Ellis Vidler's Blog, page 22
October 22, 2011
Sisters in Crime 25th Anniversary
Since I have no real blog for today, I'm posting pictures from the Upstate SC Chapter of Sisters in Crime. They're from our recent celebration, a panel discussion and refreshments at the Easley Library. Joyce Lavene kindly took most of the pictures for us. She and her husband, Jim, came from the Charlotte area to help us celebrate. Their 60th book will be out next month. The Lavenes have been
October 18, 2011
Lisa Black, author of the Theresa MacLean mysteries, is m...
Lisa Black, author of the Theresa MacLean mysteries, is my guest today. She's uniquely qualifed to write these books and, according to Tess Gerritsen, "She is, quite simply, one of the best storytellers around." Defensive Wounds grew out of the unique and usually frustrating relationship between cops and attorneys. Even though I'm not a cop—I'm a forensic specialist—the same factors apply. From
October 14, 2011
When Characters Won't Cooperate
The romance is gone—actually, it never was. What do you do when the two main characters in your romantic suspense refuse to go beyond "like"? I've tried forcing them, but the scenes are artificial and flat. Somehow they got to be friends, but the chemistry isn't there. No zing. Also, this book is too short. And I don't like the ending I had planned. I'm not sure where it all went wrong, but it
October 10, 2011
Coincidence or Conflict: I had to Choose
Donnell Ann Bell is my guest today. Her debut mystery, The Past Came Hunting, has just been released in print and eBook. What a great premise!If you've been writing as long as I have, chances are you've received your share of rejections. There are myriad reasons a book is rejected: Pacing's off, too much backstory, failure to hone one's craft, the story doesn't resonate with the editor or agent
October 7, 2011
Berkom, Cody, Diener--Three voices, Three descriptions
This time I've asked three very good authors to share descriptive passages: D.V. Berkom, Sandra Carey Cody, and Michelle Diener. I wanted three different styles and voices. See how they wove characters and action into their description.
D.V. Berkom
D.V. Berkom grew up in the Midwest, received her BA in Political Science from the University of Minnesota, and promptly moved to Mexico to live on
D.V. Berkom
D.V. Berkom grew up in the Midwest, received her BA in Political Science from the University of Minnesota, and promptly moved to Mexico to live on
October 4, 2011
Ellis Vidler's Unpredictable Muse: Out with the Old and In with the New
Ellis Vidler's Unpredictable Muse: Out with the Old and In with the New: I'm so pleased to have Jeff Marks as my guest this week. He's the author of a number of award-winning books as well as Intent to Sell , a bo...
Out with the Old and In with the New
I'm so pleased to have Jeff Marks as my guest this week. He's the author of a number of award-winning books as well as Intent to Sell, a book every writer should own.There comes a time about 90% of the way through a book where my mind starts to wander. Having successfully, or nearly successfully, completing another book, I start to think about what I want to do next. I find myself there with the
October 1, 2011
A Brief Description
This is an excerpt from Cold Comfort, my new romantic suspense, coming sometime this winter. I was trying to avoid a postcard description and tie it to what was happening in the story. Riley, the main man, is checking out Claire's shop as a favor to a friend. Claire, of course, is the heroine.
I don't know if I accomplished what I wanted, to give the flavor and picture of the shop with a little
I don't know if I accomplished what I wanted, to give the flavor and picture of the shop with a little
September 26, 2011
TITULUS TO LOGLINE TO PITCH in just 3 easy millennia
Patricia Deuson is my guest today. Her debut mystery, Superior Longing, is now out. It looks like a good read!
Superior Longing
When books were written on papyrus scrolls, a tag or titulus, a scrap of papyrus usually, was attached to the outside of the scroll to identify its contents. Tituli were, in effect, the title page, the contents table, and a brief summary of what the scroll was about. It
Superior Longing
When books were written on papyrus scrolls, a tag or titulus, a scrap of papyrus usually, was attached to the outside of the scroll to identify its contents. Tituli were, in effect, the title page, the contents table, and a brief summary of what the scroll was about. It
September 24, 2011
Time for promotion, or I feel faint
It's almost time for my new book to come out. November 15! (Kindly mark it on your calendar. :-) Here's the cover, its first public appearance. Echelon Press is the publisher. It's suspense with strong romantic elements, romantic suspense by some definitions. It's not pure anything. I'm working on log lines too.She wanted a rottweiller. Instead she got Riley. Or, Everything she believed was a
