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Posts Tagged ‘Thrillerfest’

  1. Monday Mentions: Cool Cons, Paws-some Promos & Viral Videos

    January 21, 2013 by Amy Shojai

    Monday Mentions is the mash-up-day of all the neato-torpedo writer links and videos, pet schtuff and bling and writer-icity crappiocca collected over the past week. Today’s blog has lots of great conference links you’ll want to check out. And for your furry fix, be sure to check out the videos at the end, too. You won’t be sorry!

    WRITER-ICITY SCHTUFF

    Paradigm Shift a must read for all writers from the awesome CJ Lyons

    6 Ways to Promote Books on a Budget

    To Acknowledge or Not a somewhat cranky opinion (IMO!) and yes, I include ‘em. Folks can always skip reading, if they want. Do you include them in your books? (Thanks to Kathy Owen for the link)

    7 Steps of Sales a good refresher for writers these days. Thanks to Diane Capri for the link.

    Pinterest Promotions thanks for the link from Maria Polson Veres

    StoryCartel.com offers a way for reviewers and readers to find books via an electronic file. LOST AND FOUND is one of four free titles featured this month for review.

    LR-AudioCover

    I’m still trying to figure out how to get the audio version of the thriller book and audio of the kitten care title to reviewers–any tips/ideas?

    ISBN 101 everything you need to know

    It’s mid-January and the calendar for 2013 is FULL of wonderful conferences and events. Have you made your choices and reservations yet?

    The Dog Writers Association of America (DWAA) annual Awards Banquet is the night before the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show on Sunday, February 10, 2013. This year my work has been nominated in three categories, for best newspaper column, best website, and best radio podcast. The DWAA is a great organization for those who write about dogs to network and support each other.

    Wana-Conference-new2-1024x553

    WANA stands for WE ARE NOT ALONE and is the brainchild of the energetic social media maven Kristen Lamb. I took one of her email courses on blogging some time ago and it’s changed the way I work and expanded my reach! Kristen and her team have a “virtual” conference planned WANA CON, so if traveling for you is outside your budget, this may fit the bill. More information here.

    blogpaws

    Yes, there are conferences for pet-centric folk, too. If you’re a blogger who includes any sort of CRITTER in your content (or maybe your pets take over the keyboard now and then), you’ll want to check out BlogPaws. I’m saving my pennies and hoping to finally attend this next one. This is a year-round organization that supports and offers education to pet bloggers on all the must-knows, so even if you have a conference conflict, check out BlogPaws.com to connect with other pet lovers. Click the banner to learn more about the conference.

    OWFI

    I’m an Honorary Lifetime Member of the Oklahoma Writers Federation, Inc. and was president for its 40th anniversary event five years ago. It’s one of the most economical conferences around, and where I found my awesome agent many years ago. This year as a speaker I discuss THE REINVENTED WRITER, covering all the new ways to publish, promote and SUCCEED as a modern writer. I hope you’ll join me. (And yes, I’ll wear sparkles :) )

    Thrillerfest

    ThrillerFest VIII promises to be one of the best conferences of the year. Maybe I’m a weeee bit prejudice, because I met my editor and publisher at my first ITW event–and this year, I’ll be in the Debut Author Breakfast Panel celebrating publication of LOST AND FOUND! Yes, dreams can come true. Check out this wonderful guest blog by another ITW and awesome thriller author Alma Katsu to learn more about the event.

    PET-ASTIC SCHTUFF

    Awesome video about orphan bat baby, thanks to Serena Dracis for the link

    Fascinating look at wild dog interactions with baboons. Is this how it started with humans and dogs?

    From the dog’s point of view…this is AWESOME!

    I love hearing from you, so please share comments and questions. Do you have an ASK AMY question you’d like answered? Do you have a new kitten and need answers? Stay up to date on all the latest just subscribe the blog, “like” me on Facebook, listen to the weekly radio show, check out weekly FREE PUPPY CARE newsletter, and sign up for Pet Peeves newsletter. Stay up to date with the latest book give aways and appearances related to my  THRILLERS WITH BITE!

    Category Cat Behavior & Care, Dog Training & Care, Writing Advice & More | Tags: ,,,,,,,,,,,,, | 7 Comments

  2. Monday Mentions: Catherine Coulter, Vicious Toads & Thriller Trailer!

    August 27, 2012 by Amy Shojai

    Monday Mentions is the mash-up-day of all the neato-torpedo links and videos, pet schtuff and bling and writer-icity crappiocca collected over the past week. Some of this “schtuff” can be hard to categorize and may fit more than one topic so I urge you to at least scan them all.

    My Internet finally came back up late last week. While it was down, here’s what I did:

    You also won’t want to miss the awesome short video at the bottom of the post from Gayle Lynds interview with Catherine Coulter at this year’s Thrillerfest! Check out the shoes!

    Before we get to the more serious stuff, enjoy this just-for-the-heck-of-it video. Serves ya right, if’n ya tease the toad…

    WRITER-ICTY SCHTUFF

    Warning Flags of Writing Contests from Writers Beware Blog

    Serial Killers and Supernatural Powers lots of food for thought for authors–and others

    A Celebration of BAD Writing fun stuff!

    Author Activism & Critical Thinking more from Writers Beware

    Develop the WRITE Biz Plan for You

    What’s the Deal with KLOUT?  are you better than a squirrel? Hmnnnn.

    Links & Link Building Ops penalties, cautions and more here.

    Plagiarism Check do a free search to protect your work!

    PET SCHTUFF

    Top 10 Animals that Attack Pets  Heck, I need to do a roundup like this, I’ve written about skunks and scorpions and other nasties like snakes

    The Smell of Fear and yes, even PLANTS have this, awesome article!

    Chew Toy–ZOMBIE FOOT for Dogs, for the dog that has (almost) everything

    Does Your Dog’s Back Need Help? 7 signs of disk disease

    Sneaky-Pie for President why not a cat?

    I love hearing from you, so please share comments and questions. Do you have an ASK AMY question you’d like answered? Do you have a new kitten and need answers? Stay up to date on all the latest just subscribe the blog, “like” me on Facebook, listen to the weekly radio show, check out weekly FREE PUPPY CARE newsletter, and sign up for Pet Peeves newsletter. Stay tuned for more news about my forthcoming THRILLER, LOST & FOUND!

    Category Cat Behavior & Care, Dog Training & Care, Writing Advice & More | Tags: ,,,,,,,,,, | 13 Comments

  3. Tuesday Tips: Verizon Sucks, Panera’s Awesome & Thrillerfest Social Networking Tips

    August 21, 2012 by Amy Shojai

    .
    As y’all noticed, there were no Monday Mentions and instead today you’ll find terrific video from a Thrillerfest panel about social networking featuring Alma Katsu, Jessica Barraco, Claire Goldwitz, Kevin Kaiser, Kristen Lamb, Meryl Moss and Matt Schwartz. Share-share-share, there’s tons of fantastic advice in this short video! Do you agree? What has worked for you? Offer your hot tips in the comments.

    Today, though, I’m doing my “social networking” from Panera Bread. That’s because yesterday, my Internet connection went “ker-flooey.” That’s a techie term that translated means VERIZON SUCK-ETH BIGTIME!

    I spent nearly 2 hours on the phone with the V-guys, turning connections on and off, typing in weird combos of letters and numbers, inserting plug A into slot C — you get the picture. Ultimately nothing was fixed. They make you jump through all those hoops even when they KNOW there’s a network-wide problem. Finally I convinced them that tech supported needed to FIX the furshluggener problem, and they scheduled me a tech-guy to come to the house. . .

    Next Tuesday. Sometime before 5 pm.

    WHAT?!!! My entire work life not to mention income is derived from online connections. And the earliest possible time they have to get me back to work is 9 days? I spoke to a supervisor. Same thing–  “thank you for understanding, we’re so very sorry, that’s the earliest, we’ll put you on a list if there’s a cancellation/somebody’s in the area/yada-yada.”

    This morning not even my Blackberry could download email, due to not enough network coverage. Huh? Over the weekend it was fine but by this morning the network went flooey? Ri-ight.

    It begs a question I’d now ask of the panel (below). What do you do to supplement online networking in case, you know, it goes ker-flooey? Have any of y’all had longtime outages? How did you manage? I discovered when I logged on here at Panera Bread that there also were connections from the nearby Wendy’s and several other hot-spots. But I recall the days of dial-up and no coffee shop options.

    Zombie apocalypse? No worries. Crazed cats? That’s nuthin. Pushy pooches? Fuggedaboutit. Shut off my internet? NOOOOOOOooooooooooooooooo!

    I love hearing from you, so please share comments and questions. Do you have an ASK AMY question you’d like answered? Do you have a new kitten and need answers? Stay up to date on all the latest just subscribe the blog, “like” me on Facebook, listen to the weekly radio show, check out weekly FREE PUPPY CARE newsletter, and sign up for Pet Peeves newsletter. Stay tuned for more news about my forthcoming THRILLER, LOST & FOUND!

    Category Ask Amy Videos, Writing Advice & More | Tags: ,,,,,, | 23 Comments

  4. Monday Mentions: Lee Child, Reacher & Speeding To Publish

    August 13, 2012 by Amy Shojai

    .The long promised short clips from the 2012 Thrillerfest finally will be posted–and here’s the first, with the awesome Kathleen Antrim interviewing Lee Child about his Jack Reacher novels–and the movie. Honestly, I can’t imagine having written so many novels. It’s waaaaay different than writing nonfiction, and my first thriller has just about done me in.

    I’m gasping, filled with Sisyphus-icity as the launch date draws near for my thriller. After screwing up my courage and sending out oh-so-polite requests for well known folks to read and maybe offer a kind word about the book, I’ve been blessed beyond my wildest dreams. But I can’t slow down. This hamster wheel is on a roll and speeding up.

    So this past week, Dr. Marty Becker, D.P. Lyle and James Rollins kind words were included with polite invitations to savvy book reviewers to take an advance look. For a book to be successful it must be found, so authors can’t afford to be shy.

    In the days and weeks ahead, I’ll post some of my efforts in the hopes it might also help others traveling similar publishing journeys. Fair warning–I may ask for your help because it takes a tribe to get folks to notice a new book. And I know y’all have the power to get schtuff noticed, especially thrillers with bite. :)

    On to our regularly scheduled Monday Mentions, the mash-up-day of all the neato-torpedo links and videos, pet schtuff and bling and writer-icity crappiocca collected over the past week. Some of this “schtuff” can be hard to categorize and may fit more than one topic so I urge you to at least scan them all. The second short video of SQUEE! cute cats is sure to relieve stress (it did mine, anyway!).

    WRITER-ICTY SCHTUFF

    Agent as Publisher–Sorta-Kinda

    New Kindleboards Blog this is something to watch, Indies!

    Bonfire of the Straw Man an awesome post from David Gaughran that debunks some of the strangest arguments AGAINST indies

    5 Keys to Writing Success from social media maven Kristin Lamb

    Panic Attacks and help for writers and other creative folks from Kristin Nador

    8 Easy Social Media Tips from Jenny Hansen

    The Science of Disgust who knew it was a protective mechanism?

    How To Self Pub and Ebook some good general info

    NetGalley for reviewers finding great books

    FAKE Reviews? Say it ain’t so!

    50 Shades of Grateful a peek into new (old) realms for writers from Tameri Etherton

    PET-ICITY SCHTUFF

    Recalled Metal Pet Bowls …can you say RADIOACTIVE?! Sheesh

    Call for Winn Feline Foundation Research Grants

    Readers Raise Funds to Save Bookstore Cat Awwwwwwwww…

    Dog Training Controversy–Or Not? Great blog for those with questions!

    TNR Pilot Program Success!

    Video of Mugsy-Cat Fighting Gators wow

    Keeping Puppy Feet Clean

    Scary Coyote Encounter

    Pet Population Shrinking?

    Kitty Cams what the cats do–but is the evidence skewed? Check out this one that proves not all cats are killers and then decide.

    Wonderful fun video below the Lee Child interview, sort of a cat’s eye review of a new cat tree, from Janea Kelly. Enjoy!

    I love hearing from you, so please share comments and questions. Do you have an ASK AMY question you’d like answered? Do you have a new kitten and need answers? Stay up to date on all the latest just subscribe the blog, “like” me on Facebook, listen to the weekly radio show, check out weekly FREE PUPPY CARE newsletter, and sign up for Pet Peeves newsletter. Stay tuned for more news about my forthcoming THRILLER, LOST & FOUND!

    Category Cat Behavior & Care, Dog Training & Care, Writing Advice & More | Tags: ,,,,,,,,,,,,,, | 14 Comments

  5. Monday Mentions: THRILLERFEST!

    July 16, 2012 by Amy Shojai

    Finally back from my annual whirlwind Thrillerfest conference–this year even more awesome knowing that I’m now an ITW Debut Author in great part because of this wonderful organization. I’ll have some short videos later, too, but wanted to post the pictures (they’re out of order, sorry!) as soon as possible.

    Please also scroll down for the usual Monday Mentions link luv about publishing, writing, pets and more. Stay tuned for some quick excerpts from some of the panels and interviews. And don’t forget, the NAME THAT DOG and NAME THAT CAT polls will be posted this week for you to choose some of the pet characters in my book!

    Panel: How Do You Create Spellbinding Series Characters?

    The book signing--wow, next to the awesome Wendy Corsi Staub.

    Yes, I came--I saw--I BLINGED!

    David Morrell, co-founder of International Thriller Writers. You may know him as the author of Rambo. *s*

    Doug Lyle, Craftfest Director and VP of National Events (with LOTS of great thrillers and nonfiction forensic books), with Paula and my friend Teresa Chandler.

    Jon Land, one of the ITW vice presidents...and best seller, too. There's a lot of great authors at this conference...just saying.

    THRILLERFEST AWARDS

    Saturday night July 14 the International Thriller Writers (ITW) announced the winners of the 2012 Thriller Awards.

    Best Hard Cover Novel:
    11/23/63, Stephen King (Scribner)

    Best Paperback Original Novel:
    THE LAST MINUTE, Jeff Abbott (Sphere/Little, Brown UK)

    Best First Novel:
    SPIRAL, Paul McEuen (The Dial Press)

    Best Short Story:
    HALF-LIVES, Tim L. Williams (Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine)

    ITW has also announced the addition of two new Thriller Awards next year–Young Adult, and Original Ebook.

    MORE WRITERICITY SCHTUFF

    6 Reasons to Celebrate “BAD” Reviews

    HarperCollins Buys Thomas Nelson

    Smashwords Publishes 138,070+ Books

    Ebook Pirates–Open Fire or Ignore?

    Publishing Jobs from Disney, Hachette Book Group, Little Brown, etc.

    PET SCHTUFF

    Sasquatch Lives?! from Doug Lyle’s awesome blog

    Pet Supply Catalogue–shopping that helps pets! Check it out!

    Cat Myths from Sally Bahner’s awesome blog

    BLOGPAWS Gives Back donates $12,120 to several worthy animal causes, kudos!

    I love hearing from you, so please share comments and questions. Do you have an ASK AMY question you’d like answered? Do you have a new kitten and need answers? Stay up to date on all the latest just subscribe the blog, “like” me on Facebook, listen to the weekly radio show, check out weekly FREE PUPPY CARE newsletter, and sign up for Pet Peeves newsletter .

    Don’t forget to check out the NAME THAT DOG/CAT character in the forthcoming THRILLER, LOST & FOUND! Poll with SEMIFINAL NAMES for you to vote to be posted this WOOF WEDNESDAY and FELINE FRIDAY so get your suggestions in ASAP.

    Category Cat Behavior & Care, Dog Training & Care, Writing Advice & More | Tags: ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, | 16 Comments

  6. Monday Mentions: Thrillerfest, Pet Whisperers & Veterinary Hospice

    June 11, 2012 by Amy Shojai

    After an exhausting but exhilarating opening weekend of the show Fiddler On The Roof, I’m ready to return focus to the writer-icity schtuff. Oh, the show runs every weekend this month so I’ll have that to look forward to.

    But meanwhile I only have a bit more to go on the thriller edits before sending back to my editor. AND I got my panel assignments for Thrillerfest where the awesome Allison Brennan will again be panel master. Our topic focuses on HOW DO YOU CREATE A SPELLBINDING SERIES CHARACTER? Other folks on the panel include:

    Allison Brennan (Panel Master) is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of 18 romantic thrillers and multiple short stories, and the author of the Lucy Kincaid series.

    Jan Burke is a critically acclaimed and national bestselling author of fourteen books—twelve of crime fiction, a supernatural thriller, and a collection of short stories.

    William Dietrich is the NY Times bestselling author of 15 books, including the Ethan Gage series of Napoleonic adventures that has sold into 28 languages.

    Jack Hoban served as a US Marine Corps officer and is a subject matter expert on close combat who “trained” Nick Heller of the Joseph Finder thriller series.

    Avalon Books published Victoria M. Johnson’s fiction debut. As a filmmaker, Victoria writes and directs short thriller films. Her upcoming thriller, The Sea of Cortez, introduces Connie and Jeff York.

    Sharon Linnéa is the author of the bestselling Eden Thrillers, featuring Army Chaplain Jaime Richards.  These Violent Delights is the first of her new Movie Mystery Series.

    Amy Shojai is the award winning author of 24 pet care titles, and channels her “inner bitch”  to write in dog-viewpoint in her debut thriller LOST AND FOUND which introduces series character animal behaviorist September Day and Shadow, the service dog she’s trained.

    Debra Webb is a multi-published, best-selling author who writes spine-tingling romantic suspense and has just launched her first thriller series, the Faces of Evil, with the debut novel OBSESSION.

    Yes, I’m feeling seriously outclassed and hope to learn a LOT from the other panelists. I’d encourage y’all to post any questions you might have for the panel and I’ll pass them on to Allison, and give a recap after the conference in July. Incidentally, the Craftfest classes and Agentfest (speed dating with agents!) will again be awesome this year.

    Monday Mentions is the mash-up-day of all the neato-torpedo links and videos, pet schtuff and bling and writer-icity crappiocca collected over the past week. Some of this “schtuff” can be hard to categorize and may fit more than one topic so I urge you to at least scan them all.

    WRITER-ICITY SCHTUFF

    WANA INTERNATIONAL LAUNCHES! the brainchild of Kirsten Lamb, this is a community of and for artists with more than 40 online instructors, a great resource for stay-at-home writers who can’t attend conferences. I’ll be teaching “virtual” classes here in the future.

    What Does “Content Abundance” Mean and should you care?

    BlogPaws Registration, a social media marketing conference especially for pet writers (do you channel your inner fur-kid?). And don’t miss voting for your Petties (pet blogger awards)

    Facebook Counts “Viral” Shares

    Pinterest-Friendly Blog Posts from the terrific August McLaughlin

    Whispering Prairie Press contest info

    How Amazon Saved My Life a great essay from a traditionally pub’d author (and daughter/co-author with mom Susan Conant of the dog lovers mysteries)

    Self Pub’ing with Book Baby

    KOBO Self Pub’ing Program Launched I understand this is similar to the Kindle program

    Interesting Survey of Self Pub’d Authors, who does it, what’s the success rate, and more

    10 Facebook Marketing Mistakes to Avoid

    PET SCHTUFF

    The Dog Whisperer Show Cancelled

    Dogs In The City trainer a fraud? hoo boy…is it too much to ask for the “experts” to really be experts???

    CATS.About.com Franny Syufy Interview, now here’s a REAL expert!

    Feral & TNR Facts interesting schtuff here

    Pet Requiem offers house call veterinary service and end-of-life care for pets, what a compassionate and innovative practice!

    I love hearing from you, so please share comments and questions. Do you have an ASK AMY question you’d like answered? Do you have a new kitten and need answers? Stay up to date on all the latest just subscribe the blog, “like” me on Facebook, listen to the weekly radio show, check out weekly FREE PUPPY CARE newsletter, and sign up for Pet Peeves newsletter with excerpts from the forthcoming THRILLER, LOST & FOUND, and pet book give-aways!

    Category Cat Behavior & Care, Dog Training & Care, Writing Advice & More | Tags: ,,,,,,,,,,, | 14 Comments

  7. Tuesday Trumpet! Music, Cat-astrophe & Thrilling News!

    March 20, 2012 by Amy Shojai

    NEWS-ABOUT-KURVES!

    First off, I’ve added audio files to the KURVES, THE MUSICAL page (above) so folks can finally hear some of the songs.

    NEWS-ABOUT-CAT!

    Seren-kitty had her vet visit yesterday. She’s not a youngster any more and I’ve  been worried about her health since she’s drinking/urinating more. I’ll have a full recap on Friday but wanted to thank everyone for the good wishes. It is NOT diabetes (whew!). It may be early kidney issues (her tests are ‘borderline’ and not yet in failure). We’re expecting Texas A & M results tomorrow or Thursday to let us know about thyroid function. Paws crossed that’s negative…

    NEWS-ABOUT-FICTION!

    Some of y’all know that I’ve long aspired to write thrillers. Last Thursday, just before I headed out for the KWA Scene Conference, I heard from my editor at Who Dares Wins Publishing that they will publish my thriller LOST AND FOUND probably this fall (date tba). SNOOPY-DANCE-O-JOY!

    Animal behaviorist September Day has 24 hours to find her autistic nephew and his service dog before he–and hundreds of other children–become victims of a deadly experimental autism treatment. And yes, there is “dog voice” as well as a highly-trained kitty, along with assorted quirky two-legged characters in the book.

    To say I’m thrilled is an understatement. But today I also learned that I’ve been accepted as an ITW Debut Author class of 2012/2013. When I got that email I bawled. With happiness, of course. But that really upset the Magical-Dawg. Any tears upset him. And yes, the hero dog in the fiction came about by channeling my inner dog/cat. *s*

    Anyway, I had to let y’all know my news. It’s been an “on top of the world” to “worry-icity” to “floating-again” sort of week. Sometimes you reach for, grab, and actually catch the brass ring.

    *humming* If I can do it, you can do it too…

    I love hearing from you, so please share comments and questions. Do you have an ASK AMY question you’d like answered? Do you have a new kitten and need answers? Stay up to date on all the latest just subscribe the blog, “like” me on Facebook, listen to the weekly radio show, check out weekly FREE PUPPY CARE newsletter, and sign up for Pet Peeves newsletter with pet book give-aways!

    Category Cat Behavior & Care, Theater & Performance, Writing Advice & More | Tags: ,,,,,,,,, | 18 Comments

  8. Tuesday Tips: Carla Buckley, Pacing Ebb & Flow

    September 27, 2011 by Amy Shojai

    I’ve spent the last several days head-down-slash-and-burn editing the thriller WIP, and the past several weeks’ worth of Tuesday Tips have been a great help for me. Hey, it’s my blog so I can post what I like! For all you fiction-lovers out there and those who aspire to do this brain-numbing-writer-crappiocca, I hope it’s been helpful to you, too.

    Here’s the last installment of tips from Thrillerfest 2011. I’ve shared video tips from Karin Slaughter, a video of Michael & Daniel Palmer’s Thrillerfest Song, as well as a video of the Thrillerfest interview with master author R.L. Stine, and Ken Follett. I shared an interview of John Sanford and pacing and Jeffery Deaver and Andrew Petersen weighed in on pacing. The awesome Joseph Finder offered three words that make all the difference in pacing and last week Jamie Frevelletti spoke about high-octane pacing. Today I’ve got the next installment of that panel. You can check out a boatload of Thrillerfest pictures here.

    Where else but Thrillerfest could you get so much bang-for-your-buck with James Rollins interviewing a whole panel of best-selling-authors! This next video features another take on the question of pacing, this time answered by best-selling author Carla Buckley, author of The Things That Keep Us Here.  This is a deceptively quiet book, with an ebb-and-flow to the pacing that tightens the tension like a silent scream.

    That’s right, it doesn’t all have to be car chases and machine guns to create pacing. We’ve talked thrillers on the blog–cuz it’s my blog and I happen to love the genre–but ALL fiction needs tension and good pacing. There’s no cookie-cutter recipe that works for every book and author. How do you manage your WIP? Readers, what do you like in your book-o-the-moment choice? Is it character angst, plotting twists, a combination or none of the above? Please share!

    This video is only a small taste, of course. You can get the full deal recording (and those of the other panels) of CDs, MP3s and DVDs of Thrillerfest here. And even better, you can come to Thrillerfest 2012 and see the big show in person! Registration info is now available.

    I love hearing from you, so please share comments and questions. Do you have an ASK AMY question you’d like answered? Stay up to date on all the latest just subscribe the blog, “like” me on Facebook, listen to the weekly radio show, check out weekly FREE PUPPY CARE newsletter, and sign up for Pet Peeves newsletter with pet book give-aways!

    Category Uncategorized | Tags: ,,,,,,,,,,, | 1 Comment

  9. Tuesday Tips: Racing Pacing with Jamie Frevelletti

    September 20, 2011 by Amy Shojai

    Here’s yet another installment of tips from Thrillerfest. I’ve shared video tips from Karin Slaughter, a video of Michael & Daniel Palmer’s Thrillerfest Song, as well as a video of the Thrillerfest interview with master author R.L. Stine, and Ken Follett. I shared an interview of John Sanford and pacing and two weeks ago Jeffery Deaver and Andrew Petersen weighed in on pacing. Last week the awesome Joseph Finder offered three words that make all the difference in pacing. Today I’ve got the next installment of that panel. You can check out a boatload of Thrillerfest pictures here.

    Where else but Thrillerfest could you get so much bang-for-your-buck with James Rollins interviewing a whole panel of best-selling-authors! This next video features another take on the question of pacing, this time answered by best-selling author Jamie Frevelletti.

    Her book Running From the Devil starts with a plane crash and never stops.

    How do you pace your novel? Conventional wisdom says “cut to the chase” but that really means cut out the backstory. Don’t bore your reader with background, but begin with something interesting–usually that’s the “normal world” before everything goes haywire for the hero. But how soon do you drop the hero/heroine off a cliff? Do you start in the middle of the firestorm? When planning the story, do you consciously include spots to breathe?

    For the past several weeks I’ve been the substitute accompanist for my church when the organist broke her shoulder. As a singer, I always include phrasing for a singer’s breaths–because as a singer I get nuts AND PASS OUT! when the phrase never ends. The same thing should happen in fiction. But that ebb and flow can come fast or slow, become a torrent racing for a cliff or a meandering stream that picks up steam over the rapids.

    Do you think readers feel that same urge for an eye-in-the-storm quiet moment? How long/how often should it happen? Or can you ramp up the tension without pause? Do tell!

    Meanwhile, here’s what best-selling authors say. This video is only a small taste, of course. You can get the full deal recording (and those of the other panels) of CDs, MP3s and DVDs of Thrillerfest here.

    I love hearing from you, so please share comments and questions. Do you have an ASK AMY question you’d like answered? Stay up to date on all the latest just subscribe the blog, “like” me on Facebook, listen to the weekly radio show, check out weekly FREE PUPPY CARE newsletter, and sign up for Pet Peeves newsletter with pet book give-aways!

    Category Writing Advice & More | Tags: ,,,,,,,,,, | 3 Comments

  10. Monday Mentions: Writer-icity, Canine Awards & Glowing Cats

    September 19, 2011 by Amy Shojai

    Monday Mentions is the mash-up-day of all the neato-torpedo links and blogs and writer-icity crappiocca collected over the past week. Today we’re celebrating a debut book, some amazing canines, glowing cats and fantastic writer conference/contest ops among other things.

    It rained–and hailed–here last night. The rain is welcome after all the fires we’ve had and continuing drought conditions. But it drove at least two crickets inside–and they proceeded to drive me crazy! I sent Seren-kitty after them so eventually little cricket drumsticks will be all that’s left of ‘em, but meanwhile the ventriloquist act drives me buggy. At least crickets aren’t dangerous to dogs and cats like bug bites and stings. Here in Texas we even get to deal with tarantulas an scorpions–hey, that’s sort of like dealing with publishers. *eg* Exactly the same, only different.

    Please don’t be shy about sending me your own links or suggestions for others to highlight. I love doing a SNOOPY-DANCE-’O-JOY! in celebration of all the savvy writers and animal advocates doing the work of the angels–and to a few angels as well.

    CAT CALLS New Book by Cat Experts Extraordinaire! Calling All Cat-Lovers! New York cat expert and cat sitter Jeanne Adlon, with purr-fessional writer Susan Logan, bring readers a tasty smorgasbord of fun kitty anecdotes seasoned with sound advice, and lots of furry inspiration. Cat Calls is Paws-itively delightful! For those who may not be aware, Jeanne is a contributor to CatChannel.com while Susan is editor of Cat Fancy magazine–as a friend of mine likes to say, “It don’t get no better none!”

    Hey, I’m a writer, cain’t ya tell?

    CAT & DOG SCHTUFF

    GREEN GLOWING CATS and nope, it’s reality and not out of some thriller novel. But come to think of it, that might make a neat plot twist.

    5 CANINES WIN AKC “ACE” AWARDS The recipient in each category (Exemplary Companion, Law Enforcement, Search and Rescue, Service, and Therapy) will receive an engraved silver collar medallion and a check for $1,000 at a presentation ceremony at the AKC/Eukanuba National Championship in Orlando, Florida, on December 17, 2011. Each Honorable Mention recipient will be mailed a bronze collar medallion.

    White House Pets Pictures came to me in an email out of the blue–some neat new photos I hadn’t seen before.

    BLOGS TO CHECK OUT

    Writer Beware Blog has a terrific mix of publishing news on lawsuits and new trends, and writer tips written by Victoria Strauss and A.C. Crispin.

    HOW TO BUILD A WRITING TEAM from Jenny Hansen’s excellent blog. Seriously, y’all need to bookmark this one!

    Piper Bayard’s “On Life, Belly Dancing and Apocalyptic Annihilation has some of the coolest writer insights–and just plain LOL moments. You’ve gotta check out the Ben & Jerry’s latest ice cream flavor Schweddy Balls.

    WRITER-ICITY

    LIVESCRIBE, Never Miss A Word: My colleague Dusty Rainbolt some time ago mentioned a “magic pen” recommended some years ago by a speaker at the Cat Writers Association Conference. She raves about the LiveScribe, able to record a seminar, conversation or phone call. It apparently has some sort of smart memory so that you can “write” down a note about a topic on the special paper, later tap the text on your note and the recording plays back from there. As with many digital devices you can save the recording to the computer. I don’t have one but plan to look into this nifty writer’s tool. For thriller writers, it sounds like something the well-outfitted spy character might carry!

    WORSE THAN CONTENT MILLS?   For those of us struggling to provide top-notch original content, this is scary. Computers generating word-spin and you don’t even have to buy lunch. Say it ain’t so! What do you think?

    Ebook FOREIGN RIGHTS OPS article from thriller writer Karen Dionne.

    AWESOME WRITER CONFERENCES & CONTESTS

    Cat Writers Association 18th Annual Conference takes place this November 17-19 in White Plains, New York with many sessions specific to publishing and writing about pets–or really any subject. Oh, and I’ll be there with Susan Logan of Cat Fancy offering some “caterwauls” as entertainment. *s*

    International Thriller Writers “Thrillerfest” and “Craftfest” Conference “early bird” registration is now open! But to get the best rate you’ll need to register by September 30. Of course you can still register later for the July 12, 2012 conference.

    Oklahoma Writers Federation, Inc. hosts a massive contest for unpublished work each year, often judged by professionals who happen to be editors, agents and published authors. It’s cheap-cheap-cheap for invaluable feedback, only $20 for entering all of the 29 unpublished and 4 published book categories. The whole point of the contest is to help writers improve the work on the journey to publication. Check it out!

    I love hearing from you, so please share comments and questions. Do you have an ASK AMY question you’d like answered? Stay up to date on all the latest just subscribe the blog, “like” me on Facebook, listen to the weekly radio show, check out weekly FREE PUPPY CARE newsletter, and sign up for Pet Peeves newsletter with pet book give-aways!

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