R. Michael Phillips's Blog, page 2

The Elevator Pitch

Image courtesy of Antpkr at FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Just a few thoughts on something you may not think you need, but then spend a day kicking yourself when the opportunity pops up and you’re caught by surprise.You’ve plowed through 4 drafts, wrestled with two copy editors, and finally put the finishing touches on that book you started writing two years ago. So you think you’re done, right? I don’t think so.
Now you need a stop-them-in-their-tracks query, so it’s back to work. You spend the next month perfecting the hook and distilling down the plot into who the protagonist is, what their problem is, and who’s in their way. Done, right? Almost. One more thing to do, and I find this the most fun—the Elevator Pitch.
It can happen anywhere. At a book signing of a favorite author, a writing conference, the produce aisle at Whole Foods, etc. On occasion it even happens in an actual elevator. The odds of bumping into a literary agent aren’t as astronomical as you might think. So when it does happen you have less than a minute to answer a single question, and you better be ready. 
The question? “So, what’s your book about?”
A cold sweat comes over you. You start blurting out plot points, characters, why you write at night instead of during the day. You’ve said everything except what they really want to hear: a one or two sentence description that completely intrigues them. If you’re a Twitter pro, you’ve already got the skills; just apply them to your book. Think about it, if you can take an 80,000 word MS and condense it down to two eyebrow-raising sentences there’s a very good chance you’re going to impress the heck out of the person asking the question. Lets try it once more:
“So, what’s your book about?”


R. Michael Phillips
Author: Along Came A Fifer
www.eastlondonadventurersclub.com

If you don’t have anything original to say, leave Lord Lytton alone.

So there I was, seated in the second row, at a daylong writers How-To. The room was filled with published, soon-to-be-published, and if-I-could-only-get-this-down-on-paperwriters. On the dais were a collection of published authors assembled to share their experiences, love of craft, and general writing tips and principals. These authors were what I would consider mid-level authors—authors not yet on the NY Times bestsellers list so they also have day jobs. That’s ok. I didn’t expect someone on Dan Brown’s level, so I wasn’t disappointed. Truth be told, I was excited. I had every expectation of it being a full day of tips and insights I could run home with and polish up my latest manuscript.

It started off with a meet-and-greet over Danish and coffee, the obligatory smiles and raised eyebrow interest in our latest projects, and then got down to business. The morning session centered on character development, eased into plotting, and slid right into foreshadowing before the lunch bell signaled the end of the session.  The morning was light, interesting and involved audience participation, and I captured it all within four pages of notes. I was going to be a polishing fool by the time I got back to my manuscript that night.

Lunch was enjoyable. We clustered at tables in groups outside, going over different aspects of the morning session. We hurried through our box lunch, getting ourselves ready for the pearls of wisdom we were sure would be forthcoming in the afternoon session. Personally, my interest for the whole day was focused on an author in the afternoon session whose topic concerned the setting as a character. He was an author who also had an academic background.  

I yawned through the first author, whose name I forget. He spent most of the time convincing us he was well known. I pondered to myself how well known could he possibly be if he had to go through that much of an explanation? At some point he mentioned a few things about dialog, but my interest was forfeited long before he got to his talking points. He finally finished.

It was time. The topic I came to hear was about to begin. I turned to a fresh page in my notebook, neatly wrote the topic on the first line, and sat ready to be mesmerized. Imagine my disappointment when he starts out by reciting a portion of the opening paragraph of Paul Clifford, an 1830 novel by Edward Bulwer-Lytton. He posed it as a question and did so while omitting the opening sentence—a sentence much parodied and one most people would recognize whether you new the origin or not. This was followed by a regurgitation of myopic critiques on Lord Lytton. Needless to say, I put my pen down.

What was that first line, you ask? It read thus: “It was a dark and stormy night . . .” Sound familiar? It should, even Snoopy got in on the act by typing that line for the opening sentence in his attempt at the great American novel. But he wasn’t the only one. Poe penned the same line in one of his short stories, as did Madeleine L'Engle in her Newbery Medal-winning novel A Wrinkle in Time . So why pick on Lytton? I ask myself that every time someone uses it as an example of poor scene setting. It all goes back to Lytton’s contemporaries scoffing at such an opening for a book. Personally I would say it was more sour grapes than editorial critique. Edward Bulwer-Lytton was one of 19thcentury England’s most widely read and prolific authors, so it naturally makes him a target to the rest. Every great writer has his critics—before there was a New York Times best seller list it was the only way the public knew they were great writers. Face it, who would quote a nobody?

 Those opening their How-To lectures using this one obscure line from a vast body of work might want to think about basing their direction on something from this century and leave Lytton alone.  Or at least, give the man some credit while you’re at it. Bulwer-Lytton had a varied and prolific literary career, writing historical fiction, romance, mystery, and even science fiction. His plays were produced in London and New York, and his novels were the basis of operas by Richard Wagner and William Henry Fry. Here’s a couple other famous quotes penned by Lytton that should sound familiar: “the pen is mightier than the sword,” and, “pursuit of the almighty dollar.” Even Great Expectations would have had a very different ending if it weren’t for Lytton convincing Dickens to revise the ending to one the reading public would find more acceptable.

So, what does this all have to do with the How-To’s of writing fiction? It basically comes down to this. What someone did or didn’t do a hundred years ago is going to be more confusing than helpful, especially when it’s taken out of context. There are only four basic rules to follow.
1. Write your book. Not one based on how someone else says you should write it. Get it all down on paper. Reread it and refine it until you’re happy with it.
2. Get it copyedited. This is the tough one. When I say get it copyedited I don’t mean give it to your niece because she got straight A’s in English, I mean spend a few dollars and have a professional editor go over the whole book. They’ll look at grammar, pacing, continuity, etc. Working with a professional is an eye opener, and will be the best investment you can make in your writing career. If you have it in you to be a successful writer, a good copyeditor will help you bring those talents to the surface, with the result being a publishable manuscript.
3. Querying agents. This isn’t as bad as everyone makes it out to be if you keep one thing in mind—a rejection is only one person’s opinion. There are also 2 parts to this: 1-Query, 2-Submission. The Query: Writing a query is to some extent harder than writing the book, but not necessarily undoable. Start with a high level outline and distill it down to 3 things: who your protagonist is, what they need to overcome, who/what is stopping them from achieving their goal. Open with a tag line (the Hook) and jump right into the 3 Things. Finish off with any writing credits you might have, but don’t worry if you don’t have any. The Submission: Do your homework. There is a plethora of information at your fingertips about the agents dealing in your genre.  Look over their current deals on their websites, check MS Wishlist for what agents are excited about that week. Purchase the latest copy of Writers Market. Think about attending writing conferences where you can have a scheduled one-on-one pitch with an agent. The list goes on.This could take some time, so be ready for that. Like anything else in life, you have to put your manuscript in front of the right person at the right time. Getting a rejection doesn’t mean your book stinks; it just means it wasn’t right for that agent at that time. I’ve always looked at a rejection as a badge of honor. It proved to myself I was serious about my writing. I was out there, pitching my book, taking my best shot. So you keep doing it until you hit it right smack in the center. And until that day comes, you continue to query but concentrate on #4.
4. Start the next book. If you followed 1 through 3 think about all you’ve learned. Apply it to your next book and start the process all over. I think you’ll be surprised at the result.
One final thought. Allow me to quote the inspiration for this rambling on a more positive note. There’ll be a lot of dark and stormy nights in your writing process. As long as you remember you have all the tools necessary to whether the storm, you'll be just fine. So, get back to work.


Picture Credit: Edward George Earle Lytton Bulwer Lytton, 1st Baron Lytton by Henry William Pickersgill


R. Michael Phillips
Author: Along Came A Fifer
www.eastlondonadventurersclub.com

Character Mapping

Ernie Bisquets is an accomplished pickpocket, plying his trade in the affluent Mayfair section of London. Always impeccably dressed, and well versed in the current topics of interest to the swells he targets, he is able to blend in amongst them without raising a suspicious brow. He has his own code of honor ‘I don’t steal from those who can’t afford it’, and always thinks twice before putting himself or others in danger.  Likable, philosophical & pragmatic, streetwise, capable, and knowledgeable in his own fashion. He suffered hardship in life, never knowing his father and losing his mother at an early age, but has kept his kindness toward others and a positive attitude. Etc., etc., etc.This is character mapping, one of the most important aspects in story creation. Besides the basic physical appearance of a character, you need to map the background, cause and affect of motivation, and, most importantly, how they interact with all the other characters. A simple grid can accommodate this last portion of the mapping, but for the essentials try this link- http://www.epiguide.com/ep101/writing/charchart.html. It’s rather extensive, but for complex characters you’ll need all the background you can dream up. For most characters you won’t need to fill in the entire chart at first, but as your story progresses you can continue to fill in as needed. All this is extremely helpful for a character series.Once the backgrounds are established you can move on to relationships. I use a basic chart for this. Starting with character #1, chart their relationship with character #2, character #3, etc. After that, move on to character #2, charting their relationship with character #1, character #3, character #4, etc.  Do this until you’ve got a sound relationship between all your characters. To continue this further, take your main characters–antagonist and protagonist–and detail what their intentions/motivations are, what obstacles are in their way, how they intend to overcome those obstacles, and who will ultimately triumph through the interaction between themselves and other characters. This will also give you the bones of a synopsis.Once this is established, move on to your plot lines. How many plot lines in the story? The main plot is a given, but then there are the sub-plots. How do they affect the overall story? Which characters drive the plot lines? I find sub-plots to be an especially fun part of story creation. Taking what appears to be an unimportant plot diversion at the beginning of the story and weaving a specific aspect of it into the main story for that “Aha!” moment near the end is always exciting. Think of these little sub-plots as great foreshadowing tools. Now, down to the writing. Like anything else, there is always more than one way to do something. Sift through all the advice that’s out there, but you need to find your own voice. As for the mechanics, some writers work from detailed outlines, some just forge ahead with a basic idea and a keyboard. You also need to figure this out for yourself. As for me, I start out with a basic synopsis of the story, and write a three of four line outline for the first three chapters. Once these are underway I let the characters takeover, continuing to jot down additional chapter outlines as we move along. My thought here is–if the twist in a chapter surprises me, it will probably surprise my readers. Above all this advice is one basic rule, never give up. If you have a story to tell, tell it. Take the criticism in stride, pull from it what you can to make the story better, and then keep at it until it’s published.
Look for Passage Of Crime, 3rd book in the Ernie Bisquets Mystery Series. Available now!

R. Michael Phillips
Author: Along Came A Fifer
www.eastlondonadventurersclub.com

What's in a name?

In case you missed my guest post on Christa Reads and Writes, here is a recap...


You would think naming a character would be relatively easy task. We are surrounded by names of all sorts–heavy in regional or foreign origin; plain as the nose on your face; barely pronounceable; etc. So, what’s the big deal? The big deal is you most certainly want your character to be memorable to your readers and, perhaps, beyond. Maybe it’s the Dickensian spirit in me, but I believe the mere utterance of a name should conjure up a visual of the character it relates to, or at least give the reader a glimpse into what is to come. This is never more important than with supporting/tertiary characters.When I do the character mapping for a supporting character in a book the last thing I pen is the name. I’ve found this to be the easiest way. Done right, the name almost presents itself. In Along Came A Fifer I had a tertiary character that, though only briefly presented in the book, had an important roll in establishing the character/motives of two of the main characters through sub-text. For this, his character description was of the utmost importance, and from there his name. He’s only briefly included in three chapters, but is mentioned by name throughout the book. For that reason he needed to carry his character along with him. This is where the right name comes in. In my mapping of this character he his described as such:He was a vile little man, devoid of friend and conscience. He was just short of five feet, but every inch meaner and lazier than the one below it. His character was as crooked as his smile, but he was well known in the London underworld as a source of information. Anyone wishing to extract that information from him did so with contempt and then made every effort to leave behind any recollection of the transaction. To say he read the daily papers is an understatement. He dissected them, line-by-line and word-by­word. He could read an obscure article in the classifieds relating to a grieving woman’s attempt to locate a lost article, and by the time he was done he would know who had nicked it and how much they had gotten for it. Anyone else of questionable character would parlay this kind of knowledge into a handsome income, but to him, the gathering of information was nothing more than a hobby that filled his otherwise empty afternoons. Women found him most unnerving, cringing at the sight of his lascivious glare and fending off his endless advances. They certainly wouldn’t have him over for high tea, but if someone nicked their silver tea service it’s a good bet he’d know where to take the fairy cakes. He very rarely left his flat in the church building, so a person would have no other choice but to inquire for him there. To anyone outside the murky puddle of villains he associated with he was just a rambling fool of little or no social value. So, what would you name this character in keeping with the description above? It took about an hour of perusing the digital thesaurus, but I came up with what I thought best framed this vile little man–Maunder. First name? Last Name? It didn’t much matter, in the book he is just Maunder.  
maun·der [mawn-der]verb (used without object)1. to talk in a rambling, foolish, or meaningless way.2. to move, go, or act in an aimless, confused manner: He maundered through life     without a single ambition.Origin: 1615–25; origin uncertain
In the first book he’s there and then gone, but Along Came A Fifer is part of the Ernie Bisquets Mystery Series. Developing tertiary characters like this allows me to call on them again in future books to fulfill similar rolls.
Not all are this difficult to establish. In Rook, Rhyme and Sinker an old friend of Ernie’s gets himself into a bit of a jam. He’s a pick pocket/confidence man like Ernie, but still on the wrong side of the law. I called him Simon Railes. His street name is “Slippery”, Slippery Railes. That name came to me while listening to a weather report and the reason for the local train delays due to a surprise snowstorm. It isn’t hard to imagine his place among the characters. He’s returning in a new story, but that’s a post for another day.
It was great sharing some insights with Christa and her readers. If you get a chance, stop by her blog and read other insights from the authors that have stopped by.
R. Michael Phillips
Author: Along Came A Fifer
www.eastlondonadventurersclub.com

A day in the life of a London pickpocket...

In case you missed my guest blog spot on Dru’s Book Musings, here is a recap...


Ernie Bisquets blames his lot in life on many things, but never on his name. To the contrary, it rolls off his tongue as if he were the mayor of London. Add to that the confident swagger in his walk and you have a gentleman who fits right in among the swells of Mayfair society. He’s always impeccably dressed, with shoes polished and the day’s paper tucked neatly under his arm. On a leisurely stroll through Grosvenor Square he might stop you for a light, commenting on the weather or a bit of business he thought you might find of interest. You would share pleasantries, even commend him for seeing your point of view on the latest headline, and then with a wink and a nod he bids you good day.
Most people walk away feeling good about sharing a pleasant moment of their day with a new acquaintance. I’m sure a few even convinced themselves they had met before over cocktails at the club. Did he mention his name? No matter, you’re quite sure you’ll see him again on Bond Street or strolling through Berkeley Square. Ernie Bisquets has quite an effect on people, so it’s no wonder it would be hours before you realized your wallet was missing.
Common pickpocket? Not Ernie Bisquets. In the shadows of London, where others less skilled in his profession can be found, his name is whispered with respect. “Anybody can nick a purse at night in a crowd” they would say, “but it’s a true artist what does it midday in Mayfair.” And it was midday in Mayfair that Ernie Bisquets earned his reputation.
Lord Patterson Coats, now retired, was HM Chief Inspector of Prisons at the time Ernie Bisquets was working in the prison cafeteria in Edmunds Hill. A dripping soup ladle at lunch one autumn day brought the two together. Ernie’s life took a hard right turn, though the aspect of murder and mayhem tugging relentlessly at his coattails was somehow overlooked in Patterson’s proposal of uniting their talents.
From time to time Patterson Coats is called on to investigate particularly challenging police cases, or handle delicate matters for the Crown. Despite his personal reach into all aspects of British society he lacks the ability to walk about in the shadows of London. It was to fill that void he extended an opportunity to Ernie to give back to the society he spent years making withdraws from. Ernie was quick to accept. His stay at Edmunds Hill was enough for him to consider stepping over to the other side of the law, but not everyone welcomed him with open arms.
If putting his past behind him and the new challenge of dealing with proper villains isn’t enough, Detective Inspector “Derby” Flannel stands just out of the shadows waiting for Bisquets to slip back into his old ways. The good inspector and Ernie have a history, and Flannel intends to write the last chapter sooner rather than later.
This last fact makes the new book, Passage OfCrime , that much more intriguing. Flannel finds himself navigating a very treacherous course. The recent murder of a young woman has links to 5 previously unsolved murders. Flannel’s superiors have warned him for the last time to tread cautiously around an MP he suspects was involved in the past. Because of the MP’s association with Patterson Coats, the inspector is left with no choice but to go behind his back and rely on the assistance of Ernie Bisquets. Together they disentangle a mesh of old lies and current clues attempting to bring a ruthless murderer to justice–ignoring the dangerous notion of murder being a carefully disguised trait passed from one generation to the next.
It was great having the opportunity to share a little bit of the life of Ernie Bisquets with Dru and her readers. If you get a chance, stop by her blog and see what's new.
R. Michael Phillips
Author: Along Came A Fifer
www.eastlondonadventurersclub.com

Bone Yard Coffee Interview

In case you missed the interview with Betsy at Latte' Da!, here is a recap...
BB:  How long did it take for you to come up with the Ernie Bisquets character?

RMP: The character, Ernie Bisquets, came to me while I was painting a copy of Manet’s, Le Fifre  for an old museum frame I acquired. I’m a trained artist and I keep at least one painting going at all times. Since painting is a solitary endeavor, my mind has a tendency to wander freely. So, there I was, painting a copy of a famous painting, and I had this “What it…” moment. That “what if” was Ernie Bisquets–a retired pickpocket tricked into helping a couple Mayfair swells solve a museum forgery case. It took me 3 months to finish the painting, but by the time I was done I had the bones of a character and the outline for the first book. An added bonus–I was able to use the finished painting for the cover.
BB:  Do you see more of yourself in Ernie or Inspector Flannel?

RMP: I’d like to think there is more of me in Ernie than in the good Inspector. Ernie is a pleasant sort, a bit mischievous, but he knows right from wrong. If someone asks his help he’ll jump in with both feet, never worrying about himself in the process. He also has a remarkable way of sifting through clues to get at the solution, much to the irritation of the good Inspector. Ernie is also fiercely loyal to his friends.
BB:  Of your two characters, Flannel and Bisquets, what would be their favorite Boneyard Coffee and Tea drink? A strong black Oolong tea or a flavorful Boneyard latte?
RMP: Inspector Flannel would certainly lean more towards the Oolong tea–being as strong and dark as the hearts of the villains he chases. 
Ernie, on the other hand, would favor the Boneyard latte. His tastes are more refined, which allowed him to blend seamlessly among the Mayfair swells that fell prey to his nimble fingers.
BB: Do you chart out the events ahead of time or do the characters first scramble onto your page and you have to organize the plot later?
RMP: I start each book with a basic synopsis and a brief outline of chapters. Once the setting is established, and the antagonist revealed, I
 reach a point where the characters take over the direction of the story. I find this very exciting, hoping that if the twists and turns in the plot have surprised me they will also surprise my readers.
BB: I loved book three so much she truly wants to review books one and two and kindly requests a copy so that all three books can be reviewed at once.
RMP: I would be delighted to forward the first 2 books. The first book, Along Came A Fifer, really gets into the character’s backgrounds, along with the introduction of the treacherous Phynley Paine. The second book, Rook, Rhyme & Sinker, gives a glimpse of Ernie’s rough childhood and the surprising appearance of his old mate Simon “Slippery” Railes.  

BB: Your setting descriptions are very well done and include all five senses.  Do you write those moments from memory or do you take notes as you visit places?
RMP: Thank you very much. Some are from memory, but I will modestly admit that my talents as an artist have a great deal to do with the painting of the scenes in the books. I’m also fortunate enough to be able to pop over to London when I need to walk the streets of a new story, making notes of the sights and sounds. To me the settings in the books are as important as the characters. Some dodgy old purists will tell you never to start out a chapter with the weather, or describing a room, but if you look at the greats they do just that–it really sets the mood.
BB: Who is your favorite author?

RMP: This is a tough one. I grew up reading Conan-Doyle and Christie, which is where my love of mysteries came from. Even though my books take place in contemporary London I like to think I keep a little of the mystique of turn-of-the-century London in the characters and mood. As for current mainstream favorites? I would say Robert Parker has always been a must read for me, along with Lisa Scottoline. I also enjoy finding a good book amongst the independent writers who have blossomed from the self-publishing boom. There are some great writers out there just waiting to be discovered.
BB: At what age did you feel you were a writer?

RMP: Last week . . . Only kidding. I think the realization I was a writer came to me at the first book signing I did in 2009. Walking in, seeing the books stacked up, and hearing my name announced over the intercom was a thrill. And, I must admit, it still is. It’s one thing to create a character and write a mystery, but it’s the readers who decide if you are a writer or not. I’ve feel very fortunate Ernie has become endeared to so many. To that end, I try ever so hard with every book not to disappoint. The greatest compliment a writer receives comes from the enjoyment expressed by those who have read his/her work. If they’re looking forward to the next book, you’ve done a good job.
BB: If Ernie and Flannel were dropped off at a cinema, what movie would each one prefer to watch?
RMP: I think Ernie would most identify with Jack in Titanic. Here’s a street-wise, young guy from a rough beginning, thrown into the 
cauldron on High Society. To some he fits right in, but to others he will never be more than what he is. Like Jack, Ernie will ignore the doubters and continue to follow his dreams and ambitions. As for the good Inspector, if you dropped him off in front of a theater he would probably scoff at the idea of wasting time on such sentimental nonsense. An unsavory character in the crowd would then capture his attention; upon which he would call him out for the villain he is and haul him down to the station for booking.  
BB: If you do book signings, what was your most memorable moment or phrase from a fan?
RMP: Book signings are the best part about being an author. Meeting readers, getting their insights about what you did right and what you did wrong, and enjoying the experience is without measure. “What does the “R” stand for in your name?” is usually the first question and the one I enjoy most. I’m a bit of a lad with the responses– Ridiculously-charming, Rudely-abrupt, Remotely-amusing, Relatively-handsome, etc., etc., etc. It helps me relax and sets a friendly atmosphere. And, after all, I’m a mystery writer; there should be at least a little bit of mystery about me.
It was great talking to Betsy Bean and her readers. You’ll never find me too far from a good cup of coffee, so this was such a delight. When you get a minute, stop by and see what Betsy has brewing.
R. Michael Phillips
Author: Along Came A Fifer
www.eastlondonadventurersclub.com

So, where do I start?

In case you missed my guest blog on A Blue Million Books, here is a recap...
Starting a new mystery book is the exciting part for me. Having a mystery series affords me a small group of main characters to work with. So with each new mystery I need to establish three factors–crime, antagonist, and motive. Filling in those blanks can come from the most unexpected of places–a phase overheard on a train platform in Worchester; the headline from a centuries-old newspaper; the chance meeting of an interesting (or not so interesting) guest at a party, and so on. It seems the seeds for murder and mayhem are endless. For that reason I keep a small notepad in my pocket. It isn’t odd for me to excuse myself during a conversation to quickly jot down a few notes. The action usually prompts a somewhat confused look from the person I’m speaking with over what was so important that I had to write it down. Some leave it at that; other will go so far as to ask what I was doing. “Just a thought I don’t want to forget,” is my usual reply. I dare say it would be quite unnerving if I replied, “Your last statement gave me a rather unique way to murder someone.” After returning home I take the note and place it in one of three small boxes I keep on my desk that it most aligns with. If you haven’t guessed, those boxes are labeled: Crime, Antagonist, and Motive. Because of Ernie Bisquets being the protagonist in all the stories, there is, at time, adeuteroganist in the stories. There is a box for that too. This is where it starts to get exciting. When I sat down to start the most recent book in my Ernie Bisquets Mystery Series, the first thing I did was place the boxes in front of me. Having been compiling small shreds of paper in each of the boxes over the course of time I’m at odds to remember what any of the scraps had written on them. Reading the resulting scrap of paper pulled from the first box, Antagonist, rekindled the flame it raised in me when I first jotted it down. The note read thus: Older Member of Parliament. Well respected, but with a dark, hidden past. Not obviously evil. I’ll not reveal where I was when I jotted this note down, but I will admit I was terribly intrigued more with the outward appearance of the person I was talking to than to what he had to say.To add a twist to the dark past and hints of evil in the Antagonist I felt there was a need for a Deuteroganist. From that box I pulled the following note: Pathetic wretch, valet or servant of some sort. Kind but hints of a questionable character or background. (I eventually named this character Prophet Brown) As I remember this note derived from a combination of two people I met within minutes of each other. One seemed incredibly kind, the other not so much. Combined they created an exceptional character persona.Next came the Crime. The notes in this box are short and to the point. Reaching in I extracted the following: Murder. The final piece of this puzzle was Motive. There is no shortage of scraps of paper in that box. It’s sad, but people are driven to do bad things for three basic reasons–greed, jealousy, and revenge. This scrap read thus: Revenge for mistaken belief.   With all the pieces assembled I started the synopsis for PassageOf Crime , third book in the Ernie Bisquets Mystery Series released a few months ago. Not to worry though, this post is not the spoiler it may seem. I reach a point when writing the books where I break away from the synopsis and allow the characters to take over direction of the story. This usually leads to an “Aha!” moment for me. I also feel if it surprised me, it most certainly should surprise my readers. It’s that twist at the end where you thought you had everything figured out and then, without warning, the ambiguous foreshadowing comes flowing back like a flash flood. The obscure becomes the obvious and a smile of satisfaction comes over you. It’s what we writers live for.R. Michael Phillips
Author: Along Came A Fifer
www.eastlondonadventurersclub.com

A Well Deserved Thanks

Just back from a very successful book tour (virtual- the only way to go in this kind of weather) and I'm delighted over all the new readers I've met and the great reviews that were penned throughout the past 2 weeks for my new mystery, Passage Of Crime . This was my first engagement with this type of marketing and I kick myself for not looking into this when my first two books came out. Oh well, lesson learned. 

I want to extend a special thanks to Lori over at Great Escapes Book Tours for coordinating the events. There were interviews, blog spots, and reviews, all from different perspectives within the book world over a two week period. I can say, without reservation, I highly recommend this course of promotion for all authors looking to get their books noticed. This type of marketing is a must-do, especially if you have a new release coming up. R. Michael Phillips
Author: Along Came A Fifer
www.eastlondonadventurersclub.com

Shut-up and write!With a new year upon us a renewed spiri...

Shut-up and write!
With a new year upon us a renewed spirit of accomplishment should take the helm of your writing expedition. You hemmed and hawed through 2013, finding every excuse in the world for why you couldn’t finish writing that first book, and look at the result–a great story that no one will ever read. So where did you go wrong? I’m sure you started off in the right direction, making notes about the plot, jotting down chapter outlines, etc. I’m just as sure the excitement of starting the book was like the feeling of driving to the airport the morning you are to start your holiday. That’s the way it should feel. So what happened? There are many answers to that question, but I’m going to focus on one that I’ve encountered many times in conversations with first time writers. I’ll tell you what happened, they were so excited over the prospect of writing a book they told anyone who would listen all about it.  They went into nauseating detail about every aspect of the book, with each encounter unknowingly planting the seeds that would eventually chip away at their very desire to finish said book. As the weeks went by, and they settled into writing, they became distracted by the, “. . . have you finished the book yet?” questions from all those people they mentioned the book to. Each time having to reply, “no, not yet,” a thin shred of self-confidence peeled away in the process. Over time some even started to resent the book. And why not? If it weren’t for that damn book they wouldn’t be subjected to appearing such a failure in public. They saw every understanding smile in response as, “new books are published every day, so why aren't you done yet?” I’m sure nothing could be farther from the truth, but subconsciously it still had an affect. So, what to do? Keep in mind writing is a solitary function. It’s you, an idea and a keyboard. I would suggest, as I did with those I’ve spoken with afflicted by the above scenario, in order to keep the distractions to a minimum refrain from telling anybody what you’re doing. There will come a time when you need to broadcast your intentions, but save yourself the grief and aggravation and wait until you have something really exciting to say.With that in mind, you start off alone wading into the murky waters of writing a book. You won’t be alone for long. As the story develops, you are suddenly surrounded with a new group of people. These are the people you’ve created to bring your story to life. Without distraction you start getting to know and understand this new group of friends. Some are thoughtful, some humorous, some evil (I write mysteries so there is always a villain I need to keep a watchful eye on), but none ever judgmental. They appear at your beckon call, ready to take on whatever challenges that days’ writing conjures up. This group, though constantly aware of every sentence you peck away at, have an inexhaustible amount of patience. They are the best motivators you have. Take your time and write the book. Then, when it’s finished, or at least the first draft, you can shout it from the rafters. It’s no longer just an idea you mention over dinner, or one of many New Year’s resolution that may or may not take hold over the next few months, it is a complete manuscript. It’s something to be proud of.I’d like to say you’re done here, but in reality that was just the easy part. On the positive side, you have proven you can see something this difficult all the way through, so getting through the next steps–edits and beta readers–may not be so tough after all. While all this is going on you should be working on the marketing end of things. Start with a website promoting the future release of the book. Then onto blog entries about your struggles/accomplishments through the process. Anything to get the buzz going will work. Finally getting to notes and the outline for the second book. Second book? You’re going to need something to keep your mind off all those queries you’re sending out. The query process is a subject all in itself. There is enough free information out there to help you craft a query letter that will help you fulfill your dream of becoming a published author. The key is to continue to believe in the book you wrote and not give up. First time authors have so many options now that one will certainly be right for you.

Image courtesy of Wiangya/FreeDigitalPhotos.netR. Michael Phillips
Author: Along Came A Fifer
www.eastlondonadventurersclub.com

January 2014 Book Tour

I'm excited about the Virtual Book Tour this month. A number of top, exciting bogglers and book reviewers have been kind enough to include me on their sites. There is even a signed, hardback giveaway of my new mystery, Passage Of Crime. Listed below are the dates followed by links to the sites.


January 14 - Christa Reads and Writes - Review, Guest Post

January 15 - Psychotic State Book Reviews - Review

January 16 - Kelly P’s Blog - Interview

January 17 - readalot blog - Review

January 18 - A Blue Million Books - Guest Post

January 20 - Thoughts in Progress - Review

January 22 - Books-n-Kisses - Review

January 23 - Musings and Ramblings - Guest Post

January 24 - Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book - Interview

January 25 - dru's book musing - Guest Post
I hope you'll take a few minutes and visit these sites. I'm sure once you do you will find them as informative and interesting as I do and continue to follow them.R. Michael Phillips
Author: Along Came A Fifer
www.eastlondonadventurersclub.com