HOW MYSTERY WRITERS CAN USE PACING AS A TOOL

I'm over at the Crime Writers Chronicles blog today as the guest blogger. Some books zip along at a great pace, while others have that "ho-hum" factor. You know, the ones where you read for awhile, then put the book down to do other things. The experience is nothing like reading a page-turner.

There are times, though, that you wish the pace would slow down a bit to let you catch up or savor a particular passage. Another reason to slow things down is to heighten tension.

Today's post, HOW MYSTERY WRITERS CAN USE PACING AS A TOOL, discusses all of that and more.

Visit me there and join in the conversation.

NEW REVIEW FOR "LA BELLA MAFIA"

June 27, 2013

This story is riveting, painful to read, but imagine the Bella Capos of this world who weather this sort of physical and emotional abuse and come out on the other side willing to help others and educate the world! I cringed at the stories, the worded visuals, the turmoil this poor child and women endured. What kind of strength that must take! Amazing recollection of a life nobody should have to experience.

~C. Hope Clark, Author The Carolina Slade Mystery Series, Bell Bridge Books - www.chopeclark.com
Editor, FundsforWriters, www.fundsforwriters.com
Writer's Digest 101 Best Websites for Writers, 2001-2013

SEVERAL UPDATES TO MY MAIN WEBSITE TODAY

So many changes going on. Here is my latest bio photo and I've redesigned the home page of my main website www.morganstjames-author.com.

There will always be updates on it as far as news, awards, release dates for new books, promotions, etc. plus lots more. 

Since many people never get past the first page of websites, it was important to include this information right at the "get-go." At this point I don't sell my books from my website, but they are available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble online and many other online bookstores. You can order them from your favorite local bookstore as well.

Now that La Bella Mafia is finished and in the publishing queue, Dennis Griffin and I are starting another true crime book. Details soon. La Bella Mafia will be available for Presale on Amazon, from Houdini Publishing and other sites on AUGUST 15, 2013. All Presale copies will be autographed by me, Dennis Griffin and Bella Capo. The official RELEASE DATE is October 15, 2013.

CAN WE COME IN AND LAUGH, TOO? - FREE JUNE 20 AND 21

Today is the first day of the TWO DAY FREE OFFER for the Kindle edition of Rosetta Schwartz's charming memoir CAN WE COME IN AND LAUGH, TOO? She was the youngest of ten children, born into a zany immigrant family in 1909, and throughout her long life (almost 97 years) she was an ordinary woman with the extraordinary ability to make people believe in themselves---and no matter how bad things got, she always got through it with humor. When she was a child, there was so much laughter in her family, neighbors knocked at the door to ask if they could come in and laugh too. It is currently at #25 in Kindle Store Memoirs. DOWNLOAD YOUR COPY NOW.

I WAS A GUEST BLOGGER ON MORGEN BAILEY'S WRITING BLOG JUNE 18

Today I am the Guest Blogger on Morgen Bailey's Writing Blog in the UK. The topic is "Location, Location, Location."
    When writing, locations are important whether the book or story is light and funny or technically detailed. Get it wrong and you have a problem.
    There is an interesting irony in this. When I wrote "Confessions of a Cougar" the locations were all from my memories of several trips to England including ones after the experiences in the book. To be sure I double checked everything that I referred to by searching the internet.
 The book got a sort of snarky one-star review on Amazon, while the others were 5 star. One of the things the reviewer said was, " I'm wondering if the writer did any actual research on England, because it sure sounds like she didn't ever visit."
   This really gave me a chuckle and made me think that perhaps that reviewer had never been there or was British and didn't like my descriptions for some reason. I've made about 8 trips to England and visited many parts of the country plus double checking everything in my memory to make sure I hadn't garbled details. Oh well, like the saying goes, "You can't please all of the people all of the time," but I sure gave it the old college try. That's what I mean. 
   Even if they're wrong, some people must find things to complain about, so read the article and be very diligent in getting location descriptions and ambiance right.

   VISIT THE BLOG AND READ THE ARTICLE http://morgenbailey.wordpress.com/2013/06/18/guest-post-location-location-location-by-morgan-st-james/    
   FIND 39 Chapters about Writers Tricks of the Trade in my book, Writers Tricks of the Trade: 39 Things You Need to Know About the ABCs of Writing Fiction