James M. Jackson's Blog, page 16

Five Ways to Generate Story Ideas

One question I often get at writers' conferences or meeting people in bookstores  is "Where do you get your ideas?" Here are five suggestions for your consideration:

1. Eavesdrop. People say and do the most interesting things; all you have to do is pay attention to them. My two favorite places to eavesdrop are standing in long lines and eating in restaurants. In both situations I can easily overhear people conversing and observe their behavior. Sometimes I’ll overhear a snippet of convers...

Judy Penz Sheluk - Guest Author

Please welcome Judy Penz Sheluk who I first met as a member of the Guppy Chapter of Sister in Crimes and who is now a fellow Barking Rain Press author with her novel, The Hanged Man’s Noose (for which I wrote a blurb—check it below!). Judy describes herself as loyal, determined, optimistic, daydreamer, and organized. Her writing she calls conversational, engaging, interesting, suspenseful, and comfortable. Here are her chosen questions and answers:
Describe your most productive writing venue....

Should You Kindle Scout?

There are so many possible paths to publication nowadays, and Kindle Scout is just one possibility. [If you haven’t heard of Kindle Scout, it is an Amazon platform to allow readers to “nominate” books for Kindle Press to publish as ebooks. Think “American Idol” meets corporate behemoth Amazon.]
To help you decide if Kindle Scout might make sense for you, I’ve designed a little decision tree. If you answer “no” to any question, Kindle Scout is not what you want. If you get through all the quest...

Cheryl Hollon - Guest Author

Today please welcome Cheryl Hollon whose debut novel is released September 29, 2015. I first met Cheryl as a member of the Guppy Chapter of the Sisters in Crime. Cheryl says she is cheerful, loyal, calm, curious and persistent. You’ll find her writing to be warm, light, witty, clear, and quick. And wait until you read about where she writes…
You have a table for four at your favorite restaurant and can invite any three people, living, dead or fictional. Who are your guests (and why) and where...

Allan J. Emerson - Guest Blog

Today we get to learn more about a fellow Kindle Press author, Allan J. Emerson, who describes himself as humorous, serious, quirky, simple, and wry. He chose writer, reader, daydreamer, procrastinator, and technophobe to describe his writing (Ed. note: his answers did arrive by email and I know he has a website so, I’m interested in this technophobe issue, but I’m afraid if I ask, he’ll procrastinate and we won’t have an answer – maybe in the comments we’ll find out?) Here are Allan’s choice...

Monte Dutton - Guest Author

Today we welcome author Monte Dutton whose Crazy of Natural Causes won a Kindle Scout nomination. He describes himself as opinionated, stubborn, independent, gregarious and intuitive His writing is honest, conversational, irreverent, satirical, and evolving. I have a feeling you’re ging to enjoy reading his other answers.
You have a table for four at your favorite restaurant and can invite any three people, living, dead or fictional. Who are your guests (and why) and where are you eating (and...

Joe Clifford Faust - Guest Author

Please welcome Joe Clifford Faust to our game of ten questions. Joe’s book Drawing Down the Moon is also published through Kindle Press. He describes himself as witty, creative, quirky, constant, and introverted. His writing is quirky, suspenseful, witty, stimulating, and engrossing. I want to give Joe full credit for being the first guest author to accept my offer to rearrange the questions into his own order.
Describe your most productive writing venue. What makes it best for you?
Over the ye...

Jim Morris - Guest Author

Welcome fellow Kindle Press author Jim Morris whose debut novel, What Lies Within, was released June 2 (which is not to say he is a newbie writer). He says of himself that he is dedicated, obsessive, curious, kind, and flawed. His writing is tight, tense, surprising, engaging, and interesting. I found his answers interesting, especially those I didn’t agree with—that makes for an interesting conversation.
Describe your most productive writing venue. What makes it best for you?
The bea...

Kindle Press’s (Presumed) Long Tail

Earlier this month Kindle Press released Ant Farm into the electronic publishing world. To celebrate I held a virtual release party—a new experience for me. Unlike the physical release party I held for the publication of Bad Policy two years ago, this cost considerably less (the prizes were real, but the food was virtual and Facebook charged nothing for the “room” in which we held our conversations).
Also different: I sold no books during those two hours—although one ebook...

Fiona Quinn - Guest Author

Fiona Quinn describes her writing as romantic suspense with a psychic twist, and herself as a chocolaholic, homeschooling mom, adventure junkie, and book glutton. (Fiona are you teaching the kids how to count? Your five word self-description looks like seven words to me). Maybe that’s the new math or inflation or well, enough of my speculation, here are the rest of her answers.
Describe your most productive writing venue. What makes it best for you?
I write sitting cross-legged on my bed. I hav...