Friday, August 20, 2010
Sunday, August 15, 2010
ALL KINDS OF COURAGE
Have you ever wondered what it takes to be called courageous? Is it simply charging into the face of danger against all odds? Not in my book. It is the strength to face the odds whatever they are, and that doesn't only mean the hand-to-hand combat that thrills us in books and movies.
In Devil's Dance and The Devil's Due, Jen Connor must find her inner strength to go on after life has dealt her some cruel blows. She's a teenager who grew up as part of what I call the "obedient generation"--those kids of the 40s and 50s who didn't make waves, pretty much did what they were told and accepted authority without question most of the time.
It took courage for her to find her inner self and realize that although broken in spirit and for a time health as well, she had survived and now she was her own person. That happens in real life. People rise from the ashes of horrible experiences to go on and achieve, to live rewarding lives and to even affect the lives of others in positive ways.
I received a phone call from a male friend who was reading an advance copy of The Devil's Due. His voice didn't sound right, and I feared something bad had happened. Fortunately, that wasn't the case. "I thought you'd like to know you made me cry."
I made a man cry? Well, not me but my book. "What you've done with Jen Connor, the way you've developed her character, actually made me cry. Now I see what you meant when you said the men who read these two books become very protective of Jen. Her courage."
Then there is the courage of staying strong in the face of extreme health issues. Those stalwart people who voice things like "I've got cancer, it doesn't have me."
Recently I hadn't received replies to e-mails of an old grammar school friend from Chicago. We had stayed in touch, rediscovering each other about four years ago. I loved getting her upbeat e-mails, funny comments, thoughts about life. Once a very active woman, she had lost both legs to diabetes and was confined to a wheelchair. She managed to stay so positive, so funny despite her disability. She lived in Tucson and we wrote about my possibly coming to Arizona one day so we could see each other in person. That won't happen. I was concerned about not receiving answers and feared the worst, so I searched her name on the internet and found her obituary. Her courage never ran out...her time did.
ARLISS
In Devil's Dance and The Devil's Due, Jen Connor must find her inner strength to go on after life has dealt her some cruel blows. She's a teenager who grew up as part of what I call the "obedient generation"--those kids of the 40s and 50s who didn't make waves, pretty much did what they were told and accepted authority without question most of the time.
It took courage for her to find her inner self and realize that although broken in spirit and for a time health as well, she had survived and now she was her own person. That happens in real life. People rise from the ashes of horrible experiences to go on and achieve, to live rewarding lives and to even affect the lives of others in positive ways.
I received a phone call from a male friend who was reading an advance copy of The Devil's Due. His voice didn't sound right, and I feared something bad had happened. Fortunately, that wasn't the case. "I thought you'd like to know you made me cry."
I made a man cry? Well, not me but my book. "What you've done with Jen Connor, the way you've developed her character, actually made me cry. Now I see what you meant when you said the men who read these two books become very protective of Jen. Her courage."
Then there is the courage of staying strong in the face of extreme health issues. Those stalwart people who voice things like "I've got cancer, it doesn't have me."
Recently I hadn't received replies to e-mails of an old grammar school friend from Chicago. We had stayed in touch, rediscovering each other about four years ago. I loved getting her upbeat e-mails, funny comments, thoughts about life. Once a very active woman, she had lost both legs to diabetes and was confined to a wheelchair. She managed to stay so positive, so funny despite her disability. She lived in Tucson and we wrote about my possibly coming to Arizona one day so we could see each other in person. That won't happen. I was concerned about not receiving answers and feared the worst, so I searched her name on the internet and found her obituary. Her courage never ran out...her time did.
ARLISS
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
OKAY! NOW IT'S GETTING EXCITING
DEVIL'S DANCE has been released on Amazon in Kindle and paperback. The audio book will be out by the end of the month. That is really exciting after all these years of working on the manuscript. Barnes and Noble online has listed it for release on August 28 and they list the release date for THE DEVIL'S DUE as September 28.
But, here is the good news. They are offering a super pre-release price, so check it out. I set up a Tiny URL link to the page on their site to make it easier to find: http://bit.ly/B-N-Adams
After spending so many years committed to writing these books I feel like doing a dance myself. But then, I was drummed out of ballet school when I was a little kid. Like most five-year-olds, my mother thought I would be a graceful gazelle, and the costumes were cool. Well, I did have great pointe and do to this day. I just didn't have anything else. After that she enrolled me in the Krasner School of Dramatics and Singing. With a voice destined to go off tune and at that time in my life a very shy nature...that's not true anymore...the Krasner experiment was a flop as well.
When I did find my true passion, it was writing. I invite you to read DEVIL'S DANCE and THE DEVIL'S DUE. Afterwards, I would love it if you posted reviews either on blogs or Amazon or both.
Thanks,
Arliss
P.S. At least I don't trip over my own feet anymore, but unlike my protagonist Jen Connor, I never would have made it past barre exercises in ballet!
But, here is the good news. They are offering a super pre-release price, so check it out. I set up a Tiny URL link to the page on their site to make it easier to find: http://bit.ly/B-N-Adams
After spending so many years committed to writing these books I feel like doing a dance myself. But then, I was drummed out of ballet school when I was a little kid. Like most five-year-olds, my mother thought I would be a graceful gazelle, and the costumes were cool. Well, I did have great pointe and do to this day. I just didn't have anything else. After that she enrolled me in the Krasner School of Dramatics and Singing. With a voice destined to go off tune and at that time in my life a very shy nature...that's not true anymore...the Krasner experiment was a flop as well.
When I did find my true passion, it was writing. I invite you to read DEVIL'S DANCE and THE DEVIL'S DUE. Afterwards, I would love it if you posted reviews either on blogs or Amazon or both.
Thanks,
Arliss
P.S. At least I don't trip over my own feet anymore, but unlike my protagonist Jen Connor, I never would have made it past barre exercises in ballet!
Thursday, August 5, 2010
Writers Tricks of the Trade - Making a Choice - Part III
Writers Tricks of the Trade - Making a Choice - Part III
This is the last part of Making a Choice. Next week a new topic in Writers Tricks of the Trade.
This is the last part of Making a Choice. Next week a new topic in Writers Tricks of the Trade.
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
Spotlight: Introduction to First Chapter Plus and two new books
Spotlight: Introduction to First Chapter Plus and two new books
The column includes information about my two new books. Release time is drawing near. Arliss
The column includes information about my two new books. Release time is drawing near. Arliss
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