April 5, 2021
What’s the craziest thing you’ve ever done in the name of research?
I won’t put you at risk by listing some of the shady websites I’ve visited. Or send you down the deep holes of the dark side of the internet. Or bring you to tears by linking to the saddest videos i’ve watched in the name of research. That’s right, most of my current research is done on the internet. I’ve taken a lot of risks in my lifetime, and now I’m playing it safe. Mostly.
I’ve had a few adventures on my lifetime. Like dangling from a cliff while practicing mountain climbing rescue techniques. That was about four months after getting a concussion and broken collarbone in a bicycle accident. Ot the time I was approached by what I suspect was a sex trafficker while waiting to change busses in the Cleveland bus terminal. Obviously, young and innocent me was smart enough not to fall for the bullshit he was telling me.
I haven’t used either experience in any of my stories. Maybe one day.
I’ve also spent hours watching videos on self-defense techniques and driving stunts. Some of those have earned a place in the Harmony Duprie Mysteries. I would never dare attempt Harmony’s favorite maneuver, a Bootlegger’s 180, especially in my Jeep. Check out this video. It’s safe. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C-voVITL-4I
Here’s Harmony’s take on it from The Ranger’s Dog Tags. (Coming April 22nd) She normally only attempts it on empty country roads. She breaks the rules in this clip:
Vanessa sucked in a breath as we blew past a string of cars in the right lane. “Slow down. I’m not wired. There’s a tracker app on my phone. That’s all.”
I didn’t ease off the pedal. “Who has access to it?”
“My boss.”
“And?”
“Richon.”
“And?” I glanced at her. Under her Florida tan, her face had paled. I pushed Dolores to go faster. “And?”
“Putnam and his agency. Will you slow the fuck down?”
I did better. It was a gift from the heavens. A spot with no traffic. And a paved strip between the two sides of the interstate for law enforcement use only.
I slammed on the brakes—
Feathered the clutch—
Shifted down—
Cranked the steering wheel—
I ended up facing the opposite direction. The perfect bootlegger’s 180. My favorite maneuver.
Oh, and Harmony’s penchant for visiting less-than-upscale bars in the name of undercover research? Yeah, I may have lived that experience. Not the undercover part, but the visiting the bars part. Heck, once the hubby and me, for an adventure, stopped at a girly bar while on a road trip. They wanted to charge him the entrance fee and let me in free. And even though I was fully dressed, I was getting more eyeballs on me than the nearly-naked girl on the stage. We didn’t stay. We’ve also had drinks at the bar where Eileen Wuornos, the first well-known American female serial killer, had hung out before her arrest.
But I will take credit for Harmony’s interest in self-defense techniques. Although I’ve never taken more than a few very basic courses, I’ve had a fascination in the martial arts since high school. Anyone remember the 1970s TV show Kung Fu? That’s where my interest started.
These days I’m happy sticking to my computer screen. But that might not be true for the other authors on this hop. To find out what they are sharing, follow the links below,
And, until next time, please stay safe!
Dear readers: I know the format of this post is weird. I haven’t been able to figure out what’s different from every other post. Please bear with me, while I try to fix it…or until I give up on it and hope it doesn’t repeat on my next post!
April 5, 2021
What’s the craziest thing you’ve ever done in the name of research?
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.
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.
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!
I’m going to switch things up. Instead of a person, I’m going with an event. I’d like to spend a day or two at Woodstock. Listen to the music, dance, make new friends. Embrace the vibe and find out what really went on. No movie or collection of songs or interview with someone who was there can convey the total experience.
