KW

You two set yourselves up for it. You wanted to be characters, and NOW you're complaining about it?!?!?! The story is taking a drastic turn...

Love the title. But I went there and...blank.

Well, I prefer hardback, in fact, if it's a fav keeper book, I seek out the hardcover edition for reasons of endurance.

Whether or not you get eaten is left up to me, dear.

Acesare- On your avatar info it says: bomb: terry pratchett -- what does bomb mean?

You mean when I write a children's horror book about a madcow that goes chasing after purplepoppys?

Sure, Kell. I'd be happy to!

Ooooo, I've heard that's a good one!

Do the libraries rent them out there like they do in the US? audio books?

YAY!

Stuck, sometimes most definitely, but mostly it's because I have a neighborhood directory sitting right here next to my computer and if I'm creating a new character, I glance at it!

Hey Madcow - LOL, I didn't need to do any research for DWHH. Nope, that was ( again ) all me there. Writing Lauren as a mother of a child with autism was really a purge for me. I wanted the contrast between her highly competitive life as a dancer to be just as high stress as life is living with autism, because it made her more real and sympathetic. But all of those things that happened to Lauren -- the things Rebekah did -- are all things my daughter with autism has done. Running away, getting lost, escaping through windows and doors, falling from shelves, etc...are direct experiences from our daily lives, though she's 12 now and has grown out of the running.

Hi Kell, I really enjoy helping people with their writing, and have already been "hired" if you will, by other authors to critique and work with them through the process. (Not for pay) I do it because I was so moved by my own experience with my instructor that I thought, if I could help someone to the degree he helped me, I could give back. Not to sound cheesy, but I really DO enjoy that. In light of that enjoyment, I have an online crit group with a few select ladies -- we came together from other online crit groups -- and I head up two local crit groups here in my city. Every now and then I still work one on one with writers if my schedule allows. It can be very time consuming. But I think it'd be fun to try an online class with posts, weekly lessons /writing challenges and feedback from other members.

Hi Maureen, Oh, well, there is definitely an element of real life in everything I write. If I'm on a roll, I don't stop and take the time to figure out some things, they just pop into mind and work. I mentioned before that much of John's relationship with his mother in An Open Vein is like mine has been with my mother: agitated, insecure, struggling for independence. Maybe it's because I was an only child but it's been difficult for my mom to let go. She still struggles with that and it's still an issue. I wanted to show the frustration a child has when a parent can't let go, but also, how difficult it is once a parent lets go. It's not as easy to be an adult as you think. When romance enters into a story, I never draw from intimate experience. I wouldn't do that to my husband. This, among other reasons, is why I don't write explicit sex. But many little incidents creep into my work. It's a way of personalizing it I think. And no one knows what's me and what isn't unless they know me very well -- like family. Often friends and family read and point out a neighbor's name that I've grabbed and stuck here or there because I haven't the inclination to pick something else out.

My two daughters ages 21 and 19 both write. One attends our local B&N where I host the writing group. One writes historical romance, the other edgy YA. Both have been voracious readers and have written for their high school newspaper, etc. I think it's in our family genes. My step father was a writer, and it always fascinated me -- his work. Now, ds age 14 is also writing - fantasy - as in, he takes out his frustrations and fantasies in his journals about his older brother harassing him and his younger brother who bosses him around! In his stories, he's the victor of course.

There are so many great books out there and I'd love to have written them for different reasons: Interview with a Vampire by Anne Rice because I could never create such a detailed world and I really admire that about her creative process. Penelope Williams for her use of the language in Wages of Sin and Mortal Sins I'd have to say though, Honest Illusions is the book I'd like to have written. It has it all: suspense, fabulous locations, unforgettable characters and it's the kind of book I didn't want to end.

I so want to hop a plane and come over for a visit! This menu detail is making it worse!

I've been fond of Nora Roberts, but lately her newest work hasn't grabbed me. But my all time favorite book is Honest Illusions. Her crafting of that story is as near to perfect as any book I've read on so many levels, it's amazing.

You nailed Kane, purplepoppy. Kane’s obsession knows no boundaries. He will stop at nothing in an act of revenge so deeply woven into life that reality has been lost and dreams become what are real.

Though reading "how-to" books may help, nothing is better than a class where you can take your writing in, have the instructor and class read it and then go through the critiquing process. Be open to even the most harsh suggestions, as new writers are often close to their work and think it's already perfect. A seasoned author/teacher "sees" things you aren't trained to see yet and can help you focus your writing lense. Comments from other class members will tell you if you're getting your point across, how interesting your passages are, where they have questions you have not answered. I'm in a group now with a woman that is still very sensitive to crits about her work. Last week we all had the same question at the same spot in her story, but she didn't want to answer the question by changing her work. "I answer that later in the story," she kept saying. Clearly, we all had the question at the same point however, and having that question answered later creates a loss of impact in the story thread. Remember, you're not going to be standing over your reader's shoulder as a footnote to answer they're questions or defend why you did something. All loose ends must be wrapped up in a satisfying manner or be accounted for before the story ends or the reader will be left unsatisfied. Reading is also key, and reading a large variety of genres and authors to see how they express themselves. Subconsciously, this seeps into your creative process as you settle into voice and style, in then end giving you part of your genetic makeup as an author.

How fascinating! Sounds like an engrossing read. I love "true life" accounts.

Has she??? Oh. Well. All is forgiven then.

Okay, I'm trying not to be peeved here, madcow...but I don't see ANY books by moi on your list...no, not one!

I didn't get THAT impression. Just that it was tedious at the start.