Ellis Vidler's Blog, page 3
January 25, 2018
Ear of the Listener
I’m giving away one audiobook of Cold Comfort to a commenter on this blog. Grace Lowe is an amazing
narrator, and she brings the characters to life. I just listened to it again and
was caught up in Claire Spencer’s story, much as I was the first time I heard
it. The audio brings out all kinds of things I didn’t expect. Listen to the sample at Audible.com .
Cold Comfort, Audible.com
narrator, and she brings the characters to life. I just listened to it again and
was caught up in Claire Spencer’s story, much as I was the first time I heard
it. The audio brings out all kinds of things I didn’t expect. Listen to the sample at Audible.com .
Cold Comfort, Audible.com
December 9, 2017
Christmas traditions
'Twas the night before Christmas
Christmas in my family has, or had, many traditional activities. Some have gone by the wayside as the family dwindled--there are only seven of us here, but we get together and eat and enjoy each other, and eat some more, and finally nap. Son John and sister Christy are the best cooks, but we all help.
So far, two of my characters like to cook, Claire in Cold
Christmas in my family has, or had, many traditional activities. Some have gone by the wayside as the family dwindled--there are only seven of us here, but we get together and eat and enjoy each other, and eat some more, and finally nap. Son John and sister Christy are the best cooks, but we all help.
So far, two of my characters like to cook, Claire in Cold
October 3, 2017
Showing Character
Do you like to see images of main characters, or do you
prefer to let your imagination create the picture? I have ideas but love to see
pictures. I collect them from various places to use for references, such as for
Claire and Riley, the characters in Cold
Comfort, for Madeleine in Prime
Target, and for the others. I keep interesting faces to use in minor roles.
Claire, Cold Comfort
But
prefer to let your imagination create the picture? I have ideas but love to see
pictures. I collect them from various places to use for references, such as for
Claire and Riley, the characters in Cold
Comfort, for Madeleine in Prime
Target, and for the others. I keep interesting faces to use in minor roles.
Claire, Cold Comfort
But
September 16, 2017
I blame Kerry Greenwood
For all these muffins I’ve been making. In addition to the
charming Miss Fisher series, she writes the Corinna Chapman books, which, aside
from some great characters and a wonderful flat and bakery, feature muffins.
Carrot Muffins
Corinna owns Earthly Delights, a wonderful bread bakery. Ms.
Greenwood does an outstanding job of describing the aroma and taste of Jason’s
muffins and even
charming Miss Fisher series, she writes the Corinna Chapman books, which, aside
from some great characters and a wonderful flat and bakery, feature muffins.
Carrot Muffins
Corinna owns Earthly Delights, a wonderful bread bakery. Ms.
Greenwood does an outstanding job of describing the aroma and taste of Jason’s
muffins and even
March 17, 2017
McClellanville, SC
Williamsburg Photo Ser Amantio di ...
McClellanville, SC
Williamsburg Photo Ser Amantio di Nicolao
COLD COMFORT was a fun book to write. I pored
over maps, websites, and real estate ads, looking for the right neighborhoods
and houses for the characters. I wrote to friends who live in D.C. for
information on the traffic, how to get around, and where typical people might
live.
Mistletoe window
Then I spent a few
Williamsburg Photo Ser Amantio di Nicolao
COLD COMFORT was a fun book to write. I pored
over maps, websites, and real estate ads, looking for the right neighborhoods
and houses for the characters. I wrote to friends who live in D.C. for
information on the traffic, how to get around, and where typical people might
live.
Mistletoe window
Then I spent a few
January 11, 2017
Making the heart pound
Zenyatta
In
an action or dramatic scene, one in which the emotions are high and the reader is on the
edge of the seat, the mood is tense, the writing tight. Define the emotional goal of the scene. Use all the senses, the
coppery taste of blood, the cold sting of the rain, the smell of old fish.
Limit the number of adjectives (descriptive words). Cut any that aren’t
absolutely necessary. Find
In
an action or dramatic scene, one in which the emotions are high and the reader is on the
edge of the seat, the mood is tense, the writing tight. Define the emotional goal of the scene. Use all the senses, the
coppery taste of blood, the cold sting of the rain, the smell of old fish.
Limit the number of adjectives (descriptive words). Cut any that aren’t
absolutely necessary. Find
December 4, 2016
COLD COMFORT Read an Excerpt
Amazon Kindle
“Thanks. Take the rest of the cookies.” Claire slipped her
feet into her shoes and went to the counter for something to put the treats in. “Riley ate a cake last night and doesn’t
need any more sugar.” She slid the cookies into a red bag and handed it to
Mary. “Tell Damien hi and I’ll see him Friday afternoon.”
Claire let Mary out the front door and locked it behind her.
“
“Thanks. Take the rest of the cookies.” Claire slipped her
feet into her shoes and went to the counter for something to put the treats in. “Riley ate a cake last night and doesn’t
need any more sugar.” She slid the cookies into a red bag and handed it to
Mary. “Tell Damien hi and I’ll see him Friday afternoon.”
Claire let Mary out the front door and locked it behind her.
“
COLD COMFORT 99¢ thru 12/5 Read an Excerpt
Amazon Kindle
“Thanks. Take the rest of the cookies.” Claire slipped her
feet into her shoes and went to the counter for something to put the treats in. “Riley ate a cake last night and doesn’t
need any more sugar.” She slid the cookies into a red bag and handed it to
Mary. “Tell Damien hi and I’ll see him Friday afternoon.”
Claire let Mary out the front door and locked it behind her.
“
“Thanks. Take the rest of the cookies.” Claire slipped her
feet into her shoes and went to the counter for something to put the treats in. “Riley ate a cake last night and doesn’t
need any more sugar.” She slid the cookies into a red bag and handed it to
Mary. “Tell Damien hi and I’ll see him Friday afternoon.”
Claire let Mary out the front door and locked it behind her.
“
December 3, 2016
Excerpt from Cold Comfort
Amazon Kindle
“I’m off duty now. I can give you a ride,” Parsons said. “Where
do you want to go?”
“Home.”
“You sure? Don’t you have family or a friend you could stay
with?”
“No, no one.” She thought about Walt Kramer, her former
fiancé. She could hardly call him—he’d eloped with his secretary—his pregnant secretary—two months before the
wedding. Six months later, it still stung
“I’m off duty now. I can give you a ride,” Parsons said. “Where
do you want to go?”
“Home.”
“You sure? Don’t you have family or a friend you could stay
with?”
“No, no one.” She thought about Walt Kramer, her former
fiancé. She could hardly call him—he’d eloped with his secretary—his pregnant secretary—two months before the
wedding. Six months later, it still stung
SALE 99¢ Excerpt from Cold Comfort
Amazon Kindle
“I’m off duty now. I can give you a ride,” Parsons said. “Where
do you want to go?”
“Home.”
“You sure? Don’t you have family or a friend you could stay
with?”
“No, no one.” She thought about Walt Kramer, her former
fiancé. She could hardly call him—he’d eloped with his secretary—his pregnant secretary—two months before the
wedding. Six months later, it still stung
“I’m off duty now. I can give you a ride,” Parsons said. “Where
do you want to go?”
“Home.”
“You sure? Don’t you have family or a friend you could stay
with?”
“No, no one.” She thought about Walt Kramer, her former
fiancé. She could hardly call him—he’d eloped with his secretary—his pregnant secretary—two months before the
wedding. Six months later, it still stung
