February 14, 2009
I received a letter from an agent regarding my novel A.B.D. that started with the line "You're a very talented writer." Right away, I knew it was a rejection letter.
I'm working on chapter two of my new novel (Pastoral Care) in which a parallel plot develops that will seem unconnected to the murder.... But it's not.
I received a letter from an agent regarding my novel A.B.D. that started with the line "You're a very talented writer." Right away, I knew it was a rejection letter.
I'm working on chapter two of my new novel (Pastoral Care) in which a parallel plot develops that will seem unconnected to the murder.... But it's not.
February 6, 2009
Back to writing after several days spent on marketing: putting up a website, advertising the website, ordering business cards. Now I'm back to the scene of the crime where Jan is coping with the discovery of her friend's body, killed only hours earlier. I'm reading a writer's guide to crime-scene investigations, which is helping me to establish the order in which various people arrive on the scene. Who gets the call and who shows up when and in what capacity? These are some of the questions I hope to answer.
Back to writing after several days spent on marketing: putting up a website, advertising the website, ordering business cards. Now I'm back to the scene of the crime where Jan is coping with the discovery of her friend's body, killed only hours earlier. I'm reading a writer's guide to crime-scene investigations, which is helping me to establish the order in which various people arrive on the scene. Who gets the call and who shows up when and in what capacity? These are some of the questions I hope to answer.
February 23, 2009
I've added Leo Jensen, a disgruntled former ballroom dance champion, to my list of suspects. He had a fling with the victim (Barbara Birken) many years ago when they competed together as a pro-am couple. He ran into her in a car park two days before she was murdered. When she found out he voted for McCain, she gave him a thorough verbal thrashing in front of several witnesses. It also doesn't help that he holds her responsible for the demise of his marriage.
I've added Leo Jensen, a disgruntled former ballroom dance champion, to my list of suspects. He had a fling with the victim (Barbara Birken) many years ago when they competed together as a pro-am couple. He ran into her in a car park two days before she was murdered. When she found out he voted for McCain, she gave him a thorough verbal thrashing in front of several witnesses. It also doesn't help that he holds her responsible for the demise of his marriage.
March 4, 2009
I've decided to move the Prius ramming incident (see Feb 3 entry) to the prologue. The image of a long-time pacifist unleashing her pent-up rage onto her ex's brand new Prius seems like an apt way to set the scene for a murder. This marks the third time I've moved this very vivid scene.
I believe the prologue will be its final resting place.
I've decided to move the Prius ramming incident (see Feb 3 entry) to the prologue. The image of a long-time pacifist unleashing her pent-up rage onto her ex's brand new Prius seems like an apt way to set the scene for a murder. This marks the third time I've moved this very vivid scene.
I believe the prologue will be its final resting place.
March 16, 2009
In my most recent chapter, I establish a tawdry relationship between the clerk of the Quaker meeting (a married man) and the murder victim. The clerk broke off the affair just days before the woman was murdered. Hmm..... The challenge in this chapter was to show the human flawed side of these characters without demonizing them.
In my most recent chapter, I establish a tawdry relationship between the clerk of the Quaker meeting (a married man) and the murder victim. The clerk broke off the affair just days before the woman was murdered. Hmm..... The challenge in this chapter was to show the human flawed side of these characters without demonizing them.
March 24, 2009
I received a rejection letter from an agent (regarding my novel ABD) that frustrated me to no end. The agent claimed my manuscript read like a first draft. It's actually the 12th rewrite of a book I've been working on for 10 years. I briefly considered giving up writing. But I didn't.
I received a rejection letter from an agent (regarding my novel ABD) that frustrated me to no end. The agent claimed my manuscript read like a first draft. It's actually the 12th rewrite of a book I've been working on for 10 years. I briefly considered giving up writing. But I didn't.
April 1, 2009
Talked to a former DC cop-turned-D.A. who lives in my county and knows a thing or two about homicide investigations. He also happens to have been raised in the manner of Friends, making him the ideal person for me to interview. He walked me through the procedure followed after the body is found and the 911 call is placed. The scene has been set!
Talked to a former DC cop-turned-D.A. who lives in my county and knows a thing or two about homicide investigations. He also happens to have been raised in the manner of Friends, making him the ideal person for me to interview. He walked me through the procedure followed after the body is found and the 911 call is placed. The scene has been set!
April 23, 2009
Have been out of the country and away from my routine for a couple of weeks. I'm having a hard time getting back into the rhythm of writing, but have done some thinking about Barbara, the murder victim. I'm toying with the idea of her having a fatal disease that would have soon finished her off even if she hadn't been murdered. Only one character is privy to this info.
Have been out of the country and away from my routine for a couple of weeks. I'm having a hard time getting back into the rhythm of writing, but have done some thinking about Barbara, the murder victim. I'm toying with the idea of her having a fatal disease that would have soon finished her off even if she hadn't been murdered. Only one character is privy to this info.
May 1, 2009
I'm back in the writing groove with a new character to boot. Sally Sussman is the Jewish daughter-in-law of Barbara, the murder victim. In a flashback chapter, she refuses to let Barbara see her grandson anymore when she catches the two of them talking about Jesus. Barbara insists she isn't trying to convert Bernie, her grandson. Nonetheless, Sally's furious.
I'm back in the writing groove with a new character to boot. Sally Sussman is the Jewish daughter-in-law of Barbara, the murder victim. In a flashback chapter, she refuses to let Barbara see her grandson anymore when she catches the two of them talking about Jesus. Barbara insists she isn't trying to convert Bernie, her grandson. Nonetheless, Sally's furious.
August 17, 2009
After many weeks away from writing, I'm back and working on a pivotal scene. An emergency meeting has been called by the clerks of the Quaker meeting. "Weighty Friends" have been called together to decide what steps to take in the wake of Barbara Birken's murder. A tension-filled discussion ensues, during which protagonist Jan McCann realizes the murderer could be sitting in that very room.
After many weeks away from writing, I'm back and working on a pivotal scene. An emergency meeting has been called by the clerks of the Quaker meeting. "Weighty Friends" have been called together to decide what steps to take in the wake of Barbara Birken's murder. A tension-filled discussion ensues, during which protagonist Jan McCann realizes the murderer could be sitting in that very room.
September 4, 2009
I've been working solidly on the "emergency meeting" scene mentioned in my last blog. I originally thought this chapter was going to take place the day after the murder, but am now convinced that this scene belongs right near the beginning of the book. It's now clear to me that the first action my protagonist would take after finding her friend's corpse would be to get in touch with the clerk of her meeting. The clerk would then call the aforementioned emergency meeting. This chapter is pivotal because I'm introducing most of the primary players.
I've been working solidly on the "emergency meeting" scene mentioned in my last blog. I originally thought this chapter was going to take place the day after the murder, but am now convinced that this scene belongs right near the beginning of the book. It's now clear to me that the first action my protagonist would take after finding her friend's corpse would be to get in touch with the clerk of her meeting. The clerk would then call the aforementioned emergency meeting. This chapter is pivotal because I'm introducing most of the primary players.
September 10, 2009
Today I began to work on a chapter written from the point of view of the murder victim's son, Larry. As the chapter opens he receives a visit from members of the Pastoral Care Committee of his Quaker meeting. The visitors (among them Jan McCann) have supposedly come to offer him comfort, but Larry feels he's being interrogated. It doesn't help that he had a falling out with his mother shortly before her murder, and that she was no longer allowed to see her grandson....
Today I began to work on a chapter written from the point of view of the murder victim's son, Larry. As the chapter opens he receives a visit from members of the Pastoral Care Committee of his Quaker meeting. The visitors (among them Jan McCann) have supposedly come to offer him comfort, but Larry feels he's being interrogated. It doesn't help that he had a falling out with his mother shortly before her murder, and that she was no longer allowed to see her grandson....
November 23, 2009
Have consulted with a preeminent Quaker historian on the peace testimony and the raging debate that, ironically enough, surrounds it. I'm envisioning a flashback scene in which the murder victim (Barbara Birken) gives a seminar on the peace testimony and ends up coming to blows with one of the participants, one Sondra Flugelhof. Could Sondra be the murderer?
Have consulted with a preeminent Quaker historian on the peace testimony and the raging debate that, ironically enough, surrounds it. I'm envisioning a flashback scene in which the murder victim (Barbara Birken) gives a seminar on the peace testimony and ends up coming to blows with one of the participants, one Sondra Flugelhof. Could Sondra be the murderer?
January 28, 2010
Protagonist Jan McCann is being interviewed by Detective Delaney at the crime scene. To her horror, she realizes her name is on his list of prime suspects.
Protagonist Jan McCann is being interviewed by Detective Delaney at the crime scene. To her horror, she realizes her name is on his list of prime suspects.
March 22, 2010
Jan McCann gets a little help from her spiritual friends: While meditating with Q and Tom, the guys she meets with once a week to explore the depths of her soul, she has the realization that she's going to conduct her own investigation into Barbara Birken's murder. The tricky part is that she'll be investigating her own friends and coreligionists, who all claim to be pacifists.
Jan McCann gets a little help from her spiritual friends: While meditating with Q and Tom, the guys she meets with once a week to explore the depths of her soul, she has the realization that she's going to conduct her own investigation into Barbara Birken's murder. The tricky part is that she'll be investigating her own friends and coreligionists, who all claim to be pacifists.
April 26, 2010
Spent spring break in England and was inspired by a visit to "Quaker Country" in the Lake District, the part of England in which George Fox founded the Quaker movement. I'm now envisioning a trip that murder victim Barbara Birken takes to this very area as a member of an organization called Pendle Hill Friends. (Pendle Hill is the place where George Fox had a vision of a "people to be gathered.") Did someone in this organization have it out for Barbara? We'll find out.
Spent spring break in England and was inspired by a visit to "Quaker Country" in the Lake District, the part of England in which George Fox founded the Quaker movement. I'm now envisioning a trip that murder victim Barbara Birken takes to this very area as a member of an organization called Pendle Hill Friends. (Pendle Hill is the place where George Fox had a vision of a "people to be gathered.") Did someone in this organization have it out for Barbara? We'll find out.
