Editing a Murder Mystery

This morning, I finished the on-paper edits of "Gold Wings are Murder." I found grammar and spelling errors on almost every page. I found 36 items big enough that I couldn't fix them on the spot, so I wrote those all down on a To-Edit list. Plus, I have two and a half chapters that need major re-work.

In other words, it went GREAT!

I'm using the editing process suggested by Rachel Aaron in her book "2,000 to 10,000: How to Writer Faster, Write Better, and Write More of What You Love." This is one of the best books I've read on the nuts-and-bolts nitty-gritty craft of writing fiction. Well done, Rachel Aaron!

So, it's the beginning of June now. I should certainly have the book done and published for Amazon Kindle July 4th. I hope to also a paperback version--for folks who don't want to risk dropping their fancy Kindle while riding and reading on the back of a Gold Wing.

Creating Memorable Characters

I'm reading a paranormal mystery about a family of Witches in Maine. I like the story, but there are four sisters, plus a town full of local characters, and honestly, I find it a bit hard to follow who is who. That's why in my books, I take a tip I learned in a children's literature course 20 years ago--each character has a unique physical trait or quirk.

So, in "Gold Wings are Murder--The Crying Stone," the innkeeper has huge hands. Whenever I describe him, or he appears on the scene, I mention his freakishly large digits. The innkeepers wife, on the other hand, is petrified her guests will find out the Blue Stone Inn is haunted. I barely mention her looks, but everything she does, everything she says, is about keeping the ghost a secret.

To me, this is just good story telling.

You know, I don't mind if you share these tips on Google+ or Twitter. I'm not worried that someone else is going to write a Gold Wing themed mystery series. Just use the buttons below.

Gold Wings are Murder OPENING

Just to keep things interesting, here is a bit from the opening of "Gold Wings are Murder: The Crying Stone."

.....-----.....-----.....

Tiny Sorcha Rhyne sat bolt upright in the darkness. "Who's there?" 
No one, whispered the darkness.

"I see you there. Come out."

No one stood by the door, back in the corner, behind the dresser. No one stared. No one cried softly.

Sorcha glanced down at her husband, Django. He was beautiful, but he was sound asleep. Sorcha swung her gaze to the darkness in the corner. The darkness stared back, but didn't move. "Django, wake up!" Without looking, she shoved his shoulder, hard! She put her hand in his wavy hair and tugged. A fierce whisper, "Honey, there's someone in our room!" Django didn't move. 

The someone coalesce into a lighter shade of darkness. It came toward her. One step. Two steps out of the corner.

Sorcha drew back against the headboard, pulling the sheets up over her breasts. She reached toward the nightstand--hoping to find a weapon. Something!

When the hallway door opened, Sorcha jumped a foot.

The shape slipped out of an impossibly thin opening and disappeared into the hallway. 

"Don't you go out there," she said to herself. "Don't you dare." She looked at Django. Still asleep. What was wrong with him? Why wouldn't he wake up for her? She couldn't wait to figure it out. Whoever had been in their room was slipping away. What if he, she or it went into some other guest's room?

Before she could stop herself, she swung her feet over the edge of the bed and slipped down onto the floor. Her slippers were waiting, pointed out to keep little demon's from finding their way into her bed. She grabbed a nightgown off the bottom post of the four poster bed and crept to the door.

.....-----.....-----.....

 
You know, this stuff is even more fun sitting around a campfire while someone reads this story to you aloud. (Insert evil laughter.)

If you LIKE this story snippet from "Gold Wings are Murder: The Crying Stone," you are welcome to share it with your friends on Facebook or Google+. Just use the SHARE button below.

Gold Wings are STILL Murder

Well folks, it's been awhile since I posted here, or worked on the story. I was working a very stressful job and when I requested a very reasonable accommodation (that I work 40 hours per week), they fired me. Criminal? Yes, but life goes on.

Now, since I'm unemployed, the story can go on too!

I left off on page 77 with a dinner party for our heroes and the Harley riding couple at the Blue Stone Inn. My wife offered to read the story and help me job start the process.

GWAM Update for 06-25-2014

I'm up to 19,000 words. Yesterday I wrote a very spicy, romantic bedroom scene. I guess all that fresh air from riding around Lake Lure made our heroes horny. Next up, Sorcha sees another ghost, or is she just sleep walking--maybe even sleep MURDERING. (Bwa-ha-ha!) I can't tell you yet.

Welcome to Gold Wings are Murder

Welcome to Gold Wings are Murder. The home for the exciting new mystery series about a successful middle aged couple on a four corners tour of the United States. Every place they stop seems to be haunted. In book one, The Crying Stone, our heroes Sorcha and Django Rhyne barely get started on the journey when a stay at Lake Lure's Blue Stone Inn goes horribly wrong. Sorcha sees the ghost of a beautiful Bride, and the ghost is very angry! It turns out they're staying in the poor girl's old room, and they know, or rather knew, the mysterious Groom. Want to know more? Check back often. I'm working on the story almost every night and it's coming together fairly quickly. Below is a shot of the proposed book cover.