Jean's blog

2009-03-02T08:14:00.000-08:00

Stop by Mysteries in the Making. Join the journey from first draft to publication.

2009-02-02T08:19:00.000-08:00

The other day in chat at Long Ridge, we were talking about how hard it is to find a book that's really a page turner. One that you can't put down, that you HAVE to finish reading even if it takes most of the night when you know you have to get up at daylight to go to work. It's been ages and ages since I've read one like that. In fact, I can't even remember the last one to capture me so.

When I was a teen reader, Stephen King was a favorite. I spent many a night under the covers with a flashlight and one of his books. Same thing with Dean Koontz. But lately, they seem to be lacking something. Maybe it's just me of course, but I read the latest from Koontz during three or four visits to Books a Million to kill time while in town. I never got into it enough that I HAD to have the book and finish it right away.

I miss that about books. When I read, I want to be swept away in to the world of the story. I want to become so involved in the story I forget everything but the story. I want to cheer for the good guys, be afraid of the bad guy and when the book is finished...I want to say "WOW" and wish it could go on for another hundred pages.

Friday I was catching up on the blogs I read and came across this post from Barbara Poelle. I met Barbara at the North East Texas Writer's Organization Conference last April and she's a really nice person, by the way. I'm not so sure what she thought of us once the conversation turned to where we kept our guns but we all had a nice laugh. (Mine's in my desk drawer in case you are wondering.)

After reading her thoughts on the book I HAD to check it out. You can find a sample chapter here on his website. Be warned...there is blood and gore. Soon as I finished reading this, I had to share it with my daughter. Now, we are both wondering what in the heck is coming up the stairs. What's going to happen next? Just who are these bad guys and how will the town survive and get rid of them?

I've shared the link with a couple other writers who enjoy a good scare and I'll be pre-ordering my copy soon. I'll have to have hubby bring home dinner the day it comes in, he may not get fed once I get started on this one:-) It's nice anticipating a good read.

But you know something...I want to write such a book. Not so much the blood and gore and fright but one that the reader can't put down. One that sucks the reader into the story world and doesn't let go until they finish the last page. Then I want them to say "WOW" and wish there was more to read.

2009-01-27T11:58:00.001-08:00

Word picture for Ante Up.

Courtesy of Wordle.

This is so cool. You just paste in the text of your story and hit "go" and it comes up with a word picture of your story. You can play around with the layout, fonts and colors. Or just hit the "randomize" button and let it come up with some neat pix on its own.

I think these would make a great t-shirt for promo.

Have fun!

2009-01-26T12:12:00.000-08:00

Just for fun...

Favorite Movie

"Somewhere in Time" & "Braveheart"

Five things in my fridge

misc. condiments, part of a rotisserie chicken, milk, orange juice, bacon

Worst advice ever given

Try the salsa, you'll love it!

Favorite Cartoon Character

Smurfette

One thing I want to accomplish before it's too late

See the Grand Canyon

Post your answers in the comments!

2009-01-22T08:22:00.000-08:00

It's been another good week in the publishing world for me.

Tuesday I received a rejection letter from Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine. It was one of the good kind though. I'm calling it an almost made it in. The editor wrote Up in Smoke was "enjoyable reading" but didn't quite suite any of the open spaces they have now. While I'd much rather have an acceptance letter, having an editor call my work enjoyable made me feel darn good.

Then Wednesday morning when I checked my email, I had an acceptance from Golden Visions Magazine for Prey. It will be in their April online issue. I'll include the link later on.

I sent Up in Smoke back out the same afternoon to Mysterical-e. Got my toes crossed on an acceptance there. And, I'm working on another to send back to EQ. One of my "goals" for this year is to break in to EQ so I think I'm getting close.

I'm still pretty excited about the win at Lee Lofland's blog last week. You can read Ante Up here.

Stop by the StoryCrafters blog today and join as we talk about form vs personal rejections.

2009-01-12T08:32:00.000-08:00

Wow!!!

Agent Verna Dreisbach declared a tie as judge of Lee Lofland's contest and Ante Up was part of that tie. I'm so excited! It's nice to know I'm finally making progress with my writing. It was a fun piece to write, just something that came to me sorta on the spur of the moment. You can read what the judge had to say and my short here.

Here's a couple things I came across this week and wanted to share with you.

Ever wonder whether your writing is girlish or boyish? Here's a little gizmo that is supposed to tell if the writing sample submitted is from a male or female writer. It's just something fun to play with when you need a break. I entered two pieces and it declared them to both be written my a male writer. Not correct but interesting anyway.

And for you crime writers...

The Crime Scene Writers Group is the place to ask all your crime scene, forensic and law enforcement questions. I really like this group. Remember, getting it right is important so if you don't know...ask a professional.

Here's a very cool blog called The Kill Zone. Saturday's post was "Ten Stupid Things Cops Do In Books." It's funny and sad. Give it a read and see which stupid things you've read.

And be sure to check out The Graveyard Shift. This is and excellent blog for all things cops and robbers.

Now, I'm off to celebrate!

2009-01-08T11:41:00.001-08:00

Well...I still don't know who won Lee's contest. He's delayed the announcement until Monday the 12th. And, while I'm a bit disappointed, it's cool. I'll survive. Of course, I'm going to self-medicate with chocolate.

Most of y'all know I still hang out at the Long Ridge chat room on a regular basis. I love how the topics flow from one to another. Plus, it's always great to get to know other writers. They're the only ones who understand how it feels to get a rejection on a piece we've slaved over and sent to the perfect (we thought) market. They're also the only ones who understand what it feels like when we can't write for whatever reason or the excitement of a new idea.

Today in chat one of the topics led to a new idea. I made some notes and I'm saving it for later but it only reminded me that at heart, I'm a mystery writer. It's kinda odd cause I do write fantasy often and I'm revising that fantasy novel but 9 times out of 10, new ideas are mystery.

Which leads to the "should I focus on one genre only or play in several" question. It's hard to know sometimes. I've heard the "you should get established in one genre before you try another" statement several times. But I wonder if these days it's a wise idea to limit yourself to just one genre. Maybe I'll toss that question out for discussion at StoryCrafters later.

For now though...I'll write what comes to me and not worry so much about where it goes on the shelf. Which reminds me...writing should be fun. I need to relax more and relish the process instead of stressing over every little word and phrase while I'm getting the idea on paper. Now if I could just convince my interal editor to chill out while I'm getting that first draft down I'd have it made:-)

2009-01-06T11:02:00.000-08:00

And we're off...

Yesterday was to be the first blog post of the new year but I spent most of the day driving in the rain taking hubby to doc so that wiped out my whole day. But, better late than never.

One of my goals this year is to blog on a regular basis. I'm aiming for Monday and Thursday. We'll see how it goes. Hopefully I'll have something interesting to share.

For now though...

Yesterday I had a rejection in the mail from Patrick over at Talebones. Not a problem, I knew it was a long shot when I sent the piece to him. It's hard to know what's "dark" enough. I think I found another place to send it so it'll go back out this week.

Sunday evening I had good news in my email. My entry in Lee Lofland's Crime Scene Picture contest has been chosen as a finalist and is being forwarded to the judge for final judging. I'm really excited about making the top ten. It was just a fun piece that sorta came to me. Winners will be announced this Thursday so I'll keep y'all posted.

Speaking of Lee...he has a GREAT blog. Here's the link.

While waiting for hubby to see the doc, and then to get his prescription, I read most of The Big Sleep by Raymond Chandler. I LOVE the way he phrases things. Such as...

"Dead men are heavier than broken hearts."

"Rain filled the gutters and splashed knee-high off the sidewalks. Big cops in slickers that shone like gun barrels had a lot of fun carrying giggling girls across the bad spots."

And I LOVE this...

"She was a middle-aged woman with a long yellow gentle face, a long nose, no chin, large wet eyse. She looked like a nice old horse that had been turned out to pasture after a long service."

I've got about 60 pages left before I finish this one. Then I'll dig into The Long Goodbye. It's homework from my Long Ridge instructor.

In fact...I think I'll sneak off and get to reading. :-)