Suzanne Elizabeth Anderson's Blog, page 21

An Interview with Indie-Author John Wayne Falbety

Today I welcome a special guest author: John Wayne Falbey, who has recently published his first novel, a political thriller, SLEEPING DOGS. I've read and reviewed the book and can highly recommend it for those of you who enjoy Lee Child's Jack Reacher novels and David Baldacci's novels.



Where do you get your ideas for stories?

The ideas mostly come from life, from observing the human condition and from studying the developments taking place in the world. I season that with a measure of my own experiences.



How do you create the characters in your stories?

I’m a people watcher. The habits and behaviors of others fascinate me. In creating and animating the characters in my stories, I pull together a composite of people I have observed.

Is there any of your own personality in any of your characters?

I believe most authors find an irresistible urge to inhabit one or more of their lead characters, at least to some extent. In my case, I have to admit that each one of the Sleeping Dogs reflects traits of my own personality. Scary thought, isn't it?



Are there “keys” to becoming a writer of fiction?

Yes, among the most important is to a voracious reader yourself. The more you read among a wide variety of writers, the better your own skills will be. You don’t want to try to mimic someone else’s style, but exposure to many, many styles will help you find your own “voice”.



Who are some of your favorite writers?

There are two general categories of writers who have influenced me. The first are the classical chroniclers of heroic deeds and writers of adventurous tales, such as Herodotus’ Histories, Xenophon’s Anabasis, One Thousand and One Nights, the Song of Roland, and others.



The second category includes more modern writers from Raphael Sabatini to Dashiell Hammett, Raymond Chandler, John D. MacDonald, Elmore Leonard, and Robert B. Parker. Current writers in the thriller genre who I greatly admire include Lee Child, Brad Thor, David Baldacci, Vince Flynn, and Alex Berenson.



Is Sleeping Dogs: The Awakening your first novel?

It’s my first published novel. I wrote a novel length manuscript as a student at Vanderbilt University School of Law years ago. My undisciplined nature needed some sort of escapist diversion to cope with three years of mind-numbing regimentation and seemingly endless case briefing.



Why didn’t you publish that book?

I almost did. A senior VP at Harper & Row (now HarperCollins) liked it, but believed that the protagonist, as an anti-hero, would not be embraced by the reading public. He wanted me to rewrite it so a minor character, a nebbish, was the protagonist and my anti-hero would become part of the wallpaper. I had neither the time nor interest for rewriting it, so I tossed it on a shelf and forgot about it for many years.



As an ironic postscript, right after that, the print and film media exploded with popular anti-heroes. Steve McQueen and Clint Eastwood, among others, became box office icons in those kinds of roles. John D. MacDonald’s Travis McGee and Robert B. Parker’s Spenser went on to sell millions of novels. And today there is no more imposing or popular an anti-hero than Lee Child’s Jack Reacher.



Do you have plans to publish that book?

I recently located the manuscript and am in the process of editing it. It should become available in late summer, 2012. Will there be more books about the Sleeping Dogs, and, if so, when will the next one be available?



I plan to write two more books in this trilogy about Brendan Whelan and his genetically evolved colleagues. My goal is to publish the second book, Endangered Species, in the summer of 2013. The third book, End Game, is planned for release in mid-2014.



What else have you written?

“He Who Drinks From Lethe...”, a morality tale in short story form with dark, neo-gothic undertones has recently been published. It takes place today deep in the heart of the Everglades. It can be read in its entirety on my website or purchased from amazon.com, Smashwords.com, or barnesandnoble.com.

Autumn is On It's Way!

Although it was hot and sunny today, the signs that autumn is on its way are unmistakable. Our Aspen trees are beginning to show their beautiful golden leaves and our nights are deliciously cool.















And autumn always seems more festive with the addition of mums in our planter boxes.

Week-Ending: A Commonplace Book

"An' the chased him 'n' never could catuch him 'cause they didn't know what he looked like, an' Atticus, when they finally saw him, why he hadn't done any of those things...Atticus, he was real nice..."

His hands were under my chin, pulling up the cover, tucking it around me.

"Most people are, Scout, when you finally see them."



He turned out the light and went into Jem's room. He would be there wall night, and he would be there when Jem waked up in the morning.



To Kill a Mockingbird

- Harper Lee

Changing Genres: Writing Children’s Books for the First Time

More Essays on Writing from my Orangeberry Book Tour







When I decided to write God
Loves You. – Chester Blue, it wasn’t because I had a burning desire to
write a children’s book. It was because Chester Blue, the blue teddy bear,
modeled after the first teddy bear I sewed myself, needed a story to be written
about him. Second, at the time, I was fascinated by stories about inanimate characters
that ‘just appeared’ bearing mysterious messages. In the case of this story,
crafting the message was easy: I wanted something inspirational. If this was to
be a message that appeared out of the blue, than why not make it an encouraging
message from God?




So, I had the character, I had the premise (what if you
received a message from God, just when you needed it most?) the question was,
who was my audience?




It seemed obvious that Chester Blue would appeal most to
children. After all, who would better relate, than a child, to a blue teddy
bear magically appearing carrying a message from God?




How would writing a book for children differ from writing
for adults? Would I have to change my writing style? Were there specific dos
and don’ts that I needed to adhere to?




The first answer is that I only asked these questions after
I’d written the first draft of my book. And I think that’s very important. I
believe that it is so easy to get caught up in the mechanics, the ‘how to’, of
creating the story that you research the thing to death and never get around to
writing or worse, completing, your book!




Once I’d written my story, these questions sent me off to
one of my favorite hometown haunts, our public library. There I spoke with one
of our incredibly knowledgeable librarians from the children’s section. She
walked me through the rows of books and piled my arms with children’s books
that would become my teachers.




The two books that had the greatest impact on me were The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by
Kate DiCamillo, and  The Heavenly Village by Cynthia Rylant.




What I learned from Kate DiCamillo was that you don’t have
to write ‘down’ to children. Yes, the concepts and perhaps even the plot lines
will be simpler, but the language can be as rich and textured as any novel for
grownups. This is absolutely the case in Edward
Tulane, which is so beautifully written that it can be enjoyed equally by
children and adults.




Cynthia Rylant’s Heavenly
Village taught me that children’s books can deal with difficult topics,
such as death and the afterlife, if treated with gentleness and respect.
Cynthia Rylant is a master of both in her beautifully written book that treats
a scary topic with love and even the occasional laugh.




 The lesson
learned, which I believe would apply to writing for the first time in any genre
is this: write your story. Then take the time to read from the masters of your
genre to see how expected touchstones are handled with skill and experience.
The combination of both will lead to a satisfying story for your readers.  I hope I’ve accomplished that in God Loves You. – Chester Blue. 

Top Ten Tools for Writers

#1 Something to Write With



For years, I used lap tops of various sizes. As I aged, I realized that my eyes needed an extra-large screen. And so I switched from laptops to an Apple desktop with a 26 inch screen...I agonized over this purchase for a long time because it was an expensive investment. But, after I crashed three PC's in one year before I switched to this computer two years ago...it was well worth it.







#2 Something to Write On



This summer it was so hot in my office, that I moved my bedroom and writing space downstairs to the walk-out basement where it was at least ten degrees cooler. I bought this 'desk' at our local thrift store for $35 on their 30%-off sale day. Of course, I now love it more than the $200 desk in my office, that I bought at Habitat for Humanity, our other thrift store in town. (I'm big on thrift stores).



Which is simply to prove, that you don't need fancy office furniture, just a good sturdy table.











#3 Space to Write




When I moved into our walk-out basement for the summer, I positioned my table and chair and computer in a space that would afford me a nice view of the mountains from the windows in front of me. 




However, this space is exactly 5 X 6 feet, wedged between a post on the right and a wall on the left. And I love it just as much as my office upstairs. Because this is our basement, it doesn't get a lot of traffic, so I have the solitude that I need to write. The point is, you don't need an 'office', but you do need quiet. And a space to call your own. 







#4 Expand Your Horizons



Read. Read. Read. I am a huge fan of our local library. I go there at least once a week to check out books. I read fiction across genres, so that I can learn from other authors. I also read non-fiction, particularly books on marketing, because as an indie-author, I'm in charge of everything!









#5 Grounding



The two things I could not live without are my Bible and my journals. I need to read the Bible for inspiration and encouragement.  This year I am working my way through the Daily Walk Bible.



I write in my journal to have a place to flesh out new goals, express my deepest feelings, and vent. I am a huge fan of Morning Pages (Julia Cameron's idea of writing three pages freehand first thing in the morning).





















#6 Building Your Community




Whether you choose Facebook or Twitter or Google+ or any other social platform,  you need to reach out to other authors and readers to develop a community of support, marketing, and social outlet. 




Through these online resources I have met and learned from several other authors and experts in how to reach new readers. Best of all, for new authors, is that many of these resources, in the form of newsletters, are absolutely free.








#7 Inspiration



Reading is a great way to find inspiration. Yet, I have not found a comparable outlet to enjoying the beauty of nature. Whether you live in the city, suburbs, or in the woods, try to find time each week to get out and find visual beauty and inspiration outside your usual 'office' environment. This will do wonders to give your mind a fresh perspective and will help you to see your story from a new angle.













# 8 Exercise



Find something that will get you outside or into a gym and away from sitting at your desk all day. Yes, you need to work consistently at your writing. But for the sake of your health and your wellbeing, you need physical exercise to keep not only your body in shape, but also, your mind. For me, that means taking the dogs to our local off-leash dog park for a mile or two walk.










http://www.wmich.edu/registrar/calend...


#9 Consistency



The absolutely best way to improve as a writer (going hand in hand with read. read. read.) is to write. write. write. I will wager that rather than twenty pages in one day, once a month.....one page a day for twenty consecutive days will lead to greater growth as a writer. Think of a toddler learning to walk...they master the mechanics through repetition. The same goes for writing or any other art form.



If you want to write your novel, don't wait for Nanowrimo to crank out 50,000 words in a month. Make time to write starting now, even if it's just a page a day.













#10 Encouragement



Find your group of friends or family who will encourage and inspire you to keep moving forward each day. Writing and publishing is sometimes made up of such small incremental steps that it's hard to measure your progress. That's when you need friends and family who will pay you on the back and let you know that you're on your way.

A Sneak Peek of My Work-in-Progress

Two peeks:




1) the picture above...




2) the quote below...







What if you slept?

And what if in your
sleep you dreamed?

And what if in your
dream,

you went to heaven
and there plucked 

a strange and beautiful flower?

And what if, when you
awoke you had the flower in your hand?




-Samuel Taylor
Coleridge






Stay-tuned for more!











photo credit:  http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fil...

Week-ending: A Commonplace Book

somewhere i have never travelled, gladly beyond by E. E. Cummings

somewhere i have never travelled, gladly beyond
any experience,your eyes have their silence:
in your most frail gesture are things which enclose me,
or which i cannot touch because they are too near

your slightest look will easily unclose me
though i have closed myself as fingers,
you open always petal by petal myself as Spring opens
(touching skilfully,mysteriously)her first rose

or if your wish be to close me, i and
my life will shut very beautifully ,suddenly,
as when the heart of this flower imagines
the snow carefully everywhere descending;
nothing which we are to perceive in this world equals
the power of your intense fragility:whose texture
compels me with the color of its countries,
rendering death and forever with each breathing

(i do not know what it is about you that closes
and opens;only something in me understands
the voice of your eyes is deeper than all roses)
nobody,not even the rain,has such small hands




source:http://famouspoetsandpoems.com/poets/...

In light of the tragedy today in Aurora, Colorado, I thought we could use a little beauty.

Marketing Tips for the Novice or Non-Miss Bossypants

Week Eight in the Writerly Chronicles from my Orangeberry Book Tour:































Marketing can be intimidating, unless, like Miss Coco, you are a bossy pants and live to tell others what to do or where to go. 




Of course, if like most writers you are
an introvert, marketing many not come naturally. However, whether you are a writer with a traditional publisher or
self-published, increasingly promoting your book will be your second job.




If like me, you are a novice at book promotion, allow me to
share a few helpful tips I’ve picked as I navigate my way through my first book
tour and marketing campaign in support of my first novel, MRS. TUESDAY’S
DEPARTURE.




1.     Establish
dedicated Author Pages on Facebook, Google+, Tumblr, and/or Twitter. There
often seems to be a fine line between what we share with our family and friends
and what we want to share with readers. You want to be approachable and
friendly, but not so much so that your personality overshadows your
books. Unless of course, you write memoirs, in which case share away!

2.     Be
consistent. You will probably find that one of these social media
platforms is a more natural fit than others. Which is fine, you’ll be rewarded
with a greater fan base accordingly. However, no matter which you choose, be
consistent. Check in regularly with new information and be interactive! Engage
your new friends in conversation.

3.     Emulate
your mentors. There are so many wonderful blogs and newsletters
available for new authors. Subscribe, read, emulate, and become involved in
their communities. You can learn an incredible amount from the experiences of
others and try out what feels right for you. A few of my favorite marketing and
book review blogs are:

a.     OrangeberryBookTours.com

b.     TheCreativePenn.com

c.     I
am a Reader Not a Writer.blogspot.com

d.     TheDiviningWand.com

4.     Give
Back! Reach out to other authors and offer to host them on your blog
for an interview, or promotional giveaway of their latest book. Leave
encouraging comments on their blog so they’ll not feel as if they’re writing
into an empty room. Or even better, leave a positive review on Amazon.com or
Goodreads.com after you’ve read their book. And don’t forget to tweet the link
afterwards!



5.     Most
of all,
be your authentic self. 
Promoting yourself and your book may not come naturally, but if you can think
of it as a conversation with friends, it may become an enjoyable part of your
writer’s life.

One Woman's Walk Through the Bible

I wanted to share today's post from a blog I started in January: One Woman's Walk Through the Bible, where I've been posting my efforts to read through the Bible in a year after Mom gave me a Daily Walk Bible. As I share below, it hasn't always been easy to keep my commitment to read the Bible every day. Yet, when I do, I'm usually rewarded with some special verse that lifts my day.
Today's Reading: Isaiah 13 - 16

It's been so long since I've done my Daily Walk Bible reading (three weeks!)...I've missed the end of Psalms, all of Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs, and today's reading plopped me down in the middle of Isaiah.

Yes, I'll confess that I even considered quitting this year-long reading challenge. But one of the positive aspects of my tenacious personality is that I hate to give up. So today I dove back in with surprising results.

Today's reading was all about the promised destruction of Babylon and Moab...and then amidst all the carnage was this beautiful passage, which spoke to my heart as a foreshadowing of Jesus Christ, who Isaiah prophesies about many times throughout this book.

My eyes were beginning to glaze over reading about 'sackcloth' and 'the rod that struck you', or the 'root of the snake will spring into a viper'. It seems our modern world is just as full of the same destruction today, so my spirit felt heavy just reading the words.

Then I read this verse:



Isaiah 16:5




In love a throne will be established;

in faithfulness a man will sit on it-

one from the house of David-

one who in judging seeks justice

and speaks the cause of righteousness.


And the words seemed to jump off the page. I knew it must be Jesus they were speaking of...

"In love...
in faithfulness...
who in judging seeks justice...
and speaks the cause of righteousness..."

What wonderful attributes to aspire to in our own lives.

Amen.

Calling All Authors: Join the Orangeberry Summer Splash

NOTE: I'm posting this for my friend Pandora, who is hosting the Orangeberry Summer Splash.....currently she has 70+ authors, so she needs another 30 to reach her target. This is a wonderful opportunity to publicize your books at a reasonable cost. Whether you're an Indie-author or a traditionally published, why not join us for this fun event to get the word out about YOUR book?




Here's the details......if you're interested contact Pandora at: pandorapoikilos@gmail.com




As Orangeberry Book Tours reaches its 100th book tour, I will be organising a special mini book tour marathon, Orangeberry Summer Splash from 1st August to 31st August.


The goal is to get 100 authors and 100 book blogs to participate in this campaign that is set to raise awareness for all participating authors and books.

AUTHORS - This is IMPORTANT.
1. Each author who signs up will receive
- 5 blog stops (may or may not be consecutively) per book
- 1 TwitterView
- 1 Twitter Blast (#OBSummer #Books)
- 12 months FREE advertising at the Orangeberry sidebar worth $19.99 per book
- FREE listing in Books, Blogs & Smiles 3 or 4 worth $10.00 per book
- Loads of social media publicity before, during and after the event for you and your book

2. Blog hosts will choose to feature you in ONE of the following ways
- Guest Post
- Book Feature
- Book Review
- Author Interview

3. Giveaways are not compulsory but if you would like to do this, do let me know. My email is pandorapoikilos@gmail.com

4. Each blog host will receive a $5 gift as a token of appreciation and there will be a Kindle Fire giveaway so there will be a participating fee of $25 per book.

5. The purpose of this marketing campaign is to increase awareness for your book and the number of book sales or book reviews will differ from book to book.

6. This event is open to ALL authors and genres but please indicate the rating for your book accurately.