Writing Exercise #9

Not every antagonist is a guy whose face is contorted in an evil sneer as he twirls his waxed mustache. Sometimes the threat comes in the form of an immutable force of nature.  That form may be tiny.

Those are germs—a new variety discovered by the research team in your book. Tell me what these germs are going to do the the characters in your world, and how the scientists who created or identified it feel about what is going to happen.

Strut your stuff. Give me two or three paragraphs in the comment section that lay out a premise that will hook your reader.

Meet the Author: Cynthia Townley

Author Cynthia Townley

Author Cynthia Townley describes her writing style as fast-paced, and keeping to short, easy to read chapters. She says, “I like to keep the storyline moving forward by utilizing cliffhangers at the end of chapters, where possible – building toward suspense, and thus, inviting the reader to turn the page. I don’t include a lot of ‘fluff’ but rather stick to the storyline. I want readers to have a ‘can’t put down’ novel that both men and women enjoy. On several occasions, my writing style has been compared to James Patterson’s novels, which I certainly take as a compliment.”

Cynthia believes that what sets her crime fiction apart is that she incorporated psychics. The field is pretty crowded with mystery/crime novels, and detective novels, but Cynthia wanted a hook that would make hers unique.

She says, “I actually visited a psychic once, many years ago, out of curiosity. I didn’t have an appointment, nor did I show any identification, but she knew I was born on Labor Day. That blew me away. One thing she said to me that I never forgot was that I would meet someone important to me with a birthday on September 15th. Fast-forward twenty-five years and my youngest son married a girl whose birthday is September 15th. True story!” I salute Cynthia’s patience. I would have gone to get my money back after ten years. That’s just how I roll. Continue reading “Meet the Author: Cynthia Townley”

Special Guest Susan J.P. Owens on the Benefits of Local Chapters

Author Susan J.P. Owens

Nervous, I shoved my fingertips in the front pockets of my denims. Striding toward the door to my first chapter meeting, the darn skinny jeans crept down from the weight of my hands. I inched my fingers around to draw them up, hoping no one would notice.

A perky voice sounded behind me, “Hello, you must be Susan.”

Caught adjusting, I swallowed the first words that came to my mind for wearing the pesky denims and answered, “Sure am!”

I soon discovered I didn’t have to impress the folks inside the conference room. They welcomed me with absolute acceptance. Continue reading “Special Guest Susan J.P. Owens on the Benefits of Local Chapters”

Sneak Peek: WWII London Blitz Diary (Volume 1)

Today, Vickie Washuk shares a sneak peek of Volume I of her series of the war diaries written by her great grandmother detailing both her personal and historical experience living in London during the World War ll London Bombing Blitz.

Ruby Alice Side Thompson was born in England in 1884. Ruby grew up during a time when education was just beginning to be encouraged for both upper and middle class women. Women were seeking new opportunities and equality. During the late 1890’s Ruby explored many radical political ideas of London, England. She met many famous people including the writers George Bernard Shaw and William Butler Yeats. The moth and the star: Ruby’s sister Aileen Pippett wrote a biography of Virginia Woolf. Ruby loved to read and always dreamed of writing famous novels. Ruby was not able to express her opinions or feelings about either the war or her marriage except in the privacy of her diary. Being able to do so was her saving grace. Many of the things she says in today’s world would be considered politically incorrect. Our children today have no idea what life was like then and what opportunities they have that would never have been possible 70 years ago. World War ll London Blitz Diary is being published on Amazon in 4 volumes. The 1st and 2nd volumes are published.

Volume 1 and 2 of the collection are available from Amazon in print or Kindle format.

The following is an excerpt from Volume 1 of World War Two London Blitz Diary (A Woman’s Revelations Enduring War and Marriage) Continue reading “Sneak Peek: WWII London Blitz Diary (Volume 1)”