D.K. Kerr's Blog

Gearing Up for Nanaowrimo, and The Art of Making New Friends

I bought the t-shirt. Thought that since this my fourth year as a participant, I deserved it.
Nanowrimo.org--the ultimate participation trophy. The only thing you have to do to "win" is write  50,000 words and it is pretty much all on the honor system. (Grinning slyly.)


I am furiously preparing for Nanowrimo along with millions of other writers across the world. It is a magical time where random people walk up to perfect strangers in coffee shops and libraries where a writing event is scheduled, and ask, "Are you Nanowrimo?" and have an instant rapport no matter age, gender, sexual orientation, or any other identifiers which I could list. I love it, love the conversation, the dedication, and the company. I found my peeps, my nerdy squad, and folks who love to talk about the weirdest things. We all pledge to clear each other's browser histories when we are on our death beds except my own descendants would just laugh, shake their heads, and say, "Just like mom to research how many ways someone can get killed with a can opener and a fly swatter." 
We start meeting for little writing workshops in October, talk more than write about plotting, characterization, and writing tools, begin our "elevator pitches," and then start outlining. Little actual writing gets done in October, but that's OK, because we put our noses to the grindstone in November. 50,000 words is the goal, and the focus is to tell the story.
As a senior citizen, it is a little harder to make new friends, but Nanowrimo changed my life as much as the park where I walk my dogs. I met two women, both significantly younger than I, and they have made the impact on my social life than I could ever expect. Thanks Misty and Kim! Misty is a help when I need it most...babysitting my dog children and day drinking, and Kim has my brain involved by including me in the best book club in my town. Yeah books! 
And my book club is reading Last Chance, Texas during November, which gives me a break so I can write. If you would like to read along with us, here is the link for the ebook: It will be only .99 for the month of November. I would love it if you would email any discussion questions here: 
dkkerr7@gmail.com.
    
      getbook.at/LastChanceTexas
Is anyone as excited about the new movie about Freddy Mercury as I am? And A Star is Born...good stuff.

Robert Plant and Living Out Loud, and Is There a Way I can Write about My Hairdryer?

My best pal, Jamie and I went to see the venerated singer, the iconic Robert Plant for the last time the Lubbock Auditorium will be used for any concerts as it is set to be torn down for dorms for Texas Tech Athletes, leaving no concert hall big enough to host operas, Broadway traveling troupes, or concerts. Because the athletic department. I. Can't. Even.

Mr. Plant is 70 years young, his pipes still amazing, and he can certainly attract fabulous talent to accompany him. It was a celebration for us all, as it marked the end of an era and the realization that rockers can't last forever. But during the concert the songs and comments Mr. Plant made about living in Texas and his ties to the woman who captured his heart made the experience much more personal. It was obvious to anyone who knew he'd left Austin and returned home to England, that the decision still cut deep. One of the songs he gestured to the crowd and entreated, "Baby come home." And I swear, I looked to see if Patty Griffin was trying to make her way down the aisle towards him. I know she had her reasons, but his pain seemed so visceral.

I wrote a song in the 90's about sitting on the porch waiting for him to come home at 3 o'clock in the morning, so I get it. And I also get the crushing disappointment when no one ever comes home. He made it perfectly clear to anyone who was listening he missed his woman.




Mr. Plant, I will always be a devoted fan even if I have never heard Stairway to Heaven live, and thank you for your music.  During moments I teared up and grabbed Jamie, and she was as verklempt as I.

On a side note, while I was getting ready to go to the concert and trying to figure out a way to hide the forty pounds I didn't have the last time I went to a Robert Plant concert, I picked up my hairdryer and as I used it, I could smell something burning and rattling around inside it. I turned it off, shook it until a brownish red and black smoking cockroach fell out in the bathroom sink. Instead of being disgusted, I wondered how this might be used in my writing.

Such is the life of an author.

Oh, and I spent the next 30 minutes spraying Raid around my house and holding my nose.

Maid of the Raven's Wood and Power Rock Ballads

For a short time, I have my fantasy book, Maid of the Raven's Wood ebook on sale for 99 Cents beginning September 20 through October. Obviously, I don't expect to make any money when I discount my books but the market is glutted with self-published books, and I am competing with a tight market. To be honest I would give the books away if people wanted to read them. I can every three months thanks to Amazon, and it is a blessing and a curse. (Refer to previous posts about self-publishing.)

At the moment, I can't be side-tracked by book sales and reviews, even though both have been fine. I am starting the research for my next novel, and it is taking a turn I never saw coming. Hope when I get it completed, you enjoy the twists and revelations as much as I did when I discovered them. I am not a big fan of the 1960's and 1970's, but I intend to reclaim the past and remold it into the image I would like to have lived. What is being a writer for other than to live a different life or experience a different reality?

My characters intend to travel to different countries, speak different languages, and experience new pastimes and I invite you all to come along with me hopefully around July or August of 2019. It took three years to get The Bone of the Day completed, and hopefully, I have this novel writing thing a little better honed and can knock it out quickly and to my satisfaction.

In the meanwhile, I will make a new playlist on Pandora for the music of the times, try not to gag my way through some 60's and 70's movies of the period, and add to my Pinterest Boards for research.
I have them for all my novels and you are welcome to spy on my thoughts as I go through the process. Oh, and my Pandora Station is on 70's Rock, and playing Boston, "More Than a Feeling." It's  groovy, man.

https://www.pinterest.com/dkerrhenely/government-work/

Playing "What If?"

An author is the only creature on earth who can time travel,  re-write history, and reveal secrets no one ever thought to reveal in the guise of fiction and remain unscathed. The power is a heady one, and every once in a while, I am tempted to indulge my imagination and re-write my own history.
This led me to look deeply into my failed first marriage and wonder what if...because my ex-husband's history without me was rather interesting.

Our marriage was a total failure and I didn't stay in love with him because he was a total jerk, but on paper, he resembled a heroic figure. What if I he'd had some redeeming qualities, and we'd stayed married? And I'd been witness to his exploits, or better yet, I found out about them after he died?

Because in a way, I did just discover some of his achievements and they were impressive, but in some ways his life was much as I expected. His obituary is online, and the pictures of his life were interspersed with patriotic symbols and his work life. Only two pictures were of his family. Only two. He'd remained married to his pretty Korean wife for 27 years, and I can only guess at the abuse she suffered.

But what if he'd been gentle, loving, and loyal? Sure, he probably wouldn't be the bad-ass the rumors claimed. But what if he had?

My new Nanowrimo book is called Government Work, and I am now researching his life and the people he worked with, and the result will be a fictional account of a woman who finds she never really knew the man she'd married after her husband dies of Gulf War Syndrome and how she equates the life she thought she had versus the truth.

Nanowrimo is going to be an interesting month of "What if?"

Wait...if you don't know what Nanowrimo is, it is a great organization that helps authors write their first draft in the month of November...hence, National Novel Writing Month, or Nanowrimo.  I wrote all three of my first books during Nanowrimo, and to create a cover, a synopsis, and set a goal is how I found some success. If you are interested go check out Nanowrimo.org and see for yourself.

Playing "What If"

An author is the only creature on earth who can time travel,  re-write history, and reveal secrets no one ever thought to reveal in the guise of fiction and remain unscathed. The power is a heady one, and every once in a while, I am tempted to indulge my imagination and re-write my own history.
This led me to look deeply into my failed first marriage and wonder what if...because my ex-husband's history without me was rather interesting.

Our marriage was a total failure and I didn't stay in love with him because he was a total jerk, but on paper, he resembled a heroic figure. What if I he'd had some redeeming qualities, and we'd stayed married? And I'd been witness to his exploits, or better yet, I found out about them after he died?

Because in a way, I did just discover some of his achievements and they were impressive, but in some ways his life was much as I expected. His obituary is online, and the pictures of his life were interspersed with patriotic symbols and his work life. Only two pictures were of his family. Only two. He'd remained married to his pretty Korean wife for 27 years, and I can only guess at the abuse she suffered.

But what if he'd been gentle, loving, and loyal? Sure, he probably wouldn't be the bad-ass the rumors claimed. But what if he had?

My new Nanowrimo book is called Government Work, and I am now researching his life and the people he worked with, and the result will be a fictional account of a woman who finds she never really knew the man she'd married after her husband dies of Gulf War Syndrome and how she equates the life she thought she had versus the truth.

Nanowrimo is going to be an interesting month of "What if?"

Wait...if you don't know what Nanowrimo is, it is a great organization that helps authors write their first draft in the month of November...hence, National Novel Writing Month, or Nanowrimo.  I wrote all three of my first books during Nanowrimo, and to create a cover, a synopsis, and set a goal is how I found some success. If you are interested go check out Nanowrimo.org and see for yourself.

*Are You an Older Lady on Instagram? Don't Be a Target*

Recently a handsome soldier identifying himself as a retiring general in the army contacted me on Instagram. At first, I was intrigued and a little flattered, and then I decided to look at his followers. He had a over 2,000 and all of them were women about my age, and none of them were fellow soldiers.
Now, I am a retired private investigator for real, and very suspicious at the best of times, so I decided to do a little snooping and found out my soldier was an extremely prominent man and his pictures and information were being used to target women of a certain age. Pissed me off even more when Instagram posted it would not be responsible for the misuse of its site and just commented how everyone should be careful. Yeah, not a lot of help there.

For one, I am a true supporter of the Stolen Valor Initiative, and it infuriates me when someone claims to have served their country or when someone assumes the identity of a servicemember and uses it to harm or ingratiate themselves in a situation. Karma dude. Karma.

So, for the two people who see this, be careful if you are getting handsome men wanting to get to know you on Instagram.

And the soldier? I explained who I was to the imposter and what I found, and he replied, "I'm impressed," and added two emoji's of hands clapping. What a tool. I didn't hear from him again.

The old adage, "If it looks too good to be true, it is," still goes in this lonely world. When all a lonely person wants is a little companionship and grifters seek to take advantage of this...shame on those people. Someday they might be lonely too.

In a totally unrelated area, I created a movie trailer about my new book, Maid of the Raven's Wood, and would love to share it with you. It's on YouTube and all you have to do is follow this link.
Maid of the Raven's Wood. 
It's a short film and I think it gives you a feeling for the book. I enjoyed writing this book due to the totally different genre. I'm such a dreamer and love fantasy and sci-fi. My inspirations began with Disney as a child and continued with authors like T. H. White's Once and Future King, and my discovery of Tolkien when I was in high school, thanks to Mrs. Schriener, my wonderful English teacher. 

*A Hodge Padge of Things I Just Now Thought Up*

It has been an interesting day for my fellow Americans, and Democrats rejoice while die-hard Republicans either shake their heads in disgust, or stick their heads back into the proverbial Fox News flavored sand and prepare to quote George Orwell even though they don't realize they have the book down perfectly.

As a Texan, as a West Texan, most of my neighbors, family, and friends voted for Trump because of two major points:

1. The right for two willing adults of the same sex to marry. This is a big no no.
2. To uphold the idea that abortions are murder and women who get abortions should be punished, unless you are very rich, white, and hold public office and your mistress gets pregnant.

But here is the real reason. Most of my dear friends are really racists and are frightened by the influx of anyone who isn't white. What my friends don't understand is it's too late. Texas is already diverse. White people are in the minority. (Picture me sticking my tongue out.)

Now why am I freely writing about how I feel and my own condemnation of these people? Because they will never read this. They won't read my books in which I freely support the Democratic Party and I got slammed by one reviewer because she thought I shouldn't have a fictional character have any political opinions.

Excuse me?

On another note totally unrelated to anything I was talking about above, have you bought your copy of the soundtrack of Hamilton?  I have been listening to it in my car for the last two weeks while I take my kid back and forth from school, and she is not complaining yet, but she rarely complains. So much of Hamilton's story seems appropriate for today. It was the beginning of our country's struggle to form a government, and we are struggling to honor their tenets while the Republican Party moves to authoritarianism and out and out Russian cyber invasion for possible annexation. Think it isn't likely? Hey, didn't you see Red Dawn in the 80's? And we don't have Patrick Swayze anymore. Oh my God, what are we going to do? Even the NRA, once the love child of Charleton Heston and Clint Eastwood is learning how to say доброе утро.
Not me though. I can't imagine Trump learning how to speak much of the language either. He's too busy peeing on people literally and figuratively.

Even the New York Times thinks Hamilton resonates with today's headlines. R.B. Bernstein, a historian at City College of New York who has written extensively about Jefferson, credited “Hamilton” with keeping the subject of slavery simmering underneath its jam-packed story. But race and slavery, he added, were not the only important, or timely, aspects of the show.

“It’s about how hard it is to do politics, about how people of fundamentally clashing political views tried to work together to create a shared constitutional enterprise,” he said. “And right now, that’s a message we really need.”

The problem as I see it, Mr. Bernstein, is we are not clashing over the Constitution. We have folks who are completely disregarding the document altogether.

For a bunch of folks who scream like pod people at the word "Socialists," they sure are ready to embrace ... anarchy.

Hamilton sings, "Immigrants...we get the job done." And the show ends with Who lives, who dies, who tells your story? I am an old lady living out in the middle of the desert, and I can tell you that I am appalled how Russian money has blinded the politicians, ie, Paul Ryan, Rand Paul, Jeff Sessions, Mitch McConnell, Ted Cruz, Sarah Huckaby Sanders, and of course the big Orange. Don't they realize hoe they will be remembered by history? It won't be Republican historians writing the narrative, as Eliza Hamilton reminds us. And Aaron Burr realizes too late he will be the villain in Hamilton's story.

Manafort and Cohen paid for their access to the great Orange. He will be the villain in their story.

*Indie Writers, Why and Why Not?*

Indie writers are those who either publish their books with a company and pays for the publications, or those who publish online free with companies like Amazon, Kobo, or Smashwords.

The indie writer has benefits and drawbacks if one publishes with Amazon or other online book sites, and the first benefit is complete and total control of the entire publishing project:

from the creation of the book, the editing, the book design interior from cover to cover, cover art, blurbs, advertisingpricinggenre selectionbook tours, talks, and signings.And these are all the drawbacks. Everything I listed above. Why on earth would anyone do this all on their own? 
Guaranteed published worksThe absolute pleasure of sharing someone's writing with those who would like to read said worksThe pleasure of critical reviews (or the agony)The high rate of residuals (royalties)Ability to buy 1-999 books at the cost of the publisher to give away, sell at conventions, or have at book signings.And say you want to give your book away for a heightened online presence, the companies mentioned above will let one have those giveaways, and will put them a special category and push those books!
So what's the downside? Yes, there is one. Rumor has it that a smaller and smaller amount of the reading public is shrinking rapidly. Too many other types of leisure activity compete with the reader for their attention. I agree from a personal standpoint because I am guilty of binge-watching Netflix for days and am picky about what I read. I have to be really motivated to sit and read something that grabbed my attention.
So if you read my books, I am so flattered and appreciative.                                  

*They said, "Create a blog."*

 They said if I did people would read it and it  drive traffic for people to buy my books. I think this is just another means to get me to write for free.

But I don't write to make money. I write so I can share my stories and many times I give my books away so others can read them. But how do others find my books?

They said, "Create a blog so others can find your books."

So here it is, and now I have to push past my own reticence and indulge my ego and write about my hopes and dreams and plans for the future.

Yes, an old woman can plan for the future. I began writing at age 63, and have three published books under my belt, and plan to add to those every year of my remaining life which could be 2, 3, or 20. So follow me on this strange literary journey as I share with you all the secrets of an old woman's heart, and heartaches.

I am excited to announce my new novel and it's a new genre for me, a historically based fantasy story. I read several genres, and for years I was more drawn to romance and gothic novels, but I went through a huge science fiction/fantasy era.

So if you are here and would like to read my book, it is free August 5-7th. And check back with me because I want to share my favorite authors with you. I have made some great writer friends and they are generous and lovely people.