What I Learned about the Writing Life from the Wizard of Oz

The 1939 MGM version of THE WIZARD OF OZ is my all-time favorite movie. It used to be a once-a-year treat when it aired on TV, but when technology changed, I bought the VHS tape and DVD for “on demand” viewing. I even took a two-week fun course on it as an undergrad. I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve seen it, but it still find surprises each time I watch it. Here’s what I learned as an author from it.

You Had the Power All Along - You do. You have the grit and determination to fulfill your writing dreams. It’s there. You just need to harness it and figure out your plan. Make a plan and follow it. Don’t give up!

Use Your Assets - You have the tools to be a writer. You will need to put in the time and energy to hone them, but you have the brain, heart, and courage to do it.

Everyone Needs Friends - The writing journey is a long (often solitary one), you need friends, mentors, coaches, and cheerleaders. Find your crew and support each other.

People (or Scarecrows, Tinmen, and Cowardly Lions) Are Willing to Help - The Writing Community is full of authors at different stages who are gracious with their time and advice. Find your writing allies and cherish them.

Be Part of The Group - Make sure that you’re an active participant with the writing community. You don’t have to do everything, but you need to do something. Share ideas, experiences, and contacts. Provide feedback and guidance. Support other writers with comments, shares, and reviews.

Sometimes It’s Scary - The witch’s flying monkeys scared me so badly as a kid. (And when I was little, I found it hard to fathom that the lady in the Maxwell House coffee commercials was really the Wicked Witch. But that’s another story.) There are some rough patches and scary stuff along the writing journey. Rejections, bad critiques, and nasty reviews aren’t pleasant. Learn what you can from them and keep going.

Be Flexible - You are going to run into all kinds of roadblocks and dead ends. Figure out ways to move forward and to advance your goals. Use your gifts. Be creative and find your way out of the haunted forest.

And one pair of shoes can change your life.

#ThisorThatThursday Interview with Caramel Lucas

I’d like to welcome author, Caramel Lucas to the blog for #ThisorThatThursday!

A few of your favorite things: I like Green Tea, Clothes and Wigs

Things you need to throw out: All of my old shoes and clothes. I keep everything because I am afraid I will need it later.

Things you love about writing: Writing gives me the opportunity to become any character I choose to be.

Things you hate about writing: I hate when I have writers block. When I am writing I want to be able to focus on what I am writing.

Hardest thing about being a writer: The hardest thing for me is getting started to writing and what I am going to write about.

Easiest thing about being a writer: The easy for me is when I have started writing it becomes a easy flow.

Words that describe you: I am a person who always keeps it real. I am a person who is loyal and have a lot of respect for people until they crossed me with disrespect. I have a heart of gold and I would do anything for people who needs my help.

Favorite foods: Seafood - Crabs, Fish, Shrimp

Favorite music or song: R&B . I don't have a favorite song because I love music and I love meaningful  music.

Music that drives you crazy: Metal music drives me completely crazy because I never know what they are saying.

Things you always put in your books: I love putting romance in my books. I am a huge fan of love and romance.

Things to say to an author: Being an author you have to love writing and what it means to write. Writing becomes your life and you must have the passion for writing for the reading to have a passion for your writing.

The coolest person you’ve ever met: Oprah Winfrey

Caramel is a motivated entrepreneur and continues to reach for the stars. Caramel is a Podcaster  Host with her own show called Keepin It Real w/Caramel "As We Say 100" on Anchor.fm which has  a very wide digital platform. She interviews entrepreneurs who want to be heard and give her listeners inspirational and motivational messages as well as give the entrepreneurs a chance to let  the world know the impact they are making in the world.

In 2018, Caramel became a Published Poet with Eber & Wein Publishing and Poetry Nation. She  was published in the Upon Arrival Edition and Quarantine Edition. Caramel’s novel is  "In Love With The Other Man with Authorhouse.

She has been in  many music videos, magazines hardcopy/online and have won many modeling competitions. She  has directed many music videos & commercials. Caramel never stops in her acting career she has  been in many acting gigs such as an extra "News Reporter" on the movie "Recount" with John  Travolta on HBO Productions, Room 236, The Kupid Killer, The Gathering, Dead Con, Logistics, etc.  She has her IMDB credits for her acting. Meanwhile, she had a great opportunity to auditions for the  TV shows "She Got The Look," "Bad Girls Club" and “America's Got Talent” which they all were  great experiences. Caramel was in two National Commercials for Sports Authority and Dick  Sporting Goods.

In 2010 Caramel was Ms On Air Personality for Hot1079, myblockradio.net &myblocktv.net out of  Charlotte, NC (704djs). She had her own shows "Grown and Sexy" every Sunday and on Tuesday  and Thursday "Silk Music."

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Twitter: Ms__Caramel

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Behind the Scenes - The Big 80s

I am Generation X. We were first generation “Sesame Street” and “M-TV.” Television, movies, music, and the mall scene were part of formative years, and we grew up with ever-changing technology. So, it was a natural fit for pop culture to play a key role in my mysteries and characters’ lives.

In the first Delanie Fitzgerald mystery, Secret Lives and Private Eyes, the sassy Private Eye is hired by a tell-all author to look into the rumors that 80s rock star, Johnny Velvet of the Vibes, faked his death and was living incognito on a small farm in Amelia, Virginia. Delanie’s whisked back to the era of boom boxes, teen mags, mix tapes, and other pop culture memories from the decade of excess as she searches for what happened to the members of the Vibes. Could the handsome John Bailey really be the Johnny Velvet?

My mix tapes were full of Duran Duran, Culture Club, the Cure, Billy Idol, Cyndi Lauper, and A-ha. And my closet doors were covered in pictures of C. Thomas Howell, Rob Lowe, Ralph Macchio, Llmahl, and George Michael. I sported blue eye shadow, banana clips, braces, and shoulder pads. Delanie is a bit younger, but she experienced the Big 80s in elementary school.

Check out how it all began for Delanie and Duncan (and Margaret, the English bulldog) in Secret Lives and Private Eyes.

Writing Advice I'd Give to a Younger Me

Someone asked me on a panel recently what advice I would give to a younger version of myself. Here’s a longer answer to that question…

• Write every day. I know there are so many other interesting things in this world, but if you want to be published, you need to put in the time. And the more time that passes between writing sessions, the harder it is to get back to work.

• Start now.

• Find a group of supportive writers. These folks will be there to help you celebrate and to move on after disappointments.

• Decide what you want to write and read everything in that genre you can get your hands on.

• Pick a few writing books to read. Don’t get so bogged down in the self-help reading that you don’t actually write.

• Perfect your craft. The writing part is fun and easy. The work comes during the revisions. And there will be many of them.

• Don’t let every little comment bother you. Learn what you can from the feedback and don’t dwell on the negative ones.

• Know that the first manuscript you’ve worked on for so long may not ever be published. Many authors have two to three manuscripts in a drawer. I have two abandoned ones.

• Writing is a business. Agents and publishers are looking for books they can sell.

• You will need to do A LOT of book marketing. Be prepared. Be creative.

• Find a schedule that works with your life and try to stick to it. I am more productive if I write every day.

• There are going to be set backs and disappointments. This is a tough business. If you want to see your name on that cover, you need the grit and determination to keep moving toward your goal.

• Find a critique group or writing partner who will give you honest feedback about your writing.

• Don’t rush it. Make sure you are prepared and that your manuscript is ready for the world before you start to query it.

• Invest your time and money in things that will help you improve your writing.

This is a tough business, and there are as many ups as there are downs. Keep the faith and keep writing.

#ThisorThatThursday Author Interview with Kristi Charish

I’d like to welcome author, Kristi Charish, to the blog today for #ThisorThatThursday.

A few of your favorite things: Coffee, green tea, Pacific coast rocky shorelines, and my SPF 50 sunscreen.  

 Things you need to throw out: All my old iPhones...seriously, why do I keep finding them in my drawers? AI revolution? Possibly.

Things you need for your writing sessions: hummingbird feeder (best conflict prompts ever!), coffee (caffeine is becoming a theme), a device capable of running Word.

Favorite foods: Basil - I used to make salads out of basil, heavy on the oregano and thyme...there might have been vegetables in there too.

Favorite music or song: I have two bands on my playlist favorites - The Asteroids Galaxy Tour and The Dandy Warhols.

Favorite beverage: Besides coffee? I adore a hoppy, dank, musky west coast hazy IPA. Thankfully British Columbia is famous for both!

Favorite smell: Sandalwood, basil, and old fashioned sunscreen.

Something you’re really bad at: Ok, be honest now, how many other authors on this blog were tempted, sheerly out of principle, to choose writing on this one? ;-) 

Something you wish you could do: Ride a motorbike. I’ve gotten as far as my Cook Island scooter license.

The last thing you ordered online: Second hand clothes! I love reusing and there are some absolute fashion treasures to be found. The depreciation that happens as soon as an item leaves Nordstrom should be a wonder of the world.

The last thing you regret buying: Always lipstick. I hate wearing it and - let’s be honest- rarely does it make anyone look good. Lip balm all the way! Also, I regret this keyboard. PSA: Don’t bargain shop for a keyboard on Amazon. You will be underwhelmed.

Things you’d walk a mile for: My morning coffee. No competition. I’m pretty certain I’ve done it at least twice.

About Kristi:

Kristi Charish is the author of KINCAID STRANGE, a paranormal mystery series about a voodoo practitioner living in Seattle with the ghost of a grunge rocker, and THE ADVENTURES OF OWL, an adventure fantasy about ex-archaeology grad student turned international antiquities thief, Alix— better known now as Owl—a modern-day “Indiana Jane” who reluctantly navigates the hidden supernatural world. 

 Kristi writes what she loves; adventure heavy stories featuring strong, savvy female protagonists, pop culture, and the occasional RPG fantasy game thrown in the mix. Kristi is also a scientist. She has a BSc and MSc from Simon Fraser University in Molecular Biology and Biochemistry and a PhD in Zoology from the University of British Columbia. She specializes in genetics, cell biology, and molecular biology and gratuitously uses her expertise throughout her fiction. You can find Kristi with her laptop on Vancouver film sets, getting paid to write while filling in the background. 

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Behind the Scenes - Drag Shows

In Glitter, Glam, and Contraband, sassy Private Eye, Delanie Fitzgerald, is hired to find out who is stealing from the talent at a local drag show.

I had never been to a show before, and my writer friend, Rosemary Shomaker, organized an outing for a group of writers at Godfrey’s in Richmond, Virginia. We had so much fun, and brunch was wonderful. The banana-stuffed French toast tasted like dessert. And the talent was extremely generous with their time before and after the show. They answered a lot of my questions, and everyone wanted to be in a murder mystery.

I made up the club in Glitter, Glam, and Contraband, as well as the entertainers’ names. My characters, Amber Alert, Ana Conda, Ginger Snap, Kiki Jubilee, Cherri Bomb, Nova Cain, Paige Turner, and Tara Byte were a lot of fun to write. I gave each of them a stage persona with props. Ana Conda brought her boa to the show until it scared someone in the audience. Ginger Snap and Cherri Bomb were sexy redheads. Nova Cain was a naughty nurse, Paige Turner was a librarian, and Tara Byte was a computer geek.

While I was writing the book, I did a lot of research on websites like Ru Paul’s Drag Race. There are also a lot of good sites with makeup tips. I always learn interesting stuff while researching books.

The Gang from Godfreys with authors Fiona Quinn, Tina Glasneck, Rosemary Shomaker, and me

Check out all the adventures of Delanie and Duncan (and Margaret the English bulldog).

Don't Rush It - Tips for Authors

I am a Type A (ESTJ) girl, and I like action. “Maybe” or “Wait” drive me crazy, but I had to learn not to rush my writing life. Many times, you only get one chance with an agent, editor, or publisher. Make sure you and your book are ready.

Your Work in Progress (WIP)

• Make sure it is formatted like a standard manuscript (12 pt. Times New Roman, Paragraph Indents instead of Tabs, Double spaced, with One-inch Margins).

• Proofread, proofread, proofread. Do a round of proofreading every time you make major edits.

• Print out your manuscript to review. You will catch more errors on paper than you will on screen.

• Make sure all character and place names are spelled the same. If you changed character names, make sure you’ve removed all old references. (And if you write multiple series, make sure the other books’ characters don’t appear by mistake.)

• When you think you’re done, read it again.

• Make sure to build in time for beta readers or critiquers to go through your manuscript. My critique group reads 50 pages a month, so it takes a while to get through a novel. They are not reading the book end to end in a few days like a reader would. I make sure I have a few beta readers who will read the entire manuscript as they would a book and provide feedback.

Querying

• Be prepared. Each agent, editor, or publisher is going to have his/her own process.

• Do your homework. Don’t do a shotgun approach and query 50 agents at once. Target ones who represent (and sell) books like yours.

• Query in small batches and keep a list/chart/spreadsheet of who, when, and the result.

• The agent or editor shouldn’t be the first person to read your book. You need a critique group, writing partner, or beta readers to give you feedback on your writing. Make sure your early readers read your genre.

• Have all of your documents ready. You will need a synopsis, character list, and a list of comps (books comparable to yours). Take the time to prepare these. Make sure that all of your documents are polished and look professional.

• Follow all instructions for the person you’re querying. Some have specific requirements for formatting and what documents they want to see.

• If you’ve had contact with the person (e.g. at a conference or a personal reference), make sure to include that. Don’t exaggerate the connections though. People talk, and they check references.

• Make sure your WIP fits the conventions of the genre. Don’t submit a 250,000 word manuscript for a cozy mystery.

• Know how to describe your work. Agents/Editors will ask you where your book fits. Bookstores won’t know how to shelve a Western, romantic, paranormal suspense with vampires, space aliens, and clowns.

Take your time and make sure you and your manuscript are ready. You may only get one chance, and you need to make it the best it can be. Best wishes with your writing project!

Behind the Scenes - Larping

Surprisingly, I do a lot of research for my mysteries (even though the books are fiction). For The Tulip Shirt Murders, my sassy PI, Delanie Fitzgerald, needs to interview a twenty-something who was accused of stalking. In their conversations, she learns he larps (live action role playing).

According to C. Don Wilson in the Urban Dictionary, This is a “form of role-playing game where the participants physically act out their characters' actions. The players pursue their characters' goals within a fictional setting represented by the real world, while interacting with one another in character.”

Originating in the 1970s, the activity gained popularity in the 1980s. According to Wilson, “The fictional genres used vary greatly, from realistic modern or historical settings to fantastic or futuristic eras. Production values are sometimes minimal, but can involve elaborate venues and costumes. LARPs range in size from small private events lasting a few hours to huge public events with thousands of players lasting for several days.”

According to the World of Geek, larping differs from cosplay in that larping involves action and reenactments. “Cosplay, from the words ‘Costume’ and ‘Play,’ is about costuming and re-creating the design of already existing/original characters.” (World of Geek). Cosplay usually involves less role-playing and action events like battles.

Larping often has rules, and participants “immerse themselves entirely in their character and act out their actions” (World of Geek).

In my story, the suspect, Douglas Black, invites Delanie to an event in a local park where his group or guild reenact Medieval life, including battles between warring factions. He tries to convince her to join him by offering to lend her a replica sword.

Popular culture is a large part of the Delanie Fitzgerald series. In her investigations, she meets all kinds of interesting people with unique jobs and hobbies, and it’s a fun way for me to learn about new things.

Check out the adventures of Delanie, Duncan, Margaret, and Chaz in The Tulip Shirt Murders.