Gerry Strong's Blog

I enjoy writing for kids I feel successful if I can help a child learn to read. I like mystery and detective and am thinking about another Middle Grade/YA. I have never been able to figure out how to promote. PR is so unfamiliar to me. Any advice would be welcome.

                       WRITING ANCIENT TOMBS AND SPELLS
Authors have different ways to attack writing. I thought I would share the approach I took for the newest book, Ancient Tombs and Spells.
The inspiration: a prompt from a fellow writer in my writer's group. Wealthy man is dying (or not) Man Servant is feeling sad and guilty (for some unknown reason). This being rather ambiguous, left lots of options. I liked the idea of a wealthy man dying ...maybe murdered? Man Servant? Seemed boring or obvious....how about loyal cat companion?
Now I have two characters, what do I do next? read more

When I write, I want to educate as well as entertainI have fun writing about Charlotte, a clever little pug that thinks she is quite good at solving crimes. As a detective, she has been to many places. Finding a long lost treasure is only one of her many adventures. Find out more about her on her blog:

pugcharlotte.blogspot.com
READ MORE ON ABOUT WRITING

I also like reading what other authors write. Connect with me on Goodreads or email me if you wish to share. See some reviews I have done. read more on REVIEWS

I love writing for children. I recently had the honor of doing a presentation on Writing for Children at the Escondido, CA Library's Writer's Group.When one of my stories was read by a student at his Kindergarten Graduation proudly showing his reading skills, I felt successful as an author for having helped a child learn to read.  read more about writing

I  would like to share Charlotte's new Black and White Series with you. Illustrations will be done later.
Please comment if you wish.
THE CASE OF THE  GHOST AT THE LAKE. 
                                     
A GHOSTLY CALL
It was another hot Minnesota summer day. Charlotte was in her doghouse lapping up a cool drink and working a crossword puzzle. 
        She was trying to think of a four letter word for rabbit when her cell phone rang. 
        She lay down the puzzle. She hit the button on the phone with her paw. “Crimes and mysteries solved," she answered in her most business-like voice.

         “Charlotte, it’s Jason. You have to help us. There’s something fishy happening at the lake.” readmore

I  would like to share Charlotte's new Series with you. 
Please comment if you wish.

Here is the first chapter in Pug  Detective 
Charlotte's new series:
 Diary of a Pug Detective:
THE CASE OF THE  GHOST AT THE LAKE.           

I, Charlotte, am a pug, Yes, a dog--tan, black face, curly tail. But not an ordinary pug. Day after day, I followed some boys and girls into school. Soon I started to act like them. I was even able to talk to them.

I am also a detective. A very good detective. I have solved many crimes and mysteries. In this case, I joined my friends, eight-year old twins, Matt and Jason, at their aunt’s lake house. Jason believed there was a ghost. The twins hired me to solve the mystery. 
                                     
AN INVITATION
It was the middle of July. Another hot Minnesota summer day. I was in my doghouse lapping up a cool drink and working a crossword puzzle. 

I liked to keep my mind busy. I was trying to think of a four letter word for rabbit when the phone rang. 

I lay down the puzzle. I pushed the button on my cell phone with my paw. “Crimes and mysteries solved, my specialty,” I answered in my most business-like voice.

“Charlotte, it’s Jason. You have to help us. There’s something fishy happening at the lake.”

“Something fishy at the lake doesn’t sound like much of a mystery to me,” I  said. 

“Yeah, well, we think the lake is haunted. We want you to help us catch the ghost,” Jason said.  
click to read more 

Here is the next chapter in Pug  Detective 
Charlotte's new series:
 Diary of a Pug Detective:
 The Case of the GHOST AT THE LAKE


If you missed Chapter 1- Click here

OFF TO THE LAKE
Promptly at nine o’clock the next morning, Jason and Matt, arrived with their Aunt Jane.  I grabbed my  backpack and trotted out to the car.
The top was down on the little red convertible. In it were toy trucks, buckets, and shovels.....click to read more 

PUG DETECTIVE CHARLOTTE 
HAS A NEW SERIES:
DIARY OF A PUG DETECTIVE

I want to share with you a very interesting case I had. You can read it as I write it. You can comment on it at the bottom if you wish. (Illustrations later)    

Read the first in the series: THE CASE OF THE GHOST AT THE LAKE       
I, Charlotte, am a pug, Yes, a dog--tan, black face, curly tail. But not an ordinary pug. Day after day, I followed some boys and girls into school. Soon I started to act like them. I was even able to talk to them. I am also a detective. A very good detective. I have solved many crimes and mysteries. In this case, I joined my friends, eight-year old twins, Matt and Jason, at their aunt’s lake house. Jason believed there was a ghost. The twins hired me to solve the mystery.  continue on Charlotte's blog

Authors have different ways to attack writing. I thought I would share the approach I took for the newest book, Ancient Tombs and Spells.
The inspiration: a prompt from a fellow writer in my writer's group. Wealthy man is dying (or not) Man Servant is feeling sad and guilty (for some unknown reason). This being rather ambiguous, left lots of options. I liked the idea of a wealthy man dying ...maybe murdered? Man Servant? Seemed boring or obvious....how about loyal cat companion?
Now I have two characters, what do I do next? Maybe the cat companion wants revenge. Okay, so how does it do that? Maybe it (he? she?) can uses magic. Hmmm, mystical cat might need some help if (let's go with he) has been spoiled by a wealthy lifestyle and not used his magic. So I decide he must request help for an evil spell from another cat that knows about magic. 
Now I have three characters: Wealthy Man/ spoiled cat companion/ cat who knows magic and evil spells. Suddenly my mind goes to Egypt. It has always been a fascination to me and I recall a history about cats being worshiped as gods. If I am going to write about cats and Egypt, I need to know facts. Even if I make up things, they need to be based on facts or they won't make sense or be believable.
Searching the internet is helpful. And Barnes and  Noble - a  cappuccino in their cafe always helps my thoughts. Low and behold, there just inside the entrance, is a beautiful big book on Egypt. Encyclopedia of Egypt, full of facts including a history of cats and even pictures of their burials. And I discover Saqqara, a known place for cat and other animal burials as well as the famous Step Pyramid. Now I have a setting for the story.
Then another character shows up - Cattutkin, a smart Egyptian cat that can tell the history and lead them through the ancient burial grounds. From there it was all fun. Wealthy man (Winston Carrington Thornbridge the Fourth ) cat companion (Marcos) fellow cat who knows evil (Simone,  black, elegant, French), and Cattutkin, their Egyptian guide.
The cats took off and I had a hard time keeping up. I often didn't know what they were going to do next. They were delightful with their surprises. So, they filled pages with their antics and led a merry chase for 30,000 and some words. I hope readers love their story as much as I did writing it.       READ DESIGNING THE BOOK