FAN MAIL, by Mollie Hunt, Cat Writer

A few days ago, I received a fan letter. I don’t get a lot of them, so I’m always excited when a reader takes the time to send me a note. I was eager to check it out when it arrived in my inbox, but in no way was I prepared for the words I read. 

As an author of cozy mysteries, I keep my stories light. I love the gentle genre that promises a few hours respite from the real world. But I also try to add a note of sincerity, of grace, and maybe a bit of optimism as well. Yes, like many of us, I want to save the world. 

I usually have no idea if any of these subtleties come through to my readers. Then this letter came: 

 

Dear Ms. Hunt,

 

I am in the middle of The Ghost Cat of Ocean Cove, and it’s such a perfect book for me I don’t want it to end. Camellia’s dream is my dream too, leaving the big city and moving to a cottage on the coast with my cats, so I am reading very slowly, especially since it’s the first book of the series! I can’t wait for the next one. 

 

The world feels like such a mess right now. Getting lost in a mystery with a cast like a Miss Marple Mystery, and a ghost cat (!!) helps me cope. You remind me that it might someday be possible to take a different path in life. 

 

Reading your book feels like sitting by the fireplace with my furry ones when it’s pouring rain outside, (my favorite thing to do) even while riding a city bus in Seattle. That’s quite an accomplishment!

 

Thank you for the comfort and joy you have given to me through your writing. It really is a blessing.

 

Jennifer

 

After I stopped smiling and crying, I wrote back to Jennifer, whom I’ve never met. I told her how much her letter meant to me. And do you know how she responded? She sent me pictures of her cats!

 

Have you ever received a fan letter that’s stopped you in your tracks? I hope so, because this one made my day year!

   

You can find Mollie Hunt, Cat Writer on her blogsite: https://molliehuntcatwriter.com/ 

Facebook Author Page: www.facebook.com/MollieHuntCatWriter/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/molliehuntcatwriter/

Twitter: @MollieHuntCats

Sign up for Mollie’s Extremely Informal Newsletter at: http://eepurl.com/c0fOTn

Happy Halloween!

It’s that time of year again when Summer and Fall straddle the fence.  Some days are in the sweltering 90’s, only to switch to the comfortable 60’s or 70’s within 24 hours (at least out here in northern CA where I’m lucky to be living).  I’m never ready for the transition—change is hard for me—so I’m happy for the gradual adjustment.  Since time flies when you’re having fun, especially as you get older, we decided we should unpack the Halloween decorations this past weekend.  I found some old Halloween costumes that I might need to revive.

Me as Madonna and my friend, Ben, as Prince circa 2000 (??).

Once we get all the pumpkins bought and decorations in place, we might even have a small party this year in the back yard.  Last year was a bust due to the pandemic, although we were able to pass out candy in bags in the front yard.

This year, I might even bring back the wine and candy pairing—a popular activity for Halloween in wine country.  Last year, we went to a formal tasting with candy pairing at a winery.  

Although it was nice to have it done for us, I enjoy doing my own.  Here are a few favorites:

A combination of two of my favorites, although I understand candy corns are a polarizing treat in the Halloween world.  

Or for something a little more substantial—peanut butter and buttery Chardonnay.

And now for something red and fruity.

What’s your favorite wine and candy pairing?  Favorite Halloween candy?  Favorite Fall tradition?

 

Angela Crider Neary is an attorney by day and writer by night. She is an avid mystery reader and especially enjoys reading novels set in interesting locales. She was inspired to write her first mystery novella, Li'l Tom and the Pussyfoot Detective Bureau: The Case of the Parrots Desaparecidos, by one of her favorite areas in San Francisco, Telegraph Hill.  Her second book, Li'l Tom and the Case of the New Year Dragon is now available.  To learn more, visit her on Facebook and Amazon.

Words Can Hurt – Ruben D. Gonzales

I’m sure I am not alone in just hating to cut words from my manuscripts, but some just need to be jettisoned before they hurt my writing. We recognize the more common clichés that should be edited out of our work, but there are also word gestures that can distract from your story. Words that tell but don’t show. Words like pausing, laughing, smiling (my preferred), staring, shaking head, nodding, frowning, shrugging, turning (second favorite), etcetera. It is an effort to rewrite a passage to “show” rather than tell, but the resulting work will be better.

In a master’s class I took we were advised to use our word program’s “search and find” function to locate clichés and replace with not just other words but also replace a sentence with a more “show” passage. The results will be more compelling actions related to the story at hand and more purposeful dialogue instead of chit chat that doesn’t move the story forward.

Using the “find” function I searched through a work in the editing phase and discovered I used the word “headed” over two dozen times. Some sentences with the word are justified but others could be “updated” a notch. For instance:

Before: “They think she swam out but tired and headed back in but the cold got her.”

After: “They think she swan out and tired, but before she could make it back the cold got her.”

The second sentence is just better all the way around. I know it happens in my writing, when I am rushing through the first draft and just anxious to get the story down. I promise to go back and look at the work critically, but get lazy and not always follow through.

In the manuscript I used "headed" in many forms; headed - out, in, over, back, down, up, under, through, off and others, but thankfully not, "headed for the hills".

I love dialogue but must temper this love to make sure all my dialogue provides a texture to the story and not take up space/add words. If you have a 70,000-word story, don’t write a 90,000-word manuscript. A sample story an editor proofed came up with 4,000 words that could have been eliminated, not counting supporting words like pronouns or other helping words, and the dreaded adverbs.

The first manuscript I finished hit the 150,000-word mark and I was so proud, until I read that most publishers want a mystery between 70,000 and 80,000 words, especially for a first-time published author. It took some time but I actually got that book down to 79,000 words and it finally got a contract.

But surely you ask, and ask I did, there must be room for, He turned and glared at her. And yes, there is, just not twenty times as your protagonist might get dizzy with all that turning and start to go blind with all that glaring. And even with a limp in your main character’s gait, once or twice mentioned is sufficient until the final chase scene when the limp prevents him/her from saving their lover.

Every gesture in your work should serve a purpose and body language should expand characterization and emotion. Fidgeting, a slight stutter, nervous tic, or unhealthy grooming practices can add depth (or dirt) to your characters, but don’t overdo it.

Ruben D. Gonzales
“Murder on Black Mountain”
www.rubendgonzales.com

THAT FANTASTIC FIRST CHAPTER, by Mollie Hunt, Cat Writer

 

I don’t mean to harsh the buzz of creativity, but the opening chapter—and in fact, the opening line—may be the most important part of your book. The story ark, the sub-plots, and the satisfying ending are important as well, but it’s those first words that will be read ten times more often than any other part of the work. You will recite them at presentations and send them out in your first chapter promo; potential readers will pursue them as they decide whether to take a chance on your novel. It is worth it to make sure these first words are well-written, enticing, and ultimately catchy. 

It took me a long time to remember this when I was starting a new book. My instinct is to start with whatever the story whispers in my creative ear and go from there. Sometimes that includes a catchy beginning, but often it doesn’t. I’ve found myself coming back more than once to make the opening more enticing. This isn’t easy—altering something once it’s written does not come naturally to me. 

Now after many years and many books, I’m finally getting the hang of it. Catchy first sentence. Intriguing first section that when read at presentations or publish as an excerpt, will entice people to buy the book. 

 I’m currently starting a new cozy mystery. Have I taken my own advice? Not really. But at least I’m thinking about it before I’m typing “the end.” I foresee an intense edit session in my near future. 

What are your thoughts about tailoring your work to the promo you will inevitably be required to give? Commercialism? Professionalism? Superfluous? Is it better just to shut up and write?

Cat Writer Mollie Hunt is the award-winning author of two cozy series, the Crazy Cat Lady Mysteries and the Tenth Life Mysteries. Her Cat Seasons Sci-Fantasy Tetralogy features extraordinary cats saving the world. Mollie also pens a bit of cat poetry. Mollie is a member of the Oregon Writers’ Colony, Sisters in Crime, the Cat Writers’ Association, and Northwest Independent Writers Association (NIWA). She lives in Portland, Oregon with her husband and a varying number of cats. Like her cat lady character, she is a grateful shelter volunteer. You can find Mollie Hunt, Cat Writer on her blogsite: https://molliehuntcatwriter.com/ 

Meet the Mewse

 

I'm amazed by the number of writers who have playlists they listen to while writing. I am not one of them. I have to have silence when I write; any noise distracts me, even music. Well, there is one sound that doesn't bother me - the purring of a cat. Those purrs are provided by Molly, my muse - or as I prefer to call her, my "mewse".

Miss Molly, mewse extraordinaire

 Due to the recent passing of our oldest kitty (Delilah), Molly and her brother Desmond (Dez for short) are now the old lady and old man of the house at 12 years of age. (They were named for the couple in the Beatles song Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da.) Dez is a bit of a fraidy cat but Molly is much more mellow, a nice trait in a writing partner. When I sit down to write, Molly climbs into my lap and quietly demands attention. Once an acceptable amount of affection has been supplied, she curls up in my lap and purrs. For the most part, I couldn't ask for a better writing buddy. Molly is well generally well-behaved and stays off of my keyboard. She does occasionally get annoyed when I insist on doing things such as using my arms/hands and will pop off to her cat tree for a bit. But, once I'm forgiven, she comes back for more cuddles.

Molly and her nemesis (my pen)

Lest you think my mewse is "purrfect" I can assure you she is not. As I said, she stays off of my keyboard but, when it's time for pen and ink edits, all bets are off. As soon as the pens come out, the games begin and my formerly well-behaved mewse goes bananas, swatting at and chewing on the pen. Oh,well. I guess a girl's just gotta have fun.

Until next month, take care and happy reading!

Sign up for my newsletter here:  http://madmimi.com/signups/112968/join

Amazon Author Page:  http://amazon.com/author/isabellanorse

Website:  http://www.isabellanorse.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/IsabellaNorseAuthor/

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/isabellanorse/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/isabellanorseauthor/

 

 

The Mystery Behind the Mystery– Ruben D. Gonzales

 I’ve come to the mystery genre late. Most of my early writing was poetry. Then I transitioned to short stories. Eventually I moved into historical fiction. But then I got the mystery bug and have enjoyed the journey. I don’t know why it took me so long. I’ve always enjoyed the mystery scene. I’ve got a huge collection of Sherlock Holmes and in college I think I read all the Poe I could get my hands on. John D. MacDonald was an early contemporary favorite and I was an avid fan of Sue Grafton, collecting almost all of her alphabet series (alas, we won’t see her final “Z” in the series). I’m pretty sure I’ve read all Jack Reacher has to offer and even worked my way through the J.J. Box Joe Pickett game warden series. Lately I’ve been reading all about Stephanie Plum, the feisty apprehension agent who careens around New Jersey chasing bail bond jumpers.

I’ve read Harlan Coben and Baldacci and others so its no wonder I finally came around to the mystery myself.  Of course, I haven’t even mentioned the genre within the genre - Cozy mysteries, which by their popularity have a niche all to themselves. Our local chapter of Sisters in Crime has one of the best in the romcom/mystery niche represented by Agnes Alexander (BTW - not her real name) and another author that has a cozy series surrounding her job in a small town library.

During this process I’ve manage to fumble my way through the erstwhile mystery of mystery writing and have picked up a few editing tips of the trade I try to use to improve my writing.

• ·       Remember that your readers are smart (probably smarter than me/you)
• ·       Portray your characters through their dialogue, actions, and thoughts.
• ·       Use sensory impressions to evoke imagery instead of exposition.
• ·       Watch out for redundancy between what’s shown and what’s told.
• ·       Make sure your character’s feelings are theirs and not your own.
• ·       Be careful with your red herrings so they accomplish what your mystery needs.

Outside of all that – writing the mystery is like walking down a dark alley at two in the morning in the wrong side of town without a gun.

www.rubendgonzales.com                                  

To Market, To Market

 

If being a writer only meant writing books I would be fine. Sadly, being a writer also means marketing your books and marketing is my kryptonite. I'm shy so the whole "Look at me!" aspect of marketing goes against everything in me. It was also ingrained in me from birth that life is never about me and if by some chance it ever becomes about me, I must change that instantly; calling attention to oneself is prideful and that's wrong. So, I guess you could say I have issues, LOL.

 

However, I've hidden behind my shyness long enough so I'm dipping my toes into the pool of marketing. I have taken a class on Amazon ads which I think will be useful once I get to play around with them a little more. (Facebook ads have always been a complete bust for me.) Now that I have survived that class I need to learn how to use my Bookbub "partner" account. *sigh*

As a part of my efforts I'm also "rebranding" my self-published books with new and improved covers. I'm really pleased with the new look of my Nerd series short stories. I'm still playing with the "purrfect" redesign for my Paws and Effect series and the clock is ticking since the next entry will release in October.

So, y'all pray for me please. And, if you have any marketing tips to pass on, I'm all ears!

Sign up for my newsletter here:  http://madmimi.com/signups/112968/join

Amazon Author Page:  http://amazon.com/author/isabellanorse

Website:  http://www.isabellanorse.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/IsabellaNorseAuthor/

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/isabellanorse/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/isabellanorseauthor/