June's Feature Books are Mysteries - Visit http://bookswelove.net and enjoy some spine tingling suspense

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Enhance your reading experiences by enjoying books written by

professional authors from around the world.  June's feature books are

Mysteries

A Writer's Moon by Barbara Baldwin

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"The Tenderhearted Cowboy is a heartwarming story filled with romance and passion. The book leaves you on the edge of your seat wanting more. Excellent read..." -- Amazon customer

"This novel from one of my favorite authors made my heart race. The novel had a beautiful story line and a happy ending. Thoroughly enjoyed Tenderhearted Cowboy by Barbara Baldwin." 5 stars by Amazon customer

Tenderhearted Cowboy has several night scenes which always include the moon. Regardless of whether you're a writer or a reader, a traveler or a sitter, I'm sure you've gazed into the sky one moon-lit night and let your mind wander. It just so happens that I have too...

A Writer's Moon

            The full moon, yellow and bright against an ebony backdrop, rose high in the sky, shining over fallow fields, dancing across the pond like a thousand fireflies, and whispering to me in the night -- "Come with me and listen to my story.  Let me teach you to love."

            I realize many people have recorded the moon's mysticism long before I picked up a pen, but no matter where my characters reside, no matter in what century they have lived, the moon remains the one constant.

            What enchantment does that glorious globe of luminous light hold that makes me dream of lovers, or write of romance and intrigue?  After all, in rather non-scientific terms, the moon is merely a chunk of rock.  It doesn't even produce its own light, but simply reflects the sun's rays.  And yet in the dark of night, exotic words emerge. 

            Moonbeams, moonglow; a hunter's moon, a harvest moon; phases of the moon, once in a blue moon.  I can promise my heroine the moon, think my hero magnificent enough to rope the moon, and believe witch doctors and sorcerers as they chant incantations to the moon.

            At times when I sit at the computer and the words won't come, or when my characters rebel against my direction, I want to howl at the moon.  It doesn't matter if it is a full moon, a sliver of a moon or no moon at all.  My feelings can't be changed by a crescent moon, or even when clouds obscure the moon.

            There may be a man in the moon, but he can't compare to my hero when the moonlight shines on his golden locks or reflects the passion in his eyes. 

            The greatest writers in history have faithfully administered to the moon's ego, singing its praises and inconsistencies with eloquent words.  It's impossible to forget the majesty of Shakespeare's Romeo (“Lady, by yonder blessed moon I swear”), or Alfred Noyes’ The Highwayman (“I'll come to thee by moonlight, though hell should bar the way.”)  It makes little difference that tragedy ended both these love affairs.  The moon must have its say, reminding us it oversees both the love and laughter in our lives, and the tragic termination of our most tender feelings.

            So beware!  No matter the course of your writing -- romance or tragedy, mystery or myth -- the moon will exert its primal pull.  Without conscious thought, you will find yourself incorporating that masterful overseer of human emotions into your manuscript. You are not alone when you disguise the moon behind a veil of clouds. Don't be concerned as you proclaim your characters moonstruck, moon-blind, moon-eyed, or moonish; or when they exclaim over a moon flower, moonscape, moonseeds, moonstones, or a moonshell.  Continue to scatter your writing with moon dust and moonbeams; enjoy each and every moonrise or moonset.  You are in very good company, for in Bartlett's Familiar Quotations, there are over 130 references to this chunk of rock I affectionately call A Writer's Moon.


(This essay was originally published in Crumbs in the Keyboard, an anthology. All authors donated their work and proceeds benefited The Center for Women and Families, which in turn benefited those affected by domestic violence.)
Barbara Baldwin
Https://www.authorsden.com/barbarajbaldwin

Writing the Fight Scene by Rita Karnopp

 

When it came time to write my first fight scene I stared at the screen and panicked.  Me, write a fight scene?  What do I know about fighting?

Fighting scenes … just like in the movies … can get too long and boring. You have to give it just the right about of oomph!  And know when it’s over!

Make sure each action furthers the situation and add more than just blows to the chin or the gut.  There must be significance - consequence – and even worth to the fight.  What are the stakes?  How will the results affect your character and those around him?

Should your story include a fight scene?  Ask yourself a few questions before committing to add a fight scene to your story.

Is the fight necessary?  Is there another way to resolve the conflict?  Will this fight show your character flaws or strengths?  Is the fight a live or die situations?  Is it cultural? 

When a fight scene is necessary – When there is no other way to de-escalate the situation – then ask yourself these questions:

• Where will the fight take place?
• Who will be fighting and is anyone handicapped (such as a broken arm or is there more than one against your character?
• Who do you want your reader rooting for - and who will win?

 Do you need a big fight or a skirmish?  Not all fights are the same.  The more significant a fight is to the story as-a-whole, the more detailed it needs to be.

Sometimes a simple blow to the chin is enough to deter a would-be attacker – and one sentence may be all it takes to take care of the situation.

What if your story revolves around – climaxes – when the fight takes place – the winner rules the world.  You’ll need a more elaborately, detailed planned leading up to – and the fight – and then the aftermath.

To make your fight interesting, remember to include a lot of the emotional baggage that led up to the fight.  Who is affected, and will the fight give them satisfying retribution?  This fight must give the reader a chance to savor each blow.

On the other-hand, will this fight create different emotions, such as disgust and disappointment?

Perhaps you want to write a humorous brawl -  In my book Destiny’s Shadow, Laura realizes she’s pinned to the ground when her long dress becomes heavily saturated by the dung infested, slick mud in the middle of the street. Two drunkin’ cowboy decide to come to her rescue … and it ended up being one of the funniest scenes I’ve ever written.  If you’re laughing while writing – there’s a good chance your booklover will laugh while they are reading.

When writing the big-fight scene – The story has been leading up to this point - it’s the crisis (major turning point) of your story.

Keep in mind that you’ll want to create a sort of roller-coaster ride for your reader – the anticipated win – but several setbacks before the conquest.  But don’t go in there and start slugging away. The reader will quickly get bored with it. The temperament and intensity of the fight should change several times.  Give the reader glimpses of a win – then oh no – he’s going to lose.  It’s the twists and turns in the action that will keep your reader gripped in the scene.

Nearing the finish - show determination and drive but give a twist like perhaps your character has second thoughts – maybe he shouldn’t kill the guy – he could just break him?

There are ways to give more life to a big fight scene.  Change the opponents or even the type of weapons being used.  What is the terrain like – is there a cliff edge nearby?  Are there motorcycles nearby that result in a chase-down?  All can heighten the drama.