When Writers Shouldn't Read

My post today at Crime Fiction Collective might offend some people. If so, I apologize. I just needed to tell it the way I see it.



It's all better with friends.

NAME THAT DOG Contest

The new story I'm working on brings back Jamie Taylor and her working dogs in a big way.

In my first book, Red Tide, Jamie and her sister Jax were almost burned alive. Because of that horrific experience Jamie added an accelerant detection dog (sometimes incorrectly referred to as an arson dog) to her family.

Gretchen is the name of her human remains detection dog (sometimes referred to as a cadaver dog).
Socrates (or Socks) is her search and rescue dog.
McKenzie is her medical/therapy dog.

And now there's her accelerant detection dog. He's a golden-lab mix.

Right now I'm calling him Smokey, but that's just too darned predictable. So, I've decided to open up the naming process. Whoever submits the name I choose will win one of my books (your choice), either Kindle or paperback.

If two people suggest the same name (and it's selected), whoever submitted the name first will win their choice of books.

Thanks for your help!



It's all better with friends.

My New Baby

Thanks for bearing with me for just a little more BSP for The Sacrifice. I share my two wonderful endorsements at Crime Fiction Collective.

What a ride.


It's all better with friends.

Reader Connection

First, I want to thank all of you for the tremendous reception you've shown for my new release. THE SACRIFICE scared me just a little because it was different from either of my earlier two books. Thank you for the warm reception.

To celebrate it going live, I put RED TIDE up for free for three days (ending Thursday, 10/24) and THE MISSINGS at a bargain price of only $1.99 which will end Friday.

And here's this odd little thing I'm working through… when I look at the numbers, the first thing that hits me is their scope. Through Amazon, my books are being read around the world. And then there's this: readers who I may never meet will read my words, and I will in some way be connected to them. Whether they like my books or not (and oh, I want them to like my books), I have connected to someone living in another country, another state, even down the street. It's a one-on-one, almost intimate connection. That's a little freaky.

It's a wonderful thing to work through.

And it's all good with friends.

FEAR

'Tis the season, right?

I'm talking about scary stuff today at Crime Fiction Collective. There are so many different kinds…



It's all better with friends.

Photo Shoot

When I published my first book, I set the timer on the camera and scuttled to the sofa. It's not a bad picture at all (and continues to be one of LoML's favorites).  With the second book, LoML took a few shots and knew immediately what the right choice was. I agreed.

But for this one? I decided I needed to step up my game. Here's what I have to say: if you are in a position to go "pro", don't hesitate.

Thursday morning I went for my first professional photo shoot that wasn't for LoML. It was for a headshot for the cover of my new book, The Sacrifice, scheduled for release on October 22nd.

I'm almost forty years older than I was when I did that first one, where I donned enormous earrings and sexy lingerie. (It was all GP, in case you're wondering.)

And to top off the age thing, I woke up Thursday morning not feeling on top of my game. I was "off." Not in the moment by any stretch, with a stomach that was queasy and a breathing pattern that made me dizzy. And a stiffness that was unusual even for me.

With everything that could go wrong going wrong (I left the house that morning with only a general idea as to where I was going, and the GPS in my car just laughed at my efforts) the professionalism of one photographer made it all okay, and made it happen. The photos could have all been horrible, but she both instructed and inspired and I'm happy.


Kelly Weaver Photography (recommended to me by authors Shannon Baker and Jeanne Stein) did a bang-up job. It's scary to think what might have happened had I been on top of things.

Oh, and.. LoML has chosen the photo for the new book. Gotta love it.


It's all better with friends.

Multi-Cultural Characters

Today at Crime Fiction Collective, I'm talking about writing multi-culturally. If a writer hasn't been intimately involved in another culture, how do they develop a character from that culture?

It's all better with friends.