Author Rodeo Roundup

This Saturday I will be at the Author Rodeo Roundup located on the beautiful Northwest Mississippi Community College campus at Senatobia at the R C Pugh Library. I will be on the panel discussing my life as a writer and podcaster. Then there will be a meet and greet with all of the authors. This will be my second event in as many weeks. I promise I will have a post or two with pics and discussions on how all this turned out. I think it is important for other writers to know what to expect out of live events.

Here is the link if you are available and want to join us!

Author Rodeo Roundup

Have a great Thursday, Murderers!
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Kim Smith is the author of Ten Tips for Getting that Book Written, now in PRINT! Follow her on Twitter @mkimsmith

Interview with Morgan Jameson

Author of House of Apache Fires

By

Dora Machado

Welcome to MB4, Morgan. It’s great to have you here. Tell us a little bit about yourself. What’s your background, when did you start writing and why do you write?

I think that, like most writers, I write because I have stories to tell. I wrote my first short story in fourth or fifth grade after seeing Michael Crichton's 'The Andromeda Strain'. It was horrible, but the teacher liked it and was very encouraging. I've been writing ever since.

Your new novel, House of Apache Fires is a World War II historical thriller that takes place simultaneously in Germany and Arizona, Flagstaff area. How did you come up with the title of the novel and why this particular period of history?

I had written over half of my second novel, but I needed to go to British Columbia to do some research, which I couldn't afford at the time, so I began looking for a local story. I found the website: sedonalegendhelenfrye.com purely by accident and saw 'House of Apache Fires' which made me curious. The more I looked into the Frye's history, and all the people they knew, the more fascinated I became. Everything came out of that initial find.

It began as a murder mystery, but everywhere I looked, I found something that I found fascinating, like the Horten flying wing, or the German Raiders, and it just kept growing in scope. It ended up as a sort of Indiana Jones type story - a "WWII Western" so to speak. With the Frye's knowing Elliot Roosevelt and Faye Emerson, Harry Truman and Howard Hughes among others, I found it easy to enrich the story by using real people. I find WWII fascinating, and there are dozens of hidden stories. Two of my favorite movies of all time are "Where Eagles Dare" and "The Guns of Navarone", both based on Alistair Maclean books. That's the kind of story I wanted to write. I mean, if you're going to write a thriller, make it thrilling.

Who is your favorite character in the novel and why? Will we see this character in a sequel?

I think Cates is by far my favorite character. I don't have a sequel planned, per se, but am working on a parallel story with a different main character—an OSS agent in Europe, at the moment. Cates sort of surprised me. He is an interesting guy, with a rich history. I have a couple ideas I've started working on, such as how he met Rosa. All I can tell you is Pancho Villa will be involved.

When I read House of Apache Fires, I was impressed with your description of period weapons, planes and ships, as well as by your knowledge of the history and geography of the Flagstaff area. How long did it take you to research the details that enrich the story and how did you go about researching the novel?

It took a long time to do all the research on the book, although I found the German story much harder to write. Fortunately I have a friend who's a WWII German reenactor and who has done a number of things for the History Channel. He pointed me in the right direction. I live in the Sedona/Flagstaff area, so that part was relatively easy. Lots of fact checking when writing a historical novel.

What was your greatest challenge in writing this novel? Your greatest reward?

I think the biggest single challenge was flow. Arranging the chapters to constantly build tension, yet give the reader a complete backstory was a challenge. I cut a lot out of the book, actually a third plot line and a main character, but that's becoming another book as we speak. The greatest reward is undoubtedly all the wonderful comments from my readers. “I couldn't put it down!” and “It'd make a great movie!” are common themes. It really means a lot to me that people love it.

What kind of reader will enjoy reading House of Apache Fires?

Audience? I think anyone who enjoys History, Thrillers or Westerns. It is, after all, a “WWII Western” as strange as that sounds. It's gratifying to hear from a number of female readers that they loved it also, and they all commented on the romance angle.

What can readers expect next from Morgan Jameson?

I'm re-editing my first novel, The Winnemucca Curling Club to give back to my agent. It's literary fiction, and more character driven – a story of intolerance, racism, but also redemption. I’ve got three other books in process including a YA post-apocalyptic story that is feeling like it might become a trilogy. I don't like being trapped as a writer in one genre.

Thank you so much for visiting with our MB4 readers today, Morgan. We wish you much success with your novel.

Thanks for having me!

 

*****

Link to Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00OVA7AW6

Who's Who at Mid South Con

Just wanted to say hi, Murderers, before I jet off to the con where I am a panelist. Did I just say that? I am so excited!! I mean really really. I am jumping up and down in my seat. And so today is sort of let's talk about conferences day. Have you been to one? Been a participant of one? Come on now, tell tell. This will be my fourth year of attending a con but my FIRST ever time to be a panelist. Tres excitableness.

Mid South Con HERE click the link to find out more about it and so forth.

So, what is the attraction of a conference with a writer's track?

Well, for one, it is a great learning place. There will be editors and agents and big name authors there sharing their knowledge. And that part of the con is FREE. You get all this great info-INSIDER stuff-absolutely free.

And then there is the fan con. The place where all the lovely people hang out and indulge in their fav sci-fi or fantasy dreams. Nearly everyone dresses up as something like Star Trek, Star Wars, and of course Harry Potter. It's so much fun. I cannot tell you.

So--look one up in your neck of the woods or come on down and be a part of mine. I will be signing books on Pro Row on Saturday before lunch and it would be awesome to see you there!

Happy Saint Patrick's Day!

My favorite Irish blessing:

For Horror Writers - A Contest!

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As a courtesy to fellow writers, today we're letting you know about a new writing contest. Here is the blurb from Lauren Harsma, Head of the Authors Community at Inkitt.com, who asked us to share the news with you!

If you thrive on chaos, if you live to be spooked, if you've got a story inside you trying to claw its way out of the darkness in your chest, Inkitt's March writing contest is screaming your name (and screaming and screaming and screaming).

Inkitt – a social writing platform where authors can share their work, get constructive and intelligent feedback, and improve their writing – is sponsoring it's second contest which closes on March 31st.

The theme? The theme this month is "Running Scared: The Most Terrifying Tale Ever Told" (though writers are not required to have this line anywhere in their story – anything horror goes!).

The deadline for the contest is March 31st, so get ghoulish: submit your worst nightmares at http://www.inkitt.com/runningscared.

May I encourage you?

Have you ever fallen down on the job of writing and felt like you would never rise again? Like that writing life was just a dream, never to be obtained? Were you rejected by agents until you declared you would never submit again? Then found that rejections were just niceties compared to what editors did to your work?

Well, let me be your encourager today.

I found this online about Abraham Lincoln. I thought you would appreciate his life story.

(from Ralph Marston's site)
Failed in business at age 21
Was defeated in a legislative race at age 22
Failed again in business at age 24
Overcame the death of his sweetheart at age 26
Had a nervous breakdown at age 27
Lost a congressional race at age 34
Lost a congressional race at age 36
Lost a senatorial race at age 45
Failed in an effort to become vice-president at age 47
Lost a senatorial race at age 49
Was elected President of the United States at age 52

See? You are NEVER too old to succeed!

Maybe you are like me and think, okay, if someone as famous as Lincoln could experience such shortcomings and still persevere and succeed then I should be able to too.

I hope this has lifted you up a little. Now GO WRITE!

How to get published

People invariably ask me what they need to do to get a book published. The first thing I do is gaze at them longingly. I mean, was it really almost ten years ago that I WAS that person? So here is my list, and it is about as thorough as you will find in all the writing self-help books and other places.

HOW TO GET PUBLISHED

Find the time to write.
We all find time to do the things we want to do. If writing is a priority for you, you will find that giving up time to do other things will be worthwhile. It's okay to write to a specific reader too, figure out who your reader is and focus your writing toward that reader.

Don't stop writing.
Once you get started you are committed. Quit listening to other voices telling you that you can't do this. DO IT ANYWAY. Don't listen to that voice telling you that you need to edit it before continuing. You DON'T. Keep going and get finished. Don't stop. FINISH LINE is your focal point. Yes, THE END.

Fix your flawed work.
Edit, delete, scrap, revise and then let someone tear it up for you. Sometimes what they say will be good, and sometimes it may be dross. But SOMEONE else's eyes are critical. And once you have written, and rewritten, and been critiqued and rewritten again at least three times, then you likely will have a worthy piece. If not, rinse and repeat.

Find a real audience.
Who publishes your type of story? Write a query letter, and send that baby out. Or do your due diligence and investigate indie publishing and self-publishing. In today's world, you can do it all or none of it. The choice is yours.

Do it over and over until you are dead.
Or rich and famous. Whichever comes first.

That's it. How do you like the fact that I saved you millions of dollars in conference fees, book costs, and oh yeah, shrink charges? 'Cuz we all know that trying to get published will make you crazy.

If you have any questions, leave a comment. Or if you want my undivided attention, visit me in person.

For everyone in the Memphis TN vicinity, I'll be in town March 20-21.

Friday, March 20 - Mid South Con, Memphis Hilton
I will be on panels at 7:30 and 9:00 PM
Details at http://www.midsouthcon.org

Saturday, March 21 - Mid South Con, Memphis Hilton
Panels at 9:00 AM and PRO ROW signing books at 11:00 AM
Panel at 6:00 PM
Details at http://www.midsouthcon.org

Sunday, March 22 - Mid South Con, Memphis Hilton
1:00 PM panel on podcasting
Details at http://www.midsouthcon.org

Feel free to spread the word and come see me. The Pro Row will be full of great authors. How cool is that? Naturally, in addition to my wit and wisdom, I'll be giving away some free cool stuff.

Hope to see some of you there.
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Kim Smith is the author of the bestselling book, TEN TIPS FOR GETTING THAT BOOK WRITTEN. You can find Kim or her popular podcast, Writer Groupie, at http://www.kimsmithauthor.com

Read an Ebook Week is here!

Hello Everyone!

Just a short post to let you know that March 1-7 is Read an eBook Week. My publisher, Twilight Times Books, celebrates Read an eBook Week by making several titles available as FREE downloads from their critically acclaimed catalog. You will find fantasy, mystery, science fiction, historical and a lot more at http://twilighttimesbooks.com/freebies.html.

Among the selections will be An Elfy on the Loose by Barb Caffrey, Behold the Eyes of Light by Geoff Geauterre, Cassie Scot: ParaNormal Detective by Christine Amsden, Death on Delivery by Anne K. Edwards, Don't Let the Wind Catch You by Aaron Paul Lazar, Jerome and the Seraph by Robina Williams, Monkey Trap, by Lee Denning, No Place for Gods by Gerry Mills, Rue the Day by Ralph Freedman, Schooled in Magic by Christopher Nuttall, The Case of the Displaced Detective: The Arrival by Stephanie Osborn, The Storks of La Caridad by Florence Byham Weinberg, Touch of Fate by Christine Amsden and Who is Margaret? by Celia A. Leaman.


So get over to http://twilighttimesbooks.com/freebies.html and add some new stories to your e-reader.

Enjoy!

D.