Veronica Helen Hart's Blog
September 2, 2016
Interviewing
Interviewing can be intimidating. It can also be confusing.
I recently visited a location where I have set my story for Knife!, a paranormal murder mystery. While the premise came to me as a dream, and then I fleshed it out, I learned later that the incidents actually occurred in a small town in Georgia many years ago. I went to that town with my brother, who lives in Georgia. He acted as reconnaissance by entering public establishments and then once sure the natives were agreeable, came and invited me in.
The first interview was with an elderly gentleman who had lived in the community all his life. We went through the social amenities and then I asked him, “What was the most exciting thing that ever happened in this town?”
He said, “Nothing ever happened. Nothing in my entire life.”
No matter how I rephrased the question, he denied anything ever happening. Okay, so nobody was murdered – ever.
Next we met with the mayor of the town. He’d been mayor for nearly fifty years. He appeared to be in his late 80’s. Seems like maybe nobody else wanted the job? He was eager to tell me all about everything that ever happened in this tiny village. He was happy to embellish on the murder. His facts did not match the police reports I had uncovered, however his version certainly added color to my story. We could include a gypsy fortune teller and a few other colorful characters.
When I asked my brother about the discrepancies in the two men’s versions, he said, “The old man in the café wouldn’t talk to a Yankee, much less a woman, about local matters. They mayor is a politician and will embellish any story to make a constituent happy.” My brother being the potential constituent.
When it comes to interviewing, as a character I once played in a children's play said, "It's all the way you look at it, Sweetie."
I recently visited a location where I have set my story for Knife!, a paranormal murder mystery. While the premise came to me as a dream, and then I fleshed it out, I learned later that the incidents actually occurred in a small town in Georgia many years ago. I went to that town with my brother, who lives in Georgia. He acted as reconnaissance by entering public establishments and then once sure the natives were agreeable, came and invited me in.
The first interview was with an elderly gentleman who had lived in the community all his life. We went through the social amenities and then I asked him, “What was the most exciting thing that ever happened in this town?”
He said, “Nothing ever happened. Nothing in my entire life.”
No matter how I rephrased the question, he denied anything ever happening. Okay, so nobody was murdered – ever.
Next we met with the mayor of the town. He’d been mayor for nearly fifty years. He appeared to be in his late 80’s. Seems like maybe nobody else wanted the job? He was eager to tell me all about everything that ever happened in this tiny village. He was happy to embellish on the murder. His facts did not match the police reports I had uncovered, however his version certainly added color to my story. We could include a gypsy fortune teller and a few other colorful characters.
When I asked my brother about the discrepancies in the two men’s versions, he said, “The old man in the café wouldn’t talk to a Yankee, much less a woman, about local matters. They mayor is a politician and will embellish any story to make a constituent happy.” My brother being the potential constituent.
When it comes to interviewing, as a character I once played in a children's play said, "It's all the way you look at it, Sweetie."
January 18, 2015
Just the Facts
“Hurry, man, we got to get there before they kill her!”
I hit the siren and lights and headed north on Broadway while Rick called it in. We headed north on Broadway, turned left onto Park and then right onto Thirty-Seventh, slowing when I saw the flashing blue lights in front of a white Cape Cod with its doors blown wide open.
Exciting stuff.
This past year I had the privilege of judging manuscripts for three different literary competitions. I looked for all the usual items: well developed, engaging characters; well defined settings, strong conflict, plot, a character arc for our lead character, error free mechanics, and last, but not least, no anachronisms or factual mistakes. Nothing stops me short more than seeing people spending pesos in Morocco, or dinars in Mexico; or like, the example above, mixed up geography.
You might write a great story, but if you make me stop and think about a fact to the point I have to go look it up on Google or in my home dictionary/encyclopedia, then you aren’t going to win that round in my book.
When I am editing, if I have an inkling that a fact may be inaccurate, I will look it up and let the author know he/she’s made a mistake and needs to check the facts. When I’m judging, I don’t have that ability; I can only go by what I’m reading. Your great story will miss the boat if you haven’t taken the time to get the facts straight.
And believe me, I’m checking. Always checking.
In my own books, especially the period pieces, I spend more time researching the eras than I do writing the stories. I can’t have characters staying at a hotel that didn’t exist when my characters lived; nor can they use transportation in advance of their time. On the same note, they wouldn’t use a horse and buggy in the 21st century unless they were Amish or reenacting.
So, if you’re planning to submit your work, please, check your facts.
P.S. Right after writing the blog I picked up one of the freebies on Kindle, Murder in the South of France, because I loved my time there and I enjoy murder mysteries. Within the first couple of pages the protagonist made a phone call in the early afternoon to her home in Atlanta (USA) where it was "eight in the evening." Grrr. While I might finish the book, it eliminated itself from any competition it might enter that I'd be judging.
Veronica H. Hart is a Regional Director with the Florida Writers Association, author of five books through Double Edge Press and Champagne Books, as well as one self-published. You can read more about her work at www.veronicahhart.com. Comments welcome. How do you judge a book?
I hit the siren and lights and headed north on Broadway while Rick called it in. We headed north on Broadway, turned left onto Park and then right onto Thirty-Seventh, slowing when I saw the flashing blue lights in front of a white Cape Cod with its doors blown wide open.
Exciting stuff.
This past year I had the privilege of judging manuscripts for three different literary competitions. I looked for all the usual items: well developed, engaging characters; well defined settings, strong conflict, plot, a character arc for our lead character, error free mechanics, and last, but not least, no anachronisms or factual mistakes. Nothing stops me short more than seeing people spending pesos in Morocco, or dinars in Mexico; or like, the example above, mixed up geography.
You might write a great story, but if you make me stop and think about a fact to the point I have to go look it up on Google or in my home dictionary/encyclopedia, then you aren’t going to win that round in my book.
When I am editing, if I have an inkling that a fact may be inaccurate, I will look it up and let the author know he/she’s made a mistake and needs to check the facts. When I’m judging, I don’t have that ability; I can only go by what I’m reading. Your great story will miss the boat if you haven’t taken the time to get the facts straight.
And believe me, I’m checking. Always checking.
In my own books, especially the period pieces, I spend more time researching the eras than I do writing the stories. I can’t have characters staying at a hotel that didn’t exist when my characters lived; nor can they use transportation in advance of their time. On the same note, they wouldn’t use a horse and buggy in the 21st century unless they were Amish or reenacting.
So, if you’re planning to submit your work, please, check your facts.
P.S. Right after writing the blog I picked up one of the freebies on Kindle, Murder in the South of France, because I loved my time there and I enjoy murder mysteries. Within the first couple of pages the protagonist made a phone call in the early afternoon to her home in Atlanta (USA) where it was "eight in the evening." Grrr. While I might finish the book, it eliminated itself from any competition it might enter that I'd be judging.
Veronica H. Hart is a Regional Director with the Florida Writers Association, author of five books through Double Edge Press and Champagne Books, as well as one self-published. You can read more about her work at www.veronicahhart.com. Comments welcome. How do you judge a book?
August 30, 2014
Writing/Marketing and Deadlines
You write and write and write hoping that one day someone will like your work and want to publish it.
Then the day arrives when you receive your first contract. This is exciting. You’ve arrived. You work with your editor and the book is published. Then you write another book. The same publisher wants that one as well. You work with your editor and that book comes out and now your publisher sends contracts for two more.
You have one finished and ready to go. The other one? Mostly a dream in your head that you proposed to said publisher. What to do? There was a time when you would die for a contract. Now have one—with a deadline. Not quite in the game plan.
You write and write and write and hope your proposal comes out the way you imagined it would.
Then, of course, there is keeping up with marketing all those books your publisher published because the books are worthy of being read.
As one of my friends asked me recently, “How do people find out about your books if they don’t know you?”
Good question. For all that writing and writing and writing, one hopes that readers are waiting to find your books. You have to give them clues, drop some breadcrumbs, so they can.
You hope that five star reviews on Amazon and Goodreads will help, but not everybody who loves the books also write reviews. You must figure out a way to ask them politely, “If you liked my book, would you please write a review?” If they don’t write a review, does that mean they didn’t like the book or simply that they don’t know how to write a review?
Then there is Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn. Time spent in those places might encourage a few people to read your books. Teaching creative writing programs at the local library is another outlet, as is conducting workshops at writing conferences.
So then, if you’re doing all of the above, when do you find the time to write and write and write? You have to find the time for bother of them, then stick your backside to the seat in front of your writing station, be it a computer, typewriter, or yellow legal pad, and do it. After all, this is the part you love.
I confess to having a deadline rapidly approaching and still have seventeen thousand words to write. And the US Open Tennis Tournament is on, DRVing as I write and write and write.
And fortunately, my husband can cook.
Veronica Helen Hart is the author of the Blenders Series of books published by Champagne Books: The Prince of Keegan Bay, Swimming Corpse and still to be completed Safari Stew. She is also the mother of: Elena-the Girl with the Piano and The Reluctant Daughters from Double Edge Press. Her works can be found at Champagne Books and Amazon.
Then the day arrives when you receive your first contract. This is exciting. You’ve arrived. You work with your editor and the book is published. Then you write another book. The same publisher wants that one as well. You work with your editor and that book comes out and now your publisher sends contracts for two more.
You have one finished and ready to go. The other one? Mostly a dream in your head that you proposed to said publisher. What to do? There was a time when you would die for a contract. Now have one—with a deadline. Not quite in the game plan.
You write and write and write and hope your proposal comes out the way you imagined it would.
Then, of course, there is keeping up with marketing all those books your publisher published because the books are worthy of being read.
As one of my friends asked me recently, “How do people find out about your books if they don’t know you?”
Good question. For all that writing and writing and writing, one hopes that readers are waiting to find your books. You have to give them clues, drop some breadcrumbs, so they can.
You hope that five star reviews on Amazon and Goodreads will help, but not everybody who loves the books also write reviews. You must figure out a way to ask them politely, “If you liked my book, would you please write a review?” If they don’t write a review, does that mean they didn’t like the book or simply that they don’t know how to write a review?
Then there is Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn. Time spent in those places might encourage a few people to read your books. Teaching creative writing programs at the local library is another outlet, as is conducting workshops at writing conferences.
So then, if you’re doing all of the above, when do you find the time to write and write and write? You have to find the time for bother of them, then stick your backside to the seat in front of your writing station, be it a computer, typewriter, or yellow legal pad, and do it. After all, this is the part you love.
I confess to having a deadline rapidly approaching and still have seventeen thousand words to write. And the US Open Tennis Tournament is on, DRVing as I write and write and write.
And fortunately, my husband can cook.
Veronica Helen Hart is the author of the Blenders Series of books published by Champagne Books: The Prince of Keegan Bay, Swimming Corpse and still to be completed Safari Stew. She is also the mother of: Elena-the Girl with the Piano and The Reluctant Daughters from Double Edge Press. Her works can be found at Champagne Books and Amazon.
July 26, 2014
The Reluctant Daughters
One week until the release - mark your calendars for August 1st. Or, beat the crowd and preorder now at Amazon.com.
The Reluctant Daughters
by: Veronica H. Hart
Matriarch of Steel - Elisabeth Riis: As the only child of a lumber industry titan just after the War Between the States, her future should have been bright. Now at the turn of the century, she's the head of her father's company and caring for her two orphaned granddaughters who chafe at her strict restrictions. She'll not see them repeat their mother's disastrous history, or make the same mistakes she made-mistakes that are haunting her now in the form of a powerful politician.
Daughter of Bitterness - Mary Ellen Riis: Born to a mother who can barely stand the sight of her, her only consolation is a father confined to a wheelchair enduring constant pain. She turns to romance and marriage with a reckless gambler, and upon his death, to the low and deadly slums of opium addiction. How could this wreck of a woman possibly hold the key to her daughters' future happiness?
Daughters of Mystery and Hope: Living under the tyrannical eye of their grandmother, Barbara and Lily are eager to do something with their lives. Despite their family's great wealth, being Irish denies them the path of the debutante. A single night's rebellious fun leads them on a trail of mystery. What really happened to their mother? And what does New York State Senator and Presidential Nominee Justin Pembroke have to do with their grandmother's sudden disappearance?
The Reluctant Daughters
by: Veronica H. Hart
Matriarch of Steel - Elisabeth Riis: As the only child of a lumber industry titan just after the War Between the States, her future should have been bright. Now at the turn of the century, she's the head of her father's company and caring for her two orphaned granddaughters who chafe at her strict restrictions. She'll not see them repeat their mother's disastrous history, or make the same mistakes she made-mistakes that are haunting her now in the form of a powerful politician.
Daughter of Bitterness - Mary Ellen Riis: Born to a mother who can barely stand the sight of her, her only consolation is a father confined to a wheelchair enduring constant pain. She turns to romance and marriage with a reckless gambler, and upon his death, to the low and deadly slums of opium addiction. How could this wreck of a woman possibly hold the key to her daughters' future happiness?
Daughters of Mystery and Hope: Living under the tyrannical eye of their grandmother, Barbara and Lily are eager to do something with their lives. Despite their family's great wealth, being Irish denies them the path of the debutante. A single night's rebellious fun leads them on a trail of mystery. What really happened to their mother? And what does New York State Senator and Presidential Nominee Justin Pembroke have to do with their grandmother's sudden disappearance?
July 1, 2014
That Detroit Situation
With the bankruptcy of the city of Detroit in the news recently and the news about the city turning off the water to homes where bills weren't paid, I found this editorial in the August 23, 1941 Syracuse newspaper interesting. Does anyone else see the connection?
That Detroit Situation
The fourth city in the nation, Detroit, with a population of 1,600,000, is at the mercy of labor leaders drunk with power, engaged in a jurisdictional dispute over the seemingly trivial exclusive rights to announcements on the bulletin board of the municipally owned transportation system.
Three days have passed without a trolley or bus in operation, traffic has been snarled because of the impression into service in an effort to keep the huge defense employment program going of automobiles for transportation, and officials confer vainly with rival union heads in an effort to bring order out of chaos.
At long range it would seem the authorities are overly patient. The statutes of Michigan provide that a five day notice and a 30-day cooling off period must precede any strike against a public utility, yet the A. F. of L., street railway workers gave notice of but four hours.
The other municipal employees are organized under CIO. They sought, among other things, right to equal use of bulletin boards in trolley barns and bus garages for display of notices. The street railway workers acted promptly to the utter collapse of municipal transportation.
This came despite the fact that only recently motormen, conductors and bus drivers were granted a substantial wage increase by a sympathetic municipal administration.
Officials of the city and Michigan, as stated, appear to be overly patient while the patronizing public suffers inconvenience due to union rivalry.
That Detroit Situation
The fourth city in the nation, Detroit, with a population of 1,600,000, is at the mercy of labor leaders drunk with power, engaged in a jurisdictional dispute over the seemingly trivial exclusive rights to announcements on the bulletin board of the municipally owned transportation system.
Three days have passed without a trolley or bus in operation, traffic has been snarled because of the impression into service in an effort to keep the huge defense employment program going of automobiles for transportation, and officials confer vainly with rival union heads in an effort to bring order out of chaos.
At long range it would seem the authorities are overly patient. The statutes of Michigan provide that a five day notice and a 30-day cooling off period must precede any strike against a public utility, yet the A. F. of L., street railway workers gave notice of but four hours.
The other municipal employees are organized under CIO. They sought, among other things, right to equal use of bulletin boards in trolley barns and bus garages for display of notices. The street railway workers acted promptly to the utter collapse of municipal transportation.
This came despite the fact that only recently motormen, conductors and bus drivers were granted a substantial wage increase by a sympathetic municipal administration.
Officials of the city and Michigan, as stated, appear to be overly patient while the patronizing public suffers inconvenience due to union rivalry.
June 30, 2014
Business with Hitler?
August 23, 1941
BUSINESS WITH HITLER?
from The Post Standard, Syracuse N.Y.
Rep. Hamilton Fish, the tall, beetle-browed New York isolationist, suggests that a German victory would actually be a boon to business here. (U.S.)
It would increase the Nazi buying power in the United States, he was quoted as telling a meeting of Philadelphia America-Firsters the other night. On the other hand, a German defeat would mean more
competition in world markets with the products of our labor, and less buying power to purchase goods on the American Market.
Recommended as reading matter for Mr. Fish is Douglas Miller's new best-seller, "You Can't Do Business with Hitler," which starts serially in Sunday's Post-Standard.
Miller was this country's commercial attache at Berlin for 15 years, leaving Germany in 1939 after six years of first-hand dealing with the Nazi regime.
Consequently--even though his book is sure to provoke controversy, it cannot be dismissed as the work of a professional sensationalist.
The bugaboo of military invasion has stirred the imagination of many an American, but most people have failed to think thru the question of how an Axis victory over Great Britain would affect American living--even tho no Nazi Bombers ever flew over our shores.
Miller's articles translate Nazi trade domination as he see it in terms of the average business man, the average householder, the average citizen.
One may or may not agree with his conclusions, but, coming from such a source, they are of more than ordinary interest.
***
Veronica Helen Hart is the author of the EPIC finalist, "Elena, the Girl with the Piano," (Double Edge Press) a story set in WWII. There are several more stories to come this week from the August, 1941 newspaper. The expressed thoughts and opinions about the impending war are fascinating when put in perspective.
BUSINESS WITH HITLER?
from The Post Standard, Syracuse N.Y.
Rep. Hamilton Fish, the tall, beetle-browed New York isolationist, suggests that a German victory would actually be a boon to business here. (U.S.)
It would increase the Nazi buying power in the United States, he was quoted as telling a meeting of Philadelphia America-Firsters the other night. On the other hand, a German defeat would mean more
competition in world markets with the products of our labor, and less buying power to purchase goods on the American Market.
Recommended as reading matter for Mr. Fish is Douglas Miller's new best-seller, "You Can't Do Business with Hitler," which starts serially in Sunday's Post-Standard.
Miller was this country's commercial attache at Berlin for 15 years, leaving Germany in 1939 after six years of first-hand dealing with the Nazi regime.
Consequently--even though his book is sure to provoke controversy, it cannot be dismissed as the work of a professional sensationalist.
The bugaboo of military invasion has stirred the imagination of many an American, but most people have failed to think thru the question of how an Axis victory over Great Britain would affect American living--even tho no Nazi Bombers ever flew over our shores.
Miller's articles translate Nazi trade domination as he see it in terms of the average business man, the average householder, the average citizen.
One may or may not agree with his conclusions, but, coming from such a source, they are of more than ordinary interest.
***
Veronica Helen Hart is the author of the EPIC finalist, "Elena, the Girl with the Piano," (Double Edge Press) a story set in WWII. There are several more stories to come this week from the August, 1941 newspaper. The expressed thoughts and opinions about the impending war are fascinating when put in perspective.
June 8, 2014
When Your Readers and Your Editor Clash
In the middle of working on edits for my soon-to-be-released book, The Swimming Corpse, I bumped into a suggestion by my editor that left me puzzled.
While writing the book and passing it through various critique groups, several people suggested a few of my chapter endings ran on too long and ought to be more abrupt. When more than a few readers made the same suggestion, I cut short the chapters in question. That appeased them.
The book was accepted by the publisher and there it lay while I continued work on the third in the Blenders series. Then the edits arrived. True, I had used far too many duplicate and weak words, such as little, small, and felt. I overused and then. I went to work on those right away and found I enhanced the sentences in question.
I had to remove one long section which said editor felt didn’t enhance the story. I loved my words, but after much sighing and moaning, I deleted it and to my delight, the section won’t even be missed and the story moves much more smoothly.
But there were the chapter endings to contend with. I balanced readers against the experienced professional editor. What to do. During the first edit, I added more to one of the chapter endings, but left the other three indicated ones alone.
The edits came back for another round of corrections. All is well except for those miscreant chapter endings. After reading a thorough explanation of her reasoning,
I succumbed and bowed her vast experience. Now I have to figure out how to expand those endings.
However, before doing that, I consulted one critique group. They laughed at my dilemma. One of them said, “Well, we love your writing, you know that, so we were loathe to tell you to extend the chapter endings. We thought your first version chapter endings went on far too long, but then you chopped them off too abruptly and left us hanging. I know we approved, but we didn’t want to hurt your feelings.”
They really talk like that, “loathe to tell you...”
“We’re neophytes at this. We may read and know what we like, but we won’t know exactly what we like until you finally have it edited and published.”
So much for my critique group. They help with overall story line and proofreading, but they leave it up to me to write the story my way–and my editor’s way. After listening to her advice and suggestions, it is my hope that the new versions of chapter endings will meet with everyone’s approval.
An addendum: For those who self-publish, I hope you have as good an editor as I have. As great as I think my writing, she manages to find the bits and pieces that need adjusting, the small, little things I felt were appropriate and then had to remove to make the story better.
While writing the book and passing it through various critique groups, several people suggested a few of my chapter endings ran on too long and ought to be more abrupt. When more than a few readers made the same suggestion, I cut short the chapters in question. That appeased them.
The book was accepted by the publisher and there it lay while I continued work on the third in the Blenders series. Then the edits arrived. True, I had used far too many duplicate and weak words, such as little, small, and felt. I overused and then. I went to work on those right away and found I enhanced the sentences in question.
I had to remove one long section which said editor felt didn’t enhance the story. I loved my words, but after much sighing and moaning, I deleted it and to my delight, the section won’t even be missed and the story moves much more smoothly.
But there were the chapter endings to contend with. I balanced readers against the experienced professional editor. What to do. During the first edit, I added more to one of the chapter endings, but left the other three indicated ones alone.
The edits came back for another round of corrections. All is well except for those miscreant chapter endings. After reading a thorough explanation of her reasoning,
I succumbed and bowed her vast experience. Now I have to figure out how to expand those endings.
However, before doing that, I consulted one critique group. They laughed at my dilemma. One of them said, “Well, we love your writing, you know that, so we were loathe to tell you to extend the chapter endings. We thought your first version chapter endings went on far too long, but then you chopped them off too abruptly and left us hanging. I know we approved, but we didn’t want to hurt your feelings.”
They really talk like that, “loathe to tell you...”
“We’re neophytes at this. We may read and know what we like, but we won’t know exactly what we like until you finally have it edited and published.”
So much for my critique group. They help with overall story line and proofreading, but they leave it up to me to write the story my way–and my editor’s way. After listening to her advice and suggestions, it is my hope that the new versions of chapter endings will meet with everyone’s approval.
An addendum: For those who self-publish, I hope you have as good an editor as I have. As great as I think my writing, she manages to find the bits and pieces that need adjusting, the small, little things I felt were appropriate and then had to remove to make the story better.
May 23, 2014
Writing and Research, Deja vu
In my book, The Reluctant Daughters (Double Edge Press, August 2014), I sent the Ackert-Riis family to Kansas City where the Democrats held their convention in 1900. It was Mrs. Elisabeth Ackert Riis’ plan to sabotage the presidential nomination of one of the (fictional) candidates.
Although the meeting hall was destroyed by a fire on April 4, 1900, it was rebuilt in 90 days, in time to house the convention delegates and candidates on July 4.
Now I see Kansas City is once again in the running to host the Democratic convention.
A few things have surely changed since then. Today while most delegates will fly to Kansas City; Mrs. Riis, Ledger, her daughter, and granddaughters travelled by train from Albany, New York, changing trains twice along the way. Mrs. Riis used a private car for the journey, stocked with servants, bodyguards and additional personnel to watch over her daughter who was recovering from drug addiction. Her granddaughters chose to travel first class so they could have a room of their own.
In 1900, the Royal Hawaiian Prince David Kawananakoa, heir to the throne, attended the convention with his entourage, but was refused rooms at the Baltimore Hotel where most of the delegates stayed. To save face, his people said he preferred to remain in his private train car because they were only in town for a few days. The Baltimore Hotel announced there were no rooms available.
The prince spoke at the convention on the topic of free silver.
The delegates nominated an eighty-one year old West Virginia senator for vice-president whom everyone hoped would reward the party by giving large donations from his vast wealth. He never made it on to the ticket.
Harry Truman served as a page at that convention.
The Democratic platform deliberately omitted reference to the currency issue; however, to make his position clear, Alton Parker, after his (unsuccessful) nomination, informed the convention by letter that he supported the gold standard.
The platform called for a reduction in government expenditures, a congressional investigation of corruption in the executive departments, construction of a Panama Canal, statehood for the Western territories and the direct election of senators. The convention ended July 9.
Today delegates will fly in and there is no Baltimore Hotel. No one will be turned away because of race. However, some things do stay the same. Congressional investigations might be called for regarding corruption in government. Cutting the federal budget might be discussed. Instead of the Panama Canal, the Keystone Pipeline could be an issue and perhaps statehood for Puerto Rico will come up.
In the end, William Jennings Bryan and Adlai Stevenson were on the ticket.
The Republicans won that year with William McKinley and Theodore Roosevelt.
Although the meeting hall was destroyed by a fire on April 4, 1900, it was rebuilt in 90 days, in time to house the convention delegates and candidates on July 4.
Now I see Kansas City is once again in the running to host the Democratic convention.
A few things have surely changed since then. Today while most delegates will fly to Kansas City; Mrs. Riis, Ledger, her daughter, and granddaughters travelled by train from Albany, New York, changing trains twice along the way. Mrs. Riis used a private car for the journey, stocked with servants, bodyguards and additional personnel to watch over her daughter who was recovering from drug addiction. Her granddaughters chose to travel first class so they could have a room of their own.
In 1900, the Royal Hawaiian Prince David Kawananakoa, heir to the throne, attended the convention with his entourage, but was refused rooms at the Baltimore Hotel where most of the delegates stayed. To save face, his people said he preferred to remain in his private train car because they were only in town for a few days. The Baltimore Hotel announced there were no rooms available.
The prince spoke at the convention on the topic of free silver.
The delegates nominated an eighty-one year old West Virginia senator for vice-president whom everyone hoped would reward the party by giving large donations from his vast wealth. He never made it on to the ticket.
Harry Truman served as a page at that convention.
The Democratic platform deliberately omitted reference to the currency issue; however, to make his position clear, Alton Parker, after his (unsuccessful) nomination, informed the convention by letter that he supported the gold standard.
The platform called for a reduction in government expenditures, a congressional investigation of corruption in the executive departments, construction of a Panama Canal, statehood for the Western territories and the direct election of senators. The convention ended July 9.
Today delegates will fly in and there is no Baltimore Hotel. No one will be turned away because of race. However, some things do stay the same. Congressional investigations might be called for regarding corruption in government. Cutting the federal budget might be discussed. Instead of the Panama Canal, the Keystone Pipeline could be an issue and perhaps statehood for Puerto Rico will come up.
In the end, William Jennings Bryan and Adlai Stevenson were on the ticket.
The Republicans won that year with William McKinley and Theodore Roosevelt.
May 10, 2014
In My Story - Where Do Ideas Come From?
If you've ever wondered where to get ideas for a story, join me in my late night/early morning ponderings and you’ll quickly see. You, too, can create an original story once you let your mind wander.
The past week the news channels have been flooded with accounts of the Nigerian schoolgirls who were kidnapped and possible sold into slavery/marriages. Fifty three of them escaped. One girl grabbed an overhead branch and pulled herself up and out of the moving truck. These are young women who were dedicated to becoming teachers, doctors, and lawyers. The first educated from their communities. Their hopes and dreams were to better the lives of their people. Every single one of the girls has a story to tell. As they can’t, a writer can dig deeper and tell a story that will move the world more than celebrities posting hash tags on line as if that will help the girls.
In my story I would have a band of African American Special Forces infiltrate the jungle, find the kidnappers, take liberties with the restrictions about torture and then proceed to find the terrified young women. As each young soldier recovers a girl, we hear her story. Some will be terrified to trust the Americans, others will fall into their arms in gratitude. Some will be found dead.
The news also told of a woman trapped by her car after an accident and spent a week without food or water. That triggers a story of bravery, recovery, friends and family. What went on during that week she was missing? What did her four children think? What did her husband think?
In my story she was leaving them to start a new life but changed her mind. As she tried to make a u-turn on the highway, her car was sideswiped by an eighteen wheeler. The driver never noticed. Her family finds evidence of her depression.
What about the young man voted most valuable player in his professional sport and then during his acceptance speech gave all the credit to his mother for keeping him off the streets, disciplining him when he needed it and encouraging him all the way, all the while working to support her family? What about him and his brothers or sisters?
In my story the boy has one brother who wound up in a gang, and two sisters. One is older, married and living a nice life; the younger one is heading for trouble. Mother is at her wits’ end, filled with mixed emotions. She takes great pride and is humbled at her one son’s tremendous success, pleased, though a little saddened by her oldest daughter’s ordinary life when the girl had showed such promise academically, and baffled by her other two children who refuse to play by the rules.
A woman hired an undercover police officer to murder her estranged husband.
In my story the officer falls in love with her instead of doing his duty and turning her in. He agrees with her judgment that the husband should die for his crimes against her and her children.
There are so many stories to tell and so few with the time to tell them all.
Look across the street, across the grocery counter, up at the window washer on the 36th floor, the mounted police officer, the middle-aged gay couple, and see what you can write about.
Have fun, take notes wherever you are but beware, soon you will be stopped by having to make a decision about which could be the most interesting story. You are limited only by your imagination.
The past week the news channels have been flooded with accounts of the Nigerian schoolgirls who were kidnapped and possible sold into slavery/marriages. Fifty three of them escaped. One girl grabbed an overhead branch and pulled herself up and out of the moving truck. These are young women who were dedicated to becoming teachers, doctors, and lawyers. The first educated from their communities. Their hopes and dreams were to better the lives of their people. Every single one of the girls has a story to tell. As they can’t, a writer can dig deeper and tell a story that will move the world more than celebrities posting hash tags on line as if that will help the girls.
In my story I would have a band of African American Special Forces infiltrate the jungle, find the kidnappers, take liberties with the restrictions about torture and then proceed to find the terrified young women. As each young soldier recovers a girl, we hear her story. Some will be terrified to trust the Americans, others will fall into their arms in gratitude. Some will be found dead.
The news also told of a woman trapped by her car after an accident and spent a week without food or water. That triggers a story of bravery, recovery, friends and family. What went on during that week she was missing? What did her four children think? What did her husband think?
In my story she was leaving them to start a new life but changed her mind. As she tried to make a u-turn on the highway, her car was sideswiped by an eighteen wheeler. The driver never noticed. Her family finds evidence of her depression.
What about the young man voted most valuable player in his professional sport and then during his acceptance speech gave all the credit to his mother for keeping him off the streets, disciplining him when he needed it and encouraging him all the way, all the while working to support her family? What about him and his brothers or sisters?
In my story the boy has one brother who wound up in a gang, and two sisters. One is older, married and living a nice life; the younger one is heading for trouble. Mother is at her wits’ end, filled with mixed emotions. She takes great pride and is humbled at her one son’s tremendous success, pleased, though a little saddened by her oldest daughter’s ordinary life when the girl had showed such promise academically, and baffled by her other two children who refuse to play by the rules.
A woman hired an undercover police officer to murder her estranged husband.
In my story the officer falls in love with her instead of doing his duty and turning her in. He agrees with her judgment that the husband should die for his crimes against her and her children.
There are so many stories to tell and so few with the time to tell them all.
Look across the street, across the grocery counter, up at the window washer on the 36th floor, the mounted police officer, the middle-aged gay couple, and see what you can write about.
Have fun, take notes wherever you are but beware, soon you will be stopped by having to make a decision about which could be the most interesting story. You are limited only by your imagination.
April 18, 2014
The Writing Process
WHAT AM I WORKING ON NOW?
Safari Stew, Blenders Book III, is my work in progress. In this book, the group heads to South Africa to meet with Barclay Reynolds, Doll’s husband, who has been discovered working at the University of Johannesburg. Or is he? When Doll’s son calls her with information that his private investigator has found Barclay, Michael, her fiance, suggests the excursion for two reasons. He wants to be rid of the specter of Barclay ever returning by either finding him or learning that the man is truly gone, and he hopes the professor at the university is not Barclay so he and Doll can get on with their lives together. Safari Stew will hopefully follow The Swimming Corpse, scheduled for release in October.
HOW DOES MY WORK DIFFER TO OTHERS IN THE SAME GENRE?
I’m not sure there is anything in my genre. The first Blenders book, The Prince of Keegan Bay is listed under both humor and thriller/mystery at Champagne Books. It was a first prize winner in the humor category in the Florida Writers Association Literary competition. I will say that I bet no one has as much fun as I do dreaming up trouble for the old folks.
On the other side of myself, I also write historical fiction in which I develop strong female characters, and do huge amounts of research to ensure accuracy. Right now I’m not working on anything in that category, but I do have a couple of ideas fermenting.
WHY DO I WRITE WHAT I DO?
What could be more fun than creating a bunch of people you like and then spending your days with them?
HOW DOES MY WRITING PROCESS WORK?
This is a complicated process. I sit in front of my computer screen, play a couple of games to clear the brain, and then I write. Often I interrupt my work to do research. Today, for example, I sent one of my people out on an independent shopping excursion in downtown Johannesburg. She is robbed. After that, I spent two hours investigating crime and police procedure in South Africa. Fascinating information. Next week, the group will be off on a safari, though not a usual one you might expect. I thought they’d go in a van – they’re going on a plane.
When I wrote The Reluctant Daughters, due out next week, I spent a lot of time researching transportation in the year 1900 in the U.S., plus had to learn more than I ever wanted to know about national politics at the time. Add to that the details of the opium dens in New York City. The writing process is an educational process every time I get an idea.
Next up is Jude Johnson. Please visit her site to learn her writing thoughts. Her blog site is http://wordsthatremain.blogspot.com
Living in Tucson, Arizona, Jude Johnson’s newest work from Champagne Books is a contemporary romance novella trilogy set amid the rigors of ballroom dancing called Save the Last Dance. The first is A Dangerous Dance, with A Wicked Waltz and A Torrid Tango completing the set. She is also author of the Dragon & Hawk saga, a trilogy of historical novels that follow the adventures of Welsh immigrant Evan Jones and his family in the Arizona Territory: Book One, Dragon & Hawk; Book Two, Out of Forgotten Ashes; Book Three, Dragon’s Legacy. She also has a short historical fantasy about a selchie and an officer of the British Navy during the Napoleonic wars, Within The Mists. She also writes nonfiction about her historical research and has a new children’s book about a wombat gone walkabout and a greedy leprechaun. She helps other writers through Gecko Gals Ink, a group of five sassy Tucson authors.
Safari Stew, Blenders Book III, is my work in progress. In this book, the group heads to South Africa to meet with Barclay Reynolds, Doll’s husband, who has been discovered working at the University of Johannesburg. Or is he? When Doll’s son calls her with information that his private investigator has found Barclay, Michael, her fiance, suggests the excursion for two reasons. He wants to be rid of the specter of Barclay ever returning by either finding him or learning that the man is truly gone, and he hopes the professor at the university is not Barclay so he and Doll can get on with their lives together. Safari Stew will hopefully follow The Swimming Corpse, scheduled for release in October.
HOW DOES MY WORK DIFFER TO OTHERS IN THE SAME GENRE?
I’m not sure there is anything in my genre. The first Blenders book, The Prince of Keegan Bay is listed under both humor and thriller/mystery at Champagne Books. It was a first prize winner in the humor category in the Florida Writers Association Literary competition. I will say that I bet no one has as much fun as I do dreaming up trouble for the old folks.
On the other side of myself, I also write historical fiction in which I develop strong female characters, and do huge amounts of research to ensure accuracy. Right now I’m not working on anything in that category, but I do have a couple of ideas fermenting.
WHY DO I WRITE WHAT I DO?
What could be more fun than creating a bunch of people you like and then spending your days with them?
HOW DOES MY WRITING PROCESS WORK?
This is a complicated process. I sit in front of my computer screen, play a couple of games to clear the brain, and then I write. Often I interrupt my work to do research. Today, for example, I sent one of my people out on an independent shopping excursion in downtown Johannesburg. She is robbed. After that, I spent two hours investigating crime and police procedure in South Africa. Fascinating information. Next week, the group will be off on a safari, though not a usual one you might expect. I thought they’d go in a van – they’re going on a plane.
When I wrote The Reluctant Daughters, due out next week, I spent a lot of time researching transportation in the year 1900 in the U.S., plus had to learn more than I ever wanted to know about national politics at the time. Add to that the details of the opium dens in New York City. The writing process is an educational process every time I get an idea.
Next up is Jude Johnson. Please visit her site to learn her writing thoughts. Her blog site is http://wordsthatremain.blogspot.com
Living in Tucson, Arizona, Jude Johnson’s newest work from Champagne Books is a contemporary romance novella trilogy set amid the rigors of ballroom dancing called Save the Last Dance. The first is A Dangerous Dance, with A Wicked Waltz and A Torrid Tango completing the set. She is also author of the Dragon & Hawk saga, a trilogy of historical novels that follow the adventures of Welsh immigrant Evan Jones and his family in the Arizona Territory: Book One, Dragon & Hawk; Book Two, Out of Forgotten Ashes; Book Three, Dragon’s Legacy. She also has a short historical fantasy about a selchie and an officer of the British Navy during the Napoleonic wars, Within The Mists. She also writes nonfiction about her historical research and has a new children’s book about a wombat gone walkabout and a greedy leprechaun. She helps other writers through Gecko Gals Ink, a group of five sassy Tucson authors.
