Blog-Mountain Musings - P.J. MacLayne

Whose Story Is It, Anyway? #OpenBook Blog Hop

By P.J. MacLayne March 21, 2021 March 21, 2021 Open Book

March 22, 2021
Whose perspective do you like to write from best, the hero (protagonist) or the villain (antagonist)? Why?

As she drifted back to sleep, another burst of explosions and light brought her to an upright position. She reached over and raised the blinds so she could peer out the window. The red-orange glow that colored the night sky had nothing to do with a celebration or the rising of the morning sun. The months she served overseas rushed back to her.

It took every ounce of Lori’s self-control to fight back the instinct to shift and join the battle. Fully awake now, she realized the long truce between the Jaegers and the Destins had ended. Whose side was she on? from Wolves’ Gambit

If you’ve read any of my published books, you know that I write from the protagonist’s view. I identify with the good guy. What may not be clear is that I sometimes identify with the antagonist. Not the villain, necessarily, but I enjoy seeing things through the eyes of the bad guy. It helps me understand their motivation.

And then there’s Jake from The Harmony Duprie Mysteries. He was supposed to be a throwaway character, only mentioned in The Marquesa’s Necklace, the first book in the series. Then he took over the second book, Her Ladyship’s Ring. I hadn’t planned on that. He continued to make appearances in the subsequent stories. I saw him as Harmony’s alter-ego, but never understood what was behind his bad-boy facade. He wouldn’t “tell” me.

That changed a few months ago, when he allowed me to peek behind the curtain and gave me a glimpse of who he really is. A villain to be sure, but one with ethics. He’ll take money from a drunk guest at a wedding, but won’t consider stealing the bride’s jewelry. He’ll take jewelry from a wealthy woman’s home, but makes sure he locks the door when he leaves. Here’s an unedited snippet:

At the end of the evening, he ended up with an unneeded invitation to join the second cousin at an after-hours bar, a silver ring in his pocket, and a high-quality pearl necklace in his shoe. Not heritage jewelry, but not bought in the last two years, either. All it took was offering to help the lady in question slip on her sweater when a chilly breeze blew in off the lake and didn’t matter if he broke the thin chains. The gold would get melted down for scrap at one pawn shop and the pearls sold individually at several others. Not a big take, but it scratched the itch. The gold and ruby tie tack he lifted from the cousin’s best friend was a bonus. Not bad for a week’s work. From Jake’s Story (working title)

I’ve had a lot of fun with Jake in this story. Even if I don’t know what I’m going with it, I feel privileged to have been invited in behind the doors he keeps closed to everyone else. I’ve also joked that I’d make an excellent villain if I hadn’t chosen to be on the side of good, and Jake has allowed me to explore that. Perhaps he’s my alter-ego?

Back to the question-which do I prefer to write? I can’t answer. It changes from story to story, depending on what that story needs. At least I’m not confined to one or the other. What I am sure of is that an antagonist is necessary to make the story interesting.

What about the other authors on this hop? I can see a few of them writing from the villain’s point of view. Let’s find out by following the links below.

And, until next time, please stay safe.

March 22, 2021
Whose perspective do you like to write from best, the hero (protagonist) or the villain (antagonist)? Why?

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.

Finally! Road Trip! #OpenBook Blog Hop

By P.J. MacLayne March 14, 2021 March 14, 2021 Uncategorized

March 15, 2021

You’re going on a road trip: where are you headed? With who? What are your snacks? Music? Plans?

It’s been too long. And we all know why. Weekend road trips were one of the things we enjoyed previously. Just short trips to explore close to home. But it looks like things will loosen up soon and we maybe able to consider a quick trip soon.

Where to go? There are so many places we’d like to visit that this post could get far too long. So, I’ll try to contain myself.

For a warm-up trip, we’ll head up to Walden, Co. We haven’t been there since the shutdown and the last year’s forest fires. I need to see what survived and what didn’t, since so many of my favorite landscapes were in the path of destruction. Plus, I wonder how many of the small business in town have stayed open. (At least one of them has changed hands.) Follow that with a trip to Estes Park. Problem with that is our favorite place to stay was sold and is under new ownership, and we’re looking for a new base camp.

If we’re heading into the mountains, John Denver is going to be on my playlist, along with classic rock. Did you expect anything different? And munchies? I should be good and take dates and raisins. HA! More like peanut butter cups and some form of chocolate.

Now, let’s say we’ve got unlimited time. I’ll need a minimum of three or four weeks for this trip. First stop is to visit my mother in Pennsylvania. It’s been a couple of years since my last in-person visit. Then we’ll travel down to Florida to visit my daughter and her family. A trip that long will allow for a variety of music and unhealthy eating. (The entire trip will be 3000+ miles.)

Now, how about a fantasy trip? Head south, take I-70 west over the Rockies, figure out a route to get to HWY 101 just north of San Francisco, follow 101 north to Washington state, and come back through Montana. Take all the side trips we want, stop wherever we want., stay in one spot as long as we want. I can see the trip taking several months. We’d explore mountains reaching for the sky, redwoods that bridge the gap between the ground and the clouds, rocks tumbling into the ocean, sandy beaches that glisten in the sun. That’ll take several months. I can dream, right?

Let’s find out where everyone is dreaming of traveling to my following the links below. And, until next time, please stay safe.

March 15, 2021

You’re going on a road trip: where are you headed? With who? What are your snacks? Music? Plans?

Introducing: The Ranger’s Dog Tags

By P.J. MacLayne March 13, 2021 March 13, 2021 Uncategorized

Eli Hennessey has vanished.

His house in Oak Grove is in flames, his cell phone is out of commission, and friends in Florida can’t find him. It’s up to Harmony Duprie to track down her missing lover before her life shatters and his ends.

Harmony’s first discovery: Eli tricked her into signing paperwork putting her in charge of his company. Had he planned his disappearance?

The answers won’t be found in Oak Grove. Harmony hightails it to Florida in search of Eli and the truth.

I’m still trying to figure out the actual release date, but I couldn’t wait to share this with you!

Mastery of the One-Liner #OpenBook Blog Hop

By P.J. MacLayne March 7, 2021 March 7, 2021 Open Book

March 8, 2021

How often do you overhear an awesome one-liner or witty comeback, and tell yourself you need to write that down to use for one of your characters?

There was a time, pre-pandemic, when I used to listen in on other people’s conversations when we ate out. But that was in a different time and in a different world. Even than, it was rare to overhear a line worth remembering. Average people discuss average things. Bills, work, other people. I clearly eavesdrop on the wrong people.

It’s been over a year now since we’ve eaten at a restaurant. We’ve saved a lot on food in that year! Sure, we’ve done takeout, but I’m never in a position to listen in to someone else’s conversation.

But fear not, I have several sources for one-liners and cunning lines. Several of the people I’m friends with on Facebook take joy in posting jokes and witticisms. They are a ray of cheerfulness amid the weariness of political posts. And there are websites galore where you can look for today’s equivalent of coffeeshop chatter.

As much as I enjoy them, I rarely use one in my writing. They just don’t ‘fit.’ Or maybe it’s because I don’t want to copy someone else’s effort. It feels like stealing. It’s different than catching a good line when in public. Here’s one I saw today. Sure, it’s an ad, but that’s the kind of humor I appreciate.

May be an image of text that says 'Two antennas met on a roof, fell in love, and got married. The ceremony wasn't much, but the reception was excellent. grammarly'

And no, I can’t work that into one of my stories!

Do you want another one?

I caught my son chewing on electrical cords, so I had to ground him. He’s doing better currently, and now is conducting himself properly.

Okay, I’ll stop now. It’s too easy to get carried away. And neither of those are true one-liners, so please forgive me. But I wonder if the other authors have had the opportunity to ‘borrow’ a line from real life? Let’s clinck in the links below and find out.

And if you want to drop a one-liner in the comments, please do. Let’s make the world a less-serious place.

Until next time, please stay safe!

March 8, 2021

How often do you overhear an awesome one-liner or witty comeback, and tell yourself you need to write that down to use for one of your characters?

What’s My Favorite Genre? #IWSG

By P.J. MacLayne March 3, 2021 March 2, 2021 IWSG

March 3 question – Everyone has a favorite genre or genres to write. But what about your reading preferences? Do you read widely or only within the genre(s) you create stories for? What motivates your reading choice?
The awesome co-hosts for the March 3 posting of the IWSG are Sarah – The Faux Fountain Pen Jacqui Murray, Chemist Ken, Victoria Marie Lees, Natalie Aguirre, and JQ Rose!

Cereal boxes. Yes, I used to read whatever I could get my hands on, including cereal boxes. I was raised that it was impolite to read at the table, but no one complained about cereal boxes. So, I read them.

I don’t have that kind of time anymore, and I’ve become more selective in my reading. A book’s description has to stand out for me to add it to my TBR list. I’ll also read reviews. The star rating isn’t as important as what the reviewers say. If the book has a cliffhanger ending, I’ll probably pass.

One thing I avoid is reading books in the same genre I am writing. I don’t want my story and characters influenced by someone else’s work. I’ll wait and read that great-sounding mystery after I’ve finished writing mine.

What’s my favorite genre? I don’t think I have one. I’ll read just about anything. Remember those cereal boxes? I am less forgiving of poorly written books, and will set aside a story that doesn’t capture my attention much sooner than I used to.

Writing this post reminds me- I should take the time to read a mystery or two as I wrap up my final Harmony Duprie mystery. I’ve got the next project in my head, but I can indulge myself for a bit!

Check out some other authors on this hop. There’s a long list down below!

Until next time, please stay safe.

A Plot As Old As The Hills #OpenBook Blog Hop

By P.J. MacLayne February 28, 2021 February 28, 2021 Open Book

March 1,2021

Is ‘genre-bending’ and ‘genre hybrid’ a reality or a fallacy? Has plot changed since Shakespeare or the Bible?

Let’s talk about the Bible first. It’s got it all. It’s filled with stories of love and hate, treachery and loyalty, peace and war, failure and redemption. There are stories of birth and death, and what might have been the first beauty pageant.

Face it, human emotions are messy. No matter how hard we try, they interfere with everything we do. Is it possible to write a fiction book without them?

I would argue the answer is no. At the heart of it, conflict is what makes a story. So what if fantasy bleeds into science fiction? Does it advance the book? Then it’s fine. There’s a touch of an Amish plot in a mystery? Whatever. Because the genre isn’t the important part.

I tried to come up with one—just one—fiction book that doesn’t bleed from one genre to another and can’t. Even books that have non-human main characters use human-like emotions to further the storyline.

Let’s tackle the second half of the question. Has plot changed over all these years? I’ll go back to what I said earlier. At the heart of every story, you’ll find conflict. Whether it’s the Bible or Shakespeare, that’s what makes a story. And genres are just the window-dressing.

Let’s check out what everyone else has to say by following the links below. And, until next time, stay safe!

Is ‘genre-bending’ and ‘genre hybrid’ a reality or a fallacy? Has plot changed since Shakespeare or the Bible?

That Don’t Impress Me Much #OpenBook Blog Hop

By P.J. MacLayne February 21, 2021 February 21, 2021 Open Book

Feb 22, 2021

What does it take to impress you when you are reading someone else’s book?

First, thanks to Shania Twain and Robert John Lange for the title.

I’ve written here before about the mistakes that make me put down a book. Lots of misspelled words, grammatical errors, a boring storyline. So, what does it take to impress me?

Let’s start with the story. Please give me something fresh. Unlike many readers, I don’t want to know what the end will be before I finish the first chapter. I want to be strung along. Make me guess the ending. Give me an unexpected hero. How about an old lady who saves the day?

While we’re talking about the ending – please don’t disappoint me. If you’ve spent the entire book building up the female MC, having her learn self-defense and how to shoot a gun, let her rescue herself. Don’t have her lover rush in at the end to save her.

I love stumbling across a well-done book in a new (to me) sub-genre. Let’s say a modern interpretation of Greek mythology written as a love story, for example. Maybe a historical thriller, or a time-travel story that isn’t a romance. The first steampunk novel I read blew me away.

The problem with this is I can easily burn out the genre in no time flat. So, I might miss a really well-done book because I’ve read several mediocre ones in the same category, and they all start to blend together. Heck, once I attempted to read all the James Bond books and even that got tiresome.

I’m not against reading classics, either, although I don’t have the same thirst to read them as I used to. I find the style that many of them are written in no longer suits my preference in reading.

Back to the original question – what does it take to impress me? It’s a fresh approach, a new way of looking at a story. One an author has put effort into to make it feel polished without losing touch with the reader. The book needs to be crafted, not just thrown together. It’s hit or miss. I can love one book from an author and only be mildly pleased by another.

How about you? What does it take for a book to impress you? Let’s talk about it in the comments.

Don’t forget to check out the other authors on this hop and see what it takes to impress them. Just follow the links below,

And, until next time, please stay safe.

Feb 22, 2021

What does it take to impress you when you are reading someone else’s book?

And The Second Runner Up Is #OpenBook Blog Hop

By P.J. MacLayne February 14, 2021 February 14, 2021 Open Book

Feb 15, 2021

Did you ever get picked last in gym or some other class? Have you used that in your writing?

I was never one of the popular girls in school. Too introverted, too nerdy, too weird, I guess. I had my nose in a book most of the time.

But I had the advantage of being from a large family with older brothers. Along with the neighborhood boys who were the same age as them, I joined in playing backyard sports with them. Baseball, touch football, basketball, or whatever else was the flavor of the day. So, I wasn’t afraid to be aggressive when we played sports in gym class. Even if I didn’t have finesse, I wasn’t scared to get in the way of opposing players, and that earned me a defensive spot on a team every time. Still, I wasn’t the top choice either, leaving me with a sense of insecurity until my name was called. (Why were the popular girls always chosen to be the team leaders by the teachers?)

Have I used this in my writing? Not directly, but the experience may have flavored the backgrounds of a few of my characters. Take Tasha from Wolves’ Knight, for example. She’s always trying to prove herself and drive herself to become better. No one asks her do it, it stems from an internal need.

Her lungs screamed from the lack of oxygen, her eyes burned from the sweat streaming into them, and she could no longer feel her legs. She was past pain and moving from sheer force of will. But she wanted to go farther. Her goal was the meeting of the southern and western borders. And past that if she could hold on that long. From Wolves’ Knight

Was Tasha chosen last in gym class? I doubt it. But the strong males of the pack would have been chosen first, if they were in coed classes. And Tasha wasn’t the type to have been one of the popular kids. She was too serious for that to happen.

Lori from Wolves’ Gambit had it worse. She was the runt of the litter, and was left out of everything. As a result, she operates with a chip on her shoulder, but has learned to use her small size as a tool, rather than it being a disadvantage.

“So, what kind of shifter are you?” Turtle asked.

“Wolf.”

“No, really.”

“Wolf.” Lori shrugged. “Even in wolf form, I’m small, but that’s the way it is.”

“Then why can’t we smell or hear you?’

She moved away the mental blocks that kept her secure. “Try now.” From Wolves’ Gambit

I’ve always had a thing for the underdog, having been one, and that’s reflected in my stories. How about the other authors on this hop? We can find out by following the links below.

Until next time, please stay safe.

Feb 15, 2021

Did you ever get picked last in gym or some other class? Have you used that in your writing?

More Ideas Than Time #OpenBook Blog Hop

By P.J. MacLayne February 7, 2021 February 8, 2021 Open Book

Feb 8, 2021

Do you get story ideas that you know you’ll never write?

I took a nap this afternoon, and woke up from a dream about a Scottish lady returning to the Highlands after being held captive for many years, and deciding whether to go to war and seek revenge. There’s a book in there, but I probably won’t write it. I don’t know enough about the time period (in the way back days) or of Scotland to carry it off. Sure, I could change the location and the time, but then it wouldn’t have the same magic. And what genre would that fit in? Not romance, although I suppose it would be possible to wiggle a love story in there. I don’t see it as sword and sorcery, either.

I’ve got several ideas floating in my head attached to the Free Wolves series. Imagine a special unit of alpha wolves in the US military. They’ve got to find a channel for their aggression somewhere. Those stories would have their share of detailed sex, and I’m not ready to go there—yet. I still have to figure out the story of Counselor Carlson, who lives like a monk despite being the alpha of alphas. And Lori from Wolves’ Gambit has more adventures waiting to be told.

Have I mentioned that Jake from the Harmony Duprie Mysteries finally opened up to me? I thought I was done with the series. (Or will be as soon as I finish editing The Ranger’s Dog Tags and get it released.) What am I going to do with a prequel story written from the anti-hero’s point of view? Well, once I get done writing it. He’s getting impatient because I’m ignoring him and concentrating on Harmony’s last book.

Did I tell you the one about…okay, I’ll quit now. You get the picture. Ideas aren’t my issue. Well, they are because I don’t have enough time to write all of them. Or they aren’t right for me at the moment. I’m sure there are ideas I’ve had that I’ve forgotten. I’ve never made a habit of writing them down to come back to. There was one about a private eye on a cruise ship, chasing the bad guys over the hills of Italy….

Enough already! I need to quit while I’m ahead and go check out the other authors on this hop. Come with me by clicking on the links below.

Until next time, please stay safe.

Do you get story ideas that you know you’ll never write?

P.J. MacLayne

Whose Story Is It, Anyway? #OpenBook Blog Hop

Finally! Road Trip! #OpenBook Blog Hop

Introducing: The Ranger’s Dog Tags

Mastery of the One-Liner #OpenBook Blog Hop

What’s My Favorite Genre? #IWSG

A Plot As Old As The Hills #OpenBook Blog Hop

That Don’t Impress Me Much #OpenBook Blog Hop

And The Second Runner Up Is #OpenBook Blog Hop

More Ideas Than Time #OpenBook Blog Hop

More Than Sharing Stories #IWSG

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