#IWSG: August

 Happy Insecure Writer's Support Group Day. IWSG is the brainchild of Ninja Captain Alex J. Cavanaugh.

Purpose: To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds! Thanks, Alex, for starting this group and keeping it going. We are rockin' the neurotic writing world!

The awesome co-hosts for the August 3 posting of the IWSG are Tara Tyler, Lisa Buie Collard, Loni Townsend, and Lee Lowery!

OMG, I forgot today is the 1st Wednesday. I saw a couple of notices from people I follow and thought, Wow, they are really jumping the gun, a whole week early. LOL Just goes to show how unawake I am this morning. Hubs, get me another cup of coffee! Please!

July was a pretty good month. I wrote almost 4k words. The best part of July is I read about the coolest way to outline a story. Well, many cool ways. I'm not an outliner. Tried it once and thought, "I told the story, don't need to write it now." Outlining the whole story doesn't work for me. I always have a beginning, and I know the end. I might have an idea for a twist but that's it.

Back to the outline that struck me. The flashlight method. I've also heard it described as the headlights method. Write the points to the story only as far as the light shows. Does that make sense?

I tried it. I thought of three key things that need to happen next in my WIP (The Case of the Wedding Wrecker). Once I've added those points, I shine the flashlight again for the next however many points that need to happen. I'll let you know next month if it works.

August 3 question - When you set out to write a story, do you try to be more original or do you try to give readers what they want?

That is a tough question. I write what I want to write. I take into consideration what readers expect from the genre, whether it's a cozy mystery, romantic suspense, or a sci-fi adventure/romance. Every genre has certain tropes. Readers know when they pick up a romantic suspense they'll find two people who either dislike each other or don't know each other or are best friends. They'll have to put their feelings toward the other aside to solve a major problem. Readers expect the story to end with the problem solved and the two with a happy-ever-after or a happy-for-now. I know that's rather simplistic. 

Whew. It's 9:09. I got this post done in record time. Have a great month.

Click here to find others on the Insecure Writers Support Group Blog Hop. Or go to IWSG on Facebook to see who’s blogging today.

#WeWriWa ~ The Case of the Wedding Wrecker: Explain to Your Lawyer, Alex

 Welcome to Weekend Writing Warriors, where writers share snippets from their work-in-progress or new release. Thanks to everyone who commented last week.

I'm sharing snippets from the 4th Alex O'Hara cozy mystery, The Case of the Wedding Wrecker. This snippet picks up where we left off last week. Everybody's still in the police station.

 Snippet:

“May I assume you are recording this conversation?” Hans pointed to a video camera in the upper corner facing me.

When Chief Hoesen nodded, I looked in the corner then turned to face Hans. “Yet?” I mouthed.

He didn’t instill in me the confidence I had in his father. Instead of the classy elegance Pieter presented, Hans looked like a farm worker—about five-ten and a solid two hundred pounds, in his overalls he didn’t look like a lawyer. Clean-shaven and his blond hair barber-cut instead of a stylist, he could’ve posed for a John Deere calendar.

Did I need him with me? I’d known Dan Hoesen all my life. When his high school girlfriend babysat me, he often came along. He’d gotten me out of more scrapes as kid . . . and as an adult. He even acted like my surrogate father when the Pops moved to Arizona. We had a great relationship.

Until now. 

And a little more:

He eyed me sternly before nodding to the recording device. “Statement given by Alexandra O’Hara Palzetti, spouse of the accused Nicholas Palzetti.”

“A moment, Chief?” Hans said. “I understood the wedding was interrupted by your deputy before the vows were taken.”

“Deputy, stop the recording.”

That’s when I noticed the two-way mirror behind the chief. “Deputy? Who’s behind the mirror? Jenny?”

“No,” Dan said. “The sheriff’s office loaned us a couple of deputies for the summer.”

I knew that. When our small town exploded with summer visitors, they always brought in help from the sheriff’s department and the police academy.

At least it wasn’t Jenny, though I knew I could depend on her discretion. Better than that dope Deputy Dawg. When Nick got out of jail, I was going to kill that jerk. Oops, better not say that out loud.

Dan eyed me. “Do you want to explain to your lawyer, Lexie?”

“About . . .” I’d lost the train of thought.

“Your marriage.”

“Oh, right. Nick and I were married on Christmas Eve last year by a judge. Never mind why we didn’t tell anyone. His mother wanted us to marry in the church. That’s what was interrupted by Deputy Dawg.” I glared at Dan. “I hope you gave that jerk what for. He didn’t have to stalk in and arrest Nick at the altar.”

Be sure to check out the other WeWriWa authors. Stay safe and have a great week.

#WeWriWa ~ The Case of the Wedding Wrecker: Alex isn't charged...yet

Welcome to Weekend Writing Warriors, where writers share snippets from their work-in-progress or new release. Thanks to everyone who commented last week.

I'm very excited to say that I've reached the halfway point on this book. It's been a long time since I started it. This week, I felt energized enough to push myself to write. Your encouraging comments have certainly helped. Thanks so much.

I'm sharing snippets from the 4th Alex O'Hara cozy mystery, The Case of the Wedding Wrecker. This snippet picks up where we left off last week. Everybody's still in the police station.

 Snippet

Deputy Jenny Sampson opened the door to the interview room. “Chief wants to talk to you, Alex.”

“Hans, will you come, too?”

Maybe he could keep me from blurting out something that would incriminate Nick.

“I planned to.” He had a boyish grin that was supposed to reassure me. Fat chance. Nothing short of Nick’s release would assure me.

“I’m coming, too,” Pop said.

 And a bit more: 

“No.” Jenny held up her hand. “Chief wants to talk to each of you separately. Hey, Hans. How ya doin’?”

He eyed her closely, especially her name badge. “Jenny? Little Jenny Hogmeier? You married Joe Sampson?” He gave her a big hug. “When did you grow up?”

“Grew up and had a baby, too.”

Small towns. Everybody knew everybody. And that meant, by now, everybody knew about Nick.

“Excuse me.” Tony interrupted. “We can do Old Home Week another time. My son is in jail, and I want him released.”

Jenny shrugged while Hans gave her a sheepish grin.

She led Hans and me to another interview room. Chief Hoesen sat on one side of a plain fake wood table. He had a yellow legal pad in front of him. He indicated that I should sit across from him.

He glanced up at Hans. “Lexie doesn’t need a lawyer present. She isn’t being charged.”

“Yet.” Hans sat next to me but slightly off to the side.

Gee, thanks, guy. Give the chief a reason to arrest me, too.

 

Be sure to check out the other WeWriWa authors. Stay safe and have a great week.

#WeWriWa ~ The Case of the Wedding Wrecker: What Happens Next?

 

Welcome to Weekend Writing Warriors, where writers share snippets from their work-in-progress or new release. Thanks to everyone who commented last week.

I'm sharing snippets from the 4th Alex O'Hara cozy mystery, The Case of the Wedding Wrecker. This snippet picks up where we left off last week.

Hans, the lawyer, (and his father Pieter) with Alex, her dad, and Nick's parents at are crowded into an interview room at the police station. Hans warned them not to talk about Nick amongst themselves. Like, what else was there to talk about?

BTW, since this is a work in progress, suggestions are always welcome.

Snippet:   

After a lengthy silence, I couldn't stand it any longer.

“What will happen next?” I repeated Tony’s question.

“If the facts as Deputy Dawson presented them pan out, Nick will be formally charged. There will be an arraignment. The judge will set bail, and Nick will be released.”

“Not until then?” I protested.

From my cases, I knew how long it took to get on the docket for an arraignment. Waiting would be agony, knowing Nick was behind bars.

Everything caught up with me. I flung myself into Pop’s arms and sobbed. “Nick couldn’t have killed that man. I know he couldn’t.”

Pop rubbed my back, trying to calm me down. No amount of calming was going to fix this situation. My husband was in jail.

Be sure to check out the other WeWriWa authors. Stay safe and have a great weekend.

Guest: Nick Wilford Cover Reveal RECKONING

 Exciting news from Nick Wilford, a fellow Insecure Writers Support Group friend. We've all been waiting for his newest release in September. You can get a taste of Reckoning today with a cover reveal. Reckoning is the 3rd book in Nick's Black & White series.

cover design: germancreative

Is that cover evocative or what?

Here's the blurb.

The time has come for those who perpetrated wrongdoing and suffering on the land of Loretania to face their judgement. Lord Histender and the other members of the deposed Reformers’ Government are in jail awaiting trial for keeping that country in a state of disease-ridden deprivation, alongside other heinous crimes.

 

Wellesbury Noon and Ezmerelda Dontible, the kind and benevolent new rulers of Harmonia, are looking forward to seeing justice finally being done. But nothing is that simple. Lunkin, the psychotic former Chief Scientist, has one more trick up his sleeve and is wreaking havoc even from behind bars. Soon, Loretanians who have come to make a new life in Harmonia are falling victim to hate crimes and brutal attacks. And things take a turn for the desperate when Wellesbury himself becomes compromised.

 

Can Welles and Ez turn the tide of public opinion and secure justice for the people of Loretania before it’s too late?

Release date: September 19, 2022

Pre-order links: Amazon US / Amazon UK / Smashwords / Kobo / Apple Books

Add it to Goodreads

You can also download the first part of the trilogy, Black & White, for free here, while part two, Corruption, can be found here.

About Nick Wilford:

Nick Wilford is a writer and stay-at-home dad. Once a journalist, he now makes use of those early morning times when the house is quiet to explore the realms of fiction, with a little freelance editing and formatting thrown in. When not working he can usually be found spending time with his family or cleaning something. He has four short stories published in Writer’s Muse magazine. Nick is also the editor of Overcoming Adversity: an Anthology for Andrew. Visit him at his blog or connect with him on twitter, goodreads, facebook, or amazon.

#WeWriWa ~ The Case of the Wedding Wrecker: Beach Pooper Scooper

 

Welcome to Weekend Writing Warriors, where writers share snippets from their work-in-progress or new release. Thanks to everyone who commented last week.

Sorry, sorry, sorry for being late to post. I think my brain disconnected yesterday. Either that or I forgot. Nah. How could I forget?

I'm sharing snippets from the 4th Alex O'Hara cozy mystery, The Case of the Wedding Wrecker. This snippet picks up where we left off last week.

Hans, the lawyer, (and his father Pieter) with Alex, her dad, and Nick's parents at are crowded into an interview room at the police station. 

BTW, since this is a work in progress, suggestions are always welcome.

Snippet:  

“Okay, folks,” Hans said. “I know you have many questions. Apparently, the officer jumped the gun. He should’ve brought Nick in for questioning, not gone straight to an arrest. Chief Hoesen is dealing with that.”

“That jerk will be lucky if he’s assigned to pooper scooping on the beach,” Pop said.

“He’ll be lucky if he has a job,” Tony added. “So, what happens now?”

“Chief Hoesen tried to question Nick. He had the good sense to wait for me, or my dad, to be present.” Hans glanced over at Pieter who nodded.

 And a little more:  

“When can I see Nick?” I needed to ask him about the threats.

“Not until the chief says. He’ll want to talk to each of you first.”

“Us?” I exclaimed. “Why?”

“I imagine,” Tony said, “Dan will want to verify what Nick told him.”

Hans nodded. “It’s best that you not talk amongst yourself. Dad?”

“I will caution them.” Pieter’s words came out slowly, as if he had difficulty speaking. That stroke must really be affecting him.

“About . . .” I raised my eyebrow.

“About anything regarding Nick,” Hans answered. “I can be present during the interviews, although it won’t be necessary to have a lawyer present because you haven’t been charged.”

What else was there to talk about?

We sat in silence.

Be sure to check out the other WeWriWa authors. Stay safe and have a great weekend.

#IWSG: World of the Outer Rim

Happy Insecure Writer's Support Group Day. IWSG is the brainchild of Ninja Captain Alex J. Cavanaugh.

Purpose: To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds! Thanks, Alex, for starting this group and keeping it going. We are rockin' the neurotic writing world!

The awesome co-hosts for the July 6 posting of the IWSG are J Lenni Dorner, Janet Alcorn, PJ Colando, Jenni Enzor, and Diane Burton! Me? Wow. I love being called awesome.

June was a terrific month. Thank you to everyone who gave me so much support last time. That's what this group is all about, supporting each other, encouraging those who are having a tough time (like me) and celebrating with those who succeed. 

I'm back on the arts & crafts/vendor show circuit. Thanks to some wonderful readers at the White Lake Area Arts & Crafts Festival in Whitehall, MI and at the Lakeshore Arts Festival in Muskegon, I am so pumped about my writing again. Some readers bought books, others said how much they enjoyed my books, and others stopped by to see my tablemate's chicken. Yep, Jean Davis (one of our own IWSG'ers) brings her tame chicken to the shows. That's one way to get people to stop and talk books.

After each weekend, I was exhausted yet energized about my writing. That's a feeling I haven't had in months. I attribute it to the shows, but also to you for your support. Thank you so much.

July 6 question - If you could live in any book world, which one would you choose?

That's easy. I would choose the world in my Outer Rim series, three (almost four) sci-fi adventures. I'd hang out with Celara, Jileena, Rissa, and Genna, strong women on the frontier of space. I admire these fems who carved out their place in a world as harsh and violent as the Wild West of the 1800's United States. Best of all, I'd get to pilot a starship, drive a speeder, and meet the handsome guys who are strong enough to love those enterprising women. 

Click here to find others on the Insecure Writers Support Group Blog Hop. Or go to IWSG on Facebook to see who’s blogging today.