tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post7170783509724242540..comments2024-03-28T10:41:26.999-06:00Comments on Blood-Red Pencil: Keeping a Series FreshDanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14471919576687777886noreply@blogger.comBlogger21125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-55872451654480027352018-01-15T09:16:49.160-07:002018-01-15T09:16:49.160-07:00Good luck with book 2, Lida. There is pressure. Tw...Good luck with book 2, Lida. There is pressure. Two years between books and readers forget about you. Not only is writing a new book stressful, keeping your name in the public eye is harder, especially if you don't go to conferences and events. Cheers to you.Polly Iyerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05729656119287702191noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-89415904804618199032018-01-13T13:22:34.970-07:002018-01-13T13:22:34.970-07:00Like you, Polly, I haven't published a novel s...Like you, Polly, I haven't published a novel since Sept 2015, which made me feel inadequate as a writer (in my defense, my day job consumes a lot of time and I did manage to get my first short story published). I so much appreciate your reminders of tedious tension and keeping things fresh as I dive into Book 3 (#2 comes out in April). Thanks and happy sales, Polly!Lida Siderishttp://www.lidasideris.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-10293583995446941322018-01-11T13:22:31.906-07:002018-01-11T13:22:31.906-07:00I'm reminded about the book/movie Misery, by S...I'm reminded about the book/movie Misery, by Stephen King. Don't mess with the characters or there'll be angry readers. Thanks for posting, Marilyn.Polly Iyerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05729656119287702191noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-80504493836398008632018-01-11T13:20:09.104-07:002018-01-11T13:20:09.104-07:00Glad you ladies agree. I don't like leaving th...Glad you ladies agree. I don't like leaving the main character/s in jeopardy at the end of the book either. That's like saying to the reader that they have to start at the beginning. Yes, it's always better to do that, but each book should hold on its own and could be read out of order. At least that's the way I write my series.Polly Iyerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05729656119287702191noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-13260085304056749212018-01-11T09:16:09.715-07:002018-01-11T09:16:09.715-07:00Polly,
I'm so glad that you've another Dia...Polly,<br />I'm so glad that you've another Diana Racine book out! It's a wonderful series. I couldn't agree with you more—the characters in our books are of utmost importance. Readers relate to our characters. They remember them, long after they've forgotten aspects of the plot. I love writing about my characters—their personalities and their relationships. Especially their old secrets that can't but impact their present behavior.Marilyn Levinsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10424778692932139865noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-8461709474713820892018-01-10T15:18:41.770-07:002018-01-10T15:18:41.770-07:00I agree with this, Maryann. I can see leaving a fe...I agree with this, Maryann. I can see leaving a few loose threads at the end of a story to tickle the curiosity of readers and make them want to buy the next book, but not leave them wondering if the protagonist will survive to continue the series. This reminds me of "Who shot J.R.?" I wasn't a fan of "Dallas," but I certainly remember what a stir that season-end episode created. As I recall, a lot of viewers were not happy.<br />Linda Lanehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06686488133905538811noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-33324293327367204842018-01-10T09:22:52.068-07:002018-01-10T09:22:52.068-07:00Totally agree about the characters needing to be f...Totally agree about the characters needing to be fresh. I get so tired of the same 'ol same 'ol. I also tire of the ongoing tension between central characters who obviously have an attraction. That works for a while, but soon gets tedious. I do wonder, however, about leaving the central character in danger at the end of a book. I know that is a technique to have the reader eager for the next book, but I wonder how many readers are disappointed at being left hanging so long as to whether the character gets out of the danger or not.Maryannwriteshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09479027709233807149noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-60672559494781745632018-01-09T12:40:01.051-07:002018-01-09T12:40:01.051-07:00Thanks, Diana. Glad to see this baby leave the wom...Thanks, Diana. Glad to see this baby leave the womb. Polly Iyerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05729656119287702191noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-90415792209377467802018-01-09T11:29:35.231-07:002018-01-09T11:29:35.231-07:00Congrats on the new book baby. I too love the cove...Congrats on the new book baby. I too love the cover.Diana Hurwitzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18216220574149672733noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-24734116209098234332018-01-09T11:14:28.619-07:002018-01-09T11:14:28.619-07:00The designer thanks you, Dani. The designer thanks you, Dani. Polly Iyerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05729656119287702191noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-19162005344906297002018-01-09T11:13:14.190-07:002018-01-09T11:13:14.190-07:00Do you mean Mind Games? It will be free on Amazon...Do you mean Mind Games? It will be free on Amazon from the 11th-14th. Polly Iyerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05729656119287702191noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-16962048055051990212018-01-09T10:43:03.994-07:002018-01-09T10:43:03.994-07:00I love that cover!I love that cover!Danihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14471919576687777886noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-88721553443794348482018-01-09T10:38:38.524-07:002018-01-09T10:38:38.524-07:00Is there an Amazon link for the book giveaway? Jus...Is there an Amazon link for the book giveaway? Just curious how we can sign up. Thanks!Danihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14471919576687777886noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-59049869115043832292018-01-09T09:24:51.474-07:002018-01-09T09:24:51.474-07:00You make some great points. Diana stays true to he...You make some great points. Diana stays true to herself. I had a couple of times in the series when she did some very stupid things. She's grown from that and considers her actions more. I hope I've done her justice.Polly Iyerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05729656119287702191noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-83316602306555449132018-01-09T08:48:18.862-07:002018-01-09T08:48:18.862-07:00Great post, Polly! You nailed the fact that charac...Great post, Polly! You nailed the fact that characters--even bad guys--must be three-dimensional and believable. I agree that characters need to be "fresh"; however, they also need to be true to themselves. The character who was introduced in the first book of the series has to be easily recognizable in the last one, now matter how many books they journey through in between. Of course they can mature, grow in knowledge and understanding, even age; but the core of the character must remain the same. Am I the same person I was when I was 20? Basically, yes. Over the years I've learned a lot, mellowed a lot (most of the time), and changed a lot. But the core of that 20-year-old remains alive and well six decades later. On a side note, I love the idea of posing pertinent questions to writer friends and waiting for input from readers. In a large part, these tell the tale.Linda Lanehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06686488133905538811noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-25711341971547635642018-01-09T08:39:10.947-07:002018-01-09T08:39:10.947-07:00In some ways, I like Virgil better. Wish Lucas nev...In some ways, I like Virgil better. Wish Lucas never got married. I kind of liked him single.Polly Iyerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05729656119287702191noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-63493327198873768312018-01-09T08:18:17.745-07:002018-01-09T08:18:17.745-07:00Look forward to reading the new one. And I had to ...Look forward to reading the new one. And I had to chuckle at the Virgil Flowers reference. I listen to Sanford's books on audio, and can hear the narrator say, "That f***ing Flowers."Elaine L. Orrhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15704835779628825364noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-58312370555691178252018-01-09T08:03:28.401-07:002018-01-09T08:03:28.401-07:00Thanks, Patricia. Thanks, Patricia. Polly Iyerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05729656119287702191noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-40465715722133291822018-01-09T07:18:09.921-07:002018-01-09T07:18:09.921-07:00Congratulations, Polly! I'm adding The Scent o...Congratulations, Polly! I'm adding The Scent of Murder to my TBR list. Patricia Stolteyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17192369425956406122noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-53026024438905235312018-01-09T07:04:43.595-07:002018-01-09T07:04:43.595-07:00Thanks, Elaine. I'm still available for you an...Thanks, Elaine. I'm still available for you and always will be. You've been a big supporter.Polly Iyerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05729656119287702191noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-91495842327615338302018-01-09T04:56:39.695-07:002018-01-09T04:56:39.695-07:00Good luck with the book, Polly! Diana is a compell...Good luck with the book, Polly! Diana is a compelling character--I wouldn't get hung up on the "fresh" aspect. If you keep the backstory moving forward new wrinkles in her life make fresh moot. Wish I could have interviewed you--Sorry I messed up on your release date. E. B. Davishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16746747050278597888noreply@blogger.com