In-Depth Characters

I don't remember who recommended "Writing and Selling Your Mystery Novel - how to knock'em DEAD with style", by Hallie Ephron, but it is one of the most in-depth books on creating characters I have ever read. The charts and graphs to be filled out seem such a small thing until you spend the time required. My heroine, Summer Meadows, is now my friend. I feel I've known her since we were children.

The drawback...I have to go back through my manuscript and "beef" her up a bit. This is all in chapter one. I can't wait to get to the rest of the book.

A Bigger Life

Wow! What can one say about a book that gets deep into your heart, grabs hold and won't let go? In "A Bigger Life", author Annette Smith introduces the reader to Joel Carpenter, a man trying to do right as a divorced father. A man who cuts hair for a living. Having grown up under the prejudice of being the child of a homosexual father, Joel stands up for the things he believes to be right. He wants his wife back. He wants to erase his past mistakes. He wants to raise his son right.

When an unforseeable tragedy strikes, Joel experiments with knowing God, believing in miracles and the promise of A Bigger Life.

The reader will be able to relate to the characters Smith has created, getting into their thoughts, their feelings, their fears. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading about life.

Fire Dancer

Colleen Coble does it again! In her latest novel, Fire Dancer she takes you into the spectacular allure of fire fighting, the Arizona desert, the heart of evil, and lifts you up into God's amazing love.

Tess Masterson is a smoke jumper called home to help her sister revive a dying ranch and to find out who is setting fires. Someone seems determined to harm Tess and her family. As Tess battles the arsonist, she also battles the raging fire within herself.

Fire Dancer is a story of love and forgiveness. Strength and weakness. God's purity and Evil's stain. This is a must read for lovers of romantic suspense.

Another Survey

1. What is your occupation? Detention Monitor and author
2. What color are your socks right now? not wearing any. I'm a hillbilly
3.What are you listening to right now? some stupid toy that I'd like to take a sledge hammer to.
4. What was the last thing you ate? Dark chocolate M & M's. (shhh. I'm on a diet)
5. Can you drive a stick shift? Yes. They're fun
6. If you were a crayon, what color would you be? Have no idea
7. Last person you spoke to on the phone? My daughter Tina.
8. Do you like the person who sent this to you? Oh, yeah. She's my sister by heart
9. How old are you today? 44
10. Favorite drink? Cosmopolitan, but if I have to be good, it would be diet coke
11. What is your favorite sport to watch? Whatever my sons are playing
12. Have you ever dyed your hair? Yes, but right now I'm going natural. No grey yet, praise God.
13. Pets? 2 Dogs...Truly & Casey. 1 Cat...Trashcan, a fish - Floyd, two parakeets - Harry & Lloyd (get it) and a lizard-Dagon
14. Favorite food? That's a hard one
15. What was the last movie you watched? Superman returns. Did anyone catch the reference to Christ in this movie?
16. Favorite day of the year? Christmas
17. What do you do to vent anger? Yell (I know...not a good choice)
18. What was your favorite toy as a child? Barbie
19. What is your favorite fall or spring? spring
20. Hugs or kisses? Hugs
21. Cherries or Blueberries? Cherries
22. Do you want your friends to email you back? Not Sure
23. Who is most likely to respond? Not a clue
24. Who is least likely to respond? Again...not a clue
25. Living arrangements? Hubby, two sons and the animals
26. When was the last time you cried? This morning when I read a sad story about a little girl with leukemia who wanted to see Santa
27. What is on the floor of your closet? Shoes and stocking stuffer stuff
28. Who is the friend you have had the longest that you are sending this to? Frankina
29. What did you do last night? Watched a movie and ate popcorn
30. Favorite smells? flowers and baking
31. What inspires you? God
32. What are you afraid of? Getting old (dumb, I know. It's going to happen)
33. Plain, cheese, spicy burgers? Cheese
34. Favorite dog breed? Cairn Terrier or German Shepherd
35. Number of keys on your key ring? 1,000?
36. How many years at your current job? going on 4
37. Favorite day of the week? Sunday
38. How many states have you lived in? 4, California, Oklahoma, Arkansas & Arizona. 5 if you count Germany
39. Favorite holidays? Christmas!!!!!!!!!
40. Ever driven a Motorcycle or heavy machinery? Not driven, but I've ridden a motorcycle and fallen off thanks to my cousin Keith>>

Getting to Know Christmas Style

Subject: Getting to know your friends--Christmas edition
You all know the drill...you answer the questions and send back to me, and anybody else you want to answer the questions.

1. Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate?
Hot chocolate with marshmellows

2. Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree?
Mom and Dad wrap presents. Santa puts his by the tree unwrapped

3. Colored or white lights on tree/house?
White lights everywhere

4. Do you hang mistletoe?
I always forget

5. When do you put up your decorations?
The day after Thanksgiving. They come down the day after Christmas.

6. What is your favorite holiday dish (excluding dessert)?
Stuffing!

7. Favorite Holiday memory as a child:
My Dad taking his time drinking his coffee. It drove us kids crazy. We couldn't open presents until he was done. This became a game and treasured memory

8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa?
Fourth grade from a mean red haired boy

9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve?
Any gifts arriving in the mail are opened as soon as they arrive

10. How do you decorate your Christmas Tree?
The grandkids come over and decorate. The adults "rearrange" when the smaller ones drink their hot chocolate

11. Snow! Love it or Dread it?
Love it!

12. Can you ice skate?
Not at all

13. Do you remember your favorite gift?
My daughter (born on Dec. 17) or my wedding set

14. What's the most important thing about the Holidays for you?
Being with family.

15. What is your favorite Holiday Dessert?
Cherry pie

16. What is your favorite holiday tradition?
Christmas morning at home with hubby and the kids.

17. What tops your tree?
An angel

18. Which do you prefer giving or receiving?
Giving...but I do enjoy the presents, too.

19. What is your favorite Christmas Song?
Mary Did You Know and Emmanuel (God With Us)

20. Candy Canes?
Can live with them or without them

Thanksgiving

I love the holidays. Everything about them. We had twenty-four people for dinner on Thanksgiving. Yes, it was loud, it was crazy, and it was fun! The kids raised the decimel level way past the sound barrier, but that was okay, too. If it got to be too much, the adults just stepped outside, or ran the kids out.

Way too much food. Six different types of pie, plus we always celebrate one of our son's birthday, so there was also a triple layer Black Velvet Cake.

The smells so warm and homey. The sights so welcoming, cementing precious memories into us. The sounds, loud but thank God I could hear them. The holidays heighten our senses. This holiday season we should not only thank God for the abundance of food, family and friends, but also for the gifts he gave us: smell, sight, hearing, touch, taste, etc.

Hazardous Duty

Definitely a fun read. While Gabby St. Claire is cleaning a crime scene, she uncovers evidence pointing toward someone other than the suspect being held in jail. The closer she gets to the truth, the more suspenseful things become. As if trying to avoid being killed isn't enough, she finds herself torn between two men who are interested in her. One of whom practices a faith in God that intrigues Gabby.

Christy Barritt has written the first in what I hope is many Gabby adventures. I look forward to seeing where her interest in Christianity and her love life takes her.

NaNoWriMo

Well as of this morning, I've only written 17,116 words. I should be crowding 35,000. I don't think I'll reach my goal of 50,000 words, but at least I'm making a good dent and, hopefully, with have the first draft of, Buried Beneath the Midnight Blue, finished by the end of this year. This is the novel I'm hoping will cut the ice with the publishers. It's a humorous cozy romantic mystery. My critique partners are really enjoying it. This genre is totally new to me, difficult to write (my mind likes the scarier stuff), but a lot of fun.

A Mile From Sunday

Finally, a "real" heroine. Below is my review of Jo Kadlecek's, A Mile From Sunday.

Jonna Lightfoot McLaughlin is a heroine for today’s Christian reader. She’s smart, ambitious, loyal, loves a pint of ale after work and smokes. Although, she is trying to quit. As the city’s number one religion reporter, Jonna is looking for a “good” front page story and falls into a trap of fraud and danger.

Jo Kadlecek has finally given us a heroine we can relate to. One that is not perfect, a bit of a slob, looking for her love-match, and striving for a better relationship with God. This book is a must read for readers of any genre. – Cynthia Hickey, author

Writing Ups and Downs

What a rollercoaster! I entered the Harvest Rose contest with Romance Writers of America, and while I didn't win, the positive feedback was astonishing. These women liked my story, liked my writing, and had excellent points. Finally, uplifting feedback.

I've also joined NaNoWriMo. The event where you write 50,000 words during the month of November. Today is the second, and I've written a little less than 2,000 words. Not much considering what is left. I'll keep ya'll posted if you're interested. I'm also following a course on the ACFW forum where you write a novel in thirty days. I've read a book on this. Basically, you have to write 5 pages a day for a 300 page novel. The publishing line I'm going for only wants 60,000 - 65,000 words, so it ought to be easy, right? Yeah!

Broken Bones

Had a traumatic afternoon yesterday. An eighth grader at the elementary school where I work came, very quickly, into the school office, clutching his arm. Being the blunt, soft-spoken woman I am, I blurted, "What?"

"Mrs. Hickey!" The boy fell to his knees.

Now, this young man has been in my detention several times, and I've gotten on to him for other reasons, so once again, I matter-of-factly state, "What's wrong?"

"I broke my wrist."

Well, that spurred me into action a bit. I took one look at his very loose forearm (if you've seen where Harry Potter's arm is like rubber in movie #2, you'll have some idea of what I'm talking about), and rushed him to the nurse. He'd been "warming up" for soccer practice, goofed around, and fell.

Anyway, the little darling didn't want me to leave his side. Now, mind you I've never seen a broken arm before, especially of this magnitude, and hope never to again. I stayed by the boy's side until his mother got there, then went into the bathroom, trembled and cried. Thank God, I'm calm during the crisis.

Anyway, my pastor's sermon last Sunday was to find the good in everything. Here it is. Should a character in one of my books ever break their arm, I'll know how it looks, what is done to secure the dangling appendage, and have some idea of how it feels.

Did I do good?

Marilynn Griffith

I've had the opportunity to be part of a blog tour for Marilynn Griffith. Let's take the time to know her better.


Please give the readers a brief bio on you the person and the writer.
Well, let's see... I'm mom to a tribe of kids, wife to a very handsome deacon and blessed to be friends with some wonderful writers, like you, LaShaunda. I love to read, write, speak and all things communication related. I'm the person at the family gatherings who is always either telling a story or listening to one! Before realizing I was a writer life was a bit confusing. I tried everything from secretary to math tutor (that actually worked out pretty well). These days it's family, friends and church activities when I'm not writing. I like blogging though. That's fun.

Tell us about your current book?
Dana Rose pledges to say "I won't" the next time she's asked to be in a wedding. Her weak will has turned her closet into cemetery for satin gowns from periwinkle to Pepto pink. After ten stints as bridesmaid, Dana thinks she's seen it all. Then she's fired, forced to turn her hobby into a business and faced with her prodigal brother, back-stabbing sis and Mr. Practically Perfect, the ex who not only married someone else, but opened the business of her dreams—across the street. There's that Maid of Honor thing too… And this time she can't say no. Will wedding #11 show Dana what's she's really made of?


What inspired this story?
I used to own a seasonal bath and body business. Steeple Hill rejected my first manuscript but they liked my voice. They asked my agent about me doing a chick lit. I didn't know what that was exactly, but the prospect of writing in first person sounded interesting, so I tried it and loved it. I also have had a lot of wonderful single friends over the years.

What would you like your readers to take away from your book?
I'd love for readers of MADE OF HONOR to come away from the book knowing that they are fearfully and wonderfully made and that God delights in them and loves them in an intimate way, despite whatever mess riddles their pasts. Christ stands waiting to embrace them as His bride.

How do you balance writing with your "every day life?"
I don't. LOL Really. I've long since given God that job. He called me to be a wife and mother and a writer. Sometimes (like a deadline week) that doesn't always look like I think it should, but God graced me with the family I was supposed to have. I try to keep the Word first place and keep the lines of communication open so that when things get off balance (too much work, not enough work) we can talk about it. When I try to stop writing to be Super Mom, my kids are like,"Go write something. You're cranky!"

How can readers learn more about your books and get in contact with you?

I can be contacted at marilynngriffith@gmail.com or through comments at my website www.MarilynnGriffith.com .


Mir Schutz's interview questions:

Q: Some of us have heard of the Rock Bottom Remainders--an amateur rock group made up of authors that performs regularly at the Miami Book Fair Int'L, which has included luminaries like Amy Tan , Dave Barry, Stephen King, etc. If you had a Christian author gospel group called MAIDS OF MADE, which characters from your novel would be in it, what would be the title of their signature song, and what would they wear?

Wow, what a question! Let's see. The MAIDS OF MADE would consist of Dana Rose, my main character, her back-stabbing sister Dahlia and her friends Rochelle, Tracey and Austin. Their signature song would be Shackles by Mary Mary and they'd be wearing all the old bridesmaid dresses from the back of Dana's closet.

Q Tell all the lovely people--all four of them--who visit my blog with semi-regularity, why they should run to the store and buy MADE OF HONOR come January?

Run, do not walk, to your nearest bookseller to buy MADE OF HONOR because it's a funny, honest story about learning to love friends, family and even yourself when things go less than perfect. Not to mention that the book is full of great smells--candles, soaps, lotions and all the good stuff. Just the type of thing for a relaxing evening. It's fun, but it's serious too.

Q. As a Christian Fiction Writer , what is the spiritual truth your book carries thematically?

MADE OF HONOR is about seeing what you're really made of and knowing that God loves you anyway. This book is about a woman discovering that everyone, including herself, isn't quite what she thought and realizing that God still loves them all. Dana knows how to love, but she has to learn how to let her self be loved...both by God and the other people in her life.

Q: If someone said, "What blurb could I put on a t-shirt that would encapsulate the feel and tone and plot of your novel?"--how would you respond?

MADE OF HONOR--Girlfriends, God and all the giggles in between!

Of course there's some Godiva and tissues between the giggles, but that's the gist of it.

Q. If I were a published author, my typical reader would fit this demographic: Over thirty, highly intelligent, a lover of Christ, thinks all those Biblical plague are cool and we really should have more of them wiping out bad guys, can't get enough of the books of Revelation and Hebrews, is a lover of British wit and hyperbole, had really bad eyesight from reading too much in dim rooms, is given to broody thoughts on rainy days and, even, occasionally, on sunny days, and will belt out a Sarah MacLachlan tune if provoked while in a melancholic fit. Please describe your audience as you see it?

Wow, I like this person! And I think she'll love my books too. My reader knows how to worship God and how to have fun too. She's the woman at the Bible study who can spill punch in her lap and turn it into a parable. She loves a good sale and cute shoes and wishes she had a better metabolism. She's big hearted, passionate, intelligent and could use a good nap.

Q. How many hours will it take me to read MADE OF HONOR and will I have to wear an ugly lemon-yellow dress while I do it?

You can skip the dress, but if you do it, send me a picture for my blog! The book is 288 pages, so it's not too long. I can't really estimate time, since everyone reads differently (some savor, some devour), but so far, I've had one person stay up all night to finish it, so I guess it can be done.

Q. If I had to describe my novel in three words, it would be: melancholic, romantic, and mystical. Describe MADE OF HONOR in three words that are much cooler than mine.

You're pretty cool, Mir so that's hard to do. If I had to describe MADE OF HONOR in three words I'd have to go with: dramatic, intimate, funny.

Q. You know how you sometimes hear on Christian radio the phrase, "If you like the secular band, Metallica, then you'll love this new album by the Christian group, Wrathling." Okay, what book would get compared to yours as a "if you like X, you'll love MADE OF HONOR?"

If you like Superchick, Margaret Becker, Mary Mary, Crystal Lewis, Yolanda Adams, Donnie McClurkin, Kirk Franklin, Nicole Mullen or Fred Hammond, you might enjoy MADE OF HONOR. (You might enjoy it regardless of who you listen to. :)

Q. What is the one, all-encompassing, totally-vindicated secret of good writing that you made sure to employ in writing MADE OF HONOR?

Secret? I don't know any. When you discover one let me know! LOL I just fell in love with the characters and tried to fall deeper in love with Jesus. Somewhere along the way, we got a book.

Q. Who are your three favorite writers, and will you be sending them copies of MADE OF HONOR?

Well, many of those folks are dead and probably wouldn't have been interested, but there are many writers who I respect who endorsed the book like Sharon Ewell Foster, Lisa Samson and Kristin Billerbeck.

Q: Are you afraid that answering my question will pretty much scare off your potential readers? :)

Nah. If they hang around here, they don't scare easy. :) And if they've read my blog or actually met me, well... it doesn't get any scarier than that. LOL Thanks for having me!

Thanks,

Marilynn

Category Fiction

Well, I was turned down again by another agent who said my work was publishable, but suggested I go with the category publishers such as Barbour, Avon, etc. I'm not sure I even know how to write that type of story. The agent also said my writing was too edgy for Christian and too religious for the ABA. Oh well, at least I got feedback. At least I was told my work is publishable. Now to find that publisher I'm publishable with. What a wicked circle!

2006 ACFW Conference

What do I say about my first conference? It was intimidating, exciting, stimulating, frustrating, loud and lonely. I think I must have experienced the full gauntlet of emotions over those three days. Made new friends. Put faces with names and met with editors who weren't so intimidating after all. Now the agents, they're another story! Scared me spitless! Why? I don't know.

I had an editor request a proposal and another to request the full of two of my books. I'm sending proposals to five agents. A good conference? I sincerely hope so.

One agent, bless her heart, said my story was too scary and I should target men agents. Isn't that funny? My target audience is women.

What's Your Line?

Sunday afternoon I took some advice from the conference forum and cold-called my critique partner, Dina Nickerson. My words, "This is Cynthia Hickey from Westbow Publishing. I'd like to hear about your book." (Hope Westbow doesn't mind I used their name, but I know Dina plans on pitching to them). Anyway, Dina started giggling. In my infinite wisdom, I informed her she was pitching incorrectly. This just sent her into a bigger fit of giggles. Now mind you, I've never met this woman face to face, and this is the first time I've heard her voice, but we spoke for a good hour about our books, the upcoming conference, life, etc. Who says you need to meet someone in order to find a friend?

My husband says the two of us at conference will be a force to reckon with. Well, not his exact words, but I can't say them here. Now, I've gone from knowing noone at the conference, to having someone excited to meet me. I am truly blessed! Plus, she told me that if my book isn't picked up by an editor at this conference, she wants to know why! Me, too!

The Reluctant Burglar

This is the first novel of Jill Nelson's I've read and I thoroughly enjoyed it. What would you do if you found out your father had stolen millions of dollars worth of rare art and upon his death, it all falls into your lap?

Desiree Jacobs wants to right the wrong her father had done, despite the interference of Old Hollywood style FBI agent, Tony Lucano. As Desiree struggles to right the wrong, save her father's business and clear his name, she finds herself on the hunted list. The Reluctant Burglar takes you along with Desiree through a ring of cutthroat art thieves and into a reluctant partnership with Agent Lucano.

A totally engrossing read. Highly recommended.

My Review of Violet Dawn

Paige Williams arrives in Kanner Lake looking for all the things she'd always wanted. A family. A friend. The feeling of belonging. Unable to sleep one night, Paige decides to take a long soak in her hot tub only to discover the floating body of the resident movie star. Paige does the unthinkable and the town of Kanner Lake is rocked on its heels.

Although I found Brandilyn's "Violet Dawn" a little more predictable than her Hidden Faces series, this book is every bit as much of a page turner. The characters feel real, with human quirks. The villain every bit as evil. This is definitely a book to read when you have a chunk of time. You won't want to put it down.

The Characters Inside My Head

Last night I couldn't sleep. Marilu Hutchins wouldn't stop talking. I'm half finished with my novel "Innocent Justice" and Marilu is insistant I write her story instead. I haven't been able to get into Justice in quite a while. I think I've discovered the reason why:

Marilu Hutchins was forty years old when she awoke and realized the man lying next to her wasn't her husband. Her husband was Tom Hutchins...and she'd killed him.

"Innocent Justice" will have to wait. I'm moving on to "Clouded Vision".

Valley Vista High School Football

My fourteen year old son made history last night. During this new school's very first Freshman football game, my son intercepted a pass and ran forty-five yards. I always knew he was fast. Then, later in the game, the ball is being fumbled around on the ground and he scoops it up at the twenty five yard line and runs like the wind for a touch town. Almost 80 yards! He was positively pumped when he got home. We lost the game, but my little boy made the first ever touchdown for this brand new High School. Yep, I'm proud!

The Good Wife's Guide

Here's an article from the May 1955 issue of Housekeeping Monthly. What do you think?

* Have dinner ready. Plan ahead, even the night before, to have a delicious meal ready, on time for his return. This is a way of letting him know that you have been thinking about him and are concerned about his needs. Most men are hungry when they come home and the prospect of a good meal (especially his favourite dish) is part of the warm welcome needed.

* Prepare yourself. Take 15 minutes to rest, so you'll be refreshed when he arrives. Touch up your make-up, put a ribbon in your hair and be fresh-looking. He has just been with a lot of work-weary people!

* Be a little gay and a little more interesting for him. His boring day may need a lift and one of your duties is to provide it.

* Clear away the clutter. Make one last trip through the main part of the house just before your husband arrives.

*Gather up schoolbooks, toys, paper, etc. and then run a dustcloth over the tables.


MORE TOMORROW FOLKS! Makes you thankful to live in today's society.