My Writing Process Blog Tour

Patricia Gligor

I'd like to thank author, Evelyn Cullet, for inviting me to participate in the "My Writing Process Blog Tour." She's asked me to answer four questions and here are my responses.

What am I working on?

My current WIP (work in progress) is the fourth book in my Malone Mystery series. Unlike the first three books, Mixed Messages, Unfinished Business and Desperate Deeds, which are set in Cincinnati, this book will take place on Fripp Island, SC. My main character, Ann Kern, and her two children, Danielle and Davey, will take a much needed vacation to visit Ann’s sister, Marnie. But, since mystery seems to follow Ann everywhere, this trip might not offer the peace and quiet Ann’s hoping for.

How does my work differ from others of its genre?

One reviewer referred to my books as “uniquely different.” While I strive to create an intriguing plot, my series is most definitely character driven. Psychology has always fascinated me. Why do people say and do what they say and do? I want my readers to know and understand the motivation behind each character’s words and actions. I’ve come to love and understand my characters and I hope my readers will too.

Why do I write what I do?

Some of the best advice on writing I’ve ever gotten was to “write in the genre you love to read.” I took that advice and, like most writers, I hope to entertain my readers and to offer them escape from their everyday world. 
But I have another reason for writing what I do; I have a message to deliver. There’s something I feel compelled to share and I choose to do that through my books because I know that fiction can often make a point in a way that non-fiction can’t. If the writer incorporates it into their story rather than belaboring the point. 
You see, David, Ann Kern’s husband, is an alcoholic and his ongoing struggle with alcoholism is a sub-plot in my series. I’ve known some wonderful people who happen to be alcoholics and I believe it’s important for everyone to learn more about alcoholism and to know that there is help available for alcoholics and for the people who love them.

How does my writing process work?

This question put a smile on my face (and made me giggle) because, although I love the motto “Keep it simple” and I try to live that way even in our complicated world, my writing process is anything but simple. I am a plotter! Make that a Plotter with a capital P! 
I have an idea, I jot it down on a scrap of paper, I develop it over the course of time and, eventually, all those scraps of paper turn into a basic outline for the book. From there, I create a chapter-by-chapter outline which highlights what absolutely MUST take place in each chapter. 
Once I’m satisfied with the outline, I begin to write. I try to stay true to the outline but, often, other ideas come to mind and/or my characters refuse to cooperate. So, the outline isn’t “written in stone.” It’s more of a guideline to keep the story moving forward and to make sure I've "covered all the bases." The interesting thing is that, try as I might (I’d love to be a pantster), I can’t write more than a page without my outline.

I've invited these authors to participate in the blog tour and they have graciously accepted. Please be sure to visit their blogs on June 2nd.

 

Anne K. Albert

Anne K. Albert has taught high school art, sold display advertising for a weekly newspaper, and worked for a national brand water company, but now writes full time. When not at the keyboard, the award winning author enjoys traveling and house and petsitting with her high school sweetheart husband (22 countries to date), visiting friends and family, and of course, reading on "Threegio" her cherished and much beloved Kindle.

Her novels include:

Defending Glory, book 1 of the Piedmont Island Romantic Suspense series 

Frank, Incense and Muriel, first book of the Muriel Reeves Mystery series 

Love & Just Desserts, a delightful collection of short stories 

  http://www.anne-k-albert.com/

  Holli Castillo

Holli Castillo is a Louisiana appellate public defender and former New Orleans prosecutor. She received a JD from Loyola Law School in 1996 and a BA in Drama from UNO in 1990.
The publication of her first novel, Gumbo Justice, winner of the 2011PSWA award for Best Published Novel, was delayed when she was involved in a head-on collision with a drunk driver and incapacitated for a year. Her second novel, Jambalaya Justice, won the 2011 PSWA award for Best Unpublished Novel. The third installment, Chocolate City Justice, is scheduled for release in 2014. She is also an award-winning screenwriter.
Holli resides in the metropolitan New Orleans area with her husband, who is the model for Big Who in her series, her two daughters, three dogs, and two deaf cats, one of which is featured prominently in Jambalaya Justice.

 http://www.gumbojustice.blogspot.com/

Confrontation

I think it’s safe to say that most people don’t like confrontation. I completely understand that because I’m one of those people. I would love a world where I never had to confront anyone about anything. Unfortunately, I don’t live in a world like that and neither do you. At times, people are going to say and do things that hurt our feelings and/or make us angry and, if we confront them, although things may or may not turn out the way we’d hoped, we've taken a huge step in building our self-esteem.

Of course, there are people who choose to avoid confrontation. There are those who say what they think we want to hear instead of having the courage to tell the truth. Others, simply nod their heads as if they agree with us. I don't trust those people. I prefer to interact with people who say what they mean and mean what they say - with kindness and tact, whenever possible.

When someone offends us, we have a decision to make. Do we ask them what they meant by what they said or did and talk it out (sometimes people don’t mean things the way we take them) or do we refuse to deal with it? If we choose the latter, we’re going to have problems because, if something really bothers us and we pretend it doesn’t, there will be repercussions.

1. Some people turn those feelings inward, rather than dealing with them, setting themselves up for depression because they've refused to stand up for themselves and they've allowed someone to mistreat them. 
2. Some let resentments build up and, sooner or later, they're going to explode. Not necessarily on the person who offended them; it’s usually someone close to them who they feel will tolerate their abuse. 
3. Some would rather end a relationship, even a close and/or long standing one, and walk away rather than confront someone to attempt to resolve the issue. How sad is that?

So, how does this topic relate to writing? We can use it to show the growth of our characters. For example, in my Malone Mystery series, Ann Kern is married to an alcoholic and, in the first book, Mixed Messages, she is nervous and leery of confronting her husband, David. One reviewer referred to her as “wimpy.” And, while I wouldn't use that word to describe Ann, she is timid and non-assertive – at first - but there's a reason for that.  Alcoholism affects the family members of alcoholics in different ways, depending on their personalities, and Ann, who was raised by an alcoholic father and a passive mother, learned to adapt to her situation in order to avoid David's rage.

Fortunately, Ann began to attend Alanon meetings and, as the series progresses, she’s learning how to overcome the effects of the disease and to stop “walking on eggs” with David. In other words, Ann grows. I hope you’ll follow her journey as she becomes a more assertive woman and gets involved in a few mysteries along the way.

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=la_B007VDDUPQ_B007VDDUPQ_sr?rh=i%3Abooks&field-author=Patricia+Gligor&sort=relevance&ie=UTF8&qid=1396017920

 

The Big Day Arrived Early

Well, I was all set to announce that today is the Big Day but it came two days earlier than I expected! Desperate Deeds, the third novel in my Malone mystery series (which can be read as a standalone), was just released. 
          As every author knows, the publication of a new book comes with a lot of mixed emotions. Excitement! My book is out! Relief! All the work, blood, sweat and tears have finally produced a book I can actually hold in my hands! And, apprehension. Will my book sell well? Will people like it? Will they write good reviews? Will they recommend it to their friends? So many emotions!

The first step is to get the word out about my book. If nobody knows about it, how can they order it? To do that, I’ll be posting on various online sites, I’ll tell everyone I know (hope you will too), I’ve set up a local book launch event in April where I’ll be selling and signing copies of my book and I’ve scheduled a one week long blog tour. Here’s the list with links to the blogs of the six authors who have so kindly agreed to help me promote my book.

Monday, March 31 – Marja McGraw

http://blog.marjamcgraw.com

“Writing a Mystery Series”

Tuesday, April 1 - Marilyn Meredith

marilynmeredith.blogspot.com

“Why I Write What I Write”

Wednesday, April 2 – Anne K. Albert

www.anne-k-albert.com

“Hooking Readers”

Thursday, April 3 - Evelyn Cullet

evelyncullet.com/blog

       “Using the Weather to Create Suspense”

Friday, April 4 – Madeline Gornell

http://wp.me/pyLFm-xh
       “The Easiest Part of Being a Writer”

Saturday, April 5 – Marilyn Levinson

       www.marilynlevinson.com/blog
       “When a Child Goes Missing”

I hope you'll stop by to visit with me.

My publisher has temporarily reduced the ebook price of all three Malone mysteries to $2.99 each.

Links to purchase:  

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=la_B007VDDUPQ_B007VDDUPQ_sr?rh=i%3Abooks&field-author=Patricia+Gligor&sort=relevance&ie=UTF8&qid=1396017920

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/patricia-gligor?keyword=patricia+gligor&store=ebook

Happy Reading!