John Lindermuth

Hi John Lindermuth is visiting us today - I am sure you will enjoy his

replies.

What is the working title of your book?

A Burning Desire

Where did the idea come from for the book?

I think it may have originated with hearing a song on the radio.

What genre does your book fall under?

Mystery/suspense

Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?

Whoa! Let’s get the book published first.

What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?

An enemy from the past stalks a detective and his lover.

Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency?

Hopefully, by the publisher of previous books in the series.

How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?

Six to eight months.

What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?

I’d prefer not to be seen as derivative. If you like mysteries set in a small-town environment, centered on character and plot twists, you might like my stories.

Who or what inspired you to write this book?

Sticks Hetrick, my main character, who is always jiggling more ideas.

What else about your book might pique the reader’s interest?

In addition to the mystery element, readers of romance might be interested in the growing relationships of Sticks and Anita and Sticks’ protégés Flora and Harry.

I was tagged by:

Margaret Blake.

I tag: [3 other published writers ]

-------------------------------------

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Practice To Deceive (August 2012), Whiskey Creek Press

The Limping Dog (March 2012), Whiskey Creek Press

Fallen From Grace (March 2011), Wild Oak

http://jrlindermuth.com

Questions

My writer friend Beth Elliot sent me these very interesting questions, so rather than plot a blog this month, I thought I would answer them here. It's much more fun.

 What is the working title of your book?

I have just completed a book and have had it accepted called Under a Grecian Moon.

Where did the idea come from for the book?

I was sitting looking out of my window on a cold, wet, miserable Tuesday morning. I wished I was somewhere warm and sunny and there you go - I thought I will take myself to a Greek island, and what do you know it all kicked off.

What genre does your book fall under?

Romance with a little mystery but not a romantic suspense.

Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?

The man would be difficult, he is in my head and does not remind me of anyone I have ever seen or known. Yes, he is that gorgeous. I'd like to play the heroine - yes, I know I am too old, but Judy Dench when she was young would be perfect. However, I do like Rachel Stirling.

What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?

Their lives were full of secrets and lies.

Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency?

My book will be published by Whiskey Creek Press.

How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?

I never write drafts. My mind doesn't work that way, I never know how things are going to work out. I just go with it and plot as I go along. I could not have a draft and then write around it, it would be too technical for me, but I do know it works for lots of people, just not me.

What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?

I like to think it's unique.

Who or what inspired you to write this book?

As I said in the beginning, I wanted to be somewhere warm and sunny so I took myself off to this wonderful island. While I was there I met this gorgeous Greek but there had to be so many complications!

What else about your book might pique the reader’s interest?

The heroine, she is strong and gutsy. She has had to learn to hide her feelings.

I was tagged by: BETH ELLIOT.

I tagged John Lindermuth.

King Richard the Third

Much excitement is being generated at the moment. There is an archaeological dig in the town of Leicester - they are looking for the body of King Richard, who was killed at nearby Bosworth Field. The last English King to die in battle.

We admirers of the King are very excited about this. Could our beloved Richard at last be given a burial he so rightly deserves. Of course Tudor propaganda keeps sneaking in. Talk of a "hunchback" etc. which just was not true. Even if those who believe it speak of Richard being the creature created by Shakespeare, they must concede that if he were like that, how come he was known to be so fearsome in battle? It does not make sense.

Although the heinous crime of his being responsible for the murder of his nephews is wildly thought to be true, there is much evidence to show that he was not indeed responsible for this crime. Lots of counter evidence can be found with careful research. I loved Josephine Tey's novel "The Daughter of Time, which was where I first discovered a different Richard from Shakespeare's. That was what inspired me to look into this very enigmatic man, and I don't mind admitting, to fall a little in love with him.

Richard inspired my first novel and a later one, I have much to thank Richard for - and of course Josephine Tey too for introducing me to the truth.

Dangerous Enchantment available on kindle and in print from

www.amazon.com and www.whiskey creek press.

A Sprig of Broom available on kindle at www.amazon.com and in libraries in hardback print.

Back Again

I am back in circulation now, coming out of a nasty bout of shingles which left me unable to do very much. It's great to feel that my brain is ticking over again. There is nothing worse than having to sit around reading the newspapers, listening to the radio and watching television when you know that you want to be doing something else. You might think it would be good to have little distraction and therefore be able to plot the next novel but even this seemed to be impossible. I felt like a blob and looked pretty disgusting too. Ah well, the end is nigh as they say and today the sun is shining, I feel quite cheered. I also received a super review for Tilly's Trial - available at www.romancejunkies.com. Just a little excerpt to wet your appetite : An emotion-packed tale, TILLY’S TRIALS, the latest novel by talented author Margaret Blake, is a poignant contemporary romance dealing with secrets, misunderstandings and second chances. Once I started reading this story, I became so absorbed in it that I found myself reading late into the night to see how it would turn out. Although Marsh and Tilly fight their feelings for each other due to problems and misunderstandings from their past, they soon find the fight futile. The characters are well-drawn and their problems are believable. I could not help rooting for them to reunite. With humor, clever banter, danger, PTSD, counseling, romance and true love, this story is captivating. I highly recommend this wonderful story and look forward to reading more of Ms. Blake’s works! Romance Junkies Review Cheers folk - and remember, have a lovely day!

Tilly's Trials

I really like to try to ring the changes with romantic novels. However, it is difficult. After all A loves B - eventually - how do you make that different? Conflict.It's a conflict that has to be resolved and you can delve into your mind and come up with different kinds of conflict. It can be a struggle sometimes, however sometimes it just comes to you. Coming up with an idea of conflict for Tilly's Trials was very easy. Marsh and Tilly had been in love previously, they had even married but the marriage failed. Tilly puts down the failure to Marsh's alleged misbehavior with the hot and sexy Mariel Hopkins but wasn't Tilly to blame too? Oh yes, and until Tilly realizes that, the two are never going to get together. Lots of my readers have said how much they like Marsh. Good. That's what we aim to do, I could not have my main man disliked by the readers, and if I am not in love with him too, how can I expect any reader to fall for him as well. Falling out all the time can get a tad tedious, don't you think? So you can't be too heavy handed with the conflict, if a couple are squabbling throughout the book I would think it would be very boring. But sometimes it is like walking a tightrope. Sure they must have disagreements but agreements too. It helped me that Marsh and Tilly had had a past. Tilly had a huge crush on Marsh when they were at school. He was only two years ahead of her but he was known as the coolest kid in the school. But Tilly had a past too and a not very pleasant one, she has to find her way through that before

ever finding lasting happiness with Marsh. Put that into the pot, as well as running a business and I think you have a good brew. Why not sit down, put up your feet, pour that cup of tea and just...well you know what you have to do. Tilly's Trials available from www.amazon.com www.whiskeycreekpress.com Details on my website - www.margaretblake.co.uk

Welcome to Pauline Holyoak.

Today I am happy to give over the blog to the wonderful writer Pauline Holyoak. I am sure you will all make her feel very welcome.

About me - I grew in Southeast England, in a coal mining village lovingly nicknamed, “The place that time forgot.” Go to my website, click on ‘Articles’ and find out why. I immigrated to Canada when I was 21 in search of adventure and a new life. I currently live in Alberta with my sports crazy husband, adorable sheltie dog and cantankerous ginger cat. I am the proud mother of two grown children and one grandchild on the way. Yay! About my trilogy - Merryweather Lodge, was inspired by my own experiences in a remote and mysterious little cottage near Stonehenge. This cottage was called Scotland Lodge and belonged to my aunt and uncle. We would spend our summer holidays there when I was a child. It was my fairytale kingdom but it had a sinister twist. The memories of my summers at Scotland Lodge stayed with me, as a sort of nagging unsolved mystery all my life. A few years ago I revisited my childhood wonderland and was lead to concocting this story and writing this trilogy. This wonderland and my childhood fantasies were the catalyst for my writing career and the inspiration for my trilogy. The first book in my Merryweather Lodge trilogy Merryweather Lodge – Ancient Revenge, was the Readers Favorite 2011 Silver Award Winner for paranormal fiction. Book two, Merryweather Lodge – Malevolent Spirit, is a Readers Favorite finalist. Winners will be announced in September. I have also written two children’s books and had twenty five articles published. For aspiring novelists. A novel is a story about people; it’s as simple as that. It has a beginning, middle, an end, and a whole lot of conflict in between. The author creates the people, involves them in the conflict, and justifies their reason for being there.Writing a successful novel depends on four things –a little talent, lots of determination, a vivid imagination and skill. No one can teach you the first three but skill is something you ‘can’ learn. The average reader demands several things of a novel – a strong plot, action, well developed and colorful characters, believable character motivation, a well defined back ground, a strong style that brings vivid images to mind, and good grammar. Readers want to be entertained and if you can put emotion, dreams, and desire on paper, you ‘can’ write a novel. Writing a trilogy or series is not an easy task. You have to keep your story line alive, long enough, to warrant three or more full length novels, and make sure that your characters do not perish from exhaustion, before they arrive at their destination. Each book must stand alone for readers who haven’t followed the previous books yet and you can’t bore those who have, with repetitive details of earlier events. You have to make your first book so compelling, that your readers will be anxious for the next one, and get the second one finished, published and out there, while the first one is still fresh in their minds….Writing a trilogy or series does have it’s advantages though. One already knows the characters, has done the research, established tone, point of view and motivation. ‘And’ if your first book is successful it’s almost a guarantee that your publisher will accept your next one. Find your niche, find your genre and write the sort of book ‘you’ want to read. Rejections - I have leaned that rejections, are part of the writing life, how to cope with them and how to move on. At first they were like nagging little gremlins, suggesting that I didn’t measure up. I had to learn how to distinguish myself from my work, to set up boundaries between myself and my creation. My writing was like a child to me, but like my own children, I had to send it out into the world to succeed or fail on its own merit. We all get rejections, JK Rowling’s received 14 rejections before finding a publisher for Harry Potter. I wonder what ‘their’ thinking now? Steven King first book Carrie was tuned down 31 times, it took him ten years to get it published. And look at him now. Perseverance, patience, and bold determination are what most published authors have in common. Excerpt from: Merryweather Lodge – Malevolent Spirit I scampered up the stairs, guided by the light from the half-opened kitchen door. Just before I reached for the door, it closed suddenly - as if someone had shoved it. My breath caught in my throat. My fear exploded into panic. “Help! Auntie Em!” I shoved the pendant into my pocket and twisted the brass handle. It wouldn’t budge. I pounded on the door. “Auntie Em! Auntie Em. Please!” The blackness was closing in on me, choking me with its foreboding grip. I couldn’t breathe. I stood, perfectly still, too afraid to turn around, my hand throbbing from beating on the rough wood. Just breathe and relax Emily. She’ll come looking for you soon. Unless…. No! That’s unthinkable. “Meow! Meow!” “What is it Winston? What’s wrong?” The cat growled and then let out a harrowing shrill. Something touched my arm. I dropped the bottles grabbed the pendant out of my pocket, put it up to my lips and prayed.

Tilly's Trials

My new novel Tilly's Trials is published this week (www.whiskeycreekpress.com) initially as an ebook but shortly into paperback. TT is what I would like to call an old fashioned romance but it does have a twist. I thought long and hard about this novel because I was writing about a fairly sensitive issue - and no I am not going to tell you here what that is! Tilly has been divorced from her husband Marsh Masterson for some time. They meet again when, after part inheriting her mother's chain of tea shops, Tilly's father invites Marsh to come in and run things. A definite storm in a teacup. Marsh a working class boy has done really well becoming a successful business man so it isn't exactly a bad idea. However, Tilly is furious. The scene is set for many a confrontation. And really, does Tilly's father not realise this, or has he his own agenda? Perhaps too that agenda has nothing to do with hoping that Tilly and Marsh will get together again. I loved writing about Tilly and Marsh, I really liked them both and Marsh is the kind of man any girl would like to meet - believe me! Try it and see if I'm wrong.