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Speaking at OCC by Linda O Johnston

July 6, 2010 by in category Pets, Romance & Lots of Suspense by Linda O. Johnston, Writing: It's a Business tagged as , , , ,

I’ve been a member of OCC for quite a few years. During that time, I’ve given a lot of talks and classes, and been on many panels, but the only one I’ve been on for OCC was at the Autumn Affaire conference about ten years ago.

I used to be very nervous speaking in front of any group, but I’ve done it often enough now that I’m generally fine. However, I think one of the reasons I haven’t made a point to volunteer to speak at OCC is that the idea makes me nervous!

Why? I’m not sure. I always want to make a good impression, no matter who the group is. But maybe I figure it’ll stick with me more if I mess up in front of you!

So why am I mentioning this now? Well, in August, I’m going to be talking about what I learn at RWA National that I can share with the group in the afternoon session. And in the morning session in September, I’ll be sharing what I know about combining romance and suspense in a novel. Two months in a row? I’m a glutton for punishment!

Come and listen to me. Please clap politely and keep your snickers to yourself. And–well, forget that. Both will be learning experiences for me, as well as for you, I hope. Please join me at both of them!

     FELINE FATALE, Linda’s ninth Kendra Ballantyne mystery for Berkley Prime Crime will be out July 2010. 

     Be sure to watch for the new Lauren Vancouver, Pet Rescuer series! The first book BEAGLE MANIA will be out in March 2011. It’s a spin-off from the Kendra series, and Lauren is introduced in HOWL DEADLY.

     ALASKAN WOLF, another in the Alpha Force series from Harlequin Nocturne, will be published in December 2010.

Linda O. Johnston
http://www.lindaojohnston.com/
http://www.killerhobbies.blogspot.com/

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Orlando or Not

June 6, 2010 by in category Pets, Romance & Lots of Suspense by Linda O. Johnston, Writing Conferences

I’d signed up to attend the RWA National Conference in Nashville. It was a no-brainer. My husband and I were turning it into a family trip. He was even picking up his mother in Ohio to join us.

When the venue was changed to Orlando (and I feel really bad for the folks in Nashville), I considered long and hard whether I wanted to go. My husband and m-i-l weren’t going. The travel was longer, and even though the hotel was less expensive, the plane fares were higher.

So, I pondered much longer than I should have. Fortunately, a sweet friend who’d already changed her plans to attend the conference in Orlando, and booked a hotel room, patiently waited for me to let her know if I’d be rooming with her.

I asked for input from the professionals I’d want to meet with if I did go. Their opinions? They hoped to see me there.

As a result, I’m intending to go to Orlando.

So… hope to see you there, too!

Linda O. Johnston

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The Plot Thickens by Linda O. Johnston

May 6, 2010 by in category Pets, Romance & Lots of Suspense by Linda O. Johnston, Writing tagged as , ,
I find myself plotting a lot lately.
I’ve been putting together ideas for new projects. Plus, I’m working on the second book in my Pet Rescue mystery series.
The first one has been scheduled, by the way. It will be a March 2011 release, and its title is BEAGLE MANIA. That reflects that some of the animals rescued from a puppy mill in that story are beagles.
Book number two will involve an animal hoarder. I’m still working on its title, as well as plotting the entirety of the story, but I’ve started writing it, too.
So how do I start plotting a book? It varies, but it always starts with an idea. And several baths, since that’s where my subconscious mind seems to plot best. I usually know who the protagonist is, but I have to figure out what kind of situation to put her in that fits the type of story–mystery or romance. And then I need to determine how best to stick in all the elements of the genre that keep the plot moving toward the satisfying conclusion. Along the way, of course, there are always pitfalls and conflicts and plot points to turn things in a different direction. What do I do with all this? I write a synopsis, sometimes for selling the idea and sometimes just for myself, so I know where I’m going with the story.
I don’t always stick minutely to the synopsis, but at least it gives me a direction. And when I’m stumped, I always refer to it to guide me back on the plot I’ve plotted!
I’ve plotted a lot of books in my time, and hope to plot a lot more. Sometimes, it’s easier to plot fiction than to plan one’s own life!

How about you–how do you plot?

Linda O. Johnston
http://www.lindaojohnston.com/
http://www.killerhobbies.blogspot.com/ 

Linda O. Johnston is the author of 15 romance novels and several novellas, including a current Nocturne Bites, with 2 more Nocturnes upcoming. She also writes the Kendra Ballantyne, Pet-Sitter mystery series from Berkley Prime Crime.

 

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Developing The Writer’s Thick Skin by Linda O. Johnston

March 6, 2010 by in category Pets, Romance & Lots of Suspense by Linda O. Johnston, Writing tagged as , ,

Last month, I asked for questions, and I got a couple of excellent ones from Jeri Hoag. One of them was about how to keep positive in the face of rejections that often come when you start submitting a book for publication.
It isn’t easy, but it is necessary. Keep in mind that, no matter what stage of writing you’re in, there are always negative things that can occur. Published or not, you can receive rejections on your submission, by editors and agents. If you already have a relationship with them, they’re sometimes kinder in how they reject your work, but a rejection is still a rejection.

Once you’re published, though, you have a track record that follows you. I won’t lie. It helps. But remember that when you’re published your work is out there for more than a few people to look at. You’ll get reviews. Some are positive, which is always a kick.

But some will be negative. Sometimes very negative. Sometimes very negative and posted on Amazon and other sites from which you hope people will want to buy your books. That kind of review, one that can discourage people from trying your work, is always a real kick in the gut.

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Blogging About What I Love by Linda O. Johnston

February 8, 2010 by in category Pets, Romance & Lots of Suspense by Linda O. Johnston tagged as , , ,

Blog = web log. That’s elementary. And what’s a log? It can be a kind of journal. That’s how I look at it, anyway.

I always enjoy blogging on A Slice of Orange. As you may know, I also blog weekly at killerhobbies.blogspot.com. I was invited to join a long time ago because Killer Hobbies’ focus is on hobbies that are featured in mysteries. My Kendra Ballantyne, Pet-Sitter mystery series features pets, and I’ve always maintained that pets are family, not hobbies. Even so, I usually try to mention pet-related things on my posts there. Of course I love writing about pets, so that works out well.

Other times, I focus largely on writing, its fun and frustrations. Since writing is so important to me, that’s fun, too. It’s often when I get the most comments. Same appears to go for my blog sisters, too.

This week, I blogged about writing short stories, and I was pleased at the number of comments that came up early in the day–faster than usual. Not a huge amount, as some other blog sites get, but a bunch just the same.

So… since A Slice of Orange is the blog of OCC, it’s natural for me to focus on writing here, at least more than pets. I love writing. I do it all the time, and I’m always looking for more! I can always talk about what I’m working on, and that’s a lot of what I’ve done here so far. But I’d still love to hear more about what YOU are interested in hearing. Feel free to ask me to reveal secrets. If I know the answers, I’ll have to gauge whether I want to make them public, but you’ll never know how much I’ll give up till you ask.

By the way, I’m going to be giving a class soon at the new online school, Story Stew University. It’ll be on Blending Romance and Suspense. Check it out, along with other classes at: storystewuniversity.com

Linda O. Johnston

Linda O. Johnston is the author of 15 romance novels and several novellas, including a current Nocturne Bites, with 2 more Nocturnes upcoming. She also writes the Kendra Ballantyne, Pet-Sitter mystery series from Berkley Prime Crime. HOWL DEADLY, the newest title in the series has just been released.

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