Showing posts with label Janet Lane Walters. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Janet Lane Walters. Show all posts

Sunday, March 17, 2024

St. Patrick's Day - A bit late

 

This is my one book with a real Irishman in the story. The hero is based on a neighbor who always charmed me with his accent. I miss seeing him and his wife and being charmed by their accents.

St. Patrick's Day is well celebrated in Rockland County with a parade and many activities. Dance competitions and of course food, singing, too.

While I can claim an Irish heritage, it's not a green one but an orange one. Never bothered me when I was younger but often received comments, some not so nice. I had an orange jumper I wore on St. Patrick's Day. Wore it to Duquesne U located on a hill over looking Pittsburgh. Mt English class contained most of the basketball tea,, a powerhouse in those day. I recieved laughter and the shaking of heads but also an invite for coffee. With seven escorts the day was great.

I also had the chance to visit the town where my Irish ancestor left to come to the un Bellenahinch. I'm sure I've spelled this worng. A town built on a hill but pretty.

Saturday, February 17, 2024

Developing Characters by Janet Lane Walters #BWLAuthor ##MFRWAuthor #writing #characters #development

 


Janet Lane Walters is visiting and talking about characters #BWLAuthor #MFRWAuthor #writing #characters #heroes #heroines #villains

 . Heroes, Heroines, Villains. Which are your favorite to write?

My favorites to write are the villains. I think this is because I want my villains to be on the wrong sideof life but not too far. I rather like those villains who with different events in their lives could be heroes.

 

3. Heroes. How do you find them? Do pictures, real life or plain imagination create the man you want every reader to love? Do they come before the plot or after you have the idea for the story?

Since I usuallyuse astrology to create my characters. I hit my books on the subject and look at the Sun, Moon and Rising signs and toss together bitsd from both. Naming my characters is as much a part of creating a character as their physical, emotional and nature are. Theyalways com after I have the idea for a book. The idea is always first when I write.

 

4. Heroines. How do you find them? Do pictures, real life or imagination create the woman you want the reader to root for? Do they appear before the plot or after you have the idea for the story?

Heroines are created the same as heros. They also come after the idea and the plot.

 

5. Villains or villainesses or an antagonist, since they don’t always have to be the bad guy or girl. They can be a person opposed to the hero’s or heroine’s obtaining their goal. How do you choose one? How do you make them human?

Love villains. Sometimes they aren't really bad butsomethign they stand inopposition to the hero or heroine in a story. Giving themsomething that makes them seem good helps set them up. My favorite villain loves his mother, and is helpful to others. Unfortunately some of his good traits become obsessive.

 

6. What is your latest release? Who is the hero, heroine and or the villain?

My latest release is Iced Tea and other short stories. The characters are a mixture of people rather than singletons.

 

7. What are you working on now?

I'm currently working on Keltoi a romantasy and the sixth book of a series. Have no idea what i'll do with it when done. an researching the start of a new mystery series. The Horror Writer's Demise.

9. Who are your favorite authors?

There are probably too many to mention. I am a reader with 2000 plus books in my Kindle library, not to mention the books that surround me in almost every room of my house.

 

My Places

   https://twitter.com/JanetL717

 https://www.facebook.com/janet.l.walters.3?v=wall&story_f

bid=113639528680724

 http://bookswelove.net/

 http://wwweclecticwriter.blogspot.com

https://www.pinterest.com/shadyl717/

 

Buy Mark My Places

 

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Wednesday, January 17, 2024

Found Treasure by Janet Lane Walters #BWLAuthor #MFRWAuthor #Treasure #writing #Story



 My found treasure isn't gems or cash. My daughter was here for a few days and she nagged me a bit about clearing out the file cabinet. We did sort out a few things like a number of wills done years ago, contracts from pulblishers no longer in business. That's when i found the treasures. The rough draft of a Civil War historical novel I may or may not have written or I could have been editing it for a friend. I'll investigate this more. Then there was the background work, the blurb for myself and notes on a Regency Romance. I do know i wrote this one. That's when I stopped this search. Now there are three more drawers with multiple folders still to be looked at. I'm not sure whatever treasures I'll find but I now have a future project that's all outlined and chapter synopses in hand. Once I put the  new book going well, I'll work on this Regency. I also found a hint to a third regency - Margaret - Spices. Not much but I think more will come once I search my computer brain.

The Regency Title is Silks.

But now it's back to work on The Horror Writer's  Demise.


My Places

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 https://www.facebook.com/janet.l.walters.3?v=wall&story_f

bid=113639528680724

 http://bookswelove.net/

 http://wwweclecticwriter.blogspot.com

https://www.pinterest.com/shadyl717/

 

Buy Mark My Places

 

https://bookswelove.net/walters-janet-lane/


Sunday, December 17, 2023

Christmas Memories by Janet Lane Walters #BWLAuthor #MFRWAuthor #Memories #Hershey's Kisses # Tree buying

 

 The cover is for my latest release and there is a Christmas short story in the collection. For me Christmas is always about memories. I remember about 85 of them or maybe 84 for my then I would have turned three.

Today as I was working on making peanut blossom cookies with the Hershey's Kisses on each one, my thoughts turned to missing my husband very deeply. The reason. He always took the foil off the Kisses and for the past three years, my granddaughter who took over the chore is living around the corner now. That's one memory. But another seems so vivid. I was about eight years old and I was sent to buy the Christmas tree on Christmas Eve, My father was a steelworker and as happened frequently, the stieelworkers were on strike so money was tight. My fahter worked for a friend's store and took his pay in presents for his children.

I had five dollars. My friend went with me and with his wagon so we could bring the tree back. Now to get to the place where the VFW sold trees, we had to either cross the railroad tracks or go the long way. We managed to carry the wagon down the steps and off we walked the ten blovks to the slot whre the trees were sold.

Most of the trees had been sold but there was one my friend's uncle had held back. The tree was beautiful and between eight and nine feet tall. They did saw off the end and removed a few branches but our trip home was a horror story. The wagon was maybe four feet long and the tree hung over front and back. When we reached the house, my father and uncle came to carry the tree inside.

My father looked at me. "Couldn't you find a smaller one."

"They were ugly." I didn't know then about Charlie Brown Christmas trees. He hadn't appeared yet. With struggles they put the tree in the stand and set ii in acorner. My dad laughed. "We're only decorating the front. There aren't snough lights and decorations for the whole tree."

That's this year's Christmas memories. The tree one came about when my granddaughter felt sad because we're now using an artificial one.

May every one have great memories of Christmas and build new ones for next year.

Friday, November 17, 2023

Writing - Choosing a Plot by Janet Lane Walters #BWLAuthor #MFRWAuthor #Plot #Mystery #Horror writer #Demise #romance

 

Back to my way of writing.  When I begin, I decide what kind of book I plan to write. This time, I wanted to start a new mystery series and several things were buzzing in my thoughts. I decided rather than a straight mystery, I wanted this series to have a developing romance along with the mystery. Then came the idea for the first one in this series. I needed a title before I began.

I'm funny this way, but I need to have a title before I can begin the book. I knew the dead man was a horror writer. A number of titles flashed in my thoughts. Finally I decided on the Horror Writer's Demise. Not sure why that stuck in my head. Then the planning for the book began. 

Setting became the Hudson Valley and one of the places there was a house that had been turned into a place where writers and other people involved with the arts couldrent a space where they could write. There once was such a place not far from where I live. Not sure if it still exists.

Te Characters came next - Not all of the but they will either increase of combined in versions of the story. The heroine is Valentina Heartley. With a name like that she thinks she should writea romance, especially since there have been no good ones in her life. She does research for professors, attorneys and authors. Her interest is Dane Grant, a local detective and widower. Theyboth have five year old sons. She has a mother who helps her and he has a sister.

What happens next will be my taking these two characters and writing a synopsis of the story. For good or not, I organize my stories completely. At present there are a few questions I need to answer before I can start writing.

That's how I work and the system has evolved over the years since 1968 when I soldmy first story.

My Places

   https://twitter.com/JanetL717

 https://www.facebook.com/janet.l.walters.3?v=wall&story_f

bid=113639528680724

 http://bookswelove.net/

 http://wwweclecticwriter.blogspot.com

https://www.pinterest.com/shadyl717/

 

Buy Mark

https://bookswelove.net/walters-janet-lane/

Tuesday, October 17, 2023

Just one more Joy of Aging by Janet Lane Walters #BWLAuthor #MFRWAuthor Aging #Joy




 Lately, I've had no incidents when people questioned my age and my ability to be independent. Then my granddaughter reminded me of an incident from a few months ago when I left the hospital and went to a rehab center for a few days.

She went to the nurse's desk to ask a question and suddenly found herself being asked questions about her grandmother. She told them to go ask Gran. The nurse smiled. "You're ehre so you can answer. We wouldn't want to confuse your grandmother."

My granddaughter answered as best as she could since there are things she doesn't know. The nurse assurred ehr she would come and find the answers from me if they were needed. She never came and she never asked me any questions.

So once again, there are unanswered questions. The only good thing was that I was able toleave rehab almost a week before they predicted I should stay.

What these Joy of Aging posts have shown me is what I'll write about next. Actually, I have four projects waiting. One is to finish Keltoi,the last installment of the Moon Rising series. I may have to publish it on my own but that's all right.

There is a new, I'm not sure if it's a series since there are only two mysteries that have appeared in my thoughts. The heroine is Valentina Hartly and she thinks with her name she should write a romance. She attends a session put on by published authors and as she's leaving, she stumbles over a body. She learns this is the Horror Writer who had been coming to be one of the speakers. A second idea for this heroine involves stolen snuff boxes.

The third idea involves a nurse practitioner who specializes in the aging population. She has joined the practice of two young, handsome doctors. Suddenly, the elderly start dying and she begins to suspect one or both of her partners. She lives with three friends, who are also nurses with different specialties.

The fourth thing on my plate is something I found in my files. The outline for a Regency novel. "Silks is the second book in the series that began with Gemstones. Who knows why I was diverted from writing this back then. Most likely, I had a dozen other books wanting to  be told.

My Places

   https://twitter.com/JanetL717

 https://www.facebook.com/janet.l.walters.3?v=wall&story_f

bid=113639528680724

 http://bookswelove.net/

 http://wwweclecticwriter.blogspot.com

https://www.pinterest.com/shadyl717/

 

Buy Mark

https://bookswelove.net/walters-janet-lane/


Sunday, September 17, 2023

The Joy of Aging - Incident 2 by Janet Lane Walters #Bwl Author #MFRWAuthor #Aging #banded


 Another incident in the Joy of Aging. After I left the hospital, I went to a rehab center. Once again I noticed the way age was seen. My granddaughter went to ask the nurse at the desk a question and then found herself being asked many questions about me. She kept saying her grandmother would know the answers better to no avail. The questions kept coming.

A short time later, the admitting nurse arrived and put a band on my wrist. A red band. Being curious, I asked why? She said "This is because you are in danger of falling."

I frowned. "I've never fallen."

She said "You're eighty seven and in the age range of people who are in danger of falling."

My frown grew deeper. "I've never fallen in the past twenty-five eyars. Maybe longer but it's not something I think about."

She just shook her head.

I stood up and started walking.

"Where are you going?"

"Outside. It's a lovely evening."

"You must sit in the whelchair."

Not only did I have to sit, I had to wear a seatbelt while in the chair. "WHY?"

"You are of the age group where falling is possible. You must be protected."

I managed to tolerate this for eight days. I had been scheduled to stay there for two weeks. I proved to the physical therapists that I could walk up and down stairs and walk with a walker so they discharged me early.

I am now home with my computer, the stiars to the second floor and all the other things I enjoyed. Every day, I wait for the time I fall. so far I'm proving they're wrong. At least my family and friends trust me.

Thursday, August 17, 2023

The Joy of Aging by Janet Lane Walters #BWLAuthor #MFRWAuthor #Aging #Joy #Tongue in Cheek

 

There's the Joy of Cooking and the Joy of Sex books on the market. What about the Joy of Aging. The following is my first adventure on the Joy of Aging. This may be done tounge in cheek but using a writer's imagination, just believe this really happened but perhaps embroidered a bit.

The adventure began on my birthday when I turned eighty seven. I arrived with my son at the emergeny room. After giving my name and date of birth, the interviewer turned to my son. "Just what is your mother's complaint?" Son replied. "Don't ask me. She can tell you." The woman frowned but I went into the tale about how I felt. "Take a seat and we'll call you."

A short time later, I was taken to a room where someone asked many questions, drew blood and then doctors entered the room. The lead doctor, asked a question. "Do you want to live?" "Yes," I nswered. I wan set up for an ememgency dalysis treatment. So far things went well until they look out the special catheter for the dialysis. I lost a lot of blood and this meant a consent. Now came the Joy of Aging incident.

The doctor came into the room. "Can you give me the phone numbers for oneof your children?" "Why?" I asked. "I need to get a phone consent for a blood transfusion." "Why?" I asked. "You can't have a transfusion without consent." "Why can't I give the consent." I've been waiting for this moment for days. "I'm eighty-senen years and five days old." He looked at me and said  "You're not senile." I smiled but my thoughts took in his graying hair and I didn't say but thought. "It'll happen to you soon." 

This is my first Joy of Aging post. There may be more as the process continues.

Wednesday, May 17, 2023

Finding Ideas by Janet Lane Walters #BWLAuthor #MFRWAuthor #writing #ideas

 

Before a writer can create a book, there must be an idea. I've written a number of books using Katherine Miller and Robespierre. Then the ideas for more stories about her dried up and so I retired her. Then one night as I was falling asleep, and thinking over all the political news and trying to calm myself, an idea. How about involving Katherine in some kind of politics. After all, she is now married to a rich man who might move in those circles.

I tossed this idea around for a bit and knew I really didn't know enough about politicians on the national level of government or even the state area. Put the idea aside for a time. Slowly, I began to think about the mayor of Katherine's town. Yes, I decided. Let's think this over. So I thought and went from her being the mayor's friend and his political rival being the victim of the crime. That didn't suit me. So I put the idea aside.

As I was falling asleep one night, I heard this voice speak. "What do you mean there'll be no Halloween Parade this year." These words began to form other ideas. The COVID epidemic has been declared over in the acute phase. What if the mayor decided not to start the tradition of the Halloween parade now people could move about. This brought to mind Katherine's neighbor and friend, the one with children and foster children. She would certainly be upset about no parade since her children always dressed for the parade and theyhad won a contest one year.

Slowly the ideas came together and I've outlined the plot for Murder and Iced Tea with some new and many old characters. The overweight mayor has a token wife, one daughter who avoids him and a son who thinks father is always right. The mayor also has a friend who acts as a bodyguard. This cast of characters is slowly forming scenes in my head. Someday the book will be written.

All this thought gave me an idea for another mystery series. But that's for another day.

Monday, April 17, 2023

A Plot Is Just A Plan by Janet Lane Walters #BWLAuthor #MFRWAuthor #Writing #Plot #Plan

 

Many years ago, more than fifty, I went to hear a NYTimes Best Selling Author speak at an all day event in Pittsburgh. The first thing he said was "A plot is just a plan." The plan is where your characters play their roles. I took this to heart and read books on writing and focused on Plot.

Just what does this mean. Think of the plot of your story being like planning a trip using a road map. There is a starting place. Why are the characters in this particular place? What do they plan? How does the plot and setting effect their decisions and directions.

Once the characters have set off on their way toward the goal they have selected, you come to the middle. This may be where the characters remain on the road or perhaps take a side trip of two. The middle of the plot shows the decisions they make and what changes those decisions may cause.

The end of the journey shows they have either succeeded, failed or changed their initial goal. This includes the crisis, the moment of decision and then the characters leave the plot, happily My Places

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bid=113639528680724

 http://bookswelove.net/

 http://wwweclecticwriter.blogspot.com

https://www.pinterest.com/shadyl717/

 

Buy Mark

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 or sadly but always the road ends in a satisfactory way.

Friday, March 17, 2023

Happy Anniversary - Murder and Mint Tea by Janet Lane Walters #BWLAuthor #MFRWAuthor #mystery #25 years #Robespierre

 

Though today is Saint Patrick's Day and i'm wishing all those who are Irish and who are Irish today, I have another these for the blog.  Twenty-five years ago Murder and Mint Tea was published. Katherine and Robespierre are still out there for people to read and this is happening.

I remember the day when I first saw the electronic version of Murder and mInt Tea. Wow, I thought. We made it. The search for an editor had taken a few years of sending the mss out and being rejected, mostly kindly but sometimes not. I had discovered electronic publishing and found a publisher. Then came the fun of promoting and also looking for reviews.

The first review was rewarding. I don't know the name of the magazine any longer but I do remember the first few words. Move over  Miss Marple and Jessica Fletcher, Katherin Miller is in town. That really gave me chills since I enjoyed both of the above sleuths.

Murder and Mint Tea is either loved or hated by the readers. Though there are more favorable reviews than unfavorable, I enjoy reading both once. This book has earned me money every year for those twenty-five. I've not kept a running total but I've been pleased.

Katherine and Robespierre ahve gone on to enjoy other visits and there's one more she's toying with. Not sure when she'll give me the murderer so I can write the book. Here's a hint. The victim is the town's mayor. COVID has lessened but he decides the village won't have their Halloween Parade this year as well as the COVID years. Needless to say there are many people who don't like his decision.

So once again, happy anniversary to Murder and Mint Tea. Twenty-five years and still counting. One little bit of information, Katherine retired from the hospital at sixty-two. If she existed in reality, she would now be sixty-seven the age I'll be on my next birthday.

https://bookswelove.net/walters-janet-lane/


Tuesday, January 17, 2023

File Cabinet Treasures by Janet Lane Walters #BWLAuthor #MFRWAuthor #file cabinet #treasures #Partials

  



 The time had come to look into the file cabinet to see what filled several dozen folders. I needed a new book to write and my mind wasn't running to what was sought. I pulled a stack of folders and carried them to mmy study. In the first pile I removed, I found two partial manuscripts. One was a Regency and the other was called Home Caring, a medical romance. As I studied the pages, I began to wonder. Where had this come from and why was this only a partial manuscript.

Much thought later. I remembered how the story came about and how it had been abandoned. I'd published a book with a NY publisher in an older romance series. That book did very well with a nice advance and a royalty or two. I had started Home Caring to add to the series. Except, that line was ended and I had no idea what to do with the story. This was before I encountered electronic publishing. I set that manuscript aside and went on to write other nurse/doctor romances for another publisher who refused all of them. Then I discovered electronic publishing and was busy sending out a volume of manuscripts to several publishers. Home Caring rested in the drawer.

The second thing was, I had no idea why I'd started the Regency or why i stopped writing. Perhaps I'll look at it again since it's acompanion to Gemstones. There are still more things in those files that I'll look at another time. 

My Places

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bid=113639528680724

 http://bookswelove.net/

 http://wwweclecticwriter.blogspot.com

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Buy Mark

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Thursday, November 17, 2022

Running Behind by Janet Lane Walters #BWLAuthor #MFRWAuthor #writing #Holidays #Release in December #Plotting new Book

 

Suddenly I realized it was my day to post on the blog. For some reason I've been runing a day behid for weeks. No excuses, really. As one ages, days seem to run into each other. So for the past few weeks, I've been pushing myself. Whatwith? First there's the December release of Seppal. I've been doing much promotion of the book. Trying something new with this one. I'll know if it works. That's Excuse no.1

Excuse number 2 is Christmas stockings. This year I have 17 to fill for an expanding fmily. The real problem is they must go out after Thanksgiving to make sure they arrive on time. Most of them will be sent out of state.

Excuse Number 3 is I've started plotting the last of the Moon Rising series - Keltoi and when I'm in that zone I lose hours and hours. The plot goes to bed with me and I often wake up with scenes ready to fit into the story. Once the plot is in line and it's almost done, I'll begin writing the story. That's the part I love, too. Next month I'll be back to my orderly self.


 

My Places

   https://twitter.com/JanetL717

 https://www.facebook.com/janet.l.walters.3?v=wall&story_f

bid=113639528680724

 http://bookswelove.net/

 http://wwweclecticwriter.blogspot.com

https://www.pinterest.com/shadyl717/

 

Buy Mark

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Monday, October 17, 2022

Coming to the End of a Series by Janet Lane Walters #BWLAuthor #MFRWAuthor #fantasy #Series #moon Rising

 

In December Book five of this series Seppal will arrive. I finished this book around the tenth of the month and to my surprise, I began planning the sixth and final book of the series, I usually don't write this way but one doesn't fight with the idea factory. I usually alternate genres. The interesting thing is that I have the book planned and have already rough drafted the first chapter. Now, rough draft are just that, rough. I'm not sure how other people write. Each of us finds our own way. Sometimes I envy those whose idea factory stays with a single genre, That's not my usual way.

Seppal tells the story from two points of view, a bit different from the others in this series but that's the way the story came to me. As always, there are the Three and Three and their talismans, a sword , a staff and a wand. Was interesting to take this story just with two characters. Not to worry. There will be six viewpoint characters in Keltoi but the format is a bit different too.

Does your idea factory make you change your pattern of writing? I find this happens seldom but I always listen. 

Can't wait to see Seppal on line and the cover for this series Moon Rising are always interesting. Must get back to work. Chapter 1 is written but I must type it in, along with little comments as to where I need to explain or make slight changes.

 

My Places

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 https://www.facebook.com/janet.l.walters.3?v=wall&story_f

bid=113639528680724

 http://bookswelove.net/

 http://wwweclecticwriter.blogspot.com

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Buy Mark

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Saturday, September 17, 2022

Dragon - a few of the collection by Janet Lane Walters BWLAuthor #BWLAuthor #dragons #Fyre #Amber Dragon

 


I have a collection of Dragons, probably fifty or so and they're of many kinds. Four of my stories have dragons featured. Dragons of Fyre, Wizards of Fyre and Children of Fyre are part of a series. Only the first of the series has no dragons. Then there is my favorite dragon, the Amber Dragon found in the collection . The Amber Chronicles. Sort of based on the Princess and the Frog but the princess is the one enchanted. She becomes a small, fat amber dragon. She must find a prince to kiss her to break the spell. A fun story to write.

I decided I'd show a few of my collection here.


This dragon is really a light and is the largest one in my collection. It's several feet tall and wide.


One of my critique group found this stapler and couldn't resist adding this to my collection.

Here is one my granddaughter bought me for my birthday two years ago. The large light was also a birthday gift from her. The restaurant was going out of business and she boughtit there.

This is a lamp that sits near my computer.

This is a clock and sits above my computer. This I found in some magazine that arrived at the house and I couldn't resist.

The final dragon I'm showing today was also a birthday present from Kathy Attalla, who woter for BWL and was one of my best ever friends,

That's all but i hope you all have dragons or something to inspire your writing. Now I must return to my work in progress and whip it into shape. No dragons in this one,




Tuesday, August 16, 2022

Aging Days and Lost in Thought by Janet Lane Walters #BWLAuthor #Mfrw Author Thought #Lost Aging

 

I am usually upto date on when I post my blogs. Having a broken foot and moving slowly makes one feel lost. Thank heavens the huge boot is gone and I am able to move around. I'm busily working on my next book and it's moving slower than I'd hoped. That has been on my mind for weeks. Moving around using a walker isn't my idea of fun. Nor the huge shoe thing used instead of a shoe didn't help. But I'm finally back znd promise next month I'll be on time.

The cover shwon is of a book that's free almost everywhere except one place as far as I know. Temple of Fyre is a sensous fantasy that was fun to write, especially thinking of the fyrestones of many colors that had magical uses. The four books in the series were great to write. Dragons of Fyre is probably my favorite but than I have a great fixation with dragons having many kind from a small jade dragon to what is a light that's about fifteen inches wide and two feet long. This was once a decoration in a restaurant in town. Out of business now but my granddaughter bought the light as a birthday present. She didn't buy the four foot lego dragon, I'm glad.

Sunday, July 17, 2022

Free Books and other thoughts by Janet Lane Walters #BWLAuthor #MFRWAuthor #Mysteries #romances #fantasy

Another year has passed and it's been an interesting one. Today I've reached my 86th year of life. Seems a long time ago and yet a short time but I'm doing what I live to do, making up stories. Writing fiction gives one the chance to explore the lives of others. Sure they are stories but as they are written, the characters become real and turn into friends.


Katherine Miller has become a great friend and there are elements of myself in the chracter, and I believe of the characters of my other books. Originally published in 1998, she's still going strong.



The characters in this book are fully imaginatary, sort of. I was a nurse and so I am able to capture the hospital and it;s querks. I also am a student of Astrology so this book has elements of that interest in the pages.


The Affinities series was written for my grandchildren and they're in the pages of this series only because my first four hit every one of the four elements of astrology, fire, earth, water and air. I enjoyed writing these books and the adventures the children have.


Another completely imagination created characters and stories. I believe this came because i enjoy the Food Channel and watching the chefs create dishes. Especially since I'm an ordinary cook.

I'm getting ready to let my publisher know to put another book, the first in a long series up for free. Hopefully this will trigger another set of stories and bring them into view. There are several more long series. Right now I'm working on book five of the Moon Rising series and next project will be book 7 of the Moon Child series.

So these are my free books at present. when there's another, I'll let you know. i do wish all the tohers would collect the number of ratings as Murder and Mint Tea. As to date 476.

My Places

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 https://www.facebook.com/janet.l.walters.3?v=wall&story_f

bid=113639528680724

 http://bookswelove.net/

 http://wwweclecticwriter.blogspot.com

https://www.pinterest.com/shadyl717/

 

Buy Mark

https://bookswelove.net/walters-janet-lane/

 

Friday, June 17, 2022

What's In A Name by Janet Lane Walters #BWLAuthor #MFRWAuthor #Names #Characters


Click here to buy the Mrs. Miller Mysteries

I write in several genres. Lately I've been thinking about naming my characters. When I write contemporary stories, creating the names of the characters is easy. We all know the names of people we know and ones we heard on TV and in the news. The one problem here with naming contemporary characters is having two characters with names that sound similar. This can confuse the reader and sometimes the writer. I try not to have two characters' names begin with the same letter. I also seldom use names like Spike or Belle. I do use these as nicknames for a character. Also things like Liz instead of Elizabeth. A writer also needs to know where the character  lives or was born to find a name to match.

Historical novel names are different and call for research. I made a mistake in one historical novel by having the man named Drew, I should have used this as a nickname and named him Andrew. Also when writing historical novels and naming characters, there are names that aren't frequently used today, like Reginald. A perfectly good name in the Regency or other historical times. Some research is needed to find names that fit the period. Of course, many of the names we use today were common in historical times like George or Mary.

When it comes to fantasy or science fiction, I have a rule. The names must be readable. I remember reading science fiction many many years ago when the alien characters had names often many letters long that I never figured how to pronounce. I often skipped over those names. When writing fantasy, I look to make the names pronounceable and ones that might easily be read. I also try to give them names that almost sound like names we know. In one the character is Kylea. This was taking my granddaughter's name Kyla and changing it a bit. In my current book that's the fifth in the Moon rising series, here's some of the names - Ranal for a male and Amera for a female. Both are easily pronounced.

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 So naming names of your characters can and should take time and thought.

Tuesday, May 17, 2022

Tell M A Story by Janet Lane Walters #BWLAuthor #MFRWAuthor #amwriting #stories

 

I probably drove my parents and grandparets crazy when I was a child. I had a grandfather with a great Cockney accent. He bgfan reading to me when I was an infant. Around the age of four I discovered library andgot my first card. Then I could read for myself. My cry became, Tell me a story. Of the adults in my life, my grandfather and father were the ones who were best at this. Then I grew up and decided to begin writing my own stories.

Each one of us has their own way of writing, a method that works for us. This became evident on Saturday at our writer's meeting. I watched my friends who read for critique frantically searching through their pages to add notes as well as accept those ones we wrote for them to take home. Most of them said when they arrived hom, said they would immediately rewrite the scene. I shook my head. 

What I had read was rough draft and I said so. One of them made a remark about wishing her rough drafts made sense. All I could think about was they must be pansters. There are also plotters. I don't fit any of these categories. I am a planner. I always ahve my blurb written before I write a word of the book. every night when I go to sleep, I hone in on my world and ilently i shout, Tell me a story.  My characters don't even have names or descriptions. When I do is dream of their adventures whether it's what they do, what's happening and slowly the story unfolds.

Then I write a chapter synopsis. I never now how long a book will be when I begin. My dreams at night tell me what the next event will be. Then I start writing focusing mostly on plot. There are two more written drafts after scribbling notes all over the printed out what ever draft I'm on. After the plot draft, I head to the setting draft and then the character draft. Then comes the final revision and the book is done.

Works for my but it's taken fifty plus eyars of writing to get this down to a system.

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Sunday, April 17, 2022

Memories Raised by a new bio by Janet Lane Walters. #BWLAuthor #MFRWAuthor #Imagination #Apology #New Bio #Old Memories

 

 


Since I have a new book coming, I decided a new bio would be nice. The one I've been using for years was bit tired and out of date. I began the bio in a different manner, since people oftenremark on y imagination. I began to look at the way this imagination was honed. Among other things such as reading at an early age and wanting to read everything that had been published, one memory became vivid.

I was a child during the Second World War and this ahd quite an impact. We lived in a town outside Pittsburgh between steelmills and Westinghouse. Union Switch and Signal Company was located across the railroad tracks from the houses. The street I lived on was a short street, starting against a hill and ending a block later. One fascinating place was the concrete stairs leading from out street to the one above. I think there were about fifty steps, at least it seemed that way to me. Wide steps with a handrail great for haging on.

I lived in a row house. Also among my friends were a dozen boys and two girls of around the same age. Since the war was in progress and we were in a rather essential area, there were no street lights at night. We used to sit on the steps to the porch on summer nights and tell stories of round robing. Often these stories featured ghosts, ghouls and other unsavory creatures. Great fun for a summer night.

There were other kinds of stories and great plans we made in case we were invaded. We invented stories of daring-do. Sometimes we put these plans to work. We dug holes in the hillside woods where we played. We wove tin branches and disguised these holes. Imaginations ran wild and sometimes were dangerous. Like the time we found some little snakes. We wanted to know what they were. At my church, there was a man who taught biology. We took out pail of baby snakes to show him. He killed him. Seems they were copperhead, snakes that are born venemous. Lesson learned.

Fromhere we went on to write and produce plays for the neighbors, mostly our families. And that is part of the reason I have this really odd imagination.

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