Join Christy’s email list to get this story free! A notorious gang puts a bounty on Detective Cady Matthews’s head after she takes down their leader, leaving her no choice but to hide until she can testify at trial. But her temporary home across the country on a remote North Carolina island isn’t as peaceful as she initially thinks. Living under the new identity of Cassidy Livingston, she struggles to keep her investigative skills tucked away, especially after a body washes ashore. When local police bungle the murder investigation, she can’t resist stepping in. But Cassidy is supposed to be keeping a low profile. One wrong move could lead to both her discovery and her demise. Can she bring justice to the island . . . or will the hidden currents surrounding her pull her under for good? Hidden Currents is the first book in the six-book Lantern Beach Mystery series. Each book contains a standalone mystery, but there are overarching mysteries within the entire series. Get it now for
Captain's Log, Stardate 01.12.2006
Victoria Lynn Schmidt blogged about branding the other day. She asked a few questions for the writer to ask herself. Let's see if they'll give me a clue as to what genre I'd rather write--chick-lit or suspense.
What are your skills?
Entertainment? Well, that's what I'd like my skills to be. I like telling a story. I can better see myself making people laugh than scaring them out of their socks, but then again, it isn't common social practice to tell suspense or ghost stories at parties.
Which genre is the best for your writing style and interests?
That's what I'm trying to figure out. Let's see. When I read, I like the excitement of a chase scene or a fight scene, but I'm more attracted to humorous situations and dialogue. And I've found I'm impatient with the tense set-up required from a suspense. I prefer the humorous set-up in a chick-lit, although sometimes the Too Stupid To Live actions of some chick-lit heroines can get annoying.
What is important to you? (do you want to Educate? Entertain? Scare?)
Entertain. Make someone flip pages. What makes me flip pages is a good plot thread that keeps me interested in what'll happen next. I guess a good plot thread can be woven into either a chick-lit or a suspense.
I think the biggest thing is that I don't feel the urgency to make someone cry or face their own struggles or change their lives. I want to entertain. If my characters influence someone's outlook, I want it to be a subtle change that they may not even be aware of.
How would you like your work to be remembered?
Realistic characters with real struggles and no pat answers, but real hope.
If you had to create a one liner about your work what would it be? (Heartfelt stories that make you cry? Smart, steamy romances?)
Real life but more entertaining.
Conclusions:
Well, heck, where does this leave me? I think I have a preference for chick-lit, but am I skilled enough in it? Do I prefer humor right at this moment because I was revising my suspense manuscript and I'm sick of looking at it?
I'll tackle this question another day. Right now I need to do more writing.
Bible in 90 Days: day 4. Entered Exodus today. Hehehe.
Writing: Darn it, I didn't get anything done. I disrupted my schedule a bit by driving a friend to get her eyes dilated today and then having High Tea with her, but I should have done some writing. I'll go do some now.
Diet: I'm going to start keeping myself accountable on my blog. It'll be the last thing I blog about. If that's TMI for you, too bad. I'm determined to lose weight this year. If I can determine to learn more writing discipline, then heck, I can determine to fit in my fat-jeans again.
Except I had a crappy diet day. :)
Well, sort of. I ate a small, healthy brunch, then had English High Tea with a friend. But even that wasn't that bad--the only diet killers were the Devonshire cream and the two little cheese puffs. For dinner, shrimp and shredded cabbage burrito (it tasted better than it sounds--"shrimp key lime" or something like that).
Calories? Who knows, maybe 2000? But I went on the exercise bike for 30 minutes today. That'll take care of some of that Devonshire cream.
Victoria Lynn Schmidt blogged about branding the other day. She asked a few questions for the writer to ask herself. Let's see if they'll give me a clue as to what genre I'd rather write--chick-lit or suspense.
What are your skills?
Entertainment? Well, that's what I'd like my skills to be. I like telling a story. I can better see myself making people laugh than scaring them out of their socks, but then again, it isn't common social practice to tell suspense or ghost stories at parties.
Which genre is the best for your writing style and interests?
That's what I'm trying to figure out. Let's see. When I read, I like the excitement of a chase scene or a fight scene, but I'm more attracted to humorous situations and dialogue. And I've found I'm impatient with the tense set-up required from a suspense. I prefer the humorous set-up in a chick-lit, although sometimes the Too Stupid To Live actions of some chick-lit heroines can get annoying.
What is important to you? (do you want to Educate? Entertain? Scare?)
Entertain. Make someone flip pages. What makes me flip pages is a good plot thread that keeps me interested in what'll happen next. I guess a good plot thread can be woven into either a chick-lit or a suspense.
I think the biggest thing is that I don't feel the urgency to make someone cry or face their own struggles or change their lives. I want to entertain. If my characters influence someone's outlook, I want it to be a subtle change that they may not even be aware of.
How would you like your work to be remembered?
Realistic characters with real struggles and no pat answers, but real hope.
If you had to create a one liner about your work what would it be? (Heartfelt stories that make you cry? Smart, steamy romances?)
Real life but more entertaining.
Conclusions:
Well, heck, where does this leave me? I think I have a preference for chick-lit, but am I skilled enough in it? Do I prefer humor right at this moment because I was revising my suspense manuscript and I'm sick of looking at it?
I'll tackle this question another day. Right now I need to do more writing.
Bible in 90 Days: day 4. Entered Exodus today. Hehehe.
Writing: Darn it, I didn't get anything done. I disrupted my schedule a bit by driving a friend to get her eyes dilated today and then having High Tea with her, but I should have done some writing. I'll go do some now.
Diet: I'm going to start keeping myself accountable on my blog. It'll be the last thing I blog about. If that's TMI for you, too bad. I'm determined to lose weight this year. If I can determine to learn more writing discipline, then heck, I can determine to fit in my fat-jeans again.
Except I had a crappy diet day. :)
Well, sort of. I ate a small, healthy brunch, then had English High Tea with a friend. But even that wasn't that bad--the only diet killers were the Devonshire cream and the two little cheese puffs. For dinner, shrimp and shredded cabbage burrito (it tasted better than it sounds--"shrimp key lime" or something like that).
Calories? Who knows, maybe 2000? But I went on the exercise bike for 30 minutes today. That'll take care of some of that Devonshire cream.
Comments
But, a Zombie who lost there pounds so far since Monday. :)
Diet and exercise going very well.
Writing...er.
Bible Challenge...er.
And today and tomorrow, all booked up going to the ACT ONE workshop. So, I may have a life again come Monday and get caught up.
Mir
http://mirathon.blogspot.com