Would you like some mystery with that?
November 9, 2010 by A Slice of Orange in category ArchivesRecently I’ve read a couple of thrillers by Michael Connelly that I really enjoyed. I admit, I hadn’t even heard of Michael Connelly before I won a galley of The Reversal, his new book, from his publisher via Twitter (thanks, Little Brown!). I now know, of course, that Connelly is super-famous and millions of people love his work (including my parents, who knew?). But the fact is, I don’t read a lot of mystery / thriller novels.
Not sure why…I was an Agatha Christie addict as a teenager, I’ve blogged here about how much I like Hank Phillippi Ryan ‘s books…the fact is, I probably enjoy a well-written mystery as much I enjoy a well-written romance. But for some reason the genre isn’t on my radar.
Until recently, that is. I’m in the process of adding a mystery to a novel that I’m working on, and it’s a whole new challenge. Coming up with a mystery that’s not guessable from page one, that has all the requisite clues and red herrings, and that holds my own interest isn’t that easy. Hats off to all you mystery writers out there!
I’ve read a couple of how-to books, and I’m reading within the genre. And I’m reworking my mystery subplot over and over to make it more…mysterious. But I’m open to suggestions on this – if you have any suggestions (as a reader or a writer) about what makes for a great mystery, I’d love to hear them. And, of course, any suggestions for great mysteries to read (but please bear in mind that I’m squeamish – nothing too graphic!).
Thanks!
Abby
November Events – Allison Brennan and Laura Wright
November 4, 2010 by A Slice of Orange in category ArchivesOCC’s next monthly meeting will be Saturday, November 13th, at the Brea Community Center. Please join us for informative, inspirational presentations from two authors at the top of the game.
In the morning session, OCC member Laura Wright presents “Writing the Emotional Character: Don’t Run From Your Scene. Stop, Deal, and Discover.”
Laura has spent most of her life immersed in the worlds of singing, acting and competitive ballroom dancing. But when she started writing, she knew she’d found her true calling. Although she was born and raised in Minnesota, Laura now lives in Los Angeles, California with her husband, two children and three dogs.
In the afternoon, bestselling author Allison Brennan presents “You’re Not Normal.”
As Allison says, “Let’s face it, writers are not typical human beings. We keep odd hours treat our characters as real people, and view the world as story-fodder. We talk to ourselves, have over-active imaginations and eavesdrop on conversations. (Or is that just me?)
Allison Brennan is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling and award winning author of fourteen romantic thrillers and several short stories. For fun, she enjoys wine tasting, swimming, school sports, playing video games, and-of course–reading. Her upcoming release, LOVE ME TO DEATH, the first book in the Lucy Kincaid series, will be available on 12.28.10, followed by KISS ME, KILL ME on 2.22.11. She’s a member of Romance Writers of America, International Thriller Writers, and the Horror Writers Association. She lives near Sacramento, California with her husband and five children and is currently working on the third Lucy Kincaid novel.
Doors open at 9:30 AM for Ask-an-Author with Glynnis Campbell, w/a Sarah McKerrigan and Kira Morgan.
Over the lunch break, presenters will sign copies of their latest books.
*****SPECIAL NOTICE*****
The 2011 BBB (Book Buyer’s Best) Contest opens on November 1, 2010. General Information, Rules and Entry Form are available on the OCC website (www.occrwa.org) follow the links from the Home Page. Deadline for entries is January 8, 2011.
Incubating and the Writer’s Cave
October 28, 2010 by A Slice of Orange in category Archives tagged as deadlines, writing processI tend to be reluctant to sit down in front of the keyboard to write until the deadline is breathing down my neck. I always thought this was procrastination, but I read an article a little while ago that makes me realize that I’m not a procrastinator. I’m an incubator.
What’s an incubator? Someone who thinks about the story for a long time—incubating it—until it’s ready to come out in one huge burst. My subconscious works on the story as I go about my ordinary life, as if I’ve put a stew on the back burner to simmer and am adding ingredients to it all day long. Then suddenly the stew is done and the story needs to get on the page. That’s when I crawl into my writer’s cave, sit down and start writing. Am compelled to write, just like contractions compel a mother to push during childbirth.
The writer’s cave is more mental than physical, though it does help to have a physical space where you can retreat to get the work done. This might be an office or corner in your home or maybe somewhere like Starbucks or the bookstore or wherever works for you. It helps if the cave is the same physical space every time, signaling your brain that when you go there, it’s time to write. I also end up clearing my calendar of all optional social engagements so I can just crawl into the cave without fear of interruption and give birth to my story.
I would love to be one of those people who plot out a book and then sit down every day and write X number of pages or such-and-such a scene, but that isn’t how I work. I need all those weeks to let the story form in my mind so it comes out organically in one long burst. Once I reach that point, I am able to accomplish a substantial amount of pages per day. Since the story is fully formed, I also tend to do very little rewriting before I send in the book. This is what works for me. It’s my process. What’s yours?
1 0 Read moreOCCRWA November 2011 Online Class — “The Tiny Art of Elevator Pitches: Making Every Word Count!†with Carrie Lofty
October 26, 2010 by A Slice of Orange in category Archives tagged as Online Class********** permission to forward **********
Hi everyone! Check out the exciting online classes offered by the Orange County Chapter of RWA!
“The Tiny Art of Elevator Pitches: Making Every Word Count!†with Carrie Lofty
November 15 – December 11, 2010
Enrollment Information at http://www.occrwa.org/onlineclassNov10.html
COST: $20 for OCC members, $30 for non-members
If you have specific questions, email occrwaonlineclass@yahoo.com
ABOUT THE CLASS:
You have 30 seconds to make an impression. But how do you reduce tens of thousands of words down to 30 or less? What to leave in? What to ignore? How to give those 30 words punch and drama?
An “elevator pitch†can be defined as a bare-bones summary of your novel – but it is really something much more. This succinct distillation can help not only in query letters and networking, but in finding your hook and focusing your writing before you even start!
Author Carrie Lofty will share the elevator pitches that got her in the door, along with her techniques for making them concise and effective. She will look at the four plot arcs of any romance novel—hero, heroine, external, and romantic—and teach you how to weave all four into the most powerful elevator pitch possible.
ABOUT THE INSTRUCTOR:
Since completing her master’s degree in history, Carrie Lofty has been devoted to raising two precocious daughters and writing full time. Her historical romances have all received four stars from RT Book Reviews, which declared: “Lofty writes adventure romance like a born bard of old.”
In addition to two new historical romances coming out in 2011, her “Dark Age Dawning” trilogy of hot-n-dirty apocalyptic romances, co-written with Ann Aguirre under the name Ellen Connor, will kick off with Nightfall from Berkley Sensation in June.
Enrollment Information at http://www.occrwa.org/onlineclassNov10.html
COST: $20 for OCC members, $30 for non-members
Coming in January 2011–
“Going the Distance: Goal Setting and Time Management for Writersâ€
with Kitty Bucholtz
January 10 – February 5, 2011
Every New Year’s Eve, as the fireworks explode, we try to figure out how to make our goals into our reality. But what will work for you? In this class, you will be presented with a variety of ways to look at goal setting and time management specifically designed for the writer. Whether you are a plotter or a pantster, this interactive course will help you design a personalized game plan.
COST: $20 for OCC members, $30 for non-members
Check out our full list of workshops at http://www.occrwa.org/onlineclasses.html
Want to be notified personally two weeks before each class? Be sure you’re signed up for our Online Class Notices Yahoo Group! Sign up at the bottom of http://www.occrwa.org/onlineclasses.html or send a blank email to OCCRWAOnlineClassNotices-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
********** permission to forward **********
0 0 Read moreThe day Stephen J. Cannell talked with Jina Bacarr at OCC
October 11, 2010 by A Slice of Orange in category Archives tagged as A Writer's Life, author, Confessions of a Podcast Goddess, novels, Stephen J. Cannell
Stephen J. Cannell talks w/ Jina Bacarr
Uploaded by Jina_B.
Everyone who attended the OCC Meeting back in 2007 when Stephen J. Cannell was our main speaker will never forget it.
I still have the notes I took that day…
And I have the video. So as a special tribute to Mr. Cannell who passed away recently, here is the video I did with him that morning after the Published Authors Workshop.
He was a great friend to OCC and to all writers everywhere.
Best,
Jina
The Blonde Samurai: “She embraced the way of the warrior. Two swords. Two loves.â€
Jina Bacarr is also the author of The Blonde Geisha ,Cleopatra’s Perfume, Naughty Paris, Tokyo Rendezvous, a Spice Brief, and Spies, Lies & Naked Thighs
visit my website: http://www.jinabacarr.com/
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