Hey guys! It’s National Friendship Day!! My author friend, Darby Baham, is having a cover reveal and giveaway for the 3rd book in her Friendship Chronicles series! LONDON CALLING releases SEPTEMBER 27, and you can enter THIS WEEK to win an advanced copy. US residents only.
Dear Writers,
The 2022 Writer’s Workshop of Chicago is taking place on June 10-11, 2022. It is an all virtual event, so anyone from anywhere can attend!
During the weekend, there will be workshops on craft, as well as pitch events. I will be there taking pitches via Zoom, and love to connect with authors. So…I am seeking:
*Romance/RomCom
*Cozies/Whodunits
*Mystery/Crime
*Women’s Fiction
If you think we might be a good fit, I’d love for you to pitch to me at the conference! Details here:
https://chicagowritingworkshop.com/
This is my first pitch event since November, and I am so excited! I Hope to see you there!
Welcome Readers! I am so pleased to introduce you to Rachel Mucha, author of Another Day, Another Partner. Released in January, 2022 from City Owl Press, Rachel’s RomCom/Crime novel features fun characters, punny boats, and an out-of-place “big-city” crime to solve–a perfect read for summer! I have had a blast reading this book, and getting to know Rachel. I can’t wait to share her insights with you!
SMNystoriak: Welcome! Rachel, I was hoping to give my readers a little bit of information about you. Can you provide them with a little snapshot into your background?
Rachel: Sure! I was born and raised in the suburbs of Philadelphia, and unsurprisingly, I spent a lot of time reading as a kid. By elementary school, I knew I wanted to be a writer when I grew up. I wrote a lot of short stories, and attempted my first novel when I was about fourteen, handwritten in a notebook (it did not go well!) Later, I attended Ithaca College as a journalism major, but I took a ton of English and creative writing classes while I was there. Post-grad, my day jobs have involved business writing and editing, but I continued writing books in my free time, because publishing one had been my dream since I was little. Now that I’ve done that, the next dream is to be able to support myself by writing books full-time!
SMNystoriak: What influenced you to become a writer?
Rachel Mucha: I was such an avid reader as a kid, I knew one day I wanted to write a book of my own. I got so attached to fictional characters, I loved the idea of creating some myself.
One of my biggest literary influences when I was younger was Meg Cabot. Her YA books, specifically The Mediator and 1-800-WHERE-R-U series, got me hooked on stories with mystery and romantic elements. Right before I sat down and started working on my debut novel, I read Janet Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum series, and it’s no exaggeration to say those books changed my life! I devoured them. The combination of mystery, romance and comedy felt like it was crafted just for me, and I knew that when I wrote a book, I wanted it to be like that. Evanovich is a huge reason why Another Day, Another Partner exists! A few readers have mentioned my book reminds them of Stephanie Plum, which I take as the ultimate compliment.
SMNystoriak: Your first published novel is Another Day, Another Partner, from City Owl Press. Prior to that, had you written any others?
Rachel Mucha: Before Another Day, Another Partner existed, I had an idea for a police procedural trilogy. It centers around detectives at a Cape Cod precinct, the crimes they deal with, corruption within the department, and their friendships and romantic relationships with each other. I actually have two books in this series finished, just sitting on my laptop. I tried querying the first book, Undertow, for about a year, and didn’t get any interest (which is when I then wrote and queried Another Day, Another Partner). I would love to revisit these books and polish them up. I’ve definitely grown as a writer since, but I still adore the characters I’ve created there, and I think they have a lot of potential.
SMNystoriak: Tell us about your writing process.
Rachel Mucha: When I’m pondering a new book idea, I always start with the characters before the plot. I usually think up two leads (who will eventually fall for each other, obviously!) and pick what kind of relationship I want them to have, whether that be enemies or colleagues or exes (or some combination of those).
Once I have a clear idea of what my characters’ personalities are like and how they’re going to interact with each other, I build the plot around that. (For example, my upcoming book Bad Press was born from the simple idea of “What if a crime reporter annoyed the crap out of a detective, and then they fell in love?”) I like forcing my characters to interact, and solving a mystery is a fun way to do that.
I used to be a hardcore “pantser,” having no plan and just seeing where the story ended up as I wrote. Those days are behind me! I’m way more of an outliner and planner now. I even have random notes and scenes written for my characters that are two or three books down the road, just so I don’t forget. I love thinking really far ahead. I have long-term plans for so many of my characters – so I’m a little all over the place, but there’s definitely organization amongst the chaos.
I try not to jump around to too many different WIPs, but…sometimes I get so excited about a new idea, I can’t help myself. I probably have about eight WIPs started, and I have no clue how I’ll have the time to finish them all.
SMNystoriak: A comment: So much about what I love about Another Day, Another Partner, is the relationship between Lulu and Dom. The enemies-to lover’s trope is alive and well with them! And you write their banter so well. Brilliant!
Rachel Mucha: Thank you! Enemies-to-lovers is my all-time favorite trope. It’s so fun watching two people go from annoyance/hate to love; it’s the ultimate emotional journey. And who doesn’t love characters teasing each other and bantering because they’re trying to ignore growing feelings?! I had a blast writing Lulu reluctantly realizing that Dom is the perfect guy.
SMNystoriak: Your book takes place in a small Rhode Island town. Have you ever visited it? What prompted you to choose that locale for your story?
Rachel Mucha: I absolutely love New England. I’d move there in a heartbeat if it weren’t for the winters. A few years ago I went on a road trip and visited several towns in Connecticut, Massachusetts and Rhode Island – and I fell in love. Coastal settings in books are my favorite, so I knew I wanted Another Day, Another Partner set on the New England coast. There’s also something interesting to me about the juxtaposition of a crime happening at the beach. People expect crime in big cities, but small coastal towns? Not so much. It adds a cool dimension to the story, I think.
SMNystoriak: Another Day, Another Partner is such a fun read! Without giving away too many specifics, what were some of your favorite parts to write?
Rachel Mucha: I touched on it a little already, but definitely the progression of Lulu and Dom’s relationship – how a young cop with trust issues was able to open up and accept her new partner, when she really didn’t want to. It was fun figuring out how to gradually get Lulu to warm up to Dom.
And while I liked writing the banter and the humorous parts, I also loved when I got to write the dramatic scenes. There’s one scene where Lulu and Dom have an argument that gets pretty heated, and that was so fun to write because up until then, Dom had been such an easy-going guy. It was an enjoyable challenge to write him frustrated and upset – it added more depth to his character and showed readers that this nice guy would stand his ground.
SMNystoriak: Many of your readers have also commented that they LOVE Lulu’s younger sister Val in this book. How did you come up with her character, and the role she would play in the story?
Rachel Mucha: It’s funny how much people love Val, because I hadn’t really planned on her doing much in the story at first. I knew I wanted Lulu’s family to be included in the book, and I liked the idea of giving her a meddling little sister. But as I wrote, Val’s involvement in the story really evolved, and I thought it would be hilarious to have this teenager helping cops take down drug dealers. I wanted to create a rag-tag team vibe, which is one of my favorite parts of cozy mysteries. And Val interfering in Lulu’s love life, as little sisters are wont to do, was a great added bonus.
SMNystoriak: Speaking of Val, here’s a fun question: What kind of music would she be streaming? What about TV shows/Movies?
Rachel Mucha: Val would definitely be obsessed with reality tv and probably follow the Kardashians religiously. I could see her watching crime shows, both fictional and real. Maybe Lulu would comment on how inaccurate the detective shows are and Val groans dramatically and says, “Why do you have to ruin everything?”
As for music, I think I have Val listening to Britney Spears at some point in the book. I could see her listening to mid-2000s throwbacks a lot, since she’s a “2000s kid.”
SMNystoriak: Along those lines, it’s time to think about the writer’s dream for a bit: If Another Day, Another Partner were to become a film, what would you want to be included on the soundtrack? Are there any specific actors you would love to see in the main roles?
Rachel Mucha: I know a lot of writers assemble playlists for their books, which I love…but I haven’t done that! I have no clue what kind of music I’d like to hear in a movie adaptation, but I’d love to get suggestions from readers.
As for actors, I think Selena Gomez would make a great Lulu. (I came to this conclusion after watching her in Only Murders In The Building). As for Dom, I have no idea! It’s funny, when I’m working on a project, I can often think of actresses to play my female leads, but I can never pick actors for the male leads. It feels like no real man can compare to the perfect image I have in my mind! Whoever plays Dom would definitely need to be very charming. I also imagine him as boy-next-door handsome, not necessarily some rugged, sexy guy. Again, I would love to hear reader suggestions for this!
SMNystoriak: So many of us absolutely love Lulu and Dom, and can NOT wait to read more about them! Is there a sequel in the works? If so, are there any little gems you can tell us about it—without giving away too many details?
Rachel Mucha: Yes, there’s a sequel in the works! I definitely want readers to see more of Lulu and Dom’s adventures, and how their relationship will continue to progress. The sequel is a lot of fun, and probably just as outrageous and far-fetched as the first book. The basic gist is Dom takes Lulu to his sister’s wedding out of town, and while they’re there, a guest in the hotel is murdered. So, naturally, Lulu and Dom join the investigation and are determined to catch the killer (with some assistance from everyone’s favorite supporting characters, too, of course!)
The picture above really makes me think of a certain Boat scene in Another Day, Another Partner, lol! Thank you so much for taking the time to let me readers get to know you. I have loved every minute I have spent with your characters, and can’t wait for the next installment!
Your turn! Let me know in the comments if you have had the chance to read Rachel’s Debut! And, as always, I’d love to hear what books you have on tap for summertime reading!
If you are a fan of RomCom/Crime with Romance, check out Rachel Mucha’s debut, Another Day, Another Partner: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09NDZ95PT?ref=KC_GS_GB_US
Author website: rachelmuchabooks.com
Twitter and Instagram: @rachmucha
Dear Readers,
I hope you have all been well. With so much going on locally, nationally, and around the globe, it’s been a really long time since I have been able to sit down and blog. The pandemic was rough. And now, I hear we are in the “endemic” phase, and it’s still rough. But there is a bright, shiny silver lining, and that is that author events are happening more frequently!
This past November, I was fortunate to be invited to present and take pitches at the Independent Publisher’s of New England virtual conference. That was my very first time presenting virtually, and I was surprised at the wonderful interaction! The event was run so smoothly, and I am grateful to have been invited.
Here is a link to the wonderful list of events:
Now that summer is coming, I am happy to announce that I will be participating in several more events for authors. Here is a list of virtual and in-person events where I will be taking pitches….and perhaps presenting, as well!
June 11, 2022 Writer’s Day Workshop (virtual event)
July 9, 2022 Writer’s Day Workshop (virtual event)
August 6, 2022 Writer’s Day Workshop (virtual event)
August 12-14, 2022 League of Vermont Writer’s: Writer’s Meet Agents (in-person event)
If you are thinking about pitching your work to me at one of these events, please check out my most recent #MSWL, here.
I am so happy that these events are happening, and that I can be involved. Have any of you taken part in any writerly events, either virtual or in-person? I’d love to hear about it!
More details about these events will be forthcoming…I hope you’ll stay tuned!
Hello! Welcome to my Writer’s Block! Today, I’d like to bring up the idea of a writerly roller coaster. Can you relate to any of these ideas?
Being a writer is gratifying: The pictures in your mind, poured out through your fingertips, and transformed onto the leaves of a page. It’s a glorious feeling when a project comes to completion, or even simply when an early draft is complete.
But sometimes, being a writer is riddled with frustration. The pictures in your mind, knotted up in your fingertips, and hurling themselves, if you’re lucky, into a garbled mess on the screen in front of you. Again, if you’re lucky. Sometimes, a writer comes up empty.
The struggle is real, folks. We face the writerly roller coaster each and every day, hour to hour, even minute to minute. The words may flow with perfection one moment, then…they are gone. Writer’s block strikes again.
I revel in times of writerly feast, and ride that creative wave for as long as I can, but when writer’s block hits, I have to turn to other sources for help. When faced with Writer’s Block, there are several things I like to try to dislodge the blocks which hold my words back.
The process of writing is both glorious and challenging. I encourage you to celebrate your successes voraciously; I know I do! And when writer’s block hits, I challenge you to go after inspiration with just as much gusto! What are some of your go-to ideas for combatting the inevitable writer’s block? And how do you celebrate your writing victories? I’d love to hear all about it!
Thank you for stopping by today. Please leave your comments below!
This is a really great way to describe these different genres. As an author, I find it a real challenge to categorize my own work. This is a big help!
Knowing how to categorize your work is one of the most important skills a writer needs to know–especially while querying. Here’s an infographic to help. It’s not perfect and there are many places that writers won’t fit into and that doesn’t mean it’s not a marketable book. However, learning how to market yourself starts with knowing where your book stands and where it will sit on bookshelves.
My husband and I were married in 1996, which, in baseball terms, was Derek Jeter’s Rookie year as a Yankee. During the years that followed, we watched Jeter and the other members of the Yankees became super-successful in subsequent years. As a Yankee fan, I can tell you it was a thrilling time to follow the team.
Tonight, Jeter’s Number 2 was retired, and to commemorate the event, there were televised interviews and memories shared. But, what was it about Jeter that made him so great? Was it natural born talent? Was it that his parents raised him a particular way? Was it that he surrounded himself with people he wanted to emulate? Perhaps. More than likely, a combination of these created the baseball player he eventually would become.
During the Jeter event today, one commentator made a statement which stuck with me. He said something to the effect of “To achieve greatness, you can’t be afraid to fail.”
Ugh. That’s really hard. So many of us are programmed to “fail to fail”. We are taught that failure is bad, that failure will keep you from your goal. As a writer, failing can mean something small, like I don’t complete my word count, or something large, like secure a publishing contract. It means I might hit writer’s block and not be able to move a work forward. It could mean that the concept of a work in progress is a no-go, even when I have spent many months, or even years, trying to develop it.
Failure can be debilitating.
But it doesn’t have to be. During the Jeter festivities tonight, more than one person commented that Jeter expected to win every day. He gave his all every time out on the field. When he “failed” on the field, his took that failure as an opportunity for growth. That’s why he was such a good Yankee captain.
#Re2pect
Jeter was successful because he wan’t afraid to fail.
As writer’s, we can use this concept to our advantage. What does failure as a writer really mean? Sure, the word count miss, or the lack of a publishing contract seems like they are fails. However, in the bigger picture, we can look at these little failures as part of our eventual path to greatness. If we keep at it, refuse to give up, change some things when what we are doing doesn’t work out, we will all get there.
Next time, when writer’s block hits, I think I will try something “radical” with my plot or characters, and see where it takes me. Maybe next time, I won’t be afraid to play with the structure of a work, if it seems to be “failing”. I hope I have the courage to do so.
I’m glad I got to watch Jeter’s celebration tonight between games of the double header. It gave me the courage to accept failure as part of a longer, more interesting, path to authorly success.
I hope things are going well with you all, and thanks for reading. Do you have any advice for spinning failure into the big picture of success? Let me know in the comments!
Welcome back, Readers! The picture above, which fits our literary/food theme so well (and apples for Fall…what could be better!), comes to us from literarytravels.net. The caption under their photo states, “From Proust’s Madeleines to William Faulkner’s Mint Juleps, great literature has always influenced readers’ experiences of food.” Even though I focus this blog series on new novels, and the authors who wrote them, the sentiment rings true.
For today’s installment of my food-tastic blog series, I introduce you to author CC Dowling…and Liv, the main character of her novel, CONDUIT. To get us started, here is a scene from the novel which mentions the recipe included here.
Set up: Liv is on her way out the door for the first day of school when she spots breakfast.
As I head to the back door to get my bike, something in the kitchen catches my eye. Pancakes! I drop my backpack with a thud and belly-up to the breakfast counter.
Elia knows I can’t resist her almond meal and flax seed pancakes with pure Grade B maple syrup. I dump way too much syrup on the plate before unfolding the note that’s in serious danger of becoming sticky.
Liv,
Today is a big day for you, the first of many to come. I read in an online article that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. I know, I know…the debate rages on. Just in case it’s true, I hope you will consider this pancake offering as brain food—not that you need any help.
I’m so proud of you.
Knock em dead.
Love,
Mom
Tears fill my eyes, threatening to spill over and streak my mascara. Using the note as a fan, I dry my tears, resisting the urge to rub and smear my mascara. When I’m sure the moment is passed, I toss the note into my backpack and lick every last crumb from my plate before putting it in the sink.
Now, in her own words, here is Liv Hartley, from CONDUIT, by CC Dowling.
Hello everybody! My name’s Vivienne Hartley, but you can call me Liv for short. I’m a freshman studying naturopathic medicine at the California College of Natural Health in sunny Fallbrook, just north of San Diego. A few fun facts about me: I ride my bike everywhere, when I’m not jumping through dimensional portals; I’ve died once already and it isn’t fun, I don’t recommend it; and I have a love of food. Seriously, I can’t get enough, especially when my mom cooks. Her all organic, health conscious food with ‘tude makes even my grumpy afterlife caseworker mumble a polite request for seconds.
So, in the spirit of sharing (Ha! Yes, even the dead like puns), here is the recipe for Elia’s famous-to-me gluten free, paleo friendly, banana and cinnamon pancakes she made for me the first day of school. Because she loves me. And because she rocks.
Banana Cinnamon Pancakes
Preparation:
Ta da! Congratulations! You now have amazing, delicious brain food to last you the day. Well, at least until lunch. I hope you enjoy, and I hope you add to your reading list CONDUIT, Book 1 of the Infinity Series, written by CC Dowling. It’s a story about me trying to figure out the afterlife, and how to have a life. You might have to wait until 2017 to get that novel into your hot little hands, but you don’t have to wait to enjoy my favorite pancakes.
OH! Also, if you have a brilliant, amazing, utterly yummy idea on how to improve said pancakes, please leave a comment, and I will try them all. Uh, probably. Maybe. Depending on what you suggest.
About CONDUIT:
Two things happen to Liv Hartley the day she turns eighteen: Freshman orientation and a tattoo. College she’s got covered. After all, she was a senior when she died the first time. The tattoo, that’s something new.
Liv quickly discovers there are consequences to bearing the coveted infinity symbol marking her as a Conduit—a reincarnated messenger of the Otherworld. When reaping souls, dodging a possessive demon, and straightening out her love life are the least of her worries, she’ll soon realize that getting a second chance doesn’t mean getting a better one.
With more questions piling up than either answers or bodies, there’s only one thing Liv knows for sure. Life doesn’t get any easier after death.
About the author:
When she was a child, CC Dowling knew two things. That she would never have kids, and she would be a writer, which makes her right half the time. CC currently lives in America’s finest city with her grade schooler (who plays in the back yard with the faeries), her toddling daughter (who loves everyone and can’t stop smiling), her husband (the financial shaman), her aussie (with mesmerizing blue eyes), and her very real pet dragon (who guards the perimeter of her house at night). When she’s not working or writing (which is still technically working), CC can be found lost in a good book and a dark piece of chocolate, or desperately trying to figure out which pair of sandals are the most appropriate for the harsh Southern California winters.
Her debut novel, CONDUIT, is the first in a New Adult Paranormal series.
Welcome, Readers!
The photo above, shows a Great Gatsby-inspired meal. From the website, it states: Waldorf Salad in a lettuce cup, and deviled egg, photographed in Walnut Creek, Calif., on Wednesday, April 24, 2013. http://www.denverpost.com. I think it’s a great photo, and really sets the tone for what this blog series is about.
Today begins a month-long series, where some of my writerly friends and I will be sharing a little bit about our books, and recipes and foods which are inspired by them. I intend to share a new post each week of October, highlighting an author or two, each time.
Planning this series was meaningful to me. Foods and customs help to shape who we all are. When writing, it’s important to include those types of things, because it helps create character depth, and brings a more intimate knowledge of the story to light. When I read a novel, I want to feel like I live with those characters for a while. This blog series is an attempt to bring you, the Reader, closer to living within the pages of our novels. Join us!
For the first post in the series, I introduce you to J.M. Frey, the author of The Accidental Turn Series. Here she is, posting in her own words.
Bevel Dom’s Questing Cuisine
by J.M. Frey
One of the most fun parts of world building is figuring out the cuisines of the world. What grows in this climate? What is their staple grain? How often do they go to market? What kind of growing season do they get? Do they trade with neighbors, or neighboring counties, or neighboring countries? Do the highborn eat the same foods as the peasantry? Who gets to hunt on what land, and what sort of creatures do they consider food-animals over pet-animals?
For my novels and novellas in The Accidental Turn series, I firmly established a world where bread, cheese, European-style fruits and root vegetables, and farmed meat were the standards of faire. But my rogue and roving heroes – Kintyre Turn and Bevel Dom – were more likely to live off the land. Venison, eel, dried fruit and nuts, and foraged potatoes were more their speed. And in a world were exotic spices were non-existent and everyone – everyone human that is – had a kitchen garden filled with the same herbs, Bevel kept a string of cylindrical tins attached to his sword belt, and the spice blends he’d wheedled out of centaur chefs and night elf kitchen maids were his greatest treasure.
In his seventeen years as a roaming sword-for-hire, Bevel developed several clever and ingenious ways to serve up road-rations and just-caught creatures to make them palatable to two hungry Heroes. Here is one of them:
Bevel, trying to break through the heavy atmosphere, hands one of the leaf-wrapped packages to me, and the other to Kintyre. Wordlessly, Kintyre holds it out to Pip, and Pip, equally wordlessly, takes it. I take my own from Bevel, accepting the temporary truce, and it is still hot; it singes my fingertips a little. It steams as I unwrap it, and I am pleased to see that it is a sort of roll made up of meat wrapped around dried fruit. It is juicy and delicious, and I realize how hungry I am on the first bite.
“We’ve been doing this part of adventuring wrong,” Pip moans around her own mouthful.
Bevel pinks again. “I’ve had a long time to practice. Luckily, Kin was willing to put up with my experimentation.”
“And I’m lucky Bevel actually enjoys cooking and was willing to experiment,” Kin says around a mouthful. “We got sick of standard travel fare pretty quick.”
BEVEL’S SWEET MEAT ROLLS
Build up your camp fire in advance so that by the time you’ve prepared your rolls the embers are hot and cherry red. Pour three handfuls of dried fruit into your travel cup and soak it with liquor – whiskey, sherry, or brandy work best. Wait until all the liquid has been absorbed into the fruit; while you’re doing that pound your cuts of meat flat and lay them on the leaves. Muddle and chop the fruit and nuts together, and spread a thin layer over the meat. Sprinkle with your spice blend. Roll the meat and fruit mixture like a scroll, fold the leaf around it (making sure to tuck in the edges to the fire doesn’t crisp them), and secure all with a bit of string soaked with water. Place the whole package on the edge of the fire, and leave for upwards of an hour, until the meat is at your preferred cooking level, or your companion is complaining of hunger. Serve with a trencher of bread if you have any. Potatoes, baked in the fire, work just as well.
Or, I suppose y0u could do it on the Barbeque, if you want to cheat.
*
J.M. is a voice actor, SF/F author, fanthropologist and professional smartypants on AMI Radio’s Live From Studio 5. She’s appeared in podcasts, documentaries, and on television to discuss all things geeky through the lens of academia. She also has an addiction to scarves, Doctor Who, and tea, which may or may not all be related. Her life’s ambitions are to have stepped foot on every continent (only 3 left!) @scifrey | http://www.jmfrey.net/
You can find out more about Bevel Dom and The Accidental Turn series here.
This is something I have worried about as an author. There is some interesting info here! What steps do you all take to protect your work? Originally posted on the blog, Jeans Writing.
Or a flood, or should someone steal your computer?
I don’t know about you but, I’d have a freaking heart attack!
We’ve all know to back up our work. I do this religiously to an external hard drive. A hard drive that is in my closet, that would burn up with my laptop and house in a fire.
Geesh! Give me a minute while I bang my head on table.
September 15, 2016, the Associated Press reported about a fire. Nothing unusual about fires, they happen every day. Unless you are the victim. As was the case for Gideon Hodge a novelist that realized his only copies were on a laptop inside.
Mr. Hodge rushed past firefighters into the blazing inferno to save his computer.
So all of this got me…
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S.M. Nystoriak's Writer's Block 