Alec Peche's Blog, page 4
August 8, 2014
Writer Conventions and Meetings
Mystery Writer Conventions
As a new author, I purchased on impulse a one day pass for the Left Coast Crime annual meeting. It was close to home, so I did not have that much to lose if it was a waste of time. If nothing else I thought I might have the opportunity to listen to a favorite author whose books I had been reading for probably 20 years. However, that one day meeting was so much more than that.
Amazingly when I started down this path of writing, I had no idea who the fans were. I had just wanted to write a book that entertained. The fans of the mystery genre weren't just mildly interested in certain authors, they wanted more books quicker and they wanted series characters to do certain things in upcoming books. Some fans were just intense. I look forward to the day when I have such a passionate following as the fans help you understand how you entertain them with your writing.
Other seminars were helpful in terms of making the bad guy meaner, crazier, or just evil. One panel discussion was on the use of sex and romance to add thrill or suspense to the mystery. As an indie author I watched how panel members interacted with their fans and I picked a few to follow on Facebook and Twitter to understand their social media strategies. I also got ideas for business cards and bookmarks for marketing my books. I met some popular authors in person that have given me the joy of discovering their stories.
The best part of the conference for me was in the numerous discussions about how to be a better writer and attract fans. No matter that you have 62 books on the bestseller lists those same authors are still worrying about crafting a great novel. There was empathy in every panel for the work involved in crafting that next great story. Those bestselling authors were very supportive of all writing efforts.
When I see the posts and tweets for Bouchercon in November, I have a better sense of what is in store for me. I have registered for the entire conference and I will be armed with marketing materials for my work. I've signed up for ‘speed dating’ sessions where you get a minute to promote your work. I understand that hanging out at the bar after the meeting is over is very valuable to one’s writing career.
Once the panel topics are more definitive, I may drop in on ‘Surveillance Training’. For my novels I research a lot of my material on the web and ask experts when I know them. For example in my first book, there is a Coast Guard scene and I was fortunate to have my brother review my writing of the scene. He spent 30 years doing Search and Rescue for the Coast Guard so he knows his stuff. I know no experts in surveillance training, so what I can’t find on Google, the story becomes a figment of my imagination.
J.A. Jance is one of several authors being honored and interviewed. I found that I love these interviews since a successful author talks about how they collected the material they used for a story or series. They’ll use life experiences - recent and old to craft their stories. Since that is exactly what I am doing, it feels like validation of my approach to writing. I have read several of her books and in a recent story she commented at the end of the book on the parallels between her life and the character in her book.
I viewed the Facebook, Twitter, and other blog site comments on the recent International Mystery Writers conference in NY. It sounded like a lot of fun and yet was still very productive time for writers. Sadly, I’ll have to stick to California conferences until I begin earning higher royalties!
Bottom line is there is great value to attending a writers’ conference in terms of making you a better writer, connecting you with new fans, and learning marketing techniques to earn higher royalties. Since a recent study found that 30% of e-books sold on Amazon are from indie authors, many of those 30% have one of the best opportunities to get feedback and ideas from the professional agents and publishers of the world at a convention such as Bouchercon, Left Coast Crime, or similar mystery writer meeting.
See you in Long Beach!
As a new author, I purchased on impulse a one day pass for the Left Coast Crime annual meeting. It was close to home, so I did not have that much to lose if it was a waste of time. If nothing else I thought I might have the opportunity to listen to a favorite author whose books I had been reading for probably 20 years. However, that one day meeting was so much more than that.
Amazingly when I started down this path of writing, I had no idea who the fans were. I had just wanted to write a book that entertained. The fans of the mystery genre weren't just mildly interested in certain authors, they wanted more books quicker and they wanted series characters to do certain things in upcoming books. Some fans were just intense. I look forward to the day when I have such a passionate following as the fans help you understand how you entertain them with your writing.
Other seminars were helpful in terms of making the bad guy meaner, crazier, or just evil. One panel discussion was on the use of sex and romance to add thrill or suspense to the mystery. As an indie author I watched how panel members interacted with their fans and I picked a few to follow on Facebook and Twitter to understand their social media strategies. I also got ideas for business cards and bookmarks for marketing my books. I met some popular authors in person that have given me the joy of discovering their stories.
The best part of the conference for me was in the numerous discussions about how to be a better writer and attract fans. No matter that you have 62 books on the bestseller lists those same authors are still worrying about crafting a great novel. There was empathy in every panel for the work involved in crafting that next great story. Those bestselling authors were very supportive of all writing efforts.
When I see the posts and tweets for Bouchercon in November, I have a better sense of what is in store for me. I have registered for the entire conference and I will be armed with marketing materials for my work. I've signed up for ‘speed dating’ sessions where you get a minute to promote your work. I understand that hanging out at the bar after the meeting is over is very valuable to one’s writing career.
Once the panel topics are more definitive, I may drop in on ‘Surveillance Training’. For my novels I research a lot of my material on the web and ask experts when I know them. For example in my first book, there is a Coast Guard scene and I was fortunate to have my brother review my writing of the scene. He spent 30 years doing Search and Rescue for the Coast Guard so he knows his stuff. I know no experts in surveillance training, so what I can’t find on Google, the story becomes a figment of my imagination.
J.A. Jance is one of several authors being honored and interviewed. I found that I love these interviews since a successful author talks about how they collected the material they used for a story or series. They’ll use life experiences - recent and old to craft their stories. Since that is exactly what I am doing, it feels like validation of my approach to writing. I have read several of her books and in a recent story she commented at the end of the book on the parallels between her life and the character in her book.
I viewed the Facebook, Twitter, and other blog site comments on the recent International Mystery Writers conference in NY. It sounded like a lot of fun and yet was still very productive time for writers. Sadly, I’ll have to stick to California conferences until I begin earning higher royalties!
Bottom line is there is great value to attending a writers’ conference in terms of making you a better writer, connecting you with new fans, and learning marketing techniques to earn higher royalties. Since a recent study found that 30% of e-books sold on Amazon are from indie authors, many of those 30% have one of the best opportunities to get feedback and ideas from the professional agents and publishers of the world at a convention such as Bouchercon, Left Coast Crime, or similar mystery writer meeting.
See you in Long Beach!
July 8, 2014
Doing research for my books
One part of writing that I can get lost in is research. I research many aspects of my books. My bad guys are almost always on the FBI or Interpol's most wanted list. So I research what the criminals did to make the list and I'll incorporate bits of their true terrible deeds into my story line.
I also research other things like what are common Belgian or Dutch names so that fictitious names appropriately mirror the country.
I read about poisons and weapons so that I pick the right ones for the murders in my books.
While I have a healthcare background and can speak well to many areas of the medical profession, I still do research in this area as well. For example in Chocolate Diamonds I read extensively about allergic shock so that I would describe my victim's death appropriately.
I do take artistic license on occasion and exaggerate, but that is rare as I believe that those tall tales can take away from my story.
Does a story that is not believable take away from your reading pleasure?
Cheers,
Alec Peche
I also research other things like what are common Belgian or Dutch names so that fictitious names appropriately mirror the country.
I read about poisons and weapons so that I pick the right ones for the murders in my books.
While I have a healthcare background and can speak well to many areas of the medical profession, I still do research in this area as well. For example in Chocolate Diamonds I read extensively about allergic shock so that I would describe my victim's death appropriately.
I do take artistic license on occasion and exaggerate, but that is rare as I believe that those tall tales can take away from my story.
Does a story that is not believable take away from your reading pleasure?
Cheers,
Alec Peche
June 24, 2014
First blog
I have created blog commentary in my other job, but this is my first blog attempt as it relates to my books and writing career.
This past weekend, I attended a Mystery Writers of America event wherein I had the first page of my prologue read aloud. This is my third book in this series, but the first to have a prologue. My third book was planned to be set in a ski resort. I learned on Saturday that the choice of settings was a bad one. I have been skiing for 30+ years and had forgot that most of the mystery fan world doesn't ski. So while my reviewers liked my writing, they were confused by the ski setting. I'll finish this book, then go back and figure out how to put the ski setting more in the background.
Cheers,
AlecAlec Peche
This past weekend, I attended a Mystery Writers of America event wherein I had the first page of my prologue read aloud. This is my third book in this series, but the first to have a prologue. My third book was planned to be set in a ski resort. I learned on Saturday that the choice of settings was a bad one. I have been skiing for 30+ years and had forgot that most of the mystery fan world doesn't ski. So while my reviewers liked my writing, they were confused by the ski setting. I'll finish this book, then go back and figure out how to put the ski setting more in the background.
Cheers,
AlecAlec Peche
