As you all might remember, I’d never watched BONES until the end of last year when I spent four months watching the first six seasons, one show every night except for President’s Day weekend where I watched the entire truncated season three when I was sick for three days. (You can read more about my thoughts on this show over at Heroes & Heartbreakers, where I blogged about how they screwed up Booth and Brennan’s relationship.)

I’d become so accustomed my new schedule of late night television, that when I was all caught up on my series, I needed something else to obsess over. I picked NCIS. I’m a little over halfway through the nine seasons of this show, and plan to be finished before season ten starts in the fall. I don’t know why I never watched this show before (well, I know … I gave up television for three years, from 2002-2005, and this premiered in 2003 … completely off my radar!)

NCIS is the most watched show in the U.S., and I’m not surprised. It’s rare that I like all the characters in an ensemble show—usually there’s one or two I love above all others—but Special Agent Gibbs has a great team and it’s been so much fun diving into the series. It wins because of the characters, actors and writing, the key components of any successful show. (And it helps that the studio doesn’t skimp on production value.)

The show is both a crime thriller and a military thriller, plus includes a little psychology and a lot of forensics, two of my favorite things. But another thing I love is that the characters have complex backstories that are threaded through the series without being overwhelming. They don’t over-explain. Characters are flawed, they make mistakes, they get into trouble, they even break the law, but in the end, they are fighting for truth and justice–and they fight together, as a team. I can easily suspend disbelief and get sucked into the story.

My recent television series marathons have taught me a lot about writing. While I have more time and space in a book than script writers have for a 43 minute episode, I’ve learned a lot about pacing and story structure. I’ve also focused on character growth from season to season, and considered how to apply that sense to my own series. Lucy Kincaid needs to both grow as a character, but at the same time be accessible to new readers. The balance is hard, but watching shows like NCIS and how they integrate backstory and character for viewers new and old is a master’s class in storytelling. I also admire how character flaws can be strengths, and strengths can be flaws. For example, Tony’s love and memory for movies can be annoying, but his knowledge of plot helps on occasion to solve cases. Gibbs has made some questionable decisions, but always for the right reasons. I’ll admit, they’re my two favorite characters (though Abby is right up there, too. I like quirky!) No spoilers, because I’m only just beginning season six …

One show I’m thrilled is returning in the Fall is GRIMM. It started a bit rocky, but by episode three or four I was hooked. And of course JUSTIFIED will return … still the best show on television today! I’m considering NCIS: Los Angeles when I’m caught up on the original, but honestly? Over than L&O: SVU I’ve never liked any of the copies. (And I’ve always liked SVU more than the original.) Tell us what show you’re looking forward to returning next Fall, or a show you wish was returning.

Now for a Mother’s Day gift from us to you! For the next week only, the Murder She Writes digital anthology GUNS & ROSES is on sale for $2.99. It’s a meaty, ten-story anthology penned by us, including both short stories and novellas—over 150,000 words of romantic thrillers and mysteries! Perfect for you or a mom (or even a dad!) who deserves an entertaining escape ….

Deb and I were planning on writing an exchange for today’s blog because our dear and darling Sophie is stuck, but between my trip to the Desert Dreams conference and my deadline in 48 hours, I completely forgot. And Deb herself is writing and promoting her Colby series (see yesterday’s post!) and she probably forgot, too. So we’re late this morning … apologies all around.

ANYWAY, one thing I definitely want to share is how much I love regional conferences. I’ve spoken to several, all between 200-300 people, and I think that number is perfect. Big enough to have a lot of workshops and conversations, and small enough to have a really hands-on workshop, intimate and casual conversations, and more time. Also, there are usually 4-8 editors and agents in attendance, and they are VERY accessible. Even though RWA National and Thrillerfest, the two conferences I attend every year, are fun, they are definitely high-stress. If you have never been to a conference and want something smaller than the 2500 people who usually go to RWA, definitely check out a regional conference like Desert Dreams or Emerald City or a host of others across the country.

After the conference, I signed at the Poisoned Pen, a fabulous mystery bookstore in Scottsdale. (I’ll be at Mysterious Galaxy in San Diego this Saturday!) I signed with Christopher Farnsworth, who writes about a vampire who protects the president. All I can say is WOW. He read an excerpt and I’m sold. I don’t even like vampires (I like how his vampire is not a nice guy, he’s just nicer than the monsters he kills to protect the president.)

SILENCED is out, and I was thrilled to see it at the Phoenix Airport right next to one of my favorite people, James Rollins:

But it’s not just about me today! Our own Laura has some fabulous reviews on TWISTED and she hit the USA Today list (yeah Laura!) … Rocki’s BAREFOOT IN THE SAND has also some amazing reviews. Sylvia’s BARED TO YOU which I have been hearing tons of buzz about. And if you just look at the side bar, you can see how prolific and busy us gals at MSW have been.

I also want to share one of my favorite blogs with you all — it’s geared more for writers, but I think readers would get a kick out of some of the entries as well. Terrible Minds, penned by the Penmonkey himself Chuck Wendig, is full of great advice and kick-you-in-the-ass motivation. Yesterday’s blog — 25 Realizations Writers Need to Have — really hit home to me because I feel exactly the same way and have spoken about these topics often. Particularly this about the need for stories:

Stop. Breathe. Refocus. Media companies will rise and fall. Technologies come and go. The story remains constant. More to the point, our need for stories remain constant. Storytellers and writers aren’t going anywhere. They may need to bend with the wind. They may need to find new ways to thrive. But they — we — will always have a place. The audience will be there. We just have to find them.

Story is what separates humans from all the other mammals in the world. Stories, and thumbs.

Go read, go write, go do something today you feel good about. If you loved a book, write a review and share the love, or email the author and let her know! And if it’s a bad day? Hug someone you love. Works for me every time.

When I was, like, eight, I begged my mother for a lucky rabbit’s foot.

(Don’t ask me why people feel these are so lucky. I’m sure the rabbit doesn’t think so.)

By then Mom was used to such requests. Already she’d caved in to my pleas for a diary that locked with a key, a heart-shaped locket, an iron-on monogram with my initials for my pink button-down shirt, and a shrunken head.

Okay, really it was a carved coconut made to look like an man in the last throes of fear of being eaten by an anaconda. I guess that explains all the nightmares and my bloodcurdling screams.

(And why, finally, Mom buried the head in the back yard– something I would never have known if my trusty Doberman sidekick, Kazan, hadn’t dug it up and trotted it back over to me. It was Mom who screamed then, when she saw it back in its usual place: on my bookshelf, next to the rabbit’s foot.

I guess that foot was lucky after all — for the coconut, anyway.

Which brings me to the topic of luck, specifically as it pertains to writing.

I know a lot of novelists who are excellent writers. Their stories are compelling, but for some reason they haven’t connected with the zeitgeist that will give them the traction that would make them the next Nora (Roberts)/ Danielle (Steel)/ Dan (Brown)/ John (Grisham)/ Stieg (Larsson) / JK (Rowling)/whomever-is-the-author-flavor-of-the-year. Maybe they weren’t in sync with an agent willing to stick it out with them while they tried to claw their way out of the mid-list.  Or maybe what the author is writing books that editors aren’t buying right now, because that genre is “over-saturated” because these same editors bought too much of a trend in which readers have OD’d on.

Yet another reason to forgo the trends, and write what resonates with YOU.

Believe in your story.

Believe in your voice.

Believe in your ability to find the right mentors (critique partners) and professional champions (agent, editor) to help you get it in the hands of readers who will appreciate it, and want even more from you.

Yes, you know where this is leading: BELIEVE IN YOURSELF.

Only you can write that book.

Only you can sell that book.

Only you can give you the career you want.

So toss that supposedly lucky penny you found on the sidewalk, the fortune from the Chinese takeout box, and that parsley sprig you insist is a four-leaf clover, because none of these will get you what you want: your name on the spine of a book.

When the stars do align for you, it’s because you’re in the right place, with the right book.

Case in Point: Just this past week, MSW author, Karin Tabke was honored with Romantic Time’s Reviewer’s Choice Award for Best Romantic Fiction for her book,  Blood Law.

Hell yeah, she deserved it.

If I were to be objective about the karma surrounding that rabbit’s foot, I guess I’d say it wasn’t really all that lucky at all. My grades didn’t improve. My hair stayed coiled in a frizz ball. And I was still taller than all the boys in my class. Except for Bob Butler, which is why we were always partnered for square dances.

(For your sake, Bob, I’m hope you kept growing. As for me, I was happy to top out at at five-foot six inches, in the seventh grade and let the rest of the class catch up.)

The rabbit’s foot is long gone. And thank goodness The Hub looks nothing like the coconut head, albeit sometimes I wish I knew right voodoo curse that could turn him into a bug-eyed pinhead when he acts like one. In the meantime, I’ll stay away from Vegas slot machines and Golden Gate Fields…

But not my Mega Millions tickets.

 

Feeling lucky? If so, play this little game with me! It’s called “Lucky 7.” Here’s how it works: I”ve posted the scene starting on page 77 of THE HOUSEWIFE ASSASSIN’S HANDBOOK, here. For a chance to win this digital eBook, email me at MailFromJosie@gmail.com with the correct answer to the question at the end of the post (worth 7 points). The winner will be chosen from the correct answers received by Midnight PT on Friday, April 20, 2012.

Earn a Bonus Point for commenting here below, about your good luck charm, or by congratulating Karin on her win.

Good luck!

– Josie

 

In January, I wrote a blog called SPEAR THE MONSTER where I cut open a vein or two and shared my struggle writing SILENCED. It was difficult on multiple levels.

But then I got these yesterday:

Even though SILENCED is my 18th novel, I was just as thrilled as when I held the first copy of my debut novel. Maybe even more excited, and relieved, because this book was so hard for me. Holding the book I stressed over was cathartic. SILENCED received a top pick from RT Book Reviews, another validation that the sweat and tears poured out while writing this book was worth it.

No book is “easy” but some are easier to write than others. STALKED, which I’m writing now, isn’t “easy” but I’m not having the same struggles. Maybe because the story is very \; maybe because I’m writing it predominately from one POV (Lucy’s); maybe because it’s structured like a mystery, not a thriller. My biggest dilemma is whether to include the killer’s POV. I still haven’t decided, because I’m enjoying the investigation. Out of 18 books, only one doesn’t have the killer’s POV. (KISS ME, KILL ME.) In the current incomplete draft of STALKED, I have one scene–the prologue–written from the killer’s POV. If my editor likes it, I’ll keep it because I love prologues and this one really works for me. But it may be the only such scene.

Decisions, decisions.

I love writing the villain’s POV. I have a workshop called “The Villain’s Journey” based on Christopher Vogler’s statement that “The villain is the hero of his own journey.” To me, following the villain adds depth and dimension to a thriller.

The villain must be deeply motivated to achieve believable goals, whether it’s drug running, sex trafficking, or strangling blondes. Why does he do what he does? What drives him? It may not make sense to you or me, but it needs to make sense to him, and as the author, I need to portray his personality and values so that you, the reader, believe that he’s real. Hating blondes is not enough of a motivation–why does he hate blondes? What turned the emotion into action? What is his conflict? Does he doubt his decisions? If not, what does he fear? What does he really want?

There are several villains in SILENCED, but only one head I got into. You meet him in chapter one.

One of my dilemmas as a writer is telling stories that make my core readership happy, but also are different. I want to stretch and grow as a writer, but sometimes the idea of doing something too different terrifies me as much as it excites me. I’m sure you have a favorite writer who went into areas you just didn’t want to follow. At the same time, you probably have a favorite writer who could write anything and you’d be happy.

I try not to think about any of this stuff when I’m writing, but sometimes I can’t help it. (Refer back to the Spear the Monster blog linked above.) Even though intellectually I know that I can finish a book, revise it, and have it be acceptable, I also fear that I’m not going to achieve what I intend, that I’m not growing as a writer and as a storyteller.

I think one reason I’m inclined not to write the killer’s POV in STALKED is because I want to do something a bit different. Since only one of my 18 books didn’t get into the head of the killer, it is a change for me, and one I’ve been going back and forth on as I write. Maybe that’s why the story is mostly in Lucy Kincaid’s POV. For me this is another big change–I love writing in multiple POVs. I don’t think I’ve written a book with fewer than seven. And while by the end of STALKED I may have seven POVs (there are only four now), 80% is Lucy.

On the flipside, STOLEN, my Spring 2013 book, is Sean Rogan’s book. I have always been more comfortable writing my heroines, but since I know the premise of STOLEN, I know it’s going to be Sean’s book and mostly in his POV. I’m really going out on a limb. The same series, but different. Scary, but exciting!

Challenges ensure growth. Athletes, for example, constantly push themselves to be better, faster, tougher. Without constant training, they become weak marshmallows. Writers need the constant training, too–and that is two-fold: writing and reading.

If I don’t challenge myself as a writer, I’ll be bored and my stories will be lifeless. Challenge is a good thing. But that doesn’t make it easy.

What’s something you’ve pushed yourself on that ended up having a positive impact in your life? Writing, reading goals, exercise, healthy choices, athletics, work, love?

One commenter will win an early copy of SILENCED, or if you prefer an e-copy, a digital copy will be gifted to you on release day in the format of your choice.

Welcome to my pity party: I did NOT win the $640 million Mega Millions Lotto.

If you hold the lucky ticket, you can now consider me your new bestest pal in the whole wide world, so, yeah for sure, give me a call!

And hey, don’t worry: I won’t ask for a loan.

I won’t turn down a weekly stipend, either. I mean, what are friends for?

Another kind of lottery took place this week, and no, I didn’t win that one, either. E.L. James, author  of the best-selling originally self-published erotica book, 50 Shades of Grey, just signed a multi-million-dollar film deal for the book franchise (the series will be a trilogy) after being wooed by ten movie studios.

I tip my hat to the author on her successes, which also include a seven-figure book deal with Vintage.

I’m glad to hear (from Karin Tabke, one of the severest critics I know) that the book merits its raves, so I’ll take her word for it. (If not, I’d be afraid that she’d take a cat-o-nine-tails to me. I swear, ’cause that gal knows what hurts–on the page, anyway.)

In the profession of writing, where authors encounter many valleys and a just a few peaks, I’d say Ms. James has reached quite a pinnacle. Like J.K. Rowling, Jackie Collins, Stephen King, Danielle Steel, John Le Carre, Ken Follett, Nora Roberts, Lisa Gardner, and Kristin Hannah (to name few), she will soon be among the 1% of novelists who not only have made the New York Times Bestsellers list, but have also seen their works translated into film.

Indubitably you’ll find great sex in Ms. Collins’ steamy glam lit, as well as Ms. Steel’s socialites-behaving-badly tomes and Ms. Roberts’ unforgettable romances. But none of these can be classified as “erotica,” let alone “erotic romance.” So kudos to Ms. James for moving the genre of erotica out of bedroom and into the boardroom.

I use the term “boardroom” because I’ve no doubt that erotica be the new publishing gold rush–and that’s okay by me. Hey, anything that takes any and all women’s fiction out of publishing’s pink ghetto of  small advances/throw-it-on-the-shelf/get it no bookseller co-op or promotion is fine by me.

In a survey of 1,371 romance readers released this year by the Romance Writers of America–the trade organization which nurtures the profession of romance writing–erotic romance was a popular choice of 20% of all romance readers. If RWA does the same survey in two years, my guess is that this subgenre’s popularity among respondents will have doubled.

Today, if you put in the term “erotic romance” in Amazon.com’s search bar, you’ll see that the site is selling 4,963 paperback books under that genre, another 337 in hard cover, and a whopping 10,964 as- digital eBooks.

As for the search term “erotica,” 19,081 paperbacks pop up (pardon my pun), along with 2,216 hard cover books, and almost 50,000 hot and spicy digital eBooks.

Sounds like a helluva lot of hanky-panky, doesn’t it?

I’m guessing these numbers will grow by double digits as well.

I have many friends who write erotica. This isn’t just a high-five for E.L. James, but a thumbs-up for them as well.  Why? Because in the eyes of readers and booksellers, the publicity surrounding the book will reignite this subgenre of romance.

The published books they’ve written may now get a second look from readers who were turned on (literally) by Ms. James’ book. And no doubt they and their agents will be fielding calls from editors who never before acquired erotica (let alone erotic romance) but have fallen in love with their backlist, and want to publish their next hot-and-bothered books.

And yes, I’d be the first to applaud them, if that happens. As a professional writer, I can’t afford to be jealous of others’ successes. It’s a waste of my time and energy–which is better spent writing my own stories.

Besides, it’s just bad karma –

Which, in this case, is doe-eyed heroine: naked, submissive, and wearing four-inch stilettos.

Color me blush pink,

– Josie

Do you read erotica? If so, what is your favorite erotica book? Do you think it would translate into film? I wanna know, so comment below!

Hey, and since it turns out that K-Tab didn’t win the Mega Millions either, if you do comment I’ll enter you for a chance to win a copy of my dollface gal pal Karin Tabke’s soon-to-be-released novel, BLOODRIGHT, Book #2 of the BLOOD MOON Trilogy! (I’ve linked to her red hot excerpt, so enjoy!)

5 BONUS POINTS for reading this excerpt from my novel, THE HOUSEWIFE ASSASSIN’S HANDBOOK, and emailing me at MailFromJosie@gmail.com, with the answer to this question:

What does the skinhead take as a trophy?