L.A. Sartor's Blog, page 3

October 7, 2021

October - January: Laurie Schnebly Campbell Classes

 Never Stop Learning. 

That's my motto and Laurie's classes help my writing in a big way.


online: BUILDING YOUR BRAID
(Oct. 11-22)
writeruniv.com/classes/building-braid
       Once you’ve outlined the elements of your braid in September, this hands-on master class takes you through the steps of assembling it from beginning to end. Each day’s assignment will keep you going, accomplishing more actual writing than in any usual two-week period, with individual feedback during every segment of the process.

Zoom: CREATING YOUR HERO’S FATAL FLAW
(Oct. 16, 10am Central) free at ACFW, RSVP to LoriDeJongWrites@gmail.com
       Every main character needs a heroic trait with a flip-side that, er, isn’t.

blog: HOW DEEP SHOULD YOU GO?
(Oct. 27) writers in the storm blog dot com
       When & where deep POV works, or doesn’t work...plus a free-class-prize.

online: DEEP & DEEPER POV
(Nov. 1-12)
writeruniv.com/classes/deeper-pov
       We all know readers like getting deep into a character’s soul, and we know the way to make that happen is through Deep POV. But how exactly do you present someone’s viewpoint so fully that readers will feel like they’re truly inside this person on the page? There are a surprising number of techniques for making that process easier, whether you’re creating a brand-new character or intensifying one who’s already in progress.

online: PUTTING THE JOY BACK IN WRITING
(January 10-21, 2022, only for members of Sisters In Crime Guppies)
s in c guppies dot wild apricot dot org
       For anyone determined to make 2022 a Better Writing Year, this class offers practical and psychological techniques for dealing with writer's block. Part of that block is a lack of joy in the process, so this roll-up-your-sleeves session looks at the causes -- including boredom, exhaustion, and fear of success -- and the benefits of getting blocked. Writers finish with new awareness of what works for them, and with renewed inspiration for returning to the craft they love.

Laurie's  Bio:
Laurie Schnebly Campbell published half a dozen romances with Harlequin, including one that beat out Nora Roberts for “Best Special Edition of the Year,” before discovering the only thing she loves more than writing is working with other writers. So she started giving workshops every month, online and in-person, and now has a special area on her bookshelf full of books with acknowledgments from authors who’ve loved her classes.



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Published on October 07, 2021 10:24

June 29, 2021

All You Need To Know About L.A. Sartor's YouTube Channel For Writers

 









I've been working hard and long on designing this channel for writing tips and tricks for writers, and frankly I struggled to find the key elements until I took a course on how to laser focus your channel's content. 

Now I'm proud to announce my channel's scope and focus is ready for you and I hope after reading this, you'll subscribe. 

SUBCRIBE

Content is divided into basically four quadrants or playlists.



There is no right order in which to watch the videos. 

One day you might need a technique booster or recap in the Page One playlist. The next day you may want deeper growth into a writing concept like GMC or Plotting From The End using Plottr for a cozy mystery In Onward To The End playlist.

Or perhaps a marketing tip or how to make swag for your readers in What's Next. And finally listen to an author talk about their process to inspire yours in an Author Chat.

I have links to all sorts of information, tools and books I use as examples in the videos. As well as a freebie GMC chart! 

It's all here for the writer. My plan is to post two videos a month, ramping the content up as I get faster at this. I have so much to share and so many writers to chat with. And I'm always open to hear your ideas of videos that you'd like to see.

SUBCRIBE


Intro Video




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Published on June 29, 2021 23:30

May 13, 2021

Fantastic New Reasons To Use Book Brush

 


You guys know I love using Book Brush, and now I'm giving you more reasons to subscribe to this awesome tool created for writers. 
ANIMATION TOOLS
Want to make something like this?
Or this?

This animation tool which has been in beta for Platinum users is NOW available to all paid subscribers!

It's an easy tool to use. And I hear through the grapevine that we'll have music to add as well at some point! 

WWW.BOOKBRUSH.COM

use the code LASARTOR15 to get 15% off a paid subscription


OKAY WHAT ABOUT BOOK TRAILERS?

Yep, you can make book trailers now. Currently only for Platinum subscribers, there is an "easy or advanced" user platform.

This includes music, text boxes, videos. The famous 3D book covers and, yes more.

You decide just how much creative time you want to spend!  

I love it. 

(turn on your speakers)


How much more fun do you want?

WWW.BOOKBRUSH.COM

use the code LASARTOR15 to get 15% off a paid subscription


INSTANT MOCKUPS?

These are one of the most requested and used assets in Book Brush, and they're available in the Gold and Platinum plan. 

Go From This

To This!!

With the magic of smart objects, I can add my cover to the above image just by clicking, then I added another one again by clicking and then add the text and stamps (Amazon in this case). ALL included in your gold or platinum subscription.

WWW.BOOKBRUSH.COM

use the code LASARTOR15 to get 15% off a paid subscription


VIDEO BACKGROUNDS?

News! 

Unlimited video background downloads in the Custom Creator for all paid plans!


(While this video background shows the wrong cover, I just changed it, you get the idea.)

You can create covers, social media memes, animations, book trailers, 3D covers, Boxed Set images, there is a dedicated FB group page. Cover templates-fully editable. New Instant Mockups, covers, stamps, images every month ... the list is long!


(I am not an affiliate of Book Brush, they don't have them!)


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Published on May 13, 2021 09:31

May 4, 2021

Brushed By Betrayal Release Day ~ L.A. Sartor News

L.A. Sartor's New Book Release Banner
 Today is Brushed By Betrayal's Book Birthday. 
Cover image of L.A. Sartor's new book, Brushed By Betrayal, suspense with romantic elements
Or in publisher speak, it's launch day!

This book had a long gestation period. It was written a long, long time ago and while it won a few awards and garnered some attention from agents, I was by then totally entrenched in the screenwriting world, with contracts and high hopes. But that is another story.

As custom, those awards for the then titled "Betrayal of the Trust" were hung on my vanity wall, and they'd whisper to me incessantly, "publish me, bring me to life, let people solve the mystery." 

Those sibilant noises annoyed me long enough driving me to action. I started the rewrite a couple of years ago, in between other books, then finally realised the story needed more than simply bringing it up to date. It needed some new characters, lots of new plotting and character building. It was a mammoth task which I nearly quit many times, only to hear those annoying whispers again.

And not only did it get a new title, thank you, Amanda Cabot, it turned from a romantic suspense novel to a suspense with romantic elements. And I even found my label, if you will, as a writer. 

That is a lot of growth from one book, you say. Indeed it is. I think it was a life lesson as well. Not to get all mushy or philosophical, but one can always learn new things, find new paths and grow not only as person, but in one's chosen career or passion, no matter your age, and if you allow yourself that growth.

quote that L.A. Sartor admires by L'ao Tzu about personal growth
Brushed By Betrayal's Blurb:
“You’re next and the circle will be complete.”
Cover of Brushed by Betrayal, L.A. Sartor's new book release Jade Laurent, art expert and owner of the prestigious Laurent Art Brokers in Boulder, Colorado, is mourning the one-year anniversary of her father’s death when a close associate is killed and that chilling message for Jade is found by his body.
Private Investigator Malcolm Talbot is coming off his latest grueling case when he receives a request that he cannot refuse. To discover who’s put Jade’s life in jeopardy. The problem is that Jade refuses to stand by idly and let him do his job.

The last thing Malcolm needs is an amateur getting in the way and maybe getting dead. The last thing Jade needs is a professional who can’t find an ounce of compassion for her need to be involved.

While matching wits with a killer who is always one step ahead, dark secrets are revealed, putting everything Jade has believed in at risk.
If you like nail biting suspense, complicated mysteries, and characters who find their soul mates, then you’ll love L.A. Sartor’s newest story Brushed By Betrayal .
Buy it today to find new characters to love and revisit old friends from Dare to Believe .
Currently available at AmazonBrushed by Betrayal will be wide in June!

Headshot of L.A. Sartor on release day of Brushed By BetraylFind me:Website & Mailing List
Amazon Author Page
Facebook Author Page
Twitter
BookBub
Goodreads
Instagram
YouTube

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Published on May 04, 2021 23:30

April 30, 2021

5 Things Every Author Needs To Know To Format Their Book ~ Dave Chesson

 


I'm thrilled that Dave Chesson, creator of Kindlepreneur,is my guest today.   

When it comes to formatting your book, you need to know a lot more than the technical details. To do it properly, you should dig into the details, which is what we’re going to cover today.

Below you will find the five most important aspects you need to consider when formatting your book.

These formatting mistakes can become a threat to your author career because they disrupt the reading flow, annoy the reader, and make you look like an amateur.

 

So follow these five guidelines for a smooth reader experience.

#1 Respect the front and back matter.  

There is an anatomy to a book, like a bone structure you need to employ, which is especially important if you want to see your books in libraries and bricks-and-mortar bookstores.

Conventions, not creativity, is what’s crucial for front and back matters.

The front matter

The front matter includes the very first pages of your book: title page, copyright page, and so on. You can add a table of contents for non-fiction, a preface or foreword.

Not only because these pages are part of the “look inside” feature—a flagship to the indecisive buyer—but also because they make the first impression and attest to your professionalism should you get it right.

The title page should include the full title and author's name as they appear on the cover.

Some authors include accolades, quotes from esteemed reviewers and publications in praise of the book.

The copyright page includes technical information about copyrights, edition dates, typefaces, ISBN, publisher and printer, and sometimes the names of the cover designer and editor. It appears on the reverse of the title page.

After the copyright page, you can incorporate a dedication page, naming the people to whom you dedicate your book, and why.

This is optionally followed by a table of contents, a preface (intro by the author) or a foreword (intro by another person).

The back matter

The back matter or the “end matter” is what belongs at the end of the book. It can be fairly simple: a quick mention of the author’s website or a note from a publisher. But you can use it to include a call to action that directs your reader further into your eco system.

Many indie publishers ask for an honest review at that point, and make an additional offer to the interested reader who made it all the way here: a freebie they can get on the author’s website, the possibility to be on the ARC team or to get the second book in the series.

Acknowledgements can be written here, information about the author, an appendix or addendum (nonfiction) with additional or updated information relevant to the book, like a further reading list on the subject.

A glossary defines words or other elements, information about characters or settings (for fiction) in alphabetical order. An index, also in alphabetical order, lists terms and phrases in the book with the pages on which they appear, helping the reader to find them easily.

Last but not least, a bibliography/reference list formally breaks down the sources cited in the work.

#2 Keep away from huge spaces and rags.

F

ormatting is also about readability, making the book user friendly, a seamless reading experience.

 

This is why formatting in Microsoft Word is next to impossible. By default, it will use “justification”—the line will align to the left and right margins, but the text will be hard to read and annoying because the spaces between words are too big.

Image of annoying spaces in formatting a book, post by Dave Chesson on L.A. Sartor's An Indie Adventure Blog
What to do then? Align the text to the left? This will leave so-called ’rags’ along the right side.


Example of "rags" in formatted text, by Dave Chesson on L.A. Sartor's Blog An Indie Adventure

Avoid both if you don’t want to throw off your reader. Professional designers do it by hand, and there is formatting software that will automatically break up long words and add hyphenation.

#3 Never use the Tab-Key.

Especially in fiction, each new paragraph is indented—a stylistic choice that will help the reader move from one paragraph to the other.

But it’s a big mistake to use the Tab-key for indentation. This results in an indent that is far too large. So just remember: the Tab-key is a no-no in formatting.

#4 Take care of widows and orphans. 

The terms widows and orphans are questionable, but blame the typesetters. Both describe words or a group of words gone astray on the page. Widows sit by themselves on the bottom of a page, and orphans are leftover words at the beginning of a new page.

Both disrupt the reading flow by either creating too much negative space or breaking up a sentence shortly before its ending, only to provide the reader with one or few more words on the other page which feels unsettling.

With reflowable ebook formats, these are out of your control, but when formatting for print, watch out for them.

#5 Never use Comic Sans.

With fonts, convention and elegance are key. Be minimalistic, not overly creative.

The standard in publishing are serif fonts like Garamond or Baskerville—serif meaning typefaces with curly embellishments. Non-serifs can be used for special design purposes—titles and subtitles, graphic-heavy design books. This again applies to print rather than ebook where the font is picked by the reader herself.

But whatever you do, you shall never, ever use Comic Sans.

Final Thoughts

And there you have it! Five tips to supercharge your book formatting so readers will love you.

Book formatting is obviously quite complex, and it is easy to get overwhelmed. If you’d like to learn more about this topic, we recommend checking out this handy guide.

Dave is the creator of Kindlepreneur.com, a website devoted to teaching advanced book Marketing which even Amazon KDP acknowledge as one of the best by telling users to “Gain insight from Kindlepreneur on how you can optimize marketing for your books.” Having worked with such authors as Orson Scott Card, Ted Dekker and more, his tactics help both Fiction and Nonfiction authors of all levels get their books discovered by the right readers.




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Published on April 30, 2021 11:01

April 8, 2021

Author Spotlight Featuring Kim McMahill's Latest Book ~ Measure Of Madness

 

I would like to thank L. A. for inviting me back her blog. I last visited An Indie Adventure in June of 2019 and talked about the third novel in the Risky Research Series, A Foundation of Fear. The fourth installment in the series, A Measure of Madness, released today so I thought this would be a good time to provide a little background on the inspiration behind the series and on the new release.

Ideas for my books comes from many different places including dreams, travel, childhood experiences (grossly exaggerated), and current issues. Most of my novels have been stand-alone adventure and romantic suspense novels, but the idea for my most recent project, the Risky Research Series, began to emerge as I started getting to an age when keeping fit and healthy started taking a little more effort and a lot more research. 

Nearly every woman I know, myself included, educates herself about nutrition, exercise, fitness, diets, etc. in order to live a healthier life, manage a medical issue, or to lose weight. I’ve found there is so much information out there that it is difficult to sort out fact from fiction. The diet and nutrition industries are worth billions, which makes it even more challenging to ascertain who or what to trust. With so much on the line for something that impacts nearly everyone, there is no doubt plenty of corruption and crime infiltrating the industry, making it perfect fodder for a crime suspense series.

So, about six years ago I started the series with A Dose of Danger, which deals with a potential miracle diet pill. Book 2, A Taste of Tragedy, revolves around a deadly sweetener, and book 3, A Foundation of Fear, explores the role of lobbyists and politics in the industry. The latest novel in the series, A Measure of Madness, was just released. There are also two short-story prequels available for free download, A Formidable Foe and Midnight in Montana. For now, here’s a bit more on A Measure of Madness.

 

Excerpt:

Rapidly approaching headlights blinded the view. “I can’t see anything,” Batista shouted.”

“Punch it!” Devyn yelled. “Try to get through the gate and out of the way of the oncoming vehicles.”

Batista gunned the sedan’s big V-8 and surged through the gate. Nick and Devyn threw open the back doors and dove out of the vehicle. Batista veered right as a Humvee grazed the car’s backend, sending it spinning.

Devyn scrambled to her feet and took cover behind the guard house. Nick gained his footing and dove over the short hedge. The Humvee swerved, but the heavy vehicle corrected its course and sped by while a man in the passenger side sprayed bullets toward Devyn. She fired back, hoping to keep the shots coming in her direction. She was much better protected behind the guard shack than Nick behind the hedges.

The Humvee barreled past their position. Nick opened fire on the second vehicle, a dark-colored Suburban with tinted windows. Devyn emptied a clip before she realized the SUV’s windshield was bullet-proof. She popped in another clip and focused her shots on the tires and doors. The moving target was difficult to hit, especially while its occupants fired rounds from both sides.

By the time a club-cab monster truck reached them, the four hidden agents, along with Agent Batista, had fully engaged. Shots sprayed from every direction.

The last vehicle clearly wasn’t as fortified as the first two. A bullet pierced the windshield and connected with the driver. The injured man lost control of the high-clearance truck, sending the vehicle spinning out of control and slamming into the rock wall. 

When the gunfire finally silenced, the local agents quickly converged on the disabled truck and pulled out its two occupants and cuffed them, despite the screams of agony from the injured driver.

Devyn left her cover and darted across the road. She leapt the hedge and skidded to a halt in front of an inert figure crumpled on the ground. Her heart nearly stopped as the fog in her brain cleared. The form belonged to Nick. She dropped to her knees and placed her fingers on the side of his neck, searching for a pulse.

His hand snaked up and held hers firmly in place. By the amount of blood oozing between her fingers, he’d clearly been shot in the neck, but at least he was alive.

Pulling a handkerchief from her pocket, she placed the cloth on the wound and applied as much pressure as she could without choking him.

“Nick’s been hit. Get some help,” she screamed.

“I’m sorry, you were right. Mr. Rivera definitely has something to hide. Road blocks are being set up as we speak. We’ll find him and your partner will live.”

Devyn hoped Batista was correct. She couldn’t lose Nick. He wasn’t just her partner, he was her friend, and the closest thing she had to family.

Find Measure of Madness:

Amazon ~ Barnes and Noble ~ Kobo

Blurb:



The FBI locates the mastermind behind Coterie, but attempts to bring him in result in a shootout that sends Coterie’s members scrambling for cover. When Devyn’s partner is left fighting for his life in a Puerto Rican hospital, she becomes more determined than ever to bring them to justice.

Devyn’s decision to ignore her orders and pursue the head of Coterie to Brazil puts her job and her relationship with Sheriff Gage Harris in jeopardy, but she is unwilling to allow those responsible for so much death to live out their lives in paradise.

 

Bio:

.

Find Kim:

Blog: Embrace Adventure ~ Twitter  ~ Facebook Page  

Instagram  ~ Goodreads author page  ~ Amazon Author Page

Bookbub

 

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Published on April 08, 2021 23:30

April 1, 2021

Class Flash ~ New Quarter's List of Writing Classes with Laurie Schnebly Campbell


Zoom: BUILDING CONFLICT FROM THE HEAD DOWN
(April 10, 1pm Eastern) HCRW, open to non-members

Zoom retreat: SPRING GATHERING
(April 17-18) Already filled with eight writers, but there’ll be more in June, October & February.

Blog: WHEN EMOTION GETS TRICKY 
(April 23) writersinthestormblog.com
       We’ve all seen too much, and too little. How do we find the balance?

ZoomCHOOSING THAT FATAL FLAW + HIS PERSONALITY LADDER
(April 24, 10:30 + 1 Eastern) MMRWA Retreat From Harsh Reality 

OnlineSHOWING EMOTION
(May 10-21)
writeruniv.wordpress.com/classes/showing-emotion
       Everyone knows how important it is to show rather than tell. But when it comes to showing emotion, that can be…well, tricky. How do you keep from going over the top and making readers roll their eyes? How do you avoid not going far enough and sending their attention downhill with every word? Learn the tricks of conveying emotion for readers of whatever genre you’re writing and how to find the right balance between plummeting, purple prose, and perfection.

Online: WRITING A SERIES…(June 7-18, only for members of Sisters In Crime Guppies)
s in c guppies dot wild apricot dot org
       It's one thing to write a stand-alone novel. It’s another to write a sequel, a trilogy, a box set or an open-ended series that’ll continue for as long as you want. While great storytelling is great storytelling no matter the format, there are techniques to keep in mind when writing a series that will not only keep your readers on board through every story, but keep you from burning out while they’re still waiting for more.

Zoom retreat: SUMMER GATHERING
(June 26-27) https://booklaurie.com/info-contact/
       Ask about the wait-list for this eight-writer group, with morning workshops and individual chats with Laurie about your work.

Online: PLOTTING VIA MOTIVATION
(July 5-30)
writeruniv.wordpress.com/classes

        Here’s what writers have said about the course in previous years: “I never thought I could plot my entire book from start to finish, but here it is. This is AWESOME.” / “This month has truly changed the way I think about writing. I wish I’d taken Plotting Via Motivation before giving up on my earlier novels.” / “Now that I look back in the notebook where I wrote all my homework, I realize I’ve got my book right here!”


Laurie's Bio:
Laurie Schnebly Campbell published half a dozen romances with Harlequin, including one that beat out Nora Roberts for “Best Special Edition of the Year,” before discovering the only thing she loves more than writing is working with other writers. So she started giving workshops every month, online and in-person, and now has a special area on her bookshelf full of books with acknowledgments from authors who’ve loved her classes.



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Published on April 01, 2021 10:46

March 24, 2021

The Wait Is Over Scrivener 3 for Windows Is Here

It's finally here. Scrivener 3 for Windows 



If you own an older version of Scrivener don't miss out on your coupon. 

There are a few steps to follow. The text is below but here are screen shots

click here: product download page

Click on the upgrade from an older version and you'll get the screen below.

Your discount depends on when you bought it, and will be applied against the $49!

Once you click you'll get this screen.

Download, install and run

You'll get a few housekeeping questions, then launch. 

I just launched :) I can fix those later and I couldn't wait.

When this screen comes up, Click on the Upgrade From An Older Version button.


If it recognizes your version, it will give you this box. 
Click get coupon.
(If you can’t find the license, go to Literature & Latte’s Lost License Recovery page)

You'll get a box with the coupon, I copied it, but once I did, this next window came up. (I grayed out my email and number) and the coupon was applied. 

I hit the continue button and I taken to my choice of payment. I paid and within a minute or two my Scrivener 3 for Windows was activated. 

I cannot wait to play with the new interface. 

Welcome Scrivener 3 for Windows.


Directions From the WebsiteUpgrade to Scrivener 3 for Windows

Owners of Scrivener 1 for Windows can upgrade to Scrivener 3 without paying the full price. To find out how, read on.

Upgrade Pricing

The update to Scrivener 3 is free for users who bought Scrivener 1 on or after 20th November 2017. Users who purchased Scrivener 1 for Windows before that can buy Scrivener 3 with a 49% discount. The upgrade fee is the same for both the regular and education licences. Only users who purchased from our store, or from a reseller that provides activation through our store, are eligible for discounted update pricing.

How to Upgrade

If you qualify for a discounted or free upgrade, please follow these instructions to claim your discount:

Download, install and run Scrivener 3 for Windows from the product download page. Without a license, it will run in trial mode.In the trial window that opens when you launch Scrivener 3, click on “Upgrade from an older version”.If prompted, enter your name and your Scrivener 1 license code and click on “Check for Discount.” (If Scrivener 1 is installed on your computer, this step might not be necessary, because your Scrivener 1 licence may be found automatically.)Wait a moment as Scrivener checks our servers to see if you are eligible for a discounted upgrade. Once the check is complete, you will be told how much of a discount you are entitled to, based on when you bought Scrivener 1.You should see the discount reflected in the price in the main trial window. Simply click the “Buy Now” button in the trial window and follow the instructions in the checkout window that appears to buy at the discounted price.

Once your purchase is complete, Scrivener should activate your new licence automatically. You’re now ready to get writing. You’ll receive an email with your new licence code—be sure to keep it safe in case you want to install Scrivener 3 on another computer.

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Published on March 24, 2021 16:41

March 9, 2021

Escape the Mundane ~ Explore the Magical With Roulf Burrell's Debut Novel


Escaping Perilous Times

Many authors have a tagline. Mine says, “Escape the Mundane. Explore the Magical.” And people who read often do so to avoid their daily routine. They may crave an adventure, a mystery to solve, or a romance to enjoy. While nothing replaces traveling adventures or romances, a book is far cheaper than actual travel. It’s also less dangerous than real adventure or illicit romances, especially during turbulent seasons.

Successful fiction writers in all genres keep this in mind as they write. Many don’t realize the need to escape escalates during hard times. Or that this provides a golden opportunity for authors of all styles -- none more so than fantasy. You can’t escape much further than that.


In 1937, J. R. R. Tolkien released the Hobbit. Remember, the world’s markets had crashed and depressions were ongoing. Political tensions were mounting in Europe, a residual from the 1st World War, extreme reparations payments thrust on Germany, and depressed economies world-wide. So why not write about a mountain hall filled with gold, gold a Dragon had taken away from a bunch of greedy dwarves who wouldn't split it? Now the dwarves take it back, but have they learned to share? Five armies converge to battle it out. You wonder if Tolkien was prescient regarding the near future. Or did he just know his history, while understanding cause and effect?

And in 1938, C. S. Lewis released "Out of the Silent Planet." He finished the next two books of the Space Trilogy during World War II. Imagine taking one of those German V-2 rockets to Mars (which he calls Malacandra) or Venus, as in his second book, Perelandra. Here the garden paradise still exists, awaiting the inhabitants' choice; follow the creator's rules or rebel, as Earth had.


The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe was published in 1950. Remember, World War II had consumed 1/4 of England’s entire national wealth and English society hadn’t recovered as fast as America. In 1948, England was being forced to ration bread to its citizens, much less luxury items! Who wouldn’t want a closet escape into a magic land full of Turkish delight? But Lewis's character, Edmund, reminds us easy gratification isn't always best.

During tough times, our need is not just escape - we need hope for better things. If the J. R. R. Tolkien’s hobbit, Bilbo, can broker peace between dwarves and elves, and Aslan can overthrow the evil queen and redeem Edmund, then we can survive Covid or global warming, or the disaster de jour on the front page of the paper. When two hurting people find love, don't we all find hope?

Current issues are always emotionally loaded and disputed—that will never change. Stories allow people to bypass the powder keg to see how others solve their problems. For a few hours, our greatest challenge (or fear) is a dragon, instead of a virus. And you can shoot arrows at dragons—without a government permit or starting a nasty debate! (Of course the miffed lizard may roast you if you miss.)

In my own Dragon Mist world, Banshees have broken the bell while fussing and feuding with their lone male. So castle leadership decides that male has to replace the bell until it's fixed. Not a treat for anyone's ears. (But within this patchwork solution, can we find opportunities?)

The castle’s cooling system (frost giants and their icy breath) won’t allow the castle's heating system (fire sprites tossing fireballs) to move into the basement cave. A scheming leprechaun wants a new costume to disguise the fact he has acquired no gold for his rainbow pot. A fussy fairy queen commands her cannons to shoot exploding acorns at the gremlins, who copy and mock her every turn. (Detect any parallels regarding these dilemmas with today’s news?)


Those nasty Gremlins have also shut down the carpenter’s shop, so the woodwright can’t work. The blacksmith, a half-ogress named Draleen, has a fine workshop—gremlins aren’t crazy enough to tackle an ogre—so she can work all day. But she won’t. Not until the castle leaders find her a suitable man to marry. She’s certainly not fixing any bell, thank you!
So when a local village boy finds he’s an orphan, and the sheriff intends to collect him to sell to the next caravan to pay family debts, it just seems to be more trouble. Can Dragon Mist's dilemmas offer some hidden chance for the lad? This is a story about friendships, hope, and how we may hold part of an answer our neighbors need.

Can the trouble we see today offer authors the opportunity to reach out and help those around us? When the world comes apart, people often will stop and listen. They relish stepping out of their troubled life and into a favorite story, trading out their own shoes for our hero’s, if only for a couple of hours.

Now it's our job to take them some place worth going. As writers, we offer them the relief of escape. But like Lewis and Tolkien, we can do more. We can give the other fellow a chance to see old truths in a fresh way. And if they catch that, we all find a little hope.
Leave a comment below and L.A. will randomly choose a winner for an e-copy of Riddley Bundleforth & the Banshee Bell!
Check out Roulf Burrell’s debut novel at Amazon!
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Published on March 09, 2021 23:30

February 24, 2021

Writer's Block And 8 Ways to Defeat It

Yep, you're right, this looks different. I have the wonderful opportunity to write blogs for Book Brush. You've heard me talk about this amazing company before, made for authors to create ads, social media and book covers. And they've given me permission to post a link to these blogs written by me. 

Nope, I haven't given up writing my own blogs, so you'll find two very interesting ones coming up soon. 

Writer's Block

Do those two words strike terror in your writer’s heart? Have you faced it? I have and many of my author friends have as well. It doesn’t have to be the death knell to your career, promise. There are ways to combat it, overcome it, and move forward.

I hope you find this post helpful. 

And to add a little extra something, if you want to join Book Brush, you can start with a free trial, or you can start with a paid program and get more of the bells and whistles. 

Get Book Brush

I'm pleased to offer you 15% off any NEW paid plan. Use the Code SARTOR15.  


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Published on February 24, 2021 11:00