tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post8738559033177473869..comments2024-03-28T14:33:26.011-04:00Comments on Jungle Red Writers: A New Year, A New Beginning, A New NovelJungle Red Writershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16646429819267618412noreply@blogger.comBlogger34125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-80748149801020536432016-01-26T09:55:01.314-05:002016-01-26T09:55:01.314-05:00Hallie, I have the entire set of Little Women Mada...Hallie, I have the entire set of Little Women Madam Alexander dolls - Marmee and all the girls.Liz Millironhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04919409969263609919noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-81714513734637218302016-01-26T01:10:16.563-05:002016-01-26T01:10:16.563-05:00Thanks, Susan, thanks, Hank. Breathe and remember ...Thanks, Susan, thanks, Hank. Breathe and remember ... Perhaps my new mantra!Lisa Alberhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12591430453957883948noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-70650510014526306462016-01-25T22:08:48.480-05:002016-01-25T22:08:48.480-05:00What a fantastic and inspiring post. It was really...What a fantastic and inspiring post. It was really nice to read the various ways that you all find inspiration and face the blank page. I always love the beginning of a new year. I do feel like it is a chance to start fresh in some ways. Thank you!Nina Mansfieldhttp://www.ninamansfield.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-16965384969725673492016-01-25T19:33:01.251-05:002016-01-25T19:33:01.251-05:00Kathy, my best wishes to you and your husband for ...Kathy, my best wishes to you and your husband for a good recovery. I read your comment here with special interest and recognition.<br /><br />I so very much appreciate your thoughts on couples and the difficult times we face especially your comment regarding the people in life who are always there to support you how you realize that everyone needs someone and that your "... experience has actually benefited us as a couple, but, of course, I wouldn't recommend it for couples' therapy."<br /><br />So well put--all of it, Kathy. Thank you.Maureen Harringtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03499876353651763590noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-85443796954667470832016-01-25T18:36:01.070-05:002016-01-25T18:36:01.070-05:00Kathy thank you! That is so perfect -- and many hu...Kathy thank you! That is so perfect -- and many hugs to your dear husband! XOHank Phillippi Ryanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17420701704169428286noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-46886883501860568842016-01-25T18:34:53.013-05:002016-01-25T18:34:53.013-05:00Yes, my Madame Alexander doll looked more like a g...Yes, my Madame Alexander doll looked more like a golden age society heiress ...all red velvet and gold trim.<br />Lisa, remember when you had the idea for that book? That's what you need to remember, I think. And there are certainly days but I think my books are terrible, and cannot believe I was ever excited about it. And then that goes away.Hank Phillippi Ryanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17420701704169428286noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-7912229465401819172016-01-25T16:19:39.482-05:002016-01-25T16:19:39.482-05:00Ellen - A Madame Alexander Marmee doll? Marmee??? ...Ellen - A Madame Alexander Marmee doll? Marmee??? That strikes me as so odd. Did you also have a Meg or a Jo? I love that you chose braids. Where was the New York Doll Hospital?Hallie Ephronhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04759439029582054503noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-24367936039855518512016-01-25T15:39:27.866-05:002016-01-25T15:39:27.866-05:00Susan and fellow Reds,
I know exactly how you fee...Susan and fellow Reds,<br /><br />I know exactly how you feel. It's both exhilarating and a bit scary facing the blank page. I'm in the in-between stage at the moment. In December, I finished Book 4 in my Emmeline Kirby-Gregory Longdon mystery series and made revisions. I will soon be embarking on Book 5. I like to take a little break between books to let the idea for the next one take root in my head. <br /><br />However, I differ from some of you in that I like to plan out the whole story in my head before I sit down to write. I may change things along the way or get new ideas, but I like to have that basic skeleton of the plot to follow. On the same token, I actually had the idea for the first few books in my head before I started writing LEAD ME INTO DANGER, the first book in my series which was released in October. This because I drop a little something in one book and then developed it a little more in the next one and so on. Daniella Bernetthttp://www.daniellabernett.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-21017789047359495432016-01-25T14:58:54.543-05:002016-01-25T14:58:54.543-05:00Hallie, aaahhh! New York Doll Hospital!! We brough...Hallie, aaahhh! New York Doll Hospital!! We brought my Madame Alexander Marmee doll there when I was a kid and our dog ate her wig. I chose braids for the new wig, so she looked like Marmee as Pocahantas. I wondered if it was still there. Thank you.<br /><br />Great posts from all you wonderful writers whom I love so much. Ellen Byronhttp://ellenbyron.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-42712761218501631752016-01-25T14:40:35.291-05:002016-01-25T14:40:35.291-05:00Kathy, yes, you've had a tough month. So glad ...Kathy, yes, you've had a tough month. So glad your husband is doing better. Many hugs in New Orleans!Susan Elia MacNealhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00349842866995778987noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-74784942574358552092016-01-25T13:51:57.970-05:002016-01-25T13:51:57.970-05:00Susan, I love that you shared pictures of all thos...Susan, I love that you shared pictures of all those resource books. Your historical tidbits are one of the reasons I'm such a big fan of the Maggie Hope books. And, your trip to Paris, well, it's going to be amazing. I don't know Cara Black, but I have heard so many wonderful things about her that it seems you will be in good hands. <br /><br />Rhys, your Georgie and Molly books have that solid research behind them, too, and I'm always finding something interesting that I hadn't a clue about in your two series. And, oh, how will Molly get to San Francisco? And will Gus and Sid be there, too? <br /><br />Lucy, so can't wait for Killer Takeout, and how appropriate that you should look at your characters with a therapist's eye. Your characters just delight me, even the not-so-nice ones. Miss Gloria is a gem for sure. <br /><br />Hank, I can see how your books are built around that one idea, and it's something I enjoy so much, the way everything comes together around that idea, with the title giving the clue for what to look for. There are so many way that your theme plays out in the story, and sometimes I feel like a kid doing the Highlights hidden picture pages, as I'm so thrilled when a new thread is revealed. <br /><br />Hallie, what great fun it would be to visit a doll hospital and learn about what goes on there. That's some research I can't wait to see used in your new book. Your settings always play such a big part in the story, so can you tell us yet why you chose Beaufort, SC? I always think of the word "atmospheric" when I think of your stories. <br /><br />Oh, and Julia, your setting is always so important in what can or can't happen in the story, too. That ice storm was brilliant and guided the story, creating such great suspense. And, your themes are entwined so perfectly throughout the story. I agree with you that finding your way into a story would be the hardest part for me. Oh, and I hope the forceps are necessary for the birth of Hid from Our Eyes. Hehehe!<br /><br />Debs, you have made me fall in love with London, sight unseen. When I have said in the past that I want to do a tour of London based on your books, I am quite serious, and I'm still pushing for you to lead such a tour. You mentioned choosing a geographical location that is right for your characters, and I have to tell you that what you've chosen thus far has been perfect and made me want to learn more about each location. I know that Garden of Lamentations is going to be another adventure in a location I'll love.<br /><br />My blank pages right now involve starting fresh in February and forgetting January existed. With my husband's accident receding with his recovery, I'm ready to move forward and begin anew. However, even though I consider January a bad, bad month this year, I have learned a thing or two through this process, which will be important in moving forward. A little more patience, a lot more appreciation for the simple comforts of life, more gratitude for the people in my life who are always there to support me, and a realization that everyone needs "a person" who will fight for you and care for you to the end. This experience has actually benefited us as a couple, but, of course, I wouldn't recommend it for couples' therapy. So, expect to be hugged tightly when I see you all in New Orleans, because you are part of that wonderful community that has been there for me during this last month and kept me comforted in ways that only you can. Now, onward and upward, and let's have some fun the rest of this year.<br /><br /> <br /><br />Kathy Reelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17004247271452356577noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-48173790237109793812016-01-25T13:47:51.178-05:002016-01-25T13:47:51.178-05:00Reine, thank you so much.
Lisa, I'd love to g...Reine, thank you so much.<br /><br />Lisa, I'd love to go with you to Ireland, but I think one European jaunt is going to tap me out.... And I feel panicky all the time. ALL THE TIME. Breathe.... <br /><br />Cara, is that you? We are going to have SO MUCH FUN! Our hotels aren't that far each other, either!<br /><br />Susanna, I love that you draw a map! Wow, color me impressed.<br /><br />And thank you, Denise Ann!Jungle Red Writershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16646429819267618412noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-2543702936160854812016-01-25T13:12:04.325-05:002016-01-25T13:12:04.325-05:00You are all so incredibly generous in sharing so m...You are all so incredibly generous in sharing so much about the processes you use. Some of it is truly magic but most of it is just damned hard work and persistence. A great model for all endeavors!Denise Annhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02790883493798517829noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-30161092130384616952016-01-25T12:45:39.516-05:002016-01-25T12:45:39.516-05:00I love reading about how people write and where th...I love reading about how people write and where their inspiration and ideas come from! I am a complete newbie to all this, and devour any tidbits of knowledge and experience others have, so thanks for sharing ladies. One thing that has surprised me with the novel I am currently writing is how it came about. Before, I would try and magic a plot out of thin air, and sit down and plough a furrow through the blank page. This time I began with an idea about a world. I even drew the map of the place first (after a number of attempts as I am no Picasso). Once the world started to take shape, and I had written descriptions of various locations in that world, the characters seemed to pop into my head and move about in that world, and I started to visualise scenes. I wrote them down as fast as I could. Then, one day, the whole basic storyline popped into my head, and I sat down with a stack of post-it notes and tried to scribble chapter outlines and put them into some semblance of order. So far I am on chapter ten, and for the most part I know where I am going. This has never happened to me before and it's very exciting!Susanna MacLeodhttp://www.cottonandquills.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-13239143643647838842016-01-25T11:46:43.784-05:002016-01-25T11:46:43.784-05:00Reds, Sorry I'm late to this party! I'm so... Reds, Sorry I'm late to this party! I'm so excited to hit the haunts in Paris with Susan. Hopefully when we meet up chez Hemingway bar in the hopefully re-opened Ritz my next ms will be FINI! I'm already pondering the next and hope Susan will help me choose an arrondissement for murder Et alors? CaraAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-65737179095571639502016-01-25T11:14:30.775-05:002016-01-25T11:14:30.775-05:00I'd like to ditto what Susan wrote above, but ...I'd like to ditto what Susan wrote above, but for Ireland: If anyone's going to be in Ireland in early April ... :-) I can't wait to get over there for novel research.<br /><br />I'm in a frustrated place right now. It's not so much that I'm facing a blank page, but a half-blank page, and I don't know which is worse. Through the fall I started writing the first draft of my third County Clare mystery (untitled but I'm calling TOUCH OF DEATH) ... That's going along swimmingly, and I'm hitting the midpoint change-a-roos, and I'm jazzed, but then I need to set it aside to work on revisions for WHISPERS IN THE MISTS (August). OK, that's fine, I was jazzed, so I should be able to pick TOUCH back up easily.<br /><br />But no! I read a printed copy to get my juices going again, and I didn't feel jazzed. Far from it. More like, what was I so excited about? So, I essentially feel that beginning panicky feel again, only worse. Grrrrr<br /><br />Has this happened to you? What do you do to get going again when all seems crappy?<br /><br />Cheers! (Didn't know I was going to write all that.)Lisa Alberhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12591430453957883948noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-77001543617945627992016-01-25T10:56:57.300-05:002016-01-25T10:56:57.300-05:00Love hearing everyone else's struggle and exci...Love hearing everyone else's struggle and excitement over starting (or finishing!) the book. <br /><br />Reine, what a lovely thing to say. You really are the heart of our little community.Juliahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09553268569509053159noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-82070199232366673572016-01-25T10:23:25.000-05:002016-01-25T10:23:25.000-05:00Kathy Lynn Emerson, if I were an editor, I would a...Kathy Lynn Emerson, if I were an editor, I would absolutely buy a book on the premise: "The next one will be set in Cornwall and will probably involve pirates."<br /><br />Triss, you are not alone! And Mary Sutton and Brenda, you are not alone!<br /><br />Susan Elia MacNealhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00349842866995778987noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-67752247525874477882016-01-25T09:43:57.618-05:002016-01-25T09:43:57.618-05:00I am so glad to read all of these accounts of the ...I am so glad to read all of these accounts of the Reds' process of beginning a new book, because that is where I also am right now as well. My third Joe Gale--Truth Beat--will be out a week from today, and I am hard at work on a book that has been brewing now for months. For me, having a decent plot idea is one thing, but getting inside the skin of my characters is key. Once I can do that, I am in so much better shape.<br /><br />Good luck to all. <br /><br />P.S. Sometime soon I need to set a book somewhere like Paris . . . Brenda Buchananhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14161539130987122737noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-73473287766528490872016-01-25T09:43:05.624-05:002016-01-25T09:43:05.624-05:00It seems like the only thing writers have in commo...It seems like the only thing writers have in common is that the process of starting can be overwhelming and each of you deals with it in her own way. But all the books come out marvelously, so something must be working.<br /><br />And yes, January is the start of the year, but September is another kind of start.Liz Millironhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04919409969263609919noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-75234272213330918792016-01-25T09:25:22.153-05:002016-01-25T09:25:22.153-05:00I love your research books pictured. I have Paris...I love your research books pictured. I have Paris Underground too. I'm so glad that all of you are the writers and I can be a reader. Gramhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01027824918114690029noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-52505493330418063482016-01-25T09:17:48.107-05:002016-01-25T09:17:48.107-05:00So comforting to read that you all struggle with t...So comforting to read that you all struggle with that blank page.That's where I am now: done my research, have a great background setting, have tons of historical tidbits,(all my books have a historical mystery and a current crime), even have some new characters popping up and telling a tale. What I do not exactly have is that book-long series of active scenes we call ...what was that...oh, yes. A plot. I do know where it will end up but I don't see how to get there. It is great to start this AM reading about how I am not alone. And since I know all the Reds struggles will result in another good book, I am encouraged to go tackle mine.Thank you. ( But how much fun you will have to struggle in Paris!)Trisshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08058396345946250313noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-90026576759824625932016-01-25T09:07:37.265-05:002016-01-25T09:07:37.265-05:00I had a good chunk of what was supposed to be my n...I had a good chunk of what was supposed to be my next Mistress Jaffrey mystery worked out and had started writing when my agent came back with the news that the publisher wanted the second book in my proposal first. The only problem with that was that all I had on that idea was what was in the proposal: "The next one will be set in Cornwall and will probably involve pirates." Six months later, after several false starts and a heck of a lot of research, it's finally coming together, but thank goodness my deadline isn't till June. I still panic when I think about the sea battle scene I have yet to write, even though I have a friend who sailed on the replica of the Golden Hinde and can advise me on all the ins and outs of sixteenth century seafaring. That blank page is always scary.Kathy Lynn Emersonhttp://www.kathylynnemerson.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-26015879659815732382016-01-25T09:06:22.556-05:002016-01-25T09:06:22.556-05:00Oh, Cara and Susan in Paris... I want in! Only I&#...Oh, Cara and Susan in Paris... I want in! Only I'll be tied to my desk finishing this book that was so much fun to start on.Hallie Ephronhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04759439029582054503noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-21266071108342948732016-01-25T09:04:59.330-05:002016-01-25T09:04:59.330-05:00This is reminding me ... way back when I was a tea...This is reminding me ... way back when I was a teacher one of the things I loved about it was that every year you got a fresh start. New rosters, new grade book, new syllabi. How many careers do you actually get to press restart? Hallie Ephronhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04759439029582054503noreply@blogger.com