Ellis Vidler's Blog, page 13
August 21, 2012
The Lonely Garret
At Amazon
My guest this week is my friend Kathleen Delaney, author of the delightful Ellen McKenzie mystery series. Most people picture authors of years gone by as recluses huddled in an attic, no heat, no food, scribbling their lives away, driven to write. They shut out the world and lived in their imagination, creating characters they hoped would live forever on the pages of their manuscripts
My guest this week is my friend Kathleen Delaney, author of the delightful Ellen McKenzie mystery series. Most people picture authors of years gone by as recluses huddled in an attic, no heat, no food, scribbling their lives away, driven to write. They shut out the world and lived in their imagination, creating characters they hoped would live forever on the pages of their manuscripts
August 18, 2012
Playing Fair with Readers
Forensics team at murder scene
Hmmm. Question. How much information do you have to give the reader? I believe you have to play fair and let the reader know what the main character knows. The detective can’t find a note under the calendar that gives her a major clue and not share the information with the reader. Withholding important information from the reader, things the main character learns
Hmmm. Question. How much information do you have to give the reader? I believe you have to play fair and let the reader know what the main character knows. The detective can’t find a note under the calendar that gives her a major clue and not share the information with the reader. Withholding important information from the reader, things the main character learns
August 13, 2012
Birth and Resurrection of All Mystery E-Newsletter
The fun and fabulous R.P. (Rebecca) Dahlke is my guest this week. She's the energy behind the newsletter for mystery fans, readers and authors alike. If you don't know about it, you're missing something good. In 2010, I started an e-newsletter for mystery and suspense authors. It ran, free of charge to the authors, until December 2012. I decided to let it go because: 1) authors just weren't with
August 10, 2012
From There to Here--Scene Transitions
Williamsburg
Have you ever read scenes with no clear viewpoint character, time, or place? Does it stop you while you try to figure out what happened? How Carol got from there to here?At the beginning of each new scene, the writer should immediately let the reader know three things: 1. Who – whose POV it will be in2. When – explain the time change between this scene and the last one3. Where –
Have you ever read scenes with no clear viewpoint character, time, or place? Does it stop you while you try to figure out what happened? How Carol got from there to here?At the beginning of each new scene, the writer should immediately let the reader know three things: 1. Who – whose POV it will be in2. When – explain the time change between this scene and the last one3. Where –
August 6, 2012
Hickory, Dickory, Doc
At Amazon
My guest this week is Mary Welk, author of novels, novellas, and short stories, including "Hickory, Dickory, Doc."
When interviewed by Mary Buckham
and Dianna Love for BreakIntoFiction.com’s “Five for Five Writers
Extravaganza”, author Jane Porter had this to say about the craft of writing:
“Great fiction requires great characters. Avoid stereotypes!”
Realism was one
My guest this week is Mary Welk, author of novels, novellas, and short stories, including "Hickory, Dickory, Doc."
When interviewed by Mary Buckham
and Dianna Love for BreakIntoFiction.com’s “Five for Five Writers
Extravaganza”, author Jane Porter had this to say about the craft of writing:
“Great fiction requires great characters. Avoid stereotypes!”
Realism was one
August 3, 2012
CODY. WYLIE. IDEN. 3 Views, 3 Authors
Photo 123rf
It’s FIRST FRIDAY!
Three amazing authors give their takes on one picture in 150 words or less. Their genres, voices,
and visions are wonderfully different.
CODY
"It's the color of a
ruby." The child's awe-filled voice broke the eerie silence following the
storm. "Just like the Book of Legends says."
Murmurs rose and blended into a
single, querulous hum: "That's all it is.
It’s FIRST FRIDAY!
Three amazing authors give their takes on one picture in 150 words or less. Their genres, voices,
and visions are wonderfully different.
CODY
"It's the color of a
ruby." The child's awe-filled voice broke the eerie silence following the
storm. "Just like the Book of Legends says."
Murmurs rose and blended into a
single, querulous hum: "That's all it is.
July 30, 2012
BIRTH AND GROWTH OF A NOVEL
Earl Staggs, novelist and short story author, two-time Derringer award winner, and an all-around good guy, is my guest this week.
The idea came to me shortly after
the tragedy of 9-11 when terrorists left a scar across the world that will
never heal. I was equally heartbroken
and angry. The angry part of me wanted
to go out and find anyone planning to commit such a horrible, unspeakable act
The idea came to me shortly after
the tragedy of 9-11 when terrorists left a scar across the world that will
never heal. I was equally heartbroken
and angry. The angry part of me wanted
to go out and find anyone planning to commit such a horrible, unspeakable act
July 28, 2012
The Birds and the Bees
We have a crop
of baby hummingbirds coming to our feeders right now, a summer crop. At the
same time, we have an influx of yellow jackets who also like our hummingbird
feeders. The sweet scent attracts them and they’re able to wiggle through the
holes to the sugar water. Of course they can’t get back out, but in the
meantime, the little villains drive off the hummers.
I haven’t been
able to
of baby hummingbirds coming to our feeders right now, a summer crop. At the
same time, we have an influx of yellow jackets who also like our hummingbird
feeders. The sweet scent attracts them and they’re able to wiggle through the
holes to the sugar water. Of course they can’t get back out, but in the
meantime, the little villains drive off the hummers.
I haven’t been
able to
July 23, 2012
EDGING YOUR WRITING—BIT BY BIT
Available in Trade or eBook
Luisa Buehler, author of the Grace Marsden mysteries, is my guest. Grace is a fascinating character who's been described as a female Monk (from the TV series, not the church). Her latest is The Reenactor: A Staged Death.
People who aren’t
writers always ask, “How do you write an entire book?”
“In little bits and
starts and stops,” I usually answer. Those same
Luisa Buehler, author of the Grace Marsden mysteries, is my guest. Grace is a fascinating character who's been described as a female Monk (from the TV series, not the church). Her latest is The Reenactor: A Staged Death.
People who aren’t
writers always ask, “How do you write an entire book?”
“In little bits and
starts and stops,” I usually answer. Those same
July 20, 2012
New Home for Greenville's Fiction Addiction
Things are
looking up for booklovers in Greenville, South Carolina. Fiction Addiction, our indie bookstore, has moved to a new location
that’s much more accessible. The new address is 1175 Woods Crossing Rd (Shops by the Mall
behind Haywood Mall). That’s the corner where Fried Green Tomatoes is, almost
across the street from Twigs.
There’s good
parking, easy access, and a lovely, spacious
looking up for booklovers in Greenville, South Carolina. Fiction Addiction, our indie bookstore, has moved to a new location
that’s much more accessible. The new address is 1175 Woods Crossing Rd (Shops by the Mall
behind Haywood Mall). That’s the corner where Fried Green Tomatoes is, almost
across the street from Twigs.
There’s good
parking, easy access, and a lovely, spacious
