In Praise of Older Protagonists

Posted on by Joanne Guidoccio

In my late forties, I realized that I no longer enjoyed reading novels with twenty-something and thirty-something protagonists. It felt like poking into the heads and hearts of young women who could easily be former students. While searching for novels featuring an older crowd, I discovered several late-blooming authors (Maeve Binchy, Frank McCourt, Louise Penny) who had launched successful second acts. Inspired, I decided to populate my essays, stories, and novels with Boomer women and their older sisters.

At first, I wrote primarily for the non-fiction market but later gravitated toward cozy mysteries and paranormal romances. The protagonists in both series were fifty-something women facing transitions into unexpected second acts.

Continue reading on Anna Dowdall’s blog.


The Man in the Arena

Posted on by Joanne Guidoccio

On Wednesdays, I share posts, fables, songs, poems, quotations, TEDx Talks, cartoons, and books that have inspired and motivated me on my writing journey. I hope these posts will give writers, artists, and other creatives a mid-week boost.

I feel goosebumps whenever I hear or read the following excerpt from “Citizenship in a Republic.” Theodore Roosevelt delivered this inspiring and motivating speech at the Sorbonne in Paris, France, on April 23, 1910.

“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better.

The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again,

because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause;

who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.”


Giveaway–Sizzling Summer Reads

Posted on by Joanne Guidoccio

Today, I’m participating in a Sizzling Summer Reads party sponsored by The Romance Reviews. Along with six other authors, I’m offering a prize to one lucky winner. Scroll down here and look for my question:

How many former students agreed to participate in the seance? (Note: You will get a clue)

Answer correctly and you could win an e-book of A Different Kind of Reunion.


How to Deal With Information Overload

Posted on by Joanne Guidoccio

One lost email could cost a life. A bit overly dramatic, but it didn’t stop Constable Leo Mulligan from suggesting that Gilda Greco could have prevented a former student’s death, if only she had read that email.

The storyline of A Different Kind of Reunion revolves around this overlooked email.

I would like to think that a lost email would never set in motion such dire consequences in real life situations. But still, a part of me worries about the increased inflow and outflow of information.

Continue reading on Kristina Stanley’s blog.


On Writing Memoir

Posted on by Joanne Guidoccio

Yesterday evening, I attended a memoir workshop facilitated by Writer-In-Residence Camilla Gibb at the Kitchener Public Library. The author of four novels and a memoir (This is Happy), Camilla has a PhD in social anthropology from Oxford University. She teaches creative writing at the University of Guelph-Humber, University of Toronto, and Humber School for Writers.

Camilla started by suggesting the sub-title of this workshop could easily be “At Your Peril.” For over an hour, she shared well-crafted anecdotes, insights, and advice about the memoir writing process. A short Q & A period followed.

Here are several nuggets that captured my interest:

• Present trends in memoir writing include alcoholism, opioid addiction, cancer, degenerative diseases, Alzheimer’s, death of aging parents.

• To determine the plot, ask yourself what is compelling you to write this memoir now. What needs to be answered? Examples: How did I find myself here (addict, single mother, broke, cancer patient)? Why does my mother appear saner now that she has Alzheimer’s?

• Once you have the question, you will be able to decide which memories belong and which do not.

• Access the answers to your question through research. Read widely—fiction and nonfiction—about the subject that has captured your interest. Read as a writer not as a reader.

• If you don’t know the question, list your most compelling memories in chronological order. Then, search for the thread that links the past and present.

• Voice is the most critical component of memoir. Our lives are much more than the chronological rendering of facts.

• Think of yourself as a character. Examine the broader forces—class, gender, ethnicity, geography—that have shaped you. Consider changing the name of the character and then give her your biography. Do you see yourself differently?

• We get attached to certain narratives in our lives. The truth is underneath the stories we tell ourselves.

• Memoirists engage in the editing of their lives for narrative effect. Examples: Cutting back on repetition, leaving out uneventful periods, and making omissions for the sake of self-preservation.

• When writing memoirs, we will inevitably trespass into the lives of others. We need to be careful not to include anything that betrays the spirit of a contract (employment, marital). Also, we must not share anything that could result in the loss of income or reputation for people in our circles. These could be grounds for legal injunction.

• Big publishers have in-house legal counsel. If self-publishing, hire a libel author to go through the memoir.

Memoirs Mentioned

The Liars’ Club by Mary Carr
The Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion
A Million Little Pieces by James Frey
Angela’s Ashes by Frank McCourt
A Child Called It by Dave Pelzer
Wild by Cheryl Strayed


Life Lessons from Maeve Binchy

Posted on by Joanne Guidoccio

On Wednesdays, I share posts, fables, songs, poems, quotations, TEDx Talks, cartoons, and books that have inspired and motivated me on my writing journey. I hope these posts will give writers, artists, and other creatives a mid-week boost.

When I attended my first critique group, one of the writers commented: “Your stories remind me of Maeve Binchy’s books. Have you read them?”

Read them!?

I have devoured the sixteen novels and four collections of short stories written during her lifetime. I’m especially fond of Book #17, A Week in Winter, released six months after her untimely death in 2012.

Like many of her fans, I mourn the fact that there will not be another Maeve Binchy novel. I will also miss Maeve’s wonderful advice.

Here are my favorite life lessons from Maeve Binchy:

Be supportive

Maeve was blessed with parents who thought “all their geese were swans.” As an overweight child who did not excel athletically, Maeve appreciated the warmth and positive feedback she received. Later, she met and married Gordon Snell, a writer who also believed that Maeve could do anything.

In her novels, Maeve extended this positive reinforcement to her characters. She once explained: “I don’t have ugly ducklings turning into swans in my stories. I have ugly ducklings turning into confident ducks.”

Accept all gifts

In the early 1960s, Maeve worked in a Jewish school in Dublin where she taught French to Lithuanian children. At the end of the academic year, the parents gave her a trip to Israel as a present. At the time, Maeve had no spending money, but she went on the trip anyway and worked in a kibbutz—plucking chickens and picking oranges.

To reassure her parents, she regularly describing her adventures. Impressed with her writing, her father cut off the “Dear Daddy” bits and sent the letters to The Irish Times. Equally impressed, the editor published her letters as travel articles and later hired her as a columnist.

Visualize

When Maeve began writing stories and novels, she was still working as a journalist. She woke up each day at five-thirty and worked for three hours at the typewriter before going to work. To motivate herself on those dark mornings, she started to visualize the launch party for her first book. She imagined large crowds of people gathering and paying her compliments.

After several rejections, her first novel (Light a Penny Candle ) was accepted, but the publisher had no intention of hosting a launch party. Maeve didn’t miss a beat. She spent two hundred pounds, one-fifth of her advance, and organized her own party in a room over a pub, complete with wine and crisps. She invited family, friends, booksellers, and the publisher “who cringed with the shame of it all.” In the end, it was such a good experience that Maeve sat down and wrote another book.

Share

Success is not a pie where everyone who gets a slice has somehow diminished what’s left for everyone else. Maeve believed that success was “more like a cairn, a heap of stones where the more each person gets, the more it adds to the general body of work out there.” She urged aspiring writers to “borrow” the techniques of successful writers and present them in their own unique voices.

And, most important of all, keep at it.

Location, Location, Location…

Posted on by Joanne Guidoccio

I’m happy to welcome Soul Mate author Rachel Sharpe. Today, Rachel shares the rationale behind the location of Bitter Retribution, Book 2 in the Jordan James, PI Series.

Here’s Rachel!

To me, there is something magical about snow. Maybe it’s because of its connection to Christmastime. Maybe it’s because it signifies purity. Or maybe it’s because when you’re from New Orleans, it’s a rare sight.

Whatever the case, I have always loved snow. When I decided that Bitter Retribution, book three of the Jordan James, PI series, would involve Hollywood actors and a sensational murder suited for the big screen, I had a choice – I could set the story on a sound stage in Burbank, or I could move it elsewhere, on location.

When I made the decision the setting would be on location, I couldn’t imagine a better place to have it than the Colorado Rockies in the snow. The idea of a senseless murder happening in such a beautiful place gives an added layer to the tale, a visual as memorable as any in a crime show drama.

And while I still love snow, Jordan’s latest case reminds us of one thing – much can be hidden beneath the pure, white snow…

Blurb

“What started out as a star-studded vacation has turned into a sensational avalanche…”

When private investigator Jordan James decided to join her best friend on the set of her hit television series in the Rocky Mountains, she had no idea she would become a key player in a murder mystery more suited for the big screen than the slopes. With one actor dead and a killer on the loose, can Jordan uncover the culprit before another victim makes headlines on Hollywood Minute?

Excerpt

“Don’t let your tears flow,” she insisted passionately from the screen. I glanced up and saw Roch and Nikole embracing while the KGB closed in on them. Slowly, a crescendo of brass arose as Roch and Nikole fought gallantly to their deaths. The credits began and I glanced at the clock. It was ten.

“What garbage,” I laughed aloud, grinning at the thought of meeting Roch Turner the next afternoon. I turned off the television and stretched. Yawning, I walked into my bedroom. After doing one more double-check, I was satisfied I had not forgotten anything. I got ready for bed before climbing beneath my heavy, down comforter and closing my eyes. Sighing contentedly, I thought with excitement about seeing Heather for the first time in six months, skiing in the Rockies, and watching a hit sitcom being filmed. This is going to be the best Thanksgiving ever, I thought happily. pushing images of Rick from my mind.

As I succumbed to the tranquility of slumber, eagerly awaiting a much-needed vacation, I had no idea of the depth and complexity of the situation in which I would soon be enmeshed. I had no idea of the sheer magnitude of the vendetta in which I would find myself, a senseless dispute which began years before my own birth. If I had, I would have ripped my flight itinerary up into a million tiny pieces and stayed in the warm haven of my bed.

About the Author

Rachel Sharpe is the author of the Jordan James, PI series. Although born and raised in the South, “Yankee” relatives first led Rachel to historic New England, which she has come to consider her second home and is the setting for the series.

After obtaining a Bachelor of Arts in English, Rachel began dedicating her free time to her childhood passion, writing, and in the fall of 2013, she signed with Soul Mate Publishing. An active member of Sisters In Crime, Rachel currently resides with her husband and children in the Greater New Orleans area.

Check Out Rachel’s Sites to Keep Up with Jordan James!!!

Website | Facebook | Twitter

Free on Kindle … May 25 … May 26 … May 27

Get your copy here!


10 Tips How to Choose a Good Book

Posted on by Joanne Guidoccio

I’m happy to welcome copywriter and content creator Emily Watts to the Power of 10 series. Today, Emily shares tips on selecting books to read.

Here’s Emily!

There’s nothing better than laying back on a sun lounger and reading a good book. But what’s the one book you should read? Mystery, thriller, suspense or romance book? To help you choose, we have rounded up the top tips to find great new books to read for your next vacation.

Tip 1: Questions

You can use ask the following questions to narrow your list of good books to read:

First of all, figure out what genre of book is your favourite: adventure, mystery, or realistic fiction. You can find other popular genres here.

Further, ask yourself, what are you looking for in a good book?

Tip 2: Recommendations

The sheer number of the books makes it hard to choose. But you can ask your friends, coaches, even people on the street, or small bookstores owners for recommendations. Simply start with the question: what’s one book that you absolutely loved and you think other people should read? Generally, you will get excellent recommendations.

Tip 3: Reviews

A book review should help you choose a good next book to read. First of all, you will probably read the bestseller reviews that most publications or monthly magazines recommend paying attention to. This way, you will check out what new books are popular and why. Though, some book reviews are simply created to promote authors, working as a massive ad and online disinformation campaign. So if you actually desire to get a bestseller, you need to know reliable sources.

Tip 4: Book-club

If you are a bookworm, you can join a club with like-minded people. It is a great option to experience unique format of discussions and find a motivation to read new books. You will easily meet new friends who enjoy the same genres as you, and they will recommend interesting books to read and discuss.

Tip 5: Reading list

After research, you can make a list where you highlight the priority books and, also, you can keep adding new items to it. This will help you to review:

What authors or books you’ve already read.

What works you actually want to read.

It’s an excellent way when you do not have much time to search for books you may like or when you don’t know how to choose a book.

Tip 6: e-Books

You can visit the Gutenburg.org or Gutenburg.ca services that offer tons of free electronic books to upload. As well, you can print the books or simply read them from laptop or iPad pro. Additionally, if you are a student, you can check a school/university libraries that could have its own electronic books sites. You can google reading lists and quickly find the best books to read in each category.

Tip 7: Bookstores and libraries

At the bookstore, you can also read some random books overviews and a few pages to clear up the quality of writing. Sometimes, book-store staff or library enthusiasts tend to help pick the correct book. You can start a talk with them to get right recommendations. They will help to choose a book, providing guidance on new and classic literature.

Tip 8: Amazon’s lists

The Amazon website provides the book lists that you can use to find interesting books. Where or how to start? You can check the Hot New Releases page and find popular categories. You will quickly determine the next book to buy and certainly make a long wish list of authors to read on Amazon.

Tip 9: Tools to use

There are plenty of online tools that can help you with your choice. You start with the What Should I Read Next tool. So, the service does what its name says: it offers you overviews and recommends books. This tool will tell you what to read based on what you finished like title or author.

Tip 10: Read Classics

The Penguin’s Classics collection is so impressive and can quickly help you stretch your bookshelves with numerous stories. You can also check the Selected Poems in Penguin Classics and read anything you like. If you love Austen and Fitzgerald, that’s a place to search, but you’ve got to be aware of what’s happening in publishing with the *living* authors.

Bio: Emily Watts

Hi! I’m Emily Watts. I’m a copywriter and content creator from Australia. I personally think a crucial sign of a great book if it passes the test of time. I usually check the books via online search and Amazon and put them in my Wish Lists or similar lists for some time before reading it. This way I can filter out many temporary impulses. When I apply this method, the quality of the books raises significantly. Additionally, I check the Amazon lists as it’s something I actually do on a regular basis. I made my Book folder with all bookmarks I found in my browser. It also includes all the books I wish to check. If you do not have much time and want to write a good book review or essay, you can check AustralianWritings.