Standing in front of me, blocking the sun with his silhouette, was this—man-boy. A man-boy is what Calliope and I call guys we think are cute and totally too old for us but not really old—old, like our parents. Take for example, Matt Damon, who did all of the Bourne Identity movies. Cute. But no Zac Efron! As I was creating Hawk’s character, I pictured him in his mid to late twenties, with a certain mystery about him. He is not a man of many words. He does his job and then fades into the background. Every so often Liberty does…
What Do Your Book Characters Look Like To Your Target Audience?
Curious what your book characters look like to your target audience? I have often wondered myself how others might see my characters. Do they picture them the way I visualize them? Have I done a good job describing my characters physical traits, style and personality? I teach fifth grade and recently began to think, hummm…fifth grade is middle grade, my first novel, Liberty Lane and the One-Girl Rebelution is a middle grade book…sooo, I wonder how these students (who just happen to be my target audience) would see my characters. Maybe I should read them my book! After I was several chapters…
Experiencing The Places My Novel’s Charecters Explore
Almost as much fun as writing my first novel was recently visiting the places I have brought to life. In Liberty Layne and the One-Girl Rebelution, my middle grade fiction novel, Liberty and her bff Calliope and cousin Lincoln head to San Francisco to audition for a singing competition. Familiar places to me are used to create my character’s stories, a scene at Pier 39 is one such example. I experienced Pier 39 for the first time my senior year in High School with some of my best friends, Michelle and Caroline. The following year, I drove from California Baptist University…
Writing A Novel? Reality Check!
I was under the impression writing my first novel was going to be the hardest part of writing a novel. Then, once it was written, the rest would be easy, right? Wrong. Reality Check! I have come to find writing my book was the easy part. Getting it published is going to be the hard part. I was blessed with positive feedback the first time I showed my novel to publishing houses at a writing conference last year so my experience has been very positive but with so many people writing ebooks and many consumers buying them, it has changed…
Speak Now Or Forever Hold Your Peace
The stage is set, the scene ready and whether it’s a book, movie or real life, when the reverend says, “Speak now or forever hold your peace” the crowd is silent and unmoving. For those few moments, they wait…will anyone have the guts to stand and say something? I kind of feel like my first novel is like that marriage waiting to be blessed, only I am the one needing to speak up. If I want anyone to read my novel, I have to share it. Or, I could stay silent and not risk failure…that would be the safe way to…