Open Book - P.J. MacLayne

My Best Line #OpenBook Blog Hop

By P.J. MacLayne December 9, 2024 December 9, 2024 Open Book

Dec 9, 2024

What’s the best line you’ve written recently? Or ever?

I’ve been toying with three different stories recently.

But I don’t feel as if I have a good enough handle on the characters to write great lines – yet. All three have potential.

So, let me share some a few from my previous writing. The first two are equal in my mind.

Here’s a selection from The Fall of Jake Hennessey. In fact, I turned it into a meme.

She paused on the last landing. He imagined the cogs in her brain whirling.
“We never decided on plans for tomorrow,” he said casually.
“No, we didn’t.” She descended the last few stairs as if each were a decision to be made.

The next one comes from The Ranger’s Dog Tags. FYI, Harmony Duprie (Whose point of view this is from) is known for being a bad shot and missing her targets.

I didn’t hesitate as I squeezed off that second round. I shoved it on its way with every ounce of pain that Eli had suffered, every bit of rage I carried. I prayed for it to hit. And hit hard.

But my very best line (in my humble opinion) comes from a poem I wrote eons ago after a trip to one of my most favorite places in the world, the Beartooth Mountains. I was going to quote a large part of the poem, but it’s old enough I don’t have it in digital format, and the storage boxes are buried underneath the Christmas totes. (which have taken over my house!). But the last two lines are the ones I want to share.

I taught myself to breathe again
Twelve thousand feet high

I’ve got other good lines.

I bet every writer out there has written words that are better than they get credit for. But these are the ones that stick out in my memory. What lines are the other authors going to share? Find out by following the links below.

As always, please stay safe until the next time!

Dec 9, 2024

What’s the best line you’ve written recently? Or ever?

Who I Write For #OpenBook Blog Hop

By P.J. MacLayne November 24, 2024 November 24, 2024 Open Book

Do you envision a particular reader when you’re crafting your stories?

There’s this older woman, medium height, short silver hair, who loves my books.

In fact, she compared me to Janet Evanovich. Then there’s a younger woman, probably mid-thirties, with long brown hair, who has bought almost my entire collection. (And is eagerly awaiting my new book.) I shouldn’t leave out an occasional mid-twenties guy who picks up one or both of my Jake Hennessey books. I write for all of them and none of them.

I used to write for my mother. There were subplots in my Harmony series that I didn’t explore in depth because I was worried about how she’d react. She passed earlier this year, but I still find myself wondering what she’d think about what I’m writing.

But I also write for my characters. They often reveal parts of the story I hadn’t figured out. We may argue about details, but most often, they win.

Mostly, I write for me,

and hope that those readers will enjoy the stories. Maybe that’s why I’ve slowed in the speed in which I write. I’m getting pickier in my old age and stress that I’m getting details right as I’m creating. That doesn’t mean my feelings don’t get hurt when my books don’t sell in the numbers I hope for.

Writing these blog posts is different. I suspect many folks in my audience are other writers. So, I try to to share my experience without trying to look like I’m an expert. I’m not. I’m just another struggling author. But If someone can find something useful on my meanderings, I’ll gladly share them.

How about the other authors on this hop? Who do they write for? Find out by following the links below. (Most authors post on Monday, so check the page for updates.)

As always, until next time, please stay safe.

Nov 25

Do you envision a particular reader when you’re crafting your stories?

When I’m Feeling Murderous #OpenBook Blog Hop

By P.J. MacLayne November 17, 2024 November 17, 2024 Open Book

Nov 18, 2024

Have you ever regretted killing off a character? Or not killing one off?

No one died in my first mystery.

When I wrote The Marquesa’s Necklace, I didn’t kill anyone. There wasn’t a dead body to be found anywhere. On purpose. I wanted the story to be true to the nature of small towns, and that means there isn’t a murder a week, unlike what TV shows would have you believe. (Unless you count George, Harmony’s old car, a blue Pinto, who died a natural age-related death. Yes, he went up in flames, but if you know anything about the history of the Pinto, you’ll understand why I can claim it wasn’t a criminal act.)

There were a few murders in other books in the series, but they were always off screen. It wasn’t until I wrote The Ranger’s Dog Tags, the last book in the series, was a death a main part of the story. I killed off several characters in that story. (Including Dolores, the car that had replaced George.}

But I had considered killing off a major character before that. Around book 4, The Contessa’s Brooch, I started to worry about growing “stale.” I didn’t want to repeat myself over and over again. By book 5, The Samurai’s Inro, I was really over-thinking the issue. Did I want to continue the series? If so, I needed to switch up the overall premise.

But I didn’t want to kill Eli, which is what I was considering. I decided my wisest move was to bring the series to a graceful end.

But the thought gave me the plot for the last book

Spoiler alert: I didn’t kill Eli, but I put him at risk for the entire story.

I did kill off Eli later. Much later. Like twenty-two years later. (In story time) And off-screen.

It was right for the book I was working on, The Rise of Jake Hennessey. Although the death was in the past, it became a major plot point. I shed a few tears while writing the scenes describing the event, but never regretting making it happen.

My new book started off with a bang.

I killed off a character on the first page. And another one halfway through the book. I don’t regret either death. Edwards Investigations – The Rimer File, is darker than anything I’d written before. Frankly, the murder isn’t the worst crime that happens. (Have you picked up your copy yet? If not, find out more about the book at https://www.pjmaclayne.com/?page_id=18282)

Now, there were a few characters in the story I wished I’d killed off, (they deserved it!) but didn’t. It made more sense to allow justice to follow its sometimes slow course. I worried about making Annie McGregor, my protagonist, too quick on the draw.

I don’t want to leave out my Free Wolves series. There’s lots of killing that goes on in the three books. But what do you expect from warring packs of wolves? (In my “world,” the humans who are wolf shifters take on some characteristics of their ‘”other” forms.)

Don’t forget to check out the posts from other authors on this hop. You can find them by following the links below. (Most authors post on Monday.)

As always, until next time, please stay safe.

Nov 18, 2024

Have you ever regretted killing off a character? Or not killing one off?

Finding Inspiration #OpenBook Blog Hop

By P.J. MacLayne November 10, 2024 November 11, 2024 Open Book

Nov 11, 2024

Share a place you go to for inspiration.

I don’t even have to leave home.

For many years, I drew inspiration from the mountains of Colorado and Wyoming.

This is small lake near Walden, CO. There’s ranch land on the far side, and what I think is BLM land behind me as I took this picture. There are no homes is sight as you stand on the edge of the water. It’s a great place to sit and listen to the chatter of birds and relax in a gentle breeze.

On the way up to Red Feathers Lakes area in northern Colorado. we pulled over on the side of the road so I could capture the moment. The wind was catching fresh snow on the mountains and creating the ‘cloudy’ effect.

But I’m not in Wyoming anymore.

And that’s okay. My new home offers me a source of inspiration, right in my backyard. And every nearby road I travel on. It’s a beautiful area.

I’m lucky. The back half of my yard is what I would call a park-like setting. It features large maple and pine trees. (There are a few younger hickory trees on one border.) It would probably take four adults joining hands to wrap their arms around the trunk of the biggest one. The front half of the property that the house sits on offers a more traditional yard.

In the spring, it features an abundance of wildflowers. (I’ve counted over 22 varieties.) Many are small and easily missed if you aren’t looking for them. In the fall, the various colors of the leaves are glorious. I’ve been known to just stand at the edge of the yard with the sun filtering through the trees and let the beauty wash over me.

This is one of the trees in my backyard. (Not the biggest one.) It’s just the easiest to get a picture of.

In case you haven’t got the hint, I draw my creative juices and inspiration from Mother Nature. It doesn’t matter where I am. If I can touch the ground (not pavement or concrete) things get better.

How about the other authors on this blog hop? Where do they go for inspiration? Find out by following the links below.

And, as always, please stay safe until next time.

Nov 11, 2024

Share a place you go to for inspiration.

Favorite Writing Quote #OpenBook Blog Hop

By P.J. MacLayne November 3, 2024 November 4, 2024 Open Book

November 4, 2024

Do you have any favorite quotes about writing?

There are many good ones that encourage writers. “The scariest moment is always just before you start.” (Stephen King) A word after a word after a word is power. (Margaret Atwood)

But my favorite is one from Toni Morrison. I’ve seen the meme on social media many times. “If there’s a book that you want to read, but it hasn’t been written yet, then you must write it.”

I think that’s what most of us on this blog do. We’re trying to get the stories out that need to be told but don’t currently exist. The ones the characters in our head keep insisting need to be recorded. We hope we will earn some money from our stories, or at least break even on publishing costs, but we will write them no matter what.

At least, that’s my goal.

New York Times

Even writing these blog posts can seem like a thankless task if they don’t get the views we hope for, but several of us have been sticking with it for years.

Which is why I’ve already started writing the second book in the Edwards Investigation series, Annie McGregor, my main character, wasn’t satisfied with just one book. But I knew that before I’d finished the first book.

I guess this is a good place to remind you that the first book, Edwards Investigations – The Rimer File, is now available through on-line retailers. Here’s a link to the book’s page on this site.

https://www.pjmaclayne.com/?page_id=18282

Now back to the blog post.

When I’m out at various events, I frequently run into people who express their desire to write a book. Which reminds me of how many stories out there will be lost because no one ever wrote them.

Do you have a favorite writing quote? Feel free to share it in the comments. And don’t forget to check out the favorite quotes by others on this hop by following the links below.

In the meantime, as always, please stay safe!

November 4, 2024

Do you have any favorite quotes about writing?

Rules:
1. Link your blog to this hop.
2. Notify your following that you are participating in this blog hop.
3. Promise to visit/leave a comment on all participants’ blogs.
4. Tweet/or share each person’s blog post. Use #OpenBook when tweeting.
5. Put a banner on your blog that you are participating.

Forever Learning #OpenBook Blog Hop

By P.J. MacLayne October 27, 2024 October 27, 2024 Open Book

What subject would you like to learn more about?

Every day is an opportunity to learn something new.

Here in Pennsylvania, PA, as well as many other states, college tuition is free for senior citizens. (They still have to pay for books and other fees.) After retirement, I looked forward to the opportunity to take classes in my abundance of free time. Well, neither has happened. The free time or the classes.

That doesn’t mean I’ve stopped learning. Buying an old house comes with lots of unexpected minor challenges. I know more about sump pumps than I ever imagined or wanted. I also am learning new things about growing flowers and keeping them away from the local wildlife, especially deer. (Although I didn’t know that rabbits and squirrels would eat electrical wires. That was an interesting lesson.)

What would I choose to learn?

Bird watching in the spring of the year is fun. Lots of migratory birds travel through here. I have several books about identifying birds, but often can’t also get a picture of them good enough to use. I need a better camera on my phone—shoot, I need a new phone—or a few lessons on photography.

I’m always trying to learn new things about writing to improve my stories. It’s probably a bad thing, but I’ve stopped chasing down every seminar that promises to make publicity a breeze. I swear, selling your book is all luck. (Speaking of which, Edwards Investigations – The Rimer File releases Nov. 2nd!)

I keep learning new things about the community I moved to after retirement and the folks who live here. I figure if I plan to live the rest of my life here, I should put some effort into being a part of it.

All those are just part of my daily life. One thing I’d like to dive into more is linguistics. I’d love to know more about language and how it develops. I’ve seen enough changes in my own life, but I’m curious about the history of words. (When did you first hear the term AI?)

What do our other authors want to learn? Check out their posts to find out my following the links below.

As always, until next time, please stay safe

Oct 28, 2024

What subject would you like to learn more about?

What Would A Ghost Read? #OpenBook Blog Hop

By P.J. MacLayne October 20, 2024 October 21, 2024 Open Book

Oct 21, 2024

Stolen from a X (twitter) post: Which genre do you think ghosts prefer: mystery, thriller, horror, fairytale, or magical realism?

How about none of the above?

So, I’m a ghost. The last thing I’d want to read is most of the genres listed. Mystery and thrillers might be acceptable, but I would avoid horror. There’d be enough of that among my fellow ghosts. You know, like the guy down the hall, poisoned by his mother-in-law. The lady across the street killed in a riot. (I never have figured out which year. She doesn’t remember. She keeps mixing up three different possibilities.) The old man, a few doors down, murdered by his brother and hacked up in little pieces to be put in various garbage bins. (He still hasn’t found some parts. He’s missing three fingers on his left hand.)

I want to read biographies and autobiographies of people who were my contemporaries. Get the dirt on them. You know, which politician was having an affair with which actress. (Or actresses.) Which police chief was on the take from which Mafia boss. Get the low-down on the guy who ran the orphanage and hired the kids out as servants and pocketed all the money.

Image by Dorothe from Pixabay

Now, you’d think I’d want to read histories.

Nope. Those things are so white-washed they’re worthless. I want the dirt. All the things we gossiped about, but could never prove.

When I get bored or run out of my primary choices of books to read, I’ll fall back on a cozy mystery or a romance. It would be fun to compare how the books written in my time are different from the modern-day ones.

I’m haunting an old house converted into apartments, where no one messes with the small attic. There’s a large collection of books there. Heck, it even hosts a stack of National Geographic. (And a few Playboys, but we won’t talk about them.) And with the folks moving in and out, I rarely run out of fresh material to read. {I’m sorry, Suzie Q, that I kept moving the bookmark in the biography of Queen Elizabeth you were reading, but I wanted to get to the good parts.) Not like poor Mabel next door. Her house was converted into offices for an accounting firm a few years back. Boring. When she has the energy, she comes and hangs out with me, even if we do nothing but read. Those days are fewer, because the accountants are sucking the life (what’s left of it) right out of her.

I’m not stuck in my house 24/7

Sometimes, when the atmospheric conditions are favorable and the veil is thin, I make a trip to the library a few blocks away. Of course, I can’t take any books home with me, but I found a quiet little corner where no one goes where I can sit (well, float above a chair) and read. (And hide the book there so no one checks it out.) I’m only a little sorry about confusing the librarians.

What do you think ghosts love to read? Let me know in the comments. And don’t forget to check out what the other authors on this hop think by following the links to their blog.

As always, until next time, please stay safe!

P.S. It’s not a ghost story. Edwards Investigations, The Rimer File, will be released November 2nd. Check back for more info!

Oct 21, 2024

Stolen from a X (twitter) post: Which genre do you think ghosts prefer: mystery, thriller, horror, fairytale, or magical realism?

Favorite Muppet Character #OpenBook Blog Hop

By P.J. MacLayne October 13, 2024 October 13, 2024 Open Book

Oct 14, 2024

Some time ago, we revealed which Muppet character we look like the most.

Now, tell us who/what is your favorite Muppet character? (From any series or movie.)

Jim Henson was a genius. He created so many great characters. Sure, some were mostly in the background (Doozers in Fraggle Rock) but others shared center stage with an entire cast. (Think Sesame Street.)

I’ve always been fond of the old men in the balcony in the Muppet Show. (Statler and Waldorf.) But they aren’t my favorites. They helped me define my sense of sarcasm. As much as I love the Count, and don’t think he got the attention he deserved, he’s not my pick for this post. (I would have loved to see him count in base 2 or base 16.) The Dark Crystal was a great production, but didn’t touch me like other Henson efforts.

But I do have a favorite.

He’s a rather odd choice for a writer, since he mainly communicates in grunts. On the drums, he’s a genius. I’m talking about Animal, of course.

By Disney.com, Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=40292333

His needs are simple. Sex, sleep, food, and drums. Not necessarily in that order. Even with his limitations, he became the most popular performer of the Electric Mayhem band. I suspect it is his simplicity that attracts the audience. There’s no hidden agenda, no manipulation, no stabbing someone in the back. That’s what drew me in.

Do you have a favorite Muppet?

Tell us about it in the comments. And to find out who/what the other authors choose, follow the links below.

As always, until next time, please stay safe.

Oct 14, 2024

Some time ago, we revealed which Muppet character we look like the most. Now, tell us Who/what is your favorite Muppet character? (From any series or movie.)

Choosing A Color Scheme #OpenBook Blog Hop

By P.J. MacLayne October 7, 2024 October 7, 2024 Open Book

Oct 7, 2024

Do you favor certain color schemes for your book covers?

This will be a short post because I leave the design choices of my covers to my cover artist, K.M. Guth.

And I lost internet last night after a major thunderstorm blew through our area. Plus she is on vacation and overseas!

Anyway, I am always amazed at what she comes up with for my covers. There is a different scheme for each series.

The Free Wolves series features strong, bright, colors. Since the books feature action, the colors reflect that. And how she finds the perfect images for the cover models amazes me.

She went a totally different direction for the Harmony Duprie stories. Instead of repeating the background, she chose muted colors with subtle background pattens (you have to look closely.)

Then, for the Jake Hennessey books, although they are tied to the Harmony books, she designed covers that were reflective of the main character’s personality.

The cover of my new book, Edwards Investigations, The Rimer Files, hearkens back to the era in which is takes place. (1985-ish) I can’t show it here, but it’s coming soon. Let’s just say she did a marvelous job of picking elements of the story to add to the design.

I know a few of the authors on this hop design their own covers, so I am looking forward to their posts. Check them put by following the links below.

As always, until next time, please stay safe!

Oct 7, 2024

Do you favor certain color schemes for your book covers?

Category: Open Book

My Best Line #OpenBook Blog Hop