Cynthia Hamilton's Blog: Reading and Writing, page 9
June 21, 2014
Good versus Evil
Seldom do we find a truly rotten individual as the main character of a story. They are generally mostly good, with enough foibles to make them believable—in modern fiction, anyway. Dickens and Jane Eyre and their contemporaries created characters whose souls were as pure as rainwater, which provided a stark contrast to all the nefarious players. But how many of yesteryears’ lead characters were the devil incarnate? We like our evil, thank you very much, but something awful must happen to them or we feel outraged, cheated, discouraged.
As a reader, I identify with fleshed-out protagonists—the more quirks, the better. Does this say something about my own personality? Perhaps. Or maybe it has more to do with observing and getting to know people. In real life, there are very few among us who are good down to their toes—saints, if you will.
As a writer, imperfections are the mainstay of my trait arsenal. I carefully build my lead characters, then spill tomato juice down the front of their shirts, metaphorically speaking. Some will put on a jacket to hide the stain; others ignore it and carry on as if it isn’t there. Either way, characters with flaws are much more appealing. They are perhaps easier to root for, and they are easier for us ordinary folk to relate to.
In some philosophies, good cannot exist without evil. I believe this true for literature as well. Even if the villain is dire circumstances, it is essential for the drama it creates. There is no story without conflict.
Delving into the third book in the Madeline Dawkins series, I’ve got some interesting baddies that I’m in the process of developing. One is especially creepy because he’s the kind of villain who is able to pass himself off as “the nicest guy in the world.” Oh yes, it’s going to be lots of fun constructing this monster, and challenging to beat him at his own game. Madeline and Mike are going to have their work cut out for them, on both cases. And so will I…
And speaking of Madeline, the second book in the series, “A High Price to Pay” is available today for FREE downloading at the link below. There are some very nasty villains in this one!
http://www.amazon.com/High-Price-Pay-...
Until next time,
Cynthia
As a reader, I identify with fleshed-out protagonists—the more quirks, the better. Does this say something about my own personality? Perhaps. Or maybe it has more to do with observing and getting to know people. In real life, there are very few among us who are good down to their toes—saints, if you will.
As a writer, imperfections are the mainstay of my trait arsenal. I carefully build my lead characters, then spill tomato juice down the front of their shirts, metaphorically speaking. Some will put on a jacket to hide the stain; others ignore it and carry on as if it isn’t there. Either way, characters with flaws are much more appealing. They are perhaps easier to root for, and they are easier for us ordinary folk to relate to.
In some philosophies, good cannot exist without evil. I believe this true for literature as well. Even if the villain is dire circumstances, it is essential for the drama it creates. There is no story without conflict.
Delving into the third book in the Madeline Dawkins series, I’ve got some interesting baddies that I’m in the process of developing. One is especially creepy because he’s the kind of villain who is able to pass himself off as “the nicest guy in the world.” Oh yes, it’s going to be lots of fun constructing this monster, and challenging to beat him at his own game. Madeline and Mike are going to have their work cut out for them, on both cases. And so will I…
And speaking of Madeline, the second book in the series, “A High Price to Pay” is available today for FREE downloading at the link below. There are some very nasty villains in this one!
http://www.amazon.com/High-Price-Pay-...
Until next time,
Cynthia
June 14, 2014
Reading and Writing: It's Summertime - What's on your reading list?
Though the calendar says the official start of summer is still a week away, schools are out and those who relish this season are happy to extend it. With summer comes the perfect excuse for relaxing with a good book. I know I'm in good company here on Goodreads when I say I want to make sure I don't find myself without something promising to read. My question for you is this: what's on your summer reading list??
So far, I've got a few gems that have been published for a while that I've been slow to catch on to. In that category I have "Bel Canto" by Ann Patchett; "The Glass Castle" by Jeannette Walls; "Messages" by Weyman Jones. For more recently published works, I have "Night Film" by Marisha Pessl; "The Ties that Bind" by Sean Duke; "The Songwriter" by John M. McNamara (to be released this summer).
The list is too short; I know it won’t take me through the summer. I need some recommendations—old or new, it makes no difference. If you’ve got any favorites or are on to the latest hot titles, please pass them along! Because the bulk of my discretionary time is spent writing books, I don’t have a lot of time to peruse the latest offerings. Your suggestions would be much appreciated!
And here’s a book you may want to add to your list—“Golden State” by yours truly, on FREE promotion today. You can check it out on the link below. To quote one reader: “I really like a good underdog story and Roxanne's character is so likable and her challenges so relatable, I found myself really invested in her. This is smart writing with plenty of witty dialog and an intelligent storyline which gives this book a lot of heart and makes for a great read. I highly recommend it!"
http://www.amazon.com/Golden-State-eb...
Until next time,
Happy reading!
Cynthia
So far, I've got a few gems that have been published for a while that I've been slow to catch on to. In that category I have "Bel Canto" by Ann Patchett; "The Glass Castle" by Jeannette Walls; "Messages" by Weyman Jones. For more recently published works, I have "Night Film" by Marisha Pessl; "The Ties that Bind" by Sean Duke; "The Songwriter" by John M. McNamara (to be released this summer).
The list is too short; I know it won’t take me through the summer. I need some recommendations—old or new, it makes no difference. If you’ve got any favorites or are on to the latest hot titles, please pass them along! Because the bulk of my discretionary time is spent writing books, I don’t have a lot of time to peruse the latest offerings. Your suggestions would be much appreciated!
And here’s a book you may want to add to your list—“Golden State” by yours truly, on FREE promotion today. You can check it out on the link below. To quote one reader: “I really like a good underdog story and Roxanne's character is so likable and her challenges so relatable, I found myself really invested in her. This is smart writing with plenty of witty dialog and an intelligent storyline which gives this book a lot of heart and makes for a great read. I highly recommend it!"
http://www.amazon.com/Golden-State-eb...
Until next time,
Happy reading!
Cynthia
June 7, 2014
Reading and Writing: Home-grown inspiration
One thing I'm really enjoying about the Madeline Dawkins series is that it takes place in my own backyard. When casting about for a city with the demographics I needed for the backdrop for "Spouse Trap," it hit me that Santa Barbara was the ideal setting. It worked perfectly and I liked the fact that I could include landmarks and establishments that readers familiar to this area would recognize.
When I began work on "A High Price to Pay," the second book in the series, I realized that after what I put Madeline through in "Spouse Trap," she was going to need some sort of martial art to protect herself in the future. (What I had in store for Madeline in the new book was not good!) While writing the first book, I took a private investigation course so I would know what the heck I was talking about. Because Madeline needed to learn a martial art, I searched the Internet to see what I could find that I might physically be able to handle.
I had never even had an exercise class before, and I was a fairly compromised grandmother of three, so trying to imagine myself in a karate outfit, endeavoring to keep up with students decades younger than myself made me doubt I'd be able to pull this off. Luckily for me, I found a women's self-defense site. That sounded like something I could manage. And it was. It was also the beginning of my love affair with Soo Bahk Do Moo Duk Kwan.
I took a two-hour self-defense lesson with Teri Coffee McDuffie, AKA Master Coffee, and discussed with her my need to understand karate well enough to convincingly portray it in "High Price." She had me come in and watch a regular classroom lesson, after which I decided to go for it. That was a year ago. Since then, my private karate classes are the highlight of my week. I grin like a jackass the whole hour—except of course when I'm making fearsome noises as I knock the stuffing out of the targets—something that makes both Teri and me gurgle with happiness.
But reality and fiction merged when I wrote my amazing instructor into the story. I had warned her this might happen; she said she would be honored. That was all I needed to hear. What surprised me was how much of a role she ended up having and how when I wrote her dialog, it really felt like something she would say.
I inducted another Santa Barbara local into the story—my favorite caterer, Philippe Sautot, of Events by Philippe. He was also a good sport, after the fact. As I wade into book three, I wonder who I might Shanghai this time...
When I began work on "A High Price to Pay," the second book in the series, I realized that after what I put Madeline through in "Spouse Trap," she was going to need some sort of martial art to protect herself in the future. (What I had in store for Madeline in the new book was not good!) While writing the first book, I took a private investigation course so I would know what the heck I was talking about. Because Madeline needed to learn a martial art, I searched the Internet to see what I could find that I might physically be able to handle.
I had never even had an exercise class before, and I was a fairly compromised grandmother of three, so trying to imagine myself in a karate outfit, endeavoring to keep up with students decades younger than myself made me doubt I'd be able to pull this off. Luckily for me, I found a women's self-defense site. That sounded like something I could manage. And it was. It was also the beginning of my love affair with Soo Bahk Do Moo Duk Kwan.
I took a two-hour self-defense lesson with Teri Coffee McDuffie, AKA Master Coffee, and discussed with her my need to understand karate well enough to convincingly portray it in "High Price." She had me come in and watch a regular classroom lesson, after which I decided to go for it. That was a year ago. Since then, my private karate classes are the highlight of my week. I grin like a jackass the whole hour—except of course when I'm making fearsome noises as I knock the stuffing out of the targets—something that makes both Teri and me gurgle with happiness.
But reality and fiction merged when I wrote my amazing instructor into the story. I had warned her this might happen; she said she would be honored. That was all I needed to hear. What surprised me was how much of a role she ended up having and how when I wrote her dialog, it really felt like something she would say.
I inducted another Santa Barbara local into the story—my favorite caterer, Philippe Sautot, of Events by Philippe. He was also a good sport, after the fact. As I wade into book three, I wonder who I might Shanghai this time...
May 31, 2014
Reading and Writing: What's in a name? You decide!
After eight books and thirteen years of writing, the only writer’s block I’ve ever encountered had to do with naming my characters. In any given book, there has been an average of 45 characters. Many of them play fairly insignificant roles, and sometimes I’m able to get away with using a title or a position, thereby eschewing the “christening” process. But all the other characters require proper names, and in some cases, “what” they are called is a vital part of describing “who” they are.
So, here I am, wading into book number nine, inventing personalities that must be named. Luckily for me, this is the third book in the Madeline Dawkins series, so I’ve got a handful of characters that carry over into this story. But what about all the rest?
This may not sound like a daunting prospect, but try to imagine having to name several hundred children. Anyone who has thumbed through a book of names trying to accurately pin the moniker on the baby can tell you the importance of conjuring up just the right sound to identify the person that child will become. In writing, it’s really not much different, except that the personalities are already formed, and making the nuances of the character match the name is even more of conundrum. If readers can’t associate the name with the central figures’ traits, the writer might have a tough time selling the readers on the story.
This brings us back to book nine. (And no, I don’t have a name for the book yet either! That often comes near the end of writing process, and often after a good deal of head thumping.) Instead of losing several hours perusing the plethora of naming sites on the Internet, I thought it might be more fun and more expedient to ask you, the reader, what your favorite names are.
So, here’s the challenge: I’ve got good people, bad people, bad people disguised as good people, and incidental characters, all in need of names. Tell me what you think are perfect names for these roles—any name, even your own, that you’d like to see in my latest book. Or the book after that… Please, don’t hold back! If you’ve got a list as long as your arm, bring it on! I promise to create my own database with the names you give me and dip into it regularly. Who knows—if I get enough suggestions, I may never have to stare into space trying to come up with my own again!
Looking forward to hearing from you!
Until next time,
Cynthia
So, here I am, wading into book number nine, inventing personalities that must be named. Luckily for me, this is the third book in the Madeline Dawkins series, so I’ve got a handful of characters that carry over into this story. But what about all the rest?
This may not sound like a daunting prospect, but try to imagine having to name several hundred children. Anyone who has thumbed through a book of names trying to accurately pin the moniker on the baby can tell you the importance of conjuring up just the right sound to identify the person that child will become. In writing, it’s really not much different, except that the personalities are already formed, and making the nuances of the character match the name is even more of conundrum. If readers can’t associate the name with the central figures’ traits, the writer might have a tough time selling the readers on the story.
This brings us back to book nine. (And no, I don’t have a name for the book yet either! That often comes near the end of writing process, and often after a good deal of head thumping.) Instead of losing several hours perusing the plethora of naming sites on the Internet, I thought it might be more fun and more expedient to ask you, the reader, what your favorite names are.
So, here’s the challenge: I’ve got good people, bad people, bad people disguised as good people, and incidental characters, all in need of names. Tell me what you think are perfect names for these roles—any name, even your own, that you’d like to see in my latest book. Or the book after that… Please, don’t hold back! If you’ve got a list as long as your arm, bring it on! I promise to create my own database with the names you give me and dip into it regularly. Who knows—if I get enough suggestions, I may never have to stare into space trying to come up with my own again!
Looking forward to hearing from you!
Until next time,
Cynthia
May 17, 2014
Making new friends through Reading and Writing
In this age of instant global communication, there is an enhanced ease to connecting with strangers over shared interests, as everyone on Goodreads knows. As an author, I've had the good fortune of connecting with some of my readers through the internet. There's nothing nicer than to get an email from my website from someone who has enjoyed one of my books. In a few special cases, strong friendships have bloomed from these heartwarming correspondences.
The first friendship spawned on this way was with my #1 editor, Gail, after she read "Lucky at Love." We have since worked together on all six of my published books. I consider her a dear friend and wouldn't want to go through the publishing process without her.
I met "Mandie" through a wonderful email she wrote to me after reading "Once Upon a Lyme..." Unfortunately, most of the emails I receive regarding this book are from people suffering from the hideous disease. Like the others, Mandie thanked me for writing the book, which is always so bittersweet. Mandie calls me her PIL - her partner in Lyme. Now we are each other's PIL and check in with each other regularly. She's strong, funny and determined to kill the demon. Go, Mandie, go!
"Lucky" was responsible for another introduction, this time from a fellow author, John M. McNamara. He wrote me the most beautiful email, and in the subsequent back and forth, I put together that he was not only a fan, but a writer himself. By his emails, I could tell he knew how to express himself very eloquently. I started my reading odyssey with his book "Hunter's War." I've read five and number six is up next. And his seventh is almost finished! His writing is as smooth as silk and his observations of his fellow human beings is profound. He is also a wonderful friend!
I've been lucky to forge friendships with readers and writers the old-fashioned way - through meeting face to face. I have no preference for one way over the other; I'm just loving that a solitary pursuit preformed in a vacuum can ultimately lead to new acquaintances and mutually beneficial bonds. If any of you out in cyberspace are ever so inclined, drop me a line! Who knows where it might lead?
In the meantime, you can check out tomorrow's freebie "Golden State" on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Golden-State-eb...
Until next time,
Cynthia
The first friendship spawned on this way was with my #1 editor, Gail, after she read "Lucky at Love." We have since worked together on all six of my published books. I consider her a dear friend and wouldn't want to go through the publishing process without her.
I met "Mandie" through a wonderful email she wrote to me after reading "Once Upon a Lyme..." Unfortunately, most of the emails I receive regarding this book are from people suffering from the hideous disease. Like the others, Mandie thanked me for writing the book, which is always so bittersweet. Mandie calls me her PIL - her partner in Lyme. Now we are each other's PIL and check in with each other regularly. She's strong, funny and determined to kill the demon. Go, Mandie, go!
"Lucky" was responsible for another introduction, this time from a fellow author, John M. McNamara. He wrote me the most beautiful email, and in the subsequent back and forth, I put together that he was not only a fan, but a writer himself. By his emails, I could tell he knew how to express himself very eloquently. I started my reading odyssey with his book "Hunter's War." I've read five and number six is up next. And his seventh is almost finished! His writing is as smooth as silk and his observations of his fellow human beings is profound. He is also a wonderful friend!
I've been lucky to forge friendships with readers and writers the old-fashioned way - through meeting face to face. I have no preference for one way over the other; I'm just loving that a solitary pursuit preformed in a vacuum can ultimately lead to new acquaintances and mutually beneficial bonds. If any of you out in cyberspace are ever so inclined, drop me a line! Who knows where it might lead?
In the meantime, you can check out tomorrow's freebie "Golden State" on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Golden-State-eb...
Until next time,
Cynthia
May 10, 2014
Reading and Writing: Unforeseen Benefits of the Digital Age
My novel “Lucky at Love” was published in 2006, prior to the release of the first Kindle. In 2011, purely on a lark, I upload it to KDP, Amazon’s ePublishing site. About a month later, KDP rolled out a new program that had benefits to both readers and writers. If a book was enrolled in the program, Amazon Prime Members would be able to take the book for free during its 90-day enrollment. There was a pool of funds which would be divided equally to all writers/publishers who participated during this timeframe based on the number of books “borrowed.” It also allowed authors/publishers to choose up to five days a month when they could offer their books for free to anyone.
At the time, I couldn’t see the advantage of giving books away for free to everyone. I was hoping to stimulate sales, not giveaways. But the benefit of exposing the book to a larger audience finally dawned on me February 13th, shortly before my commitment period expired. So I put “Lucky at Love” on free promotion starting February 14th and didn’t give it another thought.
Because I had grown tired of wasting valuable writing time in search of an agent, I decided to publish the three books I had written after Lucky on KDP. I hired an editor and formatter and away we went on a publishing marathon. It was somewhere in the beginning of this frenzied period that I happened to check my sales figures for Lucky. Instead of the one book I had bought and the one my sister had bought, I was now looking at over 27,000 free downloads of Lucky, followed by hundreds of sales. I was blown away.
Getting that quick education in the importance of freebies, I now have all six of my titles enrolled in KDP Select. It has proven to be a wonderful tool for increasing my readership – and making new friends, which will be the topic for my next post.
One last word on free eBooks before I go: http://ohfb.com/ (OneHundredFreeBooks.com). Ed and Cheri Crotty, along with their staff, hand-select titles for their blog three times daily. I had the good fortune of having “Spouse Trap” selected three weeks ago. It caused another one of those amazing lightning strikes, which I discovered after receiving an email from Cheri. Since then, I’ve joined the thousands of savvy readers who stay up to date with the best free and discounted books available on any given day. If you haven’t already, please check out their site. You’ll be glad you did!
Okay, I lied – I’ve got one more thing to say regarding freebies: my memoir, “Once Upon a Lyme… A Tale of Two Journeys,” is available for free today. Check it out - http://www.amazon.com/Once-Upon-Lyme-...
Until next time,
Cynthia
At the time, I couldn’t see the advantage of giving books away for free to everyone. I was hoping to stimulate sales, not giveaways. But the benefit of exposing the book to a larger audience finally dawned on me February 13th, shortly before my commitment period expired. So I put “Lucky at Love” on free promotion starting February 14th and didn’t give it another thought.
Because I had grown tired of wasting valuable writing time in search of an agent, I decided to publish the three books I had written after Lucky on KDP. I hired an editor and formatter and away we went on a publishing marathon. It was somewhere in the beginning of this frenzied period that I happened to check my sales figures for Lucky. Instead of the one book I had bought and the one my sister had bought, I was now looking at over 27,000 free downloads of Lucky, followed by hundreds of sales. I was blown away.
Getting that quick education in the importance of freebies, I now have all six of my titles enrolled in KDP Select. It has proven to be a wonderful tool for increasing my readership – and making new friends, which will be the topic for my next post.
One last word on free eBooks before I go: http://ohfb.com/ (OneHundredFreeBooks.com). Ed and Cheri Crotty, along with their staff, hand-select titles for their blog three times daily. I had the good fortune of having “Spouse Trap” selected three weeks ago. It caused another one of those amazing lightning strikes, which I discovered after receiving an email from Cheri. Since then, I’ve joined the thousands of savvy readers who stay up to date with the best free and discounted books available on any given day. If you haven’t already, please check out their site. You’ll be glad you did!
Okay, I lied – I’ve got one more thing to say regarding freebies: my memoir, “Once Upon a Lyme… A Tale of Two Journeys,” is available for free today. Check it out - http://www.amazon.com/Once-Upon-Lyme-...
Until next time,
Cynthia
May 3, 2014
Reading and Writing: Inspiration and Freebies
Inspiration for creating works of fiction can come from anywhere—from a mere whiff of an idea to past experiences and current events. Most of my books have grown out of the smallest musings, but two were ignited by my own personal experiences.
Once Upon a Lyme… A Tale of Two Journeys is the account of how I became a writer while being plagued by a chronically misdiagnosed disease. The other book is a work of fiction which was inspired after meeting a man at a wedding who had been married and divorced seven times, who freely admitted some people shouldn’t get married (to which he raised his hand), yet told my husband he was next in line if my husband ever got tired of me. I left that wedding knowing I would have to find out what made this guy such a love junkie. Lucky at Love: Some guys just never give up… is my take on a hopeless romantic.
Though I had never considered writing a series—or a mystery, for that matter—Madeline Dawkins came to me during a time when I was doing research for a sequel to Alligators in the Trees. I had been spending time on various websites learning about the Florida Keys and private investigators. But Madeline popped into my head one morning and grew and into such a presence in my mind, after three months I decided to put the sequel aside and go with her.
Because I had been researching private detectives, Madeline grew out of amorphous snippets into—dare I say it?—The Slutty Detective. Well, that was the working title until I came to my senses and realized how truly horrible that sounded, which didn’t take long. But you see, she wasn’t really slutty; that was the bad rep she’d gotten after her soon-to-be-ex systematically destroyed her life. The detective part stood and Spouse Trap takes us through her metamorphosis from happy, pampered society maven to becoming her own private investigator, which meant that I had to take a private investigator course so I would know what the heck I was talking about.
So you see, a rich fantasy life and an overactive imagination can be put to good use, especially when it comes to writing. And for anyone interested in finding out what makes a romance addict tick, you can download Lucky at Love for FREE today and tomorrow (May 3rd-4th) from the link below.
http://www.amazon.com/Lucky-Love-Some...
Until next time,
Cynthia
Once Upon a Lyme… A Tale of Two Journeys is the account of how I became a writer while being plagued by a chronically misdiagnosed disease. The other book is a work of fiction which was inspired after meeting a man at a wedding who had been married and divorced seven times, who freely admitted some people shouldn’t get married (to which he raised his hand), yet told my husband he was next in line if my husband ever got tired of me. I left that wedding knowing I would have to find out what made this guy such a love junkie. Lucky at Love: Some guys just never give up… is my take on a hopeless romantic.
Though I had never considered writing a series—or a mystery, for that matter—Madeline Dawkins came to me during a time when I was doing research for a sequel to Alligators in the Trees. I had been spending time on various websites learning about the Florida Keys and private investigators. But Madeline popped into my head one morning and grew and into such a presence in my mind, after three months I decided to put the sequel aside and go with her.
Because I had been researching private detectives, Madeline grew out of amorphous snippets into—dare I say it?—The Slutty Detective. Well, that was the working title until I came to my senses and realized how truly horrible that sounded, which didn’t take long. But you see, she wasn’t really slutty; that was the bad rep she’d gotten after her soon-to-be-ex systematically destroyed her life. The detective part stood and Spouse Trap takes us through her metamorphosis from happy, pampered society maven to becoming her own private investigator, which meant that I had to take a private investigator course so I would know what the heck I was talking about.
So you see, a rich fantasy life and an overactive imagination can be put to good use, especially when it comes to writing. And for anyone interested in finding out what makes a romance addict tick, you can download Lucky at Love for FREE today and tomorrow (May 3rd-4th) from the link below.
http://www.amazon.com/Lucky-Love-Some...
Until next time,
Cynthia
April 26, 2014
Reading, Writing, and Walking
Although I have witnessed a few people reading while walking, it's not the easiest thing to do, or the safest. But fortunately for me, it is possible to walk and write at the same time. In fact, almost all of my writing takes place in my head while I'm taking my walks. Driving, working out, cleaning - tasks like those that can be done on rote - those also provide me with good thinking time and allow me to further the storyline and solve quandaries.
But there's nothing as stimulating to my grey cells as walking. Be it in the hills or on the beach, that is when the real writing is done. I will admit that I often get distracted from the scenery, and have been known to pass by friends without even noticing. Still, walking is as essential to my writing as my laptop.
I often meet people who - when they find out that I'm a writer - confess to having a strong desire to write a book themselves. My advice to anyone who feels those deep stirrings is to give yourself plenty of time away from your computer or note paper to work out your scenario in advance. If you hit on a brilliant sentence and feel you have to write it down, do it - but don't let these gems dictate the writing of your story. If they fit, great. If you struggle to work the rest of the paragraph or book around them, then stick them at the back. Sometimes our stunning insights are just that - a marvel, but not enough to hang a storyline on.
For all of you out there who have a strong, almost demanding urge to finally start that novel or memoir, take that desire for a walk and see what comes of it!
Happy reading, writing and walking!
Until next time,
Cynthia
But there's nothing as stimulating to my grey cells as walking. Be it in the hills or on the beach, that is when the real writing is done. I will admit that I often get distracted from the scenery, and have been known to pass by friends without even noticing. Still, walking is as essential to my writing as my laptop.
I often meet people who - when they find out that I'm a writer - confess to having a strong desire to write a book themselves. My advice to anyone who feels those deep stirrings is to give yourself plenty of time away from your computer or note paper to work out your scenario in advance. If you hit on a brilliant sentence and feel you have to write it down, do it - but don't let these gems dictate the writing of your story. If they fit, great. If you struggle to work the rest of the paragraph or book around them, then stick them at the back. Sometimes our stunning insights are just that - a marvel, but not enough to hang a storyline on.
For all of you out there who have a strong, almost demanding urge to finally start that novel or memoir, take that desire for a walk and see what comes of it!
Happy reading, writing and walking!
Until next time,
Cynthia
April 21, 2014
Reading and Writing: Book Club
Last Wednesday marked a milestone for me. I attended my first book club meeting - as a reader. I have been to several meetings as the author, which I enjoyed very much. So much so, I would come away from each wishing I could be part of the group, not just a visitor.
Over the years, this longing was revived, though circumstances made joining a book club impractical. Nevertheless, I kept my feelers out there by connecting with Meetup in hopes something in my area would pop up at the right time in my life. In December of last year, it finally happened: a new book club called Bookworms by the Beach, right in my own little corner of California, was looking for members. What luck for me!
Because I was in the final stages of getting "A High Price to Pay" ready for publication, I wasn't able to attend the first four meetings. Luckily, I was freed up in time to read and join the discussion on Jeannette Wall's "Half Broke Horses," which I thoroughly enjoyed. The story about the author's grandmother got me hooked on the first page, a remarkable feat, one that every writer aspires to.
It was very interesting to take part in the discussion about this book. Everyone had their own observations to share, which I found very intriguing. As a writer, it gave me a glimpse into how subjective and personal the reading experience is. I also now understand what so many of you have known for years, that being able to share a book expands and enriches the experience of reading.
If I hadn't been part of this book club, I may never have read anything by this very talented author. Having my horizons broadened is reason enough to keep me involved in this type of community. Now I look forward to learning about new authors and reading more by Ms. Walls. So glad I was finally able to discover what I have been missing out on all these years!
Happy reading!
Until next time,
Cynthia
Over the years, this longing was revived, though circumstances made joining a book club impractical. Nevertheless, I kept my feelers out there by connecting with Meetup in hopes something in my area would pop up at the right time in my life. In December of last year, it finally happened: a new book club called Bookworms by the Beach, right in my own little corner of California, was looking for members. What luck for me!
Because I was in the final stages of getting "A High Price to Pay" ready for publication, I wasn't able to attend the first four meetings. Luckily, I was freed up in time to read and join the discussion on Jeannette Wall's "Half Broke Horses," which I thoroughly enjoyed. The story about the author's grandmother got me hooked on the first page, a remarkable feat, one that every writer aspires to.
It was very interesting to take part in the discussion about this book. Everyone had their own observations to share, which I found very intriguing. As a writer, it gave me a glimpse into how subjective and personal the reading experience is. I also now understand what so many of you have known for years, that being able to share a book expands and enriches the experience of reading.
If I hadn't been part of this book club, I may never have read anything by this very talented author. Having my horizons broadened is reason enough to keep me involved in this type of community. Now I look forward to learning about new authors and reading more by Ms. Walls. So glad I was finally able to discover what I have been missing out on all these years!
Happy reading!
Until next time,
Cynthia
April 12, 2014
Day One
This is my very first blog post. It's a new world for me, one that gives me a certain amount of trepidation. I'm used to writing in a vacuum, holed up in my office, writing without a response until whatever book I've been slaving away at finally publishes. Now, will I have a response to my call? Will this post become a two-way conversation? I'm getting excited to find out!
Reading and writing; for me, those pursuits are constantly in tandem, like a swimmer's strokes. Any "discretionary time" at my disposal is usually spent on one or the other. My status right now on both fronts is in flux: I just finished reading "Half Broke Horses" by Jeannette Walls last night, and I'm in the incubating process on the third book in the Madeline Dawkins series.
On one hand, I'm casting about for my next read - though I do have a few tantalizing novels on my queue. On the other hand, rehearsals for the opening scene of Book 3 are underway, along with brainstorming on all the various plotlines. At the same time, I've been reviewing the private detective course I took before starting "Spouse Trap," the first book in the series. It never hurts to refresh.
Okay, I've dipped my toe into the water and it feels good...not very scary at all. I will try this again soon. And if there's anyone out there, don't be shy! It would give me a thrill to get a response to my first call.
Until next time...
Cynthia
Reading and writing; for me, those pursuits are constantly in tandem, like a swimmer's strokes. Any "discretionary time" at my disposal is usually spent on one or the other. My status right now on both fronts is in flux: I just finished reading "Half Broke Horses" by Jeannette Walls last night, and I'm in the incubating process on the third book in the Madeline Dawkins series.
On one hand, I'm casting about for my next read - though I do have a few tantalizing novels on my queue. On the other hand, rehearsals for the opening scene of Book 3 are underway, along with brainstorming on all the various plotlines. At the same time, I've been reviewing the private detective course I took before starting "Spouse Trap," the first book in the series. It never hurts to refresh.
Okay, I've dipped my toe into the water and it feels good...not very scary at all. I will try this again soon. And if there's anyone out there, don't be shy! It would give me a thrill to get a response to my first call.
Until next time...
Cynthia
