Ellis Vidler's Blog, page 11
October 29, 2012
Write What You Fear?
At Amazon
My guest this week
is Linda Lovely, author of the new romantic suspense Final Accounting as well as the Marley Clark mysteries.
We’ve all heard the old saw—write what you know.
Oh, really?
Fortunately, most authors of romantic suspense,
mysteries, and thrillers have never been shot, beaten, handcuffed, kidnapped,
stalked or targeted by a relentless assassin. So does that mean
My guest this week
is Linda Lovely, author of the new romantic suspense Final Accounting as well as the Marley Clark mysteries.
We’ve all heard the old saw—write what you know.
Oh, really?
Fortunately, most authors of romantic suspense,
mysteries, and thrillers have never been shot, beaten, handcuffed, kidnapped,
stalked or targeted by a relentless assassin. So does that mean
October 26, 2012
My New Cover for TIME OF DEATH
Time of Death will be available from Amazon November 18th.
When murder strikes on a South Carolina island, artist
Alex Jenrette’s psychic streak compels her to draw the scene with eerie
accuracy. The police think she’s involved in the crime, prosecutor Connor Moran
fears a psychic witness will get him laughed out of court, and the killer
believes she saw it all.
I'd love to hear
When murder strikes on a South Carolina island, artist
Alex Jenrette’s psychic streak compels her to draw the scene with eerie
accuracy. The police think she’s involved in the crime, prosecutor Connor Moran
fears a psychic witness will get him laughed out of court, and the killer
believes she saw it all.
I'd love to hear
October 22, 2012
Anthologies for Charity: an Indie Writer's Perspective
Serial Sleuths Vol. 1: Haunted
My guest today is thriller author D.V. Berkom, introducing a
collection of short stories to benefit Doctors without Borders.
Recently, I was invited to
contribute a short story featuring Kate Jones, the main character from a
popular thriller series I write, to an indie anthology for Halloween. Since it
was for a worthy cause (Doctors without Borders) and
My guest today is thriller author D.V. Berkom, introducing a
collection of short stories to benefit Doctors without Borders.
Recently, I was invited to
contribute a short story featuring Kate Jones, the main character from a
popular thriller series I write, to an indie anthology for Halloween. Since it
was for a worthy cause (Doctors without Borders) and
October 18, 2012
Excerpt: DROP DEAD ON RECALL
Amazon: Print or eBook
When a top-ranked
competitor keels over at a dog obedience trial, photographer Janet MacPhail is
swept up in a maelstrom of suspicion, jealousy, cut-throat competition, death
threats, pet-napping, and murder. She becomes a “person of interest” to the police,
and apparently to major hunk Tom Saunders as well. As if murder and the threat
of impending romance aren’t
When a top-ranked
competitor keels over at a dog obedience trial, photographer Janet MacPhail is
swept up in a maelstrom of suspicion, jealousy, cut-throat competition, death
threats, pet-napping, and murder. She becomes a “person of interest” to the police,
and apparently to major hunk Tom Saunders as well. As if murder and the threat
of impending romance aren’t
October 15, 2012
Try! Even if It Might Not Work Out
Amazon Print & eBook
My guest this week is Sheila Webster
Boneham, author of several nonfiction books and the first in her mystery
series, Drop Dead on Recall.
"I want to write a [novel, memoir,
poem, book about...]...." I hear that a lot. I hear it when I teach
classes and workshops, and I hear it in coffee shops and at book signings. I
think this is partly because the need to create is a
My guest this week is Sheila Webster
Boneham, author of several nonfiction books and the first in her mystery
series, Drop Dead on Recall.
"I want to write a [novel, memoir,
poem, book about...]...." I hear that a lot. I hear it when I teach
classes and workshops, and I hear it in coffee shops and at book signings. I
think this is partly because the need to create is a
October 12, 2012
Those Talking Heads
Use dialogue to give the reader needed information, but avoid talking
in a vacuum—talking heads. Talking heads are created when characters exchange
information but do nothing. They might as well be reading the news.
One way to create interest is to have the dialogue take place during
some activity, such as over a meal or pursuing some activity that might later
come into play in the story. The
in a vacuum—talking heads. Talking heads are created when characters exchange
information but do nothing. They might as well be reading the news.
One way to create interest is to have the dialogue take place during
some activity, such as over a meal or pursuing some activity that might later
come into play in the story. The
October 8, 2012
How Samantha Found her Settings
Amazon Kindle
This week my guest
is Peggy Edelheit, author of the Samantha Jamison mysteries.
I’d say there’s a lot of Samantha in me, and visa
versa. We seek advice, give others credit more so than ourselves, and are
reluctant to take center stage. Although we get carried away on occasion, we
have a great sense of humor. Just looking at the quirky characters we both have
to deal with
This week my guest
is Peggy Edelheit, author of the Samantha Jamison mysteries.
I’d say there’s a lot of Samantha in me, and visa
versa. We seek advice, give others credit more so than ourselves, and are
reluctant to take center stage. Although we get carried away on occasion, we
have a great sense of humor. Just looking at the quirky characters we both have
to deal with
October 4, 2012
FIRST FRIDAY! 3 AUTHORS, 1 IMAGE
I gave three outstanding authors this photograph and asked each to
write about it in 150 words or less. Three very different visions of the same
thing came back. Amazing how imagination works!
DAVIS
Anger churned in my chest when I saw Jason standing in the
doorway of the barn wearing that insipid mask. Twenty-five-years old and he
hadn’t any sense. The night before he had tried on different
write about it in 150 words or less. Three very different visions of the same
thing came back. Amazing how imagination works!
DAVIS
Anger churned in my chest when I saw Jason standing in the
doorway of the barn wearing that insipid mask. Twenty-five-years old and he
hadn’t any sense. The night before he had tried on different
October 2, 2012
No One Likes to Be Lectured
Sometimes when
a writer wants to give the reader a great deal of information, he/she dumps it
all into one long paragraph. Just the sight of the long, solid paragraph is
discouraging to readers. Break it up. Use actions on the part of the speaker.
Let the other person interrupt with comments or questions. White space is good;
it gives the reader the sensation of moving forward at a fast
a writer wants to give the reader a great deal of information, he/she dumps it
all into one long paragraph. Just the sight of the long, solid paragraph is
discouraging to readers. Break it up. Use actions on the part of the speaker.
Let the other person interrupt with comments or questions. White space is good;
it gives the reader the sensation of moving forward at a fast
September 29, 2012
Cold Comfort Giveaway--2 books!
This weekend I'm giving away two eBooks (format of your choice) of Cold Comfort.Leave a comment to enter, and I'll draw a name on Sunday night. Cold Comfort is suspense with a little romance.
Cold Comfort
begins in December during the long nights leading up to the Solstice. Claire
Spencer is attacked, but why? A friend calls in a favor, and burned out PI Ben
Riley reluctantly checks it out
Cold Comfort
begins in December during the long nights leading up to the Solstice. Claire
Spencer is attacked, but why? A friend calls in a favor, and burned out PI Ben
Riley reluctantly checks it out
