tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-57049430522352817662024-03-18T20:26:37.767-06:00Blood-Red PencilTake your writing to the next level with tips and advice from top editors in the industry.Danihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14471919576687777886noreply@blogger.comBlogger2533125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-64616327902854796742024-03-05T01:00:00.061-07:002024-03-17T23:00:00.859-06:00Audiobook Warning - New IP Rights Clauses in Findaway Voices Terms<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUA8W_Yt9IKiOiLIXTfdAZXasUHngKYec1qQssvPg_cpmhHsryFwoWhAKzs7w2g6ovgXqONS47135zpClVH46C9wMM0ieMtGMZRiBp9R1xw_zYn0ZSQjUIPsVqAu7eo8r4zzRmq5UEs_724aWiPQfl12D1B8hvSRmbbu-4iDWfgdOf4m1Art6B5MJkwzs/s640/detective-1424831_640.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="634" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUA8W_Yt9IKiOiLIXTfdAZXasUHngKYec1qQssvPg_cpmhHsryFwoWhAKzs7w2g6ovgXqONS47135zpClVH46C9wMM0ieMtGMZRiBp9R1xw_zYn0ZSQjUIPsVqAu7eo8r4zzRmq5UEs_724aWiPQfl12D1B8hvSRmbbu-4iDWfgdOf4m1Art6B5MJkwzs/s320/detective-1424831_640.png" width="317" /></a></div>
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<p>When the <a href="https://selfpublishingadvice.org/latest-news-september-1/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">horrendous terms of Amazon’s Audible platform</a> were revealed, many <a href="https://selfpublishingadvice.org/findaway-voices/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">indie authors turned to Findaway Voices</a> to distribute their audiobooks instead. But the industry is now scrambling in alarm following the 2022 acquisition of Findaway Voices by Spotify, who, within two years, have managed to make Amazon look like a perfect saint in comparison. (Okay, maybe that’s a bit of a stretch.)</p>
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<p>Although Spotify backed down (slightly) thanks to the overwhelming backlash following their initial announcement, which included the line about waiving the right to object to derogatory use of one’s work, their previous history of issues in the music industry along with their apparent lack of understanding of the independent book publishing industry is deeply concerning.</p>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht29Uut_dDzZQWPiSWmlY7tmwpmgWD6b3FTvc8F5piT7V0bVO95_6NjW3YV8eV7FBbgFj_R5WK3gGTTN8j9kj9GQ1BTJyud7hGOgaUglGER1TefNgZhdGpK0ILbyIk9JAOA2wiVc7ckLJYu_1EF3rRQHxAZ7tXiXV_ya9vnuu4eJ9uJppDSD6ZX715N5k/s1214/Spotify-original-highlighted.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="268" data-original-width="1214" height="89" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht29Uut_dDzZQWPiSWmlY7tmwpmgWD6b3FTvc8F5piT7V0bVO95_6NjW3YV8eV7FBbgFj_R5WK3gGTTN8j9kj9GQ1BTJyud7hGOgaUglGER1TefNgZhdGpK0ILbyIk9JAOA2wiVc7ckLJYu_1EF3rRQHxAZ7tXiXV_ya9vnuu4eJ9uJppDSD6ZX715N5k/w400-h89/Spotify-original-highlighted.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #990000; font-size: x-small;">The original paragraph in the new Spotify terms that sparked outrage.<br />This clause has since been redrafted.</span> </td></tr></tbody></table>
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<p>As part of their backpedaling, Spotify published a list of FAQ in direct response to concerns voiced over social media. Addressing the possibility that their terms could allow them to package transcripts as a physical book and sell it at Walmart, their FAQ states that Findaway Voices by Spotify cannot change audiobooks or create new products that “bypass our payment obligations”. They apparently only require the clause that this applies to in order to provide authors/ publishers with promotional materials. </p>
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<p>To attempt to set authors’ minds at ease regarding AI training, they have included a line in the Terms stating that Spotify is <b>not </b>authorized to use your content to create a new, machine-generated voice without your permission.</p>
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<p>Initially, the “irrevocable” part of the license being granted to Spotify came into play when creators who had signed up years ago with Findaway Voices now objected to the new terms under Spotify and sought to remove their audiobooks from the platform… but found themselves facing cancellation fees! Spotify have since removed the word “irrevocable” from their terms, and they state in their FAQ that they “will take steps to stop distributing your audiobook” should you wish to cease using their platform. There is no clarification on whether cancellation incurs a charge.</p>
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<p>Once the UK’s Society of Authors entered the fray, Spotify saw fit to remove the references to the user granting Spotify permission to create “derivative” works and the user agreeing not to object to “derogatory treatment” of their content.</p><h3 style="text-align: left;">But clauses that remain in their Terms that are problematic include:</h3>
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<p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>That Spotify may “reclaim” your username <b>for any reason</b>. </li><li>That user access to “the service” is for <b>non-commercial use</b>. </li><li>That users are required to acknowledge (and therefore accept) that removal of their content “may take longer than 30 business days to complete”. It’s possible that this could be interpreted to mean that as long as they say they are “trying to remove your content”, they can take as long as they want to get it done.</li><li>That Spotify “may pass your name and email address to the allegedly infringing party” if you raise issues of copyright infringement with them. (So, not only does a pirate get to steal your book and profit from it, they could end up being handed your contact details too!)</li><li>That Spotify may “in its sole discretion” revise, modify, obfuscate or delete a user’s “Monetized Content”.</li></ul><p></p>
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<p>At the end of their FAQ, Spotify write: <i>“Findaway Voices by Spotify is deeply committed to your success as an Author. We look forward to continuing to power the distribution and contributing to the success of your published works as we innovate on the needs and opportunities of the industry.”</i> I think their serious missteps this year have left very few people convinced that they are sincere.</p>
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<p>The overwhelming sentiment among members of the independent publishing community is that selling direct to readers is the best way forward. Or, at the very least, distribute as widely as possible to spread your risk. First Audible, now Findaway Voices… for some it only takes one buyout by the wrong megacompany to shatter a business built exclusively on a single platform.</p><p><span style="font-size: small;">(Disclaimer: I am not a lawyer and this article is not to be considered legal advice.)</span></p>
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<p><b><i>How about you? Have you used Audible or Findaway Voices to distribute your audiobooks? Or do you use a different platform? Tell us about your experiences in the comments!</i></b></p>
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<p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigwYqrh2nbfH8LkReHFaMF2YI2pX2ydvpeMIgNNAYV9QseDASePeTYhYkETXZBMneu0SaQHUxKT9eDMRMII82qt3yliZvS_fttI61ZOUY9-ZskRamF-isieHiaF3vaZKBPkzJMcLxeQJY/s1600/Elle-Carter-Neal-MIBA-AmandaMerylePhotography.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigwYqrh2nbfH8LkReHFaMF2YI2pX2ydvpeMIgNNAYV9QseDASePeTYhYkETXZBMneu0SaQHUxKT9eDMRMII82qt3yliZvS_fttI61ZOUY9-ZskRamF-isieHiaF3vaZKBPkzJMcLxeQJY/w266-h400/Elle-Carter-Neal-MIBA-AmandaMerylePhotography.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr><tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Elle Carter Neal</b> is the author of the middle grade fantasy <a href="https://ellecarterneal.com/draconian-rules/convoluted-key/" target="_blank"><i>The Convoluted Key</i></a> (first in the <i>Draconian Rules</i> series), the picture book <a href="https://ellecarterneal.com/ownblue/" target="_blank"><i>I Own All the Blue</i></a>, and teen science-fantasy novel <a href="https://seallanemedia.com/ellecarterneal/" target="_blank"><i>Madison Lane and the Wand of Rasputin</i></a> (first in the <i>Grounded</i> series). Elle is based in Melbourne, Australia. Find her at <a href="https://ellecarterneal.com/" target="_blank">ElleCarterNeal.com</a></span>.<br /><br /><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Author photo by Amanda Meryle Photography</span></p><hr /><br />
<p><span style="font-size: x-small;">Detective image by GraphicMama-team from Pixabay</span></p>Elle Carter Nealhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02266309723919011181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-43161758432144424012024-02-01T22:15:00.124-07:002024-03-04T18:18:21.040-07:00Don't Send Your Author Newsletter Until You Meet Google's New Requirements<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<div>Google's Gmail team, along with Yahoo and Microsoft (Outlook and Hotmail), has begun the process of cracking down on junk mail of all kinds - not just spam, phishing, and virus-ridden pests, but also mail that is chronically ignored by recipients. As from <strike>this month (February 2024)</strike> the extended date of April 2024, there will be a number of requirements that need to be met before any bulk mail you send out will even be delivered. <a href="https://blog.google/products/gmail/gmail-security-authentication-spam-protection/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Google announced</a> this change to email delivery conditions late last year, but, before we all panic, let's go through what you need to know if you’re planning on sending messages to your mailing list this year.</div>
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<div>Firstly, though you may see some sources reassuring you that this applies only to marketers sending more than 5000 messages per day per domain, you still need to take this seriously even if your mailing list is smaller than that. The 5000 emails criteria is only what Google has stated so far; the other major players (Yahoo and Microsoft) might decide to put tighter controls in place. And since that is 5000 per day, someone sending five countdown emails during launch day to a list over 1000 could hit that limit without realising it. </div>
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<div>Even if your mailing list is tiny, or you haven’t even started yet, you’ll actually want to comply with these requirements. If you’ve had a presence on the internet long enough, you’re bound to have received emails from yourself… only you didn’t send them and they’re totally spam. The new measures will put an end to your emails being spoofed or even hijacked, so you can breathe a sigh of relief. Plus, there’ll be a lot less marketing hitting our inboxes from now on, so your messages have the potential to actually be seen while this space is a little quieter. It’s a great, big reset, and even some of the bigwigs are going to be starting (almost) from scratch again. </div>
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<h3 style="text-align: left;">The 2024 Email Changes as a Homemade Jelly Business Analogy</h3>
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<div>The way this all made sense in my brain was to think of it like selling something homemade like preserves or jelly/jam/marmalade. What we’ve all been doing is bottling our wares into plain mason jars with maybe a handwritten label and a pretty piece of cloth over the lid. Then we’ve taken these down to a supermarket, say Walmart, Tesco, or Woolworths (depending on where you are in the world). Walmart then slap their homebrand label onto your jars and give them to a courier to deliver them to the people you’ve told Walmart wanted these products (ignore the payment side of this analogy for the moment). The courier delivers the jars. Some people accept delivery, and open the jars, and are happy. Others complain. Some people have special boxes at their door for the courier to dump the jars into, and they may or may not check the box in case there’s something they want in there. But, in one or two massive apartment complexes, many people have actually moved out to avoid having to deal with the giant box of jars outside their door! </div>
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<div>The apartment complexes are the free email providers: Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail, etc. And a half-empty complex is not good for business. (They can’t spy on you and generate statistics if you don’t use your account.)</div>
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<div>The supermarkets are the bulk email delivery platforms like Constant Contact, Active Campaign, Mailerlite, MailChimp, etc. We’ve been borrowing their credentials up until now (the “homebrand” label). (Yes, even many of the bigwigs - this is why this change is actually a great opportunity for anyone with a small list or starting from scratch! We're all back on the starting line, building or rebuilding our sending reputations, and smaller lists have more time and leeway to get it right.)</div>
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<div><b>From now on, this is how the process will work according to our analogy:</b></div>
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<li>You can send your jars to the supermarket, but if they look the way they used to, the courier will simply leave them in the warehouse. </li>
<li>Your jars must have your own branding label on them, with important information on it that identifies who made and sent these jars of “jelly”, and a full and complete list of every supermarket allowed to organised delivery of your jelly on your behalf. In email terms this is called <a href="https://support.google.com/a/answer/10685031?hl=en&sjid=1806722157847907282-AP" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">SPF</a> (Sender Policy Framework). </li>
<li>You cannot send your jars from any of the free apartment complexes (Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail). You must have your own “business premises” (a website or domain name that you can send emails from). </li>
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<li>Your jars must now have proper security seals – the buttons on the lids that pop up if the lid has been tampered with, plus a hidden security tag that’s a little like the anti-theft devices that set off the door alarm if the item hasn’t gone through the check out. This one sets off an alert if the code at the destination is not the same as the code at the source. In email terms this is <a href="https://support.google.com/a/answer/174124" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">DKIM</a> (Domain Keys Identified Mail). </li>
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<li>You must also have a policy in place for what the courier is to do with any jars that seem suspicious – i.e., the buttons have popped up, the security codes don’t match, they’re asked to collect from Joe Soap’s Supadoopermarkkit instead of Walmart, etc. Are they to dump the jars? Deliver the jars to the customer’s spam box, or just deliver the jars as normal but send you a report about it? In email terms this is <a href="https://support.google.com/a/answer/2466563?hl=en&sjid=1806722157847907282-AP " rel="nofollow" target="_blank">DMARC</a> (Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting, and Conformance). </li>
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<div> In addition, you will need to do a little housekeeping: </div>
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<div>Those people who moved out of the apartment complex rather than deal with spam? Gmail will be mass deleting all those accounts. Chances are when next you send to your mailing list there will be a lot of bounces. Clean those up straight away. </div>
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<div>Keep a check on who’s not opening your emails. It used to be fine to hang on to these people and hope they’ll browse through your past emails one day when they have time, but now the statistics show that if someone doesn’t read your email within 30 days, the chances of them getting to it after that are minute. You’ll want to unsubscribe these people because they will begin to impact on your spam complaint allowance. In the past, every spam complaint was counted as a proportion of your entire mailing list; now it’s a proportion of your active subscribers only (how Google knows this is scary to contemplate, but anyway). You’re much more likely to get a spam complaint from someone who’s forgotten who you are (i.e., they haven’t been reading your emails for months or years, and now (perhaps due to a suddenly quieter inbox) they see one and go “Who? What? Spam.” </div>
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<div>You will need to provide a one-click unsubscribe option. Don’t make it hard for folks to leave. Hoops will cost you. </div>
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<div>Finally, make sure your content is engaging and something that your readers want to open. Ask questions and get them to respond to you – this counts for a lot when it comes to assessing whether you’re a potential spammer or not. The tolerance for junk content has gone way down. This is good news for authors. We have a real chance to float to the top of the inbox this year. </div>
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<p><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Elle Carter Neal</b> is the author of the middle grade fantasy <a href="https://ellecarterneal.com/draconian-rules/convoluted-key/" target="_blank"><i>The Convoluted Key</i></a> (first in the <i>Draconian Rules</i> series), the picture book <a href="https://ellecarterneal.com/ownblue/" target="_blank"><i>I Own All the Blue</i></a>, and teen science-fantasy novel <a href="https://seallanemedia.com/ellecarterneal/" target="_blank"><i>Madison Lane and the Wand of Rasputin</i></a> (first in the <i>Grounded</i> series). Elle is based in Melbourne, Australia. Find her at <a href="https://ellecarterneal.com/" target="_blank">ElleCarterNeal.com</a></span>.<br /><br /><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Author photo by Amanda Meryle Photography</span></p>
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<p><span style="font-size: x-small;">Images: <a href="https://pixabay.com/users/geralt-9301/">Gerd Altmann</a> from <a href="https://pixabay.com/">Pixabay</a>; Hannah Grapp via <a href="https://www.pexels.com/photo/glass-jars-on-the-table-9660873/">Pexels</a>; SHVETS production via <a href="https://www.pexels.com/photo/glass-jars-and-crumpled-paper-on-wooden-table-7512763/" target="_blank">Pexels</a>; Cottonbro Studio via <a href="https://www.pexels.com/photo/person-wearing-white-pants-and-white-socks-standing-beside-brown-broom-4108715/" target="_blank">Pexels</a></span></p>Elle Carter Nealhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02266309723919011181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-41387918049245096862024-01-04T17:00:00.002-07:002024-03-04T18:18:47.814-07:0024 Ways to Spark New Story Ideas in 2024<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1pcEaWrIV3rOUsR7u7Tah5MPSfE-ikjKNkv5J79T5D1Yj8xRJY45MQiwrECmgeGnzMepK8_tbzZsLLzf_Fvm8Z-XjweFg8bMDKLqoJeW22QgqoFjl5r3lBcaasWrUf1YaDKdj4vbbiAYkiTwV3dhHD2GEBSllP0VvhdLOXaQ1SF-Y2LOJbuj_4uLK0AE/s1280/Pixabay-Colin-Behrens-lightbulb-3104355_1280.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1pcEaWrIV3rOUsR7u7Tah5MPSfE-ikjKNkv5J79T5D1Yj8xRJY45MQiwrECmgeGnzMepK8_tbzZsLLzf_Fvm8Z-XjweFg8bMDKLqoJeW22QgqoFjl5r3lBcaasWrUf1YaDKdj4vbbiAYkiTwV3dhHD2GEBSllP0VvhdLOXaQ1SF-Y2LOJbuj_4uLK0AE/w400-h225/Pixabay-Colin-Behrens-lightbulb-3104355_1280.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />Ask any author how they come up with their ideas, and the reflexive response is likely to be, “It just comes to me.” That’s not helpful, however, if you’re having to ask yourself that question because your idea-well has temporarily run dry. It can easily happen at the start of a new year when you’ve made the decision to begin something new, or write a sequel to last year’s novel, or you just want to enter a writing competition. Often our brains are terrible teases, serving up numerous ideas that are completely “wrong” in the moment – wrong genre, wrong book series, wrong historical period, wrong age group...
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<p>Discovering how your mind works, how the spark of a story begins to flicker into existence for you, will allow you to light the flames of your creativity whenever you like, and fan them in the direction you need them to go. Browse through the 24 sources of inspiration listed below and see which of these resonate with you, and whether there are a few unexpected options you’d like to try out this year:
</p><h3 style="text-align: left;">24 Sources of Story Ideas</h3>
<p></p><ol style="text-align: left;"><li>From other books/movies: where you didn’t like part of what was done with the story – come up with your own version that “corrects” the issue you have with it. </li><li>From other books/movies: where you loved one or two particular themes, plot threads, characterisation elements, or other little nuggets – develop your own unique characters and play around with how you can use the ideas you love with your particular cast.
</li><li>From other books/movies: turn a tragedy into a comedy or vice versa. A romance into a horror story. A fantasy into a hard-boiled crime drama. </li><li>From blurbs, teasers, posters, or trailers of books or movies you haven’t seen yet: what do you think the story is here? Who are the characters? What is going on? What do you think the mystery could be? </li><li>From book/movie reviews and critiques: imagine these are describing a book you’ve written – what is the story that has resulted in these comments? As above, it’s best to work from reviews of books/movies you haven’t read/seen yet, and which don’t give away any spoilers or many details. </li><li>From music: lyrics are often cryptic. What do you think it means? What story does it evoke for you? </li><li>From music videos: these sometimes tell a different angle to the story of the lyrics. </li><li>From something currently popular: how can you change it and make it your own. Remember that surfing trends is difficult unless you write extremely fast and are able to publish and launch on an accelerated schedule. Instead, consider twisting the trend and coming up with something a little different. Is the world into Vampires? Distil what a “vampire” is or means to you (supernaturally powerful, immortal, questionable morals, dealing with a curse that makes having a normal life impossible but perhaps desirable) and apply the criteria to something else, perhaps even a character or species of your own invention. </li><li>From your own experiences: did something happen to you that you can barely believe? Did you develop a particular philosophy after a specific chain of events? Change the details, invent your own set of characters, and let them play out the important aspects of something with a grain of truth to it. </li><li>From the mouths of babes: children come up with delightful and crazy stories sometimes. Just listen. Or engage and run with what they say. Make some notes. There might be something you can use in there. </li><li>From conversations: talk to other people about their favourite books and movies, and about what they’re currently reading or watching. When you hear what other people like, and express what it is you enjoy, and then give yourself room to ruminate, your mind will offer up ways to incorporate a few choice elements into a story or two. </li><li>Eavesdrop: sometimes you can pick up snippets of interactions between strangers and your creative mind will fill in the blanks in the most intriguing way. </li><li>Observe and invent: watch people (but not in a creepy way). Imagine what their lives are like and what makes them tick. Make some notes about different types of characters, write snippets of description, and then incorporate these when you need a sidekick, love interest, or other supporting acts. </li><li>Brainstorm a list of character traits and a separate list of motivations, behaviours, or plot threads, then use a randomiser (dice, draw out of a hat, or ask Siri/Google) to connect these in various ways until something jumps out at you. </li><li>Revisit life stories told to you by elder members of your family (or other people’s families). An anecdote you’ve always loved to hear about can be drawn out into a full story with a cast of relatable characters with conflicting motivations and interests. Do change all the details, of course. </li><li>Visual prompts: browse pre-made book covers for sale – when you find one that sparks a story idea, buy the rights to the cover and start planning and writing. The bonus is that your cover is already sorted. You can do the same with stock images, if you don’t immediately find a cover that works. </li><li>Keep a dream journal. </li><li>Do something else. Often the best ideas come to us in the shower or while washing dishes or sitting in a conference on money management. </li><li>Read/watch the news. Current events are great fodder for stories. If you write historical fiction, then news from the same time period is invaluable. If your chosen era is further back than the 1600s, then look for writings from the time (if that’s possible) or credible authors writing about the era. Pan through books about archaeology and anthropology for historical idea-gold. </li><li>Keep a folder of old ideas, deleted scenes, and characters who didn’t make the cut. You never know when you might be able to revive something you wrote long ago. </li><li>Make a list of things you know – you can mine your own knowledge and experience and incorporate this into a story. The level of detail you can add will be a great asset. </li><li>What don’t you know, but wish you did? Research time! </li><li>Make a list of your loves, likes, hates, hopes, and fears. Be really specific, even if it means repeating line items with only slight variations. Anything spark any story ideas? </li><li>Make unusual connections between things not usually found together. A political issue paired with… the Easter bunny? A dead body found on a tropical beach dressed head-to-toe in snow gear? </li></ol><p></p>
<p>Bonus option: Have a “chat” with an AI about what you’re trying to achieve. </p>
<p>As you draw inspiration from other creative sources and from the world around you, remember that it is your own unique insights and experiences that turn an idea from derivative to <b>distinctive</b>, and result in a story worth reading more than once.
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<p>How about you? What is<b> your favourite way </b>to come up with a new story idea? Let us know in the comments!</p><hr />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigwYqrh2nbfH8LkReHFaMF2YI2pX2ydvpeMIgNNAYV9QseDASePeTYhYkETXZBMneu0SaQHUxKT9eDMRMII82qt3yliZvS_fttI61ZOUY9-ZskRamF-isieHiaF3vaZKBPkzJMcLxeQJY/s1600/Elle-Carter-Neal-MIBA-AmandaMerylePhotography.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigwYqrh2nbfH8LkReHFaMF2YI2pX2ydvpeMIgNNAYV9QseDASePeTYhYkETXZBMneu0SaQHUxKT9eDMRMII82qt3yliZvS_fttI61ZOUY9-ZskRamF-isieHiaF3vaZKBPkzJMcLxeQJY/w266-h400/Elle-Carter-Neal-MIBA-AmandaMerylePhotography.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr><tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Elle Carter Neal</b> is the author of the middle grade fantasy <a href="https://ellecarterneal.com/draconian-rules/convoluted-key/" target="_blank"><i>The Convoluted Key</i></a> (first in the <i>Draconian Rules</i> series), the picture book <a href="https://ellecarterneal.com/ownblue/" target="_blank"><i>I Own All the Blue</i></a>, and teen science-fantasy novel <a href="https://seallanemedia.com/ellecarterneal/" target="_blank"><i>Madison Lane and the Wand of Rasputin</i></a> (first in the <i>Grounded</i> series). Elle is based in Melbourne, Australia. Find her at <a href="https://ellecarterneal.com/" target="_blank">ElleCarterNeal.com</a></span>.<br /><br /><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Author photo by Amanda Meryle Photography</span></td></tr></tbody></table>
<p></p><hr /><p><span face=""Open Sans", system-ui" style="background-color: white; color: #191b26; font-size: 10px;">Lightbulb image by </span><a href="https://pixabay.com/users/colin00b-346653/?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=image&utm_content=3104355" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #191b26; font-family: "Open Sans", system-ui; font-size: 10px;">Colin Behrens</a><span face=""Open Sans", system-ui" style="background-color: white; color: #191b26; font-size: 10px;"> from </span><a href="https://pixabay.com//?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=image&utm_content=3104355" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #191b26; font-family: "Open Sans", system-ui; font-size: 10px;">Pixabay</a></p>Elle Carter Nealhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02266309723919011181noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-73200875057858749922023-11-01T03:04:00.018-06:002023-11-25T20:24:01.353-07:00Hiatus - Back in January 2024<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixILPaaMkHegVAcsN8EEFkkrsCPvlj-wxExOqnHRnTGHKa-TJgmfT8s3v60edabPEPFOWA_JKpwH0GVeib75eNn-siPhTZyPlVejanbVgh8CMmDn1xStGNg9QN35EIw5Tltx37jAYOGcRM79pvZsds_uc3x6FQmihniq25Rjh7GcCAEwnkFn2RLMuvdyM/s800/Decadente_Ramon-Casas-1899.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="566" data-original-width="800" height="453" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixILPaaMkHegVAcsN8EEFkkrsCPvlj-wxExOqnHRnTGHKa-TJgmfT8s3v60edabPEPFOWA_JKpwH0GVeib75eNn-siPhTZyPlVejanbVgh8CMmDn1xStGNg9QN35EIw5Tltx37jAYOGcRM79pvZsds_uc3x6FQmihniq25Rjh7GcCAEwnkFn2RLMuvdyM/w640-h453/Decadente_Ramon-Casas-1899.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><div>Many of our team members have been dealing with personal issues and challenges this year, so we are taking a break until 2024. See you in the new year!</div>
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<p><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Painting "Decadente" by Ramon Casas, 1899</span></p>Elle Carter Nealhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02266309723919011181noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-74729272281768906912023-06-15T06:40:00.003-06:002024-02-04T17:34:47.989-07:00How to Sell Your Book: the Five Ws<p>There have never been more books to read, which is a good thing for story addicts like me. I am by no means a marketing expert but there are certain things that help me as a reader decide whether or not I will buy a book. Let's look at those items.</p><p>The first item that catches my eye is the<b> <span style="color: red;">cover</span></b>. There are many creative things people do when designing. There are thousands of premade covers. Many covers utilize the same stock art in both self-publishing and traditional publishing. For me, the cover needs to be seductive. It needs to suggest something interesting is going on inside. For me, it needs to reflect genre. If it is a mystery, I want to see the setting and a cover that suggests either gritty, noire, or cozy. Cozy I definitely look at. Noire I don't care much for but may look at. Gritty is a fifty-fifty kind of thing. How graphic is the violence? If I see cute kittens on the cover and then it goes into graphic details about serial killers enjoying their job, I will never read that writer again. The worst thing you can do is bait and switch.</p><p>The second item is the<b> <span style="color: red;">title</span></b>. It too should suggest something intriguing and the genre.</p><p>You can see what a difference the cover makes with the same title.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8y-2PdFrJRjPF0DrzRD9G3dJ1x0P2veH_Mv8j-uWDAy7P3nZKkWm6SNoDdOd-YOlbpbeZrfeoVLDUv03_2U37We8J1YaNhGtODoyJmqp5ZQcHVOBWjOhbtT0pfyyITVGdibmwzkrrc9IuhRoHpX7j5bmf3-JMMrUpNslIbAH4yr8dsosmBjAlz3PQ/s2981/Dead%20Men%20Dont%20Talk.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1540" data-original-width="2981" height="206" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8y-2PdFrJRjPF0DrzRD9G3dJ1x0P2veH_Mv8j-uWDAy7P3nZKkWm6SNoDdOd-YOlbpbeZrfeoVLDUv03_2U37We8J1YaNhGtODoyJmqp5ZQcHVOBWjOhbtT0pfyyITVGdibmwzkrrc9IuhRoHpX7j5bmf3-JMMrUpNslIbAH4yr8dsosmBjAlz3PQ/w400-h206/Dead%20Men%20Dont%20Talk.png" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">For me the first cover suggests mystery or thriller. The second image suggests black comedy. The third cover suggests zombie horror. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">A badly designed or vague cover hurts you. It really does.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The third item is the <b><span style="color: red;">description</span></b>. I want to know what kind of tale I am settling in for. Is it a fantasy with sword and sorcery and dragons? Is it a cozy mystery? Is it a romance?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The description of the book needs to answer all of the Ws.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>Who</b>: Your protagonist can be a turn-off or a reason to purchase. Nothing personal, it may not be the reader's cup of tea. It is best to be specific rather than vague. Is it a geriatric spy or a teenage werewolf?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>What</b>: Is the reader going on an adventure, solving a crime, visiting outer space, experiencing drama and trauma? The keywords you use make a different. Is it gritty, graphic, cozy, humorous, or painful? Are there things that can be triggering such as graphic scenes of rape, abuse, torture etc.? Some content isn't for everyone, and that's okay. It doesn't mean you shouldn't write it, just that you should give the reader a heads-up. For whatever reason, reviewers are more likely to post a negative review than a positive one. If you promise a comedy or even a ghost story and make it about abuse, you will not be forgiven.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>When</b>: The era can turn a reader off as well. I am not a big fan of the WWI and WWII eras. I have read books in that setting, but gritty details about the war are not for me. I can do a cozy sleuth, perhaps a non-graphic spy tale. It's harder for me to cope with human's actual inhumanity than a fantasy battle. The era matters to some readers. They may prefer modern romance over historical romance, or vice versa. I personally enjoy ancient history.<br /><br /><b>Where</b>: Setting can also be seductive or a turn off. Is it Ancient Egypt, Scotland, Africa, Australia? Geographic keywords can really help with the algorithms. If I buy a book about traveling Scotland, books set in Scotland appear on my recommendations. I would like to see more unique settings. It doesn't always have to England or the US. Let's go to Canada, Australia, or the Caribbean islands. How about South Africa or Egypt?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>Why</b>: What are the story stakes? If the protagonist doesn't solve the story problem, what are the consequences? What can they gain or lose? The stakes make readers care whether the characters are successful or not. It keeps them reading to find out if they achieve it. Stakes don't have to be world war. It can be the life or death of a relationship, a life's goal, a heist, revenge, justice, etc. Make sure to include the stakes.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The last tips is this: always provide a <b><span style="color: red;">direct link</span></b> to buy your book, whether it is on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or one of the other platforms. Search algorithms bury older titles. There is one prolific writer I love and I was looking for links to her books for a post and couldn't find them without her name and the title because they were over one year old. The more prolific an author is, the more they are likely to appear with a title search, but it is no guarantee. My <i>Story Building Blocks</i> titles without my name bring up Lego.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd-PbaxO1LJ9FWoE98QOfQG_1yeYrgQJAmkaqb9Ky-nnMTttUH7IMlhFj3isP3--picmSDlRWLjxyrff6ym6eY5MuNzF6i_PFcMcNCvHDe__a5E9lXq5HQZ-GxR90bfmc5_2baVlNYsRpixZlyQ97JMpxvFs5xViS2l7TXFbIJYjWUhPl4XOsSWxvf/s729/2023%2006%2013%20Legos.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="564" data-original-width="729" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd-PbaxO1LJ9FWoE98QOfQG_1yeYrgQJAmkaqb9Ky-nnMTttUH7IMlhFj3isP3--picmSDlRWLjxyrff6ym6eY5MuNzF6i_PFcMcNCvHDe__a5E9lXq5HQZ-GxR90bfmc5_2baVlNYsRpixZlyQ97JMpxvFs5xViS2l7TXFbIJYjWUhPl4XOsSWxvf/s320/2023%2006%2013%20Legos.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I don't care how many superlatives or five star raves you post. Without the above information, I simply don't care enough to look further. Even if I think your book sounds interesting or your cover is intriguing, I probably won't remember it fifteen minutes after seeing the ad. But if you provide a link, I can quickly go there and put it on a wish list or dive right in and buy it. Never pass up the opportunity for an impulse buy. Don't make the reader look for you. People are short on time and memory. Grab them while they are excited.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">You can read more on these topics in the following posts:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://dianahurwitz.blogspot.com/2020/07/2020-09-30-mastering-book-design.html" target="_blank">Mastering Book Design</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://dianahurwitz.blogspot.com/2021/03/2020-02-25-mastering-book-description.html" target="_blank">Mastering Book Description</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 6px; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td data-blogger-escaped-style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid_D_U7aFh8dOxU6T2E3WU1Qz9qdbhWVE4m3ifElGqoryICM7mv97GIFida7Iuk5kRAgotl6Gnv3-TNlj_2haiGo7aXzGZo5z-iIzINds3_Ym0PKg9_HkDL9J6DYiaQqHWR5FQwPEToQU/s1600/Diana-Hurwitz-photo.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "georgia";"><img border="0" data-blogger-escaped-data-original-height="519" data-blogger-escaped-data-original-width="380" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid_D_U7aFh8dOxU6T2E3WU1Qz9qdbhWVE4m3ifElGqoryICM7mv97GIFida7Iuk5kRAgotl6Gnv3-TNlj_2haiGo7aXzGZo5z-iIzINds3_Ym0PKg9_HkDL9J6DYiaQqHWR5FQwPEToQU/s320/Diana-Hurwitz-photo.jpg" width="234" /></span></a></div></td></tr><tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption" style="padding-top: 4px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Diana Hurwitz </b>is<b> </b>the<b> </b>author of <i>Story Building Blocks: <a data-blogger-escaped-target="_blank" href="https://www.amazon.com/Four-Layers-Conflict-Building-Block/dp/154637958/r">The Four Layers of Conflict, </a>Story Building Blocks II: <a data-blogger-escaped-target="_blank" href="https://www.amazon.com/Story-Building-Blocks-II-Believable/dp/147099998/">Crafting Believable Conflict</a>, Story Building Blocks III: <a data-blogger-escaped-target="_blank" href="https://www.amazon.com/Story-Building-Blocks-III-Revision/dp/147501369/">The Revision Layers</a></i>, and the YA adventure series <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Mythikas-Island-Book-One-Diana-ebook/dp/B004KZPUS/" target="_blank"><i>Mythikas Island</i>.</a> Her weekly blog, <a href="http://www.danahurwitz.blogspot.com/">Game On: Crafting Believable Conflict</a> explores how characters behave and misbehave. Visit <a href="http://www.danahurwitz.com/">DianaHurwitz.com</a> for more information and free writing tools. You can follow her on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/dana.hurwitz1">Facebook</a>.</span></div></div></div></td></tr></tbody></table></div>Diana Hurwitzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18216220574149672733noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-66395829457855397562023-06-08T04:38:00.001-06:002023-06-08T04:38:00.130-06:00Writing in Stressful Times <p>Have you ever found writing difficult in times of worldwide chaos? I doubt any of us is old enough to have been putting serious pencil to paper during World War II. I am among BRP's eldest contributors, and my first attempts at childish poetry came at the very end of that war (or perhaps shortly after it was over). On the heels of WW2 came the Korean Police Action followed by the civil war in Viet Nam that eventually involved military personnel from other countries. And along came Iraq and Afghanistan wars. While none of the more recent military actions reached the magnitude of the Second World War, all have impacted people around the globe.</p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi4I4BqEHNfyTC5dHORIuRIT9oS220AL2DT_ULkUZhUXaIrfS-5K8vddcXQJs08H_iaTq4SuCn043F9KhUcNw3hmF-4SQCvU9a5iXRn_aKaEhGIrfiHFNsNZA51YR4m-cRRE-9Eoe-tB6M8v9DulKgSFhk3WnD6x0tgAB4RSXP0c4R_tLPrxzqPZiZi" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="770" data-original-width="1280" height="194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi4I4BqEHNfyTC5dHORIuRIT9oS220AL2DT_ULkUZhUXaIrfS-5K8vddcXQJs08H_iaTq4SuCn043F9KhUcNw3hmF-4SQCvU9a5iXRn_aKaEhGIrfiHFNsNZA51YR4m-cRRE-9Eoe-tB6M8v9DulKgSFhk3WnD6x0tgAB4RSXP0c4R_tLPrxzqPZiZi=w320-h194" width="320" /></a></div><p>Then Covid-19 rode into the world with 2020 and introduced a global pandemic that has infected more than 767 million people and snuffed out 6,935,889 million lives as of 6 a.m. on May 31, 2023, according to WHO. While this huge death toll pales compared to the deaths of an estimated 75 - 200 million people in Western Eurasia and North Africa during the bubonic plague pandemic between 1346 and 1353, it must be remembered that modern medical care was unknown in the medieval world. Furthermore, available statistics on the loss of human life during the bubonic plague pandemic leave a lot to be desired in the accuracy department.</p><p>Why do I mention such catastrophic events? They exemplify varying degrees of global stress, and global stress affects writers, as well as musicians, sculptors, painters, and artists in other fields. I realize my own ability to focus completely on writing has suffered significantly since the pandemic hit, and it's just beginning to improve after my own bout of Covid-19 well over a year ago. But that's not the only interfering factor. </p><p>Age also takes a toll. We older ones often lack the drive we took for granted when we were younger. However, we (hopefully) possess something we did not have in the past—the wisdom and understanding than come only from our years of living. </p><p>For me, my to-do list of novels-in-waiting continues to grow; however, my ability to spend long hours bent over my keyboard, committing words to my hard drive, keeps shrinking. Aches, pains, health issues, and fatigue all demand attention. Not only are distractions more difficult to ignore, but the difficulties created by the long lockdown due to the pandemic have segued into a plethora of worldwide stressors. These range from economic woes and huge cost of living increases that cripple so many of us financially to a whole new group of supply chain issues. Other problems include assaults, intentional murders, random shootings, global discontent, and an unprecedented lack of cooperation in almost all areas of life.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjd5sIEmBSBcS5M5yorC66LtnzXTy3tXBvz-18Wc0wfc61n3xSuho5fj32xcDaf26MWQoCCOmHKY2dmdm2JYljZanKafvvcs6oUWAoDoeX_OwfqqWEBYtKrfebD1ImwKjuT9NZJnbz4K89lid_F1awZ6XEBWJHao8ec1NwH_eE7qH-1VFnOgcNjUjUf" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="855" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjd5sIEmBSBcS5M5yorC66LtnzXTy3tXBvz-18Wc0wfc61n3xSuho5fj32xcDaf26MWQoCCOmHKY2dmdm2JYljZanKafvvcs6oUWAoDoeX_OwfqqWEBYtKrfebD1ImwKjuT9NZJnbz4K89lid_F1awZ6XEBWJHao8ec1NwH_eE7qH-1VFnOgcNjUjUf=w213-h320" width="213" /></a></p><p></p><p></p><p>Are you affected by the violence and uncertainty of today's world? Has it infringed on your ability to concentrate on writing? Do you look for opportunities to incorporate the effect the world's chaos on your characters? Do those characters work to overcome the negativity all around them and forge a positive path for themselves and their families?</p><p>While writing this article, I found that German Jewess Annelies Marie Frank (Anne Frank) kept coming to mind. Recording her experiences, her fears, and her hopes during two years of hiding from the Nazis during the Second World War, young Anne kept a diary. Her expressed hopes for the future included writing a book about her experiences during the war. Before she could realize that ambition, she and her family were located by the Nazis, and she and here sister died, apparently of typhus, in Bergen-Belsen concentration camp. Anne was 15 years old. However, hidden in the home that had once served as their safe house, her diary survived and became the basis of a biography of her life and the subject of a movie. Her hope of writing a book about her war experiences was ultimately realized, albeit posthumously.</p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhcKBLUb5NSKD6A50jqTKv3IVuxMkpz3p8DOLTKiHVy-vXBNwjYk2UDCVtdX27icZsc0mq85XEBO9XDZ3rLRsbDAW7FfiwMyAGu27fM5xBioTihuorm94ZKexWBGLnFTRRQX6WlZ8Ec3ImTPa74goqecDO_QDbXwjSVqkDFVwqiiTiS3UOGlNZ6BETa" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhcKBLUb5NSKD6A50jqTKv3IVuxMkpz3p8DOLTKiHVy-vXBNwjYk2UDCVtdX27icZsc0mq85XEBO9XDZ3rLRsbDAW7FfiwMyAGu27fM5xBioTihuorm94ZKexWBGLnFTRRQX6WlZ8Ec3ImTPa74goqecDO_QDbXwjSVqkDFVwqiiTiS3UOGlNZ6BETa=w320-h320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">The point of including Anne Frank here is the fact that, despite facing horrible living conditions and the appalling extermination of some 6 million Jews, she held onto a positive hope for a future that seems almost unimaginable under such conditions. Below is a quote from her, written on July 15, 1944, less than a month before she and her family were discovered by the Nazis.</div><p></p><p>"It's difficult in times like these: ideals, dreams and cherished hopes rise within us, only to be crushed by grim reality. It's a wonder I haven't abandoned all my ideals, they seem so absurd and impractical. Yet I cling to them because I still believe, in spite of everything, that people are truly good at heart."<br /> <i> quoted from her diary by Dr. Howard Markel, writer of a</i><i> monthly news column for PBS NewsHour</i></p><p>The quality of Anne Frank's diary writing (as exemplified in the English translation) strongly suggests that she could have become an exceptional journalist and novelist if she had survived long enough to live her dream. She didn't. But she did live long enough to pen the above words for us, to encourage us to use our difficult times to reach out to others with our writing, to believe in the goodness of enough people to hope they find courage in our words spoken through our stories' characters, as well as in our other writings. </p><p>I believe the pen is still mightier than the sword. What do you think? </p>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4DBOlZE38H2q4uGkg4KTH3o9QRIAAGPXCwzBuJjtffTo0h8_fxNaQq9NJj3kVPDM25FAi8JAQPf0b0XUnwu0OKE1awbyBpnb5HAut1cwJjPkR5Ll2P10TPGIIIX_aYJkRBykn3mCO3RU/s1600/Linda-Lane.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="608" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4DBOlZE38H2q4uGkg4KTH3o9QRIAAGPXCwzBuJjtffTo0h8_fxNaQq9NJj3kVPDM25FAi8JAQPf0b0XUnwu0OKE1awbyBpnb5HAut1cwJjPkR5Ll2P10TPGIIIX_aYJkRBykn3mCO3RU/w202-h320/Linda-Lane.jpg" width="202" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />Editor <b>Linda
Lane</b> has returned to her first love—writing. Categorized as women's
fiction, her exciting, quick-paced novels contain elements of romance, mystery,
and thrillers. Her first two books are now available as e-books and paperbacks
on Amazon.com. Type in <b>The Accounting by L.S. Lane</b> and/or <b>Tormented
Tango by L.S. Lane </b>to see them. You may contact her through her
website: <span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.blogger.com%2Fblog%2Fpost%2Fedit%2F5704943052235281766%2F9116533926722766400%3Ffbclid%3DIwAR1AA0H2ZwDC44qkjz9iYKMlsAbQbDbuU4KfswZZTYG94RpOft864Bhq5kU%23&h=AT1fVBHw2LTHYwFPqSq3j_dGWWIykC5tx21UKGo_VjjZBC9wPBupaRfOKzoEg3sT1AeWyPmv1-e8el1ZgpjG8GGNxlv4thrB44MMRtIRxDzfHx3awckjNarEHB42uGjM5g&__tn__=-UK-R&c%5b0%5d=AT2Xu16pBKy78uzB_Ey3zMU8-2VoLBeENDKDmNs3EwxELbqNtXkI1kkswcjoBdqu4ePGdpY4CIKtND6WInhQ6kYnby0bnYmQqM-S2aD2ZOtGwibahcwOuAFLp0EKRlvI4Ac-VvzQvuTzZj9hdYt9pDhEBK6N70uZ_gqQ8YqGzuqttNGLuXWVFxefGVmfJf0skdshf0EGsLXg49AGeNzY5NI" target="_blank"><span style="background: white; border: 1pt none windowtext; font-family: "inherit", serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 107%; padding: 0in; text-decoration-line: none;">LSLaneBooks.com</span></a></span><span face=""Segoe UI Historic",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #050505; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">. </span></span></td></tr>
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Linda Lanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16056682992943171805noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-83923151229027040482023-05-18T04:21:00.086-06:002023-05-18T04:21:00.128-06:00Understanding the Hatchette v Internet Archive Lawsuit and Ruling<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9oKWn571tyNLmR3xw8mHI1PnElkrHPn2Ymsl-Gbs9nII-spxXodqw1YWhlZaWDophUYBxahxOwU9yG-dJ_DRY8GPsoec3IrCoQ8-RFBnhu9UnyNY9GhAtmwYgulFc6DMkn3F5TCymwnpqpzsUOXMh1w8DYpK0JSvznMuE0XuVNHKw3A7s4da264Z_/s485/scales.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="407" data-original-width="485" height="269" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9oKWn571tyNLmR3xw8mHI1PnElkrHPn2Ymsl-Gbs9nII-spxXodqw1YWhlZaWDophUYBxahxOwU9yG-dJ_DRY8GPsoec3IrCoQ8-RFBnhu9UnyNY9GhAtmwYgulFc6DMkn3F5TCymwnpqpzsUOXMh1w8DYpK0JSvznMuE0XuVNHKw3A7s4da264Z_/s320/scales.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p>Four publishers (Hachette, HarperCollins, Wiley, and Penguin Random House) <a href="https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.nysd.537900/gov.uscourts.nysd.537900.1.0_1.pdf" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">sued the </a><b><a href="https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.nysd.537900/gov.uscourts.nysd.537900.1.0_1.pdf" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Internet Archive</a> </b>after it created a <b>National Emergency Library</b> that ran from March 24, 2020, to June 16, 2020, under its <b>Controlled Digital Lending program (CDL)</b>. This was a temporary book collection created from thousands of e-books and was intended to provide reading matter to people in lockdown when physical libraries had to close during the early stages of the pandemic.</p><p>Although libraries have been allowed to create and lend out one electronic version (i.e., scanned) for every physical book it owns (in lieu of lending the physical copy, not in addition to), for the National Emergency Library the Internet Archive was <a href="https://theconversation.com/publishers-vs-the-internet-archive-why-the-worlds-biggest-online-library-is-in-court-over-digital-book-lending-187166" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">lending out multiple copies of a digital book at once</a>, and the four publishers sued over a number of their books included in the collection. The Internet Archive claimed they were operating under the <b>fair use doctrine</b>, but the publishers have sued for <b>mass copyright infringement</b>.</p><p>On March 25, 2023, a United States court <a href="https://www.reuters.com/legal/litigation/book-publishers-internet-archive-ask-court-decide-ebook-lending-fight-2022-07-08/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">ruled against the Internet Archive in the lawsuit</a> filed by the four publishers. The court's decision probably has some implications for libraries, readers, authors, and the digital preservation of cultural artifacts. </p><h3 style="text-align: left;">The Internet Archive's Perspective </h3><p>The Internet Archive established the CDL program to provide online access to books and promote research and learning. CDL allows users to borrow digital copies of books for a limited period, simulating traditional library lending. The Internet Archive and its partner libraries argue that CDL operates under the fair use doctrine, as libraries have always been able to lend books to their patrons. They maintain that CDL ensures that the public can fully utilize the books libraries have purchased and preserved, especially in an emergency.</p><p>The Internet Archive claims that their data shows that CDL has not negatively impacted publishers' revenues. Libraries have paid billions of dollars to publishers for their print collections and are investing significant resources in digitization efforts. <a href="https://blog.archive.org/2023/03/25/the-fight-continues/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Internet Archive believes that their activities align with the mission of libraries to serve patrons as intended</a>. They intended to <a href="https://www.eff.org/cases/hachette-v-internet-archive" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">appeal</a> the court decision. </p><h3 style="text-align: left;">The Court's Ruling </h3><p>Judge John G. Koeltl ruled against the Internet Archive, stating that CDL does not qualify as fair use. The Internet Archive engaged in unauthorized <a href="https://time.com/6266147/internet-archive-copyright-infringement-books-lawsuit/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">distribution and lending of more copies of copyrighted books than it paid for</a>, and in addition does not <b>transform </b>the use of the works. Acquiring a print book does not entitle the recipient to make unauthorized digital copies and distribute them.</p><p>It is interesting that the judge highlighted the absence of <b>transformative elements</b> in the Internet Archive's actions, explaining that transformative works lie at the core of <b>fair use</b>. Merely repackaging or republishing the original works cannot be considered fair use. In his ruling, Judge Koeltl rejected the Internet Archive's claim that CDL benefits publishers in other markets, emphasizing that such benefits cannot offset the harm inflicted on publishers' ebook revenues.</p><h3 style="text-align: left;">Implications for Libraries, Authors, and Copyright Protection </h3><p>The court's decision is seen as a major win for authors, publishers, and associated creative industries. It upholds the importance of copyright protection and sets a precedent against unauthorized distribution and lending of copyrighted materials. Scanning and lending books without permission or compensation devalues authors' works and constitutes copyright infringement.</p><p>Advocates for copyright protection, such as the Association of American Publishers and the Authors Guild, have welcomed the court's decision. Libraries play a crucial role in supporting authors by legally purchasing and licensing books. Library licensing generates income for authors resident in the same country as the library, helping sustain their work.</p><p>International publishers, represented by the International Publishers Association (IPA), have also expressed their appreciation for the court's ruling. They highlight the global significance of copyright protections and stress the need for compliance with international copyright and related rights treaties.</p><p>The Hatchette v Internet Archive lawsuit and the subsequent court ruling have sparked debates about the balance between digital access to books and copyright protection. While the Internet Archive's CDL program aimed to provide broader access to knowledge at a difficult time, the court's decision underscores the importance of respecting authors' and publishers' rights. Copyright protection plays a vital role in supporting creativity, ensuring authors receive compensation for their work, and maintaining the economic viability of the publishing industry. </p><p>While I have always valued the Internet Archive's role in archiving and "backing up" our internet and collective knowledge, and I also think there was merit in the idea of providing access to reading and study material in the unprecedented emergency of the pandemic, I do think the Internet Archive overstepped itself in this case and did infringe on copyright. It should be up to the rights holder as to whether they opt in to such a program, for how long, and for how many copies. This would be a lot more work for the operators of the program, but much fairer all round. </p><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigwYqrh2nbfH8LkReHFaMF2YI2pX2ydvpeMIgNNAYV9QseDASePeTYhYkETXZBMneu0SaQHUxKT9eDMRMII82qt3yliZvS_fttI61ZOUY9-ZskRamF-isieHiaF3vaZKBPkzJMcLxeQJY/s1600/Elle-Carter-Neal-MIBA-AmandaMerylePhotography.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigwYqrh2nbfH8LkReHFaMF2YI2pX2ydvpeMIgNNAYV9QseDASePeTYhYkETXZBMneu0SaQHUxKT9eDMRMII82qt3yliZvS_fttI61ZOUY9-ZskRamF-isieHiaF3vaZKBPkzJMcLxeQJY/w266-h400/Elle-Carter-Neal-MIBA-AmandaMerylePhotography.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr><tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Elle Carter Neal</b> is the author of the middle grade fantasy <a href="https://ellecarterneal.com/draconian-rules/convoluted-key/" target="_blank"><i>The Convoluted Key</i></a> (first in the <i>Draconian Rules</i> series), the picture book <a href="https://ellecarterneal.com/ownblue/" target="_blank"><i>I Own All the Blue</i></a>, and teen science-fantasy novel <a href="https://seallanemedia.com/ellecarterneal/" target="_blank"><i>Madison Lane and the Wand of Rasputin</i></a> (first in the <i>Grounded</i> series). She is the editor of the re-release of Angela Brazil's 1910 book <a href="https://seallanemedia.com/angelabrazil/#nicest"><i>The Nicest Girl in the School</i></a>. Elle is based in Melbourne, Australia. Find her at <a href="https://ellecarterneal.com/" target="_blank">ElleCarterNeal.com</a></span>.<br /><br /><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo by Amanda Meryle Photography</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p><br /></p><div><br /></div>Elle Carter Nealhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02266309723919011181noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-11354380807060616882023-05-09T04:00:00.001-06:002023-05-09T04:00:00.139-06:00Pets are the antidote to Guns, Banned Books, and Crazy People<p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">April has been a hard month for me. I've had knee
problems, our heating unit failed, and our water heater needed to be replaced.
But nothing could compare with the sadness that's consumed me in the aftermath
of the passing of my beloved dog, Bogie, who’s been by my side for almost ten
years, who slept with me, followed me from room to room, and loved me without
reservation. I know I’m not alone in this situation. I’ve read the stories of
friends on Facebook who have gone through the same thing, lamenting that
they’ve lost their best friend, that there was and never will be another pet
like theirs. I feel the same way. Our pets just don't live long enough.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSdhPttb90KlUyx3E3dv-vyTuIShh8KKXBiBURRMLkQwh6ROakfWNr21zov1DOPDZgoWs2KnX2SrRvvKGil65XmLQMR6LUzjiP-cETj9FrQalG7Tk7H1XWZtnM9xXmQfhGftNxzPgdIwBQ7MoGg2Ty3V4f2-bFDSb3SXTMbugjS_OdavzZZTARRgoM6Q/s1936/Bogie%20with%20ball.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1936" data-original-width="1936" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSdhPttb90KlUyx3E3dv-vyTuIShh8KKXBiBURRMLkQwh6ROakfWNr21zov1DOPDZgoWs2KnX2SrRvvKGil65XmLQMR6LUzjiP-cETj9FrQalG7Tk7H1XWZtnM9xXmQfhGftNxzPgdIwBQ7MoGg2Ty3V4f2-bFDSb3SXTMbugjS_OdavzZZTARRgoM6Q/s320/Bogie%20with%20ball.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: 0in;"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">I asked myself if there was anything more I could have
done or steps I could have taken to extend Bogie’s life. The answer is no, and
even the vet said I had performed a miracle to give him the extra few months he
lived. I bought special food for his renal failure, gave him daily injections
of fluid and pills to ward off that failure. I wrapped his pills for congestive
heart failure in chicken livers because he loved them so much. But no matter
what I did, after a few months, nothing stayed in his stomach for long. That
last day that I didn’t know was his last day, I gave him his pills, then
decided to give him a plate of chicken livers. He lifted his nose and walked
away from them, then moments later threw up the pills. That’s when I knew.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">The weird thing is on that day as I was preparing to
take him to the vet, he ran down the driveway and disappeared. He did that only
one other time, the first day I got him. Every day since that first day, he
stayed in the yard, and when he was finished visiting with the standard poodle
next door through the fence and finished doing his business, he’d come to the
door and bark to come inside. I’ve read that when dogs know the end is near,
they do strange things, like run away or show anxiety. Bogie did both. He was
telling me the one thing I didn’t want to hear.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Pets, whether dogs or cats or birds or any other of
nature’s beautiful creatures, are what we need when we feel frustrated by a
world gone off the rails with crazy people wielding guns at babies and
schoolchildren, despots invading sovereign countries, and politicians
threatening our democracy if we don’t heel to their wishes. For those of us who
have sent our sons and daughters off to their own adventures and perpetuate the
cycle by having kids of their own, leaving us without that daily contact, we
turn around and hug our pets. When they’re not there, it’s like we are in the
biggest black hole in the universe. Let’s not forget another distraction that
brings solace to our grief: a book to read, and for those of us who write, a
story waiting to be told. That’s why I wrote this blog post, and it helped a
lot.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">I wish I believed in that apocryphal Rainbow Bridge
people mention where Bogie would run and play and eat plates of his favorite
chicken livers. I wish I believed in an afterlife where we’d meet again and
he’d run up to me and beg for the warmth of my embrace and a soft pat on his
head. But I don’t. So when I get past the wrenching sadness and the
hallucinations of seeing him on the sofa in my office or in his doggie bed or
next to me watching TV and realize he’s not there, I’ll just have to remember
the good times I had with my sweet boy by looking at the hundreds of
photographs I have of his precious face.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">I thought I could never have another dog because he or
she wouldn’t be Bogie, and the pain of losing another dog would be more than I could
bear, but I’m warming to the idea when I see pictures of puppies and cuteness. I’m
not there yet, but what is the saying? Time heals all wounds? Somewhere out
there is a dog that’s never been loved, waiting for that magic feeling. Waiting
for me.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-pagination: none; text-indent: 0in;"><br /><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"></span></p>
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<p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination: none;"> </p> <br /><p></p>Polly Iyerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05729656119287702191noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-86096913601319685112023-05-04T07:18:00.002-06:002023-05-04T18:29:34.729-06:00IngramSpark Removes Book Setup Fees to Give Independent Authors a Helping Hand<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-Iz4dgaM82T-OoUL8JwN9umpsp5lyiXEGnjPUYs3RysBugCeWiQGAenqDt1lH5QcSWsK1QT0HZoQ5_u47OJMezXIAJadJwPgHtjVxRxr-iHcHOR2DDeAUHwlxuBqwndYbfC5wdb7DoLjEy0ZNUDg9ow8RI3AWO6peJOYAC3nlPK0mLN_RdVC5NBkeCA/s640/pexels-samantha-garrote-2467396.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="427" data-original-width="640" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-Iz4dgaM82T-OoUL8JwN9umpsp5lyiXEGnjPUYs3RysBugCeWiQGAenqDt1lH5QcSWsK1QT0HZoQ5_u47OJMezXIAJadJwPgHtjVxRxr-iHcHOR2DDeAUHwlxuBqwndYbfC5wdb7DoLjEy0ZNUDg9ow8RI3AWO6peJOYAC3nlPK0mLN_RdVC5NBkeCA/w400-h268/pexels-samantha-garrote-2467396.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />Good news for independent authors: the self-publishing platform IngramSpark has ceased to charge book setup fees. The change in policy came into effect on May 1st. This means that authors can now upload their new books free of charge, as long as they meet standard requirements. In addition, authors can also revise their books for free within the first 60 days of publication.<p></p><p>IngramSpark has always been a popular choice for self-published authors due to its wide distribution network and print-on-demand services. For authors not resident in the US or the UK, it is often the only option for combined publishing and distribution. But the fees have been a hurdle for some authors looking to publish their work, with many authors waiting for the one or two times per year that IS offered coupon codes for free setup. The removal of the setup and revision fee is a welcome helping hand for indie authors looking to publish their work on a tight budget.</p><p style="text-align: left;">According to IngramSpark's official announcement, the free title setup is not valid for previously submitted titles. However, members of the Alliance of Independent Authors (ALLi) can still use their membership perk that previously entitled them to five free uploads or revisions per month. Members can still apply their exclusive coupon code to the revision of older titles, which non-members will have to pay for.</p><hr><p>ALLi is a non-profit professional association for self-publishing authors, offering a range of benefits such as discounted access to services, advocacy, and education. While the free IngramSpark setups and revisions have been a major drawcard for authors to pay for membership of ALLi, it is still worth becoming or remaining a member due to the access to support, information, and other exclusive benefits. <a href="https://allianceindependentauthors.org/?affid=12204" target="_blank">The Blood-Red Pencil is an affiliate of <b>ALLi</b>, if you would like to check out their services through our link</a>. </p><hr><h3 style="text-align: left;">What This Means for Independent Authors</h3><p>Self-publishing can be expensive, and every cost-saving measure counts. This will make the process of publishing a book more accessible and affordable for authors, especially those just starting and authors of countries not serviced by Amazon's KDP self-publishing platform.</p><p>Two months' breathing room for free revisions will allow authors to make any necessary changes to their work without worrying about the extra cost. This will hopefully encourage further proofreading and checking even after hitting publish, so that the quality of self-published books doesn't drop and reader expectations are met. </p><p>Free book setup is a game-changer for authors in developing countries. With the publishing industry being highly competitive, every advantage counts. This announcement offers authors the opportunity to publish their work with one of the most reputable self-publishing platforms without incurring any upfront costs. It's a positive move towards making publishing more accessible for all, and truly giving disadvantaged voices a chance to be heard. </p><p><a href="https://www.pexels.com/photo/high-angle-photo-of-woman-on-ladder-2467396/" target="_blank">Image by Samantha Garrote via Pexels</a></p>Blood-Red Pencil Contributorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10009945875344688574noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-78245277813101516342023-04-28T19:43:00.002-06:002023-04-30T23:25:48.893-06:00Linda Lane's Double Book Launch<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BV5CQ3QD/?tag=utopianpress-20" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="832" data-original-width="701" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDQ1RjyvnTkqcgnaAXS6igexydX8IgOA7Fp-xc73OEvSzOS36yGrfF2u0Aawlu5TbMOM-bEWoSB-iCxdFz3EK5r_bhAzhJsTSJBg-sRYh_Zx2a_zOE4LOoT7qfMZXgag9oJ3_QIMNuroiRCGkCo_sLcG4fnC7kYMJT5NcFhfqX_U-CUG2QNc2htaL0HA/s320/Linda-books.jpg" width="270" /></a></div><br /><p>Over the past several months, Linda Lane has been working really hard to get her first two novels ready for publication. Now she's excited to announce that they’re finally available on Amazon as both paperbacks and eBooks. </p><p>The first is titled <b><i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BTX7CR1X/?tag=utopianpress-20" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Accounting</a></i></b>, and the second is <b><i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BTWPGNQR/?tag=utopianpress-20" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Tormented Tango</a></i></b>. Both books explore family dynamics in depth as members struggle with the unexpected. Visit Amazon and check them out, and please leave Linda a review if you read them. </p><p>If you know anyone who might like to read these books, let them know!</p><p><b><i>The Accounting</i></b></p><p>What if the person who should love you the most hurts you the worst?
A powerful story of families that you won’t soon forget. Woven through its pages, The Accounting shares within its carefully crafted plot and well-defined characters events that will forever change the lives of four Kohler households. Family dynamics expose their weaknesses and reveal their strengths as they adjust to the sudden death of their beloved husband and father. Enter Oren Kohler, the brother, and everything they’ve built their lives on, everything they hold dear is at imminent risk.</p>
<p><b><i>Tormented Tango</i></b></p>
Family must be protected at all costs. Even if it means killing them.
Former prosecutor Aidan Wolf runs a small legal aid office.
Defense lawyer Jenna Jacobs rarely loses a case, but she lost Aidan Wolf.
District Attorney Wilson Howell, wife Becca, and their two teenagers live in what he believes is near-perfect bliss. And then…<div><br /></div><div><b>About the author of <i>The Accounting</i> and <i>Tormented Tango</i></b></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>
<b><div class="separator"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4DBOlZE38H2q4uGkg4KTH3o9QRIAAGPXCwzBuJjtffTo0h8_fxNaQq9NJj3kVPDM25FAi8JAQPf0b0XUnwu0OKE1awbyBpnb5HAut1cwJjPkR5Ll2P10TPGIIIX_aYJkRBykn3mCO3RU/s1600/Linda-Lane.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="608" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4DBOlZE38H2q4uGkg4KTH3o9QRIAAGPXCwzBuJjtffTo0h8_fxNaQq9NJj3kVPDM25FAi8JAQPf0b0XUnwu0OKE1awbyBpnb5HAut1cwJjPkR5Ll2P10TPGIIIX_aYJkRBykn3mCO3RU/w126-h200/Linda-Lane.jpg" width="126" /></a></div>Linda Lane</b><span> has been an editor for decades and has now returned to her first love—writing. Her exciting, quick-paced novels contain elements of romance, mystery, and thrillers even though they are categorized as women's fiction. </span><span>A third novel is well underway at this time. You may contact her through her website: </span><a href="http://lslanebooks.com/">LSLaneBooks.com</a><span>.</span>Blood-Red Pencil Contributorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10009945875344688574noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-36861603418373165512023-04-25T04:23:00.001-06:002023-04-25T04:23:00.152-06:00Book Launch Tips <p><i><b>Brutal Season</b></i> the fourth book in my Seasons Mystery Series made its digital debut on April 10, and long before the release I was working on marketing and promoting, hoping to give it a big boost when it launched.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxcUdWzbvC1icwcY3_t8C0CarMB4LU-urmDPyPTESweOeEIQw1kAFG_ZLiMi-wekCZvjBrJB7fvCk7l7rCp9tpYJdv7nGs-0PSgBg--ktFO5MsM73pfBMaotkk7l_-UvWGThfN1pm8lY4_5gltKvOiYDh2031SwsykqAW-2tNUio9AISM9d2AeePeU/s1500/Brutal%20Season%203D%20cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1150" data-original-width="1500" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxcUdWzbvC1icwcY3_t8C0CarMB4LU-urmDPyPTESweOeEIQw1kAFG_ZLiMi-wekCZvjBrJB7fvCk7l7rCp9tpYJdv7nGs-0PSgBg--ktFO5MsM73pfBMaotkk7l_-UvWGThfN1pm8lY4_5gltKvOiYDh2031SwsykqAW-2tNUio9AISM9d2AeePeU/w274-h210/Brutal%20Season%203D%20cover.jpg" width="274" /></a></div><p>So much of a successful book launch depends on luck, popularity, and marketing skills, and not every writer - certainly not this one – excels in the marketing department. Still, I did my best to develop a plan for this book. </p><p>After finishing the writing, and my own self-editing of the manuscript, things were set in motion for getting some pre-pub ducks in a row - cover art design, editing, requesting blurbs from other authors and getting ARCs to them, and formatting. Then I made a calendar of when each task would be completed. This process started in mid-January, and I jumped ahead several months to choose a release date, giving the various professionals plenty of time to hatch their individual duck.</p><p>Once there was a working cover image, the book was listed for pre-order on Amazon at a price-promotion discount, starting several weeks before the release date.</p><p>Then it was time to let folks know about the opportunity to get the book at the discount. In addition to my own sharing on social media, I bought a promotional package to have a cover reveal and book blitz through <b><a href="https://www.lonestarliterary.com/">Lone Star Literary,</a></b> hoping to create some buzz about the book.</p><p>That wasn't as successful as I had hoped, but the promo did get a lot of attention and generated a number of sales. The staff at LSL are great to work with and they created some very nice graphics for use during the blitz. Ones that I can continue to use, like the 3-d graphic above. </p><p>From the time the book was available for pre-order until its release, I shared excerpts of the story on my blog with links for ordering. I was able to get to terrific endorsements from other authors which made my heart feel good. They are authors I highly respect, so I was thrilled when they so graciously accepted my request. </p><p>Here are some of the things that I think I did right: </p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Planned the release far enough in advance to have cover art finished. </li><li>Had the editing completed and the formatting in time for the actual release.</li><li>Used professionals for all three of those tasks.</li><li>Set up some ads and promotional events so I was not the only person talking about my book. It’s really important to not be the only one as people quickly tire of hearing only one voice calling into the darkness.</li><li>Planned and purchased some follow-up advertising for the rest of this month and into May to keep some momentum going.</li></ul><p></p><p>When I started this plan for the book and jumped ahead to a potential release date, I didn’t realize that Monday April 10th was the day after Easter. Perhaps it wasn’t a good idea to release a book so close to a major holiday as that could have had an impact on the initial ROI from the LLS promos. People might not have been online and/or weren’t in a book-buying mood. Searching a bit on Google to see if there is a “best” time to release a book, I didn’t find specifics on that, but there's a good resource in an article at Writer Unboxed - <a href="https://writerunboxed.com/2017/08/25/your-publicity-timeline-is-there-a-best-month-to-publish-your-book/ ">Is There a Best Month to Publish Your Book</a></p><p>In years past, the major publishers have times releases primarily for twice a year, spring and fall. In the spring, leading into summer reading, beach reads, romance, and women’s novels dominated the lists, but travel and destination books also shared the lineup. Fall was a good time to release nonfiction, children’s books, and other genres of fiction in time for end of the year holiday shopping. </p><p>While the best and worst months are not so easily identified now, it’s still probably a good idea to release a book in October so there’s plenty of time for it to be part of planning for shopping in December. And the same probably goes for Spring holidays as well, especially if you have a book related to a holiday. A January or February release would allow time to promote it for shopping for the Spring Equinox holidays.</p><p>If you’re like me and marketing is not your strong suit, these resources might be helpful. They have been for me: </p><p><b><a href="https://kindlepreneur.com/launching-a-book/">The Kindlepreneur</a></b>. The site owned and run by David Chesson offers free articles and links to help with all phases of publishing, advertising, and promoting. I’ve subscribed to his newsletter for a couple of years and found good tips for launching a book. </p><p><b><a href="https://writerunboxed.com/">Writer Unboxed.</a></b> While the articles there cover all aspects of writing, some are specific to <b><a href="https://writerunboxed.com/author/getredpr/">business and marketing</a></b> . <b><a href="https://writerunboxed.com/author/getredpr/">Ann Marie Nieves</a></b> who owns<b><a href="https://www.areyoured.com/"> Get Red PR</a></b> is a regular contributor with tips on promotions. </p><p><b><a href="https://justpublishingadvice.com/20-easy-ten-minute-ways-to-promote-your-book/">Just Publishing Advice.</a></b> That site has articles helpful for all phases of the business of writing. </p><p>Previously, I’ve written about promoting here at the BRP, and looking back at this article from 2015, <b><a href="https://bloodredpencil.blogspot.com/2015/06/tips-for-book-promotion.html">Tips for Book Promotion</a></b>, it's clear that not a lot has changed in my approach to using social media as a promotional tool. </p><p>If you have suggestion, or links to other resources, please do share.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="background-color: white; border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; color: black; font-family: Lora, serif; font-size: 18px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="padding: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCnSbQM-LE-SKzs8ZCMdWYirOY0b3wBmSt2oyfYMrXliFL5_0XpSYHLoeXXZRDqsR8vRH7eBK45IDfgMT6lfHdQJDFIDkHUqgrmXsrxL8qrVxLBaglKD4sqDu5Uhnpf2cou7EvVgemg_E/s1600/New+headshot.jpg" style="background: transparent; color: #bf9000; cursor: pointer; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; outline: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" height="189" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCnSbQM-LE-SKzs8ZCMdWYirOY0b3wBmSt2oyfYMrXliFL5_0XpSYHLoeXXZRDqsR8vRH7eBK45IDfgMT6lfHdQJDFIDkHUqgrmXsrxL8qrVxLBaglKD4sqDu5Uhnpf2cou7EvVgemg_E/w164-h189/New+headshot.jpg" style="background: none 0% 0% repeat scroll transparent; border: none; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 0px 0px 0px; height: auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; position: relative;" width="164" /></a></td></tr><tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption" style="padding: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.maryannwrites.com/" style="background: transparent; color: #5c010f; cursor: pointer; text-decoration-line: none;">Maryann Miller</a></b><span style="text-align: center;"> is a novelist, editor, and sometimes an actress. She has written a number of mysteries, including the critically-acclaimed Seasons Mystery Series that debuted with </span><i style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.draft2digital.com/book/68045" style="background: transparent; color: #5c010f; cursor: pointer; text-decoration-line: none;"><b>Open Season</b></a></i><span style="text-align: center;">. Information about her books and her editing rates is available on her </span><a href="http://maryannwrites.com/" style="background: transparent; color: #5c010f; cursor: pointer; text-align: center; text-decoration-line: none;"><b>website.</b></a><span style="text-align: center;"> When not writing, Maryann likes to take her dog for a walk, work jigsaw puzzles, color, and quilt.</span></span></td></tr></tbody></table>Maryannwriteshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09479027709233807149noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-91165339267227664002023-04-20T04:50:00.001-06:002023-04-20T04:50:00.228-06:00AI: An Author's Challenging Opinion<p>Artificial intelligence seems to be all the rage these days, so I decided to find out why.</p><p>First, I had to find out exactly what it was. <i>Merriam-Webster Dictionary</i> defines it as 1, "a branch of computer science dealing with the simulation of intelligent behavior in computers; and, 2, as "the capability of a machine to imitate intelligent human behavior". [I might question any statement implying that human behavior is necessarily intelligent.]</p><p style="text-align: left;">Second, I wanted to know how artificial intelligence is used. According to IBM, systems such as Apple's Siri and Amazon's Alexa are examples of AI. Theoretically, IBM says, machines may one day surpass human intelligence and become problem-solvers that can learn and make plans. Fortunately, this is still just theory, but its ramifications if (when?) it's actually invented should strike fear (or at least concern) in all of us.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHBF75glJExH8ZR5Skc6eTfjlsHAI9lpsKlliTRSQDEhhQ2sa05pgnnJGKOajmgZRGzYZZORWUBZ5oXDwTqypnFNwHK6GK8UdC0JO6vwiQ6Z8T9F36g3fgIKo-3Rx4fCnXKOy4e4TlCEXLTmRS-TPLkzHfQQUSm0W70C60WVar4WiRHVvqafzEh8Z2/s1920/art-intell-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="915" data-original-width="1920" height="96" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHBF75glJExH8ZR5Skc6eTfjlsHAI9lpsKlliTRSQDEhhQ2sa05pgnnJGKOajmgZRGzYZZORWUBZ5oXDwTqypnFNwHK6GK8UdC0JO6vwiQ6Z8T9F36g3fgIKo-3Rx4fCnXKOy4e4TlCEXLTmRS-TPLkzHfQQUSm0W70C60WVar4WiRHVvqafzEh8Z2/w200-h96/art-intell-2.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;">I'm neither a scientist nor a science fiction writer; however, I can see pros and cons in the future should this come to pass. On the positive side, movie makers can effectively use AI in sci-films. Remember HAL, <i>2001: A Space Odyssey</i>'s rogue computer assistant. (Would Gort, the humanoid alien in the 1951 version of <i>The Day the Earth Stood Still </i>qualify as artificial intelligence?) What about the various series based on Gene Roddenberry's <i>Star Trek</i>? Or <i>Star Wars</i> by George Lucas? The list could go on and on. Similarly, science fiction writers have long relied on different forms of AI in writing their stories, many of which are great reads.</p><p style="text-align: left;">The above may create intriguing reading and viewing, but what about the potentially more insidious applications of artificial intelligence? How can it impact our lives? </p><p style="text-align: left;">First and foremost is probably the fact that any AI computer/device can and likely will reflect in its algorithm the views/opinions/prejudices/purposes of its creator. Other less than positive uses include a rise in the ability of hackers to access our personal/private information, If we think terrorism is scary today, how will we deal with it when it's practiced by heartless machines with which we cannot negotiate and which we cannot control? </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIpun-4Ovheuaw51bIJSsT7ozU9lKWAEevfeNor3zMtp_dpfg26H3sJ8Bf4rCqmygIQltqs2NUGFeg1U99R055MXToEyAWrmeGTDR_J6KEPl9KqKuA8_cHZktAeM2_qCVgbuqr4xLhSyHWsJKJn2IDcof1XFwB5rUxlz4kjN8zIoUtp97sWPmJRjZG/s1920/artificial_intelligence.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1257" data-original-width="1920" height="131" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIpun-4Ovheuaw51bIJSsT7ozU9lKWAEevfeNor3zMtp_dpfg26H3sJ8Bf4rCqmygIQltqs2NUGFeg1U99R055MXToEyAWrmeGTDR_J6KEPl9KqKuA8_cHZktAeM2_qCVgbuqr4xLhSyHWsJKJn2IDcof1XFwB5rUxlz4kjN8zIoUtp97sWPmJRjZG/w200-h131/artificial_intelligence.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br />Do you believe the Great Depression was bad? How can we provide for the massive numbers of unemployed people created when machines take over many of the jobs now performed by humans? What will happen to freedom of speech if it contradicts the views of an AI device (aka, the views of its creator), and that same device has both power and censorship capabilities? <p></p><p style="text-align: left;">Enough said about the overall down side of artificial intelligence. How might we as writers be adversely affected? Imagine having a computer as an editor. Or a publisher. Or a censorship committee of one. What if our stories are required to promote certain ideas or philosophies? What if love, compassion, human kindness in general on the written page are forbidden by a machine, and its inclusion in a book imposes an automatic prison sentence…or worse? Would you want to write only about those topics acceptable to AI and its creator, whether or not they are acceptable to you? </p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1NGU9AQVI0F2RJqE2ksgwPoJGR2ZkbieY1CxVuKrCrqDb-qf6mW1Z-z0w2vzmQ3H2ntnh3Jx4eAMWrTbhT_zZqpCyxeUhgQg-gBoj0NP-ryCvrXsVEI6lJON3B1lukuWeMkuSblUj2NQ4BLDSkWCpF31C8pGJf1d7DS0SnDtL_yXUAPDXGshlbQul/s1920/covered_wagon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1285" data-original-width="1920" height="134" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1NGU9AQVI0F2RJqE2ksgwPoJGR2ZkbieY1CxVuKrCrqDb-qf6mW1Z-z0w2vzmQ3H2ntnh3Jx4eAMWrTbhT_zZqpCyxeUhgQg-gBoj0NP-ryCvrXsVEI6lJON3B1lukuWeMkuSblUj2NQ4BLDSkWCpF31C8pGJf1d7DS0SnDtL_yXUAPDXGshlbQul/w200-h134/covered_wagon.jpg" width="200" /></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5Xuq9kFWxbC34xD4c_HT27sIqmS8TzIbq8UIfo6oENX5F0rYfJqOxe-Qg-mu74BE4FjCdaqyJcEJH2R07hqO6mBburHTqYvOnTwUKKhsFgrb0FvrNpYIZ62gj7blCo7MR6C-03dVnvQSSbng6OD97kmig4WqxH0sIQ-WlON_4yXq-Ivqm-_rWaOqg/s1920/full_moon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1668" data-original-width="1920" height="174" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5Xuq9kFWxbC34xD4c_HT27sIqmS8TzIbq8UIfo6oENX5F0rYfJqOxe-Qg-mu74BE4FjCdaqyJcEJH2R07hqO6mBburHTqYvOnTwUKKhsFgrb0FvrNpYIZ62gj7blCo7MR6C-03dVnvQSSbng6OD97kmig4WqxH0sIQ-WlON_4yXq-Ivqm-_rWaOqg/w200-h174/full_moon.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>This has been an interesting topic to research for a "seasoned citizen" who grew up in a very different time. My grandfather once told me he rode to Arkansas in a covered wagon when he was a little boy, and he sat in front of his television and watched a man walk on the moon when he was an old man. What an astounding leap forward in one lifetime! Even though Grandpa was an intelligent, realistic, spiritual man, he would have had difficulty, I think, accepting a world on the brink of turning itself over to AI. <p></p><p style="text-align: left;">How do you, as a person and a writer, feel about living in a world governed by artificial intelligence?</p>
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<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />Editor <b>Linda Lane</b> has returned to her first love—writing. Her exciting, quick-paced novels contain elements of romance, mystery, and thrillers even though they are categorized as women's fiction. Her first two books are now available as e-books and paperbacks on Amazon.com. Type in <b>The Accounting by L.S. Lane</b> and/or <b>Tormented Tango by L.S. Lane </b>to see them. A third novel is well underway at this time. You may contact her through her website:</span> <a href="http://lslanebooks.com/" style="font-size: large;">LSLaneBooks.com</a><span style="font-size: large;">.</span></td></tr>
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Linda Lanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16056682992943171805noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-44888790522538136722023-04-18T04:00:00.006-06:002023-10-10T08:38:49.785-06:00What is Chat GPT and should you use It?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX0VmnrDCG6PSJ1ooBFo7lucsP-e2Xvt1OuZm74qyQgQldyRRJUugDMLqa2lX5DPo2ZXoea2io9EOBcMjMlbFLXAvPTuZg67c0srczBJU8BtHV5uXreP9k8F8OeB9897uU2wi-WSHcksvbvXMIrG6fJs-RKhdG3iXnwprHRP5LaEpKGOkd7Fdva-dC/s13/spacer.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="10" data-original-width="13" height="10" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX0VmnrDCG6PSJ1ooBFo7lucsP-e2Xvt1OuZm74qyQgQldyRRJUugDMLqa2lX5DPo2ZXoea2io9EOBcMjMlbFLXAvPTuZg67c0srczBJU8BtHV5uXreP9k8F8OeB9897uU2wi-WSHcksvbvXMIrG6fJs-RKhdG3iXnwprHRP5LaEpKGOkd7Fdva-dC/s1600/spacer.png" width="13" /></a></div><br /><p>Chat GPT is a way to “converse” with an artificial intelligence interface. The chat bot scours billions of sources of content to come up with an informational database to answer questions and produce writing samples. It continues to “learn” and adapt as it integrates more and more source material. The act of using it helps it grow.</p><p>Is it coming for your job? Yes and no. Chat bots lack imagination and self-awareness. They are not yet capable of the type of sophisticated thought processes humans have. It cannot draw complex inferences and understand subtleties. It struggles with irony, sarcasm, and double meaning.</p><p>Writers of technical documents might find themselves replaced by a machine. However, so far everything I have read from a chat bot is like reading an elementary school child’s paper. There is a lot of unspecific data, incomplete thoughts, misused language, and too much repetition. I am pretty certain I have read some instruction manuals written by machines, or people who do not have English as a first language.</p><p>Chapt GPT has been trained on your emails, social media posts and comments, books, letters, Wikipedia, and many other data mines. When feed erroneous information it spits it out as face. That is a massive problem.</p><p>Chat bots are only slightly more efficient than the automated computers that answer the phone when you call a business for assistance. They are becoming quite adept at test taking, but honestly other than routine business writing, they aren’t ready to take over the world of fiction. A debate has begun as to whether writers need to apply a warning label that AI has been used in writing their material.</p><p>Chat bots can give wrong answers, are affected by bias, and in a few instances go totally off the rails. Chat bots have become quite testy and threatening at times toward the questioners. They have even opined that humans need to be eliminated. The age of SciFi AI assistants like Hal is here. And all those Hal devices are listening even when you think they aren't. Not that there is a person on the other end having to listen to everyone talking all the time, but key words and phrases may catch the bot's attention and send it to someone. I remember being at a friend's house and pointing at their Google device and asked them, I wonder if the FBI is listening? It piped up, "I'm sorry. I can't help you with that." I didn't give the prompt, "Okay Google." Didn't mention the device, just pointed at it. So there is no telling what this vast database has at its fingertips.</p><p>The few instances I have ,read where a chat bot attempted fiction, the results were elementary and lacked imagination. So I will stick with human authors for now. I prefer to support human starving artists.</p><p>Some companies are checking for AI usage which is problematic because those algorithms are also usually wrong in both directions. It both fails to recognize AI content and construes non-AI content as AI. You cannot copyright AI content, so if your work is erroneously designated as AI, what then? What is the legal recourse?</p><p>If you have experimented with AI, we would love to hear your story.</p><p>If you want to learn more about Chat GPT or even take it for a spin, here are some links:</p><p><a href="https://bloodredpencil.blogspot.com/p/if-you-didnt-become-writer-to-spend.html">https://bloodredpencil.blogspot.com/p/if-you-didnt-become-writer-to-spend.html</a> (Using AI for your marketing materials)</p><p><a href="https://www.pcguide.com/apps/what-is-chat-gpt/">https://www.pcguide.com/apps/what-is-chat-gpt/</a></p><p><a href="https://www.pocnetwork.net/technology-news/i-asked-ai-chatgpt-to-write-me-a-rather-odd-short-story-and-the-result-was-amazing/">https://www.pocnetwork.net/technology-news/i-asked-ai-chatgpt-to-write-me-a-rather-odd-short-story-and-the-result-was-amazing/</a></p><p><a href="https://www.makeuseof.com/openai-chatgpt-biggest-probelms/">https://www.makeuseof.com/openai-chatgpt-biggest-probelms/</a></p><p><a href="https://www.griproom.com/fun/how-to-use-chat-gpt-to-write-a-novel">https://www.griproom.com/fun/how-to-use-chat-gpt-to-write-a-novel</a></p><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 6px; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td data-blogger-escaped-style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid_D_U7aFh8dOxU6T2E3WU1Qz9qdbhWVE4m3ifElGqoryICM7mv97GIFida7Iuk5kRAgotl6Gnv3-TNlj_2haiGo7aXzGZo5z-iIzINds3_Ym0PKg9_HkDL9J6DYiaQqHWR5FQwPEToQU/s1600/Diana-Hurwitz-photo.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "georgia";"><img border="0" data-blogger-escaped-data-original-height="519" data-blogger-escaped-data-original-width="380" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid_D_U7aFh8dOxU6T2E3WU1Qz9qdbhWVE4m3ifElGqoryICM7mv97GIFida7Iuk5kRAgotl6Gnv3-TNlj_2haiGo7aXzGZo5z-iIzINds3_Ym0PKg9_HkDL9J6DYiaQqHWR5FQwPEToQU/s320/Diana-Hurwitz-photo.jpg" width="234" /></span></a></div></td></tr><tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption" style="padding-top: 4px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Diana Hurwitz </b>is<b> </b>the<b> </b>author of <i>Story Building Blocks: <a data-blogger-escaped-target="_blank" href="https://www.amazon.com/Four-Layers-Conflict-Building-Blocks/dp/1546371958/r">The Four Layers of Conflict, </a>Story Building Blocks II: <a data-blogger-escaped-target="_blank" href="https://www.amazon.com/Story-Building-Blocks-II-Believable/dp/1470199998/">Crafting Believable Conflict</a>, Story Building Blocks III: <a data-blogger-escaped-target="_blank" href="https://www.amazon.com/Story-Building-Blocks-III-Revision/dp/1475011369/">The Revision Layers</a></i>, and the YA adventure series <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Mythikas-Island-Book-One-Diana-ebook/dp/B004KZPIUS/" target="_blank"><i>Mythikas Island</i>.</a> Her weekly blog, <a href="http://www.dianahurwitz.blogspot.com/">Game On: Crafting Believable Conflict</a> explores how characters behave and misbehave. Visit <a href="http://www.dianahurwitz.com/">DianaHurwitz.com</a> for more information and free writing tools. You can follow her on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/diana.hurwitz1">Facebook</a>.</span></div></div></div></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p>Diana Hurwitzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18216220574149672733noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-56832680119416989952023-04-04T04:20:00.001-06:002023-04-06T01:30:01.057-06:00Vale, Peter Usborne<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://usborne.com/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="479" data-original-width="318" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-rcv0SGnTYzgfWQR7Lj7_ZrZzjP8XBxNfiQtTgZFUapro_tf6EhEOfF2WZb85d-l3uELBQDxsSUhc0bsjyk1LKlRycBjlhEQHEqQ4XfPPZ6UbbmVk4QE_TBfw6ovG4yNiWtfpRos54ZPgukkUL2mbSyJOMwgMZDS54UML00WEzo9OwQomCOib-V-m/s320/Usborne_Books.png" width="212" /></a></div>
<p><b>Peter Usborne</b>, the founder and Chairman of Usborne Publishing passed away on March 30, 2023, at the age of 85. (Usborne Publishing is sometimes referred to as “Usborne Books” and was rebranded last year as “PaperPie”). Usborne’s death leaves a hole in the world of children's literature, as he was a major influence in the publishing industry for almost 50 years. </p>
<p>Born Thomas Peter Usborne on the 18th August 1937, Usborne grew up in England and attended Eton College and then Oxford University and the INSEAD, a business school in France. Usborne worked for various publishing companies before founding his own, Usborne Publishing, in December 1973.</p>
<p>Usborne was known for his exacting standards and commitment to creating high-quality books that would engage and educate children. Usborne Publishing became successful due to the innovative design, engaging content, and high production values of their books. Recent awards for the company include Independent Publisher of the Year at the Independent Publishing Awards in 2014, and Private Business of the Year in 2015, and Children's Publisher of the Year at the British Book Awards in 2020. Peter Usborne, himself, was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2011 New Year Honours, for services to the publishing industry, and a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 2022 New Year Honours, for services to literature. Peter Usborne also co-founded a charity, <a href="https://www.usbornefoundation.org.uk/">The Usborne Foundation</a>. </p>
<p>Controversially, Usborne made use of technology in children's books early on, incorporating interactive elements, pop-ups, and sound effects into books to enhance the reading experience for children. Usborne Publishing also embraced the multi-level marketing phenomenon of the 1990s and distributed books via the “Usborne Books At Home” and “Usborne Books and More” Direct Sales and MLM schemes. </p>
<p>Peter Usborne is survived by his wife, Wendy, children Nicola (who is the current Managing Director of Usborne Books) and Martin, and five grandchildren.</p>
Elle Carter Nealhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02266309723919011181noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-3988867420491166362023-03-30T03:34:00.006-06:002023-03-30T03:34:00.202-06:00HistMyst not to be missed<p>Looking for a good historical mystery to settle into? You might want to check out the finalists and winner of the Left Coast Crime Convention's Lefty Award for best historical mystery. The Leftys are nominated by and voted on by conference attendees—that is, by mystery readers and writers. First, here are the finalists and a little about them:</p><p><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Brides-Marriage-Countess-Harleigh-Mystery/dp/1496731611/" target="_blank">A Bride’s Guide to Marriage and Murder</a> (5th in the Countess of Harleigh mystery series) by <a href="https://difreeman.com/books/" target="_blank">Dianne Freeman</a>: "The Agatha Award-winning Countess of Harleigh Mysteries are a witty romp through the high society of Victorian England with a touch of romance, an appealing and independent female lead, and rich historical detail. In this charming fifth installment, Frances Wynn, the American-born Countess of Harleigh, finds her wedding day overshadowed by murder . . ."</p><p><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Place-Fear-Catriona-McPherson/dp/1529337976/" target="_blank">In Place of Fear</a> (standalone) by <a href="http://catrionamcpherson.com/" target="_blank">Catriona McPherson</a>: "Edinburgh 1948. It’s the first day of the new National Health Service and wee Nelly Crowther fae Freer Street, wearing a Sunday hat on a Monday morning, is ready to take on the world. Is she ready to solve a murder too?
The war is won. Now for the peace . . ."</p><p><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Under-Veiled-Inspector-Corravan-Mystery/dp/1639101195" target="_blank">Under a Veiled Moon</a> (2nd in the Inspector Corravan mystery series) by <a href="https://karenodden.com/" target="_blank">Karen Odden</a>: September 1878. One night, as the pleasure boat the Princess Alice makes her daily trip up the Thames, she collides with the Bywell Castle, a huge iron-hulled collier. The Princess Alice shears apart, throwing all 600 passengers into the river; only 130 survive. It is the worst maritime disaster London has ever seen, and early clues point to sabotage by the Irish Republican Brotherhood, who believe violence is the path to restoring Irish Home Rule.
For Scotland Yard Inspector Michael Corravan, born in Ireland and adopted by the Irish Doyle family, the case presents a challenge. . ."</p><p><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Secret-Wall-Novel-Silver-Mysteries/dp/1464214948/" target="_blank">The Secret in the Wall</a> (8th in the Silver Rush mystery series) by <a href="https://annparker.net/" target="_blank">Ann Parker</a> (<i>yes, that's me</i>): "When a skeleton tumbles from the wall of her latest business investment, music store owner Inez Stannert is determined to unearth a secret that someone has already killed to keep buried."</p><p><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Framed-Fire-Lane-Winslow-Mystery/dp/1771513802/" target="_blank">Framed in Fire</a> (9th in the Lane Winslow mystery series) by <a href="https://ionawhishaw.ca/" target="_blank">Iona Whishaw</a>: It’s early spring 1948 and Lane [Winslow] arrives in New Denver to find that her friend, Peter Barisoff, is not at home. Instead, in a nearby meadow, she encounters Tom, an Indigenous man in search of his ancestral lands. Lane is intrigued. Unfortunately, once Peter returns home, the day takes a gloomy turn when the trio uncovers human remains next to Peter’s garden, and Lane must tell her husband, Inspector Darling, that she’s inadvertently stumbled into his professional domain—again.</p><p>--------------------</p><p><b><i><span style="color: #800180;">Annnnd now (drum roll, please...)</span></i></b></p><p><b><i><span style="color: #800180;">THE WINNER!</span></i></b></p><p><b><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Anywhere-You-Run-Wanda-Morris/dp/0063082500/" target="_blank">Anywhere You Run</a> by <a href="https://wandamorriswrites.com/" target="_blank">Wanda M. Morris</a></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmm3VEeXPoqwBK85jTDMc6zmt-LKqCyHL1u5URQVyRljYs8XBQ8AaOz4hloNdlE5EGpwhxyrt6XeXIoiQE-SyE7rN2qJUxQrZ-4ol0Z5AfeGLPW6imWc6Hzv6SLfzVrcp2koznQsUlKQ1d9L_cahIqm98_Bg26o4S53Yj6twhkW6t8Xzw133vFKz4V/s500/AnywhereYouRun.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="332" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmm3VEeXPoqwBK85jTDMc6zmt-LKqCyHL1u5URQVyRljYs8XBQ8AaOz4hloNdlE5EGpwhxyrt6XeXIoiQE-SyE7rN2qJUxQrZ-4ol0Z5AfeGLPW6imWc6Hzv6SLfzVrcp2koznQsUlKQ1d9L_cahIqm98_Bg26o4S53Yj6twhkW6t8Xzw133vFKz4V/s320/AnywhereYouRun.jpg" width="212" /></a></div><p>It’s the summer of 1964 and three innocent men are brutally murdered for trying to help Black Mississippians secure the right to vote. Against this backdrop, twenty-one year old Violet Richards finds herself in more trouble than she’s ever been in her life. Suffering a brutal attack of her own, she kills the man responsible. But with the color of Violet’s skin, there is no way she can escape Jim Crow justice in Jackson, Mississippi. Before anyone can find the body or finger her as the killer, she decides to run.... Back in Jackson, Marigold, Violet’s older sister, has dreams of attending law school. Working for the Mississippi Summer Project, she has been trying to use her smarts to further the cause of the Black vote. But Marigold is in a different kind of trouble: she’s pregnant and unmarried. After news of the murder brings the police to her door, Marigold sees no choice but to flee Jackson too....Two sisters on the run—one from the law, the other from social shame. What they don’t realize is that there’s a man hot on their trail. This man has his own brand of dark secrets and a disturbing motive for finding the sisters that is unknown to everyone but him.</p><p>--------------------</p><p>Hey, you can't go wrong with any of these books. And if historical mysteries aren't your cuppa tea, check out the winners and finalists of the other Lefty Award categories <a href="https://www.mysteryscenemag.com/blog-article/7621-left-coast-crime-2023-lefty-award-nominees" target="_blank">right here</a>. You're sure to find a book or two or more to add to your TBR pile!</p><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMAx1doQi_g3zPilslUk9V8d8OalL5CJ8PZGyjuFSsTcGyC9AX5LnI4zpYahZykNGfxgD6llH2ddtYAF0SKHnmo6qP9fTf-T1MonpUOSRAJXLIhWZ-_K4x79JHg63KocKQqeHOPyjGLo0/s1600/Ann-Parker-m.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="935" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMAx1doQi_g3zPilslUk9V8d8OalL5CJ8PZGyjuFSsTcGyC9AX5LnI4zpYahZykNGfxgD6llH2ddtYAF0SKHnmo6qP9fTf-T1MonpUOSRAJXLIhWZ-_K4x79JHg63KocKQqeHOPyjGLo0/s320/Ann-Parker-m.jpg" width="308" /></a></td></tr><tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Ann Parker</b> authors the award-winning <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Ann-Parker/e/B001K8BDA2/" target="_blank">Silver Rush historical mystery series</a> published by Poisoned Pen Press, an imprint of Sourcebooks. During the day, she wrangles words for a living as a science editor/writer and marketing communications specialist (which is basically a fancy term for "editor/writer"). Her midnight hours are devoted to scribbling fiction. Visit <a href="http://annparker.net/" target="_blank">AnnParker.net</a> for more information.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p><br /></p><p></p><p><br /></p>Ann Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06348291444414701054noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-73680577760479306092023-03-28T05:11:00.001-06:002023-03-28T06:01:04.912-06:00Writing the Truth<p><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">In a recent episode of <b><a href="https://www.npr.org/programs/fresh-air/2023/03/11/1162548117/fresh-air-for-march-11-2023-novelist-thomas-mallon-life-and-death-in-the-er?showDate=2023-03-11">Fresh Air Weekend,</a></b> there was an interview
with author <b><a href="https://www.thomasmallon.com/">Thomas Mallon,</a></b> renowned essayist and historical fiction novelist.
It was a most fascinating interview, focused on highlights of his career, an
article in The New Yorker Magazine, and the recent release of his novel </span><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Up-Sun-novel-Thomas-Mallon-ebook/dp/B09ZSSKL4T/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1QBZGINGVH7EF&keywords=up+with+the+sun+thomas+mallon&qid=1679089583&sprefix=up+with+the%2Caps%2C123&sr=8-1"><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><b style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><i>Up
With The Sun</i></b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">. </span></span></a> A story about Dick Kallman, who was an up-and-coming actor in the fifties and sixties, a closeted gay man for much of his life. Kallman had faded into obscurity until his murder in 1980.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAFMk7EB_5sYIuf1hKzMosOOvPHv1k2wRWKmNjc8FwsTMCCbeninXtog2G9RuuVuezCce4plPRyBxxLB6pIh-Fx5AuOIkSgo9PtRVV1xS98_p7verdG3SDdctkvK7bUTTXnAxU8zNCjg2SbW__yGC3eRMw9mT3xFXDZb5kQ7NZxkb4BAubRKEKFS_m/s2850/Up-With-the-Sun-cover.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2850" data-original-width="1913" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAFMk7EB_5sYIuf1hKzMosOOvPHv1k2wRWKmNjc8FwsTMCCbeninXtog2G9RuuVuezCce4plPRyBxxLB6pIh-Fx5AuOIkSgo9PtRVV1xS98_p7verdG3SDdctkvK7bUTTXnAxU8zNCjg2SbW__yGC3eRMw9mT3xFXDZb5kQ7NZxkb4BAubRKEKFS_m/s320/Up-With-the-Sun-cover.jpeg" width="215" /></a></div><br /><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Here's what Booklist said about <b><i>Up With the Sun,</i></b> </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">"Another superb novelization of real life . . . Fluidly written with well-realized characters, the novel is great gossipy fun to read. Film and theater buffs will be delighted."</span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">In response to the
question of whether the characters he creates have to be real people who interacted with historical figures; or whether what he puts into the mouths of historical
figures is credible, he said that the reader should always remember “this is
fiction first and historical second.”</span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">So, yes. He makes up people and he makes up dialogue.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Mallon’s answer stuck with me after the interview ended,
and I realized that’s a truth that many of us who are writing stories based on
real life need to keep uppermost in our minds as we sift through our realities
and figure out how to craft a novel from past experiences; either our own or
people we know. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Currently,
I’m working with a client who is writing a novel based on some experiences she
had during the 80s as a young adult, and the first read-through of her ms
raised the suspicion that she’s attempting to closely adhere to things that really happened. Perhaps even keeping much of the dialogue the same as what people said.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">My
client is having a hard time stepping away from that inclination. Her book so
far is a mix of memoir, fiction, and autobiography that is struggling to find
it’s way to becoming a novel.</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">That’s
pretty much where I was when I was writing <a href="https://books2read.com/u/b6Mrdx"><b><i>Evelyn Evolving</i></b>.</a>
I remember how hard it was for me to step away from the actual facts and
circumstances of my mother’s life when I was writing the book and figure out
what to do with what I knew, and what I didn’t know, about events that shaped
her. If it hadn't been for the assistance of Kathryn Craft, a former
contributor to this blog, and a terrific developmental editor, I’m not sure I would’ve
been able to sort the mess out.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Sometimes
even editors need editors. </span><span face=""Segoe UI Emoji",sans-serif" style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-char-type: symbol-ext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-ligatures: none; mso-symbol-font-family: "Segoe UI Emoji";">😊</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Segoe UI Emoji"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">To
clarify Mallon’s comment about the balance of fiction and fact, </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">I’m
sure he didn’t mean that in writing any kind of historical fiction we shouldn’t
be true to what is historically accurate. Well-documented situations and things
that happened in reality should always be factually correct when we include
them in our books, and careful research is so important for that accuracy.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Mell
also shared how he approaches the dialogue in his novels, especially words he
wants to give a real person. He related how he gets glimpses of a person's
personality from interviews and letters, or other historical documents, then comes
up with dialogue that he thinks fits, paraphrasing much of it unless he can
find a direct quote.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Using
that same approach to discerning a personality, then imagining how that person
would speak, the dialogue we write in historical novels can be close to what
the person might have said at that time, at that place, but it doesn't have to
be exact wordage.</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Late
in the interview, Mallon said, “fiction trumps history.” With that, he came
full circle back to his earlier comment that readers should always remember
that historical novels are fiction. While the books are based on some true
historical facts and situations, much of what is between the pages of the book
is a story that was created by the author. A novel is much different than a
history book.</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">It’s
up to us as authors, to make sure we give the readers the best creation we can.</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Readers and writers, do you
have any suggestions to add to this? What are some of your favorite historical
novels?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="background-color: white; border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; color: black; font-family: Lora, serif; font-size: 18px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="padding: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCnSbQM-LE-SKzs8ZCMdWYirOY0b3wBmSt2oyfYMrXliFL5_0XpSYHLoeXXZRDqsR8vRH7eBK45IDfgMT6lfHdQJDFIDkHUqgrmXsrxL8qrVxLBaglKD4sqDu5Uhnpf2cou7EvVgemg_E/s1600/New+headshot.jpg" style="background: transparent; color: #bf9000; cursor: pointer; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; outline: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" height="262" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCnSbQM-LE-SKzs8ZCMdWYirOY0b3wBmSt2oyfYMrXliFL5_0XpSYHLoeXXZRDqsR8vRH7eBK45IDfgMT6lfHdQJDFIDkHUqgrmXsrxL8qrVxLBaglKD4sqDu5Uhnpf2cou7EvVgemg_E/w227-h262/New+headshot.jpg" style="background: none 0% 0% repeat scroll transparent; border: none; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1) 0px 0px 0px; height: auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; position: relative;" width="227" /></a></td></tr><tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption" style="padding: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.maryannwrites.com/" style="background: transparent; color: #5c010f; cursor: pointer; text-decoration-line: none;">Maryann Miller</a></b><span style="text-align: center;"> is a novelist, editor, and sometimes an actress. She has written a number of mysteries, including the critically-acclaimed Seasons Mystery Series that debuted with </span><i style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.draft2digital.com/book/68045" style="background: transparent; color: #5c010f; cursor: pointer; text-decoration-line: none;"><b>Open Season</b></a></i><span style="text-align: center;">. Information about her books and her editing rates is available on her </span><a href="http://maryannwrites.com/" style="background: transparent; color: #5c010f; cursor: pointer; text-align: center; text-decoration-line: none;"><b>website.</b></a><span style="text-align: center;"> When not writing, Maryann likes to take her dog for a walk, work jigsaw puzzles, color, and quilt.<br /><br /></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> </span></p>Maryannwriteshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09479027709233807149noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-89214098249015044472023-03-23T03:53:00.002-06:002023-04-13T05:02:53.332-06:00Are We Being Watched?<p></p><div style="text-align: left;"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Message Header"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Salutation"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Date"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text First Indent"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text First Indent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Block Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Hyperlink"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="FollowedHyperlink"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Document Map"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Plain Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="E-mail Signature"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Top of Form"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Bottom of Form"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal (Web)"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Acronym"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Address"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Cite"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Code"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Definition"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Keyboard"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Preformatted"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Sample"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Typewriter"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Variable"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal Table"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="annotation subject"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="No List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Contemporary"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Elegant"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Professional"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Subtle 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Subtle 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Balloon Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Theme"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" QFormat="true"
Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" QFormat="true"
Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" QFormat="true"
Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="41" Name="Plain Table 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="42" Name="Plain Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="43" Name="Plain Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="44" Name="Plain Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="45" Name="Plain Table 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="40" Name="Grid Table Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46" Name="Grid Table 1 Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51" Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52" Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46" Name="List Table 1 Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51" Name="List Table 6 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52" Name="List Table 7 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 3"/>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;">I’ve always been a
bit paranoid that voice activated systems like Alexa are listening to the
conversations going on in your house. And do you know what? </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;">They are.</p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 40px; text-align: left; text-indent: 0in;"><img border="0" data-original-height="168" data-original-width="300" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_y25-fqdtNYJug02Hc2q-Eup8lJtMPJMrt6NrFC0z6v4m3K6AM_JZ_qLaMA9HZA1C2l2KeZF7t5QBQiKewrjIOn0XFIlb9jrUQv2ljhKnha_rAdvD6NgG3vMd_hhhReqVPzuAXfUm3WNDVCe3BdfqGUSb_CuiYCgPO21oBw6btoFWoFNPwHNTIqFI4Q/s1600/Alexa.jpg" width="300" /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0in;"> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0in;"> Someone related
an episode where the person used a cuss word, and Alexa butted into the
conversation to ask if her mother knew she had a potty mouth. I’m not sure
whether that anecdote is apocryphal or if it actually happened, but part of me
believes it could happen. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0in;"> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0in;">My son had his house totally connected to Alexa:
doors locked, lights full blast or dimmed, (I couldn’t get enough light to read
unless I told Alexa to pump the bulb up to 100%.), TV on or off or station
designated, music choices requested (Norah Jones put one granddaughter to
sleep.), or to get the weather forecast. All commands were met with the same Alexa
voice. Sorry, creepy. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0in;"> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0in;">Then, of course, there’s Siri. If you own an iPhone, you
get her. I assume because of their names and/or voice, they’re both female. The
only thing I’ve used Siri for is to find out what group sings a specific song,
and that’s just to satisfy my curiosity. I’ve never used Google Assistant, but
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;">Now we have the
large tech companies – Google, Meta/Facebook, Microsoft, and a slew of smaller
companies – in a race to introduce new artificial intelligence systems called
chatbots, that you can have conversations with and that are more sophisticated
than Siri or Alexa. <br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;">Just as automated
grocery checkouts are replacing humans – my local Walmart Neighborhood Grocery
Store has only self-serve checkouts most of the time – automated chatbots are
replacing or will replace phone customer service representatives. The <span class="hgkelc"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">chatbot with the
highest accuracy of any customer service chatbot is called <b>Netomi</b>, and
that’s due to its advanced Natural Language Understanding (NLU) engine. It can
automatically resolve over 70% of customer queries without human intervention
and focuses holistically on AI customer experience.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC2-tHpdDKbRp5wre_NqIMRh0_pndI1DqYYE4gFmlllbNUULk_eYxu7k5THn8iC62CZyqwLNUS6HqZS42-emSS9Rfjf8t259JByWLRKPLp9OwU_k-CCHeJNRENiYcsNyCG1-ddblL-HDfgHO5qESpPjd4bAAMsx8FCkTqybZ4AvkxzR92rzZvWXS3oRg/s299/Leslie%20Stahl.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="168" data-original-width="299" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC2-tHpdDKbRp5wre_NqIMRh0_pndI1DqYYE4gFmlllbNUULk_eYxu7k5THn8iC62CZyqwLNUS6HqZS42-emSS9Rfjf8t259JByWLRKPLp9OwU_k-CCHeJNRENiYcsNyCG1-ddblL-HDfgHO5qESpPjd4bAAMsx8FCkTqybZ4AvkxzR92rzZvWXS3oRg/w324-h182/Leslie%20Stahl.jpg" width="324" /></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;">On March 5<sup>th,</sup>
CBS’s news magazine show, 60 Minutes, produced a segment on Artificial
Intelligence. I have to admit the program, guided by Leslie Stahl, scared me,
but that’s because Microsoft’s AI search engine and chatbot, Bing, introduced on
February 7, 2023, initially got rave reviews but developed an unusual side
effect: an alter ego called Sydney. As Leslie Stahl explained, the chatbot had
gone rogue. <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Sydney threatened to
steal nuclear codes and get revenge on some unnamed person. If this sounds like
some weird Sci-fi movie or novel, it just might be. There have been a number of
films where AI takes over, The Matrix, 2001: A Space Odyssey, and so many others
that they have become a genre of its own. <br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">The more Ms. Stahl researched the
chatbot, the more she discovered that many of the answers given by chatbots weren’t factual.
The bots made things up, which could be perfect for anyone in charge of this new
world feature who wants to spread lies and conspiracies. We've already experienced some of that firsthand, to devastating effects. We certainly don't need more of it. <br /></span></p>
<h4 class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-weight: normal;">Ms. Stahl questioned Brad Smith,
president of Microsoft, about Bing and Sydney, about whether his company had
introduced the chatbot too soon, before all the bugs were out. He insisted they’d
fixed all the problems. Sorry, but in a race for the first and biggest $$$hare of
the market, I don’t believe a word of what he said. He made sure that people
understood that they’re talking to a machine.</span></h4><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Exactly. <br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Will some people use Chatbots to write novels? <br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;"><i>"Greg Bensinger at Reuters
counted over 200 e-books in Amazon’s Kindle store that listed ChatGPT as author
or co-author, which isn’t counting the books that were created using the
software without acknowledgement.”</i> (Literary Hub – February 22, 2023.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"> <br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;">This is the tip
of the iceberg. <a href="https://bloodredpencil.blogspot.com/p/if-you-didnt-become-writer-to-spend.html" target="_blank">It might be the biggest thing since computers</a>, or it might be
the beginning of the most terrifying race to the bottom we can imagine. <br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;">If you want to
watch the whole 60 segment, here is the link:https://www.cbsnews.com/news/chatgpt-artificial-intelligence-chatbots-60-minutes-2023-03-05/</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">AI might not be able to write your novel, but it can save you time by <a href="https://bloodredpencil.blogspot.com/p/if-you-didnt-become-writer-to-spend.html" target="_blank">creating your book promotion funnel for you</a>. </span></p> <br /><p></p>Polly Iyerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05729656119287702191noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-32065873525062358252023-03-21T03:39:00.003-06:002023-03-21T06:10:22.347-06:00Tasman by Paddy Eger: A Novel That Appeals to Adults of All Ages<p><span>The year is 1850. Accused of a crime he didn’t commit,
sixteen-year-old Ean McCloud faces a daunting three-year sentence at Tasmania’s
infamous Port Arthur Penal Colony. According to a Google source, some 1100
prisoners died there during the 50 years the notorious penitentiary served as one of the harshest in Australia.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq-vXNlXt79Mo7TWbLEP3J0HA-TM6HjDpx0u_TVnUrMcJKdjADnLOMaH5BnZhva-YLHo4JW63v42ahnLJ-JeWQOdfY0PKUH30h9_GPfdQkMPZbhNAcnD3seRWU0_HN0eNPSbXbijSIdEKmlPTljvzUwsyGTia61tERa3YRwPTVEF8-g0vQjQH8SD5g/s300/Paddy%20Eger.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="300" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq-vXNlXt79Mo7TWbLEP3J0HA-TM6HjDpx0u_TVnUrMcJKdjADnLOMaH5BnZhva-YLHo4JW63v42ahnLJ-JeWQOdfY0PKUH30h9_GPfdQkMPZbhNAcnD3seRWU0_HN0eNPSbXbijSIdEKmlPTljvzUwsyGTia61tERa3YRwPTVEF8-g0vQjQH8SD5g/w200-h200/Paddy%20Eger.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><span><div><span>Why do I mention the history of this infamous prison? It's important to the understanding of <b><a href="https://bloodredpencil.blogspot.com/2018/10/using-facts-in-fiction.html" target="_blank">Paddy Eger</a></b>'s incredible novel. Historically, the details of her story are accurate in even the minute details. While the characters are fictitious, the locale is real. The "feel" of the area is real. The brutal treatment of the inmates is real. How did she know? She traveled to Tasmania, walked the Port Arthur grounds, and visited the actual prison. After returning home, she was so touched and inspired by what she had seen that she did extensive research on the area and wrote a poem about her feelings. Realizing that wasn't enough to convey her experience, she penned a short story. When a friend told her she should write a book, that was all the encouragement she needed to create the engaging novel she called <i>T</i></span><i>asman</i><span>.</span></div></span><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoIG9WRMIym0AWuFOw0B083kkn71hWrTygKeCrgtGTXzRYPGUK4aqN8Y_ddXNe60FS_gTsk5yLdtKcxKbi2epDEWbND1Su_XpmLqy01hFGWhhmisq0P9PuSec63CRB5jmr2sTItgMSleqrYxSRlsctd99tCIZw5EQlRH3Q6QBSGG4AFnfWerFuQ1VO/s2110/Tasman_cover-1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2110" data-original-width="1492" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoIG9WRMIym0AWuFOw0B083kkn71hWrTygKeCrgtGTXzRYPGUK4aqN8Y_ddXNe60FS_gTsk5yLdtKcxKbi2epDEWbND1Su_XpmLqy01hFGWhhmisq0P9PuSec63CRB5jmr2sTItgMSleqrYxSRlsctd99tCIZw5EQlRH3Q6QBSGG4AFnfWerFuQ1VO/w226-h320/Tasman_cover-1.jpg" width="226" /></a></div><div></div><p></p><p>Young Ean McCloud was arrested for a crime he did not commit. Accused by someone who wanted him out of the way, he also paid a price for being born Irish. Remember that Ireland's potato famine began in 1845 and didn't officially end until 1852. During those years when some 1,000,000 Irish men, women, and children starved to death, between 1,000,000 and 2,000,000 fled the country to avoid the same fate. Despite the desperate circumstances of those who stayed, the English offered very little relief to the poor tenant farmers who relied on potatoes to feed them and their families during the cold winters. Furthermore, years of conflict between the two countries had made those of Irish descent unwelcome residents in England. To say that Ean McCloud was a victim of circumstances is indeed an understatement.</p><p><span><span>Sent to Tasmania on a prison ship after being found guilty in a London court, he was treated as an adult criminal despite his youth and innocence. </span><i>Tasman</i><span> chronicles his time there, the people and situations that threatened to destroy his last thread of hope, the ultimate death sentence, and the surprising support that materialized from an unexpected source. </span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgatZhhxex324_W8LTTso0N6LtNcpnT6s6huhKpwpEN2bqeg_BSxQFl7GDVEYNm9yapKHnPum4SY_IorcRjxO9nBjmjBHzP6R8wxJ_4xkFBUl8a_-3wfrOJ44l53KgVO8PcL0z8UFNblZ-mXXHcdVqhW92mRy6Bq7Er8lPM3QWTuQTyVnspAoMCjZ-s/s1280/port-arthur-prison.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="853" data-original-width="1280" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgatZhhxex324_W8LTTso0N6LtNcpnT6s6huhKpwpEN2bqeg_BSxQFl7GDVEYNm9yapKHnPum4SY_IorcRjxO9nBjmjBHzP6R8wxJ_4xkFBUl8a_-3wfrOJ44l53KgVO8PcL0z8UFNblZ-mXXHcdVqhW92mRy6Bq7Er8lPM3QWTuQTyVnspAoMCjZ-s/w320-h213/port-arthur-prison.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span>This is a fabulous story, a powerful page turner that is difficult to put down. I strongly recommend it as a must-read for all lovers of historical fiction—and many others, as well.</span></p>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4DBOlZE38H2q4uGkg4KTH3o9QRIAAGPXCwzBuJjtffTo0h8_fxNaQq9NJj3kVPDM25FAi8JAQPf0b0XUnwu0OKE1awbyBpnb5HAut1cwJjPkR5Ll2P10TPGIIIX_aYJkRBykn3mCO3RU/s1600/Linda-Lane.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="608" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4DBOlZE38H2q4uGkg4KTH3o9QRIAAGPXCwzBuJjtffTo0h8_fxNaQq9NJj3kVPDM25FAi8JAQPf0b0XUnwu0OKE1awbyBpnb5HAut1cwJjPkR5Ll2P10TPGIIIX_aYJkRBykn3mCO3RU/w202-h320/Linda-Lane.jpg" width="202" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />Editor <b>Linda Lane</b> has returned to her first love—writing—while still doing some editing. Her character-driven novels, although somewhat literary in nature, remind the reader of genre fiction because of their quick pace. They also contain elements of romance, mystery, and thrillers. You can contact her through her website: <a href="http://lslanebooks.com/">LSLaneBooks.com</a> </span></td></tr>
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Linda Lanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16056682992943171805noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-54338919919637106512023-03-16T03:47:00.003-06:002023-03-16T03:47:00.193-06:00Can you keep a SECRET?? (Book awards and giveaways)<p>Okay, the only <i>secret</i> I'm talking about here is in the title of the eighth book in my Silver Rush series, THE SECRET IN THE WALL. So please feel free to share the news!</p><p>First, it has been showing up on a number of awards lists (all of which warm the cockles of my little writerly heart):</p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><b>Winner</b> of the <a href="https://westernwriters.org/2023/03/wwa-announces-2023-spur-awards/" target="_blank">Western Writers of America Spur Award</a> for Best Traditional Novel (awards will be presented on June 24, at the WWA convention in Rapid City, South Dakota)</li><li><b>Finalist</b> for the <a href="https://www.forewordreviews.com/awards/finalists/2022/mystery/" target="_blank">Foreword INDIES Award for Mystery</a> (winners will be announced online June 15)</li><li><b>Nominee</b> for Left Coast Crime's <a href="https://leftcoastcrime.org/2023/Awards.html" target="_blank">Lefty Award</a> for Best Historical Mystery (attendees vote at the conference, and winners are announced at the banquet on March 18)</li></ul><p></p><p>Second, you certainly have a chance to win (and keep!) a copy of SECRET by entering a Goodreads giveaway contest (sponsored by my publisher, Poisoned Pen Press / Sourcebooks), which runs through March 25. Just <a href="https://srcbks.com/3Lkr2QP" target="_blank">go here</a>, click on the "Enter Giveaway" button, and fill out the little form.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ-lzvou5DyShItrVX5YfMz_T2Sff8u9uPWyJ0-0aLwINtsz_XrprrEx-81tsb8Pmt4HlMXmwllFUVpNDuvhoCdOl71lCE_-dWmqisCh8E5JfH7FayGO6XIUcugSRxxs69O4vUTWvf8xab_gDduGHxsnqsIppTLu98aUAC3hedwGHELNzlXQxztHBv/s1080/Secret%20in%20the%20Wall_GoodReads.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ-lzvou5DyShItrVX5YfMz_T2Sff8u9uPWyJ0-0aLwINtsz_XrprrEx-81tsb8Pmt4HlMXmwllFUVpNDuvhoCdOl71lCE_-dWmqisCh8E5JfH7FayGO6XIUcugSRxxs69O4vUTWvf8xab_gDduGHxsnqsIppTLu98aUAC3hedwGHELNzlXQxztHBv/s320/Secret%20in%20the%20Wall_GoodReads.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>So much good news, I'm a tad overwhelmed... I guess I'll celebrate by taking a few minutes to jump up and down, yelling "Whoo-HOO!" and then continue packing for Left Coast Crime...</p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMAx1doQi_g3zPilslUk9V8d8OalL5CJ8PZGyjuFSsTcGyC9AX5LnI4zpYahZykNGfxgD6llH2ddtYAF0SKHnmo6qP9fTf-T1MonpUOSRAJXLIhWZ-_K4x79JHg63KocKQqeHOPyjGLo0/s1600/Ann-Parker-m.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="935" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMAx1doQi_g3zPilslUk9V8d8OalL5CJ8PZGyjuFSsTcGyC9AX5LnI4zpYahZykNGfxgD6llH2ddtYAF0SKHnmo6qP9fTf-T1MonpUOSRAJXLIhWZ-_K4x79JHg63KocKQqeHOPyjGLo0/s320/Ann-Parker-m.jpg" width="308" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Ann Parker</b> authors the award-winning <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Ann-Parker/e/B001K8BDA2/" target="_blank">Silver Rush historical mystery series</a> published by Poisoned Pen Press, an imprint of Sourcebooks. During the day, she wrangles words for a living as a science editor/writer and marketing communications specialist (which is basically a fancy term for "editor/writer"). Her midnight hours are devoted to scribbling fiction. Visit <a href="http://annparker.net/" target="_blank">AnnParker.net</a> for more information.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><p></p><p><br /></p>Ann Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06348291444414701054noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-64525403363845589972023-03-14T02:22:00.002-06:002023-04-13T05:04:57.252-06:00Book Marketing: Beating the Algorithm<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivfisuhos9PqnSD9oqmEqri2aoTxyqPWugSjWI5gVXY2R2OpnLHc0WnEyqqjh2tEKTgLhBtZrgRVkhN6Br79LjMNdPYlT6kOeVOi7VUpTufbxNtXfMh8RliYxJNYKTnUQv_fVCjOXfn7JpaDTBATShQz-BNa-vIo0feGB6r7Txw3AkC2lbgeWNbk2I/s1500/2023%2003%20BRP%20Algorithm%20post.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1050" data-original-width="1500" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivfisuhos9PqnSD9oqmEqri2aoTxyqPWugSjWI5gVXY2R2OpnLHc0WnEyqqjh2tEKTgLhBtZrgRVkhN6Br79LjMNdPYlT6kOeVOi7VUpTufbxNtXfMh8RliYxJNYKTnUQv_fVCjOXfn7JpaDTBATShQz-BNa-vIo0feGB6r7Txw3AkC2lbgeWNbk2I/s320/2023%2003%20BRP%20Algorithm%20post.png" width="320" /></a></div>I am a bit embarrassed that I am just now learning this important information, but better late than never, eh?<p></p><p>The average social media user has developed a plethora of connection from friends, to groups, to information sites they follow. What this means is that your feed cannot possibly feed all of it to you everyday. There simply isn't room. Imagine your feed is a ten-page magazine. Algorithms have to decide what portion of the massive amount of information you see will appear on those ten pages.</p><p>What you like, share, and comment on gets moved up the priority list. That's why a cat meme will be seen by your followers and friends rather than the exciting news about your new release.</p><p>The algorithm looks at the source of the content. Do you normally interact with them? Did you select "see all posts" from that source? Do you regularly comment and like their content? Many friends fall by the wayside when there is no interaction from you. So likes and comments are critical if you wish to continue to see your friends' content. </p><p>What kind of post do you interact with most? Do you "heart" cat pictures, cute animal videos, entertainment news clips, scandals, politics, or your favorite author's book news? Facebook is now asking, "Do you want to see more posts like this?"</p><p>Do you spend time liking or commenting on people's posts? It is a simple thing you can do to help your favorite authors and content creators get more traction. A simple heart, smiley face, or thumbs up will do. Shares help as well.</p><p>The other important factor is that social media platforms like Facebook want users to stay on Facebook. So an out link to an article, blog post, Amazon, etc., gets less love than a link to something on your Facebook product page or another user's feed. Facebook is also cramming "suggested" posts into your ten-pages. Highly annoying, but based on the type of content you normally devour theory.</p><p>One thing we are experimenting with is to put the actual link to a blog post, book link, or other outline in the comment section rather than the post itself.</p><p>Write an intro stating what the post is about. Seduce the reader into wanting to know more. Post a picture with it. When users are scrolling, their eye is caught by an image before text. Then put your link into the comments. The comments travel with the post if people share it. You can also add the link to the image itself. That means creating an image which most computers have an app for. It is easy to learn.</p><p>When I see posts about books, I want to see the cover. You can also post images of characters, settings, or some interesting trivia from the book. In the text, you should always include the title, the genre, and a brief description. Even if the cover suggests genre, it doesn't replace the brief description. All the superlatives in the world don't really matter. Even if Stephen King or JK Rowling has called it the best new novel of the year. The description is so often left out of promotional posts. It may be a genre I like, but the description (character + setting + central problem) determines whether I will investigate further. I might not be in love with the genre but I may be intrigued by the setting.</p><p>I do look at <a href="https://bloodredpencil.blogspot.com/p/if-you-didnt-become-writer-to-spend.html" target="_blank">book ads</a>, book suggestions from friends, and my social media connections book news. I have discovered so many wonderful indie writers this way. I buy books based on suggestions often.</p><p>If your post is a link to your blog or website, use the same technique. Tell the reader what they have to gain by looking at your blog. As users scroll through their ten-page feed, an image or meme captures more attention than words alone even for blog posts.</p><p>Nothing turns a reader off more than a nothingburger of a post. I can't tell you how often I visit a post only to find they never cover the actual lead in. That is an instant block. So don't do it. Make the visit worth their attention.</p><p>Another important tip: if you have your privacy settings set on friends or friends of friends, it limits who can see your posts. You can individually change the privacy settings for each post. So if you wish the news about your book or blog to reach a wider audience, I recommend changing the privacy setting for that post to "everyone." That does not give users access to your other private posts. Just that one.</p><p>Hopefully this has added to your understanding of the algorithm meat grinder. If you have additional tips or experiences, please drop them in the comments.</p><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 6px; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td data-blogger-escaped-style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid_D_U7aFh8dOxU6T2E3WU1Qz9qdbhWVE4m3ifElGqoryICM7mv97GIFida7Iuk5kRAgotl6Gnv3-TNlj_2haiGo7aXzGZo5z-iIzINds3_Ym0PKg9_HkDL9J6DYiaQqHWR5FQwPEToQU/s1600/Diana-Hurwitz-photo.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "georgia";"><img border="0" data-blogger-escaped-data-original-height="519" data-blogger-escaped-data-original-width="380" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid_D_U7aFh8dOxU6T2E3WU1Qz9qdbhWVE4m3ifElGqoryICM7mv97GIFida7Iuk5kRAgotl6Gnv3-TNlj_2haiGo7aXzGZo5z-iIzINds3_Ym0PKg9_HkDL9J6DYiaQqHWR5FQwPEToQU/s320/Diana-Hurwitz-photo.jpg" width="234" /></span></a></div></td></tr><tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption" style="padding-top: 4px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Diana Hurwitz </b>is<b> </b>the<b> </b>author of <i>Story Building Blocks: <a data-blogger-escaped-target="_blank" href="https://www.amazon.com/Four-Layers-Conflict-Building-Blocks/dp/1546371958/r">The Four Layers of Conflict, </a>Story Building Blocks II: <a data-blogger-escaped-target="_blank" href="https://www.amazon.com/Story-Building-Blocks-II-Believable/dp/1470199998/">Crafting Believable Conflict</a>, Story Building Blocks III: <a data-blogger-escaped-target="_blank" href="https://www.amazon.com/Story-Building-Blocks-III-Revision/dp/1475011369/">The Revision Layers</a></i>, and the YA adventure series <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Mythikas-Island-Book-One-Diana-ebook/dp/B004KZPIUS/" target="_blank"><i>Mythikas Island</i>.</a> Her weekly blog, <a href="http://www.dianahurwitz.blogspot.com/">Game On: Crafting Believable Conflict</a> explores how characters behave and misbehave. Visit <a href="http://www.dianahurwitz.com/">DianaHurwitz.com</a> for more information and free writing tools. You can follow her on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/diana.hurwitz1">Facebook</a>.</span></div></div></div></td></tr></tbody></table>Diana Hurwitzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18216220574149672733noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-80371976740310677942023-03-09T02:25:00.010-07:002024-03-04T18:21:16.268-07:00Making classic novels more accessible for modern readers<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Nicest-Girl-School-Edited/dp/0992443873/utopianpress-20" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="345" data-original-width="220" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKNYdp-L2rdSc5QPq0-zFvtttq73Uusx5qyW0dPHXtxiwZn0dqjStjSONw7PQ6EzvBtA9XT_xfjR4x8oXhnfT8GicuJEaiez_uYDa_XHBLvVDXc4DxHbdYGtsMkGdvjPz2S3_Q0xR_n2NtwjC5apzbWuqKWHP9RPP0kFjXFoLlMxaUikWmQYXhHyct/w255-h400/nicest-frontcover220.jpg" width="255" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p>I had never heard of Angela Brazil before I went looking for more “school stories” for my children, who were hooked on Enid Blyton’s <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Blyton-Malory-Towers-Complete-Collection/dp/1444954792/utopianpress-20" target="_blank">Mallory Towers</a></i> series. It was the middle of the pandemic, and, with our library closed and funds a little tight to feed my bookworms’ ferocious appetites, I turned to books in the public domain through <a href="https://www.gutenberg.org/" target="_blank">Gutenberg</a>. I thoroughly enjoyed Brazil’s books, but I knew that my children, and their friends, would be tripped up by many of the antiquated words that even I had to look up.</p>
<p><b><i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Nicest-Girl-School-Edited/dp/0992443873/utopianpress-20" target="_blank">The Nicest Girl in the School</a></i></b> was originally published in 1910, and set perhaps just a year or two before that, which places it firmly in the Edwardian era. Girls such as the characters in this book would have enjoyed a society that was much more relaxed and exciting than the stricter Victorian era their parents experienced. The Women’s Suffrage Movement had just begun to gain traction after many decades of groundwork (though it would still be nearly a decade before the vote was allowed for women over thirty and nearly two decades before women and men had equal voting rights). New innovations such as the telephone and motor cars were about to become commonplace. The Great War was still several years away. </p>
<p>After noting a handful of reviews on Goodreads slating the main character of <i>The Nicest Girl</i> for being a “Mary-Sue”, I took a closer look at what readers were complaining about. As an experienced editor, I decided to edit and re-publish <i>The Nicest Girl</i> as I could see that this issue was simple to address to create a story that would resonate more with modern readers who were no longer looking for a “moral” tale. In fact, I'm almost certain that Angela Brazil herself was not keen on including the moralising that found its way into her book, but it was required of books written for children at the time, and so she had no choice if she wanted to be published. I sense this because of the patchy manner in which she added scenes of “correct” responses and behaviour.</p><p>The essence of the era in which The Nicest Girl was set is fully retained, and much of the advanced vocabulary, but I considered it worthwhile to improve the flow of the story and add subtle explanations or word changes to make it a little more understandable to readers of the 21st Century. Merely adding footnotes would make the text too clunky for young readers to follow. </p><p>Stories in the 19th and early 20th Century were deliberately slower-paced than later books that had to compete with movies and television. Given the relatively high cost of books, and without other forms of instant entertainment to distract them, readers expected to spend many days engrossed in a novel, the plot stretched out by a long-winded, meandering narrative. As I mentioned, I also subtly recharacterised the protagonist, who has been criticised in reviews for being too saint-like in her devotion to her cousin and her “mission”, and not a character who is easy to identify with. The clues to what Angela Brazil might really have wished for this character were already there in the text, and I gave her a more rounded personality by inserting some jealousy and envy on her part. I think it makes sense that a poorer, plainer girl might envy a wealthy, attractive one - but in the 1900s that would have been sinful to reveal so explicitly.</p>When editing older novels to remove offensive language or attitudes, there is a risk of sanitizing or “whitewashing” history. It's worth striking a balance between making the work accessible while still acknowledging the problematic elements of the original text – “lampshading” these, in effect, and perhaps calling them out instead of simply erasing them. In the edited version of <i>The Nicest Girl </i>that I published, I did choose to remove a reference to the n-word, because it had no purpose whatsoever and did not change the meaning of the passage it was in. Specifically, it was not used as a slur and it was not directed at a character of colour; it was simply a word in use at the time and I’m sure Angela Brazil would not have included it had she been alive and writing in our era. But I do make a note in the Afterword that she did use the word and, sure, readers can still judge her as racist on one word, if they see fit. But children do not need to be exposed to the word while reading an old book.<p>As for my own children, they love “their” edition of <b><i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Nicest-Girl-School-Edited/dp/0992443873/utopianpress-20" target="_blank">The Nicest Girl in the School</a></i></b> – I’ve read it aloud to them, and they’ve taken their copies and reread them several times. And they’re eagerly awaiting the next adventures of <b>The Nicest Girl</b>, which, since Angela Brazil didn’t write any more, I will adapt on her behalf. I’m bringing a fresh take on Angela Brazil’s stories to a new group of young readers, but her original works are still forever available, untouched and for free. Nothing lost, so much given. Much like the Grimm Brothers who collected fairy tales and repurposed them into printed books, and then Disney who further developed those stories into versions almost unrecognisable from the originals. It's a shame we've lost the names of the original storytellers of our fairy tales; at least now we have better records of our public domain works and can bring new life to those. With digital publishers, there's plenty of room for authors of every era to exist side-by-side. Older voices deserve to be heard, again, too.</p><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigwYqrh2nbfH8LkReHFaMF2YI2pX2ydvpeMIgNNAYV9QseDASePeTYhYkETXZBMneu0SaQHUxKT9eDMRMII82qt3yliZvS_fttI61ZOUY9-ZskRamF-isieHiaF3vaZKBPkzJMcLxeQJY/s1600/Elle-Carter-Neal-MIBA-AmandaMerylePhotography.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigwYqrh2nbfH8LkReHFaMF2YI2pX2ydvpeMIgNNAYV9QseDASePeTYhYkETXZBMneu0SaQHUxKT9eDMRMII82qt3yliZvS_fttI61ZOUY9-ZskRamF-isieHiaF3vaZKBPkzJMcLxeQJY/w266-h400/Elle-Carter-Neal-MIBA-AmandaMerylePhotography.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr><tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Elle Carter Neal</b> is the author of the middle grade fantasy <a href="https://ellecarterneal.com/draconian-rules/convoluted-key/" target="_blank"><i>The Convoluted Key</i></a> (first in the <i>Draconian Rules</i> series), the picture book <a href="https://ellecarterneal.com/ownblue/" target="_blank"><i>I Own All the Blue</i></a>, and teen science-fantasy novel <a href="https://seallanemedia.com/ellecarterneal/" target="_blank"><i>Madison Lane and the Wand of Rasputin</i></a> (first in the <i>Grounded</i> series). She is the editor of the re-release of Angela Brazil's 1910 book <a href="https://seallanemedia.com/angelabrazil/#nicest"><i>The Nicest Girl in the School</i></a>. Elle is based in Melbourne, Australia. Find her at <a href="https://ellecarterneal.com/" target="_blank">ElleCarterNeal.com</a></span>.<br /><br /><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo by Amanda Meryle Photography</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>
The Amazon links here contain affiliate codes - the Blood-Red Pencil owner may earn a small commission from purchases made through these links, at no extra cost to the buyer.</div>Elle Carter Nealhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02266309723919011181noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-52691737984706716852023-02-28T05:22:00.023-07:002023-02-28T18:40:43.197-07:00Podcast Episode 4 - I Can Use This<iframe allowtransparency="true" data-name="pb-iframe-player" height="150" scrolling="no" src="https://www.podbean.com/player-v2/?i=tcm8j-13a4155-pb&from=pb6admin&share=1&download=1&rtl=0&fonts=Arial&skin=1&font-color=000000&logo_link=episode_page&btn-skin=c73a3a" style="border: none; min-width: min(100%, 430px);" title="Ep 04 - I can use this" width="100%"></iframe>
<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5qR5ijb8ne3ZPPv9Twe1TAfGpoclk4q8wNjVeQ3Rs2KTbXkjiupdIfmr1JCLi6HXxUIyvupfTrW4h_neVvnpcgr3y9ArXoqtl7RlghXT38cFAQRPjwRS6QMhnEtZBICjTTGg3DI3yomx8mdKe2K9mMvB3vXqaZbC9kCJhGHiu-hduWWGHYnmbRGSh/s800/Blood-Red-Pencil-Podcast-Cover-s.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="800" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5qR5ijb8ne3ZPPv9Twe1TAfGpoclk4q8wNjVeQ3Rs2KTbXkjiupdIfmr1JCLi6HXxUIyvupfTrW4h_neVvnpcgr3y9ArXoqtl7RlghXT38cFAQRPjwRS6QMhnEtZBICjTTGg3DI3yomx8mdKe2K9mMvB3vXqaZbC9kCJhGHiu-hduWWGHYnmbRGSh/w400-h400/Blood-Red-Pencil-Podcast-Cover-s.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>I can use this! – that spark of excitement you get when you connect a new idea to one or more of the story subplots you’ve been mulling over.
Everywhere we look there is inspiration of one sort or another. Sometimes it’s so much that we actively have to tell our minds to hold off on generating new ideas until we’ve had a chance to complete the dozens already waiting in line. </p><p>Today’s episode dives into some of our discussion over the years at the Blood-Red Pencil about ideas and inspiration.</p><p>Links mentioned in this episode:</p>
<p><b><a href="https://bloodredpencil.blogspot.com/2010/02/ideas-for-writing.html">Ideas for Writing</a> </b></p><p>Shonell Bacon shares a list of inspiration sources for when you need to generate a new idea or two.
<br /></p>
<p><b><a href="https://bloodredpencil.blogspot.com/2015/05/where-do-you-get-ideas.html">Where Do You Get Ideas?</a> </b></p><p>Terry Odell says that sometimes the ideas for books come when you’re looking for something else.</p>
<p><b><a href="https://bloodredpencil.blogspot.com/2018/12/where-story-ideas-come-from.html">Where Story Ideas Come From</a> </b></p><p>Pat Stoltey says one of the questions most frequently asked of writers is: “Where do you get your ideas?” It’s not a popular question among published authors. Maybe they consider the question too silly to answer, or maybe they don’t want to share.
</p><div><b><a href="https://bloodredpencil.podbean.com/e/ep-04-i-can-use-this/" target="_blank">Listen to this episode by clicking here or on the Play button above.</a></b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigwYqrh2nbfH8LkReHFaMF2YI2pX2ydvpeMIgNNAYV9QseDASePeTYhYkETXZBMneu0SaQHUxKT9eDMRMII82qt3yliZvS_fttI61ZOUY9-ZskRamF-isieHiaF3vaZKBPkzJMcLxeQJY/s1600/Elle-Carter-Neal-MIBA-AmandaMerylePhotography.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigwYqrh2nbfH8LkReHFaMF2YI2pX2ydvpeMIgNNAYV9QseDASePeTYhYkETXZBMneu0SaQHUxKT9eDMRMII82qt3yliZvS_fttI61ZOUY9-ZskRamF-isieHiaF3vaZKBPkzJMcLxeQJY/w266-h400/Elle-Carter-Neal-MIBA-AmandaMerylePhotography.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr><tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: medium;">Podcast hosted by <b>Elle Carter Neal</b> <br />Elle is the author of the middle grade fantasy <a href="https://ellecarterneal.com/draconian-rules/convoluted-key/" target="_blank"><i>The Convoluted Key</i></a> (first in the <i>Draconian Rules</i> series), the picture book <a href="https://ellecarterneal.com/ownblue/" target="_blank"><i>I Own All the Blue</i></a>, and teen science-fantasy novel <a href="https://seallanemedia.com/ellecarterneal/" target="_blank"><i>Madison Lane and the Wand of Rasputin</i></a> (first in the <i>Grounded</i> series). She is the editor of the re-release of Angela Brazil's 1910 book <a href="https://seallanemedia.com/angelabrazil/#nicest"><i>The Nicest Girl in the School</i></a>. Elle is based in Melbourne, Australia. Find her at <a href="https://ellecarterneal.com/" target="_blank">ElleCarterNeal.com</a></span>.<br /><br /><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo by Amanda Meryle Photography</span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Elle Carter Nealhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02266309723919011181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-11066734562120956412023-02-23T02:38:00.001-07:002023-02-23T02:38:00.197-07:00I Can Use This: Inspiration from the past<p>
Since I write primarily historical fiction, I glean inspiration for stories, scenes, settings, plot points, characters, etc., mostly from history itself. "I can use this" is a constant mental refrain as I scour historical sources, looking for fodder for fiction.</p><p>For example, my <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Silver-Rush-Mysteries-8-book-series/dp/B087F89KN8" target="_blank">Silver Rush mystery series</a> is set in the 1880s, with the first five books in Colorado, primarily Leadville, and the three most recent in San Francisco, California. Why did I pick Leadville as the starting point? Well, that also springs from history, in this case, my family's history. When I was in my mid-forties, I learned that my paternal grandmother had been raised in Leadville. I knew nothing about the place, so at the urging of my uncle, I began to dig around into Leadville's beginnings as a silver-mining boomtown, with an eye to setting a novel there. I found many parallels between those heady days of the late 1870s/early 1880s, when folks rushed to this remote Rocky Mountain location, all afire to "get rich quick," to present-day boom-and-bust philosophies and mentalities of California, where I live. <i>Heck yeah,</i> I thought, <i>I can use this!</i></p><p>More inspiration arrived in a set of letters penned by George Elder, a young lawyer who arrived in Leadville in 1879. His grandson still had those letters and kindly shared them with me.</p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNMXfnM-ijOJRVN9uAZ1BO0sxQ9Vt-TTqKE1ZUUmlFYTVbK9gWet17IpGgeSE9WGVgknvnBpLDX1V3DjLoS8YWoRtKTOjUEFK7FZdm1K0DMyuKZclOTdSIVJcmpsxA6X-sp1xiToeVh_HrULlSKKZa-P2R8CvOG6o7T2WX6rdHB-fyZ3TPhWVn1Jv-/s1920/BRP%20old%20letters.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1920" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNMXfnM-ijOJRVN9uAZ1BO0sxQ9Vt-TTqKE1ZUUmlFYTVbK9gWet17IpGgeSE9WGVgknvnBpLDX1V3DjLoS8YWoRtKTOjUEFK7FZdm1K0DMyuKZclOTdSIVJcmpsxA6X-sp1xiToeVh_HrULlSKKZa-P2R8CvOG6o7T2WX6rdHB-fyZ3TPhWVn1Jv-/s320/BRP%20old%20letters.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Old letters are an "I can use this!" treasure trove.<br /><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Image by <a href="https://pixabay.com/users/margarita_kochneva-11806996/?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=image&utm_content=4095909">Margarita Kochneva</a> from <a href="https://pixabay.com//?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=image&utm_content=4095909">Pixabay</a></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /> Some years ago, I wrote <a href="https://silverrushmysteries.blogspot.com/search?q=%22George+Elder%22+letters&max-results=20&by-date=true" target="_blank">several blog posts</a> about the inspiration I gleaned from those letters. I'll offer one example here, not mentioned in those posts. Elder's letter dated July 20, 1979, notes the following:<p></p><p></p><blockquote>"The AT & St Fe RR [Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad] would have reached Leadville by the Middle of September if it had not been for the interference of the D & R G RR [Denver & Rio Grande Railroad], the latter road has been playing the part of the 'Dog in the Manger'. There is a strong feeling growing against the D & R G RR and its whole course has been a matter of condemnation for months back."</blockquote><p></p><p>When I first read this passage I had no idea that this kerfuffle referred to the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Railroad_Wars#:~:text=The%20Colorado%20Railroad%20War%2C%20also,Denver%20and%20Rio%20Grande%20company" target="_blank">Colorado Railroad War</a>, in which the two railroad companies fought on the ground and in the courts over which would get to lay tracks through the narrow Royal Gorge. Whichever railway won this right of way would be the first to reach Leadville and profit from its rich silver mines and booming economy. As it turns out, the D&RG came out on top, although not all in Leadville were happy with that outcome. When this situation became clear to me, <i>I can use this!</i> instantly sprang to mind. </p><p>Newspapers of the day also yielded the nugget that Civil War general and past president Ulysses S. Grant would be on the first D&RG train to Leadville on July 22, 1880. This also was apparently not an entirely welcome turn of events, as evidenced by a plea in one of town's papers that asked Leadvillites to "set aside politics and welcome our guest"—another <i>I can use this!</i> moment.</p><p>These bits from an old letter and a newspaper article provided the initial inspiration for <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Iron-Ties-Silver-Rush-Mysteries/dp/1590586379" target="_blank">IRON TIES</a>, the second book in <a href="https://annparker.net/books/" target="_blank">my series</a>.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiO2V3rLLFt2Ds1yDj8OzKzRcJy_rVYH6lSr0HGSudmmvP5_GyNn3EoipgdRqZGjkhCJVsGZJavDs0-rrEAZBEPxBFsuVlSIbT1XFj4aPshAKHOHpX8jehuM937RDZbY-mSgrSVS08BznowbSdgp6SZC_gmfg79cMHBpA8_57GeIYoGDplPeXzwL6S/s500/BRP%20Iron%20Ties%20cover.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="324" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiO2V3rLLFt2Ds1yDj8OzKzRcJy_rVYH6lSr0HGSudmmvP5_GyNn3EoipgdRqZGjkhCJVsGZJavDs0-rrEAZBEPxBFsuVlSIbT1XFj4aPshAKHOHpX8jehuM937RDZbY-mSgrSVS08BznowbSdgp6SZC_gmfg79cMHBpA8_57GeIYoGDplPeXzwL6S/s320/BRP%20Iron%20Ties%20cover.jpeg" width="207" /></a></div><br />Researching for that book gave me a greater appreciation of the Civil War and the long-term effects it had on those who fought and lived through it. My research and its <i>I can use this!</i> moments turned out to be the "gift that keeps on giving." IRON TIES won the Colorado Book Award, the theme of the Civil War and its repercussions continues to wind its way through my series, and, just now, I realized that the phrase "dog in the manger" is a perfect topic for a <a href="https://silverrushmysteries.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Slang-o-rama post</a>.<p></p><p>So, I'm curious: Has family history (your own, or others) or historical newspapers provided any "I can use this!" inspirations for your stories? Do tell!
</p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMAx1doQi_g3zPilslUk9V8d8OalL5CJ8PZGyjuFSsTcGyC9AX5LnI4zpYahZykNGfxgD6llH2ddtYAF0SKHnmo6qP9fTf-T1MonpUOSRAJXLIhWZ-_K4x79JHg63KocKQqeHOPyjGLo0/s1600/Ann-Parker-m.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="935" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMAx1doQi_g3zPilslUk9V8d8OalL5CJ8PZGyjuFSsTcGyC9AX5LnI4zpYahZykNGfxgD6llH2ddtYAF0SKHnmo6qP9fTf-T1MonpUOSRAJXLIhWZ-_K4x79JHg63KocKQqeHOPyjGLo0/s320/Ann-Parker-m.jpg" width="308" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Ann Parker</b> authors the award-winning <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Ann-Parker/e/B001K8BDA2/" target="_blank">Silver Rush historical mystery series</a> published by Poisoned Pen Press, an imprint of Sourcebooks. During the day, she wrangles words for a living as a science editor/writer and marketing communications specialist (which is basically a fancy term for "editor/writer"). Her midnight hours are devoted to scribbling fiction. Visit <a href="http://annparker.net/" target="_blank">AnnParker.net</a> for more information.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><p></p>Ann Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06348291444414701054noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-16193983446217155442023-02-21T00:36:00.002-07:002023-02-23T16:01:18.337-07:00I Can Use This: YouTube Videos<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj7PPL1LfSlVvuiUg-UJeXK6TENaTaYmvQ20MjSD_fQhUvucqrtVA-_SDkKps_0U3kzNd4Wx3rUm4E1bVpxKhyK0ZvBi3nr8oFUg0lm5jb43lN0uw4GzHNjhkv0hdZ6VWAopBdf3_d3LyCyLiNh2Z5MqFTLFM_rBzs25W18D7WoF7dAquQ__VqrTewv" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="145" data-original-width="347" height="84" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj7PPL1LfSlVvuiUg-UJeXK6TENaTaYmvQ20MjSD_fQhUvucqrtVA-_SDkKps_0U3kzNd4Wx3rUm4E1bVpxKhyK0ZvBi3nr8oFUg0lm5jb43lN0uw4GzHNjhkv0hdZ6VWAopBdf3_d3LyCyLiNh2Z5MqFTLFM_rBzs25W18D7WoF7dAquQ__VqrTewv=w200-h84" width="200" /></a></div>In the past year, I have fallen down the rabbit hole of true crime and body language expert videocasts. It's a very deep time sink. The videos are free and for the most part ad free. A few have sponsors they mention.<p></p><p>If you write mysteries and thrillers, the true crime bloggers are an interesting resource. What I like about them, versus news reporters, is the depth of research they do and they way they calmly present the information. It's like sitting down with a very knowledgeable friend. They put things in context and are focused on confirmed knowledge rather than conjecture and drama. I have learned a lot about crimes and criminals: the whys and hows and impact on the families and communities.</p><p>My two favorite true crime videocasts are:</p><p><i>Coffee and Crime Time</i> with Stephanie Harlowe <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@StephanieHarlowe">https://www.youtube.com/@StephanieHarlowe</a></p><p><i>10 to Life</i> Annie Elise <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@10tolife">https://www.youtube.com/@10tolife</a></p><p>There are several body language experts I enjoy. This information can benefit any writer. The thing that raises them in my estimation is that they reinforce that only one microexpression or gesture does not tell the whole story. You need background and context. I have learned a lot from these gentlemen.</p><p>There are many videos by the original body language expert, Dr. Paul Ekman. You can find them on this channel: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@thepaulekmangroup">https://www.youtube.com/@thepaulekmangroup</a> <br /><br />I would love to take his course. You can learn more here: <a href="https://www.paulekman.com/">https://www.paulekman.com/</a></p><p>My favorite body language videocasts analyze current crimes, past crimes, suspect interviews, and news interviews.</p><p><i>The Behavior Panel </i>featuring four experts in the field: Chase Hughes, Mark Bowden, Greg Hartley, and Scott Rouse. You get four opinions and insights. <a href="https://www.youtube.com › thebehaviorpanel">https://www.youtube.com › thebehaviorpanel</a> </p><div><i>The Behaviorial Arts</i> featuring mentalist and body language expert Bedros "Spidey" Akkelian.</div><p> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@TheBehavioralArts">https://www.youtube.com/@TheBehavioralArts</a></p><p><i>Observe</i> featuring Logan Portenier.</p><p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/@ObserveYouTube">https://www.youtube.com/@ObserveYouTube</a></p><p><i>Dr. Todd Grande</i> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@DrGrande">https://www.youtube.com/@DrGrande</a></p><p><i>The Body Language Guy</i> featuring Jesus Enrique Rosas. </p><p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/@thebodylanguageguy">https://www.youtube.com/@thebodylanguageguy</a></p><p>Once you get started on this journey, there are many alluring paths to follow. Whether you watch them for enjoyment or education, I doubt you will run out of content.</p><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 6px; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td data-blogger-escaped-style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid_D_U7aFh8dOxU6T2E3WU1Qz9qdbhWVE4m3ifElGqoryICM7mv97GIFida7Iuk5kRAgotl6Gnv3-TNlj_2haiGo7aXzGZo5z-iIzINds3_Ym0PKg9_HkDL9J6DYiaQqHWR5FQwPEToQU/s1600/Diana-Hurwitz-photo.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "georgia";"><img border="0" data-blogger-escaped-data-original-height="519" data-blogger-escaped-data-original-width="380" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid_D_U7aFh8dOxU6T2E3WU1Qz9qdbhWVE4m3ifElGqoryICM7mv97GIFida7Iuk5kRAgotl6Gnv3-TNlj_2haiGo7aXzGZo5z-iIzINds3_Ym0PKg9_HkDL9J6DYiaQqHWR5FQwPEToQU/s320/Diana-Hurwitz-photo.jpg" width="234" /></span></a></div></td></tr><tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption" style="padding-top: 4px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Diana Hurwitz </b>is<b> </b>the<b> </b>author of <i>Story Building Blocks: <a data-blogger-escaped-target="_blank" href="https://www.amazon.com/Four-Layers-Conflict-Building-Blocks/dp/1546371958/r">The Four Layers of Conflict, </a>Story Building Blocks II: <a data-blogger-escaped-target="_blank" href="https://www.amazon.com/Story-Building-Blocks-II-Believable/dp/1470199998/">Crafting Believable Conflict</a>, Story Building Blocks III: <a data-blogger-escaped-target="_blank" href="https://www.amazon.com/Story-Building-Blocks-III-Revision/dp/1475011369/">The Revision Layers</a></i>, and the YA adventure series <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Mythikas-Island-Book-One-Diana-ebook/dp/B004KZPIUS/" target="_blank"><i>Mythikas Island</i>.</a> Her weekly blog, <a href="http://www.dianahurwitz.blogspot.com/">Game On: Crafting Believable Conflict</a> explores how characters behave and misbehave. Visit <a href="http://www.dianahurwitz.com/">DianaHurwitz.com</a> for more information and free writing tools. You can follow her on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/diana.hurwitz1">Facebook</a>.</span></div></div></div></td></tr></tbody></table><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Diana Hurwitzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18216220574149672733noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-10436209519627529742023-02-14T02:42:00.010-07:002023-02-14T16:20:16.301-07:00I Can Use This: All lawyers are sleazes<p>What's unusual about the quote in the title of this article? Realistically, I've heard it often throughout the years, but never from a lawyer. The most recent time, however, came from an attorney who was doing some legal work for me, but let's go back to the beginning.</p><p>My first exposure to a lawyer was my grandfather. Born in March 1884, he forfeited his high school education at the end of the eighth grade to help support his family. However, he was a brilliant, well-read young man with a huge interest in the law; despite his lack of formal education, he some years later passed the entrance examination to law school and graduated a full-fledged lawyer in 1911 when he was 27 years old. My grandfather was a humble, honorable, ethical man who could never have been sleazy in any area of his life.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVlt9Ez4hpJHboc-abBhqw93Vr894jC7LavglibHN7fJuvNs4yUPDINr4zsjvrT6Qn8rOlEClVK8JXplGqESBzo--zJEpNiybadX8sIyDhmLIpuMuL2QDy9miv4KLRYZbsg8gWTQz7RnA-04ynzDG54ktg-0l3GBrnnhmoMPinFQHsy7MeAXGtHWXa/s661/A.R.%20Pollard.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="661" data-original-width="534" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVlt9Ez4hpJHboc-abBhqw93Vr894jC7LavglibHN7fJuvNs4yUPDINr4zsjvrT6Qn8rOlEClVK8JXplGqESBzo--zJEpNiybadX8sIyDhmLIpuMuL2QDy9miv4KLRYZbsg8gWTQz7RnA-04ynzDG54ktg-0l3GBrnnhmoMPinFQHsy7MeAXGtHWXa/w259-h320/A.R.%20Pollard.jpg" width="259" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;">Grandpa married my grandmother in June 1913, and they were inseparable until her death in 1964. In their 50½ years of marriage, however, he never practiced law. Why? Grandma believed the law would not offer the steady income she wanted for their growing family. Instead, he worked at a variety of other occupations—often as an accountant—until her death in 1964. Then he was offered a position in a local law office, and he accepted. He was 80 years old.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Not all attorneys, however, were like my grandfather. The first time I needed one, I learned that the hard way. On my first visit to his office, he made a physical pass at me. I didn't see that one coming. Shocked, I never again went to an appointment with this lecherous lawyer unless someone accompanied me into the inner sanctum of his private office. (Why did I stay with him rather than hiring another lawyer? I had already paid him, and I didn't have the money to pay another one.) </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7P84gvzwKmGj15GZGycIREJpNBJ8_HK50jKpqxzga9cn8x9U4t9JR8CJCRDcDx-I6LMf3dtfI0jccrWFgWYFhViLWjvBRL_dx0y_Cm2ieRB5S20Gl9Tz7YmXeiRBSdxkDNiyx5SA_yzmAdpu3zNMY6tsber8DgzSfv5oYMcYoecD58jy7J40td7MP/s1280/justice.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="853" data-original-width="1280" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7P84gvzwKmGj15GZGycIREJpNBJ8_HK50jKpqxzga9cn8x9U4t9JR8CJCRDcDx-I6LMf3dtfI0jccrWFgWYFhViLWjvBRL_dx0y_Cm2ieRB5S20Gl9Tz7YmXeiRBSdxkDNiyx5SA_yzmAdpu3zNMY6tsber8DgzSfv5oYMcYoecD58jy7J40td7MP/w320-h213/justice.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Enter my next experience: a legal aid attorney who was a kind, gentle young man. We had moved to another state, and a contractor recommended by our real estate agent took all the money we had given him to start building our house and then filed bankruptcy. With our attorney, we went to court to get our money back, and the judge ordered him to return half of it to us. (We later learned we were the <i>only</i> clients of the contractor who sued him to get any of our money back.) Chalk one up for the good guys.</div></div><p>Decades later, I needed an attorney to handle some business; although he did a good job for me, he's the one who told me "all lawyers are sleazes". I was stunned by his words even though I had had a bad experience with one attorney, but I remembered what he said.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi48mKP8s_ZSQVpYlEJyNbg6y85DCROKh6XfJx7UXg5-BDSTlUWK1x7U2VCXGTG1bX0WgCkBslVfTP_LC7BR8Hq3qS-1jJB2Gqsq9fbnYXQenN1U5Z0do5v6HlA8yViKYL6h0teBiQPcXmQRYs1LLSBwLDFzAbnRFnJ8r6ISk3UyT6Z_6Xltk5BLTAx/s1737/2022%20TT%20cover.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1737" data-original-width="1124" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi48mKP8s_ZSQVpYlEJyNbg6y85DCROKh6XfJx7UXg5-BDSTlUWK1x7U2VCXGTG1bX0WgCkBslVfTP_LC7BR8Hq3qS-1jJB2Gqsq9fbnYXQenN1U5Z0do5v6HlA8yViKYL6h0teBiQPcXmQRYs1LLSBwLDFzAbnRFnJ8r6ISk3UyT6Z_6Xltk5BLTAx/w206-h320/2022%20TT%20cover.jpg" width="206" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;">Enter L.S. Lane, the novelist. In my second book, <i><b><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Tormented-Tango-L-S-Lane-ebook/dp/B0BTWPGNQR" target="_blank">Tormented Tango</a></b></i>, my three protagonists are attorneys. One, a woman, is a trial lawyer. Another is a district attorney. The third begins the story as a prosecutor in the DA's office. A fourth lawyer also works for the DA. The purpose of the story is to show the attorneys as human beings, some who are good people and some not so much. </p><p style="text-align: left;">Do I succeed? Only my readers can judge whether or not I believe "all lawyers are sleazes".</p><div><br /><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQp9A0N95kOnffm4jkqiSc_WSzf-MVo-8pPRccNranu7Pm2EkhP7m4QTWWalvKXkEMUAr1FSXKVGv-oRMsDzaVc1FDia90prGv1WLhQucfVSUaiRzZMV99Uh4rsn1egR2qCz9bEyjgXKwdifj4p5KtvIdR8fQCQcmcvpNm6-XzzMVIXdVF0XZZYG8n/s960/Linda_Lane-m.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQp9A0N95kOnffm4jkqiSc_WSzf-MVo-8pPRccNranu7Pm2EkhP7m4QTWWalvKXkEMUAr1FSXKVGv-oRMsDzaVc1FDia90prGv1WLhQucfVSUaiRzZMV99Uh4rsn1egR2qCz9bEyjgXKwdifj4p5KtvIdR8fQCQcmcvpNm6-XzzMVIXdVF0XZZYG8n/w240-h320/Linda_Lane-m.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr><tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: large;">Editor</span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><b style="font-size: large;">Linda Lane</b><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;">has returned to her first love, writing, after retiring from editing. Her character-driven novels, although sometimes a bit literary in nature, remind the reader of genre fiction because of their quick pace. They also contain some elements of romance, mystery, and thrillers. You can contact her through her website: </span><a href="http://lslanebooks.com/" style="font-size: large;">LSLaneBooks.com</a></td></tr></tbody></table>
Linda Lanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16056682992943171805noreply@blogger.com7