| Author |
Message |
    
MikeM
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, January 18, 2002 - 09:53 pm: |   |
Hi all,
For those of you who are writing mysteries, I thought you might like to know that I was just named the host of the mystery writers forum at Writers BBS, www.writersbbs.com/forums. I'm hoping to get some interesting stuff up for those interested in mysteries.
Of course I'll keep popping in here, and I don't want anyone to leave this forum. I just thought that anyone interested in mystery writing might find some additional information there. Check it out.
Mike Manno |
John Laurence Robinson
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, January 19, 2002 - 11:30 am: | |
Thanks Mike. PA is doing the first in my private eye series. It's a bit off mainstream, so to keep from getting flamed I'll be a bit reticent about its content, but I'll check out the website. Thanks again. John Laurence Robinson, author SOCK MONKEY BLUES, GRAVITY FADES, and UNTIL THE LAST DOG DIES (forthcoming) |
Dennis Collins
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, January 19, 2002 - 11:47 am: | |
John Laurence Robinson
I don't believe that we've met but it's great to see another mystery writer aboard. Have you met Nancy Mehl? You'll find the other authors (trolls excluded) at this forum to be quite supportive regardless of genre. What part of the country are you from?
Dennis - The Unreal McCoy - |
LaurieAnne Cruea
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, March 30, 2002 - 10:18 pm: | |
JLR,
I just reread what you had written and now I'm confuscious and intrigued. "To keep from getting flamed..."
Why would the content of your book get you flamed?
LA |
laurelj
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, March 31, 2002 - 04:01 am: | |
I don't think you are in danger of being flamed, JLR, unless an unwanted and unwelcome troll does it. There are writers of all genre here, from mystery to fantasy to romance to action to Christian. None have flamed me yet. So be strong and courageous. 
LaurelJ |
John Laurence Robinson
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, March 31, 2002 - 05:59 am: | |
Okay, flamed...well, here's what I mean. My book, SOCK MONKEY BLUES posits an unusual (at least to me) question: what would happen to a "tough guy" private eye, a la Mike Hammer or Elvis Cole, if, due to a devastating ocurrance in his life, he were to become a Christian? Hence my book. I've always loved PI fiction, and back in my athiest, head-breaking days of yore, I read them by the metric ton. Then 25 years ago, and through a series of events I won't bore you with, I became a Christian. I still liked PI fiction, but frankly the content of it was causing me some problems. So I laid it down. Then a year and a half ago, and after I'd already starting writing in another genre, the idea came to me: what if a PI should take the same path as I did, and become a Christian? And that's how my protagonist Joe Box was born. Joe, like moi, is a transplanted Southerner who comes to faith in Jesus Christ, and then must figure out some way to reconcile his new-found beliefs with his violent profession. I wanted to see if a "tough guy" private eye story could be written with plenty of action, but no cursing and only implied sex...harder than it sounds! But it was a kick, and those who read the MS loved it. Now I'm deep into the sequel, UNTIL THE LAST DOG DIES, with three more in the wings, SKIN THE CAT, HAMMERHEAD, and EMBRACING THE SCORPION (all the books have an animal in the title). So as far as flaming, I was a bit reticent in saying what the content was...I didn't want someone to misconstrue my explanation of the book's contents as trying to convert. But now, as I've grown in confidence with the folks here, I say, misconstrue away! (grin) Thanks for listening. John |
Vickie Adkins
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, March 31, 2002 - 06:26 am: | |
John,
You won't get flamed here by any regular member. Most of us (I say most cause I don't know everyone's position) are Christians.
I'm a Baptist minister's wife of 23 years. My husband Pastors a church of about 350. We love people!!!! We enjoy helping others and can't imagine doing anything else. My husband and I both counsel, and enjoy every aspect of our lives/ministry. I really appreciate folk who aren't ashamed of their belief, but don't judge anyone who hasn't followed that path.
I was blessed to have a Christian mother. She took us to church every time the doors were open. I didn't appreciate it early on in my life, but as I became a mother myself, I realized she had our best interests at heart.
Welcome, again, John!
Best,
Vickie |
Nancy Marie
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, March 31, 2002 - 06:28 am: | |
John, you just carry-on!
Your concepts are similar to mine. I wanted to write good fiction without the violence or sex, that also had a message. But I didn't want to write just another "salvation" message book. There are tons of those out there already.
I wanted to write books that deal with real problems, the hard problems of life, expereienced by everybody, and show how "Christians" work their way through them with all their failings, whinings, and complaints. I specifically wanted to minister to Christians who have lost their faith or whose faith is weak.
So, carry-on, "fight the good fight!"
smiles and blessings, Kitty |
Dennis Collins
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, March 31, 2002 - 06:49 am: | |
Extremely interesting concept........
And uncomfortably close to my own.....
John
My private eye is has also been cast from a different mold. Although his religious convictions are not spelled out in my stories, he's clearly not the hard drinking womanizer who has become the standard.
Michael O'Conner is made of a strong moral fiber and would much rather spend his free time backpacking in the Porcupine Mountains or fly fishing in a remote stream.
Michael isn't a convert though, his convictions were always there. It's acquiring the dark talents of the successful PI that present Michael with his challenge.
Like you, I abstain from vivid sex scenes and minimize the violence and colorful language. In novels about murder, a certain measure of action is required (unless you're writing cozies.), but my work remains acceptable for young adult audiences.
I liked your story and I love your concept. |
Barbie Perkins Cooper
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, March 31, 2002 - 07:07 am: | |
John and Dennis:
I like the premise of your stories and would be interested in reading them, so I'll just have to order them soon. John, I like the concept of the titles containing animal names, reminds me of Sue Grafton (I think she is the one) who creates a title from a letter of the alphabet. I believe she is on P now.
Your blurb about the story contents is good. I like PI novels, and I hate some of the colorful language contained within some of them. I also like a book with a message. Religion is something I have strong faith in, along with God, although to be honest, I rarely go to church...just haven't found the right church for myself yet.
I wish you both much success with your books. You have much talent, and it sounds like the characters are well developed. Interesting guys you and I would like, if we met them.
I wish you the best! |
LaurieAnne Cruea
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, March 31, 2002 - 08:37 am: | |
Well,
I get to stand out in the cold as a mystery writer here. My books contain some erotica, plenty of foul language--but I can say there is not near as much as there was a few years ago. I have gone through and toned down a lot. It's amazing what having children will do to a writer... Anyhow, I have abstained from the filth except when it flows with the story. If it looks thrown in (same with the sex)--it doesn't belong.
'Nuff ramblings there. And I'm not joining the religion discussion here. Modsquad maybe, but not publicly.
Thanks, JLR, for taking the time to answer. (I agree, btw, that it is very difficult to write without the adult situations.)
LA |
laurelj
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, March 31, 2002 - 08:50 am: | |
See John. Not one flame so far. I find what you and Dennis accomplish in your books to be refreshing. My first book was written from the perspective of a woman raised from infancy with the teachings of church strong in her mind. It was a spiritual journey and a Christian oriented book. Those that follow are not Christian genre books per se. The main characters are all monogamous and decent to each other in every way I think a human should be. But the message in my books requires a painful honesty and realism in all aspects of their lives together.
laurelj |
Nancy Mehl
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, March 31, 2002 - 04:41 pm: | |
John,
My mysteries have no sex or profanity. Something the whole family can read - with a Christian aspect. Not blatant - but the protagonist has problems with trusting God in the beginning - but through the plot learns to trust Him by the end. So, I think you fit right in!
I love Dennis' McCoy character and think I would love your books, too!
Now, my new one, MALEVOLENCE, is a different animal. A little nervous about it. Have pretty much decided to release it under a pen name.
Nancy |
Gloria Marlow
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, March 31, 2002 - 05:20 pm: | |
My mystery has profanity. There is some heavy breathing I guess, but nothing horribly graphic. My aunt who read it assumed the main characters never had sex, my mom read it and assumed they did. So, I guess it's up to the reader to decide. I didn't have any qualms about my thirteen year old reading it, though. And I know some other people have let their teenagers read it, so it isn't too bad. I tried to put very little profanity in it and tried to keep that away from truly hard profanity, but still, my grandmother said, "You could have done without that." So, my next one, I don't think has any profanity.
I am also working on some romance novels and I had thought about a pen name, but I just don't know. It depends on how "spicy" they have to get. I don't see me writing anything too in detail about that, because I find it so much more romantic not to have the gory details. I have read some that I am embarrassed to read silently to myself. I don't want to write something like that.
I like the title thing, too, John. My first one was "Flowers for Megan" and my second one is not titled yet, but the title will have something to do with butterflies, for reasons I won't go into right this minute. Anyway, I liked that people heard the first title and expected a nice, sweet little book and then were surprised that it was a mystery involving a number of deaths. So, I was thinking of doing something like that, with nice innocent sounding titles to mask the ...whatever you'd call it in the books.
My pastor thought I had written a kids' book, because he says when he thinks of me he automatically thinks of kids and because I'm so quiet and sweet. So, he was really surprised. I still haven't told him where he can buy it.
Gloria |
laurelj
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, March 31, 2002 - 07:39 pm: | |
I try to write in such a way that my family wont be ashamed of me. But I guess mainly I write to tell a tale in a way that won't shame me. My second and third books won't be sold in christian book stores, but not because they're wild and racy necessarily. Any of you who read any part of the Snowbird excerpt know my allegories are too dark to be Christian genre no matter how strong the characters might believe in God.
If they ever get published, I want my name to be on them.
LaurelJ |
John Laurence Robinson
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, March 31, 2002 - 09:31 pm: | |
Hi guys. Good points all. My take on it is pretty simple: if, as a Christian, I really believe that God is intimately involved in all I do, (and as a former athiest I still find that mind-boggling, even 25 years later) I simply have to imagine Jesus standing up and reading aloud what I've written...straightens me up powerful quick, as we say down South. (grin) Well anyway, SOCK MONKEY BLUES is due out any day from PA, and my agent is looking into getting a multi-book deal (hopefully) starting with the sequel to SOCK, UNTIL THE LAST DOG DIES. He knows I'm only about halfway there with the writing, but told me he thinks he can swing the deal. We'll see. Thing is, he said because the subject matter of the books is a bit dark, he's going to be pitching them to some secular houses as well. Blessings to all, and I hope you all had a great Easter. John |
Vickie Adkins
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, March 31, 2002 - 09:59 pm: | |
Well, Jenkins and LaHaye really broke the mold as far as I'm concerned. Of course their books are based on how they perceive the future coming of Christ, as well as the earth after it all happens. But LJ, I don't think you can get much darker than that. And Christian bookstores eat them up as fast as they can.
I am a Christian, then an author. Although I probably couldn't hide it if I wanted to, I don't begin writing with a Christian genre in mind. I just write as it comes to me naturally. Tattered Pages had a lot of Christian content, but wasn't preachy. I think if you include a little bit of religion, and don't use profanity, you can cater to both secular and Christian bookstores.
And of course, we want the best of both worlds, right?
Vickie |
Nancy Mehl
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, March 31, 2002 - 10:56 pm: | |
Malevolence is kind of a Frank Perreti meets Patricia Cornwell thing.
Frank Perreti's books aren't tame. But you know what? Neither is life. There
is some nasty stuff out there.
There are some things I won't do. Sex scenes are not my thing. Rough swearwords are out. There are a few mild ones in Mal - but only because I felt they had to be there.
I took someone's advice. I wrote what I wanted to write. I lost a book contract because of it, but this book was important to me.
We'll see. Nancy Marie (Kitty) read it and said it was the best thing I've done. A couple of our group have agreed to read it. We'll see what happens.
I'm not ashamed to put my name on it, but I intend to find another publisher for Sinner's Song, and I have another series in mind that is in the "cozy" genre with no profanity. I don't want to have someone who feels "safe" buying something I've written pick up Mal - and be disappointed. That's why I'd change my name. I might change my mind down the road. Don't know.
Nancy |
laurelj
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, April 01, 2002 - 03:11 am: | |
This thread is really interesting to me. I like reading what other people think, not only about writing but their personal criteria.
It is for certain that life is not tame or safe. I draw many of my lessons in life from the old testament. Nothing tame there.
After my book signing at the Christian book store, the owner asked me to commit to having my second book debut there. I told her my next book is not a christian genre book. A Baptist minister was standing next to her when she asked it. One of them said, "Why? Is it porn?" and the other said, "Does it blaspheme God?" I said no and no, but it portrays in sometimes harsh and realistic ways two wounded, troubled people and their struggle to establish and nurture all forms of love. A long discussion ensued, with passers by stopping to join in or listen. The minister said, "See, you've given Christian witness here today and didn't even have to try. I think whatever book you write will be the same." I told her she would have to read the second book before deciding any more about my 'witness'.
LaurelJ |
laurelj
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, April 01, 2002 - 04:42 am: | |
I should have read Nancy Mehl's Bare Bones column before posting my previous statement. My statement was lame. The William Faulkner quote in Nancy's column says EXACTLY how I feel about my books, my characters, and the lives they share.
============================================================================
"The young man or woman writing today has forgotten the problems of the human heart in conflict with itself...He must learn them again. He must teach himself that the basest of all things is to be afraid: and, teaching himself that, forget it forever, leaving no room in his workshop for anything but the old verities and truths of the heart, the universal truths lacking which any story is ephemeral and doomed - love and honor and pity and pride and compassion and sacrifice. Until he does so, he labors under a curse. He writes not of love but of lust, of defeats in which nobody loses anything of value, of victories without hope and, worst of all, without pity or compassion. His griefs grieve on no universal bones, leaving no scar. He writes not of the heart but of the glands...Humanity has a soul, a spirit capable of compassion and sacrifice and endurance. The poet's, the writer's, duty is to write about these things."
Great column, as usual, Nancy. And the review looked great!!
LaurelJ |
Vickie Adkins
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, April 01, 2002 - 08:01 am: | |
Nancy Mehl,
I would think no less of you. Patricia Cornwell is my favorite authors. Need I say more? Her books are riddled with profanity. Some fits in, other words I think are overkill. Did it keep me from reading or buying? No. I simply take a permanent black magic marker and hide the words I don't want my children to see. Then they read her books and say, "Mom, what if I imagined a word that's even worse than the one she used?" ha. Kids, they'll get you every time.
In other words, I think you should use your own name. If anyone judges you for what you've written, they are being too judgemental. Now I'm on one of my soapboxes, but it's like the folk who go crazy about R rated movies. They draw all this attention to a movie that most people wouldn't see in the first place. When no one is forcing them to see it, why should it matter what it contains? Infringing on anyone's right to freedom of speech, or religion for that matter, jeopardizes for everyone else. No one will be forced to read your book, it will be a choice. If it offends, then they should lay it aside, not read it and then complain. Does that make sense? I'm rambling. Oh my, did I just write this post? It's gonna be one of those "alwayswriteone" days. Better stay away from my husband. :>
Nancy, you're much, much too talented not to get, and take full credit for your work. BTW, send me Malevolence, please. I'd love a sneak-peek!
LJ - I love your honesty. It's so refreshing. If anyone critizes you for that (Baptist minister or anyone!), then ignore them.
Best,
Vickie |
Vickie Adkins
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, April 01, 2002 - 08:03 am: | |
When I ramble, my posts are very illerate. SBT!
Vickie |
|
Closed: New threads not accepted on this page