writing life – Page 5

Using Famous People in Stories

Published on August 5, 2019August 4, 2019 by Noreen LaceLeave a comment

David Bowie appears in my new book, How to Throw a Psychic a Surprise Party. Sort of.

Bowie and the Basket Case is a short work of fiction. It’s completely legal to use the name of famous people in your literature. But there are limitations. Micheal Ondaajte has used historical figures, gave them secret lives.

The story must be clearly a work of fiction. And, if it is someone living, I’d be careful what I say about them. They have good lawyers.

The star of my story, however, is the basket case. But which one is the real basket case?

Out of Print Books

Published on July 31, 2019July 26, 2019 by Noreen LaceLeave a comment

lifeofclouds

A few of my books are officially “out of print.” I saw this one Amazon. In some ways, I hope no one pays that much. A few weeks ago, I thought there were 2 available – and they were about 600.-00 each. So did someone buy one?

Writer’s Distractions

Published on July 23, 2019July 21, 2019 by Noreen Lace1 Comment

writermeme

3 Things Writers Hate About You (jk)

Published on July 5, 2019July 4, 2019 by Noreen LaceLeave a comment

You don’t have to be a psychic to know there are things writers have in common. Some love them, some hate them. But, if you’re a writer and they haven’t happened to you yet, they will!

Every writer runs into multiple people who, upon find out they’re a writer, says, “I have this story I want to write…” the conversation then progresses in a few ways. The person will tell them they’re story, will ask them to write it for them (for free), or will suddenly be afraid their story will be stolen.
Every writer has someone ask them for free copies. Writers get a limited number of copies, unless, of course, they are Stephen King or someone like that. And sometimes the copies aren’t exactly free.
Almost every writer who has a social media account has had some amateur plug their own book on the writer’s page by dropping a link, comparing it, or other. This is rude, distasteful, and will not win the person friends. I’ve deleted and blocked people who’ve done that.

Now, given this is my page – I’ll plug my own book – released this week. Get it here!

Release Day

Published on July 3, 2019July 1, 2019 by Noreen LaceLeave a comment

These might be some of the best stories I’ve ever written – even if I do say so myself.

Malcom Gladwell has a theory – it takes 10,000 hours to perfect one’s craft. Well, I think, perhaps I’ve hit 50,000, maybe 100,000.

Beyond that – one learns, one grows wiser with age; hopefully, that is what you’ll read in these stories. Wisdom. Empathy. Healing.

Available now. on amazon and kindle.

Find out how to throw a psychic a surprise party.

Gotta Love a Book Sale

Published on June 29, 2019June 27, 2019 by Noreen LaceLeave a comment

I wish we were notified when our books were on sale! It seems Amazon in their infinite wisdom and monogolopy heart put my book on sale. I don’t mind. But I’d like to let people know.

one dollar stories cover

$1.00 Stories on sale for $2.45. Great price!

Cris was a best selling author, but he’s worried it was merely a flash in the pan lucky streak. He’s having trouble coming up with anything new. When he meets a homeless man selling stories on the streets – he’s sure the guy is not the author. He will do anything to prove something to himself, to the world, to the strange man who lives on the edge of society.

ENJOY!

and Review!

How Your Book Becomes a Finalist…

Published on June 28, 2019June 27, 2019 by Noreen LaceLeave a comment

As a writing community, I believe we need to help one another. There doesn’t need to be a competition or an unfriendly or unhealthy antagonism between us. We are people who share a love of the written word, a desire to share our stories.

When one of my writer friends introduced me to one of her writer friends, I was happy to join and jump in to help.

I had the honor of helping Dan Rhys bring The Lone Escapist to publication life.

When I heard he’d become a finalist in the Chanticleer Awards, I knew his book would be a great success.

It’s a detective, sort of mystery, sort of noir of old. I think Hitchcock would have loved it. The baser of our human needs and selves sometimes win out and cause us larger problems. Where exactly was Kelton when a school shooting took place in his very own classroom?

Wracked with guilt, he wants to find the shooter himself.

Released just this week – the writing is tight and the topic is contemporary – The Lone Escapist is available on kindle and in print. Audiobook to follow.

How do you get your book to become a finalist? to win an award? – Read Dan’s and find out!

Inspire

Published on June 24, 2019June 22, 2019 by Noreen LaceLeave a comment

The ancients believed that to be inspired was to be possessed by a spirit, or more specifically the muses.

the muses

In Spire

Spire – spirit.

In – within

To be possessed or have the muse enter your body or mind and to create amazing things during that time – to be inspired.

Isn’t that beautiful?

psychic cover front Available for Pre-Order

And another one down…

Published on June 22, 2019June 21, 2019 by Noreen LaceLeave a comment

delphinium 2019 front cover for kdp.jpg I’m open to a great number of inspirations. There’s a little understood affectation on people’s faces when they’re happy, when they’re sad, lying, telling the truth. Their faces betray what their words do not. However, not many people on the planet are very good at reading or understanding these micro-expressions.

For example, when a person is really happy, their eyes show it first. Their eyes brighten and lines around their eyes lift and tighten (I think), regardless of what their mouth actually does. At least this is what I understand.

I was inspired by these facts or theories and wrote a little story called “Deception.”

Deception is about a woman who believes she can read others’ micro-expressions and no one can read hers – because they’re not bothering to look.

I submitted this to one editor and he rejected it with a passion. I think I struck a nerve. He was obviously offended.

The story is fiction. It’s completely fiction. But, obviously, something about it was too real for him.

I believe it might be a bit too real for many, many people.

It’s in the summer issue of Delphinium. Available now.

Successful Writing

Published on June 21, 2019June 21, 2019 by Noreen LaceLeave a comment

Okay, so not bragging, but….. I’ve been hard at work….

The Healer’s Daughter in The Ear

The Healer’s Daughter is a departure for me. It marks a turns in my writing that came about just this year. It’s more mystical. Risky, maybe. A woman’s daughter describes her mother’s gift and discovers she has her very own gift, but will she actually use it?

The Healer’s Daughter will be featured in my summer release of How to Throw a Psychic a Surprise Party. It’s a book of short stories, all of which have a special or surprising twist.

Friends, Lovers, and Liars in Home Renovation

Originally titled Deception, it didn’t find a home. In fact, the topic of lies and cheating offended one editor. I think it may have hit too close to home. It, too, will be released in the summer release of How to Throw a Psychic a Surprise Party.

How to Throw a Psychic Surprise Party in The Electric Press Magazine

The title story for the book of short stories. Inspired by a show in which I saw a television host throw a “surprise” party for a psychic. It struck me – How do you throw a psychic a surprise party?

This story may answer that question. Maybe not. How much empathy can you muster?