Category Archives: books

Against Their Will – the beginning

Posted on by under authors, books, empathy for characters, Health Care

Against Their Will – Prologue

Infernal stoplight. Could it take any longer to change?

Sweat dripped down Max Duncan’s back and dotted his brow. It soaked through his formerly pristine shirt and left stains under his arms and on his collar. Cars swept past, slinging stifling, muggy Houston air into his face. He wanted to slap it away. Instead, he shifted from foot to foot.

“I ain’t got time for this freakin’ . . .” A string of obscenities slipped out under his breath. He glared at the crowd pressing against him, pushing and nudging him. He bared his teeth as if he were a lion ready to pounce and rip the entire throng to shreds. Then, he thought of all the germs, the stink, and the sweat that would contaminate him, and he pressed his lips together in a solid line, as if they could be a protective barrier from the totally sub-perfect world bumping against him. 

The temperature rose, heat bearing down on him with such intensity that he was certain a giant magnifying glass was over his head, concentrating the sun’s rays on his scalp. When the signal finally changed, Max pushed through the crowd so that he led the pack as he raced across the scorching pavement.

On the other side of the street, he stopped in front of the bank’s wall of windows. His reflection stared back at him from the tinted glass. With a stubby forefinger, he dabbed at a smudge on his forehead. Lately, it was as if the years were melting away, like a river birch’s curling bark peeling away to reveal the pristine white trunk beneath. If it weren’t for that hideous tag of skin growing under his jaw, he could be on the next cover of People’s “Sexiest Men Alive” issue – but that tag. It had only appeared recently. It was just a flap of extra skin, ridged like a gill, but with no color. He shrugged. Youth and energy, why they were the two greatest forces in life. They were all that mattered. He had been blessed with a lot of each lately. Although he didn’t understand why or how, he didn’t care. Max never questioned the generosity of any giver.

He glided through the brass-trimmed doors of the old bank and into the cavernous marble-floored lobby. He sniffed. Despite artificially cooled air, he could smell it- money, old money. It was like slipping into a favorite pair of jeans, comfortable, comforting. Odd, he didn’t remember being around it before.

At the teller’s window, Max pulled a sheet of paper from his pocket, glanced at it, and then said,  “I’m here for Gerald Humminger.”

There was a momentary pause as the woman glanced up at Max and narrowed her eyes. After a few seconds, she said very stiffly, “May I tell him who wishes to see him?”

Max patted his tie. “Yeah, you can tell him Max Duncan is here.”

Soon, a tall gentleman in the dark, cut-to-perfection uniform of the business world approached and extended his bony hand.

“It’s Max now, is it?” Gerald Humminger grinned. “What a pleasant surprise! I certainly didn’t expect to see you again, at least not so soon.” He gripped Max’s elbow and spoke close to his ear. “But, I must say, you’re looking better than ever – at least ten years younger. You must tell me about this youth potion you’ve obviously discovered!”

Max’s fat fingers encircled the man’s bony ones as they shook hands. His brows knitted into a frown. Who was this guy?

Moments later, seated in a leather chair in Humminger’s office, Max studied the man. How could Mr. Humminger be surprised to see him again? He was certain he had never met the lanky banker before.

As the thought traversed the neural pathways in Max’s mind, a small chisel started hammering inside his skull. The throbbing was moderate,  just enough to make Max grimace. He pushed the heel of his hand against his forehead.

“Are you all right?” Gerald leaned forward and squinted. Max nodded. “Want some ice water, perhaps, something stronger?”

Max shook his head.  “No . . . thanks.”

“Well then, what brings you here today? Last I heard, you were in some federal prison. It seems something was said about an inmate stabbing you.” Humminger giggled. “I believe it was with a fork! Even heard you didn’t make it. But, it looks like you not only resurrected yourself, new name and all, but you shaved a few years off while you were at it. If it wasn’t some magic youth potion, then it must’ve been one incredible plastic surgeon!”

Max stared at Gerald, his expression blank. Who was this man that he even cared what Max looked like? It was none of his business, except Max couldn’t deny the slight pleasure he got from the envy the other man held toward him.

Gerald’s smile faded. “Look, we’re old buddies. I’ve held your hand through the worst of them. This room is safe. You can tell old Gerald what’s really going on.”

“Going on? Nothing’s going on. I’m fine.” Max shifted in his seat. He pulled a handkerchief from his pocket and swiped it across his forehead. Then he glanced at his watch. “Look, I need to make a transfer. I’ve got to split twenty million between three accounts. One’s in the Grand Caymans. The others are in Switzerland.”

“Twenty million? You have that much left? I thought our ‘I-feel-your-pain’ uncle took all your possessions. IRS and all.”

All his possessions? He was simply transferring money on behalf of his new employer.

“It’s not mine,” Max said as he pushed a sealed envelope across the polished desk. “It’s my employer’s. The authorization’s there,” he added, pointing to the envelope.

“New employer, huh? You not only flirted with death, cheated and won; you’re also not wasting any time getting new work, are you?” Gerald tore open the envelope and quickly read the single sheet inside.

“Says here this is your money, and you want it split between three accounts opened nearly five years ago.” Gerald dropped the sheet and stared at Max. “Want to tell me the real truth? What’s going on, Milo?”

“Milo?” Max frowned. “I tell you, nothing’s going on. Never in my life have I had money like that!” The chisel in his skull morphed into a jackhammer.

“Milo, Max, whatever. You’ve never had that little money in your life. You’re used to handling many times more than a paltry sum of twenty million. You controlled accounts the world over. The Grand Caymans was just play money. That’s why you can’t remember!” Gerald grinned as he patted Max’s shaking hand. “Sure, it must be hard giving up what you had. Looks like you’re on your way back, though. Pull a few wise investments, and in no time, you’ll have all you had before plus some.”

Max tried to swallow but couldn’t. So much saliva had accumulated it threatened to overflow and dribble down his chin. Without warning, a wave of nausea slammed into him, sending a fresh sweat river down his cheeks. Yet, he managed a smile as he nodded at Gerald.

“Very well.” Gerald stood. “You must sign the proper forms and all that. You know the routine.” He rounded the desk and started for the door. “Just sit back and relax. I’ll get my secretary on it right away.” The door shut behind him.

Max started shaking. He felt like a leaf whipping around in a storm, and he couldn’t stop himself. Ringing echoed in his ears. A frantic urgency pushed and pulled at his insides. He got up and started pacing in front of the wall of windows. He felt like he would die if he stopped moving. On the street below, traffic and pedestrians flowed. Heat shimmered off the pavement. Max stared at them and wondered why he envied them.

Gerald returned, breezing through the door with a small stack of documents in hand. 

Max spun around and hurried back to his seat in front of Gerald’s desk. He pointed at the papers. “Where do I sign?”

“Just like every time before, wherever you see yellow highlighting.” Gerald pointed at the various blanks. “These forms authorize this bank to move the money you requested to the accounts you specified, and so on and so on. Soon as they’re signed, we’ll enter the instructions and wait for confirmation. It shouldn’t take more than a few minutes.”

The signing completed, Max shoved the papers back over to Gerald who then took them to someone waiting outside the door. As suddenly as it had come over him, Max’s urgent energy vanished. His muscles, no longer tight and hard, crumpled into a limp mass. Yet, the pounding in his head jumped to double-time. He had to get out of there. He didn’t know why; he just had to do it. Right then. Aiming for the door, Max staggered as the room tilted and then straightened.

Gerald gripped his elbow. “What’s your hurry?” He bent over so that he could peer into Max’s eyes. “Are you all right? You’re looking a little pale. Sure I can’t get you something?”

Max focused on Gerald for a moment, and he realized suddenly he didn’t know why he was there. Max shook his head, unable to answer.

A young woman in a form-fitting suit pushed through the door and smiled. “Mr. Humminger, the confirmation just came back. I’ll have the hard copy in just a moment.”

“Thanks, Bonnie, dear,” Gerald said. His eyes lingered on her shapely form, and she glared at him as she backed from the room and slammed the door.

The pounding, the ringing, the nausea, all of it closed in on Max. He lunged for the door and reeled through it.

“Wait! You don’t have your papers!”

“I’ll . . . get them later.” Max rubbed his temple furiously. Without warning, he gagged, but only saliva streamed from his mouth. He managed to push through the door and half ran, half staggered toward the elevator.

Once inside, he leaned against the wall and panted. Swirling images crept across his vision, distorting the light and the area around him. When the doors opened, he nearly fell into the arms of a waiting woman. Instead, he caught himself and stumbled past her, aiming erratically for the outer doors and the bright light beyond. If only he could make it to the light.

The pounding and ringing intensified, shutting out all sound. Desperate to stop the pain, he pushed his palm against his ear and then pulled it away and stared at it. It was warm and sticky, dripping with bright-red blood. Max stumbled forward. He didn’t hear the shouts behind him or car horns blaring before him. He just searched for the light. He pushed his feet faster, desperate to find it.

When Max finally found his light, he didn’t see the car to his left. He couldn’t feel the crunching and cracking of his bones, the scraping and tearing of his flesh. His world wobbled and spun, dragging him with it. By the time he hit the pavement, it was black. The ringing stopped, and the pounding slowed. Thump … thump … thump … thump …

The newscaster’s professionally bleached teeth filled the television screen.

“In downtown Houston today, a tragic accident took the life of billionaire, former federal prison inmate, and allied Mafia kingpin, Milo Dolnia. Eyewitness accounts vary, some saying Dolnia was holding his head, with blood running through his fingers prior to staggering into the path of a speeding car in the one-hundred block of Louisiana Street. Others could not confirm his injury but saw him moving erratically prior to running in front of the oncoming vehicle. Dolnia did not respond to shouts or car horns. No charges have been filed s this time; however, an investigation continues. Dolnia was the focus of a recent controversy after being released from Bastrop Federal Prison after serving only a small fraction of his sentence for tax evasion and fraud. He …”

The petite, flame-haired woman hit the “off” button on the remote and threw it on her desk. Hands on her hips as if she were the steel-plated superhero, she whirled about to face the towering, almost superhuman-looking man entering her office. Despite the white lab jacket covering a starched shirt and silk tie, he looked more like a professional wrestling star than the genius he was as tested on the Wechsler Scale.

“Did you see that? Did you?” The woman’s voice rose. “They just won’t leave it alone, will they? They’ll do their investigations, prodding and poking until their brains freeze over. Why can’t they believe it was an accident and leave it at that?”

“Whatever are you worried about, Cherie?” The tone of the man’s voice was mostly neutral, except for when he pronounced her name. It was drawn out like a long, soft caress. She might have wondered about him, his heritage, if indeed there was some French ancestry there, but she was too preoccupied to consider his bloodline. More important issues related to blood kept her focused.

“Even with an autopsy, all they’ll find, beside broken bones and contusions, is a subdural hematoma, a small intracranial hemorrhage. They’ll assume that’s what caused him to run blindly into the street. Believe me; they will never know the truth.”

“I hope you’re right, Charles. For all of our sakes, I hope you’re right.”

“Why do you doubt, Cherie? Do you not believe me when I tell you of our progress, of our achievements? We have attained the unthinkable, things so unbelievable that if one did not witness them personally, one would never believe them possible. Yet, you have see it all, firsthand.”

Cherie’s lips curled into a self-satisfied grin as she rubbed her hand along his thick arm. “Oh, I know, Charles! It’s just I get scared sometimes. We’ve worked for so long on this, put so much into it, that to consider any setback now when we’re so close … well, it just curdles my stomach! You’re right; we’re almost there. I mean, Milo authorized that transfer of twenty million, not even a question asked! Think of the implications!” A low, guttural laugh rose from her throat.

“Implications?” Charles shook his head. “What is means is we still have not solved our problem. We still cannot determine why they succumb at exactly the same point.”

“So who cares if they fall over? At least we can get them to do our bidding first.” She licked her lips. “Charles, consider the potential. We’ve stumbled onto something that could be even more productive than you silly little cures. Why not use it?”

“Silly little cures?” His voice clipped the air with a cold, steel edge. “I thought what mattered most was not to make them our puppets but to perfect the miracles, to give them hope. Is that not the goal, what we are all waiting for, hope?”

Cherie rubbed her chin. “I suppose you can have your hope. Pity, though. We’ve proven the potential. It would be a shame to waste it.”

“Waste it?” He backed away from her. The air between them had become charged. “No, it would never be wasted, but we desperately need fresh blood. Somewhere, there is a person holding the right DNA key, the right genetic blueprint to give us what we lack. When we find that, then we have success. We can give them our miracles and keep them alive.”

Cherie rubbed a red-painted fingernail slowly across her plump lips. Her eyes narrowed as she studied him. In a low, seductive tone, she said softly, “Charles, you will find your success. I know you will. In the meantime, though, we can have some fun, can’t we?” She moved behind him and began to knead his shoulder muscles through the cloth of his lab jacket. As her fingers poked and prodded the tight muscles, she smiled her trademark Cheshire grin.

“Yes, Charles, we’ll have our fun, and you’ll solve your problems. You’ll get what you need, and you’ll be happy. I will be too, for you will have given me what I’ve searched for, no, longed for all these years. I’m banking the reputation of our entire project on your promises, and you know to whom I answer.”

Charles spun around so that his gaze met hers. The heat seemed to shimmer like pavement on a hot summer day. He nodded and said quietly, “I am well aware of the power behind you. But I cannot produce your miracles, or your puppets, without help.” Not waiting for a response, he spun sharply on his heel and hurried from the office. The door slammed behind him.

Cherie crossed her arms and stared blankly at the door. Slowly, a smile spread across her face. “Good,” she said, though there was no one to hear her. “Glad you understand.” 

Plopping into her swivel chair, she kicked her feet out, and with a soft “Whee!” she spun it once before pulling it up to her desk. She picked up the phone and punched in a few numbers as she muttered to herself, “Now for that little matter of genetic variety.”

Against Their Will – Global Minds

Posted on by under books, medical research, medicine, readers, writing

Nancy Livingstone

After a few years of chasing other pursuits, mostly just getting through the daily demands of life, I have been blessed to be able to get back to my passion, writing. As my first book, Against Their Will, is getting a new life along with lots of exciting possibilities, I am now pursuing a sequel, currently titled Against Their Will – Global Minds .

In this sequel, the reader will be updated on the characters from the first book and meet a new group of people, all with their own agendas driving them in different directions with one goal, control, of themselves, others, and ultimately, the world.

Since the first ATW book, the main characters, Matt Grayson and Lynn McCane are enjoying the new life they found from their trials and adventures the first time around. As far as they know, there are no fears following them from their past. Matt is courted by Hollywood to sign on for more staring roles, and Lynn has earned a reputation as a hard hitting journalist who goes after the truth, no matter what. What they don’t realize is that brewing beneath the daily news is a huge story, that if enacted will change life on the planet in ways that will affect every individual, rich, poor, healthy or ill that are hard, for those who will be affected, to imagine.

Against Their Will – Global Minds is set on a world stage where powerful and known and some not well-known individuals are making plans for every human being on the planet.

Promises are made that claim this new life will be an utopia, a life of ease and lack of want for anything. And, all of this will be courtesy of an obscure and relatively unknown group of people who claim no one should be denied anything in life due to lack of money or other resources. They make this promise because they have access to hidden resources. This little known group is ready to boldly move forward with their plans. And, an unsuspecting world is cheering them on.

The human genome research that was developed in Against Their Will is still alive and well, but is a closely held secret with only a few select people knowing exactly what and where it is being developed and how it will be deployed.

This sequel begins in North Carolina where a group of physicians and other researchers in nearby Research Triangle Park are working together to bring forward some new treatments using modifications learned from human genome research. They are tapping into the brain power of some of the greatest medical minds in the world. It is this resource of brain power that made this area such an attractive place to move forward with their exploration and ultimate control over the world’s resources.

Let’s meet some of the characters.

Dean McCanter, MD – Dean grew up in eastern North Carolina and finished his undergraduate work at NC State University in biomedical engineering. By the time he earned his Bachelor’s degree at State, he knew that research into new treatments, especially cures, was the ticket to his desire for money and status in life. The only fly in his ointment after gaining his MD degree from the medical school at Duke University, was to be assigned a residency at Rex Hospital in Raleigh; the hospital being part of the UNC Healthcare network. No self-respecting, loyal member of NC State’s Wolfpack would allow such a thing to happen. Grudgingly he accepts the post and conforms to the work demands all the while telling himself it is only temporary. He is offered the position of Chief of the Emergency Department, a position he believes will catapult him to his real desire, making more money while increasing his status in the world. In the interim, he looks for ways to get the debt collectors off his back.

Sky Carver, MD – Sky is a year younger than Dean McCanter and doesn’t come from an affluent family. She grew up believing hard work and doing her best with what she was given was the only way to success. She is not a stranger to hard work, as she worked her way through college, and then attended a lesser known medical school, one in which the tuition was a bit more reasonable. Sky didn’t care the school wasn’t a Harvard or a Yale. She is determined to succeed no matter what. Sky is second in command of the Emergency Department at Rex, under Dean McCanter. Prior to Dean’s promotion to Chief of the ER at Rex, Sky had been told she was to be the next director, just as soon as some things could be put in place. When Dean was named Chief, she was shocked, then filled with anger.

What really gets Sky rolling is the lack of leadership from the newly appointed Chief of the ER, Dean McCanter. It all comes to a head when he’s no where to be found on an evening shift when a massive pile-up on I-40 overwhelms the ER. Sky takes over and manages things, but it only serves to increase her dislike and resentment of the current chief.

Against Their Will – Global Minds, opens on a Friday evening rush hour in Raleigh. After working two shifts in the Rex Hospital ER back to back, Sky is on her way home. Just as she is within a few miles of her apartment, the ER calls and begs her to return. There’s a huge pile-up on I-40 and lots of casualties. Sky turns around, and returns to the ER only to find the it is understaffed and no one knows where chief, Dean McCanter is.

The deluge of patients continues throughout the evening and overnight. Sky does her best to stay afloat with all the demands, but the injuries they’re seeing are severe and some quite puzzling. She struggles to keep things running and despite multiple calls and pages, no one can find Dr. McCanter. What’s worse, a number of those brought in are in extreme pain and exhibiting unusual symptoms, fevers, rashes, disorientation and ultimately coma followed quickly by death.

This post introduces two of the main characters in Against Their Will – Global Minds . In the next post, additional players will be introduced.

Thank you for reading, and as always, comments and thoughts are welcome!

Big Pharma, Friend or Enemy?

Posted on by under Big Pharma, books, Choices, Health Care, Health Care Practitioners, marketing, medical research, medicine, Natural Cures, Natural Healing, Prescription Medications, Truth, Uncategorized

My "Big Pharma"

My “Big Pharma”

Everyday it seems we are subjected to yet another “new” study that insists we must do this or that to better our health. Sadly, so may accept these “announcements” as total truth without doing any background research on the subject. Being constantly bombarded by media, we tend to start believing everything we hear. Since it’s coming from the news, it has to be true. Does it? Really?

As I mentioned in my last post, most anyone can concoct a stunning web site and post most any information on it. And because it looks professional, it immediately gains credibility with the reader. Again, really?!!!

I too, have been fooled by snazzy sites and flashy reports that claim to have the “only” way to make my life better. A blog I follow, and have found to have mostly good information, recently came under attack for “selling” items and information on the site. The author responded with an apology, but said that was the only way he could afford to continue posting the info. It’s a shame that he has to do this, but certainly understandable. In today’s business models, profit is important, and even just generating enough to cover costs is necessary. A necessary evil we all live with.

But, I digress. I didn’t start this post to complain about business and the economy. Actually it is due to a recent article I saw on the web regarding cholesterol. As we age (and I’ve done my fair share of it!), we all get more and more concerned with the issue. Lately, I’ve read a number of articles slamming the mainstream cholesterol medications as being bad for us. And there are just as many out there preaching we must do (eat and take) all that the mainstream medical profession says we should.

We should all be aware of the fact that “Big Pharma” spends boat loads of money trying to influence the front line of health care providers to prescribe their drugs. Yes, there is very much a profit motive. But, at what cost, our health?

With new research and the spate of lawsuits regarding fairly recent drugs, (can you say Xarelto, Avandia, and many others?) those who are astute in following these developments have a very real reason to fear what might be forced on them by well meaning health care practitioners. Sadly, most people receiving health care don’t bother to read up on the drugs they are prescribed and many do not follow recent developments in the pharmaceutical industry.

Granted, there are many great drugs out there. And my heart goes to all front-line health care practitioners as they have a very difficult and stressful job. I believe they are following the guidelines given to them with the full intent of doing what is best for the patient. The trouble is, the Big Pharma companies don’t have the same goal. They are about money, and more money. And that is the conflict of it all.

In my book, Against Their Will, this mentality prevails. Scientists, hired in secret by the US Government, have discovered a new class of drugs that show serious potential to cure a lot of diseases. Even more importantly, they see how they can use their discoveries to make big money. It doesn’t matter to them the human life cost. They are immune. Their instructions are to produce the drug and multiply it at all costs.

When I first started writing this book, these assumptions were considered scandalous. Sadly, it is so much more believable today that it is downright frightening.

What can we do? Do we have any options? Or, do we have no choice but to comply? I believe it is up to each individual to determine this. However, there are things we can do.

We can find informative sources and research them to determine their credibility and therefore make our own decisions. We can search for and engage health care providers who understand our concerns and work with us to find solutions. And, we can say no. No to what is being prescribed. No to what is being strongly suggested we must take to save our lives. No, to those who don’t care about us and our health, but care more for their own pocketbook.

We need to open our eyes and decide for ourselves what is best for us and take advice from those we truly trust and know have our best interests in mind. Being responsible for our self in every way, especially our health, is the only hope we have.

Web Conspiracies Everywhere? –

Posted on by under authors, Book pitch, books, Conspiracy, Internet, Research, Truth, writing

Just because a building looks official or imposing, does that mean everyone it represents is honest and trustworthy?

Just because a building looks official or imposing, does that mean everyone it represents is honest and trustworthy?

If you’ve read my book, Against Their Will, you know I’m into conspiracy stories. When the first stirrings of ideas for the book formed in my brain, it was still a bit inconceivable that normal, everyday citizens should ever have to worry about any type of conspiracy, much less ones government induced.

Now after the advent of Edward Snowden, the NSA, WikiLeaks, Drone spying, claims that vaccines harm us and that Wal-Mart is closing stores in the Southwest to make room for Chinese troops to come train on US soil and more, it is much more conceivable that things might be going on that we don’t really want to know are going on.

Granted there are all sorts of ideas floating on the web about who did what to whom. I will admit, some make a lot of sense. Others are discredited almost immediately when I see a lack substantiation or proof as to what the writer is claiming. Merely “preaching an idea” does not necessarily make that idea true. Nor does a credible looking website that states something is true without facts or references to back it up really mean that what is said is true.

Jazzy web-designs, easily obtained today in numerous places, can make a site credible looking. Formats that appear to be news-worthy can draw in visitors quite easily, and if the content is presented in the right manner, can even deceive the reader into believing all that is said is true.

This just emphasizes the ease with which a modern day web-surfer can be misled or down-right lied to. Fiction belongs in a book that is labeled as fiction and not pushed on the public in ways that deceive the reader into believing they are true, or fact.

Have I been stung by truthful-looking web-sites? Maybe. . . But, despite what I think about what I read on the web, I will say, there is an abundance of material out there that churns up a pot-full of ideas for plotting my next novel. No doubt, there is probably enough truth mixed in with the screaming headlines and provocative intros that even those ideas that are not true, may certainly seem true.

What’s good about all this? Well, this makes the beauty of fiction writing all the more alluring. It doesn’t matter! A fiction writer can craft just about any story, and given a few exceptions, never have to prove its merit or truthfulness!

But, as with all things, moderation is key. It all depends on the story being told and the audience to which it is pitched. Still, the internet makes for one huge world of interest just waiting to be manipulated into a best-seller. Thriller style!

Are Your Bad Guys Bad Enough?

Posted on by under authors, Book structure, books, character development, empathy for characters, hooking readers, Mankind's Faults, readers, Uncategorized, writing, Writing success

Most people don’t like bad guys. After all, they spend their real or fictional lives antagonizing others or themselves!

The epitome of a "bad guy" stage!

The epitome of a “bad guy” stage!

Bad guys make us sit on the edges of our seats, get sweaty palms, or even raise our heart rates. But are they really necessary for a good story?

YES! It’s been stated many times that conflict makes a story engaging or engrossing. What better way to create conflict than to have a bad guy antagonizing our hero. The greatest thrillers use this model and even dramatic stories successfully incorporate the bad guys into the plot line.

I’m a fan of Diana Galbadon (The Outlander Series and Starz Network Show). She has successfully created a number of bad guys that really set my teeth on edge and make my fingernails grow a couple of inches; all the better to claw their eyes out with! I hate the bad guys. I want them dead, gone, kaput! But, if they left the scene right away, what consequences would ensue? Sure, the protagonist would be “okay” but, would the story be as interesting if there was nothing to fear or be angry about? Would the reader really want to continue reading?

Not all stories use human characters to facilitate the bad guy persona. While many do, many authors are quite adept at using events and inanimate objects to antagonize the protagonists. A hurricane, health scare or disease outbreak, or financial crisis are just a few situations that are “bad” and can do much to facilitate character development and story interest. Situations a reader can relate to also help to grow interest and empathy from a reader. An author is not limited to human, breathing bad guys, but objects and events can be drafted to do the job.

I must admit I love “pulling the chains” of my “bad” characters. It is fulfilling, at times, to inflict emotional and/or physical distress on them. No, I’m not a sadist! But, writing in this manner is a great release of frustrations in my own life. I find it very cathartic and liberating. However, it is also rewarding to let some bad guys find redemption and become someone who is forgiven, loved, or even a savior of the protagonist. Either scenario, letting the bad guy stay bad and resolve the issues encountered with tragedy or letting him or her change and resolve the story in a more positive note make for writing that is captivating.

And if it makes for a best seller, all the better!

Until next time . . .

Memorable Characters?

Posted on by under Authentic, authors, books, character development, empathy for characters, family, hooking readers, Love, marketing books, readers, relationships, writing, Writing success

I love books, tv shows, and movies that develop characters that I can relate to one way or another.

Even characters from different centuries have the same basic needs as we do. Use that to make relatable characters.

Even characters from different centuries have the same basic needs as we do. Use that to make relatable characters.

As humans we love knowing we’re not alone. Seeing someone in a situation similar to one we’ve experienced, or in one that we’re glad not to be experiencing, helps us to develop empathy for the character. When we connect in such a manner, then most anything that happens in the story becomes interesting as we become eager to see how that character responds, or even survives.

In Against Their Will, I tried to make the characters human as we all are while instilling thrills, suspense and even some dreams into the equation. Who wouldn’t want to have success in Hollywood and garner fame and fortune from doing something one is driven and loves to do? Who wouldn’t want to have a charming and attractive hunk seek us out and devote his resources to saving (us) our female character?

So, I wrote about the things I like in a story! Fast paced, suspenseful, a little romance tossed in and the fear and rapid heart-beat of not knowing who or what is after our protagonists.

Lynn McCane is a strong-willed but beaten up reporter who has had more than her fair share of hard knocks tossed her way. She’s fighting to survive in more ways than one. Don’t we all? Matt Grayson is riding the rocket to blazing stardom and yet, he’s most concerned with the more important things in life, family, legacy and ultimately love.

Oh, I know a lot of this is wishful thinking; to have these things in life. But, I believe the human condition is made up of hope and looking for better things, and by giving these to the characters while putting them through the ringer is a way of capturing readers’ attention.

Not everyone likes this kind of story. I get that. But, the process of building characters so they can be related to, appreciated, sympathized with, and even hated, draws the readers’ emotions into the process and an emotional tie is hard to break.

My challenge to you, and to myself, is this; think hard and long about how you can make your characters relatable to your target audience. Not every audience will relate to your characters and we all like and are attracted to different personality types. So if one person doesn’t like your characters, it’s not the end of their world or yours. It just means that person does not represent the target audience you want to write for. And that is okay!

What can Book Clubs do for you?

Posted on by under authors, books, Encouragement, Independent Publishing, marketing, marketing books, name recognition, readers, Uncategorized, writing, Writing success

Books of every genre can be promoted at a book club.

Books of every genre can be promoted at a book club.

Many of you may belong to book clubs, others may have utilized their exposure to boost name recognition and sales.

I recently made myself available to book clubs as a speaker and guest. It remains to be seen how profitable this will be (not just in sales made, but in gaining more exposure to future readers), but regardless, I think it will produce some helpful insight in how readers look for books, how they digest them and what they are looking for in a book.

I know, I know, we’re creative types, but business intrudes into our fantasy world, especially if we want to keep creating those fantasies for others to read. So, I feel this is a viable tool to help us research hot topics, see what is “happening” with readers as well as get a little much needed recognition.

Most of all, I would love to hear from others about his or her experiences in dealing with book clubs. Do you feel it is worth the time or effort? What did you find to be the best or the worst experiences?

Thanks for your insight!

Happy reading and writing!
http://bookclubreading.com/against-their-will/

 

Books waiting to be autographed.

Books waiting to be autographed.

Winter’s cold or Frigid air with swirls of frosty breath that left ice crystals on his beard that soon became icicles – Huh?

Posted on by under authors, books, editing, readers, writing, writing style, Writing success

As I write this, it is spitting out the first winter precipitation for our area (North Carolina Piedmont). We tend to get overly excited over just one flake or ice pellet. The bread flies off the grocery store shelves with just a hint of winter in the forecast. Milk is equally in high demand. We all learned that lesson several years ago when we had a whopper snow that kept all of us in our homes for ten days.

A rare event in NC - enough to clear grocery store shelves!

A rare event in NC – enough to clear grocery store shelves!

Okay, I know all of you who live in colder climates are laughing at us. And believe me, even we who are snow starved cried in sympathy with the folks in Buffalo over the excess snow they had earlier this season. Too much of anything is bad, just as is too little. Which brings me to my point; what does this have to do with writing?

I recently read an excellent blog about the proper amount of description to use when developing a story, characters, or setting. There were points made on both sides of the issue; all of them valid.

For me, less is more. I believe in the reader’s ability to fill in the details according to their take on the written word. Now, I’m not talking basics here. We all need to know the character’s sex, age, location setting, and basic personality traits. But beyond that, what is needed?

There is a very prolific author whose stories I enjoy. But, I’ve noticed that in more recent books, some of the descriptions are overkill; way too many words to describe a relatively unimportant action, or trait. And that is when I start skipping pages to get on to the meat of the story.

There is another prolific author that I also enjoy reading and this person has a skill I truly admire; that of minimal description. With one or two words, this author paints a complete picture that I can not only see in my head, but feel as if I know the character or scene in question.

So, which way should an author go to be successful in writing? My preference is obvious. But, what about yours? Next time I will discuss some ideas about developing one’s descriptive skills. Meanwhile, I hope each and every one of you has the best Christmas holiday ever and a New Year filled with the best of the best of God’s blessings!

Distorted Words

Posted on by under authors, Book structure, books, Choices, distortion, editing, publishing, readers, wine age, writing, writing style

Distorted thinking. Most people hear this term and think some type of mental dysfunction is at play. But in reality, we all are affected by distortion in our lives.

These windows distort the light, so images cannot appear true when viewed through this distorted lens.

These windows distort the light, so images cannot appear true when viewed through this distorted lens.

We get so used to it, however, that after a while, we don’t see it or even notice it.

So, what does this have to do with writing? First of all, when writing, it is very easy to “get lost” in the story, the characters or even the setting. We see our work as “complete” when in reality it may be missing key pieces, such as words, punctuation, or even information that was intended to be included but left out.

Writing distortion can happen to anyone. You don’t have to be a new writer to suffer from it. In fact, seasoned writers may be more prone to distortion since they have developed a routine of writing that causes the brain to develop a picture of what is perceived and therefore makes it harder to detach from that picture and actually see missing words or words that are out of place.

It is frustrating to read works that are well thought out, executed and meaningful only to see the word that should have been deleted, or is the wrong tense, or uses the wrong “two” instead of the correct “too” glaring at you. It’s like an email you get that tells you “your” going to love whatever it is they are selling. Instead, most likely “you’re” going to by-pass that message, dismissing it because of the glaring mis-use of a word. I could just scream!

I recently read an excellent, fast-paced, and thrilling novel. It was truly one that I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough. The problem? I lost count after finding thirty-five “distortions” (words missing or unnecessary, ones that made no sense, or had the wrong spelling) in the first chapter alone. I enjoyed the book but let the author know that a good and thorough copy edit was needed.

And this brings up the whole point of editing. We all need it! We need someone other than ourselves to carefully read through and check for these types of mistakes. In this day and age of computers, spell checks and even predictive text, it is easier than ever to overlook these distorted words.  It happens to every writer.

Yeah, I know. Not every writer can afford a professional edit. But the truth is, even if you get picked up by a traditional publisher, most authors, unless already well known, are responsible for the edit. So, how does a writer deal with such things?

Get a friend to read your manuscript. Be open to any suggestions made. If you have a friend who teaches or is a big reader; especially of the genre you are writing, even better. Again, it may not be the high priced edit, but it will help you get your work to the place you want it to be.

Another option is to put your manuscript in a drawer or somewhere that it won’t constantly remind you of its presence. This only works if deadlines are not in play! After your work has aged appropriately, pull it out and savor your words. Look at each one slowly and without haste. Judge it as if it is a fine wine that only gets better with time. Imperfections will show up easier and you won’t be as likely to overlook them. Even with this route, it is still a great idea to have another person read it, preferably someone who did not read it earlier.

None of us is perfect and that will never change. We can work to be the best we can be, with each attempt improving us and our talent. Even though we all know we won’t achieve perfection, we can reach for this goal and that makes for work that is worth attention, good, positive attention. We want to be noticed, but for all the right reasons.

Go grab that glass of wine. Swirl it about your glass. Notice the fine details. Consider how the meniscus marks the side of the glass. Study the clarity of the liquid. Inhale the vapors and savor the aroma. Don’t be afraid of age, both in the wine and in your work. Both can produce an even better product. Cheers!

How Not to Write a Book

Posted on by under authors, Book outlines, Book structure, books, Choices, Uncategorized, writing, writing style

Off chasing yet another tangent

Off chasing yet another tangent

From time to time I am asked where did I get the inspiration for and how did I plot Against Their Will. The answer is one that often surprises people, especially those who are preparing to write their own books. I simply started with a couple of people I could visualize, adapted a real life event in my own life and inserted them into it. After that event concluded, I had no idea where the book was going next or where it would end up. I just had two characters who had experienced a cataclysmic event in their lives. For those organized and perhaps anal writers, this is not the way to start! But, I will admit, I am a free-thinker, and being creative, I don’t want to be “boxed in” by parameters, especially those set by others. My husband often accuses me of deliberately doing the opposite of what I am told to do, just because I can. And, I do! It drives him crazy, but I’m happy.

When I started on my first novel (long since buried in the trash can), I wrote what I liked to read. I still do. Reading a variety of other works, and a good dose of those that fall into the same genre as what I am writing in, helps me to develop my own voice and style. This initially didn’t help me with the plotting conundrum, but as I have learned to step back and analyze my work, what I learn from other writers makes a big contribution to my own development. I’m not advocating any kind of plagiarism, but rather the studying the styles and methods of successful writers is a way, especially for new writers but also more experienced ones, to see the types of things that work and those that don’t work. .

Because I love thrillers and suspense novels and those are the books I want to write, I asked myself what could I do next to surprise the reader. Nineteen chapters and one prologue later, my novel was born.

Despite the challenge and fun of creating a story in this manner, I would never suggest to another author to use this method. Using an outline as a skeleton and then adding “meat” to it would be my preferred method. However, I am the kind of author that gets “lost” in the created world I am developing and it is just more fun to let the tangents rule and follow their trails in unknown directions. A pre-defined story map is often limiting to those of us who let their creative sides trump the more structured side of their writing minds.

One big set-back to the tangent writing style is the fact that it can get complicated keeping the story straight. This caused a lot of re-writes and edits in my case. It also necessitated a content edit to be sure all the dangling events were tied together and resolved.

Although I still utilize the Tangent Style of writing in my other books, I have incorporated a new method to help me focus. That is, I write the ending just as soon as I have the opening scene completed. This gives me a “finish line” or goal to achieve and helps to keep my wandering ways in check. It also helps when I get “stuck” or blocked. I re-read the ending and visualize what the characters would have had to do to get to that point. Soon after, the creative juices get flowing again and my fingers are tapping away on the keyboard.