Birds, Bees, and RVs by Mary Lu Scholl

4/10/2021

Multi-volume, Florida author, Mary Lu Scholl introduces us to the third volume in the “Trailer Park Travails” series, “Birds, Bees, and RVs”:
Life in a Florida Retirement Mobile Home Park is - complicated. It's spring time and romance is in the air - all around Patty whether she wants it there or not. Everywhere she looks people are in love, or dead - or both. Passions erupt on all sides and of all kinds among neighbors, family, friends and frenemies. Murder happens.
Was it motivated by fear, jealousy, love or simply being crazy? Can Patty even hope to salvage the life around her? Will solving the murder of a friend also result in her getting killed?

I am really enjoying the continuing saga of Patty, AKA Potato Woman to some of the residents in her senior trailer park. No matter how hard she tries to fit in, which isn’t very hard much of the time, the bodies continue to appear. What else is a self-respecting mystery writer to do except figure out whodunit?
The characters are becoming alive for me, I share some of the same issues as they struggle with. Many different senior topics are addressed in the story. The dialogue is touching at times and funny at other times. Action and scene-setting contribute a lot to the story.
I award 4.9 stars to “Birds, Bees, and RVs”!

You can buy this book:
https://www.amazon.com/Birds-Bees-and-RVs
https://www.goodreads.com/-birds-bees-and-rvs
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Birds-Bees-Trailer-Park-Travails-ebook

You can follow the author:
https://twitter.com/MaryLScholl1
https://maryluscholl.blogspot.com
www.facebook.com/maryluschollauthor/

My review of the first book of the Trailer Park Travails series, “Camper Catastrophe”: https://www.wordrefiner.com/book-reviews/camper-catastrophe-by-mary-lu-scholl
My review of the second book of the Trailer Park Travails series, “Mobile Mayhem”: Mobile Mayhem: Book Two of Trailer Park Travails by Mary Lu Scholl - Word Refiner
My review of the fourth book of the Trailer Park Travails series, "Trailer Trauma": www.wordrefiner.com/book-reviews/trailer-trauma-trailer-park-travails-book-4
My review of the ninth book of the Trailer Park Travails series, "Fatal Philandering": www.wordrefiner.com/book-reviews/fatal-philandering
My review of the second volume in the Nature Coast Calamities, “Big Foot and The Bentley”: https://www.wordrefiner.com/book-reviews/big-foot-and-the-bentley
My review of the fourth book in the Nature Coast Calamities, "Pu'ka and the Pirates": www.wordrefiner.com/book-reviews/puka-and-the-pirates
My review of "Rhiannon: Lady Leprechaun" is here: www.wordrefiner.com/book-reviews/rhiannon-lady-leprechaun
My review of "Sorry Bigfoot Safari" is here: www.wordrefiner.com/book-reviews/sorry-bigfoot-safari

Tags: cozy, murder, mystery, Florida, pets, dog, cat, neighbors, fiction, action

Copyright © 2021 Mark L. Schultz except for the author’s introduction

57 Comments

Mary Lu Scholl

4/11/2021 01:06:18 pm

Thank you Mark! The greatest pleasure I get from writing is when someone identifies with my character or elements of the story. It tells me I'm doing something right. Of course, writing what you know helps a lot. I hope I'm a little more socially acceptable than Patty...

Mark

4/11/2021 01:47:59 pm

You are welcome, I am so glad I have been able to review and promote your books. I enjoy them on several levels and they make me laugh quite a bit.
First question. We will resume from the last interview for Mobile Mayhem.
A lot of new authors struggle with finding beta readers. Because, after the first draft is done, fresh eyes and feedback become very important.
Do you have alpha-readers and/or beta-readers to help you smooth out some of the wrinkles before publishing? If you don’t, why?

Mary L Scholl

4/11/2021 02:15:15 pm

Finding constructive readers is very hard! I have a couple who also write and are very supportive.

I wonder in the back of my mind if they are being nice because they want me to be nice to their books...

Which I am. But that's because I LIKE their books...

I tend to get "Great!" "Love it." (My mother)(My sister) While I LIVE for approbation, no one says "Patty can't say that" or "Are you SURE you want to do that?"

My typical reader is a senior citizen - probably more women than men. While most have matters Kindle (obviated by sales statistics) leaving a review has escaped most of them...

Thinking of trying Pubby, Book Sprouts...

Opinion?

4/11/2021 04:07:38 pm

Mustered...

4/11/2021 04:08:26 pm

Mastered

4/11/2021 05:27:32 pm

Autocorrect is our worst enema, no doubt about that. ;-)
There is no way to eliminate those doubts completely, we all deal with the inner liar much of the time.
New questions.
How did you find your beta-readers?
Do you ask the beta readers to read through more than one draft of the manuscript?

4/11/2021 05:35:10 pm

My beta readers are people I knew before I became famous(?) There are only four. I try not to abuse them with more than one version. Anyone out there willing to be a beta reader for me?

4/11/2021 06:58:25 pm

I have a list of beta readers, among others, on my Twitter home page. Some have specific requirements. Help yourself.
You are being nice to your beta readers.
New questions.
At what stage in your writing process do you bring in the readers?
Do you give them an e-version like a PDF, access to Google docs or a hard copy you printed?

4/11/2021 08:15:13 pm

I don't let anyone read it until I'm done and have self-edited. The reason I wait is that my end product is rarely what it starts out to be. I start with a situation, create characters who will define it. I shape interactions and developer characters further. At some point I decide who will be my dead body. Whoever dies has to have either no likely suspects or several. At least once I felt so guilty about who I killed I had to go back and give the victim an unsavory background so I could feel better about it.

Sometimes I save some of what I edit out to use in the next book.

I feel like it wouldn't be fair to a reader to help me shape a story just to have me change the whole thing, discarding his input.

I will check out your beta readers; how did I miss that?!?

4/11/2021 08:26:17 pm

One of the things I love is that every author has a different way of producing their stories. Different authors bring in beta readers at different parts of the process.
I think saving bits is a good idea when a log series is being written.
My list of service providers is not obvious, if you don't know where to look.
New questions.
What kind of questions did you ask them to get the feedback you wanted or do you let them provide feedback without particular questions?
Will you seek out new beta readers or work with the same ones as before?

4/11/2021 08:50:49 pm

Somehow it never occurred to me to ask anything beyond "What do you think?" Except "Please point out any glaring inconsistencies or typos."

EVERYTHING about writing is more complicated than one expects.

I'll still send my next book to the same readers, but hopefully will recruit a few new ones from your lists. I found the lists, thank you!

4/12/2021 10:04:54 am

Some authors have general questions like yours. Other authors have more specific questions about the plot or characters or even difficult points in the book.
Life is more complicated in many ways. As you know, we just moved across the country to Florida, we are almost neighbors being in the same state. We planned very carefully, checked many different things and have discovered almost every plan we made had to be changed. It feels pretty complicated right now.
New questions.
Do you reward the alpha/beta readers in any way particular?
Do you belong to any writing groups, virtual or otherwise?

4/12/2021 10:26:49 am

I have to laugh (with you, not at you) regarding changes in plan when moving. I'm not sure I'd have ever started this book series if things had gone as planned when I moved here from Colorado.

My reward for readers has so far been reciprocal effort, reading and editing theirs - or - in the case of my little sister - editing, formatting and publishing Christian Children's art books. She's an artist and keeps me busy with that.

I do bring to Cozy Mystery group, Bryan Cohen's Amazon Ads for Authors, a local writers group, 20booksto50k, and a legal site. There are amazing mentors out there. You included!

4/12/2021 01:49:31 pm

I have to laugh also. Two trips to a credit union, four phone calls to verify we have EVERYTHING we need to open an account. And they wanted more than we were told. So, we still don't have an account. I am laughing and crying at the incompetence.
Exchanging that kind of service can be good. As long as everyone benefits, it's a great thing.
You are involved in some good groups and a nice mix.
Thank you for the compliment, I love helping authors any way I can.
New questions.
Going back in time, did you do any kind of creative writing, even back in grade school?
How early was it that you realized how powerful words can be?

4/12/2021 02:21:46 pm

ALWAYS wrote. Epic poems, short stories. Specialized in making people cry. Yes, a power trip.

Then there was the poem that my English teacher nearly got himself fired over when I was a Sophomore. He wanted it in the yearly "magazine;" the school board did not.

Then there was my senior year. I was bored. I picked six teachers/professors. Two I had at the time, two I'd had before, two I didn't know at all. I each one a five line poem in a particular cadence, rhyme scheme. Each one started with "Beware of..." None of them made any sense at all. I put them in the office in envelopes to them. A week later I did it again, keeping the same first line unique to each instructor. I kept it up for a couple of months.

One morning in May my government instructor called me up to his desk before class. He was not known for his sense of humor. On his desk was a neat stack of his poems. There were also neat stacks of photocopies of each of the other's...

He looked at me and said "Miss Garrison, stick to writing, never play poker"

After class I asked if he was going to tell the others it was me - since they obviously coordinates their research. "No. Let them figure it out..."

To my knowledge, none of the others ever did...

The written word!

4/12/2021 04:35:07 pm

Words are so powerful! You learned that at an early age. Understanding isn't always required, also. I learned not very long ago when I read a two books of poetry for a review. I was surprised at the feelings that were elicited after reading the first book. The second book was different by a little bit and I was surprised at my different response. I can't even explain why.
What a great trick using the written word.
New questions.
You mentioned earlier that you were part of a local writing group. I think that can be a valuable resource.
How many critique group members show up for the meetings usually?
In the critique group is everyone published?

4/12/2021 05:07:08 pm

Most of us are, with widely varying degrees of retail success. I have to admit, though, I joined just before the pandemic and we haven't met until recently. I still haven't gone. I'm coming up on my second shot and if I waited this long I can wait a couple more weeks. There were generally about 15 of us there. Write a few compared to some I have belonged to.

Poetry is more powerful than many people think...

4/13/2021 08:08:17 am

Varying degrees of retail success is an appropriate description. There are so many factors that stand in the way of becoming filthy rich.
Fifteen is a pretty large group. I think it would be hard to get very much attention very often.
New questions.
Are different genres represented?
How are the meetings structured? Does one or more person’s work, like a chapter, get examined and critiqued, or are problem issues tackled by the hive mind?

4/13/2021 10:02:57 am

Plus, another reason for "varying degrees of retail success" is that success isn't always generated by sales. I was sooo pleased by my first books (vanity press) that I was encouraged to write another one and publish it myself on Createspace. Many of these people only wanted to tell a story cohesively. Others have accomplished their goal by simply having a book they can hold and give away. For that reason, I would consider them far more successful than one who is focused on fame and fortune as validation.

My idea of success grows and changes, t hough. My first books, with my name on them thrilled me to no end. Then I found errors. Then I wrote another one that people ignored. Then I hear the statistics on the number of people who upload manuscripts online EVERY DAY and was horrified. After that, I read the statistics on who does it again, and again, and still again. The drop was phenomenal. So, I started measuring success with persistence...

I am persistent. NOW I want fame and fortune :)

As far as the local group goes...

There are memoirs - mostly - children's books and adult thriller, mystery and some romance. Pretty much across the fiction board with the exception of science fiction. One man writes technical manuals. Another woman writes cookbooks...

There was opening news - state of the group, upcoming events (retreats, fairs, book sales) across the country. That would be followed by a speaker on a particular topic:

Comparison of publishing sites (KDP, Smashwords, Vanity press, etc)

Publishing Law - copyrights for example

Contracting with third parties - book covers, blurbs, publishing packages

Advertising - Amazon, Facebook, etc

Question sessions and discussion follow to near the end.

Near the end, if anyone has something they want critiqued, they bring copies enough for anyone interested in their genre and pass them out. Response is generally done by email days later.

I think the leader of the group does a terrific job keeping his diverse group on track. Managing creative people is a particular challenge.

4/13/2021 12:40:05 pm

There are many ways to measure success. You have mentioned several.
The writers group sounds good. I like some structure and organization. Those are great topics, I have guest blogs that cover some of those and many links to other blogs on my Highly Regarded Blogs page.
New questions.
What is the most important thing you learned from publishing your latest book?
What are three things, that you wish you knew before you wrote your first book?

4/13/2021 04:41:43 pm

I'm learning more and more about advertising, keywords, algorithms. Experts tell me not to make more than one change at a time, to get clean, measurable results that can be attributed to particular changes. I've been all over the place. I'm pulling my ad plug for a month to start over with a new book and all new covers.

If I had done my homework, I would never have gone with third party publishing. I also thought no one would ever read any of my novels, so I patterned a couple of characters too closely to real life people. Since then I've pulled, rewritten and republished that book.

Live and learn.

That's two...

Patience. That's three.

4/13/2021 06:41:09 pm

It's one thing to write a book and for many, that process is the hardest thing they have ever done; it isn't easy to write and publish a good book. Then, so many authors like yourself, discover that the readers aren't going to beat a path to your door to buy your book. Readers have to see your book before they can even think about buying it. Getting readers to actually see your book becomes the new hardest thing.
I agree with you, third-party publishing is an easy way to lose a lot of money. Self-publishing is a much better way to go. Is it easier? No. It is very hard the first time, but it does get easier as the backlist grows.
You mentioned key words and algorithms, those are very important and almost invisible to the newly published author. Here is a link to a blog, this guy has been studying this topic for quite awhile. How to Change Your Kindle Keywords, by Dave Chesson
https://annerallen.com/2020/09/how-to-change-your-kindle-keywords-by-dave-chesson Cut and paste time. I hope you and other authors find it useful. you can also go the search box below and put key words in and get that blog and more.
New questions.
Do you have a hero, real or fictional?
What are some challenges to writing a cozy murder that are unique to the genre?

4/14/2021 08:05:49 am

I find such cool stuff on your pages and lists!

Part of changing keywords is figuring it what to change them to...

That means knowing your readers, their viewpoints. What do they think? Do they consider themselves "old" or "senior," is it a mystery or humorous? The hardest part, for me, is to maintain the back story of the characters in subsequent books so that someone picking up book for is not completely at a loss. With the characters' quirks such an important party of the story and community, remembering that new readers might not realize Patty counts the steps when she walks is hard - she is so real to me I tend to take her details for granted.

For all his faults and foibles I would most like to have known Benjamin Franklin...

4/14/2021 08:50:53 am

Thanks, you have made my day because my goal is to provide useful information about writing and the business of writing for authors.
The details are very important and must remain true for each character, no matter the length of the story or number of volumes. I can see that would get more difficult when working through a multi-volume series. Counting steps is a wonderful quirk, it sets Patty apart from so many other characters in books, video and film.
New questions.
How do you keep track of those details? Do you rely on memory or do you have character sheets or a character bible?
Do you write notes by hand or on the computer when you are starting a book?

4/14/2021 12:28:15 pm

Mostly I make notes on my phone for new stories, situations. Just because it's usually closer to hand.

I tried keeping a spreadsheet for a while, but I did so much rereading and caught so many things in doing so that I decided it was better to backtrack and look. Sometimes I'll have the pdf versions of four books open using search to check on my failing memory!

4/14/2021 02:25:48 pm

Yes, I don't let my phone get far from me most of the time.
That is a good idea, having the books all open at the same time. You probably know which book to look in most of the time.
The thought occurred to me of making one long PDF of all the books in the same document, that might get confusing also unless you have a title header on each page; then you could easily tell which book you were in.
New questions.
What is the most valuable piece of advice you have ever received from another writer?
What has been the biggest surprise in your writing journey?

4/14/2021 03:34:03 pm

The combined PDF is good idea. I already have them three at a time for three book sets. Awesome!

"Don't quit, you can only get better." A little disheartening if you take it to mean you're rock-bottom, but I try to have thick skin. (Second most important advice.)

The scope of your questions and the introspection they encourage! Professors mostly left me alone and concentrated on the ones who couldn't spell or string two thoughts together.

4/14/2021 06:07:28 pm

I am happy that my suggestion will be useful for you.
That pithy bit of advice has a lot that can be unpacked. There are editors that believe the first book an author writes should be considered a practice run and never published. There is so much that is learned in writing the first book. The learning should never stop, each book will be better than the last if the author is seeking to learn more all the time.
That second piece of advice is so important! A book is very personal for the writer, but not nearly as much for the reader most of the time. It seems that few readers actually leave reviews, unless the book impacts them a great deal, one way or the other. Then there are the trolls, people who seem to delight in causing trouble for anyone they can. A thick skin is necessary for a writer.
You caught me. I try not to miss an opportunity to share good information.
New questions.
You have published a number of books. You are writing more. Are you writing anything strictly for your own pleasure, not necessarily planning to publish it?
What are common traps for beginning writers?

4/14/2021 06:58:52 pm

I have to admit, with the house, an acre with a vegetable garden, chickens, my family, advertising efforts and producing my sister's books, writing anything else is on a back burner.

Beginner errors... Two hit me right off. If you can't spell, suffer from grammar-itis, hire an editor or proofreader. As a matter of fact, hire one anyway. I do fairly well and you still catch a few in my books. (I have referred a number of people to you)

The other is covers. I still struggle with the fact that I LOVED my covers and put a lot of work and emotion into them. Then I started associating with experts. I was told there was nothing wrong with having my own covers I loved. But if I wanted to sell them...

Readers tend to be in a hurry. They have a genre they are looking for and the overall appearance of the concert had to match it and catch their eye in a hurry. Research it carefully. Ask for opinions. Hire an expert...
Yes, it can be expensive. I have four covers for each of my books, ebook, audible, paperback and large print. I've redone the first five so far.

4/15/2021 08:15:17 am

The two beginner errors you mentioned are very common. I have always recommended to authors to have an editor go through their book before sending it to me. I know I don't know all there is about editing a book, that is why I bill myself as a proofreader rather than an editor.
Covers are the first or second thing to attract the reader's attention, a quality cover is very important. You are not the first author to change covers, hoping to find one that will attract more readers.
The old saw of not judging a book applies to most everything except books.
I retired from being an HVAC technician and a journeyman sheet metal worker. We used lots of duct tape at times, on everything except ducts. We did not use duct tape on ductwork, it wouldn't hold air.
New questions.
Do you think a strong ego is an asset or liability for a writer and why?
You mentioned the type of reader a little bit already. Can you describe the demographic of your ideal reader in any more detail? Who is the person most likely to buy your book?

4/15/2021 11:41:25 am

Lol on the duct tape. Just bought a roll this morning, for the plastic I use to cover my garden.

I truly think an ego is a liability. Readers can beat you down quickly and thoroughly. So did the one editor I ever hired. You can't learn from a defensive position, either; at least I can't. If I'm too busy preparing an excuse or reason, I don't hear what he's saying.

I believe my reader is a senior citizen, probably retired, both male and female but I'm given to believe women are more likely to read short humorous fiction.

4/15/2021 01:35:28 pm

Duct tape is a good thing to have, also WD-40. I have neither at the moment. I will probably be buying some before too long.
That is very true, when you feel like you are being attacked it's fight or flight time, and when neither is the correct option then brain freeze can result.
I think you have your likeliest reader nailed down.
New questions.
Do you have anything you consider to be your writing lucky charm?
What is the biggest obstacle you face in writing?

4/15/2021 02:24:21 pm

No charms or talismans 🙄. Probably would have said my dog when it first started writing this series. He was a good boy and a real character. I know you understand that completely.

My biggest obstacle is time and technology. If I'm hesitant about the next scene or chapter, in can usually find some tech excuse to put off finishing it. Check email, upload covers, make a large print version, mess with the formatting in my sister's newest book. Talk my granddaughter into letting me do a portfolio for her...

Or... I can bake, or knit, pull weeds

4/15/2021 04:42:59 pm

It doesn't sound like you need any good luck charms. You stay really busy, even your procrastinating is useful.
I employ that method of dealing with block of one kind or another also. In fact, a lot of writers take up a different activity altogether and wait for their muse to provide a solution. Others work on a different project, perhaps in a different genre.
New questions.
What is your writing Kryptonite and how has it affected you?
Do you see an advantage of writing under a pseudonym, why or why not?

4/15/2021 08:44:49 pm

Hmm. Kryptonite. Any kind of argument. If I'm upset I can't write anything. I don't "do" profanity and my murders are fairly tame, so there's no room for a bad attitude.

I've considered it. I've written a paranormal comingoff age novel in would like to expand on. If I do, I'll probably use a different name since the genres are so different.

4/15/2021 08:45:38 pm

Coming of age

4/16/2021 01:35:16 pm

Upset and emotional trauma can exact a big price and creativity is one of the first things to go.
Quite a few authors write in more than one genre. Some use a different pen name for each one. I ran across an author with several genres and pen names. She had a landing page website for each that sent people to the main website. It was pretty neat, I imagine she got some crossover among her readers.
New questions.
Are there any issues that are particular to writing this genre that might not apply to other genres?
Do you think it important to read books in the genre you write in?

4/16/2021 04:17:30 pm

I try very hard to keep the story moving with dialog rather than story-telling because it helps keep the story short. With dialog you can infuse not only what's happening but also the speakers' opinions at the same time. You still have to get backstory, setting, well-rounded characters along with the storyline in a short space.

It's important for writers to read, period! My mom and I each read three or four books a week. Memoirs, Political or science thrillers, mysteries, cozies, a good mix, I think. Reading in my own genre helps keep me in touch with trends... Recipes, patterns, maps...

4/16/2021 04:50:19 pm

You are so right. Good dialogue and character internal monologue can bring so much to a story and save quite a bit of writing space.
The first cozy mystery I read did have a couple of recipes. I was pleasantly surprised. I do like to eat. It was the third cozy mystery I read that didn't have a single recipe or meal planned.
I agree, reading widely can be beneficial and even educational at times. Seeing how authors in other genres accomplish similar tasks can be useful.
New questions.
Are there any writing styles or genres that you disliked at first but soon came to like?
Do you think watching movies or listening to music help you be a better writer?

4/16/2021 06:19:43 pm

Stream of consciousness. I can accept it rather than let it irritate me now. For long time I detested autobiographies. One recent president wrote one that was so bad I barely gave up reading. Michelle Obama's was well done. I haven't read her husband's and to my knowledge Trump hasn't written one. I would be interested in Melanie's...

I don't know. I kind of think watching a movie before or instead of reading a book is cheating, but I do love movies. I have probably a thousand on DVDs.

Music is good - while I'm writing :)

4/16/2021 06:49:15 pm

I find memoirs hard to read sometimes. There can be so much pain and trauma involved that it brings me down. I haven't read very many biographies, auto or not, but I have enjoyed the few I have read.
Movies and plays are a slightly different way of telling a story. The writing is necessarily in a different format, to distill a scene into a visual medium. I have encouraged writers to learn that skill because I think it can help avoid verbosity and it might help a book translate into a screenplay of one kind or another. A number of blogs have been written about this very topic, I have links to several on my Highly Regarded Blogs page. Here is a cut-and-paste link for a sobering look at that idea: https://kriswrites.com/2021/03/31/business-musings-content-content-content-hollywood-part-two/
New questions.
What type of book is your favorite guilty pleasure to read or listen to for fun?
Have you ever read a book that changed the way you look at writing?

4/16/2021 09:14:21 pm

Piers Anthony. Kay Hopper. Andre Norton. Just to relax.

My very first cozy mystery series opened a whole new world. I love learning random things from diverse settings. You're from the northwest, it was a cozy that taught me what a widowmaker was.

4/17/2021 08:12:23 am

Good choices. What is your favorite book from each author?
We are alike in that respect. I am a fan of random information also.
Yes, I am a native Oregonian and have lived up and down the west coast. Now I reside in Florida, your home state.
When I was in high school my dad let me drive his English sports car. It was a Sunbeam Alpine Mark 1, It had a 4-cylinder engine, its big brother, the Tiger, had a V-8 and it was known as as widowmaker because it was over-powered and loss of control was too easy at high speed.
New questions.
What hurdle did you face in writing this book and how did you overcome it?
Would you agree or disagree with the statement: suffering is a requirement to be a good writer, and why?

4/17/2021 08:58:42 am

Xanth series, Wizard of Seattle, Catseye. All light and require little or no thought.

Hadn't heard widowmaker applied to a car, certainly apt. Mine was a branch falling from a very high tree so that it sticks straight up in the ground on landing (or in whoever was standing there.)

No particular hurdles other than confidence.

I think a good writer must have experienced any strong emotion they write. Love, loss, determination, despair...

I struggle with hate and evil. Hopefully, most people do.

4/17/2021 03:58:46 pm

I think most people struggle with hate and evil. Although I also think the definitions are being twisted for political gain.
I think almost every person wrestles with confidence or the lack thereof. What most don't realize is that all of us are in the same boat, but many won't admit it. We also have within us a voice that is constantly berating us for not doing better. I call it the inner liar. Quite frankly, that voice is hard to ignore. I struggle with it also. I shove it aside and say not today.
New questions.
What was the message you wanted to deliver when you wrote this book? Do you feel you were successful in getting that message across to the reader?
If a new writer asked you for one piece of advice to be a good writer, what would you say?

4/17/2021 04:51:25 pm

I had practically everyone in the book pairing off this time. Some pairs worked, others did not. Reactions to them varied from glad to jealous. Done if them worked out. Others did not. Sometimes one half was more serious than the other. All relationships are different. Is never too late. Also - not EVERYONE is interested in romance.

That was one side of the story. The other side was success and importance is mostly a perception.

If my readers get my message, they are probably subliminal, but I do have fun.

Advice? Write from the heart. If it doesn't elicit an emotion in you, it won't anyone else, either.

4/18/2021 03:19:28 pm

I did notice that there were some deeper connections being made and some were falling apart also. A lot like life.
That is good advice, no matter how often it is said. We are at the base emotional creatures and that is where our first connections are made. After that other levels of connection are built for the successful couples.
New questions.
Do you ever brainstorm with non-writers and if so, is it effective?
What was the best money you ever spent as a writer to enhance your career?

4/18/2021 03:35:18 pm

The most brainstorming I do is with my mom. I'll ask her if something is reasonable and she says yes. Then I change it and ask her about it and she says great. Not real helpful for anything but my ego. My other sources are writers, so they don't fit this question.
Thank goodness they are there, however.

The jury is still out. Am I successful? The significant money I've spent so far has been mostly on covers and advertising/learning about advertising.

I recently stopped all of my ads, though, to start fresh with the new covers. I'm about to start them up again.

I am about to try your readers list. I'm days away from finishing Restless Retirement...

4/18/2021 05:22:57 pm

Moms are good for that. Sometimes they will tell you the truth and sometimes they will tell you what they think you want to hear.
I think writing a bunch of books is pretty successful in its own merit, but of course every author would like to make a small fortune from their books.
Be sure to send me the new covers, if they are significantly different. I will replace them on my website.
I hope the list of book reviewers will be helpful, they don't all read as widely as I do.
Did I ever mention I enjoy the alliteration of your titles? I smile every time on the inside.
New questions.
With the explosion of different streaming services, these companies are scrambling for content. Writers are going to be sitting on the top of the heap soon, because they are content providers. Have you considered shopping your content to these companies or an agent?
An ebook is only one form that a good story can be consumed in. Have you considered licensing large print, graphic books, plays or audio books? Audio books, in English and translated, are exploding worldwide also.

4/19/2021 06:40:49 am

I'm so glad you like my titles!
I hate to think of myself as a dinosaur, but I don't have a clue where to even start regarding a streaming service. The idea of an agent... Well, I had one, once...
I do have large print versions of my books, and three are on audible now, two more in production.
Plays never occurred to me...
As usual, your questions make me think. Now I know what I'll be doing next week.

4/19/2021 08:21:07 am

Here is a good place to start learning about this arcane part of the business, copy and paste time: https://kriswrites.com/2021/03/24/business-musings-a-cautionary-tale-hollywood-part-1/
Read all four parts of this and if you want to learn more check out the blogs in this Business Musings title that came before. There are quite a few. I think she has a lot of experience to learn from.
You are making good progress in embracing the other forms.
New questions.
Do you subscribe to any magazines, newsletters, blogs or podcasts that enhance your writing career? Feel free to share as many as you would like.
What are your favorite reference books or websites for grammar and writing?

4/19/2021 11:48:20 am

I just loaded (pulled up? found?) the website you recommended and will read it this afternoon, thank you.

I'm afraid I haven't embraced the terrifyingly vast world of advice that is out there for me. Intimidated? I rely mostly on my own reading for support, I have to admit, now, that starting to write has made reading a tad less enjoyable. Unless I am really "into" a book, I spend as many brain cells critiquing dialog, picking apart grammar, studying techniques to end chapters as I do following the story line. I seriously hate admitting to you (who have found errors in MY books) that too many spelling errors make me put a book down because it is too distracting.

I'll pull out a thesaurus upon occasion...

4/19/2021 12:52:08 pm

Great.
Now, your casual reading has turned into a critique course. Yes, that takes some of the fun out of reading for pleasure, but you are learning from other writers and your writing will get better.
I use the thesaurus also, but mostly when I am proofreading not reading very often.
There was a book I didn't finish several years ago, it had spelling errors on every page. It was too painful.
New questions.
Have you ever created a throw-away character that developed into a major player?
Why do most authors write in 3rd person POV instead of first and second POV?

4/19/2021 01:46:11 pm

Yes. There was a character in a previous novel who turned into a main character - just by his personality. Which I gave him. Is that weird, or what? Did I make him purposely? Was he subconscious? Who knows? I should. I don't. Why? Hmmm. Too deep for today. :)

Why people write in 3rd person? I have no idea. Are they afraid of personalizing what they write and revealing too much of themselves?

4/19/2021 06:10:07 pm

I find it just as fascinating as you do when a character takes over a scene, scenes or the whole story. Most authors report shock and surprise, but they also say the story is almost always the better for the unplanned change.
I have been told by some authors that writing in 3rd person is easier. They don't have to worry about head hopping or anything like that. Personally, I love 1st person writing, it is so intimate.
Last questions.
Were you a plotter or a pantster when you started writing? How about now, has that changed?
Do you think you were born to write or did you have to learn the craft?

4/20/2021 07:47:53 am

LOL. I was a plotter when I started, now a pantster. Plotting took surprises away, and like you just said, I think my writing is better with surprises!

I was born to write!

I've enjoyed our exchanges as much as the last two episodes. Thank you for including me in your world!

4/20/2021 07:57:34 am

A lot of writers find their style of writing changes over time, I think that is to be expected because we change as people also.
I think I was born to read and spell, so we make a good team.
This conversation has been fun, I am grateful that we could do it again. My new promotion has started so I must bring this one to a close for now.
Stay safe and sane and keep on writing.

Birds, Bees, and RVs by Mary Lu Scholl

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