Mollie Cox Bryan's Blog, page 11

Guest posting today on the Michigan Scrapbooker blog!

Check out my guest post today at Michigan Scrapbooker Blog!

This FABULOUS magazine offers educational articles, a calendar of events, ads from many local scrapbooking businesses, giveaways ,and more. It’s FREE when picked up at one of the many locations listed on thier website and subscriptions are available.  They also have a FREE e-newsletter– you can subscribe to at their website. (I already have!)

 

Here are their websites and FB info. enjoy!

www.MichiganScrapbooker.com

www.ChicagolandScrapbooker.com

Find them on Facebook! (https://www.facebook.com/#!/MIScrapbooker)

Digging the Quirk

If you are unimaginative or uninspired, you may want to keep moving. By that I mean, don’t read this post. You are not my audience. My readers are the best. They love a little quirk and little imagining of possibilities and a little leap of faith. And that’s the kind of reader I am, too. I want to be entertained, but not spoonfed. I like to figure some things out on my own and love when a writer manages to grip both sides of by brain and leave me wondering about some things.

So in reading some of the criticisms of my book, I find myself thinking the same thing: “Move along, this book is not for you.” Though I like to think my books are for everybody, no book is.

I’m a fan of these News of Weird items you see in newspapers and online publications. I have always thought I’d use some of these items in my fiction. And I have. For example in my first book, SCRAPBOOK OF SECRETS, Beatrice gets stabbed in the back of her neck and doesn’t realize it. This scene gets questioned a lot. Believe it or not, I based the scene on several items I read where real incidents occurred. Here’s just one online example.

 The Daily Mail

And in SCRAPPED, the second book in the series, we read about a kind of calcite that makes things look like they disappear, almost like an invisibly cloak. (Harry Potter, anyone?)

Here is one of the sources for that.

Nature

In my next book, DEATH OF AN IRISH DIVA, there’s some genetic quirkiness going on. And that’s all I’m saying. (Yes, this is a teaser!)

I often think about the saying that truth is stranger than fiction—and I’ve definitely found that to be true in my life and in my research. What about you?

Lain Ehmann Asks: Is Scrapbooking Dying? Answer: NO!

So yesterday I sat it on a video chat with scrapbooker Lain Ehmann. The title of her talk was “Is Scrapbooking Dead?” Compelling title—because these days we see a lot of scrapbook stores and magazines closing. Those of us who love scrapbooking have our hearts in our mouths. But, those of us who love scrapbooking also know this: It is not dying, it’s just changing.

I don’t really know Lain—though we’ve had a few email conversations, but I loved her chat yesterday. This is a woman with passion. If it’s one thing I find most attractive in folks—it is passion. Here are the five things she’s noticed about the industry that tell us it is not dying:

So many new ways exist to document our memories.
Technique is still important enough that people are signing up for classes and wanting to learn more about it.
Stories are still important. People still want to document them. (I think this will always be the case.)
There’s been a shift to allow scrapbooking into busy lives. (You can do it on your phone, if you want and there are classes you can take on quick scrapbooking techniques and so on.)
Boundaries are disappearing. Bloggers become authors. Paper scrapbookers go digital. Bricks and mortar stores go online. And so on.

I think it’s an exciting time to be a scrapbooker. All of the changes in the industry point to it relevance–standing the test of time often means rolling with the changes. If you want to learn a new technique or learn about some of the changes, you can find a lot of information online or attend classes. Lain is having an online  conference next weekend called True Scrap. If you have a decent computer, you should check that out. It looks like loads of fun.

The hobby is not going away, just changing. I, for one, plan to embrace the changes. Some of characters in my scrapbooking-themed mysteries are embracing the new ways of scrapbooking. Vera loves digital scrapbooking and Annie has started art journaling. How about you?

Matthew Warner’s “Seventh Equinox”

My friend Matthew Warner’s new book will be out soon. Years ago, we were on the same train heading for NYC and he told me about this story. I’ve thought about it ever since. It sounds AWESOME! I can’t wait to read it. This from his publisher:

THE SEVENTH EQUINOX by Matthew Warner will debut on November 6th but the pre-order starts today and we’re celebrating with the reveal of the book trailer:

“The best part of Warner’s easy-paced, almost pastoral tale is the friction between Bessie’s attraction to Robin, her longing to believe in magic, and her fear of trusting again—all of which run deep. This is a world-shattering crisis acted out in small scale, with a subtle appeal to romantic fantasy.”

—Publishers Weekly

From the Back:

Her recent divorce left Bessie Henderson on guard against being exploited by any man. When she escapes to Augusta, Virginia, she’s captivated by the small town’s charm, but also its quirks: her intrusive elderly neighbor, the secret labyrinth of caverns beneath her Victorian house — and the man hiding from the law in her root cellar.

But Robin Goodfellow is not just a criminal. He’s a fertility demigod called the Hunter. He’s been injured, and he needs Bessie’s life force to survive. By the spring equinox, he must complete the grand Hunt, an ancient ritual of environmental renewal, or the planet will slowly die.

As the equinox nears, the couple must reconcile their growing feelings for each other. Bessie may not be ready to trust and give to another man, especially one who takes so much from her. And Robin must choose between love and duty — a duty that means life for the planet but death for himself.

About the Author:

Matthew Warner’s publishing credits span a variety of formats, although readers mostly know him through his horror novels and short stories. Dramatic works include films from Darkstone Entertainment based on his screenplays, plus a radio play and stage play premiered by theaters in central Virginia. Warner lives with his wife, the artist Deena Warner, and sons, Owen and Thomas. Readers can visit him at matthewwarner.com.

Pre-order “>”Seventh Equinox, NOW for $2 off!

Five things I thought about during my morning run:

1. Even though it hurts and feels kind of crazy, I know I need to move this morning after that work out yesterday. If I don’t, I will be in trouble tomorrow.

2. Feeling lighter since the mouse has been trapped. No need for the gory details.

3. Bouchercon, well, I’m still recovering.

4. Work on book #4 of the Cumberland Creek series. I’m almost finished with the first draft. Just got a fabulous idea. Hope to get back to it today.

5. Sent back the corrected pages to Kensington yesterday for DEATH OF AN IRISH DIVA. Woot!

 

Five things I didn’t know before I attended the Writer’s Police Academy

Snipers are not always the bad guy. I don’t know where I had the idea that they were nothing more than cold, calculating killers. Um. Well, they can be when they have to be. But the sniper we spoke with considered himself successful because he’s never had to shoot a person. That says so much, doesn’t it?
Sheriffs are extremely powerful.
There are some bad cops out there. But for the most part these guys are good through and through. Sure, they make mistakes–but don’t we all?
Women law enforcement officers have had to deal with a bunch of nonsense when joining forces everything from uniforms and shoes that don’t fit to finding adequate bathroom facilities.
Being short doesn’t make you more of a target, necessarily. You can still be tough, if you know where to hit and concentrate on using your legs. And if you have a big mouth like I do, you can scream, and that will definitely help out.

Okay, I learned a lot more than five things, but you know I love the “five things” thing. So I thought I’d stick to it. Suffice it to say, there was so much to learn and do that I will definitely have to keep going back to keep learning. Bravo to Lee Lofland and the Writer’s Police Academy.

As for me, I barely unpacked and will be traveling to Albany, New York, where I’ll be attending Bouchercon, a mystery fan conference. Onward!

Off to the Writer’s Police Academy

I’m heading out of town tomorrow to attend the Writer’s Police Academy in North Carolina. I am so excited that I’m about to burst.

Every year, a group of police and crime experts gather for the academy to help writers as we craft our stories—after all it benefits them, of course, as well as us. Clarity and correctness serves us all, particularly when we write about crime or legal issues. I’ll be participating in a  couple of special hands-on sessions—one is a jail tour and the other is a building search. These are the buildings they use to train police how to do a search. Should be informative. In this case, I can definitely see one of my characters using this skill.

Along with the hands-on stuff, there will be sit-down classes.  I’m looking forward to the classes about gangs, human trafficking, street prostitution. I know many people these kinds of crimes don’t exist in small towns, but they do, which sort of makes them even more dangerous because victims often have sense of false security.

I’ll be back on Sunday for some much needed family time before the school week starts. Catch you next week!

 

Five things I thought about during my morning run:

1. So cool with a nice little drizzle pricking my skin.

2. A pair of lined leather gloves on the road.

3. Heartbreak a Stranger. Great song to run to. Great song. Period.

4. Surprised I can move, let alone run, after yesterday’s “Hi-Lo” class. Oh boy.

5. Death of an Irish Diva. Man, I love a good copy edit. This one is very good–it’s obvious she knows my series, not just this book. Very helpful!

 

Five things I thought about during my morning run:

1. OUCH! Yesterday’s classes are making this run hurt. One hour barre class and one hour Yoga. Wears me out, but in a very good way.

2. But I could not resist running on such a cool gorgeous day. Pain be damned!

3. So looking forward to the Writer’s Police Academy in a few weeks. Huzzah!

4. Justin Timberlake. Yum.

5. Thinking of  a major website revamp. Stay tuned.

New Blogging Gig and Cover Reveal

Today I am blogging at the lovely Deborah Huso’s new-ish blog,called “I Only Love You Because I Have To: The Fearless Woman’s Guide to Men, Motherhood, and Making Things Happen.” Check it out here. I’ll be blogging there on the 15th of every month. I still blog at Killer Characters on the 28th of every month, as well. As you no doubt have noted, I rarely blog here any more. But hang in there—I’m writing the fourth book in my Cumberland Creek series and gearing up for the release of “Death of an Irish Diva.” Is this the best cover or what?