IN THIS ISSUE:
My monthly column update
Book Happenings
Q & A Time

Happy Carnival, Mardi Gras, St. Patrick’s Day…

March is quite a festive month in our house, what with several family members’ birthdays and our wedding anniversary on top of the usual holidays. But no matter how warm it is inside we’re destined to suffer through a few more days of chilling temps and snow, and I’m more than ready for spring to begin. Aren’t you?

With all the snow heaped upon the St. Louis area lately, we’ve been stuck inside a lot. And when I’m stuck in the house with the kids, I tend to watch too much TV—and not PBS or The Learning Channel, either. This month’s “Every Day *IS* Mother’s Day” column takes a look at a new “reality TV” show I watched that didn’t strike me funny in quite the same way as it did my girls. You can read “Whose Life Isn’t a Sitcom?” online at:

http://pages.sbcglobal.net/cynthianna/momsday_index.html
(You may have to copy and paste the above URL into your web browser to get them to work.)

My column is regularly featured in Miscellaneous Ramblings ezine, but recently “MR” has changed its web site address. You can read it online at by clicking this link: http://www.bandalbooks.com/MR.htm

And remember as always, I enjoy hearing from my readers. New subscriber Barbara M., says this about my January column, “Winning the Jackpot at the Local Post Office”:

“I enjoyed your post office column. I think I would inform Ms. Barney Fife's superior of her horrific attitude! Good grief.”

My sentiments exactly, Barbara. Thanks for emailing!
(PS Be sure to check out Barbara’s fantastic web site at www.barbaramadden.com.)

BOOK HAPPENINGS

I’d like to give a warm welcome to all my new newsletter subscribers from the Saturday Writers Group in O’Fallon, MO. (www.saturdaywriters.org) I really enjoyed meeting “you guys” this past week. One of these days I promise to start my own writer’s fraternity and call it something like “The Flat Forehead Writers Association of America” (or “FFWAA” for short) with an official motto of, “I can’t believe it’s a rejection!”. Y’all are more than welcome to become charter members.

On March 22, I’ll be in Quincy, Illinois, speaking at a writer’s conference that will take place at the Plaza Restaurant. So, if you happen to be in the neighborhood, stop by and introduce yourself.

“Literacy Day” takes place this April 12th at Wal-Mart and Sam’s Club stores throughout the nation. I’ll be reading aloud for fifteen minutes at the Crestwood, MO, Sam’s Club at 10 AM and at the Wal-Mart in Fenton, MO, at 2 PM. More info on how you can participate in this event is available online at www.literacyday.com

And to all those “wannabe novelists” out there, here’s an open invite for you: The “Build-a-Book Workshop” featuring award-winning author, Debra Dixon will take place April 26 in St. Louis. This workshop is for anyone who is interested in writing novel-length fiction. More details available online at: http://www.morwa.org/gmc.html . I’m on the workshop committee and things are shaping up well. Register now before all the seats are filled!

Exciting news--I’ve been asked to be a program presenter at the Romantic Times Booklovers Convention in Kansas City, October 15-19. “RT” is always a fun convention, and I can’t wait to meet and greet readers and writers of romantic fiction from all over the planet. And, if I’m lucky, I’ll might get a hug or two from one of those gorgeous guys in the “RT Cover Model” contest… If you’ve never seen a romance novel cover model up close before, it’s hard to describe the experience in one word. Words like “Adonis, Charles Atlas, Greek god, solid muscles, physical perfection” all come to mind. You just can’t think of one word!

While I’m busy thinking of a better adjective to describe those masterpieces of the male form, here’s the info on my books currently in print:

COUNTRY BOY, CITY GIRL (contemporary romance)
by Cynthianna Appel ISBN 1-58851-918-X
Publish America Inc. http://www.publishamerica.com
(trade paperback edition—available at Amazon.com, BN.com, Wal-Mart.com and other online booksellers as well as the publisher's site.)

THE FIXER-UPPERS (contemporary romance)
by Cynthianna Appel ISBN 1-59088-984-3
Wings ePress http://www.wings-press.com
(trade paperback and electronic editions)

Now, it’s everybody’s favorite--Q & A TIME!

Q: What do people mean when they say they’re writing “literary fiction”? (From the Saturday Writers Group)

A: Good question—you got an answer? Oh, I’m suppose to give you one… ;-)

The definition for “literary fiction” differs depending on the person you’re speaking with--writer, editor or agent--and the place where you buy your books—discount department store, a university bookstore or an upscale, urban bookseller. The best answer I can give you is by telling you what literary fiction in “not” and hopefully you can figure it out from there.

Simply put, literary fiction novels are not the books you take along with you to the beach. Okay, hold the tomatoes! I know I’m making a sweeping statement here, but let me explain. On the whole, most people read to be entertained while on vacation so they don’t tend to choose books that are “weighty” in tone, subject or size. Vacationers bring along romances, mysteries, science fiction adventures, techno-thrillers and these types of novels are not usually considered literary fiction. These books are normally labeled “commercial genre fiction” by booksellers and publishers and you will notice their titles on top the best-seller lists. They are “fast, light reads” and deliver a “satisfactory conclusion” that is expected by fans of the genre. But here is where it gets sticky--there are such animals as “literary romantic novels” and “literary mysteries” nowadays. I hope you see why it’s so confusing to come up with a “one size fits all” definition.

Literary fiction authors in recent times have done the unthinkable—they’ve crossed the line right into commercial, best-selling status. Look at Maeve Binchy and Jodi Piccoult. So, do we say these writers are writing “literary” fiction as opposed to “commercial” fiction? It’s your call. Most writers I’ve encountered who claim to write literary fiction tell me that they focus more on their style of writing and less on the plotting of their stories. They are big into description and setting the scene of the story, big into character analysis and not quite as concerned with the story’s pace. Many literary novelists tend to shy away from “happy endings” which are prevalent in commercial genre fiction. But, that’s not to say literary fiction is full of “purple prose” and no storyline whatsoever—that isn’t true at all—but usually the reader doesn’t read a literary novel to find out the “what” in the story as much as the “how” the writer is going to take us there.

When push comes to shove, the best litmus test of literary fiction is this: Would Oprah recommend this title on her talk show? If yes, it’s probably literary. If Kelly Rippa would choose this title for her new book club, it’s most likely commercial genre fiction. And, yes, I realize that one of these days I could be proven dead wrong. :-)

If you have a question--any question, related to writing, romance writing, publishing or whatever--email me at cynthianna@hotmail.com.(Do not hit "reply" to this newsletter--your email will bounce.) Results guaranteed or double your money back.

And don’t forget you can read my answers to writing questions from previous newsletters online at:
Writing Tips
http://pages.sbcglobal.net/cynthianna/writingtips.html

Until next time, best of luck keeping the sidewalk shoveled and spying those crocuses you planted last fall. They've gotta bloom soon!

God bless--

Cindy
(a.k.a. Cynthianna Appel)
http://pages.sbcglobal.net/cynthianna

P.S. Feel free to forward this newsletter on to an email friend or twelve. You'll be glad you did. (Please forward the entire contents of this newsletter and not just bits and pieces, however. Thank you.)

Copyright 2003 Cindy Appel. All rights reserved.