Terry Odell's Blog, page 298

Turning the Tables

In the world of writing, one of the dreaded chores is submitting. Whether it's a simple query letter (or is that an oxymoron?), a proposal, a partial, or the exhilaration resulting from a request for a full manuscript, you're still left relying on the decision of someone else. And, odds are, given the percentages of acceptances in the business, you're going to have to deal with a dreaded

But Don't Start Here

What I'm reading: Pirate Latitudes, by Michael CrichtonThanks, Carolyn for your post yesterday. I admire someone who can write historical fiction. (and a brief commercial message - I recently discovered many of my titles are now available for the iPad and iTouch. If you have one of these gizmos, you can find my books in the Apple iBookstore by searching on my name.)On Monday, I talked about

The Facts of Fiction

Carolyn Schriber is a historian by training and profession. Here she discusses how her academic background helped her make the transition from classroom to novelist.Six years ago, I retired from a career as a college history professor. I had a string of books and articles to my credit and some skills, like deciphering twelfth-century Latin handwriting, that were relatively useless in the real

Where to Start

What I'm reading: Soul of a Highlander, by Melissa MayhueLately, I've read a few books that were difficult to get into. One, I've abandoned, at least temporarily. Why? Back story and info dumping. The author spends chapter after chapter not only introducing each character, but also giving the reader that character's life history—or so it seems. While it's important for the reader to understand

And the winner is ….

Thanks to all who voted for their favorite jack o'lantern. The voting was close, with only a single vote separating the top 3 picks. They are:

Friday Field Trip: Happy Halloween

Thought I'd share some of the jack o'lanterns my kids have produced over the years. Which is your favorite? Be sure to vote at the end of this post.1234567 Create your free online surveys with SurveyMonkey, the world's leading questionnaire tool.(if the embedded survey doesn't work for you, leave your vote in the comments)

Homicide - Hussey: Adventures in the Paranormal 2

I know you've been waiting for Part 2 of Homicide - Hussey's Adventures in the Paranormal. Wait no longer ... here it is. (If you haven't read Part 1 yet, you'll need to do so first. It's hereTo refresh your memories, we left our stalwart office investigating some reported noises in an old, abandoned mansion. This is where we stopped last time:I let the rookie go up the stairs first, because I

Publication Means Promotion

On the home front, the weather has turned cold. Yesterday morning there was a brief but effective snowstorm. It's amazing how fast the ground turns white.However, the sun came out, things warmed and melted, and since our daughter is visiting from Northern Ireland, we thought we might try out the new brew pub down in Woodland Park. And we're glad we did! Today, temps are hovering at the freezing

"YA AMERIKANKA" – An American Writer in Russia

Writers are always looking for settings they can use to create atmosphere, deepen character, build suspense and heighten realism. Today Joyce Yarrow will take us on a tour of some of the locations in Russia where she set scenes from her latest book, The Last Matryoshka.I was staring at a collection of books and journals on exhibit at Vladimir Central Prison Museum. Each book represented a human

Edits are NOT Revisions

What I'm reading: Slim to None, by Taylor SmithOur upstairs has been fully renovated. For the most part, we were 'editing' what was already here. Replacing cabinets with new cabinets, flooring with new flooring, appliances with new appliances. But now, we're looking into remodeling the basement. Down there, we'll be revising. The exterior walls will remain the same, but inside, new walls will go