WIP Wednesday - Rogue Storms in Books

I love the use of weather in books, whether they're monstrous snow storms that leave the characters stranded... or thunderstorms... or even hurricanes.

In the book I am editing now, The Tempest Murders, there are two hurricanes as the backdrop: the first is called Ireland's Night of the Big Wind, which struck Ireland in 1839. It occurred before the sophisticated technology we have today so most of Ireland's residents were struck unawares. The storm was so strong, it pushed the Atlantic Ocean from Ireland's west coast all the way to the Irish Sea on its east coast--a distance of more than 200 miles.

In the video below, you'll see the high seas that can form during one of these monster storms, completely engulfing this large ship at times. Imagine it sweeping over Ireland, and you'll know the terror the first chapter in the book uncovers...



The second storm in the book takes place around a hundred and fifty years later as Hurricane Irene heads toward the North Carolina coastline... And it is on the Outer Banks as the hurricane slams ashore that the climactic scene takes place.

And why is it called the tempest murders? Because the storm in Ireland was not considered a hurricane, as they had not yet established hurricane standards.

Tuesday Teaser

Dylan's Song is my latest suspense and the fourth book in the Black Swamp Mysteries Series. The Irishman everyone has fallen in love with - Dylan Maguire - returns to Ireland with Vicki Boyd and her sister Brenda Carnegie. Their purpose s two-fold: to find and extract a missing CIA operative who is held captive in an underground cell in the bogs; and to see Dylan's grandmother before she passes away.

The book is one of my favorites because I loved the backdrop of Ireland and the tiny village the three travel to. The myths of Ireland come alive in the book, especially as Dylan tries to escape with the CIA operative through the bogs at midnight.

Below is a video that will give you a feel for Ireland...



Of course, Dylan and Vicki will have to return to the Emerald Isle. Now that Dylan has confronted his demons there, he is beckoned back... In a book scheduled for release in 2015, they return to face new challenges... and their growing love. I know that's a long time to wait, but two more books will keep you occupied until then! The Tempest Murders might be released soon, and The Pendulum Files is scheduled for release in the spring of 2014.

When a Pseudonym Would Have Worked

I've been asked several times during my latest round of book tours who my favorite author is.

I didn't used to hesitate. I knew the author's name and the books she'd written which are still my favorites. Though I've read many authors over the years, her writing continues to remind me why I fell in love with books.

Then why can't I tell people who she is?

It's an awkward situation. I would love to recommend her but I have difficulty doing it.

You see, I fell in love with her books because she wrote suspense. There was some romance woven throughout but I always admired the way in which she handled it. There was enough to make my knees weak but not so much that I had to cover the book in a plain brown wrapper.

And then she started writing gay porn.

I truly don't mind if others enjoy porn or gay or lesbian porn. But it honestly doesn't do anything for me to read about two men together. I can't -- and don't want to -- envision myself as one of them. And if I can't place myself in the role of one of the characters, the words on the page are... just words.

I also know if I say she's my favorite author and readers begin looking for her books, they'll wonder about my taste in books... or perhaps my taste in general.

You see, this author did not use a pseudonym for this new genre. And personally, I think she should have.

It would have been easy for people to find out that she writes in two genres and under two names. But if I recommend her books to someone else under one name, the other books wouldn't be so obvious.

But now if I recommend her and the reader remembers only her name, they're likely to see her latest works - her gay porn books - in the same list as her suspense, and...

It's awkward for me.

Would you feel the same way if you were me? Do you think she should have used a pseudonym? Or do you think I am being overly conservative?

Freaky Friday - Global Warming?

Scientists have been studying the Arctic, which they believe is critical to understanding our planet's climate and climate changes.

Prior to 1850, an estimated 1,400 to 1,850 billion metric tons of organic carbon accumulated in the Arctic, reflecting the billions of years the Earth has been in existence.

Since 1850, an additional 350 billion metric tons of organic carbon has accumulated, primarily from fossil-fuel consumption and human activities.

That means at the current rate, we will have doubled the amount of organic carbon by the year 2665.

What does this mean for the future of our planet?

It means all this carbon will be released into the atmosphere as carbon dioxide and methane, melting the ice at the polar regions, causing oceans to rise, coastal areas to flood, some islands to disappear completely, and the temperature of the planet to rise substantially - creating stronger storms both in the summer months (hurricanes and tornadoes) and winter months (winter storms).

What do you think? Do you believe this is occurring because of some natural phenomena or do you believe humans could be leading the planet - or portions of it - to extinction?

WIP Wednesday

Over the years, I've been asked to edit other authors' books. Sometimes I'm asked to content edit, the broadest type of editing, and sometimes to line edit, which - as you've probably guessed - takes the editing process to a minute level.

There are things I've learned about editing another author's works - or even giving my opinion:

1. Never try to change another author's vision.

What might take me a few hours to read might have taken another author months - or even years - to write. Their book is something they have lived with: the plot, the characters, the way the story unfolds. Though some suggestions can be made to make the book better, it should never attempt to change the story they want to tell.

2. Never try to change the author's voice.

You can point out changes in point of view, but you should never try to alter the way they communicate a story. Every author's voice should be uniquely his or her own.

3. Never pass judgment.

The book might not be your cup of tea but that doesn't mean it doesn't have merit. Just google "famous bad reviews" to see the truly horrendous things that editors have made about books they didn't like - books that often went on to sell millions of copies.

4. Avoid absolutes.

Never say "it HAS to" or "never, ever, EVER do this"... There are no absolutes in this business. An example: in Charles Frazier's Cold Mountain, the author uses a dash at the beginning of text in lieu of open quotes usually encountered during conversations. 

5. Never dash another's hopes.

Before providing criticism or a critique, ask yourself what your objective is and how your words could impact the author.  The end result should always be positive. If it's negative, it says more about you than it does the author.

Tuesday Teaser - Wrapping It Up

One of the fun things about writing a series with the same characters and setting is the ability to weave certain subplots throughout. With a stand-alone book, the author must meticulously wrap up all loose details.

But with a series, certain elements can continue from book to book, even unresolved issues.

Take Robert B. Parker's Jesse Stone series. We learn in the first book that Jesse is still in love with his ex-wife, and though she has remarried, she obviously doesn't want to let Jesse go. He moves across the country but he is still tethered to Jen through the telephone. She phones, and it can change his entire mood - or drinking habits.

At the end of that first book, things don't get wrapped up with Jen. I've never heard a reader ask, "But what happened...?" It's clearly a layer that is going to continue through the series, just as people in real life often have unresolved issues and relationships.

Further on in the series, Jesse loses his job. His drinking has gotten out of hand and along with other occurrences in the book, we find that America's favorite small town police chief is out of a job. It's there that the next book begins, and we don't know whether he will be reinstated or if the new chief, the son-in-law of a city councilman, is going to prevail.

When you are reading a series, do you look for everything to be wrapped up in each book? Or do you know that some things will continue from book to book? What is your favorite series and why?

Monday Musings - Is Attention Evil?

I am an avid people watcher. I find human behavior fascinating. But sometimes it can get disturbing.

I was in a store recently when I came across a young child who was crying because her stomach hurt. She had bags under her eyes and she was pleading with her mother as she was being pulled around the store by her wrist.

I engaged the mother in a conversation. She had an advanced degree and was what people used to call "book smart". I turned the conversation toward her child, who was still crying.

"She's only doing this for attention," the mother said.

"How do you know this?" I asked.

"Because I'm her mother."

"Well, what do you do when your stomach hurts?" I asked.

"I take medicine for it."

"Does your child have direct access to that medicine?" I asked.

"Of course not. She's a child."

"Then what do you expect her to do when her stomach hurts?"

"I expect her to shut up," the mother responded.

"So, when your stomach hurts, you take medicine to stop the pain. But you want your child to suffer in silence?"

At that point, the mother responded with words I won't repeat.

I alerted the store's security and a short time later, I saw the mother giving the child OTC stomach medicine as security looked on. I'd like to think I stirred something in her intellect or motherly instinct that caused her to pay attention to her child's cries.

When did parents begin ignoring their children because they thought they simply wanted attention? And isn't a cry for attention valid as well? If we teach a child to "suffer in silence" through physical or emotional pain, what is that accomplishing?

Or is it simply that the parent can't be bothered by their own child's needs?