco
August 22, 2019
Eva’s Byte #226 – By the Wayside
*Like it or not, what have you put aside to further your artistic ambitions?
Ever since I seriously embarked on a writing career in 2008, coinciding with the publication of my first novel, things have gone by the wayside. The components of dedication to my craft have taken their toll. The catalyst for a push over the precipice, that very same year, I filed for divorce after 23 years of marriage.
Flying solo ever since, and better off for it, the next thing to fall by the wayside was cooking. Thanks to my ex, I never cooked at all during my 29-year teaching career due to my late after-school hours and long commute to and from school. Ironically, when I retired, I threw all of my energy into compiling recipes and preparing gourmet meals.
Until, I began rolling up my sleeves to write…
One of my modified recipes finagled itself into my multi-award winning Contemporary, An Enlightening Quiche. The recipe which I christened, Quiche Simone, is included in the epilogue of the novel.
Up until recently—I’d cook up a batch of chili, put together a tortellini casserole, or toss a mean pasta salad. On occasion, I’d bake cranberry bread. For family get-togethers, I’d either bring a quiche or sweet potato pie.
All that has gone by the wayside without a pang of conscience ever since I assumed the role of quasi-caregiver, and have dug my heels deeper into the forays of writing.
*When it comes to pursuing one’s artistic ambitions, something’s gotta give and fall by the wayside, for better or for worse.
Authors Den Page: https://tinyurl.com/yycm7d2w
Eva Pasco’s Amazon Page: http://www.amazon.com/author/evapasco
Ever since I seriously embarked on a writing career in 2008, coinciding with the publication of my first novel, things have gone by the wayside. The components of dedication to my craft have taken their toll. The catalyst for a push over the precipice, that very same year, I filed for divorce after 23 years of marriage.
Flying solo ever since, and better off for it, the next thing to fall by the wayside was cooking. Thanks to my ex, I never cooked at all during my 29-year teaching career due to my late after-school hours and long commute to and from school. Ironically, when I retired, I threw all of my energy into compiling recipes and preparing gourmet meals.
Until, I began rolling up my sleeves to write…
One of my modified recipes finagled itself into my multi-award winning Contemporary, An Enlightening Quiche. The recipe which I christened, Quiche Simone, is included in the epilogue of the novel.
Up until recently—I’d cook up a batch of chili, put together a tortellini casserole, or toss a mean pasta salad. On occasion, I’d bake cranberry bread. For family get-togethers, I’d either bring a quiche or sweet potato pie.
All that has gone by the wayside without a pang of conscience ever since I assumed the role of quasi-caregiver, and have dug my heels deeper into the forays of writing.
*When it comes to pursuing one’s artistic ambitions, something’s gotta give and fall by the wayside, for better or for worse.
Authors Den Page: https://tinyurl.com/yycm7d2w
Eva Pasco’s Amazon Page: http://www.amazon.com/author/evapasco
