Category Archives: Just for Fun

The Wrong Guy (Guest Blog: Claudia Whitsitt)

Posted on April 22, 2011 | 1 comment

On a sunny afternoon about four years ago, I plopped myself on a sandy beach in La Jolla, California and played what if. What if I wrote a book about a turning point? What if I added mystery and suspense? What if I connected it to an event in my own life that I could access in the blink of an eye?

Many years ago, I attended Eastern Michigan University on the heels of the arrest of John Norman Collins, the chief suspect of The Michigan Murders. He was accused of murdering seven college co-eds at my university. Life was scary enough for a college freshman then—the Detroit Riots had shocked my neighborhood two years previous, the Vietnam War loomed in the background, and I was a frightened, naïve Catholic girl. Though the memories of these events, and the creative joy of fiction, The Wrong Guy was born.

The main character, Katie Hayes, is a lot like me, except prettier, and taller. She heads off to school armed with her rosary and her Nancy Drew mysteries. Her best friend, Janie, is the carbon copy of my college roommate—wild and crazy. Enter crisis and mystery. One girl is assaulted, another kidnapped. Even though the cops have the likely suspect behind bars, no one can help but wonder if they haven’t apprehended The Wrong Guy.

I had a ton of fun writing this coming of age mystery. I hope you have a ton of fun reading it.

$2.99 [OmniLit][Kindle][KindleUK][KindleGE][Nook][Smashwords] $2.99

Claudia Whitsitt, a seasoned special education teacher and the mother of five grown children, is a Michigan native and lover of both reading and writing. As a young girl, she was inspired by Nancy Drew mysteries. Her passion for mystery spurred the penning of her own mystery, The Wrong Guy, loosely based on her college years and the Michigan Murders. Claudia began her writing career five years ago. During that time, she has written two additional novels, Identity Issues, and Two of Me. Claudia was honored to have won the 2010 Hummingbird Review/Southern California Writer’s Conference contest with her essay, One Last Pearl. The essay appeared in the Summer/Fall edition of the Hummingbird Review. Claudia can be reached through her website, www.claudiawhitsitt.com.

1 Comment

Posted in Blatherings, Guest Bloggers, Just for Fun, New Book Releases

Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

How to Write Realistic Dialogue (Guest Blogger)

Posted on April 13, 2011 | 2 comments

Click Cover to Buy Now!

Well written, realistic dialogue is one of the most useful tools at an author’s disposable. Nothing else can pull a reader from a story than unbelievable dialogue. Imagine a character like Mandy Moore’s in A Walk to Remember. Now picture that character cursing. A bum on the streets won’t use large, obscure words. Neither would a small child. Here are some tips for including authentic dialogue in your novels:

1. Go to the mall or other places where lots of people go. Sit on a bench and eavesdrop.

2. Create a character sketch. In order for your character’s dialogue to be true to the character, it must reflect the character’s flaws, weaknesses, strengths, and personality. A smoker character will not rant about the evils of the big bad tobacco companies.

Click Cover to Buy Now!

3. Large blocks of dialogue, similar to large blocks of description, are boring. Pepper some action throughout dialogue scenes. People often talk with hand gestures. Include movements and other actions.

4. Use swear words sparingly unless the character demands it. Some people hide behind them or use them for release. Other characters may only use them under highly stressful situations. And if you are writing a historical piece, look up the curse words of that time period. In Woman of Honor, my high fantasy romance novel, my characters sometimes yell, “God’s Teeth!” or “God’s Wounds!”

5. While using words appropriate to locale (some regions say soda, others pop), try to avoid dating your piece with slang.

6. If you are going to use accents, make certain that they are constant throughout the novel but not overbearing.

7. Once you write a dialogue scene, read it aloud. Does it flow? Does it make sense? Does it further the story and add details to the plot?

Links:
Website: http://www.NicoleZoltack.com
Blog: http://NicoleZoltack.blogspot.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/Nicole.Zoltack
Facebook Fan Page: http://tinyurl.com/Zoltack-FB-Fanpage
Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/scarlett9284
Twitter: http://twitter.com/NicoleZoltack
Email: Nicole.Zoltack@gmail.com



2 Comments

Posted in Blatherings, Creativity, Guest Bloggers, Just for Fun, Writing

Tagged , , , , ,

Sean Hayden…the man

Posted on April 8, 2011 | 4 comments

There comes a time in your life when you really must step down off your personal pedestal and give credit to other human beings (or dogs, or cats, if you feel that strongly about them.)  Today, I am giving a shout out, heads up, or whatever clever little saying you want to use to Sean Hayden.

Not too long ago, Echelon’s Sr. Editor stepped down (so she could have a life). Kat had been with us for a very long time and I was devastated. Then out of nowhere,  a voice whispered in my ear, “Hey, you need help with anything, I’m your man.” Or something like that. Some time before that Sean Hayden had signed a contract, actually two, with Echelon for his Vampire series. Now, I’ll admit, I wondered what this devilishly handsome and mild-mannered young man could do to help me.

Click Cover to Buy eBook Now!

He soon answered my question. Sean stepped in a the new Sr. Editor for Echelon Press. Since then he has picked on, teased, coddled, inspired, and encouraged me. Who woulda thunk it?

On top of his day job, where he is some kind of master with fiber something or other wires or some such thing, he has helped reorganize Echelon Press. He has brought in several new authors who are delightful in their own rights. He has also become one of my most prolific authors.

Over the next year Sean will see six short stories published as part of our new Quake Electric Shorts program. He is writing The Magical Steam Carnival of Professor Pelusian Minus with his eleven-year-old son, Connor. It is a wonderful series and it warms my heart to see Sean working with his son on this project.

Click Cover to Buy eBook Now!

We also released Sean’s first steampunk short Lady Dorn. I encourage you to check it out. And speaking of steampunk, Sean will have a story in the upcoming Echelon anthology Her Majesty’s Mysterious Conveyance.

And we should not exclude Deceptions, his upcoming and eagerly anticipated follow-up to Origins.

I would be remiss if I did not tell you all what a swell guy Sean is. I have discovered that there is little he isn’t willing to endure for his friends and I count myself lucky that he found his way into my company and my life.

Have a super day!

*Sean, can you please mail that check now. I did what you wanted.

4 Comments

Posted in Blatherings, Just for Fun, Recognition