Archive for April, 2010
THE STORY BEHIND THE STORY
By Cheryl Norman
RUNNING SCARED, my romantic suspense from Medallion Press, started out a silly game. Good friend Marv Jones and I were training to run the Marine Corps Marathon (when I was younger and thinner), and every Saturday morning we did our long run of the week, a distance of fifteen to twenty-two miles, along the same route in south Jacksonville. Running several hours is a challenge both physically and mentally. We talked as we ran to monitor our pacing and breathing, but also to avoid boredom.
Before dawn one Saturday, we ran through an exclusive neighborhood and saw a suspicious car speed away. We began a game of what if that turned into a murder mystery. We added to it with each mile, naming the characters and fleshing out the plot. We laughed about it later then forgot it for several years.
Later I quit my job and decided to write fiction. What better story to start with than our silly murder mystery? Thus began my first novel, the story of a young woman training to run her first marathon when she witnesses a murder. Ten rewrites later and I finally knew Detective Rick Edwards and Ashley Adams and their dark secrets. I knew why they couldn’t fall in love with each other and why they would. I knew who killed whom, and why.
I’ve written many other books since my first version of RUNNING SCARED, but none took so long to revise. My friend Marv was able to read the finished manuscript but sadly died before seeing the book in print. I dedicated RUNNING SCARED to his memory. Little did we know that Saturday morning when we started spinning a tale of murder and intrigue to pass the time that I would someday write the novel and see it in print.
We writers never know when inspiration will strike. But I’m proud of the book RUNNING SCARED that evolved from that early morning training run. I think Marv is, too.
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Cheryl Norman is the award winning author of Last Resort, Running Scared, and Restore My Heart. Her latest release is the witness protection romantic suspense Reclaim My Life. Visit her Website at http://cherylnorman.com . She also hosts the Grammar Cop blog at http://grammar.cherylnorman.com
Excellent Book Club Visit!
Double Out and Back was this month’s pick for a book club in Darnestown, Maryland. I had a lovely evening last night as their guest. They invited me to discuss Double Out and Back with them, prepared a delicious dinner Amelia from the book would have loved (Risotto—one of her favorites!) asked wonderful questions, let me gossip with them as part of a wonderful evening of friends sharing a love of books. I brought them some fun goodies, too! If you’d like me to participate in your book club’s discussion of Double Out and Back (no need to provide dinner!) contact me at Lisa@LLLeibow.com
If you’re not in the DC Metropolitan Area, I’m available via conference call, on-line chat, or Skype, too. I’ll look forward to hearing from you.
Best to you,
Lisa Lipkind Leibow
Author of Smart Women’s Fiction
www.LLLeibow.com
April 2010 WHAT I’M READING
This month, so far, I read The Photograph by Penelope Lively. The Photograph was an interesting combination of prose character portrait and mystery. I love the premise of an historian trying to put together the pieces of the life of the woman he should have known best – his wife. After her death, he discovers a curious and incriminating photograph of his wife holding hands with her sister’s husband. I found Penelopy Lively’s prose beautiful to read – this was wonderful character-driven fiction.
I also read Eva Moves the Furniture by Margot Livesy. This is the first I have read of Livesy’s work. It was a ghost story and historical fiction wrapped up into one. I enjoyed it, too.
Finally, I still have about two hours left before I finish listening to The Hemings of Monticello. However, my i-pod and several baskets of clean laundry await me after I post this blog. So, I should be done with it soon!
I’ll check back again next month to let you know what I’m reading. In the meantime, you can follow along with my progress at http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/262330-lisa-s-2010-reading-goals.
HAPPY READING!
Best to you,
Lisa Lipkind Leibow
Author of Smart Women’s Fiction
www.LLLeibow.com
I’m Reading for SARA Tonight!
I was invited to read my work at an event in Alexandria, VA tonight. If you are in the area, come hear me at the Torpedo Factory Art Center. It’s a worthwhile cause. Come show your support!
Here’s more information about the event.
April 8 – Torpedo FactoryThursday, April 8
Second Thursday Art Night
6-9pm, FREE
Browse open studios, interact with artists, and enjoy refreshments at this free event!
From 6-8pm, Alexandria ‘s Sexual Assault Response and Awareness (SARA) Program will display t-shirts from their Clothesline Project in Target Gallery. The t-shirts are painted by women to express their messages about violence.
At 7pm, Target Gallery hosts artists from SPARK who will perform Spoken Word pieces inspired by SARA’s Clothesline Project.
Torpedo Factory artists kick-off their White Dress Installation, a display of artwork throughout the building exploring the symbolic meaning of the white dress. Get a first look at select work on display during this event.
From 6:30-8pm, The Art League Gallery presents the reception for Fierce Sonia’s show, Paper Dolls, and Found.
Click here for more information about Second Thursday Art Night.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY MAYA ANGELOU!
Weekly Fodder For Fiction Author Birthday Bash
This week at Fodder for Fiction, we’re celebrating the inspiring poet and author, Maya Angelou. I’m sharing a brief shout of happiness, as described by her. I thought it was a fitting jubilant statement of how happy I am that her work has touched my heart. Thank you Maya! Many happy returns of the day!
“After a few squeaky misses I overcame my reserve and tore my tonsils loose with a yell that would have been worthy of Zapata. I was happy, Dad was proud and my new friends were gracious. A woman brought chicharrones (in the South they’re called cracklings) in a greasy newspaper. I ate the fried pig skins, danced, screamed and drank the extra-sweet and sticky Coca-Cola with the nearest approach to abandonment I had ever experienced. As new revelers joined the celebration I was introduced as la nina de Baylee, and as quickly accepted.” Excerpt, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou
Join me each week on Wednesdays for another Author Birthday Bash at Lisa Leibow’s Fodder for Fiction.
Best to you,
Lisa Lipkind Leibow
Author of Smart Women’s Fiction
My Eureka Moment
by Betty Ann Harris
Writing Eureka Point, the first book in the series…
My first book in the Special Agent Series, Eureka Point, is a romantic suspense, in which the main character, a beautiful and successful Park Avenue interior designer, must assume a new identity and relocate to a somewhat desolate area far away. Eureka Point is an old Victorian seaport town on the rocky shores of the coast of Northern California. The setting is the opposite of New York, where the main character is from, and represents a new start for her. But the severe rocky coastline, with its cliffs and rough seas relates to the danger that still surrounds her. The setting adds a sense of mystery, suspense, and danger to my story.
The setting is so essential to my story that I don’t think I could write the same story with a different setting. One thing I do as a writer is spend a good deal of time describing the scene and scenery in order to draw the reader into the story.
A rather strange thing happened to me while I was writing this story. I decided on Northern California and just picked a name out of the air. I picked Eureka as the name of the town, but I also wanted to use a lighthouse on a point, so I decided on Eureka Point. When I was researching Northern California on a map, low and behold, there was a town on the coast named Eureka. Friends tell me they think I lived there in former life, or they think I’m psychic. Even though I’ve never been there, I feel such a strong connection to the area.
Several months ago I was at a store where my book, Eureka Point is being sold. The proprietor had just finished reading the book and she asked me when I had been to Northern California. I replied that I had never been there. She asked me how I knew about The Cliffside Inn, a restaurant I used in book. I explained that I had made up the name. And she replied, “Well, I was just there in the summer and had dinner there. We were on vacation and took a drive up the Pacific Coast Highway and stopped there. It was exactly as you described it in the book.” I got goosebumps!
A group of friends and I are planning a trip to Eureka, California in the future. I’ve got to see this place for myself.
Coming April 29, 2010–Agent of Mercy
Book Four in the Special Agent Series
By romantic suspense author Betty Ann Harris
Red Rose Publishing
All About Agent Of Mercy, the Special Agent Series
& Romantic Suspense Author Betty Ann Harris
Agent Of Mercy - New York City FBI Special Agent Sam Blake is working under cover on the Catherine Jones case. Catherine is a mentally disturbed woman who has a deep psychotic hate of men. She finds wealthy, single men and seduces them. Once in her clutches, she steals from them and takes off, leaving them heartbroken and broke, and sometimes dead.
Sam poses as a cunning criminal himself, gains Catherine’s friendship and tries to bring her into custody, only to find himself feeling sorry for her and falling for her feminine charm.
They are both deceiving each other and become engaged in a high-stakes game of cat and mouse. Catherine deceives Sam and takes all the money and flies to St. Croix, the Virgin Islands. But he’s a good investigator and agent and he’s right on her tail.
Meanwhile, Sam’s assistant, Melissa, who had an affair with Sam previously and who is still very much in love with him, is trying to help him not fall prey to Catherine’s charms, and keep him alive.
In the end, Melissa’s love for Sam and her good investigative work pays off. Catherine poisons Sam and takes off with the stolen money, leaving him for dead. But Sam survives and he and Melissa re-ignite their love affair. Catherine is free and living the good life with millions of dollars, but she’s alone and lonely, and thinks she murdered the one man who truly cared for her.
Do you want to catch up on this sexy and intriguing series? Go ahead, get swept away…
The Special Agent Series books are available at Red Rose Publishing at this link: http://redrosepublishing.com/bookstore/index.php?manufacturers_id=68
See the video trailers!
Eureka Point: http://www.photoshow.com/watch/Zi2Hf6bd
My Very Special Agent: http://www.photoshow.com/watch/Mx9nu4ND
The Darkhorse Conspiracy: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ou_cXVuXQ0s
Don’t miss the brand NEW Special Agent Series Blog! http://www.specialagentseries.blogspot.com
Author Betty Ann Harris, Bio.:
Betty Ann started her writing career as a poet. She has two published poems:
The English Rose, which she wrote after the tragic death of Princess Diana, and
The Moon Is A Silver Slipper, a quirky little poem about the magic of the moon.
Her first published novella, Eureka Point, a romantic suspense thriller, was released
on December 27, 2007, and is the first book in the Special Agent Series,
which she writes for Red Rose Publishing.
Besides being a writer, Betty Ann has an interest in interior design and
American history. She enjoys gardening and going to or serving afternoon tea.
She’s married and has two grown boys and two adorable dogs.
Please visit Betty Ann’s website: http://www.bettyannharris.com
Family Bucket List Series. Vol. 2. Issue 1
I probably should call this, Family Bucket List. Volume 2 ½, because I’m merely writing to tell you I’m in the planning stages for my next exciting Family Bucket List Vacation. For those of you who didn’t catch Volume I of the Family Bucket List, first let me explain what’s going on.
The idea for this trip grew out of a family movie-watching experience. We saw the movie The Bucket List, starring Morgan Freeman and Jack Nicholson. In the film, the two main characters, being treated for terminal illnesses, decided to carry out every adventure on their bucket list before it’s too late.
Luckily, my entire family is happy and healthy. But we do have limited time before my oldest is off to college. We decided that since we only have a few more years with us all living under one roof that we would each make our own bucket list of the places we would like to travel together. Then we compared our lists and came up with our family bucket list.
Our first family bucket list trip was a tour of National Parks including Grand Canyon, Lake Powell, Bryce and Zion Canyon, ending in Las Vegas (to offset all of the Natural Wonders, my kids wanted someplace “fake” on the itinerary). You can read about some of the highlights by clicking on “Bucket List” in the popular tags listed in the sidebar on the right of this blog.
I have spent the better part of the past few days, knee deep in travel plans for the summer. Our next bucket list trip will bring us to Hawaii! I’m so psyched! I have been calculating points mileage for our airfares, comparing hotel prices, checking out Frommer’s and other travel guides for suggested itineraries. It’s looking like we’ll spend most of our time on the Big Island and Maui. As I said, I’m still in the planning phases. So if any of my readers have been to these locales and know of any attractions or restaurants I shouldn’t miss (or should avoid), let me know!
When the time comes, I’ll be sharing more about our adventure. So stay tuned!
Best to you,
Lisa Lipkind Leibow
Author of Smart Women’s Fiction
www.LLLeibow.com
FIRST FRIDAY FODDER FOR FICTION WRITING EXERCISE – APRIL 2010
METHOD WRITING – INTERVIEW YOUR CHARACTER ABOUT HIS OR HER MOTIVATIONS
Here are some fun, miscellaneous questions you can ask yourself about your new character, or if you’re really embracing the method-acting I so often compare my experiences in character development – ask your character! Pretend you have a chance to pick your character’s brain. Ask him or her, the following questions. Then use the information you learn to put this character into action with this knowledge in mind. Remember, you don’t necessarily have to reveal specifics in the scene you write – merely think about how a person with these particular likes, dislikes, passions, and leanings would react in the situation. Good luck!
What are you angry about in the world? What cause are you most passionate about?
What do you enjoy wearing most?
What would the ideal date or evening out be?
Where do you think the best place to be on a Saturday night is?
What does a typical weekend hold for you?
What is your favorite Sunday breakfast?
What product do you use that you will never give up?
What song do you never want to hear again? Why?
Where is the ultimate holiday destination and why?
Who would you most like to meet?
Where would you like to live?
What intrigues or fascinates you?
What is your most treasured possession and why?
What gives you hope and peace?
What destroys your hope and peace?
What symbol best represents you?
Post your results here, if you’d like! I’d love to see your “method writing” in action.
Best to you,
Lisa Lipkind Leibow
Author of Smart Women’s Fiction
http://www.LLLeibow.com
What’s in a Name?
by A.M. Wells
Fours years ago I first set words to paper and began my writer’s journey of bringing to life the voices in my head. Then came the day I decided to jump into the fire of submitting my work to publishers. Hence my next dilemma: Under what name would my work go forth?
I knew I wanted to use a non de plume. But what? I didn’t have a clue. I struggled literally for weeks trying to come up with a name. I guess you could say I was suffering from a serious case of writer’s block.
I could say one day I looked up, the clouds parted, the heaven opened up to me, and behold A.M. Wells was born. But why tempt fate. (LOL) The truth is I decided to go with A.M. in honor of my grandmother and used Wells as a play on my maiden name.
What’s in a name? For me it’s a strong since of family and knowing from whence I came. One of the people whose influence helped shape me as writer was my grandmother. Growing up, she was always there for me. I admired her because she never allowed life’s circumstance to get the best of her. Born in the south in 1908, one of five children, she would be orphaned by the age of nine. This plain spoken woman, who by her own admission had always been saved, never went out into the world, and married not for love, but the man chosen for her. Of Grandfather I once overheard her remark, “It ain’t easy living with the devil.”
It is her words as she spoke of her life, of being forced to leave school in the 4th grade that first planted the seeds within me to know more about the time in which she lived. This led me to the library where I not only read of past generations, but I also discovered ancient civilizations, mythic beings, mysteries, drama, and romance as I explored the library stacks. I wonder if she knew that from those seeds would grow a lifelong passion for learning, books, reading, and now writing.
Plague by doubts, my fear of rejection caused me to resist submitting my work despite the encouragement from family and friends. Once more, Grandmother was there to inspire me. Though she’s long passed from this would, it was the memory of how after decades spent in an unhappy marriage, she left my grandfather. I can only imagine what she was feeling, a woman in her seventies, finding herself on her own for the first time in her life. Her courage gave me the impetus to finally take that first step. I’ve since received several rejections, but like Grandmother, I didn’t give up and continued to submit my work.
The day I received the contract offer for “Susanna’s Heart,” my debut release, I know she was smiling down at me.
So tell me, what’s in your name?
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A.M. Wells resides in a small North Georgia town with her husband. She is the mother of three adult children and is currently employed as a Computer Specialist with the local college. In addition to writing she is an artist, web designer, graphic artist, and has produced several book trailers. An avid reader, she has been writing for four years. Susanna’s Heart is her first published work.
A.M. would love to hear from you. You can visit her blog, www.amwells.blogspot.com or email her at am_wells@hotmail.com
Book Blurb
SUSANNA’S HEART
Susanna Moore thought she’d found the man of her dreams. That is until she caught him in bed with her sister.
Rancher Noah Weber vowed to never involve his heart again when it came to women. However after a chance encounter with Susanna, dormant desires are reignited leading to full blown passion.
Does time really heal all wounds? Can lust lead to love? Will these two lovers find their happily ever after?