Finding Magic: I'm a sucker for all things magical, so the title pulled me in. Annie, a member of the magical clans which exist in the real world hidden from sight by their magical powers, is being hunted by the authorities who suspect her of being a terrorist. As the chase develops, the author subtly builds the imaginary world in which the story will unfold, suspension of disbelief is not a problem. A clansman with a grudge against the lessi (think muggles) develops a virus, deadly to all except those with magical powers (think pure-bloods). The overzealous Homeland security agent with a big chip on her shoulder is easy to dislike, especially when she begins to leverage our hero's autistic child, but in the end, her meddling serves to draw the plot together for a wild finale at top of the Seattle Space needle. A good fast read which kept me involved throughout.
It’s been a long while since I posted my little animated cartoon on the ever-present writer-topic of rejection. Even though the form has changed since cave days, the pain remains.
But first, here’s a new review of Finding Magic.
A riveting work of modern fantasy, highly recommended, Midwest Book Reviews When something is not understood, it is feared. "Finding Magic" follows Annie, the latest in a long line of a clan with the power to save or destroy lives. When a government agent finds that her clan has this power, she finds her people under the gun as terrorists, and with the outbreak a new plague that could end humanity, she finds that more than ever she must live and be free or else there will be nothing to protect. "Finding Magic" is a riveting work of modern fantasy, highly recommended.
And now for something completely different. (90 seconds)
Writer’s Digest Books likes my idea of a how-to book for pantser novelists, and they have asked for a book proposal. Woot!
Which leads me to ask for your help, both published and unpublished pantsers.
1. Published authors
a. Would you email me if you’ll be willing to contribute to the book? Being included would give you name mention, title mention, and show off your writing. A contribution could be a few hundred words to an entire chapter about what you do as a pantser to help you wrestle with writing a novel—it all depends on you.
b. Would you be willing to contribute something right away that I can use in the book proposal? I’ll be asking for content ideas below, and the responses might spark something in you.
2. Unpublished writers
a. Would you email me if you’d be willing to contribute to the book with solutions you’ve developed to manage the pantser approach to novel writing? If included, you’ll get a name mention and get to show off your writing.
3. All pantsers
I could really use your ideas and thoughts on content for this book. For example, I can write something on
how to keep track of characters and action,
characterization,
pros and cons of pantsing
and other things—but what would you like to hear from published pantser authors on successful techniques for pantser writing?
Please include in the comments things you’d like help with, questions you’d like answered.
Published pantsers, would you please include in the comments the areas/subjects that you could write about?
Would you be able to contribute thoughts on the pros and cons of pantsing within the next couple of weeks that I could include in my proposal?
Many thanks. This could be an exciting project—if I get the contract with Writer’s Digest Books, I’ll also be contacting agents and editors for their view on working with pantsers.
Also, please tweet this request and otherwise pass it on to other writers/authors.
Since no one sent questions for a Monday FtQ&A post, I want to ask for your thoughts on the “enticement” package for my next novel-- the cover, back cover blurb, first page, and sample chapters. There’s a big fat poll at the bottom, and comments are most welcome. Thanks.
The back cover:
It’s 1958, a time of innocence Jesse is a terminally shy teen when he and his best friend score jobs as summer hands on a ranch in Texas hill country.
Lola, the boss’s daughter, is a firecracker of a girl. Jesse’s attraction is instant, but, he’s sure, doomed. Then, on his second day on the job, a ranch hand is murdered with brutal violence.
There’s a dark secret in Lola’s life that she aches to leave behind. And she needs all her courage when the man Jesse suspects is the murderer attacks.
In this coming-of-age story laced with love and murder, Jesse and Lola struggle with death and passion in ways that transform him into a young man and launch her toward womanhood.
What readers say:
“The Summer Boy brought back memories of first kisses and fogged car windows.”
“The story is alive. I kept reading even when my eyes were closing at night.”
“Wow….the tension never ended and it seemed to come from all directions. I spent the day reading as I couldn't stop.”
Now for the first page of narrative from the book.
The air was as still as it was hot—only the whir of a grasshopper’s flight troubled the quiet. Jesse felt like an overcooked chicken, his meat darn near ready to fall off his bones. Mouth so dry he didn’t have enough spit left to swallow, Jesse croaked, “That guy tryin’ to kill us?”
Dudley’s answer took a while coming. From where he slumped against the other side of the tree trunk, he said, “I’m beginning to wonder.”
The live oak’s skimpy shade was as good as it got there in the south yearling pasture—wherever the hell that was on the Box 8’s ten thousand acres of ranchland. A half-dozen red-brown Hereford yearlings, broad white blazes down the centers of their empty faces, grazed on parched yellow grass. Jesse had tried a friendly moo, but they paid him no mind.
Jesse said, “Doesn’t seem like a foreman should be leavin’ people stuck out here with no water.”
“Maybe Buddy ol’ buddy doesn’t know what he’s doing. He’s not much older than us.”
“Oh, he knows. You hear him laugh when he drove away?”
Dudley chuckled. “You mean right after he said, ‘You ain’t bothered by snakes, are you?’”
“Yep.” Jesse tossed a stone at a prickly pear cactus the size of a laundry basket. A dry rustle started up, whispered (snip)
Now I know this story isn’t for everyone, so you can’t hurt my feelings. But I will tell you that I was surprised at the strength of the response from beta readers, all women. You can check multiple items in the poll.
As always, your thoughts about any aspect of this “enticement package” are welcome.
Loved it!! Funny, Spoofey, Madcap Adventure! I thought it was a thrilling read that kept you going right to the end. Take that, Stephanie Meyer.
Speaking of my vampire kitty-cat, I haven’t posted the trailer for a while. The only disappointment in this is that I was never able to get the photo thing to work.
For those of you who like to listen to books, here’s the first chapter in podcast form. The rest are available at the website.
A unique thriller with plenty of twists and turns, highly recommended Truth is a cruel mistress, and may reveal one's whole purpose to be a lie. "We the Enemy" follows former Secret Service Agent Jake Black as he seeks criminal kingpin Noah Stone. In his pursuits, the evidence he finds against Stone may perhaps not be against Stone, and Black's motives are questioned about the very system who has dispatched him. "We the Enemy" is a unique thriller with plenty of twists and turns, highly recommended. Midwest Book Review
Excellent Tool for Writers of all levels Ray Rhamey has created a practical, easy to understand guide that teaches the art of writing in a way that benefits all writers, regardless of their experience level. After reading Ray's book and applying his advice to my own work, I had several short stories published. I definitely recommend this book to anyone serious about seeing their work published.
First, I apologize for not being up sooner and with meatier content—I forgot all about it because I’ve been consumed this weekend with getting a new website up and with creating Kindle and ebook versions of my novels.
In a moment, details on getting a free enovel. But first . . .
I hope you’ll visit my new website
I’ve launched Ray’s Wordplace at rayrhamey.com as a central site for all the stuff I do, from novels to my online portfolio for my advertising/marketing work to editing services to a store.
New Kindle and ebook versions of these novels are now available
The first 15 people who email me with a request for a free enovel (15 for each book) will receive a code for the novel on the Smashwords site that allows you to “buy” the book for $0.00. Virtually all e-versions are available: Kindle, Nook, PDFs, etc.
All I ask in return:
email me with feedback on the book, whether you liked it or not
if you like it, post a review on the Kindle page for the book. For obvious reasons, I’d rather not have negative reviews posted, but it’s a free country.
Here's how:email me with your name and your promise to give feedback and I'll reply with the code.
Here’s to the future.
And thanks for visiting Flogging the Quill. I truly enjoy this community of writers.
I’ve a couple of novels that have previously had agent representation and good reactions from editors, but no sale. So I plan to jump onto the Kindle bandwagon and publish them in that form for $1.99 to see if I can build an audience. They will be available in paperback, too.
But I have two titles I like for one of the novels. They're on the cover designs that follow the blurb -- which do you think would be best for this story?
It’s 1958, a time of innocence—Jesse Carver is a terminally shy teen filled with self-doubt when he and his best friend score jobs as summer hands on a ranch in Texas hill country.
At the ranch, Jesse meets Lola Braun, the boss’s daughter and a firecracker of a girl. His attraction is instant, but, he believes, doomed for failure. Then, on his second day at the ranch, a ranch hand is brutally murdered.
Life piles on—a jealous foreman torments Jesse to drive him off the ranch, and Lola’s mother wants Jesse gone after she sees a spark growing between her daughter and one of the summer boys.
In this coming-of-age story laced with love and murder, Jesse and Lola struggle with death and passion in ways that transform him into a young man and launch her toward womanhood. Recommended for adults (particularly those who were teens in the ‘50s and ‘60s) and for young adult readers.
I know this isn’t much information, but it’s about all a reader will get unless they read sample chapters.
Please vote for the title that interests you most. I know that neither cover will interest some of you, but your vote will still be helpful. So are your comments.
