James Ross's Blog, page 8

Memories with the Letter M

The letter “M” in the A to Z blog challenge brings back (appropriately enough) fun Memories for me. Some of my favorite characters start with the letter M and I am happy to share a few of them with you in this post.

Margaret Morton is an elderly widow who was conned out of her life savings in Lifetime Loser . Every snake needs prey to devour and she is the unsuspecting victim in the smooth swindling of her entire estate. After the death of her husband, professional crooks forged the power-of-attorney document that led to accounts being completely cleaned out. The heirs to her state were left with a mess on their hands.  With the recent scandals such as Bernie Madoff's stealing of millions of dollars, altering the retirement plans for so many people, this is a tragedy to which too many people can relate.

Marcia is the backbone for the main character who runs throughout my novels. She is J Dub’s wife and she is solid for him through the pinnacle of his career and when he needs support as his dreams crumble in an instant. Her role is most prominent in Lifetime Loser but makes her presence known in all of my books. If people try to take advantage of her husband, Marcia can be very protective. Look out!

Perhaps the favorite name that came out of my head is MiSSuS CuLe BReeZe SiSTa GiNeLLe. She is a five-foot-tall ball of energy. This rapper got the promotional gig at Hoof and Bridle Park and did not miss the opportunity to make a name for herself. Dressed in hot pants and a blue jean vest and covered in sequins, her pipes brought patrons to the track time and again. Her first appearance is in Finish Line and she returns for more entertaining in Tuey’s Course .

Tomorrow is a day off in this efforts of bloggers to tour the alphabet, but I'll be back on Monday to start on the second half of this fun challenge!

James Ross
Author of Lifetime Loser , Finish Line , Tuey's Course , Opur's Blade , and Pabby's Score
jamesross@authorjamesross.com
Website: http://www.authorjamesross.com/
Publisher Websites: http://www.xlibris.com/ and http://www.nightengalepress.com/
Blog: http://www.authorjamesross.blogspot.com/
Purchase: http://golftwitt.com/46ey

Villians of the Political and Business Variety

 The letter “L” in this current A to Z blog tour gives me the opportunity to feature a lot of the supporting characters in my novels. Only one to date has a recurring role, but each was pivotal to the storyline in which he or she appeared.

Lewferd E. Zerrmann is featured in my first novel, Lifetime Loser . He is an unscrupulous businessman who is hated by almost everyone who crosses his path. His greed, unhappiness and loneliness breed misery. Those who get in his way are crushed. It was fun to create such a pathetic villain.  On the one hand, you almost feel sorry for him because his evil behavior is obviously caused by self-loathing, but that sympathy quickly subsides with your next encounter with the man.

Lew’s girlfriend . . . yes, he manages to have one . . . is Lois. I suppose every snake in life needs support. With her tattoos and bleached blonde hair, Lois became a manipulated prize on his arm--a brainwashed beauty that is controlled to death.

Mayor Leavitt is the ringleader at City Hall in Tuey’s Course . So many small towns have people with inflated egos in charge, don't they? Mayor Leavitt assumes this role with eagerness.  He's a great example of someone who manages to take just a small amount of power and balloon into something unbearable.

LeVournique O’Tweety is the wife of Tuey O’Tweety and is also featured in Tuey’s Course. As the harassment of her husband by the mayor and others continues to escalate, LeVournique offers support in her own limited and questionably helpful way. With an infectious smile, polished nails, fake eyelashes and costume jewelry, LeVournique holds down the fort in the cashier cage of the local casino and her work schedule largely isolates her from the frustrations that face her childhood sweetheart until the water spills over the levee.

Finally Morgan Langdon surfaced as a character in Opur’s Blade . Out of nowhere she appears as the young lover of the main character in that story. The whirlwind courtship blossoms and plays an important part in the final pages of the novel. Her Southern roots, charming good looks and brains made Morgan Langdon somewhat of a favorite of mine, which perhaps accounts for the fact that I made sure she resurfaced in Pabby's Score .

James Ross
Author of Lifetime Loser , Finish Line , Tuey's Course , Opur's Blade , and Pabby's Score
jamesross@authorjamesross.com
Website: http://www.authorjamesross.com/
Publisher Websites: http://www.xlibris.com/ and http://www.nightengalepress.com/
Blog: http://www.authorjamesross.blogspot.com/
Purchase: http://golftwitt.com/46ey

The Letter "J" Offers the Cornerstones of Prairie Winds

Those that are familiar with my books realize that the clubhouse at Prairie Winds Golf Course is where the regulars congregate, and the owner/operator of the facility is a main character who offers a thread through all five novels.  J. W. Schroeder, nicknamed J Dub, is the head golf professional who oversees the daily activities and keeps everyone in line. The men and women who call Prairie Winds their second home all seem to have complicated lives and J Dub seems to be in the middle of all the action.

In Lifetime Loser , J Dub's story unfolds and we learn the heartbreak he experienced in coming so close to his own professional dreams. His strength and determination to forge ahead are on full display.  Finish Line demonstrates his compassion as his brother Curt is stricken with cancer. In Tuey's Course , J Dub tries to be helpful to a minority businessman who is harassed and ridiculed by the powers-that-be at City Hall. Opur's Blade enables him to tutor a young prodigy and help guide him to the top of his profession. In my last novel, Pabby's Score , J Dub is touched by two special needs teens. He helps them acclimate to broader society by allowing them complete access to the golf course from their foster home environment.

As we all know the main character in any book or movie plot needs to have a right-hand man. In this case the "man" is actually a gal named Julie. Between her bookkeeping chores and high-profile counter duty, Julie is as much of a fixture at Prairie Winds as the head golf pro. She's a favorite of the guys, with her quick wit and ability to go head-to-head with the antics of the male golfers.  I've really enjoyed writing for this strong female character and watching her develop her confidence and find direction in her life through the pages of my books.

So, as you can tell, "J" is quite the pivotal letter in my writing.  J Dub and Julie are two of the few characters you will find in all of my work and I can't imagine Prairie Winds without them!

What is your favorite duo, either on screen or in literature?

James Ross
Author of Lifetime Loser , Finish Line , Tuey's Course , Opur's Blade , and Pabby's Score
jamesross@authorjamesross.com
Website: http://www.authorjamesross.com/
Publisher Websites: http://www.xlibris.com/ and http://www.nightengalepress.com/
Blog: http://www.authorjamesross.blogspot.com/
Purchase: http://golftwitt.com/46ey

IRS Needs Some Positive Stories This Time of Year

Up to this point in the A to Z Blog Challenge I have concentrated my postings on characters that I've created for one or more of my five published novels. With the letter "I," I'm going to deviate from this pattern and instead of sharing specific characters I am going to write about the IRS and the Iroquois today as both groups are featured in my work.

With tax filing deadline fast approaching, this is a wonderful time to spend a few moments on the Internal Revenue Service.  This government agency, specifically the Criminal Investigative Division (CID), plays an important role in my first book, Lifetime Loser . Whether you are in the "one percent" or busy occupying with the other ninety-nine percent, we all might have had a few unkind words to say about the taxman, especially in the middle of April. However, in this instance, the agents representing the IRS work to uncover fraud and bring the crooks to justice. 

A wealthy businessman with shady practices catches the attention of the government in Lifetime Loser .  Through his schemes, his partners are damaged as well as an innocent elderly woman trying to live out her years with dignity and, in the end, the U.S. tax payers in general.  Readers who want a white-collar thriller that is full of drama and unexpected betrayals should pick up a copy of Lifetime Loser .

In my latest novel, Pabby's Score , a secret society has found its way into the underbelly of the plot. The clandestine operation has roots in Native American culture and organization. As events unfold and facts are collected it is discovered that the Iroquois tribe is obscurely involved and the consequences may tarnish the image of a great Nation. 

Government corruption and the dangers of power are themes that run throughout my novels and our country's treatment of the Iroquois and other Native American tribes is certainly an example of abuse in leadership.  Perhaps readers will make those connections or think about tribal history when going through the pages of Pabby's Score and considering some of the actions taken by the characters in today's society.

James Ross
Author of Lifetime Loser , Finish Line , Tuey's Course , Opur's Blade , and Pabby's Score
jamesross@authorjamesross.com
Website: http://www.authorjamesross.com/
Publisher Websites: http://www.xlibris.com/ and http://www.nightengalepress.com/
Blog: http://www.authorjamesross.blogspot.com/
Purchase: http://golftwitt.com/46ey

Just in Time for Tax Season -- A Crooked Accountant!

It's been fun reminiscing about the men and women who have come to life through the pages of my writing, and gotten me excited about the new ideas I have planned for the future.  Today I would like to return to my very first novel, Lifetime Loser , and share with you two of the characters that I created for that book. 

Walter Hancock comes across as a fidgeting, nerdy accountant. But, he is not the type of guy you want taking care of your business ledger or life savings.  He is part of a group of con artists who swindle the estate of an elderly widow. He crafted an intricate plan that involved first winning the trust of the family and therefore earning their tax business.  He then forged the signature of a grieving widow, the matriarch of her family, on a power of attorney form after the death of her husband. His ability to push the envelope on tax returns made him a popular accountant around town and allowed him an (at least marginally) above board profession while he kept his other efforts a secret. His reputation attracted many shady characters who sought relief from the IRS and he was more than happy to oblige.

Elinor Hackett is the U S Attorney who fights against people like Walter Hancock. She is a tall and intimidating woman, with impressive biceps and other features that many consider stereotypically masculine. Her aggressive approach to law enforcement makes it clear to the crooks in her district that they are not welcome. Ellie understands tax law well and is anxious to nab those who run counter to the straight and narrow.  Watch out, Walter Hancock! 

As a side note -- it's too bad that today does not feature "B" in the A to Z Blog Challenge in which I'm participating, because Bubba Watson's win at the Masters yesterday sure would have been a great topic.  What a great golf story!

James Ross
Author of Lifetime Loser , Finish Line , Tuey's Course , Opur's Blade , and Pabby's Score
jamesross@authorjamesross.com
Website: http://www.authorjamesross.com/
Publisher Websites: http://www.xlibris.com/ and http://www.nightengalepress.com/
Blog: http://www.authorjamesross.blogspot.com/
Purchase: http://golftwitt.com/46ey

Golf Takes Center Stage in All of My Writing

Making her debut in Tuey's Course is Ginny Slater. She is a young FBI agent who catches the attention of Curt Schroeder when the government holds a charity fund raiser at Prairie Winds Golf Course. Her athletic body, brains and quiet confidence are appealing and, for a period of time, it seems that she may become a wonderful partner for Curt. But, the relationship stalls before it ever has much of a chance.  At least she provides a nice diversion for a while from the regulars at the club house!

Ginny returns for brief appearance in my next novel, Opur's Blade . Honestly, I don't know what the future holds for this character. If the GRS killer who floats throughout my work remains on the loose, then Ginny Slater will become more involved, as she heads the task force investigating the serial killer.  Only time and where my characters take me as I sit at my computer screen will tell.

When it comes to the letter "G," though, the most important character in all of my books is the game of golf.  While you don't have to be a fan of the sport in order to read my work, it certainly is one of my passions.  There is not much better in life than walking onto the greens just after dawn, with that crisp morning air and beauty of the landscape surrounding you.

And, the game of golf is often one over which political and business deals are brokered, making for great book material.  How many presidents do we see playing golf regularly?  I can guarantee that a golf outing is planned for nearly every corporate retreat.  A deal that is reached through a handshake on the 14th hole is one that is as solid as it gets.

Are you a fan of golf?  (If so, you may be watching the Masters this weekend instead of reading this blog.)  What are your thoughts about the sociology and the politics of the game?

James Ross
Author of Lifetime Loser , Finish Line , Tuey's Course , Opur's Blade , and Pabby's Score
jamesross@authorjamesross.com
Website: http://www.authorjamesross.com/
Publisher Websites: http://www.xlibris.com/ and http://www.nightengalepress.com/
Blog: http://www.authorjamesross.blogspot.com/
Purchase: http://golftwitt.com/46ey

A Few Figures Who Start with "F"

 One of the clubhouse regulars at Prairie Winds Golf Course is a portly redhead named Fred. He is normally the first one through the door with a dozen doughnuts and is an everyday golfer that head pro J Dub Schroeder spends a few minutes talking to in the morning. Fred works as a night supervisor at the auto plant, clocks out early, heads straight to the golf course to play a round, and then uses the rest of his day to sleep before starting the routine all over again.

Fred is often the catalyst for discussions about current events that unfold in my novels, as the blue-collar worker and golf pro exchange opinions over a fresh pot of coffee with the sunrise as their backdrop.  My hope is that the honest conversations these guys share start other conversations between readers.  Those who have read any of my books no that I don't have any off-limit topics, and Fred and J Dub introduce many of them with mutual respect and practical sense.

Festus came to me as I was writing Tuey's Course . He is a round man with hunched shoulders who works as the late shift cop in town and doubles as the security guard during the meetings at City Hall. While his exposure in my writing is limited to Tuey's Course , he is part of what I consider to be one of the most gripping and emotional scenes I've created, as tension between a disenfranchised member of the community and the powers-that-be in local government come to a head.

Callum Foss is a colorful sportscaster who made his debut in Opur's Blade . I had a lot of fun creating this character. He hails from England and one-liners flow easily out of his mouth with that distinct British dialogue as he teams with Trent Tee to describe the events that occur at The Classic, which is America's greatest golf tournament.

Pabby's Score is the book in which readers meet Farley Bend. This character is an alderman in town but works primarily as the night supervisor at the sewage treatment plant. He is carrying on a torrid affair with Pamela Porter who is the headmistress at Footprints of Hope foster care center.  Pamela employs Farley to do odd jobs around the orphanage in order to keep him close and for their relationship to have a place to flourish in private.

See you around the A to Z blogosphere!

James Ross
Author of Lifetime Loser , Finish Line , Tuey's Course , Opur's Blade , and Pabby's Score
jamesross@authorjamesross.com
Website: http://www.authorjamesross.com/
Publisher Websites: http://www.xlibris.com/ and http://www.nightengalepress.com/
Blog: http://www.authorjamesross.blogspot.com/
Purchase: http://golftwitt.com/46ey

Civil War and Angry Old Men are Featured Today

Elia and Easy Earl were two characters who originally made their entrances in my first novel, Lifetime Loser . They are both regulars in the clubhouse at Prairie Winds Golf Course.

Elia is a barber who hails from Beirut and who wears dark hair and a heavy beard with style. The war and violence that marked his childhood led him to flee his home country and immigrate to the United States. His home away from home is the golf course and his perspective serves as a constant reminder that life abroad is much more difficult than life in the United States.

Current events in the Middle East have placed Elia in a whole light for me.  I wonder what he would have to say about the Arab Spring that swept across the region last year and the amazing changes to political and social structures that are occurring.  Would he wish to be back in Beirut and part of the action?  

Easy Earl, on the other hand, is a product of a much more stereotypical American story. He works part-time at Prairie Winds and is a retired used car salesman. He is ornery, opinionated and in his eighties, but can still play the game of golf very well.  You probably all know someone like Easy Earl--an older guy who knows the answer to everything and who you practically can picture yelling, "You kids get off my lawn!"

Thanks again for coming along with me for this alphabetical journey through my characters and themes!

James Ross
Author of Lifetime Loser , Finish Line , Tuey's Course , Opur's Blade , and Pabby's Score
jamesross@authorjamesross.com
Website: http://www.authorjamesross.com/
Publisher Websites: http://www.xlibris.com/ and http://www.nightengalepress.com/
Blog: http://www.authorjamesross.blogspot.com/
Purchase: http://golftwitt.com/46ey

The Fourth Letter Brings Four Characters of Note

 Welcome to the letter "D" and the opportunity I am taking to review some of the characters I've created over the past several years with my five published novels.  I'm enjoying this exercise so far and hope that you are learning more about how I approach my work.

One of the mainstays in the clubhouse at Prairie Winds Golf Course is Doc. His real name is Everett Rhymes and he hails from the area of the United States where Nebraska, Wyoming and Colorado intersect. He has a veterinarian practice and, after focusing on farm animals for a good part of his career, he has shifted his attention to domestic animals. He is a very good golfer and, more importantly, a stabilizing influence on the unusual personalities around him.

Dickie Doo made his debut in Opur's Blade . He is a good golfer in his own right but his full-time job now is as the caddy for Tank Oglethorp, the number one player in the world. During a tense round of golf Dickie Doo serves as a cocky alter-ego to the best player the game has seen.

Daddy Mack is a character I created to lead the house band at Stub's Missing Digit. The bar is located on the banks of the Mississippi river and the water serves as the backdrop to the stage. Daddy Mack is noted for his cowboy hat and he has a bass voice that makes the women melt. He first appeared in Opur's Blade and also steals a few scenes in Pabby's Score .

D. Wayne Smith, who readers meet in Tuey's Course is considerably luckier than many others in his neighborhood. He owns his own business and referees college football games in his spare time. He is accused of sharing an "better than you" air with his peers, as his character is intended to provoke discussion about the controversial and unfair notion those who are successful out of poor circumstances have somehow betrayed their community.

On a serious note, the medical condition of dementia plays an important role in Pabby's Score . An elderly relative of one of my regular characters is afflicted by this descent into confusion and forgetfulness. The disease offers pause to those who come in contact with this person and serves as a reminder that one person's illness affects so many friends and family around them.

See you tomorrow!

James Ross
Author of Lifetime Loser , Finish Line , Tuey's Course , Opur's Blade , and Pabby's Score
jamesross@authorjamesross.com
Website: http://www.authorjamesross.com/
Publisher Websites: http://www.xlibris.com/ and http://www.nightengalepress.com/
Blog: http://www.authorjamesross.blogspot.com/
Purchase: http://golftwitt.com/46ey

Todays Brings Us Characters to Love . . . or Love to Hate!

If I was able to look at each person who is reading this blog post and today and ask you to raise your hand if you had a friend or family member who had been diagnosed with cancer, I imagine that I would see most of you with a hand in the air.  The "C word" has affected all of us, and each person's story about the disease is compelling and unique.  Finish Line is a novel about one man's struggle with cancer. He is stricken in the prime of his life and he struggles to combat the disease while acting as a big brother to two teens who have troubled home lives and both desperately need a strong male role model.  In this coming-of-age story, both the young men and the lead character, Curt, end their summer together having learned some important lessons about their own strength and potential.

Whether you are a star quarterback who just received national attention as you decided with which team you would end your career or a writer who sits in front of the computer on the weekends dreaming of the day your first book is published, you probably have spent time with a coach who has made a difference in your life.  This is a person who encourages you, guides you, and offers some honest criticism when needed.  Prairie Winds Golf Couse has its own coach as well. You probably can picture him -- he's the one who lives and breathes his sport, can always be found wearing a track suit or other athletic gear, and is the assumed go-to guy for all things physical.  This coach character I've developed has roles in Lifetime Loser and Tuey's Course and loves to share his opinions with the other guys in the clubhouse on his days off.

One of my favorite, and perhaps most memorable, characters is Captain Jerry Stafford, aka Captain Jer. The retired pilot is the drunk that occupies the clubhouse and any foursome that will have him. His golf game is lousy but his quick wit and off-the-wall comments are fuel for anyone that wants to argue. He's definitely opinionated and you really cannot guess what offensive or obscene statement might come out of his mouth next. This character was created in my second novel,  Finish Line , and has had a large part in all of the succeeding stories.

I've enjoyed these first few days of using the alphabet to share some of my characters and storylines and I look forward to working through the letters over the month of April as part of this blogging challenge!

James Ross
Author of Lifetime Loser , Finish Line , Tuey's Course , Opur's Blade , and Pabby's Score
jamesross@authorjamesross.com
Website: http://www.authorjamesross.com/
Publisher Websites: http://www.xlibris.com/ and http://www.nightengalepress.com/
Blog: http://www.authorjamesross.blogspot.com/
Purchase: http://golftwitt.com/46ey