September 2007 Newsletter

BLUE MOUNTAIN BACKROADS

Well, we finally got rid of August, and it was a stinker. Hot and dry in the part of the Ozarks where I live, floods in other parts of the country. Surely September will be better. At any rate, we're now getting rain, lots and lots of rain. There's an old Ozark saying, "If you don't like the weather, just wait a few minutes and it will change." That's the way it's been this year; we've gone from a hard freeze to buckets of rain. From triple digit heat, back to flooding. Makes life interesting.

It's beginning to look like fall. The pokeweed is taller than my head and hanging thick with clusters of purple berries. The seeds, old stalks, and roots are poison, but the tender shoots of the plant in the early spring when it just starts peeking through the ground make a good vegetable. My momma would parboil the stems, then drain off the water, add fresh, and stew until tender. Put the stems in a skillet, season with bacon grease and a dash of vinegar and heat. Good eating. The younger generation, of course, prefers pizza. I believe in the south the plant is called poke salad. A much prettier name than pokeweed.

Goldenrod is putting on a show and wild sunflowers are still blooming. A few blue stars of chicory are scattered along the side of the road. Rosicat doesn't care for the hot weather or the rain, preferring to sleep on my desk while I work. She does prowl at night, and sometimes I'll find the remains of a mouse on my doorstep. It's hard to believe that in a few weeks we'll be thinking about getting someone to cut our winter supply of wood. The summer has gone by much too fast. Now that hot weather activities are winding down, I hope you all have lots of ideas for writing and will soon be churning out those great books we all dream of creating. May your written words shimmer like pure gold, and may you never have writer's block.

WRITING NEWS OF THE MONTH

(If you have writing news, send it to me and I'll put it in the newsletter. Let me brag on you a little. Here's your chance to tell people what you've been up to. Be sure to take advantage of it)

* * *

From Rhonda Gibson:

"Barbara, I have news for your September newsletter! I sold a novella titled, "Stuck On You" to Barbour. It's a part of the Connecticut Christmas Collectibles book that comes out Fall 2008."

Rhonda Gibson
glorifying God through fiction
TO TRUST AN OUTLAW--HeartSong Presents -- September 2007
http://www.RhondaGibson.com www.rhondagibson.blogspot.com
Sign up for my newsletter: Notes from a Gibson Girl
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Rhondagibsonsnewsletter/

Great. Rhonda. Looking forward to reading it.

* * *

From Jeanie Cash Smith: "We just got an email from Becky Germany. She is buying our anthology Wyoming Christmas Heroes It will come out in the fall next year. Just had to share my good news."

Writing 4 Him
Hugs & Blessings,
Love, Jeanie
www.jeaniesmithcash.com
I can do all things through Him who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13
The Lord is my light and my salvation Psalms 27:1
Available now
"A Christmas Wish"- from Christmas In The Country Barbour Publishing.

That's good news, Jeanie. I'll be looking for it.

* * *

From Lacy J. Williams:

novelinspirations.com will be hosting a new course called "30 Days of Writing" starting October 1.

According to the experts, it takes 30 days to develop a new habit. In this course, you will learn the discipline needed to develop your own habit. Starts at a rate you can handle, with achievable daily word count quotas. As your discipline increases, so will your word count. Lesson topics include:

Realistic goal setting
Get in the mood
Self-encouragement
Overcoming writer's block

Find out more info at http://30days.novelinspirations.com.
Lacy J. Williams
ACFW Oklahoma Area Coordinator

Sounds good, Lacy. An excellent source for writing instruction

* * *

Hey, Barbara!

Well, let's see, my debut novel Bayou Justice releases in October and was recently selected as an October TOP PICK by Romantic Times Magazine, in which they gave it 4.5 stars! Also new, Steeple Hill Love Inspired Suspense has contracted the 4th book in the bayou series. Bayou Paradox has an anticipated release date of September 2008.

Robin Miller writing as Robin Caroll
Deep South Mysteries for an Inspired Heart
BAYOU JUSTICE--October 2007 Steeple Hill
BAYOU CORRUPTION--February 2008 Steeple Hill
BAYOU JUDGMENT-May 2008 Steeple Hill
BAYOU PARADOX-September 2008, Steeple Hill
www.robincaroll.com

* * *

Bonnie Leon has news:

"I have a story in a compilation book that's being released in September. The book is called A Prince Among Dogs and Other Stories of the Dogs We Love. My story, about our dog Benny, is included. I'm so thrilled to be able to share him with others. He was the best dog. He died a few years ago, but I still miss him.

And of course I had my most recent novel, To Love Anew, release on August 1st.

Hope you're having a great day.

Bonnie
Unveiling Truth Through Fiction
www.bonnieleon.com

I'm a dog lover too, Bonnie. II reviews To Love Anew . If you like historical fiction, it's a good one.

* * *

My new Web site is up and running! Come on over to www.deborahmpiccurelli.com for a visit and stay awhile. I'm holding a drawing for those who sign up for my mailing list. The prize is an autographed copy of my novel, In the Midst of Deceit. You'll also find an article under the Musings section, and a plethora of interesting and helpful links on my (what else?) links page. If you visit every month, you'll always find something new. Hoping to see you all there!

Deborah

I love websites, mainly because they have pictures of my online friends, whom I've never met. It's nice to be able to picture them, and find out if they look like I see them in my imagination. Deb's site is neat. Drop by and visit her. And I've read In The Midst of Deceit. It's a winner.

* * *

For some novelists there's more to life than a story plot... Whether reading or weeding, novelists' garden plots offer a place for creative minds to relax, refresh. . . and sometimes rewrite. Novelist Deborah Raney has assembled a charming collection of novelists in their garden spots. Besides Deb's own Kansas native prairie garden, check out Terri Blackstock's shady Mississippi garden, Karen Ball's pansies and roses, Elizabeth Musser's writing chalet in her garden in France, and many more enchanting garden spots at The Plot Thickens: http://novelgarden.blogspot.com http://novelgarden.blogspot.com

Deborah Raney
COMING SOON! Within This Circle, sequel to A Vow To Cherish—the novel that inspired the award-winning film from World Wide Pictures

Remember to Forget, a Clayburn Novel from Howard Books/Simon & Schuster Visit my website at: http://www.deborahraney.com

I'm amazed at how many writers also garden. I only raise tomatoes, and that's because I can't buy my favorite variety, Big Rainbow, anywhere and I have to raise them. If you haven't tried this heirloom variety you're missing a treat. Big, juicy, yellow with red streaks, and out of this world flavor. Makes great sandwiches with mayo and a thin slice of onion.

* * *

Rebecca LuElla Miller wants to tell you what's happening in her CSFF Blog Tour. See below:

Our September feature is Return, the third of a science fiction trilogy, The Mars Hills Classified (NavPress), by the 2007 Mount Hermon Pacesetter Award Winner, Austin Boyd. The tour is scheduled for September 17-19.

Looking ahead, our lineup is as follows:

* September – Austin Boyd (third book in the Mars Hills Classified trilogy—science fiction)
* October – Jonathan Rogers The Bark of the Bog Owl, (book 1 of the Wilderking Trilogy—middle grade/YA fantasy)

* November – Stephen Lawhead Scarlet (tentative)

* December – Wayfarer's Journal (science fiction webzine)

* January – Jeffery Overstreet Auralia's Colors (tentative)

* February – Chris Walley Shadow and Night (book 1 of The Lamb Among the Stars series – tentative)

We're excited by this great list of speculative titles and authors. Thanks for your help getting the word out about the tour.

Becky
Rebecca LuElla Miller
Christian Fantasy
Author Blog: http://rebeccaluellamiller.wordpress.com/
Team Blog: http://specfaith.ritersbloc.com/
Tour Blog: http://csffblogtour.com/
Latest In Spec Newsletter: http://latestinspec.com/

* * *

 

WHACKY NEWS OF THE MONTH.
(News too weird to make up)

Did you hear about the woman who rented a limousine as her getaway car in a bank robbery? Yep, that's right. She drove up to the door in style, marched right in and handed the teller a note demanding money. The teller, trained on what to do in situations like this, triggered the alarm. The would-be robber got back in her limousine and scurried away. She originally told the driver she had missed her flight and had to go the bank so she could draw out money. With a description of a getaway car like that, the police had no trouble tracking her down. She was sentenced to three years in the slammer, with no time off for the originality of her idea. However, she won't be transported to her next destination, prison, in such style. Talk about a come down. I'll bet there won't be room service either.

 

WRITING TIP OF THE MONTH

Start Your Story In The Right Place

Okay, I'll admit right up front I'm a slow starter. I like to meander along, building as I go, a little here, a little there. I'm beginning to realize that sometimes my story doesn't actually get going until around the middle of the first chapter, if then. I suspect it's that way for a lot of us, but recognizing a weakness is the first step in learning how to do a better job.

The first thing we need to decide is where to start the book. It should begin with your main character experiencing something that will impact his life in some way. It shouldn't be your main problem. Introduce that later, but something that leads into your main problem. Sometimes we need to rewrite that main chapter over and over, until the proper place to begin the story jumps out at us. (With me it's usually about the twentieth rewrite) And always begin with your main character. Our readers tend to identify with the first person they meet. If we introduce them to a minor character first, and then later on introduce our main character, we have just confused the reader. Not a good thing to do. Let the reader know right away whose story you're telling.

Don't start with back-story. If you really need those details from the past, and most of the time you don't, work them in later in small doses. When we go into back-story we have left the present and moved into the past, and our story has stopped. It doesn't pick up again until we move back into the present. Start with your main character doing something right now, not with something she did when she was young. Get your story going and don't let it bog down under a load of back-story.

Don't begin with a flashback either. Avoid anything at the beginning of your story that stops the momentum. Get it started, get it moving, and keep it moving. You are taking your reader on a journey. Stay on track. Don't wander down side roads. It's like riding a train. Get on at your station, and stay on that train until you reach your destination, always moving forward, until the end of the story.

One good way to learn how to begin your story is to sit down with a stack of books by your favorite authors. Read the first page only. How do they begin their stories? You will find that in most instances the writer dumps the reader into the story with no explanation, no back-story, no flashbacks. And it works. The reader is pulled into the story from the first sentence. Build an emotional involvement between your reader and the main character on the first page. Emotion and conflict are two of the most important ingredients in a good story. Get them in from the beginning.

I have heard that busy editors and agents sometimes don't read past the first page before rejecting the manuscript. I don't know if that's true or not, but I do know it's usually the way I decide whether to buy the book. If the writer doesn't catch me on the first page, I put the book back on the shelf.

I get manuscripts from clients whose story actually doesn't begin until the second or third chapter. When I point it out to them, they say something like, "But I bring in all of that later." (introducing the main character, emotions, conflict)

Well, think about it like this: that busy agent is thinking, "Can I really sell this book?" the editor is thinking, "Is this book going to make money for my employers, or am I going to look like an idiot for suggesting it?" And the reader is going to be thinking, "What's in it for me? Do I spend my money on this book, or do I buy that red tank top that called my name from the store two doors down?" We don't have the luxury of actually starting our story in the second or third chapter. Start it with the first sentence, in the first paragraph, on the first page.

A good book about beginnings, is Hooked, by Les Edgerton If your local bookstore doesn't have it, you can find it on Amazon. He has a lot of good advice about starting your story. I recommend it.

QUOTE OF THE MONTH

If you're busy rowing you don't have time to rock the boat.

RECIPE OF THE MONTH

Here's a recipe from Cyndy Salzman,

excerpted from her latest mystery – Crime & Clutter.

Mary Alice's Pesto Cheesecake

1 T. butter, room temperature
½ cup plus 2 T grated Parmesan cheese
2 8 ounce packages cream cheese, room temperature
1 cup ricotta cheese
3 large eggs
1/8 cup fine dry bread crumbs
¼ ts salt
1/8 t cayenne pepper
½ cup prepared pesto

Preheat oven to 325° F. Rub 1 T butter over the bottom and sides of 9" springform pan. Mix bread crumbs and 2 T grated cheese.

Coat pan with crumb mixture. Using electric mixer, beat cream cheese, ricotta, remaining Parmesan, salt and cayenne in large bowl until light. Add eggs ones at a time, beating well after each addition.

Transfer half of the mixture to a medium bowl. Mix pesto into remaining half. Pour pesto mixture into prepared pan, smooth top. Carefully spoon plain mixture over; gently smooth top. Sprinkle with paprika and basil. Bake cake until center no longer moves when pan is shaken, about 45 minutes. Transfer to rack and cool completely.

Cover and refrigerate. To remove from pan for serving, run a small sharp knife around the sides to loosen cheesecake, if necessary. Release pan sides. Transfer to platter. Serve with crackers.

Cyndy writes a good story, and her recipes are great. I'm happy to send this one your way.

 

If you enjoy the newsletter, pass it on to friends, or even better, suggest they sign up for their own copy. The more people who receive it, the more who read your news and reviews. Until next month, take care and God bless,

Barbara

Blue Mountain Editorial Service

www.barbarawarrenbluemountainedit.com

 

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But they that wait upon the lord shall renew their strength: they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary: and they shall walk, and not faint.

    - Isaiah 40:31 KJV

 

 

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