Do you understand what an RSS feed is? I certainly didn’t until today. It’s a way to know when there’s a new posting on your favorite blogs.

There’s a cool video on how to do RSS at

http://www.commoncraft.com/video-rss-plain-english

Marilynne

I was reminded by a friend today that in order to write successfully you need to be persistent. Since I’ve been in the middle of a dead spot, I needed that reminder.Persistence has nothing to do with dead spots. It has everything to do with plugging away, even if you’ll tear most of it up and throw it away. (That’s a reference to the days when I wrote on a typewriter using lots of crisp white paper and filling a very large waste basket with the discards.)

If you aren’t persistent with your writing that dead spot will grow. It has a life of it’s own that has nothing to do with what you want to write and everything to do with prolonging the agony.

I’ve been dreaming a lot of cluttered dreams with a million thoughts going every which way. When I begin having these dreams I know that these thoughts need to be put down as words to be read and not wasted on dreams. (There are much nicer things to dream about.)

Another funny thing is happening. I keep thinking about and looking toward one corner of my office. (A dead corner, if there is such thing in a room). I keep thinking that I need to go there before I begin to write again.

So, what’s there? Nothing much. Some old books I think will be useful some day. All of my outmoded and outdated computer equipment, that might be useful some day, or in any case is working, so not to be thrown away. There’s a big box of lace ends that I’m I’ll want some day. (I’ve used these bits of lace to put pretty ends on my pillow cases and edge a curtain or two). Another box has quilting scraps. (I may try quilting some day.) I hate to give away my music so there are some boxes of CDs and more of cassettes (I do have a cassette player).

What is it that is drawing me to that corner? Reflecting on what I’ve just written, I think that’s the corner of unfinished projects. Things that are not done, but probably should be. I think that’s where my book is now. I need to rescue it, don’t I?

Marilynne

Most mystery authors travel from book store to book store to meet their readers at book signings. If you’ve never heard the term, then I encourage you to go to a book signing and find out what it’s all about. Book signings are where the author and reader meet. Muy Simpatico! The authors love to meet their readers and the readers love to meet the authors.

Yesterday I attended a book signing at Mysterious Galaxy. Their newsletter had invited the readers for High Tea and a book signing party. In truth, it was open to anyone who wanted to come, they just wanted to know how many were coming. Not all book signings are the same. I admit this one was pretty special.

As you entered the bookstore, a small table full of goodies was waiting. On the counter were cups and the fixings for tea. Sounds welcoming, doesn’t it? Just past the goodies an area had been cleared for some chairs and a few TV trays. Neat. Welcoming. Yes?

The authors of the day were Michele Scott talking about her book “A Vintage Murder” (A Berkley Prime Crime Mystery) and Rhys Bowen talking about “A Royal Pain,” one of her Royal Spyness Mysteries (also a Berkley Prime Crime Mystery).

Michele admitted she loves the California Wine Country and says that it inspires her to write mysteries. She said that when she tours the wineries she’s always looking for a place to hide a dead body or a new way to murder someone. I’m wondering about how her fellow tourists feel about that.

Rhys loves to tell little stories and jokes about England. She had us laughing and brought a new understanding of English royalty.

There was a nice group of readers there and they had lots of questions. Someone wanted to know if they worked using outlines. Michele Scott said she works from detailed outlines, often outlining one book while she writes another. Rhys says she knows the general direction her book will take and just sits down to write it, making up things as she goes.

The whole purpose of the exercise, of course, was to get people to buy their books. Not just the current one, but those that came before and those that followed. The line was long at the checkout. I’d pre-ordered mine, so I didn’t have to wait so long. I came home with my books signed by the author.

What’s so great about owning a book signed by the author? I think it’s the feeling of connection between reader and author. The author wrote this book for people like me who love mysteries. They write on the hope that we’ll love them and read more of their books. Meeting them feels like closing the loop.

Marilynne

Like many readers, I have a bookcase full of books, read and unread. The bookcase is floor to ceiling. My paperbacks are two deep on the shelf. That’s nice. However I also have other bookcases, shelves, books tucked away all over the house.

For me, that’s good too. I love to read and I’m reluctant to give away a book that I’ve really loved, or that was written by a favorite author. I give away one book for every two I save. Maybe I should probably change that ratio.

In my home office, I’m also overrun with books: books on how to use software, books on grammar and editing, books I’ve written (small part of my shelf), and books for reference. The kitchen is full of cookbooks and user manuals for kitchen equipment. The bathroom has an assortment of quick reads – that is, volumes of short stories, magazines, and the Reader’s Digest. There’s not a room in my house without its supply of reading material.

Seeing that I’m surrounded by books, it’s not surprising to find that I also write. I just sent a very short, but very cute (I think), book for children to one of my daughters for her opinion. If she likes it, I’ll send it off to the tough world of publishing and see what happens.

There lies the rub for writers. How to get the attention of an agent and/or publisher and get your cute little book for kids published. That’s the tough one. It takes guts. It’s like posing for a calendar in your cute little nothings when your figure isn’t little and it’s certainly not nothing. I’ll try it anyway. What’s life without a few interesting challenges?

Wish me luck and keep on reading. Those of us who write really need you.

Marilynne