C. Lee McKenzie's Blog, page 96

How to Write Good and Spooky

I was thinking about all the books that I've read that were really spooky. You know the ones you can't read after dark when your home alone? My top hit when I was a kid was Dracula or anything vampyrish. I went back to the original Bram Stoker book the other day and started reading it again. It still "got to me" enough that 1) I kept reading and 2) I tried to warn those characters about the dude with the weird eyes.





So why did this story grab me and scare me . . . again? Here's what I came up with and here's what I think I, as a writer, have to master. See what you think and let me know what else I need to add to this list of strategies.









Strategy #1 Keep 'em guessing--the characters, that is. What one character knows, the other(s) shouldn't, but the reader should. That will drive the reader "bats," and he'll keep urging each character to wake up, turn around, pay attention!





Strategy #2 Take your time cluing those characters into what's afoot. Make the character very slooow to discover what the reader knows.







Jonathan Harker Knows He's Dracula's Prisoner
Strategy #3 Let the characters understand and have control in their world, but show that they ain't dealing with their world as they know it. All the time these characters are doing what they know is right or logical and that has worked in the past, mysterious events continue around them and that evil dude is doing people in--maybe getting ready to do in those oblivious characters too.





Strategy #4 Never make the the bad guy all bad and good guy all good. It's really tantalizing when the bad guy is handsome, kind of sweet, but deadly. A little avarice, cowardice or greed in the good guy makes it a little harder to root for him at times, so the reader is conflicted: pull for the hero or his enemy who is totally awesome and exciting?





Strategy #5 Give your female characters some backbone, yet keep them vulnerable and feminine, witty, sometimes wise and sometimes (especially when it comes to that evil guy) foolish.









Strategy #6 Get into some of those cultural taboos and show how the characters really feel about them, The forbidden is always enticing and should be for those people in your book as well as those reading it.



So what else can a writer do to hook the reader and keep him hooked until The End? Sliding on the Edge, C. Lee McKenzie, WestSide Books, Spring '09

It's October and Some Vampyres are Loose

Welcome debut author, ELIZABETH KOLOSZIEJ who's kicking off my new series dedicated to October.

 VAMPYRE KISSES is a great way to start this month that's all about stories of the dead or the undead, those spirits who feast on the living. And look at her cover! Eye-catching, isn't it? But wait! There's super contest as well. Check it out here.







Thanks for stopping in and for answering all my questions, Elizabeth.

 My first one is how do you pronounce your last name? It's an intriguing set of consonants and vowels, but if I ever meet you in person I'll mess it up.

It's funny; I have only had a handful of people capable of pronouncing it correctly the first time around. Most of those people are Polish though, which is the origin of the name. It is pronounced, KO-LA-G. People ask why I didn't use a pen name and I simply tell them, it is because I want people to learn how to pronounce it and spell it. That way I don't have to go through the: K O L O D (as in David) Z (as in Zerbra) I E J (as in Jack). Hehe.

What drew you to writing about vampires?

I always explain to people that it is my mother's fault and it really is. Because of her I grew up with vampires and the supernatural around me because she was interested in it. She watched Buffy, read Ann Rice, and even play The Masquerade. She is one of my greatest resources to go to when I am having a vampire dilemma.Since it was around me I grew to love it too and it just interested me to no end. There is so much controversy around the subject of vampires and their abilities and such. It really just felt natural to write about it. Like falling in love you don't understand what it always is about that person but you are in love with them and no one else. Same thing goes for why I write about the supernatural.

Besides your book, do you have a favorite classic and/or a favorite contemporary vampire story?

It is so difficult to pick just one vampire story I love. It really depends on the time and what is around. At this moment, I have fallen for Jeaniene Frost's books, which tell the story of Cat and Bones. The writing is phenomenal.But no, I don't have just one favorite. I draw inspiration and get influenced by every story I read. Each one does something for me in a different way.

Every book is unique in some way, but there are thousands of vampire stories. How does your book stand out from the rest? What will the readers

Readers are actually finding that Vampyre Kisses is really different from the more popular books out there. Most of the uniqueness comes from the Greek Mythology mixed with Folklore and my own imagination. You get to actually see the gods in my book and hear them speak. Along with this, there is a great in depth history on vampires and how they came to be. Finally, I have included a witch, which (haha) is something not a lot of people include in a vampire story. I know Kim Harrison does but her world is very different from mine.

Tell us a bit about your MC. She sounds like an amazing character with a legacy of witchcraft and a quest to take on. If this is turned into a movie who would you select to play her? And how about Trent? In your trailer, he's got the "eyes."

When I think of Faith the first thing that comes to mind is how determined of a person she is. Even though she has her breaking points in the book she still manages to get to her feet and keep going. She is more intelligent than some female leads but it does take her a little while to understand everything clearly. But to me that just says that she likes to know all the perspectives and understand the situation perfectly before coming up with a solution. Faith is a loving and caring woman who would do just about anything for anyone.Trent is a vampire I really love; mostly because he really loves being a vampire and drinking blood. I personally get tired of reading about vampires who hate being vampires and such. I always think, ok go stand out in the sun and die then if it's THAT bad. But Trent is a vampire that is extremely protective of Faith and would do anything to save her. Sometimes he feels like she doesn't need him though because she is showing that she can do so much on her own. Trent will learn that she does need him, more than he realizes.   If Vampyre Kisses were turned into a movie I would actually want "no-bodies" to play the parts. It is really difficult for me to see Faith and Trent and so far no one in Hollywood has struck me. I think it would be hard for me to pick out my characters because I am so attached to them and see them as something unique.  

That was great, Elizabeth. Here are the places you can find Vampyre Kisses, so for a great October read buy now.



Barnes & Noble

Amazon 

Kindle



Be sure to visit Elizabeth on facebook and Twitter. She'd appreciate your friendship and your follow.



Sliding on the Edge, C. Lee McKenzie, WestSide Books, Spring '09

It's Fall. Let's Read. Let's Write. Let's Eat! Part v

Well, this is the last post in my writing paired with food series--the last one until next harvest season, that is. And this week I'm really excited to welcome another good friend.





L.K. MADIGAN writes good, very good, EXCELLENT books. Her latest, THE MERMAID'S MIRROR is no exception.  Here's what another very fine author says about this book: "A poignant, enchanting story about a girl's search for her true self. I love L. K. Madigan's dreamy, fairy-tale-like underwater world." Malinda Lo.



And you will too. Here's a slightly salty taste of what's in store when you open The Mermaid's Mirror and read. 





     "She was too tired to struggle to the surface again. She was not even sure which direction was up. She knew she should try to remain relaxed in order to surface. Now it felt strangely comforting to relax and allow the boiling waters to toss her. Black dots danced at the edge ofher vision.

     I wonder if I'm going to die, she thought, but there was no longer a sense of panic to the ida. This is where Dad almost died.

     At that moment, Lena felt something touch her arm, then a hard object was pushed into her hand. She clamped her fingers around it automatically.

     Before she even had time to wonder about the object, Lena felt two small hands grasp her beneath the arms and pull her out the the deadly grip of the Cauldron." 





Wow!





Below is quick snapshot of L.K and me last year at her debut book signing for FLASH BURNOUT at Books Inc. in San Francisco.  This book won her the William Morris Award. Congratulations again and your fans are looking forward to that next super book.





So now about this food thing . . . What else would go with The Mermaid's Mirror if not a tasty fish of some sort. Here's one of my favorites





Grilled Snapper with Salsa





Make this salsa a day ahead:

1 red, green, or yellow bell pepper

1 jalapeno pepper

2 lg. tomatoes, chopped

1/2 med. onion, chopped (I like sweet whites.)



I'm no Snapper!
3 Tbs. chopped cilantro

1/2 lime, juiced

1/2 tsp. salt (I like Kosher.)

1/2 cumin





Roast whole peppers either on barbecue or center rack of 400 degree oven.About 10 min. Skin should be blackened or split so it peels easily. Let cool. Cut in half, seed and stem. In food processor puree all ingredients to a sauce. Chill overnight.





Rub fish with salt, pepper and lime juice. Barbecue or broil until flaky. Top with warmed salsa. I usually have enough to use cold on chilled cooked shrimp. Yummm.













Sliding on the Edge, C. Lee McKenzie, WestSide Books, Spring '09

It's Fall. Let's Read. Let's Write. Let's Eat! IV

I'm excited to feature KIMBERLY DERTING in my series where I pair good writing and good food to celebrate both at this harvest season. 



I read THE BODY FINDER this month and truly enjoyed how Kimberly wove a wonderful love story with a tense mystery. It didn't take me long to finish because setting the book aside wasn't an option. I had to know how it ended. You will too.  



Here's a small taste of what you'll find: "She heard her father gasp at the same time she recognized what she had...

It's Fall. Let's Read. Let's Write. Let's Eat, Part III

[image error] It's the Belle Époque, a last period of elegant dress and luxurious dining before WWI. Into this world of privilege steps Lia Milthorpe and her twin sister, Alice, to do battle--one each knows will end in death, but for which one? Will Lia find the meaning of the prophecy and save the world?  Only MICHELLE ZINC, author of the trilogy, knows.









I don't do reviews. There are already so many well-qualified reviewers online that I prefer to "feature" authors I enjoy reading. I...

Sliding on the Edge, C. Lee McKenzie, WestSide Books, Spr...

Sliding on the Edge, C. Lee McKenzie, WestSide Books, Spring '09

It's Fall. Let's Read. Let's Write. Let's EAT! Part II

During this harvest season my blog is going to be all about food and how it combines with reading and writing. If you have some food/literary metaphors share them here or if you're blogging about something that's similar, please let me know. I love to link to other blogs with similar themes. And speaking of that, my favorite Canine Couch Potato, Buddy, just alerted me to his interesting "foodie" brain teasers. Pop over for a visit and find out how your brain's working.



Next week: I start...

It's Fall. Let's Read. Let's Write. Let's EAT!

Ye Olde Peach Tree.

Some readers will remember when it was flowering.
Now that most schools have students corralled in classrooms again and  peaches hang reddening and almost ripe on low branches I'm waiting for that sudden shift of light that will signal the arrival of fall.





Already, the bar-b-que on our deck is covered more often than not and I'm looking up recipes that don't involve squash. In another month the garden will have broccoli and cabbage starts and the elephant...

Summer Wrap Up/Fall Preview

It's been a great summer with several debut writers stopping in to share their books and their advice. Did you know that only 5% of the books published each year are by first time authors? The rest are by established or celebrity writers. Keep the new books coming by passing the word about these books and by adding them to your MUST READ or GIFT list.

Here they are again, those beautiful covers and those wonderful stories for young readers of all ages.

So what's coming up on the...

It's Summer. Let's Read with 5 Indie-Debut Authors

Welcome to the final post in this Debut series.   Indie-Debut 2010 is a group of debut children's authors who've joined together to spread the word about their books, all of which hail from small presses. At a time when the book world continues to struggle economically, there are many small publishers redefining the business. Business Week reports, "Without the marketing muscle or resources of the large houses, small publishers have innovated in order to successfully bring their authors to...