Deborah Macgillivray's Blog, page 75
January 22, 2013
The Trouble With Series Writing...
Some times a good idea goes astray…by Deborah Macgillviray on January 22, 2013 in Guest Blog
I don’t particularly like to teach writing. It’s something that just happens within me, sort of like magic. I don’t know where it comes from, so it’s hard to impart that how to knowledge to someone else. However, Life’s Lessons I can offer up for consideration ― a do as I say, not do as I do tutorial, so to speak.One thing you quickly learn when you are writing books in series is to keep a “bible”. Each character should have a page. On that page list anything pertinent to him or her. What’s the birth date, colour of hair or eyes, are they left handed or right? Good traits, bad habits. Childhood memories. Oh, you think you will recall these details, but as time marches on and you work on more books in the series, maybe other books, or another series as I do, it’s easy to forget things. Too easy. In that “bible” you should also include pages for settings. Description of places, where doors and windows are, décor etc.At the top of the list of things to include in “must be remembered list” is to keep a running calendar. On what date and day – such as Wednesday afternoon on such and such date this happens. It keeps you focused on the timeline, a true anchor for you to move surely through your novel.This last item really proved a bugbear for me on my The Sisters of Colford Hall ™ series (Montlake – Amazon Publishing). How many times have you read a series and hate that you find yourself reading book three and have missed books one and two? It’s a crux for an author: do you repeat a lot of information in book three that happened in book one and two, thus boring a reader who has been following the series? Or do you consider perhaps someone missed the previous books and needs information to tell them what happened at this point or that point in the backstory? Sort of a damned-if-you-do, damned-if-you-don’t situation. Which is the lesser of evils in the reader’s eyes?Well, being a smart lassie― though not experienced in publishing at that point ― I set out to write the first three novels of my The Sisters of Colford Hall™ series so they ran in the same time frame. Each story is happening precisely at the same time the other two do. There is no one, two and three. Any of the three books can be picked up and read in any order. Wow! How cool is that? No grumpy readers saying they got the books out of order. No doing information dumps to bring readers up to speed who haven’t read the previous books, and no boring fans already following the series.Problem solved, eh? Well, not quite.I started working on the books a bit before 2000, but health issues got in the way of prepping the series. I had an offer from the very talented editor, Leslie Wainger, to read the completed first book in the series. I was too sick to follow through then. By the time I was on my feet enough to seriously start the submission route again, and see the series purchased by Dorchester Publishing, five years had passed. Suddenly, as I prepared the first two books for publication, I ran into those teeny details that can trip you up. I had written both first drafts, just flat out writing. No comparing dates and times. Uh oh! These books interact with each other – emails and phone calls going on, references to things happening in the other books. Suddenly, my three books running concurrently idea didn’t seem like such a bright idea!I had to sit down and create that calendar and bible, so my timelines dovetailed. Since then, no matter what, I do a character profile, timeline and calendar for each book. It saves mistakes, or furious rereading to find that point of reference you need.http://sylv-jenkins.com/guest-blog/so...
January 21, 2013
Wolf in Wolf's Clothing on sale
Montlake has put book 3 of my Sisters of Colford Hall series on sale. Only $2.99http://www.amazon.com/A-Wolf-Wolfs-Clothing-ebook/dp/B002Q1YEC6/
A Wolf in Wolf's Clothingwww.amazon.comNot even the ancient stone walls of her family’s English estate can protect the third Montgomerie sister from her magical destiny—or from the wolfish charms of Trevelyn Mershan, who has come to share it.
January 17, 2013
Good article on how piracy is hurting and how to combat it
EBOOK NEWS, PIRACYHow to Stop Piracy: Carnegie Mellon Professor Michael Smith at DBWBy Dianna Dilworth on January 16, 2013 3:00 PM
http://www.mediabistro.com/appnewser/...
His statement is backed with 25 studies to prove piracry is hurting authors and musicians
Pick of the Day at eReaderIQ.com - The Invasion of Falgannon Isle
Today's Pick ~ Top Quality Reads At a Bargain Price
Now $2.99The Invasion of Falgannon Isle (The Sisters of Colford Hall, Book 1) by Deborah MacGillivray
(26 Reviews) Genre: Romance213 SINGLE SCOTSMEN
There was something about the Brigadoon-like Falgannon, something that kept most of its male inhabitants unwed. From Michael the Story to Callum the Bicycle--and we mustn't forget The Cat Dudley, the slyest poker-playing moggie in the Outer Hebrides--every male of the Isle had happiness dependent upon that of its Lady. So things had been since Pictish times, and so they would be long after the present day.
Despite her machinations, to this point B.A. Montgomerie had been unable to make her men happy. Her first marriage had been against their advice; her husband had been an Irishman, true, but he had failed to meet other necessary requirements...and things had ended badly. Now, another Irishman had come--and was making the natives restless. Yes, the men of Falgannon could sense Desmond Mershan's conquering Viking spirit and his desire for B.A.--which B.A. could sense herself. And while her men would never let anything happen that she didn't want, this Irishman had come to pillage and loot, and nothing was going to stop him. Staring into his vibrant green eyes, B.A. anticipated the battles to come.Click here to get this book now for $2.99eReaderIQ.com
January 12, 2013
Invasion of Falgannon showcased by Amazon.com
The Invasion of Falgannon Isle (The Sisters of Colford Hall, Book 1)by Deborah MacGillivray
(26)Kindle Price:Montlake (Amazon Publishing) bought the rights to my The Sisters of Colford Hall™ is offering a special price this month for Kindle readers - $5 off.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.html...
January 3, 2013
Montlake/Amazon Publishing showcase for first Sister Book
Amazon Publishing/Montlake now the publisher for my Sisters of Colford Hall™ this month had The Invasion of Falgannon Isle, Book 1 of the series as top 100 Romances for under $3.99.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.html...
Mine is actually on special for $2.99 in Kindle - which is a $5 dollar savings.
January 1, 2013
Thoughts on New Year's Resolutions
New Year’s Resolutions have always been a humbug to me.
People make them. Do they keep them? Do they even recall them by year’s end? It strikes me that resolutions might be kin to birthday wishes. If you say them aloud then they won’t come true. I loved that line Ian McShane offered in DEADWOOD: “If you want to hear God laugh, tell him your plans.” Maybe by proclaiming our goals for the New Year we doom ourselves to failure.
Thus, I am not making any this year, other to live each day as best as I can, and to find as much happiness and joy I can with the world.
I do have a very special thank you, though. Montlake – Amazon Publishing stepped in to rescue the authors entangled in the mess of Dorchester Publishing going out of business. Montlake stepped up to the plate and offered authors a chance to move on. After dealing with half-truths and lies for years, I was so thrilled with Montlake. I found they have kept every promise, and then some. Working with them has been a true pleasure. Thus, I cannot thank them enough for playing White Knight.
December 31, 2012
December 26, 2012
Pretty Snow
The snow is still coming down, but more of a mist now. Not likely to get more than another inch. It's quite beautiful. Too bad it didn't come Monday.
