Stories and Secrets: October 2007
By JT Ellison
May 9th, 2006.
It was a lovely spring afternoon, and my parents were visiting as they drove across country on their bi-annual trip between houses. We were watching A History of Violence, and I remember squirming with the slightest bit of embarrassment because we were at the cheerleader scene. Definitely the movie to watch with your parents, I’m telling you. So when the phone rang, I was relieved, it meant we could hit pause. I looked at the television screen right before the caller ID, Viggo’s head had juuuuuuust disappeared, and I was mentally cursing my ability to hit the pause button at precisely the worst moment when I glanced at the caller ID screen and saw the 212 area code.
atpg_cover_lg.jpg
Cue heart pounding.
Cue exceptionally bad word, starting with F and ending in me. “F*&# me, it’s Scott,” I said, with the utmost delicacy. Hey, I am a crime fiction writer, after all.
May 9th, 2006.
It was a lovely spring afternoon, and my parents were visiting as they drove across country on their bi-annual trip between houses. We were watching A History of Violence, and I remember squirming with the slightest bit of embarrassment because we were at the cheerleader scene. Definitely the movie to watch with your parents, I’m telling you. So when the phone rang, I was relieved, it meant we could hit pause. I looked at the television screen right before the caller ID, Viggo’s head had juuuuuuust disappeared, and I was mentally cursing my ability to hit the pause button at precisely the worst moment when I glanced at the caller ID screen and saw the 212 area code.
atpg_cover_lg.jpg
Cue heart pounding.
Cue exceptionally bad word, starting with F and ending in me. “F*&# me, it’s Scott,” I said, with the utmost delicacy. Hey, I am a crime fiction writer, after all.
Continue reading My First Sale Story.
By Kasey MichaelsI had my 'debut' a long time ago -- a long, long time ago. 1982, to be exact. But that was my "small Regency novel ala Georgette Heyer debut." A few years later I made my "category contemporary romance novel debut." A decade later I made my "single title historical novel debut," followed the very next year by my "single title contemporary novel debut." Six years ago I made my "mystery series debut."
For anyone who's counting, that's
twenty-six years and five "debuts." Three starred PW reviews, and the
first of a new historical series was named one of the "best 100 novels
of 2006," also from PW (I'd tell you what that sort of thing "counts"
for in
the real world, but I don't want to be entirely depressing here). Oh, and 100+ novels. What can I say? I don't get out much ...
the real world, but I don't want to be entirely depressing here). Oh, and 100+ novels. What can I say? I don't get out much ...
Continue reading My Five Debuts.
By Julie Kramer
First, deadlines didn't scare me.
Second, interviewing hundreds of people, often on the best or worst days of their lives, helped me develop an ear for dialogue.
Third, research was second nature.
Fourth, I learned to type fast.
Fifth, news encourages tight, focused writing.
Sixth, I'd covered such a variety of events and people, that no plot or character from my imagination seemed over the top.
I've spent my career as a television news producer, doing
investigative stories, field work, live shots and newscasts. Often I'd
complain how much easier my work would be if I didn't have to stick
with the facts. So when I tried writing fiction, what a surprise to
hear me complain how much easier my work would be if only I had some
facts.
My point is, fiction is harder than it looks. For those of us geared in
reality, making stuff up can feel like cheating. Once I worked through
that issue, I found my news skills to be an excellent foundation for
fiction.
First, deadlines didn't scare me.
Second, interviewing hundreds of people, often on the best or worst days of their lives, helped me develop an ear for dialogue.
Third, research was second nature.
Fourth, I learned to type fast.
Fifth, news encourages tight, focused writing.
Sixth, I'd covered such a variety of events and people, that no plot or character from my imagination seemed over the top.
Continue reading From Journalist to Novelist.
By JT Ellison
May 9th, 2006.
It was a lovely spring afternoon, and my parents were visiting as they drove across country on their bi-annual trip between houses. We were watching A History of Violence, and I remember squirming with the slightest bit of embarrassment because we were at the cheerleader scene. Definitely the movie to watch with your parents, I’m telling you. So when the phone rang, I was relieved, it meant we could hit pause. I looked at the television screen right before the caller ID, Viggo’s head had juuuuuuust disappeared, and I was mentally cursing my ability to hit the pause button at precisely the worst moment when I glanced at the caller ID screen and saw the 212 area code.
atpg_cover_lg.jpg
Cue heart pounding.
Cue exceptionally bad word, starting with F and ending in me. “F*&# me, it’s Scott,” I said, with the utmost delicacy. Hey, I am a crime fiction writer, after all.
May 9th, 2006.
It was a lovely spring afternoon, and my parents were visiting as they drove across country on their bi-annual trip between houses. We were watching A History of Violence, and I remember squirming with the slightest bit of embarrassment because we were at the cheerleader scene. Definitely the movie to watch with your parents, I’m telling you. So when the phone rang, I was relieved, it meant we could hit pause. I looked at the television screen right before the caller ID, Viggo’s head had juuuuuuust disappeared, and I was mentally cursing my ability to hit the pause button at precisely the worst moment when I glanced at the caller ID screen and saw the 212 area code.
atpg_cover_lg.jpg
Cue heart pounding.
Cue exceptionally bad word, starting with F and ending in me. “F*&# me, it’s Scott,” I said, with the utmost delicacy. Hey, I am a crime fiction writer, after all.
Continue reading My First Sale Story.
By Kasey MichaelsI had my 'debut' a long time ago -- a long, long time ago. 1982, to be exact. But that was my "small Regency novel ala Georgette Heyer debut." A few years later I made my "category contemporary romance novel debut." A decade later I made my "single title historical novel debut," followed the very next year by my "single title contemporary novel debut." Six years ago I made my "mystery series debut."
For anyone who's counting, that's
twenty-six years and five "debuts." Three starred PW reviews, and the
first of a new historical series was named one of the "best 100 novels
of 2006," also from PW (I'd tell you what that sort of thing "counts"
for in
the real world, but I don't want to be entirely depressing here). Oh, and 100+ novels. What can I say? I don't get out much ...
the real world, but I don't want to be entirely depressing here). Oh, and 100+ novels. What can I say? I don't get out much ...
Continue reading My Five Debuts.
By Julie Kramer
First, deadlines didn't scare me.
Second, interviewing hundreds of people, often on the best or worst days of their lives, helped me develop an ear for dialogue.
Third, research was second nature.
Fourth, I learned to type fast.
Fifth, news encourages tight, focused writing.
Sixth, I'd covered such a variety of events and people, that no plot or character from my imagination seemed over the top.
I've spent my career as a television news producer, doing
investigative stories, field work, live shots and newscasts. Often I'd
complain how much easier my work would be if I didn't have to stick
with the facts. So when I tried writing fiction, what a surprise to
hear me complain how much easier my work would be if only I had some
facts.
My point is, fiction is harder than it looks. For those of us geared in
reality, making stuff up can feel like cheating. Once I worked through
that issue, I found my news skills to be an excellent foundation for
fiction.
First, deadlines didn't scare me.
Second, interviewing hundreds of people, often on the best or worst days of their lives, helped me develop an ear for dialogue.
Third, research was second nature.
Fourth, I learned to type fast.
Fifth, news encourages tight, focused writing.
Sixth, I'd covered such a variety of events and people, that no plot or character from my imagination seemed over the top.
Continue reading From Journalist to Novelist.
