Tag Archives: writing

MEET THE SPECIAL CRIMES TEAM!

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MEET THE #SPECIAL #CRIMES #TEAM!

Starting this Monday (August 19) the members of the Special Crimes Team have consented to be hosted on my blog! I am EXCITED!

The Special Crimes Team was founded by Governor Andrea Marleton of the State of Washington for the express and dedicated purpose of investigating the “worst of the worst” crimes, or in the words of one of the team’s members: “we investigate the worst actions that one human being can take against another.” The team functions autonomously and answers only to the governor. They are not bound by jurisdictional lines and can investigate crimes throughout the state of Washington.

The team (AKA: SCT or pronounced SCaT) is headed by Lieutenant Michael Williams, a veteran detective from the Seattle police department. His second-in-command is Sergeant Nita Slowater, an up-and-coming detective with the Mount Vernon PD until an “unfortunate incident,” after which she was reassigned by Governor Marleton to the Special Crimes Team.

Detective Frederick Albert, a veteran detective of the Spokane police department, and Detective Maizie O’Hara, a newly-minted detective previously with the Tacoma PD, are the other two detectives assigned to the team.

Officer Juan Rodriguez and Officer Driscoll Mulder round out the police part of the roster. Officer Rodriguez comes from the Concrete PD and Officer Mulder hails from the Vancouver PD.

Ronald Arneau, the only civilian–a computer-guru–joined the Special Crimes Team at the insistence of Governor Marleton.

Dr. Irene Nelson, well-respected in the Federal Bureau of Investigations and a Special Agent who went on to become one of the Bureau’s top profilers, was assigned on a semi-permanent basis to the Special Crimes Team by the special request of Governor Marleton.

To learn more about the Special Crimes Team read Sketch of a Murder http://www.amazon.com/Sketch-Murder-Special-Crimes-Team-ebook/dp/B00KU6AIPQ

Sketch of a Murderebook 7 30 2014

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Plotter or Panster? Which style of #author/#detective are you?

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Today, as part of the #MSH #Blog #Tour, I have the honor of #interviewing Lieutenant Michael Williams from the Special Crimes Team in Seattle, Washington. Thank you, Lieutenant Williams, for taking the time to come and talk with us.The subject of today’s #interview is: are you a plotter or a pantser?

Lieutenant Williams: I appreciate being invited.It would be helpful if you would define those terms again.

Actually the term pantser comes from NaNoWriMo, National Novel #Writer’s Month. It describes an #author who ‘flys by the seat of the pants’. The #author doesn’t have an outline, a summary, nothing except the basic idea for a #novel.Plotter is pretty self-explanatory.This type of #author plots the entire novel or a large portion of it,has an outline or a summary,often has biographies of the various characters, especially the main characters and protagonist.

My theory is that there are divisions within #detectives that correspond to the divisions of types of #authors. So tell me, are there #detectives who are plotters versus #detectives who are pantsers?

Lieutenant Williams: (a smile that reaches up and causes his eyes to sparkle with good humor) I am afraid I have to confirm your theory. Of course, we have certain non-negotiable procedures, protocols that must be followed as we solve #crimes. (He gets a devilish gleam in his eye) And, we do our best to adhere to those.

(Interviewer raises eyebrows in gentle disbelief) Not what I’ve heard about the #Special #Crimes #Team.

Lieutenant Williams: (clears throat) Hmm. Don’t believe everything you’ve heard about us, (big smile) even if most of it is true. However, we digress. As I was saying, there are plotters and pantsers within the ranks of #detectives. A good example of that is Sergeant Slowater–I believe you attempted an interview with her not too many weeks ago–and myself.

Sergeant Slowater would be considered a plotter. She believes absolutely in logic, in following leads in a methodical manner, in carefully constructing a case, step-by-step. She is very intent on weighing the possible outcomes against the risks, and having backup plans in place. She does not give much credence to what she terms “woo-woo stuff”. This includes non-traditional methods such as using the press, giving weight to anything that cannot be perceived by the five ordinary senses, that type of thing. Sergeant Slowater gets uncomfortable with, as my granny used to say ‘coloring outside the lines’.

I am more of a pantser. Once I have done all that I can within the ordinary methods of solving a case, I am inclined to follow my instincts, to perhaps follow unconventional leads, and give credence to information that comes from sources that don’t necessarily use the five ordinary senses. I guess you could say that I am a bit too comfortable ‘coloring outside the lines’. (He smiles.)
(He cocks his head and looks at me) May I ask you a question?

Of course. (Interviewer gives Lieutenant big smile and a firm nod) I had hoped this would be more a dialogue than simply a question and answer period.

Lieutenant Williams: How do you see your style of #writing?

(Interviewer frowns in concentration) Well, I believe I fit the pantser style, like you. I don’t use outlines, summaries, bullets, or any biographies of my characters. I simply am (smile) ‘attacked by an idea’ that won’t leave my mind until I write it down. (a shrug) After that, I just follow where it leads me.

Lieutenant Williams: Why do you use that style? Why not use the plotter style?

(Interviewer taps a finger against her lips as she thinks) I suppose it’s because my characters, like real people, like the criminals you go after, don’t always follow a script, a plot, an outline. They can sometimes dart off in unpredictable directions. I guess, for me, it’s important to study why they act, and react, as they do. What causes them to go in a certain direction, act in a certain manner, say what they do, believe as they do? People can’t be put on a graph like a mathematical equation. Does that make sense?

Lieutenant Williams: (a slow thoughtful nod) Yes, it does. That is exactly why I use the pantser style in solving crimes. It is more about understanding the perpetrator, looking at life from his perspective. If I can understand the perpetrator, then I can predict the next action to be taken.

You said you are open to using non-traditional methods. Are you talking about psychics? And what do you mean by ‘coloring outside the lines’?

Lieutenant Williams: (Purses his lips as he thinks) Let’s just say that I believe there are things outside of our normal senses that can be utilized in solving #crimes, or #writing books. As for ‘coloring outside the lines’, there are situations that force a #detective to make hard decisions. Sometimes those decisions don’t follow absolutely along the lines of procedure. That’s all I will say on that subject.

(Interviewer glances at her watch) Oh, my! We have run overtime! I am so sorry to have kept you beyond the time I requested.

Lieutenant Williams: (good-natured grin) In that case, I guess you’ll have to buy me a venti mocha with two-percent milk and no foam, but lots of whipped cream. Sergeant Slowater got me hooked on those fancy coffees.

You got it! There’s a Starbucks I like.

For my blog followers, if you would like to know more about Lieutenant Williams and the Special Crimes Team be sure to stay tuned for the announcement of the release of #Sketch #of #a #Murder, Book 1 of the Special Crimes Team series.

For more information about me and about my books:
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/author/ayawalksfar
Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/314888
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#Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/Aya Walksfar @ayawalksfar
Blog: http://www.ayawalksfar.com
My publisher: #MSH http://www.mountainspringpublishing.com
Join me at my NEW! #Pinterest site and watch it GROW!: http://www.pinterest.com/ayawalksfar
Find me on #Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/ayawalksfar

When Do Characters Attack You?

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I have always heard voices in my head. When I was eight years old, I found a spot beneath the concrete, city steps that went from one street to the street above, and that is where I hid, scratching out the conversations that only I could hear.

As I got older, my hiding spots became more creative. Crunched under the covers at night, holding a flashlight between my ear and my shoulder, I scribbled descriptions of worlds that only I could see.

My mother worked, so I was expected to pull my weight around the house as well as excel in school. However, sometimes I couldn’t help it: I hid in back of the clothes closet furiously jotting down arguments and betrayals. One time, in the grip of a pitched battle, I secreted myself beneath a broken down car with pen and paper.

It wasn’t that my mother was unsympathetic. No, she understood that I was different, but “even different has to make a living” she once told me. So, she kept tracking me down and assigning chores, and I kept slipping away to some other reality.

Nowadays I don’t have to do that. Nope. Just have to make sure my dogs don’t see me, or hear me, sneaking into my office. If I get caught there is a whole lot of bark-demands to be my “Muse for the day”.

Of course, I am using the word ‘day’ very loosely here. Much of my writing is done between the hours of midnight and dawn. I love the absolute quiet of those hours. My work on the land is finished for the time being, my dogs are all asleep, my wife is either reading or sleeping, the phone is silent, and the world outside my window lies wrapped in warm darkness. Sometimes, if I am fortunate, a coyote will sing.

When it comes right down to it, however, I write at any hour that my characters chatter too loudly for me to hear the present day. There are times that I pull my vehicle into a rest area so I can jot down bits of dialogue, or snippets of description. I have been known to rise up from my bed, and a sound sleep, wander half-blindly through the house searching for pen and paper to write down the argument clamoring in my head. Then, I can tell my characters to shut up and let me rest!

For this Blog Tour, Mountain Springs House asked me to explain my writing routine, how do I get those novels written. So, there you have it: my confession about my writing non-routine.

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Some Fun Stuff

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I love it when people ask me about my novels and short stories.  Some of the fun conversations that I’ve had include this one:  how do I find the various hair colors for my characters?

Talking to hair stylists is really fun.  Many of these good-natured folks are happy to share their passion for hair.  I have talked with  everyone from a fun  guy who gives hundred dollar haircuts to the great young women at chain salons such as Hair Masters.  They can really tell some stories!

Of course, at three in the morning when I often do a lot of my writing, my friends at the hair salons would not appreciate a. being woke up  b. being interrupted during party-time!  So, I’m on my own, and that’s a scary thought! Especially since I’m a wash-and-wear sort of woman.

For those long nights, I hit a website called Best Wig Outlet.  www.bestwigoutlet.com  They actually have a chart of a wide variety of hair colors.

So, there you have it.  My secret.  Be sure to visit the Best Wig Outlet.  It’s a fun place.

 

Importance of Book Cover Design

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When a reader cruises the bookstores, whether online or physical, they often walk down the aisle containing books that reflect their favorite genres.  One of the very first things that catches the eye is the cover of the book; sometimes even before the title or the author.

In today’s competitive market, catching the eye of the reader is the most important step in marketing your work.

The book cover represents the concept of your book.  Not only does it need to catch the reader’s eye, but it needs to honestly reflect the contents within.  There is nothing as annoying as opening a book, perhaps with a horse on the cover, and discovering there in nothing connected to horses, to the culture of horses, to people who own horses, within the book.  The reader feels cheated, or at the least, led astray.

With the basic image decided upon, the author needs to consider the font, size, and placement of the title of the book.  If the reader sees a knight on a horse as the basic design, then it follows that the title script should reflect that era.  The caution here is to not use such artistic script as to make the title difficult to read.

The third element of cover design is the author’s name.  The author’s name needs to be easily read.  Placement and size, in comparison to the title, needs to be considered as well.

Many authors commission professional cover designers.  If, however, this is not a possibility, or the author simply wants to produce their own covers, Jonathan Gunson has provided a list of wonderful links to FREE professional photographs that can be used in cover designs.  http://www.bestsellerlabs.com

Sentence Fragments by Dave Dumais(scribbledhopes)

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This was a conversation in a writer’s group.

scribbledhopes(Dave)

Re: Sentence Fragments

Our first Problem as writers

Actually people speak in sentence fragments all the time. That’s because we have body language and tone and voice pauses to drop hints on intent. So when we write, we tend to forget the last part and assume what we are saying is with the correct intent.
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