Terry Odell's Blog, page 51

Book Titles

Book Titles
It’s much earlier in the process than I normally worry about book titles, although I know some authors have to have a title before they can write a book. With me, it’s usually the other way around. I have to know what happens in the book before a title resonates with me.

But I’ve been thinking about a title for the current work as Feebie and I take our daily walks. So far—zilch.

What do I know? It’s Book 4 in my Triple-D Ranch series, and that makes one title requirement that it fit ...

Writer’s Words

It’s Friday (although to a writer, it’s just another day).

I’ve been busy working on my next book.

Here are a few writing quotes for the weekend

 

For those of you who have weekends, have a good one!

Available Now.
Trusting Uncertainty, Book 10 in the Blackthorne, Inc. series.
You can’t go back and fix the past. Moving on means moving forward.

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Book Blurbs and Pets

It’s my day over at The Kill Zone Blog again today, and I’m talking about a recent experience when my editor asked if I would read one of the books her company is about to publish, and provide a short (1-2 sentence) ‘blurb’ about it.

And, there’s still time to enter to win a paperback copy of Faithless in Death by JD Robb.

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The fine print: No purchase necessary. You must be 18 years of age or older. Physical prizes to US residents only. Winners will be chosen by Raffle...

My Oversight is Someone’s Gain

My Oversight is Someone’s Gain

I’ve made no secret that I’m a JD Robb fan. I’ve been collecting her books since I first discovered them, which was somewhere around the release of her 15th book. I read Book 1, Naked in Death, on a plane, thinking I’d leave it in the seat pocket. I wasn’t a romance reader, and in case there are some of you who are unaware of it, JD Robb is Nora Roberts. I’d seen an interview where people asked Roberts why she started the In Death series, and I was curious enough t...

Podcasts and More

Podcasts and More
Podcasts. I’ve still got mixed feelings. A short time ago, I let my author friend, Karla Brandenburg, share how she decided to get started podcasting.

She’s got a few episodes under her belt now, including an interview with yours truly. I have to be totally honest. I haven’t listened to the final product yet, because, in general, I hate how I sound. At least there wasn’t video, because for some reason, there’s this really old lady in my computer’s camera.

But, if there’s anythi...

Happy Birthday Trusting Uncertainty

Happy Birthday Trusting Uncertainty

Happy Birthday Trusting Uncertainty! It’s Release Day! For those of you who pre-ordered, you should have the book on your device. Thank you SO much.

You can’t go back and fix the past. Moving on means moving forward.

He thinks he can reset the past if he tries hard enough.

Travis “T-Bone” Bostwick thinks volunteering for op after op will absolve him of the guilt he carries after a rescue went bad. When he’s sent on a simple ‘search and find’ mission as a favo...

A Prequel and a Recipe

A Prequel and a Recipe

In just four days, Trusting Uncertainty will be live. I may have spotted some bubbly in the fridge.

Meanwhile, here’s a pair of prequel short stories to the Blackthorne, Inc. novels. It’s free for the taking here, but I’ll be up front. In order to download the stories, you have to agree to join my mailing list. Of course, you can unsubscribe at any time, but I hope you’ll stick around long enough to get your first newsletter which will go out on release day. There are alwa...

Don’t Play Coy With Your Readers

I’m over at The Kill Zone Blog today, talking about using POV to reveal information, and when it might backfire with readers.

Less than a week before Trusting Uncertainty drops, but who’s counting?

Now available for Preorder. Trusting Uncertainty, Book 10 in the Blackthorne, Inc. series.

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Getting it Right or Making it Good

Getting it Right or Making it Good

My first critique group used to point out that just because something was “right” or “true” didn’t make it good. So, here’s a real life “yes, it happened” moment that wouldn’t pass muster in one of my books.

Many of you know I’m a stickler for having character names that are easily distinguished from one another. Not long ago, I was in the hospital for a minor procedure (I’m fine.). Upon arrival (after paying the copay), I was taken to a pre-op room by a nurse,...

On Characters, Cooking, and Music.

On Characters, Cooking, and Music.

Image by Werner Heiber from Pixabay

Note: I ran across this when I was looking at my old blog for Wednesday’s Anniversary post, and thought I’d rerun it today. This post first appeared in my blog in August 2006, so mentions of “current” are as of that date. I’ve written many more books since then.

Developing characters through food and music. Or is it meeting characters? Although I’m supposed to be in control, there are times when they’re introducing themselves...