Truth. This morning I realized it was Monday. I hadn’t written my blog post! Honestly folks, I’m neck-deep in final book edits, did a live chat on Facebook on Saturday Aug 26, watched Eclipse 2017 last Monday and had a variety of workers/delivery people at the house — okay, so maybe I’m making excuses but real life does have a way of pushing some things out of your mind. Despite my PAA reminding me last Thursday to start my blog, I let it slip away. So let’s catch up.

First, the eclipse last week was incredible. We live in one of the “almost total” area, 98.7%. Not total darkness, not even a real twilight for us, but then everything turned a bit hazy green, shadows sharpened, crescent shadows were everywhere and I was as excited as a kid going to her first birthday party. The shadow shot is from my driveway and the crescent shot my husband took with his smartphone through glasses (that’s why it looks dark). That’s as close as we came to a full eclipse. For me, it was as if I experienced the big bang. I am so easy to please and hey, a once in a lifetime experience!

Confession. We plan to see the total eclipse in 2024 by going to Indiana (warning, family!).

Besides the multitudes of people passing through our place this last week (Sears, Trugreen, ValuePest, Salvation Army, Schwans, UPS) and being a total and complete distraction, not much else happened. Everyone’s been planning for the kids to head back to school, and wondering if a roundabout built in a major intersection would be done in time for school.

And yes, it is done and people are acting like they’ve never driven a circle before. Indeed most have not if they have never been overseas or to another large metropolitan area. It is a bit laughable to hear people cheering how they successfully navigated a circle. I don’t mean to be mean, but honestly, it’s a circle.

I suppose it isn’t nice to laugh at people’s discomfiture, but from the videos posted online, it is funny to listen to people breathe and laugh at themselves when they realize there was nothing to their fear. I laugh harder when they say, “oh I didn’t realize it was only a circle.” Too rich.

As for what’s happening with me? I’m working on the final edits of my new book, Time and Blood. Later this week, my PAA and I will get together for the oral read through. That’s always painful, long and often funny. Next week, I will write about why that is so important.

(Please note the reference books:  Words’Worth by Jane Riddell; How to Write Dazzling Dialogue by James Scott Bell; Writing Fight Scenes, by Rayne Hall; and Revising and Self-Editing, by James Scott Bell)

Also next week I should be working with my cover designer, Marisa-rose Robyn, owner of Cover Me Darling designs to do the exciting new cover. Marisa did the covers for my books, The Gypsy Thorn (my last book), Breaking the Glass Slipper and The Book of Now. She’s won several awards lately and will make my book shine. Her cover work on The Book of Now has won a couple awards. 

At the end of September/first of October, Cassy Roop of Pink Ink Designs will do the formatting for the new book. She did the formatting for The Book of Now and Breaking the Glass Slipper. The interior of The Book of Now won an award from Independent Press Awards (IPA). 

You can see why I revisit designers and formatters who do fine work. And yes, they are worth the money. Please pay for quality work. And if you decide to do your own covers, learn how to do them well and learn about the various genres including fonts and colors. Or do as I do and leave it to the award-winning professionals. They will make you look good!

A few personal notes. I do a Fireside With the Phoenix live Facebook chat at the end of every month. Most of the time I discuss a little something about writing, make some thanks yous, answer questions sent to me, and talk about upcoming events, giveaways, or contests. You don’t want to miss these going forward. Trust me. Keep an eye to my Facebook Author page for the when and time of each live chat.

Finally, every Monday I like to participate in #pinyourpen. It’s a fun way to showcase your favorite handwriting tool. Some like fountain pens and others like ballpoint. Some like gel pens and others collect quill pens. Whatever you like, be sure to join in on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram and show me yours. This is mine for this week.

Thanks for stopping by for a bit of this and that. See you next time.

Until then, I remain,

ARE YOUR CHARACTERS REAL TO THE READER?

I’ve been on a character-defining kick of late. You can see my latest Fireside with the Phoenix chat video here and watch me go nuts as I show you how to examine your character for real features. (You can also see how I screwed up and forgot to allow my phone to auto rotate!). I like characters that seem real, even if they are supernatural or alien. Characters that have “issues” and quirks are some of the most fun.

Here’s a question I posed a few years ago: What’s your Quirk?

I have a thing about sitting with my back to a front door when in a restaurant or anywhere that has people moving in and out. Comes from my father who served in the military, was a crew chief in Korea, and who didn’t like the idea of anyone “sneaking up” on him. I came to see the value in this philosophy and, also having served in the military, I saw it as a smart defensive posture. This philosophy is a permanent part of me. I act on it without thinking. I can sit sideways to the door though this will make me a little uncomfortable. This is my quirk.

A friend of mine claims she isn’t superstitious but when she sits down to eat, she always turns her spoons upside down so that the hump faces up. When I asked why, she shrugged and said, it was something she started as a kid. Her grandmother told her that bad luck settles in the cracks and bowls. She would rather not consume any bad luck or bad karma, so she turns her spoons upside down. Quirky.

Do you have a little quirk that makes your friend smile? (or wince?)

When we read books, the characters that stand out to us have characteristics that become classic or are indelible. We remember things that are original as well as beautiful or classic. Iconic characters have physical characteristics that are memorable, sayings that are endearing or catchy, and habits that make characters easy to understand.  And when they are quirky, well, that can make us smile and laugh because their foibles or quirks are ours!

From biting the nails, to turning spoons upside down, to the cop who can’t sit with his back to the door, the quirk is what makes the character real. Think of Ron Weasley from Harry Potter and his ratty, second-hand clothes. Think of an evil villain who whistles just before he kills. Think of Scarlet O’Hara who procrastinated with “tomorrow is another day.” Are your characters stereotypes?

Are your characters imbued with quirks that can make them seem more real or endearing? Do they do things that make us smile and laugh or want to scream, “run!”  as we read?

Switch things up. Take one of your characters and change them. I call it “re-coloring.” Not just skin, but qualities and emotions, motives and emotions. Make them different. Lose the stereotypes. Forget the norms. How do they change?

Do yourself a favor and look at your character sheets. Find ways to add a quirk, something unique. If you do, you will give your book flavor and the character will become more three-dimensional for it. Those are the characters we want to know. They will be the characters we remember long after the last page.

Just like my friends who make room for me so I don’t have to sit with my back to the door. Quirky. But they remember!  I try to make my characters memorable not because they are perfect. But because they aren’t and that makes them real.

How about you — are your characters REAL or just pretending? We might only pretend to like them if that’s the case.

Thanks for stopping by! Tell me what you thought of my video, if you would. And tell me how you develop your characters into real people.

I remain,
Yours Between the Lines,
Sherry

So there I was late last night (early this morning), not ready for sleep and wanting to watch something on TV that made me feel good.  I didn’t want any blood and gore, no downers, nothing depressing. So I scrolled through the on-air guide…(just go with me here)…It (scary)…The Bad Son…Trainspotting…Shadow Dogs…The Wicker Tree…Rise of the Planet of the Apes…The American…U 571…Deer Hunter (uh, no)…The Crow…Reservoir Dogs….Pollock…Prometheus…

Okay, I sighed. Heavily. Disappointed, I was about to turn off the TV when there it was! Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. Yes! I changed the channel, settled back in my recliner and let myself be magiked away.  How is it I could find this youthful movie so much more preferable to anything else?

The simple answer is that Harry Potter’s first movie has that “certain something.” The more complex answer for me is that the movie offers one delicious emotion we all crave, despite the target audience, something we always gravitate to — hope.

Harry Potter movies (including the later, darker ones) send a message — that even in the darkest hour, there is always hope. And so in the middle of the night, I raised weary eyes to an HD screen and felt myself entertained, uplifted, and filled with hope.  Each of the main characters were just starting on their journey and despite knowing how they would end up (yes, I read all the books and have seen all the movies), I wanted to start over with them again. I wanted to re-new the thrills, the discoveries, the silliness. I wanted their innocence. I needed to renew what they found in each other – hope. 

When I finally turned out the light and closed my eyes seeking dreams (I never made it to the end of the movie, but love and hope won out in the end), I had to smile. Besides being a kid at heart and knowing I could watch that first Harry Potter movie over and over, the reason I feel this way is how inspired I always am by these characters, their infectious joy and their capacity to hope. This is what makes the Harry Potter stores great – this certain something from these characters that remains with us, long after the tale has ended.

As a writer, I want my readers to know this feeling from me. Somewhere in the tale, there must be a golden thread, a feeling my characters will always promise to deliver no matter the obstacles or odds.  I want my readers to come back, craving that certain something from me, and knowing they will find it. Just as I knew Harry would give it to me.

JK Rowling had to find it in herself. Broke and practically homeless, she followed a dream (literally) and spent 10 years holding on to hope that her characters would be published. I think that’s why the theme is so very potent in her stories. She had faith and hope and so do Harry and his friends. They give it over to us, in every book, in every movie. And we come back to it simply because we like how it makes us feel.

I urge you, as writers, find your certain something and be generous. After all, “it” is what created the Patronus, saved Snape’s soul, and defeated Voldemort. Hope.  More than love, this little “something” is worth reaching for at any hour, repeatedly.  I think that’s the real magic.  Every time I open a book, watch a movie, listen to a bit of classical music, I am reminded of that which is behind the art that thrills me:  that certain something. You have to have it to be magic. You have to have it to be memorable. You have to have it to succeed. 

When I find it from an author, I stick with that author. I’m hooked, just like finding Harry Potter on late night TV. The magic never dies and it’s memorable. I’ll stay up all night for you if you give me a book that will stay with me.

Something special. It is the hook your readers want. JK gave us Harry and Harry gave us hope.

Go find yours. Readers are waiting.

Thanks for stopping by.

Yours Between the Lines,
Sherry