Stuart Aken's Blog, page 296

Stuart's Daily Word Spot: Purple Prose

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Purple prose: the use of over flowery or emotionallyexaggerated language to describe events, people and feelings in a work of fiction.There are those, the ones without any romantic content to the souls, whoautomatically conclude that any work of romance is necessarily composed ofpurple prose. Such ignorance has long been demonstrated as erroneous by thebrilliance of writers like Jane Austen, Rosie Thomas and D.H Lawrence.
A passage of purple prose, especially for you:'Jason, tanned and taught muscles staining at the fine silkof his designer shirt, poured honeyed words of love and appreciation overLaticia's panting form as he stroked her pulsating flesh with the tender tipsof his exploring fingers. Heavenly choirs chorused enchanting melodies in tonesof ecstasy as his roseate lips lingered on hers, raising her desire to levelsnever before experienced. And the heat of a thousand flaming brands of passionseared through her heaving loins as his strong but gentle hands slipped beneaththe…'
That's enough of that. It's difficult to write this stuffunless it comes to you naturally. But you get the picture?

Author Interview with Lynda Hilburn

Tell us about the first book in your Kismet Knight, VampirePsychologist series, THE VAMPIRE SHRINK.
Here's a brief blurb:
Kismet Knight is a young psychologist with a growing clinicalpractice, and she's always looking for something to give her the edge in herchosen career. When her new client turns out to be a Goth teenager whodesperately wants to become a vampire, Kismet is inspired to become the vampireshrink, offering her services to people who believe they are undead. Kismetherself, as a scientist, knows it's hokum, but she's looking at it in a purelypsychoanalytic light, already imagining the papers she's going to write on thisstrange subculture. That's until she meets the leader of a vampire coven, asexy, mysterious man who claims to be a powerful 800-year-old vampire, and sheis pulled into a whirlwind of inexplicable events that start her questioningeverything she once believed about the paranormal.
How longhave you been writing?
I've beenwriting nonfiction for 30 years: newspaper and magazine articles, newspapercolumns, research materials, training materials, journals, etc. Of course, someof my journal entries fell into the category of wishful thinking, whichprovided great preparation for what was to come. It wasn't until 2002 that Iseriously began exploring fiction.
How didyou pick the genre you write in?
My genre isgenerally paranormal, which includes urban fantasy, paranormal mystery,paranormal romance, erotic paranormal, dark paranormal, psychologicalparanormal, paranormal thriller, paranormal humor/satire, even paranormal withhorror elements! My love of all things dark and spooky made it impossible forme to write anything else. And, no matter how hard I try, I can't help but addextra elements. I'm always fascinated by the underlying layers of things (can'ttake the psychotherapist out of the writer).
Do youplot or do you write by the seat of your pants?
Sometimes Ireally wish I could plot. Plotting seems so organized. So efficient. Plottersseem to get so much more done. But, I'm a pantser. I never know what's comingin the story until I see it on the screen in front of me. I buy books aboutplotting and they gather dust. I am toying with the notion of being a "pantserwith plotting tendencies." We'll see how that goes! As long as I give myselfroom to completely change everything anytime I wish, I think that should work.
What drewyou to the subject of The Vampire Shrink?
The book isabout a Denver psychologist who gets pulled into a vampire underworld, andwinds up working with an unusual clientele. I've always been a vampire fan.There's just something about the various dark archetypes for these compellingand frightening creatures. The actual idea for the book came from a clientsession. I'd listened to a young woman talk about a non-human group she wantedto become part of and I began to notice that her words reminded me of some ofthe popular vampire books I'd read. She described this group (not vampires, butI do have other clients who live the Goth/vampire-wannabe lifestyle, includingdrinking blood) as if they were bloodsuckers. After the session, as I satwriting up case notes, I daydreamed about what might happen if I walked out tomy waiting room and found a gorgeous vampire sitting there. I went home thatnight and started writing. It was the most fun I've ever had writing.Tell us about yourpsychologist heroine Kismet Knight. Since you both share the same profession,do you think of her as your alter ego? I'm nodding. Kismet isdefinitely an idealized version of me: she's thinner, younger, prettier and hasa much more exciting love life than I do! I'm probably in the minority here,but I believe all characters reflect some aspect of the author's psyche. Eitherour characters represent aspects we like in ourselves, or perhaps elementswe're unconscious of. Or they're parts of ourselves we're afraid we are, orwish we were, or general archetypes available to (and parts of) everyone. Ialways smile when an author tells me her characters are separate from her.
What doyou know now that you are published that you wish you'd known sooner?
The biggestlessons I've learned have been about the business side of being an author. Ihad been used to working for myself for most of my adult life. That meant I wascomfortable charting my own course and calling the shots. Well, traditionalpublishing has its own rules and most authors (all?) have little chance ofcalling any shots. Especially in the beginning. I made lots of mistakes, mostlybecause I just didn't know any better. I kept assuming the people I worked withhad my best interests at heart and they would give me good advice. It took awhile before I understood the challenging nature of the publishing world. I hadheard all the talk from author friends about the need to grow a tough skin andmaking sure I had lots of outside support. But until I held my nose and jumpedinto the deep end of the pool, I had no idea what they meant. So, I experienceda steep and frustrating learning curve. I know much more about all aspects nowthan I did then. It's true. A writer has to cultivate both her creative sideand her business instincts. Both are equally important.How long did it take you towrite each of your two books, starting from when the idea came intoyour thoughts? From the moment I sat downto write, it took 14 months to complete The Vampire Shrink. It probablywouldn't have taken so long if I hadn't thrown my chapters away every time aparticular crit partner said I was "doing it wrong." Turns out these dearfriends (all romance writers) were trying to help me learn to write romancecorrectly, and that wasn't my focus. Once I figured out I was crossing genres,things moved much faster. I trusted my intuition more. I had an actual deadlinefor the second book, formerly called Dark Harvest, so that one took me about ayear, and it was much more difficult to write! My new publisher (Jo FletcherBooks/Quercus Books) asked me to write a new book #2 (the former book #2 willnow be a later book). I have just a few months to come up with an entire book.Yikes. I've got my fingers crossed I'm up to the challenge!
Describe your workspace.

I live in a small townhouse (smaller than my heroine's) and my office is inthe loft area. My computer sits on a huge table, surrounded by files, books,magazines, office equipment and various papers. There are vampire posters onthe walls around me. I keep the TV on in the background for noise. I can't playmusic while I write because I'm a singer and music distracts me.

Best and worst part of being a writer?

Best part is typing the words, "the end." LOL. Worst is forcing myself tosit in the chair long enough to get the words out.

Advice for other writers?

It really is true that you should never give up. Read stories about otherwriters and how many dark times they had to overcome before achieving whateverthey consider success. Just when you think it's all over, it begins again. Bepersistent, tenacious and stubborn. Keep writing. Keep laughing. Of course, nowwith all the indie publishing, it's a brave new world!

What are you writing now?

I'm working on a new second book (tentatively called Blood Therapy) in myKismet Knight, Vampire Psychologist series (and I have ideas for the book afterthat, which might push the previous book #2 back to being book #4). I also havelots of other ideas I'd like to write about. It would be great to win thelottery and be able to write full time!

How can people buy your books?

The UK version of The Vampire Shrink will be out in hardcover and tradepaperback – and hopefully ebook – September, 2011. The books can be pre-orderedat Amazon.com. The North American version should arrive early 2012. My booksshould be available everywhere.

How can readers learn more about you and your books?

Website: http://www.lyndahilburnauthor.com
Blog: http://www.paranormalityuniverse.blogspot.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/lyndahilburn
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/lyndahilburn

Stuart's Daily Word Spot: Leach or leech?

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Leach or leech? Leach: verb – to dissolve by percolation;subject soil, etc, to the action of percolating water, which takes out solubleconstituents; slowly deprive.Leech: verb – to apply leeches to a patient inthe cause of medical treatment; to drain of energy, resources; attach oneselflike a leech, be parasitic.A leech (noun) is a parasitic worm that sucksblood from its host.
'Thecontinuous rains had leached the soil of all goodness, so that it would no longersupport a crop of any worth.'
'Doctor Deathdecided that the only cure for his patient's hysteria was to leech her on adaily basis, slowly draining her of what he considered was her bad blood.'

Stuart's Daily Word Spot: Decorum

Decorum: noun - literaryor dramatic propriety, fitness; propriety, good taste in conduct or appearance; orderliness; polite behaviour.
'Johnson, who had a propensity for loutish behaviour when he'dhad too much to drink, was asked to show a little more decorum at his father'swedding to the ambassador's daughter.' 
Picture: sometimes Zemanta doesn't come up with a suitable image. This one's of Pasture Dale, East Yorkshire.

Stuart's Daily Word Spot: i.e. or e.g?

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i.e. or e.g?A bit of Latin:i.e. or, id est, means 'that is'. i.e. is another way of expressing'in other words' and its purpose is to make something clearer by providing a morecommon definition.
'The leading civil servant promised to 'elucidate mattersemploying terminology comprehensively coherent to those deficient in the fieldof education and enlightenment on all prospective eventualities'. i.e. he wouldspeak more clearly in future.
e.g. is an abbreviation of another Latin phrase; exempligratia means 'for example'. e.g. is used to present specific examples supportingan assertion.
'The fact of the matter is that some women look better in abikini than others; e.g. Kelly Brook, Elle Macpherson, Holly Weber and AnneWiddicombe.

Stuart's Daily Word Spot: Picaresque

         Cover of Moll Flanders
Picaresque: adjective - relating to rascals and rogues; suggesting fictiondealing with the episodic adventures of a roguish protagonist.Good examples are MollFlanders, by Daniel Defoe and TomJones, by Henry Fielding. Modern readers, and filmgoers, will probably bemore familiar with the genre as demonstrated by the Pirates of the Caribbean series.
'Stuart's novel, relating the adventures of an unqualifiedhospital doctor, was described by reviewers as a picaresque romp.'

Stuart's Daily Word Spot: Cabinet

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Cabinet: noun- case or cupboard usually with doors and shelves; collection of biologicalor numismatic specimens; a chamber with temperature and humiditycontrols, used for incubating biological samples; small room providingseclusion; small exhibition room in a museum; private room usedas council chamber of chief councillors of a sovereign; theconsultations and actions of these councillors; body of advisers of a head ofstate; advisory council of a governor of a state or a mayor; ameeting of a Cabinet.
'Harold emptied out the shopping bags and filled the kitchencabinet with the groceries he'd bought at the supermarket.'
'Calling the Cabinet to order, Shirley rose to her feet, atthe head of the table, and announced her intention to become an absolutedictator and have all the members present shot as an example to any who mightoppose her plans for world domination.'

Stuart's Daily Word Spot: Epidemic, endemic or pandemic?

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Epidemic, endemic or pandemic? An epidemic occurs when an outbreak of disease is widespreadbut confined to a limited place and time.An endemic disease is one which recurs in a particular placeor population.A pandemic is an outbreak of a specific pathogen over a widegeographical area.
So, an epidemic might afflict a specific hospital, or even atown or region of a country. Malaria is endemic in many African countries.The notorious 1918 outbreak of Spanish Flu was a pandemicthat caused multiple deaths in many regions of the world.
22 July 1991 – PM John Major launched The Citizen's Charter.Is Cameron's Big Society a development of this idea? 
Zemanta has returned to Blogger. Hooray!

Author Interview with Susan Moody

Pleasetell us little about you, Susan.
I've beenwriting (and being published) for 30 years or so, mainly crime andsuspense.  In my time, I've been Chairman of the Crime WritersAssociation of Great Britain, and World President of the InternationalAssociation of Crime Writers.  To be a writer was an ambition from myvery earliest years and I constantly thank whatever gods there are for havingbeen able to achieve this.  I have so enjoyed all the activitiesassociated with the job – because it is a job, and a hard one,too – especially the opportunities to travel.  Some years back I wasinvited to be a Writer-in-Residence at the University of Tasmania, inAustralia, where I met my Australian/Scottish husband John.  Ofnecessity, we lead a nomadic life: between us we have children in Australia,Iceland, California and Denmark, and homes in England, Australia and France.
Give ussome insight into LOSING NICOLA in a few sentences. 
It's a bookabout childhood and the loss of innocence, and though the murderous eventsdescribed in it never actually happened to me, I'd like to think it capturesthe essence of a place and time – the 1950s – which has gone forever, and thekind of slightly odd family I grew up in.
How didyou come to write this particular book?
Casting aboutfor a new book to write, I remembered a short story I'd written a long timeago, and thought that it had all the ingredients for turning into a much longerpiece of fiction.   It was also a huge pleasure to write aboutparts of my childhood, something I'd not done before.  So although itis in no way autobiographical, it does contain a lot of mypast.                                                          
If youhave a favourite character in your novel, why that particular one?     Orlando,because he is based on and celebrates my much-loved brother, Barnaby, who diedmuch too young.                   Where canpeople buy your books?
I've written28 books and nearly all of them have been published in the UK, as well as inmany other countries (including the US.)  Most of them are availableon Amazon.  (SA – see the full list at the foot of this interview).        Whatqualities does a writer need to be successful?
Perseverance,self-belief, ruthlessness and probably – though I hate to admit it because likemost writers I'd prefer to believe that my work is good enough on its own! – alittle bit of luck.  Women writers especially have a hard timekeeping to a writing schedule and at the same time fulfilling their traditionalrole of mother, wife, chef, cleaner and bottlewasher.   What isyour working method? 
At this pointin my life, rather more haphazard than I'd like it to be.  When Istill had a child at school, it was easy: as soon as he had gone off for theday, I was at my desk and worked until he returned.  Now, with aretired husband needing attention, it's a great deal harder.  Butbasically I like to work creatively for about four hours, as early in themorning as possible, and the rest of the day, revise, answer emails, read, research,meet people, prepare talks etc etc. The difficult thing about a writer'slife is finding solitary time, and at the same time realizing that unless youinteract with others, you aren't engaging with the people and in the life thatyou're writing about.
What's thesingle biggest mistake made by beginner writers?
a)   Openinga book with a funeral or a dream.b)  Crammingtoo much information into the first chapterc)   Notdifferentiating between charactersBut b) is themost usual
To whatextent are grammar and spelling important to a writer?
Absolutelyvital.  They are the main tools of communication and if they areignored, the reader is lost.  There is nothing worse for the readerthan being pulled up short, wondering what the writer is trying to say and nowriter should ever ignore her potential readers.
How muchdo you revise your MS before you send it off?
Revising amanuscript is not the same as redrafting or rewriting.  These days,most publishers no longer use copy-editors, so a mss has to be as perfect as itcan be before it is delivered  I work hard at this but even then it'sall too easy for things to slip past me.For a bookwhich is to appear next February, I've been asked to lose about 9,000words.  For a writer, this is like leaking blood, but it's such agood lesson: it's all too easy to fill a paragraph with wonderful butextraneous stuff.
As awriter, to what extent do you think genre is useful in the publishing world?
Very useful:apart from anything else, it's helpful for readers to be directed to the areathey enjoy.  It also helps to identify the writer, both to the readerand to herself.  I very much enjoy being labelled 'Crime Writer', andbelonging to associated groups such as the Crime Writers' Association, theDetection Club and the International Association of Crime Writers.
Marketingis often considered a chore by authors. What's your opinion on this issue andhow do you deal with it?
In today'smarket, we're all scrabbling for attention and should be grateful for anychance to raise the profile of our books. The vast majority of writers can'tafford to be finicky or up themselves about it.   I'm alwaysdelighted to be asked to 'market' my books in terms of signings, libraryvisits, talks.  Besides it's a great morale-booster to know thatthere are actually fans out there.
What sortof displacement activities keep you from writing?
Just aboutanything, from thinking about domestic chores to reading to the card gameswhich came already installed on my most recent computer.  Like manywriters, I'm reluctant to take the plunge each day into that abyss ofcreativity which constitutes the imaginary world you are conjuring up, and it'sfatally easy to find an excuse not to do so.
Whatsupport do you have from family and friends, or a writing group?
Family andfriends are always supportive.  I don't belong to a writing group butit's such a good idea and many of my colleagues do.  Though eagerlyencouraging and loyal, it took my husband John quite a while to come to termswith A Writer's Life as lived by me, especially the tantrums and temperamentaldoor-slammings caused by the inevitable frustrations of authorship.           How longdoes it normally take you to write a novel?
That entirelydepends on the book.  I wrote one in 5 months last time I was inAustralia; I used to write a Penny Wanawake in 3 months, but my bigger one-offnovels take a year or more.
Who orwhat inspires you?
Nothing inparticular.  It's a sudden realization that there's an idea waiting,a story waiting to be told, a story that no-one can tell as well as Ican.  It's like hearing a long-awaited bus about to come round thecorner and stop for you to climb aboard         If there'sa single aspect to writing that really frustrates you, what is it?
Not gettingpaid enough!.
Is therean aspect of writing that you really enjoy?
Writing anovel is an organic process and there is absolutely nothing more wonderfulthan feeling the thing starting to gel, or your characters proving to beso well-realized that you know exactly who they are and where they are headed,so that writing about them is almost like taking dictation.
Do youthink writing is a natural gift or an acquired skill?
I don't thinkyou can learn to be a writer, but you can certainly acquire the skills tobe a better writer.  That said, I also believe that writers are born,not made.
What areyou writing now?
A book calledDANCING IN THE DARK, due out in February.  It's a romantic suspensenovel about a young woman coming to terms with the fact that she wasapparently abandoned at the age of 11.
Givenunlimited resources, what would be your ideal writing environment?
More or lesswhat I have at the moment.
Where doyou actually write?
In my housein France, I have a very small red-tiled stone outhouse called  ChezSusanne , which has room for a table, a book-case, an armchair and aplug for an electric kettle so I can make endless cups of tea.  Bliss.
SA: Here is a list of Susan's books; UK readers will find a buyinglink to most of them here.  And USand the rest of the world cantry this link.
BIBLIOGRAPHYPenny Black  Macmillan, 1984Penny Dreadful  Macmillan, 1984Penny Post  Macmillan, 1985Penny Royal  Macmillan, 1986Penny Wise  Michael Joseph, 1988Penny Pinching  Michael Joseph, 1989Penny Saving  Michael Joseph, 1990Playing With Fire  Macdonald, 1990The Hatchards Crime Companion  (editor)   Hatchards, 1990Hush-a-bye  Macdonald, 1991House of Moons  Hodder & Stoughton, 1993Love Over Gold  (writing as Susannah James)   Corgi, 1993Takeout Double  Headline, 1993Grand Slam  Headline, 1994The Italian Garden  Hodder & Stoughton, 1994King of Hearts  Headline, 1995Misselthwaite  Hodder & Stoughton, 1995Doubled in Spades  Headline, 1996Sacrifice Bid  Headline, 1997Dummy Hand  Headline, 1998Falling Angel  Hodder & Stoughton, 1998The Colour of Hope  (writing as Susan Madison)   Bantam, 2000The Hour of Separation  (writing as Susan Madison)   Bantam, 2002Touching the Sky  (writing as Susan Madison)   Bantam, 2003Losing Nicola  Severn House, 2011

Stuart's Daily Word Spot: Meiosis

Meiosis: noun - presentinga thing with underemphasis, especially with the aim of achieving a greatereffect, understatement. For those who are interested, it's also a form of celldivision, but that's not what this spot is about.British satirical works often use understatement to hilariouseffect.
An example of the meiosis in use: 'They say Bill Gates,Donald Trump and J.K. Rowling are all worth a few bob.'
Picture: the parish church of Driffield, seen from just off Spellowgate.