Heather Weidner's Blog, page 96
July 1, 2017
20 Things I Learned about Specialized Law Enforcement in Virginia
Recently, Sisters in Crime - Central Virginia hosted a specialized law enforcement panel with officers from CSX Railroad, the Virginia Alcohol Beverage and Control Board, and the Virginia Game and Inland Fisheries. Their jobs and jurisdictions are unique, and I picked up some good information for future mysteries. Here are a few things I learned.
The railroad police began with the Pinkerton guards. Allan Pinkerton was also the Father of the Secret Service.All of these law enforcement agencies work closely with other local, state, and federal groups. They are often involved in special task force efforts.Railroad tracks are on private property. If you're on them, you're already trespassing.A lot of modern shipping (retail, HAZMAT, and military) goes by rail.Train riders (stow-aways) often tag the railroad cars to leave messages for others in their community. Hopping trains is illegal. If caught, you could receive a ticket or be arrested.If you have an issue or an emergency at a railroad crossing, look for the blue sign at the gate. It has a contact number. If you're stuck on the tracks, notify the railroad authorities on that sign. They can notify any oncoming trains.Technology helps with safety (e.g. camera on trains and sensors on the tracks).It takes time to stop a train. A train hits a car with the force that a car would hit a soft drink can. If you get stuck on the tracks, get away from the car.Trains are quieter now (except for the whistle). If you're on the tracks (and if you have headphones on), you might not hear it.Virginia prohibition enforcement began in 1934.Currently there is an exhibit on alcohol and Prohibition at the Library of Virginia. It's called "Teetotalers and Moonshiners." It runs through December 2017.In the past ABC officers were called revenuers.If you're interested in the history of moonshine, check out the National Geographic's documentary. A lot of it was set in Virginia.Game wardens became Conservation Police Officers in 2007 in Virginia.The Department of Game and Inland Fisheries uses science to determine the wildlife populations across the Commonwealth. They decide if hunting/fishing numbers need to be increased or decreased to protect natural populations.Virginia's Game and Inland Fisheries just celebrated its centennial. For more information, check out its YouTube channel.Curtilage is the maintained area around a house. This is usually the boundary of where they can search unless there are special circumstances.Baiting for hunting is illegal in Virginia. Often you will see corn on the ground (deer) or peanut butter on trees (bears) to attract animals.Blaze pink will be an official safety color in addition to blaze orange.Coyotes are not native to Virginia, and there are no bag limits on them. If you hunt and fish in Virginia check their publications or website for licensing and restrictions.
June 23, 2017
50 Book Bloggers to Follow on Twitter
Twitter is a great place to build relationships and to learn all kinds of things. And it's a wonderful place to find book recommendations for your next read. Check these folks out...
Who else would you add to the list? Happy tweeting!
June 18, 2017
My 2017 Wine Tour - Stop #3 - The Rosemont Vineyards and Winery in LaCrosse, VA
The 50 Shades of Cabernet authors signed books yesterday at the Rosemont Vineyards and Winery's Art Festival. The house and grounds are lovely. We met so many new friends, and I bought a bottle of their Virginia Red for Father's Day.
The vendors had so many beautiful arts and crafts. And a lot of the lake people (Lake Gaston, Kerr Damn, and Buggs Island) brought their dogs for a stroll. Add this one to your list.
Here's what I learned on this stop of my summer wine tour. Wine Away (Red Wine Stain Remover) is wonderful. One of the gals spilled wine on her shirt. The stain was gone after she used this. My writer friend, Ellery Adams, said that it has saved her couch cushions before.
I'm enjoying my wine tour this summer, and for a girl who used to buy wine in a box, I'm learning a lot. Some of our writers will be at the Williamsburg Winery next Saturday. Stop in and see them.
June 17, 2017
7 Things Writers Need to Know about Cybersecurity
Recently, I attended RVASec, a cybersecurity conference in Richmond, VA. Mikko Hyponnen of F-Secure was the keynote speaker. He is also the curator for the Malware Museum at the Internet Archive. He focused on where we've been and what's next with technology. He also talked about vulnerabilities and things we need to be aware of in this every-changing world.
Here are seven things I learned from his presentation:
We've experienced the Internet revolution. Right now, we're experiencing the Internet of Things (IoT) revolution. There are thousands of smart devices out there, and you need to consider security. He said that the next big revolution will be Artificial Intelligence (AI). I'm not sure I'm ready for the rise of the machine just yet.The first case of ransomeware happened in 1989. I thought it would be in the late 90s or 2000s. Cybercrimes have been around for a while.He reiterated this point several times. DO NOT CLICK on the ENABLE content button on websites. He called this the "please infect by PC" button."Data is the new oil." You will not be able to avoid smart devices. Soon, anything that plugs in will have some kind of smart of computer component. He gave lots of examples like smart mattresses and smart lightbulbs. And these devices are sending data and analytics about your use of them back to the manufacturer.Appliances and other smart devices (that we don't think of as computers) will come with software licensing agreements and configuration instructions. Anything that runs on electricity will eventually be connected to the Net.Your smart devices (cameras, lightbulbs, thermostats, etc.) are vulnerable. If you take it out of the box and plug it in without reading the instructions and checking the security settings, you could be susceptible to hacks or attacks. (If you can turn a camera on or unlock a door with your phone, so can a hacker.)Make sure that you set strong passwords on your devices. Things that are easy to remember are also easy to hack.I love new technology and gadgets, but I think it's also good to have a healthy awareness of some of the dangers of lax security. What's your favorite smart device?
June 10, 2017
Selecting Book Appearances - It's Not All ROI
I have a writer friend who chooses all of her appearances, conferences, and events by how many books she thinks she'll sell. She calculates her transportation costs and expenses, and then makes her decision on whether or not to attend. I admire her attention to detail - down to her mileage spreadsheets.
Writing/publishing is a business, and authors need to treat their time, resources, and expenses in those terms, but a strict return on investment (ROI) may overlook some tangential or long-term benefits. I've done some smaller events or events where we didn't sell that many books, but I did gainother benefits and opportunities. Here are some examples:
At a small, independent book store, I met two women who later invited me to be on a panel at their group's writing conference.
At a school-sponsored book fair, I met several folks who had an interest in mysteries and joined our local chapter of Sisters in Crime. Both are active members now in our organization.
At an outdoor festival, we met a local DJ who asked us to do interviews for his radio station.
I also collect email addresses and contacts at every event. This expands my audience for newsletters and announcements.
I love to talk to school groups and colleges. These don't usually lead to direct sales, but every kid gets a bookmark. It's important to encourage others, especially young talent. And as a student, I had authors who took the time to visit my schools.
I try a lot of events. I like opportunities to network and talk about my book. I am very fortunate that I'm part of several writing groups and anthology groups. We're often asked to provide panels, workshops, and authors for special events. And we partner at events and book signings. There is nothing worse than sitting in a book store all by yourself.
My guidelines for choosing events are:
I don't have to do every event that comes along.I should enjoy the events I choose to attend. If I don't, I can skip it next year.Do I have the availability? I need to make sure that I have time to write the next book. My free time is limited, and I can't be on the road every weekend.What advice to you have for choosing book marketing events?
June 1, 2017
100 Writerly Bookish Types You Need to Follow on Twitter
Twitter is an amazing site for research and building relationships. And there are so many great writers, editors, agents, and book bloggers out there. Here is my list of 100 tweeters that you need to check out. Happy tweeting!
Alan OrloffAlly ShieldsAnnie AcornArt TaylorBarb GoffmanBill CriderBits About BooksBOLO BooksBook Blogger AprilBook Bloggers Intn.Book CelebrationBook Reviews Geek Book SwagBooks and Spoons Carole ColbertCelebrate with a BookColleenCozy ChicksCreatures 'n CrooksCynthia KuhnCyrus WebbDeborah CoontsDiane VallereDruEdith MaxwellElaine VietsEleanor Cawood JonesEllen ByronEllery AdamsEnrique GonzalesFiona QuinnG. M. MallietGigi PandianHalli EphronHank Phillipi RyanJames River WritersJeanne AdamsJenny MilchmanJim JacksonJudging More Than the CoverJulie ValerieJungle RedsKait CarsonKat StilesKris SpisakKrista DavisKristi Tuck AustinKristin KisskaKristin WrightLarissa ReinhartLeah St. JamesLelia GLinda HillLisa HaseltonLiz GavinLori CaswellLori Rader-DayLyn BrittanLynDee WalkerMaggie KingMary BehreMary BurtonMary Feliz Mary MileyMidsummer ReadsMollie Cox BryanMrs. Blogg's BooksMysteristasNancy CohenNancy NaiglePat ConcodoraPizzazz Book PromoPromocaveRachel ThompsonRachelle GardnerRead Your WritesReaders Gazette Reading SanctuaryRhys BowenRosemary ShomakerRosemary StevensSacha Black Shawna CSherry HarrisSisters in CrimeSparkle AbbeyStacy JubaStephen BentleySusan M. BoyerSuze Lavender Suzie81BlogTerry TylerThe Bookshelf CaféThe Wicked CozyThrill WritingTina GlasneckTruth about Books Vivian LawryWhispering StoriesAnd me... (Heather Weidner) I'd love to see what you're tweeting...May 26, 2017
Don't Go It Alone - Find a Writer's Group
It can be lonely in your writing cave. Writers need to find their groups. It's important to have others to chat with, brainstorm ideas, and share celebrations (and setbacks). I am very fortunate to be a part of several writing groups.
I've been a member of Sisters in Crime for almost seven years. It's a wonderfully supportive group of mystery and thriller writers. Our local chapter has programs and opportunities for our writers. We've partnered with another chapter to produce two short story anthologies to provide our members publication and book marketing opportunities.
Several of our published authors in our chapter created Lethal Ladies Write. We blog together and promote each other on social media. We also partner for book signings and workshops. My chapter also has a critique group, and their feedback on my works in progress is invaluable.
I am also a member of SinC's online chapter, the Guppies (The Great Unpublished). It's another supportive group, that even when folks are published, they hang around to offer assistance and information. They offer online workshops, training, and listservs for a variety of interests.
I joined James River Writers last year, and I wondered what took me so long. It is based in Richmond, VA. This group celebrates and supports all kinds of writing. It offers programs, workshops, and an annual writing conference that grows and grows every year.
Each of these groups off me support, new ideas, advice, and comradery. And they also help me to understand that I'm not alone on my writing journey. Sometimes, I need to be reminded of that.
There are a variety of writing groups out there, some local and others online. Some are genre-specific, and others are more general. Here are some you should check out:
Sisters in Crime (Guppies and Many Local Chapters)Mystery Writers of AmericaRomance Writers of AmericaJames River WritersScience Fiction and Fantasy Writers of AmericaAmerican Christian Fiction WritersWestern Writers of America Virginia Writers Club
May 19, 2017
What I Learned from "Murder Shorts - Short Stories"
I attended "Murder Shorts - Short Stories" at Malice Domestic 2017. Here's what I learned from this fun bunch of short story authors: Leone Ciporin, Teresa Inge, KM Rockwood, Alan Orloff, and Maggie King.
The group liked the short story format. They felt they could experiment more as writers in this compact format.Short stories are seeing a resurgence. Check out Spine Tingler Magazine, Flashbang.com, Mystery Weekly, and Woman's World. They all pay for mystery submissions.Visit Sandra Seaman's blog to see calls for publication for short stories.Readers care about the characters in short stories. The characters are often ordinary people in ordinary settings.Characters are important in short stories. Description and dialogue help create the picture for the reader.I loved Alan Orloff's advice for writers - BIFOK! (Butt in Chair; Fingers on Keyboard). You just have to sit down and write.You have a small space in a short story; every word must count.Use both sides of your brain when you write. Your creative side writes and plots, while your analytical site proofreads and edits.Don't edit as you write. Just write. Revise later.
May 14, 2017
My 2017 Wine Tour - Stop #2: Mermaid Winery - Norfolk, VA
Yesterday, we had a book signing for 50 Shades of Cabernet at the Mermaid Winery in Norfolk. It's billed as Virginia's urban winery. This is such a great place. I grew up in Tidewater, and I hardly recognized W 22nd Street. The city is alive with so many neat places, and the Mermaid Winery is definitely a place you need to check out. The food, atmosphere, and staff were wonderful.
Okay, I'm a wine novice, so I'm learning a lot on this wine/book tour. The Mermaid Winery has metal glass holders for those doing tastings. I loved the tree of wine glasses.
The staff set up a wine tasting for our book launch. I spotted a glass with a pretty shade of red at the bar. I asked the wine steward about that particular wine, and she replied, "That's the dump cup." I've still got a lot to learn.
Back Row l-r: Jayne Ormerod, Kristin Kisska, DJ Lutz, Ken Wingate Front Row l-r: Teresa Inge, me, Rosemary Shomaker, and John Koehler
May 12, 2017
What I Learned from the Fabulous Charlaine Harris
At Malice Domestic 2017, I attended an interview with the very talented and funny Charlaine Harris. Here's what I learned about her and her writing.
The best example you can set for a child is for them to see you reading. She said that she grew up in a house full of avid readers and books in every room.She said that she writes personal stories with one character or a small group of characters.We all face struggles that cause us (or our characters) to make decisions. As a writer, you need to think about the choices your characters make.She said that she's a pantser (one who writes by the seat of her pants) because that's the fun of writing. It's exciting to see what happens. She likened outlining to paint by numbers.She said she started writing about the paranormal because she wanted to do something different to make money. She said that she's always been interested in things we can't see or hear.She said that she often writes about the south in many of her books. She talked about southern charm and living in Arkansas and Texas. She was asked what was something about southern culture that she had to explain to folks in other areas. She said that y'all is plural. And she wanted to let people know that there is more than one southern accent. Not all southerners sound the same.I love listening to other authors talk about their paths to publication. Ms. Harris was charming and gracious and so willing to share her experiences.
