Freedom of Speech and Judy Mays - a Lawyer's Perspective

Everyone spouts off about freedom of speech these days. Anytime someone says something offensive/obnoxious/just-plain-stupid, they are quick to point out that they have freedom of speech, and so anyone who disagrees with them or — God forbid — doesn’t give them a forum in which to spew their opinions, is violating their civil rights.

No, kids. One of the few things that being a lawyer in the dreaded day job has given me is a bit more understanding of Constitutional Law than the average Joe who reads on a seventh-grade level. The Constitution — and thus the Bill of Rights — only guarantees that the Government won’t infringe upon your personal freedoms. It is perfectly okay, and even desirable, for private citizens to tell you to shut up.

If I own a radio station, I don’t have to give you my microphone to talk about how the President should release his potty progress reports from Pre-Kindergarten. I don’t have to let members of NAMBLA advertise for kids to mentor. I don’t have to give anyone a forum on my dime.

Now, if the Government is the one regulating speech, they gotta treat us all the same. If a school district lets the Baptists do a prayer at graduation, they have to open it up to the Wiccans, the Muslims, and even –gasp — the Atheists. That’s why so many government agencies don’t let people access their email, newsletters or other communications. If one uses it, all use it.

But when it’s private citizens doing the talking, the Founding Fathers (and Mothers, who did a lot of lobbying behind the scenes) believed that laissez-faire was the way to go. They called it the “Marketplace of Ideas.” If everyone puts their opinions out for the public to pick and choose from, just as with merchandise, the best ideas will beat out the bad ones. You’ll figure out what you like and if you can afford it. If you don’t like Talbot’s clothing, you go to Coldwater Creek. If you don’t like the Tea Party’s theories, you listen to the Green Party. Or whatever.

I’m guessing most of you heard about the recent Judy Mays debacle. A local news show in Pennsylvania announced that a respected high-school English teacher was also, in her free time, a multi-published author. Of course, the parents are all excited that Susie and Junior have a person who really makes a living with the language as their instructor, Right? Of course not. Two moms (who seem to me to be a bit inhibited by their own sexuality) have gotten up in arms because the teacher writes erotic romance. One of these enlightened souls even tried to link erotica to pedophilia, a jump beyond even Evel Knevel on his best day.

I’ve got lots to say about the Judy Mays situation, but for right now, this is the point. It has been a wonderful example of how the Marketplace of Ideas process works. WNEP gave a forum to some petty, small-minded parents who apparently had an axe to grind regarding a teacher at the local high school. Fine. That’s great. It’s their newscast, so they can run any damfool thing they want to.

But — and it’s a major point — the shoppers in the marketplace of ideas are free to point out shoddy merchandise. They are free to let advertisers on WNEP know that the cost of dumb ideas may be higher than they want to pay — that supporting stupidity may cost them customers.

And that is how it’s supposed to work.

I’m proud of the way the writing community – and the internet universe at large - stepped up to let WNEP know that, while everyone has the right to say something ridiculous, we have the right — even the duty — to point out how wrong you are.

Overload

Does anyone else do the stupid scheduling stunts I pull? Could I load up one day with more events and responsibilities than I have for Saturday, April 30?

I'm a Gemini, and we Twins always seem to think our multiple personalities are corporeal beings who can fulfill the obligations our mental entities sign us up for. I have this blog to compose and post, a book signing and presentation on networking/marketing at a local bookstore, a speech to give and Table Topics to organize at a Toastmasters meeting, and the usual be nice to the husband and feed him something routine. Hmm, roadkill sounds fairly fresh but the selection is often rather unreliable.

My mind is now blank except for Katy Perry singing I'm a firework/come on let my colors burst.

Oh who am I kidding? I love being too busy to clean the house. After all, I am deathly allergic to the vacuum. Soon as I finish here, I'll dig out some of my son's old Matchbox cars. I'll have people pull one out of a bag and talk about what memories or thoughts that vehicle brings to mind. Now to condense my marketing notes into a single sheet handout and write that five to seven minute speech...

Cause baby you're a firework

Come on show 'em what you're worth

Make 'em go oh oh oh

As you shoot across the sky aye aye

~Jude

~Jude Johnson

 

 Author, Dragon & Hawk

Available from Champagne Books

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Why I Write Women's Fiction

When I first began to write, I knew very little about creating a novel-length story or of all the mechanics that went into writing. I also knew little about genre. I knew what I enjoyed reading, so it made sense to write that kind of story. My favorite author at the time was Elizabeth Berg. She is brilliant at writing character-driven stories of women—ordinary women—who find themselves in extraordinary circumstances. Her characters are the women who live next door, or down the street, or work in the next cubicle. But Berg takes the reader into the emotional and psychological depths of these women who, as they face life changes and challenges, make us—the readers—feel just a little less alone in our own struggles. She makes us laugh at ourselves.

Some might say that my own background as a psychotherapist, and having done a great deal of counseling with women, would lend to this type of writing. And they would probably be right. But I never set off to write a book that would become the perfect marriage of my clinical experience and story-telling desires. After I finished my first book, I discovered I had done (in some fashion, though no doubt with a bit less skill) what Berg does with her characters. My first readers gave me great feedback, saying they felt like they knew the character of Kate and could identify with her plight.

When I decided to submit the manuscript, I claimed Women’s Fiction as the ‘my’ genre. Though my books almost always hold some romantic elements, and I’ve strayed into writing a few mainstream romance books, my stories are generally driven by a female character who has to dig deep to find a solution or the strength to overcome some adversity. And the story is always about relationship(s). Not romantic relationships, but those life relationships that bring out the best and the worst in the character, that nudge her forward or carry her over, and the relationships that make her laugh—often at herself.

Though my introduction to Women’s Fiction came through the books of Elizabeth Berg, I now have a long list of favorites: Kris Radish, Elin Hilderbrand, Emily Giffin, Kathryn Stockett, and Therese Kinkaide—to name a few.

Women’s Fiction is the genre in which I feel most at home, even though elements of romance to find a way into the story at times.

If you're a reader, how did you discover your favorite genre? And if you’re a writer, how did you choose your genre? Or did the genre choose you?


Linda Rettstatt

http://www.lindarettstatt.com/

2010 Author of the Year – Champagne Books

Champagne Books

Spilled Coffee & Burnt Toast

Black Moment. In the Romance genre I'm told that this is when everything pretty much goes to hell in a hand basket. Well, it's not just Romance, folks. I am currently weathering the passage through the low point in the last of my SF "Dancer" series, and whew! Yeah, you have to get yourself in the mood to deal with a main character whose outlook has gotten super grim.

I find that spilled coffee and burning my toast in the morning helps. So does having the wife yell at me. Okay, so I'm not out to make my own life a living hell, but I do have to view my "other world" through someone whose bleak vision distorts all she sees. Of course, I can get depressed enough by realizing how late I am in delivering what looks to be a considerable finale. The book will probably be called "Battle Dancer", and most certainly will the darkest of the novels I've written so far. Oh, and there is quite a lot of action too.

Still, the black moment. The point where a would-be Savior can turn into a tyrannical destroyer. What pushes a person to this end? What does it take to redeem them?

True, I'm a sucker for the HEA ending, but I have to get there first. Right now it's hard when you're starting up from a very dark pit.

Kerry
www.kmtolan.com

Novel of the Year

Getting my first book published last year was literally a dream come true. There wasn't a day since I was 12 that I didn't wish for it. When it finally happened I didn't think there was anything that could top it; I had what I wanted most in the world, so what was left to ask for? When I was notified earlier this year that Champagne Books had nominated it for Novel of the Year for 2010, I actually had a moment of feeling guilty, like I'd taken advantage of the universe. That faded fast -- such things do -- and instead I relished the honor of being nominated. And like all nominees say, I told myself that being nominated would be enough.

At the beginning of our Awards Ceremony via instant chat on Coffeetime Romance, I misread the first category. If you've never attended a live chat, it is pure chaos; we had 10 or 15 people all typing at the same time, and the information flies by like bullets. It's really no wonder I thought the first award was for Novel of the Year; somehow I'd missed it was Best-Selling Novel of the Year. While I was genuinely happy for Nan Arnold, whose novel Pesto Packin' Mama sold the most copies for 2010 (also nominated for Novel of the Year which only added to my confusion), I realized what a bunch of horseshit all of that "I'm just happy to be nominated!" is. I was surprised at how disappointed I felt. Almost in the same breath, I found instant relief in knowing I was among good company: TK Toppin, Ciara Gold, Michael Davis, and KM Tolan are all fantastic storytellers not to mention wonderful friends, and I thought, well, at least we can all commiserate together. I was already planning my post-losing email to TK -- hey, let's get drunk together, my friend! Who needs that award anyway? I then went on to make a fool out of myself by joking about not winning; my fellow attendees must have thought, geez, lady, you want to win everything??

Needless to say, I was pretty astonished when I discovered my category was still coming up -- saved for last. Excited and then wary -- I faced the distinct possibility of losing (in my mind, anyway) twice. But I didn't. I was hoping to win, obviously, but I really didn't think I would. Shadow Fox is pretty dark with a lot of edginess. And I had read some of the competition and didn't think I really stood a chance. So it was truly shocking -- and delightful -- when I realized I had won. And while that was a spectacular feeling, I also felt terrible that I'd let down my fellow nominees. After all, I'd had several minutes in which I wallowed in misery with them, and even though it was only my own perception (and dumb mistake), I still felt like I had played a trick on them. Psych! I'm actually going to abandon you and accept this lovely trophy (which just arrived in the mail yesterday) and plaster pictures of it all over Facebook. And, essentially, I did exactly that.

So while I'm flaunting my award, which I will not give back for the world, I also want to tell TK, Ciara, Big Mike and Kerry that I won't take this award for granted, and that I was truly honored to be in their company. (Nan, you too, of course, but you sold a buttload of copies so I know you'll be fine!) We always support each other and cheer each other on, but we've never really had to compete before (at least I haven't). It sounds like a trite, insincere cliche for me to say I wish I could share it with all of you, but I really wish I could. Especially since I'm the new upstart on the block and you guys have shown me the ropes. You can all say you didn't need to win, that's okay, I deserved it, blah, blah, blah -- but I thought I lost for a while, remember? I expected to say, oh, well, I didn't win. Instead I said, "Oh f***. I didn't win." So you can't fool me.

To the Higher Powers at Champagne: I am deeply honored. I shall try to make you all proud. Again, I feel like I'm taunting God or the universe or what you will -- in September I'll have three books published, I've been taken in by a new family, and I just won this incredible reward. Surely that's enough! Right?

I won't mention that Shadow Fox's two sequels have release dates in 2011. *ducks behind shield to avoid rotten vegetables* That would never even cross my mind.

http://www.ashleyjbarnard.com/

Dark Fantasy with a Contemporary Twist

Writing a Time Travel

Writing a time travel can be loads of fun, especially if you like writing historicals because in a sense they are one and the same. An important consideration is the heroine/heroes mode of transporting. Whether we belive in time travel or not, there is loads of information on the web that deals with the subject. A writer can use some of that information to devise a method that is plausable, if not exact. For me, the idea of visiting another time period is exciting. Of course, if I didn't like the way events were progressing, I'd want a speedy way home.

A Way Back is my 4th time travel. In it the heroine is transported through time via an elevator, however, her state of mind and other factors play a part. In another story, a mist is used. It's important to remember there aree other influences affecting the area--ley lines, magnetic fields, spin torsion fields, black holes, worm holes, etc. Mysticism may even play a role. Our theories may not be believable to the scientists out there, but hey, it's fiction, fun, and interesting.

For a time travel to be effective, the writer must stay true to the time period in which the story is set. Readers might forgive minor errors, but not historical mistakes. The author must research the era well, and make the story believable by showing their characters living the life of a 1930s business woman, an 1880s sheriff, or an Anasazi warrior in 1000 AD.

I thoroughly enjoyed dressing Amber Mathis in the 1930s clothes, hats, and hairstyles of the era. She wanted blue jeans to take to the oil fields but ended up with trousers instead. It was also fun to research Macys and learn about the wooden escelator that is still in use today and to learn how an era ended when the lunch counter closed. I visited New York as a girl in 1955 and remember the lunch counters and automats.

Let's hear it for time travels and historicals!

Happy Reading and Writing!

Linda
http://www.lindalaroque/
http://www.lindalaroqueauthor.blogspot.com/

Anachronism: You couldn’t have been there

Recently a college professor – and relative -- told me all the smoking in my novel, Tangled Web, was not having a desirable effect on readers. "We’re trying to discourage that kind of thing," he warned.

He teaches political science in a small college in rural Texas; he’s known for his political correctness, but obviously not his societal historical accuracy.

My reaction was to defend my historical position. My characters smoked without guilt in 1942 when cigarettes were less than twenty cents a pack. Though referred to as Coffin Nails, they were not considered a tangible danger to health. Maybe that was true because Kent, who loaded their filters with asbestos, hadn’t produced theirs yet.

During the War years, there were no filters, just long, distinctive cigarette holders for the affected few. In fact, cigarettes were provided in K-rations right along with Spam -- the meat.

The question is when we are portraying characters in other times; do we clean them up to be politically and environmentally correct and ignore historical accuracy and anachronisms?

I won’t.

Many people smoked in the 40s, just as nice women didn’t in the 20s and pregnant women are not supposed to these days. When staging our characters for their big walk-ons, they must be wearing the clothes of their times, sitting in chairs that have already been designed and manufactured, and they must speak in the vernacular of their era.

Certain eras had traits. The best way to orient readers is with props. Who wants to read chapters interrupted by phrases like "It’s 1942, but no tobacco leaves had to die to produce this chapter." Or, "In the 1930’s ‘Candy’s dandy but liquor’s quicker,’ by Ogden Nash, was used in conversation. No one will ‘get juiced,’ or ‘smoke weed’ in the Thirties.

It’s bad for history when we clean it up. How can our ancestors get an understanding of our times if we sanitize stories to save readers from themselves? If history must repeat itself, let it do so warts and all.

"Here’s looking at you, kid." (Note smoking, drinking and romance in the same scene.)

Those were the days.

Julie Eberhart Painter is the Champagne Books author of

Mortal Coil, Tangled Web, and Kill Fee to be released in October. See Julie’s Web site at www.books-jepainter.com

Also available are

The World, the Flesh and the Devil, American Castles and Tahitian Destiny. Check out Amazon and Barnes & Noble. Julie’s nonfiction e-book, From the Inside Out, a volunteer looks at staying motivated,

is considered a best seller on the Net.

　

　

　

Location, location

Did the title of this blog have you scratching your head, wondering how a real estate ad got onto The Writers Vineyard blog site? Well, I am trying to sell you some real estate. More specifically, trying to sell you on the idea that an interesting piece of real estate (location) can be a real boost to your book.
In fact, I believe location should be an early consideration when planning your story. Why? Because location affects character. People who thrive in small towns or wide open spaces, more often than not, don't do well in the hurry-hurry atmosphere of big cities. And vice versa. So, pay attention to the type of character you place in either location. Otherwise, you could -- unintentionally -- end up with a fish-out-of-water story. Of course, if that's the kind of story you have in mind...

Another thing about location is that readers have certain expectations about locations. They expect your southern farm-boy character's dialogue to be somewhat slower, whereas your big city, hard-driving executive's dialogue should be more clipped. But I digress. Most of my own stories have been inspired by a location. In many instances, the setting/location is almost a story character. At other times, locations actually dictate the story.

Such is the case with my soon-to-be-released novella, Border Heat, much of which takes place in tiny, primitive Divisadero, Mexico, one of the stops on the famed Copper Canyon Railway. This railroad line connects the interior city of Chihuahua with the coastal city of Los Mochis, traveling through a portion of the famed Copper Canyon -- Barrancas del Cobre -- home of the Tarahumara Indians.

The train trip itself was an adventure, traversing 86 tunnels, 36 major bridges, and a major engineering feat in which the railroad circles back over itself, making a complete 360 degree loop. Until the recent difficulties with Mexican drug cartels, the trip was a popular tour offering by US travel agencies.
My husband and I love to travel and the Border Heat story began to percolate in my mind as soon as I saw the vast, magnificent Copper Canyon.

Some of our other travels have taken us to Fiji, Australia, New Zealand, Italy, Croatia, Puerto Rico, and 49 of our 50 states. Which means I still have lots of stories to tell. So I hope you'll follow along on some of my other adventures. And I hope you'll take a peek at Border Heat when it's released in June.


Ramona Butler
Border Heat, a fast-action, romantic adventure, is scheduled for release from Champagne Books, June 2011.
http://ramonabutler.blogspot.com

The Romance Grape, a flavor for all tastes

In many ways romance is the Chardonnay of writing. An adaptable grape, the Chardonnay is one of the first wine grapes grown in new vineyards around the world; just possessing the ability to be grown in so many locations is the first proof of this grape's adaptability, and if there is one element of romance that seems unique, it is the adaptability of its elements. Still, both suffer from a certain contempt from literary and wine critics as being too insipid.

Many readers eschew pure romance reads as too dull and bland, just as the green-skinned Chardonnay grape which produces a bland white wine, is considered too neutral, having no flavor of its own. Once many readers felt that women in romances were just as bland, told what to do, and where and how to do it, even in the realms of romance and marriage (as in reality many women were). Yet both romance and Chardonnay are without doubt the most popular in their respective fields of reading and wine drinking.

As a wine Chardonnay develops many distinct flavors, some from the terroir, the unique flavor added by the land where the vine is grown, more by the aging process of the wine in oak casks that give it a distinctive oaken taste. Just so, the setting, or terroir, of a romance novel adds much to the love story, as does the cask, or climate, in which the plot develops, and like Chardonnay, romance has developed many flavors from savory to zesty, and tart to mellow.

Chardonnay holds top position as the most versatile grape in the world, an important blended component of many wines, including Champagne. Romance holds top billing, ever evolving into new situations, and is blended to some degree into the fabric of every other genre.

Why? Perhaps because romance is the essence of life for both men and women, the hunting and wooing of a mate. A primeval instinct heralded in millions of written words. Therefore, tap your glass of Chardonnay to mine in a toast to romance.
Rhobin ~ Rhobin's Rambles
Stone House Farm, a contemporary romantic suspense

How in the world…

Michael W. Davis

Davisstories.com

On occasion, I’m asked, “Do you have a blog?” to which I reply, “Sure, with two dozen other authors.” Once they visit our TWV site and see the years of back posts, the next question that usually follows is, “How in the world do you make up all those topics? Don’t you find it daunting to have to come up with new ideas again and again?” I’ve seen the same quandary discussed on other blogs, or even this one when authors reflect difficulty in “What do I post about?”

Here’s a hint how to tap into an unlimited source of topics for blogs: never close your mind to your surroundings. When I sit in a restaurant, wait for my car to be fixed, watch my wife have a ball shopping in some female store, let my mind drift while I’m in the woods or on the lake, anywhere I am I observe life’s experiences and the emerge diversity of people, their behavior, and all that surrounds us each day. Do it and you’ll never run out of subjects to share with your fellow blog readers.

Let me offer a few examples. This morning I was on a date with my wife for breakfast at one of our local restaurants. During the meal, four people came by to jaw (southern slang for chatting). Then one of the waitresses brought another customer over to our table for directions to a local event (why she thought I would know beats me but I did and was glad to help). Another waitress came by later and remarked how damn good I looked for a man that just went through eight months of hell for cancer treatment (her husband had experienced the same thing). Now that made me feel extra special. It hit me between the eyes how much I love the charm and people of the south and WAM, a new blog topic was born.

Couple weeks ago I was playing with my grand daughter and she said some very loving special things that touched my heart. It took me back to a similar experience with my son when he was about her age and again a blog post popped into my mind about special words that carry through your life. If you keep your eyes open to your world, the source of topics is endless. You’ll also walk away with an expanded appreciation for the richness of the world around us.

Big Mike
Michael W. Davis (Davisstories.com)
Author of the year, 2008 & 2009

Shadow of Guilt, “To each crossing of paths, there is a reason.”
Blind Consent, “The answers are buried in the secrets of the past.”
Forgotten Children, “Only Sara knows the truth.”
Tainted Hero, “Sometimes good people do bad things.”
The Treasure, “A lonely heart can impair one’s judgment.”
Veil of Deception, “Sometimes truth cuts deeper than a lie.”

Dealing With Tangents

One of my writing buddies needs to push a piece of writing out the door, yet she is adding, adding, adding to the manuscript, driving everyone including herself bonkers with book bloat.

I know what she is going through. Boy, do I! I love putting in witty tangents and interesting asides, beefing up my normally lean manuscripts with scenes not necessary for readers.

So how do I edit these wild detours out?

I take it back to GMC or Goals, Motivations, And Conflicts. Does the scene take the hero or heroine closer or farther away from his or her goals? Does the scene challenge or support their motivations? Does the scene's conflict tie into the conflict of the overall story arc? If the answer is no, no, no, then I say "no, no, no" to the scene, discarding it.

If there's a yes in there somewhere, I push myself to either add more affirmatives, making the scene work harder, or I fold that yes into another scene. I don't like lazy scenes, and I don't like tangents.

How do you deal with your tangents or unnecessary scenes?


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Kimber Chin writes sexy contemporary romances. To read about her stories, including some short freebies, head over to http://businessromance.com/

High Risk

Ever heard the tale of High Risk and how Champagne came to publish it? Some years back I had an agent who liked to work with packagers. No problem for a long time and both he and I made money doing it. But then he hooked a really big packager and I wrote a book for this person which made all of us a lot of money. I'm living in San Diego at the time, and the agent calls me and says, "This packager wants you to do another book for him so I'm setting up a luncheon two weeks from now. So my late husband and I (he had relatives in New York) caught a night flight to the city , so I could make the date. The book that made the money was a historical romnace, which is what I was writing at the time. So I have a synopsis for a historical romance I'm ready to pitch for the second book. The packager, my agent and I show up at the restaurant for the luncheon. Well, by now I knew enough not to start pitching right away and we all made small talk until the time came to talk business. My agent says, "Jane has got this terrific book for you." And off he goes about a thriller set in the High Sierras, on and on. The packager likes this pitch, while I'm sitting there wondering what the devil is going on.
The outcome is the agent tells the packager when I'll have the book ready and they agree on the price and the contract and we all leave without me having said more then ten words re this book.
So my agent gives me an outline and says go home and write it. I'm p****ed. Get home and can't possibly write the outlined book. So I write a thriller set in the High Sierra that has nothing to do with the outline. Quite naturally no one likes it, not even me. So the contract is canceled and I'm so mad at the agent I could kill him. But he dies before I can. When I have time, I keep fiddling with the story, off and on for years, finally getting it to where it's pretty good. But I'm handcuffed because of a clause in the contract I signed that wasn't cancelled , even though the book was. that says I can't offer the book to any publisher in the US. Ever.
I get tired of the NY scene and start writing ebooks. One day it occurs to me that there are epubs in Canada, which is not the US. So I look them up and am impressed by Champagne. I re-edit High Risk and offer it to Ellen. She likes it! I get a good editor and a great cover and am even more impressed by Champagne. This is my first book for CB and it sells quite well. I'm thrilled to death, and even more impressed by Champagne. Which is why I still write for Ellen, who took a chance on me. Would love to show you a photo of the cover for High Risk, but don't have it on this computer. Champagne still has it though and it's truly the right one for the story. So take a look at it sometime if you're interested. I did more research for that book than any except for Nightingale Man, also a CB Book. Jane

AWESOME DAY!

Yep, that's right, today is an AWESOME DAY!

See not only am I taking over A Champagne Toast--the readers loop for Champagne Readers, but tonight is also the Champagne Awards ceremony over at Coffetime Romance. No, I'm not in the running for any awards this year, but this is the time of year when we can dress to the nines and travel in style to the big event. I have my gown, jewels, accessories and escorts all picked out. Before dinner we'll dine at the Ritz...The limo is all shined and gassed up ready to pull out for an evening on the town.

You're invited to join in the fun! I hope to see at AChampagneToast readers loop for a day of laughs and fun--you can join me here: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/achampagnetoast/

If you've got the time, please join us for the festivities of the awards ceremony at Coffeetime Romance: http://www.coffeetimeromance.com/ctr_chat.htm Tuesday April 19, 2011 at 9pm EST in the Coffeetime Romance chat room!

I'm getting so very excited--you see May is release month for me! Death Rides a Pale Harley, the first book in my Four Horsemen series releases and I cannot WAIT to hear what you, my readers have to say about it! Check out the cover:



Pretty terrific isn't it?

Right now I'm crazy busy working on book two. It's dark, with a great deal of suspense and a heroine that has...well, I can't tell you much just yet. Sorry, but you're just going to have to wait for a while before I can give you many details. I will say this: The story is set in a suburb of Milwaukee Wisconsin...the hero is HOT HOT HOT and rides a Harley (hehehe) The heroine isn't like any heroine I've written before. This one has a special...gift. No, I'm not clowning around when I tell you that it has a dark side, an evil side...it gave ME nightmares just working on it!

I'm working on it as fast as my fingers can type and hopefully it won't be long before this book is completed and released--keep your fingers crossed for me!

I guess I better head off. I've got a busy day ahead of me!

See y'all next month!

Huggles
Donica

Titles!

Okay, so I haven't been posting lately. I didn't think I'd get around to it today but here I am. Sorry for the delay but, late or not, I have something I'd like to say. It's something that bugs the crud out of some people while others are indifferent to it. I haven't decided just yet. My typical response to it is...meh.
The use of the title, “Author.”

Some people use the title after posting their stories on sites like fan-fiction or the like. Others use it after selling their work on smashwords. Still others use it as soon as they're contracted with an agent or publisher.

What do you think? Do people deserve the word before a contract or should they stick to "writer?" Does it even matter? Are you bothered by it?

Diana Ilinca

www.dianailinca.com

Books about Writing

I wonder how many writers read books about writing. Or how many have lots of these books on their shelves but hardly ever open them, like me. Before writing seriously, I used to buy any book on writing I could afford in the hope they would impart some magical wisdom to make me a published writer.

Now, many years on, I’ve realised how few of these books I ever read the whole way through. Some of them are more for dipping into when in search of a particular answer, and a couple of them offer writing exercises to kick-start the muse. But the majority sit there on the shelf unread, until I eventually pass them on to someone else.

There are two favourites, however, that I’m reluctant to lend anyone (although I’ve just remembered my daughter has one of them just now!). The first is probably a modern classic by now and will be familiar to most writers: On Writing by Stephen King. This is fascinating, partly for the author’s own life-story in the first part of the book. But the second part is full of great advice for writers and, already, I’ve seen some of it quoted in many magazines.

The second book is not so well known, but this is my all time favourite: Becoming a Writer by Dorothea Brand. First written in 1934, this has been reprinted many times and it's the book I often recommend to serious new writers. Although it’s very dated, this explores what it is to be a writer, psychologically as well as in practice. There are more modern versions of this approach these days, but I go back through this little book every few years and read it from start to finish. This was where I first read about ‘harnessing the unconscious’, using that time when first waking to get some thoughts down. I think it’s definitely time for another read! What writing book do you most treasure?

CRITIQUE or CRITICISM?

Ack! Suddenly it's midnight and I forgot to write a post for tomorrow. So I shall regale you with an encore presentation of CRITIQUE or CRITICISM?


Look up 'critique' and you'll see such words as evaluation and assessment. Look up 'criticism' and you'll see disparagement and disapproval.

As writers, we eventually find it necessary to offer up our work for critique. This isn't the same thing as asking friends and family to read your book. Your family will love it no matter what. Your friends may like it. If they don't, they'll merely tell you they were too busy to read it. Maybe they were too busy. Maybe they couldn't choke it down because they're really into graphic novels about werebunnies.

The truth is, you're not getting an honest critique of your work. If you jump the gun and start querying and sending partials willy-nilly into the publishing world, there's a good chance you'll be disappointed by the results. Rejections will likely pour in with the regularity of an electric bill. Maybe you'll give up, convinced that you suck. Or maybe you'll realize that there are people out there who can really help.

So, you join a writers' group or forum. You get tips on making your work better. You discover flaws like passive voice, showing not telling, info dump and wooden dialogue.

Maybe a critique is particularly harsh, and you instantly take it personally. Perhaps you lash back, telling everybody you know that the critiquer is mean. If that's the case, you have a lot to learn about the critiquing process. Resist the urge to diss the critiquer. Don't flounce off in a huff because your brilliant prose didn't blow the socks off everyone who read it. The people who think they're helping you are not necessarily professionals, and not all of them know how to assess another writer's work with an objective eye.

Take each comment, positive or negative, and store them in a safe place. Take some time to cool off and look at the comments again.

Some will be inconsequential, like: "I thought that joke was in poor taste and I don't think you should use it." So what if the reader didn't like the joke? A thousand others will. Disregard.

Some will sting: "Using excessive 'there was' is the sign of an amateur". Okay, that could have been worded differently, so take it in its intended context -- omit excessive 'there was'.

Some will be extremely unhelpful: "This sucks. You can't write." Or: "I didn't like the plot." Ignore these people and move on.

Most will be helpful, and eventually their advice will percolate into your psyche if the same tips are given again and again.

Above all, whether you agree or disagree, take the time to thank your critiquer.

The same thing can be applied to Review sites. Remember that recent meltdown by an author who didn't agree with an honest review?
I loved the people in my writers' group -- they all helped me hone my rudimentary writing skills until I was eventually published. They encouraged me in my quest to snag an agent. They are the sweetest, most generous and kind ladies I'd ever met online. Together, we helped each other learn, we lean on each others' shoulders when tragedy struck, and we laughed together on a regular basis. They have since disbanded, but we keep in touch on Twitter and Facebook.

Yes, there are watchdog and resource sites out there, with Absolute Write, Writer Beware and Preditors & Editors at the forefront. They carefully research any claims against agents, publishers and writers' groups, offering both sides of the story if available. A random blog has every right to complain about individuals in the industry, but it may backfire on the owner if they don't back up their claims with facts.

There are great critique groups out there, too. Give your query letter a shot at Evil Editor's blog and you'll laugh your ass off while he picks apart your pitch in a most hilarious fashion, followed by a revised letter that will likely be 300% better. Join in the office party at the Absolute Write water cooler and you'll get lost in a whirlwind of opinions, jokes, critiques, writing exercises and just plain fun (and a little flouncing, too). Try your hand at Query Shark, Janet Reid's priceless query critique blog.

Hopefully you'll also fit in some writing, too.


Sandra Cormier is the author of Bad Ice: Hockey, passion and jealousy - a hat trick that could lead to danger.

As Bette Midler once sang on Seinfeld, "Well you made a long journey from Milan to Minsk, Rochelle Rochelle

Just substitute Ashern, Manitoba and Champagne Books and you get the picture. Welcome to my inaugural Blog. First, I want to introduce myself. My legal name is January Bain, and no, I wasn’t born in January though that tends to be my best working month of the year. When you live in a tiny hamlet in the frozen Canadian north and you don’t play hockey, ice fish or skidoo, writing fills the challenge. I do have a day job that I enjoy, teaching high school student’s computer skills and English. But my night job is where I get to live others lives and that I feel blessed to do. I write of vampires, faeries and romance and let my imagination roam free…

I’m working on the Forever series, having finished the first two books, Forever Man and Forever Woman and well into Forever Love. Never before in my life could I have called myself prolific and I’m surprised at the number of words flowing so freely out of me. I am humbled and grateful for the experience and will enjoy sharing this wonderful journey with anyone who is interested. And most of all, I am thrilled to have been picked up by Champagne Books to be one of their authors. Life is good.

And it has not always been so. For more about that please visit my website: www.januarybain.ca. Perhaps that is why it is so sweet now, having reached an important milestone in my emerging career. And did I say, how very, very much I enjoy crafting a good tale! All for now, over to you. Best, January Bain.

One Year Later...

It's been a full year since my very first book, The Lancaster Rule, went out for the world to see.  A myriad of people have since bought and read it and thankfully thought great things about it.  Though, it was a little iffy at first.  Perhaps that may have been only in my imagination where I thought I made a big fuss about nothing and no one took me seriously.  There had been times, during that deathly quiet lull where no one made a comment.  I began to panic, thinking that I’d made my first big debut and everyone was busy looking the other way—and missed the whole show.

I’m sure everyone who gives birth to a story, and sees it to its published stage and then onto the first public appearance tends to feel that way.  Maybe it’s just me, and my over-active imagination.

Since the release, I've diligently tried my best to market myself both locally and internationally.  You know, I think it’s working.  From ads on Facebook (hey, I got fans, yay!!) to blitz emails locally, interviews and reviews, discreet hints on Twitter to bullying friends of friends of friends—all geared to spread the joys of reading this amazing new book about the future.  At times, I'd started to feel like those religious groups that come knocking at your door, knowing the occupants of the house are hiding out of sight, trying to remain as quiet as possible, hoping I'd go away...shut up.  But the key is to never give up, keep plugging relentlessly on…and on…

And since releasing the book, I’ve had to learn a new language.  You know, like Twitter is a classic example.  Bear with me while I explain.

Since the invention of computers, and then emails, and chatting, and texting, the written word has mutated from a very precise “that’s so funny” to “LOL” and “OMG” let’s not forget the “ROFLOL”, “LMAO” and oh, wait, “BRB” cause “WTF” I got a “DM” from someone on Twitter who just "tweeted me" @TKToppin, and hashtagged (#) me, and oh, “NVM.”

Yeh, soooo…in case you missed that, I went from laughing out loud, to oh my God, to rolling on the floor laughing out loud, laughing my a** off, to telling you I’ll be right back and well, that famous expletive, cause I got a direct message, and checked out some hashtags and, oh, never mind.

Since joining up on the Twit-world (I know, some days I feel like a twit—but it’s addictive as hell), I’ve learned the purpose of the ‘@’ and when to use it and when not to (replying to and mentioning someone with a Twitter account).  The use of the ‘#’ and its purpose (a link to a new thread of conversations of like-minded people who also used the same #, eg: #scifi would take you to any mention/thread, where the tweets are about sci-fi).  There’s ‘tweets’ and ‘retweets or RT’, ‘follow, unfollow, followers’ and ‘lists’ to join ‘trends’ to glance over, etc., etc…

To think a year ago, I thought the hashtag meant the number symbol.  Boy have a learned a lot!

Whatever we think, and what I thought of it before, Twitter seems to be working for me.  After all, I joined up to keep the interest in my book alive and follow like-minded people (among other things).  So far, I’ve got 116 followers (weee!! People like me!) and follow 78 excitingly interesting Tweeps (people), #amfollowing 8 Lists, and have tweeted over 1,775 tweets.

So, there you go.  I suppose it was inevitable that I’d end up learning a new language just to keep up with things.  One way or the other, the new way of communicating will eventually consume us and we'll be reading books full of abbreviated letters and @-symbols and #s and it would make perfect sense.  (I hope that doesn't ever happen, by the way.  Just being a little dramatic).  I really hope I can keep up, because some days, I feel like an outdated relic like my protagonist.

T.K. Toppin
(http://www.thelancasterrule.blogspot.com)

CSI, Criminal Minds, and Dexter, Oh my!

My husband called me and the conversation went like this… “Did you see the flyer I left for you?” He asked. “Flyer for what?” “The big one day sale at the grocery store.” “No.” “Yeah. I kinda figured if it didn’t have anything to do with murder or dead bodies you wouldn’t notice it.” Hazard of being a writer. His comment about murder and dead bodies had me questioning the public’s natural fascination with serial killers. Although we are repulsed by a killer’s actions, we want to know what kind of crime they committed and what makes them tick. The killer could have had a similar background as me. But, I chose to work with children and become a novelist and they chose to stalk, torture, and kill people. Why? Nature? Nurture? Predisposition? Serial killers don’t suffer from mental illness they suffer from a lack of empathy for others. They are usually intelligent and organized individuals. Serial killers organize, plan with patience, and execute their plan. In most cases, they function and blend into society like the rest of our neighbors. Speaking of our neighbors…when they flash the picture of the serial killer on the news, I want him or her in some cases, to resemble a one-eyed-Cyclops. In reality, the serial killer has a job, is on a church board, and is somebody’s nice next-door neighbor. Ted Bundy and Jeffrey Dahmer were nice looking, intelligent, and personable men. Paul Bernardo and Karla Homolka a serial killer team where known as “The Ken and Barbie Murderers” because of their exuberant youth and good looks. Once again, although we may be repulsed with the serial killer’s actions, with multiple CSI shows, Criminal Minds, and Dexter our fascination or morbid curiosity continues to grow. In my own action thriller Bolt Action, Detective Leslie Bolt is searching for a serial killer known as “The State Quarter Killer.” I hope this isn’t a spoiler, but I’ll let give you a clue…“The State Quarter Killer” isn’t a one-eyed-Cyclops. With shows, movies, and books about serial killers a person begins to wonder if there is a killer lurking on every corner. But in reality, only 1% of all murders are committed by serial killers. So, most likely you’re nice neighbor is really a nice neighbor. I hope. Stop by my website www.victoriaroder.com to read an excerpt from Bolt Action and view the video trailer. The cover for Bolt Action was featured in an article on MSNBC Today.com on how covers and female characters have changed over the years. If you get a chance check it out. http://today.msnbc.msn.com:80/id/42265908/ns/today-books/

POETRY HAS A TILT

Angelica Hart and Zi

While writing IT MAY BE LOVE (work in progress) it was a struggle to remain one with the twisted lust of a madman, who was so because of his obsession with love and anonymity. He has been corresponding to a lady via e-mail. Hidden behind its cloak, freed to say much he might have never revealed. Wired through each piece is the growth of the complexity of the man. Some sad. Some profound. Some intense. And some scary.

The following is an excerpt:

Much of my poetry has a tilt, a twist, a difference that dances with the weird. Why? The challenge to the resolve of it all. I see captured in all of us a dance with endless dichotomy. To place that in balance, to accept it, to understand it is to bond one with the other... me to you.

Regarding my offer to meet the lady who might spend many nighttimes fighting tears, you wrote, “Are you sure you want to know that woman?” I will say without one moment of hesitation… YES!!! If there is pain I will feel it willingly. Trust I will not be brutal or judgmental. Believe me when I say, my heart is open if you wish to share. Watercolor me an empath, add tears if we need to cry together, or smiles if laughter is our fate.

Strength is an amazing thing
Power is an absolute aphrodisiac
Humanity is a sign of strength
Huggin’ is not weakness
Asserting one’s strength; good
But asserting one's strength
As well as their heart
Awesome… simply awesome.

Baggage is the gift that life’s experience shares with each of us. How we handle it is our gift to others. I experience life’s pain at its moment, respecting its value, and then when the morn is done, I move on, not forgetting but not letting it debilitate me. Life has an abundance of opportunities to share. I believe we have to share them. Yes, there is a presumption that you have baggage. We all do. This is neither an indictment nor a presumption as to how you handle it, just that I understand that we each have pasts that effect our futures.

Speaking of futures… does ours hold naked moments
The man smiles a boyish smile… a glow is captured in his eyes.
Moments where you are the object of my desires.
Desires that grow from touches with your soul.
I ask… with a gentle puff of air… will I know your skin?


I felt a vulnerable man struggling to be open putting so much on the line that he could have frightened the woman. Was this too much, too quick? Seems he was willing to risk it. Would you have? Was he honest? You'd believe it. Was he scary? She could have believed it. Was he honest? Maybe not. Was he scary? Maybe she believed him a romantic and she so deserved that, needed that, and mostly wanted that. Would she have risked a madman? Possibly.

The question that is out there is how do we embrace the pathos of such a character as we write it. There are plenty of tricks. For me it is my engineering training. I would always read the codes and regulations associated with the issue before I'd sit to resolve it. As a writer, I keep a sidebar of the characters' personalities and reread before writing, preparing and re-preparing. Yes, a character morphs during the development but it is our duty to control those growths, keeping them true to the expectations of the story.

Now, Angelica has a different tact. She writes and asks me to polish any character flaws. I do. Her point is why should both of us be so disciplined. I get that. It is that freedom that she has which allows for some astonishing things.

The following excerpt from IT MAY BE LOVE further sketches the man's complexity yet also his agenda:

My eyes smile from the talk of sin, not true sin, but that of the playful dance of lovers-to-be. I am a man of faith, raised in the church. I respect Christian ideals, have lived a modest and humble life honoring them, but I do lust and see it in harmony with my faith.

So as love becomes ours
The seek for pleasure will draw upon me
So as time bonds us
I will want to have all of you about me


I wobbled when he presumed. I felt her trepidation when he assumed. I saw a man who wanted to manipulate but called it honesty. Ouch! We've known them.

To burn that line between values so one might construct a character can be privately entertaining but it also can be a process of ripping at our souls. I hurt for that man. I struggle to understand his pathos. I shed tears. Felt fears. Was angered. Needed to befriend him... but could not. His soul and spirit are real to me. Do I want to rewrite him successful, if he was not? Damn straight I do but I resist out of respect to the storytelling.


Taut Johnson in KILLER DOLLS, for reasons of National Security, had to lie, and sadly for him he had to do so to a woman he had grown to love. I hated writing that. Angelica cussed often calling him a #@%&sucker of the order of he must burn in hell. Could we have soft-soaped him? Yes. But without that conflict we would have been vending white bread or pabulum to readers who want that strong pull-you-push-me. Was Taut a bad man? Yes! No! Maybe so! Read. Let us know.

This is Zi saying... I want you... to read!



We'd love to hear from anyone interested in what we do. Anyone who writes us at angeliahartandzi@yahoo.com and leaves an s-mail address, we will send you a gift and add you to any future mailings.

Angelica Hart and Zi
KILLER DOLLS ~ SNAKE DANCE ~ CHASING YESTERDAY
Champagne Books can be purchased at http://www.champagnebooks.com

THE FABLE OF SIN-SIN-CINDERELLA SERIES
Books can be purchased at angelicahartandzi.com

I just had my tenth book published

That's a milestone for me. I can still remember how hard I worked trying to get the very first book published. It's ironic that the first book, Celestial Dragon is actually the first in a series of books and that Dragon King, just released Monday, is the third and final in the series. Well sorta the final. Actually, my hope is to connect all my books.

How? Read Dragon King to find out. Okay, I know. That's lame. So - here's the basic idea. Dragon King allows a character in my time travel, On the Silver Edge of Time to make a reappearance. Granted, the span of time is over 3000 years. The character is a wizard. While the book is labeled sci-fi futuristic, it's actually a  cross between sci-fi and fantasy.

I love revisiting my characters. I think it's because I hate saying good-bye to them when the story ends. Dragon King not only revisits Fintan, but it also revisits the enchanted castle from The Keeper of Moon Haven. And yes, eventually, there will be a connection to my historical westerns as well. Why would I do this? The challenge. It's like piecing together a puzzle when you don't have all the pieces. I did not sit down and figure it all out. Instead, I let each book lead me to this discovery. The challenge of making it work when a world or time frame has already been established is exhilerating. And because some of the characters have already been established, it gives me automatic background and backstory for each new story idea.

Ideas

Do people always ask you where you get your story ideas? Do you ever get flustered by this? I mean, honestly, how in the world do you answer? Ideas just come. With a lifetime of memories and experiences and research under your belt, things simply merge together in your head until they shape into a uniform idea. Take this weekend for example. I came up with ideas for three different stories, but I’ll temper down my torture and only share one with you.
THE IDEA:
A couple years ago, my in-laws found a stray cat snooping around their property. They made the grave error of feeding it, and of course, the fuzzy critter adopted them. It never left the yard, lazing around their back patio and enjoying life, until one day, my mother-in-law heard a horrendous cat yowl outside. She rushed out the back door to find nothing but a puff of grey fur floating in the air where she’d last seen the cat lounging. She maintains to this day that the buzzard she’d seen circling the yard only minutes before flew off with her cat.
So that vision has been percolating through my brain for a few years, right, until this last Saturday afternoon. It was a lovely warm day. I thought I’d take the thirteen-month-old outside to retrieve the mail with me. After I struggle her shoes on, she rushes for the door, knowing shoes mean outside. The poor child pushed and shoved on the exit with all her might, though it’s one of those pull-to-open doors not push-to-open (reminding me of my favorite Far Side cartoon, by the way). So I show her the proper way to open the door, and out we go into the beautiful day.
Down the driveway we meander toward the mailbox. As we lope along, I notice two enormous birds of prey across the road in the cow pasture, soaring and swooping, probably looking for a midmorning snack. They obviously didn’t spot any scrumptious field mice to munch on, because they lifted higher in the sky, rotating each other until they crossed the road to fly above our yard. When one began dipping lower, circling MY child, I glance at her. She’s only a little mite, the bottom ten percent in weight on her age range. And with the sun glowing off her bright blonde cap of hair, it bet the crown of her head looked like the perfect bullseye for the hungry buzzard above.
I could practically hear it licking it’s chops, eyeing her, wondering if she was small enough to carry off yet large enough to fill its rumbling belly.
Being a worried new mother with an overactive imagination, I screeched my daughter’s name, scooped her up into my arms, glared at the hungry bird, and promptly dashed my daughter back into the safety of our home.
And that’s when the story idea formed. It’d have to be a middle grade tale. A buzzard swoops down, and snatches up a little baby girl, intending to carry her off and eat her. But when he returns her to the dinner table in his nest, he falls in love with her big blue eyes and happily baby gabber, and bam, we have ourselves the bird version of the Jungle Book. Little Lydia Marie could grow up, always trying yet failing to fly like her mama and papa bird.
And there you have it, a glimpse into the chaos of an author’s brain. I suggest next time someone asks you where you get your story ideas, you just go ahead and tell them how one of your stories came to be. About an hour later, when their eyes are glazed over and a little bit of drool is leaking down the side of their mouth, they’ll swear never to ask you that dangerous question again!!

This Publishing Business

There's been a lot of noise on the loops lately about reviews for e-published books. I'd like to add my two sense - for what it's worth.

Years ago, because I've been at this for a long time, I decided I wanted to write a book. Married with children, my husband and I sat down and discussed what effect this would have on our family, the kids, my job, (I taught high school) and our chaotic household, because you don't have four teenagers without a bit of chaos. I loved reading, so did my husband when he had the time, I loved to write, so creating a book was not that far fetched for me.

However, because of our discussions, we approached this as a business enterprise. And with his support, we set up a writing office, and started what would be a second career choice for me.

Never, in all the time I was writing, did I consider this a hobby. This is a job, and as such, we embarked on research, traveled to conferences, sought legal advice, even appropriate tax advice. We discussed the need for more education for me and I went back to school.

My husband investigated representation and decided he could do that part of the business. And when the first book was published, which he sold, along with two other manuscripts, we began the process of seeking reviews. Some weren't good, some were great. But this was a business, and those reviews were part of the process. Of course, the good ones felt great, and the bad ones hurt - no different than rejection letters which are also part of the business.

That same philosophy applies to e-publishing. This is a business in which we are involved. My husband now does the promotion, is my first reader and boy, can he be critical. He still attends conferences when we elect to go. And now retired, he is an avid reader - only now the books he reads are e-books. Because this is a business and he supports this growing industry.

What to Get Rid Of

A Productive Day

I was a good girl this morning. I have some organizing-filing-discarding that I have been putting off for waaaay too long, and this morning I bit the bullet and started in on it. Got rid of a whole big box of general junk and organized what I didn’t throw out. Still need to do the same with about four more boxes in the garage, but it is a good feeling to have started and even better to be able to look at the box and say, “Yep, got rid of that.”

Since then, I’ve been thinking about what else I need to get rid of. Kind of in a metaphysical sense, you know? I have a whole lot of guilt, and I’m pretty sure I could get rid of most of it without noticing. So I am going to try to clear that out. Feeling bad about not teaching my kids a foreign language? Gone. Regretting the times I plopped them in front of the tv instead of doing clever art projects? Gone. And the things I hate about myself? The time I spend resenting my maternal grandmother’s gene pool for giving me a big rear end and short stubby legs? Let’s trash that. (Did you know, my SIL told me I don’t have calves, I have full-grown cows? That is going in the trash pile, too!!) The wishing I had learned to play piano? I will toss that.

Because really, I have a great life. I have the last of the good men. I hope my girls realize what kind of father they have, although I know you never notice the things you are used to. They don’t realize how many girls have dads who just don’t care, because they have been wrapped in a cocoon of their dad’s love and protection since before they were born.

My girls have turned out great. Well, I think I am justified in saying that about the 18-year-old, cause she is officially an adult. And the little one is following along just like her. I may not have taken them on educational excursions to all 50 states, I may not have forced them to go to cotillion or made them study enough, but they are smart, kind, inquisitive, well-mannered young ladies despite all my failings. So I am going to jettison the mommy-guilt.

I have a good job, that I am good at. I have friends who care, and that I care for. (Poor grammar, I know. Deal with it.) I have a hobby/avocation/obsession that may just result in something good one day – but even if I never get published, I enjoy my writing.

So I am trashing some of the unhelpful emotions to make room for better ones. What about you? Got any old, worn-out attitudes you can toss?

Up to Bat

Ah, the opening weekend of professional baseball season is here. The crack of the bat, the peanut shells scattered with their roasted, salty attar wafting on the breeze while vendors vie for your greenbacks with witty rhymes: "No need to fret, no need to hollah/Stand on your feet and show me your dollah!" My favorite was a local boy at the minor league ballpark, obviously fresh in from Texas because his accent turned "Pepsi, ice-cold Pepsi" into "Pap-see! Ass-cold Pap-See!"

It has been said that baseball is a poetic reflection of life, a metaphor for all human experience: a single batter struggles, outnumbered by nine opposing players; one mistake in the field and the other team is winning the war; persevere, battle back and prevail as the underdog in a come-from behind win. George Will and others have compared and expounded on the profundity of baseball and far more eloquently that I ever could.

No, I'm waxing nostalgic because nothing has made my nest feel so nakedly empty as not having a baseball practice/scrimmage/tournament/game to attend. For ten years, every moment in this house revolved around baseball training or equipment or discussions. My son started playing late by today's standards, waited until he was nine to show any interest. But when he did, whew baby it was jump in with both feet and stay immersed. Living in Tucson also meant baseball could be a year-round sport, and in this house it most definitely was.

He's in college in California now. No, "Mom, where are my sliding pants? Where's my glove?" frantic yells echo through my house. No stocking up on boxes of Ritz crackers, gum, and Gatorade. No Everest-high "Did you see me jack that ball over the wall?" or lower than low, "I blew it, shoulda thrown that slider, I hung that curve like a slab of beef..."

So eerie, this quiet. My husband has the television on, bought the package to watch every game scheduled to be played on the North American continent, and messily shells peanuts into the big popcorn bowl while I type around the cat on the keyboard.


But in a way, I'm about to step into the batter's box myself. Dragon & Hawk will be released on Monday - wouldn't it be sweet if I jack one over the fence?


Pass me some Cracker Jacks and one o' them ass-cold Pap-sees, wouldja?


~Jude Johnson



Author of DRAGON & HAWK
Available from Champagne Books: www.champagnebooks.com
Website: jude-johnson.com
Blog:  The Words That Remain
Facebook: JudeJohnsonAZ

Professionalism in Cyber-Communication

Buy these Books

It’s April 1—April Fool’s Day. I’d like to say that the recent exchange I read between a reviewer and an irate author is nothing more than an April Fool’s joke. Unfortunately, it doesn’t seem to be so.

A recent discussion on one of the Yahoo group lists got me to thinking about how interactions in cyberspace can be depersonalizing. What I mean by that is that we can forget there is a person on the other side of the email or blog exchange. We can lose our sense of civility and compassion.

The exchange to which I am referring, (and I’m not posting a link here on purpose because the author has already publicly shamed herself enough without further help from me), is a perfect example. The author in question submitted a book to a reviewer who gave a mixed review. While he liked the plot in many ways, he found a high volume of typographical errors and grammatical issues to be off-putting. So much so, he rated the book with two stars. Well… His posting of the review on his blog opened a floodgate of reaction on the part of the author. A very nasty, unprofessional reaction, culminating in the use of ‘f--- you’ more than once (uttered by the author.) Reviews being what they are—subjective—we all have to learn to roll with those punches.

It’s one thing to sit across the desk from an agent, editor, or other publishing professional and have a discussion about your work. In that situation, most of us would have self-control and express our thoughts in a civil manner, even if we disagreed. Most of us. But the ability to be in constant communication via cyber-technology gives us a distance from one another. The risk here is that we forget there is a human being on the other end of the exchange. And, so, we rant at will, less careful about our choice of words. Doing so on a public forum where our words are out there for the world to see only results in public humiliation. It’s like some of the deeply personal information I see people share on Facebook that makes me cringe.

As writers, and particularly in the world of e-publishing, we find ourselves constantly dealing with publishers, agents, editors, and reviewers via email and the internet. Even with the submission of our work, we can tend to become too relaxed with query letters.

We need to remind ourselves that we are professionals, that we want to be treated as professionals and, so, must behave accordingly. Then we have the right to expect the same behavior on the part of others.

Why is it that we find the embarrassing melt-down of another on a public forum to be entertaining? It’s unlikely most of us would be so detached and amused if that same scene were being played out right in front of us. We would, no doubt, feel more compassion.

I will admit that I was momentarily entertained by reading the blog accounting the exchange between the author and the reviewer (and all of the others who jumped on the bandwagon). But, then, I felt sad for that author who clearly had lost control and said things I imagine she now wishes she could erase.

If I consider myself to be a professional writer, I have to have the control to behave in a professional manner. To me, that includes not delighting in the public self-destruction of another author.

These are my thoughts. What are yours?

Linda Rettstatt
http://www.lindarettstatt.com/

2010 Author of the Year Nominee - Champagne Books
2011 EPIC e-Book Awards Finalist - Next Time I'm Gonna Dance