Faces (or Personalities) of Evil

I don't usually "cast" actors as characters when I'm writing a book, but lately while working on a particularly vile villain, I've been thinking of some of actor Garret Dillahunt's more creepy roles.

Who?

This guy:

Still don't know who he is? Check out his IMDB page. Chances are good you've seen him in something.

The first time I really remember him playing a bad guy who gave me goosebumps was in the series LIFE. He played Roman -- a bad, bad man.

I would have sworn he was in dozens of episodes, but I see that he was only in three. He was THAT good.

The only other actor I've used for inspiration is Alan Rickman.

I didn't cast him as bad guy.

I didn't even cast him as a human being.

He is, and always will be, Godzilla, the talking anole lizard in my CONFESSIONS OF A SLIGHTLY NEUROTIC HITWOMAN books.

Obviously I DID go for the physical similarities with that casting job.

If you're a reader I'd love to know who YOU cast as some of your favorite characters from books. 

And if you're a writer: Do you cast actors and actresses?

By JB Lynn

Embracing Change

I don’t particularly enjoy characters that don’t change. 

I don’t understand the appeal of say, James Bond. There’s not much character growth with that guy and frankly, I find him kind of boring. (Obviously, considering the success of the movie franchise, this opinion of mine is in the minority.)

I like characters that develop along the way. Those are the ones I can’t stop thinking about. Characters who have an internal, emotional journey that is just as compelling as whatever external adventure they’re having.

I suspect that the reason I, and so many others, love change so much in fictional characters is that it can be such a challenge to achieve in real life.

Professionally, there’s nothing more rewarding for me than hearing from readers about how much they love how the characters in my CONFESSIONS OF A SLIGHTLY NEUROTIC HITWOMAN series have developed. It’s something I’m always working on and I just love that their character arcs resonate with fans.

Personally, I’m easily bored when I find myself being stagnant. I’m always working on ways to stretch myself.  I’ll give you two examples of how I’ve changed in the past year:

1) I’ve become a beach person.

I was so NOT a beach person that even when I moved to the city with the Best Beach in the U.S. I didn’t go there for the first ten months.

But after listening to a local friend rhapsodize about their love of the sand and sea, I decided that maybe my long-held prejudices should be reexamined.  I took myself to the beach a couple of times and fell in love. Now if I don’t get to dip my toes in the surf at least three times a week, I feel deprived.

2) Twice a week I have appointments outside my comfort zone.

I’m a quiet, shy, extremely reserved introvert who thrives on constant worry and has a compulsive need to plan ahead. To combat these natural tendencies (not that there’s anything wrong with any of them) I’ve been taking improvisational comedy classes.

Not surprisingly, I’m not a good performer. But surprisingly, I’ve made more progress than I would have thought I was capable of. I’m still quiet and shy and reserved, but the lessons I’ve learned on stage about worrying less and being in the moment more have served me well in other areas of my life.

What about you? What kinds of character change do you love? Have you made any changes in your life recently?

Written by JB Lynn www.jblynn.com

-- 

"If you love series such as Evanovich's Plum and Bond's Body Movers, you'll love Confessions of A Slightly Neurotic Hitwoman."

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Maintaining Focus

As we near the end of January, and resolutions are falling to the wayside faster than people can line up to sue Lance Armstrong, I've found myself struggling to maintain focus. I feel like I'm wandering around in a murky fog instead of charging up the proverbial mountain.

Part of the problem is the cold, dark days of January. (Yes, I know that the days are now actually getting longer again, but the frigid temps have meant I've gotten outside less than usual, hence, less light in my life.)

Another part of the problem is that life has been fraught with stumbling blocks. These are swallowing up the emotional energy I usually use to keep myself motivated.

Lastly, I'm overwhelmed by the goals I've set for myself. I hope to accomplish more this year than ever before.

I've been using a few methods to keep myself focused and I thought I'd pass along what's worked for me in the hopes they might help someone else.

1) I'm publicly blogging my progress on my personal blog.  It probably sounds like the most narcissistic activity imaginable, but I find that "putting it out there" is making me more accountable.

2) I've planned out my work schedule for the year.  In the past I've plotted it out for 3 months at a time. Seeing it all laid out over the course of the year is helping me to remember how important it is to finish things on time.

3) I'm making it a point to try new things. I've started posting timed free-writes at Ten Minutes to the Universe. I hiked with new people in a new place (fun!).  I ran with a running group (epic fail, but at least I tried).  I'm doing a TON of new stuff in terms of my writing career (like the Confessions Blog Tour I did to market Confessions of a Slightly Neurotic Hitwoman).

All the little jolts of excitement/fear that accompany saying "yes" to new things, is helping to combat my overall malaise.

So how are you doing with your resolutions? What tips do you have for staying focused?  Share! (Pretty please, because I need all the help I can get!)

Maintaining Focus

As we near the end of January, and resolutions are falling to the wayside faster than people can line up to sue Lance Armstrong, I've found myself struggling to maintain focus. I feel like I'm wandering around in a murky fog instead of charging up the proverbial mountain.

Part of the problem is the cold, dark days of January. (Yes, I know that the days are now actually getting longer again, but the frigid temps have meant I've gotten outside less than usual, hence, less light in my life.)

Another part of the problem is that life has been fraught with stumbling blocks. These are swallowing up the emotional energy I usually use to keep myself motivated.

Lastly, I'm overwhelmed by the goals I've set for myself. I hope to accomplish more this year than ever before.

I've been using a few methods to keep myself focused and I thought I'd pass along what's worked for me in the hopes they might help someone else.

1) I'm publicly blogging my progress on my personal blog.  It probably sounds like the most narcissistic activity imaginable, but I find that "putting it out there" is making me more accountable.

2) I've planned out my work schedule for the year.  In the past I've plotted it out for 3 months at a time. Seeing it all laid out over the course of the year is helping me to remember how important it is to finish things on time.

3) I'm making it a point to try new things. I've started posting timed free-writes at Ten Minutes to the Universe. I hiked with new people in a new place (fun!).  I ran with a running group (epic fail, but at least I tried).  I'm doing a TON of new stuff in terms of my writing career (like the Confessions Blog Tour I did to market Confessions of a Slightly Neurotic Hitwoman).

All the little jolts of excitement/fear that accompany saying "yes" to new things, is helping to combat my overall malaise.

So how are you doing with your resolutions? What tips do you have for staying focused?  Share! (Pretty please, because I need all the help I can get!)

What's in those packages?

My neighbors get a lot of packages delivered to them. I estimate that between USPS, FED EX, and UPS they probably average about ten a day. Every day. If you do the math, you realize that's a boatload of boxes over the course of a year.

I've spun some wild stories in my head about what could be in those boxes. Then, when I realized that some of the boxes come addressed to people who don't even live there, my stories got wilder. And more paranoid.

While my husband is sure that our neighbors are very nice people, I've become convinced they're engaged in some sort of illegal activity.

Maybe the boxes contain drugs!

Or guns!

Or people!

Okay, maybe not the people thing...live ones at least.

When I try to make small talk with said neighbors (the real ones, not the ones who don't exist, but still "receive" lots of deliveries) all my wild (aka paranoid) stories run through my head as I babble about the weather, or the dogs, or whatever subject I think won't offend them because I'm kinda worried about getting shipped in a box myself.

Maybe I should write my next book about them?

Do you have odd neighbors? 

We once had a neighbor who got on the roof of his two story house EVERY SINGLE DAY with his leaf blower to clean it off. The poor guy had suffered a head injury and I pitied him, but he also scared me.

Do you make up stories about people you encounter? A cashier? A waiter? Someone waiting on line? The woman who lets her dog pee on your lawn every freaking day?

Tell me I'm not the only one with this reflex!


When she's not spinning stories about her neighbors, JB Lynn writes stories about murder, love, and how screwed up the world is. The sequel to her novel CONFESSIONS OF A SLIGHTLY NEUROTIC HITWOMAN will be out in October. For more info visit her website.

Don't tell me you haven't read my book

I’d like to let you in on a little secret: Just because you know me, doesn’t mean I expect you to read my books.  Most people who know me haven’t read my books and that’s okay. 

But please, PLEASE don’t tell me WHY you’re not reading it, because  THAT is awkward.  I shouldn’t have to tell you that “it’s okay” or “I understand”.

I do understand that you’re a) short on time b) reading books more worthy of your attention c) haven’t read anything more challenging than the back of a cereal box in the past decade. As long as you’re okay with those things, it’s okay with me.

Worse than the “I haven’t read your book” is the declaration “I’ve started your book”  that’s never followed up. It makes me wonder if you thought my book was so bad that you used it to line your hamster’s cage.

Even worse than that, is the, “I read your book” statement. What am I supposed to do with that? Go fishing for a compliment and ask, “Did you like it?” or “What did you think of it?”. My usual, “thank you” seems woefully inadequate, but quite frankly if you don’t say anything good about it, I assume you didn’t like it and wonder if I should say “I’m sorry” instead of “thank you”.

Confession time: There are tons of books I haven’t read either.  And yes, I feel guilty about the ones written by the authors I know. It’s not that I don’t think their books are worthy, it’s that there are a finite number of hours in the year and the majority of mine are spent writing, not reading.  Sadly, it seems the more I write, the less I read.

Speaking of my books, I’m very excited that the second book in my CONFESSIONS OF A SLIGHTLY NEUROTIC HITWOMAN series will be out in October…which is why I’m so busy writing and not so busy reading!

Now tell me: What books ARE in your To Be Read pile? What new releases are looking forward to? What’s the best book you’ve read recently?

Everyone Will Hate This Book

I don't know if other authors ever feel the same way, but I'm always convinced everyone is going to hate my book.

Sure, my critique partners, friends, and family don't hate it, but they know me. They like me (most of the time). They get me.

My agent loves my book, but that could be a fluke. My editor loves my book, but again, maybe that's just a piece of dumb luck. Even though the first few reviews I've seen all gave it five stars, I'm still worried. Despite the fact that those reviewers took the time to write to me to ask when the NEXT book will be out, I'm still hesitant to believe that others could love these characters as much as I do. (If you'd like to meet a few, the first chapter is available here.)

I think it takes a certain degree of hubris to expose your writing to the world. You have to believe that the story you've written is good enough to keep the masses entertained. Otherwise you'd just keep it tucked away at the bottom of a drawer, or hidden in a folder on your computer.

So at some point, I believed that this story was good enough. Hell, I'll be honest, I thought it was fan-freaking-tastic. I still do.

But I'm also worried everyone will hate it.

As a reader, which characters do you absolutely love. If you're a writer, do you worry that everyone will hate your book?

My latest book CONFESSIONS OF A SLIGHTLY NEUROTIC HITWOMAN releases tomorrow in ebook form and next month as a paperback. Evidence that it's not hated can be found here, here, and here.

CONFESSIONS OF A SLIGHTLY NEUROTIC HITWOMAN

Maggie Lee is not your average hit woman. For one thing, she’s never killed anyone. For another, after hitting her head in the car accident that killed her sister, her new best friend is a talking lizard--a picky eater obsessed with Wheel of Fortune, who only Maggie can hear.
Maggie, who can barely take care of herself, is desperate to help her injured and orphaned niece get the best medical care possible, so she reluctantly accepts a mobster’s lucrative job offer: major cash to kill his monstrous son-in-law.
Paired with Patrick Mulligan, a charming murder mentor (who happens to moonlight as a police detective), Maggie stumbles down her new career path, contending with self-doubt, three meddling aunts, a semi-psychic friend predicting her doom, and a day job she hates. Oh, and let’s not forget about Paul Kowalski, the sexy beat cop who could throw her ass in jail if he finds out what she’s up to.
Training has never been this complicated! And, this time, Maggie has to get the job done. Because if she doesn’t – she’s the mob’s next target.

Available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and other fine retailers.

The Secret Formula to Success

Last week I started a running class. To distract myself from my heavy breathing (imagine a beached wheel gasping desperately for breath)and pounding heart (think war drums being beaten at a frenzied pace) I eavesdropped on the conversations of my fellow classmates.

I was amused by the way one woman was grilling the instructor. She asked him a dozen questions about how he'd become a runner and lost a significant amount of weight. How long had it taken him...how many miles did he run each week...what were his diet secrets...etc. etc.

What she really wanted to know was, "What's the secret formula to success?"



I think most of us would like to know the secret forumula for succeeding at something in our lives, whether it's writing a novel, losing weight, being a better spouse/parent/child/friend, entertaining effortlessly, moving up the corporate ladder, wrapping gifts, keeping house, helping the environment, achieving inner peace, etc.

Personally, I feel like I fail a lot more than I succed. I don't have a secret formula for anything, except "If at first you don't succeed, try, try again." (But don't try the same thing again and again, because as they say, "the definition of insanity is doing the same thing and expecting different results"".)

I'm taking this running class because I've tried (and failed numerous times) to learn to become a runner on my own. I've completed two half marathons as a solitary walker, but I'd like to improve my time, so I'm hoping this class will be my "secret formula".

In January, my next novel, CONFESSIONS OF A SLIGHTLY NEUROTIC HITWOMAN will be released by Avon Impulse. The secret formula I used for writing this book was a combination of 1) writing the book I wanted to write, not the one my former agent approved of 2) breaking the novel down to a four act structure instead of three 3) Using WRITING THE BREAKOUT NOVEL by Donald Maass BEFORE starting the manuscript.


What do YOU wish you had the secret formula for? Even if you don't have the formula, what tricks/tips have you found through trial and error that work for you?

My tips are:

-- I was not born with the housekeeping gene, but I've found FlyLady to be very helpful as a system to keep my home running smoothly.

-- I find that using Jennifer Louden's THE LIFE ORGANIZER helps me to get back on track when I feel as though I've gone off the rails.

In the Name of Writing Research

I often worry that the authorities will someday look at my browsing history and decide I'm a menace to society.




I imagine them breaking down my door, confiscating my computer, and leading me away in handcuffs as my neighbors gawk and gossip.


My defense, I've already decided, sounds a bit flimsy. "I was doing research for a book."


When I was writing THE FIRST VICTIM I researched serial killers and pistachio muffins. (Yes, some research is incredibly difficult, but there comes a time when you just have to bite the bullet...or in this case the muffin.)


I also asked too many questions of a former FBI agent and a forensic psychologist.



For CONFESSIONS OF A SLIGHTLY NEUROTIC HITWOMAN I spent a lot of time researching guns and prison visits.


I also spent endless hours reading up on the diets of lizards....don't ask.


Right now I'm working on a book that has had me searching out information on meth labs (did you know people now "cook" it in cars???)


and how to remove blood and other bodily fluids.


Now, I'll tell you my dirty little secret. This research, this suspicious activity that could land me in jail or worse, I don't enjoy doing it. BUT...you knew that was coming, right? BUT research is a necessary evil. Understanding how things work, gettign all those little details right, are what sells a story. The reader needs those details to believe in the world the author is creating.

I sometimes wonder if less dry research would be more enjoyable. The FBI's Citizen's Academy looks like fun, as does a police ride-along, or maybe I should just take myself to the nearest firing range and pop off a couple rounds.



If you're a reader, do you appreciate it when an author gets the little details right? If you're a writer, what's the strangest thing you've looked up/done in the name of research?