Moving Forward

After a few days of hiatus from writing, I'm back on it today and moving forward on "The Treasure of Mongan Manor," volume 3 of the Windsong Lake books. I'm about to get into the real meat of the story, and I've had some good ideas about one sequence I'd been mulling over. It has the potential to be rather erotic, but I don't really write erotic stuff, as I've mentioned in blogs past. Still, what I'm envisioning might call for some physical description of that nature, because it's an important scene with pertinent information. I'm not to the point of writing it yet, so I'll give that some additional thought.

Another question I'm wrestling with is whether or not there should be a murder involved. As planned thus far, there's plenty of conflict going on, any of which might end up with someone murdered. The murder of someone who might have held all the answers could have a suspense aspect to it, but I don't know yet. As much thought as I've put into mapping out all those conflicts over a missing treasure among members of an extended family, I haven't yet figured out how it all resolves. The characters at this point are just sketches, a statement of a role each plays, so I can't really plan until they become more fleshed out. Once I start seeing who they all are, I can identify a murder victim, a killer, and the motive.

Early on in the planning stage, I began to wonder if there would be a role for Amy, Stefanie's best friend. Happily, I've found one for her. Since Stefanie is a poor reader and even worse at doing background research, Amy will provide information important to solving the puzzle at hand, i.e., the secret to the treasure.

As a side note in the Gotchas category, I was talking to an author at Bookfest last Saturday, and he told me how he had someone proofread one of his manuscripts when it was converted into a Kindle format. My publisher has often told me that sometimes these formatting programs don't "play nice" all the time, but this author's experience proved that in spades. Careful reading of that manuscript found the exact same sentence repeated EIGHT TIMES in various places throughout the book. Now there's an error that would be tough to find without reading the whole book straight through in one sitting.

Plot Change Already?

All ready for Bookfest tomorrow, apart from getting some small bills for change. This morning, I printed more business cards, a couple more brochures, and some signs. I packed up books and got all my paraphernalia together, ready to go. I will be in the Glen Ellyn Public Library from 11 til 2 to sell and sign books, chat with readers, and hand out advertising. In two weeks, I'll do it all again at the Joliet Public Library Black Road branch.

I did a lot of work on "Mongan Manor" yesterday, and I began more this morning, but then I stopped because I realized the motive behind the plotting was about an inheritance and suddenly seemed too similar to the previous book. I feel I should change it up a little, come up with a different sort of motivation for my antagonists to drive their actions. Maybe I'll go back to the hidden treasure idea. Something hidden in the rebuilt tower of the title place which everyone wants after hints dropped by a senile relative. Treasure means wealth, and each of the other relatives has a reason to want it. But maybe the treasure is not what they think. Gonna have to think this through, especially since I had already gone to all the trouble to work out the family tree and rights of inheritance for the original plot. I'll also have to figure out how to incorporate a critical scene, one I have more or less set in my mind already and which serves as a turning point. Good thing I've been keeping plot notes on the side.

Busy, Busy

I spent some time this morning making up brochures for Bookfest this weekend. I made 15 so far and may make some more.

While those were printing up, I got back onto some plotting for the new Windsong Lake book. I knew that Stefanie would be invited to a country manor house to figure out a mystery, but I had no idea what that mystery really was. Yesterday, I sat down and began drawing a family tree for the characters inhabiting the house and figuring out what the "secret" was that Stefanie is supposed to uncover. I bounced back and forth between my diagram and typed notes about who had things to hide and who wanted them revealed, i.e., motives. I think I have most of that ironed out now, as well as a device for getting Stefanie and Paul into Mongan Manor. Some of what I figured out may change down the road, but I think I've got a solid plot now. While my booklets were printing, I made a clean copy of the family tree and am now figuring out the dates of birth of each person. The person who invites Stefanie to Mongan Manor doesn't want anyone to know the real reason, so she says it's because she has commissioned Stefanie to do a painting of the manor as a gift to one of the clan's matriarchs. That fits nicely with why a family gathering is being invaded by a stranger. More details to be worked out before I get into the scene where the invitation is given.

I also was struck by the notion that "Where Power Lies" is too long. There's a nagging memory in my head about the number 80,000, as in word count. At 82,280, that nagging urged me to do some more cutting this morning. Now it's down to 80,648, and I'll be looking to trim just a bit more. None of this means any plot changes--just cutting out some stuff that really isn't necessary. Will another proofreading be necessary in the face of all this chopping? Probably.  (*sigh*)

Next Book and Other Progress

I spent some time this morning on promotional materials for Bookfest on September 28. I revised a booklet I had made a while back, a brochure of my novels with other information, and ran a couple of tests. Larger type made it easier to read, and I updated some publishing information. Each page features a book, and with some adjustment of the layout, to make sure the cover art appeared in the same spot on each page, I think I've resolved a bleed-through issue I was concerned about. Gotta buy more ink cartridges, and I'll hold off massive printing for a bit in case I get print edition information for "Dabblers," "Game Faces," and "Stranger Faces." I also made up three signs to use, one sign for each book series. I think I'm set for Bookfest.

I made one tweak to "Where Power Lies" this morning, because I realized I had not covered a facet of our current sociopolitical landscape and how it relates to my future world. Still planning on letting it rest before I do another full reading.

So on to the next book, Windsong Lake Vol. 3. The working title is  "The Treasure of Mongan Manor" but I'm not all that pleased with it. Maybe it'll change to "Secret of Mongan Manor." Mongan is a name from Irish mythology, the son of the sea god, a shape shifter known for his generosity.

Eight pages into the manuscript, and I'm already questioning my starting point! The beginning has been in my head for a while, in which Stefanie has a vision about Paul being in danger and using her psychic ability to find him and warn him. While it sets up a layer of conflict important to the story, the event itself is not at all related to the mystery Stefanie will encounter. Is the fact that I set up a different conflict enough to warrant this scene, even though it doesn't really begin the mystery plot? Perhaps I should just "go with it" for now, as many authors do. Just write the story and worry about editing later.

Another Pause

I've got "Where Power Lies" pretty much where I want it now, I think. I'm going to give it a rest for a few days and do another full read through to verify I've made the appropriate points. The length is pretty good, at just over 82,600 words. When I finally apply the "Done" stamp to it, I'll do a synopsis and blurb and consider sending my latest "child" into the world.

I'm very excited get back to the newest Windsong Lake book. It's been started, of course, but I've been trying to lean on "Power" to get it closer to finished before letting my muse take flight with Stefanie.

I also have to get ready for Bookfest 2013 in Glen Ellyn in less than two weeks. Last night, I made up three signs for the table, one for each book series. A price sign is also required, as well as an up-to-date brochure to hand out. As to pricing, I'm considering offering a discount for anyone buy more than one book, maybe buy one book for $9 or any two for $16. I still don't know exactly which books I'll have on hand to sell, so the pricing thing might have to wait till the last minute. I would love to go to Bookfest, or to Joliet Author Fest, with a full complement of my books to offer, but I'm not sure if that's going to work out for timing. Also getting down to the wire is whether or not I'll participate in the pitch session at Bookfest. The one I wrote is for "Dabblers," but if I don't have a paperback on hand to sell, it kind of misses the point. We shall see.

In A Slashing Mood

Taking another pass at "Where Power Lies" this morning, and I find myself doing a lot of cutting. Extraneous stuff mostly, tags, descriptions of inconsequential things. In the back of my mind, however, is a cautionary voice telling me that slashing stuff often leads to new errors. I might delete one more word than I intend, or take out the verb which makes the sentence a sentence. Maybe after this pass, I'll finally get to the read-through where I don't need to change anything and simply correct obvious errors.

I also made the decision to remove chapter titles. I've heard from readers that they don't really pay attention to them. I've left them in for the Jack Watson books and the Faces books, and having done so in those series, I will have to keep them for any future additions. I left them out of the Windsong Lake books, but I started using them in "Where Power Lies," mainly as a tool to find passages. The titles get marked for as level 1 of an outline and I can quickly navigate within my document to something I need to find. Since I took them out this morning, I guess I'll have to find my place some other way.

As I settled into bed last night, I had an alarming thought regarding the upcoming Glen Ellyn Bookfest. I've been preparing a 60-second pitch to give to attendees for "Dabblers," but what do I do if I don't have any paperbacks of it to sell? It's supposed to have gone to press, but I don't know if there'll be time to order any copies to take with me. I'm giving some thought to prepping a pitch for "Two Faces, Two Faced." Those are already on order, and I hope they're going to be delivered any day now.

Then again, the thought of standing up in front of people to give my pitch, of any book, makes me wonder if I should do it at all. It's not a requirement, and I can think of some practical reasons beyond my own stage fright to skip it. I guess I should be prepared with one or two pitches and make a decision at the last minute.

Transitional Phase

First, I received confirmation yesterday that I will be participating in Bookfest 2013 in Glen Ellyn, Illinois. I'll be selling my books in the Glen Ellyn Public Library, signing them, handing out promotional materials, and chatting with readers. In light of that, I started updating those materials--websites and a book brochure--to reflect the coming September release of "Seer, Tyro, Fiend." I updated a booklet format to use and I'll have to begin printing. I also need to order books to sell.

I've made it through a polishing pass on "Where Power Lies," which I think is the title for "Resistance." It just seems to be a better one for a lot of reasons I believe I discussed in a prior post. More readings will be required because I think it's a bit long--85,000+ words, and I still need to make sure it flows properly and certain ideas are not restated as I think I may have done. This morning, I rewrote the ending, which I knew I would do after the first draft was complete. Now I like the way it ends because it offers hope for the situation to improve but also leaves the door open for more adventures in a new series. Don't know if I'm going to go there yet. No final decisions on the cover at this time either.

Next up is a third Windsong Lake book, as I've mentioned. I need to do some research on a few things first that will help me construct the mystery at stake. I may get started on this while I give "Where Power Lies" a brief rest.

BookFest Recap and Miscellany

Yesterday was Glen Ellyn BookFest. I actually sold a book! Also handed out fliers and business cards which I hope will lead people to check out my ebooks and various web locations. I got to meet people and talk about writing with other authors which is always a great experience.

I decided at the last minute to get in on Pitchfest to give a one-minute sales pitch on "The Dreamer Gambit." Because I did not plan and rehearse, it was something of a disaster. I probably should have read the blurb off the back instead of trying to ad lib. And having a one minute time limit adds another layer of stress on top of facing a sea of people. Funny thing is, I managed to do the same thing--give a quick description of the book--to a number of people who came to the authors' tent looking to buy books. Guess I just do better in the one-on-one, which leads me to the conclusion that I need to work on speaking to larger audiences. I've had some experience with that in the past--giving a training class at the City of Naperville many moons ago and speaking to the Lunchtime Rotary Club on the City's Y2K plans--but it's been a long time and I was prepared for those. Perhaps the larger lesson here is to always be prepared. I need to be ready to talk about my work to any audience, from one to a hundred, anytime, anywhere. This is something I had not previously thought much about, and I'm considering it a lesson learned, thanks to BookFest.

While in the authors' tent, I was approached by someone from the Glen Ellyn Library about possibly coming to do a talk of some kind. I hope she did not see my performance at Pitchfest and change her mind. I think I could handle sitting with a small group and discussing my writing experiences and the craft itself. Just being asked was a thrill, another milestone in feeling like a Real Author.

A few more take-aways from the event: I will probably sign up for the Chicago Writers Association which I learned more about at the authors' breakfast. Randy Richardson spoke to the group about it, and it sounds like something else I should get into. Also, I spoke to some people who were at Love Is Murder in February, and I know I have to sign up for the 2013 event. Who knows? I might get another opportunity to be on a panel.

Ahead in July: Kindle Book Review is going to announce the semi-finalists in the Best Indie Books of 2012 contest. "Two Faces, Two Faced" is my entry. If I make the first cut, i.e., my books goes to the judges, I'll have bragging rights on that, which would be great ad copy with the sequel coming soon. Later in July, I should be getting some idea of what I sold in the appropriate quarter (Apr-Jun for Write Words, Jan-Mar for most everyone else). Let's see what my publicity push accomplished!

For the nonce, back to writing.

Flying Fingers, Indeed

Well into Chapter 3 of new "Faces" novel. Today's challenge: how to handle two characters driving from Miami to Chicago. There must be some exchanges of information between them and some sort of development of the plot, but the key thing is to get through it at a reasonable pace that doesn't get boring. I've got a few ideas on how to do it, but the pacing will be tricky.

Tomorrow is BookFest in Glen Ellyn, Illinois, my first book signing event. I think I have everything ready to go, but getting just the tiniest bit nervous in a sort of undefined way.

I'd like to say thank you to some visitors who left comments on this blog. I know I get visitors, but getting feedback is really, really great.

Flying Fingers

Just wrapped Chapter 2 in the new "Faces" novel. That's well over 6,000 words already. Tracy is so easy to write, though, bless her heart, and I'm still in the early stages where I know what's what and what's next. Can't wait to start Chapter 3 which is where the meat of the conflict gets underway. Well, actually, it got underway, i.e., foreshadowed, in Chapter 1 by the appearance of an earlier character who seems to be involved in some way whenever Tracy gets into trouble.

Revving up for Glen Ellyn BookFest on Saturday. I've got my signs ready, plus chapbooks of "The Changeling Kill" for anyone who buys "The Dreamer Gambit" and some other promotional materials. This will be my first go at an event where I'll be selling and signing my books, and I'm both excited and a little nervous as it gets closer.

Interestingly, I've started to pick up more followers on Twitter that are involved in promotion and sometimes graphic arts. As far as the art-related ones, I wonder if those are prompted by the book covers. Creating them is a matter of necessity because Write Words is small and does not employ a graphic designer. I think I'm getting better at constructing cover art on the computer though as I learn to use the tools at my disposal. The hardest part, though, is coming up with a concept that is also workable AND is in some way representative of the book. No ideas yet on the new one, but they'll start coming as I get deeper into the story.

Here We Go Again

Started writing the third installment of the Tracy Wiley series. As noted in yesterday's post, the compulsion to get going on all those ideas I have for it proved inescapable. Up to ten pages so far today. I have a working title, but I almost hesitate to use it. For one thing, it does not exactly fit the pattern of the other titles. It also does not convey the essence of the story.

Had another thought about "Dabblers" today in regards to my POV character, Stefanie. I think part of the problem is she seems too weak. I know she is faced with uncertainty and sometimes frightening events, and I know she feels a need to hide aspects of herself from other people, but the net effect is weakness. Potential readers won't know what's inside her until late in the story, but if she's too wishy-washy, no reader will get that far. What the cure for this situation is, I don't know. At some point, it will simply come to me, I'm sure (or fairly sure). I just need the right inspiration.

Glen Ellyn BookFest is this coming Saturday, and it's very exciting. While I'll be selling/signing copies of "The Dreamer Gambit," I'm not looking at the event solely as a money-making proposition. Hopefully, I will sell some books, the more the better. But the main thrust is promotion, getting my works into the public eye. I have fliers to hand out as well as business cards. There will be other authors there and people from other areas of the fiction business. So it's time to get my game face on and tap the exhibitionist part of my personality. That part doesn't get out much and remains somewhat shy, but I need it now if I'm going to make it in this business.

Now, back to my next novel. 

Ready . . . Set . . .

Stocked up and getting prepared for Glen Ellyn BookFest next Saturday. I bought more ink cartridges, a sign holder, and a tray, and then got to work printing. The letter-style tray will hold a single-sheet summary of all my published books. I printed about 50 of those. The stand up sign holder is for the price sign for paperback copies of "The Dreamer Gambit." I'm thinking about creating chapbooks for "The Changeling Kill" to be given to anyone who buys "Dreamer." The paperbacks will have a special gold label on the binding. I printed a sheet of those too, but I need to trim them a tiny bit before applying to the books.

Further preparation--I've got my eye on a small blue toolbox that formerly held -- tools! -- to use as my cash box. It needs to be cleaned out first, and I've found a small padlock to use on it. I'll also get the opportunity at the event to give a one-minute pitch to the audience as it gathers for the keynote speaker. One minute can be horrendously short or excruciatingly long or both. What to say? I have some idea, but it will require polishing and rehearsing.

As for progress on "Dabblers," my first pass is up to the final wrap-it-all-up chapter. I hope to complete at least a second pass before the editor at Write Words sends me galleys for "Game Faces." I have some ideas for cover art for "Dabblers" that I'm mulling over. Of course, since "Dabblers" is a new story line, it will have to be sent to the Write Words committee for acceptance. I guess I shouldn't get the cart before the horse here and take it one step at a time.

So Many Books, So Little Time

Making good progress on "Dabblers." Up to Chapter 19, just before the big denouement. I'll still be going back for at least one more pass through the whole thing, probably more than one. Already starting to think about cover art.

As previously noted, I have ideas for a third entry in both the "Faces" and "Dreamer" series. The third outing for Tracy Wiley has a working title, "A Friendly Face." A lot of the scenes have grown in detail, and an overall plot line has emerged. This one will probably follow "Dabblers," although I fear I might be getting ahead of myself since "Game Faces" has not even been published yet.

For "Dreamer," I was considering moving Tabitha out of the POV entirely although she would still be present, and adding a POV for a new character introduced in "Changeling." That created something of a creative brick wall because this new character has not had any time to flesh out in my mind. I don't know the character (note clever approach to not revealing gender) well enough to step into those shoes. The idea occurred to me today that maybe a new POV is not such a good idea. I might just go back to Tabitha instead, maybe develop her a little more. Even so, the plot is still barely a sketch.

One more week till BookFest and I still have a lot of preparation to do, but I'll be ready. It is, after all, my first book-signing event.

Figuring It Out

Good news first. I received verification that "Game Faces" has indeed reached the publisher. I had started to wonder, but found out the editor is just on vacation.

First printing of signs for BookFest proved one thing--I need more ink cartridges. I'll be looking to buy some other supplies too and hopefully come out with a professional-looking display under the tent.

I started back through "Dabblers" yet again and may have resolved my problem of creating suspense and conflict. Stefanie's secret is defined by an earlier event in her life, something strange and frightening, and she and Paul fear something similar is coming into play with her Uncle Hank's death. In an earlier draft, the earlier event had a name, the Rear Window Incident, named after the Alfred Hitchcock movie. I started to remove that in the rewrite but I've decided it does need a name, mainly as a means of referring to it. The name is different now, and while the event gets mentioned at junctures where Stefanie begins to fear a repetition is afoot, only a few of the details of it are given out at each stage. The other change required her to think more about that event the first time it gets mentioned, but still in vague terms.

I hope this approach gets the job done.

Too Much or Not Enough?

About half way through the "Dabblers" rewrite, and I now I find I am second-guessing myself. I knew from the start that there would have to be more conflict and I started out with that, but now I'm wondering if I've already dropped the ball. I feel like there's not enough action, but is that because there isn't or because I'm so familiar with the story?

And as to the drama level required, "Dabblers" started out like a cozy mystery: female amateur sleuth, small-town location, murder happens prior to POV character's entrance. But because it is a character-driven story as opposed to a plot-driven one which is what most cozy mysteries would be, I feel like just solving the mystery is not enough. Stefanie, my main character, is also dealing with a personal problem. There are aspects of herself which she wishes to deny because they make her different from other people and she does not want to be different. Also, those same traits are difficult for her husband to accept, and while she does not fear losing him because of them . . . or maybe deep down she does! What she fears most is being an outcast. She knows from experience that people who know her secret never look at her the same way again. Her husband, Paul, knows more than anyone else and loves her the way she is. At some level, she worries that he too will look at her differently if he must also accept the rest.

I think what I fear that I've dropped the ball on is Stefanie's awareness of her final secret and her concern about revealing it. Well, maybe after I've tinkered with the wording and such, another read-through will indicate how much more rewriting will be needed.

On another note, the Glen Ellyn BookFest is just two weeks away. Today, I'm going to print out my signs and see how they look. Also, on the BookFest website, there was an article about the people who are going to present the early-morning program about promoting yourself as an author. Two of them are from Browne & Miller, the biggest literary agency in Chicago. Could be a huge opportunity.

Updates and Progress

Work proceeds on "Dabblers." Up to Chapter 11 which is something of a turning point. While I would not categorize this project as a "major" rewrite, there is a lot of stuff to polish and/or fix. I actually caught an anachronism in Chapter 1. A character parks his car at the bottom of a long driveway but at the end of the scene, it's at the top! Oops.

"Dabblers" also offers the tricky business of including a fair amount of knowledge on certain subjects. I try to stick to the really necessary details without going overboard--a practice I've seen best-selling authors get away with but which strikes me as showing off how much research they did. The "ain't it cool?" effect. If it doesn't move the story or foreshadow something to come, out it goes. It can be hard to do, but let's face it, the writer may be fascinated by subject matter woven into the story but will never know if readers find it boring and tedious. As stated, I've caught some big-name authors including too much detail, almost as if they were stretching the length of the book by it, and it hit me as contrived. Learn from your own mistakes but never miss the chance to learn from the mistakes of others.

In between, I've been creating signs for the upcoming Glen Ellyn BookFest. I get half of a banquet table, i.e., 3 1/2 feet of front edge, which I plan to use as many inches of as I can. Another sign for the top of the table with the price on it. I'm using Photo Shop to create the signs and hopefully will come out with something fairly professional looking.

Still have not heard back from Write Words about status of "Game Faces." I suspect vacations might be involved.

Scattered Progress

Up to Chapter 5 in polishing "Dabblers" manuscript. One key issue I have to go back and look at is pacing. Simply put, something must happen in each chapter that changes things in a permanent way. I believe "Dabblers" may have suffered from a lack of this in its first incarnation which is why it received its fair share of rejections in attempts to get it published. The story is meant to be subtle, approaching subjects such as psychic ability, reincarnation, and magic is a real-world sort of way. The other tricky part is my main character's feelings about it all. As an artist, her imagination is fertile ground for ideas and information, but she does not want to feel apart from other people, different or special. She wants normalcy, and her innate abilities get in the way of that. But to keep a reader's interest, something must happen on a regular basis, most desirably with escalating levels of drama leading up to the BIG SCENE.

Much of the writing in "Dabblers" seems pretty solid, with some minor adjustments to style. Renovating this one could take a while.

The Glen Ellyn BookFest is now less than three weeks away, and I still have a lot of preparation to do for it. Signs for the sales tent must be created, and I don't think my little color printer can handle any size larger than 8 1/2 by 11 which may not do it. Need to research printing services at various retail places.

Still waiting for a response on "Games Faces." Hopefully, I'll get an E.T.A. on galleys before long.

Catching Up

I'm in one of those scattered phases again. Polishing of "Game Faces" is almost complete. I'm at the point where I have an idea to change something, and as I set about making the change, I realize what's already there is better. (That's how I know I'm done.)

Agonizing over cover art for the book now too. I wish had had more facility with computer-based art. As I scour the 'net for images that can be cobbled together for the cover I see in my head, there is an underlying concern for catching another virus from one of the associated sites. It's happened before.

One detail for the cover is a dead body, a young woman with blond hair, the first murder victim in the novel. Try web searching for that! Young woman's body provided some alarming results. Crime scene photos? Oh, what an experience that was. There are things which cannot be unseen. Too many words added to search terms only brings back too much that doesn't really relate. Unless I get really lucky on this, I'm anticipating tweaking the cover design to exclude the body.

Ideas for the next installment of the Tracy Wiley series keep coming, although the central plot is still underdeveloped. While I also have some ideas for another Jack Watson mystery, that one requires a new POV character whom I have yet to turn into a three-dimensional person.

Also preparing for the Glen Ellyn BookFest. I have a hand-out sheet made up with my books on it. Now I need signs to display at the fest. I'll also be considering other promotional ideas along the way. Bookmarks maybe?