Friday, February 25, 2011

Best course on PACING I've ever seen

Mary Buckham knows her stuff. I'm posting this from her just in case some of you might want to fork over $30 and get sixty-five times that much in useful advice. Mary's really really good.

Charlie

March 1-25, 2011
Pacing: How To Create a Page Turning Manuscript
by Mary Buckham
$30 at www.writeruniv.com

What keeps a book intriguing enough to have fans turn the pages and not set it down? How can one author's books have you riveted and another's leave you feeling ho-hum? Ever wondered if there are key craft tips and techniques to balance fast-paced conflict, tension, suspense or mystery, action and emotion? In PACING: HOW TO CREATE A PAGE TURNING MANUSCRIPT you'll learn:

* The ingredients of a page turner
* What hooks are and how to maximize them
* The power of effective scenes: common pacing pitfalls to avoid
* The ten elements of strong pacing
* How to use subplots and secondary characters
* How to avoid a sagging middle
* What a beat is and how to use it
* Great beginnings and endings that have your readers wanting more!

Mary Buckham is co-author of BREAK INTO FICTION: 11 Steps to Building a Story That Sells and an award-winning Romantic Suspense author. She has hundreds of free-lance articles to her credit, a non-fiction book and is a former Magazine Editor. Currently she presents writing workshops online and around the country. Mary encourages you to visit her website at www.MaryBuckham.com for more information about her and her current writing projects.

Saturday, February 12, 2011

Line Rider

David Cranmer says some good words about my latest story -- Line Rider. Go take a look.

Thursday, February 10, 2011

Demise of books vastly overstated


Friend and fellow author Mattew Mayo sends word of a healthy book market. Happy reading.

Take a look HERE.

Monday, February 7, 2011

Letter from a reader of Vulture Gold


Hello, Charlie san

I've just finished your book "Vulture Gold".
What a great story it is!
And I'm so glad Havelock made it.

This is the story you wrote last year, right?
I realized when Havelock survived in the desert.

Your stories are always different and I can't tell what's happen next until I've finished it.
That makes me excited.
But this time "Vulture Gold" was difficult to read for me.
There were lots of words I did not know, so I've read with my dictionary.
Even though it took long time, I couldn't stop it because of the characters!
The characters you wrote are always so attractive.
I wanted to make sure if Havelock is happy in the end or not.
So I'm so glad he made it!

And I wanted to say
Thank you so much
for letting me know this great story.

regards, (name withheld to protect privacy)