AUTHORS DURING THE PANDEMIC

For the last three Fridays, I have been going to a bar.

I have listened to some amazing authors read from their works or read from short stories that they have written.

All of this would not be possible if not for the ingenuous or maybe it's just crazy, mind of  +EdAymer. 

He is the mastermind behind Noir At The Bar. Something he has done for a while and what used to be hosted at a bar in DC.

Well since the pandemic and ''stay at  home'' orders were issued, he has still hosted his events at the bar.

Well, virtual bar that is.

He has had an INCREDIBLE line up of authors.

He even has a pianist and mixologist.

Every Friday, ranging from 8pm to 9pm, there have been at least six authors reading.

Everything from thriller to mysteries.

At it's peak there have been over 200 people at this virtual Noir At The Bar.

Where else can you interact with other people, listen to great readings and enjoy leaning how to make new drinks and hear some amazing music.

Who says you have to go out to enjoy every luxury that your local bar can give you?

If you aren't doing anything on Friday, why not join us for Episode 4 of  +NoirAtTheBar at 8pm. There will be more authors, more fun and you never know what can happen. Join us and see just how much fun we are having while still staying home.

Social Distance? Sure, we can handle that hand's down. Check out some of the authors that have attended and read for us.

+AustinCamacho +MattIden +ZackPowers +RoseSolari +TaraCampbell +JohnCopenhaver all joined us; just to name a few.

WOW...LOOK WHAT I FOUND

So, I recently just saw that none of my 'scheduled' posts had posted. So here is one that I wrote right before Halloween.

In the days leading up to Halloween, what kind of inspiration do you get for your writing.

I don't like scary movies but I love reality police shows. I watch The First 48 every day.

Sometimes all day. Lifetime and A&E channels run marathons on Monday, Wednesdays and Thursday with the NEW episode on Thursday night.

I love this show and find myself thinking about the detectives on that show.

My favorite is Carolyn Mason. She is a weave wearing, high heel wearing, gun toting black woman who will make a grown man cry and a teenager ask for his momma.

She is the kind of heroine I need in my stories and well; she is my inspiration for The Stiletto Stalker.

I've been working on this book for two years and finally its done. 

Since its my first murder mystery, I am very hesitant to submit it because; well I'm an author and I don't want it to be bad. (please don't let it be bad)

So for now; it sits in my drawer and on my computer...waiting for the day that I am ready to 'give birth' .

So, what inspiration do you take from Halloween?

CHANGE IS GOOD...

Change is hard for people and change for me is always hard.

I've been working on this manuscript for almost a year and didn't want to change a thing.

That was until Regina (character in the novel) kept telling me that I was writing her part all wrong.

Like, what? Really?

But after stepping away from it and re-reading it. She was right.

Her part should have been much bigger. I had been making her twin sister the main character; while all along it should have been Regina.

See I thought that Regina just wanted the limelight for herself. Turns our she actually is the one driving the story. Who knew? 

So, after bidding a farewell to over 50 pages of the story; I'm back on track. 

Regina is happy. Her twin is much more rounded and I'm on a roll with my murder mystery.

See, in this case; change WAS good.

I'm just glad that the change came BEFORE I wrote; THE END

GOING TINY AND BEING AN AUTHOR...AM I CRAZY?

Many people don't understand my love with going tiny.

I'll try and explain it to you.

First, 2016 was a very interesting year. On top of medical issues that would have sidelined most people; I was able to continue to work, write and enjoy life. (It wasn't easy but I refused to give in to the illness)

In the latter part of 2016, I came to the conclusion that I don't need lots of 'stuff' to make me happy. Sure, I still need shoes, but other than that, I'm happiest when I'm in my little reading 'closet".  I took a 2x4 closet and turned it into my reading/writing nook and found that when I was in there; I was at peace and could block out all of the negative around me.

I have been fascinated by tiny homes since 2015 and began to look more closely at them in 2016. I figured I could at least do the research and find out why people choose this way of living. 

That search ended in 2016, November 12 at 5:15 am, on my way to work. I SAW a tiny house being pulled by a truck and said..wow; that looks like me. I can see myself living there. I called my partner and told him. His words were, "wow; you sound like a kid at Christmas" and I said, "I feel like I am".

I went to work and researched that company. Later that day, I needed to go to the mall and that same company was in the mall handing out brochures about their company. That was a sign to me. Actually the second sign that I needed to be in this kind of home. The third sign came when I went to Virginia to see +TinyHomesVA in Fredricksburg, Virginia. Jessica was so helpful and knowledgeable and at that moment,  it was decided. 

I am getting a tiny home.

So the search began for a builder and about a month ago I found Incredible Tiny Homes in Morristown, Tennessee. They can build my tiny but then they introduced, "Build Your Own" university. The requirements: You must dedicate seven (7) days to be at their warehouse and you must have at least four (4) build buddies and they will help you build your own. They have already had two workshops and 13 homes have been built and are now in their owners home states. Last week you read about my love affair with Regina's tiny home. I always wanted the size that she built and after seeing hers I know I made the right choice. 

Going tiny means many things to many people. To a lot of them it means economic freedom and to others it means leaving a smaller environmental footprint. To me, it means being able to be comfortable in my own space. It means, living better and freer with less bills. It means being able to travel more and it means to finally be able to write more. Being creative in a small space is such a blessing that I couldn't see myself NOT living tiny.

I know some of you won't or don't want to live tiny but for me, it's the only option for me.

For me, its about loving life and living life to the fullest and being in a tiny home is what is going to make it all worthwhile.

So continue to read about my journey here. And just so you know. The creative process is in full swing. I have just started working on another murder/drama novel and this one will prove that love doesn't conquer all.

Interview with Austin S. Camacho

What have you learned about yourself as a writer from your first book to your latest novel?

I've learned that no story is ever quite as good as I want it to be... and that the next story will be better because of what I learned wrestling with the last story.  Also, I have learned that creating great fiction requires more than talent - you need to study your craft and never stop learning how to do it better.

Why did you make Felicity Irish in the Stark and O`Brien series?

I wanted to play with the concept of opposites attracting.  I started with the most familiar character for me - an inner city African American man with military experience.  When I reached in the other direction I ended up with a white woman from another country who had been an outlaw.  She needed to speak English of course, and aside from Scandanavians the Irish have the lightest skin of anybody so that's where I landed.
 
 In the Hannibal Jones mysteries, are the characters that help Hannibal anyone that you patterned them after?

Hannibal's posse all started out as stereotypes but I expanded them from there.  So none of them was based on any individual... except Virgil, who is loosely based on one of my uncles, who came back from WWII Army service hooked on heroine.
 
Your latest novel deals with a very sensitive issue that a woman would face. How were you able to capture the emotion of her feelings towards what happened to her?

That is the essence of writing fiction.  I have to be able to put myself in the emotion shoes of each character.  Emotionally women are different from men, so we men have to observe them very closely during moments of extreme duress and capture those emotions for later use.  Once you've seen a woman go through being really hurt, you can portray it in words.
 
In the age of e books how are you making your novel stand out from the rest?

I believe good writing will stand out regardless of the format.  I hope my novels stand out because of their well-developed characters - people you are happy to get to know and keep up with.

Do you listen to music, watch television or need total quiet when you write?

Definitely music!  It blots out distracting noises and amplifies emotion, making it easier to put the right emotional content into my writing. 
 
Since this blog is about shoes, books and writing...tell me what book you like the most, whose writing style you mimic and who is your favorite show designer.

I don't have a favorite book but I do have favorite authors: Raymond Chandler, Ellmore Leonard, and Walter Mosely of course.  I dream of writing Chandler's poetic prose and Leonard's real, troubled characters, with Mosely's perfect sense of social setting.  But I can't even name a shoe designer...LOL...
 
Tell my audience where you will be next.  I will be reading at the Art and Lit event at Watermark Gallery at the Baltimore harbor on April 7th.  You can read all about it at https://www.facebook.com/#!/events/513941071981686/ 

Lauren Carr-Blast from the Past

Lauren is such a great writer that I had to have her on my blog again when she started her blog tour for her new release; Blast from The Past.
Here she tells us about some of her favorite things from this latest novel in the Mac Faraday Mysteries.

Do you have a Favorite Character in Blast from the Past & Why?

For all of the Mac Faraday Mysteries, readers have loved Gnarly, Mac’s German Shepherd. Gnarly was dishonorably discharged from the United States Army. Let’s just say, he has issues. He is incredibly intelligent and has a mind of his own. He’s also a hopeless kleptomaniac.

However, while writing Blast from the Past, Archie Monday jumped out at me to become my favorite character in this book. In the previous books in the series, I purposely gave Archie a hint (only a hint) of mystery because I knew there was a secret to her past that would be revealed. This is the book where her secret comes out.

Readers discover that Archie Monday witnessed a horrible murder while she was a graduate student at the University of Maryland. In the prologue, readers learn that Kendra Douglas (whose name is changed to Archie Monday) was a hopeless romantic, who fantasized about the Mickey Forsythe, the fictional detective created by Robin Spencer, Mac Faraday’s birth mother. She had become friends with Robin Spencer while working as her teaching assistant when the famous author taught a special course at the university.

In a blast, Kendra’s life changes. She witnesses the brutal murder of a university professor. Shivering in the bushes, she thinks, “What would Mickey Forsythe do?”

Ten years later, Kendra Douglas is now the sophisticated, lovely Archie Monday, who has been placed by the Witness Protection Program to work as the late Robin Spencer’s assistant. When two paid assassins try to ambush her, Archie takes them out single-handedly with her pink handgun.

One of my favorite scenes in Blast from the Past (besides the scene where Archie takes down the gunmen with her pink handgun) is where she explains to Mac Faraday the transformation that she had gone through since that night that she witnessed mobster Tommy Cruze killing a professor who he had thought was sleeping with his wife:

Archie stood up. “I’m not locking myself in this mansion and closing the blinds and never leaving again. If I do, then he wins. We’re not going to let them scare us out of living our lives.” She pointed at the shepherd on the bed. “I’m taking Gnarly to see Misty tomorrow, and then we’re going to lunch at the Spencer Inn.”

Yet, while Archie is capable of taking care of herself, she is still a soft feminine woman with a very gentle side. After the attempted hit on her life, she breaks down when she is forced to reveal her secret to Mac. She loves gardening, fine wine, gourmet food, and the color of rose. (Police chief David O’Callaghan calls it pink, which infuriates her.) She wears designer suits and expensive perfume, and insists on taking Gnarly to only the hottest dog groomer in town. She enjoys the finer things in life that her mentor Robin Spencer had introduced to her.

Simply, Archie Monday is who I want to be when I grow up.

Thank you Lauren for your time and let me just say this...for me, the best line in the book was: “a girl who prefers guns to diamonds.” Because it shows us just what us girls can do.

We Rock!

So there you have it. Lauren Carr's newest novel will intrigue you and make you fall in love with the good guy. Be sure to pick up your copy today.

What's your excuse?

I recently guest blogged on a friends blog. Mr. Camacho asked me to present a blog for him and of course I jumped at the chance.

After posting to it, I realized that I had every excuse, well not all of the excuses, but most of them; not to write. I thought about it and then said, well why aren't you writing. And the simple answer is; because I'm so very busy.

Ok, well not real busy but busy enough that I can't dedicate a lot of time to writing. Now if you read his blog you saw that I'm the marketing director of Intrigue Publishing; and that is a serious job. I need to make sure that I am helping all the other authors out there.

Then there are the grandbabies. Five of them and one of them is a girl. So of course I need to spend time with them and teach the boys how to protect their girl cousin and teach my granddaughter how to be a diva. (side note: she just turned one and she is a diva; all by herself)
Then there is the football season; need I say more? I mean, really? Seriously? How can I concentrate on writing when there is so much to do.

Oh look, there is another distraction. I need to wash clothes, clean the house, go shopping, do homework (did I mention that I am a FULL TIME college student).
Whew, after all of that now its time for me to check 'my status' on Facebook, and then there is the mindless 'tweeting' that needs to be done. But wait, I need to 'connect' on LinkedIn.
Ah, now here is some time that I can just chill. To sit on the porch and look aimlessly at the clouds forming.
Oooohh, look it looks like a big pillow. Will you look at the time; I need to run to Lowes to get some fall flowers before the store closes, in 4 hours!

Wait...did you hear that? It's me, pumping my brakes. Everything I just said (typed) is an excuse. I had at least two good hours to work on my novel and I decided to sit on the porch and look at the sky.
Ok, well sometimes we call it "inspiration" today I call it, an excuse.

So I am going to just do it! I'm going to sit down in this chair and start working on my novel...that is right after I re-arrange my sitting room.

Ooops, I'm doing it again; aren't I? I promise, right after writing this blog, I'm going to start working on my novel....
check back here in two days and find out what I really did with my free time.

Flip Flopped

On September 8th, I met this beautiful spirit named Jade Newman. First her earrings and necklace blew me away and secondly she spoke so eloquently that I knew she was a truly remarkable woman. She teaches yoga and it shows through her calmness. She had some great questions about the writing process and the dreaded editing process, that "has taken her more than a year to do because she always finds something wrong." She came up to me at the end of the presentation and we spoke about what she should do next. Instantly I knew I needed her to be a guest on my blog. Please welcome Jade Newman and her funny take on her journey into The Land of Flip Flops.
I am one of them.

You know, the mom roaming around Target weekday mornings in yoga pants and flip-flops; well after the workout is over. You see, I teach yoga. My yoga pants and toe liberating shoes are part of my work costume but even I realize that I’m trampling all over the sacred relationship between woman and shoe. I once took great pride in giving my 5’3 inch body a 4-inch boost in height. I wore black dressy stilettos traveling on the metro and turned my nose up at the sensible women in dress suits with sneakers. I used to drop it like it was hot to Biggie and Jay Z in the club wearing sexy leopard print pumps. Blisters were temporary, but the compliments I’d get about my shoe game were forever. Admitting the new, not so stylish, shoe attitude I’ve adopted is embarrassing but I have decided to be proactive and do something to get my feet back in the game.

            Most shoe lovers I talk to cannot imagine such a shameful decline into the shoe abyss. I had to give a lot of thought to how this happened to me. How could a woman go from owning a pair of shoes to go with every outfit to a woman who bounces between pairs of black, tan and magenta colored flip flops?

It’s as painful for me to write as it is for you to read.

I could blame my lazy shoe choice on the knee surgery I had back in 2010, but after I recovered, stylish platform shoes lined my closet. I can’t blame it on being a mom. I rocked heels at my baby shower eight months in. It all started when I realized that my feet are tools that need to be protected. I forced myself to believe my feet are just things I need to keep me mobile. I foolishly chose to ignore the beauty in my feet and focus solely on their function. That day is dead and I know now that I can do both.

            The first step to revamping my shoe style was to start appreciating the fly shoe swag of others. Not for biting purposes but for the inspiration and assurance that it is okay to flaunt your feet. I observed the confidence women with sassy shoes exuded as they strut down the street. They walk with their shoulders back and chests held high. Their posture is valiant and pronounced. It’s as if they’ve practiced yoga for years. Then I frequented every shoe store in a 20 mile radius. Wild Pair became an addiction. The ladies at DSW in Fair Lakes know my name. I researched the right shoe for my comfort level and struck up that love affair once again. I practice yoga at least 7 hours a week, but nothing makes me stand taller than a pair of sexy shoes. I flip flopped but this time it’s for the best.

LOST FOR WORDS?

I met George, Jerry, Moore on Saturday and first was struck at how tall he was. OK, I shouldn’t have been thinking that but I mean, it has to be at least 6’6 and standing beside him made me feel like a midget, even in my 5 inch heels. But I digress. I asked him to post to my blog and he agreed. I think it was the heels. So I hand over this weeks blog to Jerry,  I mean George. Please leave him some suggestions; I’m sure he will appreciate it.

I met B. Swangin at a recent writers’ conference where she made an engaging, high-energy presentation on marketing.  Afterward, I gave her my card, so I could receive updates on her activities.  Needless to say, I was impressed by her and her presentation.

She noticed that my card included my blog address.  At that point, I reluctantly admitted that I had difficulty creating content.  She provided a couple pieces of advice, including guest posting.  I filed them away to ponder later.

Then, the next night, she offered the opportunity to guest post on her blog.  "Later" arrived much sooner than I expected, but I’m blocked writing content for my own blog, so how can I write for someone else's--a *REAL* author with a true following?

That's where fear raised its head.  What if I can’t think of anything?  What if it stinks?  I hate declining opportunities, but I had nothing.

Oh, crap. 

I wasn't ready to surrender just yet.  I asked myself what was stopping me, not only doing the guest post, but from posting to my own blog.  I'd been hovering around it for a time, and now it was clear.  Fear was blocking me. 

It’s the same fear you feel as an 18-wheeler is heading for you or when you’re walking in the woods and see a bear up ahead.  For city dwellers, substitute politician for bear and streets for woods--it’s the same thing, really.  :) 

Having fear isn’t a problem.  My reaction to it is what matters.  After all, when our ancestors saw a bear, they were afraid, which made them run--fast.  Eventually, they figured out that the bear was tasty too.  Because of that, humanity survived long enough to build cities. 

(As an aside, my wife pointed out that you could substitute possum for bear in the above paragraph to hilarious results.  Try not to laugh...)

What does this mean to me, an aspiring Sci-Fi writer or to other writers even?  Is it time to run or time for bear jerky?  I saw a graphic recently that had the words “Your comfort zone” written inside of a box.  Outside, the words “Where the magic happens” were written.

The reason I had difficulty creating content was that I didn't want to reveal much about my interests.  The catch here is that that's where my blog content resides. 

So, it’s time to set free my inner-geek (no, not THAT way).  Perhaps, I'll post about comic books.  There's some complex and compelling story telling happening in this format.  Hollywood is making movies based on comic books for a reason.  Perhaps I'll post about a new laptop/tablet combo that I have my eye on. 

Perhaps, I'll even relate how I read a short story about a starlet getting a Goth makeover (including using the words "pushup bra" and "being on display") to a writers' group composed entirely of middle-aged and older women.  It felt like the top of my ears were on fire I blushed so much.

I now return you to B. Swangin.

George G. (Jerry) Moore

http://georgespen.blogspot.com/

Mystery Writers make great friends

Today I have a guest blogger by the name of Lauren Carr. We met recently due in part to a posting on LinkedIn about an upcoming event next year on Sept. 13-15, 2013; C3 Conference.

She regularly posts for Buried Under Books blogs and today she decided to drop by.

Ten Advantages to Having a Mystery Author for a Friend (in person or on Facebook).

1.       If you’re ever locked out of your home, your mystery author friend will know best how to break in.

2.       Who better to show you where best to conceal a weapon?

3.       At Pampered Chef’s parties, they are very handy in detailing what kitchen utensils make the best weapons for use in self-defense … just in case your family launches a coup after serving them your world infamous tuna casserole once too often.

4.       Mystery authors are less sappy at conferences than Romance authors. We don’t hug as much. That isn’t because we’re standoffish. It’s because we don’t want you to detect our concealed weapons. Since we don’t hug as much, this means we don’t spread as many germs and you’re less likely to catch a cold when you get home.

5.       Mystery authors are more exciting. They are the only friends able to plot out your murder and list your friends and family as suspects in order of interest when you’re fifteen minutes late for lunch. (If your friend reveals that the babysitter did it, you may want to take a closer look at the sitter’s text messages.)

6.       During those paranoid moments when you think your next door neighbor is a mob assassin because he has been acting suspicious, your mystery writing buddy is the one friend you can count on to not only support your belief, but break into his house to illegally search it for proof. Of course, you can depend on your friend to bring the lock pick kit and know how to use it. (Don’t ask her how she knows how to use it.)

7.       If your spouse leaves you for another woman, your mystery author friend can advise you on how to fake your death and make it look like he killed you so that he will spend the rest of his life in jail for what he did.

8.       Your mystery author friend is more than happy to run a background check on that new mate you met online.

9.       On that first date, you can count on your mystery writing friend to tail you and your date all evening to make sure you don’t end up in a plot for their latest book … whether you want her to or not.

10.   We know what countries don’t have extradition.

So make a Mystery Writing friend today!

I’d love to make your acquaintances at any of my sites:

Website:  http://mysterylady.net/
                    http://acornbookservices.com/

Blog: Literary Wealth: http://literarywealth.wordpress.com/

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/lauren.carr.984991

Gnarly’s Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/GnarlyofMacFaradayMysteries

Today, Yani from The Yellow Clutch Society will be interviewed. I am so glad that you granted this interview.

 When did you become concerned with your wife’s fascinations with the Yellow Clutch Society?

I noticed the change the minute she tried to gain entrance. She was hanging out, spending money on more and more expensive things because she wanted to impress these women. We began arguing like cats and dogs and thing just weren’t right in our home anymore.

You seem in tune with your wife so how did you know she was in danger?

I just felt it in my bones that my wife was in danger when that woman tried to stop my wife from breathing. I inherited a certain type of clairvoyance from my grandmother.

What was your reaction or gut feeling to Mrs. Isadore?

At first, her nasty spirit jumped on me. Her eyes were jet black and so cold that I had to make sure she never came back on my property.

In the house of rituals, did you know that things would happen like that?
Hell no! Even though that’s my boy, when you play with fire, you end up getting burned.

Do you think your wife has learned her lesson about trying to join different societies?

I sure hope so, but what I want her to learn is to keep her head out of the clouds so that she can see people for who they really are, more clearly.

Thank you Yani for sitting down and talking to me for BSW blog today, it has been very enlightening. If you want to learn more, than you definitely need to pick up your copy of The Yellow Clutch Society today.

To learn more about TheYellow Clutch Society, as well as learn more about the Author Denesha Sheree Please visit the following sites.

· www.deneshasheree.com

· http://www.amazon.com/THE-YELLOW-CLUTCH-SOCIETY-ebook/dp/B006W1BBB8

· http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-yellow-clutch-society-denesha-sheree/1108218353

To view the author's book trailers, visit:                                             

· http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iWI3pv57iQk&feature=relmfu

· http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AI5_ISw-yug&feature=relmfu

· http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wz07-N3K_Bw&feature=relmfu-

I'm Off....

No...it is not what you think.

I'm off...to St. Davids Writer's Conference. I'm excited and a little scared. There, I said it.

I've never been to this kind of conference before and let's face it, what I write is not something I would read in church. However, this isn't about my writing. It's about how to make my writing better.

Isn't that what it is about. I will never NOT go to something because it wasn't in my genre. That would be like me never walking in a mall because they don't have a shoe store. A mall with no shoe store...(I had a moment where I felt faint) I think I'm OK now.

Back to my post; so I will always go to where other writer's are. I will make new friends and possibly meet up with old friends. How many of you have been to a conference this year? Did you raise your hand because I didn't see it and I will say it; shame on you. I've been to four conferences already and some of you have been to zero. Shame, shame. Writers; just like doctor's, need to keep their skills up. They need to rejuvenate and get better at what they do. They need to become master's of writing. This is why I attend conferences. I was shocked last week when someone wrote: "I don't go to conferences because I'm to busy writing and don't have time to attend a glad handing, back slapping event." I felt shocked and saddened by this statement.
Obviously this person has had a bad experience and thinks all conferences are like this. I wanted to scream, "This is about networking and making us better writers." but I didn't because he would not hear that. His mind is made up but I would challenge him to find a conferences, geared to his genre,then come back and tell me what he learned because that is what it is about. It's about LEARNING how to be better.
I want to hear from more of you. What do you get out of conferences? but I also want to hear from those of you that don't go to conferences. Why don't you go?
I am eagerly awaiting your comments.

Upcoming conferences-Are you going?

Today I will talk to you about conferences you should attend; even if you don't write in that particular genre. Why would you want to attend a conference that doesn't pertain to your particular writing style?
Simple answer: The more you get to know about other writing styles, the more you can incorporate them into your writing style.
Love is Murder is a conference held in Chicago every year and it is geared towards the mystery writers. I have never gone, but in February of 2012, I will attend. I am so excited to be a part of that it is well worth the cost.
Thrillerfest will be held in New York in July of 2012 and although I went this year, I am doubly excited to attend again next year. This conference is geared towards mystery and thriller writers. Although I am neither of the two; I will proudly network with all of the authors there.
After all, networking as an author is THE main reason to go to such conferences. You not only get to learn about other authors but you also get to 'hang' out with NY best selling authors. Where else would you get to be in the same room as R.L. Stine and Karen Slaughter?
I hope to see you at one of the many upcoming conferences in the new year. If you see me, come up and say hello; after all; I love to talk about writing.
Happy Writing!