Ellis Vidler's Blog, page 14
July 17, 2012
How True is Historical Fiction?
SOUTHERN CROSS at Amazon
My guest this week is Tom Isbell, author of Southern Cross, an exciting tale of
double agents, espionage, revenge, and murder set on the S.S. Southern Cross in pre-WWII.
Historical
fiction blends the reality of history with the make-believe world of the
characters and plot. How true to history should historical fiction be? I spend
a good deal of time researching
My guest this week is Tom Isbell, author of Southern Cross, an exciting tale of
double agents, espionage, revenge, and murder set on the S.S. Southern Cross in pre-WWII.
Historical
fiction blends the reality of history with the make-believe world of the
characters and plot. How true to history should historical fiction be? I spend
a good deal of time researching
July 14, 2012
The Ending, a Bang or a Fizzle?
Death Proof (2007)
Since I'm working on the ending to my current book,
last scenes are on my mind. I thought I'd review my thoughts and see if you
have anything to add. Have you ever read a book that kept you turning the
pages, only to have it fizzle out on a weak ending? Something that wasn't worthy
of the characters' struggle? I have, and I don't want to be guilty of it. It's
such a
Since I'm working on the ending to my current book,
last scenes are on my mind. I thought I'd review my thoughts and see if you
have anything to add. Have you ever read a book that kept you turning the
pages, only to have it fizzle out on a weak ending? Something that wasn't worthy
of the characters' struggle? I have, and I don't want to be guilty of it. It's
such a
July 9, 2012
Make Them Care
Buy at Amazon
My guest this week is Maggie Toussaint, author of Death, Island Style, Murder in the Buff, Muddy Waters, and other mystery, suspense, and romance novels.
A tree
falls in the woods. Do you care? Perhaps, but what if there was a nest of an
endangered birds in the top? Do you care now?
That
might be enough to reel some readers in, but the biggest grab of all is to put
people in
My guest this week is Maggie Toussaint, author of Death, Island Style, Murder in the Buff, Muddy Waters, and other mystery, suspense, and romance novels.
A tree
falls in the woods. Do you care? Perhaps, but what if there was a nest of an
endangered birds in the top? Do you care now?
That
might be enough to reel some readers in, but the biggest grab of all is to put
people in
July 4, 2012
One Picture, Three Visions—HALLINAN. LANE. MONAJEM.
Hooray! It's First Friday again, and three great authors have described,
in 150 words or less, what they saw in this picture. Each one had an entirely different idea.
This is how creativity works. Wonderful examples.
HALLINAN
For thirty
years, Andres played his guitar in the corner of the little Barcelona bar as
the clientele changed from working-class people to thugs and gangsters from
in 150 words or less, what they saw in this picture. Each one had an entirely different idea.
This is how creativity works. Wonderful examples.
HALLINAN
For thirty
years, Andres played his guitar in the corner of the little Barcelona bar as
the clientele changed from working-class people to thugs and gangsters from
July 2, 2012
Celebrating the Fourth of July
I like this picture. It speaks to me of pride and patriotism, which come on many levels. We don't all see things the same way, but I believe we all love this country. And we love and respect the principles on which it was founded, even though we don't always interpret them the same way.
Many of our family members, from our ancestors to the present generation, have given their lives, limbs,
Many of our family members, from our ancestors to the present generation, have given their lives, limbs,
June 30, 2012
Trip to L.A.
Fairytale House
No, it's not Los
Angeles, it's Lower Alabama. Down
around Escambia County
and Mobile Bay. The scenery is beautiful: the
spreading oaks draped in Spanish moss, the charm of the architecture, and of
course the water. Heading toward Mobile Bay,
we went to an arts festival in Fairhope. Lots of artists and different skills.
And there's a delightful house straight out of a
No, it's not Los
Angeles, it's Lower Alabama. Down
around Escambia County
and Mobile Bay. The scenery is beautiful: the
spreading oaks draped in Spanish moss, the charm of the architecture, and of
course the water. Heading toward Mobile Bay,
we went to an arts festival in Fairhope. Lots of artists and different skills.
And there's a delightful house straight out of a
June 25, 2012
Morning Pages
Red Tide at Amazon
Peg Brantley, author of debut novel Red Tide, is this week's guest. Red Tide is available in both print and eBook.
I
have shelves full of books on craft. I admit that although they’ve all been
perused, there are only a few that have been read and marked up. I have a few
favorites, but today I want to talk about one in particular.
There’s
not one thing in it that has to
Peg Brantley, author of debut novel Red Tide, is this week's guest. Red Tide is available in both print and eBook.
I
have shelves full of books on craft. I admit that although they’ve all been
perused, there are only a few that have been read and marked up. I have a few
favorites, but today I want to talk about one in particular.
There’s
not one thing in it that has to
June 23, 2012
Knowing Your Characters
One
way to get to know your characters is to write a first-person essay about the
life of each of the major characters, relating important or life-altering
events for each one—kind of "My Life So Far." Pictures help. Find the things that
helped to shape his/her personality, formed her character. It will take a few
days, but it's worth doing. This method really helps some people get to
way to get to know your characters is to write a first-person essay about the
life of each of the major characters, relating important or life-altering
events for each one—kind of "My Life So Far." Pictures help. Find the things that
helped to shape his/her personality, formed her character. It will take a few
days, but it's worth doing. This method really helps some people get to
June 18, 2012
Ideas Won't Work Unless You Do
At Amazon
My guest this week is Tom Rizzo, author of Last Stand at Bitter Creek, a historical adventure novel.
Generating fresh ideas is
important, no matter what we do. But, for a writer, they represent the fuel of
the creative engine. When the idea tank hovers around empty, it's time to head in new directions to kick-start the
creativity process. Generating fresh
ideas can be
My guest this week is Tom Rizzo, author of Last Stand at Bitter Creek, a historical adventure novel.
Generating fresh ideas is
important, no matter what we do. But, for a writer, they represent the fuel of
the creative engine. When the idea tank hovers around empty, it's time to head in new directions to kick-start the
creativity process. Generating fresh
ideas can be
June 15, 2012
Does Head Hopping Make You Crazy?
Photo by DnDavis
Head hopping is when the reader is privy to two (or, heaven forbid,
more) characters’ thoughts and feelings in a single scene. That’s not to say it
can’t be done successfully. Many popular authors, especially those who began
writing some years ago, are known for it. Nora Roberts is probably the best
example. And let me say, she does it extremely well. She never leaves you
Head hopping is when the reader is privy to two (or, heaven forbid,
more) characters’ thoughts and feelings in a single scene. That’s not to say it
can’t be done successfully. Many popular authors, especially those who began
writing some years ago, are known for it. Nora Roberts is probably the best
example. And let me say, she does it extremely well. She never leaves you
