murder.booklocker.com

I’ve discovered that writing fiction can be an unnerving experience. Things just seem to happen when I write. For instance, I was writing along this morning and got to a passage where two of my characters meet for the first time. I had given a cursory description of the man — tall, dark and handsome, of course. A little later I was trying to describe his uneasiness and wrote “he cracked the knuckles on his long dark fingers.” With just that word ‘dark’, my character had morphed from Caucasian to African-American. I hadn’t planned on it, but I left it, thinking that it would give yet another dimension to what I was doing.

I’m not big on surprises, but most of the twists that come from a mistyped word or an unconscious thought have turned out to be good for my stories. The second jolt I got this morning involves the same character. He receives some information that in and of itself is troubling, frustrating. When I typed in his response to the news, his speech centered on the name of a man (another character) — not the situation! Aha! I said to myself. There’s a history of resentment between these two; I wonder what it is?

And that, folks, is how I write my books. I now have a relationship to explore that I never dreamed existed. I’m thankful but it is unnerving.

Okay, so I got it wrong. Yes, I kept saying Beverly Library to anyone who asked, but in my mind the picture that I had was of the Oak Lawn Library. Several years back I taught a class in memoir for the Chicago Department of Aging at the Southwest Center, 6117 S. Kedzie Avenue. Two of the women I met there, Virginia and Pat, had asked me to come to the Oak Lawn Library and meet with a writers’ group there. Although the writing group didn’t work out, I was really impressed with the library itself.

It was this state of the art facility that I had in my mind as Luanne and I drove down to the Beverly Branch of the Chicago Library on Saturday. And I was psyched to think that I might see Virginia and Pat again.

In reality, we drove past the Oak Lawn Library (also on 95th) to get to the renovated funeral home that would be the site of the author readings. At least I’m guessing it used to be a funeral home. Sure looked it. A picture that Luanne took of Marguerite O’Connor’s book, Griefstruck, captures that tone and illustrates why I thought the library was housed in a converted funeral home.

The Experience
The room reminded me a lot of my visit to the Des Plaines Senior Center – overly-warm, intimate; the folks in attendance were likewise as in Des Plaines – friendly, inquisitive, responsive.

I missed the opening but someone later made reference to the fact that Jennifer Brown-Banks had arranged for the Chicago Writers Association appearance (thanks, Jennifer!). Jen Wilding introduced each author. We took the podium in fifteen minute segments. See author pictures on my website.

Since I’m really still very new to CWA, Jen Wilding identified two other members in attendance: Randy Richardson & Nona Nolet.

I’m a Ham – I Admit It
I read chapter two from PARK RIDGE: A Senior Center Murder. I really got into the text describing Gordon Williams, the irrepressible booster of the trip to House on the Rock, babbling on with emphatic, enthusiastic gestures. Pinochle player Jack Buchtel’s reponse to the high-pressure sell was equally emphatic, although angrily so. Luanne says folks laughed at loud as I accompanied my reading with lots of movement and different voices for the two characters.

Photographs
Hurley Green III from the Chicago Independent Bulletin took pictures when the readings were finished.

Please take the time to go read “Senior Stereotypes Gone Mad” by Marlys Marshall Styne.

For me, at least, the place of place — the setting — can be incredibly important to a story. In PARK RIDGE I worked hard to get the description of the senior center as accurate as possible. With one exception — a small wing toward the back which I styled as a lounge area. I needed somewhere far enough away from most folks that the murder could happen out of shouting distance. The other details like St. Juliana’s in Edison Park, the Park District, downtown — all were as accurate as I could make them.

I’m currently working on a sci-fi novel that didn’t have a location. I finally decided on Boise, Idaho. We went there on vacation years and years ago and I’ve always harbored a secret desire to run away there and start a new life. Whether I will be able to pull off the fiction piece — make the location believable, even to someone from Boise — well, we’ll have to wait and see.

In the meantime I posted to the Chicago Writers Association about the place of place in our writing. Dorien Grey responded:

Interesting issue, where to set your novel. When I began writing my Dick Hardesty mysteries, I very deliberately did NOT specify where it was set, simply because it was a place that exists only in my mind. Over each succeeding novel in the series, I have carefully worked to make Dick’s city…which has never been given a name…as real to readers as possible.

In each novel, Dick drives down the same streets, goes to the same bars and restaurants, visits the same parks. Slowly, I hope, the reader feels totally at home there.

In my recently-completed new novel, I use Chicago as my base, and frankly I find it a little intimidating. I’m always afraid someone is going to say: “No, Magnolia *crosses* Sheffield, it doesn’t parallel it!” Or “there’s no such building like that on Granville just west of Broadway.” Trying to get everything right is, frankly, pretty confining.

It’s easier to write of a specific place if the action takes place in the past, especially if you do a little research on the town/city of the era, since it is unlikely anyone will be around now to raise objections to a few errors.

Dorien Grey:

• http://www.doriengrey.net/
• http://www.doriengreyandme.blogspot.com/
• http://www.doriengrey.blogspot.com/

Jeanette Clinkunbroomer had this to say:

Just my own thought — I think place is important, even if it’s a
fictional place. It anchors a story and makes it feel real. You can do a lot with it to set the tone — sinister, serene, etc etc.

Wrote a novel set in the Civil War and relied heavily on old photos and maps of New York City and Washington, DC. Parts of Charleston, SC, haven’t changed one iota since 1860. Also had to find out who had things like sewers and paved streets. Visited all the battlefields, though many of them look very different now than they did during the battles. My character was a journalist, and I thought it was important to figure out where he might have been observing on a battlefield and what he could have seen from there. (Included traipsing through sort of a swamp at Manassas and getting chewed up by fire ants in Georgia.)

Another novel is set mainly in contemporary Chicago, the Pennsylvania Turnpike, cornfields of Central Illinois, the North Woods in Wisconsin. In all cases, the places allow for different types of activity. That was fun and a lot easier than the Civil War.

Jeanette Clinkunbroomer:

• http://www.alloutofheart.com/

We were chatting about reciprocal linking and getting listed at the Chicago Writers Association forum. In my most recent comment I put out a gentle reminder that members needed to link to other members. Lynn Voedisch responded with her website address and asked to be added.

I dutifully added it and went to check it out. She had several links to articles that she had written. Since my book is about murder at a senior center, one title in particular caught my eye:
BOOM! AND THE WEB GOES…
SITES FOR BABY BOOMERS OPEN DOORS TO THE PAST, OFFER HELP FOR TODAY.

Evidently this article written for the Chicago Tribune was picked up by the BoomerCafe. I followed the link and took a look at the cafe which says of itself, “Now in its 8th year, BoomerCafé is the Internet’s most popular online magazine for baby boomers!” I’ll be back to check it out.

Other sites mentioned in Lynn’s article:

• MyPrimeTime
• ThirdAge
• Baby Boomer Headquarters
• Boomernet
• Boomers International
• Boom! E-zine
• Baby Boomer Bistro Page
• Boomer Initiative

Also listed are four sites on the sixties.

As a novice in the art of book promotion, I’ve had to rely on what fellow writers have said and tried, as well as sift through numerous articles on line. Much of what I’ve found has to do with getting your book and your name out there — out there generally referring to the web.

Building a web of links back to your blog or your website (or both) is both easy and hard. When your book is reviewed online, the reviewer posts to their site and hopefully gives a link to your site. If not, they at least give the publisher’s name. Fortunately for me, BookLocker maintains a page with excerpts from the book, a press release, one review, and ordering information. I could wish that they had a link to my website and my blog, but maybe they don’t because I failed to provide it. [Note to self -- follow up on this!]

Most reviews are also posted to Amazon as a matter of course. Again, with luck, you as the author have created a profile page for yourself with links to both your blog and website. As I write this, the phrase what goes around, comes around, keeps whispering in my ear. But it’s true, especially in web-building.

Another way to create connections is to take advantage of places offering to list you and your book for free. There are lots of these BUT I warn you now, be prepared to really read some of the terms that you agree to. Some sites require a link back, often called reciprocal linking. I just did this at Author Insider. Others require that you carry a graphic image PLUS a link to them. Still others say that they’re free but the fine print says otherwise. One in partcular that I looked at never mentioned that you were signing up for a free trial period — it simply said free.

Then there are owners of websites who (for their own reasons whatever they are) offer to list you and your book just because. Following a recommendation from Randy Richardson (his name keeps coming up here — hopefully one day I’ll get to meet him!), I sent an email off to Elizabeth Henze.

Elizabeth owns MurderExpress. The site carries reviews, author listings, and a great collection of freebies that authors will send out to those requesting them.

Two others that Randy listed for me are reasonably priced: Mystery Writers Corner at $25 (one-time fee) and Mystery Authors ($40/yr). I’m not sure when was the last time that Randy visited the Mystery Writers Corner, however. The link takes you to a page full of things that you can pay for — to be listed in Meet the Authors ($25), Bookstore listing ($10 for 1 bk, $15 for 2-3, etc.), and add your chapter to the Library ($10). The site is owned by Dawn Dowdle, who specializes in copyediting mysteries. A general site that also charges a fee is gotta write network owned by Denise Fleischer.

Other options for getting listed include other blogs. Once mine was functional, I ran right out and put mine on BlogHer. I’m also listed at Authors’ Blogs. Your city may have a blog; Chicago does.

Don’t overlook other state and city listing. PARK RIDGE: A Senior Center Murder can be found in the Illinois Authors Database online.

Okay, I admit it. I had trouble getting to sleep last night after the glowing review I got at Midwest Book Reviews (MBR Bookwatch, Volume 6, Number 2). The reviewer made the comment that it “could easily convert to an enticing television movie” and I spent hours casting the various roles. While I’m open to suggestions, here’s what I’ve got so far.

Detective Stan Nevins — Johnny Depp. Wouldn’t he look great in western wear?

Senior Center Director Teresa Cusentino — I had a problem with this. Teresa is definitely Italian, definitely curvaceous. Know anyone who fits that description and could play a thirty-seven-year old?

Stunning Stella — I have no idea who she is but I’m thinking of the white-haired woman who does the new mayonnaise tv commercial. She reminds me very much of one of the winners of the MORE magazine model contest. Hint - she has black eyebrows.

The Professor — James Woods

Ellie Montgomery — no contest here. It would have to be the lady who played Marie on Everybody Loves Raymond, Doris Roberts. She’d have to wear a long faded red wig and a ballcap, but she’s my only choice.

Jack Buchtel — I’m actually leaning toward Danny DeVito. Since he’s almost bald, he’d need a ton of facial hair and a curly grizzled wig.

Margaret Neal — Betty White, assuming she’s still alive and would be willing.

A great review just in from Midwest Book Reviews. It reads in part:

“PARK RIDGE is an entertaining whodunit that rates with Agatha Christie and could easily convert to an enticing television movie.”

To all you movie producers, here I am!

No, I’m not going to write about visualization techniques for authors. We don’t need any help in that department — our imaginations tend to be overactive when it comes to our writing. I was thinking about the expression when it’s used as an exclamation. Someone tells you a man has walked on the moon and you respond by saying, “Imagine that!”

Well, imagine for the moment that you are signed up for a mystery writers convention. In high hopes you drop off ten of your books with the bookseller and wander into one of the sessions. Then, unfortunately you fall ill. I mean really sick. You go home. You are no better, perhaps even worse, the next day. And the third day of the convention.

You persuade your partner to drive to the hotel to pick up your books. The bookseller asks if you were on a panel. You reply no. “How unusual! Generally the books we sell are by authors who were participating in panels. Congratulations! We sold two of yours.”

Imagine that!

I confess that until that moment I had not even tried to imagine someone browsing through hundreds of books, finding mine, and purchasing it. Even though it is now fact, I still have trouble picturing it. I keep wondering why. Why did they buy my book out of all the others that were available? Mind you, I’m not complaining. I’m very pleased. But when I think of all that goes into a purchase — when I’m doing the buying — I can’t help but wonder why.

I have to admit the cover is humorous — an elderly woman with a butcher knife. And I’m guessing that many, if not all, the convention attendees were local, so the name Park Ridge would be familiar to them. Ah me. Beyond that, I can’t even guess.