Okay, I didn’t care too much for getting my essays or other papers back with red marks, but I don’t have anything against the red pen or pencil. I actually keep several around when I’m revising my chapters.  I discovered that the revision part of the writing process is actually the best part. The hard part is getting the story down. Once you have the story, print out your hard copy, sit back with a red pen or pencil and let your characters start talking.

A few weeks ago, I discovered The Blood-Red Pencil blog.  Several editors guest blog, leaving their various tips and sometimes gripes about the editing process. I encourage you to subscribe.

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This morning I feel yucky in the throat area. As I sit with my lemon tea, I thought I would add an update about my writing ventures.  I seem to have taken to the micro-blogging on Twitter more so than actually blogging. The 140 character limit is very encouraging. Plus you get more feedback. LOL!

ROMANTIC SUSPENSE. My manuscript When Rain Falls is officially with my editor, Robin Caldwell (jstandard on Twitter). She’s been a great encouragement to me the past few years and I’m looking forward to her edits on my first attempt at Romantic Suspense. It only took me two and half years to get the plot together.  I learned a lot about writing from that novel and had definite sense of “sweetness” when I finally typed THE END.

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You’ve probably seen this post by now. If not, here you go.

Join Thomas Nelson Book Review Bloggers today! Any blogger can receive FREE copies of select Thomas Nelson products. In exchange, you must agree to read the book and post a 200-word review on your blog and on any consumer retail website.

I decided to sign-up to read Field of Blood by Eric Wilson. There was a time I was really into vampire movies, so I’m curious to see how he incorporates this legend into a Christian fiction novel. Look for my review soon.

Click here to sign-up.

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Single Sashimi
by Camy Tang

Venus Chau is a video game developer and she’s ready to start her own company. Her problem is keeping her secret game out of greedy hands until she finds an investor. When an offer from Drake Yau comes up, she considers it even though she has had a bad experience with him. When her Grandmother bribes her to take Drake’s offer, she has more incentive to look beyond her past issues. Plus it’s just temporary.

With that in mind, Venus accepts the Technology Officer (CTO) position for Drake’s sister’s start-up company, and continues to plan for her personal company’s launch. Being in male-dominated field, she struggles to obtain investors and also keep her game plans secure. Along the way, what she doesn’t expect is having to fight her feelings for Drake.

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According to the CBA Industry blog, Friday, November 7th will be an interesting day for Christian marketing and products. The film House will be released nationwide in theaters. The movie is based on the novel of the same name by Frank Peretti and Ted Dekker.

The words “horror” and “Christian” in the same sentence seems strange. But I guess lots of folks say the same thing about Christian Fiction, which I love to read (and write).  Frank Peretti and Ted Dekker are definitely two of my favorites authors, but I have not read House. I prefer to read books first before seeing a movie, but at the rate I read these days, I might wind up seeing the movie first.

Now I took a peek at the trailer. The music alone freaked me out. Then, I saw the trailer. Uhm, I don’t know about this one. I don’t have the “boldness” I had when I was younger to just scare myself silly on purpose. Life is scary enough.  I still might just opt out for the book version instead.

What do you think?

Read the full CBA Article

Visit The House The Movie Web site 
(warning – the music will FREAK you out if your speakers are turned up!)

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If you are not African American (AA), do you read books with predominantly AA or multicultural characters? If so, which book appealed to you an why?

I have my thoughts about the publishing industry and  Christian Fiction in general. I posted some of those thoughts in a column for Christian Fiction Online Magazine.

Read the article "Are You Reading Outside the Box?"

Manuscript Update: I have finished my first manuscript, When Rain Falls. It took me 2 and 1/2 years to really understand the story that started as a very intense scene with a little girl in the back of a police car.

I will be posting more about my process in a monthly column for another blog (not mine, I know I have a lot of blogs – LOL!).

For the remainder of November, I will revise the final draft of my cozy mystery. I’m also cranking out the rough draft for the second book in this cozy mystery series via the popular NANOWRIMO event. Hope to post my word count progress this week, which right now, isn’t very impressive.

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Kill Me If You Can
by Nicole Young

Patricia Amble, better known as Tish, has arrived in Michigan for her next renovation project. This particular project could prove to be especially trying for her because it’s the same cabin where she spent her childhood summers. Upon arrival, it becomes evident someone doesn’t welcome Tish’s return. The person in question has left a photo of Tish’s deceased mother on the bed with the words, “Don’t ask why.”

Not a deterrent, Tish eases into the lives of  her “long-lost” family members on her dad’s side, most of whom are very reluctant to talk about the 26 year old mystery surrounding her mother’s death. Was it really suicide? Tish keeps asking questions that no one seems willing to answer.  At a certain point it seems she’s been asking too many questions, and somebody is not happy.  To top it all off, she manages to catch the attention of some pretty dangerous drug dealers.

Her once simple goal to renovate a cabin turns into a rollercoaster ride on finding  the truth and keeping her life.

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My Soul to Keep
by Melanie Wells

Psychology professor, Dylan Foster, doesn’t have the best of luck, especially since a very odd man entered her life. Strange things seem to happen around her all the time.  When a close friend’s little boy is kidnapped during a birthday party, Dylan wonders if the sketchy clues about Nicholas’ kidnapper point back to her nemesis, Peter Terry. But why would the man stoop so low to kidnap a little boy?

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The Truth About Love
by Tia McCollors

If you read Zora’s Cry, then you are familiar with the friends Zora, Monet, Paula, and Belinda. They are back in this second book, facing new challenges in their lives. It’s not necessary to read the first book as The Truth About Love clearly stands on its own,

Paula, has given birth to her second child, a little girl, but her husband does not believe he is the father of this child. On the other hand,  Paula thinks her husband is cheating on her.  Can her struggling marriage be saved?

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Randy Ingermansom, of Advanced Fiction Writing Blog, began a multi-day series last week based on his lecture notes from the ACFW conference. His presentation included 35 slides. Some of the slides cover:

• Slide 4: “Show, Don’t Tell”
• Slide 5: Your Primary Goal As A Novelist
• Slide 6: When To Show, When To Tell
• Slide 7: Dialogue and Action
• Slide 8: A Word About Structure

To view Randy’s presentation in detail visit Advanced Fiction Writing Blog.

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