K.E. Belledonne's Blog, page 4
February 23, 2015
#AmWriting, #AmResearching, #AmDistracted
I am working on Book Two (which still has no tentative or working title. It’s named ‘New Book’ on my computer…how boring) and am elbows deep in research of all sorts and generally just happy as a clam.
I need a particular setting for a particular scene, so I’m researching to augment what I remember of actual being in that setting, which is all fine and dandy and fascinating. Except I realized I’ve just spent 20 minutes reading pages on QSTORM (Stochastic Optical Reconstruction Microscopy) and there is absolutely no way most of that information will make it into the book.
I’d always thought that “disciplined research” was having the discipline to actually do the research, but with this book, I’m finding it’s not letting myself spiral off into “ooo, that looks good” or “hey, I wonder what that is?” or “that sounds interesting.” Yes, there will now probably be a moment in the book about QSTORM, or something like it, but certainly not a long enough moment to merit 20 minutes of intense reading.
Even if it is wicked cool.
My first book, Right Here Waiting, was written mostly from memory — I’m a plane nerd, a WWII nerd, and a big band music nerd. And what I didn’t have a crystal clear memory about, I researched. I researched tiny details about everything, from the 8th Air Force bases in England, to dress uniform trouser colors, to song keys — and then I threw a great deal of it out the window. The style of the book demanded a certain style, a certain enigmatic or fantastical feel to certain details — in a Old Hollywood movie, they often didn’t give you specifc dates or places unless it was absolutely necessary to further the plot. “On a battlefield somewhere in France” or “Somewhere behind front lines” or “Europe: present day” — that’s about all you’d get.
But I had to know what I was going to be ignoring in the name of movie-style convenient plot points. And I had to have enough details in there to a) make the reader believe what they were reading and b) to satisfy my fellow history nerds who’d be reading it. (It would be one thing to write a story without giving any historical details. It would be another thing entirely to write a story giving incorrect historical details…)
In the New Book, I’ve given the main characters quite specific professions, of which I only know a vague amount — they are professions that I am interested in, so the research has been fun, but….distracting. And the plot itself necessitates some quite specific details to be laid out, which has been less fun but still distracting.
Basically, today’s writing challenge is to hone my researching so I am only researching what I need and not everything looks so cool I want to learn more about that.
Even if it is wicked cool.
Right Here Waiting is available at Interlude Press, barnesandnoble.com, and amazon.com (as well as the international Amazon sites!)
February 20, 2015
Last day of my book tour!! Last chance to enter to win my book!
My book is featured over on Sharing Links And Wisdom today — head on over to read an excerpt and enter to win a $25 gift certificate!
#AmWriting
Final day of my book tour, which has been an absolutely lovely experience. It’s been nice to be able to “talk” with readers who are interested in my book.
The weather is absolutely gorgeous here today here in Alps — brilliant sunshine and warm. My family back in New England is facing sub-zero temps and snowstorm after snowstorm. While I was outside this morning, I was actually a bit *too* warm in my sweatshirt, and I took a moment to pause and to be extra-grateful for being here.
I’ve eaten a chicken curry sandwich for lunch, and done my official authorly blogging for the day, and now there’s nothing standing between me and writing on The Next Book, which is not it’s actual title, but will do as a working title, for now. I don’t even have a cool code name for it.
anyone have an idea for a cool book code name?
February 19, 2015
Book tour, day 9: On writing realistic fantasy vs fantastic realism
…there’s nothing to say that it -couldn’t- have happened as it does in the book. Men in love with each other is not a modern concept. Surely somewhere, somehow, two men figured out how they could be in love and live their lives together, if in a bit of secrecy. Surely some of the so-called swinging bachelor pads provided just enough cover and concealment for the love between two ″roommates″.
I point out, not as proof but as reference, Cary Grant and Randolph Scott. Regardless of what might have been happening behind closed doors, it is a fact that the two actors shared not one, but two, homes, traveled together, went to parties together, living together as the very epitome of ″merry bachelors″ for nearly a decade. They each married women throughout their lives, seven marriages in total. It is a fact that they remained quite close throughout their lives.
I think of Right Here Waiting as a plausible fantasy, a fabrication of the events of our past. It is sweepingly romantic, earnest and sincere—and yes, even at times a bit corny— just like the old Hollywood movies we love so much.
Read the rest of my post at Prism Book Alliance and comment for a chance to win a $25 gift certificate!
Right Here Waiting is available at Interlude Press, barnesandnoble.com, and amazon.com (as well as the international Amazon sites!)
LGBT FICTION CON DURING MUNICH’S PRIDE WEEK!!!
I am so very excited to see the announcement of this con — I am desperately trying to figure out a way to be there. Munich is one of my favorite cities in the entire world, and I’ve heard really great things about Pride Week there.
This sounds like an amazing opportunity and I really hope to see you all there!
Details below:
Euro Pride Con (Email: europridecon@gmail.com)
Register: http://europridecon.weebly.com/regist…
What: LGBT Fiction Meet during Munich’s Pride Week
Where: Munich, Germany (European Mainland)
When: July 11th and 12th 2015
Language: English
Keynote Speakers: Andrew Grey and R.J. Scott
Attendee List: http://europridecon.weebly.com/attend…
Panels: http://europridecon.weebly.com/about-…
General Ticket: 160 Euro (or 180 Euro after April 30th)
Featured Ticket: 170 Euro (or 190 Euro after April 30th)
Event Hotel: Sheraton Munich Arabellapark Hotel
Alternate Hotel: Leonardo Hotel Munich Arabellapark (10 – 15 min away)
Add to the Raffle: http://europridecon.weebly.com/contri…
Become A Sponsor: http://europridecon.weebly.com/become…
FAQ: http://europridecon.weebly.com/faq.html
Euro Pride Con will bring together LGBT authors, publishers, translators, editors, cover artists, bloggers, narrators and readers from all over Europe and even from the other side of the big pond, to get together over one fantastic weekend to talk about books, genres, trends, challenges, hopes and will offer them opportunities to network, exchange experiences, pitch books and submit manuscripts to publishers like Dreamspinner Press, Harmony Ink, Dreamspinner Publications, Extasy Books, Ylva Publishing, Love Lane Books, Wayward Ink, Bruno Gmünder and others.
Instead of relying entirely on front-led panels, we’ll also be hosting a series of interactive workshops and in-depth discussions on a range of different topics. These workshops will expose all attendees to a range of different thoughts, opinions, and viewpoints. There will also be reader-focused Author Q&As and Author Readings in addition to the Author Signing and the Raffle.
We are coordinating with the organizers of Munich Pride, LGBT Organizations and local European gay bookstores and local publishers to tie our convention closely to the LGBT community from the very beginning.
February 18, 2015
In the Hollywood adaptation of Right Here Waiting, who would play your main characters? Why
As my book is written as a love letter to Old Hollywood, I’m going to go with the classic Old Hollywood movie stars I had in the back of my mind while I was writing the novel.
For the dashing and genial bomber pilot, Pete Montgomery, I would cast Gregory Peck: lanky and rawboned, but still dapper and suave. He’s very comfortable in his own skin. Instantly likeable and trustworthy, you believe in his intelligence and are willing to go along with what he has to say.
For the role of the tailor turned USO singer, Ben Williams, I’d go with Gary Cooper. Tall and muscular, he’s a bit more intense, a bit more guarded. He’s perhaps a bit stoic and reticent, except with people he loves.
For the bombshell USO siren, Gwen Andrews, I would cast Rita Hayworth: sexy and smart, but with a very approachable sweetness. She gets in trouble from time to time, but no one can hold it against her for long.
Ginger O’Reilly is Pete and Ben’s neighbor, and one of their closest friends. She’s definitely Betty Grable. Very much the girl next door—perhaps a bit hapless and clumsy at times, she’s loveable and funny.
Bets McCaffrey is Ginger’s roommate, and also a very close friend of Ben and Pete. I would cast Jane Russell—just a really savvy and confident woman who is comfortable with herself, and rather forward.
head on over to MAD Hoydenish to read the rest of today’s book tour stop, and to enter for your chance to win a copy of my book!
