10.1.13

Crazy day today. Our painter came by to paint the new wainscoting in the dining room, which looks fantastic. But I forgot to tell him to make the seams invisible, so the poor guy has to come back tomorrow and work on it more. Spent the day locked in my office upstairs, trying to stay out of his way. I'm working on both the outline of YARD OF GRAVES and the secret project (I know, I've been teasing that forever, but trust me when I say it will be worth it.) Also had to finalize the October newsletter, entertain the carpenter to discuss the new door, and various sundry other delights. When things break around here, they all break at once.

Dexter catchup tonight. Only three more to go. If I last the whole hour, it will be a miracle.

Sweet dreams!

On Fear, And The Need For Reckless Abandon

I recently received an email from a fellow scribe that hurt me to read. She wisely suggested I answer her in a blog post, because she is not alone in this. Here's her note, printed with her permission:

I am a fiction writer and I'm having a confidence problem. And I was recently telling my beloved mentor that my confidence is still shot from my creative writing classes in college! Harsh criticism from my peers, a professor who was more concerned with the publication of his own work rather than molding young minds, etc. (And I should note that I'm now in my mid-30s.) I write, because it is what my heart demands, but when it comes to showing people my work or talking about it - I'm terrified. Given that I've started devoting a lot of time to my creative life (I'm in a WONDERFUL writer's group, I've attended some classes on the craft, I try to write daily, and I read voraciously), my confidence problem is verging on ridiculous. Do you have any suggestions? I am proposing a blog post, because I have a feeling that I'm not the only person who has/is going through this.

And my response:

Hey, we all get scared. Getting your work out there, running the risk of rejection, is hard. But think about it this way. What's the worst that could happen? Someone says no. Just a little word. They won't attack you, or physically beat you up, or laugh at you to all your friends, or theirs. Honestly, we all get rejected. It's part of the writing life. You can't let fear dictate your life. 

Two books for you to read: The War of Art, by Steven Pressfield, and Julia Cameron's The Artist's Way.

And go read my post on Rejection on my website.

You must live your life with reckless abandon. It's too short to allow fear to stop you from pursuing your dreams.

But the more I thought about it, I see how very easy it is for me to say hey, it's all cool, you just keep plugging away and screw up your courage and submit, and to hell with the consequences. That's not fair of me. I didn't feel like that when I started out, either.

As it happens, I'm one of those people who can let fear of rejection and criticism slide off my shoulders.  

Now. 

I didn't used to be this way. I too was in a hypercritical writing program that sapped all the energy and life out of my writing. So much so that I didn't write a single word of fiction for eight years. Do you have any idea how many invisible kicks I've given myself over that lost time? I didn't start writing again seriously until I was in my early 30s. My first novel was published when I was 37. If I'd gotten started back when I was 21, I'd have had a drawer full of manuscripts. Some might even have gotten picked up. 

Eight years of being afraid. Eight years believing I wasn't good enough.  

Don't make this mistake. Take chances. Jump off cliffs. The very worst thing that can happen is someone says no. Don't get yourself stuck into the vein I was in, afraid to even try.  

Find yourself a good group of writing partners who you trust to tell you the truth. Listen when they tell you there's a plot hole, or something doesn't work for them. Then fix it, trust your gut, and send that puppy out into the world.

Yes, you might get rejected. But you also might get picked up!  You'll never know until you try. If you're still scared, my advice from above stands. Read THE WAR OF ART. Do Julie Cameron's THE WRITER'S WAY. Both books will show you the truth behind your art - that it is glorious, and with purpose, and your fear can and should be conquered. 

I used Cameron's book two years ago, when I was stuck in a massive writing rut. It was a life-changing experience. Same with the day I read THE WAR OF ART. It all just made so much sense. I was the one holding myself back.  Me. My fear. My lack of confidence. My unrealistic concerns and expectations.

So I fixed that. 

I still get scared. Of course I do. But my desire to share my stories supersedes the worry.  So I get on with it, day after day, year after year. I pile up those words and fling them out into the world, and hope y'all like them.

And so should you. Good luck! 

On Staying the Course

I have a piece on career longevity over at the ITW Debut Author Blog. I find it interesting that there are hundreds, if not thousands, of blogs and courses and conferences dedicated to helping new writers break in, learn to write, all that, but so few focused on helping the career writer maintain and grow their livelihood. 

Kris Rusch (THE BUSINESS RUSCH) does a great job of this, and while I don't agree with everything she says, she's at least talking to those of us who are building a writing career.

So, here's my  two cents on the matter. I'd love to hear if there are other blogs and sites dedicated to the writing career, and if you have tips for great ways to stay in the game, leave a comment. 

____

Only six years ago, I was a debut author. I remember the joy, the excitement, the sheer, unadulterated fear like it was yesterday. Now, with 13 books under my belt, I recognize how important it is to treasure the journey. Every moment of your writing career is precious – the good, and the bad. It’s what makes us better people, and stronger, happier, more capable writers.

You must treasure the journey to keep yourself on course to a long successful writing career.

Trust me, I know how easy it is to stray. I had it good way back when – I wrote in a vacuum, with only my own voice to derail me. Now there are so many negative, distracting voices clamoring for our attention -- Facebook, with its siren’s call. Goodreads and Amazon, where you can read your reviews and self-congratulate or self-flagellate at will. Twitter, where you can compare your number of followers and retweets and pithy witticisms with the masses. Blogs are a dime a dozen, and Instagram and Pinterest are a massive time suck.

And then there’s the doubly whammy of family and friends who can, with a well-placed, well-meaning word, create train wrecks of such magnificent proportion they’re hard to walk away from.

It’s all sound and fury signifying nothing. As such, you must find a way to retreat from the distractions, and chart your own course, so you can churn out books like kittens.

The Internet is your number one enemy. Whether you use apps to keep you away (Freedom, Self-Control) or you have the discipline of a general, you have to stay off the Internet. You have to live your life. See and feel and touch and taste. You must hear dialogue, not read it. You must experience all the world can offer – even if it’s taking a break to walk outside. Live, and your prose will be richer, your spirit more content. The only true satisfaction in the writer’s life in knowing it’s well lived.

Learn how to say no. No is your best friend. It is so tempting to agree to everything – guest blogging and touring and conferences and teaching engagements. They stroke the ego, and make us feel important and strong. And some of that is fine. Learn what fills your well socially, and stick to it. Half of us are introverts and half are extroverts. If going to a conference drains you, don’t do it. If it fires you up and you come home raring to tackle that manuscript, do. It’s that simple.

Lastly, respect your work. Respect your time. Get in a habit – find the best time for you to write and just do it already. You’ve already written one book. I know it can be scary tackling another.

But here’s a little secret: every book feels that way, whether it’s your 2nd or your 14th.  It gets worse, not better. All you can do is march those words onto the blank page, one by one, soldiers in your on-going war against writing entropy. Do that, every day, and believe in your work wholeheartedly, and I promise, success will follow.

September Newsletter

September 2013 Newsletter
Vol. XXVII Special Edition
THE FINAL CUT Release 

Gentle Readers:

The time is finally nigh! THE FINAL CUT is here!

I can’t tell you how excited I am today. This book is now 18 months in the making, since its inception in May of 2012. Months of research, writing, and just plain fun ensued, all with the fabulous Catherine Coulter at the helm. I can’t wait for you to meet DCI Nicholas Drummond, Michaela (Mike) Caine, the Fox, and the rest of the characters. This story leaps from country to country as nimbly as a jewel thief – hmm, I wonder why that is?

No more waiting! Order your copy today! I promise you’re going to love this book!

And to celebrate, we are giving away a spectacular diamond halo necklace, courtesy of the fine folks at Adler’s Jewelers in New Orleans. You can enter the contest here: penguin.com/finalcutsweepstakes.

There are several great reviews and interviews with us out there, so I collected them into a single blog post you can click over to see. I’ll be adding to it as interviews pop up, but you can get an idea of what the process was like, how we co-wrote, etc.

And if you’re not familiar with the story, here’s a little teaser copy for you:

New Scotland Yard’s detective chief inspector Nicholas Drummond is on the first flight to New York when he learns his colleague, Elaine York, the “minder” of the Crown Jewels for the “Jewel of the Lion” exhibit at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, was found murdered. Then the centerpiece of the exhibit, the infamous Koh-i-Noor Diamond, is stolen from the Queen Mother’s crown. Drummond, American-born but raised in the UK, is a dark, dangerous, fast-rising star in the Yard who never backs down. And this case is no exception.

Special Agents Lacey Sherlock and Dillon Savich from Coulter’s bestselling FBI series don’t hesitate to help Drummond find the cunning international thief known as the Fox. Nonstop action and high stakes intensify as the chase gets deadly. The Fox will stop at nothing to deliver the Koh-i-Noor to the man who believes in its deadly prophecy. Nicholas Drummond, along with his partner, FBI Special Agent Mike Caine, lay it on the line to retrieve the diamond for Queen and country.

Get yours today!

Amazon / Kindle / Barnes & Noble / Nook / Books-a-Million / iTunes
Walmart / Target / IndieBound

East Side Story / Reading Rock

Tours 

I’m so excited to share with you that Catherine and I are doing a couple of signings for THE FINAL CUT. Catherine has a 150 miles rule – if you’re in the area, we’d certainly love to see you!

September 21, 1:00 p.m. COSTCO Danville, CA

September 26, [TBD] Adler's Jewelers New Orleans, LA (Please check back on my events page or Facebook for the time)

And I am hosting an online chat at Writerspace September 18, 2013, at 9pm EST. Stop by, ask me anything, and win cool stuff! 

Get Thee to a Bookstore 

...And buy THE FINAL CUT! No passing Go, no collecting $200.

Okay, okay, I’ll give you a few others to look at as well. I read like a fiend on vacation last month, here were my favorites: 

Jennifer Brooks — NO EVIL LOST
Allison Brennan and Laura Griffin — CRASH AND BURN
Susan Gregg Gilmore — THE FUNERAL DRESS
Paula McLain — THE PARIS WIFE
Ernest Hemingway — A MOVEABLE FEAST
Samantha Shannon — THE BONE SEASON
Julian Barnes — SENSE OF AN ENDING 

I’ve made a commitment to track all my reading this year, so if you’re onGoodreads, friend me, and follow along. I’m always interested in what you’re reading, too! 

Contest 

What? Giving away a diamond isn’t enough? Good thing I like to give stuff away, so every month there’s a new contest on my site. The September contest is live now – enter to win a signed copy of EDGE OF BLACK, Dr. Samantha Owens #2. 

September Recipe — Cheesecake Diamonds 

What better way to celebrate all of our diamonds this month than with a rich and yummy dessert? Luscious cheesecake is always a winner. 

Ingredients 

• 5 tablespoons butter, softened
• ⅓ cup packed brown sugar
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• ¼ cup chopped pecans

Filling:

• 1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese
• ½ cup sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 2 teaspoons lemon peel
• ½ teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions

• In a small bowl, cream butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy. Gradually add flour to creamed mixture and mix well. Stir in pecans.
• Set aside 1 cup for topping. Press the remaining mixture into a greased 8-in. square baking pan. Bake at 350° for 10-12 minutes or until set. Cool on a wire rack.
• In another small bowl, beat cream cheese and sugar until smooth. Add egg, beating just until combined. Beat in the cream, lemon juice, peel and vanilla. Spread over crust. Sprinkle with reserved topping.
• Bake at 350° for 20-22 minutes or until center is almost set. Cool on a wire rack for 1 hour.
• Refrigerate overnight. Cut into diamonds. Refrigerate leftovers.

Yield:  16 servings. 

It’s been a long, strange trip to this point, the release of my tenth novel. I do so appreciate each and every one of you. Sharpen those pencils and get out those new notebooks, and have a beautiful, productive start to your fall. 

xoxo, 

JT

On Release Day Silliness

So I was running around on release day (what release, you say? Ahem. THE FINAL CUT, of course!) and got caught in a massive traffic jam. But it was a pretty day, and I was in a rather fabulous mood, so I opened the top, turned up the radio, and prepared to jam out. And trust me, seeing a rapidly-pushing middle age blonde rocking it out to Alice in Chains seemed to improve the mood of most everyone around me, as I realized when I came up for air after a rocking drum solo to see the guy behind me and to the left laughing their asses off. 

Well. 

I didn't let that stop me. And over what ended up being a lovely hour stuck in traffic, the radio spit out song after song after song that fit the day to perfection.  So I started keeping track of the songs on Shazam. There were so many I decided to share them with you - my THE FINAL CUT Release Day Playlist! Enjoy!