So You Want to Write a Novel by Elizabeth Alsobrooks

 

So you’ve decided to write a novel. If you have already started, you are beginning to realize it’s not quite as easy as you might have thought. Or, you haven’t started and are wondering how to begin. Either way, there are some rather basic steps that are sure to help. Writing is a craft and every craftsperson needs some tools. They can’t all be provided or explained in a single blog, but some basic building blocks can be discussed. All stories need some basic characteristics to be successful. This blog briefly discusses the basics and then focuses on the portion least covered: the sagging middle.

Before you begin writing any novel, you need to understand genre. Why is that important? Well, unless you are writing for your own personal enjoyment and have no intention of publishing your work or sharing it with others, you need to consider your audience. The reason that’s an important first step is that every genre has a certain amount of structure and rules that readers expect from a book written in that genre. Some even have pretty straightforward formulas. Reading a book or two about that genre’s structure is a good idea.

For example, romance has some pretty serious rules and the readership is so sure about what they like and expect in their reading that the genre itself has many subgenres that appeal to particular audiences, from torrid exotica to sweet inspirational and everything in between.

Whatever genre you choose it’s a good idea to become well read in that particular genre and analyze what about certain books make them bestsellers. Whether it’s an intricate plot, unique writing style, in-depth characters or any combination of these traits, the most popular writers are consistent in delivering what their audience wants and expects. Figuring this out is what reading like a writer is all about. Literature majors often write an entire thesis on a particular writer’s style or storytelling technique.

Once you have decided on a genre you need to discover if you’re an in-depth plotter or what they call a pantser, someone who writes by the seat of their pants. But even if you’re a pantser, you need a basic understanding of story. Otherwise, you will run into trouble sooner rather than later.

One of the most common problems pantsers face is a sagging middle. A successful story is actually more than a series of events. It’s more than just a beginning, middle and end. Tension must rise, characters must have goals and motivation in order to grow, and conflict has to exist so characters have something to overcome.

The most common reasons for a sagging middle, the point where most readers would become bored and stop reading (death to a writer), are that too much was revealed too soon about the characters, a subplot or secondary character has taken over and the plot is wandering without purpose, which basically means there is too little structure. For a plotter this is sometimes avoided, but a pantser has to become more focused at this time.

Some ways to avoid a sagging middle are to add interesting plot twists, introduce an unexpected character that adds a complication, reveal some change in the main character’s motivation, increase the consequences for the character if they fail to achieve their goal, or change the setting. Whatever you do, you have to increase the tension and change is the easiest way. Change who, what where, when or why.

The beginning is where you introduce an inciting event. It’s what they call starting in the middle of things, pulling the reader in by making them wonder what’s coming next. It's that what’s coming next that writers sometimes lose track of.

They forget to add an important ingredient: complication. What is being complicated? The main character’s achievement of their goal is being threatened. The writer must make sure the reader never loses sight of the goal or the consequences of the main character failing to achieve that goal.

Even if you’re a pantser you need to decide on the exciting beginning (inciting incident), the complication, the climax and the resolution. You need an exciting beginning to suck your readers into your story, to make them care about your character and what is going to happen to them. You need to add interest by adding complications, plot twists. You need a climax, that moment where it appears all is lost and there’s no way the character will achieve their goal. Then, you need a resolution, even if that resolution isn’t as complete as an ever after (unless it’s a romance in which case you better have that couple achieve their HEA).

Pantsers must remember that aimless exploration can get your plot lost. Plotters should remember that their outline must include enough foreshadowing and complications to keep up the pace and make their story a page-turner. Whatever you decide to include, never forget the golden rule that every single scene and event MUST move the story forward.

So let’s get your story started!

2 Romantic Craft Books

I love to read romantic comedies or cheer on the love side plots in a novel, but I learned while trying to write my sequel (still working on this one) that I stink at actually writing any type of romance that goes deeper than shallow hints of interest.

Lucky for me, my critique partners had 2 great craft books for me to check out.

Romancing the Beat:

Have you ever picked up a craft book that was so thick (and repetitive) that you weren’t sure if you’d ever finish? Romancing the Beat is the perfect cure.

It’s short and to the point, and chock full of useful, practical advice. If you’re new to romance or need some more training (like me) this is an easy find and read that I’d recommend.

The Kdrama Cure:

I’d love to say that there’s only romance arc I attempted and failed buuuut that would be a lie. In fact, I’ve tried several times to no avail and of course one of those was a kdrama-esque one, so my lovely writing friends suggested this one.

If you’re like me and you love the pacing and the tropes of the kdrama world, this one is totally for you.

It’s slightly thicker than my first suggestion, but not by much and there’s so much good information in there. 

The thing about writing is that there are so many stories to tell and it’s completely okay if you don’t have all the skills you need to tell a particular story just yet. Learn your weaknesses and dive into a craft book, then try again because who knows? 

You might just tell your best story yet.

RodeoHouston!! Chili Cookoff!! Texas Cowboys!

 

It’s almost rodeo time in Houston, and traffic around the NRG Stadium crawls to a stop.  Since 2003, the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo (RodeoHouston) has been held at NRG.  HLSR is the largest livestock exhibitions and rodeo in the world and offers the richest purses.  Kickoff is marked by the Downtown Rodeo Roundup held near Houston City Hall, the Downtown Rodeo parade, and the ConocoPhillips Rodeo Run – a 10k and 5k walk & run and the World's Championship Bar-B-Que Contest (the Chili Cookoff, which is a major event in HLSR each year).  I always wanted to participate in the Downtown Rodeo Parade. Since 1938, the nation’s fourth largest city is transformed from a bustling metropolis to a down-home celebration of Western heritage. Decorative floats intermingle with thousands of men and women on horseback to fill the streets with hoof beats and marching bands. This year, the parade begins at Bagby and Walker Streets. 

In 2019, there were more than 2.5 million total attendees during the 24-day event, and HLSR was proud to welcome visitors from 75 countries.  The livestock and horse shows drew more than 34,000 entries, and the junior auction sales totaled more than $17 million.  Incidentally, 376,000 oreos were battered, fried, and dusted with powdered sugar. 

The rodeo has drawn some of the world's biggest recording artists, including Dixie Chicks, Elvis Presley, George Strait, Garth Brooks, Willie Nelson, Bon Jovi and Lynyrd Skynyrd to mention a few.  When I lived in Houston, I attended several times. Once, I saw the Zach Brown Band in concert. This year look for Keith Urban, Tim McGraw, For King and Country, and many more. This link lists the entertainers:  https://www.vividseats.com/houston-rodeo-tickets/performer/3990?vkid=15545236&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=224472362&utm_term=&adgroup=18105086522&target=dsa-396144174663&device=c&gclid=Cj0KCQiAuP-OBhDqARIsAD4XHpckWrpFLqrkv-UHbShwGMTWoS2yn79V8c6jrQZsoHHZB6uttfwA9ywaAqg-EALw_wcB

 The 2022 HLSR will begin February 28, 2022 and end March 20.

  For those of you who like to imbibe, there are numerous beer tents and a relatively quiet wine garden.

 In The Texas Cowboy, there are several mentions of RodeoHouston. Charlie, a supporting character, was a bronc rider, and he rode in HLSR.  Charlie is the ranch foreman. The hero Ash Colter gives him carte blanche to entertain his ex-girlfriend while she is on a surprise visit from England, and that’s where Book Two, The Cowboy Duke, is born. Can an English Duchess make a Texas cowboy’s spurs go jingle-jangle-jingle?  The Cowboy Duke tells us (in my humble opinion).

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09QP4C5NZ

 

Let’s all go to RodeoHouston! I want to be present and accounted for at the Chili Cookoff. It’s not just chili, but beef brisket, music, and even impromptu dancing. It’s a party, RodeoHouston-style.

BLURB:

When Ash Colter was twelve, his mother divorced his cattle baron father and whisked him away to raise in her native England. Sixteen years later, when his father dies, he inherits Marathon Ranch. Running a 1,000-acre spread famous for the best Black Angus cattle in the great state of Texas is the biggest challenge he’s ever faced…until he meets a pert, pretty, and sassy ranch hand who seems to have her own agenda for his ranch. Unfortunately, she makes his spurs go jingle-jangle-jingle like no one else ever has!

Trish Owens is a real cowgirl, a loner, and, though she’d never admit it, a little lonely. When the “English Cowboy” appears on the scene, her entire way of life is threatened, not only her job, but her beloved Quarter horses. She’s sure he plans to import his thoroughbreds from England. Worst of all is the chemistry sizzling between them. He makes feelings she thought long dead awaken.

Can these two unwilling allies set aside their differences to put Marathon Ranch in the Winner’s Circle…and to fall in love?

EXCERPT:

Squinting in the sudden sunlight, Ash sized up a woman about his age. In jeans with a burgundy Marathon tee, she was slender but curvy.  Her blonde hair looked as if it had been hurriedly ponytailed. Wayward strands dangling everywhere framed her face. On closer examination, he decided she wasn’t hard on the eyes. In a non-fancy way. But then he was accustomed to Dorothy—High maintenance with a capital High Maintenance.

The girl tilted an odd look at him.  Then she suffered a wardrobe malfunction. The band holding her ponytail broke. Blonde silk gushed over her big, chocolate brown eyes. A graceful hand, stained black by hoof polish, swiped the thick mess back from a pretty face. Her unsmiling mouth was generous and wide. Feed her and clean her up, and she’d be a presentable…opponent. The chill in what should have been melting brown eyes was as unwelcoming as Deanne’s steely green gaze.

He snapped a smart salute, imitating her stance. “I’ll do that, ma’am. I’m Ash Colter. You are?”

“Trish.”  One word. No introduction. More or less bugger off.

He stuck out his hand. “My pleasure, Trish. I assume you work with the horses.”

“Right assumption.” Gazing intently into his eyes, she accepted his handshake. “How could you tell?” she asked, her voice dripping sarcasm.

“The hoof polish was a big clue.”

She glanced down at her stained hand. Her handshake was firm, confident, another person he felt he could trust. The color of her eyes was quite rare with her blonde hair. Very striking, but at the moment, they challenged him to measure up to her standards. Oh but no, he refused to have two bitches to contend with. This one was no problem. Employees could be towed into line. Or dismissed.

“Maybe I’ll see you around the stables.” He popped the trunk, dismissing her as curtly as was polite but smiling inside. What a feisty filly.

“The funeral is day after tomorrow,” Trish said, loud enough to carry. Her native Texan accent was music to his ears, but he could scarcely believe what she’d said. “Mrs. Colter waited to give you time to get here.”

He froze with his hand on the hot trunk. Without turning, in a voice like ice, he spat, “Thank you for telling me, Deanne.”

“You didn’t know?” The amazed question burst from the gutsy Trish.

As a sharp pang of grief broke through his carefully erected walls, he visibly winced.  He’d lost his father, and his stepmother had planned the funeral without consulting him. What else had she planned to cut him out of? Knowing her for what she was, still her cruelty shocked him. What if he’d been delayed? He’d have missed his final farewell to his father. Sick at heart, he swiped a hand across his burning eyes. He couldn’t trust himself to speak around the sudden lump in his throat. Gritting his teeth, he slammed the trunk. Shouldering his duffle, he faced a sea of surprised expressions. He could scarcely see them for the sheen of emotion clouding his vision.

Angry now, he tried but failed to modulate his voice. Dark emotion crept into his gruff tone. “No one saw fit to tell me.”

“Oh?” Trish’s eyebrows darted up, her wide eyes shifting to Deanne. “You’re kidding.” In unconcealed shock, and perhaps reproach, she gaped at her employer.

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

After 14 years in Texas, Linda returned home to her roots in the South Carolina red clay. She has eight published novels, four of which are available in audio from Audible.com. For many years, she bred, trained, and showed the magnificent Andalusian horses. So, she’s seen a lot of this country from the windshield of a truck pulling a horse trailer. She won The Georgia Romance Writers’ Magnolia Award for Excellence, the Raven Award, and the SARA Merritt. In real life, she was a legal assistant. She loves to dress up, use the good china and crystal, and host formal dinner parties. She has a fondness for sports cars like her current ride, Zippy Z.

 

LINKS:

 

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/LNightingale

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/LindaNightingaleAuthor

Web Site:  http://www.lindanightingale.com – Visit and look around. There’s a free continuing vampire story.

Blog:  https://lindanightingale.wordpress.com/ - Lots of interesting guests & prizes

Goodreads:  https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4839311.Linda_Nightingale

Pinterest:  https://www.pinterest.com/lbnightingale1/

Amazon:  https://www.amazon.com/Linda-Nightingale/e/B005OSOJ0U

Book Bub:  https://www.bookbub.com/profile/linda-nightingale

Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/linda.nightingale.52/

 

 

 

Save the Roses by Marilyn Barr

 

Once Valentine’s Day is over, do you have plans for your roses? Rose Water, rose dust, dried petals, what about the thorns? I’d like to share with you were favorite ways of using all the parts of the flower. Don’t throw away a powerful witchy element which has the power to boost self-love. Since the 7^th century BC, roses have been bringing people together and rose water has been making people more attractive…but not in the method you would think.

  Linked to the root chakra, rose (especially naturally red not florist dyed roses) boost self-esteem, security in one’s self, and feminine intuition. Roses do not attract people to you with a love potion. They fill you with self-love and confidence. Confidence is sexy. The law of attraction says this self-love with bring other confident people into your life because you are giving off positive energy. So, no hypnotism here.

The easiest way to incorporate roses into your rituals is to grind the dried petals in a spice grinder before adding them to a bath or self-love jar. Want to add an element of protection? Grind the thorns with the petals. The dust will be soft, and you will not feel a difference. The reason for the grinding is to save your drains (or jetted tubs) from being clogged with petals. Anyone who has spent time picking the congealed petals off their bathtub can tell you it’s no fun.

More complicated ways to add rose is by making rose water, rose tincture, or rose essential oil. Because Roses take so much care, I buy all of these instead of making them. I haven’t found a local florist who doesn’t bleach or dye their flowers either. You can guess that Alison provides fresh roses to all of Strawberry KY’s witches but who has a magical green witch for a neighbor? Rose liquids can be worn for a boost of confidence during the day and a boost of feminine intuition during the night. I will add rose to my pillowcases before putting them into the dryer to get the boost without such a strong scent.

How will you use your roses?

Are Old TV Shows Considered Underrated?

 

By Keri Kruspe

Isn’t it amazing how the shows you grew up with as a child stick with you long after your childhood does? When I was young, my mother was an avid watcher of all things paranormal (not that I think it was called paranormal back then). Because there was no cable, DVD’s or streamlining, we had to watch what she did. She never missed an episode of the favorites I’ve included in this article, as well as some I didn’t include such as, “The Outer Limits”, “Kolchak: The Night Stalker” and let’s not forget “Alfred Hitchcock Presents”.

Over the years, newer versions of these shows have popped up (some even in the movies), but I feel the original shows had a lot to say for themselves. I admit in most of the acting in them were atrocious, the sets laughable, and the special effects were something a five-year-old could run circles around nowadays.

Even so, it was the story that caught us. Decades later, those narratives not only still haunt me, but they’ve had a tremendous influence on how I develop my novels, especially since they have an “extra” twist. It’s a fascination with the genre that not only affected me but made a big impact on my brothers and sister. None of them have pursued an author’s career but have shared this passion with their own children and/or outside interests.

To show you what I mean, I’ve outlined (in no particular order) my favorite episodes of some of these series. I’d love to hear if you have one as well!

Star Trek - "Let That Be Your Last Battlefield"

The premise of the episode was two survivors of a war-torn planet, each half black and half white, (one had the black on the right while the other had the black on the left) committed to destroying each other. They end up back at their planet, where no one is left alive since their people completely annihilated themselves in a civil war. The ending scene is the bridge crew commenting on how sad it was the two men would rather feed their racial hatred of one another rather than give it up.

Night Gallery - "The Caterpillar"

Not sure why this episode was called “The Caterpillar” when it was about an earwig. Anyway, it’s the story of an unscrupulous man who wants the beautiful wife of another colleague. He pays a thug to have an earwig placed in the husband's ear as he sleeps. Once the deed is done, the insect tunnels through the victim's brain, causing excruciating pain and certain death. However, the man he hired to do the dirty deed enters the wrong bedroom and placed the insect in the man's own ear by mistake. After weeks of pain he miraculously survives, but the doctor tells him that his ordeal is not yet over… it was a female and she laid eggs....

  Lost in Space - "Wish Upon a Star"

Talk about campy, this is series takes the cake. But, like with all of these offerings, they did have one episode that stuck with me. If you’re not familiar with this sixty’s oldie, here is the premise: The space family Robinson is sent on a five-year mission to find a new planet to colonize, but the voyage is sabotaged time and again by an inept stowaway, Dr. Zachary Smith. The family's spaceship, Jupiter II, also carries a friendly robot who endures an endless stream of abuse from Dr. Smith but is a trusted companion of young Will Robinson.

In this episode, Dr. Smith goes into voluntary exile after the father confronts him when his laziness and carelessness that threaten the group's survival. With Will's assistance, Smith makes a home in the wreck of an alien spaceship. In it, they find a small alien machine that materializes the operator's wishes. I’ve often wondered how I’d handle such a temptation.

 Twilight Zone - "Time Enough to Last"

This is one of the most popular Twilight Zone episodes. This story outlines a shy man who loves to read. The only problem is that he can find neither the time nor the place to enjoy his pastime. One day, he sneaks down to the vault in the bank's basement to read a bit and suddenly, there is a huge explosion above. He emerges to find the world destroyed in a nuclear holocaust. He does find books from the library and rejoices when he realizes he has a great deal of reading time ahead of him. Except for one problem, his glasses end up broken and he can’t read without them!

This struck a huge chord with me since I’ve always been an avid reader and has had to wear glasses since I was six. The mere idea of not being able to see has haunted me my whole life.

 Dark Shadows - "The Vampire Curse"

All I can say about this “soap opera” was my mother was obsessed with it. She loved everything scary (Dracula, The Mummy, Frankenstein, etc) and dutifully watched each and every episode of this cringe-worthy show.

While the acting is hard to watch nowadays, back in the day no one seemed to care. I was surprised when I did a little research on this drama that the vampire character didn’t show up until after the first season. And then it was only considered a “bit” part for a couple of episodes.

But Barnabas Collins changed how we looked at vampires. For the first time, one seemed “human”, a person who didn’t want to be a vampire, and through impeccable manners and courtesies revealed a soft love for the Collins family. Even when he preyed on them. The series created a great villain, turning a tragic hero into someone who audiences flocked to, both the typical daytime target demographic and also, surprisingly, those of us much younger. I admit when I create my villains, I strive to make them have a “humane” side to offset their viciousness.

 Finale

I hope you enjoyed my “blast from the past”. I find when I’m researching new characters and what makes them tick, I’m forced to reflect and rely on my own history. As I delve into different personalities and what drives them, I hope someday it’ll help me understand the most complex character I’ve ever come across.

Me.

Do you BookBub? Plus, a contest!

 

DO YOU BOOKBUB?

You've probably seen a lot of authors asking you to follow them on BookBub over the last few years. It's a useful platform for both readers and authors. Authors can notify their followers of their new releases (and their pre-orders if they have enough followers,) have a central place where their books are listed with buy links, and recommend books to their followers.

So, what are the benefits to readers?

• Follow your favorite authors and even other readers who share the same reading preferences as you.
• Get notified by email when your favorite authors have a new release. That way you don't have to hunt through social media posts to find out when that book releases again. For some authors, you may even get a notice when they have a book available to pre-order or a sale.
• Find all of the books by your favorite authors in one place with buy links. Some authors have these on websites and universal buy links, but not all.
• Leave reviews after you read a great book. Reviews help authors out immensely, but they also help other readers to find great books.
• Find out what books your favorite authors have enjoyed! When your favorite authors leave a review on another author's book on BookBub, that review will be shared with you, so you can get their book recommendations and find more great books to read.

I'm currently a participating author in a contest where you follow authors on BookBub for a chance to WIN a $250 GC to your choice of Amazon or Barnes & Noble. Here are the details...

Enter NOW for your chance to win $250 of your choice Amazon or Barnes & Noble Gift Card!

The Rules are simple...Follow as many authors as you would like...the more points you get, the better your chances are of winning! Good Luck!

Enter Here: https://bit.ly/BBFebruaryGiveaway-Rafflecopter before 11:59pm 2/11/22

You can find me on BookBub here:

Best of luck to those who enter the contest! 

And wishing you all a month of wonderful books to read!

10 Reasons Books Make Good Valentine Gifts

 

By Maureen Bonatch

Valentine’s Day is coming up. Depending on what stage of life you’re in, this could elicit a variety of feelings. Anticipation, or dread, of the day may depend on whether you have that special someone, are looking for them, or if you’re just stuck making a ‘unique’ valentine box for your kids' school. 

The good news is that February isn’t just for lovers—it’s also for book lovers! Library Lovers’ Day is also on February 14th and is dedicated to book lovers! 

If you’re not quite ready to swap out your chocolate and flowers for a book, here’s ten reasons why you might consider it.

1. You Might be Willing to Share a Book

The classic heart shaped box of chocolates allows for a variety of chocolate choices. That is, if you don’t feel like you have to share them. Or, if you’re nice enough to share, and it’s one of ‘those people’ who poke the chocolate to try to decipher the kind only to declare they don’t care for it after taking a bite. 

If the gift you give, or get, is a book. That’s something you can happily share—that is, if they don’t want to read it after poking their fingers in chocolate.

2. Many People Buy Them for Themselves

That awkward feeling of having to buy the chocolate you want for yourself is eliminated with books. Everybody buys them, so there is no need to make an excuse that that huge box of candy that you intend to inhale once you get home is really for someone else.

3. Say What You Mean Without Saying a Word

Perhaps you’re looking to open up a conversation in your relationship but aren’t sure how to express your feelings. Choose a title, or a genre, that helps you to say what you really think. Whether it’s an erotic romance, or a serial killer series, it might get them thinking.

4. The Price Doesn’t Go Up In February 

There’s nothing worse than watching the price of flowers and candy jump right as February rolls around. Then you’re left to decide whether the recipient of your love will appreciate the investment if you go with a classic gift. Think out of the chocolate box and buy a book. The price doesn’t change depending upon the month of the year.

5. Ability to Read is the Only Skill Needed

Most people love flowers, but not everyone is good at keeping them alive. Eliminate the guilt of accidentally over or under watering and killing that beautiful arrangement before the credit card clears. If you know how to read, you can indulge in a story again and again. 

6. Always Calorie-Free

You don’t need to feel guilty, or skip dinner, if you decide to indulge in multiple books. They’re always calorie-free. 

7. Who Needs a Valentine When You Have a Book Boyfriend

You might just discover the perfect guy between the pages of a book. No need to dress up or do your make-up. He loves you just the way you are—robe, slippers, and all!

8. A Book Doesn’t Require a Special Box 

Young mothers know the challenge of helping to make that perfect, unique Valentine Day box for their child to take to school. If you’re not a crafty person, the struggle becomes even more real. Books? No special box required. They already come wrapped nicely with a beautiful cover.

9. No Reservation Required

Want to go out for a nice dinner on Valentine’s Day? You and every other person in your town. Good luck getting in without a reservation unless you plan ahead. Books save your space today, and every day of the year.

10. Books Make a Good Gift All Year Long

We all know that the price of the candy you bought on Feb 14th is going down the minute the 15th rolls around. The same with the special treats designed for any other holiday.

The good news is that you can give a book for any holiday and not have to worry that the candy is stale or expired because you waited until it went on sale. 

But go ahead and buy that discount candy. You can eat it while you read your book.

If Cole can't believe she's changed, can Sabrina accept that her only chance at love exists in her memories?

Find out more right here: Forget Me Not

Just a small-town girl, Maureen Bonatch leads a double life. She lives in a magical world as a novelist, and as a nurse leader in reality. Maureen’s first novella was a paranormal romance published when blogs were a new-fangled thing. She’s since changed her focus to writing paranormal cozy mysteries as M.L. Bonatch and urban fantasy as Maureen Bonatch. 

 While she’s not busy writing or doing nurse-things, she’s a mom to her twin daughters, bicycling in the beautiful woods of PA with her hubby, doing the bidding of a feisty Shih Tzu, and dancing as much as possible. She believes music can be paired with every mood, laughter is contagious, and that caffeine and wine are essential for survival. 

 Follow M.L. Bonatch all through cyberspace! 

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Post-Apocolyptic Dystopia Meets Snowpiercer by Diane Burton

 

I am a huge movie and TV series fan. No surprise there if you've read my posts. A couple of years ago, Hubs happened upon Snowpiercer, the movie. I caught bits and pieces of it. Since I'm not a fan of Tilda Swinton, I didn't pay much attention. Shortly after, I caught Snowpiercer, the TV series, and I was hooked. I watched the first season, but in the middle of the second "life" interrupted, and I didn't finish. Hurray for the 3rd season, which came out last week. Hubs and I binge-watched the 2nd season to catch up.

Fascinating program.

The premise is that seven years ago, Earth became a frozen wasteland, brought about by efforts to reverse global warming. Boy, did the scientists get that wrong! In preparation, a brilliant (but eccentric) billionaire designed and built a perpetual motion train to house humanity. The train (1,001 cars long) travels around the world 2.7 times a year. The series focuses on the passengers--from the very rich, at the front of the train, to the dregs of humanity at the rear.

In this tight environment, you have the setup for class warfare, injustice, crime and punishment, and conniving politics while everyone tries to survive.

One of the things I didn't catch (or it wasn't explained) is who built the tracks the train travels on. Was it the billionaire? How did the tracks cross over large expanses of water (like the oceans)? Another question is how were the people chosen to get on the train? Did the rich buy their way in? How did you get a ticket? There are scenes of masses of people trying to get on the train before it left the station. What happened to them? Did they just freeze to death?

I've never written a dystopian thriller. Never really wanted to. I prefer happy-ever-after or happy-for-now stories. (Just call me Pollyanna.) The horrible things people do to each other when civilization breaks down upsets me. I cringed while watching movies like The Book of Eli or Blade Runner. 

Yet some post-apocolyptic stories are thrilling and full of hope, for example The Hunger Games, Divergent, the Terminator series, and The Matrix. As I watch Snowpiercer, I hope the revolutionaries will take back the train and form a democracy. (See, there's the Pollyanna coming out.) 

If you plan to write this type of story, you would do well to watch dystopian movies (better yet, read the books) and check out common themes. 

How many different ways will Earth be destroyed? How will humanity survive? What would you do to survive? 

Out now! Jimmy ~ Summon a Bad Boy by @meganslayer #agegap #romance #hot #pnr

 

Jimmy by Megan Slayer

Summon a Bad Boy, Book 1

From Changeling Press

Contemporary, Paranormal Erotic Age-Gap Romance

Novella

 

I call on the fates to bring my love to me. As I will it, so mote it be…

What if those simple words plus a name on a scroll could guarantee true love? Karey’s determined to find out if the spell, Summon a Bad Boy, works, and she knows just who she’s going to ask for. Jimmy McCreadie. The tattooed man makes her weak in the knees -- he’s every naughty desire she’s had come to life. She’s nothing like the women he dates, and far too shy for her own good, but she’s not giving up.

Mix a bad boy with some magic and have faith. Anything’s possible. Karey’s desire just might come true.

 

https://www.changelingpress.com/jimmy-summon-a-bad-boy-1-b-3307

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09PFDWVGR/

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/jimmy-megan-slayer/1140828928

https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/jimmy-26

https://books.apple.com/us/book/id1602705776

 

 

EXCERPT:

©Megan Slayer, 2022, All Rights Reserved

 

“I want a bad boy, but not one that will do me harm. Those guys looked scary -- not in a good way.”

“Agreed.” Sarah thumped her spoon on the table. “And I have a suggestion.”

Karey sat up straighter and paid more attention. Instead of their normal grumbling, someone had a plan? Good. “What is it?”

Karey admired her friends. Nikki was the sexy one. She could walk into any establishment and have men falling at her feet. They seemed to love her tall, slender appearance and deep brown eyes. Then there was Mandy. She embodied sweet-natured and cute. At just over five feet tall, Mandy was the sprite of the group. She laughed easily and smiled a lot. Natalie could be moody, but she knew how to play nearly any sport -- and usually better than her male counterparts. Karey loved cheering her on at the local baseball games. Sarah was the born leader and the pushiest of the five. Her intelligence could be a hindrance or an asset, depending on how she used it. Most people saw her as pushy, but she could organize and plan like no other.

Karey sometimes wondered how she fit in with these fantastic women. She was smart, but not hyper intelligent. She loved books and observing but tended not to talk much.

“The plan?” Natalie checked her watch. “I’m late for a game.”

“Tonight, we meet at my place. I’ve found a spell that guarantees we’ll find our perfect man within the next seven days.” Sarah smiled and narrowed her eyes in triumph. “All we have to do is write down exactly what we want on a scroll, say the words of the spell, and toss the scroll into the fire. What do you think?”

“It’s guaranteed to work?” Karey didn’t believe it.

“Really?” Mandy toyed with her water glass. “You’ve had can’t-miss plans before that were duds.”

“I know, but this one is really guaranteed.” Sarah nodded. “If you’re in, be at my house at nine. I’ll have the scrolls ready.”

“You’re sure this works?” Karey asked again. “You don’t seem to have all the details.”

“Hey, where I found it says it’s foolproof.” Sarah shrugged and toyed with her scroll. “I might not have all the details, but it’s just a spell. For all we know, it won’t work. Do we really need every last piece of minutia? No.”

“Right.” Karey sighed. What did she have to lose? She lived alone, didn’t go out much, and only met people at the store. If a spell could work, then why not give it a try? If nothing else, she’d have an adventure.

Right?

 

Weird Plague Treatments or Put Down that Chicken. By L. A. Kelley

Weird Plague Treatments or Put Down that Chicken

Well, it’s been over a year. Our good friend Covid is like that one annoying relative that shows to ruin every get-together and won’t go away. Our ancestors survived bouts of the Black Death with their homemade treatments. I say it’s time to reach back in history and start trying them again.

Helpful Animals or What is Mom Doing with that Chicken?

Snakes often got the blame for the plague, their evil vapors fouling the air, but they could make amends. According to Medieval medicine, one evil attracts another, so pieces of an “evil” snake placed on the patient would draw out the evil sickness. Low and behold, they were cured. Or died of blood poisoning. 

Squeamish about snakes? How about leeches? They were used to suck out the “bad” blood that caused the disease and leave the good blood in the body. Or not, and the patient died. Then there’s also chopped up pigeons. Rub bloody parts all over and stand back while the cure takes hold or the neighbors call the cops.

My favorite treatment is the Vicary Method, named after an ancient doctor named Thomas Vicary. I can’t understand why it hasn’t made the rounds. He was a doctor, for heaven’s sake. He must have known what he was doing. Of course, back then being a doctor didn’t require a medical degree, basic knowledge of sanitation, or even common sense. The Vicary Method should really have been called, “What the Hell are you Doing with that Chicken?” The noble doctor would pluck feathers from a chicken’s rump, and then tie the chicken to the patient, so the rump touched an open sore. He believed chickens breathed through their bottoms, so the semi-plucked chicken would draw the plague from the patient. The idea of transmitting a bacterial infection never crossed his mind. If the patient died, so be it. If chicken died first, he’d simply slap on another.

Out of Chicken Butts? Try Vegetables or Emeralds.

For the vegetarians among you or those low on chicken butts there other cures guaranteed 100% effective by our Medieval ancestors. Rub onions on your skin or a eat a combination of mustard, mint sauce, apple sauce and horseradish to balance wet, dry, hot and cold humors in the body. It will definitely effect a cure, if it doesn’t cause the runs first. Have a delicate digestion? Down a delicious crushed emerald. No emeralds lying around? Other tasty suggestions were drinking vinegar, arsenic, mercury or even ten-year-old treacle. Why it had to be ten-years-old is beyond me, but what’s the point of waiting for it to age? The arsenic and mercury would put you six feet under immediately.

Treatments that May be Worse than the Disease.

Clean urine had healing properties, according to ancient medical texts. So, they advised suffers to dive right into a urine bath. Poop mixed with lily root and tree sap was guaranteed to chase away the plague and anyone else with a sense of smell.

For a last resort use flagellation. People whipped themselves to purge their bodies of the sins that brought the plague in the first place. Other believed the hell with that. The best way to chase away the plague was in wild abandon so sickness couldn’t catch you; pillage, loot and then party until the cows come home. I’m with them.

L. A. Kelley writes sci-fy and fantasy adventures with humor, romance, and a touch of sass. She is totally vaccinated and out of chicken.