It’s what you do when you’ve been wandering around in the dark. You find light. Lightness. Sometimes, all it takes is making a decision you’ve been putting off. So I made one.
I’m thrilled to announce that Beacon Street Bookswill publish the Redmond Family Secrets trilogy this fall/winter! I’m so excited I can hardly wait. But that “wait” includes work – as any independent publishing author knows. It means editors, cover artists, ISBNs, marketing plans, etc. And I’m up for it!
Just contracted with a new cover artist, and she has a wonderful vision for these books. Mockups are already done, and my Redmond siblings each have a stunning cover in the works! Book one is in second round of edits. So, watch for a cover reveal for THE SECRETS WITHIN US in September!
Ahead of the Redmonds, we have the Pierces. THE GYPSY IN ME is almost ready to hit the shelves. Am working on a campaign to re-release the first two StarCrossed Romances just ahead of GYPSY, with an upcoming, discounted, three-book sale. Woo hoo! This third installment has had a tough time getting to print, but we’re almost there.
Last, I’ve been invited to revise & resubmit my “boy & girl next door” small town romance, THE DOG FIXER NEXT DOOR. This publisher would like me to ramp up the romance, enhance the hero’s story, and shave off some “mundane” descriptions. Well, at least it wasn’t a NO, right? So I’ll be augmenting and upgrading that cute little story next.
Hope you are all well and doing what you need to to stay that way!
My editor recently reminded me of two important tenets of editing. One, every word must earn its place on the page; and two, every sentence must move the story forward. Oh, and a third. Don’t fall in love with your words.
These editing rules, or guidelines as they might be, make editing a challenge that dims the joy of writing just a little. Because undoubtedly, there will be words you love, words that spring from your fingers so brilliantly they flood color onto the page and strike joy in your heart. And yet, they don’t move the story an inch. Not one iota.
Oh, but the scene is soooo good! It evokes emotion! Fear, pain, heartache! Doesn’t it enhance characterization? Doesn’t it give the story depth? Maybe, yes; but the fact of the matter is, cutting the scene doesn’t harm the book. The sad truth is that the scene doesn’t add anything important, and it doesn’t push the characters any closer to their goals.
Delete.
But save it, my sister says. It’s too good to throw away; you can use it in another tale where it can move the story forward.
So the car crash scene has been surgically removed from the WIP. The book has lost weight. It’s leaner and the deletion leaves room for new, more effective words. Right?
Happy St. Patrick’s Day! Back when I got my Ancestry DNA results, I saw traces of the Irish in my family tree. Even closer, my hubby’s grandmother, Isabela Little, was an Irishwoman who married Thomas Wallace, a Braveheart descendent.
Do you believe in the folklore that gave us leprechauns, pots of gold and lucky shamrocks? Maybe you’ve been blessed with a visit from a wee, mischievous fairy, or delighted in the discovery of a four-leaf clover in your backyard lawn.
In any case, here’s my favorite Irish blessing: “May you be in heaven a full half-hour before the devil knows you’re dead!” And here’s a fun little story to give you a tickle as you sip on your green beer. Click here to read “Lucky in Love.” Enjoy!
PamComments Off on Revelations, Remembrance and Film Noir
For those of you looking for upcoming film noir, scroll to the end for information on TMC’s March line up.
For some, living through a year-long pandemic will cause one to reevaluate certain aspects of their life. Social mores, political views, health habits. Rethinking the importance of things, such as the appreciation of friends and what we do to help others. To say that we took much for granted and made assumptions about our life paths would be an understatement.
With Paul D. Marks at The Open Book in 2016. Photo credit: Amy Marks
In my last newsletter, I mentioned an author-colleague of mine and lauded his newsletters. Alas, my assumption that those entertaining missives would keep coming was wrong. Paul D. Marks – who recently wrote to congratulate me on my newsletter – lost his battle with cancer barely a week ago. As sad as that is, I know Paul would not want us to dwell on that sadness; rather, he would want us to carry on and keep the discussions he started and participated in alive. Keep watching noir films on TCM and AMC, talk about the Golden Age of Hollywood, and discover/share nostalgic tidbits of Los Angeles’ storied past.
Here’s a story Paul may or may not have read, but in either case, he would have soaked it up. Elijah Chiland put together this great overview for Curbed Los Angeles, a publication owned by Vox, “How the LA landscape shaped film noir.” In it, Chiland summarizes many great films shot in and around the confines of Los Angeles, among them Double Jeopardy, one of Paul’s (and my) favorites. If so inclined, take a read.
The Double Indemnity house is located on Quebec Drive in Los Angeles, California.
I would love to be able to write in this dark, slanted point of view, to give the reader that same response they get from film. According to Roger Ebert, “Film noir is…
1. A French term meaning “black film,” or film of the night. 2. A movie which at no time misleads you into thinking there is going to be a happy ending. 3. Locations that reek of the night, of shadows, of alleys, of the back doors of fancy places, of apartment buildings with a high turnover rate, of taxi drivers and bartenders who have seen it all. 4. Cigarettes. Everybody in film noir is always smoking, as if to say, “On top of everything else, I’ve been assigned to get through three packs today.” 5. Women who would just as soon kill you as love you, and vice versa. 6. For women: low necklines, floppy hats, mascara, lipstick, dressing rooms, boudoirs… high heels, red dresses, elbow length gloves, mixing drinks […] 7. For men: fedoras, suits and ties, shabby residential hotels with a neon sign blinking through the window, buying yourself a drink out of the office bottle, cars with running boards, all-night diners […] 8. Movies either shot in black and white, or feeling like they were. 9. Relationships in which love is only the final flop card in the poker game of death. 10. The most American film genre, because no society could have created a world so filled with doom, fate, fear and betrayal, unless it were essentially naive and optimistic.”
Can these elements be written with any degree of authenticity? Of course, because words came before film. Think Raymond Chandler and James M. Cain. But filmmakers have their own set of cinematic tools that bring noir full circle. Most obvious, chiaroscuro, a high contrast/juxtaposition between light and dark used as a lighting technique originated with German Expressionist films.
But before I get off on a film history lesson, suffice to say that I’m glad the great noir films are still fairly easy to find and dig into. Those who will miss Paul’s updates can find some information here on upcoming films on the small (TMC) screen: https://www.filmnoirfoundation.org/news-tv.html
What is the purpose of a newsletter, anyway? I get several a month. Some I open, some I delete without opening. I ask myself, what makes me click, and what do I enjoy reading? If it’s an author newsletter, and especially one I happen to like, I do look for news about their upcoming releases and awards. But I also glom onto insight into their lives. For example, author Paul D. Marks has a great newsletter he calls “PostMarks” – cleaver, huh? Paul talks about his newest and upcoming noir mysteries, awards he’s received (and there are many), some of his great reviews (many of those, too!) But Paul often drops in a photo of his dogs, or an anecdote about L.A.’s storied crime history that I really enjoy. The personal touch is important. Otherwise, I might as well just look at his Amazon page.
I revamped my newsletter last month. I will have quite a few new releases in the coming year, and I want to share the joy with as many friends and fans as possible. Still experimenting and feeling my way. My masthead (above) displays a few things about me: I have probably ten gorgeous rose bushes; I have a serious chocolate chip addiction; my puppers Melie is my youngest child; and I spend an inordinately amount of time and cash at Starbuck’s. Here’s a link to my Good News Letter.
Between the time I set up my newsletter account (with MailChimp) around 5 years ago and now, at least 450 spambots joined my mailing list. Before creating my new campaign, I had to weed them out and beef up my signup routine. I also had to clean up email addies that were no longer viable. It left my list a little bedraggled, but I forged ahead and was able to get a 55% open rate. Not too shabby.
Free content is recommended, so I included a link to a free Valentine’s Day story. Alas, not many takers. Is it too scary to click on a link? Or too time-consuming to read a few pages? Too much of a commitment? (BTW, the password for the story is PINKHEART).
For one thing, I know my list is made up of many friends, and not all of them are truly readers. They are there to support me, but not necessarily because they are interested in romance or mystery. So the next task is to get actual romance readers to join my list. Suggestions welcome!
PamComments Off on The Year We’ve All Been Waiting for is Here
Like you, I’m sure, I’m hoping that 2021 is a vast improvement over the dastardly 2020. The irony is that at this same time last year, I was also hoping for a better year over 2019. Boy was I in for a surprise!
One of the good things to come out of 2020 was more time to write. As I may have mentioned before, I finished out the Redmond Family Secrets trilogy, finished the third StarCrossed Romance – The Gypsy in Me – and wrote a sweet romance for NaNoWriMo, titled Churchill’s Peak. So I now have five books waiting for publication. Unbelievable!
Now that I’m working well with my muse, another story has formed and I’ve recently started on Amoroso Pass, the next book in the Beacon Point Romance series. New characters and some cross overs, a new location (the beautiful Oregon coast!), a new lighthouse and a whole new world of conflict between the H/H. Stay tuned for this one.
<– The author contemplating her upcoming successes.
The Gypsy in Me will be published by Beacon Street Books. I’m setting a release date for mid-April, pending my editor’s schedule and availability. I already have a beautiful cover, thanks to the multi-talented, (former) cover artist and author Linda Boulanger! This story completes the trilogy that began many years ago with StarCrossed Hearts, one of my first published novels.
Meet Ashley and Christian! The cover as it stands right now. Might have a few tweaks but I love it! (Whew!)
If you are a StarCrossed Romance fan (reader of StarCrossed Hearts and A Hero’s Promise) and would like an Advance Reader Copy of Gypsy, just write and let me know. Dane and Jessie are back, and their mixed bag of entitled kids are all grown up with problems of their own. I think you’ll like how they turned out.
I leave you now with this view from my backyard. This is my little sliver of California in December! Happy New Year!
Even if I’m the only one reading this, here’s an update on my status as a NaNoWriMo participant: I won! And it isn’t like I actually won anything, other than bragging rights about writing 50,000 words in one calendar month. I can’t say I FINISHED the novel I began on November 1st by the 30th. I did finish it, but it was on December 5th when I finally typed the words, “THE END.” And that’s fine.
CHURCHILL’S PEAK started out as an experiment. A challenge to see if I could write a conventional, trope-driven romance. My other “romances” are more complicated animals, rich with plot, fun locales, and multiple, complex characters. A couple of them can be shoe-horned into the romance category, but they wouldn’t fit the bill for a Hallmark movie or a Harlequin Heartwarming novel.
So. Sarah Higgins is a widowed mom of nine-year-old Emmy, and a down-on-her-luck freelance writer. She’s caught up in the struggle to homeschool her witty and precocious daughter, renovate her crumbling 1903 bungalow and still find writing gigs that will put food on the table.
Charming and sexy veterinarian Kyle Churchill lives right next door in a modern duplex. Although the lovable vet has all the right moves (and loves her daughter, besides), Sarah can’t stomach the fact that he designs video games in his spare time. Still, she’s willing to set that aside until Kyle reveals plans to demolish a beautiful, vintage lighthouse inherited from his great-grandfather. Sarah is horrified.
It’s a fun and fairly simple plot. Fun because Kyle treats all types of animals, and I got to write about them. Fun because Emmy is just a darling of a little girl, and she helps cement the relationship between the H/H. I really enjoyed writing this book. Not sure where it will go from here (after my “first look” editor gives it a read-through.) I’ll keep you posted.
For those who don’t know and feel dumb asking, don’t feel dumb. It stands for “NAtional NOvel WRIting MOnth.” This is my first time participating. My husband asked me what I get for this somewhat challenging activity. Fortune? Fame? A book contract? Or just blisters on my fingers and bragging rights for having written 50,000 words between Nov 1 and Nov 30. Hopefully, to have completed a 50,000+ word novel.
National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) is a fun, seat-of-your-pants approach to creative writing.
https://nanowrimo.org/
People sign up for NaNoWriMo for lots of different reasons. For many, it’s a chance to connect with other authors also trying to find the time, the voice, the inspiration to write what may be their first book. For others, it’s all about the D’s: diligence; dedication; discipline. Making the commitment to put butt in chair and fingers on keyboard, as they say.
My goal for this month is to write a traditional, trope-driven sweet romance. Not my usual work, so presents a nice challenge for me. As of November 18, 2020, I am at 32,697 words (on target would be 30,006 so I am ahead of schedule!) My story involves a writer, a veterinarian, a little girl, a lot of cute animals, and a lighthouse. (Any surprise there?) And this isn’t just any lighthouse, it’s a beacon — complete with tower, stairs, lens and gallery — on a mountaintop in the forest. [Watch for CHURCHILL’S PEAK in 2021!]
NaNoWriMo has been around since 1999. Their mission statement reads:
NaNoWriMo is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that believes in the transformational power of creativity. We provide the structure, community, and encouragement to help people find their voices, achieve creative goals, and build new worlds—on and off the page.
https://nanowrimo.org/about-nano
OTHER NEWS: (On which I will expound later) The Redmond Family Secrets trilogy is complete through first draft! Loved writing these books and can’t wait for you to read them!
STARCROSSED ROMANCE FANS: Hard to believe, but I have just finished the first draft of THE GYPSY IN ME. This book had a long shelf life but finally got its turn. The third in the StarCrossed series, the MacKendall-Pierce children have all come of age and are creating havoc for each other.
I hope you are all doing well amidst the health and political crises we find ourselves in. Don’t let fatigue allow you to let your guard down. WEAR THE MASK and learn to keep your distance. Define your personal boundaries and stick with them. Consider getting the vaccine. And keep reading!
PamComments Off on Redmond Family Secrets – Seeking a Genre
Still plugging away on my new trilogy! First drafts of Book 1 and 3 are done; I’m halfway through Book 2 and should have it done by the end of the month. If homeschooling doesn’t do me in first!
I’m considering seeking an agent. In past years, I’ve merely dabbled at talking to agents. But this trilogy has me excited about taking a new path. Last fall, I submitted the following to a friendly and well-known agent:
The Secrets Within Us is a contemporary romance novel of approximately 72,600 words.
“They say few people can remember anything that happened to them before the age of 3, but can the trauma of being kidnapped lie buried for 24 years? At 27, Jacob Redmond has already seen enough tragedy to fill a lifetime: father dead, mother in a long-term coma. When he meets the charming and practical Penny Travis, he thinks things are finally getting better–until the headaches begin. How can the woman of his dreams be the force behind his nightmares? It might be because Penny is the key to a past Jacob doesn’t even know he has. A past where his new girlfriend unwittingly played a part in a crime that has defined Jacob’s entire life.
“Penny is broken-hearted that the school her late father created has been lost to foreclosure, largely due to the embezzlement committed by her loser ex. Discouraged and lonely, she can’t help her attraction to the sharp real estate attorney representing the new owner, despite his ’enemy’ status. When Jacob’s dreams reveal a startling similarity to the unsolved abduction of her childhood playmate, Penny must decide if she is willing to follow him into the rabbit hole of his nightmares and help bring the truth to light.
“As Jacob’s mother stirs from her deep slumber, secrets begin to unfold, secrets that shake Jacob’s world to its core. Can he accept the heartbreak of the past and move on with his newfound love?Or will the truth destroy his ability to find happiness with Penny?”
The Secrets Within Us is the first of a three-book series about three siblings, all adopted, each whom must delve into their hidden pasts to solve present-day mysteries. The plan is for the three books to have overlapping timelines and crossover characters—with the intent that they can be read in any order
The agent liked my query, and asked for a decent sized partial. Her response:
“Thank you for sending me a portion of your manuscript. I enjoyed reading it.
“While I think the story concept is excellent, I wasn’t clear from the early chapters what this was- is it a romance? Is it a mystery? It didn’t feel like it was following the conventions of either genre and I think editors will expect to have a clearer sense of that in the opening pages.“
So, I am naturally concerned. I immediately thought, “I need to beef up the romance!” Of course, I did market the work to her as a romance novel, and she is a romance agent. But I am anything but a formulaic writer. I don’t follow standard romance tropes or pre-set story arcs. Do these books all have a HEA? Yes. Is the romantic relationship important to the story? Absolutely. Does the relationship provide the main or biggest conflict/challenge to the characters? That’s a toss up. At some point in each story, the H/H join forces to solve the external conflict.
Do You Do This?
I took some time to research the romance vs mystery challenge, and got all sorts of opinions. Oh, and don’t forget the ubiquitous “romantic suspense.” I think I need to pour a cuppa and ruminate.
PamComments Off on Jill Bondy: Compassionate Cancer Advocate (and my friend)
When I joined the board at Circle of Hope in 2011, I knew only one other board member –my friend and then-president Judy Penman. Judy quickly introduced me around to the others, one of whom was Jill Bondy. But Jill and I didn’t really get to know one another until 2013, when she was voted in as president and I was asked to be her VP.
Jill and I quickly discovered we had many things in common. Foods, music, the arts and philosophies. We were often surprised to show up at the same event wearing the same colors. One day, we even realized we had attended the same elementary school in the San Fernando Valley! But most importantly, we shared a philanthropic spirit and desire to help those struggling with a cancer diagnosis.
In 2013, Circle of Hope had no chair for its popular Afternoon Tea. Jill and I both loved this signature fundraiser and volunteered to pull it together. We took risks by changing up some of the longstanding traditions: we brought the Tea indoors, added a guest speaker, gluten-free offerings and invited gentlemen to join us. The event was a hit and we vowed to continue chairing in subsequent years.
Jill at Circle of Hope’s 2013 Afternoon Tea, sharing good news and spreading the good word.
During her time at the helm, Jill introduced Circle of Hope to Logix Federal Credit Union, who then awarded us with “Community Star” status. The program gives Logix employees the opportunity to participate in workplace giving, a portion of which goes to help cancer patients through Circle of Hope’s Client Advocacy Program. Logix further matches a percentage with a generous corporate donation annually. Logix continues to be Circle of Hope’s largest sponsor and partner.
When Jill’s presidency ended in 2015, I become president and Jill moved to the past-president role. Along with my new VP, Taylor Kellstrom, we worked seamlessly at promoting and building Circle of Hope’s future. Jill and I had both come from experiences with other nonprofits in the SCV, so when then-Executive Director Ray Tippet announced his retirement in the Spring of 2016, we got down to work at learning more about the running of Circle of Hope from the admin prospective. Financial restraints hampered our ability to hire a new E.D., so Jill, Taylor and I took on additional volunteer roles. As a business owner, I oversaw the administrative duties. Taylor took on a more public relations role and volunteered to chair our largest fundraiser, Vine2Wine.
Cruising the Rhine: Friends inside and outside of the Board room.
Jill took over the defining job of our small nonprofit: the delivery of our mission to our many cancer patient clients. As Director of Client Services, Jill began seeing our clients, reviewing their histories, updating their files. She listened to their heartbreaking stories and held their hands, often traveling to their homes when they were not well enough to come to us. She learned how to read a pathology report and became familiar with the names of various cancer drugs and treatments. When necessary, she would confer with Circle of Hope founder, Colleen Shaffer, for clarification of cancer terms and procedures. Together with Office Administrator Lori Carpenter, Jill endeavored to streamline the process of approving and paying clients’ cancer-related bills.
Marguerite Berg, Pam Ripling, Jill Bondy Hope’s Haven Cancer Wellness Center December, 2019
For nearly four years, Jill gave of her time and compassion to ease the burdens of our clients. She shared in their pain and their grief. While she delighted in the departure of a cured, cancer-free individual from time-to-time, she also suffered the despair of attending the funerals of those who lost their battles. When asked how she was able to do the job that so many others would find too depressing, Jill simply says it felt like a calling. “To be able to make them feel better. To see the tears of joy when they are told we can help them. No, it’s not always easy, but it’s worth it.”
She has many stories to tell, but rarely shares them. One in particular comes to mind. A couple came in for assistance. He was a cancer survivor, she was in active treatment. He had no job, and had had trouble finding work due to his medical history. She had recently been forced to leave her job, too ill to work. Jill determined that Circle of Hope could pay her COBRA insurance premium, which was significant. The couple both broke down and cried with gratitude and relief. A few months later, Jill received a call from the husband. “Don’t pay the insurance this month,” he advised. Concerned, Jill asked why. His response now brought tears to Jill’s eyes. “Because I got a job, and we can pay the insurance ourselves. I don’t want to take a penny more than we need.”
Hope’s Haven Cancer Wellness Center Ribbon Cutting February 27, 2018
“These are some of the happy moments,” Jill explains. Without them, the job would be less rewarding, but Jill Bondy has never looked for rewards. Her eleven years as a volunteer for Circle of Hope speaks to her selfless and dedicated nature. In addition to her Client Services duties, Jill has co-chaired six Afternoon Teas, served on the Vine2Wine committee, helped to get Hope’s Haven Cancer Wellness Center off the ground and has supported the organization financially. So, why go now? “It’s time,” Jill says with a confident smile. She will miss “her” clients, she laments, but looks forward to more time with her husband Ron and their eight wonderful grandkids. I’m sure everyone in the SCV cancer community joins me in thanking Jill Bondy and wishing her a happy retirement.
