This morning I finished reading Laurie King's A Grave Talent.
Went to the computer to research Medals of Honor awarded to officers for bravery. In Encounter, Inspector Sanchez's father was awarded the Purple Heart for going above and beyond the call of duty. I am working on the story line for him and his early retirement. Also, a mother's lament. Worrying all those years about her husband on the force, to finally see it come to an end, and then, to begin all over again with her daughter. Ideas merging, mixing, blending... verisimilitude!
Friday, December 30, 2011
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
RESEARCH!
Today I'm reading another San Franciscan writer of my genre... A Grave Talent by Laurie B. King. In this amazing FIRST novel Ms. King was able to win the Edgar Award on her first try out! Her characters are rich, lush, full of life and real. This novel, by the way, was written in 1993. I can't wait to RESEARCH and read all of them.
Monday, December 26, 2011
VERISIMILITUDE!!
I took to the beach!
ENCOUNTER safely tucked away for another couple of weeks before the major rewrite, I grabbed a quick lunch at one of my favorite Mexican Restaurant haunts: Lares! Then I headed out to Santa Monica Pier and did a six mile hike.
While walking, I considered the work I'm about to engage upon: namely creating a homicide department in San Francisco complete with Inspector's and Lieutenant’s and police officers that crackle with authenticity, truth and VERISIMILITUDE!
The dictionary states: the appearance or semblance of truth; likelihood; probability.
Now, what makes me, some punk from Ohio, think that I can tackle a completely foreign territory like the SFPD? Confidence. One of the prerequisites of writing is confidence. I BELIEVE I can create it, so I will. There is an old saying that states: 'write what you know.' And, to some extent, I agree, but what if you really want to write about polar bears hibernating at the North Pole. You wouldn't do it because it's not close to you? NO! Be confident! Courageous. You can research anything. In fact, GOOGLE is the most important tool I use. That and GOOGLE EARTH! WOW!!! I am there, walking the streets, smelling the surroundings, looking at the sights, seeing everything. Thank you technology! The ONE thing that needs your ultimate attention are the characters. In my case, the newly appointed Detective (Inspector in San Francisco) to Homicide Division Vanessa Sanchez. Her father, Tony Romano (I know sounds like a rib place) is a retired SFPD Police Officer garnering the highly coveted Purple Heart which ultimately gave him an early retirement. He and Harry Wright (my celebrity profiler from Quantico, Virginia) worked on the Trailside Killer (David Carpenter) back in the 80's. See, already you believe me. This is ALL FICTION! But, the truth is it takes so much reading, then more reading, then more reading... writing down facts along the way...
In my case, it’s either an incredibly advanced case of narcissism, or an unflinching ability to be insecure enough to allow my characters the ability to breathe, cry... be human. Hopefully, the one thing that makes you care enough to continue reading and understand. Relate. Even my pathological killers... (I know, how do I do that?) you at least have to understand them. No hissing!
Now, bed and I start all over again tomorrow!
Peace!
ENCOUNTER safely tucked away for another couple of weeks before the major rewrite, I grabbed a quick lunch at one of my favorite Mexican Restaurant haunts: Lares! Then I headed out to Santa Monica Pier and did a six mile hike.
While walking, I considered the work I'm about to engage upon: namely creating a homicide department in San Francisco complete with Inspector's and Lieutenant’s and police officers that crackle with authenticity, truth and VERISIMILITUDE!
The dictionary states: the appearance or semblance of truth; likelihood; probability.
Now, what makes me, some punk from Ohio, think that I can tackle a completely foreign territory like the SFPD? Confidence. One of the prerequisites of writing is confidence. I BELIEVE I can create it, so I will. There is an old saying that states: 'write what you know.' And, to some extent, I agree, but what if you really want to write about polar bears hibernating at the North Pole. You wouldn't do it because it's not close to you? NO! Be confident! Courageous. You can research anything. In fact, GOOGLE is the most important tool I use. That and GOOGLE EARTH! WOW!!! I am there, walking the streets, smelling the surroundings, looking at the sights, seeing everything. Thank you technology! The ONE thing that needs your ultimate attention are the characters. In my case, the newly appointed Detective (Inspector in San Francisco) to Homicide Division Vanessa Sanchez. Her father, Tony Romano (I know sounds like a rib place) is a retired SFPD Police Officer garnering the highly coveted Purple Heart which ultimately gave him an early retirement. He and Harry Wright (my celebrity profiler from Quantico, Virginia) worked on the Trailside Killer (David Carpenter) back in the 80's. See, already you believe me. This is ALL FICTION! But, the truth is it takes so much reading, then more reading, then more reading... writing down facts along the way...
In my case, it’s either an incredibly advanced case of narcissism, or an unflinching ability to be insecure enough to allow my characters the ability to breathe, cry... be human. Hopefully, the one thing that makes you care enough to continue reading and understand. Relate. Even my pathological killers... (I know, how do I do that?) you at least have to understand them. No hissing!
Now, bed and I start all over again tomorrow!
Peace!
Sunday, December 25, 2011
Friday, December 23, 2011
RESEARCH
Today it was all about research!
RESEARCH, RESEARCH, RESEARCH!
I'm currently reading 5 books that have to do with San Francisco. Police procedurals, history of the City, novels with San Francisco inspectors. I just finished a Collin Wilcox novel titled Hire A Hangman. Lt. Hastings makes for an intriquing character.
RESEARCH, RESEARCH, RESEARCH!
I'm currently reading 5 books that have to do with San Francisco. Police procedurals, history of the City, novels with San Francisco inspectors. I just finished a Collin Wilcox novel titled Hire A Hangman. Lt. Hastings makes for an intriquing character.
Thursday, December 22, 2011
LIVE!!!
TODAY, I truly NEED to write an entry.
This morning at 7:35 AM I finished the first draft of my next novel ENCOUNTER. Hear the roar of applause!! ENCOUNTER follows the genre of psychological thriller, except the main character is without Sami. I know, I know... I’m intending on creating a PERFECT series for Sami too, including her dear friend Drew. Titles like A PERFECT WIFE, A PERFECT PLAN, and A PERFECT SETUP all are brewing in the writer's space... my mind.
But, today we celebrate ENCOUNTER!!! Which, in fact, had its birth several years ago when I first introduced Detective Dan Hammer, my macho alter-ego in a novel called NOTHING SACRED. Charleston, South Carolina provided the perfect backdrop for that twisted, historical and brutal story. My agent assured me it was a labor of love, nothing more, so I quickly shelved it and went about doing what I do best -- begin anew. I wanted my new novel to take place in San Francisco, a City I love, but haven't visited too often. I also wanted to push the envelope a bit with male sexual addiction, escapism and compulsion. Light topics. My plan: hide ENCOUNTER away for a couple of weeks… no thoughts, no triggers... no rewrites. I'll wait, hold tight, and then begin the major overhaul... (what does that mean?) I've written several novels where each page had to be 'the perfect writer,' correct grammar, correct description, correct everything! You probably understand the scenario. It's a perfectionist nightmare. ENOUGH! The most important tool I've learned from being a writer is consistency. Showing up. On time. Being at your computer every day at whatever time works for you. There have been days I woke feeling energized, a genius, a miraculous human link of shared celestial information- and then... there are days when I literally have nothing to give to the page. The characters literally walk from point A to point B. I still print out the pages, proud of my progress and dilegently move on. Next day, new chapter, new ideas...
This blog is called the Walker's Blog. I walk approximately three miles each morning after I finish writing. Southern California is perfect for this kind of exercise. While hiking around Hancock Park I process what I just wrote, where the plot’s going, what I'll write the next day, sometimes whole new character immerge. It is one of the main reasons I continue writing.
I love how the human mind can drop, in a split second, a penny of illumination. Fix a problem, solve a situation, and allow me to have a good night's sleep… all at the same time!
This blog will be about THE REWRITE. I will personally take you through the day-in, day-out, ups-and-downs of preparing my new manuscript for submission. Stay tuned!
This morning at 7:35 AM I finished the first draft of my next novel ENCOUNTER. Hear the roar of applause!! ENCOUNTER follows the genre of psychological thriller, except the main character is without Sami. I know, I know... I’m intending on creating a PERFECT series for Sami too, including her dear friend Drew. Titles like A PERFECT WIFE, A PERFECT PLAN, and A PERFECT SETUP all are brewing in the writer's space... my mind.
But, today we celebrate ENCOUNTER!!! Which, in fact, had its birth several years ago when I first introduced Detective Dan Hammer, my macho alter-ego in a novel called NOTHING SACRED. Charleston, South Carolina provided the perfect backdrop for that twisted, historical and brutal story. My agent assured me it was a labor of love, nothing more, so I quickly shelved it and went about doing what I do best -- begin anew. I wanted my new novel to take place in San Francisco, a City I love, but haven't visited too often. I also wanted to push the envelope a bit with male sexual addiction, escapism and compulsion. Light topics. My plan: hide ENCOUNTER away for a couple of weeks… no thoughts, no triggers... no rewrites. I'll wait, hold tight, and then begin the major overhaul... (what does that mean?) I've written several novels where each page had to be 'the perfect writer,' correct grammar, correct description, correct everything! You probably understand the scenario. It's a perfectionist nightmare. ENOUGH! The most important tool I've learned from being a writer is consistency. Showing up. On time. Being at your computer every day at whatever time works for you. There have been days I woke feeling energized, a genius, a miraculous human link of shared celestial information- and then... there are days when I literally have nothing to give to the page. The characters literally walk from point A to point B. I still print out the pages, proud of my progress and dilegently move on. Next day, new chapter, new ideas...
This blog is called the Walker's Blog. I walk approximately three miles each morning after I finish writing. Southern California is perfect for this kind of exercise. While hiking around Hancock Park I process what I just wrote, where the plot’s going, what I'll write the next day, sometimes whole new character immerge. It is one of the main reasons I continue writing.
I love how the human mind can drop, in a split second, a penny of illumination. Fix a problem, solve a situation, and allow me to have a good night's sleep… all at the same time!
This blog will be about THE REWRITE. I will personally take you through the day-in, day-out, ups-and-downs of preparing my new manuscript for submission. Stay tuned!
Saturday, December 17, 2011
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