WRITER’S MAIL 9/12/2010
by Kimberly Simmons
“We read five words on the first page of a really good novel and we begin to forget that we are reading printed words on a page; we begin to see images.” -John Gardner
Last Time…
Notes for 9/7/10
A couple newbies, Alex and Justin.
Greg shared the forth part of his short story, Goodbye Mars. Millie says she read it on her computer and guessed the end if the story. Pat T. thought he remembered the virus being much faster-acting at the beginning of the story than is shown in the last section. Cathy finds the main characters clumsiness endearing. Pat T. suggests women don’t shoot themselves to take their lives, statistically speaking. Clayton wonders if there’s a different way for someone to take their life in the future. Amber had a question about Martian years related to earth years. Pat thought getting hit with a gun would hurt more, but the writing doesn’t reflect that. She also liked the plane.
Cathy shares a couple chapters of her novel Beer Crimes. Pat T. doesn’t think too much time should pass before something else happens with the body. Clayton suggests that once we get into the rhythm of one character’s thinking, then the narrative could be backed off a bit. Also, there are a few shifts in POV. Pat E. thought the sexy cops were important. Greg wondered how the romance related to the rest of the story. Amber asked about the relationship between two characters, and Cathy says it’s about friendships. Judith asks about the age difference between characters.
Jen shares the beginning of her yet-to-be-named novel/short story. Millie wanted to know some words were Japanese. Jen tells us some are real and some are made up. Clayton asks for a little bit of background on the kitsune. Pat T. helps explain, saying they’re kind of like were-foxes in reverse. Pat E. likes the voice of the piece, but she wonders if she could start the story later and pepper the rest in later. Cathy thought the conflict with her mother was very clear.
Amber’s chapter. Pat T. liked the line about the vacuum. Pat E. had to read the excerpt a couple times. Pat T. wonders if dragoneers are squires. Cathy suggests joking about with the magic comment.
Millie shares a chapter form Life On Hold. Judith notes that Millie really upped the ante with the end of this chapter. Pat T. suggests Millie go through and remove some voice tags because she doesn’t really need them. Also, he didn’t think one character would punch another after psyching himself up, if it were to come from anger. Amber wondered where Erin’s parents went. Aaron got the sense that a couple characters weren’t serious about each other, just from reading this chapter. Pat E. is wondering why Erin is so depressed at the beginning of each chapter.
Who’s Up Next
September 14: Dan Hamre (short story/last 5 pages, “Tractor Jockey”), Annie Potter (a memoir), Kim Simmons (chapter, The City of Winter), Holly Bonniksen-Jones (chapter. Coming Up For Air), Carol Hornung (section, Sapphire Lodge), and Andrea Kirchman (?). Carol notes, “We have a bit of a backlog on September 14th, so some folks (Jack Freiburger and Elijah Meeker) will be on stand-by. If you are scheduled but cannot get your piece to the group on time — or don’t want to read on the 14th — then let me know so I can shuffle things around! If you wish to read on September 28th or October 12th, send me a note, too.”
September 21: Chris Maxwell (?), Jerry Peterson (Thou Shalt Not Murder), John Schneller (chapter 2, Final Stronghold), Judith McNeil (radio play, part 4, “South to Sunday”), Aaron Boehm (film script, part 2, “Hell Cage”), and Patrick Tomlinson (short story, part 2, “Any Port in the Storm”), Pat Edwards (poems)
September 28: Kim Simmons (chapter, The City of Winter), Anne Allen (chapter, Homecoming), Terry Hoffman (scene, The Journal), Jen Wilcher (new story), Holly Bonniksen-Jones (chapter, Coming up for Air), and time for one more (let Carol know at CHornung88@aol.com).
October 5: Clayton Gill (chapter, Fishing Derby), Amber Boudreau (novel chapter), Jen Wilcher (chapter), Cathy Riddle (Beer Crimes chapter), open spot!
And another note,
Jen is going to take the November newsletter!
How To Get Recognized…Book Trailers?
from Pat Edwards
How do you find out about newly published books? I usually read the Book Review or see what’s available from the “Book-of-the-Month” club. Of course, there’s the book a friend recommends, too, as well as what looks interesting on the library shelf or the bookstore display. I recently found out that viral videos and multimedia marketing have become prevalant for books — enter the “book trailer.”
“Watch video trailers for the newest books, up-and-coming releases, and old favorites!”
http://www.book-trailers.net/ There’s a link telling you how to submit a trailer to the site, once you’re created it.
If you’re wondering how to make a book trailer — there’s a site for that, too.
http://brendacoulter.blogspot.com/2007/06/promoting-your-novel-how-to-make-book.html
This one, I think is the zenith of book trailers (obviously, professionally created). Take a few moments to watch and see if you don’t WANT THIS BOOK!! http://thesecret.tv/thepower/trailer.html
BOOK REVIEW “CURE” by Robin Cook
Submitted By: Millie Mader
The last week of September, The Wisconsin State Journal screamed with headlines involving a moratorium on embryonic stem cell research. Dr. Robin Cook’s new medical thriller spins a dark, sinister tale on this subject. Since he is a doctor, his books are always timely, and skirt the edge of truth. In the beginning, he mentions stem cell research being done by a ‘university in Wisconsin.’
Dr. Cook’s protagonists, pathologists Dr. Laurie Montgomery Stapleton and her now husband, Dr. Jack Stapleton have important positions in the Office of Chief Medical Examiner in Manhattan. They become involved, professionally and personally, in a sinister case of murder, kidnapping and greed.
Competition is rife, as a money laundering corporation seeks to find the secret of producing ‘induced pluripotent stem cells’, which is a process of reducing skin cells back to the embryonic state. This company, with hopes of becoming famous and wealthy, needs capital to proceed. They enlist a venture capitalist, in the body of a Japanese Yakuza (mafia) family. Here is where the tale turns deadly. The chapters spin along with the speed of a bullet train. They interface with three Yakuza families and three East coast mafia families. The Japanese prove more stealthy and immune to human feelings than the mafia families of America. In the long run, either will murder without conscience in order to reach their ends. Greed and wealth are the bottom line.
A murder made to look like natural death involves Laurie Montgomery. She begins to suspect foul play, which places her and her baby in a precarious situation. The Japanese researcher who has purportedly been successful in producing induced pluripotent stem cells has been brought to the United States illegally. He is murdered along with his family, and a chain of intrigue reels out.
Dr. Montgomery faces grave peril in her efforts to bring her pathology findings to fruition. Quite a few Japanese words are used, but Dr. Cook provides a glossary. In the vein of up to the minute medical thrillers, he is a master. We can’t help suspecting that a nonfictional version of his novels actually exists in the shadows today.
The Wisconsin People & Ideas / Wisconsin Book Festival
2011 Short Story and Poetry Contests
Wisconsin People & Ideas regularly publishes some of the best poetry and fiction from around the state, and now it’s your chance to become a part of Wisconsin’s new literary canon. Enter your poems and short stories in our annual contests, which run from this September 15 to December 15, and receive up to $500 and other prizes along with publication in Wisconsin People & Ideas and a reading at the 2011 Wisconsin Book Festival in Madison. In addition, first-place winners will receive a one-week stay at Edenfred creative arts residency in the Madison Highlands, courtesy of the Terry Family Foundation.
About the Short Story Contest
Short story contest winners will be chosen by author Valerie Laken. Winners receive prizes of $500 (first place), $250 (second place), and $100 (third place). Winning works appear serially beginning with the first-prize story in the summer 2011 issue of Wisconsin People & Ideas. The first-place story author will receive a one-week stay at Edenfred. For details and rules, visit our 2011 Short Story Contest page.
About the Poetry Contest
Poetry contest winners will be chosen by poet Angela Rydell. Winners receive prizes of $500 (first place, the John Lehman Poetry Award), $100 (second place), and $50 (third place). Winning poems appear in the spring 2011 issue of Wisconsin People & Ideas, with 10 runners-up in the summer and fall 2011 issues. The first-prize poet receives a one-week stay at Edenfred and a three-hour CD recording/editing session at Abella Studios. For details and rules, visit our 2011 Poetry Contest page.
The Last Word
“If you can tell stories, create characters, devise incidents, and have sincerity and passion, it doesn’t matter a damn how you write.” – Somerset Maugham
Tuesdays with Story 
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