Heading into Dark Territory

I received the 1st pass of Dark Territory today from Simon & Schuster, Canada. After all the writing, re-writing, content and copy editing, I now get to see the way it will appear in book form.

And, if I do say so myself, it looks pretty great!

So, what's my next task?

I have to read through the entire novel yet again (no - that is not me sighing. I am just clearing my throat) I will check for any last spelling mistakes (found one on the first page - oops) and any other remaining booboos (all mine, of course)

This is also the point where, if I am very lucky, I will get a chance to change the ending. I have been feeling vaguely unsatisfied ever since it was strongly suggested to me that Signy Shepherd must have a happy outcome at the end of book two.

Ugh. Nope. Wrong. Cheerful, wholesome wrap-ups and Signy Shepherd are not ready to become acquainted. At least not yet. I wanted the novel to end on a poignant note, but compliant newbie that I am, kept it in the key of C. I've been feeling grumpy ever since.

From the few trial balloons I've floated, I think slipping in a new ending is unlikely, even though it would mean changing a few paragraphs on the very last page (I swear!). What do you say, S & S? Please, pretty please?

Meanwhile, I will start re-reading Dark Territory for the umpteenth time - and will try not to listen to that noxious voice in my head pointing out every bad word choice, each moment of cringe-worthy dialogue, and all those missed opportunities where I might have used brilliant metaphor instead of another repetitive beat.

I will try to pay more attention to the tiny, positive voice that occasionally weighs in with a quiet "Atta girl. Nice sentence.Way to go."

 

My First Public Book Reading

The publicity and marketing phase of Blown Red continues.

Yesterday, I participated in my first ever book reading at a Books and Brunch event hosted by Blue Heron Books in Uxbridge. I think I must be getting somewhat used to these public appearances as my anxiety level was not too bad. I think the lovely three-hour drive down from Little Partridge Lake helped. It was sunny and warm in the car and I was listening to Sunday morning CBC radio, which is always illuminating.

I thought I'd use a little Stoic philosophical practice to reflect on my performance. During evening meditation, Stoics ask themselves these three questions:

1. What went well? That's easy. I think the reading I gave went very well. I picked a good passage and gave it my all - reading as creepily as I could. I was happy with my performance and the feedback was positive.

It was also very helpful to have Sue Reynolds as the host of the event. Sue was one of my writing teachers and she not only has an intimate knowledge of Blown Red but is also wonderfully supportive. It makes the world of difference to have a friendly face cheering you on when you risk moving so far outside your comfort zone.

Ian Hamilton, author of the Ava Lee series, graciously agreed to share the stage with me, and he couldn't have been more friendly. He told me some great stories about his first forays in the public appearance world - some of them quite hair-raising, and he was a fun guy to spend an afternoon with.

2. What did I do Wrong? During the Q & A session, I think I answered some of the questions well enough, others not so much. I tend to ramble, go off on tangents and worst of all - blab about boring stuff. You know how drivers tend to head directly toward the object they are trying to avoid - that's what I do with excruciating stuff no one wants to hear. Gotta remember to focus on juicier topics and to be more succinct.

3. What didn't I do? I think maybe I could be more prepared with some funny stories to tell. Ian Hamilton had a few 'go-to' stories that made the audience laugh. I know that when I'm listening to people speak, a little humour goes a long way to keeping my eyelids from drooping. I think it would be wise in future to have always have few riveting anecdotes at my finger tips.


Live and learn...live and learn.

That's what it's all about, right?

#DresscodePM - A Dumpy Grace Rant

I am tired of being told what to wear...by anyone. I am exhausted by the endless debates over what is, or isn't appropriate attire for grown human beings.

Let me start with a couple of caveats.

Number one - I loathe annoying clothes. I have an almost pathological hatred of:

• tight waist bands
• scratchy labels 
• brassieres - in my opinion there is a special level of hell just for bras
• underwear
• zippers or buttons that pinch
• high heels
• narrow shoes
• clothes that are too hot
• wool
• hats
• bulky scarves
• collars that choke
• heavy clothes
• layers
• jewelry of any kind
• I could go on but I think you get the point.

Number two - as my friends and family will attest with eye rolls and groans, I don't care about fashion. I can't tell Gucci from Joe Fresh or Prada from Payless. I don't notice what other people wear and I mean that literally. I wouldn't remember if you were wearing pants or a dress a few minutes after you left the room. I certainly wouldn't notice the size of the rock on your finger, the length of your skirt, or your whether the streaks in your hair need freshening up.

I really truly don't care about clothes. If I was lucky enough to live in a hot climate, I would happily walk around nude all day.

That being said, I understand that most people get a great deal of pleasure from their clothes. The slippery feel of silk or the jaunty tilt of a fedora really turn some people on. Others love nothing more than a tight corset and a pair of six-inch stilettos. I'm fine with that. Whatever floats your boat.

But, please - don't tell me what I should be wearing. Whether it is the fashion industry, cultural norms or religious edicts, I am sick of being told what I can and cannot wear.

In my particular culture the rule is that I cannot step foot out of the house unless my breasts are tightly bound against my chest. WHY? What is so terrible about letting the girls dangle free? Is it that men might be overcome by desire and attack boob-free women on the street. Really? I think it would take less than an hour before the sight of all those free-ranging breasts would bore the hell out of most men, and if not - then it is the male of the species that need to address their weird obsession with mammary glands. Not my problem.

Religious rules are particularly touchy. Recently, what Muslim women wear on their heads came under attack by our Prime Minister. Hijabs are a loathsome symbol of an anti-woman religion, Harper claimed, and women should not be allowed to wear them when taking the Canadian oath of citizenship. What a dork.

Here's my two cents worth on the head covering topic.

I can remember when I was a little girl, my mother would take us to mass on Sundays. In those days women and girls were expected to cover their heads while men were required to leave their hats at the door. On the rare occasion when I forgot my hat, my mother would slip a tissue from her purse and stick it to the top of my head with a bobby pin. I was a pretty religious kid in those days, but I just couldn't get my mind around why God needed me to have Kleenex plastered to my skull before I could hang out with him.

Being forced to act a certain way, think a certain way, or dress a certain way in order to ostensibly be more pleasing to God did not sit well with me. It didn't make sense to me, and still doesn't. In fact, the power imbalance and need for control inherent in those restrictions eventually severed my relationship with the Catholic church. But that is ME.

YOU are different. If your killer shoes makes you feel great, if your lacy bra gives you confidence or wearing a wig over your natural hair helps you feel closer to your spiritual side, then go for it.

Just please...please...whether you are a priest, an imam, a magazine editor or a politician with your own twisted agenda, stop pushing me around.

I'll wear what I damn well please.

Plotting Woes

Life has finally settled enough for me to get back full-time to Book Three. The past few months have been a whirlwind and there is more to come. Several speaking engagements loom in the near future, but for now, I'm ready to start writing.

I have a basic plot sketched out. For me, that involves writing the title of each scene on a sticky note and plastering it to a story board on my wall. And then I stare at the board for hours, ensuring I've captured all the key elements of a good story.

I need to make sure the central theme shines through. In book three, the characters will betray and be betrayed, setting in motion an unstoppable chain of events that spelled disaster for Signy in her past - and now threatens her future.

Next, I ensure that the plot serves to answer the over-arching question - Can Signy save the girl?

Finally, I make sure I have a clear understanding of my characters and how I want them to grow as a result of this adventure.

Character is even more important than plot in my opinion. Plots are interchangeable. As long as they are basically entertaining, we've all been there, done that with most plot ideas. What matters is how your unique group of characters respond to the conflicts you place in their path.

It was during a conversation with Jay Rodan last week, the amazing writer who has been hired to bring Signy Shepherd to the small screen, that I realized I had yet to truly understand a most important character that will be introduced in Book Three.

Mr. X will be the over-arching villain throughout the entire series. He will come and go, wreaking havoc, ruining lives. I need to be absolutely sure that I get him right the first time. At his core, he is a psychopath, but that fact alone cannot explain the twisted relationship he forges with Signy.

I realized I had only scratched the surface in my own understanding of Mr. X. And, for me, the best way to show what makes him tick is by watching how he responds to barriers in his path. In other words - a fabulous plot is essential to drive Mr. X's character development.

When I looked at the plot I had sketched out (note the word sketch) I realized I needed something far more intricate, a set of events that would truly challenge Mr. X. I knew I wouldn't get to know the real Mr. X by having him jump through a few tried and true plot hoops. Mr. X. needed a huge challenge to crack open his mask of sanity.

So, I went back to the drawing board. Actually, more like the canvas. I had already roughed out the broad pencil strokes, but Mr. X needs far more in order to come to life. He needs subtle shading, vibrant colours, depth.

I'm getting there, but it's a struggle. The dark psychopath character has been done to death and figuring out ways to keep that archetype fresh is not easy. It's exhausting work but essential.

There are some writers who can start a new story with only the vaguest of ideas. They blurt out the words and somehow, magically, a coherent story and strong characters appear. That is not me. I have to slog it out, sticky note by sticky note, analyzing every major twist and turn - making sure it all fits together like a giant jigsaw puzzle.  

What I've learned from experience, is that if I can get it right now, then I will save myself a tsunami of angst in the future. There is nothing worse than getting three quarters of the way to the finish line only to realize that your story is not working.

When that happens, there is nothing left but to drown in your own tears.

I Survived Canada AM!

A couple of days ago, I was lucky enough to be invited to appear on Canada AM to speak about my debut novel, BLOWN RED.

I was a tad nervous before hand (I believe the words public colonoscopy were bandied about) but the experience ended up being a lot of FUN!

Katie, the producer, was super supportive and very encouraging. She even slipped me some potential questions ahead of time. Thanks, Katie!


Bev, the interviewer, was terrific. We chatted for a few minutes during a commercial break, so that by the time the interview began, I felt totally comfortable.

Rita from Simon & Schuster, Canada made the long drive on snowy roads to provide added support. Thanks, Rita!

And, thanks to all of you who wrote, tweeted, texted or called to offer encouragement. It was much appreciated.

It was quite the eye-opener to see the inside of the studio. It looks just like any workplace - with the exception of the snazzy sets. Not nearly as intimidating or mysterious as you would think.

Next stop - The Morning Show on Global TV on Jan 22.  I can do this!

If you'd like to watch my interview click on this link Canada AM - Book Beat

Launch Week

It's Launch week for BLOWN RED.

A very exciting time to be sure.

So much is happening:

1. I wrote an op-ed for the National Post on Elizabeth George and how she inspired my writing journey. I wrote another for The 49th Shelf - my top ten favourite Canadian books that influenced me while I was writing my own novel. Each took many hours to complete. I wonder if more experienced writers can whip these off?

2. The TV rights to the Signy Shepherd series have been sold to One Two Productions in association with ITV Studios America. Amazing. A real shocker.

3. There is a launch party scheduled for Jan 22 (which is going to be a lot of fun!)

4. As a member of the Crime Writer's of Canada, I will be pitching my book at the Ontario Librarians Superconference. Not worried about this one. I have two minutes and more than enough to say - and it's easy to talk to strangers.

5. I will attending the Book Lover's Ball as a guest author. I feel a lot better about hosting a table since I found a super cute dress. If I can manage the high heels for three hours, I'm golden.

6. I'm really looking forward to giving a talk to aspiring authors in North Bay in the near future.

All good - right?

Not exactly.

I am NOT looking forward to being interviewed on Canada AM this week. Looking forward to appearing on TV is like anticipating a nasty medical procedure. Only worse. It is like getting a colonoscopy live on TV, and the doctor finding a cancerous polyp while the audience looks on in shocked silence. Serious schadenfreude.

Apparently, I'm not alone.

My agent told me about an author she represented who had written a very timely and topical book. The author was booked on all the big talk shows in the U.S. and Canada. Everyone was looking forward to hearing his/her thoughts - and the publisher was looking forward to the resulting sales bump. A week before the publicity parade was to begin - the author backed out. Apparently, he/she just couldn't do it. Couldn't take the stress.

Book sales suffered big time. Still, I totally understand where that author is coming from. It is very difficult to do something so new - and in such a public way. The fear that you will make a fool of yourself is almost paralyzing.

So, for all you people who are out there breathlessly awaiting my TV debut - please go easy on me. If I fumble or bumble, blush, or rush my words - please try and LAUGH with me. Cause, that's what I'm going to try and do - no matter what the outcome.  

Life is to short and the universe is too vast to sweat the small stuff.