Bizarre Characters and General Hodgepodge

I write about real people in disguise. If anything, my characters are toned down-the truth is much more bizarre. – Jackie Collins

I was in Las Vegas last week for our annual get-together with a wonderful group of friends. I didn’t take my computer, so I was completely unplugged from the internet. It wasn’t as hard to adjust to as I anticipated. In fact, to be honest, it was very liberating.

Now I'm home and the fantasy life of Vegas is fading as I switch gears into catch-up mode. When I have lots to do, I tend to go in circles and my thoughts are rather jumbled. The result is this rather eclectic mixture of topics for today’s post, so I'll dive in now.

As usual I didn’t walk away with any big money jackpots. My Vegas windfall is more in the form of character ideas. I can’t imagine there being any better people watching place in the world.

I’m not talking about performers or casino employees when I say some people are so off the charts in looks, actions and voice that I wondered how anyone could turn them into a believable character. Describing these colorful folks exactly as I saw them might have the reader shaking their head and saying, “No way. No one’s this outrageous.”

I find perfect characters boring—I can’t relate to them at all. Is it possible, though, to go too far in the other direction? I ’ve read that if you want a satirical tool your characters can be unrealistically eccentric which leads me to wonder exactly what is unrealistic?

I don’t have the answers to my own questions, so if anyone has any ideas on the topic I’d love to hear them. Tips on writing about unusual characters are also welcome. Who is your favorite quirkiest character in a novel?

On a completely different topic, I like to thank Rayna for featuring me on her blog, Coffee Rings Everywhere, last Wednesday. I’m flattered to be the subject of one of Rayna’s drabbles. A drabble is a story told in exactly 100 words and Rayna has one to offer daily. A resident of Bombay, India, her drabbles are always interesting and educational, expertly showing the similarities and differences between our cultures and lives. I recommend stopping often.

Changing the subject again - be sure to mark your calendar for December 1 when the Indie Books Holiday Giveaway begins. Forty-seven authors are offering hundreds of free print and eBooks. All you have to do is enter and that's super easy.

Next I’d to credit Marvin Wilson with coining the term, “blogcation.” I admit to stealing, I mean borrowing, the word for my last post. I couldn’t remember where I first saw it, but it seems it originated on The Old Silly’s Free Spirit blog. This comes as no surprise as Marvin’s posts are always creative.

Finally, happy Thanksgiving to all of you in the U.S. I hope your day is filled with joy and laughter and lots of good food.

Thank you for stopping by today. I hope to see you next week (I'll do my best to stick to a single topic).

Tags: Jackie Collins, blogcation, Las Vegas, drabble, Marvin Wilson, Thanksgiving, Coffee Rings Everywhere, unusual characters,

Lose Some, Win Some

"Man, I really like Vegas." - Elvis Presley

Once a year we meet our special group of friends in Las Vegas. While I’m there I make contributions to many one-armed bandits. Just doing my part to keep those bright lights in that city aglow! It’s the least I can do. So while the odds and past experiences tell me I will leave with less money than I start with—also known as losing—I thought I'd share a winning story.

A few weeks ago I learned that my short story, The Communiqué, was selected as the winning entry in the Winter Poetry and Short Story Competition sponsored by The Southwest Florida Women’s Digest. Needless to say, I’m very excited about winning, seeing a story of mine in their great publication, and walking away with a cash prize (which now makes up part of my Nevada investment fund). The story, limited to 500 words, appeared in their 6th Year Anniversary Fall/Winter 2009 Issue. With their permission, I’m reprinting it here. I hope you enjoy it.

The Communiqué

For inspiration John kept a copy of Hemingway’s For Whom the Bell Tolls on his desk next to his grandfather’s antique pen set. Though his grandfather had been dead for fifteen years, John still missed the soothing sound of his deep voice. He sighed as he ran his hand down the spine of his grandfather’s favorite book. The rush of memories turned John’s frown into a smile.

“That book isn’t suitable for a young boy,” John’s mother used to say.

“It’s literature,” his grandfather had argued. “It’s suitable for everyone. John’s brain will absorb the sounds of great prose. It’ll help him become an illustrious writer someday.”

His smile disappeared. I must be a big disappointment to you now, Grandpa.

John’s thoughts drifted from his grandfather’s gravelly voice to Sara’s angelic face. Engaged to Sara for three years, John worried she was losing her patience. Since college he’d sold a few short stories and articles but his earnings were meager. They wouldn’t come close to covering the needs of a family. How stupid I was to believe I’d ever be a bestselling author.

With that thought, he forced himself to focus on the application in front of him. I have to do this. It’s the only way.

Becoming an accountant at the firm Sara’s father owned didn’t appeal to him in the slightest; however, eating did. He removed the antique pen from its marble holder and began filling in the tedious blanks.

Halfway through the form, the pen began to leak. The ink spread like an incoming tide; the questions and his responses descended to the murky depths of a great black sea.

Horrified by the sight of the ruined application, he groaned, rubbed his forehead, and closed his eyes. What am I going to tell Sara’s father?

“That is the sadness that comes before the sell-out,” he heard a raspy voice say.

Recognizing the quote from Hemingway’s book, John opened his eyes and looked around. He was alone and yet he felt a presence. I’m imagining things.

“Don’t give up so easily on your dream, my boy.”

“Is that you, Grandpa?” John whispered.

The only reply was the puff of air he felt waft past his ear.

“It is you. I know it is.”

John wadded up the ruined application and tossed it into the trash. He cleaned up the ink and carefully placed the pen back onto the marble stand before turning on his computer.

“Chapter 1,” he typed, “Not one to believe in ghosts, Max first refused to acknowledge…”

His fingers were barely able to keep up with his ideas as his hands flew across the keyboard and words filled the screen. After a few minutes, John paused and read what he had written.

He smiled, glanced upward, and said, “Thanks Grandpa.”
***

Thank you for stopping by.

Tags: Elvis, Las Vegas, Women’s Digest, short story, Hemingway, For Whom the Bell Tolls, Nevada,

Radio Interviews

“All the great speakers were bad speakers at first.” - Emerson

This quote gives me hope. So far, I’ve been disappointed with all of my three radio interviews. I think of such great things to say once I hang up. During my interview with Bulldog on the Rude Awakening Show, I couldn’t even think of the word ‘compound’ when talking about our life in Saudi Arabia. If only I could call, “Overs.”

I recently had the opportunity to listen to the radio interview I did last Wednesday, (from my hotel room in Vegas) with James Lowe on KJAG. My first impression was, “Who IS that?”

I am quite sure that if I hadn’t known it was me, I would never have recognized my voice. I sound so different to my own ears than I do on tape. I hear it’s a common experience. I like my non-tape sounding voice better. It seems deeper and less squeaky to me. According to an article on Tech Republic, we all sound better to ourselves than we do to others because of the extra resonance provided by the empty spaces in our head. Uh-oh. Does this mean the emptier our heads the better we sound to ourselves?

The good part about hearing the interview was that I did stumble but not as often as I thought I had. The bad part was that I thought my answers could have been so much better. I find it is difficult to be clever or cute when the spotlight is on me and I'm trying to stick to the facts.

I debated on whether or not to ‘air’ this James Lowe session on my blog. I decided the only way to improve was to put myself out there. And, there’s not much point in doing interviews if I’m worried that someone might actually hear them! So for those of you who have a few extra minutes and would like to critique the interview with James Lowe on KJAG. I’m really interested in what you have to say about it.

If you had the opportunity to interview an author, what questions would you ask?

And for those of you that are wondering about my trip to Vegas, I once again I was more of a contributor than a collector. It was a fabulous trip anyway because I spent time with the greatest friends anyone could ask for. Thank you, Barb, Donna, Jim and Katy for lugging your copies of The Ride all the way out there just to have me sign them! How special is that!

Thanks for stopping by.

Tags: The Ride, Emerson, Rude Awakening Show , James Lowe, KJAG, techrepublic, interviews,

Busily Waiting

I recently attended The Florida Writers Association Conference in Orlando. What a fun and informative environment for getting to know a few friends from my local writing group better as well as for meeting many new writers.

I enjoyed a presentation by William F. Nolan, the author of Logan’s Run. Although he writes mostly science fiction, his advice and expertise covered all genres. He’s a direct and funny speaker, with the enviable writing ability of describing his observations with a minimum of carefully selected words that easily engage the one’s imagination.

Richard Paul Evans told an incredible tale of his road to success. He wrote The Christmas Box, his most popular book, for his daughters and not for the publishing world. Simply giving the book to his family members, a few friends and neighbors, started a snowball effect. The book became an authors dream; a bidding war by the big publishing houses, a lucrative contract and popularity beyond anyone’s wildest imagination. I have not read his books yet—but after hearing him speak, I plan to read them all.

There were many other sessions and presenters, and I took away some valuable nugget from each. I returned home realizing I still have so much to learn.

In this competitive field, filled with talented writers, I am so grateful that The Ride has found a publisher. I’m hoping my renewed sense of appreciation for the manuscript making it to this stage will help to make the long drawn out publishing process a little easier to bear.

I was home for one full day before leaving for the bright lights of Las Vegas. Although I left Las Vegas with no money and most likely two damaged lungs from all the second hand smoke I absorbed in the casinos, I had a great time with our friends. We numbered nine this year and everyone seems as anxious as I am to have my book come out. It’s great having their support and encouragement. I can’t wait to do it all again next year.

In total, I was away from home for about a week but it felt as though I’d been away for a much longer period. I have no idea why. But, whatever the reason, I expected to find many things changed in my absence and my e-mail chock full of encouraging communications from my editor, Vickie, at ArcheBooks Publishing.

Although I did miss my grandson’s first haircut, home was pretty much the same as when I left and not a single message from Vickie appeared among the numerous e-ads and spam that occupied my inbox.

“Maybe next week,” says the proverbial optimist in me.

To which my pessimistic side responded, “You must be nuts if you thing anything will happen during the holiday season.”

I hope the optimist gets to gloat, but only time will tell.

Thanks for stopping by. See you next week.

Jane Kennedy Sutton
Author of The Ride (to be released by ArcheBooks Publishing)
janekennedysutton@gmail.com
http://janekennedysutton.googlepages.com/


Tags: The Ride, Archebooks, Las Vegas, Florida Writers Association, William Nolan, Logan’s Run, Richard Paul Evans, The Christmas Box