Ninette Swann's Blog, page 8
June 14, 2012
FEATURED on Feature and Follow Friday!
It is my lucky day. I just happened to be on Twitter when Alison Can Read asked if someone wanted the feature spot tonight on FF! Of course I did!
CLICK HERE TO SEE INTERVIEW!
This week's question celebrates Father's Day, and asks: What's your favorite father character in a book.
Honestly, probably Willy Loman from Death of a Salesman.
He's at the end of his rope, looking back on life, trying to make sense of it, trying to grab onto anything that will help him through. Despite his obvious mental state, he and his wife have managed to raise two boys with good heads on their shoulders. While I certainly don't condone parents killing themselves, it's written in such a way that it shows a common theme (although exagerrated) one finds when one is a parent. That you want your kids to do better. Moreso: that you want your kids to do better but you also want them to be like you. That's a tough order to fill. Willy tries, and that's what I see. He fails, sure. But he tried.
Parenting and parents aren't perfect, that's what Willy shows.
Use the linky below to sign up and meet some awesome bloggers! Just put your site name in, then make a post that answers the question and add the blog button.
Make sure you follow the hosts, Alison Can Read, and Parajunkee, and the featured bloggers! Leave a comment everywhere you follow so that those blogs can follow you back.
CLICK HERE TO SEE INTERVIEW!This week's question celebrates Father's Day, and asks: What's your favorite father character in a book.
Honestly, probably Willy Loman from Death of a Salesman.
He's at the end of his rope, looking back on life, trying to make sense of it, trying to grab onto anything that will help him through. Despite his obvious mental state, he and his wife have managed to raise two boys with good heads on their shoulders. While I certainly don't condone parents killing themselves, it's written in such a way that it shows a common theme (although exagerrated) one finds when one is a parent. That you want your kids to do better. Moreso: that you want your kids to do better but you also want them to be like you. That's a tough order to fill. Willy tries, and that's what I see. He fails, sure. But he tried.
Parenting and parents aren't perfect, that's what Willy shows.
Use the linky below to sign up and meet some awesome bloggers! Just put your site name in, then make a post that answers the question and add the blog button.
Make sure you follow the hosts, Alison Can Read, and Parajunkee, and the featured bloggers! Leave a comment everywhere you follow so that those blogs can follow you back.
How to Push Your Book...Gently
Once you publish a book, it seems like it's time to sit back and celebrate, but nothing could be further from the truth. A published book becomes just one of a billion others on the shelf (or virtual shelf), unopened and unloved. With so many out there, why would someone give yours a chance?
Even if your book is brilliant, it will languish in the wasteland of undiscovered if you don't get it out there yourself. Now, this is not to say push it at every opportunity. That will grate on people's nerves and push them farther from you. And don't tell them how great it is. You'll come off as pretentious and self-congratulating. If it is great, the hope is they'll think so all on their own. And definitely stay away from review sites. Do not talk about your own work on them. There can be no good outcome, unless what you're saying is "thank you" for either a good or a bad review.
Try to take a step back. Your book isn't going to be everyone's cup of tea. It's not your fault, and not their fault. They're there to review, or they read your book and had something to say. That's awesome. Think of 50 Shades of Grey. Are the bad reviews stopping E.L. James? Heck, no. It's a case of "keep talking, you're making me famous." What's important is that people are talking about your work. What's more important is that you come off as gracious and put-together.
So, start with your friends. Why? Because some of them will actually buy it and read it. Because they like you. Because you're lucky and you have friends. Facebook is good for this. Do not create an event telling them you wrote a book. I learned that the hard way. Not only will they get the invitation, but they'll be bothered every time someone else comments on the event or decides to go. Sure, they could turn off notifications, but that's annoying. They shouldn't have to change anything to make way for you. Just tell them in a few statuses or messages. It'll go through.
Then, your friends will help you with word of mouth. People that they know, who know of you, from high school, maybe or from other networks, will hear that so-and-so wrote a book. Even if they hardly knew you, they'll be intrigued. Maybe intrigued enough to buy something. And the people that don't know you at all, well, they might buy it too, just because their friend knows an author. (Sometimes people think that's a lot cooler than it is.)
And if you're lucky, and your book is good, those people will tell other people; you know the drill.
Other things:
- Have a blog. (waves) Write things in it that don't pertain to your book.
- Review other books. This will get you a network in literary circles, and if you're giving reviews, you're getting reviews.
- Ask book bloggers to review your book. (I'll expand on how to do this right next week.) Send them a free copy after you've asked them. Give them a chance to decide whether or not they want it first. This way you're asking, not pushing.
- Take part in book forums on Goodreads, Amazon, Twitter, Facebook, anywhere you can talk books, do it. But don't talk your book, unless it comes up. You'd be surprised how often and how naturally it does. You must be patient. Don't use flimsly transitions, or you'll look like "that guy." You know that guy. The one who thinks he's really smooth and fooling everyone by pretending to be interested, but who's really just there to talk about himself.
The biggest point is, if people don't know about your book, they won't read it. And if they know about your book because that's all you talk about to the exclusion of everything else, they won't read it.
You have to strike the balance.
Even if your book is brilliant, it will languish in the wasteland of undiscovered if you don't get it out there yourself. Now, this is not to say push it at every opportunity. That will grate on people's nerves and push them farther from you. And don't tell them how great it is. You'll come off as pretentious and self-congratulating. If it is great, the hope is they'll think so all on their own. And definitely stay away from review sites. Do not talk about your own work on them. There can be no good outcome, unless what you're saying is "thank you" for either a good or a bad review.
Try to take a step back. Your book isn't going to be everyone's cup of tea. It's not your fault, and not their fault. They're there to review, or they read your book and had something to say. That's awesome. Think of 50 Shades of Grey. Are the bad reviews stopping E.L. James? Heck, no. It's a case of "keep talking, you're making me famous." What's important is that people are talking about your work. What's more important is that you come off as gracious and put-together.
So, start with your friends. Why? Because some of them will actually buy it and read it. Because they like you. Because you're lucky and you have friends. Facebook is good for this. Do not create an event telling them you wrote a book. I learned that the hard way. Not only will they get the invitation, but they'll be bothered every time someone else comments on the event or decides to go. Sure, they could turn off notifications, but that's annoying. They shouldn't have to change anything to make way for you. Just tell them in a few statuses or messages. It'll go through.
Then, your friends will help you with word of mouth. People that they know, who know of you, from high school, maybe or from other networks, will hear that so-and-so wrote a book. Even if they hardly knew you, they'll be intrigued. Maybe intrigued enough to buy something. And the people that don't know you at all, well, they might buy it too, just because their friend knows an author. (Sometimes people think that's a lot cooler than it is.)
And if you're lucky, and your book is good, those people will tell other people; you know the drill.
Other things:
- Have a blog. (waves) Write things in it that don't pertain to your book.
- Review other books. This will get you a network in literary circles, and if you're giving reviews, you're getting reviews.
- Ask book bloggers to review your book. (I'll expand on how to do this right next week.) Send them a free copy after you've asked them. Give them a chance to decide whether or not they want it first. This way you're asking, not pushing.
- Take part in book forums on Goodreads, Amazon, Twitter, Facebook, anywhere you can talk books, do it. But don't talk your book, unless it comes up. You'd be surprised how often and how naturally it does. You must be patient. Don't use flimsly transitions, or you'll look like "that guy." You know that guy. The one who thinks he's really smooth and fooling everyone by pretending to be interested, but who's really just there to talk about himself.
The biggest point is, if people don't know about your book, they won't read it. And if they know about your book because that's all you talk about to the exclusion of everything else, they won't read it.
You have to strike the balance.
June 8, 2012
18 and Over Book Blogger Follow
Check out a great blog hop hosted by Reading Between the Wines (best name ever). Find bloggers that share your sensibilities and read what you like to see.
How to join in:
-You should run a book blog that features and reviews mostly adult reads, some Y.A.’s are okay but 18 & over adult reads should be your majority.
-Make a separate post for the 18 & Over Book Blogger Follow on your blog.
-Copy the html for the button above and place it at the top of your post.
-List & answer the ‘Question of the Week.’
-Place your name and blog title in the linky below and the url for a direct link to your post
-Visit the other blogs on the list and say 'Hi!' Following each blog is not mandatory but I know it is always appreciated, and if someone comments saying they’re a new follower it’s polite to follow back. J It’s always nice to spread the 18 & Over Book Blogging love!
-Contact readingbetweenthewines10 at gmail dot com with any questions! The question for this hop is: If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you go for a 'readcation'? My answer is the big island of Hawaii. My father lives there and it is beautiful and quiet with as many different climates and types of beaches you could ever want. Read on a secluded little beach or a big public one. Read in between snorkling and playing volleyball. Read after cave diving or hiking in the rain forest to find a waterfall. I can't wait to get back to the Big Island. Maybe once these darn kids grow up.
June 7, 2012
Choosing a Name That Sells Books
As you prepare to publish your works, you'll have to consider whether or not you want to use a pseudonym. If you decide that you do, which name you pick can have an impact on your sales. You'll want to use a name that you will not feel burdened by as you continue your career as well. Remember, when choosing your name, it's not just about likeability, but also about marketability.
1) Make sure it's easy to say and spell.
You'll want people to remember your name easily so that they can tell their friends about your work, should they like it. You'll want them to be able to spell it off the top of their heads, should they plug it into a google search. The nicer the name sounds rolling off the tongue, the more likely people are to say it, so choose something with a rhythmic ring to it.
Consider initials or short first names if the last name has two or more syllables. That will allow people to put emphasis on the name without their mouths stumbling over it. It will also stick in their brains longer.
Last names of only one syllable are preferable as you want people to remember the most important piece of your name, which would be the surname, so if the name is out of the ordinary, consider a sharp, one-syllable last name to counter it.
You'll want something that stands apart from the crowd, but that is common enough that people will easily recognize it.
2) Choose a name appropriate for your genre.
Unfortunately, male and female author names are still not considered equal these days, and in certain genres, men sell more books than women. In others (like romance) women sell more books than men. You can write as whichever gender you'd like, but know that there are limitations to each.
3) Choose a name you like.
This is important to marketing because if you don't like your name, it will show. People will be able to tell when they talk to you or when you make appearances. Disdain or embarrassment can even shine through in writing, and if your fans sense you are annoyed with something about your writing, it could turn them off.
4) Consider where your books will be shelved.
Author last names starting with A-G have a greater chance of being seen as they will normally be placed on the shelves at eye level. You might also want to choose a last name starting with the first few letters of a bestselling author in your genre so that the overspill interest comes to your book first.
5) Test it before you're stuck with it.
Try writing your chosen name out, both in handwriting and in type. Try saying it in different sentences to see if you like how it sounds. If you have access to Photoshop or a graphic program, make a few mock covers to see how the name fares when in different book-cover fonts.
1) Make sure it's easy to say and spell.
You'll want people to remember your name easily so that they can tell their friends about your work, should they like it. You'll want them to be able to spell it off the top of their heads, should they plug it into a google search. The nicer the name sounds rolling off the tongue, the more likely people are to say it, so choose something with a rhythmic ring to it.
Consider initials or short first names if the last name has two or more syllables. That will allow people to put emphasis on the name without their mouths stumbling over it. It will also stick in their brains longer.
Last names of only one syllable are preferable as you want people to remember the most important piece of your name, which would be the surname, so if the name is out of the ordinary, consider a sharp, one-syllable last name to counter it.
You'll want something that stands apart from the crowd, but that is common enough that people will easily recognize it.
2) Choose a name appropriate for your genre.
Unfortunately, male and female author names are still not considered equal these days, and in certain genres, men sell more books than women. In others (like romance) women sell more books than men. You can write as whichever gender you'd like, but know that there are limitations to each.
3) Choose a name you like.
This is important to marketing because if you don't like your name, it will show. People will be able to tell when they talk to you or when you make appearances. Disdain or embarrassment can even shine through in writing, and if your fans sense you are annoyed with something about your writing, it could turn them off.
4) Consider where your books will be shelved.
Author last names starting with A-G have a greater chance of being seen as they will normally be placed on the shelves at eye level. You might also want to choose a last name starting with the first few letters of a bestselling author in your genre so that the overspill interest comes to your book first.
5) Test it before you're stuck with it.
Try writing your chosen name out, both in handwriting and in type. Try saying it in different sentences to see if you like how it sounds. If you have access to Photoshop or a graphic program, make a few mock covers to see how the name fares when in different book-cover fonts.
May 29, 2012
Why You Should Enter Contests
With all the writing I'm sure you have to do, entering contests can seem like a frivolous waste of time and resources. But there are some amazing rewards if you take that time and use it wisely. Here's why you should enter literary contests.
1) They give you a break from your old projects. Sometimes a project can get tedious. You look at it as more of a chore than a pleasure, or you have writer's block. You just can get that scene to flesh out quite right, no matter how many hours you spend with the page. Writing contests will give you fresh material to work with. They can revitalize your drive so that you come back to your manuscript with new eyes and ideas.
2) They stretch your abilities and comfort level. When you're given specific instructions and prompts, you need to work within that framework. Having to create something new within known boundaries can sharpen your skills. Perhaps the contest you are interested in involves a different genre than the one in which you write. Or it forces a nonfiction story out of you. Or gives you a scene you'd never have come up with on your own. Whatever the case, it can become a way to cover new ground.
3) They provide networking opportunities. A whole host of new people, people that follow the site where the contest is being hosted, or follow the prize-givers or are interested in slightly different literary tastes than you are. You're all brought together through a love of the written word in a way you might not have been otherwise. Read the other entrants' pieces, comment, make friends. You never know who could stick with you in the long run.
4) You increase your platform. Even if you don't win and don't talk to anyone, even if you simply submit your writing, that piece is now available for others to read, and hopefully like. They'll associate your author name with this avenue and maybe branch out to look at your other stuff. You'll end up with more recognition than you would simply staring at a word document.
5) Sometimes...you win. I entered a competition to win a publishing contract through No Boundaries Press. It was hosted by After Dark Online. They do this contest every few months. I came across it on my Twitter feed, quite by accident. And that morning, I wrote a thousand words for them and posted it up.
And I won.
So now I have a book under contract before it's even been completed.
For a brand new author with only one piece under my belt, that's some good news!
Enter contests. You never know when you'll win.
1) They give you a break from your old projects. Sometimes a project can get tedious. You look at it as more of a chore than a pleasure, or you have writer's block. You just can get that scene to flesh out quite right, no matter how many hours you spend with the page. Writing contests will give you fresh material to work with. They can revitalize your drive so that you come back to your manuscript with new eyes and ideas.
2) They stretch your abilities and comfort level. When you're given specific instructions and prompts, you need to work within that framework. Having to create something new within known boundaries can sharpen your skills. Perhaps the contest you are interested in involves a different genre than the one in which you write. Or it forces a nonfiction story out of you. Or gives you a scene you'd never have come up with on your own. Whatever the case, it can become a way to cover new ground.
3) They provide networking opportunities. A whole host of new people, people that follow the site where the contest is being hosted, or follow the prize-givers or are interested in slightly different literary tastes than you are. You're all brought together through a love of the written word in a way you might not have been otherwise. Read the other entrants' pieces, comment, make friends. You never know who could stick with you in the long run.
4) You increase your platform. Even if you don't win and don't talk to anyone, even if you simply submit your writing, that piece is now available for others to read, and hopefully like. They'll associate your author name with this avenue and maybe branch out to look at your other stuff. You'll end up with more recognition than you would simply staring at a word document.
5) Sometimes...you win. I entered a competition to win a publishing contract through No Boundaries Press. It was hosted by After Dark Online. They do this contest every few months. I came across it on my Twitter feed, quite by accident. And that morning, I wrote a thousand words for them and posted it up.
And I won.
So now I have a book under contract before it's even been completed.
For a brand new author with only one piece under my belt, that's some good news!
Enter contests. You never know when you'll win.
May 24, 2012
Guest Post: How to Write When You're Too Busy
Today I'm guest blogging over at Three Wicked Writers, on how to write when you're just too busy. Here's the intro...the five tips are over there! You should do it. If I can do it, you can do it.
___
I’m a stay-at-home / work-at-home mom and one of the largest battles we face is that we don’t do anything. Our lives consist of trash TV, raising a few super-attached, maladjusted brats, and maybe cooking dinner. If it doesn’t interfere with our bon-bon eating, of course.
You can imagine how upset I was to find that writers face the same nonsense. If you write for a living, apparently you don’t do anything.
Wrong.
Writing is hard. It takes dedication, belief in yourself, some kind of skill with the English language, and most of all, time. It takes a lot of time.
So, when people say they’d love to write a book, but they’re too busy, I totally get it. If you don’t make time for it, and make time for it consistently, it will never get done. Here are a few ways I’ve found to do it.
Read more here!
___
I’m a stay-at-home / work-at-home mom and one of the largest battles we face is that we don’t do anything. Our lives consist of trash TV, raising a few super-attached, maladjusted brats, and maybe cooking dinner. If it doesn’t interfere with our bon-bon eating, of course.
You can imagine how upset I was to find that writers face the same nonsense. If you write for a living, apparently you don’t do anything.
Wrong.
Writing is hard. It takes dedication, belief in yourself, some kind of skill with the English language, and most of all, time. It takes a lot of time.
So, when people say they’d love to write a book, but they’re too busy, I totally get it. If you don’t make time for it, and make time for it consistently, it will never get done. Here are a few ways I’ve found to do it.
Read more here!
May 23, 2012
Hit and Stay RELEASED
My debut romantic suspense has been released! Hit and Stay, by Ninette Swann.
How very exciting! Go find it here at Resplendence Publishing.
If you'd like a taste of it, here's the first bit.
“Okay, everybody, stand back. I said stand back! Nothing to see here. Move along.” Jake Harrison elbowed his way through the gathering crowd. He had to squeeze his large frame between two hysterical women, and he grimaced as he struggled through the front row of bystanders who jostled each other mercilessly, trying to get a better look at the beautiful cyclist sprawled out on the pavement. Her bike lay crumpled on the other side of the road.
It appeared to be a typical hit and run.
“Stand back. I’m police.” Even without his uniform, Jake knew he sounded authoritative enough to keep the crowd at bay.
His breath caught in his throat when he saw her. Andrea Wadsworth wasn’t just any beauty. The flaxen-haired socialite was an icon in this part of Illinois. Though quiet and seemingly shy, her betrothal to the mayor’s son nearly six months ago had put her in the headlines all the way out to Chicago.
Her fiancé, John Waters, had kept her there with his glad-handing and ambition. He was thought to be making a play for the Senate and, at least once a week, Jake saw pictures of the couple splashed all over the society pages of the local paper. They cut ribbons, attended galas and lent their gravitas to charity organizations. At every public event, Andrea was glued to her fiancé’s side, silent, smiling and demurely dressed.
So where was he now? Jake looked up, scanning the crowd methodically. He found no trace of the slicked-back politician-to-be.
That’s odd, Jake thought. Surely, with all Waters’ connections, someone had contacted him right away. Jake had been on the scene for at least fifteen minutes. Where was Waters?
The girl on the ground moaned softly and shifted her left leg.
“Don’t move,” Jake whispered, leaning in to her. “I’m calling for help.”
He dialed the police station’s main line from his cell phone. Though he had been on administrative leave for about a half a year now, he still knew the number by heart. Before he’d even gotten through, he heard the sirens in the distance. Someone in the crowd must have called.
Jake shook his head. Something was off, but he couldn’t put his finger on what. He turned his attention to the girl who was slowly coming around. He shushed her as she tried to raise her head.
“Quiet now,” he said. “You’ve had a rough time of it. We’ve got people on the way. Lie still.”
Her blue eyes appeared dazed then froze with worry. “Who are you?” she said in a croaky voice. She tried to boost herself up on her elbows.
“Hey,” Jake whispered. “Don’t move. You’ve had quite a jolt. Rest. Help is coming.”
“Where am I?” she asked, her voice quivering and soft.
Jake wanted to reach out and smooth her tangled blonde hair from her brow, but he resisted. As frightened as she was, the contact would do neither of them any good. He’d learned the hard way not to react emotionally to victims, no matter how beautiful they were or how vulnerable they appeared. If he wanted back on the force, he’d have to be very careful.
“Don’t worry,” he said. “Officers and medics are on their way.”
She acknowledged his words with a half-smile and visibly relaxed.
While he waited for backup, Jake’s professional eye raked over her body, trying to assess the extent of her injuries. Andrea Wadsworth was about five-foot-nine, tanned and in top shape. The papers said she was about twenty-five years old. Dressed in a fitted T-shirt and jeans, she wasn’t properly attired for cycling. She wasn’t even wearing a helmet. A red, racing bike sat crumpled on the other side of the road. It was a hit and run.
A shout from the crowd broke through, and Jake turned his head.
“Jake, hey Jake!” The whiny voice was irritatingly loud against the murmur of the other onlookers. Jake wiped his hair from his forehead. The stale, late-summer air kept the hardtop steaming even as the sun set low in the sky. Within seconds, a wiry man wearing squared hipster glasses had him by the elbow. “What’s the story here, Jake?”
“You should know, Burt,” Jake said with a sigh. “You’re the news, not me.”
“Aw, come on, Jake. Throw me a bone. This crash is going to take me hours to shoot, and my wife’s about to kill me for working so much overtime. Couldn’t this broad have gotten herself run over during business hours?”
Jake blanched. Shop humor, but still, so tasteless. The only people more hardboiled than police officers were news reporters.
“If you want a story, go track down Waters. Don’t you have eyes? This is his fiancée.”
Burt shook him jocularly as if they were old friends. Jake stepped away. Burt Bellows was no friend of his. Not anymore.
“That ain’t my angle,” Burt said. “I’m just here to take pictures of the scene and write five-hundred words about it before deadline. And I’m lucky I got here so quick. One of my guys called in with a tip.”
“Good to know we’ve got bulldogs like you to sniff out the story.” Jake rolled his eyes.
The ambulance had arrived, and officers were making their way to the scene. Jake watched silently as four men fitted the blonde for a neck brace and gingerly placed her onto a stretcher.
“Jake, you there, bro?” Burt tapped him on the shoulder, the motion filling Jake with annoyance. “Just give me the basic details, and I’ll be out of your hair, my hand to God.”
“I only know what you know.”
“Bullshit.” The reporter snorted, his greasy curls bouncy around his shoulders. “First of all, you know what I need. What time did this happen, what happened, how long is the investigation going to take and where’s she going?”
“I don’t—”
“Don’t mess with me. I’m hungry. And since I can tell you’re so invested in this girl, I’ll tell you a secret as soon as you’re done.”
“I’m not invested in her.”
“Then why protect her privacy? You know the chief’s just going to make a statement anyway. Save him the trouble. I won’t use your name.”
Jake rubbed his eyes as the ambulance doors slammed shut and the siren started to wail.
“Her name is Andrea Wadsworth. It looks like she was cycling down Main when a car must have hit her. That must be her bike over there. No helmet. Looks like a hit and run. The investigation will go on for as long as it takes, and she’s probably headed to St. Mary’s. That’s all I know.”
“Okay, great. Thanks, pal.”
Jake waited, his eyebrows raised.
Burt laughed at him and said, “See, I knew you were invested. Word back at the paper is that this was a suicide attempt. But you didn’t hear it from me.”
How very exciting! Go find it here at Resplendence Publishing.
If you'd like a taste of it, here's the first bit.
“Okay, everybody, stand back. I said stand back! Nothing to see here. Move along.” Jake Harrison elbowed his way through the gathering crowd. He had to squeeze his large frame between two hysterical women, and he grimaced as he struggled through the front row of bystanders who jostled each other mercilessly, trying to get a better look at the beautiful cyclist sprawled out on the pavement. Her bike lay crumpled on the other side of the road.
It appeared to be a typical hit and run.
“Stand back. I’m police.” Even without his uniform, Jake knew he sounded authoritative enough to keep the crowd at bay.
His breath caught in his throat when he saw her. Andrea Wadsworth wasn’t just any beauty. The flaxen-haired socialite was an icon in this part of Illinois. Though quiet and seemingly shy, her betrothal to the mayor’s son nearly six months ago had put her in the headlines all the way out to Chicago.
Her fiancé, John Waters, had kept her there with his glad-handing and ambition. He was thought to be making a play for the Senate and, at least once a week, Jake saw pictures of the couple splashed all over the society pages of the local paper. They cut ribbons, attended galas and lent their gravitas to charity organizations. At every public event, Andrea was glued to her fiancé’s side, silent, smiling and demurely dressed.
So where was he now? Jake looked up, scanning the crowd methodically. He found no trace of the slicked-back politician-to-be.
That’s odd, Jake thought. Surely, with all Waters’ connections, someone had contacted him right away. Jake had been on the scene for at least fifteen minutes. Where was Waters?
The girl on the ground moaned softly and shifted her left leg.
“Don’t move,” Jake whispered, leaning in to her. “I’m calling for help.”
He dialed the police station’s main line from his cell phone. Though he had been on administrative leave for about a half a year now, he still knew the number by heart. Before he’d even gotten through, he heard the sirens in the distance. Someone in the crowd must have called.
Jake shook his head. Something was off, but he couldn’t put his finger on what. He turned his attention to the girl who was slowly coming around. He shushed her as she tried to raise her head.
“Quiet now,” he said. “You’ve had a rough time of it. We’ve got people on the way. Lie still.”
Her blue eyes appeared dazed then froze with worry. “Who are you?” she said in a croaky voice. She tried to boost herself up on her elbows.
“Hey,” Jake whispered. “Don’t move. You’ve had quite a jolt. Rest. Help is coming.”
“Where am I?” she asked, her voice quivering and soft.
Jake wanted to reach out and smooth her tangled blonde hair from her brow, but he resisted. As frightened as she was, the contact would do neither of them any good. He’d learned the hard way not to react emotionally to victims, no matter how beautiful they were or how vulnerable they appeared. If he wanted back on the force, he’d have to be very careful.
“Don’t worry,” he said. “Officers and medics are on their way.”
She acknowledged his words with a half-smile and visibly relaxed.
While he waited for backup, Jake’s professional eye raked over her body, trying to assess the extent of her injuries. Andrea Wadsworth was about five-foot-nine, tanned and in top shape. The papers said she was about twenty-five years old. Dressed in a fitted T-shirt and jeans, she wasn’t properly attired for cycling. She wasn’t even wearing a helmet. A red, racing bike sat crumpled on the other side of the road. It was a hit and run.
A shout from the crowd broke through, and Jake turned his head.
“Jake, hey Jake!” The whiny voice was irritatingly loud against the murmur of the other onlookers. Jake wiped his hair from his forehead. The stale, late-summer air kept the hardtop steaming even as the sun set low in the sky. Within seconds, a wiry man wearing squared hipster glasses had him by the elbow. “What’s the story here, Jake?”
“You should know, Burt,” Jake said with a sigh. “You’re the news, not me.”
“Aw, come on, Jake. Throw me a bone. This crash is going to take me hours to shoot, and my wife’s about to kill me for working so much overtime. Couldn’t this broad have gotten herself run over during business hours?”
Jake blanched. Shop humor, but still, so tasteless. The only people more hardboiled than police officers were news reporters.
“If you want a story, go track down Waters. Don’t you have eyes? This is his fiancée.”
Burt shook him jocularly as if they were old friends. Jake stepped away. Burt Bellows was no friend of his. Not anymore.
“That ain’t my angle,” Burt said. “I’m just here to take pictures of the scene and write five-hundred words about it before deadline. And I’m lucky I got here so quick. One of my guys called in with a tip.”
“Good to know we’ve got bulldogs like you to sniff out the story.” Jake rolled his eyes.
The ambulance had arrived, and officers were making their way to the scene. Jake watched silently as four men fitted the blonde for a neck brace and gingerly placed her onto a stretcher.
“Jake, you there, bro?” Burt tapped him on the shoulder, the motion filling Jake with annoyance. “Just give me the basic details, and I’ll be out of your hair, my hand to God.”
“I only know what you know.”
“Bullshit.” The reporter snorted, his greasy curls bouncy around his shoulders. “First of all, you know what I need. What time did this happen, what happened, how long is the investigation going to take and where’s she going?”
“I don’t—”
“Don’t mess with me. I’m hungry. And since I can tell you’re so invested in this girl, I’ll tell you a secret as soon as you’re done.”
“I’m not invested in her.”
“Then why protect her privacy? You know the chief’s just going to make a statement anyway. Save him the trouble. I won’t use your name.”
Jake rubbed his eyes as the ambulance doors slammed shut and the siren started to wail.
“Her name is Andrea Wadsworth. It looks like she was cycling down Main when a car must have hit her. That must be her bike over there. No helmet. Looks like a hit and run. The investigation will go on for as long as it takes, and she’s probably headed to St. Mary’s. That’s all I know.”
“Okay, great. Thanks, pal.”
Jake waited, his eyebrows raised.
Burt laughed at him and said, “See, I knew you were invested. Word back at the paper is that this was a suicide attempt. But you didn’t hear it from me.”
May 11, 2012
Feature & Follow (3)
Sunday is mother's day, and I'm a mother who's not getting anything! (That I know of...I doubt my three year old twins pay much attention to the calendar. Or my husband, either. He'll probably get me a gift after I get him one for Father's Day, all, "Oh, I forgot this was a thing.")
So, I give one to myself. Hopefully a few new followers.
The question this wee at Parajunkee's and Alison's Blog Hop is: What's your favorite book with strong mother / child relations.
Lolita?
Just kidding. Although I always did like Charlotte.
How about...wow, I just don't read books with strong mother characters, I guess. I want to say House on Mango Street? Does that sound right?
Anyway, here's the button, and down below is the linky. Read some better answers than mine!
So, I give one to myself. Hopefully a few new followers.
The question this wee at Parajunkee's and Alison's Blog Hop is: What's your favorite book with strong mother / child relations.
Lolita?
Just kidding. Although I always did like Charlotte.
How about...wow, I just don't read books with strong mother characters, I guess. I want to say House on Mango Street? Does that sound right?
Anyway, here's the button, and down below is the linky. Read some better answers than mine!
May 9, 2012
Author Interview: Vanessa Morgan (A Good Man)
Vanessa Morgan smashes the horror world with her newest release, A Good Man. The screenplay is already making waves, and is currently in production, so far as I know.I was lucky enough to grab Vanessa for an interview about this, her third work.
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First...the blurb!
A Good Man (screenplay)
Do you like Dexter and American Psycho? Then chances are you will love A Good Man.
Louis Caron is a good man – he's a vegetarian, feeds homeless people, takes care of animals and is converned with the ecological well-being of the planet. But his altruism has a sinister edge – he's a vampire and local detective Taglioni becomes increasingly suspicious of him. Louis' attempt to escape the police will take him on a journey into his own private hell where he is not only forced to confront his worst fears, but where he will also destroy the lives of those he cares about.
What makes A Good Man stand out on the "shelf?"
A Good Man is a dark comedy with a few horror elements. I could best describe it as American Psycho with a vampire. Some people have also compared it to the TV-series Dexter. It's a fun and moving story and it turns the vampire myth completely on its head. It's not the kind of vampire story you've seen before and if you think you know how things will turn out, then think again.
What was your favorite part about writing the story / of the story itself?
I really enjoyed writing some of the funniest scenes in A Good Man, such as the one with Butterfly and Matthias. I had so much fun writing them because they were based on people I know and real stories my friends told me. Sometimes, the things you see and hear in real life can be more interesting than the things you invent yourself.
Another favorite part from A Good Man is the ending. It's the reason why I wanted to write this story. It's devastating and it might not be to everyone's liking, but I think it's impossible not to be affected by it.
How have you grown as an author?
Every new story makes you grow as an author, especially if you take the rewriting phase seriously. A Good Man in particular was helpful, because I wrote it for a production company and they gave advice and constructive criticism along the way.
What kind of audience is best for your books?
My first two books, Drowned Sorrow and The Strangers Outside, is for everyone who likes to read Stephen King and other authors of supernatural suspense. They're rich in atmosphere and visuals and, apparently, they read like a movie, so they should appeal to movie afficionados as well. A Good Man, on the other hand, is for everyone who wants to try out something different. It has a structure similar to many other thrillers, but the characters, theme and ending will definitely surprise you.
What projects are you working on right now?
As some of you already know, A Good Man is now in pre-production and ready to be turned into a French feature film. Director, actors and part of the crew are already attached to the project and the production is finalizing the funding phase. It will be shot later this year and I will keep everyone up to date by posting behind-the-scenes pictures on my blog. Apart from the film adaptation of A Good Man, I'm currently working on seven different projects, both movies and books and I'm lucky to be able to collaborate with some of the most talented directors and artists in Europe. One of those projects is a book based on the web comic about my cat (http://aHYPERLINK "http://avalon-lion.blogspot.com/"valon-lion.blogspot.com).
What are your favorite books?
Everything by Daph Nobody (Blood Bar, L'enfant nucléaire), Carol Drinkwater (The Olive Farm, The Olive Season), John Saul (Second Child) and Michel Houellebecq (Elementary Particles).
What is your favorite form of the written word and why? (Poetry, prose, verse)
I definitely prefer screenplays. Prose comes second.
Have you ever given up on a project?
I nevergive up on a project. There's always a way to accomplish what I want. It might take some time, it might be hard, but there's always a solution to every problem and with perseverence everything becomes possible.
Where can people find your new release?
Some places where you can find A Good Man are Amazon US, Amazon UK and Smashwords. It's also available in French as Un homme bien on Amazon US, Amazon FR and Smashwords.
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Screenwriter and novelist Vanessa Morgan is known as the 'female version of Stephen King'. You can find out more about Vanessa Morgan and her work by going to her personal blog http://vanessa-morgan.blogspot.com. If you like cats, you might also like the web comic about her cat Avalon at http://avalon-lion.blogspot.com.
Other Books by Vanessa Morgan
The Strangers Outside (short story)
Two sisters, Jennifer and Louise, return to their remote holiday cottage after a day at the seaside. But little do they know they're being surrounded. Soon after their arrival, the girls will come face to face with the strangers outside. When the assailants make their intentions known, things take a shockingly terrible turn and an intense battle for survival will begin.
Drowned Sorrow (novel)
Megan Blackwood has just lost her son in a terrible accident. Now she has come to Moonlight Creek with her teenage daughter Jenna, hoping that a change of scenery might help to put her life back together. But something odd is going on in Moonlight Creek. When rain falls over the village, the inhabitants commit grisly murders, leaving the village deserted with the first rays of sunshine. Beneath the lake's surface, an eerie presence watches... and waits... Waits to reveal a tragic past drowned in mystery and fear. One that doesn't bode well for visitors. By the time Megan realizes that her daughter is in danger, it might already be too late.
