This article is based on ideas described in The Right To Write, by Julia Cameron.

Other great, inspiring books about unleashing the power of your creativity:

The Artist's Way, by Julia Cameron
Letters to a Young Writer, by Julia Cameron
Becoming a Writer, by Dorothea Brande
Writing Down the Bones, by Natalie Goldberg
Write From the Heart, by Hal Zina Bennett

Copyright ©2004, 2007 by Mayra Calvani / All Rights Reserved. This article may not be copied nor printed in any form without permission from the author.

The Mad Word Doctor

Ask Doc Joan: Drop-in Characters

Dear Doc Joan,

My critique partner told me not to bother with descriptions for characters who aren't important in my book, but I see big name authors doing it. A character without a description would be boring. Am I right or is he?
Sign me,
Deadly dull drop-ins

Dear Deadly,
Beore I take sides, I'd like to know your purpose for these drop-in characters.
(1) Part of scene setting: I've seen Tony Hillerman and Janet Evanovitch describe peripheral characters briefly and then "name" them according to that description for the rest of a scene. After a description of no more than a line or two, you might assign a name from that description (maybe "purple shirt" or "Dumbo ears"). Say your waitress has an annoying habit of bobbing her head to the cafe's music. You might even make further use of her to heighten tension, by having her return and interrupt conversation at an awkward moment:
Bobble-head leaned on the table. "Did you say rare or well-done?"

(2) Symbolic: Stephen King once picked a dead character as an object of his protagonist's shock. He referred to the body thereafter as a "sweet treat" when the viewpoint character had recurring fears of his own possible death. A minor character may also be a FOIL for others. Shakespeare (and many others since) have demonstrated what somebody is like by contrasting how two characters react differently in similar situations.

(3) Information provider: Sometimes you need one character for another character to interact with so you won't have to tell the reader what they need to know. Warning: Be sure that whoever is being informed needs the information so this won't sound like info-dump. Lively characters can make it more interesting.

(4) An important function: If this character or CERTAIN OBJECTS will turn out to have a purpose, keep him/her/it, but be subtle. M. Night Shyamalan (Sixth Sense, Signs, etc.) does it masterfully, as does any good mystery writer.

With all the above, your viewpoint character's perception of other people shows as much about her or him as it does the minor character being described. For instance, in the first example above, the POV character perceives the waitress in a sarcastic way. A different viewpoint character may have been more sympathetic.

Bottom line—if you need the character, make him or her interesting without upstaging the protagonist. And balance the space given to minor characters with the amount of importance you want to give them. If you focus an entire scene on a character, your reader will expect that character to figure into the plot. Your story has no room for anything "deadly dull."

Doc

Have a question to share in this column? Email: jmuHall at aol.com. To see other examples, go to: http://www.joanuptonhall.com/books.htm , scroll past the book covers and click the link: "Ask Doc" Q&A's

Author Spotlight: Interview with JC Hall
Interview by Mayra Calvani

To what do you attribute your fascination with the fantasy genre? Did you read fantasy stories when you were a child? Were you influenced by a specific author?

I discovered fantasy fairly late in life. As a child, I read whatever novels my dad left lying around the house—mostly Dorothy Sayers, Agatha Christie, P.G. Wodehouse, Dashiel Hammett, Erle Stanley Gardener, i.e. more crime/detective novels than anything else. It wasn't until I emigrated to Canada that I discovered the fantasy section in the local library. I was hooked from my first Judith Tarr, Patricia A. McKillip and C. J. Cherryh, and read all their wonderful novels in a matter of months. Then I toyed with the idea of writing my own.

Tell us about your latest books—Legends of the Serai and Lady of the Lakes. What was your inspiration for these stories?

So many fantasy novels have male protagonists and the 'quest' theme where a bunch of mismatched people get together and journey on to find some object of vast importance. I wanted to read about strong female protagonists who lived in worlds where there's magic but also rules and laws, where the conflict has mostly to do with them being in a position of responsibility, and also to do with them being female.

Since there were few such novels around, I decided to write one. The House of Orveen was also about Lady Cara (the female protagonist of Legends) and was the prequel to Legends, but it was so amateurish I put it aside as soon as I completed it and did not even submit it for publication. But I now had the backstory, I knew I had the persistence to complete a novel, so I took the experience and ran with it. Et voila, Legends of the Serai was born.

In the realm of fantasy subgenres, I like to think of Legends as a chameleon with attitude, blending into classic sword-and-sorcery with a strong dose of romance, yet sticking out like a sore thumb because its protagonist is resolutely female without sacrificing any of her strengths. Reviewers have commented that the writing sets it apart, and I like to think that lyricism has a firm place in fantasy, even when swordplay and sorcery provide most of the action and adventure.

Do you have any other titles coming up soon?

Lady of the Lakes is being re-released by Zumaya Otherworlds, the SF/F imprint of my new publisher Zumaya Publications. The publication date is March 2007. The House of Caerne, the sequel to Lady of the Lakes, will be released either later this year or early next year.

Is sword and sorcery a subcategory of the Fantasy genre? What characterizes this subcategory? What other subcategories are there under this genre?

There's High Fantasy (think Tolkien and C.S. Lewis), sword-and-sorcery (Moorcock, Leiber), dark/erotic fantasy (Lovecraft, vampire, supernatural), historical/medieval/alternative historical fantasy (Kay, Martin, Cherryh), contemporary/urban fantasy (Gaiman, Whedon, Rowling), romantic fantasy (Lackey, Duane), YA fantasy (Pierce) and many more. Often, the subgenres bleed into one another with elements of several present in any one novel. What characterizes sword-and-sorcery is the emphasis on swordplay, magic and romance.

Technically speaking, what would you say is the most difficult aspect of writing a sword and sorcery novel?

My cover artist, Sans Talbot, who is also my substantive editor for both Lady of the Lakes and its sequel, The House of Caerne, tells me in no uncertain terms that I am weak with action scenes. I think he's right. But it's really hard to write convincing action scenes when you've watched a lot of Chinese martial arts movies as a child. Trying to duplicate that kind of action in words just makes for extremely sarcastic comments from your substantive editor.

What are some of the best fantasy authors/books these days?

My favourite fantasy authors are Patricia A. McKillip, C. J. Cherryh, Judith Tarr, and Lois McMaster Bujold. Cherryh and Bujold write SF as well as fantasy and do both equally well—quite a feat. SF and fantasy are both speculative fiction, but the technicalities of writing in the two vary greatly, especially in terms of language. McKillip writes beautiful, lyrical, prose. Cherryh excels at gritty realism. All are masters at the most important aspect of fiction writing—the suspension of disbelief.

You also write poetry. How would you compare the creative flow you get when writing prose as opposed to writing poetry? Which one comes more naturally for you?

Poetry comes unbidden. I've found that strong, positive emotions evoke ideas and images that naturally lend themselves to language. Cliched though it may be, I felt my best poems were written while I was falling in love. Prose tends to be more work—not so much forced as needing more polish, and I often re-write prose over and over again before I'm satisfied with it, whereas my poems tend to be 'born' more or less as they finally appear, requiring much less sweating over—more art than craft, perhaps!

Novelist, poet… and also book reviewer. Do you think a lot of reviewers on the web are guilty of 'facile praise'? Do you keep into consideration the feelings of an author when writing reviews? If yes, how do you do this and still be 100% honest in the case of poorly written books?

I must admit, rather sheepishly, that I don't read many reviews. I like to think I'm fair and certainly wouldn't subscribe to facile praise. Most of my reviews are positive because I tend to review the books I enjoyed reading, but I have also been moved to review books that I absolutely hated. I don't review books that I wouldn't choose to read myself. For instance, I have absolutely nothing against bodice-rippers but there're only so many times you can read about heaving bosoms and throbbing manhoods and not have your eyes roll back so far into the back of your skull that it's a doozy trying to get them facing forward again. Also, I'm very prone to nightmares, so I would simply not review certain genres like horror, no matter how well they're written. And if it were an author I knew personally, and it's a genre I enjoy but I end up not liking it, I would simply not review it. It's no biggie.

You were born in Hong Kong, educated in England, and now live in Canada. Has this had an influence on your writing?

The only practical influence is that I have to keep reminding myself about all those pesky British vs Canadian/North American spellings.

Do you have a website where readers may learn more about you and your works?

Yes, my webiste URL is http://www.jc-hall.com and I've just started a blog which can be accessed from my website. Some of my poems and excerpts of my novels are there, as well as links to samples of my book reviews, movie reviews and travel articles.

What advice would you give to fledgling fantasy writers who are trying to break into print?

Read a lot, not just in the genre you're writing but the classics as well. Know a little bit about the history of fantasy writing, read all the greats, but keep in mind that you must develop your own voice. Keep plodding away until you've completed your first novel, but know that it probably won't be accepted for publication. But that's OK, as it's just the blueprint for your second one, and that one has a much bigger chance of acceptance. Keep in mind that talent is just the beginning and by itself will not amount to much. Hard work, dedication and determination are much better indicators of success.

If you could choose five books a beginner must absolutely read, what would those be?
Renni Browne and Dave King's 'Self-Editing for Fiction Writers' is essential reading for any aspiring fiction author. Also, my copies of 'Beginnings, Middles and Ends' by Nancy Kress and 'Description' by Monica Wood (both of the series 'Elements of Fiction Writing' by Writers' Digest Books) are amazingly and rightfully dog-eared. Your editors will swear by the classic 'Elements of Style' by Strunk and White, and you would do well to stay on the good side of your editors. Also, a good electronic dictionary-cum-thesaurus like Merriam Webster installed into your computer will save you a great deal of time as you write, both in getting down those pesky words that always seem to be at the tip of your tongue, as well as providing you with ' le mot juste' for every conceivable situation your characters find themselves in.

Author Spotlight: Meet Romance Author Jane Toombs
Interview by Mayra Calvani

When did you start writing professionally and what compelled you to choose the romance field?

Way back in the dark ages, I loved reading the gothics written by Mary Stewart and Phyllis Whitney, not thinking of them as romances, but as intriguing and often spooky mysteries where a man and woman finally got together in the end despite seemingly impossible odds. But of course they were romances.

I was married with five children before I decide I'd try to write a gothic.. I'd fooled around writing stories before, but after I began my story, I enrolled in an off campus University of California writing class taught by a man I considered "elderly." He was not interested in teaching anyone who wasn't intending to try to be published. He encouraged me, saying if the rest of my story was as good as the beginning, he'd send it to his agent. I had no idea this was extremely unusual, but I certainly was certainly motivated to finish it. In spite of the fact the story had an African-American heroine (based on one of my nurse friends) which was not the norm in those days, his agent sold Tule Witch to Avon. My first sale!

You have written over seventy books. To what do you attribute such productivity?

As more than one other author has said, by keeping my butt in the chair and my hands on the keys, I was able to write "fast" enough to encourage publishers to offer me contracts based only on synopses. Naturally what I wrote had to sell well enough to encourage them to keep buying what I wrote.

You write in different subcategories—gothic, suspense, contemporary, historical, Regency, and paranormal? Which one is your favorite? Which one would you say is the easiest to write? The most difficult?

For me, stories that contain at least hints of the supernatural are the most fun to write. When Silhouette's Shadows line went down the tubes, I had been contracted to do another, so my editor told me they'd honor the contract if a wrote a Silhouette Special Edition instead. The little hint of paranormal I tried to sneak into it was quashed by the editor, but she left in what suspense there was.

Interestingly enough, the book I would have written for Shadows went to another publisher and won first place in dark fantasy for the Fantasy, Futuristic and Paranormal Chapter of RWA. This should have been a clue. But I missed the implication, and began writing more or less straight romances. At the same time I was also doing historical romances for another publisher, where I could add all the suspense I wanted and even dabs of paranormal. While I enjoyed creating problems that kept the hero and heroine apart, I yearned to be writing paranormal
So what did I do? I wrote and sold a horror story. But doing the horror book made me realize I regretted not being able to put in a romance between the hero and heroine.

Finally I turned to fantasy, which is great fun, where paranormal may be everyday stuff in a fantasy world, and the hero and heroine can fall in love.
All in all, I have to say paranormal is what I most enjoy writing as well as reading.


One thing about prolific authors that intrigues me is how they're able to create so many different heroines and heroes. How do you set about creating your protagonists so that they don't seem the same in different novels? After all, don't you have an 'ideal' hero and heroine?

I don't do character studies about my main characters before I start writing each new book. I know what kind of work they do, how old they are and some of the baggage from the past, plus how they feel about themselves. It takes me at least two chapters, and sometimes three before I get a real feel for them. Somehow, in writing the these beginning chapters, I come to know them, and pretty much how they'll behave in a given situation. I've begun to feel they are actually creating themselves. This may be the reason I've never believed I was repeating my characters, book after book.


I understand you write under several pen names—Ellen Jamison, Diane Stuart, Olivia Sumner, and Jane Anderson. Was this your decision, or was the idea suggested by the publishers you've worked with? Isn't it difficult to promote your books when you have so many pen names?

The pen names all started when I wrote a historical romance for a packager who auctioned it, and sold to Berkley. The editor there decided my name was far too "depressing" for a romance so she named me Diana Stuart. I should have objected, but sucked it up instead. Then when I first sold to Silhouette Desire, they insisted on using that name—and on my first two Special Editions as well. But when the Shadows line began, they decided Jane Toombs was a natural author's name for a dark story, and from them on into the next batch of Special Editions, I used my own name.

Kensington allowed me to use my own name from the beginning until they came to a time when they decided to "reinvent authors" and told me I had to use a pseudonym. Since my Viking Life Partner's last name is Anderson, I chose that—hence Jane Anderson.

Kensington also suggested strongly that I use another name on my "darker books" so I chose my middle and maiden name hence—Ellen Jamison.

Olivia Sumner was deliberately chosen by me and my second husband, John Toombs, because we were writing the Regencies together. He did the plotting and the research, while I wrote some of the story. The contracts were always in my name, though. After John died, I ceased doing Regencies for obvious reasons--though these Regencies Amber Quill Press is reprinting do have my real name on them.

If I could do it over, I'd insist on using my own name on everything. And that's what I advise beginning authors to do. If they need to use a pseudonym, I urge them to always use that name. The exception is those who write erotica. I can see the logic in using separate names for erotic and their other writing.

Having worked with companies such as Ballantine, Pinnacle, Dell, and Silhoutte, as well as with small and ebook publishers, what would you say are their main differences when it comes to editing, marketing, and dealing with the author?

Obviously the big New York companies distribute more books and therefore sell more books that the small press and electronic publishers. They also have more advertising money. So usually, despite their small royalty percentage, (starting at 6%) the author earns more money per book. But the epubs are more friendly to deal with, and I've found their editing matches, and in some cases is better, than the big publishers. Despite the high epub royalties, ranging from 40-50%, most, but not all, writers will earn more money with the big pubs.

Do you work on various projects at a time? Generally, what is your writing schedule like?

I can only write one book at a time. Why? Because despite a synopsis that tells me the general trend of the story, I never know exactly what is coming. That appears as I write. So I've found it best to concentrate on one book at a time for a stronger and better story flow. But I do write synopses for projected books while writing an individual book. Sometimes even a first chapter if it's going to my agent to try to sell. I have been known to stop writing a book if I suddenly get a contract for another where time is of the essence in getting it finished.. But I always find it difficult to get back into the first book again.

I write every day for varying periods, and I always have projects aimed at the future. If I use the definition I had for the wonderful instructor who have me a jump start on my career, I'm now "elderly" myself, and may have more projects ahead than I can ever finish.

Please tell us about your promo group, Jewels of the Quill? Could you share some of your promotional strategies?

Jewels Of The Quill was started by Karen Wiesner as a promotion tool for a group of twelve midwest authors. This number gave each of us each one month out of the year for special recognition. Each month, we all contribute money for upcoming promotions, making sure none of us having to pay out a large sum at one time. For various reasons writers have had to drop out through the years, but we are still twelve, though no longer all from the midwest. Karen is a dynamo. Not only did she conceive the gimmick of us all being a jewel of some kind (I'm Dame Turquoise), but she's also responsible for creating everything on the JOTQ web page. She sets up the Romantic Times ads, which result in reviews for our books, plans monthly giveaways and writes the monthly newsletter. She not only originated the idea of a yearly Tales From The Treasure Trove Anthology and found a publisher, but created a committee of three members to edit each story as it comes in and make suggestions to the author so it can be as perfect as possible. This resulted in our very first anthology winning an Eppie from EPIC, a Romantic Reviewers' Choice Award for best romance anthology of that year, plus several other awards. She also does the covers and is a fine writer as well. We are now up to Tales From the Treasure Trove III, coming out in March from Whiskey Creek Press, and Tales IV is already scheduled for 2008. The group is successful because of her, and because we all work hard to support each other. Jewels Of The Quill rocks!

What type of romance books seem to be the most popular with readers these days? What about with authors?

Fantasy romance is extremely popular these days. So is suspense romance. And, of course erotic romance. Perhaps the latter accounts for the rise of romance sales in lines who allow no sex outside of marriage. If one judges by the way Harlequin/Silhouette keeps adding, dropping and changing lines, it seems to indicate dark fantasy, which I label paranormal, is also becoming increasing popular. Many readers chose erotica, but unless it ends with a committed couple, it can't really be called romance.

In your early days as a writer, did you have a favorite author you tried to imitate? As an author, which book has had the most influence on you?

I think I probably answered this in the first question. But I'll add that I've also been influenced by E. A. Poe, A. Merritt, Lovecraft, Andre Norton and other fantasy/paranormal writers. Plus the Bronte sisters. While I've never tried to imitate any of them, I do believe their writing has shaped the way I create a story. I can't think of any one book that has influenced me more than others.

Do you think the romance publishing industry has changed much since your first book sale? If so, in what way?

I've been in the business of writing long enough to see romance trends come and go, then often return in a slightly different guise. Of course, romances have become sexier each decade, until today erotic romance sells well, with erotica selling even better. But true erotica is about sex, not romance. I have no quarrel with that, even though it's not what I want to read. I guess it's because I need to have a commitment between hero and heroine at the end, whether the sex is minimal or at the max. I think I mentioned that my belief is that the proliferation of erotica caused a reaction in some readers that created more of a demand for no sex before marriage books.

The only really new development in publishing as far as I've noticed has been the blossoming of electronic books. Why are writers attracted to the new industry? At least one reason is because epubs are more likely to accept books that don't fit neatly into categories. Some I've read have covered as many as four genres, yet were a good read. A book store wouldn't have a clue where to slot them. And yet they aren't necessarily mainstream books either. It'll be interesting to see how this all works out.


I hear your book, Becoming Your Own Critique Partner (Zumaya Publications) is doing very well. Why do you think authors have trouble editing their own work? Without giving too much away, could you mention some of the most common problems faced and tips on how to solve them?

In December, I had a Question and Answer day on an RWA PAN (published writers) list where the general membership of RWA could ask questions. Since they knew ahead of time my talk was based on the above book and how to use it for final editing as well as in creating a story, all the questions concerned editing. Some asked how they could learn to edit on a computer instead of hard copy. This was something I had to learn. Which I did by first editing the work online, then using hard copy and checking to see how it matched my online corrections. This gives writers courage to trust themselves to edit online. But many simply wanted to know how to edit. Since each of the first 19 chapters shows how to make a book right in the first place, it's easy to use it as a guideline for editing. The last two chapters are devoted to common errors, which can be checked for in editing and changed. Most of those who asked questions bought the book and I've already had several email me to tell me how happy they are with it.

The last two chapters are titled Bits and Pieces and A Final Piece, picking up all the odds and ends of common errors—wrong sequence being one. Since Janet and I did a lot of research when working this book, both of us read what other writers had to say. I'd never encounter Sol Stein's On Writing. My loss. I'd never before realized how often I made wrong sequence errors. I still do, but now I see it and rearrange the sentence. Here's one of the examples from the book:

Once five o'clock came, Mary hurried from the office, eager to reach home so
she could get ready for her big date with Rick, She needed to take the time to
look really special and wished she didn't have to stop at the cleaners, the
supermarket and the drug store. Rick was the most exciting guy she'd ever met.
What a surprise when he'd actually asked her to dinner. In front of Lois, at that,
who was certainly much more sexy.

Did you spot the out of sequence sentences? Let's try it again.
Mary could hardly wait for her workday to end. What a surprise when Rick,
right in front of sexy Lois, asked for a dinner date. He was easily the most
exciting guy Mary had ever met, and to think he'd chosen her out of all the gals in
the office.

As the clock inched toward five, she thought of the errands she had to run on
the way home and hoped she'd have enough time to, as her grandmother would
say, "get all gussied up" for the biggest date of her life.

While I was writing this chapter, one sentence came out this way: A writer can learn to find out–of-order sequences with practice. Luckily, I noted it in time to pluck "with practice" from its end position and put it at the beginning where it belonged.
Another useful suggestion in these last two chapters is to mark your use of "it" and "thing" in your work by using Find. Each time one of these turns up, think about how you can replace either word with the actual object you mean, Of course you can't every time, but usually it's possible, and makes for stronger writing.

Would you like to talk about your latest release(s)?

Snow Flower, published by Amber Quill Press in December, both in Electronic and print version is a historical romance set in both America and England during the American/British War of 1812. During the same time period England was also fighting Napoleon in Europe, which is probably why the United States won the war in America.

Snow Flower is an Anishinabe (Chippewa) maiden on her way to becoming a powerful medicine woman when she's captured by their enemy tribe, the Sioux. She's rescued by Kegan, an English spy trying to win the Indians to the English cause. His older brother, the heir, is in the US with the British forces. Snow Flower is grateful, but has no cause to love any white man. When they're stranded on a small island during a storm on Lake Michigan, they both feel attracted to each other, though she refuses to act on it. But, later, when the war forces them to take refuge near Sault Ste. Marie, they marry in the Anishinabe fashion, and Kegan goes off to find his brother--dead. Since he's now the heir, he must return to England. Snow Flower travels across the Great Salt Water to find her husband. Imagine an Indian maiden in Regency London!

I also have a paranormal romance novella, "The Turquoise Talisman" in the Tales From The Treasure Trove III Anthology coming out in March, and a gothic, Tower Of Shadows, coming out in April from Champagne Books, a Canadian based epub.

Do you have a website where readers may learn more about you and your books?

My personal website is http://www.JaneToombs.com where all my books are listed.
You can also find some of my books, plus contests at http://www.jewelsofthequill.com. Another site with some of my books, plus contests is http://www.bookswelove.com.

Author Spotlight: Meet Young Adult Fantasy Author Gloria Oliver
Interview by Angela Wilds for Fantasy Novel Review, http://fantasynovelreview.com
Please tell our readers about yourself and your writing beginnings.

Gloria Oliver
Well, first off, I'm a writer, so I am probably insane. :P I am married, have a daughter, three cats, a mortgage, all the usual mundane stuff. I work with numbers for a living. People don't think that accountants have any imagination but if they could see what we do with those numbers, they'd never think that again. lol. Dealing in accounting is not what I "wanted" to do; it's pretty much just something I fell into and have been doing ever since. 

As to writing, I was nibbled on by the bug in my teens, where I wrote a piece or two of fan fiction (before I honestly knew such a thing existed), and tried to write a novel. Didn't do much with writing for a long time after that then got a serious case of wanting to write when I found out other people did fan fiction and that they were willing to write and share each other's work. Haven't stopped since.

How do you think your writing would be different if you hadn't moved so often?

I must admit that moving around as I have has probably given me some insight into a lot of situations and concepts I might not have run across otherwise. It's honestly amazing how states or even countries can be so different from one another yet on other levels be so much alike. I'm not sure I would have made this connection if I had not moved around so much. I wouldn't have run across such a large amount of different beliefs, lifestyles, etc. I'm sure in many ways it would have limited the directions my writing could have taken. So though at times not an enjoyable experience, in the end it has helped make me and my writing a more rounded person. Or so I hope! 

You've talked about conquering your shyness to make contacts in the writing world. Could you give some pointers on how to go about doing that? I know a lot of people have a hard time meeting and talking to strangers.

Well, I still wouldn't say I am the most outgoing person in the world, but I'd like to think I've gotten somewhat better. Networking is pretty much a must anymore if you want your writing to get noticed, and the easiest way of doing that is to go to conventions with writers' tracks. Even those prohibitively shy can sit in the audience and pick up a lot of information and expertise by listening to the pros. Information you get from there might enable you to make contacts through email, which is a good way of getting information or communicating with others even if you don't feel comfortable meeting them in person. By going to a number of the cons, you will get familiar with other con goers and guests. 

Spontaneous conversations seem to be a big thing there at times and can draw you in despite yourself. I smile a lot and normally let others do the talking. People love to talk--most are just looking to find a receptive audience. If you're lucky, you can get together or find yourself a not-so-shy person and follow in their wake and let them lead you into things. Like most matters, the more you do it, the more you get used to it. It's just taking that first step. The more familiar the places and people become, the more at ease you feel, and the easier it gets to try things. I still think I have a ways to go, but I am working on it. Even wallflowers can overhear some good tips to follow up on at these places. It's the way I used to get into print. :P

I know you especially like the Japanese settings and culture. Do you think you'll specialize in the Japanese/ samurai stories or will you cover a wider spectrum of subjects in the future? 

For writing and reading, fantasy is my first love. So my first attempt at a book (never to be seen by outside eyes!) was a fantasy epic. In the Service of Samurai was actually my second novel and to be honest I picked the subject matter because it was something I was interested in and because I thought it would be something different and new to readers and so would attract more attention. Yet my next three works have been more in the standard fantasy genre as that's pretty much where the muse has been leading me. I have no plans at this time to do another Japanese book, but you never know. 

I'm also trying to get some short stories out there and for those, all gloves are off. I've been doing anything and everything from horror, fantasy, science fiction, to comedy. If the idea is there and it bites me, I will go wherever it takes me. 

You wrote about reoccurring dreams so realistically in Vassal of El. Have you ever suffered from reoccurring dreams yourself? If you didn't how did you get that urgency in the dreams? Are there any tricks to writing sections of stories to get that extra feeling in, like certain colors or words?

I did suffer from recurring dreams when I was a teenager. I had one specific nightmare that haunted me for about a ten-year period. Everything around me would be moving terribly slow, but I would be moving super fast and there was no way for me to interact or communicate with those around me. Very creepy. 

As to writing dreams, I believe the key is to try to engage as many of the senses as possible in your descriptions--make the nightmare real and immediate for the reader. Also, sentence structure and pacing can set subliminal moods in the writing. To get a good feel on what to do, I would recommend finding a passage that gripped you as a reader and studying it, see how it differs from the rest of the work. 

As with anything, practice is the most effective tool--the more you write, the more you understand the nature of the writing itself and the things you can do with it. It can even become instinctive. As to specific words or colors, well, depending on what you are trying to achieve, they could be a pivotal point. The reader's subconscious is full of specific icons that mean certain things and can be triggered by the writing. The color red for example could be used to make the reader think of blood, especially when joined with a metallic smell.

Any advice about how to develop an idea into a full-blown story that is worth publishing? Anything to keep in mind while doing it?

As you mention, you can have an idea, a wonderful idea, but it may not be something that you can write about. If you do think of something that sounds interesting, the first thing to do is go backwards and frontwards with it. Whether the idea is a scene, an action, an ending, you need to dissect it and follow it to a beginning, a middle, and an end. Think about who gets affected. Why do they get affected? What would they do when affected? Where would such an idea take place? As you think about these things and flesh out the idea, then you will get a feel on whether you can or can't take it anywhere and decide to spend the time to actually create the story or book. 

Even if in the end it tanks, the exercise itself will be worth it. And you never know when that idea or a scene or character that grew from it might not end up being perfect and just what you needed to make something else work. 

Do you have any new stories being published/ developed in the near future?

I have two books coming out in the next couple of years. "Cross-eyed Dragon Troubles" should see release around June of 2006 from Hardshell Word Factory. It's a YA (young-adult) novel in the fantasy setting of a school for the Dragon Knight's guild. In 2007, Zumaya will be releasing "Willing Sacrifice," which is another fantasy novel. There's more info on both at www.gloriaoliver.com and some edited and raw chapters for both, so you can get a feel for the books to come. 

I do have several short stories making the rounds, and with any luck one or two of them will get picked up by the anthologies they've been submitted to. One is a comedy, and the other a police procedural fantasy (say that three times fast). 

Yard Dog Press will be putting out a Flush book of 1000-words-or-less stories by their stable or authors, so I will have a short alien comedy piece in that one. Yard Dog Press has the Yard Dog Road Show where the writers read out these pieces while volunteer authors do hilarious interpretive dance in the background. If you've never seen a Yard Dog Road Show and there happens to be one at a convention you're attending, make sure to check it out--they are a hoot!

Currently in the works is "The Price of Mercy" which is yet another fantasy work, though I am trying to give it a little more of a 1500's feel than the usual medieval slant. Time to write is not what I would like it to be, so I probably won't finish the first pass on this one for another six months or so. :-(

Gloria, could you clarify on what a Flush book is?

lol. No problem. Flash fiction is normally considered stories of about 1000 words or less. Yard Dog is going to take that further, and make a Flush book so you can read these bits of flash fiction at the toilet. :P They are a funny bunch of guys. 

You have talked about mistakes you made in your early writing. Could you tell us about some of them? What was the worst? What was the least bad?

My biggest mistake was being uninformed and in doing so falling into pits. If I had (it) to do all over again, I would definitely go to conventions first, and learn about the pitfalls in the profession from the experts. Would have also started trying to network a lot earlier. There are a lot of con artists out there that talk a good game but will get you in the end. Not having done my research, I got hooked by a crooked agency who sent me to a book doctor who basically had no idea what they were doing and of course then the agency didn't pick me up as a client once I had paid since it was all a referral scam. 

Again, being ignorant at the time, I also had no idea what a vanity press was (companies that will print your book untouched or with minor edits, but you pay to have it published-- big NO-NO! Money should always flow to the writer). Luckily I didn't go down that road, mostly because I couldn't afford it. Felt like an idiot once I did find out what it was. The biggest key is to be informed. The best way to do that is to go to conventions (yeah, I am a big convention fan, can you tell?) and also to check out websites like www.sfwa.org and www.anotherealm.com/prededitors, which have a plethora of information on dos and don'ts, what to watch out for, what things to do.

Another problem I had was not understanding whether my writing was good enough to be published or not. Though you may read a lot, there are still things you only learn through doing the craft. One of the most important things you can do to help yourself, if you're truly serious, is to start looking for beta readers who actually have a clue. You can write something and have four people tell you it's great, but if they don't understand writing, they could be misleading you. 

And your own opinion is just not enough. You have to have your work checked by someone else. There normally is too much you as the author know inherently about the piece to sometimes be able to tell when you have given enough info or not. So another "good" pair of eyes is incredibly important. Also, never just take changes verbatim. Weigh them out and take the ones you want and leave off the others. It is your work. But be open and truly think about what other people say; they may have something there.

Are there any questions you wish you'd be asked in an interview? If so, here's your chance to have them asked and answered. ( I'm fishing here. ;} )

lol! I don't know. It's always hard to try to think of what people want and need to know. I don't find myself all that interesting! :P Hm, how about any advice on drafts of a work? There will always be something wrong to find on a story or a novel. You can get yourself into an endless loop of edits, or even editing when working on the first draft. Best thing to do is just get that manuscript written. Worry about editing after. Then when you go into edit mode, let the story sit for a week or two (a month or more for a novel) then go back and do an edit. Go through the work once or twice, then send it out to your beta reader or readers. Make the changes, then let it sit again and go through it one last time. Then start the process of finding someone to publish it. Of course, during all this, don't just sit and wait, start work on other projects to keep you busy. :P

I saw some parallels between El and Jesus, between El and Torren, and even between Torren and Larana in Vassal of El. Did this come about naturally, without you thinking it out, as a part of developing your story or is it something you planned from the outset of the story?

Oh my. lol! I wish I could take credit for all that. Between El and Jesus I would say it was mostly subconscious. Until you mentioned it, it hadn't really occurred to me. I needed El to be a sympathetic deity and so had him live amongst the mortals. I've been told by one or two people they think Vassal is a religiously themed book, one trying to affirm belief--but honestly that was never the point of it, not that I mind. 

My real purpose with this book was to entertain and share Torren's story. Any correlations between El and Torren were mostly subconscious as well, though Torren and Larana just worked itself in as part of the developing story and I wove it in. Often times themes and correlations will work themselves into your work subconsciously. Other times you want them to be there from the start and consciously insert them. Creativity is a muscle and the more you use it, the more you might get out of it. On the same vein, when you think about themes and correlations, your subconscious can train itself to do that sort of thing for you as well. Go Subconscious! 

In In the Service of Samurai, I start out perceiving the samurai as evil, people to be frightened of, but as the story progresses, I find myself being sorry for them. Do you see them as all bad, all good or somewhere in between? Are all the samurai supposed to be good and all the ninja supposed to be bad?

Samurai are people, and as people you will have those that are good, those that are bad, and some that are neutral. Samurai lived under a strict code of behavior, but like in all things, different people will take a different view of those codes. Some will abuse them, while others will live by them to an extreme. Ninjas came into existence as a way for samurai to assist them to get around the rules and also to glean information, cause trouble, and do all manner of jobs. I don't see ninja as being intrinsically good or evil either. Samurai were considered the elite, while the ninja were outcasts, but that in itself does not make them either good or evil in my view.

If you would like to learn more about Gloria Oliver, visit her website at http://www.gloriaoliver.com. Have fun jamming to the music when you get there and read lots of excerpts.

Fiction:

Excerpt from Tostada, a novel in progress.

I hate my name. I mean, who under God's great heaven would name their daughter "Tostada?" No one…no one but my mother.

I didn't really think about it much until I was old enough to notice other people's reactions to it. I guess I was about four when it suddenly struck me how odd my family truly was. We were at the dollar store, my mother and I, when the cashier, noticing me clinging to the thin cotton folds of my mother's worn housecoat, asked my name.

I had been taught before I could walk to never, and I mean, NEVER talk to strangers. My mother answered between the popping sounds she had mastered while chewing bubblegum on her back molars, "Tostada."

Most people, when told the name of a little child…especially one they specifically asked about, would respond with something like, "Well, hello Tostada. How are you today?"

Not this woman. Not anyone. When my name was pronounced from my mother's mouth, there was a quizzical look…a kind of blank expression leaving them speechless. They just did not know what to say. I'll say it again. Who, under God's great heaven ever heard of a name like that? Just what did it mean?

Staring off in the distance, as if waiting for some illuminating revelation to dawn on her, the cashier turned toward the register and continued mindlessly ringing up the items in our cart. Not once did she look at my mother again, and needless to say, not me either.

As we walked out through the single swinging door, I could feel her eyes following us all the way to our car.

The short drive to our home was silent other than the loud popping of the chewing gum within my mother's mouth.

Dad told me later that all throughout my mother's pregnancy the only thing she craved was Mexican food. All hours of the night, he'd cater to her desperate need of chips and salsa, partially hydrogenated refried beans or soft shell tacos kept warm for hours on racks at the corner 24-hour service station. Was that her inspiration?

I remember watching one of those medical documentaries on TV. It said that while babies were growing inside their mother's, they were nourished (or malnourished) by what the mother ate. They also had a tendency to love the same foods the mother consumed while she was pregnant. This was absolutely not the case with me. I hate Mexican food. I still do to this day.

Hindsight seems to prove itself as actually more factual than living in the moment. I just realized, Dad had given my mother $10 for the dollar store. The only things my mother purchased that day were chips, salsa, refried beans and chili con queso…but, she did bring him back the change.


Chapter 2

I have a friend. She is my friend, even though we cannot spend time together. In fact, she's the only friend I've got.

Someone I grew up with started a non-profit newspaper which featured writings and illustrations by unpublished authors, children, frustrated artists, etc. We happened to run into each other, and after finding out that I graduated from a prominent art school, she asked if I would do the cover illustration for her newspaper. As payment for my services, she would give me a full page black and white article in an attempt to promote my art in the paper.

Her mother saw my art and sent the newspaper to her. She is a prolific writer who was searching for the perfect illustrator.
So, we began our email friendship. We talked for months before she realized she didn't know my name. I had always ended my emails with a generic "TTYL" (talk to you later.) That seemed to suffice…that is, until she asked.

Through our email conversations, I learned that she had been born in Puerto Rico. Though that was a far cry from Mexico, I figured we'd have something else in common if I opened up and told her what my name was. To my immediate horror, she asked if that was really my name…that "Tostada" means "crazy."

After the initial shock wave, I wrote back…even with an air of satisfaction…that yes, this was my name.

So that was my excuse!

In Old Testament times, the Israelites named their children with meaning… from Adam and Eve all the way to Malachi. Even the New Testament writers were given names synonymous with a blessing or a curse.

I was simply "crazy."


Chapter 3

Why does it seem that all of the things that make us what we are revert back to when we were children? Why is it that almost every stinkin' talk show host or psychiatrist excuses the actions of murderers, pedophiles, rapists or thieves on how they grew up or what happened to them while young? And, to go a step further…why is it that those with money are able to maintain a state of innocence when they are not only obviously guilty, but are?

I guess I cannot answer all of the dilemmas facing mankind…all I can do is try and figure out the one question that plagues me…What makes me "Tostada?"

It may in fact be the way I was brought up. But realistically, I cannot blame my parents for that. They tried their best. My mother seemed proud that I was her little Tostada…even though she probably never knew the actual meaning of my name. I think til' the day she died she thought my name stood for some incredibly edible Mexican h'ordeurve she had never tried.

When I think of the times I walked into her bathroom. She would be standing in front of the full length mirror attached to her closet doors, squeezing the fat between her forefingers and thumbs, dimpling the already massive amounts of cellulite even more. What was she doing? I never asked. In fact, I pretended not to notice. I'd just open one of the drawers underneath her sink, pretending to look for something I needed…like lotion or finger nail polish remover…walking out of the bathroom without a second glance.

Maybe my mother was crazy. Maybe she did know what my name meant after all! Maybe she was trying to project the things she could not figure out about herself onto me…so that one day, I could figure it out for her. Even if it was too late! I guess I'll never know.

She died, of all places, at a Chinese restaurant. I had wanted to go there. It was a few days before my graduation from high school. So, my parents gave me the choice. I just could not, would not, eat Mexican food to celebrate my senior year. I don't think my mother had ever eaten Chinese food in her entire life. But because I could choose…that is where we went.

Chinese food, for me, represented everything Mexican food did not. Crispy hot vegetables in salted, juicy sauce…boiled rice…freshly brewed green tea…

My mother ordered the only item on the menu with noodles. Thinking back, it was only because she chewed both crunchy chips and salsa, dipped in beans or cheese sauce, that she didn't know what to do with the noodles once they slid down her throat. She swallowed, but kept spooning them inside her mouth…until she choked. Grabbing her throat with both hands, my dad and I just stared at her in panicked horror and dismay. I had taken CPR in junior high…but that was over three years ago…and unused at that. How was I to remember what to do? Rushing over, I held her in my arms as I watched her breathe her last. The paramedics arrived, pretending to offer some assistance by strolling her away with oxygen strapped onto her face…but she was pronounced "Dead on Arrival".

There was no press release or newspaper heading stating how she died. My mother was unknown. And, who cared that an individual choked on Chinese noodles while eating dinner anyway.

My dad did wave the Mexican flag when my name was called at graduation. I guess he was paying his last respects to my mother.


Chapter 4

Dad didn't know what to do with me now that my mother was dead. I didn't know what to do with me either. I just wanted to be me…but everyone else had other ideas.

Graduating from high school…who knows what they are going to be after that? Please tell me…for I know of no one other than high school athletes that excel in their sport…offered scholarships, or straight A students…that know which direction their focus should take. Everyone else seemed left in the dust.

I do remember the dust. The dusty cloud trailing behind my dad's old pickup as he drove quickly out of our driveway in search of yet another job…the dust from the winds that blew our way after a very dry season…the dust in the kitchen after my mother floured the chicken or meat for the soft shell tacos. The dust that seemed to coat every nook and cranny in the kitchen with a thin, white residue.

This is what I felt my mind was clouded with…a thin, white residue.

After my mother's funeral, I spent a few days with her parents…Papa and Momo. We spent hour upon hour looking at photographs taken of her throughout her life, each taking turns telling stories of things she had done. From the photographs it was obvious she always struggled with being overweight. Then again, maybe she didn't struggle with this at all. Maybe she enjoyed being obese. She certainly seemed to receive some sort of satisfaction while looking at the effects the fat made underneath her loosely stretched skin. And, as far as I know, she never tried suppressing her insatiable appetite…she didn't believe in dieting.

Papa and Momo were not fat. They were hard working, middle class labourers until they both retired fourteen years ago. With the money they managed to save, they paid cash for a small farm on the outskirts of a teeny town in Georgia. Papa filled his days tinkering with tools and old cars he'd begun collecting, while Momo tended to their small vegetable garden and cared for all thirty-eight chickens. They took great pride in the fact that they could live off the land. They also took great pride in the fact that they were American. I remember when I was little, staying at their home for a few weeks every summer…going into town with Papa. There was a wonderful 5 and 10 store I always insisted on visiting. Papa would slip me a dollar or two to spend there, as long as the object purchased was "made in the USA." This proved to be nearly impossible as almost every item in there had a small, oval sticker with bright red lettering stating that it was "made in China." I learned very quickly that if I wanted one of these foreign objects I had to not only remove its sticker, but replace it with another American one. Initially this made me feel very guilty inside, but soon I overcame my guilt, justifying this deception by thinking that no one else's grandparents were as fanatical as mine over the fact that something was made in China.

It just dawned on me. Doesn't it seem true that when something is right in front of your face it is sometimes hard to see it? Papa and Momo NEVER ate Mexican food. Of course not…it wasn't American! One always wants what one doesn't have. My mother, unallowed to eat Mexican food growing up, became absolutely obsessed with it. And, not being disrespectful or rebellious to her parents, she waited until she lived on her own to do what she really wanted to…eat Mexican!!!

What made me realize this just now, I may never know…but the very place my parents met was at a Mexican restaurant. She never told her parents this, for they probably would have disowned her. But she had taken a waitressing job within days of moving to the town where she was supposed to be going to college. It was a small restaurant, but very well established, with the fine reputation of being owned and operated by a Mexican family who had immigrated to the United States over fifty years ago. The only people working there who were not Mexican were the waitresses and bartenders. And no one was ever allowed in the kitchen for fear of letting out the heavily guarded, secret family recipes. From what my mother had told me, the waitresses and bartenders were hired on account of the fact that they were the only employees that spoke English. On the job application, it specifically asked what other languages the person spoke. If, by chance, they knew Spanish, they were automatically eliminated from job prospects. This was done in a not so conspicuous attempt to help guard their secret recipes. There was this unspoken understanding that if any employee even tried becoming bilingual they'd immediately be looking for another job.

My dad liked good Mexican food. And, like my mother, he didn't have the opportunity to eat Mexican food growing up, but it wasn't due to the fact that it wasn't American. His family was just too poor to ever go out to eat. One of his elementary school buddies had his 6th birthday party at this very restaurant, which caused my dad to make a vow that when he was old enough, he'd always earn JUST ENOUGH money so that he could eat out there. And, that's just what he did…make just enough to eat Mexican.


Copyright ©2007 by Sally Bostrom / All Rights Reserved. This excerpt may not be copied nor printed in any form without permission from the author.

Sally Bostrom is an author and illustrator. Visit her website at: http://wolfnhawk.com.

Mayra's Book Reviews

Meter Made
by M.D. Benoit
Zumaya Publications
www.zumayapublications.com
ISBN: 1-55410-302-9
Copyright 2005
Trade paperback, 256 pages, $12.99
Science Fiction Mystery

A kick-ass detective, a world where people and buildings are disappearing, universes within universes, cloning, and multiple dimensions are some of the elements in Meter Made that will keep you turning those pages till the end.

The novel begins with an intriguing scenario when Jack Meter receives an unusual request—to find a building which has simply vanished into thin air. Soon a beautiful yet cunningly deceiving agent from the Intergalactic Agency joins him in the investigation. As they 'travel' from one universe to another and escape from bounty hunters, it becomes clear the problem isn't really about a lost building. Something incalculably higher is at stake, something that may destroy their own universe, and it's up to Jack to prevent it. But will he—when he's surrounded by people he can't trust, unjustly suspected of multiple murders, almost fried by acid, and followed by vicious killers—one of them his own clone?

If you enjoy science fiction, mysteries, and physics theories about multiple dimensions, this is the book for you. The protagonist, Detective Jack Meter, is utterly sympathetic and has a sharp, witty tongue. The plot is intriguing and moves at a quick pace. Talented author M.D. Benoit utilizes quick, sharp dialogue to propel the story, which has enough twists and turns to keep you guessing for the culprits. The science behind the premise of the story is fascinating and they way Benoit moves her characters from one strange world to the other believable. Meter Made is the second book in the series. Though the book stands well on its own, I'd recommend reading Metered Space first, if only to more fully understand past references in the story. I sure look forward to reading more books in the Jack Meter series.

The Loch
By Steve Alten
Tsunami Books
ISBN: 0-9761659-0-2
Copyright 2005
Hardcover, 487 pages, $27.95
Thriller

Brilliant young biologist Zachary Wallace takes part in an underwater expedition in the Sargasso Sea. However, while deep in the water, something goes terribly wrong and he's eventually blamed for what happens.

His career seriously damaged, Zachary plunges into alcohol. The fact that he's lost his job isn't the biggest problem. The biggest problem is that now, for some mysterious reason, he's incredibly afraid of going into the water. But how can a marine biologist be afraid of the water? At the same time, he begins to be tormented by dark memories of his childhood, when he was nearly drown in Loch Ness.

Then one day a stranger—who claims to be his half-brother—shows up at his hotel with a strange request: Zachary must return to Scotland to help their father, who has been accused of murder.

But how can Zachary help a man for whom he feels nothing but contempt? Besides, that would mean going back to Loch Ness, a dark place that plagues his dreams with horrific images, for when he nearly drowned all those years ago, he saw a creature there, a creature with icy cold eyes and gigantic pointed teeth…

As Zachary helps his father and tries to solve the mystery of the Loch Ness monster, he takes off into a journey of self-discovery.

Whether you believe in the Loch Ness monster or not, one thing is for sure: this is a book alla "Jaws" that will be relished by thriller fans. Combining action, mystery, horror, history and scientific research, the book sure offers an intriguing and exciting read.

In Zachary we have a real guy with faults, not the perfect romantic hero of so many commercial novels, heightening the realistic aspect of the story. Indeed, the protagonist is not only insufferable at times, but, for all his brilliance, possesses the most deplorable taste in women.

In spite of its length, almost 500 pages, this is the type of fast-paced novel that will be finished by most readers in a matter of days. The history adds an intriguing, original aspect to the tale, while the scientific research gives it credibility and helps to maintain a good suspension of disbelief throughout. It is obvious as one reads the pages the amount of time that the author spent on research. Recommended as an interesting, thrilling, action-packed read.

Zorro, The Novel
By Isabel Allende
Harper Collins
ISBN: 0-00-720196-6
Copyright 2005
Hardcover, 390 pages
Historical/Adventure

Since its creation in 1919 by pulp writer Johnston McCulley, the character of Zorro has captured the hearts and imaginations of young and old alike. The infamous, romantic hero has been played by numerous actors through the decades, from Douglas Fairbanks Jr. in the 1920's to Antonio Banderas in the late 1990's. Now, Isabel Allende, born in Peru and raised in Chile, bestselling author of highly acclaimed literary works such as The House of the Spirits (1985), adds intricate texture and a new dimension to the legend by blending the two things she is best known for, magic realism and historical fiction.

Born to Alegandro de la Vega, a Spanish aristocrat, and Toypurnia, a Shoshone Indian warrior, Diego de la Vega (a.k.a. Zorro, or "fox" in Spanish) is a product of his mixed heritage. His grandmother, White Owl, a healer and shaman, plays an enormous role in the formation of his character. At an early age, while witnessing the injustice committed against Indians, his alter ego begins to show as he becomes increasingly obsessed with justice. Together with his inseparable, mute friend and "milk" brother Bernardo, Diego is initiated into manhood in the Indian tradition and it is during this experience that he comes into contact with his spirit totem, the fox.

At sixteen, Diego is sent to Barcelona for a classical education and, while perfecting the art of fencing with Manuel Escalante, becomes a member of the secret society La Justicia, where he pledges "To seek justice, nourish the hungry, clothe the naked, protect widows and orphans, give shelter to the stranger, and never spill innocent blood." During this time, Zorro falls hopelessly in love with Juliana de Romeu, becomes best friends with her sister Isabel, has a duel with Rafael Moncada, and organizes several rescue missions in the midst of political upheaval. Eventually, together with Juliana and Isabel, he's forced to leave Barcelona in disguise. They walk across Spain, live with Gypsies and are captured by pirates. To Diego's chagrin, Juliana succumbs to pirate Jean Latiffee's charms. Eventually Diego and Isabel make it back to California, where Diego's father has been imprisoned on charges of treason. As if this isn't enough, his mortal enemy Rafael Moncada has followed him here seeking revenge.

There's no doubt Allende is a gifted, consummate teller of tales. Under her pen, Alta California and Napoleonic Spain come alive in their most vivid, historical detail. From the modest adobe houses and exotic war paint on Indian faces to the filthy, excrement-filled dungeons and the black eyes of Gypsies to the sparkling diamonds against the plump, white décolleté of Spanish belles, Allende offers us a vibrant saga dripping with adventure, romance, history, politics and a touch of magic.

It's a pity, though, that Allende spends a large part of the book in the trivial, Barbara Cartland-style romance between Juliana and Jean Latiffe, while Zorro assumes a secondary, nearly silent role, to the point where one has to wonder whose story is being told.

Like many other Latin American writers, Gabriel Garcia Marquez among them, Allende uses the omniscient point of view and her paragraphs are long and almost entirely devoid of dialogue. This evokes a magical quality, the sensation of sitting in front of a bonfire while listening to an old and wise storyteller, but at the same time causes a lack in dramatization. One can't help thinking that Allende has so many stories to tell that if she added dialogue, the book would easily turned into a one-thousand page manuscript. Of course, the lack in dialogue, and so much "telling" rather than "showing" pertains to style and not to a lack of literary skill. Another interesting aspect of Allende's writing is the power she gives to most of her female characters. Damsels in distress? Not in this novel! The women here are wilful, intelligent individuals to be reckoned with. Allende also keeps the identity of the narrator a mystery until the last chapter.

Though Allende ultimately fails in lifting Zorro from his place as a two-dimensional, comical character, her remarkable prose and action-packed story make this book a pleasure to read.

They Was Holdin' Hands
By Venera Di Bella Barles
Arche Books
www.archebooks.com
publisher@archebooks.com
9101 W. Sahara Ave.
Suite 105-112
Las Vegas, NV 89117
Copyright 2005
ISBN: 1-59507-065-6
Hardcover, 226 pages, $26.99
Mystery/Literary

They Was Holdin' Hands is an unusual, beautifully written novel which combines elements of mystery and literary fiction.

The story begins when the protagonist, an aspiring writer named Carmela Valente, reads by chance an intriguing article on the Seattle Times about three old women who mysteriously died huddled together by a wood-burning stove in the kitchen of their rural farmhouse in the small mining community of Pine Grove Haven, PA. Carmela soon becomes obsessed by the incident, so much so that she decides to go to the mining town to investigate. The idea of writing a novel based on the incident propels her. Of course, the demure, reserved people of Pine Grove Haven aren't exactly thrilled by her visit. The town holds dark secrets, secrets that parallel Carmela's own disturbing childhood. As the secrets of the town and the mystery of the old women's deaths are gradually revealed, so are Carmela's deeply hidden memories. In this sense, this is a dark novel about self discovery and about the grim, and often contradictory, realities of human nature.

The story is told in the first person through the view point of the protagonist, and the author uses a technique which is not common nowadays in fiction; the protagonist is never quoted in the dialogue, but instead she's always paraphrased, as in this example:

I confessed to him that I still didn't know what it was I wanted, but I hoped I would know in a day or two. I asked him if he felt the deaths were accidental.

This technique brings a quiet, old-fashioned storytelling quality to the novel, reminiscent of 19th century novelists.

There are other beautiful passages in the novel, some with lyrical yet simple, vivid images:

I brushed away the snow from a concrete bench and sat down. The day was clear. No heavy, bleak clouds blocked the sun's welcome gift. I watched as the melting rivulets of snow slid down the gravestones like tears.

This is a novel that will please those readers of mystery who look beyond the usual commercial literature. The two interwoven storylines are deftly crafted and the dialogue sparkles with authenticity. The author has a flair for characterization. In sum, this is an excellently written novel and one I'm very pleased to have read.

1001 Ways to Market Your Books
by John Kremer
Open Horizons
www.bookmarket.com
ISBN: 0-912411-49-X
Copyright 2006 (6th Edition)
Trade Paperback, $27.95, 700 pages
Business/Marketing

If you were able to choose only one book on book marketing today, this would be definitely it. This 700-page monster has all the information any author or publisher will ever need to market and promote books, and to create a "state-of-the-art" marketing plan.

In spite of the huge amount of information Kremer offers, the book is well organized and the subjects easy to find, either from the table of contents or index. The author also includes articles by experts on various subjects, as well as an amalgam of up-to-date links and resources.

What sets this book part from others in the field, besides the amount of information, are the details. There are many books on promotion out there, but few go as deep as this one. In this sense, this is an invaluable reference work.

Though it is impossible to list all the subjects covered, following are some of them: basic fundamentals of book marketing, planning, distributors and wholesalers, major book reviewers, arranging print/radio/TV interviews, book tours, book signings, advertising (direct mail, finding lists, telemarketing, print ads), offbeat marketing, book fairs and conferences, catalogs, internet promotion, selling to bookstores, libraries, gifts shops and many other retail markets, subsidiary and foreign rights, and much, much more.

Kremer explores each subject in depth and offers clear, pragmatic advice on how to succeed at each level of promotion. Have your highlighter, pencil and Post-its ready, as this is a book you'll want to dissect and examine section by section. A book that should be not on your shelf but on your desk at all times, 1001 Ways to Market Your Books comes highly recommended from this reviewer.

Resources

*Do you have a poem, short story or article you'd like to submit for publication? MUSINGS: A Magazine of Words is currently accepting submissions for the next issue. Contact the editor, Jamieson Wolf, at: jamiesonwolf at gmail.com.
The link to the magazine is: http://jamiesonwolf.tripod.com/musings/
The link to the blog is: http://www.musingswords.blogspot.com/

*For those of you who love reading and/or writing romance, I discovered a new ebook publisher this month: The Wild Rose Press, http://thewildrosepress.com/.

*Join vampire romance author Caridad Pineiro's Newsletter and Contest Loop at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CaridadPineiro. Visit her website at: http://www.caridadpineiro.com. She also keeps a blog: http://www.caridad.com/blog/

*Writers Café is an online community where writers may post their stories and poetry, share knowledge, and offer mutual support. Visit: http://writerscafe.org/.

*Do you love mystery fiction? Visit these review sites to read book reviews on the latest releases:

Over My Dead Body, http://overmydeadbody.com/.
Reviewing the Evidence, http://reviewingtheevidence.com/.

*Stories for Children Magazine is a new electronic magazine aimed at children ages 3-12. The debut is April 2007. The editor is accepting submissions. For guidelines: http://storiesforchildren.tripod.com/id7.html.

*The following are blogs that deal exclusively with children's books. Visit these blogs to learn about the latest book releases and read book reviews. If you're an author, these bloggers consider review copies as well:

http://fusenumber8.blogspot.com/
http://syndicated.livejournal.com/fusenumber8/
http://blogcentralguide.blogspot.com/
http://www.asuen.com/blog.central.html
http://slayground.livejournal.com/
http://www.ccbreview.blogspot.com/
http://dulemba.com/blogger.html
http://eluper.livejournal.com/
http://www.google.com/reader/view/feed/http%3A%2F%2Flisayee.livejournal.com%2Fdata%2Frss
http://www.jacketflap.com/megablog/index.asp
http://myweirdandwelcometoit.blogspot.com/
http://jmprince.livejournal.com/
http://saipanwriter.blogspot.com/
http://aprilhenry.livejournal.com/
http://www.sonderbooks.com/

Contests

*Romance Author Karen Kay is having a contest:

Since the release of my next book, RED HAWK'S WOMAN, will be soon (June 2007), I thought I'd announce the fact with a new contest.

Here it is:

In the book, THE SPIRIT OF THE WOLF, the hero and heroine are almost
besieged by Sioux warriors.  Our two characters take refuge where and
wrapped in what?

Clue:  the passage takes place about 1/2 way through the book.

1st prize:  A "pearl" choker (not real pearls) and a copy of the book, THE PRINCESS AND THE WOLF

2nd prize: A copy of the book, SOARING EAGLE'S EMBRACE

3rd prize: A copy of the book, LONE ARROW'S PRIDE

All will be autographed.

Contest to end May 9th (so there's plenty of time to reread the book).

Love,
Kay
http://www.novels-by-KarenKay.com
RED HAWK'S WOMAN
A June 2007 Release
A Berkley Sensation Historical Romance

Beverly Bateman, author of romantic suspense and medical thrillers, offers a contest each month. In April she'll be giving away a copy of her latest book, FADE TO BLACK. Check out her website for details, http://www.beverlybateman.com.

Win a Free Copy of the suspense/Thriller, DEATH GAME

To celebrate the launch of her new website, author Cheryl Swanson will be holding a contest for free copies of the suspense/thriller Death Game in April. To enter the contest, go to her website at: http://www.cherylswanson.net

Click on "Contact" and then click on "Guestbook." Enter the name of someone you think might enjoy the book and the reason you want them to have it. (Don't be afraid to nominate yourself for a free book! At least two winners will be announced during the month and Cheryl will also contact you via email to let you know if you've won. Have fun!