Dear Reader:

May was an incredibly busy month for me!  I had book signings all over the State of Florida and in Georgia.  It was nice to meet so many people who have a love of reading and enjoy a good book. June projects to be just as busy, with signings each weekend, including one in Burlington, Vermont!  I am really looking forward to traveling up north and meeting perspective fans.  I just found out I was #2 on my Publisher’s Best Seller’s List for the month of May!!

I also had the opportunity to meet other aspiring writers, some with published works and others still looking to bring their work to the book stand.  In each instance, it was insightful to listen to their woes and worries as they promoted their book and shared tips.  Each writer has their own unique style and each approaches the marketing of their work differently.  I did several signings during the month with other authors and there are a lot of talented folks out there.  The next time you read about an author having a book signing in your area, stop by.  There may be more than one author and you may find a book that really interests you! 

This month I am going to explore what makes a good character.  I get asked this all the time by readers and aspiring writers.  A solid character is pivotal to a good story.  It is an area that some writers wrestle with. 

And lastly, I want to leave some tips for the authors out there doing book signings.  Writing a novel is the easy part; getting someone to believe in your work and publish it is more difficult.  The really trying time is the marketing phase and this is where most authors have the most difficulty.  It doesn’t have to be that way – it can be fun and a rewarding experience!  It’s all about attitude – a positive one!

I hope the summer finds you curled up with a good book. 

Keep writing and reading,

Art

Character Development
We all remember the really good ones that have become part of our memories.  The heroes and heroines we love to read about and where we cannot wait for the author to pen the next page and finish the final chapter so we can be captivated and cast into their world on their next adventure.  It is what keeps us coming back for the sequel.  James Bond.  Jason Bourne.  Travis Magee.  Sherlock Holmes.  Kay Scarpetta.  Slade Lockwood – okay he’s mine and I’m prejudiced. 

The point is made.  The character is what makes the story.  We have to identify with them, like them, want to read about their exploits and feel their pain, anger, hurt, and share their success.  But how is this mythical person created so we can reach out and touch them with our minds?  I teach creative writing work shops and I tell the aspiring writers to call upon life’s experiences when creating the characters in their work.  The emotions that drive us on a daily basis are the same hopes and desires our characters should have, only on a level that allows us to escape to become part of their world.  Herein lies the delicate balance the writer must achieve – a character real enough to be touched and believed, but possessing the qualities and attributes we, as readers, desire but may be slightly out of our grasp.  The character allows the reader to transport themselves into this world and become part of the environment.  To live where they live, feel what they feel and become slightly more in life is the arena the reader wants to enter.  It is escapism.

As a young man, when I read Ian Fleming’s novel about a spy living a life of intrigue and danger, I teleported myself into this environment and lived with James Bond on each mission and experienced each exploit.  It was the ultimate escapism for a young man living on a farm, but having the chance to experience far away places.  It allowed my imagination to expand and grow.  But the character does not have to take you to a place on Earth; oftentimes it can be a state of mind.  Human emotion and desire play a dominate role in our lives.  Some would argue our lives are dominated by these feelings.  A properly developed character can explore both the physical and emotional world.

To develop this person, I urge writers to call upon those feelings and emotions that move them, that cause them to think   In this case, write about what you know.  Personal experience is the best guide, the best barometer to measure what we place on each page.  When this personal touch is added, the character is given life, a breath of believability that must exist for each of us to adopt this hero or heroine as our own. 

Lastly, take time with your character.  They are the central part of your story and, most often, the lasting impression the reader will have. 

Upcoming Events

July 1 - Lakewood Ranch

July 11 - Books Plus - Fernandina Beach

August 1 - Book Xchge, Cocoa

August 8 - Waldenbooks CNN Building

August 15 - Waldenbooks, Valdosta, GA

August 22 - Borders, Tampa

August 29 - Borders South Tampa

August 30 - Borders, Athens GA

TIP OF THE DAY:

As authors, we call upon book stores to hold book signings and market our product.  It gives us a ready-made audience and benefits the book stores via sales.  But what about other venues?  Have you ever thought about approaching a restaurant and doing a dinner/book reading combination?  Maybe making it a special night?  I’m doing one in August with a local restaurant.  It gives the business owner the opportunity to market their establishment in a different way and adds an aura to the affair!

What about clubs, civic groups and book clubs at residences?  All of these can be excellent locations to market your work.  Think outside the box!  The opportunities are limitless – just go and find them.