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Barefoot Bubbly, Beached, and Black Widow – Episode 8

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We finished off 2018 with Episode 8 of our podcast and some Barefoot Bubbly! The website is really cool and you have to watch this video – Sleighin’ The Holidays.  The website also has some great recipes featuring the Barefoot wines (or to go with the wines) – I want to try this one on New Year’s Eve with my bubbly. We tasted the Extra Dry Champagne, and liked it, but there are many others to choose from depending on your tastes.

I shared the book,  Beached (2018) by Micki Browning. It was a great mystery set in the Florida Keys and is the second in the Mer Cavallo Mysteries. I’m definitely going to go back and read Adrift (2017) which is the first in the series. The book starts with planning Thanksgiving dinner that soon gets derailed by a break in that destroys the turkey. Mer’s friends come together to help with dinner and then to help solve the mystery and thwart the bad guys. Really fun read by an interesting author, check Micki Browning out!

Cathi shared Honeymoon by James Patterson and  Howard Roughan. James Patterson used this book in a master class that Cathi took. It features a black widow type character that uses her culinary skills to lure her men. I’m adding this to my must read list. Fun!

Listen to episodes of our podcast here or on apple podcasts, google podcasts, or Spotify.

 

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Merry Christmas!

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“I like to compare the holiday season with the way a child listens to a favorite story. The pleasure is in the familiar way the story begins, the anticipation of familiar turns it takes, the familiar moments of suspense, and the familiar climax and ending.”– Fred Rogers
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Character Stakes and Writing Distractions

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It’s the week before Christmas and all through the house I see distractions galore. Writers are the best and finding productive sounding distractions from actual writing. Research can encompass just about anything I find myself doing that is not writing. In fact, this blog was supposed to be written long ago but I had a book to read all day yesterday as research for my podcast. And this morning, I had Christmas shopping to do online that led to research of middle grade gift trends for my work in progress. And then during lunch I got caught up with checking twitter for new posts and follows, but really started researching writing tips. In this last case, I’m happy to say that the distraction prompted the writing of this post.

I came across a quote that was shared by a writer I follow. “a problem that a character can walk away from, is a book a reader can walk away from.” After tracing the tweet I was able to attribute the quote to Jay Whistler, a writer teacher and editor. It sounds like it could be a quote that has been around a while because I had a déjà vu moment when I read it. Someone must have told me that same thing at a workshop. It is also an ah ha kind of quote. Something we all know but rarely have it condensed so clearly. So I thank Jay Whistler (or whoever she might have been quoting – I drew the line at my research time so I could write this post). I will be thinking this over and analyzing my works in progress to make sure they can’t be put down. I’ll make sure the stakes are high enough, then maybe push it even more. And I’ll try to skip the research and just write it down!

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Kung Fu Girl, Late Show, and Lies – Episode 6

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We’ve done it again! Cathi and I had too much fun and hope our MF’s out there did too.

The wine this week was Kung Fu Girl, a Reisling from Charles Smith Wines in Washington State. Both Cathi and I were surprised to realize that it was not too sweet and quite sippable (not sure if that is a word but I’m going with it). And what an attractive label … something important to us wine connoisseurs! A rock star wine all the way around.

First we talked socks. Exciting right? Well turns out South Florida peeps do own socks just not with the same urgency as South Dakota peeps do. I like to wear hospital socks to bed to keep my toes warm. Yes you heard that right, the socks that are one size fits all with little skid proof bottoms. Cathi’s sock choice is much more functional and probably more fashionable … Smartwool socks.

My book choice this week was The Late Show (2017) by Michael Connelly.  He is the writer or the Harry Bosch series and the Mickey Haller series (the Lincoln Lawyer played in the movie by Matthew McConaughey). The Late Show features a new series character, Renee Ballard, who is a bad ass detective on the LAPD night shift. Truly a great character and another winning series by Michael Connelly. Renee eats a lot of sushi and visits the Poke-poke window in Venice Beach, so I chose a dry Reisling that was designed to be enjoyed with sushi. The book is a thrill a minute and is actually based on a real person, Mitzi Roberts. The second book in the series, Dark, Sacred Night, came out on October 30, 2018, so it would make a good Christmas present.

Last but not least, Cathi’s book was, Trust Me, by one of our favorite authors Hank Phillippe Ryan.  We first met her at Sleuthfest 2018, the same conference where Cathi and I met. She was an amazing teacher and such an interesting speaker … as well as a great thriller writer. We hope to see her at future conferences and look forward to each of her new books. Trust Me is a stand alone thriller with a grieving main character, Mercer, who Cathi thinks would make a good character in a future book. Pinot Noir is the drink of choice in this book and the wine becomes almost a character in itself. Lots of lies are thrown around and it could be because of the wine:) Looking forward to reading this book and adding it to my shelf.

 

 

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A Pet as an Alpha Listener

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Writing is a solitary process. It can be fun and exhilarating when the story is flowing but at the end of the day it is nice to enjoy some outside input. Most people go to work and depending on their job have some level of interaction with others. But I work at home so that doesn’t happen. I’m also a single, empty-nester, in a new neighborhood, so my after-work hours can be rather quiet. I know I need to get out and mingle with real people (as opposed to my characters) but that can be difficult for a morning person. I am gradually working toward taking some classes in the evenings and try to commute to visit old friends a couple times a month. But still, I can see why so many authors thank their spouses. Because if I had one, I’m sure I would annoy him every evening with my need for attention.

Lately I’ve been thinking about getting a dog. I picture my pet listening attentively to my every word. I’m not sure if that’s true because the last time I had a dog I was very young, and at that time didn’t need an audience for my chatter. I had my imaginary friends when my real friends and family weren’t there to listen. I do know that over the years every time I thought about getting a dog, I shied away from the extra responsibility … too much, with a household to run and kids to take care of, not to mention my love of travel. I was probably wrong in thinking that since I most likely could have used the undivided attention of a loving pet. But alas, such is life. So now I’m thinking about it and perusing shelters for the perfect companion. A little like online dating but MUCH easier. After all, the dogs look happy to see me and don’t judge my appearance or my crazy ideas. In the meantime, I would love to hear if any other writers have pets that double as alpha readers/listeners.

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Literary Agents Are People Too

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Here’s my latest revelation. Literary agents are people too. To be honest, I have been aware of this for some time on one level but have been having trouble with it sinking in. I’ve met agents at pitches during writer’s conferences and realized that some of them I clicked with and some not so much. Just like in any social situation with real people.

But on a deeper level, they still held my future in their hands, or so I thought. If only they would pick my manuscript to represent, then I would get published. And getting published gives legitimacy to my writing pursuits. I still believe this since I’m an optimist all the way. I just know that if given the chance, I will edit my heart out, write the next novel with super dedication, and promote the hell out of the published book! So there you go, just choose me all-powerful agent and I will make your job easy.

But alas they are just people, and as such, have all the same peculiarities as we mere mortals do. They might be a pessimist and assume that since I don’t have a lot of social media presence then I won’t succeed. (Here’s where you follow this page and subscribe to my podcast). They might be an optimist and think that if they hold out a little longer, they will represent the next JK Rowling. (Here’s where I tell them, fine, just get me in the door and I’ll make you some pocket change along the way.) They could be burned out and just want to meet quota, or they can be new and afraid to take a risk that might upset their bosses. They could be awesome but just too busy for a new author in my genre. They could be looking to branch out and create more diversity in their representation. And, finally, some are just plain crazy.

I’ve been told this in so many different ways and almost every rejection says, writing is subjective so don’t give up because another agent might feel differently. The difference is that now I am beginning to realize that finding the right agent is more than just finding someone who likes my book, but also finding someone that wants to work with me. It does add another layer to the search but it gives me some padding for my ego, and allows me to keep going. No one has said (or even remotely implied) that I suck and should give up the pursuit. Therefore, I will go on the assumption that eventually I will find the “soulmate” of agents … I just have to keep looking and send out a new round of queries … for Gator Moon, a Y/A Mystery Thriller.

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Chaos, Cruises, and Chardonnay – Episode 4 recap

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Cathi and I are having so much fun with our podcast and hopefully you all are too!

Check out Episode 4 – Chaos, Cruises and Chardonnay which goes along with the information in this post. We are also on itunes, spotify and google play under Game of Books.

We started out with choosing a wine to taste and this week it was my choice. I chose Louis Jadot Macon-Villages Chardonnay which both Cathi and I enjoyed very much. It is a French, unoaked Chardonnay so it tastes different than what we are used to from California. It also was close to the expensive Chablis wine shared in the mystery novel I chose … just more affordable at under $20. If you get a chance check out the Louis Jadot website and play with the little flags to see it in different languages – fun!

The book and food scenes I discussed was Chaos by Patricia Cornwell, who I described as the rockstar of forensic thrillers. Her recurring character Kay Scarpetta is a medical examiner who also is a great cook and foodie so all of her books feature good meals and wine. Chaos is book 24 in the series, so get reading!

Cathi chose a dark thriller set on a cruise ship. The Woman in Cabin 10 by Ruth Ware sounds so intriguing and is set to be made into a movie. The food scene was completely unique and somewhat creepy featuring grass and buffalo foam … I want to read it and also want to meet Ruth Ware for coming up with that menu!

Hope you all have a great weekend and maybe enjoy a French Chardonnay with one of the food ideas from our podcast.

 

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NaNoWriMo is almost over … but I’m not!

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As we near the end of National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo), I am trying not to be too hard on myself. I know I will not write 50,000 words of my novel this month, but I have been working hard. It turns out that life throws all kinds of junk at us and some people might be much better at dodging the debris than I am. Maybe. Or maybe I’m just out of practice. That’s why I need to keep up the pressure even after this month ends … small steps forward are better than no steps.

My habit is to drop everything and take care of whatever new crisis comes along, regardless of the severity. I’ve had the time and I like to help others, so I would volunteer whenever needed. But now I want to shift the some of my time to something that is valuable to only me (at least so far), my writing. And, not surprisingly, this leads me to doubt myself and my priorities. So far, all the work I’m doing in writing my novels, my blogs, and my podcasts as well as learning and mastering the technology that these projects entail, hasn’t led to income or accolades. These things are traditionally what keep us going in our pursuits. I have a hope that eventually people will connect with my writing and either find motivation or entertainment. This, in turn, will silence all the voices of judgement, real or imagined, that tell me that I need to do something more practical. In the meantime, I will listen to the successful authors and artists who say the key is to keep doing what you love and never give up.

So, I will post this blog, and record the latest podcast, and write those words of my novel, and then apologize nicely when I’m not able to get to the next crisis until I’m done. NaNoWriMo may be almost over, but I’m not!

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FRIDAY WRAP UP – PODCAST EPISODES 2 AND 3

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Here I am thankful for another great Thanksgiving and looking forward to a turkey sandwich for lunch. I’m also thankful that I didn’t check my email yesterday because I actually received a rejection letter from an agent who has had my manuscript since August. Happy Thanksgiving but we are going to pass on your book. Come to think of it, I don’t think I’d want an agent that would do that (she could have scheduled the email to come on Monday after the holidays) but at least it was a nice rejection along the lines of “admired it, just didn’t love it” and even more interesting, “given this is such a difficult time for fiction.” I guess it’s true when they say that timing is everything.

It’s a good thing Cathi and I have this blog and now a podcast, just in case fiction really is dead. In fact, we have now published Episodes 2 and 3 which you can subscribe to on Itunes, Spotify, or Google Play. We are having a lot of fun and learning not only a new medium, but also about wine, food and mystery books. Here are some of the links to topics we talked about and the wine and books we featured.

Episode 2 – Fava Beans and a nice Chianti

We drank the Ruffino Chianti which we both found tasty, even without the liver and fava beans. I picked this because wine to go with the mystery I discussed, Silence of the Lambs by Thomas Harris.  There was so many interesting facts surrounding the book and author. If you haven’t read the book, you should, even if you have seen the movie. Thomas Harris really pulls us in to the characters.

Cathi told me about Brad Meltzer‘s Escape Artist and once again, her book choice sounds great and I will at it to my list of must reads. And funny coincidence, both of the authors on this episode live (at least part-time) in South Florida and Cathi and I discussed the vote recount that was in the news down here. We love to hear about the contrasts between South Dakota and South Florida.

Episode 3 – Sauvignon Blanc Goes Great With Turkey

Cathi chose Josh Cellars Sauvignon Blanc to go with the gazpacho served during a scene in John Grisham‘s Camino Island. We had a lot of fun talking about a game Cathi uses at Thanksgiving called Table Topics and Coldplay‘s new documentary A Head Full Of Dreams, which I loved as a groupie or possible future rock star. I also talked about T. Jefferson Parker‘s L.A. Outlaws which contains a fun scene in a Persian restaurant. Parker is also the Guest of Honor at Sleuthfest 2019, a great mystery writers conference held in Boca Raton, Florida in March. Cathi and I met there earlier this year, and both agree that it is an awesome conference, well worth the money. If you attend, you can help us celebrate the first anniversary of our collaboration … with wine, of course.

 

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Thanksgiving and Nanowrimo

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Thanksgiving is in the middle of NaNoWriMo and I’m thinking this is crazy!  Or great. I’m conflicted!

With any job we usually have to keep working up to and right after Thanksgiving. And students often have to keep studying for the exams that come in December. Since I think writing is like a job that we can’t leave, a little like a job where we always have homework, then we should learn to work around Thanksgiving just like everyone else. So November is a great month to teach us this. We just have to work hard up to the holiday and right after. Discipline! Sorry to say that discipline in my novel writing leaves something to be desired so I am behind in my word count so I’m thinking choosing this month to write 50,000 words is crazy! But I am so thankful that I have gotten a good start on the novel so that’s great! Thanksgiving and NaNoWriMo together did that.  See what I mean? Conflicted!

One thing I’m not conflicted about is being thankful for my many friends who visit me or invite me over, even though I chose to move a bit of a drive away. And I’m thankful for all those friends even farther away that stay in touch (even sporadically) and keep me smiling over the miles. And I’m thankful for my wonderful kids a constant source of inspiration, support, and love. And I’m thankful for family that give me a sense of belonging (even if they are mostly crazy). And I’m thankful for my writing (novels and blogs and scripts) and my writing partner, Cathi, who has decided to embark on our projects despite her full plate.  And I’m thankful that I finished this blog in time and we already have Friday’s Podcast recorded!

When it comes down to it, It’s great to know that I can handle writing challenges and holidays in the same month! Even if it is a bit crazy around here!

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