Writing and Research

One of the things I love about writing is the research that goes into the stories. For instance, in "ABR" (title is abbreviated because I am a nut about sharing my unpublished book titles), I researched the Vietnam Conflict because I have a character who was there. In "C", I researched architecture because the family home is a crucial component of the story. In "ER", I researched and continue to research a variety of topics, including Genesis from THE KJ HOLY BIBLE and the meanings of chakras. (The dictionary is telling me I have misspelled chakra, but my memory is telling me its correct.Do I bother to look it up?)
My research is sometimes from the Internet, or a book on the topic, or on occasion, interviews with people familiar with the topic.I love immersing myself in subjects that I am only vaguely familiar with simply because you can't not be familiar with the Vietnam Conflict or different architectural styles if you leave your house everyday. But my curiosity would keep me distracted all day if I let it. So at some point during my research, I have to accept that I will not be an expert on the token topic and fluff the details enough to give the impression that I know what I am talking about.
After reading THE SUMMER I DARED by Barbara Delinsky, I read an author's note (whether it was in the book itself or on her website or in a magazine article, I don't recall) regarding the details of raising angora rabbits for their fur (I think that was the animal - it's been a while.) The point I am trying to make is Ms. Delinsky wasn't born knowing about raising rabbits nor did she live on a rabbit farm growing up. She immersed herself into learning about the topic. The book wasn't about raising rabbits but it was a component of the story which gave it life. I could have easily assumed the author raised the little bunnies herself considering the ease in which she wrote about it.
But ... no amount of research will replace the good old fashion use of imagination, which will become abundantly clear in "ER." It's like me in the kitchen - I read a recipe but almost never follow the directions 100%-in the end, I still add to it or take from it depending on what I think will work or taste better.

Three Crosses and the Next Title

I am happy to announce I have zeroed in on the next title for publication. A tough choice because I have so many books I have written and so many more I want to write. It's hard to dedicate myself to just one and stick with it. But I have learned a lot about the self-publishing world with this latest edition of THREE CROSSES and feel much more confidant with the process. I am not ready to divulge the title just yet - superstitious and all! But will in the near future.

In the meantime, I ask for your help. I need to get THREE CROSSES noticed to pave the way for the next book. My sales are very slow to come through at Amazon - so pass the word if you have read it or buy it if you haven't. The Kindle version will be out in the 1st half of May for those of you who prefer the e-versions. I will let you know once it is available to buy on the Kindle.

Having spent the majority of the day soaking up the sun's rays while working on the forthcoming book, I am now getting hungry. Time to start the grill! Yippee! Another awesome day in the land of my imagination. Doesn't get much better than that:-)

A Reader's Response to THREE CROSSES

I received an email from Daniel - a 17-year old who recently read THREE CROSSES. He was in his art class where Pamela (the THREE CROSSES dedication recipient) is the teacher and he was complaining about how his girlfriend is always reading. Apparently he's not an avid reader. Pamela suggested he try reading THREE CROSSES and loaned him her copy. He needed some persuading, but Pamela convinced him that his girlfriend would be happy if he showed some interest in her favorite hobby. Lo' and behold, a reader was born ...

Once again persuaded by Pamela, Daniel sent me my first "fan letter" since the re-release of THREE CROSSES.

" I hate books but Pamela (his art teacher) kept telling me I would love your book cuz your friends and id like it. I like it a lot. I liked the people in it and thought *** (spoiler alert!!) was the killer. Denise (his girlfriend) is going to read it next."

I asked Daniel if there was anything else he liked about THREE CROSSES and he said "it was easy (to read) and awesome."

Daniel, thank you so much for the incredible compliment. Pamela, thank you for not only pushing THREE CROSSES but for converting a non-reader to a reader.

And there you have it ... me flying high:-)

Re-release of Three Crosses

Please visit Amazon.com and search C. L. LeMay. Ta-dah! The newly revised, edited, and updated Three Crosses is for sale as a paperback. The Kindle version will be available in a few days.

Hopefully there will be no more comments about the title needing a good editor. And now my mind is free to focus on the next novel. I will post updates on my progress of that title in the near future. I also will finally have my web page up and running in a few weeks. I will let you know when it is ready.

News from the desk of C. L. LeMay

Well, hello there stranger! Where have you been? Haha!
Picture me wagging my hand in a friendly "hi, I'm over here" gesture.
I have been busy on a project.

 And the anticipation builds...But alas, the disappointment sets in as author C.L. LeMay announces she will unveil her project in 3-4 weeks.
In the meantime, try reading a Barbara Delinsky novel. They are always a good read.
So check back in soon. I hope to dazzle you!

The Daily Word

I write because I need to. I write because if I don't, I get cranky and my head gets too jammed up with words and characters and events. But as anyone who writes novels can tell you, there comes a point when writing a few minutes here and a few minutes there doesn't cut it. Eventually you need a steady stream of blocks of time.  Rather than not write at all, I am committing myself to 15 days of writing something, anything. Perhaps the posts will be excerpts or character developments or scenes from a yet unwritten novel or even something like below. I do not profess to be poetic despite the poem essence in my below words. They are thoughts strewn together in a rhythm I found soothing to write. I will not be editing or critiquing - just writing.

Into the dusky eve, I steer and write.
No sense of time or the lack of light.
Pull me down deeper, into that gorge,
So it is written - my allegiance is forged.
Trading my soul
For an inspired spark.
Professing my unawares,
Of the complete and utter dark.
The course I have taken,
Playing with the dead,
Enlightened for a moment,
Till' my hands are stained red.
There are no more words
Flowing from my pen.
As I  wait for my judgment,          
My life - it is condemned.
I'd pray for forgiveness,
But forgot how to kneel.
These crimson wounds,
Never will heal.

My Web Presence

I Googled C.L.LeMay to check my Web presence and was rather surprised by what I found. Goodreads.com has ratings for me. Cool, right? Not so much. Why? Because my rating is low - not that I disagree with the comment "Needs a good editor." The e-book versions of THREE CROSSES are not representative of the actual manuscript. There are 2 problems - 1st is THREE CROSSES has been professionally edited since it was published in e-form and 2nd is my MS Word is outdated and when I upload to an e-publishing format or the paperback publishing format, the translation is jumbled, making the published versions of THREE CROSSES a mess.

Suffice it to say, I have unpublished the e-books. I greatly appreciate everyone who purchased a copy and once again apologize for the mistakes. Anyone who has read THREE CROSSES since I have edited it, please join Goodreads.com and make a case for the improved manuscript and provide your honest rating of the book. Please and thank you.

As many of you know, writing novels is a great love of mine. It is very difficult at times to keep up the momentum to pursue publication for THREE CROSSES as the process is very mentally & time-consuming. I want to make a good impression on a prospective agent but find the task of writing a kick-ass query letter more difficult than writing a 400-page novel!

So if my Fairy Godmother is listening, I will do all the writing and editing if you would be so kind as to research agents and submit an incredibly terrific packet! Sounds good, doesn't it? But alas, if I just want to be an author, an author I am. If I want to be a published author, I best get a little more aggressive about the business of submission. I need to decide if being an author is enough for me. Just how badly do I want to be published?

As I write the last sentence, I realize I had great fun publishing A MIRACLE FOR MACKENZIE on my blog, albeit I stopped working on it after 7 or 8 submissions, but I still think about that book and look forward to getting back to it one day. I am toying with the idea of publishing through my blog. Hmmm? Not a money-maker, but heck, I get to keep doing what I love and my readers get to read my work. Of course I will have to decide which of the five novels I am actively working on will be the published novel. I guess the first step is to focus on one book. So hard to do when they each are pulling and tugging and clawing for my attention.
God, I love writing!