Genre Happenings

My Heroes Wear Kevlar

When Bob Hamer wrote that in an e-mail to me, I had to laugh. It was such a classic statement, and so indicative of what he writes. You see, Bob is a former Marine and undercover FBI agent who has been there, done that. In his book, Enemies Among Us, he brings a level of expertise and authenticity to the story that evokes the reader to believe . . .

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For Writers

Digging for Details: Researching the Historical Novel

I became a writer because I wanted . . . well . . . to write. But after five years in this business, I’ve learned that writers aren’t just writers. They are creators, editors, designers and, yes, even marketers. Most publishing houses require authors to actively participate in getting the word out about their new releases.

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Making A Scene

The Thirty-Six Dramatic Situations, Part 2

This month we continue our look at George Polti’s The Thirty-Six Dramatic Situations. (If you missed Part 1, please read it here before continuing.)

27. Discovery of a Loved One’s Dishonor. Discoverer, guilty one. Presents a similar struggle as to that in Sacrifice of a Loved One, but without the attraction of a high ideal. Here, the ideal is replaced with shame.

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Author By Night

Inprisonment and Release

A publisher has no life. Bound up in details, I live in an author-eat-author world. I act as proverbial judge, jury, executioner.

New judges can make mistakes but try to limit them. If hasty, they can convict the innocent while condemning the guilty. Too many good books have died in the penitentiary of a publisher’s whims.

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