Open Book - P.J. MacLayne

It’s All Fun & Games Until Somebody Dies #Openbook Blog Hop

By P.J. MacLayne July 15, 2019 July 15, 2019 Open Book

July 15, 2019

What was your hardest scene to write?

Spoiler alert: I’ll be revealing a minor plot point that extends over a couple of books in my mystery series. I don’t believe it will decrease the pleasure of reading the books if you haven’t already.

Those of you you have read the Harmony Duprie books know she is a logical person. Logical almost to a fault, in some instances. When I set out to write a scene where she allowed her emotions to have free rein, it was tough.

The set up for the scene took place in an earlier book, and I thought the extended time frame would help me gain the distance I needed to do a good job of including the emotion Harmony felt without getting too emotional myself. Yeah, I was wrong.

I’ve written a number of murders into my stories and Harmony has dealt with them in a rather detached manner. They weren’t anyone she was close to, so she was able to view them thru a researcher’s eyes. When her own parents died (before the story starts) she had friends in the community to help her.

That included the mother of one of her best friends who became a surrogate mother to Harmony for a few years. And that’s who I killed off. She wasn’t the victim of any of Harmony’s villains, the bad guy was an enemy that Harmony couldn’t beat. Breast cancer.

For the story, I had to have Harmony stay strong for her friend and break down at the same time. And that was tough. At least I had about 1000 miles between them, which allowed Harmony to remain calm on the phone while falling apart. Of course, once she got home and behind a locked door, her sorrow was released.

From The Contessa’s Brooch

Naturally, I wasn’t in the mood to hang out with the guys even after I got done with as much as possible. All I wanted to do was go home, drink a glass or two of wine, and ugly cry. I didn’t even feel bad when I told Eli he’d have to do supper on his own.

I was on my third glass when someone knocked. I decided to ignore it. My eyes were swollen, my throat hoarse and my nose red from blowing it. No way I wanted company.

But the knocker was determined. And had a key. So, when Eli opened the door and held his arms out, I let him wrap them around me while I cried more.

The thread about the death runs through three or four chapters, while Harmony is busy solving the current mystery. Jumping back and forth between logic and deep emotion was rough on Harmony, and on me. I shed a few tears myself.

But that isn’t the toughest scene I’ve ever written. In a story that will never be published, I killed off the main character. Writing her death and her funeral took several boxes of tissues. I knew readers would hate me, and rewrote the story with a happy ending. Even that version won’t ever be published- it simply isn’t good enough.

Now, I’m going to take a deep breath, shake off the doldrums, and head over to see what the other authors participating in the blog hop have to share.

July 15, 2019

What was your hardest scene to write?

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.

https://fresh.inlinkz.com/p/1c38625e53c14049ac41aaa0f3e856f3

Seasons in Writing #OpenBook blog Hop

By admin July 8, 2019 July 8, 2019 Open Book, Uncategorized

July 8, 2019

Despite the recent snow in the Rocky Mountains, it’s summer in the Northern Hemisphere. Do your stories and worlds reference seasons and do they play into the plots of your books?

Did you hear about the snow sculpture contest in the park?” she asked.

“No,” I said. How did I miss that? “Who’s sponsoring it?”

“Oh, it’s unofficial.” She put more grated cheese on top of her spaghetti and passed the container to Freddie. “Started with some little kids building old-fashioned snowmen, and then a bunch of high schoolers got involved. Pretty soon parents got into the spirit of things as well. Now there are dragons and castles and all sorts of creations scattered on the shore of the lake. Makes me hope the cold weather sticks around so they last longer.”

That’s a short snippet from Her Ladyship’s Ring, the second book in the Harmony Duprie Mysteries. This is the first scene that came to mind when I saw this week’s topic. Since Oak Grove, the town where she lives, is located somewhere north of Pittsburgh, it seemed only natural to bring the weather into the story.

I could likely find at least one weather-related snippet from every one of my books. The out-of-doors is important in my life, so it’s natural to include it in my stories.

Here’s another from Wolves’ Knight, the second book in the Free Wolves series.

The storm clouds rolling in from the west made the night seem even darker than normal, bearing the promise of an early snow. Tasha had her window down, hoping the cold air would help her stay awake. When she caught the first trace of smoke, she assumed that someone had been smoking in the car, never wondering why she hadn’t caught the scent sooner. When the odor got stronger, she pulled over to the side of the road, thinking the car had developed a problem.

But it’s not just bad weather that get featured, I also set scenes on picture-perfect summer days, crisp fall nights and rainy springtimes. a few happen in the sweltering heat of Florida.

But maybe I have it easy because all my books are set in the real world. (Well, mostly. Do you believe there are shifters among us?) Other authors may not have it so simple. Let’s go find out!

July 8, 2019

Despite the recent snow in the Rocky Mountains, it’s summer in the Northern Hemisphere. Do your stories and worlds reference seasons and do they play into the plots of your books?

It’s a Trap! #OpenBook Blog Hop

By P.J. MacLayne July 1, 2019 July 1, 2019 Open Book

July 1, 2019

What are common traps for aspiring writers?

At some point in the distant past, storytellers discovered they could be paid for their writing and became writers. Not long after that, other people figured out how to take advantage of them. And so it goes today. With the advent of the digital revolution for books and other forms of the written word, scams have adapted and changed to the new market.

It doesn’t matter if a writer is going indie or the traditional publisher route, there are traps in both methods. I’ll concentrate on traps for those of us who write indie.

The biggest one I know of (And I haven’t ever been caught in!) is vanity publishing. That’s where a company charges a hopeful writer to publish their book. They may hide the price behind editing fees or setup fees or cover design, but the end is the same. The writer ends up with overpriced physical books to sell and not much else. As tempting as it may seem, my advice to an aspiring writer? Don’t do it. There are ways to get your book published without signing a long-term contract with a fly-by-night company. I could write a whole post about it!

Contests are another area that often catch as aspiring writer. Sure, some have been around forever and actually can assist an author in getting noticed. But others charge large fees and then give out minimal prizes. Then there are the contests that charge no fees but put all the “winners” (Everyone!) in a book and charge an outrageous amount of money to purchase copies. Or invite the winners (Everyone!) to an awards ceremony at their own expense.

There are other scams that could catch both the experienced as well as the inexperienced writer. I’ve read the stories about editors and cover designers taking an author’s money and disappearing. Then there’s the small press publishers who were legitimate in the beginning and after a number of years fail, leaving authors with no way to get their money or their rights back. It’s hard to avoid those.

But there’s a website out there that’s on the side of writers. It’s a good place to start if there’s a question about a company’s services. The Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America have run it for years. I strongly suggest that all writers check it out HERE.

When you’re done, come back here and head on down to the links below to see what the other authors are sharing. That’s where I’m headed!

July 1, 2019

What are common traps for aspiring writers?

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.

It’s All In the Name Open Book Blog Hop

Link

By P.J. MacLayne June 24, 2019 June 24, 2019 Open Book

June 24, 2019

How do you select the names of your characters?

A long time ago, I was introduced to the concept that some cultures hold that names hold power. Different cultures interpret that in different ways, but I have used the idea to help come up with the names of my characters.

But there are a number of other factors that come into play. I previously worked a job where I dealt with names. Every know and then, I’d run across one that was just so unique I had to explore its background. And the really cool ones I’d write down in a notebook to refer to later. I’d never use a someone’s whole name for a character, but the process gave me some cool first and last names.

Speaking of not using real names, Google is my friend. When I come up with a name, I search to see if it belongs to a real person. If it does, and I really want to use the name, I’ll change the spelling of the name. Sure, I can’t avoid using someone’s real name once in a while, but I cover that with the copyright statement.

I also try to uses names as an indicator of ethnic background. (You know that research I referred to earlier? That’s where it comes into play.) In my first book, Wolves’ Pawn, I decided my main character would have a Native American background. That led me to research traditional names for members of various tribes. That’s where Dot, the main character in Wolves’ Pawn, last name come from.

In Wolves’ Gambit, I dealt with feuding wolf-shifter packs. Because they limited their contact with the outside world, I decided to use old-fashioned names for one of the packs. On top of that, I used alternative spellings.

But sometimes a name just comes to me. That’s what happened with Harmony Durpie, the main character in my mystery series. I don’t know where it came from, it was a name that found me. Eli, on the other hand, came to me because I was listening to the song “Eli’s coming” one day when I was writing!

One thing I try really hard to watch for is that I don’t give characters names that use same first letter. That makes it easier for readers to keep them straight. I do make exceptions though-calling twins similar names, for example.

I will admit to using the names of people I’ve met once in a while. I enjoy naming my villains with the names of people I don’t like. Of course, I still disguise the names so they can’t be connected to real-life people.

I haven’t used any of the name generators that are out there-yet. What I do refer to are the baby-name sites that exist. If I have an idea for a name, they help me narrow down my choices based on sex and ethnic background.

The truth is, I never know where the next name will come from. I ran across one recently that I need to add to my list of potential names Liam. It’s been around for a while, but I ‘found” it again recently. Which makes me wonder if it will show up in my next book!

Now, let’s check out all the other authors to see how they name their characters.

June 24, 2019

How do you select the names 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.

https://fresh.inlinkz.com/p/e7beb9483e3443fc80bcef612ea7da0a

The Power of Words

By P.J. MacLayne June 17, 2019 June 17, 2019 Open Book

June 17,2019

What was an early experience where you learned that language had power?

I learned to read in the golden age of Dick, Jane, and Spot. See Jane run. Obviously, that didn’t teach me a love of language but it was a start.

By sixth grade I was reading a book a night. No, not 1000 page novels, but a lot of history and biographies written for my age level. Okay, I confess, I read above by age level by at least of couple of years.

In seventh grade (I think) I wrote a short paper about the Mafia. I don’t remember what the assignment was, but I got an A—and was invited to read the essay over the PA system to the seventh and eighth grades., a first for the school. But that wasn’t the event that showed me the power of words.

And it wasn’t when I won an award from the Daughters of the American Revolution for my essay on Molly Pitcher in eighth grade. No, that event was ruined for me when they first announced a classmate with a similar name as the winner, and then discovered the mistake. To make it “fair”, I had to share the award with her and felt cheated.

No, I learned the power of words by failing a writing assignment. We were tasked with writing a short story- I forget how many words. Influenced by a book I’d read recently, I ended my story with the main character ready to throw himself from a cliff to evade capture by the enemy. My teacher thought I hadn’t finished the story, and gave me an F. I tried to explain to her the motivation behind the ending, but she wasn’t listening. or wasn’t satisfied, I’m not sure.

I don’t have a copy of that story anymore, but when I think back, I still think I was in the right. I’d explained the character’s motivation, I had put him in a situation with no way out, and I even had him looking skyward as if reaching out to his god. I thought the ending was clear without describing it in gory details.

Image by astize from Pixabay

And that’s when I learned the power of words. And the power of no words.

I’ve also learned how to take away the power. You see. I believe words only have the power you give them. Call me a nasty name? It may hurt momentarily, but it’s only words, after all. Sticks and stones …. I can even read bad reviews and decide if they are helpful or nonsense.

There is one word that is often misused but I hope never loses its power. It’s the word that represents the best of all of us, the hope for humanity. It’s a simple word, only four letters. You guessed it, the word is love.

Now, let’s head over and find out when everyone else discovered the power of words.

June 17,2019

What was an early experience where you learned that language had power?

Best Money #OpenBook Blog Hop

By P.J. MacLayne June 3, 2019 June 3, 2019 Open Book

June 3, 2019

What was the best money you ever spent as a writer?

When I started the journey as an indie author, I had no idea how expensive the process could be. Editing. more editing, formatting, the cost of buying author’s copies, publicity…

Yeah, that’s a lot, and if you have an bottomless pocket, there are plenty of people willing to take more of your money. I don’t have one of those. The bottomless pocket, that is.

Throw in the cost of advertising and writing courses and fees to sell your books at events. Oh, and business cards and a website.

But what’s the best money I’ve ever spent?

The first big event I did was a ComicCon. That was back in 2016. I spent a lot of money getting ready- I needed business cards, postcards, a tablecloth. But the one purchase I made that I didn’t really need? A banner.

That’s Tasha from Wolves’ Knight, larger than life. She’s my best purchase ever. When I go to events, she’s got my back. The greatest part is how she draws attention. Even if a passerby doesn’t stop and buy one of my books, she catches their eye. She makes me feel powerful.

One of these days, I should get a banner for the Harmony Duprie Mysteries. But I’m in no rush. As much as I love her, I don’t know how Harmony could compete with Tasha.

Now, I’m going to head on over and find out how our other authors spent their money. You can too, by following the links below.

June 3, 2019

What was the best money you ever spent as a writer?

Favorite Character

By P.J. MacLayne May 20, 2019 May 20, 2019 Open Book

From all the characters you’ve created, which is your favorite and why?

I bet you think you know the answer. After all, how many times have I talked about wanting to spend an afternoon with Harmony from the mystery series, drinking ice tea and and chatting? Well, you would be wrong.

And if you guessed Dot, the main character from Wolves’ Pawn, the first book I ever published, you would be closer, but still wrong.

No, my favorite and probably least-known of my main characters is Lori Grenville of Wolves’ Gambit.

Yeah, she’s an underdog. And that’s one of the reasons I’m so fond of her. Despite her small stature, she doesn’t let anyone push her around. Instead, she finds ways to use her size to her advantage. She’s found a way to turn a personal tragedy into a lifelong-mission to help others.

Of course, that isn’t the way I’d planned her. She was supposed to be a smart aleck, take nothing too seriously spy of dubious loyalties. While I managed to retain some of that in her personality, it isn’t her main focus. Her loyalty is to herself and her cause, and she’ll tell you so.

What I love most about her is her creativity. I didn’t believe her at first when she told me the story of how she killed a wolf using a snow shovel. But it’s in writing now, and on the internet, so it must be true.

If you haven’t read Wolves’ Gambit yet, here’s your chance. It’s a standalone story, so you don’t have to read the other books in the Free Wolves adventures first. Here’s the link to the page on this website that will lead you to everywhere you can buy the book. Wolves’ Gambit

Once you get done with your purchase, don’t forget to check out the other blogs and see what their authors favorite characters are. Maybe I’ll see you there!

From all the characters you’ve created, which is your favorite and why?

Crying While Writing #OpenBook Blog Hop

By P.J. MacLayne May 6, 2019 May 6, 2019 Open Book

May 6, 2019

Have you ever made yourself cry (over what you did to a character) while writing a book?

I consider it a compliment to a writer if they can make me cry. Sure, i might allow a few tears to leak from my eyes when I’m reading a particularly sad scene, but crying is different. It takes a lot to make that happen. I have to be heavily invested in the characters.

Image by OpenClipart-Vectors from Pixabay

Maybe that’s why I can make myself cry when I’m writing. I know and even love my characters. When I write something that hurts them, I feel their pain, even though I know what’s coming. After all, I’m the one creating their pain!

Most often, it’s only a few tears. Once in a while, I find myself reaching for the nearby box of tissues. My newest book, The Contessa’s Brooch, fell into the few tears category. (To be released May 15th.)

But the first draft of the first book I wrote had me in full-out tears. (That book will never be released. It wasn’t bad, but it was too derivative of other people’s stories.) Anyway, by the end of the book, I’d killed off both of my main characters. I cried as I wrote the last chapter and cried more when I wrote the obit that was the epilogue.

I still think it was a great ending. I also think readers would have hated me for it. I changed the ending to a happily-ever-after one in the second draft of the book. One that didn’t make me cry. One that readers would accept. But I still prefer the first ending. I read bits and pieces of it as I wrote this post, and it still has the power to move me to tears.

Now that I’m done sniffling, I’m headed over to see what the other authors have to say.

May 6, 2019

Have you ever made yourself cry (over what you did to a character) while writing a book?

Unusual Expense #OpenBook Blog Hop

By P.J. MacLayne April 29, 2019 April 29, 2019 Open Book

April 29, 2019

What’s the most unusual expense you’ve had?

I live a fairly understated life. Simple, basic, although not boring. So, I really had to think hard about this one.

Was it the food dehydrator for drying fruit? Or maybe the ice cream maker? How about the supplies for drying and selling the straw flowers I grew one year?

I thought about it, and decided it wasn’t any one thing, but the pattern of purchases that counted. After all, how many people do you know who have grown Kentucky Wonder beans? (I think that’s what they were called. That was a lot of years ago.) This variety had a beautiful purple bean. I don’t remember that the flavor impressed me, but the rich color did.

Or how about the years we grew gold potatoes? They are more common now, but were a rarity back then. They were pretty to look at and tasted great.

One year we grew a plot of kale because it is supposed to be healthy. You’ll note we grew it one year and only one year. That should tell you what we thought of it.

Then there was the disaster with Brussels sprouts. No matter what we tried, we couldn’t keep the bugs away. We lost about 90% of the crop.

Image by Hans Benn from Pixabay

Remember the straw flowers I mentioned at the beginning of the post? We had a bumper crop. I sold bunches at a craft fair, made Christmas presents for my large family, and had plenty left over. The decorations I made with them lasted more than a decade.

Are any of these purchases unusual? Taken one by one, no. But there aren’t many people who have the space to experiment with different plants. Most people who garden grow the same thing year after year. And yes, we had crops we grew every year, but we also were lucky enough to be able to experiment.

So, that’s my most unusual purchase (or purchases.) What was yours? While you share in the comments, i’m going to hop on over and see what the other authors have bought.

April 29, 2019

What’s the most unusual expense you’ve had?

https://fresh.inlinkz.com/p/37bb083154fb47689e7e57a307eff0b6

Is It Spring Yet? #Openbook Blog Hop

By P.J. MacLayne April 22, 2019 April 22, 2019 Open Book

April 22, 2019

Many of us wax poetic at the end of winter and the return of spring. Let’s swap that around. What’s the one thing about spring that you can’t stand?

The chirping robins in the almost-green yard. The brightly colored daffodils gracing the front of the house. The soft suggestion of leaves peeking forth on the otherwise barren trees. The bipolar weather.

And bingo, we have a winner. I love winter, but this back-and-forth weather is seriously making me crazy. We had two bomb cyclones this spring and I’ve never heard the term before this! A balmy 65 degrees one day and snow the next?

I started the slow process of acclimating my geraniums to the out-of-doors and unfiltered sunlight this weekend when it was 70°. (I have one plant that is over a decade old!) Of course, with the possibility of light snow tonight and tomorrow, the process has been delayed. The flowers will live in my windows for a while longer.

This isn’t the old plant, but it’s blooming so I thought I’d share it.

What bothers me more is the apple blooms on the tree in the front yard. They are just beginning to form. I’m afraid the cold snap will kill them off before they have a chance to grace the world with their beauty, and there’s nothing I can do to save them.

What I’d like is a nice, even uphill slide from winter to summer. I know that’s not going to happen, so I’ll deal with whatever Mother Nature hands out.

Is there something about spring that you hate? Feel free to vent in the comments! While you think about it, I’m going to head over and see what the other authors dislike.

April 22, 2019

Many of us wax poetic at the end of winter and the return of spring. Let’s swap that around. What’s the one thing about spring that you can’t stand?

Category: Open Book