Jennifer Chase's Blog, page 92

Basic Guidelines for Novel Outlines

Two of the most popular questions about writing novels I hear… How long does it take to write a novel and do you outline? Both are great questions, but answers vary from writer to writer. An average time frame for writing a novel is about nine months to a year. I think that's reasonable. Everyone is different in speed and time they have to write a novel.

I used to think that it was divided on whether or not to outline or not to outline your book project. The more writers I talk to, they just dive right in without an outline or with just a basic story idea. Whatever method works for you and the type of story you're developing is a personal decision. For me, I like to immerse myself into an extensive outline that eventually becomes the first choppy draft of my novel. I don't like to spend tons of time rewriting, so I find that doing a fairly comprehensive outline eliminates dozens of rewrites.

I wanted to share some of my outlining tips that will help you to get ready for a book project. These are my "big three" outline guidelines for beginning a novel. I begin every one of my book projects this way.

Brainstorm
Think about every aspect of your story, plot, and characters before you begin writing. Write ideas down (even if you think you might not use it) and keep brainstorming. Let your ideas simmer for a while. You'll be surprised at what you can come up with when you have some time to really think about your project. Talk it over with a trusted friend or family member and brainstorm a little more. It helps to talk about your story out loud.

Preliminary Outline
Use your computer, notebook, index cards, recorder, or whatever feels the most comfortable to you to begin your preliminary outline. Workout your character profiles, settings, plot sketches, and summary outline of beginning, middle, and end of the story. Take the time to write everything about your characters: where they live, what they look like, dreams, secrets, etc. Have fun with this process. Know absolutely everything about all of your characters (good and bad ones), even their deepest, darkest secrets. Write out the preliminary summary of the beginning, middle, and end. You will begin to see a story developing. This will quite often tell you if you really have a story worth pursuing or not.

Research
This is my favorite part. Research is very important. You want to make sure that things make sense or appear logical. It also helps to give a more richness to the story. Many times you don't realize that you need to research things, such as professions, details of actual places (cities or countries), laws, behavioral psychology, etc. It's important to research during the outline stage because it may affect your story and better to correct at the early stage. Workout your facts, interviews you need to do, and crime timeline (for mystery novels). Use all types of information gathering areas and don't limit your research to the Internet. You can use newspapers, magazines, library, actual people and businesses, notes from other novels, etc.

Now, you're ready to dig deep into the extensive outline or begin your chapter writing. Whatever method you choose… Happy writing!

Jennifer ChaseAward Winning Author & Criminologist Blog: http://authorjenniferchase.blogspot.com/ Website: http://jenniferchase.vpweb.com/ Crime Watch: http://emilystonecrimewatch.blogspot.com/ Book & Crime Talk: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/jennifer-chase

Award Winning Author and Criminologist Jennifer Chase - Author Appearance & Book Signing

I'm going to be signing books at Borders Books in Sand City (Monterey area), CA on Saturday, January 15th, 2011. Stop by and say hello if you can. I will be heading out for an early dinner in Monterey afterwards. Join me!

Looking forward to meeting you all,

Jennifer


Where: Borders Books
When: Saturday, January 15th 2011
Time: 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm

Borders Books
2080 California Avenue
Sand City, CA 93955
(831) 899-6643

Elizabeth Smart's Kidnapper is Found Guilty

One of the most publicized casings of kidnapping in recent history reached one more step towards its final conclusion on Friday when a jury in Utah found Brian David Mitchell guilty of kidnapping and transporting a minor across state lines. Mitchell kidnapped then 14-year-old Elizabeth Smart from her room in June 2002 and held her captive for nine months. During the five weeks of testimony that led up to the conviction, Smart shared that she had been raped every day , had been forced to consume drugs and alcohol, and was regularly tied to a tree.

At the heart of the defense's efforts was the assertion that Mitchell is a mentally ill man. Mitchell claimed to be an angel and preached on the streets with the assumed name Immanuel. In fact, he was removed from the courtroom regularly during his trial for singing hymns loudly. He also sang as his sentence was read today.

The prosecution countered that Mitchell was faking his delusions and knew exactly what he was doing . He carefully executed his plan to kidnap Elizabeth Smart and was very calculating in his torture and emotional manipulation.

The jury found the argument put forth by the prosecutors to be more persuasive, and Mitchell now faces life in prison when he is sentenced on May 25. His wife, Wanda Barzee , is already serving fifteen years in jail for her participation in the crimes.

Whether you are a professional in the field or a layperson who has been following this case, what are your thoughts on the psychological status of Brian David Mitchell? Were his the actions of a sane but sick man who had a full understanding of his own behavior?

Psychopaths, Pathological Liars, and Scam Artists

Psychopaths aren't always career criminals and serial killers, unfortunately, many times they are because they can't help themselves as they exhibit distinct patterns of behavior. A psychopath is an individual who views others as sources of gratification and acts accordingly without remorse or conscience.

Individuals who con others are generally psychopaths. For the most part, we assume that most people are honest. For a psychopath, they prey upon this trait and that's why so many people hear only what "they" want them to hear. Many times in relationships, the pathological liars or scam artists pace the relationship exactly how it will best suit their own needs. For example, a romantic liar paces the relationship so that it becomes intense very quickly -- to their advantage.

Pathological liars tend to know more about your personal details than you know about theirs. It is highly cautioned that before anyone jumps deep into a relationship that you know more about them. Ask yourself, "What do I really know about them and is there evidence to back up the information that I've been told?" Be cautious. There's nothing wrong with that.

Scam artists have certain behavior patterns and tactics for their victims. They often try and isolate a person from their family and friends to limit the people that might help with a reality check on their story. Often, they constantly keep track of a person's whereabouts.

There are definite signs to look for with these types of psychopaths. These people spend a lot of time talking about themselves, bragging about things that are larger than life, amused by cruelty, and many times have a constant need to borrow money by making excuses.


Jennifer Chase
Award Winning Author & Criminologist
Blog: http://authorjenniferchase.blogspot.com/
Website: http://jenniferchase.vpweb.com/
Crime Watch: http://emilystonecrimewatch.blogspot.com/
Book & Crime Talk: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/jennifer-chase

Main Characters that Make a Lasting Impression

Everyone has their favorite leading characters from movies and books. I know that I seem to gravitate towards strong, no nonsense, kick butt female leads like Sara Connor in the Terminator trilogy. These characters make you cheer when they overcome their struggles and obstacles that are thrown their way. However, some of my favorites may surprise you.

Here are a few of my favorite memorable characters in no particular order:
1. Sarah Connor, Terminator series (movies)
2. Lincoln Rhyme, Jeffrey Deaver series (books)
3. Harry Potter, JK Rowling (books & movies)
4. Odd Thomas, Dean Koontz series (books)
5. Jack Reacher, Lee Child series (books)
6. Miss Marple, Agatha Christie Mysteries (books & movies)
7. Clarice Starling, Silence of the Lambs (book & movie)
8. Lt. Viktor Burakov, Citizen X (movie)
9. Officer John McClane, Die Hard series (movies)
10. Detective Jane Rizzoli, Tess Gerritsen series (books & TV series)Why do we love these memorable characters? These characters seem to stick with us after we finish a great book or watch an exciting movie. As we read or view a particular story, we want to feel a part of the storyline. We want to feel engaged, interested, and to be able to use our imagination. It's important to feel or relate to a certain situation that the main character is struggling with during the book or movie. Even if the character is out to save large group of hostages in a Los Angeles high rise as in the movie Die Hard, we still feel fear, pride, confidence and want to see the hero prevail.

When I sit down to create a character for my own books, I try to imagine all of the triggers that make you want to read on and cheer for the character to succeed. In my books Compulsion and Dead Game , my heroine Emily Stone was a fun character for me to create as she hunts down serial killers anonymously and then covertly emails the cops the information. I enjoy this character because she's doing the right thing and she's also providing assistance to the already overworked police departments. I imagine all of the dangerous and tight predicaments that she might get herself into to find the killer, pedophile, or lost child.

In my newest release Silent Partner , Deputy Jack Davis is a hardworking cop who tries to do the right things, but realizes that things aren't always what they seem to be in the world. I remember hearing a screenwriter/professor tell his students, "Create characters worth caring about." I think that has always stuck with me.

Creating characters that are wonderfully flawed, strong, weak, confident, and triumph no matter what, will keep readers and movie-goers coming back for more.
Who are some of your favorite and most memorable characters?

Jennifer ChaseAward Winning Author & CriminologistBlog: http://authorjenniferchase.blogspot.com/ Website: http://jenniferchase.vpweb.com/ Crime Watch: http://emilystonecrimewatch.blogspot.com/ Book & Crime Talk: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/jennifer-chase "Compulsion", "Award Winning Dead Game", and "Silent Partner are available in Paperback and Kindle Format!

Jack & Keno Fight Crime in Silent Partner

Police K9 units are sometimes the unsung heroes of law enforcement. Most people don't know much about them, except the fact that these chosen patrol officers have a four-legged partner instead of a human partner. And of course, the fact that these partners can stop and bite the bad guy or find hidden drugs, explosives, or lost people.

There are definite positive aspects to having a canine as a partner. They don't have a bad day, complain about a spouse or relationship, or have any personal problems that could hinder their job performance in the line of duty. It takes a strong, driven person to train with police dogs. You must have an understanding of dogs in general and know the limitations of the task you're undertaking.

I had the wonderful and amazing opportunity to train with the local K9 in my area for scent detection work. I remember the first time I brought my dog into a large warehouse building to search for narcotics. We had already trained in simulated, controlled scent searches. Now this time, I had to find (or rather my canine Trucker) had to find the hidden drugs. It was a huge building. I felt overwhelmed and quite small in the scheme of things. The trainers and police officers watched. That was a lot of pressure for me – I could feel their eyes on the back of my head. I wanted to be able to handle the exercise just like the "big" police guys. My hands shook and my legs felt a little rubbery. As I looked to my dog, he knew exactly what to do. I unhooked his leash and gave the command "search". My dog took off, a big circle around the warehouse. He then confined his search into a grid pattern, systematically sniffing. I could tell that he got a scent and he was just honing in on the exact location. He heart pounded. I tried to move into the building casually, but I was holding my breath. Within five or six minutes, my dog began to get excited at an old cupboard. He sat, which was his passive alert. His eyes were bright, energy was high, and he knew that there was a find. I opened the cupboard door and gave the command "search" again. My dog touched his nose in the area and sat. I turned and looked at the trainers. They all had big smiles on their faces. What a great day!

In Silent Partner , hero Deputy Jack Davis along with his partner Keno, have to be at the top of their game at all times. They come in contact with murderers, homeless people, victims, arrogant other cops, old friends, good times, betrayal, lies, deceit, and yes of course thrown into the trail of a serial killer. Readers will have the rare opportunity to see into a modern day police K9 unit world. It's guaranteed to be exciting and entertaining.

Jack is a kind, considerate person with a heart of gold, but has the strength and tenacity with the law on his side. He gets pushed into making some tough choices that will change his life and how he perceives the police department. Each day is a choice for him and what choices he makes may surprise you.

Keno, bright eyed, intelligent, loyal, will have you cheering in several places in the story. What better partner to have your back than a top police dog? Keno adds another interesting dimension to a cop thriller.


Jennifer ChaseAward Winning Author & CriminologistBlog: http://authorjenniferchase.blogspot.com/ Website: http://jenniferchase.vpweb.com/ Crime Watch: http://emilystonecrimewatch.blogspot.com/ Book & Crime Talk: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/jennifer-chase

The Bookworm Reviews "Silent Partner" By Award Winning Author and Criminologist Jennifer Chase

title: Silent Partner
author: Jennifer Chase
genre: thriller
pages: 308
published: 2011/ARC
first line: The rain abruptly stopped on the thirty-sixth consecutive day of torrential downpours
rated: 3 1/2 out of 5
Review by: naida
When author Jennifer Chase contacted me about reading her latest book Silent Partner I was delighted. I'm a fan of this genre and always enjoy sinking my teeth into a good crime thriller.


When Megan O'Connell was just a child, she and her sister Teresa witnessed her father brutally murder their mother in their own home. Since then the girls were raised by their grandparents. Now Megan suffers from agoraphobia and is barely able to leave her home. When her sister Teresa is brutally murdered in their shared home, Megan is a suspect.


Officer Jack Davis works for the Monterrey County Police Dept in California. His partner is a police canine named Keno. Jack and Megan are childhood friends and ex-lovers reunited once again due to the tragic events in Megan's life. When Jack sees Megan again after five years of separation, he realizes he still has feelings for her. He doesn't want to leave her side and hopes to help her through this difficult time in her life.


Darrell Brooks is a psycho killer who has been evading the police for some time. This sick man has his own motives for going after Megan. When events take a turn for the worse, Megan begins to question her own sanity.


With plot twists and turns, interesting characters and a surprise ending, Silent Partner made for a great read. The ending gave me chills.


I liked Jack's character the most. He is your classic 'good guy'. I enjoyed the role the dogs played in the story. I hadn't expected dogs to be an important part of the book, it was a nice surprise. You really get to see how these officers had a strong connection to their dogs.


All in all, Silent Partner is a face paced thriller, I read it in one sitting. I really had to know what was going to happen next.



Special thanks to author Jennifer Chase .

Marking a Sad Anniversary

Today marks the thirtieth anniversary of John Lennon's assassination, which occurred on December 8, 1980. It's hard to believe that so much time has passed since the world first lost one of The Beatles. Lennon was shot outside of his New York City apartment building, The Dakota, by Mark David Chapman. Just a couple of hours earlier, Lennon had signed an autograph for the man who would become his killer.

Chapman arrived in the city two months before his violent act with the specific purpose of murdering John Lennon. On the day of the shooting, he hung outside the building, even meeting Lennon's housekeeper and shaking the hand of his five-year-old son, Sean. At 10:50pm, Chapman approached Lennon as he exited a limousine and fired four bullets into his back and shoulder. After he was done, he waited at the scene for police to arrive while reading a copy of The Catcher in the Rye by J. D. Salinger.

At his trial, defense attorneys argued to find Chapman not guilty by reason of insanity. Chapman refused such a plea and instead wanted to assert his guilt in front of the court. The judge sentenced Mark David Chapman to twenty years to life in prison, and he was ordered to receive psychiatric treatment while behind bars.

Chapman has been described by different experts as delusional, psychotic, schizophrenic, and a sociopath. Undoubtedly, there is some psychological condition that contributes to his callous act and bizarre response. Like his contemporary would-be assassin, John Hinckley (the man who made an unsuccessful attempt at the life of President Ronald Reagan), Chapman's thoughts and mental health continue to be studied by forensic psychologists and criminologists for clues into this terrorizing behavior.

What are your memories of John Lennon on this sad anniversary? Do you remember where you were when you heard the news of his death?

Author Jennifer Chase's Book Review of-- The Game of Pawns by Leonard D. Hilley II

The Game of Pawns
Leonard D. Hilley II
ISBN: 9781432757397
Genre: Science Fiction/Thriller
Pages: 348

*****5 Stars

Sci-Fi Intrigue along with Plenty of Thrills

Pawns are expendable sacrifices. The Game of Pawns is book #3 in a science fiction thriller series and it just keeps getting better. Several murders have taken place in Newark, New Jersey in barely a week. A red pawn has been placed carefully on each body. It is an intriguing murder signature that links all of the victims together in some way. Kat Gaddis and Lucian investigate the homicides and soon discover GenTech employed four of the victims. A hair-raising chase begins. It's bigger than anything they had imagined. This story has everything. Mystery. Intrigue. Politics and corruption. It has a definite science fiction feel of the X-Files.

I've enjoyed the other two books by Leonard D. Hilley II , Predators of Darkness and Beyond the Darkness . Hilley has a clear-cut writing style that's concise, cleverly crafted, and it immediately pulls you into the story from the first sentence. He has a way of writing where you believe everything you read, even if it's technology that hasn't been realized or developed yet. The characters are engrossing and full of depth. I really enjoyed the fact that Hilley creates characters, both male and female, that are equally strong. Without giving anything away, there are some "other" interesting characters that round out the cast.
I highly recommend this compelling series. It's best to begin with Predators of Darkness . This series would satisfy science fiction, thriller, and mystery lovers. I look forward to the next installment.

I had the pleasure of interviewing Leonard D. Hilley II on my show, Book & Crime Talk. To learn more about The Game of Pawns and Author Leonard D. Hilley II:

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/jennifer-chase/2010/10/28/sci-fi-thriller-author-leonard-d-hilley-ii-with-the-game-of-pawns


Jennifer ChaseAward Winning Author & CriminologistBlog: http://authorjenniferchase.blogspot.com/ Website: http://jenniferchase.vpweb.com/ Crime Watch: http://emilystonecrimewatch.blogspot.com/ Book & Crime Talk: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/jennifer-chase

Serial Crime Comes in all Types of Offenses

When you hear the term "serial crime", immediately your mind thinks of "serial killers". The reality is that serial crime means any type of crime occurring in a pattern that indicates a single offender. However, there has been some debate as to whether or not a habitual offender or a career criminal should be defined as a serial criminal. Forensic scientists, law enforcement, and criminologists have suggested that only serial murder, serial rape, and serial arson constitute a serial crime.

I feel that a serial crime is a serial crime, no matter what the offense. To make everyone working in the criminal justice system happy, you could divide serial crime into two categories: violent and non-violent or crimes against persons or property crimes. All crimes are important and should be solved or linked to other crimes if at all possible. When you're looking at the evidence from a crime scene that entails the physical forensic evidence, behavioral evidence, and victimology, you conduct the investigation in a way to find the most logical offender. There is a distinct pattern of behavior that will emerge on these types of cases. Hopefully, an objective profile will emerge and the investigation will take a positive direction that will lead to an arrest – no matter what type of crime.

The Bureau of Justice Statistics revealed that in 2009 violent crime decreased by 6.1% and property crime decreased by 5.5%. Interestingly, the closure or clearance rate of crimes has dipped a bit in the statistics from the U.S. Department of Justice. The clearance rate for murder is 66%, rape 41%, and burglary 12%.

I've stressed in previous blog articles that criminal profiling is an essential tool in conducting investigations. It shouldn't just be used for just serial murder cases. It would be highly effective in rape and burglary cases. Rape, assault, and burglary have extremely low clearance rates. When an unknown assailant commits these types of crimes, the percentage of the case being solved drops even more, most likely to zero.

Police departments would benefit by objective, behavioral criminal profiling for most unsolved cases. It would assist them in linking cases and finding common clues that would potentially lead to an arrest. This of course, is my opinion about serial crime, but one that I feel is worthy of more discussion in the future.


Jennifer ChaseAward Winning Author & CriminologistBlog: http://authorjenniferchase.blogspot.com/ Website: http://jenniferchase.vpweb.com/ Crime Watch: http://emilystonecrimewatch.blogspot.com/ Book & Crime Talk: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/jennifer-chase