Katy McDermott

Well, it’s arrived. My first-ever sex scene is the next thing I need to write.

But first, why don’t I reread that unpublished manuscript for a children’s book about dogs that I wrote 8 years ago? It’s not too bad – a few changes of phrasing and spacing, and it could be ready to submit again. And since I’m on a dog kick, how about finishing that dog-show book I’ve been reading on occasion? Nice pacing in that – I can learn something.

Tax time is looming too. Lots of official documents to organize for the accountant. Bills to pay – the mortgage is due – that reminds me, I have to get stamps today at the grocery store.

The grocery store – of course! Our Super Bowl party is tomorrow, so I have to add numerous items to the list for snacks, appetizers, that chowder I always make. And there are extra chores I have to do, of course – can’t forget about them. Launder the throw rugs, clean the powder room, pester my husband to wash the salt stains off the entryway floors…

Let’s see, what else? I know, it’s January – time to stock up on greeting cards! And that coat closet needs to be reorganized. My bureau drawers, too. And work, of course – I brought some home with me, like always. I could get started on that…

What was I going to write again?

If my characters weren’t made up, they’d probably have restraining orders out against me. I peek into their windows, examine their lives – hopes, dreams, extramarital affairs and all.

The character profiles I wrote months ago are simply jumping-off places. It’s amazing – and a little intrusive – to discover what my characters tell me about themselves, how they evolve from the way I first envisioned them.

This happens as I write, I swear. I don’t know half this stuff until I set it down on paper.

A colleague of mine recently suggested that I make an outline so tight I could write my book in a month – but that’s not how I operate. A loose outline, characters that change as I write about them – that’s what works for me.

I can’t explain it, but there it is.

I’m just glad my characters don’t have legal rights.

In other book news: I’m anxiously waiting to find out if Meeting Murder gets reviewed (and if so, what the reviewer says) by the Midwest Book Review. They get over 2,000 book submissions per month, though, so I’m not holding my breath. Much.

Also, my first actual fan (translation: the first person I didn’t know to buy my book) has started a Facebook group called “Fans of Meeting Murder,” which has me very excited.

And in about 2 weeks, if I stick with my loose outline and strict writing schedule, I’ll be working on my first-ever love scene. With sex (God help me). I’m seriously considering falling back on a meaningful gaze and a brief description of wind-chimes…

Sigh.

I thought it might be fun to do a little something different with my blog post this week. All of the questions that follow pertain to Meeting Murder, so for those of you who’ve read it, these questions should be easy. (And for those of you who haven’t read it, you can order a copy by just clicking on the cover art!) Spoiler alert: All the answers appear at the bottom of this post, and since I can’t figure out how to turn type upside-down, they’re plain to see. Ready? Set? Go!

 

1.  What is the full name of the meeting freelancer known as “Dash”?

      A. Thomas Takadashi

      B. Dashiell Hammond

      C. Tadashi Tamaseko

      D. Corey Kiadashiu

 

2.  What do the initials of the animal rights group AAPT stand for?

      A. Advancing Animal Protection Today!

      B. Animal Abuse Prevention Team

      C. Assisting All Pets Together

      D. Animals Are People Too

 

3.  Who is the MultiMedia manager at Connor Pharmaceuticals?

      A. Lew Paulson

      B. Mike DellaGuardia

      C. Wendell McCarthy

      D. Juan Herrara

 

4.  What caffeinated beverage does Laurie Kilcannon drink frequently?

      A. Coffee with lots of cream

      B. Irish Breakfast tea

      C. Coca-Cola

      D. Diet iced tea

 

5.  Where is Detective Tim Riordan originally from?

      A. New York City, NY

      B. Miami, FL

      C. Boston, MA

      D. Barcliff, MA

 

6.  In what hotel does most of the action take place?

      A. The Hanover

      B. The Hilton

      C. The Warrington

      D. The Westin

 

7.  What is the drug being launched?

      A. Allergex

      B. Zephyrex

      C. Banol

      D. Gromax

 

8.  What nationality is meeting freelancer Dagmar Gustafson?

      A. Danish

      B. Swedish

      C. German

      D. Norwegian

 

9.  Who finds the body of the first victim?

      A. Gene Stockton

      B. Marc Masterson

      C. Tim Riordan

      D. Jim Fisher

 

10. Who do all the drug reps want to take pictures with during the Safari Night dinner?

      A. Vivian Linsky

      B. Jim Fisher

      C. Wendell McCarthy

      D. Gene Stockton

 

11. What is the name of Vivian Linsky’s mother?

      A. Lydia

      B. Earlene

      C. Vivian

      D. Jill

 

12. At what restaurant do Laurie and Tim discuss suspects?

      A. Ollie’s

      B. Javier’s

      C. The Hanging Garden

      D. The Spite Wall

 

Hope you enjoyed the quiz. The only prize is bragging rights, I’m afraid – have to sell a few more copies before I can offer fancy rewards! (Hopefully the quiz with my next book WILL come with a prize for winning – and in light of the recent weather, I vote for a trip to someplace tropical!)

Answers: 1. C   2. D   3. A   4. C   5.  D   6. A   7. B   8. A   9. D   10. C   11. B   12. B

“A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” “How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time.” Etc. Etc.

I know these sayings are true (well, the journey one – not the elephant one so much). That’s why they’re called “truisms” as well as cliches. And I try to remember them every night when I race home from work, bolt down some dinner, and head up to my office to face a blank page. Correction: a lot of blank pages. My target for the next book is 75,000 words. So far, I’ve only written 3,000 (less than half of them this week – I’d started writing a few scenes last month.)

It’s only the time that bothers me, though (or, to be more accurate, the lack of it.) Not the writing itself. That part’s hard, to be sure, but once I’m into a scene, it’s the most fun and exciting thing I can imagine.

I did a big-picture plot outline, which helped. Wrote character profiles, which did the same thing. Took a research trip that was nothing short of amazing. I know the basic story – now all I have to do is write it. All 75,000 words of it.

How do you eat an elephant again?

Here’s a sampling of some reader e-mails I’ve received about Meeting Murder:

I LOVED IT! I couldn’t put the book down. I don’t think I ever really knew who it was… It was a complete shock. 2 thumbs up!!! Way up!!!

 - S.P.

 

I just finished the book (in one night) and really enjoyed it. Excellent story line… Good page turner…. very impressed and looking forward to the next book!!!!

 - M.B.

 

I have just finished reading your book two times. I loved it! You have done an excellent and fascinating job of introducing the reader to the world of the meeting planner. It is obvious that you know what you are talking about. The reader feels as if he is right there in the hotel – very good description. It is very well done. And Laurie is believable and likeable. I see her turning up in another book…

 - A.S.

 

I just finished your book last evening and loved it! It was hard to put down. Great job!

 - B.M.

 

You have no idea how your mystery book rescued me last Friday! I was on a bus to NYC and we got into blizzard conditions… I was on that bus from 8:30am to 8PM with your book keeping me sane! Thank god I took it with me for the ride. It was great fun and the characters and scene, etc, you are really good!

 - P.N.P.

 

I really did enjoy your book, and I loved the relationship between Laurie and Tim. You handled that very well, and I also thought the pacing was really well done, as well as the subplot. It was a real treat and I really enjoyed the snappy dialogue.

 - N.M.

 

I just loved the book. Can’t wait till the next release!

 - R.T.

 

Seems people like it!

I got back Thursday from my research trip to Cape Cod for the second book, and it was a roaring success! I came home enlightened, exhilarated – and unfortunately, exhausted. It seems that the best time to ask questions of hotel employees is between 5 and 6 in the morning, before the first bleary-eyed guests arrive in the lobby in search of free coffee.

Getting up at 4:45am was more than worth it however, as I heard stories of Victorian ghosts’ activities, drunken wedding attendees’ antics, and summer guests outlandish requests. Actually, I don’t know which was more frightening!

My husband gave me a digital audio recorder for Christmas that, technophobe though I am, I must admit I absolutely love. During interviews, I could just hit “record” (look Ma – no tapes!) and know that every word my subject said would be captured. Since I didn’t have to worry about taking notes, I could really participate in the conversations…

Some random things I learned: the science behind designing a good bonfire, the sometimes disillusioning origins of clam chowder, the stark distinction in behavior between conference attendees and vacationers, several reasons it may not be a good idea to build a multi-million dollar mansion by the seaside, how fishing can change one’s life in the blink of an eye, and why it’s always wise to have company if you work late at night in an old Cape Cod building…

I was fortunate enough to meet some truly unforgettable people, and they were kind enough to share their insights with me. Even a nasty snowstorm offered me fodder for my book (and a chance to spend extra time with my family to boot).

Now that I’ve made my research trip and drawn up a schedule that’ll hopefully result in a first draft for Book 2 by the end of September, it’s time for the hard part (and the fun part too).

Let the writing begin!