K.C. Sprayberry's Blog, page 129
May 23, 2017
Child Kidnap
Welcome to Tuesday Blog Share. Today, we’re talking about child kidnap, a crime that appears to be rising instead of decreasing.
Get your copy of The Wrong One on Amazon!
News headlines seem to blare out the horrific tale of yet another child gone, either taken by a stranger or someone they know, on a weekly basis. Amber Alerts are good, but unless someone is willing not just to notice a scared child and check their social media newsfeeds, that child might vanish into the murkiness of an uncertain future instead of being reunited with their family.
Do these children have a chance to come home? Are they destined to forever wonder if anyone loves them enough to find them and bring them back to their families?
Blurb
One by one, the residents of Landry, Georgia gave up on finding Lyssa Winders alive. It had, after all, been fourteen years since she vanished. The men who invaded her home left behind the bodies of those she loved with all her heart. Only one person never gave up and still searches for Lyssa. Kyle Tinker battles his own demons from that night, when he hid like a coward instead of running for help. Their eighteenth birthday looms on the horizon, and Kyle is determined to bring Lyssa home.
Meanwhile, Kim Tinker is having trouble understanding her dreams about a pretty blonde girl—she has no idea that these dreams are of her life as Lyssa Winters. She also hears a guy who has recently started talking to her--in her head. All Kim wants is to get away from a family which hates her, but doing it safely is the one thing which eludes her.
On the day of the Freedom Festival, Kyle sees the girl he never thought he’d see again. And Lyssa finds the one person she’s protected for the last fourteen years on their shared birthday.
Excerpt Four-year-old Lyssa Winders landed with a thump on her living room floor. Her bottom hurt from the hard wood, and her head ached from all the yelling and shouting she’d been hearing. Nothing made sense. She just wanted this to stop.
Her parents, Auntie Keisha, Nana Brandy, and Grandpa Monty kneeled in front of her. They had their hands on the back of their heads, and they looked very scared.
“Gonna talk now, Jack?” the stinky man asked. He had carried her out of the safety of her bedroom and dumped her on the floor. “Or do I hurt your kid?”
About the K.C. Sprayberry
Born and raised in Southern California’s Los Angeles basin, K.C. Sprayberry spent years traveling the United States and Europe while in the Air Force before settling in northwest Georgia. A new empty nester with her husband of more than twenty years, she spends her days figuring out new ways to torment her characters and coming up with innovative tales from the South and beyond.
She’s a multi-genre author who comes up with ideas from the strangest sources. Those who know her best will tell you that nothing is safe or sacred when she is observing real life. In fact, she considers any situation she witnesses as fair game when plotting a new story.
Find out more about my books at these social media sites:
Facebook Fan Page
Website
Goodreads
Amazon Author Page
Google +
Manic Readers
AUTHORSdb
Readers Gazette
Authors Den
May 22, 2017
Libraries – Donate or Not?
One thing I looked forward to once my first book was published was taking several copies to my local libraries. It was there where I hoped to locate fans and readers, people interested in an author who wasn’t well known but who could provide them with a new reading experience. Over the years, I still look forward to this experience.
Why?
Because where I live, in the southern United States, libraries welcome authors with open arms. They don’t care if you’ve been publishing for years and have millions of fans or if this is your first book and no one knows you. The feeling I got from every library I visited in my area, a total of four within an hour’s driving distance, was that my arrival was akin to that of royalty or a mega singing star/actor showing up unannounced. Staff pointed out where I could put my supply of bookmarks and postcards. Patrons in line tentatively asked if they could have me sign those bookmarks/postcards. Mostly, I was filled with happiness at how the queue to check out my books formed almost immediately.
I was dreaming that the rest of the world would view my books in such a manner, even if I couldn’t appear in person at their local library. A few years later, in a discussion between a group of authors, I made a discovery that saddened me.
Not all libraries welcome indie authors with open arms. Many libraries in the United States, one of the countries where people can choose what they read without fear of censorship, are in fact censoring books their patrons can check out. I’ve heard far too often that the book needs to be reviewed by the New York Times or USA Today before a library’s board will consider putting it on their shelves. All I can do is shake my head in disgust. In the twenty plus years I’ve been writing and submitting my books, I’ve only seen a single indie author receive a NYT review, and her books were selling in huge numbers. My point is that out of the thousands of authors who publish or have published wonderful, entertaining books every month, only one got the attention of what is considered the Cadillac of reviewers.
To make matters even worse, a good friend of mine and a fellow author, proudly took her books to her local library. She was willing to donate them free. Here’s the response she got from a library system on the west coast:
“In my area (Seattle, WA/King County), the process to get a book in the library isn’t where I can simply walk into my local library and donate a copy or three. The books are juried, at author’s expense, and being a local author isn’t enough. They want a review from the local newspaper or NYT! Good luck getting the book reviewer for the Seattle Times to email you back. After a few months, I gave up. The only way my books will end up in my local system is if patrons go in and request them.”
I’ve read KateMarie Collins’ books. She tells fabulous stories; readers will be enthralled by her books for years. Yet, she can’t get them on the shelves of her local library because of an antiquated system of evaluating and purchasing/receiving donations of books that needs to change.
Oh, how I wish Kate and other authors like her could have experienced the love and admiration I discovered when I walked in unannounced to donate my books. Or the fluttery butterflies in my stomach when I returned a week later, to see if more bookmarks were needed (they were), only to see my books prominently displayed on shelves near the door, proclaiming “Local New Author.” No amount of praise anywhere will compete with the sensation of a job well done than an author realizing their books are there for the reading public and you are gaining fans through a small donation.
How does one change this system in place by far too many libraries now? First, most libraries are facing cuts because of budgetary concerns. They can no longer purchase as many books as they did thirty or more years ago. Yet, they’re ignoring the best way to get new reading material for their patrons by turning away indie authors.
There is a fantastic solution though. Readers should have a say in what their local library purchases or takes as a donation. Instead of walking out the door in disgust when you can’t find new material, ask to speak to the head librarian and question why they aren’t supporting local authors. Why haven’t you seen these authors booked in to speak to interested patrons? Why aren’t their books on the shelves? When can you, the reader, expect to see those books you want to read so badly?
It will take more than one person, or even a dozen, to change this system. This will take a community saying enough is enough. Let us chose the books we want in our library. Let us decide if it’s worth our time to have local authors featured in our libraries. Demand that you have the opportunity to discover whole new worlds and characters.
About the K.C. Sprayberry
Born and raised in Southern California’s Los Angeles basin, K.C. Sprayberry spent years traveling the United States and Europe while in the Air Force before settling in northwest Georgia. A new empty nester with her husband of more than twenty years, she spends her days figuring out new ways to torment her characters and coming up with innovative tales from the South and beyond.
She’s a multi-genre author who comes up with ideas from the strangest sources. Those who know her best will tell you that nothing is safe or sacred when she is observing real life. In fact, she considers any situation she witnesses as fair game when plotting a new story.
Find out more about my books at these social media sites:
Facebook Fan Page
Website
Goodreads
Amazon Author Page
Google +
Manic Readers
AUTHORSdb
Readers Gazette
Authors Den
May 21, 2017
Paranormal Mysteries
Welcome to Sunday Blog Share. Today we’ll be talking about Ghosties Trouble to The Max. This first book in a series about the Ghosties explores what not only brought Hailey Hatmaker fame but also caused the break up of these paranormal investigators. The Ghosties are in their early teens and fighting ghosts isn’t usually done with the internet, but they’re part of Ghosties International, a group of teen ghost hunters who are led by a mysterious man, Montana Jack.
Paranormal investigators in books are nothing new. There are probably as many books about this profession as there are about other paranormal events. Even teen books about the supernatural abound with mysteries about ghosts, werewolves, and other creatures. It takes a special type of novel to attract attention in this over saturated field.
Get Ghosties Trouble To The Max on Amazon
Hailey, Tink, Annie, Freddie, and Sly use their wits and are famed for their quick disposal of pesky ghosts. They have the respect and acceptance of this duty by the adults in their lives. That is until they run into a problem like they’ve never seen in all their ghost hunting years. Once their problems are identified as the type those in charge of them feel are too much to handle, they have to learn how to be sneaky in order to solve the problem.
Ghosts are popping up all over Landry. The town is being overrun and no one knows why—least of all Hailey Hatmaker and her Ghosties crew. Only none of these ghosts are talking. They’re terrified of something that only Hailey and her team can figure out. Something which could prove disastrous for them all.
It felt so good to discover ghostly action in Landry once again. The Ghosties had just finished a dry spell like no other we had ever seen. We’d just gone through five months with nary a ghost to bother us. No goo oozing out of heating vents, or papers flying out of hands to plasteragainst the ceiling.
The call this morning had me, the fantastic, fabulous Hailey Hatmaker, gathering my group together lickety-split. We met up on the run, and raced all the way over to Bank of Landry. Once there, we had almost danced with glee at what greeted us. That was an hour ago. This particular ghost was proving far more difficult to exterminate than we had anticipated.
We could have got harsh long ago. I grinned. I sure don’t want this to end any time soon. I’m having fun again.
About the K.C. Sprayberry
Born and raised in Southern California’s Los Angeles basin, K.C. Sprayberry spent years traveling the United States and Europe while in the Air Force before settling in northwest Georgia. A new empty nester with her husband of more than twenty years, she spends her days figuring out new ways to torment her characters and coming up with innovative tales from the South and beyond.
She’s a multi-genre author who comes up with ideas from the strangest sources. Those who know her best will tell you that nothing is safe or sacred when she is observing real life. In fact, she considers any situation she witnesses as fair game when plotting a new story.
Find out more about my books at these social media sites:
Website
Goodreads
Amazon Author Page
Google +
Manic Readers
AUTHORSdb
Readers Gazette
Authors Den
May 16, 2017
Possessive versus Plural
I’ve noticed lately that new authors and some older authors who should know better have moved from using the apostrophe to show possession and are making their words plural. Sure, it’s easier for the person typing the story to do this. They don’t have to worry about those pesky rules regarding apostrophes, but there is a major problem with this.
Without an apostrophe in your work, you have inserted a plural word into a sentence. Your book now makes no sense. Readers will go over your work and wonder what in the world you’re talking about.
If you have a question whether a word is possessive or not, you have several options. The first is to ensure your grammar checker is set to “mark grammar as you type.” This will allow a blue line to appear under a word that is used incorrectly. An easy hover the mouse over the word and right click will show you the error. Or you can search the internet for the innumerable bloggers who write about this problem. Some of these blogs offer tests right there in the post, so you can learn when to use the plural and when to use the possessive.
Another way to figure out whether your word is plural or possessive is to subscribe to the Chicago Manual of Style (CMOS). This grammar book is the Cadillac of grammar rules and is used by most publishers and professional editors when they are editing a book.
Speaking of editing, if you aren’t sure about these possessive versus plural instances, you need to ask a trusted beta reader to assist you with identifying the problem. Or you can join a critique group and request their assistance. The beta reader will probably get back to you faster than a critique group, which often requires that you only submit one chapter a week or month, and you must in turn critique the chapters of other members.
What you, the author, must remember is that before you send a book to your publisher, whether it’s the first time you’ve contacted this publisher or you’re a returning author, is that you need to put your best foot forward. Even the best authors make mistakes, but one that the submissions reader sees over and over in a manuscript can have you receiving a “thank you for submitting but we feel this book isn’t right for us” response.
About the K.C. Sprayberry
Born and raised in Southern California’s Los Angeles basin, K.C. Sprayberry spent years traveling the United States and Europe while in the Air Force before settling in northwest Georgia. A new empty nester with her husband of more than twenty years, she spends her days figuring out new ways to torment her characters and coming up with innovative tales from the South and beyond.
She’s a multi-genre author who comes up with ideas from the strangest sources. Those who know her best will tell you that nothing is safe or sacred when she is observing real life. In fact, she considers any situation she witnesses as fair game when plotting a new story.
Find out more about my books at these social media sites:
Facebook Fan Page
Website
Goodreads
Amazon Author Page
Google +
Manic Readers
AUTHORSdb
Readers Gazette
Authors Den
May 15, 2017
Internet Bullies
We’ve all run into this current rage. Someone will leave a comment on one of our posts, indicating this, that, and the other thing is wrong about it. Or they’ll say something completely out of line that will leave you wondering if you really want to be part of the internet world. Your first instinct is to respond to their outrageous comment on Twitter, to debunk what they’re saying on Facebook, or to argue with them about their review on Goodreads.
Stop!
Don’t comment. Don’t react. Do nothing that will encourage these bullies. They are safe behind their phone or computer screen. Nothing can touch them there and they’re venting out their frustrations on what they see as the perfect victim, the author gushing about their book. Your reaction, whether it be a carefully written comment or to complain on social media will only give this individual the impetuous to get nastier, until you want to vanish from sight and give up being an author.
We live in an age of anonymity. People can vent their rage about their own less than perfect lifestyle by attacking those they see as likely victims. Their only purpose is to make themselves feel better and the only way they can see to do that is to attack someone who is successful. Their biggest victim is the indie author, because these individuals are working hard not only to sell their books but also on branding their name. They are on social media seven days a week, with all sorts of promising advertisements about their books. A person in a rage, looking for a likely victim, sees this as an opportunity to attack and continue their attacks if they get a response.
How, then, does the struggling author handle internet bullies? Whether or not you respond, they seem to keep coming after you. It’s very hard to avoid saying at least, “Why don’t you read my books before you say they’re no good?”
And you’ve just committed a cardinal sin. The bully has their ammunition and they fire a hard shot followed by many more at the author attempting to cool down their temper. Soon, you’ll be in the unenviable position of walking away and ignoring the bully.
Will this bully stop because you’re no longer responding?
Probably not, unless you block them from your social media sites. Unfortunately, you’ll hear from people that the individual is calling you a coward wherever they can post, because you decided that ignoring them was the better choice. You’ll have to quietly vent your anger at the situation until the bully moves on to more fertile grounds where they can get the victim to respond.
About the K.C. Sprayberry
Born and raised in Southern California’s Los Angeles basin, K.C. Sprayberry spent years traveling the United States and Europe while in the Air Force before settling in northwest Georgia. A new empty nester with her husband of more than twenty years, she spends her days figuring out new ways to torment her characters and coming up with innovative tales from the South and beyond.
She’s a multi-genre author who comes up with ideas from the strangest sources. Those who know her best will tell you that nothing is safe or sacred when she is observing real life. In fact, she considers any situation she witnesses as fair game when plotting a new story.
Find out more about my books at these social media sites:
Facebook Fan Page
Website
Goodreads
Amazon Author Page
Google +
Manic Readers
AUTHORSdb
Readers Gazette
Authors Den
May 14, 2017
New Wildcat Crew Mystery
Welcome to Sunday Blog Share and Everybody Reads YA. Today, we’re featuring The Case of the Scared Child Book 2 Wildcat Crew.
Get The Case of the Scared Child Book 2 Wildcat Crew on Amazon!
The Case of the Scared Child Book 2 Wildcat Crew premiered on Wednesday, May 3. At first, I wondered if this book would sell but kept promoting. To my amazement, after seeing no sales when I went to bed that night, I found that the second book in this amazing teen detective series was in fact a best seller at #77 in Teen & Young Adult/Mysteries & Thrillers/Detectives in the United States.
What a wonderful kick off for this book, and hopefully the whole series!
Blurb
The summer solstice has arrived. Being the sun worshipers they are, Wildcat Crew heads to the beach for a day of fun and a picnic. But first, Marnie gets a huge surprise. Her parents have replaced her Camaro, destroyed in their first case.
At the beach with thousands of other Southern Californians, the crew stumbles over a small, crying child. Instead of checking out the waves and working on their tans, they go on the hunt for the little boy’s parents.
Excerpt
Loud voices startled Luke Timmons. He could hear the ocean outside his open bedroom window and wanted to go to the beach. His mommy and daddy had promised him that he could pick where he spent his fifth birthday and he wanted to run into the ocean, build a sandcastle, and have a lot of fun.
“Where’s the stash?” Daddy yelled. “What have you done with it, Liz?”
Luke’s mommy’s name was Liz. His daddy was Brian. The idea of having his mommy crying and his daddy “sick” today made his tummy hurt. They had promised him a really fun birthday of going to the beach, and to get pizza later. Daddy even promised to buy Luke an ice cream cone for dessert if he was good all day long.
About the K.C. Sprayberry
Born and raised in Southern California’s Los Angeles basin, K.C. Sprayberry spent years traveling the United States and Europe while in the Air Force before settling in northwest Georgia. A new empty nester with her husband of more than twenty years, she spends her days figuring out new ways to torment her characters and coming up with innovative tales from the South and beyond.
She’s a multi-genre author who comes up with ideas from the strangest sources. Those who know her best will tell you that nothing is safe or sacred when she is observing real life. In fact, she considers any situation she witnesses as fair game when plotting a new story.
Find out more about my books at these social media sites:
Website
Goodreads
Amazon Author Page
Google +
Manic Readers
AUTHORSdb
Readers Gazette
Authors Den
May 10, 2017
Cobble Cove Mysteries
To celebrate my birthday, I’m giving away free copies of my first Cobble Cove mystery, A Stone’s Throw, and also offering the second book, Between a Rock and a Hard Place , for only 99 cents. Both these offers are good on my birthday, Tuesday, May 9, and the day after, Wednesday, May 10. In addition, both books including my latest, Written in Stone , will be on tour with Great Escapes Book tours from May 5 to May 13.
A Stone’s Throw
Free on Amazon 5/9 – 5/10
Get A Stone's Throw on Amazon!
Widowed librarian Alicia Fairmont needs answers…
After her husband is killed in a hit and run accident, Alicia travels upstate to his hometown of Cobble Cove, New York. She hopes to locate his estranged family and shed light on his mysterious past. Anticipating staying only a weekend, her visit is extended when she accepts a job at the town’s library.
Secrets stretch decades into the past…
Assisted by handsome newspaper publisher and aspiring novelist, John McKinney, Alicia discovers a connection between her absent in-laws and a secret John’s father has kept for over sixty years. Her investigation is interrupted when she receives word her house has burned and arson is suspected, sending her rushing back to Long Island, accompanied by John.
Back in Cobble Cove, cryptic clues are uncovered…
When Alicia returns, she finds a strange diary, confiscated letters, and a digital audio device containing a recording made the day her husband was killed. Anonymous notes warn Alicia to leave town, but she can’t turn her back on the mystery—or her attraction to John. As the pieces fall into place, evidence points to John’s involvement in her husband’s accident. The past and present threaten to collide, and Alicia confronts her fears…
Has she fallen in love with her husband’s killer?
Between a Rock and a Hard Place
99 cents on Amazon 5/9 – 5/10
Get Between A Rock and A Hard Place on Amazon!
Librarian Alicia McKinney has put the past behind her…
Two years ago, Alicia discovered both a terrible truth and lasting love with John McKinney in the small town of Cobble Cove, New York. Now a busy mother of twin babies and co-author of a mystery series, Alicia couldn’t be happier.
Alicia’s contentment and safety are challenged…
Walking home alone from the library, Alicia senses someone following her, and on more than one occasion, she believes she is being watched. Does she have a stalker? When the local gift shop is burglarized, the troubling event causes unrest among Alicia and the residents of the quiet town.
John and Alicia receive an offer they can’t refuse…
When John’s sister offers to babysit while she and John take a much-needed vacation in New York City, Alicia is reluctant to leave her children because of the disturbances in Cobble Cove. John assures her the town is safe in the hands of Sheriff-elect Ramsay. Although Alicia’s experience with and dislike of the former Long Island detective don’t alleviate her concern, she and John take their trip.
Alicia faces her worst nightmare…
The McKinneys’ vacation is cut short when they learn their babies have been kidnapped and John’s sister shot. Alicia and John’s situation puts them between a rock and a hard place when the main suspect is found dead before the ransom is paid. In order to save their children, the McKinneys race against the clock to solve a mystery more puzzling than those found in their own books. Can they do it before time runs out?
Check out the tour schedule for my Cobble Cove Mystery series on these blogs for spotlights, reviews, interviews, and guest posts:
May 5 – My Journey Back – SPOTLIGHT
May 5 - Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW
May 6 – StoreyBook Reviews - GUEST POST
May 6 – Socrates' Book Reviews – REVIEW
May 7 – Lisa Ks Book Reviews – REVIEW, CHARACTER GUEST POST
May 8 – Dee-Scoveries – SPOTLIGHT
May 8 – Mochas, Mysteries and Meows – CHARACTER INTERVIEW
May 9 – Cozy Up With Kathy – SPOTLIGHT
May 10 – Books,Dreams,Life – SPOTLIGHT
May 11 – Valerie's Musings – REVIEW
May 12 – deal sharing aunt – INTERVIEW
May 13 – My Reading Journeys – REVIEW
BioDebbie De Louise is an award-winning author and a reference librarian at a public library on Long Island. She is a member of Sisters-in-Crime, International Thriller Writers, and the Cat Writer’s Association. She has a BA in English and an MLS in Library Science from Long Island University. Her Cobble Cove mystery series by Solstice Publishing includes A Stone's Throw, Between a Rock and a Hard Place, and Written in Stone. Debbie has also written the romantic comedy novella, When Jack Trumps Ace, along with articles and short stories for several anthologies of various genres. She lives on Long Island with her husband, daughter, and two cats.
Social Media Links
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/debbie.delouise.author/Twitter: https://twitter.com/DeblibrarianGoogle+: https://plus.google.com/u/0/+DebbieDeLouiseGoodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2750133.Debbie_De_LouiseAmazon Author Page: http://amzn.to/2bIHdaQWebsite/Blog/Newsletter Sign-Up: https://debbiedelouise.wordpress.com
Romance – It’s Not Sex
A fallacy exists in the romance genre lately. Far too many authors feel that sex is the way to sell their books. “It’s the twenty-first century,” they argue when this is brought up to them. “People expect graphic sex in romance novels.”
Actually, people don’t expect sex in romance novels. They especially don’t expect A-Z graphic sex in those novels. Once you’ve devoted most of your book to the characters diving into an Olympic romp, with a description of every act, you’ve moved from romance to erotica. There is no arguing this fact. Despite these being modern times, people want to escape into a story where the imagination takes over, not the author’s description of every movement to the point where the reader feels the need to take a cold shower.
What makes up a romance novel?
According to RWA (Romance Writers of America), you need a central plot that revolves around the characters falling in love. Notice those last three words, “falling in love.” They don’t imply bedroom (or any room) antics. They don’t imply your characters should be tearing off their clothes and dropping into bed at the drop of a hat, or any other object.
Romance is just what the word implies. A couple is attracted to each other. In order to make the plot a bit more enticing, they could be at odds with each other and fighting this attraction, but the fascination with each other must be strong enough to overcome all odds.
There should be sub-plots, sometimes utilizing other genres such as suspense or thrillers, to add that missing bit of spice. The couple needs to have interests other than their attraction. Adding the spice of a suspense or thriller sub plot keeps the reader intrigued, while you’re also giving them an unfolding romance with twists and turns at every point.
The skillful author can insert the romantic tension at the perfect moment where the couple will be interrupted before they reach the shed clothing and romp moment. Remember, the next time you decide sex is necessary in your romance novel that you might have missed an important sub-plot point and need to redirect the tension.
About the K.C. Sprayberry
Born and raised in Southern California’s Los Angeles basin, K.C. Sprayberry spent years traveling the United States and Europe while in the Air Force before settling in northwest Georgia. A new empty nester with her husband of more than twenty years, she spends her days figuring out new ways to torment her characters and coming up with innovative tales from the South and beyond.
She’s a multi-genre author who comes up with ideas from the strangest sources. Those who know her best will tell you that nothing is safe or sacred when she is observing real life. In fact, she considers any situation she witnesses as fair game when plotting a new story.
Find out more about my books at these social media sites:
Facebook Fan Page
Website
Goodreads
Amazon Author Page
Google +
Manic Readers
AUTHORSdb
Readers Gazette
Authors Den
May 9, 2017
Mysteries Abound
The recently released Plots & Schemes Vol. 1 became a best seller in Germany on release, reaching #14 in the rankings. This collection is sure to please lovers of all types mystery lovers, with ten tales sure to give you goosebumps and listen for bumps in the night.
Get Plots & Schemes Vol. 1 on Amazon!
Blurb
Her child vanishes in a puff of smoke.
When Murder is on the Itinerary
An eavesdropped comment leads to an impossible scheme!
Mysterious events pull Dana into danger.
A rock star’s murder leaves Emlyn Goode questioning everything she knows about herself.
Murder most foul puts this cop to the test
One murder, one plan, two possible outcomes.
Losing your mind is scary...
If you're not at the beach, the Tough Luck stories will take you there.
Trail Town Texas leans heavily on their sheriff
Murder, kidnapping, mysterious events, and more are our treat to you in this wonderful anthology from Solstice Publishing. Discover the talents of K.C. Sprayberry, Debbie De Louise, Donna Alice Patton, E.B. Sullivan, Susan Lynn Solomon, Johnny Gunn, K.A. Meng, Leah Hamrick, Lois Crockett, and Stephy Smith.
Excerpt
A smile was on his face. Despite the fact that he was supposed to connect with the egg donor of this lovely child, he had no thoughts of doing that or returning the kid at the appointed time. His timing was perfect. The child—Lanie is such an idiotic name; I’ll have to come up with another one—would be five in a few days. In time, she would forget there had been his loser ex in her life. She—Sheila will regret divorcing me—had battered through his training, all he’d gone through to make her a compliant and complacent wife. She’d run away after he ordered her to get an abortion.
Good thing the bitch ignored me. I wouldn’t have this gorgeous child to raise to be like me.
Granted the child was weak now, but he would fix that, as soon as he made sure they vanished forever. No one would stop him from raising his daughter as he saw fit, and that meant keeping her away from her weakling of a mother.
About the K.C. Sprayberry
Born and raised in Southern California’s Los Angeles basin, K.C. Sprayberry spent years traveling the United States and Europe while in the Air Force before settling in northwest Georgia. A new empty nester with her husband of more than twenty years, she spends her days figuring out new ways to torment her characters and coming up with innovative tales from the South and beyond.
She’s a multi-genre author who comes up with ideas from the strangest sources. Those who know her best will tell you that nothing is safe or sacred when she is observing real life. In fact, she considers any situation she witnesses as fair game when plotting a new story.
Find out more about my books at these social media sites:
Website
Goodreads
Amazon Author Page
Google +
Manic Readers
AUTHORSdb
Readers Gazette
Authors Den
May 8, 2017
Over-Verbosity
Our characters in our books speak. They talk about the weather, the situation they’re facing, and their yearnings. Dialogue is the perfect place to insert little tidbits that don’t fit into the narrative, if you’re careful.
There is one thing characters should never do when they’re speaking in a book. It’s a condition called over-verbosity, where the author decides a single word doesn’t appropriately convey the meaning and feels the need to add a few more words, and then a few more, until finally the dialogue stretches for several lines and the reader lost track of what was being discussed.
You’ve seen it. You might have even thought it was a great way to fill the vocabulary needs of every reader you can attract. Open the thesaurus in your word processing program and add every single word that’s a synonym for the one you’re using, in order to get your point across. Your characters will always be trying to, attempting, beginning, endeavoring, struggling, striving, beginning, starting, originating, and commencing in what they’re doing. They’ll never jump. Rather, they’ll jump, hop, skip, spring, caper, and vault—all at the same time.
The reader will see those words, if they make it past an editor, and they’ll immediately be turned off, if not exhausted from all this action. Verb strings, where an author opens a thesaurus and adds in words that define the main verb, are wrong. All you’re doing is enhancing your word count and boring your reader to tears, if not sending them to take a nap from exhaustion.
There is a rule about verbs. Pick one and use it in a sentence. As authors, we strive to avoid word repetition, and these verb strings will set us up to have to do that, because we’re using every synonym in the book in order to complete a single sentence. Once you’ve developed this habit, it becomes very simple to do the same thing with nouns. By the time you finish your novel, you’re amazed at how long it is. You’re satisfied you’ve “told” the reader everything they need to know about each sequence. In fact, you’re feeling pretty proud of yourself at this point.
How can anyone believe your book is anything but a well written story they will understand from the first sentence?
In fact, your readers will lose patience with your verb and noun strings before they finish the first chapter. They’ll be exhausted slogging through each sentence and wondering why your editor let this happen. The book will be closed and they will give you a scathing review about how you need to burn your thesaurus and write in a simpler manner.
You, the author, will be reading these reviews and wondering how all these readers missed your fabulous prose and your carefully thought decision to ensure everyone reading your book understood your intent. You might even think about responding to their caustic comments, explaining carefully and professionally that they missed the point entirely. (A point here—don’t ever respond to reviews. More on that in a latter post.)
What you have done with your extra words is alienate your reader base. Learn the hard lesson many before you have experienced. Ten or more words instead of one never works.
About the K.C. Sprayberry
Born and raised in Southern California’s Los Angeles basin, K.C. Sprayberry spent years traveling the United States and Europe while in the Air Force before settling in northwest Georgia. A new empty nester with her husband of more than twenty years, she spends her days figuring out new ways to torment her characters and coming up with innovative tales from the South and beyond.
She’s a multi-genre author who comes up with ideas from the strangest sources. Those who know her best will tell you that nothing is safe or sacred when she is observing real life. In fact, she considers any situation she witnesses as fair game when plotting a new story.
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