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Blogs by Velda E Brotherton
Writer Springs to Life 4/24/2006 8:15:44 AM
Warm weather brings me from the cave of my office and out into the sunshine With the warm weather comes a desire to be out and about, and that’s no different with writers. In April we ran down to Hot Springs where I spoke on the Mystery of Characterizations to the Mystery Writers of America SW. What a great group that is. They were eager to join in
and ask questions, and I had a wonderful time. Also greatly enjoyed the other speakers that included famed forensics expert Andrea Campbell. Nothing like learning all about murder and mayhem and how to kill off villains and get away with it. In books only, of course.
The following weekend my all day workshop hosted by Ozark Folkways south of Winslow, Arkansas was attended by a full house. We registered 22 folks. As the room would
only comfortably hold 20, we breathed a sigh when a couple of gals couldn’t make it. Not to say we didn’t miss them, we did, but the hooks on the walls were strained already. Never had someone miss a workshop because she had to perform a funeral. There’s a tidbit worthy of being included in a book. grist for the mill. Wouldn’t be a bit surprised if that doesn’t appear in one of my books one day.
Now I’m busy finishing up the polishing (for the tenth time) of my romantic suspense novel, which I’ve now decided to turn into the kick-off for a series. Since I’m without an agent, again, I’ll be pitching it to a couple of preferred agents in the near future, so have to finish an overview for the next few books as well. Ah, pitching. We learn early that the preferred way to find an agent or an editor is through personal contact at conferences. And talk about nervous. No matter how many books are published or written, an author never gets over being nervous when
talking to someone who holds their writing life in the palm of the hand, so to speak.
Two books are still sitting with publishers while I await the call. A creative non-fiction is at the University of New Mexico Press; a horror novel is with Cavern Press. So far, feedback is good. No matter how many times a writer is published, she still sweats the next and the next submission. Especially with lines closing and leaving us dangling in the wind, and enthusiastic
agents who grow cold too quickly when submissions are rejected.
Did sell a total of five short stories for anthologies in the past year. I’m thrilled about that
because the short story in not my forte, so to speak. I did enjoy writing them, and enjoy even more seeing them in print. Excerpts from three short stories are included here in my Den.
Readers are welcome to email me to chat or ask questions. Watch for updates in this space as I have them.
