Writing in December

Daisy is taking a break while I’m finishing the back matter for my latest book, VENOM, Fatal Revenge, available early in January.

Why do I get myself so busy finishing a manuscript during the most hectic time of year?

I did this to myself. I know that. The thing is, I believe there is a part of me that thrives on excitement, and tension, and yes chaos to an extent.

Okay, enough self-analyzing. Anyone else out there experience this same phenomenon?

Live well,

Judy

Celebrating Each Step

Sent my new manuscript to my beta readers and now am working on the back matter for my next book, VENOM; Fatal Revenge, a Novelshot, (shorter than a full-length novel) and a murder mystery. I'm excited about this book, available before Thanksgiving. Date is firming up soon. Meanwhile, I'm celebrating each step of its progress.

So tomorrow, I'm celebrating Halloween with our two mini Schnauzers, Max and Cooper, dressed as little gentlemen.

Six Word Stories

WOW and DOUBLE WOW! Thank you! All 600 of you who downloaded my book, The Killer Show over Labor Day Week-end!

Okay, now for today's post.

There is an interesting cultural meme that limits stories to six words.
And the example is attributed to Earnest Hemingway: “For sale, baby shoes, never worn.”

Six words may elicit a story in my mind, or open a story, but truthfully, it does not tell the whole story.

However, it is a challenge to carve out excess wood in our stoies, in our thinking, maybe, to get to the core of an idea.

 So, here are some off the top of my head:

A Moment in Time

“Cardboard sign reads, ‘work for food’.”

“Mama opens door, soldier comes home.”

 “Family reunites, set old hurts aside.”

“Finger marks found on pumpkin pie”

“Puppy frightens small Halloween monster.”

“Running scared, leaps, never looks back.”

Mystery Stories

“Forty foot waves silence bloodcurdling screams.”

“A chilly moon oversees still body.”

“On the dashboard, a severed arm.”

From a reader: “I like different time periods, in particular, the 1800s early  And 1900s. However,  I do enjoy a modern-day setting. In this particular picture, I think it would be fun to have a modern day that somehow got mixed up in yesteryears and therefore you have your mystery. Thanks for letting us use our imaginations.” - Colleen

Thanks Colleen, it's an interesting take, and very imaginative.

Make it a great week.

Judy

author The Killer Show

The Big Ask

A gift for you. No, not the video, although I hope you like it :-)

I'm kicking off a FREE DOWNLOAD of my book, The Killer Show, for Labor Day Week-end, Sunday, September 3 - Wednesday, September 6.

Do download a copy, because the Freebie ends Wednesday September 6 at mid-night.

I'm offering The Killer Show for FREE because I need book reviews. And I want to build a fan base for my books (more books in the works)

So PLEASE. After you've downloaded and read it, go back to the page on Amazon and write a review. THANKS! I appreciate it!

Enjoy the video, enjoy the book, and have a fun relaxing Labor Day week-end, and make it a great week,

Judy

Some of the People I Admired at the 2017 Vent ConVENTion

Mary Ann and I go back a long ways. She has been one of the premier puppet makers for ventriloquists and puppeteers for, I think, three decades. I remember taking a puppet-making class in NJ given by Verna Finly. Mary Ann took the class along with Taylor Mason, Al Getler, Jeff Dunham, and others. That was an historical event for ventriloquism, because Mary Ann launched her business soon afterwards.

Kenny Byrd, has remarkable talent. I saw his act on the Saturday night show. He is genius at creating two personalities on stage. It's double-acting, how he reacts to his pal in a most believable way! Loved that!

Here is the America's Got Talent contestant, ventriloquist and singer, Darci Lynne, with her coach, Gary Owen. (He was also one of my coaches back when I was ramping up my act.) What talent she has! Especially projecting her voice while singing ventriloquially. It's absolutely astonishing! Wishing her all the best as she goes forward.

Ikuko and Atsuko, two lovely vent friends from Tokyo, surprised me – I didn't expect to see them at the conVENTion – but thoroughly enjoyed spending a quiet lunch with them at Joan's, a nearby Japanese restaurant.

Sammy King, a well-known Vegas ventriloquist, who I was privileged to share a stage with in Tokyo. What an honor! I've seen his act on video, very smooth, very polished.

Dan Horn is totally entertaining. Brilliant! He uses action, emotions, rod arms, (or not) to bring puppets to life and he adds a big wow factor to his performances. He has privately coached many vents, including me. A valuable teacher, performer and artist, he is one of the all-time best vents I've seen.

Margaret Davis, was one main reason I attended this year's conVENTion. Her puppet figure's played well on stage, and I loved how she laughed at her character, Pastor Crankster – I think that was his name – Also, she did NOT have her characters flirt with someone in the audience – a tiresome bit, older than dirt.

Kudos to you, Margaret!