Adding Local Flavor #OpenBook Blog Hop

  By Open Book

Dec 12, 2022

Tell us about something local to where you live. Have you ever made it part of your stories?

I use local scenery in my stories all the time. While the world my characters live in may be a figment of my imagination, the geography that they interact with is often real-world. A great example of this is the library where my character Harmony Duprie spends much of her time.

I’ve mentioned it before. It’s one of the Carnegie libraries, and based on the library in the town where I grew up. They aren’t exact matches, but close enough to count. It’s featured in most of the Harmony Duprie Mysteries. Make sense, since Harmony was a librarian there.

 

That’s not the only building I’ve used. My aunt and uncle owned a large Victorian-era house, and they rented the third floor to a lady. And there’s my inspiration for Harmony’s apartment. The area has plenty of true Victorian homes, and it was logical to include them when ‘building’ Oak Grove, the fictional city in the books.

I’ve had to eliminate some local lingo from my writing. Words that are part of everyday speech but not well-known outside of the area. (Check out this link if you’re interested – Pittsburghese )

One or two words may sneak in, but I work hard to replace them with standard US words. (when I spot them!)

I guess I should mention the one book that doesn’t take place in Western Pennsylvania/Ohio. Wolves’ Gambit was meant to start in Wyoming and move back east, but the move never happened. So, I sprinkled the story with references to that state, where there are more cattle than people. (A great place for wolf shifters to hang out.) evil’s Tower, Yellowstone, Gillette, Casper. I tried to work in Meeteetse and Chugwater, but they didn’t work out. Neither did Buford, a dot on the map that had a population of 1 for awhile. But I did mention tumbleweed!

That’s how I get local references into my stories. It’ll be interesting to see how the other authors do it. I’ll be checking out their posts by following the links below.

As always, until next time, please stay safe.

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

 

Dec 12, 2022

Tell us about something local to where you live. Have you ever made it part of your stories?

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.

 

 

Catching Up on Goals #IWSG

  By 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!

December 7 question – It’s holiday time! Are the holidays a time to catch up or fall behind on writer goals?

The awesome co-hosts for the December 7 posting of the IWSG are Joylene Nowell Butler, Chemist Ken, Natalie Aguirre, Nancy Gideon, and Cathrina Constantine!

I retired from my day job this past summer, and am slowly discovering the joys of not having deadlines—at least, not many of them. There are still bills to pay and doctors’ appointments to keep, but I can arrange my life so I don’t have to worry about three conflicting deadlines all on the same day. Shoot, sometimes my biggest concern is what day I’m going to the grocery store!

But I finished my first draft of my WIP last night, (The Redemption of Jake Hennessey) so now it’s time to consider some self-imposed goals. There’s a con I’ve been accepted to as a vender next June, and I’d like to have the book edited and ready to go by then. That’s six months away, but a lot of work has to happen between now and then.

Thankfully, I don’t have any catching up to do. Yes, I’ve been in the position where I used the holidays to catch up on my writing, but I no longer have to do that. If I can get a chapter a day edited, I’ll be ahead. It’s an amazing feeling. (and yes, I know I should let the story sit for a week or two before I start editing, but I won’t.)

I suspect most of the folks on this hop don’t enjoy the same benefit as I am enjoying. To find out if they write over the holidays, don’t forget to check out the posts below.

As always, until next time, please stay safe.

Going on a Binge #OpenBook Blog Hop

  By IWSG, Open Book

Dec 5, 2022

What TV show/or Movie, or book do you binge/return to/ re-watch the most?

If you’ve hung out here for any amount of time, you already know I don’t watch TV. Oh, I might stop and watch a few minutes of the news or whatever my husband is watching, but I rarely plan time to watch any show. Last time I did was over five years ago. 

Books are a different story. In the past few years, I’ve moved my go-to gift item from jewelry to books. (And since I retired, I rarely wear jewelry.) 

But I’m allowed to make exceptions, right? I stumbled across the now-ended series ‘Lucifer’. It seemed like fun. Best part was, I didn’t have to wait week after week for the next episode or the next season. It was all neatly wrapped up and waiting on Netflix. (I have to remember to close that account now!) So, I watched it. Sometimes three of four episodes in a day. It was my reward to me for making it through all the hard work and stress that came with moving halfway across the country. 

I haven’t picked up any new shows to watch. I got it out of my system.

I haven’t gotten binging on books out of my system. Hopefully, I never will. My latest binge was a dozen books in the Stephanie Plum series (and a few offshoots.) That put me up to book twenty-two of the series. Now, I’m taking a break, spending spare time on holiday preparations. (And binging on editing The Redemption of Jake Hennessey. I’ve never had the luxury of focusing on editing on of my books before because my day job required most of my attention.) 

What book/ series do I return to the most? At the moment, none. My taste in authors is changing. Or maybe it’s because so many authors have allowed their series to stretch out too long and the books come off as rehashing the same story. I’m more interested in discovering new (to me, at least) authors. (That goes for me, too. It’s time to start writing a new series of books.)

And I keep promising myself that I will read at least one book from each of the authors who contribute on regularly to this hop. I’m trying to develop new habits and make better use of my abundance of free time. The internet is a wonderful and terrible way to waste that time.

Do you have any suggestions that I should add to my to-be-read list? Leave them in the comments, please. 

Don’t forget to check out what the other authors on this hop are watching/reading by following the links below.

And, as always, until next time, please stay safe.

Dec 5, 2022

What TV show/or Movie, or book do you binge/return to/ re-watch the most?

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.

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

 

Mixing The True and False #OpenBook Blog Hop

  By Open Book

 

Nov 28, 2022

Do you use real or fictional cities in your writing? How do you incorporate them into the story?

There is a town called Oak Grove in Indiana, but it’s not my Oak Grove. I’ve never been there, but I was close. We were taking a shortcut between here and there, stopped at a gas station, and came across the town’s little newspaper. I still have it somewhere.

My fictional Oak Grove sits near the border of Pennsylvania and Ohio, north of Pittsburgh. I’ve kept its location a secret so that I can play with the differing laws and law enforcement structure between the two states. I’m writing fiction—so I can get away with it.

But Oak Grove, the home of Harmony Duprie, is based on several real small towns. As I wrote the second book in the series, I realized it was as much of a character in the story as the people, and tried to show that by focusing on events and people that shape the city. The small towns I’ve lived in for much of my life were the base for how Oak Grove developed.

In building the world around Oak Grove, I mixed in larger, actual cities to give readers a geographic reference. Pittsburgh. Cleveland. Washington D.C. Places I’ve visited so I don’t feel I’m making them up. (and the internet is a marvelous source of maps and images.) My Oak Grove boasts a marvelous Carnegie Library, but as is true in many small towns, the residents may have to travel to a bigger city for shopping or specialized health visits. Of course, these days, some of those issues are resolved thanks to on-line shopping and telehealth.

My urban fantasies are different. Because my wolf-shifters don’t want people to know where they are living, I made their location purposefully vague. I have a general location, and that’s it. The only time I identify a city is when they travel far from their home. (Easter egg: There are some crossover references to the characters from the Free Wolves series in the Harmony Duprie Mysteries. Yes, I realize they attract different types of readers, but I had fun doing it.)

I’m looking forward to seeing how the other authors on this hop answer this question. Can you use real cities in a story set in outer space? (I’m looking at you, Richard!) Just follow the links below to find out with me.

As always, until next time, please stay safe.

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Nov 28, 2022

Do you use real or fictional cities in your writing? How do you incorporate them into the story?

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.

 

Team Dog Or Cat? Which Side Are You On? #Openbook Blog Hop

  By Open Book

Nov 21, 2022

Big internet fight: Are you team cat or team dog? (or something else?)

Can I just be the person who referees this one? I refuse to take sides. Over the years, we’ve had dogs, cats, birds, and fish. None of them were my favorite. (I can eliminate birds as my favorite. I hated to see them caged, and hated worse constantly cleaning up after them.)

We don’t have any pets at the moment and I’m not in a hurry to get one. I still don’t feel totally moved into our new place. If I had to choose, I’d get a cat—probably several of them. They are more suited to my personality. Or maybe it’s the other way around. Sometimes playful, sometimes snuggly, sometimes just wanting to ignore the world and curl up and take a nap. All the long hair can be a pain to clean up, but it helps to keep it in a ponytail, and I don’t think a cat would mind. Gives them an extra toy to bat around.

So, I’ll just sit over here in my spot on the couch and watch the other authors on this hop figure it out. Or maybe I’ll take a nap instead.

As always, until next time, please stay safe. 

Big internet fight: Are you team cat or team dog? (or something else?)

 

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

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.

 

 

Telling It Softly With Your Words #OpenBook Blog Hop

  By Open Book

Nov 14, 2022

How do you deal with negative feedback? Do you have tips for critiquing other writers’ work?

We all love those positive reviews. You know, those 5 stars that sing our praises. The words of encouragement from a beta reader or early critique that tells us how wonderful our draft is. We also know that sometimes the words aren’t so kind.

I’m lucky because the high school I attended pushed us to write essays and introduced us to the art of making revisions. As they were schoolwork, not personal writing, I didn’t feel a huge sense of ownership, and the changes the instructors requested were part of a grade, not a reflection on my writing.

So, when I first joined a critique group, the idea of revisions didn’t upset me. It was all part of the learning process—I was a novice and ready to learn from those with more experience. Luckily, it was a supportive group, with everyone helping everyone.

It’s not always like that. I’ve been in a group with a person who seemed to get a certain level of satisfaction at tearing down other authors, including me. It took me several meetings to figure out what they were doing.

How do I deal with that kind of person? Once I figure them out, I treat them with courtesy, but don’t take their criticisms to heart. However, I search for a kernel of truth in the critiques I receive. But I also try to remember that you can’t please all the people all the time. Still, it’s not all sunshine and roses—I have received feedback that stung deeply and took some self-reflection to get past.

I also try to avoid being one of those people. How do I do that? 

The most important thing I strive for in a critique is to point out the good as well as what needs improved. Does a particular phrase stand out? Does a plot point surprise me? A character seem to resonate? Let the author know. If I can’t find something good to say, I’d rather say nothing at all.

It’s the balance that’s important. When I’m critiquing, I make it my goal to encourage, and mentor, not criticize. Yes, I will note things that can be improved, but I try to do it in a way that it builds up the writer.

How do the other authors on this hop feel about negative feedback? find out by following the link below.

As always, until next time, please stay safe.

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Nov 14, 2022

How do you deal with negative feedback? Do you have tips for critiquing other writers’ work?

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.

Texting While Writing #OpenBook Blog Hop #Grammar

  By Open Book

Nov 7, 2022

There don’t seem to be any universal rules for indicating texting in books and short stories. How do you handle it?

I’ve looked for the rules, and everyone is like me- we’re winging it. I’ve experimented with several ways of showing text messages in my stories. Here are the two variants I’ve used:

Annabelle had texted me back. “*#&* Broke down near Clarksburg. You?”
“Rest stop near the border. Jake and three more.”
“That’s one too many.”

from The Baron’s Cufflinks

Here’s the second version:

All three of our cell phones buzzed in succession. I got to the text first, a group message from Eli.
Big Steelers game tonight. The roads are a disaster. I’ll find a hotel to hole up in. See you tomorrow.
My phone buzzed again with a second text.
I’ll call you when I get settled. Love you. I hoped that hadn’t gone to the guys, too. But they were putting their phones away, so it came to only me.
Be safe. I texted back. Love you too.
“You guys want to help me put the food away?” I asked, pushing myself out of the chair. I needed to stay awake until Eli’s call.
Lando stuffed his phone into his pocket. “Sure, if you help us kill off some zombies afterward.”

from The Contessa’s Brooch

In both versions, I’ve indicated the use of text messages by the characters. I also used italics in both, but in one I used quotation marks. I’m torn about which is better.

The first one, with the quotation marks, is a better indicator of the idea that a conversation is taking place. It’s the same thing as talking to someone, but doing it with a modern version of passing notes in class. The second style, with no quotation marks, looks ‘cleaner’ to my eyes.

I’ve seen some authors use standard style letters for texts, which makes sense if you consider it a form of conversation. It’s a matter of making it clear to the reader how the communication is happening.

That’s why I mostly stick to the italics and quotation marks style. I’d love to hear what you think- tell me in the comments. You can find out how the other authors on this hop show text messages by following the links below.

And, as always, please stay safe until next time.

Nov 7, 2022

There don’t seem to be any universal rules for indicating texting in books and short stories. How do you handle it?

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.

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter


Happy NaNoWriMo! #IWSG

  By 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!November 2’s optional question – November is National Novel Writing Month. Have you ever participated? If not, why not?

 

The awesome co-hosts for the November 2 posting of the IWSG are Diedre Knight,Douglas Thomas Greening,Nick Wilford, and Diane Burton!

I first took part in National Novel Writer’s month back in 2011- maybe? It was my second attempt at writing a book and I got to 49,000 words and ran out of story. (The goal is 50,000 words.) I did go back after the month was over and edit the story to try to get more words, and make it a better story. I even rewrote it in a different tense and then switched it back again. But I eventually realized the story was too derivative of someone else’s work and gave it up.

That story also hooked me on writing novels. I’d been writing poetry up to that point, and the new form let loose a flood of creativity.

That wasn’t my only attempt. I have ‘won’ a couple of years. And I’ve gotten a couple of decent stories out of it. There have been others that were backburnered because they didn’t satisfy me, but they were good practice.

NaNo is not for everyone. It’s a lot of work-writing that many words can be stressful. You have to turn off your inner editor and let the words speak for themselves. It can also be a lot of fun, watching your story take shape every day.

I’m not participating this year because I’m 50,000+ words into my current WIP and I don’t want to stop and lose my flow. (At 48,000 words, the story took a twist I wasn’t expecting and I’m enjoying where it’s leading me.)

So for those of you trying to meet the 50,000 word goal this year, good luck and congratulations!

Don’t forget to checkout some of the other entries in this blog hop by following the links below.

And, until next time, please stay safe!

 
 

Talking To People Who Aren’t There #OpenBook Blog Hop

  By Open Book

 

October 31, 2022

Do you do podcasts? Either as the host or as a guest? How do you prepare for them?

It’s perfect timing for this topic! I didn’t plan it this way, I swear I didn’t!

Check out the link below. It’s to the interview I did with SapphireJBlue a week ago. (The link just dropped today.)

Jeanette SapphireJblue Best Charrette on Instagram: “The Barron’s Cufflinks by Author PJ MacLayne”

It isn’t the first interview I’ve done with Jeanette. We are working our way through the Harmony Duprie Mysteries, and have talked about Wolves’ Pawn. We’ll be chatting again on November 8th, and I suspect we’ll be dissecting The Contessa’s Brooch.

I’ve done other podcasts and have enjoyed all of them. Each host is different and the subjects may vary. Whether it’s talking about one specific book or writing in general, with one host or a panel, I love the exchange of ideas.

Preparation for a podcast can be as simple as re-reading one of my books, or as complicated as researching the difficulties women authors face trying to be published in certain genres. There’s also technical and physical considerations. I always look around my workspace to make sure nothing is in sight that I don’t want to share with the world, and that all of my books are within easy reach. I check to ensure my camera is aimed where I want it. One thing I learned through technical problems is that Instagram only works on my phone-my tablet will allow for audio but not video, no matter what settings I use.

Some people are uncomfortable talking to a camera. Not me. Once the technical aspects are working, I ignore them and focus on the face or faces at the other end of the connection. I gained a lot of experience doing that for my day job through the Covid years.

I’ve considered starting my own podcast. Now that I’ve retired from my day job, I have the time. I’ve also got a comfy writing space I could use without interfering with my family’s daily life. The idea is still on the backburner and I don’t promise it’ll ever happen. I need to figure out an angle to make it stand out. I could start with interviews with the other authors in this hop.

By the way, if anyone reading this hosts a podcast and has an opening, I’d love to connect! 

You can find out how the other authors on this hop feel about podcasts by following the links below.

As always, until next time, please stay safe.

October 31, 2022

Do you do podcasts? Either as the host or as a guest? How do you prepare for them?

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.

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

 

Learning For The Love Of It #OpenBook Blog Hop

  By Open Book

October 24, 2022

If you could take a free class at a university, what course would you take?

There are many states in the US that offer free college courses to senior citizens. I always thought that was a neat bonus to growing old. Well, I’m there, age wise, and I’m also in one of those states. Now, I have to wait to be here for a full year to be eligible for the program, but that time will pass quickly. (I will have to buy books and man, they are expensive these days.)

But I have a dilemma. Do I want to tie myself down to classes again? I’m enjoying this whole ‘no schedule’ lifestyle. Or rather, a limited schedule. It’s ‘freeing’ not to worry about what time I get up or go to bed, changing what chores I will tackle any day on a whim, not taking my laptop with me everywhere I go because I might get called into work. (That was a hard habit to break!)

But if I decide to pick up a class or two or three, what class would I take? There are lots of options, many of them strictly on-line. It would have to be something I’m curious about. Or perhaps even passionate.

So, I flipped through some college catalogs, to find what i was looking for.

History courses could be fun, especially as I’ve lived through events that now appear in textbooks. To my surprise, English and writing courses don’t appeal to me like I thought they would. Maybe I’m afraid they’d cramp my style. But what would I consider tackling?

Back in the before years, my first choice of a college degree program was library science. I’ve worked in libraries, I’ve featured libraries in my stories—how much fun would it be to go back and complete my degree? Of course, everything has changed, including me, and it seems the classes that I’d need to take are on topics I can relate to. Perhaps it’s one of those ‘the more things change, the more they stay the same’ occurrences.

I won’t pick any specific class. I have an entire program of classes to consider and the rest of my life to take them.

What subject would you pick if you were granted a free university class? Share in the comments if you like. And don’t forget to check out the other authors on this hop and find out what they want to try.

As always, until next time, please stay safe.

October 24, 2022

If you could take a free class at a university, what course would you take?

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.

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter