The twenty-fifth prompt from online writing group Tuesday Tales (my nineteenth story for them) was ‘chase’ and below is the result. I owe TT the prompt for pie and was going to post it last Sunday except I was on holiday and had written it but left it at home. It’ll post it sometime soon.
Tuesday Tales provides a new prompt each week, the members write a story inspired by it and post it on our blogs / websites. Then we email the link and first two or three sentences to Jean Joachim. She then posts them on the Tuesday Tales blog (on a Tuesday ), gives us the link then we go out and shout about it.
Below is my 356-worder in second person. In case you think you’ve read this before, you may well have. I posted it mid-April not realising that the prompt had been postponed so sorry if this is a repeat but sometimes it’s better the second read as you’re not concentrating on the story…
The photo that no-one else can get
You’ve been chasing her for days, to get the photo that no-one else can get. She knows you’re there. There’s always someone there.
It’s a lifestyle she’s had to become accustomed to, only you don’t think she ever will. It’s not one you’d want, except she’s become your job, your life.
When she emerges out of the building, you reach over to your camera, on its dashboard tripod, and set it to continuous.
You follow her car through narrow streets, wide streets – her executive to your jalopy, the only thing you could get at short notice. You’re used to this place, she’s been here a lot.
Most of the shots are of the back of her head but you know she could look round. She has before.
As her car gathers speed so does yours. It complains but it’s not yours so you’re not bothered.
As she heads into the tunnel, she edges forward and you floor the accelerator, a little too close for comfort but you decide to go alongside, get level, no other cars in sight, so you swivel round your camera in anticipation, a momentary lapse in concentration.
You scream as your car clips hers, a white graze on a black beast, but you keep driving, then slow… watching in the rear view mirror as the Mercedes’ offside hits the pillar, then spins, making contact with the front, ricocheting into the nearside, only the boot intact.
Then you see the other cars, lights on, stop at the scene and you speed away, heart pounding, sweat rising in your armpits and head back to your room, taking the smallest streets you know of, hearing but not seeing the sirens that wake up a sleeping city.
***
As you look at the screen, you study the dozens of photographs that you know no-one else but you will see. You’ll delete them, never printing them, burn the memory stick to be sure, buy a new computer, but not yet. You put them in a folder and know that whatever you do with them you’ll never forget – the world will never forget – the day you killed a princess.
Apart from being inspired by true events, some months ago I read Alexis Sayle’s ‘Barcelona Plates’ and that story’s always stayed with me.
The links to the earlier prompts, and resulting stories, and the forthcoming prompts can be found on this blog’s Tuesday Tales page. Do go and check out the Tuesday Tales blog – it’s a wonderful idea supported by talented writers. So, not only can you read these stories but you could also write your own using the prompts given each week. There’s no word count limit.
Single-word prompts are something I regularly give my Monday night workshop and it’s amazing how different our stories can be.
You can sign up to receive these blog posts daily or weekly so you don’t miss anything… and follow me on Twitter where each new posting is automatically announced. You can also read / download my eBooks and free eShorts at Smashwords, Sony Reader Store, Barnes & Noble, iTunes Bookstore, Kobo and Amazon, with more to follow. I have a new forum and you can follow me on Twitter, friend me on Facebook, like me on Facebook, connect with me on LinkedIn, find me on Tumblr, complete my website’s Contact me page or plain and simple, email me. I also now have a new blog creation service especially for, but not limited to, writers.
Unfortunately, as I post an interview a day (amongst other things) I can’t review books but I have a feature called ‘Short Story Saturdays’ where I review stories of up to 2,500 words. Alternatively if you have a short story or self-contained novel extract / short chapter (ideally up to 1000 words) that you’d like critiqued and don’t mind me reading it / talking about and critiquing it (I send you the transcription afterwards so you can use the comments or ignore them) on my ‘Bailey’s Writing Tips’ podcast, then do email me. They are weekly episodes, usually released Monday mornings UK time, interweaving the recordings between the red pen sessions with the hints & tips episodes. I am now also looking for flash fiction (<1000 words) for Flash Fiction Fridays and poetry for Post-weekend Poetry.
Late April 2011 I discovered
http://StoryADay.org and the project that is to write 31 stories in 31 days. Anyone who knows me or follows this blog, knows how passionate I am about short stories so my clichéd eyes lit up at this new marvel. And just a few days later there I was, breathing life into new characters. This went on to become (with some editing of course) my 31-story collection eBook Story A Day May 2011.
And here we are a year later doing it all over again. Today’s prompt was to write dialogue. Having written a few dialogue pieces this month, I should be practiced. So here is my 301-worder.
Not like they used to
“They don’t make them like they used to, Ted.”
“No, they don’t… what don’t they?”
“These glasses. They don’t sit right.”
“I thought they looked new. Take them back then, can’t you?”
“Suppose. And they’re fussy.”
“Fussy, Frank?”
“Fuzzy.”
“Oh. What, like you can’t see properly?”
“Not properly, no.”
“Then definitely take them back.”
“Vera’s going to town tomorrow so…”
“They shouldn’t have let you leave the shop if they weren’t right.”
“Felt OK then.”
“What made you go for pink?”
“Eh?”
“Your glasses, they’re pink.”
“Are they? They were brown at the shop.”
“Well, they’re pink now.”
“Faded too then.”
“I think they’ve given you the wrong ones. Take them off and see.”
“…Oh.”
“They’re not the ones you chose, are they?”
“No they’re not… they’re Vera’s.”
“Vera’s? Why are you wearing hers?”
“I don’t know.”
“Won’t she be missing them?”
“Probably not, they’re her readings.”
“Oh, right. Did you watch the game last night?”
“Did, Ted. Bit disappointing.”
“Bunch of girls, aren’t they. I used to play football, you know.”
“I do.”
“Teddenham Tigers.”
“And you were good.”
“Thank you, Frank. Back then it was a proper sport on proper wages.”
“Didn’t tell me you were professional.”
“Not me, no, but the lads who did, you know, in the big clubs, got a normal wage and were grateful. Didn’t drive around in flashy cars back then. None of this status symbol and wags.”
“Wags?”
“Wives and girlfriends.”
“Oh yeah. And none of this rolling over in ‘pain’ with the slighted nudge. Lads knew how to tackle back then.”
“They’re all sissies nowadays. That’s why I prefer watching rugby.”
“Gentleman’s sport.”
“And they’re built like men. You know, big, strapping.”
“I do, Ted.”
“The footies are all tall and lanky, like matchsticks.”
Unfortunately, as I post an interview a day (amongst other things) I can’t review books but I have a feature called ‘Short Story Saturdays’ where I review stories of up to 2,500 words. Alternatively if you have a short story or self-contained novel extract / short chapter (ideally up to 1000 words) that you’d like critiqued and don’t mind me reading it / talking about and critiquing it (I send you the transcription afterwards so you can use the comments or ignore them) on my ‘Bailey’s Writing Tips’ podcast, then do email me. They are weekly episodes, usually released Monday mornings UK time, interweaving the recordings between the red pen sessions with the hints & tips episodes. I am now also looking for flash fiction (<1000 words) for Flash Fiction Fridays and poetry for Post-weekend Poetry.
Welcome to the three hundred and eighty-second of my blog interviews with novelists, poets, short story authors, biographers, agents, publishers and more. Today’s is with romantic suspense novelist Trish Jackson. A list of interviewees (blogged and scheduled) can be found here. If you like what you read, please do go and investigate further.
Morgen: Hello, Trish. Please tell us something about yourself, where you’re based, and how you came to be a writer.
Trish: Morgen, first I’d like to thank you for having me on your blog.
I’ve loved writing all my life. I come from a family of writers and artists, so writing a novel seemed the most natural progression.
Morgen: Great to have you here. You’re so lucky having that background. I do come from an arty background (photographer father & uncle, artist mother & aunt, web designer brother but it took me 30-something years to realise that writing was the profession for me. In the intro I described you as a romantic suspense novelist, why did you choose that genre?
Trish: I write romantic suspense because that’s what came out of my head when I sat down and wrote that first novel, and every novel I have written since, many of which are yet to be published. I guess I am a romantic at heart.
Morgen: What have you had published to-date?
Trish: My novel, “Redneck P.I.” was published by Uncial Press last year in March. It’s about Twila, a self-professed redneck woman who invites hunky Harland O’Connor to the company picnic to spite “those bitches” her co-workers. When he gets shot and wounded, she becomes entangled in a dangerous web of murder and intrigue.
“Way Out of Line”, just released (May 2012), is a story of undying young love that survives despite a series of harsh and terrifying occurrences. Much of the action takes place in Africa—exotic, wild, savage and vibrant—which is where I come from.
Morgen: All stories should have a pace and yours definitely sounds packed with it. Are you self-published at all?
Trish: I self-publish the print version of my novels.
Morgen: Are your books available as eBooks? How involved were you in that process? Do you read eBooks or is it paper all the way?
Trish: Uncial press is an eBook publisher. They do not publish print books, but I do offer my books in print on Amazon. I never imagined I would enjoy reading on an electronic device, but I fell in love with my Kindle the moment I got it, and it was especially convenient when I flew to California recently. An unlimited number of books could suddenly fit in my handbag.
Morgen: Exactly. That’s why I love it although I still enjoy reading the umpteen books I have dotted around the house. Do you have a favourite of your books or characters? If any of your books were made into films, who would you have as the leading actor/s?
Trish: My redneck character, Twila, is my favourite. She is so bold and true to herself, and doesn’t care what other people think. If it was made into a movie, the actress portraying her would probably have to be a little politically incorrect herself.
Morgen: I’m sure there are plenty of those. Did you have any say in the titles / covers of your books? How important do you think they are?
Trish: The titles just seemed to be there when I started writing. My publisher’s professional designers created the eBook covers, but they would have changed them if I did not approve.
Morgen: What are you working on at the moment / next?
Trish: I’m working on the edits of my next novel, “Kick Assitude”—the sequel to “Redneck P.I.”. It has been accepted by Uncial Press and will be released in March 2013. In this book, Twila gets a dog, who rides around on the back of her Harley with her and helps to protect her. I’m an animal lover and animals are probably going to play a large part in most of my books.
I’m also writing my fourth novel, “To the Limit,” where my heroine is a veterinarian and has dogs, cats, and a palomino mare named “Flight of Fancy”.
Morgen: My dog would definitely approve. Do you manage to write every day? Do you ever suffer from writer’s block?
Trish: I’ve never suffered from writer’s block. I’m lucky I can write anywhere. Sometimes I keep my computer on my lap while watching TV and write when the ads are on. I write during my lunch hour at work. On days I don’t write, I think about what I’m going to write.
Morgen: There’s dedication for you. I could write anywhere (it only takes a pen and paper after all) but I do prefer quiet or classical music. Do you plot your stories or do you just get an idea and run with it?
Trish: Somehow, the story just seems to be in my head. When I sit down in front of my computer the characters take over and I just record what they tell me.
Morgen: I love that… that they just get on with it. Do you have a method for creating your characters, their names and what do you think makes them believable?
Trish: I have a “Character Analysis Sheet” I use to document the traits of the primary characters. It includes such things as their religious beliefs, education level, favourite subjects at school and physical appearance including nervous habits, scars or tattoos, etc. I think it is important to know a lot about them to make them believable.
Morgen: I’m sure it certainly does help. Have a sheet like that and magazine photographs is something I sometimes set on a Monday night workshop and it’s great fun seeing these ‘people’ coming to life. Do you do a lot of editing or do you find that as time goes on your writing is more fully-formed?
Trish: I like to write the first draft in its entirety. I leave this for at least six months and come back with fresh eyes to start fleshing it out and adding the details, which is my favourite part of the process.
Morgen: I think the creating is mine but you’re right to leave it a while then it does seem like new which I like about the editing process. Do you have to do much research?
Trish: All novels require some research, but I enjoy doing what is necessary.
Morgen: It sounds like you love it all. I’m less keen on research but the internet has made it so much easier. What point of view do you find most to your liking: first person or third person? Have you ever tried second person?
Trish: “Redneck P.I.” and its sequel are written in the first person and I enjoy that the best. The other novels are in third person. I doubt if I would try to write in second person.
Morgen: That’s a shame but probably wise for longer pieces. It’s certainly an acquired taste, although one I love, and little known so I created its own page here on my blog. Do you write any poetry, non-fiction or short stories?
Trish: I have published my grandfather’s memoirs and a booklet for teens about safe driving, “Don’t Text and Drive”, which I also illustrated.
Morgen: I see so many drivers who do, or who chat on their mobiles. Of course everyone who does it thinks nothing bad will happen to them. It’s saddening and maddening. Do you have pieces of work that you think will never see light of day?
Trish: I have several almost complete novels in my computer, some of which I will probably never publish.
Morgen: That’s a shame although you say you have no trouble coming up with new ideas. Have you had any rejections? If so, how do you deal with them?
Trish: Rejections are part of the publishing process, unless you choose to self-publish. I sent “Redneck P.I.” to several publishers before Uncial Press accepted it. I didn’t mind the rejections—each publishing house has specific needs and I realized my book may not meet all of them.
Morgen: True. Just finding the right thing for the right person. You’ve obviously skipping the agent route, do you think they’re vital to an author’s success?
Trish: It’s not easy to find an agent who is willing to represent you until you have a proven track record of success.
Morgen: And the likes of Amanda Hocking, John Locke and Joe Konrath are inspiration to every self-published author. How much of the marketing do you do for your published works or indeed for yourself as a ‘brand’?
Trish: I belong to all the social networking and writer’s Internet sites and have tried to get my biography and info onto as many as possible.
Morgen: There are a lot, aren’t there. You’ve mentioned that you enjoy editing and research, what’s your least favourite aspect of your writing life?
Trish: The only least favourite aspect is the fact that I have to work and cannot spend all my time writing.
Morgen: I think every writer feels like that. Even authors I’ve spoken to who have mainstream publishers behind them still wish for more writing time. What advice would you give aspiring writers?
Trish: Believe in yourself and don’t let anyone discourage you.
Morgen: Is there a word, phrase or quote you like?
Trish: The first verse this poem by an anonymous poet says it all:
“If you think you’re beaten, you are
If you think you dare not, you don’t
If you’d like to win, but you think you can’t
It’s almost certain you won’t.”
Morgen: If you’re passionate enough you just keep going, don’t you. What do you do when you’re not writing?
Trish: I like to hike. It’s my way of getting close to nature.
Morgen: I’m just back from the beach (two-thirds of my way through a week’s holiday) and although I didn’t write anything it was inspiration for a short story (and as they tend to do, it’s dark). Are there any writing-related websites and / or books that you find useful?
Morgen: It’s a very popular site. Not one I’ve really explored other than accept friend requests but I should – I can see it as a potentially good platform (despite being the toughest ‘crowd’ for my eBooks). Are you on any forums or networking sites? If so, how valuable do you find them?
Trish: I have found Linkedin‘s writer’s groups to be the most beneficial, because one can network with other writers.
Morgen: And probably where we met. What do you think the future holds for a writer?
Trish: This is the best time ever for aspiring writers because they can self-publish in the Internet. I believe in the fiction world, eBooks will eventually replace print books, but reference and illustrated books will probably always be in print as well as electronic form.
Morgen: With bookshops closing all around us (we have one left and that’s a chain) it does make it more difficult to get paper books to readers and with postage increasing all the time and eBooks generally being cheaper (and certainly quicker) it certainly does look as if it’s heading in that direction. Where can we find out about you and your writing?
I then invited Trish to include an extract of her writing…
“You’re so tanned, you don’t really need this.” His skin flinched at the cold sunscreen lotion. His breathing quickened, and his body stirred uncontrollably from her touch as she gently massaged it in. He buried his head in the towel, not wanting her to see the lust in his eyes. When she stopped, he turned to look at her.
She unfastened the bikini top, held it tightly over her breasts, and lay down again on her stomach. “Now it’s your turn,” she said, and handed him the bottle.
Hal poured the lotion into the palm of his hand, hoping she wouldn’t notice it was shaking. He started rubbing it slowly onto her back. Her skin was soft and warm. He had to summon all his control to keep his hands confined to her back.
“Now my legs, please.” Amber eyes studied him coolly from under thick brown lashes. She flinched and squirmed at the first touch of his hands on her thighs.
This is crazy. I must be crazy. He couldn’t stop. He never wanted to stop touching her. Slowly, he felt the tense muscles soften under his caress. She moaned.
“Your hands are so warm,” she whispered.
She’s a little wasted. Just enough that I could do anything I want to her. His hands moved to the inside of her thighs, and he pictured himself slipping his fingers under the skimpy scrap of fabric and touching her there.
His heart raced and he turned his gaze to her face, trying to gauge her mood. Her eyes were half-closed, her breathing slow and relaxed. This is way out of line. She’s so innocent. I can’t take advantage of her like this. It just wouldn’t be right.
As he watched her face, her mouth opened slightly and her eyes closed. Her breathing became slow and deep, and she whimpered and twitched a little. He jerked his hand away and shook his head. I can’t believe it. She’s asleep.’
…and then a synopsis of one of her books and this is from ‘Way Out of Line’…
Trent lied about her age. Hal was convicted of statutory rape. Two lives, ruined.
Despite a brutal existence in prison, a desperate escape and a chance for a new life in Africa, Hal never forgets his first love. If only there were some way he could return home, return to Trent.
Never, warns his wise friend Demetrio, reminding Hal that they are escaped felons, and to be caught is to go back to prison.
Trent can’t forget Hal, nor can she forgive herself for his fate. The future holds no promise, and finally she seeks solace and expiation in a cult calling itself The Church of Hallowed Revelation.
Her parents seek to have her deprogrammed, but instead lose her to ruthless kidnappers, who hold her in their African headquarters until her ransom is paid.
Seeking a hostage held by a quasi-military faction, Hal and Demetrio head into the wilderness. At the end of their quest is violence, death, and–just perhaps–another chance for Hal and Trent.
Africa can be described by many words—exotic, wild, savage, cruel, mystical and vibrant. What better setting for this unique, suspenseful and romantic story that will make you gasp, hold your breath, pant with desire, and cry?
Trish Jackson is happiest when sitting in front a computer, feeling her characters come to life. Born and raised on a farm in what is now Zimbabwe, Africa, she loves animals and country living.
***
If you are reading this and you write, in whatever genre, and are thinking “ooh, I’d like to do this” then you can… just email me and I’ll send you the information. They do now (January 2013) carry a fee (£10 / €12.50 / $15) for the new interviews on this blog but everything else (see Opportunities on this blog) is free.
If you go for the interview, it’s very simple; I send you a questionnaire (I have them for novelists, short story authors, children’s authors, non-fiction authors, and poets). You complete the questions, and I let you know when it’s going to go live. Before it does so, I add in comments as if we’re chatting, and then they get posted. When that’s done, I email you with the link so you can share it with your corner of the literary world. And if you have a writing-related blog / podcast and would like to interview me… let me know.
Alternatively, if you’d like a free Q&A-only interview, I now have
http://morgensauthorinterviews.wordpress.com on which I’ve rerun the original interviews posted here then posted new interviews which I then reblog here. These interviews are Q&A only, so I don’t add in my comments but they do get exposure on both sites.
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As I post an interview a day (amongst other things) I can’t unfortunately review books but I have a list of those who do. I welcome critique for the four new writing groups listed below and / or flash fiction (<1000 words) for Flash Fiction Fridays. For other opportunities see (see Opportunities on this blog).
The full details of the new online writing groups, and their associated Facebook groups, are:
Morgen Bailey is a freelance writer and blogger, writer blog designer, host of the weekly Bailey’s Writing Tips audio podcast and two in-person writing groups based in Northamptonshire, England. She is the author of numerous short stories, novels, articles, has dabbled with poetry but admits that she doesn’t “get it”, and is a regular Radio Litopia contributor. She is Chair of another local writing group (which runs the annual HE Bates Short Story Competition), belongs to a fourth, and can regularly be found on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn. When she’s not researching for her writing groups, she is a British Red Cross volunteer, walks her dog (often while reading, writing or editing) and reads (though not as often as she’d like but is spurred on by her new Kindle) and somewhere in between all that she writes. Her blog, which like her, is consumed by everything writing-related, is http://morgenbailey.wordpress.com and she loves hearing from writers and readers. You can also read / download her eBooks and free eShorts at Smashwords, Sony Reader Store, Barnes & Noble, iTunes Bookstore, Kobo and Amazon, with novels to follow. She also had a quirky second-person viewpoint story in charity anthology Telling Tales. She has a writing-related forum and you can follow her on Twitter, friend on Facebook, like on Facebook, connect on LinkedIn, find on Tumblr, complete her website’s Contact me page or plain and simple, email her. Most recently she has set up http://icanbuildyourwritingblog.wordpress.com designing blog sites especially for other writers.
It’ll post it sometime soon.
), gives us the link then we go out and shout about it.
The links to the earlier prompts, and resulting stories, and the forthcoming prompts can be found on this blog’s Tuesday Tales page. Do go and check out the Tuesday Tales blog – it’s a wonderful idea supported by talented writers. So, not only can you read these stories but you could also write your own using the prompts given each week. There’s no word count limit.
