Julia McDermott's Blog, page 17
February 4, 2015
List Post, f��vrier 2015 (already?!)
Enjoyed meeting authors and signing books, after my�����Member Minute��� talk at the��Atlanta Writers Club��meeting on January 17
Excited that the Atlanta Chapter of Sisters in Crime (SinC)��has nominated UNDERWATER for the Georgia Author of the Year Award (GAYA)��in the Detective/Mystery category (which includes psychological thrillers) – winners will be announced June 6
Looking forward to Augusta in March and Chapel Hill in April (but don’t have to go back to NC in May anymore)
Can’t wait for the Feb. 24 release of UNTER WASSER, the German translation of UNDERWATER by AmazonCrossing
Ecstatic that someone I recently interviewed for research on my current work in progress (WIP) is currently reading UNDERWATER,��and said he thinks I’m “a really good writer.” And, his assistant read it in a day, and loved it
Thankful to him and to a mutual friend of ours who also met with me, to help me fine tune some story details and make sure specifics are accurate and plausible
Very, very happy to find a new critique partner in my genre for my WIP…We’ve already exchanged several chapters and sent each other our feedback
Resolved to write more (non-list) posts on my blog this month as the days lengthen and springtime beckons
January 6, 2015
List Post, nouvelle ann��e (2015)
Writing back on schedule, after more than two weeks when I couldn’t��remember what day of the week it was
Several��signed copies��of��UNDERWATER are available for purchase at��Dunwoody Bakery, open Wednesdays through Saturdays
Looking forward to my�����Member Minute��� talk at the��Atlanta Writers Club��meeting on January 17, 2015 at 1:30 pm, at Georgia Perimeter College
On the horizon: My appearance at the Augusta Literary Festival��on March 6-7. Looking forward to attending, meeting readers and signing books
Planning the release of my work of creative nonfiction, titled ALL THE ABOVE��this spring
Resolving to step up my exercise routine this year
Cheering for the Cowboys and the Seahawks during the NFL playoffs
Happy that I’m traveling to Chapel Hill, NC in April and in May
Glad to share family news with close friends and family
Photo courtesy of��Alliance Fran��aise d’Atlanta
December 22, 2014
Book Talk for Noel
Fun��“Book Talk” moments at a recent holiday gathering:
Telling a writer friend and his wife��about��my experience at my first Bouchercon in Long Beach, CA last month (the glow is still with me).
Selling an audio version (CD set) of UNDERWATER to a member of my Writers Group I hadn’t seen in months, who said he spends a lot of time driving. He was a regular attendee when I brought scenes of the manuscript to the group for feedback.
Finding out that a friend loves LONESOME DOVE as much as I do, talking about the book, and lending it to someone else who wants to read it (despite its length).
Asking another friend��if I can interview him to help me do research for my work-in-progress. He agreed, and suggested I speak to someone else we know who might help, too.
Talking about the German translation of UNDERWATER (“UNTER WASSER”)��to be released on February 24, 2015.
Describing how I use social media to engage with readers and market my books.
Mentioning that my next book (Book 3) is a work of creative nonfiction called ALL THE ABOVE, which will be out in the spring.
Hearing a (lawyer) friend recite poetry��by Ezra Pound.
Listening to a writer friend talk about his mystery series.
Explaining that after Book 3, I’m sticking with the psychological thriller genre and writing fiction.
Happy Holidays, and Bonne Ann��e 2015!
December 11, 2014
��’est chang��! My new website name!
Autrefois��(ou, avant) – before – it was makethatjulie.wordpress.com
Maintenant – now – it’s juliamcdermottbooks.com
(You can type in either one, and you will be redirected automatiquement to the new one.*)
Pourquoi? Parce que��it’s sleeker, simpler and more specific…and because, as I explain here, although many people call me Julie, my name is Julia. But if you want, you can make that Julie!
Another changement?��It’s “julia mcdermott” at the top rather than The More Things Change…
But “The more things change, the more they stay the same” ** ��does seem appropriate!��
* It may take a day or two before it works automatically for some service providers…but it already does for mine.
** Plus ��a change, plus c’est la m��me chose
December 7, 2014
List Post, Num��ro Quatre (de d��cembre)
Starting my Christmas shopping next week
Writing in between everything, including on the weekends; hope to meet my WIP word count goal for 2014
Nostalgic about past Christmases, when my kids found bikes and toys under the tree
Delivered 10 signed copies of UNDERWATER��to��Dunwoody Bakery, open Wednesdays through Saturdays…If you live in the Atlanta area, pick up your copy there!
Looking forward to a writerly holiday gathering next Saturday, where I’ll sign more copies and will have audio versions, too
Thinking about what I’ll talk about for 15 minutes for the “Member Minute” at the Atlanta Writers Club meeting on January 17, 2015
Happy that lots of UK readers have downloaded UNDERWATER during the last week! (and even more USA readers)
Excited (and thrilled) that the Falcons won last Sunday!
Recently tried “Abs” class, and going again tomorrow
Favorite Christmas candy (but must avoid): peppermint bark
List Post, Numéro Quatre (de décembre)
Starting my Christmas shopping next week
Writing in between everything, including on the weekends; hope to meet my WIP word count goal for 2014
Nostalgic about past Christmases, when my kids found bikes and toys under the tree
Delivered 10 signed copies of UNDERWATER to Dunwoody Bakery, open Wednesdays through Saturdays…If you live in the Atlanta area, pick up your copy there!
Looking forward to a writerly holiday gathering next Saturday, where I’ll sign more copies and will have audio versions, too
Thinking about what I’ll talk about for 15 minutes for the “Member Minute” at the Atlanta Writers Club meeting on January 17, 2015
Happy that lots of UK readers have downloaded UNDERWATER during the last week! (and even more USA readers)
Excited (and thrilled) that the Falcons won last Sunday!
Recently tried “Abs” class, and going again tomorrow
Favorite Christmas candy (but must avoid): peppermint bark
November 24, 2014
ONE DAY MORE!
ONE MORE DAY…
ONE DAY MORE!”
RELEASE DATE FOR UNDERWATER IS TOMORROW, NOVEMBER 25, 2014!
November 23, 2014
My (early) holiday rhyme
(the year, not the number; you know what I mean):
It’s the second I’m publishing in a blog post,
and, to write it well, I pledge, I’ve done my utmost.
I’ll begin with a rundown of news and events,
and I’ll try to be humorous, while making sense.
I’ll cover the highlights, a few lowlights, too,
kind of like a book trailer (or movie preview).
I started the year with a weekend trip north–
to visit some college friends, chat, and so forth.
We met in New York. Before saying, “au revoir,”
We had a great time catching up, in a bar.
Soon after, back home, in the snow, I got caught,
driving that afternoon (to have stayed home, I ought.)
But like tout le monde in this fair city, I thought:
“I can make it, I know the back-roads and what-not.”
Ha ha! I was wrong, I’m quite sure you have guessed.
That fiasco made national news. We were stressed.
I got home that day just before dark, and was thrilled
To be off of the roads. Then my wine glass, I filled.
In March and in April, to Texas, I flew
To events for my mom-in-law, and my nephew.
One birthday, one wedding. And then, a vacation:
To taste wine, out in Napa; that was my destination.
To the west coast, I traveled again in November.
What I did in between? I can’t really remember.
Except, work on my books (what I do every day).
I come up with the words that my characters say.
I had fun in Long Beach, meeting those who love writing.
Talking books and releases was very exciting.
Now my thriller, redux, in two days, you can find! *
You can read it next weekend, if you’re so inclined.
I’ll close with these wishes: I’d like to say, clearly:
Happy Thanksgiving, Fête de Noel! –Me (sincerely)!
* Click here to find in print, digital, and audio versions
November 20, 2014
How “is” can be “good”
As a writer author novelist – well, okay, author * – language intrigues me. And as an author, I try to avoid clichés. A (fairly new) one that I’ve come to dislike a lot is: “It is what it is.”
It’s often always (it seems) used to suggest something negative. It basically means:
It’s not good, but it’s not going to change, so you just need to accept it.
I guess it’s a shorter way to say that (so, better), but it’s not very encouraging. Now, I’m in favor of acceptance – especially of those things that aren’t going to change.
But doesn’t everything have at least the possibility of changing? Maybe it’s just me. Maybe “It is what it is” is, well, helpful. But no one ever means by it:
It IS good, it’s not going to change, so you need to accept it.
Speaking of “good,” I DO like another commonly used phrase (and I say it myself): “All is good.”
(It’s short, it makes me feel good, and it’s kind of like the French phrase Ça va bien.)
“Good” suggests something positive, and though I’m a glass half empty sort of person, I’m very happy to recognize anything positive.
“All is good” gives you hope, rather than dread or resignation. And hope is something I’m also in favor of.
Now, you tell me: Which do you prefer/say?
1. It is what it is
2. All is good
* I’ve written two novels and have a work of creative non-fiction coming out in 2015, so I guess “author” covers that better than “novelist”
November 11, 2014
List Post, Num��ro Trois (de novembre)
Anticipating Release Date of UNDERWATER, just two weeks from now, on November 25, 2014!
Downloaded the Bcon app on my phone; je suis pr��te! (I’m ready! Thanks for suggesting I look, Jim!)
One��(print) signed book purchased last week: Truth Be Told, the latest from fellow Sister in Crime and Bouchercon 2014 attendee Hank Phillippi Ryan, whom I met here in Atlanta at the MJCCA Book Festival
Revision/Plot sharpening: After a decision to trim and sharpen the plot (while��paying attention to��pacing), WIP now at 24k words…If I write��1,000 words a (work)day��between now and the end of December,��I’ll meet my goal of 50k by year end (which will be more than halfway done)
Caught up with and heard her thoughts on��the attributes of good audio books on Saturday evening, over a glass of wine with a good friend
Wish I could be in two places at once: This weekend is UNC Homecoming (my husband’s college roommate is rumored to be attending), and this Thursday night is the UNC Relay For Life Gala*
Noticed Goodreads Giveaway of UNDERWATER –��It began on October 28 and ends on Release Date, November 25! Get on goodreads and register to win one of 20 copies!��
Enjoyed a lunch out with mon prof et mes amies du cours :��Just after I got a makeover, we met for class in Madame’s atelier and then had a French d��jeuner at un restaurant fran��ais
It was a good football weekend:��the��Falcons and the Dawgs won! Let’s make that a trend!
* To which I donated print and audio versions of UNDERWATER, pre-release!
Ecoutez! (Listen!)
