Merry Christmas to All!

This month has somehow gotten away from me. Here it is less than one week before Christmas! It is true that time flies when you're having fun.

I had one daughter and her family here for the two weeks after Thanksgiving and we had a ton of fun with the grandchildren. We went to our ranch in the mountains to cut down the Christmas tree. Ours is never a "perfect" tree. Each tree, each year, has its own personality. The grandchildren helped decorate it. We didn't even mind the half-dozen or so bulbs they broke! They're only two years old and four years old, after all. It was worth it to have small children in the house again, along with their laughter and mischievousness.

My grandson, the two-year-old, particularly liked my collection of little ceramic houses and tiny figurines. I think his favorite was the horse pulling the sleigh, which isn't in the picture (I couldn't fit them all in one shot). Nothing brings the Christmas spirit to heart and mind more than the wonder in a child's eyes as they experience the magic of the season.

Next week, my other two daughters will be here, and we've sent out word to Santa Claus that he needs to leave our five-year-old granddaughter's gifts beneath our tree. It's been quite a few years since he was in this neck of the woods to deliver toys, but I feel confident he'll remember the way.

This will be my last blog for the year. So here's wishing you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! (Oh, and a lot of good books beneath your Christmas tree).

What's in a Title?

We've all heard the adage, "Don't judge a book by its cover." This could also be said of a book title. Unfortunately, we do judge a book by both. Before we make a purchase, we are first attracted to either the cover or the title. If neither catches our interest, we won't even take the book off the shelf or rack.

As writers, we have practically no input into the covers the publishers decide to give our books, unless we negotiate for that privilege in our contracts. We do have a little more chance to have a say in the title, though, simply by putting a good one on the book when we submit it. If it's really, really good, they won't change it.

Here are a few simple things that might help you come up with the perfect title:

1. The title should give an indication of what the book is about. Think of it as a mini-synopsis of your story.

2. It should suggest the genre the book fits into.

3. Even though you can't copyright titles, don't use one that is famous, like Gone With the Wind. Google your title and see what's out there before you decide to use it.

4. Keep it short, usually less than six words. People won't remember a long title.

5. Ensure that it flows well when spoken aloud. Watch for word combinations that might look fine on paper but could leave the wrong image when spoken aloud.

6. Try for something intriguing or provocative that will pique curiosity or conjure a mood.

7. Use words that the average person can understand and that are easy to pronounce. Avoid foreign words and phrases.

8. And last but not least. Be ready with options to present to your editor in the event she doesn't like your original one.

Happy Thanksgiving

"Over the river and through the woods to Grandmother's house we go!"

I'd like to wish a Happy Thanksgiving to everyone. May your day be filled with family, friends, turkey and pumpkin pie, along with the traditions, both old and new, that make it special for you.

And somewhere in the mix of wacky relatives and their peculiar problems and idiosyncrasies, you might just come up with a terrific idea for a new book, new story, or a solution to a sticky plot problem!

Who Do You Write For?

One of the biggest decisions a writer faces is whether to write for herself or to write for the market. We've all heard it said that you should write the book of your heart, and, if it's good and well-written, it will find a publisher. Ah, if only that were true. Perhaps there was a time (many a light year ago) when that might have been the case, but today's publishing industry, for the most part, revolves around trends, high concepts, and genre markets--the latter requiring a degree of formula writing that must be adhered to. There might not be a lot of room for creativity or to write outside the box. However, we are also told not to write to the latest trend because by the time you get your book written, the trend will be over.

So do we write what is in our hearts and risk that it will never be published or even read by anyone other than those in our critique group? Or do we write for the market and plot stories that will fit the latest trends and formulas? In the end, it's each writer's call, a risk each writer has to take. If you're strictly in it because you want to be a published author, then write for the market. If you've got something to say, write that book of the heart and maybe it'll get published by an obscure small press with a print run of 500 books. Then again, perhaps it will end up being the next New York Times bestseller or the next Pulitzer prize winner. Writing is a crap shoot. You'll never know what's going to happen until you roll the dice.

Internet Addiction

I lost my internet connection on Monday, and naturally it came at the worst possible time (there's never a good time for your internet to go down). So I made the dreaded call to the company, thinking they could walk me through a quick fix (if I could understand the person on the other end of the line). It wasn't to be. The fix, that is. I actually got connected with someone who spoke pretty good English. I could understand him and he could understand me. That was a huge relief in and of itself. But my problem was bigger, something to do with the cable and the satellite dish and something shorting out. Anyway, I had to put in a work order for someone to come to the house. I had to wait three days! Think of yourself being an addict going without your fix (or your dark chocolate!) for three days. I kept going into the office to check email only to be reminded there was no connection to the outside world through my computer. I couldn't check my bank account, couldn't do research, couldn't check the blog, couldn't start the Christmas shopping. . . .

I didn't think the internet was so integral to everything I did, but this experience made me think of Dean Koontz's book, Midnight. If you've read it, you'll know what I mean about getting a little too "connected" to your computer.

The Man Who Rode Midnight

I first discovered western writer Elmer Kelton around 1989 when I bought his book, The Man Who Rode Midnight. I became an instant fan and went on to read The Time It Never Rained, The Good Old Boys, The Day the Cowboys Quit, and Cloudy in the West, just to name a few. I'd always enjoyed Louis L'Amour westerns, but Elmer brought something new to the genre. His stories were real, his characters were real. They were everyday people with flaws, even his heroes. Having been around ranching, ranchers, cowboys, and country people all my life, I could fully relate to his people. They reminded me of my dad, my uncles, my neighbors, my grandparents. I even saw a little of myself in his characters from time to time. He wrote what he knew, and he wrote it so damn well.

Elmer was every bit as real and down to earth as the fictional people he wrote about (I wouldn't be surprised if many of them were fictional only in name to protect the innocent, and not-so-innocent). I met Elmer at a Western Writers conference right after I'd read The Man Who Rode Midnight. Even though I, too, was a published author, I had to muster the courage to introduce myself and tell him how much I enjoyed his book. To my relief, he was humble and polite. We didn't talk long about writing. He and my husband soon launched into a conversation about ranching that went on for a considerable length of time.

Ten years later, it was with trepidation again that I summoned courage to ask him if he would read my historical saga, Raveled Ends of Sky for a possible endorsement. I thought for sure he'd tell me he was too busy–after all, every western author out there was probably asking him for the same favor, and I knew he had book deadlines. But he kindly consented. I can tell you, I was nearly as proud of his endorsement on the front cover of my book as I was my book.

Voted Best Western Author of All Time, Elmer passed away on August 22nd at the age of 83. He wrote over forty books. He was the recipient of seven Spur awards and the Saddleman Award for Lifetime Achievement from Western Writers of America. He also received four Wrangler awards from the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum. His death will be deeply felt by his family, friends, and his many, many fans. I feel fortunate to have crossed his path, if even for a moment, and to have had his stories touch my life.

Book Page

If you'd like to get the latest scoop on new books, their authors and publishers, visit Book Page. It's a great site.