Lisa Unger's Blog, page 5

Lynne Constantine and Lisa Unger, In Conversation

Sometimes you just meet someone and know there are martinis and lots of laughs in your future! The fantastic Lynne Constantine, half of the dynamic author duo Liv Constantine (with her sister Valerie), and I met at Thrillerfest this year. We shared a signing table and then spent a little time chatting. When she later asked me to do a guest blog for her site Rogue Women Writers, I jumped at the chance to turn it into a pen pal interview. It’s such a great way to get to know someone.

Since then, I’ve dived into her bestsellers THE LAST MRS. PARRISH and THE LAST TIME I SAW YOU – both gripping, layered, and involving thrillers that dig deep into complicated female relationships. I love the way Lynne and Valerie think, and their process is fascinating.

Why don’t you eavesdrop on our conversation about twisted characters, obsession, and process?

Lynne Constantine:

First of all, your book is AMAZING! I loved it so much that I didn’t want it to end. The characters were so well drawn and the tension! So, for my first question:

In THE STRANGER INSIDE, Rain struggles with what she sees as two conflicting desires: to be a good mother and to successfully pursue a career. Is this a struggle that you’ve had as a mother and successful author, and do you think society still puts unfair pressure on women to be the primary caregiver in the family?

Lisa Unger:

Thank you so much for all the kind words about THE STRANGER INSIDE! I’m so glad you loved it. I’m deep into THE LAST MRS. PARRISH and it’s twisty, smart, and totally engrossing. I’m hooked.

Rain Winter is a former investigative journalist, turned stay-at-home mom. She left her career behind for a number of reasons—she wanted to be present for her child, the injustice she saw in the world was grinding her down, and it was an agreement in her marriage that someone should be a full-time parent. But the work she chose was meaningful to her; it defined her. And she chose it because she was looking for answers to dark questions from her own childhood trauma. So, when the work calls her back, she finds it impossible to resist. However, her adoration for and commitment to her daughter Lily has not diminished. So, she engages in a fairly chaotic—and in her case dangerous—juggling act.

Of course, nothing in fiction is autobiographical—and everything is! I do relate to this struggle, as I’m sure will any mom who has an involving career. Before my daughter was born, nothing ever rivaled my desire to write. But when she was small, the conflict was painful. When I was with her, I was often worried about deadlines, and the pressures of the publishing world. When I was writing, I often just wanted to be with her. But, with the help of my husband, I found my way, learned to work around her schedule, be present when she needed me, be present for the work during the scheduled time. I have always been a writer. And I love being a fully-engaged mother. Those are two big, all-consuming, creative enterprises. So, even though the juggling act can be quite stressful, I feel blessed to have two things that I love so much. (And my poor husband! I love him, too! And he’s my partner in this and in all things.)

I think there is external pressure—this idea that not only can we have it all, but, in fact, we MUST have it all. I know I put a lot of pressure on myself, as well, holding myself to impossible standards and then face-planting. I think it’s all slowly changing. Women are making choices. Leaning in, maybe, or choosing to stay home, if they have that option. Finding balance, supporting each other, relying on spouses, if they’re fortunate enough to have that kind of marriage. At ALA last year in New Orleans, I heard Michelle Obama speak and she said something that made a lot of sense to me: You can have it all, just maybe not at the same time.

In THE LAST MRS. PARRISH and THE LAST TIME I SAW YOU, you dive in deep to twisting, complicated female relationships. (And I know you write with your sister, which must be twisty and complicated—at least some of the time!) What fascinates you most about the dynamics between women?

Lynne Constantine:

Female friendships have always been emphasized in my family. I remember my mother admonishing me to never lose touch with my girlfriends and stressing the importance of these close relationships. I think in some ways the intimacies we share with our close women friends can be at times even greater than those we share with our partners. Women have such an amazing capacity for supporting and empowering each other while at the same time, the ability to do the complete opposite when rivalry is at play.

In THE LAST MRS. PARRISH we wanted to explore the ways in which the lack of a close female friendship could make someone vulnerable to a predatory female while at the same time turning the idea of the man being the prize on its head. Daphne has a great void in her life—the loss of her sister who was her best friend. When Amber comes on the scene and pretends to have also experienced the same loss, it bonds the women and makes Daphne blind at first to Amber’s manipulations. In THE LAST TIME I SAW YOU we delve into the dynamics of a broken friendship and how those wounds never fully heal, exploring whether or not you can truly forgive someone who has deeply hurt you and if a friendship can be repaired and restored. The relationship between Kate and her mother Lily is also one the book examines and how that foundational relationship influences the way Kate sees herself as a mother.

My sister Valerie and I are extremely close even though fourteen years separate us. Fortunately, the most complicated aspect is just syncing our schedules. As we now approach our fifth book together, we’ve developed a sort of ESP where we can anticipate what the other is going to say, or both come out with the exact idea at the same time. We joke that we might be turning into one person.

Another aspect of relationships that it seems all of our writing encompasses is trauma. In THE STRANGER INSIDE three best friends’ lives are forever changed by a single incident. Despite Hank and Rain surviving, they are never able to recapture the closeness they once had, a source of heartbreak for both of them. What do you think it is that allows some survivors of a joint trauma to emerge more bonded than before while for others it essentially ruptures the relationship?

Lisa Unger:

Even though I don’t have a sister—and what a special relationship you have with yours!—my female friends, colleagues, and mentors have always held such an important space in my life. I value that closeness and support, that special way women have of tag-teaming problems, supporting each other through the rough patches, and celebrating successes. It’s a theme I touch on a bit in UNDER MY SKIN in the relationship between Poppy and Layla, life-long friends that are as close as sisters, there for each other in a way that their families can’t be. Their relationship was forged in childhood—but of course there’s another side to that, too.

In THE STRANGER INSIDE, Hank and Lara have that special bond of childhood friendship until extreme trauma tears them apart. When Tess and Lara (later in the book, she calls herself Rain), are attacked by a violent, mentally ill man, Hank tries to save them. Rain escapes, but Hank and Tess do not. Tess doesn’t make it home at all, and Hank returns altered by his experiences. One of the many losses of that day, as you say, is their friendship.

Extreme trauma is a crucible. And every person reacts to its pressures differently. It makes some people stronger; it tears other people apart. The psyche might split—Jung calls this a “splinter psyche”— stronger aspects of the self emerging to protect weaker. Hank and Lara have dissimilar experiences that dark day, and their responses are not the same. Lara seeks to forget. Hank can’t move on. It’s those different responses to trauma that sunder their friendship, rather than the trauma itself. And, yet, they remain bound by what happened—though not in a healthy way.

My research into psychology, biology, trauma, and addiction is ongoing. Questions about the human psyche, and what makes us who we are is a bit of an obsession for me. I’m constantly reading, watching, listening, learning. If I weren’t a writer digging deep into these subjects, I’d probably be a psychiatrist. What type of research do you do for your novels? Do you have any obsessions that you find yourself exploring again and again in your work?

Lynne Constantine:

I feel the same way about how fascinating the human psychological makeup can be. My undergraduate degree is in Human Development and for a long time I thought I wanted to be a therapist. My favorite class in college was Abnormal Psychology, and I find myself continually drawn to research on personality disorders and the complex factors that contribute to the way we relate to others and how we react to situations. It was only after I examined my own subconscious drivers and became more in touch with who I was that I decided I didn’t want to spend my life listening to other people’s problems. So, now I spend my life creating problems for my characters! I am a bit obsessed with understanding sociopathic behavior and drawn to writing characters with varying degrees of sociopathy. I do a lot of reading on the subject and interview a good friend of mine who has a PhD in psychology to make sure the profiles I create are authentic. I find the more flawed the character, the more I enjoy writing him or her.

In your writing, do your characters drive the trajectory of the story and do they surprise you, or do you know from the beginning the path they will take and how the story will develop?

Lisa Unger:

All plot flows from character. Each story begins with a germ—it might be a news story, or a line of poetry, a photograph. In one case, it was a piece of junk mail. This germ usually leads to some kind of an obsession with a topic, a swath of research. And, then the best way I can explain it is that if all of that connects with something deeper going on within me, I start to hear a voice, or voices, and I follow those voices through the narrative. I write without an outline. I don’t know who is going to show up day-to-day, and I don’t know what they’re going to do. I certainly don’t know how the book is going to end. I write for the same reason that I read—because I want to know what is going to happen to the people living in my head.

I’ve always been fascinated about how writers work together on a book. How does it go for you and your sister?

Lynne Constantine:

We work in a manner similar to you in that we start with a basic idea—sometimes we know the twist from the start as with THE LAST MRS. PARRISH and other times it begins with a theme. We don’t outline but rather write our way into the story. After we’ve developed the setting, characters and basic story, we assign each other scenes and email them to each other every day. We FaceTime in the afternoon and discuss what’s been written and give each other our marching orders for the next day. We often don’t know the ending and in THE LAST TIME I SAW YOU, the killer changed in the third round of revisions. We also brainstorm quite a bit and often an idea that was thrown out as a joke turns out to be something we end up pursuing. It’s a very fun collaboration and we’re both continually surprised by where our characters take us.

This has been so much fun! I look forward to when we can sit across from each other and have a conversation in person!

Lisa Unger:

Me, too! Hopefully over martinis!

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The Best Books of Fall 2019 – PEOPLE

I’m beyond thrilled to announce that THE STRANGER INSIDE is an official PEOPLE Best Books of Fall 2019 winner! I’m in great company with some truly stellar writers such as Margaret Atwood, Ann Cleeves, Attica Locke, and Louise Penny.

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Macavity Award Nomination!

I am so thrilled! My novel UNDER MY SKIN has been nominated for the 2019 Macavity Award for Best Novel. This is the third award nomination for UNDER MY SKIN this year, and I could not be happier. I am honored to be shortlisted with all these amazing authors: Lou Berney, Alison Gaylin, Jennifer Hillier, Naomi Hirahara and Jane Harper. Big congrats to the nominees in all categories!

 

 

The Macavity Awards are nominated by members of Mystery Readers International and subscribers to Mystery Readers Journal.

Read the full list of 2019 Macavity Award nominees here.

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D.J. Palmer and Lisa Unger, In Conversation

A bestselling author, an accomplished musician, and just an all-round lovely human being, Daniel Palmer is someone with whom I always look forward to spending time. So when he offered me an early read of his new novel SAVING MEGHAN, I couldn’t wait to dive in. It’s twisting and complex, a total thrill ride. But it’s also a layered examination of family and parenthood, asking some very tough questions. I loved it, and I wasn’t the only one. Lisa Scottoline said that it will “keep you turning the pages as you guess and guess again.” And William Landay raved: “An acute, sensitive family portrait – with a touch of Hitchcock.”

Daniel was sweet enough to spend some time chatting with me about his book, inspiration, process, and the state of the publishing business. Join us!

Lisa Unger: I know that you’re a very devoted father. And all parents are familiar with that terrible mingling of love and fear that seems to underpin our lives with our children—especially when one of our children is ill. Was there a real-life medical emergency that inspired SAVING MEGHAN? Or did the idea come from somewhere else?

D.J. Palmer: SAVING MEGHAN is a story of Munchausen syndrome by proxy (MSBP)—a darkly fascinating condition in which a caretaker, often a mother, acts as if their child is sick when they are perfectly healthy. Crazy, I know, but it’s all too real. Most ideas for my books come from my imagination, but fiction often has some grounding in real-life events. There have been several stories of MSBP in fiction and in the news of late, most recently in THE ACT—an original on Hulu dramatizing the hard-to-believe-but-true Gypsy Rose story. Google that one if you want a real shocker!

As I began researching MSBP, I discovered a community of people with little-understood diseases whose confounding symptoms raise the suspicions of doctors and hospital administrators. In such cases, parents may be accused of medical child abuse, deliberately making their child ill for their emotional gain. The consequences for the parents and children can be quite dire.

The controversy stems from a simple question: who is telling the truth? The parents seem to me to be at a distinct disadvantage, but I also empathized with the doctors and providers, who have a legal obligation to ensure the safety of the minor patient. There is a natural conflict here, the fuel for fiction. Who to believe? Is it real or in your head? Indeed, I pulled from my experience as a parent to tell this story, but knowing it is a real-life struggle for many gave the narrative added weight for me.

Speaking of parenthood, how would you say being a mother has affected your writing?

Lisa Unger: Ha! Talk about a twisty, complicated narrative. Before my daughter Ocean was born, nothing—not even my wonderful husband Jeff—rivaled my desire to write. Then she burst on the scene in 2005, just before the publication of BEAUTIFUL LIES, and rocked my world. Suddenly, I was a very fractured person—always wanting to be with her, then feeling the tug back to the work, then wanting to be with her. Beyond that, my already very dark imagination got even darker and more vivid. I wrote BLACK OUT during this very fractured time, which is reflected in the story. On the other hand, motherhood has made me more patient, more empathetic, and a better person. And I hope, because of those changes, a better writer. Now, Ocean is a teenager, and things are both more and less complicated—but it is easier to balance my time.

The research for SAVING MEGHAN is fascinating, as is that complicated twist, that deep connection between parent and child. The bond is so strong, and why MSBP is so hard to diagnose. Is the child really sick? Or does the child on some level know that their parent just wants them to be? Also, there’s often a psychological component to chronic illness, making things even more complicated. I think you’ve captured that perfectly in this book, especially with the alternating narratives.

I never feel like I choose the voices who tell the story. Why did you choose to tell the story from multiple perspectives? Or is it just the way the way the narrative presented itself to you?

D.J. Palmer: Great question and here’s to finding that balance between family and work! Doesn’t matter what the job, I think it’s a universal challenge.

Now back to your question, why I wrote this book from multiple points of view? My father, the much-loved medical suspense novelist Michael Palmer, who sadly left us back in 2013, taught me a lot of valuable writing lessons. Two of my favorites are: Be Fearless, and This Is Hard. The fearless part comes down to trusting your instincts and not letting voices of naysayers impede your writing—you have to write from the heart. The hard part is doing just that. How do you know a story is working, or that you’ve picked the right protagonist, antagonist, or MacGuffin—the plot device that creates some goal for the characters to obtain, or a mystery to solve?

The way I know I’ve picked the right points of view comes down to another of my father’s excellent writing tips. He told me: “Pick the people who have the most at stake, then tell their story or stories.” In the case of SAVING MEGHAN, the central question, as it is with all MSBP cases, is what’s real, and what’s in someone’s head? Right there we have two excellent opportunities to show a great deal of conflict—the caregiver and patient, or in the case of the novel, the mother and daughter. Whose version of events is right or wrong? In many ways, it was a given that I had to tell this story from a least two points of view because the conflict was so rife with each. So why the third? I felt that to round out the narrative the book needed to show the medical side of the saga. More specifically, I wanted to show how it’s possible for doctors, who we count on to be confident, all-knowing, omniscient healers, to be filled with doubt and uncertainty, to disagree even though the stakes are high and the penalty for being wrong quite severe. So, I came up with Dr. Zach Fisher to bring medicine into the story. His backstory of losing a son to the same disease that Meghan may or may not have, not only added drama, it also gave me a chance to play on the theme of how our biases and belief systems can narrow our field of view such that we risk missing better opportunities or lurking dangers.

Speaking of writing advice, is there any you’ve received that has influenced your creative process?

Lisa Unger: I loved your dad so much—everyone did! He was such a giant in the publishing world, but always so unfailingly kind and supportive. He always had something sweet to say to me. And you’re just like him! That’s great writing advice. Fearlessness is definitely something you need to succeed as a writer.

Anne Lamott’s BIRD BY BIRD is a source of continuing inspiration for me. The title is based on a story about her little brother, who had left a big school report about birds of North America until the last minute. He was in a panic, and his father told him, just relax and take it “bird by bird.” I always come back to that when I’m stuck in a narrative, or lacking inspiration. Visit with each character, get to know them, understand what they want and tell their truth—bird by bird. Anne Lamott also talks about treating each chapter like a short story, a world onto itself. And I go back to that, too. In his seminal book on screenwriting, STORY, Robert McGee writes that each scene should advance plot or character, hopefully both—or it has to go. And that is something I apply to the editing process because it’s important for novels, too.

So, maybe your readers don’t know that you’re also an extremely talented musician performing live at clubs in Boston, with two CDs released! There’s a quote on your website: “Music allowed an outlet for storytelling that has translated into writing.” How does your novel and song writing process differ and how is it alike? Do these two creative enterprises compliment or conflict with each other?

D.J. Palmer: Thanks for the kind words about my father. Much appreciated. And such sage writing advice from Anne—I’ve read her book too, loved it, but forgot the origin of the title. So glad you reminded me. Yes, this is for sure a bird by bird kind of gig. There’s nothing quite like it. It’s funny that you asked about my music because I think it is the reason that I became a writer. I’m now at 3 CDs, though my club playing days are long behind me. I do have a new band of local dads called The Big Bad Dad Band and we’re surprisingly pretty good, but I don’t think we’re going to get groupies any time soon. Okay, back to the writing. I wasn’t the kid who knew from age two he was going to be a writer. If you asked my English teachers in school, I don’t think any of them would have pegged me for a future publishing contract. But what I didn’t realize back then is that I loved to write—only, I loved writing songs. I formed my first band in my sophomore year high school called Grand Theft Auto—way before the video game franchise made the crime even more popular. I had personally vetoed the drummer’s suggestion of Nirvana thinking, who would ever name a bad after a state of enlightenment? Oh well. I wasn’t a great guitar player (I’m a solid harmonica player) but what I could do was write original songs. I discovered later on when I became a novelist that my songwriting actually helped train me to become a fiction writer. There are many parallels between the disciplines…songs like books need a clear direction, first line matters, just relax and write, it’s okay to exaggerate for effect, and so on. I even wrote a little essay about if you want further reading. When I set out to try to publish a book my first attempt was a spin on High Fidelity meets Bridget Jones Diary, thinking a romantic comedy from the guy’s point of view would be of interest, only to find out that women who read romance don’t particularly care about the guy’s point of view. But I was inspired by Nick Hornby because he GOT music and music lovers, and it gave me the confidence to try my hand at a book instead of a song. I found out I kind of liked it. When my father-in-law read what I wrote out loud, I heard it as rhythmic and musical, it sounded like a writer’s work to my ears, and that’s when I knew I could do this job—if I stuck with it long enough. My first creative love though is and always will be songwriting…I do it with or without an audience (okay, really without), but I’m not sure I could grind my way through novel after novel, bird by bird, without someone at the other end to appreciate the effort. Nobody really listens to my music, well my dog does, but that’s fine by me. It’s a compulsion—actually, it’s pure joy. So, I’m happy to share a link to the recordings if anyone wants to give a listen. Daniel Palmer Sings is my most recent recording and I think my best to date.

Sometimes these songs, even though they’re short, can be as tough to get right as a novel. What are some writing challenges you’ve faced and how did find your way through it?

Lisa Unger: Fiction writing for me is like song writing is for you. When I sit down at the keyboard with a blank page before me, I am most myself. Other than my life with Jeff and Ocean, writing is my greatest passion. Which is not to say there aren’t good days and bad days, days where the pages fly, and days when inspiration flags, narratives get tangled, characters aren’t cooperating. As with all organic processes, there is an ebb and a flow. When I’m stuck on any given day, exercise is usually how I shake things loose. Music is a big part of my process, too. There’s nothing like a good long walk while listening to music to give creativity a jump start. Lately, I’ve developed a meditation and mindfulness practice. And I find that the act of settling the chatter of the mind and going quiet brings me to a new place of focus and concentration.

My biggest challenges, though, are not with the writing. I talk a good deal about creativity, and how we can be our most creative selves. And I find that the modern world of social media, information overload, that perpetual buzz of chatter to be a real enemy to the writing life. Authors are told that they need to self-promote online to survive a competitive marketplace. And it’s true that having connections to readers, media, booksellers and other authors online can be a real advantage when it comes to discovery. But it’s a double-edged sword because nothing saps creativity and wastes time more efficiently than mindless time online. I have a post-it on my desk that reads: If you’re on social media, then you’re not doing your job. And I don’t go online until my creative goals for the day are met. Because no one ever came to your work and stayed because you were a great self-promoter. They come and stay if you’re a great writer, because you told a story that made them feel something, lifted them out of life for a little while. I try never to lose sight of that.

But, of course, SAVING MEGHAN is just about to release and I’m sure there will be a firestorm of publicity and social media chatter. Which is a good thing at release time! Do you enjoy heading out on the road at pub time? What events are you most excited about and where can readers find you?

D.J. Palmer: So, here’s the thing…I am going nowhere. No tour. No planes, trains, but maybe a few automobiles and that’s only to drive to the Toadstool Bookshop down the street to sign some stock. This “No Tour Launch” was a tough adjustment for me because I’ve always done something—at least a book launch—on publication day. This year, the book launch for SAVING MEGHAN will be a small gathering at my house where I hope to play some guitar.

It’s not because I don’t want the book to do well, but rather the publisher has a different vision for marketing and well—I think they might be onto something. The stores and visits are great (sort of) but I’ll be honest—I’m not much of a draw. Local events might as well be at my house because it’s only friends and family who show up. I’ve flown across the country to present to a crowd of booksellers, there only because that’s where they worked. Nobody else in the audience. Other times I’ve had 5, 10, 15 in the house?

It’s never a packed store because let’s be honest…who’s D.J. Palmer? The thing the publisher has figured out (I think) is that to go toe-to-toe with Amazon they need the equivalent secret weapon: the database. The book, for those who aren’t a brand name author, is the star these days. What’s the hot title I must read? If traditional publishers get one of those in their list, well, it can lead to a loyal readership and long career. But they have to start that fire to get it burning. Gosh, my metaphors need work!

Anyway, Amazon is great in that with a push of a button (figurative) millions of readers get the news of their latest/greatest release. Publishers have been relying on bookstores to function as their megaphone, but a) it’s crowded, so hard to be heard, b) they don’t really control the message.

Social media seems to be where it’s at, but not in the way you described exactly. In your version of events, it’s incumbent on the author to do the database building part online, which isn’t really in our wheelhouse.

Instead of a tour, my publisher focused on Instagram, Goodreads, and some other social media outlets to get the book into the hands of early readers who become megaphones for other readers.

In this way, these first readers play the part of the store—but their message is targeted to their followers, so there’s less noise. If you have the right book, out at the right time, for the right audience (yes, this is where some luck plays a part) all that online chatter might yield a sales wave you can ride, and if that catches it builds on itself and more readers suffering FOMO (fear of missing out) go to your book instead of another. The more this is done with the publisher, the more effective their initial database of early readers becomes and it’s a lot like mimicking in the real world what Amazon is doing in the digital realm. Already SAVING MEGHAN’s numbers on Goodreads are better than any book I’ve published and it’s not even out yet.

As for my role, well, I do have to connect with my readers, but it becomes a focused conversation. Pick one (maybe two, max three) platforms and work those; build a community there. I use Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. The focus is your book, because those folks partaking in the conversations are interested in you—the writer. On Twitter it’s less so, so that’s a time sink risk. Caution! Caution! When it’s focused on the book, you the author, you don’t have to do too much…post news, answer questions, be a presence. I do think authors shouldn’t lose sight of email marketing—it’s still highly effective and a good way to share news. I haven’t committed to a monthly newsletter because I’m not sure it’s super effective, at least I don’t think it would be for me. But I have a decent sized list I’ve cultivated over a decade.

I guess to your bigger point about social media as a distraction, I find myself spending a lot longer on the sites when it’s conversations with friends, or stuff about people I know well. The book stuff is quick hit—in/out, here I am, love you all, thanks for the support onward. This group knows better than most that if I’m hanging with them online, I’m not doing what you said is most important which is writing them another book. Really, that’s what they most want from me.

If readers are looking for me online, here is where to find me: Facebook, Facebook Group, Twitter, Instagram, Website.

In these venues I’ll talk about the books, answer questions about anything, let you get to know me better. And, I don’t have to take my laptop out of my bag in a snaking TSA checkpoint line. I’ll take it. Although, I still hope to do festivals and book talks, but I think the traditional author tour is less impactful as it once was. But who knows? If everyone knew what made a bestseller, we’d only publish bestsellers.

Hammett Prize Nomination!

Thrilled and honored to announce that UNDER MY SKIN has been nominated for the prestigious Hammett Prize, which is awarded annually by the International Association of Crime Writers (North America) for literary excellence in crime-writing.

The winner receives a “Thin Man” trophy, designed by sculptor Peter Boiger.

My fellow nominees include:

Lou Berney, November Road

Robert Olen Butler, Paris in the Dark

William Boyle, The Lonely Witness

Sam Weibe, Cut You Down

This prize, named for the great Dashiell Hammett, has been awarded to some of my favorite writers including Stephen King, George Pelecanos, Margaret Atwood and Carol Goodman.

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Edgar Award Nominations!

I’m over the moon! My novel UNDER MY SKIN and short story THE SLEEP TIGHT MOTEL have both been nominated for Edgar Awards — along with the stellar work of some of my favorite authors, including Val McDermid, Alison Gaylin, Lori Rader Day and more. Big congrats to all the nominees!

The Edgar Award, named for Edgar Allan Poe, is awarded by The Mystery Writers of America to honor the best in mystery fiction, non-fiction, television, film, and theater.

Read the full list of 2019 Edgar Award nominees here.

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New Year’s Resolutions for Writers

I’m not a fan of “New Year’s Resolutions.” There’s almost a kind of implied mockery in the phrase, like – oh, sure, try to make some changes and see what happens. Meanwhile, every day is actually the start of a new year. So, if habits are holding you back, and there are things you wish you were doing, but are not – now is the time.  It doesn’t matter if it is January 1, 2019, or today. A proverb from Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu always helps me when I’m daunted by the idea of making a big change: The journey of a thousand miles begins with just one step.

That said, January is a great time for writers to set some intentions for the year ahead. Maybe you’re working on your novel or screenplay, a collection of short stories, or poetry. Maybe you’re not a writer at all, but a painter or a photographer. The truth is that this busy-addicted world doesn’t provide much space or permission for the time and intention it requires to create. I’ve talked about this in a previous blog, about how you have to create the time and space to create, then give yourself the permission to do the thing you want to do.

Here are a few resolutions to consider as 2019 gets started:

Schedule the time and honor the schedule.

There’s no magic or short cut to finishing your novel. If you’re waiting for the muse, or inspiration to strike, or a month where there’s nothing else going on in your life, you will not write your book. It’s that simple. Like anything else that’s important to you, you have to make a date and time, and keep it as if you’ve made a commitment to a friend. You wouldn’t let your friend down, would you? Then why would you let yourself down? Even if it’s just an hour a week, schedule it and keep the date. You’ll be amazed at how much progress you’ll make, and how inspiration will meet you during the allotted time.

Don’t let life derail you – forever.

I had hoped to write this blog last week. But the holidays! And parents visiting! And my daughter and husband both sick with a sinus infection and bronchitis respectively. And. And. And. So, it didn’t happen. But now, school is back in session, the holidays are over and my daughter and hubby are both well. The point is: If you miss a day, or a week, because life body slams you – and it will – don’t let that turn into a month or longer. Just get back to your creative goals as soon as possible, no judgements.

Just write. (Or paint. Or photograph. Or sing.)

All you need to do to be a writer is to put pen to paper (or fingers to the keyboard) and write. Don’t get hung up on external validation. That may come in time. Connect with the joy of your craft – and if there isn’t joy you might need to unpack that – and do what you do purely for the love of it. Will you publish? Will you see your screenplay come to life? Maybe! But that’s not why we create. We create because it’s a well-spring within us, something that flows, that connects us to our deepest passion. Do it just for that. That is a powerful energy to follow. See where it takes you.

Read this article by Jerry Saltz.

I read this article in New York Magazine a few weeks ago, and it made me laugh, made me think, inspired me, and comforted me. The entire truth of how to be and live as an artist is contained here. I’m not kidding. Whether you are a complete amateur or a creative professional, I promise that there’s something for you here.

Love boredom.

Seriously. Step away from the smart phone, from social media, from mindless web surfing (no, this doesn’t count!), from video games, from time sucking apps. Allow yourself to do nothing, to be nothing, to look at nothing, consume nothing. The blank space is the seat of all creative thought. The most brilliant, beautiful, world-changing ideas came from the empty space of boredom where a unique mind worked to entertain itself and fill the universe with ideas that were original and authentic. But if you fill every blank or awkward or boring moment with some piece of garbage, then you will create absolutely nothing. Ever. And the world will be a lesser place because of it.

Thanks for reading. And, hey, get to work on that novel! I believe in you.

The post New Year’s Resolutions for Writers appeared first on Lisa Unger.

Last Minute Gift Ideas for Writers

If you ask an aspiring writer what she wants for Christmas, she’ll probably tell you “more time to write!” And that is, of course, every aspiring writer’s biggest challenge. This holiday season, here a few ideas to offer that and more to the special writer in your life.

Pen and Paper

The Moleskine notebook and the Marvy Le Pen are my two very favorite writer items. There’s nothing like a fresh notebook and a package of new inky pens to make me feel like writing. Writers often suffer from the feeling that their words aren’t important, or that they’re not real writers unless they’re published.  But the only thing you need to do to be a real writer is to write. And the only thing you really need to write is pen and paper. Consider the gift of a moleskin, pens and maybe a copy of Julia Cameron’s The Right to Write to give some encouragement and motivation.

The Gift of Time

Your writer pal probably has a million other responsibilities — a job, a spouse, kids, housework. Often these things won’t wait, or we can’t give ourselves permission to write until we’ve tended to the needs of everyone else. How about a couple hours of free babysitting? Cleaning service for a week? Or a chef to cook for an evening? A couple of hours a week can make a big difference for a writer balancing a busy life.

All Writers are Readers First

Everyone who writes fell in love with story in the pages of another author’s book. And nothing is more inspiring than reading a book you love. Luckily some of the world’s best novelists have also written brilliant books about craft. Here are a few that I turn to again and again when inspiration flags: ON WRITING by Stephen King; BIRD BY BIRD by Anne Lamott; ASPECTS OF THE NOVEL by E.M. Forster;  PLOTTING AND WRITING SUSPENSE FICTION by Patricia Highsmith

Social Media Kills Creativity

Chances are your writer pal is his or her own worst enemy when it comes to finding the time to write. How many times have we all sat down to our computers to write — and instead found ourselves trolling social media sites, online shopping, or watching funny cat videos instead?  Luckily there are a couple of apps that your writer pal can download that will help him set his intention to write, and block that impulse to visit sites that steal time, ambition and the desire to write. Anti-Social, Freedom, Self-Control are just a few.

The Tribe

Writing is a solitary activity. But there are places where writers gather. These conferences, workshops, and local groups can be a place to make contacts, gain inspiration, and receive feedback on works in progress. Maybe you and your pal can travel to one together, if time and budget allows. Or perhaps there’s a local group that meets a couple of times a month. Bouchercon and Thrillerfest are a couple for suspense writers that I love. And Keep St. Pete Lit is an example of a local group supporting writers and readers; search your area for something similar. Here is a good list of conferences.

Sometimes all the writer needs is a little support, encouragement, and a gentle nudge to find her way to the page. Maybe you can be the person that offers that invaluable gift, and you’ll get a loving acknowledgement in your pal’s first novel. Oh, come on— who are we kidding? You’re the writer, aren’t you? Well, then, these suggestions are for you! Now get to work!

The post Last Minute Gift Ideas for Writers appeared first on Lisa Unger.

Big Book Giveaway on December 15th!

How would you like to win a massive tower of books from some of the biggest, most acclaimed authors in the world, including Stephen King, Harlan Coben, Karin Slaughter, Mary Higgins Clark, Alafair Burke, Sara Blaedel, Kate White, Mary Kubica, Gregg Hurwitz, Sarah Weinman, Carol Goodman, Hank Phillippi Ryan, Ace Atkins, Jo Nesbo, C.J. Tudor, Jeff Abbott, Heather Gudenkauf, Lori Roy, Cara Black, Chris Bohjalian, Christina Alger, Bryan Reardon, K.J. Howe, J.T. Ellison and more!

Most of my author pals listed above generously donated books, and some I added from my own bookshelf.

One lucky reader will win this entire collection!

To Enter:

Donate ANY amount to ANY charity, including my own pick this season Big Brothers Big Sisters of America.
Email lisa@lisaunger.com to let me know you did.

*Winner will be drawn at random on Dec. 15th, 2018.

The post Big Book Giveaway on December 15th! appeared first on Lisa Unger.

Win Books by Bestselling Authors on Giving Tuesday!

How would you like to win this massive tower of books from some of the biggest, most acclaimed authors in the world, including Stephen King, Harlan Coben, Karin Slaughter, Mary Higgins Clark, Alafair Burke, Sara Blaedel, Kate White, Mary Kubica, Gregg Hurwitz, Sarah Weinman, Carol Goodman, Hank Phillippi Ryan, Ace Atkins, Jo Nesbo, C.J. Tudor, Jeff Abbott, Heather Gudenkauf, Lori Roy, Cara Black, Chris Bohjalian, Christina Alger, Bryan Reardon, K.J. Howe, J.T. Ellison and more!

Most of my author pals listed above generously donated books, and some I added from my own bookshelf.

One lucky reader will win this entire collection!

To Enter:

Donate ANY amount to ANY charity, including my own pick this season Big Brothers Big Sisters of America.
Email lisa@lisaunger.com to let me know you did.

*Winner will be drawn at random on Dec. 15th, 2018.

The post Win Books by Bestselling Authors on Giving Tuesday! appeared first on Lisa Unger.