Chapters 11,12 - Bury the Hatchet in Dead Mule Swamp

I've had a hard time working on this MS this month, but I'm now up to Chapter 12. I really like this plot, but for some reason writing it out is not flowing as easily as the previous books in the series.

As we all know, all that means is that I should be disciplining myself to work on it regularly anyway. All I can say right now is that I'm not giving up. It's coming, but slowly.

An excerpt from Chapter 12:

    “Conspiracy?” The word itself was shocking. “I thought you were an upstanding citizen. What on earth do you have in mind?”
    “Oh, probably nothing illegal but it’s definitely on the sneaky side. You seem like the right person to help me.”
    I wasn’t sure if that was a compliment or not. “You think I’m sneaky?”
    “No, no, that’s not what I meant. But you are certainly in an excellent position to accomplish certain things,” he added cryptically.
    I poured a cup of coffee and took a good swallow. I wanted a clear head for the rest of this conversation, wherever it was going. The coffee burned my tongue and I spilled some of the hot liquid on the tablecloth.

You can find the first three Anastasia Raven Stories at Smashwords or Amazon

Glynis Smy authors Maggie's Child

Author of Ripper, My Love, Glynis Smy, is celebrating the launch of her second novel today. Maggie’s Child has been born into the world of ebook and paperback.

When farmer’s wife Maggie Sawbury gives birth to her fifth child, the only one that has lived and the result of an extra-marital affair, she is heartbroken and desperate. Maggie knows her joyless life with a bully of a husband is not one a child should endure, and she leaves the baby at the roadside to be found by passers-by.

Her money-driven husband announces he has found her another job in the village of Redgrave, aside from the many tasks she has on Windtop farm. He is totally unaware the position comes with a secret. One that frightens and yet brings joy to Maggie. She is to become wet-nurse to her abandoned child.

Love, and the possibility of incest, threaten to open old wounds, and Maggie has several decisions to make. However, will they be the right ones? If she tells all she knows, it will bring about the destruction of three families. Equally, her silence could be just as destructive. She shares her secret with another, the result changes her life, and a death brings with it more secrets. Will Maggie stay or will she walk away and find the love she craves?

 The ebook will be available at a Christmas - New Year price of 99c via
Amazon, (and other Amazon outlets around the world).
Want to win a paperback copy

If you can tell Glynis the name of the prostitute friend in her novel, Ripper, My Love, you will be put into a draw for a prize copy of Maggie’s Child in paperback format. The email address you need to send the answer to can be found in the sidebar of, NEW BOOK BLOGGER.

PURCHASE LINK

Glynis Smy, (nee Honeycombe), was born and raised in the coastal town of Dovercourt, near Harwich, in the county of Essex, England.

She married her school sweetheart, Peter, in 1979 and they produced three amazing children, Darren, Nicola, and Emma. The long hours of a nursing career, and running two pharmacies ended in 2005, when she and her husband moved from the UK to the Mediterranean island of Cyprus.

Glynis spends her time writing historical novels, poetry and various other projects. When she is not tapping at the keyboard she makes greeting cards to sell for charity, or enjoys a spot of cross-stitch on the back porch. Failing that, she and friends sit chewing the fat over a glass of village wine.

To purchase Ripper, My Love in various formats: Books by Glynis Smy

Meet and Tweet with Glynis ... Ghunibee

Facebook Page: Glynis Smy

Author Blog: Glynis Smy

Thanks go out to Talli Roland, Len Lambert, Jen Moon and Dieter Moitzi for their support with this novel. Also to all those who are hosting the launch event.

Chapter 10 - Bury the Hatchet in Dead Mule Swamp

Chapter 10 is done. This is a transitional chapter, moving the story forward in time and letting the reader know that the initial mystery has almost become a cold case.

An excerpt from Chapter 10:

    “Jerry!” I said. “You scared me.”
    “I see that,” he said. “Are you feeling guilty for shopping outside Cherry Hill?”
    “No. Not really.” I looked around for a way to escape. “Maybe a little.”
    Jerry also had a shopping cart. I noticed he had picked out several bottles of regional wine and some expensive cheeses.
    “Let me guess. You just didn’t feel like talking to Adele any more today.”
    “Sometimes I do feel a little overwhelmed,” I admitted. “What are you doing here?”

You can find the first three Anastasia Raven Stories at Smashwords or Amazon

Chapter 9 - Bury the Hatchet in Dead Mule Swamp

Somehow, I never posted the fact that I wrote Chapter 8. Be assured that I did... I did not magically skip from 7 to 9!.

In fact, I wrote Chapter 9 twice. Somehow when I was backing it up I managed to lose the whole thing. Still have no real idea how that happened, but it did.

So, instead of taking Chapter 9 to my writers' group for feedback, I stayed home and wrote it all again. The final word count was within 100 words of the original, so I think I managed to recreate most of it. I don't think the second try was as good as the first, but hopefully editing will improve that.

This chapter is more about character development than direct plot movement.

An excerpt from Chapter 9:

    “How about that rowboat?”
    I laughed. “It’s too rotten to be any use in the water. But I like the atmosphere.” The overturned boat’s faded and peeling red paint contrasted nicely with the green leaves, and blue-gray water.
    Chad started a fire, and after a few minutes we had threaded hot dogs on peeled sticks and were holding them over the crackling flames. The river gurgled quietly against its banks as it flowed from our right to left. Sparrows twittered amongst the maple leaves which were shivering in the slight breeze. The earth smelled warm and damp, and the hardwood smoke tickled our nostrils.

You can find the first three Anastasia Raven Stories at Smashwords or Amazon

Chapter 7 - Bury the Hatchet in Dead Mule Swamp

For some reason, I had a hard time writing this chapter. It didn't feel smooth to me, and because it's a different pace from the opening (this book opens with more of a bang than the others), it was hard to see if it fit well.

I took it to my writers' group expecting to have it torn to shreds. Instead, they pretty much thought it worked well. They pointed out some tweaks that would help, but it was not the crashing disaster I thought it might be, requiring an extensive re-write. I sure hope they are right! Usually, these folks are not afraid to be honest, so I trust them to tell me if something isn't working.

Some important pieces of information are revealed, and hopefully in a natural way. That's always a bit tricky when a story is told in first person.

An excerpt from Chapter 7:

    The yellow plastic tape was completely blocking the public access to the river. I was willing to bet that wasn’t making the [canoe] livery owners happy in August. We pulled slowly past the access, and as we crept by I had a glimpse of two divers wading from the water. I also caught site of a solid man with short grizzled hair and a scowl on his face, Detective Milford. He wore a tie, but no suit coat, and his sleeves were rolled part way up his arms. He looked hot and frustrated.

You can find the first three Anastasia Raven Stories at Smashwords or Amazon

Cover for Bury the Hatchet in Dead Mule Swamp

It's possible there might be some tweaks, but here is the prototype cover for Bury the Hatchet in Dead Mule Swamp.



Is it mysterious? Boring? Does it make you want to buy this book?

Four Mistakes Mystery Writers Make

at the Blood and Tea mystery writers' conference, L-R D.E. Johnson, Aaron Stander, Elizabeth Buzzelli, Lev Raphael (photo by jhy)

There was lots to take in and think about at the recent Blood and Tea mystery writers' conference in Ludington. Four Michigan mystery writers led workshops, and participated in two panel discussions.

The writers were D.E. Johnson, Aaron Stander, Elizabeth Kane Buzzelli, and Lev Raphael, seen left to right in the picture.

The conference was nearly over by the time this discussion was held, and we'd all become friends, so there was a fair amount of joking and teasing going on.

But, when things settled down, here are the mistakes these successful mystery writers noted:

D.E. Johnson- If you want to make money (as opposed to writing for yourself out of a need to do so), you have to pay attention to the market, and know what is selling.

Aaron Stander- Not being careful about details. If there is too much suspension of disbelief it will stop the reader cold. Make sure that you haven't said something totally ridiculous.

Elizabeth Buzzelli- Not having the courage to confront a major dramatic scene. Don't avoid including a good conflict where one naturally seems to fit.

Lev Raphael- In mysteries, deaths often don't have enough emotional impact on the protagonist or other characters, or just expressing the impact in cliches (they throw up).

Over the next few days, I'll try to share some of the other things from workshops that had an impact on me. It won't be comprehensive. Most of my notes are focused on things that caught my attention, rather than an overview or class-notes as if there were going to be a test.