Sundance Ramblings

For many the Sundance Film Festival is something you read about, you never experience. Like the Cannes Film Festival or the Toronto International Film Festival for most of us it's something that happens elsewhere. Sure it's fun to read who won. Maybe see one of the award winning 'Cannes' movies that comes to a theater near you.

But in Utah, every January Sundance madness arrives. Sundance began in 1978--don't worry I'm not going to give you a history lesson or anything--back then it was a little film thinger at the ski resort owned by that Robert Redford guy from Butch Cassedy and the Sundance Kid. You saw a blurb or two in the paper. Then it spread to Park City, Utah. New films, and producers wanted in. And another blurb or two were added to the paper.

Each year, it seemed to grow. Until now; Sundance twentyten, even Park City can't hold everything. There are films showing not only at Sundance and Park City, but all over in independent theatres in downtown Salt Lake City, and further north in Ogden. Now even the common person, such as myself, can experience a little slice of Sundance without traveling to Park City, and joining in the chaos and madness that bring the stars in year after year.

My husband and I joined my brother in law and his wife for dinner and then attended a debut film called Homewrecker. This is a low budget independent film.  Though you could tell because there were no 'name' actors in it, it was still a great film. Quirky and entertaining.

Last night they held the award ceremony in Park City, I'm not surprised that the film we saw came out with an award. Best of the Next. The Barnes Brothers are on their way up, I can't wait to see what they do next.

Now next year I'm going to see if I can get tickets to a showing in Park City, I'd love to experience the energy and chaos. Do a little start gazing. You never know who you might see. If you're ever near or in Utah in January, make it a point to drop by Robert Redford's magnificent Sundance Festival.

Of course I say this every year. But life is too short. Next year is my year!

Weather got you down? Interview with Greg Smith from The National Weather Service

Repost of an interview from early 2009 

Add the elements to your story, how to make it real. Special Guest: Greg Smith National Weather Service will answer any questions for your adventure, suspense writers that want to had the elements to your story.

A little bit about our Guest: Greg has spent 27 years with the national weather Service. For eight of those years he served in the capacity of a meteorologist, responsible for preparing and disseminating aviation, agricultural, and public forecasts at a Weather Forecast Office (WFO). WFO’s have the primary responsibility, as designated by Congress, to issue warnings and watches as they relate to weather or hydrologic situations. The past 19 years he served in a River Forecast Center (RFC) where the primary responsibility is to provide short-term river forecasts and longer seasonal water supply forecasts for the protection of lives and property and to enhance the nation’s economy. In this role in the RFC, forecasters are responsible for analyzing current weather and precipitation amounts using the latest technology such as Doppler radar, importing this information into river models, then analyzing the output to determine whether river levels may approach dangerous levels. This information is provided to WFO’s where flood related warnings might be issued based on the guidance form the RFC’s. His educational background includes a Bachelors degree in meteorology and Masters in Geography. 

MARY: Greg thank you for taking the time out of your busy schedule for a short interview on the elements. And how we can add them to our stories. First, is there anything you’d like to add to your bio? 

Greg: I think that’s really about it as far as the bio goes. Perhaps the most interesting weather phenomena I’ve experiences was in Grand Junction Colorado. A thunderstorm came over the area and dropped what I thought was hail. I picked up the hail and it was cold, but warmed in my hands. It never melted. It turned out to be small white rocks. Most likely what had happened was these were picked up in some type of strong updraft. Given the weight of them it may very well have been a funnel cloud or possibly a tornado. As the storm dissipated it dropped the super cooled rocks. It was pretty cool at the time.

MARY: What is the most common element, or situation a person finds themselves stranded? And how would they survive?

Greg: From a weather perspective, flooding is the most common killer, and the most costly in the United States. More people find themselves dealing with flood dangers than any other weather element. A lot of people perish in floods needlessly by not avoiding the situation in the first place, or by trying to escape the water improperly. Flooding also takes on many forms, including flash flooding, coastal flooding (associated with a wind driven storm surge or tsunami), urban flooding (due to the creation of impervious surfaces) that can cause street and basement flooding, and ice jams (that block river flows). River flooding is more inevitable and just a natural part of the life of a river. The worst river flooding usually occurs from torrential rains associated with dying hurricanes or tropical storms. Runoff from snowmelt, especially if accompanied by heavy rainfall, results in some fairly significant flooding.

When caught in a flood time to act is usually very short. Some situations are simply not survivable which is why we stress preparation and what we like to call “situational awareness”. If caught though, the number one move should be to try and get to higher ground. If trapped by fast moving floodwaters, stay put if all possible and wait for the waters to recede. Six inches of moving water can sweep a person off their feet. Two feet of water will move most vehicles. One foot of water moving at 6-12 mph will move 1500 lbs. So 2-3 feet will move most vehicles. The other unknown factor is that the streambed, whether it be a road surface or whatever, may be undermined or washed away and you can’t see it. Close to half of all flood deaths occur in vehicles when people try and drive through flooded areas.  If a person is ever swept away in a flood, they should keep their feet pointing downstream as best as they can. It is better to hit debris, rocks, etc. with your feet than your head. This also allows you to perhaps spot an out, such as a tree, something floating on the surface, or an eddy or area where you might be able to escape.

MARY: What exactly is a flash flood? Where would this be most common? And what would a person need to do to survive? Is there any warning?

Greg: The most straightforward definition is the onset of a large volume of water in a very short duration. The NWS has loosely used a 6 hour time threshold to determine the onset of a flash flood. Flash flood can occur just about anywhere, but most commonly you will find them where geology, geography, and topography combine to form an ideal setting. One such place is Austin Texas, and here’s an example of how these things work together.

Geography – Austin lies in an area where it receives large sources of moisture from the Pacific Ocean and Gulf of Mexico. As a result very heavy rainfall occurs in this part of the world.

Topography – Austin is near an area called the “Hill Country”. Water runs downhill and runoff quickly moves into the area where Austin is located. The Balcones Escarpment also acts to enhance precipitation rates as it creates additional lift to storms moving into the area. As air is lifted it cools and can hold less water, so this adds to heavy precipitation rates. Mountains and large sloping surface features that are perpendicular to the air flow or storm movement cause these systems to lift, cool, and reduces their ability to hold moisture, thus – heavier rainfall.

Geology - Limestone and thin soils exist in much of this area and it doesn’t absorb water all that quickly.

All these things combine to make Austin very susceptible to flash flooding. Other areas include the desert southwest. In these areas the hardened sandstone is very impervious to runoff, and the narrow canyons funnel the water. Basically “walls of water” have been observed moving down stream, in some instances they move for many miles, over several hours, far away from the original storm.

To survive these you need to arm yourself with knowledge beforehand as to whether you will be in a flash flood prone region and if the weather is conducive to heavy rainfall. If a flash flood does occur the only thing you can do is to climb to higher ground. If your are not in a area where you can do this, chances of survival are minimal. Flash floods occur very rapidly in these areas.. When in a flash flood prone region, the sound of distant thunder is a good warning to adhere to. Rain does not need to be occurring where you are standing.

Warnings are issued but because these situations develop quickly, the lead time may not be enough to react. In many cases, people out in the country, may or may not hear any such warning. 

MARY: I live in Utah, this time of year we hear a lot about Avalanches in the news. What conditions would a skier or hiker need to be aware of to avoid one? Also, what equipment is it wise to have on your person to avoid disaster if caught in one?

Greg: I’m not an expert on avalanches and not qualified to speak of them extensively, but I work only a few feet away from several people who are. They are with the Utah Avalanche Forecast Center and I am going to give you a link to one of their web pages with some great information. There is a lot of good advice here and I also copied an excerpt from that page and pasted it below. Note also that avalanches occur as large slabs of snow, one slab of snow, with particular properties of density, weight, etc., that slides over another layer of snow. Dry slabs cause most fatalities.

The web page:  http://utahavalanchecenter.org/education/faq

Snow is a lot like people. It doesn't like rapid change. (Raise taxes slowly enough and no one notices.) Dry slab avalanches occur when the weak layer beneath the slab fractures, usually because too much additional weight has been added too quickly, which overloads the buried weak layer. Snow is very sensitive to the rate at which it is loaded or stressed. Two feet of snow added over two weeks is not a problem. Two feet of snow in two days is a much bigger problem. Two feet of snow in two hours is a huge problem. (Wind can easily deposit two feet of snow in two hours.) Then, finally the weight of a person can add a tremendous stress to a buried weak layer, not in two hours, but in two tenths of a second-a very rapid change. That is why in 90 percent of avalanche accidents, the avalanche is triggered by the victim (or someone in the victim's party). Wet slab avalanches occur for the opposite reason. Percolating water dissolves the bonds between the snow grains, which decrease the strength of the buried weak layer. 

MARY: If my hero & heroine ended in a ditch in a blizzard and they had to walk ...to a cabin...if the temps were dipping below zero, how long could they stay out in the elements without hypothermia setting in.  How about frostbite? 

Greg: Hypothermia occurs when the body temperature drops below about 95 degrees Fahrenheit.  How long this might take depends upon the condition of the person at risk since everyone reacts to cold differently. Because of this there’s no real reliable table or temperature threshold. Elderly or very young individuals are more susceptible, as are thin people vs. heavier individuals.  Those with inadequate food or those who have been drinking or on drugs will also be more susceptible to hypothermia sooner since their body is not efficiently generating heat.  Also keep in mind that people lose body heat in water about 25 times faster. So, if in cold water the time to reach hypothermia is much quicker. It can occur very quickly, in a matter of minutes.

Hypothermia can actually occur at temperatures above freezing, even up to around 40 degrees. If you are wet, are cold, in cold rain, sweat and then get chilled etc. hypothermia is possible. Whenever you shiver (due to the cold), your body is in a very early stage of response to hypothermia and a lower body core temperature.

Frostbite will occur when tissue freezes and blood flow stops to that area. On exposed skin frostbite occurs and the wind chill does play a role. I’ve listed some wind chill temperatures (or air temperatures without the wind) that are associated with frostbite. Again, it may depend on the individual.

0⁰F to -19⁰F    Exposed skin can freeze within 5 minutes.

-20⁰F to -69⁰ Exposed skin can freeze within 1 minute.  Outdoor activity becomes dangerous.

-70⁰F and below  Exposed skin can freeze in 30 seconds.

Hopefully your hero and heroine have enough clothing to layer. Layering clothes traps pockets of air and acts as excellent insulators in cold weather. When trapped in winter we’ve always advised people to stay with their vehicle. It’s a source of heat and protection. Most people leave due to panic and or lack of food. It’s always good to keep extra food in a vehicle when traveling in remote regions in winter. If you stay with your car, it’s also important to get out and remove the snow from the tailpipe. Unfortunately people forget to do this and they succumb to CO poisoning. 
MARY: Katrina is still on the minds of people in the South. What would a person need to do to survive a category 5 hurricane? Actually, what is the most common category? And what are normal precautions people make who live in hurricane zones? 

Greg: A category 5 hurricane by all rights is not survivable.  I would say to anyone facing a cat 5 is to either leave, or prepare to meet your maker. Don’t expect to survive, odds are against you. Those that do survive beat incredible odds and are very lucky.  Folks forget, that while Katrina hit CAT 5 just off the coast, it weakened to CAT 3 just as it hit the mainland. That said, any hurricane warrants evacuation if that is possible. Other than that you need to get inland, away for the coast and potential storm surge. You also need to be in a strong building but avoid highest floors since that’s where strongest winds occur. Do not take shelter in a temporary structure or mobile home. Get away from glass doors and windows. Stay in an interior room, closet, or hallway.

Prior to hurricanes most folks in these areas have an evacuation plan, they have storm shutters or board up their windows, extra food, water, fuel is stored. They have battery powered light sources and radios. They are advised to turn off all utilities, in particular gas, prior to the onset of the storm. There are materials to secure roofing. Trees and shrubs that might become airborne in the winds are trimmed. Anything outdoors that could become airborne is secured or taken in.

Between 1850 and 2006 the greatest number of hurricanes that have hit the US mainland were Category 1 hurricanes, followed by Cat 3, then Cat 2, Cat 4, then Cat 5. 

MARY: The only thing left that I can think of is a Tornado. I’m sure we’ve all seen Twister, and know what a funnel cloud looks like. Is there anything interesting you could tell us that we may not know that we could add to a story? 

Greg: Twister was a fun movie, but there was quite a bit there that was unrealistic. Most storm chasers can’t get within 5 miles of a tornado. Debris flying around and the danger associated with these storms is simply to great. In addition accurately determining where one is going to develop (at least at the scale in the movie) isn’t that easy. Most twisters last less than 10 minutes although some can last over an hour. Most tornadoes travel from southwest to northeast.  Some other interesting facts, 70% of all tornado deaths occur in only 2% of all tornadoes while weaker tornadoes account for 69% of all tornadoes accounting for less than 5% of all deaths. I’ve got a kick out of the cows floating around in those twisters. There have been survivors of tornados in Wichita Falls Kansas that lost arms and legs. Here’s some other tornado tidbits:

In the southern states, peak tornado occurrence is in March through May, while peak months in the northern states are during the summer.

Note, in some states, a secondary tornado maximum occurs in the fall.

Tornadoes are most likely to occur between 3 and 9 p.m. but have been known to occur at all hours of the day or night.

The strongest tornadoes have rotating winds of more than 250 mph.

Tornadoes can be one mile wide and stay on the ground over 50 miles,

Tornadoes may appear nearly transparent until dust and debris are picked up or a cloud forms within the funnel.

The average forward speed is 30 mph but may vary from nearly stationary to 70 mph. 

Invironmental clues – look out for:

• Dark, often greenish sky
• Wall cloud
• Large hail
• Loud roar; similar to a freight train

MARY: Is there anything I haven’t asked that you may think an author would find interesting to use?

Thank you Greg Smith for visiting with me. I appreciate all the information.

Woohoo! Watching Jenny released yesterday!

Yes I know I should have announced this yesterday, but I didn't want to appear too eager! But here is all the information on my latest! Hope you enjoy!

Watching Jenny
Available now! Siren-BookStrand Publishing

Blurb
Known as Blade with wild pink hair, tattoos and piercings, Jenny McGregor works to keep her life private. But her self-constructed barriers are breached after she receives flowers and threatening notes signed by ‘Runner’.

Desperate to stop the threat before she goes on tour, Jenny hires hunky Detective Dan Janson for protection. Unable to catch the stalker before the tour bus leaves, Dan is forced to stifle his attraction to Jenny. They’re carried along on a dangerous game of cat and mouse from San Diego to Memphis the city of Elvis and the blues.
 
Each day the two draw closer together. When ‘Runner’ lures Jenny away from the tour, Dan’s forced to acknowledge he’s fallen in love with the feisty singer.

Hot on Jenny’s trail, Dan soon learns ‘Runner’ is not one of the usual suspects.

Excerpt
Finally sitting in front of her mirror after her shower, with her hair drying in curly wisps around her face, she noticed the beautiful arrangement of exotic flowers. Frowning, she wondered who could have sent them. She reached out to touch the card, only to pull her hand back. She didn’t want to admit it, but she was frightened it might be from the same nutcase who had been sending her notes all week. She hadn’t told anyone about them, for then she would have to take it seriously, and she really wanted the problem to go away.

“Come on, Jenny girl, show some guts. You have to read the damn thing sooner or later.” he had hoped the short pep talk out loud would calm her. After a long moment of indecision, she reached out with determination, grasped the envelope firmly, and pulled it from the ribbon around the vase. Lifting the flap, she closed her eyes and pulled the card out. She didn’t realize that she was holding her breath until she read the message and let out a soft gasp.

Peekaboo, I see you.
You know, Blade, or should I say Jenny,
after all, we are friends; I really don’t think you should walk
in front of your bedroom window, naked, the way you do.
Although you are lovely to look at.
I’m looking forward to your next little show.
Enjoy the flowers.
Runner

This was getting out of hand. She had received a note almost every day. Someone must be stalking her. They only do that in the movies, don’t they? She would ask Rich if he had seen who had sent the flowers. She walked to the door, paused as her hand touched the knob, then sighed, returned to her chair, and plopped down onto the seat. She might be in danger. Might be? Who are you kidding, Jenny, you are in danger. That left only one person to go to so her friends wouldn’t be in danger.

Check out More

Watching Jenny Buy Now!

Interview with Amanda Bergeron Avon/HarperCollins

I’d like to welcome Amanda Bergeron of Avon/HarperCollins to my blog today. I’m very excited she has agreed to let me interview her.  First I’d like to find out a bit about Amanda Bergeron, the person, not the editor.

Mary: Where did you grow up? Or where are you from?

Amanda:  I was born and raised in Maine, about 45 minutes north of Portland.

Mary: What are some of your favorite hobby’s? Other than reading.

Amanda: I love to learn to cook and create new recipes, play tennis, hike, visit new places, and take advantage, as much as I can, of all the culture available here in NYC.

Mary: When you were ten what did you want to be when you grew up? 

Amanda: A geologist.  I'm not entirely sure I knew what that meant though.

Mary: Were you a girly-girl growing up or a Tom boy?

Amanda:  I took ballet and gymnastics at some point or another, but when it came down to it I could always be found playing soccer with the boys at recess or street hockey with the guys in the neighborhood.  I also loved my dolls and barbies, so I guess I had a fair balance.

Mary: What is your favorite thing to do in New York?

Amanda: While there are a lot of "big city" fun things to do (museums, shows, restaurants etc.) I particularly love going for walks up in Fort Tryon Park or by the Hudson River up near the GW Bridge.  It's always so nice to find pockets of nature within the city.

Mary: Okay let’s get to know the Amanda Bergeron the editor: If you didn’t want to be an editor when you were ten, when did you decide you’d like to be one? Are you in your first Editing position?

Amanda: I think it was in the back of mind for a long time, but I actually went to college for print and multi-media journalism. It wasn't really until the end of my junior year (and about 5 months into a 6 month newspaper internship) that I realized what I really wanted to do. Yes, this is my first position.

Mary: Did you actively pursue Harper Collins for your editing career?

Amanda: Like any college grad, I applied anywhere and everywhere I saw an opening.  Luckily, I wasn't too far along in my search when I moved to NYC and was able to get an informational interview with Human Resources at HarperCollins.  That apparently went well, and I was invited back for further interviews when a position opened up…and then I got lucky J

Mary: Walk me through a typical day for Amanda.

Amanda: Around here, no two days are quite alike, but I'll try!  Let's pretend it's a Wednesday:

9am- Arrive with coffee in hand, and start checking/answering emails. 

10am- We have a cover conference with the art department to plan and discuss artwork for upcoming titles.

11am- Answer more email, check snail mail. Do any of the following: send out checks to authors/agents, work on fact sheets for upcoming titles, transmit a manuscript to production for copyediting, pull together a contract request for recently acquired books etc

12:30- Lunch, hopefully with colleagues (and outside in the summer)—but sometimes at my desk

1:30- Any of following: Read a submission, respond to an agent, respond to more email, work on an edit letter to an author etc.

2:30- Editorial meeting—editors, publicists, sales rep, publisher all meet to discuss recent submissions, acquisitions, rejections, etc.  Bounce ideas around and get second reads on projects

3:15-end of day: Work on any of the things listed previously.

Honestly each day holds a fun and different set of challenges.  But I'd say the biggest misconception is the idea that editors actually get to read and edit all day—generally that stuff actually happens outside the 9-5.

Mary: What is the Avon/HarperCollins process? In other words, you receive a query, you request a partial and you want to read the full. Who then would you pass it too if you didn’t reject it? And so forth until an offer is made?

Amanda:  If I read a manuscript I just love and can't stop thinking about, I'll first ask a colleague or two to take a peek.  If I am able to rally enough support around a project, I would take it to our editorial director to get the okay to make an offer.  If that happens, I would then touch base with the agent to begin negotiations. 

Mary: I know a lot of editors and/or agents say they are looking for the ‘Wow’ factor, or that fresh new voice. Or something that grabs your attention and holds on for the ride. As a writer I’ve heard it all and believe me I try to achieve it all. So what does Amanda Bergeron look for? What would a manuscript need to have, for you to not just ‘submit’ it to your senior editor, but campaign and lobby for that manuscript through the entire process until an offer is made to the author and/or agent?

Amanda: If a writer has a fabulous voice and has a natural instinct for creating chemistry then I am always more willing to consider more heavily even if the story isn't entirely wonderful.  Certain things can be taught, but voice and the ability to make a reader's heart stop are something special.

Mary: Last but not least, if you could only offer a single bit of advice to an unpublished writer, what would it be?

Amanda: I would say, continue working to hone your craft and DO YOUR RESEARCH.  Look for an agent that is the best fit for you, and pay attention to which houses are publishing the type of stories you write. 

Thank you, Amanda for spending your valuable time to give me and others a glimpse into your life. I really appreciate it.

Tuesday Rambles

Big Changes...

I sign with an agent and now my family takes me serious. So perhaps Mom really did quite work to write instead of enjoy the grandbabies. My husband is now encouraging me to attend RWA nationals instead of saying we can't afford for me to go this year.

What a difference a contract makes.

I loved having the kids here and enjoyed having time with them. I'm actually going through a bit of withdrawals. But as my daughter-in-law said now when I spend time with the grandkids it will be fun and special not Nana babysitting. And that is so true.

Now... What to do? Write? You bet, my daily goals just went up a few notches as did my editing goals. So why am I rambling on and on, on my blog? Beats me...

I'm off to write and edit. Ramble a bit later.

Interview with Liana Laverentz

I'm excited to post an interview with Liana Laverentz on my blog.  She has published three contemporary romances with The Wild Rose Press, Thin Ice, Jake’s Return, and Ashton’s Secret.  Thin Ice is a 2007 NJRW Golden Leaf Award winner, a 2008 EPPIE winner, and was nominated for best book at Long and Short Reviews in 2007.  Jake’s Return is a 2008 Golden Leaf winner.  Ashton’s Secret is a murder mystery romance released in 2009, which has already received three five-star reviews.  For more information, go to www.lianalaverentz.com. 

Mary:  Welcome, Liana, before we get started, please tell us a little about your publishing journey.   

Liana:  I started writing in 1988.  In 1993, several manuscripts later, I had my first romance published by Meteor/Kismet, which was actually Ashton’s Secret.  In 1994, I had my son, and my life went off in a different direction.  I stopped writing for a while.  In 2002 I started up again, and in 2006 I sold Thin Ice to Rhonda Penders at The Wild Rose Press.  I think Thin Ice was the first book-length manuscript she personally contracted.  She likes to tell how she was sitting in the hospital with pneumonia, reading it, and couldn’t put it down.  Rhonda is one driven and determined lady.  Nothing keeps her down for long.  

After Thin Ice came out, I sold them Jake’s Return, and then I completely re-wrote Ashton’s Secret and submitted it again, as it had been turned down by TWRP the first time for being too out-of-date.  Which it was.  Completely so.   

I had a blast re-writing it, including new twists and secrets in the story that I hadn’t been able to before due to word-count constraints.  It the end, it came out a much better book, and I am thrilled with the reviews it’s been getting. 

Mary:  Why do you think opening Lines are important? 

Liana:  Opening lines are what hook you into the story.  You want to catch the reader from the first moment.  Picture your reader standing in the store, your book open in her hand.  Do you want her to take that book home with her and spend the rest of the evening/night/weekend with it?  Then you need to start with an attention-getting opening.  (And once you have that, you can’t let up.  You need to keep the pace going so that your reader never wants to put that book down.  The highest praise an author can receive is “I couldn’t put your book down!”) 

I had our local postmistress say to me one Monday morning when I walked in to get my mail, “I’m so mad at you!  I didn’t get anything done all weekend!” and then, “When’s the next one coming out?”  She then sold several of her customers on my books by telling them how much she enjoyed them.   

That’s the kind of reader you want to have, and hooking them in from page one and keeping them hooked is how you get them. 

Mary:  How do you hook your reader into a story? I know you’ve written articles about this subject.   

Liana:  I like to come up with opening lines that immediately put questions into the reader’s mind.  That’s the best way to explain it.  Why is this person sitting alone?  Why does nobody like him?  Or why is everyone nervous when he walks into the room or building?  Why is there a dead body on the floor?  Why is there a piece of evidence missing?  How did this person land in this situation?  (You want the reader to ask that question…but you don’t want to answer it right away.  Because keeping them wondering is what keeps them reading.) 

To kick things off, I’d recommend a snappy line of dialogue, a short one-liner that implies something big is about to happen, or something philosophical (profound or whimsical, depending on the mood of the story) from the main character’s point of view. Something that will either be proven or disproven during the course of the story.  You can also use the setting to open the story, as long as the setting will remain a significant and active part of the story…almost like a character.  The full article can be read at http://www.wrwdc.com/index.php/newsletter/opening_your_book_with_a_bang/ 

Mary:  Explain why you feel most writers do not start their stories at the beginning of the story? 

Liana:  Most writers feel like they need to set up the story.  To give the reader the background of the story…what got or brought the characters to this point.  But that can be filtered in later in one and two line increments of narrative.  You never want to spill all the beans right up front.  Then your book loses all its suspense, and I’m not talking suspense in the sense that it’s a suspense story, but in the sense that the reader is wondering “what will happen next?"

One of the biggest mistakes I see writers making (and one I used to make, myself) is what my editor calls, ‘Susie has a plan.’  It goes like this:  Susie had a plan.  She would do this, and then that, and then when the villain/hero shows up he’ll be trapped/realize she loves him/whatever.   

After explaining the plan in narrative to the reader, the writer then proceeds to write the scene.  But all the suspense is gone, because you’ve just told us what’s going to happen and then shown it happening.   

Just skip the telling part.  Stop with Susie had a plan.  End of chapter.  Next chapter, show Susie implementing that plan.  Let the reader be as surprised as the hero or villain, or even Susie, when things don’t go according to plan.   

I think I’ve gotten away from discussing beginnings.  But a lot of writers do this in the beginning of their stories, as well as throughout.  In addition to telling us how the characters got to this point, the writer will then go on to tell us where the character is going, and why.  We don’t need any of that.  Just show us what’s happening now. 

Mary: How do you think a reader picks a book, and how long to make that decision? 

Liana:  I think a reader picks a book by first looking at the cover, then the back cover blurb, then by opening the book either to the first page or a random page in the book and reading it.  I’d say the whole process takes less than thirty seconds, especially since books are usually impulse purchases.  Especially books by new authors.  I think a reader will do the same thing in a library, though.   

Mary:  Is there anything thing else that you’d like to tell us? Something I haven’t thought to ask? 

Liana: Oh, I could go on and on all day about writing in general.  How about ten quick tips for things to avoid in a manuscript, generously provided by my editor and her partner, who have opened their own freelance editing business.  The full article can be found at: http://muchcheaperthantherapy.blogspot.com/2008/10/top-ten-pet-peeves-we-hate-to-see.html (and, as you can see, number 7, the example about ‘Susie has a plan’ really stuck with me). 

1. The story is filled with happy coincidences that magically solve problems for the hero and heroine. 
2.  Writers who manipulate the plot to suit their ideas of what a nice scene would be, and it doesn’t logically follow the plot.
3.    Characters not acting in character.
4.  Characters who stomp, stalk, clench fists and glare at each other, exhibit no self-control and are victims of their emotions, including passion. 
5.  Writers who think bickering equals conflict.
6.    Writers who think every line of dialogue must be answered, and every inner thought conveyed to the reader, in case they ‘don’t understand’ what you are trying to say.
7.      Don’t tell us what the characters are about to do, then show them doing it.
8.    Writers who don’t know how to end the scene with a hook.
9.    Point of view violations.
10.  Overuse of qualifiers. 

Mary: Thank you, Liana, for agreeing to let me interview you and sharing your knowledge with us.

Liana:  Thank you, Mary.  It’s been a pleasure.  Happy New Year to all, and I hope I’ve been of some help.

First Ramblings of 2010

I'm not sure what to ramble about today. I already talked about goals and/or resolutions so that's out. I'll just ramble about what I'm going to do for my blog this year. My goal is to keep up at least on blog a week or more. And find some writing subjects that are interesting to ramble on about.

I'm also going to do some interviews. I have one set up, I'm not sure of the date yet, but it will be a smash! It's a surprise so check back to find out what it is.

Here's a hint... It's with someone in the publishing industry. This someone is from a large house in New York City. And hopefully we'll glean a little inside information to help all of us!

Okay now I have you curious, so that's all good.

I have a question for you, completely off topic. Every January do you get the bug to clean all your cupboards and your storage rooms? If so do you actually follow through on the wild and crazy impulse?

Talk soon,
Mary

Winner of the Holiday Blog Contest - Congratulations

I'd like to announce the winner of my Holiday Blog Contest:
It's rm2h with her/his recipe for:
Brownie Crackles
PREP 15 min.
COOK 10 min.
INGREDIENTS
1 package fudge brownie mix (13-in. x 9-inch pan size)
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 egg
1/2 cup water
1/4 cup canola oil
1 cup (6 ounces) semisweet chocolate chips
Confectioners' sugar

DIRECTIONS
In a large bowl, beat the brownie mix, flour, egg, water and oil until well blended. Stir in chocolate chips.
Place confectioners' sugar in a shallow dish. Drop dough by tablespoonfuls into sugar; roll to coat. Place 2 in. apart on greased baking sheets.
Bake at 350° for 8-10 minutes or until set. Remove from pans to wire racks to cool. Yield: 4-1/2 dozen.

The problem is, I do not know who this winner is, or how to reach them. So rm2h if you're out there please email me at mary@marymartinez.com

Congratulations! You have won a mug with a $10 GC to Starbucks

Happy New Year everyone!