Laura McNeill's Blog, page 13

Book Titles – The Good, The Bad, & The Beautiful

I love books, but I am especially in love with book titles. The best novel titles are evocative and powerful. A great book title can also grab attention, illustrate the book’s theme, and serve as a symbol for a key character or plot point.

A few that come to mind from my own shelves include:

White Oleander by Janet Fitch (oleander is a poisonous shrub or small tree with lovely flowers; a tea made from the plant is used to kill off a character in this riveting drama)

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson (Lisbeth is such a remarkable main character; the dragon tattoo defines her fiery and fierce nature)

Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn (A tight, taut title, just like the writing; I love this title. It’s easy to remember and defines the book perfectly)

I’ve always been told, and research shows, that a title with 5 words or less gives the book a better chance of success. Let’s face it, a title like The Night of the Blinding, Bitter Blizzard in Break Point, Alaska (fictional title, 11 words long) is a bit of a tongue twister and difficult to remember.

With Center of Gravity, I was lucky. The title came to me as I was writing the book. It clearly defined Ava and Mitchell’s imbalance; a marriage teetering on the break of collapse. Throughout the novel, Ava seeks her own center of gravity, not only for herself, but for her children.

For my next novel, it’s been a bit more challenging. The book is also domestic suspense, this time, a sister betrayal story set in Brunswick, Georgia. My publishing team at Thomas Nelson has been working hard on brainstorming for the perfect fit, and recently came up with Sister Dear, which adds a chilling nod to the book’s plot.

What are your favorite book titles? What makes them great? 

The Making of Center of Gravity’s Cover: From Start to Finish

I thought it might be interesting for everyone to have an inside look at how my publisher, Thomas Nelson (a division of HarperCollins), and the in-house graphic design team came up with my great (IMO) cover for Center of Gravity.

In total, I was given 13 different covers to review. 13! That doesn’t even take into account all of the revisions made behind closed doors! By the time we reached 12, it was crunch time and we went through a flurry of minor changes in order to get the ARC proof (Advance Reading Copy) to the printer on time.

Here’s a look at the 4 rounds and the final choice. Round One: October 14, 2014 (Very Exciting!)

Round Two: October 24, 2014 (I liked these even better!)

Meanwhile, I was editing book 2 and outlining book 3 ….. And then ….

Round Three: February 10, 2015  (Adored #2, but the cover was only a suggestion, as red is reserved for thriller novels, not suspense!)

Round Four: February 12, 2015 (The team decided on this hue/color!)

Final Choice: February 13, 2015 (Very happy!)

What are your thoughts? Which one do you like best & why?  

~ Laura

Reader Spotlight: Angie Young

On Thursdays, I’ll be introducing everyone to my favorite reader friends. Today, for my very first “Reader Spotlight,” I’d like you to meet Angie Young, a very talented blogger and avid reader from Tennessee! I’m thrilled that she agreed to step into the spotlight.

Here’s a little more about Angie:

1.  Name:  Mary Angela Young

2.  Hometown:  Memphis, TN

3.  Where you live now:  Big Sandy, TN

4.  Family members: Husband, Mark.  2 sons, Joey and Cody

5.  How did we meet?:  Online during a book tour for Pie Girls

6.  Five words friends would use to describe you: straightforward, loyal, intelligent, bossy, leader

7.  Name of your blog. How and why did you start blogging?  The Little Reading Cabin  I started blogging because I saw others were doing it and thought it would be a fun way to share the books I’ve read.

8.  What is the most rewarding thing about it?  I’ve gotten the privilege of meeting and working one on one with authors to promote their books.

9.  Finish this sentence. “When I’m not reading, I’m busy with my children.”

10.  Finish this sentence.  “I love it when people ask me my opinions on books or tv shows.”

11.  What would you do with a million dollars?  I’d buy a condo on Mackinac Island and buy all of the books on my Amazon wish list.

12.  Favorite Book:  Gone With The Wind

13.  Favorite Movie: Somewhere In Time

14.  Favorite treat/snack:  Reese’s Pieces

15.  Favorite Vacation Spot: It’s a toss up between Nashville and Mackinac Island

16.  Romance or Suspense: Suspense

17.  Coffee or Tea: Tea. I’m from the South!!

18.  Beach or Mountains: Beach

19.  Sun or Snow: Sun

20.  Where can people find you on the web or on social media?

            The Little Reading Cabin
            Angie’s Facebook Page
            The Little Reading Cabin’s Facebook Page

 

I encourage everyone to check out Angie’s blog and Facebook page! She does a lovely job and has great recommendations on what to read next! Thank you to Angie for supporting authors.

Big hugs!  Laura

Writer Wednesday – 18.5 Ways to Tackle the Dreaded Edits – Part II

Last Saturday, we talked about the best way to handle edits once you have:

1. Finished your first draft

2. Taken a 4-6 week break from your manuscript

3. Completed a read through of your book and taken careful notes on things that need attention in your manuscript, including:

Inconsistencies with story line or character
Characters who appear and then disappear, never to be heard from again
Ideas to improve a scene (setting, conflict, emotion, etc.)
Ways to deepen a character’s goals, dreams, or growth
A theme that needs further exploration
Dialogue that needs sharpening
Lengthy description that needs trimming
Areas to research

Once you have your notes finished, use the checklist below to go deeper — and further examine specific places and sections in your manuscript. I’ve gathered these prompts from books that I’ve read on editing, other authors’ advice, my own experience, and articles written on the subject.

Using your manuscript, and that same notebook (or your computer), record everything you’ll need to edit according to this checklist (print out your own handy list at the bottom of this post!).

18.5 Ways to Tackle the Dreaded Edits
Opening Scene(s)

1) Hook - Does your novel have a great beginning hook? How can this be tweaked to make it more gripping, unusual, or compelling?

2) Journey - Is there a life-changing problem for the protagonist to solve? Is this a journey that your readers will care about and why? If your protagonist doesn’t go on his or her “journey,” what will happen?

3) Setting - Have you described the setting in the opening? Will readers understand when (present day, 1800s, future) and where (location) the book takes place?

In Each Chapter

4) Opening - Does the beginning of each chapter grab the reader’s attention? No tea-drinking, aimless driving, or showers allowed.

5) Purpose - What is each chapter’s purpose? How does the chapter move the book forward? If the chapter doesn’t belong, cut it.

6) What’s at Stake? - Is each chapter compelling? Does it have tension, emotion, and conflict? Will it keep readers turning pages? **Note: The protagonist should not get what he or she is seeking.

7) Description - Are there sensory descriptions in each chapter? What will your character can taste, touch, see, smell, and hear (try to use 2-3 senses per chapter or scene).

8) Ending - Will each chapter ending hook the reader? Will they want to read more? Why?

9) Length - Is each chapter a suitable length? Is it too long or too short?

Characters

10) Likable – Is your main character likable, will readers relate to him, and is he somewhat heroic? Also, is your antagonist “human” and not a caricature? Does he or she have at least one likable trait? This makes your villain all the more complex.

11) Consistency - Make sure each character’s physical traits are consistent (age, hair color, eye color, etc.) In addition, are each character’s personalities and actions consistent? If not, why are they different? Is this explained to the reader?

12) Throw Rocks -  I love this: “The writer’s job is to get the main character up a tree, and then once they are up there, throw rocks at them.” – Vladimir Nabokov, Lolita. So, are you throwing rocks? Do your character’s difficulties mount during the story? Does he or she lose someone important to him or her? Does your character grieve that loss?

13) Character Arc - Does your character grow and change meaningfully during the course of the book?

Dialogue

14) Appropriate - Does the dialogue match each character’s age, background, education, and personality?

15) Tags - Keep dialogue tags simple (use “said”). Leave out adverbs like “angrily,” “happily,” “gratefully,” etc.

Overall

16) Show - Does the story SHOW and not TELL? Are you using action verbs instead of passive verbs (“was” or “is”).

17) Backstory – Leave out backstory until after the first third of the novel, longer if possible.

18) Grammar & Spell Check - Complete a spell check. Comb through all of your grammar and punctuation. Check for repetitive words (ex. like, just, was, something, it, really, etc.) Replace any and all clichés. Come up with fresh phrases.

Ending

18.5) Powerful Ending - Is the ending of the book satisfying (but not perfect)? Are all of the loose ends and subplots wrapped up? Does it leave a lasting impression? When your reader finishes the last line, what do you want your reader to feel or think about?

Whew! After all of this, you’ll be ready to start your revisions! Good luck!

Do you have any editing tips or tricks you’d like to share? I’d love to hear them!

~ Laura

***Download the PDF Checklist Here:  18.5 Ways to Edit

Center of Gravity Giveaway – 3 Ways to Win

Who doesn’t love a giveaway? I’ll be gifting an Amazon gift cards and other goodies when readers add Center of Gravity to their Goodreads Want To READ shelves. There are 3 chances to win!

#1 – When 500 readers have added Center of Gravity to their Goodreads Want To READ shelves, I will give away at $10 Amazon gift card.

#2 – When 800 readers have added Center of Gravity to their Goodreads Want To READ shelves, I will give away a $15 iTunes gift card.

#3 – When 1,000 readers put Center of Gravity in their Goodreads Want To READ shelves, I will give away a $25 Amazon gift card.

All winners will be chosen through random.org.

If you have already added Center of Gravity to your Goodreads book shelf, you have already entered. Congrats!

I can’t wait to see who wins!

~ Laura

Goodreads Book Giveaway


Center of Gravity
by Laura McNeill

Giveaway ends April 20, 2015.

See the giveaway details

at Goodreads.

Enter to win

18.5 Ways to Tackle ‘Dreaded Edits’ – Part 1

Just saying the word “edit” usually strikes fear and trepidation in the hearts of authors everywhere. I used to dread the process, but after releasing 4 indie books, a short story, and working through edits for Center of Gravity, I’ve actually grown to appreciate and embrace this necessary part of writing!

Now, before you say “she’s crazy,” there are some ways to make the editing process go more smoothly and easily, even if you’re tackling your first novel. I believe that editing is all about being organized and breaking the task into manageable portions.

But first, here’s what needs to be done before you edit.

Step One: Finish your first draft

   I’ve found through trial and error that the writing process is faster when I write the first draft from start to finish.

Some writers edit as they go, but I’ve found that I tend to get stuck re-working a certain area and never progress.

My advice? Push ahead, write each chapter, don’t go backwards, and get the first draft done.

Step Two: Take a break

You may be anxious to get your novel finished and press “publish,” but it’s necessary to step away from your first draft and get some perspective. Four to six weeks away from your book will help you approach edits refreshed and recharged. You’re more likely to see mistakes and errors and portions of the manuscript that need polishing and refining. As difficult as it may seem, do not skip this step!

Step Three: Read your book and take notes

There are several ways to handle this part. You can print your entire manuscript and work off the paper copy or send your manuscript to your e-reader and take notes on your laptop. Either way, settle in, read carefully, and take notes as you go.

While you read, keep a running list of things that need attention in your manuscript:

Inconsistencies with story line or character
Characters who appear and then disappear, never to be heard from again
Ideas to improve a scene (setting, conflict, emotion, etc.)
Ways to deepen a character’s goals, dreams, or growth
A theme that needs further exploration
Dialogue that needs sharpening
Lengthy description that needs trimming
Areas to research

You’re likely to end up with 3-5 pages of notes, which will be invaluable when you begin revising.

Step Four: Edit!

Here’s a handy list that anyone can use to self-edit a manuscript. I’ve gathered these prompts over the years from books that I’ve read on editing, other authors’ advice, my experience, and articles written on the subject.

Using your manuscript, and that same notebook or your computer, record everything you’ll need to edit according to this checklist.

On Wednesday, April 15th, I’ll be sharing my 18 and 1/2 ways to tackle those dreaded edits. I’ll include a handy checklist that you can print and use right away! 

~ Laura

18.5 Ways to Tackle the Dreaded Edits – Part 1

Just saying the word “edit” usually strikes fear and trepidation in the hearts of authors everywhere. I used to dread the process, but after releasing 4 indie books, a short story, and working through edits for Center of Gravity, I’ve actually grown to appreciate and embrace this necessary part of writing!

Now, before you say “she’s crazy,” there are some ways to make the editing process go more smoothly and easily, even if you’re tackling your first novel. I believe that editing is all about being organized and breaking the task into manageable portions.

But first, here’s what needs to be done before you edit.

Step One: Finish your first draft

   I’ve found through trial and error that the writing process is faster when I write the first draft from start to finish.

Some writers edit as they go, but I’ve found that I tend to get stuck re-working a certain area and never progress.

My advice? Push ahead, write each chapter, don’t go backwards, and get the first draft done.

Step Two: Take a break

You may be anxious to get your novel finished and press “publish,” but it’s necessary to step away from your first draft and get some perspective. Four to six weeks away from your book will help you approach edits refreshed and recharged. You’re more likely to see mistakes and errors and portions of the manuscript that need polishing and refining. As difficult as it may seem, do not skip this step!

Step Three: Read your book and take notes

There are several ways to handle this part. You can print your entire manuscript and work off the paper copy or send your manuscript to your e-reader and take notes on your laptop. Either way, settle in, read carefully, and take notes as you go.

While you read, keep a running list of things that need attention in your manuscript:

Inconsistencies with story line or character
Characters who appear and then disappear, never to be heard from again
Ideas to improve a scene (setting, conflict, emotion, etc.)
Ways to deepen a character’s goals, dreams, or growth
A theme that needs further exploration
Dialogue that needs sharpening
Lengthy description that needs trimming
Areas to research

You’re likely to end up with 3-5 pages of notes, which will be invaluable when you begin revising.

Step Four: Edit!

Here’s a handy list that anyone can use to self-edit a manuscript. I’ve gathered these prompts over the years from books that I’ve read on editing, other authors’ advice, my experience, and articles written on the subject.

Using your manuscript, and that same notebook or your computer, record everything you’ll need to edit according to this checklist.

On Wednesday, April 15th, I’ll be sharing my 18 and 1/2 ways to tackle those dreaded edits. I’ll include a handy checklist that you can print and use right away! 

~ Laura

Goodreads Give Away – Center of Gravity

How would you like to win a free paperback ARC (Advance Reader copy) of my new novel, Center of Gravity from Goodreads?

All you have to do is follow this link and click ENTER TO WIN and you could be one of the first to read my first suspense novel before it’s released by HarperCollins/Thomas Nelson on July 14, 2015!

The contest is open until April 20, 2015.

Goodreads Book Giveaway


Center of Gravity
by Laura McNeill

Giveaway ends April 20, 2015.

See the giveaway details

at Goodreads.

Enter to win

While you’re on Goodreads, feel free to submit a question on Ask an Author. All questions welcome!

~ Laura

Pen Names: Lauren Clark to Laura McNeill

I’m often asked why I decided to use a pen name (Lauren Clark) when I began writing. And now that Center of Gravity is being published by Harper Collins July 14th, 2015, I’m often asked why I’m going back to my real name (Laura McNeill) for this release!

The answers are simple … and the latter is kind of amusing!

Lauren Clark

When I was preparing to release Stay Tuned in 2011, I decided to check out Amazon to see if any other authors shared my name.

Low and behold, there was another author who shared my (**at the time, married) name, but her specialty was erotica!

Though erotica is a very popular genre, since my novel was Southern fiction (sweet romance and clean enough that my grandmother could read it), I decided that coming up with a pen name was the best way to set my novel apart!

My mom and I brainstormed names and decided on “Lauren Clark,” as Clark is a family name on my grandmother’s side and Lauren was close to Laura. The pen name has worked very well, and I’ve released four novels and one short story using it!

Laura McNeill

Fast forward to 2014, when I was offered an amazing 2-book contract with HarperCollins/Thomas Nelson.

In our initial discussions, my publishing team talked with me at length about using my real name for Center of Gravity.

Since Center of Gravity is a significantly different genre than my previous novels, we decided that using Laura McNeill would be a great way to define the books as domestic suspense/family drama.

What do you think about pen names? Do you follow any authors who write under different personas? 

~ Laura

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Alabama’s Best Coffee Shops (& my pick for Center of Gravity)

So, it’s not a big secret that I’m sweet on coffee shops. My day doesn’t start without a cup of joe (flavored please, room for cream and sugar). I am lucky enough to live within walking distance to 2 coffee shops in my neighborhood.

Although I appreciate a Starbucks latte as much as the next girl or guy, there’s something I love about independent coffee shops (just like indie bookstores)! For me, it’s the smell of fresh coffee roasting before I hit the front door, the creak of wooden floors under my feet, the banter of regular customers, and the hiss of the espresso machine. I love sitting outside on a front porch, watching the world go by, catching up with girlfriends, or reading a novel.

It was practically a requirement to have a coffee shop in my new novel, Center of Gravity–a central, comforting, homey place for the characters to meet and connect. I created Miss Beulah’s shop, scented with cinnamon rolls and fresh scones, and fashioned it after Carpe Diem in Mobile, Ala., a place where everyone knows your name, your favorite drink, and what time you’re most likely to rush in for a caffeine boost! In Center, Miss Beulah’s is a gathering place for business people, lawyers, judges, Bible study groups, stay-at-home moms, writing groups, and book clubs. I hope you’ll enjoy reading about it in the novel.

Until then, here’s a run-down of my favorite Alabama coffee shops…

Carpe Diem Coffee & Tea Co., Mobile, Ala.

Grab your favorite beverage and a treat, and relax in the historic, Victorian coffee house. Read a book, surf the web (Free Wi-Fi), or enjoy the company of friends in a quiet corner or in one of the covered, outdoor seating areas.

Latte Da, Fairhope, Ala.

Our coffee shop serves not only coffee (from a regular old cup of Joe to a double-shot-extra foam-skim-latte with a touch of cinnamon) but also tea, ice rages, Blue Bell ice cream, and sinful pastries.

O’Henry’s, Downtown Homewood, Ala.

Coffee and community since 1993. O’Henry’s Coffees is Birmingham’s first true coffeehouse. The natural brick, tin ceiling and warm colors make for a place where people love to gather.

The Overall Company, Opelika, Ala.

The Overall Company’s mission is to inspire and lift the spirit of every individual that comes in contact with The Overall Company through meaningful and intuitive hospitality and intentional experiences that enliven the senses.

Edelweiss, Tuscaloosa, Ala.

Since they opened their doors in 2007, Edelweiss has enjoyed serving the area with authentic German bread, pretzels, rolls, pastries, cakes and other European specialties — an authentic German taste without leaving town!

Blue Moon Coffee Shop, Eufaula, Ala.

Find this little shop on 347 South Eufaula Avenue. Friends are made, families connect. Great ideas are had. The Blue Moon defines community.

Wake Up Coffee Company, Auburn, Ala.

Just as the coffee and tea program strives to connect customers with farmers in developing nations, Wake Up’s fair trade artisan goods connect customers to amazing artisans who make beautiful pieces with incredible stories behind them.

I would be remiss if I didn’t mention Cafe Louisa in Montgomery, Serda’s Coffee Company in Mobile, and Satori Coffee, also in Mobile, Ala.

How about your favorite coffee houses (anywhere)? Please share!