Deborah J. Chavez's Blog, page 6

Research time

I have an idea about the next novel in the Harley Fremont series. There are several features in it that I'll need to spend time researching before I can write about them. Have you spent time taking online classes from masters on a topic? I have found a few classes that I will finish before I start writing. The idea I have for the novel is complicated, and in order to pull it off, I'll need to become knowledgable on several topics for which I have limited experience. Since I spent years in research, this is not a daunting task for me, only time consuming. So, I am taking more time prepping this new novel. Well that, plus the new puppy who keeps us very busy. It all seems to be chewing away at my time. Maybe I'll hurry a bit more on those classes, since I'm anxious to see how this novel will turn out...it will have lots of surprises in it. Sure hope Harley and Gemma fare well.

Congrats to the winners!

My congratulations to the twenty winners of a paperback copy of Montana Bedeviled. I will get your book posted to each of you sometime this week. I hope you enjoy the read and will offer your ratings and comments.

Sorry to those who tried, but didn't win. I hope you'll decide to read Montana Bedeviled anyway. Please try again in the future as I offer more Giveaways.

New dog

In my own life, I have just adopted another dog. This one is a rescue from Los Angeles. It's one of the smaller dogs we have acquired. New dogs always come with issues. This one is just learning to be walked on a leash and it likes to dig holes. Oh boy. We think he'll eventually turn into a spectacular pup. Anyway, all this planning and visits and such mean I have not been concentrating on the next novel. In might take another week before all is settled and I continue with the research and outlining process. It has made me wonder...Does Gemma need another dog? What say you?

How's your summer?

I've been taking a break from writing. I'll get back to it soon. Hope your summer is progressing well.

More on the Giveaway

Sure hope each of you followers have signed up for the Giveaway! I really enjoyed writing Montana Bedeviled. As usual, I wrote most chapters from Harley's viewpoint. I did put in some chapters from the viewpoint of a young girl. She is facing some serious situations but through the eyes of a child. It was kind of fun to see the world through her eyes yet scary at the same time. Writing some of those chapters gave me goosebumps. Maybe you will cry, cheer, and despair with her.

Giveaway has begun

Letting you know that the Giveaway has begun for Montana Bedeviled. If you'd like a free, signed paperback copy then get yourself signed up. It's easy to do and you might be one of twenty winners.

If you've read any of the other novels (Virginia Rising, California Juncture, Oregon Unrest, or Colorado Searing) and have not yet done so, please provide your review rating and comments. I'd love to hear what you think of these novels.

I have started the research for novel number six. I've selected the state, location within the state, the forest, and I have outlined the storyline. It's much too early in the process to give out any details. Once I've fleshed it out a bit more, I promise you'll be among the first to know what might be coming.

Happy reading.

Newest novel is available

Montana Bedeviled is available is ebook. Paperback will be available soon.

The scattered bones of a young girl are discovered on the Custer Gallatin National Forest in Montana. It appears the bones were never meant to be located. Harley Fremont and her K-9 partner, Gemma, are on the job, when another set of bones, from a second girl are discovered, along with a sugar skull. This time, law enforcement is sure the bones were meant to be found. The forest has miles of rugged trails, dozens of mines and caves, and dozens of cabins that could be the hiding place of the persons responsible, or make a great place to hide away a third abducted girl. Harley and Gemma are on the hunt for the third missing girl when another girl, with medical concerns, is abducted. Clues including pitchfork tattoos, pentagrams, missing pets, and a sugar skull, are plentiful, but often misleading on this adventure. Can Harley and Gemma save the girls from certain death? Find out how this devilish journey ends.

National Forest Week

It's National Forest Week. It runs July 12-19.

If you can't get to a forest, perhaps you could read about one. Virginia Rising takes place on the George Washington & Jefferson National Forests. California Juncture takes place on the San Bernardino National Forest. Oregon Unrest takes place on the Willamette National Forest. Colorado Searing takes place on the Arapaho Roosevelt National Forests. The upcoming novel, Montana Bedeviled takes place on the Custer Gallatin National Forests.

This week there is a sale on Amazon on Oregon Unrest. The following week, on July 19th starts a sale on Colorado Searing.

Check it out and enjoy National Forest Week.

Planning a new novel

The main character and her dog are decided. This new novel will be book six in the series. What new things will the reader learn about the main character in the new novel? Readers get to know pieces of her history in each of the novels. Is there something she's running from or toward? Should she be in more danger this time than in the last novel? How about her dog? People hate for dogs to be hurt. So, if the dog is in danger, just how much is tolerable to readers? Where will she go this time? Or more specifically, what national forest will be home to the new adventure? Once the national forest is selected, then a decision has to be made about what evil will happen that draws the main character there. Will more than one person be in danger? Will the main character have to decide between saving one person or saving several? What if she has a connection to the one? What things typically happen on a national forest that might be news to readers? Or maybe something atypical happens that makes that forest fascinating? So many decisions to make. What would draw you in?

Review time

My fifth novel is about a day or two from being sent to reviewers. When I was in academia, you always knew the reviewers were experts in your field, and they'd locate each and every flaw in your work and the article you were trying to publish. As difficult as it was to read harsh comments, they always led to a better paper in the end. For the first few Harley Fremont novels, I selected five people to conduct reviews. Some were picked for their knowledge of the Forest Service, others for the area where the story was located. Others were avid readers and simply asked to be a reviewer. For the first few novels, their comments were thoughtful and insightful. I knew that I was quite new to writing novels, so I clung to their words, and accepted almost all their editorial comments. Starting with Colorado Searing, I was told that I had found my writer's voice. Quite the compliment. I appreciated hearing that. Still, I think reviews can only improve the final product. I've selected three reviewers for this new novel and I look forward to the feedback.