P.J. MacLayne - P.J. MacLayne

A Day In The Life #OpenBook Blog Hop

By P.J. MacLayne March 19, 2023 March 19, 2023 Open Book

March 20, 2923

Tell us about the day in the life of one of your characters.

After a restless night, my morning routine soothed my frazzled nerves. Start the coffee pot, shower, towel dry my hair, slip into a comfortable pair of jeans and a random blouse from the closet, pour myself a cup of coffee, one sugar, no cream, run downstairs to grab the newspaper, and sit on the bottom step to glance through it. That was my summer routine anyway. I didn’t sit outside in the winter naturally. The local paper, The Herald, tried hard to cover local news, but not much happens in Oak Grove anymore. I’d been in it too much.
Piper came to greet me, sticking his nose through the chain-link face. Most days, I brought a doggy-biscuit with me, but he doesn’t care on the rare days I forgot. He was happy to have me scratch the top of his head. Some days I swear he purred when I got it just right.
I sipped the coffee and watched the sun rise.
The Marquesa’s Necklace

Harmony Duprie lives a quiet, routine life and likes it that way. Monday through Friday, she goes to work at the library, helping patrons, comes home, and reads. (She’s a research librarian, with a specialty in Victorian-era history.) Wednesdays nights, she goes out with her friends for supper and a few drinks. Thursday is her day to go grocery shopping, Saturday is her day to deep clean her little apartment, on the third floor of a Victorian-era home, and prep her meals for the next week. (She is somewhat of a neat freak.) Sunday is her day to relax, perhaps help her landlords in their garden, or go for a long car ride to nowhere in particular.

She dates occasionally, but the pool of bachelors in the small town of Oak Grove is pretty slim and she hasn’t found anyone that makes her heart flutter as much as finding a rare book in one of the town’s pawnshops does.

All of that changes when Jake Hennessey wanders into her life and she ends up getting charged for trafficking drugs.

That’s a day in the life of Harmony Duprie. To find out more, go here: https://www.pjmaclayne.com/?page_id=232 To get more days in the life of. . . from other authors, just follow the links below.

As always, until next time, please stay safe.

March 20, 2923

Tell us about the day in the life of one of your characters.

Rules:
1. Link your blog to this hop.
2. Notify your following that you are participating in this blog hop.
3. Promise to visit/leave a comment on all participants’ blogs.
4. Tweet/or share each person’s blog post. Use #OpenBook when tweeting.
5. Put a banner on your blog that you are participating.

Favorite Vacation Spots Immortalized In Writing #OpenBook Blog Hop

By P.J. MacLayne March 12, 2023 March 12, 2023 Open Book

March 13, 2023

What are your favorite vacation spots and do they ever show up in your books?

If you follow this blog, you may remember that I moved less than a year ago. Where I moved to used to be one of my favorite vacation spots, and it shows up in my books regularly. So, my answer is much different than it would have been 9 months ago.

I have lived in various parts of the United States, and that is reflected in my stories, sometimes as a mere mention, other times as the primary setting. For example, The Ranger’s Dog Tags is mainly set in Orlando. I never lived in Orlando proper, but the less I talk about the years I lived in Florida, the more positive I can stay. It’s still a stretch to call Florida a favorite vacation spot, but since my daughter and her family live there, it has at least a few redeeming qualities.

In the new order of my life, I’m going to have to list Colorado as my favorite vacation spot. I’ve written Wyoming into a book, (Wolves’ Gambit) but not Colorado. Well, that’s not exactly true. It’s featured in a book that I wrote and never released, because it wasn’t good enough. But I have more books to write, so there is still time.

The Oregon/California coast is another potential spot for a vacation/story locale. The redwood forests cry out for a pack of wolf shifters to live among them and protect the trees. Of course, with all the forest fires in the past few years, the area has changed, and I’d have to do some research before including the current geography in a story.

FYI-in case you wondering- I am deep in edits for The Rise of Jake Hennessey. It is set in familiar territory- the imaginary town of Oak Grove. That has been one of my favorite places to ‘go’ for almost a decade! I don’t have an exact release date set yet, but I am planning to have the book available for the Pittsburgh 3 Rivers Con in early June.

Check out the favorite places of other authors by following the links below.

Don’t forget, until next time, please stay safe!

March 13, 2023

What are your favorite vacation spots and do they ever show up in your books?

Interview with SapphireJBlue The Contessa’s Brooch

By P.J. MacLayne March 9, 2023 March 9, 2023 Uncategorized

Check out my latest interview with the marvelous SapphireJBlue as we talk about The Contessa’s Brooch. (after dealing with technical difficulties!) https://www.instagram.com/p/CpMJPvVDJc6/?fbclid=IwAR2TY7IiDJtFwwC6eBx3fsB_p95N6lgo2zrV1uBlK4iDcO6NDkAlSfv0h-4

Perspective in Writing – Author’s Choice #OpenBook Blog Hop

By P.J. MacLayne March 5, 2023 March 5, 2023 Open Book

March 6, 2023

Do you have advice for changing perspective? For example, switching from writing exclusively in third person and switching to first person? Or do you have a reason for staying with the perspective you do?

The first book I set out to write, (one that will never be published,) I rewrote four times before calling it quits. I changed perspective twice in that process. The first two versions were third person past tense, the third version was in first person, then I switched back to third person. It was a great learning process. Frustrating, perhaps, but publishing the story was never a consideration, so I could ‘play’ with how the characters interacted with no deadline to interfere.

What the experience taught me was that I can write in either perspective. Which one I choose is dictated by the story. For example, in its original form, what turned into The Marquesa’s Necklace started out in third person. I didn’t get very far into that version before realizing it was all wrong for the story that was taking shape, and switched to first person.

On the other hand, The Free Wolves’ books are all written in third person. They started that way and never changed.

What advice do I have for writers wanting to switch? If you want to, do it! Yes, I know you’ll find readers who don’t like to read first person. You’ll also find readers that prefer it.

Something to consider—In first person, you can only see characters and action through one set of eyes at a time. As the author, you have to use dialogue or show physical cues from other characters to allow your main character to know what everyone else is thinking. I think that restriction is useful in helping to prevent head-hopping. On the other side, it may be a good tool for diving deeply into the internal thoughts of the speaker.

One minor thing: I’ve seen it done way too often. If you are writing in first tense, please, oh please, don’t have your main character look into a mirror or a pool of water or whatever to describe themselves. Just don’t.

What to be aware of if you’re moving from first to third person? I have to pay close attention to be sure I don’t head-hop for a sentence or two. It can also be easy to slip into the voice of an omniscient narrator. You, as the author, may know something that your characters and readers don’t know and it can be hard to not include it.

I haven’t tried some of the lesser-used points of view, like second person and fourth person. (Yes, that exists, but it’s rare.) It’ll be interesting to find out if any one else in this hop has used them. To find out, follow the links below.

As always, until next time, please stay safe.

March 6, 2023

Writing Envy #IWSG

By P.J. MacLayne March 1, 2023 March 1, 2023 IWSG

It’s the first Wednesday in March (already!) and time for another Insecure Writer’s Support Group Post

Purpose: To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds!

The awesome co-hosts for the March 1 posting of the IWSG are Diedre Knight, Tonya Drecker, Bish Denham, Olga Godim, and JQ Rose!

March 1 question – Have you ever read a line in novel or a clever plot twist that caused you to have author envy?

How about whole book envy?

Yes, there are authors who have the ability to make words sing. Lots of them. If I started listing them, I’d get in trouble for forgetting others. So, I’m going to mention only a couple that are lesser known. (And still alive and writing)

First, my friend Cornelia Amiri. She has a way of making old Celtic myths come alive. She writes other themes too, but I think I know where her heart is.

Jenna Bennett Is another author I admire. She has a way of tackling tough subjects wrapped up in mystery and romance. Plus, she can throw a plot twist at you and you never even notice.

One more. She writes under a variety of pen names, but I first knew her as Jesse V Coffey. She inspired me to start writing fiction.

That’s it for today. Be sure to check out some of the other insecure authors by following the links below.

As always, until next time, please stay safe.

Tackling Turmoil in Writing #OpenBook Blog Hop

By P.J. MacLayne February 26, 2023 February 27, 2023 Open Book

Feb 27, 2023

Do you tackle current political turmoil in your stories or avoid it? Tell us why.

Truth is, I have avoided delving deeply into current political topics. I may touch on an issue here and there, but I’m writing to entertain my readers, not to push a political agenda. So yes, I’ve mentioned marijuana and women’s rights as part of a storyline, but it’s rarely more than a mention.

There is another reason for doing that. It dates the story. For example, in several of the Harmony Duprie Mysteries, I mention that one of the characters was arrested for a marijuana offense. The arrest was valid at the time I wrote the book. Now, the laws have changed and what my character did would no longer be an arrestable charge. I don’t think the difference will jar readers, and I don’t plan to update the book to reflect the new rules. Who knows what changes will happen in another ten years that will leave the story behind again?

That’s created some interesting conundrums in one of my works-in-progress. The Rise of Jake Hennessey is set 20 years in the future, and I tried to anticipate not only changes in technology but in laws. It’s not that far ahead, but think of all the changes that have happened in the last 20 years. I prefer not to imagine we’ll be in the middle of a apocalypse or a zombie invasion.

(Speaking of The Rise of Jake Hennessey- it’s off to my editor, but I haven’t set a release date yet. It depends on how much additional editing it’ll need. I’m thinking the middle of May. Here’s the current tagline:
Jake Hennessey: Bar owner (twice). Jewel thief (retired… almost). He’s a good guy, it’s just that his hobby is mostly illegal. Mostly. OK, completely.)

Would I ever include a political battle in one of my books? Sure, if the story demanded it. I just don’t see it happening soon. It’s similar to sex scenes—I haven’t felt the need to write one of those either.

I expect a different answer from at least one of the regular authors on this hop, but the only way to make sure is to go check them out. Just follow the links below.

As always, until next time, please stay safe.

Feb 27, 2023

Do you tackle current political turmoil in your stories or avoid it? Tell us why.

Movie With An Impact-Or Not #OpenBook Blog Hop

By P.J. MacLayne February 19, 2023 February 19, 2023 Open Book

Feb 20, 2023

Is there a movie from childhood that still holds a special place with you? (One you saw as a kid, but isn’t necessarily a kid’s film).

Movies did not play a big part of my childhood. Yes, our parents would load all of us into the station wagon perhaps once a summer and make a trip to one of the drive-ins in the area, but I couldn’t tell you what movies we saw. Except perhaps one – the classic Chitty Chitty Bang Bang with Dick Van Dyke. Back then, the drive-ins had the speakers that needed to be slid over the car’s window. There was a snack bar with all sorts of goodies and a playground near the front of the parking area.

The first movie I remember seeing in an actual theatre was either Gone With The Wind or The Sound Of Music. I’m not sure which. I was more enthralled by the grand old theatre than the movies. Its magnificence is gone, but in its prime, it was a work of art. What I remember most about that outing was that is just my mother and us sisters – no boys allowed.

(Let me clarify something – I’m pretty sure Gone With The Wind was digitally remastered and re-released. I’m not that old!)

Anyway, I’m not sure what that means – that the movies didn’t impact me as much as the ‘experience’ did, but there you have it.

What movies do the other authors remember? Find out by following the links below.

As always, until next time, please stay safe.

Feb 20, 2023

Is there a movie from childhood that still holds a special place with you? (One you saw as a kid, but isn’t necessarily a kid’s film).

A Rebel at Heart #OpenBook Blog Hop

By P.J. MacLayne February 12, 2023 February 12, 2023 Open Book

Feb 13, 2023

What grammar rules have you broken on purpose?

Oh, the hours I spent in high school learning the American rules of grammar. On the surface, it seemed boring, but I found pleasure in the music of how words fit together to form pictures and ideas. That’s how I found my way into poetry, where the rules don’t matter or matter even more, depending upon the form.

Writing fiction forced me to again pay attention to the rules and be selective about which ones I break. The big qualifier is that grammar doesn’t keep up with the spoken language, and it’s a battle between the two.

Sentence Fragments: I use with caution, but sometimes they are a great device to increase tension, and combat run-on sentences. (See below) How many I use varies from story to story. In my current work-in-progress, The Rise of Jake Hennessey, I can only think of two or three times when I’ve deliberately used a sentence fragment for emphasis. (Here’s one of them. “I’m a cop. A good one. I’m trained to see when people are lying. And every time she opens her mouth, she’s lying.”)

Run-On Sentences: I’ve seen books where half a page was one sentence. I’ve written a few with fifty words in my career, but they don’t make it through editing.

Ending a Sentence with a Preposition: Even grammarians have given up on this one for informal writing. The rule doesn’t work for our day-to-day speech, and I pay only minimal attention to it. (“That was Eli’s job.” Harmony held up her hand. “Don’t worry, the tears will wait. I’ve got my business face on.”)

One More-Commas: Commas are rough. Even grammar checkers can’t always decide whether a comma is needed. I fall back on the concept – do I want the reader to pause at a certain spot for emphasis? If yes and the grammar checker is unsure, I’ll add a comma. Heck, I’ve added a comma against the strict recommendation of a grammar checker!

That’s all I’ll confess to. To find out what rules the other authors on this hop break, follow the links below.

Until next time, please stay safe!

Image by StockSnap from Pixabay

Feb 13, 2023

What grammar rules have you broken on purpose?

Writing Memes #OpenBook Blog Hop

By P.J. MacLayne February 5, 2023 February 5, 2023 Open Book

Feb 6, 2023

What are your favorite writing-related memes?

There’s so many of them! I’m probably more fond of reading memes, but let me see what I can find.

This one isn’t true, thank heavens, but it makes me laugh.

I plead guilty to this one.

This harkens back to my days in IT. I had to include it.

I hope I catch them during edits!

One more – I am guilty of this one. Well, not my main character, but close.

That’s it for this week! Check out the other entries on this hop by following the links below.

Until next time, please stay safe.

Feb 6, 2023

What are your favorite writing-related memes?

A Picture is Worth – You Know The Rest #IWSG

By P.J. MacLayne January 31, 2023 January 31, 2023 IWSG

Purpose: To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds!

The awesome co-hosts for the February 1 posting of the IWSG are Jacqui Murray, Ronel Janse van Vuuren, Pat Garcia, and Gwen Gardner!

February 1 question – If you are an Indie author, do you make your own covers or purchase them? If you publish trad, how much input do you have about what goes on your cover?

Yes, I am an indie writer. It’s a decision I made back when I first entered the wild world of publishing. I knew from the beginning that I was not qualified to create covers. When it comes to fonts and color shading and perspective, I’m lost. Luckily, I had a resource that knew all that. She’s designed all my covers. Thank you so much, K.M. Guth!

Thanks to the joys of video conferencing, I’ve been able to watch her weave her magic. It amazes me, frankly, how she can morph things to suit her needs. She’ll ask for my input, but I normally defer to her as the expert. Now and then, I’ll spot something she missed, but that doesn’t happen very often.

Many of the covers she’s designed for me are below.

Check out some of the other talented folks on this hop by clicking on the links below.

Until next time, please stay safe.