Castle & Hawaii Five-O---Action vs. Romance. What Draws You?

No new Castle or Hawaii Five-O to talk about this week, but next week's episodes look dang good.  But I got to thinking last night, what is it that really draws me to these shows?

I started watching Castle because it was about a writer and it was sort of like living vicariously for me.  I would love to follow a police detective around for a while.  But then I really started to love the characters.  Nathan Fillion is adorable and plays being a writer so well.  I loved the sparks between him and Beckett from the very beginning and that she was a fan of his books, but didn't want to let him know (since he's got a bit of an ego.)  I've loved seeing their relationship evolve from sparks to something much deeper.  So, yes, the cases are fun and have led to great moments, but it's really about the relationships for me not only between the main characters, but the whole team.

Hawaii Five-O is sort of the same.  I was drawn to a Navy SEAL heading up a task force in Hawaii.  I've loved the cases that show things unique to Hawaii and yes, I love all the scenery they show every week (I love you Hawaii) not to mention all the beautiful people.  The explosions and car chases and gunfights are also pretty cool, but lately, I've loved seeing how Steve has interacted with Catherine.  There's just something about a romance being added to the action that draws me in deep.  It just brings another dimension to the table that I love and makes for must-see TV for me.

As I thought about all my favorite shows, I realized it's been that way for a long time.  Scarecrow and Mrs. King, lots of action with a side of romance.  Alias, TONS of spy action with a really great angsty romance.  Even 24 had lots of gritty action and some romance for poor Jack.  (RIP Renee).

Not surprisingly, that's how I write my books, too.  Lots of action with a side of romance.  The story that I'm almost finished with follows that pattern, as well, and so, for the most part, I'm producing books that I'd like to read.  Or writing books in the same genre as shows I like to watch on television.  Which is probably a good thing, since I'm doing something I love and that hopefully others love, too.

What about you?  Do you love romance more than action?  What genres are your favorites?  If you're a Castle or Hawaii Five-O fan, what draws you?

Book Review: Lost Then Found

I'm not usually a fan of novellas, but I've been following this Aliso Creek series and I have loved every one.  Lost Then Found was no exception.

This is the story of Arie, an up and coming realtor who loves her job.  She's thirty and the book opens with her date telling her she's not the sort of girl he'd ever introduce to his mother.  Her reaction is funny and definitely deserved a slow hand-clap from the crowd that would grow into huge applause as she gives him what-for.  She's a feisty girl and that serves her well for when she meets Dustin Jacobs, a big-time movie producer who is demanding that someone bring the real estate papers over to his house immediately.  Without being able to contact her boss, Arie takes the papers over and is struck by how annoying and demanding Dustin is.  Not to mention that he's requested her to be his agent from now on and Arie knows that's going to cause a lot of headaches between her and her boss.

The book gave us a peek into what's happening with the other Aliso Creek series characters and it was the type of sweet beginning to a romance that gives you butterflies.  There are some really great one-liners in the book and even better kisses.  I think this is the first book in the series that I really wanted to have just one more chapter on, especially as a new character is introduced near the end and has so much storyline potential.  I hope we'll see these characters again (I would actually love a book two with this one) but I'm really looking forward to the next book in the series.

Here's the back copy:

Liz, Gemma, Arie, Jess, and Drew have been best friends since creating “the Five” at Aliso Creek High School. But that was over ten years ago, and each is still trying to find that perfect someone... if perfect is even possible.

Arie, at the top of her career as VP of an established real estate company, discovers that her success has led to a less-than-successful dating life. But she may have just met the ideal man in work-a-holic film producer, Dustin Jacobs. Seeing each other once a week, or even once a month, is no big deal since they are both ambitious… until Arie realizes she wants much, much more.

First Page Friday

Yay, it's Friday and we have a really great First Page Friday today.  I'm so grateful for authors who submit their work so we can learn from each other through the critiques.

If you would like your first page critiqued, please follow the guidelines in the sidebar.  See you next week!

The Entry
Untitled
by Linda Unsicker

For a full two seconds Nate's senses appeared to be failing him. The brilliant flash of lightning had rendered him momentarily blinded, and he felt as though he were staring at the negative of a photograph. The blacks and whites of the ship's deck were oddly interchanged, with shades of gray blurring the edges. His dreaded anticipation of the imminent crack of thunder seemed to mute all sounds around him; even the chaotic waves in the black sea below were strangely silent for those two seconds. He longed to plaster a wet hand over each ear, to squeeze his eyes shut and will away the present terror.

During one of the explosions of light, Nate had found a rope tied to a railing and had grabbed for it, steadying his feet on the tipping deck. He knew nothing could persuade him to let go of that rope, even the upcoming thunderous crash. He steeled his senses and closed his eyes as if to lessen the blow to his ears.

After three or four more bursts from the heavens, with ears ringing in protest, he realized with alarm that there were no lifeboats or life preservers in sight. Nate called out, but the sound of his voice did not even reach his own ears as the storm raged around him. He had been asleep down below the now-abandoned deck as the storm increased, and now he knew that the shouting and tumult of his dreams had been reality.

He dared not release his grip on the rope as the ship tipped precariously from side to side. Where had everyone gone? he wondered with a growing panic. He couldn’t decide which frightened him more: an abandoned ship in a terrific storm or the hateful water around him. And then the lightning revealed a large, black wave bearing down on the ship, about to engulf him.

With a fleeting thought of self preservation, his mind almost numb from fear, Nate threw himself over the side of the doomed boat, hoping that he would be clear of it when it went under. After the tumultuous crashing of waves and thunder, the muffled silence under the ocean seemed unnatural. He surfaced, kicking furiously, just as another intense flash showed the ship upended in the churning blackness.



Ms. Shreditor's Comments

This first page fires on a lot of the right cylinders. For starters, it’s really clean. I might tweak a few minor things here and there, but I’m impressed with the quality of editing in this sample. It’s not just the grammatical nuts and bolts; it’s also the way the prose flows as it’s read aloud. There’s a wealth of sensory imagery to make the unfolding scene more vivid, from the crashing waves and thunder to the explosions of light.

The pacing in this scene works quite well, too. There is a lot of physical movement as Nate tries to save his own life, and this helps to create a certain momentum in the narrative itself. My one concern is that the scene is so action-oriented that we can’t surmise much of substance from it. Is Nate alone on the ship? If so, why? Where was he headed before the storm struck? What are some of his circumstances? Character traits? Personal conflicts? It’s hard to see beyond the impending shipwreck in the absence of such details. That doesn’t mean, of course, that you have to cram everything on the first page, but you might consider dropping a few clues there to raise the stakes from the beginning.

Watch verb tenses in italicized thoughts. Where did everyone go? or Where has everyone gone? would work better in this instance. We rarely think in the past perfect tense (e.g., had gone); to the contrary, we often think in the present tense. Make sure that expressed thoughts in a narrative employ the appropriate tense. When in doubt, put yourself in your character’s shoes and think his/her thoughts yourself to gauge whether or not the verb tense feels natural.

Beyond the aforementioned suggestions, there’s not much I would change here. The most important order of business: Add some more personal details about Nate to help the reader forge an instant connection with him. The more we know about him from the outset, the more invested we’ll be in his story. Dropping character-defining details without information dumping is a delicate art, but I have every confidence that the author of this sample can walk that fine line and make it happen.

Anyone Can Write a Book, But Should They?

I get asked a lot of questions by aspiring writers.  Just last week I had a man ask me how important setting is to a story.  "Why can't they just imagine where they are?"  Which is a very good question.  Maybe he'll be the first author to write a story with no setting and do it well, who knows.  But for me, setting is how I get lost in the story and escape to another world, so I highly recommend it myself.

But last Sunday I had someone say that the publishing world had changed so that anyone can write a book and make enough income to get out of debt.  A few people looked over at me for my reaction and the first thing out of my mouth was, "Sure, anyone can write a book, but you still have to have a sellable product and know how to market it."  

Amazon has changed the publishing market to be sure.  There are thousands of self-published authors appearing almost daily it seems, and they don't have any clue what they're doing.  I've seen some books that had no formatting, some that were all one long paragraph, and others that didn't really make sense.  Authors are rushing the publishing process before they even have something publishable.  So here are two tips for you, if you are thinking of self-publishing.

Do not publish your first draft.  You might want to because of all the good feelings that come with finishing something, but don't do it.  Get some beta readers to read it over and point out the plot holes or places that don't make sense or where you have characterization issues.  Then read it out loud to yourself---you'd be surprised at how many errors you can find that way.  Step away from it for a few days, then come back with fresh eyes.  Use a scene chart like we talked about last week to make sure you've balanced plot/characterization/setting.  Know and use grammar and punctuation rules and DO NOT rely on spell check.  

Once you've gone through several drafts and made revisions to your story, get an editor.  I know everyone says they're too expensive, but if you look, you can find one in your price range.  I've known people to barter for editorial services, but whatever you have to do, it is worth it.  An editor polishes your work so that it shines and make people want to buy your book.  And your next book.  And your next.  If you have a poorly edited book out there, it is highly unlikely people will buy from you again because you have a reputation for not being well-edited and believe me, readers hate a ton of typos and bad grammar. Please, use an editor if at all possible.  

To sum up, revise and polish.  More than once.  Make your manuscript the very best it can be before you hit that publish button.  If you're not sure how to make your plot stronger or your characters more realistic, there are tons of great writing books out there.  Read some.  There are so many resources for newer authors. Use them.  Jordan McCollum's free PDFs are great and there are lots of things like that out there.  They aren't hard to find and will only help you as you work toward making your manuscript shine.

Writing is an art and not everyone sees things the same, but there is a framework to work in if you want to make money on it.  I have heard several authors wonder why they're not selling, but when I download a sample I can see from the first pages why they're not selling.  They haven't polished their product and the readers know it.  Do the work beforehand so you can reap the benefits.  

So, yes, anyone can write a book, but not everyone can write it well.  Do your homework and make your book the very best it can be before you share it with the world.  Then you can reap the benefits.

Word Count Wednesday

Well, my word count is down this week, but I'm SO happy about it.  You see, I'm coming to the end of my edits and soon this story will be ready for publication.  (There's another step of readers and one more pass through, but still, I'm CLOSE!)

I'm always sort of torn at this point in the process.  I've loved this story for so long and I'm excited to be *thisclose* to sharing it with the world.  But I'm also sad because it's almost over.  The creative process to tell Colby's story is coming to an end.  It's a little like having had a close friend visit you for several months and now they're leaving.  Sad.  But I'll console myself with the fact that Colby's story is AWESOME!

Do you ever feel that way when you finish a manuscript?  How did you do in your word count this week?

An Amazing 100th Episode of Castle

Last night's Castle was AMAZING!  I loved the whole thing from start to finish.  I even laughed out loud in the first five minutes when Castle is begging the guys to let him come along.  "I can be Charlie and you can be my angels," and then they did the pose.  Haha!

The rear window murder mystery had me on the edge of my seat.  The tension and suspense was pitch perfect.  It was also a nice touch having Beckett not believe him because of his painkillers and have tension between them because of it. Love, love, love.  Beckett's case was good, too, but Nathan Fillion outdid himself on this one.  When he's in the guy's apartment and Alexis is helping him, seriously, if I was a fingernail-chewer I would have chewed mine to the nib.

Finally getting some evidence to triumphantly show Beckett takes them to the storage locker where the rolled up rug is and the look on Stana Katic's face when they got caught was hilarious.  Even Captain Gates hit the mark in her dressing down of Castle.  The ensemble really brought it.

I think the height of tension when Beckett goes over to confront the murderer was electric.  When the lights went out and Castle is frantic to get to her before she's hurt, my heart was beating so fast.  And I was as shocked as he was with what he found.  The perfect ending.

It was like the Castle writers gave us everything we could ever want---relationship movement, (Beckett said she loved something about Castle) two great mysteries with twisty endings, and Castle moments with mom and Alexis, too.  Last night's 100th episode had it all and I loved every minute.

Did you watch it?  What did you think?  

Book Review: Blood Relations: A Good Mormon Girl Mystery

Holy cow.  That was the first thing I uttered after I finished this book.  It was that good.  It was the kind of book that I've been looking for (a twisty clean, really well-done mystery) and haven't quite been able to find to this degree.  It was unexpected.

Blood Relations by Michaelbrent Collings is about Lane Cooley, a captain and one of the best homicide detectives in the LAPD.  She's a Mormon, but it's just part of who she is.  There was one part of the book where it describes how her job sometimes makes her feel like she's standing over a dark abyss and prayer was what keeps her tethered from the darkness.  I'm not doing it justice at all, but that's how the book is---the LDS aspect is there, but not central. It's part of her, but not all of her.  It's layered into the story and a background aspect the author handles really well---which is hard to find these days.

Lane is investigating a serial killer who is murdering blonde, white, 17 year old girls.  Her investigative team is diverse and they've made a little family that gives them a foundation to get through the grisly parts of the job.  I really loved how quirky and real the team was, especially when danger drew them closer together.  And danger hits them hard when the serial killer sets his sights on Lane's 17 year old sister.  The tension was ramped up with every chapter and I read this sucker in one sitting.  I had to know who the killer was and even when I'd decided who it was, I was thrown off by the twist at the end.  Seriously, so, so good.  The sister is written so well and the growth in the characters was natural and organic. Since I had never read this author before, I was a bit surprised at how well he wrote women.

The writing is tight, the dialogue is natural, and the characters draw you in, although the serial killer and investigative elements are what really set this one apart.  I thought that Lane also being the Relief Society president was a bit unrealistic and since they really only have her deal with someone in her ward once, that storyline thread is pretty much dropped anyway and could have been left out.  But obviously that has no bearing on the story.  The mystery was so well-done, the idea that the story had an LDS character without the book being LDS was so gratifying, that that one little thing didn't matter.  The other complaint I had was the cover.  It looked so juvenile to me and not reflective of the really good writing inside it.  But, once you open the book the cover doesn't matter either, and the story will suck you in---hard. So, don't judge this book by its cover because you will be missing out on a great story if you do.

This book does describe some grisly parts of the murders, but they're not gory, which I appreciated.  There wasn't any swearing, sex, or gore, and I think I'd let my older teenagers read this one.  It was a chilling psychological thrill ride that really makes me want to check out this author for more Good Mormon Girl mysteries.

Here's the back copy:

Lane Cooley is the best Homicide Detective on the LAPD. But she isn't anything like you'd imagine. She's no fast-talking femme fatale... no, she's a Good Mormon Girl who doesn't smoke, drink, cuss, or even watch R-rated movies.

But that doesn't mean Lane misses out on all the blood and guts. Especially now. A new serial killer is in town, one who knows all the cops' tricks, all their secrets. One who is targeting young girls, killing them, and cutting them to pieces.

Now, Lane has to race against the clock to find the killer. Because the murderer has chosen his next victim. And it's Lane's little sister.