Molly O'Keefe's Blog, page 40
April 2, 2012
Awake
So I'm kind of grooving on this show Awake. It's about a cop who has been in a terrible car accident and he is now living a double reality. In one reality, his wife died in the car accident and he's trying to parent a grieving teenaged son. Then he goes to sleep in that reality and wakes up to one where his son died in the car accident and he's trying to keep his marriage together with his grieving wife.
Meanwhile, he's working two cases - one in each reality. The details of the cases cross back and forth between the two realities although the cases are different. So an address in one turns out to be the key to solving the crime in the other. It's complicated. Also he's seeing two shrinks, one in each reality. Both psychologists are convinced they're the real one and both have slightly different interpretations of what he's doing and why he's doing it.
I find it very absorbing, but I can't help but marvel at what the writers are doing each week. It's a yeoman's job. First of all, they have to write two crime stories. Then they also have to have two emotional turning points for the character (that are usually linked). Then they have to have the pieces that cross back and forth. Truly, I'm kind of in awe over the whole thing.
I'm a little sad that no one seems to be talking about it, though. I have a bad feeling that it's going to be a one season wonder. Anyone else watching it? Anyone else like it? Hate it?
Meanwhile, he's working two cases - one in each reality. The details of the cases cross back and forth between the two realities although the cases are different. So an address in one turns out to be the key to solving the crime in the other. It's complicated. Also he's seeing two shrinks, one in each reality. Both psychologists are convinced they're the real one and both have slightly different interpretations of what he's doing and why he's doing it.
I find it very absorbing, but I can't help but marvel at what the writers are doing each week. It's a yeoman's job. First of all, they have to write two crime stories. Then they also have to have two emotional turning points for the character (that are usually linked). Then they have to have the pieces that cross back and forth. Truly, I'm kind of in awe over the whole thing.
I'm a little sad that no one seems to be talking about it, though. I have a bad feeling that it's going to be a one season wonder. Anyone else watching it? Anyone else like it? Hate it?
Am I stupid? Or is it just not good?
So, I finally watched the Mad Man opener. Lots to love. LOTS. Really engaging on about twenty different levels. One of my favorite things about this show is that I, as a pretty smart watcher, have no idea how Don Draper is going to react to things. It's like watching this man tettor totter between the best of himself and the worst. No idea from one problem to the next if he's going to take someone's head off, or give them a pass. And it was hot. Really hot in that awesome repressed sexuality way - totally dug it.
But I was reading a review of it - in Rolling Stone I think. And they were talking about how the aspects that the show gets right - namely Draper - they're A+. But the aspects they fail at - namely pacing, meandering subplots and staging - they really do fail.
And it opened my eyes to the fact that I've let this show get away with so much because I've been convinced it's so much smarter than me. If something doesn't work for me it must be my fault because the show is SO GOOD. But just because something is great and I mean really really great at a few things, doesn't mean it's bullet proof. I've had my blinders lifted.
Are there shows/books/movies out there that you've given the benefit of the doubt because parts of them are so amazing?
But I was reading a review of it - in Rolling Stone I think. And they were talking about how the aspects that the show gets right - namely Draper - they're A+. But the aspects they fail at - namely pacing, meandering subplots and staging - they really do fail.
And it opened my eyes to the fact that I've let this show get away with so much because I've been convinced it's so much smarter than me. If something doesn't work for me it must be my fault because the show is SO GOOD. But just because something is great and I mean really really great at a few things, doesn't mean it's bullet proof. I've had my blinders lifted.
Are there shows/books/movies out there that you've given the benefit of the doubt because parts of them are so amazing?
March 30, 2012
I'm hooked
Stephanie was right. New Girl is great, and charming and really, really funny. I'm hooked, and I tried to fight it. My first impression was that the main character, The Zoe Deschanel character is really, really annoying.
And I'm not sure my first impression is wrong, but as a foil to every other character in the show, she's kind of perfect. She's the innocent thrown in with three cynicals, but what she brings out in them is the core of sweetness at the heart of these three guys. It's a really interesting trick, and the writers were so smart because the contrast in character is what drives a lot of the storylines, but also has created some great story arcs.
And when placed with her three roommates, Zoe is a lot less annoying. And yes, as Stephanie pointed out, there is the comic genius that is Shmidt.
I'm glad I listened to Stephanie and started to watch it, because right now, it's funnier to me than either Modern Family, or 30 Rock.
And this Sunday, Game of Thrones Season 2..... anyone else anxiously awaiting it's return?
And I'm not sure my first impression is wrong, but as a foil to every other character in the show, she's kind of perfect. She's the innocent thrown in with three cynicals, but what she brings out in them is the core of sweetness at the heart of these three guys. It's a really interesting trick, and the writers were so smart because the contrast in character is what drives a lot of the storylines, but also has created some great story arcs.
And when placed with her three roommates, Zoe is a lot less annoying. And yes, as Stephanie pointed out, there is the comic genius that is Shmidt.
I'm glad I listened to Stephanie and started to watch it, because right now, it's funnier to me than either Modern Family, or 30 Rock.
And this Sunday, Game of Thrones Season 2..... anyone else anxiously awaiting it's return?
March 29, 2012
Perspective
I'm not going to lie. It's been a pretty big couple of weeks career wise that happened so unexpectedly as to be almost bizarre. I went from invisible to very visible (at least in the romance writing community) in a very short amount of time.
But here is the thing, I've been on the writing roller coaster a long time. And I remember very clearly my last high. I know I've told this story before… but I was hard at work on a 3 book contract that was going to be my first series, my Flipside was chosen to be one of two launch books for the line. Which meant there was a big advertising push behind it including ads in national magazines. I remember at that RWA conference seeing my book everywhere. To this day it is my highest grossing book. And there was a new line coming out that I thought fit me perfectly called Bombshell which I had submitted to. At that same conference the senior editor of the line sought me out and wanted to talk to me about the book I submitted. Sure thing right? If an editor actually approaches you!
So in my head I had dreams of really starting to make an impact. Lots of books out, multiple lines, finally finally attracting some readers.
My editor hated the first of the 3 book series so much she dropped the other two books and I made the decision to give Harlequin the advance back on the whole series rather than put what my then editor said was a subpar product on the market. The book for Bombshell was rejected without any reason and I was to find out in a couple of months that the Flipside line was going to be canceled.
Career over. And the feeling in my stomach felt just like it does on a roller coaster when you are on the way down. Now over the years I've come back up on some smaller sized bumps and then of course gone back down again.
But these last few weeks it's been like … oh man, this is really high. Which naturally in my warped mind has me wondering how bad the fall is going to feel when it's time to go back down again.
But I decided to learn something. To grow as a human being because I'm over forty now and that seems like something a human being should do. I mean my characters are always growing… seems silly I never thought to try it myself.
Instead of letting the high drive me to push even higher – I'm going to keep it in perspective. Instead of spending the whole time on the ride up worrying about the way down – I'm just going to enjoy it. This is fun. Will it have an impact on my career… who knows? Will I be down in the dumps in a couple of months because everything went wrong… maybe.
But the thing other thing I've learned is that nothing is ever so bad that it means the end of my writing world. There is always a way even at the lowest point to somehow start it up again.
I guess I'm saying it's a ride that never ends. Good thing I like roller coasters.
What about you, ever thought your career was over?
But here is the thing, I've been on the writing roller coaster a long time. And I remember very clearly my last high. I know I've told this story before… but I was hard at work on a 3 book contract that was going to be my first series, my Flipside was chosen to be one of two launch books for the line. Which meant there was a big advertising push behind it including ads in national magazines. I remember at that RWA conference seeing my book everywhere. To this day it is my highest grossing book. And there was a new line coming out that I thought fit me perfectly called Bombshell which I had submitted to. At that same conference the senior editor of the line sought me out and wanted to talk to me about the book I submitted. Sure thing right? If an editor actually approaches you!
So in my head I had dreams of really starting to make an impact. Lots of books out, multiple lines, finally finally attracting some readers.
My editor hated the first of the 3 book series so much she dropped the other two books and I made the decision to give Harlequin the advance back on the whole series rather than put what my then editor said was a subpar product on the market. The book for Bombshell was rejected without any reason and I was to find out in a couple of months that the Flipside line was going to be canceled.
Career over. And the feeling in my stomach felt just like it does on a roller coaster when you are on the way down. Now over the years I've come back up on some smaller sized bumps and then of course gone back down again.
But these last few weeks it's been like … oh man, this is really high. Which naturally in my warped mind has me wondering how bad the fall is going to feel when it's time to go back down again.
But I decided to learn something. To grow as a human being because I'm over forty now and that seems like something a human being should do. I mean my characters are always growing… seems silly I never thought to try it myself.
Instead of letting the high drive me to push even higher – I'm going to keep it in perspective. Instead of spending the whole time on the ride up worrying about the way down – I'm just going to enjoy it. This is fun. Will it have an impact on my career… who knows? Will I be down in the dumps in a couple of months because everything went wrong… maybe.
But the thing other thing I've learned is that nothing is ever so bad that it means the end of my writing world. There is always a way even at the lowest point to somehow start it up again.
I guess I'm saying it's a ride that never ends. Good thing I like roller coasters.
What about you, ever thought your career was over?
March 28, 2012
Congratulations Stephanie!!!
Our own Stephanie Doyle is a 2012 RITA finalist in the Contemporary Series Romance: Suspense/Adventure category for her fabulous book, THE DOCTOR'S DEADLY AFFAIR. For those of you not tapped onto the romance publishing world, this is the highest honor in romance fiction!
And we couldn't be more excited!!!!
If you haven't already read Stephanie's book, or want to buy, say dozen copies for your closest friends, you can buy it here:
Amazon : The Doctor's Deadly Affair
B&N: The Doctor's Deadly Affair
And she's got a new book, THE WAY BACK, coming out next week that got a fabulous review from Dear Author (who can be pretty tough on some books).
Yay, Steph!!! You're on a roll, baby!
And we couldn't be more excited!!!!
If you haven't already read Stephanie's book, or want to buy, say dozen copies for your closest friends, you can buy it here:
Amazon : The Doctor's Deadly Affair
B&N: The Doctor's Deadly Affair
And she's got a new book, THE WAY BACK, coming out next week that got a fabulous review from Dear Author (who can be pretty tough on some books).
Yay, Steph!!! You're on a roll, baby!
March 27, 2012
I love girls.
No, not like that. Get your mind out of the gutter.
So last Sunday, Andy and I went to hear his friend Lynn Asher play at a singer songwriter evening at a bar in Fairfax. I went because my New Years resolution was to go hear more music with Andy in bars. It makes him so happy and giving up a night here and there of wearing stretchy pants while drinking wine on the couch seemed worth it to make my sweet baboo happy.
It was Lynn and three other singing songwriting women. It was fantastic. Truly fantastic. I'm completely blown away by the amount of talent out there. More than that, though, I loved the songs they wrote. They were songs about the stuff I care about. Relationships. Hopes. Dreams. Love. Loss. There was one song called "Baby's Gotta Have It" about weaning a daughter. There was another song about the death of a friend that I can't talk about or I'll start crying.
I'm also listening to Tina Fey's Bossypants. She is super funny. Underneath all the funny, though, Ms. Fey's got some stuff to say. She has stuff to say about what's funny, about the differences between men and women, about ambition and about going on a cruise for her honeymoon (btw, Ms. Fey, I am indeed part of the cultural elite because I totes got the David Foster Wallace reference). Stuff I care about. Stuff I think about. Stuff I wonder about.
Here's the other thing about all this girly stuff. Lynn sang with three other women. Each one of those women learned all the other women's songs so they could play them and harmonize and back each other up. As each woman took the mic, she would take a moment to thank the other women. It was awesome.
Tina Fey talks about the changes at Second City and Saturday Night Live while she was at those two places. She talks about the myth of competition between women. She talks about supporting each other.
So I'm saying yay for girliness! Do you have a favorite girly attribute? Tell me. I'm totally listening to you because that's one of the things that girls do.
So last Sunday, Andy and I went to hear his friend Lynn Asher play at a singer songwriter evening at a bar in Fairfax. I went because my New Years resolution was to go hear more music with Andy in bars. It makes him so happy and giving up a night here and there of wearing stretchy pants while drinking wine on the couch seemed worth it to make my sweet baboo happy.
It was Lynn and three other singing songwriting women. It was fantastic. Truly fantastic. I'm completely blown away by the amount of talent out there. More than that, though, I loved the songs they wrote. They were songs about the stuff I care about. Relationships. Hopes. Dreams. Love. Loss. There was one song called "Baby's Gotta Have It" about weaning a daughter. There was another song about the death of a friend that I can't talk about or I'll start crying.
I'm also listening to Tina Fey's Bossypants. She is super funny. Underneath all the funny, though, Ms. Fey's got some stuff to say. She has stuff to say about what's funny, about the differences between men and women, about ambition and about going on a cruise for her honeymoon (btw, Ms. Fey, I am indeed part of the cultural elite because I totes got the David Foster Wallace reference). Stuff I care about. Stuff I think about. Stuff I wonder about.
Here's the other thing about all this girly stuff. Lynn sang with three other women. Each one of those women learned all the other women's songs so they could play them and harmonize and back each other up. As each woman took the mic, she would take a moment to thank the other women. It was awesome.
Tina Fey talks about the changes at Second City and Saturday Night Live while she was at those two places. She talks about the myth of competition between women. She talks about supporting each other.
So I'm saying yay for girliness! Do you have a favorite girly attribute? Tell me. I'm totally listening to you because that's one of the things that girls do.
March 26, 2012
This stupid book meets it's end at a writer's retreat
I'm on my first writer's retreat. I might have been on writer's retreats before - but not like this. This shit is hard core. Christine D'Abo has written 12,000 words. Twelve thousand. Come on!?
I finished my manuscript and it met it's fitting end up here. I've been head down with this book for months, ripping out the guts and putting them back in. Stressing, stressing, stressing every step of the way - working late at night. Not going to the gym because there's been this internal drive to get back to the book.
And I think this book has changed my process. It's been really painful every step of the way and I'm hoping it will get less painful, but I think I'm better served writing these first drafts as fast as I can. If I can put my head down and keep the world fresh in my head, the book starts in a better place, no matter how fast I write and how bad the flaws are - it's still better than if I stretch out the writing of the first draft. Which will leave me more time to let it rest before my deadline, which I'm also going to use. So maybe I can get back to the gym next week. And clean my house. And talk to my children...
Just when I had some nice life/writing balance, this book came and ruined it.
Oh, and we saw Hunger Games. Totally satisfying.
I finished my manuscript and it met it's fitting end up here. I've been head down with this book for months, ripping out the guts and putting them back in. Stressing, stressing, stressing every step of the way - working late at night. Not going to the gym because there's been this internal drive to get back to the book.
And I think this book has changed my process. It's been really painful every step of the way and I'm hoping it will get less painful, but I think I'm better served writing these first drafts as fast as I can. If I can put my head down and keep the world fresh in my head, the book starts in a better place, no matter how fast I write and how bad the flaws are - it's still better than if I stretch out the writing of the first draft. Which will leave me more time to let it rest before my deadline, which I'm also going to use. So maybe I can get back to the gym next week. And clean my house. And talk to my children...
Just when I had some nice life/writing balance, this book came and ruined it.
Oh, and we saw Hunger Games. Totally satisfying.
March 24, 2012
Hunger Games - The movie
So let me start with, it's great. Anyone, who has, or hasn't read the book will really, really enjoy it. It's tense and you care for the people in jeopardy, and the acting is amazing, especially by Jennifer Lawrence, who is incredible as Katniss.
And if you haven't read the books, stop reading now, because I really don't want to spoil any of the movie for you.
If you have read the books, the movie follows the book very closely, so while there aren't any surprises, it did realize much of the way I saw the book in my head.
And I found the structure the same, in terms of how they broke up the story. The events leading up to the start of the games, the preparation took almost as much time as the actual games did.
They even did a nice job with the creation of the Peeta romance, and how they tried to make it clear it was as much for show as it was because she had genuine feelings for him. What was funny was the reactions of the teenage girls in the theatre who yelled loudly everytime Gale appeared on the screen. And during the Katniss-Peeta kiss.
I jumped at times, loved the connection between Katniss and Rue and even enjoyed how they did a good job of showing just how shrewd Peeta was during the build up of the games.
If I have any complaints and they really are minor, it's that the movie lacked the richness of the novel, but somethings are really hard to translate. All in all I loved the movie and highly recommend it.
Anyone else crazy enough to go see it on opening night?
And if you haven't read the books, stop reading now, because I really don't want to spoil any of the movie for you.
If you have read the books, the movie follows the book very closely, so while there aren't any surprises, it did realize much of the way I saw the book in my head.
And I found the structure the same, in terms of how they broke up the story. The events leading up to the start of the games, the preparation took almost as much time as the actual games did.
They even did a nice job with the creation of the Peeta romance, and how they tried to make it clear it was as much for show as it was because she had genuine feelings for him. What was funny was the reactions of the teenage girls in the theatre who yelled loudly everytime Gale appeared on the screen. And during the Katniss-Peeta kiss.
I jumped at times, loved the connection between Katniss and Rue and even enjoyed how they did a good job of showing just how shrewd Peeta was during the build up of the games.
If I have any complaints and they really are minor, it's that the movie lacked the richness of the novel, but somethings are really hard to translate. All in all I loved the movie and highly recommend it.
Anyone else crazy enough to go see it on opening night?
March 22, 2012
Mr. Cellophane...
I remember a few years ago at a romance conference there was woman at the table next to me at the literacy signing. Together we were watching everyone go by, looking at our names, realizing they didn't know who we were and keep walking. She laughed and started singing the song from Chicago about the man who is invisible.
Well last Saturday I feel like I got my 15 seconds of fame. I got a Recommends from Jane and Dear Author. Now this is probably a bigger deal to me than it might be to other people. For one I've been following that blog for years. Not only have I loved so many of the recommendations Jane has made, but I've also loved how she has elevated the conversation in general about the romance book industry.
When I realized I was going to be on the blog I actually welled up with tears. (Unfortunately this happened in my office where my assistant saw me. Since then he has left a packet of tissues on my chair every day with a note that says "Just in case." - He thinks he's very funny.)
But what that review meant to me was for the first time after 15 plus years of writing and publishing I wasn't invisible anymore. I was a recommended author on a popular blog. And I will always look at that moment and cherish it.
Now of course my 15 seconds are up. My Amazon rankings are back to normal. Other reviews have come and gone. And the next books need to be written and written well.
But it sure was a great 15 seconds.
Well last Saturday I feel like I got my 15 seconds of fame. I got a Recommends from Jane and Dear Author. Now this is probably a bigger deal to me than it might be to other people. For one I've been following that blog for years. Not only have I loved so many of the recommendations Jane has made, but I've also loved how she has elevated the conversation in general about the romance book industry.
When I realized I was going to be on the blog I actually welled up with tears. (Unfortunately this happened in my office where my assistant saw me. Since then he has left a packet of tissues on my chair every day with a note that says "Just in case." - He thinks he's very funny.)
But what that review meant to me was for the first time after 15 plus years of writing and publishing I wasn't invisible anymore. I was a recommended author on a popular blog. And I will always look at that moment and cherish it.
Now of course my 15 seconds are up. My Amazon rankings are back to normal. Other reviews have come and gone. And the next books need to be written and written well.
But it sure was a great 15 seconds.
March 21, 2012
Mad Mad Mad Men Anticipation
I'm going to go way out on a limb and say that I cannot wait for the new season of Mad Men. I know, controversial. ;)
I'm going to be out of town this weekend at a writers' retreat and I will DIE if my DVR lets me down.
The past few weeks I've been watching the last season of Mad Men in re-runs and saw one of my favorite episodes yesterday. The one where it's Peggy's birthday and Don keeps her really late (eventually overnight) and Don learns that Anna has died.
There are a lot of reasons to love this episode, but I think for me it's all about the slow simmer that turns into a raging boil.
Mad Men is so often about subtle storytelling. About what the characters don't say. And three of the really HUGE things from Season 1: Peggy having Pete's baby, Don's secret identity as Dick Whitman, Don knowing that Peggy had a baby--all these things kind of hit the fan in this episode. Events from Season 1. And this was more than half-way into Season 4.
I admire how long they let some of these things simmer. Sure, in the intervening seasons there were a few episodes where we saw Anna to remind us that the real Don Draper's wife exists, and that our Don is supporting her, and yes, Betty finds out, leading to the Drapers' divorce. And sure there were a few small moments about Peggy's baby and about some lingering attraction between her and Pete. But Don knowing about the baby was pretty much never mentioned again. Which made sense to me. I mean, Don understands having secrets better than anyone so the fact that he never brought it up and that it simply formed part of this strange dynamic between Don and Peggy (among with so many other things, like her knowing about his car crash and affair with a client's wife etc. etc.) made total sense to me. It's like they had this balance of each other's secrets.
But then everything happens at once. Don finds out he's lost the only person in the world who knows who he really is--and loves him anyway. Peggy finds out that Pete's wife is having a baby--a half sibling to her "nephew" who's being raised by her sister--and this brings up a whole slew of feelings. Peggy misses her birthday dinner with her boyfriend then resents him when she finds out he invited her family along as a surprise. They break up. Peggy tells Don that her mom assumes that he was the father of her baby because he was the only visitor she had in the hospital and that her mom hates Don because of it. She also reveals both that everyone in the office assumes she slept with Don to get her promotion, AND that she's a little hurt that it's not true.
And then they spend the night his office, his head in her lap. And in the morning when he finally calls California, he cries in front of her, really cries and she comforts him.
And that's not all that happens. During all that, Peggy unleashes her resentment about Don not giving her credit for her ideas and he puts her in her place. And Don learns that Peggy was sleeping with Duck. And Duck calls Peggy a whore and Don defends her, tries to punch him and they get into a fight.
Such a powerful episode. So many little threads all woven together. Reminded me why I love this show and can't wait for more!
And have you seen those "The Zombies are Back" trailers? LOL. Gotta love AMC. Talk about great cross promo. I hope those spots help Mad Men snag some of the The Walking Dead audience.
I'm going to be out of town this weekend at a writers' retreat and I will DIE if my DVR lets me down.
The past few weeks I've been watching the last season of Mad Men in re-runs and saw one of my favorite episodes yesterday. The one where it's Peggy's birthday and Don keeps her really late (eventually overnight) and Don learns that Anna has died.
There are a lot of reasons to love this episode, but I think for me it's all about the slow simmer that turns into a raging boil.
Mad Men is so often about subtle storytelling. About what the characters don't say. And three of the really HUGE things from Season 1: Peggy having Pete's baby, Don's secret identity as Dick Whitman, Don knowing that Peggy had a baby--all these things kind of hit the fan in this episode. Events from Season 1. And this was more than half-way into Season 4.
I admire how long they let some of these things simmer. Sure, in the intervening seasons there were a few episodes where we saw Anna to remind us that the real Don Draper's wife exists, and that our Don is supporting her, and yes, Betty finds out, leading to the Drapers' divorce. And sure there were a few small moments about Peggy's baby and about some lingering attraction between her and Pete. But Don knowing about the baby was pretty much never mentioned again. Which made sense to me. I mean, Don understands having secrets better than anyone so the fact that he never brought it up and that it simply formed part of this strange dynamic between Don and Peggy (among with so many other things, like her knowing about his car crash and affair with a client's wife etc. etc.) made total sense to me. It's like they had this balance of each other's secrets.
But then everything happens at once. Don finds out he's lost the only person in the world who knows who he really is--and loves him anyway. Peggy finds out that Pete's wife is having a baby--a half sibling to her "nephew" who's being raised by her sister--and this brings up a whole slew of feelings. Peggy misses her birthday dinner with her boyfriend then resents him when she finds out he invited her family along as a surprise. They break up. Peggy tells Don that her mom assumes that he was the father of her baby because he was the only visitor she had in the hospital and that her mom hates Don because of it. She also reveals both that everyone in the office assumes she slept with Don to get her promotion, AND that she's a little hurt that it's not true.
And then they spend the night his office, his head in her lap. And in the morning when he finally calls California, he cries in front of her, really cries and she comforts him.
And that's not all that happens. During all that, Peggy unleashes her resentment about Don not giving her credit for her ideas and he puts her in her place. And Don learns that Peggy was sleeping with Duck. And Duck calls Peggy a whore and Don defends her, tries to punch him and they get into a fight.
Such a powerful episode. So many little threads all woven together. Reminded me why I love this show and can't wait for more!
And have you seen those "The Zombies are Back" trailers? LOL. Gotta love AMC. Talk about great cross promo. I hope those spots help Mad Men snag some of the The Walking Dead audience.
