DIALOGUE:
Make
it believable. I still have a hard time with this one, though, especially if
I’ve included a set of characters from different regions of the globe. I’m
wondering, ‘am I writing this right? Is this what they’d say?’ However, for my
Victorian books set in London, I’ve had a wonderful critique partner who lives
in England. She’s set me right on the many different accents. So I advise
finding someone who lives where your character does, if that’s possible.
SETTINGS:
I like to have my characters all in one area where I can control them. For
instance, I mean, if I should place my story in France, then I’d need to
describe the landscape, the sight, the smells of the area. To be realistic, I
should have at least visited there so I could get everything correct. Well,
I’ve not been there. So, to get beyond that hurdle, I’ll create something to
where I don’t have to write that. I’ll set all my characters trapped in a
snowstorm, a basement, a closet - anywhere! So that I’m able to “show” my
readers the setting through my main character’s senses without actually having
set my physical foot anywhere but outside my front door.
1.
EDITING:
Get another good pair of eyes.
Eek, I still find errors even after three people have read the finished work.
LOL
Miss Mae, what was your light bulb moment about your writing experience? When I decided to self-publish. After having signed with three traditional publishers, then discovering that I was still expected to promote/market as hard as if I were self-published -- well, why not self-pub? I get a bigger pie piece of the royalties this way.
Back of the book:
Do bizarre
and unusual mysteries only occur in imaginary tales?
Amateur sleuth Winifred
Merryweather, along with dashing newspaper hound Remington Hawthorne, find
themselves in the throes of a real life mystery when they’re plunged in the
bowels of a dark and ancient castle. Booby-traps abound with disappearing
floors, hidden sliding panels, and spider-webbed shadowy corridors.
Danger threatens to steal Winifred’s very breath -- or is
that the annoying allure of Remington’s flirtatious charms?
AMAZON BUY LINK: (print copy): AMAZON
About Miss Mae
Miss Mae is all about romantic mysteries. Said the Spider
to the Fly, When the Bough Breaks, Dove Island, It’s Elementary, My Dear
Winifred and See No Evil, My Pretty Lady
Miss Mae also enjoys writing humor and non-fiction articles.
Some of her publications can be found in The Front Porch Magazine, Good Old
Days, and WritersWeekly.
Her
alter ego, M.M., has her first children’s/humor book, Ahoy Gum Drop! In
this slightly cracked tale, readers are introduced to I.B. Nosey, the ‘official
unofficial’ reporter. To learn more about cyberspace’s only Pukelitzer Award winning
interviewer, visit ‘Feeling Nosey?’
22 comments:
Thanks for having me today, J.Q. Always a pleasure to chat with you. :)
Good tips!
So glad to have you here, Miss Mae. Hope you're recovered from your launch party. Tell us about your new audible book.
Hi Loni, thanks for stopping by today!
Great tips!
Hi J.Q.
Audible book? Why, thank you. I don't mind telling you about that at all. LOL
As Miss Mae, I have an alter ego known as M.M. in which I'm decidedly lighter in tone and plot. M.M. has penned a fun and funny little tale titled "Ahoy, Gum Drop!" This has become my first audio book and is for sale as such on Amazon, Audible, iTunes and I've just today saw it on some other retail sites.
Owen McCuen, my marrator, is fabulous for all the voices of my different characters. If you think you'd like to hear him, we have a sample available that you can listen to here:
http://www.amazon.com/Ahoy-Gum-Drop/dp/B00NMPH9E0/ref=sr_1_1_title_1_audd?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1412874193&sr=1-1&keywords=ahoy+gum+drop
Also, I have my very first book now available in audio, "See No Evil, My Pretty Lady". The narrator, Marcus Hyde, was brilliant for all the characters, but when he came on as my villain - oh, my - goose bumps coated my arms. Eek, he was scary -- and awesome!
You can hear a sample of him here:
http://www.amazon.com/See-No-Evil-Pretty-Lady/dp/B00NYBUSDG/ref=sr_1_1_title_1_audd?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1412874378&sr=1-1&keywords=see+no+evil+my+pretty+lady
And soon there will be fantastic news to share about my "Catch Me If You Can" -- but I'm waiting for the signed contract first! :)
Hi Loni and Susanne:
Thank you, and thanks for coming by. It's very nice to meet you! :)
My website is here, if you'd like to learn more about me, my books, or cover design:
http://www.themissmaesite.com
Hi Susanne, Yes, we have some more great tips clear through December. Hope you come again to get ALL of them!
MM--that's exciting news to me about your other audio books! I really think that's where the market is going. Congrats!
Interesting interview, JQ. But then, Miss Mae is an interesting character...uh, author.
Miss Mae, you gave a great tip: Keep your characters confined to one area, if you don't know the landscape of the region.
I've leery about attempting a story outside of the South. (Excluding my first book, since my mother filled me in on 1938 Chicago.)
I've read several of your titles and enjoyed them. You know how to build suspense.
Just when you think you've figured it out, out of the blue, something else happens. I never know "whodunnit" until the last page. LOL.
Keep those books coming. We love them!
Hi Laurean, (How do you pronounce your name?) I agree with you. MM is a great storyteller!
Another great post, JQ and Miss Mae. Miss Mae, I so agree with you about having your dialogue checked by a native. I live in the UK and have read many a novel written by a non-native that gets our nuances wrong. I also once wrote a hero from Wyoming. Luckily I had an American editor. She laughed out loud at some of the Britishisms I had him say before advising me how to change it! US, Australia, UK, NZ - we definitely don't all speak the same language!
Really enjoyed your post!
Hi J Q and Miss Mae,
Thank you for the interesting interview. I've read some of Miss Mae's books and thoroughly enjoyed her writing and the mystery. Congratulations on all of your success and your new audio books.
J. Q., you have GOT to remind me about Thursdays! Hey, y'all!
Hi Helena,
Thank you! So glad you stopped by, and it's a pleasure to meet you. :)
Hi Laurie,
You did a fantastic job of creating the world of the 1930's in "Journey to Forgiveness". Made me feel like I was right there. :)
Thanks for your friendship and support, and thanks for stopping by. :)
Hi Gail P.!
You are a prolific author, and always gather in wonderful reviews! So I appreciate that you take the time to read my works.
So glad to see that you stopped by. Have a great day!
LOL, Gail B.! Are you a day late and a dollar short -- AGAIN???? *wink*
Thanks for coming over! :) Great to see you. :)
Hi Gail P, fellow Ahoy Gum Drop partier! Thanks for stopping in.
Helena, my 8th grade grandsons are taking foreign languages this year-Spanish and French. We had quite a discussion on American slang and how to translate it for visitors from other countries. So true.
Hey right back at ya', Gail R. Glad you remembered!! You're not late at all. Drawing is at 9 tonight for Miss Mae's downloads!! Glad you're here.
Congratulations to the commenters who won Miss Mae's e-book--Helena Fairfax, Loni Townsend and Susanne Drazic!
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