I will be in the Greater Los Angeles Writers' Society booth (C11-14) at the upcoming West Hollywood Book Fair, Sunday October 2 from 2:00 p.m. - 4:45 p.m. I'd love to meet many of my readers.
Copies of Writers' Tricks of the Trade: 39 Things You Need to Know About the ABCs of Writing Fiction and the new Silver Sisters Mystery, Vanishing Act in Vegas will be available for purchase and signing. Details at: http://www.glaws.org/weho/2011/index.html
I will also be presenting a program "You Don't Say" -- Navigating the Quirky English Language--at the Los Angeles Sisters in Crime meeting on October 9 at 2:00 p.m. This presentation is open to the public. Details at: http://www.sistersincrimela.com/
Visit my redesigned personal website. www.morganstjames-author.com and my personal blog: http://morgan-stjames.blogspot.com
WELCOME TO WRITERS TRICKS OF THE TRADE
WRITERS' TRICKS OF THE TRADE (THE BOOK) NOW AT YOUR FAVORITE ONLINE BOOKSELLER - PAPERBACK, KINDLE, EPUB
Saturday, September 24, 2011
Sunday, September 11, 2011
I LOVED SPEAKING TO PARTNERS IN CRIME IN SYDNEY
Yesterday was actually the official launch of Writers' Tricks of the Trade: 39 Things You Need to Know About the ABCs of Writing Fiction. When I started writing this handy reference book, I never dreamed that the first writers to buy signed copies would live down under in Sydney, Australia.
I was given a very warm welcome by this chapter of Sisters in Crime, and I'm sure that all of the members who bought the book will keep it handy on their bookshelves. It was a first in two directions---their first speaker from the United States and my first international presentation. It is funny how things happen. I shared some of the "tricks" in my talk and used passages from the just-released Silver Sisters Mystery, Vanishing Act in Vegas, to illustrate some of the techniques.
This is a short post because today we are off to the Blue Mountains which are known to be one of the most beautiful spots in Australia, and will be there for 2 1/2 days.
I was given a very warm welcome by this chapter of Sisters in Crime, and I'm sure that all of the members who bought the book will keep it handy on their bookshelves. It was a first in two directions---their first speaker from the United States and my first international presentation. It is funny how things happen. I shared some of the "tricks" in my talk and used passages from the just-released Silver Sisters Mystery, Vanishing Act in Vegas, to illustrate some of the techniques.
This is a short post because today we are off to the Blue Mountains which are known to be one of the most beautiful spots in Australia, and will be there for 2 1/2 days.
Thursday, September 8, 2011
Coming at you From Sydney, Australia
Sydney, Australia is extremely impressive--definitely a world class city. I've been shown around the city by my son and daughter-in-law, driven through a park in the heart of the city that is as large or larger than Central Park in New York and taken in the never-ending stores and shops plus the beautiful waterways. Experience is a treasure when it comes to placing people in places or writing about characters who have come from different places. When traveling, make sure to take notes of anything that is unique or particular to an area. You never know when you'll have an opportunity to use it. You can rest assured that something Australian will enter into a future project for me.
It is the use of "insider" things that make some scenes just pop off the page. Right now I'm working on a manuscript that takes place in 1980 in England, with lots of memories from my very first trip to Europe. These are things I wouldn't have picked up from reading tourist brochures or books by others situated in these villages. It is the memory of your own reaction upon encountering things that are not typical for you.
If you're not a traveler, no problem. Use your own experiences centered around local traditions or locations. If you're writing about places you've never been, be sure to talk to people who either lived there or have been there.
It is the use of "insider" things that make some scenes just pop off the page. Right now I'm working on a manuscript that takes place in 1980 in England, with lots of memories from my very first trip to Europe. These are things I wouldn't have picked up from reading tourist brochures or books by others situated in these villages. It is the memory of your own reaction upon encountering things that are not typical for you.
If you're not a traveler, no problem. Use your own experiences centered around local traditions or locations. If you're writing about places you've never been, be sure to talk to people who either lived there or have been there.
Thursday, September 1, 2011
THE SEPTEMBER NEWSLETTER JUST POSTED
A Special Message from Morgan:
Thanks to everyone who sent me such great comments about the first issue of Writers' Tricks of the Trade Newsletter. Even though the newsletter publication date is set for the 15th of the month, ISSUE 2 was ready, it's great and I wanted to upload it before I leave for Australia. So here it is---2 weeks early! The October issue WILL be published on the 15th of October.
It is exciting to see all of the terrific articles this month from across the country, with a wonderful lineup of contributors currently being calendared for the rest of the year. There is also a listing of good writers' conferences at the end. You can have blog posts and the newsletters delivered directly to you in a variety of ways. Just click the SUBSCRIBE TO on the right to see what's available, or click FOLLOW.
If you enjoy the newsletter, and I know you will, please pass it on to your writer friends. If you belong to a writers' group, please post it on their message board or Yahoo group. And, if you write articles or have brags, please contact me about submitting for future issues.
With the exception of some Facebook posts, I will be doing very little posting to social media during the month of September while I'm traveling, so please check back often if you aren't a subscriber.
WRITERS' TRICKS OF THE TRADE: 39 Things You Need to Know About the ABCs of Writing Fiction has just been released in paperback, Kindle and eBooks. More and more websites are picking it up and you can also order the paperback at your favorite brick and mortar bookstore. Currently also available online in the UK and Canada. Soon in Australia.
Writers Tricks' of the Trade is a great handy reference for fiction writers at every stage of the game. The list price is $16.95, but Amazon currently has a super introductory price of ONLY $13.22 for the paperback. I don't know how long that will last. If you enjoy my columns and newsletter, do yourself a favor. Add it to your bookshelf.
Morgan St. James
www.morganstjames-author.com
Thanks to everyone who sent me such great comments about the first issue of Writers' Tricks of the Trade Newsletter. Even though the newsletter publication date is set for the 15th of the month, ISSUE 2 was ready, it's great and I wanted to upload it before I leave for Australia. So here it is---2 weeks early! The October issue WILL be published on the 15th of October.
It is exciting to see all of the terrific articles this month from across the country, with a wonderful lineup of contributors currently being calendared for the rest of the year. There is also a listing of good writers' conferences at the end. You can have blog posts and the newsletters delivered directly to you in a variety of ways. Just click the SUBSCRIBE TO on the right to see what's available, or click FOLLOW.
If you enjoy the newsletter, and I know you will, please pass it on to your writer friends. If you belong to a writers' group, please post it on their message board or Yahoo group. And, if you write articles or have brags, please contact me about submitting for future issues.
With the exception of some Facebook posts, I will be doing very little posting to social media during the month of September while I'm traveling, so please check back often if you aren't a subscriber.
WRITERS' TRICKS OF THE TRADE: 39 Things You Need to Know About the ABCs of Writing Fiction has just been released in paperback, Kindle and eBooks. More and more websites are picking it up and you can also order the paperback at your favorite brick and mortar bookstore. Currently also available online in the UK and Canada. Soon in Australia.
Writers Tricks' of the Trade is a great handy reference for fiction writers at every stage of the game. The list price is $16.95, but Amazon currently has a super introductory price of ONLY $13.22 for the paperback. I don't know how long that will last. If you enjoy my columns and newsletter, do yourself a favor. Add it to your bookshelf.
Morgan St. James
www.morganstjames-author.com
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