Zara Larsen's Circle of Change

I hope you'll tune in this Saturday, tomorrow, for my guest spot on Zara Larsen's Circle of Change.


You can listen in live at www.1041thetruth.com
1:00 PM EST.

Or look for the audio at www.Thelarsengroup.com

I'll be talking about my new release, Widow's Row, and more about my writer's journey!

C'ya there!

A Diva, a Thug, & a Private Dick All Walk Into a Bar...

Got character?

Oh, man. I'm so pleased with my comments and reviews coming in for Widow's Row. How fun to see them from strangers, which BTW are simply friends I haven't met yet!

Hmmm, I say. The best feedback seems to be about my characters.

Here's what I know:

• Do your character interviews. EVERY character. Even the postman who always rings twice.  Know them well enough that you dream about them!
• Use dialogue true to your character. Even if you don't like it. If your character would say that icky word that starts with a C, and of course if your publishing house guidelines allow, then USE the C word.
• More about true dialogue. "You've got...." is horrible English. But guess what? We say it! You've Got Mail!
• Dichotomies. Characters are complex. Good people do bad things. Bad people have soft sides. Smart people do very dumb things. You get the idea. Give your characters dimension.
• More than dimension, give every character meat. Imagine that you are writing a screenplay. What does your casting agent have to work with? What have you given the actor to sink his teeth into so that he becomes this character? Think of Al Pacino in The Scent of a Woman. Novelist Giovanni Arpino and screenwriter Bo Goldman gave Pacino so much character that he ad-libbed the famous 'who-ahhh'. Would we all be so lucky for Mr. Pacino to enhance our work.

Guest Blogging

Here's my motivational quote for the new year:

"Confidence is going after Moby Dick in a 
rowboat and taking the tartar sauce with you."

— Zig Ziglar

First, thank you all for your concerns over the recent tragedy in Tucson. We are sad, but safe.

Second, you might ask where have I been. Why so quiet?

Sales for Widow's Row have been overwhelming. Another round of THANKS to you! And thanks for spreading the news by word of mouth. Because of your referrals I'm now realizing new readers; friends I've never met yet!

Meanwhile I've guest posted about 'the journey' at these locations:

Peg Brantley's blog at:  http://suspensenovelist.blogspot.com/

And Jenny Milchman at http://www.jennymilchman.com/blog/?cat=6

I hope you can spare a moment to learn more about the writer's journey.

Today I wish you a sturdy rowboat.

Widow's Row The Trailer 0001

emergence

The Butterfly is Free!

The cocoon, top right, opened to release a magnificent

Giant Swallowtail butterfly.

And so it is that I announce the release of my new novel 

Widow's Row.

click here and buy your copy!

Don’t own a Kindle?

You can download the safe and free Amazon reader at:

For PC Users:   http://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.html/ref=kcp_pc_mkt_lnd?docId=1000426311

For Mac Users:  http://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.html/ref=kcp_mac_mkt_lnd?docId=1000464931

Books will load directly to your computer. You can also download them to your Smartphone.

I will appreciate it if you will forward this to your friends 

& ask them to 

forward it to their friends! 

Love it? Please rate it for me! Amazon ratings are important to me.

Don’t love it? Send me an email and let me know your thoughts.

I hope you’ll enjoy reading it as much  as I enjoyed writing it!

My deepest gratitude, & Happy Thanksgiving!

Lala

The Metamorphosis Begins

My hideous Orange Dog caterpillar has morphed into his cocoon. You can see him in the lower right screen hanging from fine threads of is own weaving.

As it with the release of Widow's Row.
It's brewing. Growing. Morphing. And sort of hiding in camouflage right now.
And yes, it feels like I'm hanging upside down by a few threads these last few days.

I'm blessed I have so many friends and family to catch me when I emerge.

To Evolve, You Must Begin

'Insist on yourself. Never imitate.'

~Ralph Waldo Emerson

The Orange Dog is evidence of Mother Nature's sense of humor. Take a peek at this hideous prehistoric looking thing! He is feeding on the leaves of my lemon tree, which already struggles like Charlie Brown's sorry Christmas tree. At first I thought it was a fungal growth on the tree, but then I noticed its beady eyes staring at me. When I dared to encroach on his territory the orange horns (osmeterium) emerged and he let out a ghastly stink bomb!

Here's the amazing part. This guy will evolve into the breathtaking Giant Swallowtail butterfly!

While you begin your art as a writer, a painter, a doctor or Indian chief, your work will imitate life. This is the way.

What isn’t the way is to let your work imitate your self.

When you are true to self your work will evolve. This is nature’s way. You will grow. Learn. Live. Flourish.

Your ugly will become beautiful.

And one more thought.

Know when you have your butterfly. Write ‘the end’. Put your paints away. Draw up that contract.

Today I wish you lessons from Mother Nature.