Why You Should Write About What You Know

Because writing a novel is hard work! When you finally take the plunge and explore the frontier that is writing, make sure, at least for your first book, that you write about something you're very familiar with! That is the first rule of writing: Write what you know!!!

And in this event, since it's something you know, you'll be able to fill in the gaps between research with your own point of view in the meantime. Not to mention that you'll be taken seriously since you'll know the material you're writing about frontwards and backwards. Your readers will take you seriously.

And for your first book writing a topic you're familiar with will help get you through your first idea of what it is/means to write a book. The first time you tread the deep waters of writing a book can be daunting, so the last thing you need is to do so with a topic you don't know much about--it will only add to the frustration when it's time to search out a publisher, and provided you're lucky enough to find a publisher to back your novel, it will also add to the frustration of proofreading your work. You'll find that you're checking and double-checking your material to make sure it's right (that is if you care enough about it and don't want to look like an idiot to your readers). So...take the pressure off and write what you know!!

Read this article as it explains that just because you should write what you know, it doesn't mean you are limited to the areas of your mind. You can use your creativity parameters.

http://www.writing-world.com/fiction/know.shtml

And in addition to writing what you know means you'll have a better chance of a publisher choosing you to bring in to their fold. It's much easier to write about something you're familiar with or passionate about. Writing about something you have to learn about means a lot of starts and stops as you read through and learn the materials.

Why You Should Write About What You Know

Because writing a novel is hard work! When you finally take the plunge and explore the frontier that is writing, make sure, at least for your first book, that you write about something you're very familiar with! That is the first rule of writing: Write what you know!!!

And in this event, since it's something you know, you'll be able to fill in the gaps between research with your own point of view in the meantime. Not to mention that you'll be taken seriously since you'll know the material you're writing about frontwards and backwards. Your readers will take you seriously.

And for your first book writing a topic you're familiar with will help get you through your first idea of what it is/means to write a book. The first time you tread the deep waters of writing a book can be daunting, so the last thing you need is to do so with a topic you don't know much about--it will only add to the frustration when it's time to search out a publisher, and provided you're lucky enough to find a publisher to back your novel, it will also add to the frustration of proofreading your work. You'll find that you're checking and double-checking your material to make sure it's right (that is if you care enough about it and don't want to look like an idiot to your readers). So...take the pressure off and write what you know!!

Read this article as it explains that just because you should write what you know, it doesn't mean you are limited to the areas of your mind. You can use your creativity parameters.

http://www.writing-world.com/fiction/know.shtml

And in addition to writing what you know means you'll have a better chance of a publisher choosing you to bring in to their fold. It's much easier to write about something you're familiar with or passionate about. Writing about something you have to learn about means a lot of starts and stops as you read through and learn the materials.

How To Handle Manuscript Submissions

When you are finally done that manuscript and are ready to submit it to a publisher, things can seem quite confusing. Because of this, I've already submitted a post in my blog that states both the difficulties and the ways to navigate this particular endeavor (Attempting To Get Published).

Before submitting my manuscript to a publisher back in January 2013, I had joined Harper Collins' website (Authonomy.com) as an extra effort to make sure I would be submitting the best manuscript I could. The site is excellent in the sense that many aspiring authors (as well as seasoned authors) post their manuscripts for critiquing amongst their peers. It is the equivalent of a writer's group, only with the added benefit of convenience by being held online, and in the event that your book is a good one, one has a good chance of having it rise through the ranks simply based on word of mouth. If your novel is good enough, other aspiring authors will place it on their shelves to be read, and so-on-and-forth. It will get around. And finally, if that is the case, if your book makes it into the top 5 and finally to the coveted No. 1 spot, Harper Collins will consider that manuscript for publishing.

The downside, however, is this...The aspiring writers who are critiquing your work are amateurs, just like yourself, provided you are a 1st time author. What do they know? Well, truthfully, if they are avid readers such as myself, they can in fact offer quite a bit to help one improve upon their writing. However, that said, they are still not professional editors and cannot take the place of one.

Now I am not going to get in to how to find a publisher as, like I've said, that information can be found within my first post. But for those of you who are still in the thought process in regards to writing a book, I may be able to add a little something else...

When I wrote my book about Billy the Kid, I initially began it as a biography. Well...I quickly abandoned that approach as there are already TONS of biographies out there.

One of the most important rules of writing is to write what you know, especially if it is your first novel. Well, I knew all about Billy backwards and forwards--No problem. So, because I chose to abandon the biography as they are a dime a dozen, I decided that if I were going to take the time to write this novel I was going to write it so that it had the potential of possibly bringing in a fair income. Will that happen? I can't say. I can tell you, however, That Billy the Kid sells!  Unfortunately, obscure topics are often much more difficult for readers to locate. Basically, I'm praying/hoping that my book will be granted the same fortune as all of the other books that reveal the life of William H. Bonney. And as I had mentioned previously in my blog as well, I did not write this book in an orthodox manner. I wrote it through the eyes of a fictitious, young wealthy socialite from the east who had been sent to New Mexico to marry Billy's employer and owner of the land Billy and the other hired-hands worked

The reason I told you ALL of this information just to get to the part where I discuss the publisher is this:

I wrote about Billy the Kid, therefore, I checked out the very same publishers who publish books on him and other western literature. My first choice was Sunstone Press, the very same publisher who publishes the books on the accepted, undisputed authority on Billy the Kid, Frederick Nolan. When Sunstone Press accepted my book (very quickly I might add), I was so very, unbelievably excited! I was going to be published alongside the very man whose books taught me about my subject, not to mention the man who is undisputed to be the expert on Billy the Kid.

My novel is an epic length (130,000 words) which is difficult for a first time author to get published. Remember, publishers want to make money, and to do this they need to spend money on you in order to get your book out there in addition to running marketing campaigns, etc., etc...

As a 1st time author on their payroll, you must remember that you are at their mercy--don't argue! Of course you may voice your concerns and opinions, but don't be a pain in the ass; don't make them sorry they administered a contract to you.

The option of self-publishing is a wonderful ability now, but before you decide to turn to that, try seeking out a publisher first!

Now, I was nervous! Under Sunstone Press's website (Sunstone Press) they have several groups of genres. They have Outlaws, which most of you ought to know that is what Billy was considered and is found under that category. They had a genre marked strictly for cowboys, which of course Billy the Kid is found under as well. However, Billy has his own genre--Click on "Billy the Kid" and it takes you to all of the books they sell/published on the infamous, notorious outlaw. This had me extremely anxious! But no matter, I submitted my manuscript nonetheless because if you want to be a writer you have to ignore the personal roadblocks and go for it. You have to leave the fright far behind!

Upon receiving a letter from the publisher (which could have only meant good news as compared to receiving back your full manuscript) I was thrilled!

And not only did I receive the letter, but within the letter, sent directly from my editor, he  told me that I "obviously knew what I was talking about." Reading those words gave me a heady feeling and I only wish it for each and every one of you who are trying to get your foot in the door in the publishing community!

Now that I've mentioned that last bit yet again, as I've discussed it in my first post, please remember that you must submit your manuscript to a publisher that deals with your genre. For example, you do not want to send a horror or thriller story to a publisher that strictly prints books on gardening! This is where researching your publishers come in, and that being said, be prepared to be rejected more than once! But don't lose heart! A true writer who believes in their brainchild will not give up!

Now, that being said, be sure you spend the $35 dollars to copyright your precious work!!! Take no chances!

A publisher/editor doesn't want to see a sloppy submission, so go to the site of the publishing house you want to submit to and be sure to find out what they require in forms of submissions; usually one example chapter, an Author's Bio, a Marketing Plan, Brief Synopsis, and in my case, a movie treatment in the event it is sold to Hollywood. And please remember that the last thing you want to do is come off cocky in your submission! You should certainly appear confident, but watch your tone! Remember...you are humble as a new author--a publisher/editor holds your future or literary happiness in their hands, so respect that.

For some extra help, go to the Literary Market Place to research publishers.

I have been writing since I was six years old, and now I'm in on how it all works. It used to seem so hard, difficult, and confusing, and certainly submitting a manuscript was not as easy as it is today!

One of the MAJOR rules to consider is to make sure your writing is clear and that you've edited your work before submitting it. No editor/publisher wants anything to do with a potential author who doesn't bother to even submit the necessary work right.

And remember to please, please, please come to any one of us published authors with questions. We're all only too happy to help :o)

How To Handle Manuscript Submissions

When you are finally done that manuscript and are ready to submit it to a publisher, things can seem quite confusing. Because of this, I've already submitted a post in my blog that states both the difficulties and the ways to navigate this particular endeavor (Attempting To Get Published).

Before submitting my manuscript to a publisher back in January 2013, I had joined Harper Collins' website (Authonomy.com) as an extra effort to make sure I would be submitting the best manuscript I could. The site is excellent in the sense that many aspiring authors (as well as seasoned authors) post their manuscripts for critiquing amongst their peers. It is the equivalent of a writer's group, only with the added benefit of convenience by being held online, and in the event that your book is a good one, one has a good chance of having it rise through the ranks simply based on word of mouth. If your novel is good enough, other aspiring authors will place it on their shelves to be read, and so-on-and-forth. It will get around. And finally, if that is the case, if your book makes it into the top 5 and finally to the coveted No. 1 spot, Harper Collins will consider that manuscript for publishing.

The downside, however, is this...The aspiring writers who are critiquing your work are amateurs, just like yourself, provided you are a 1st time author. What do they know? Well, truthfully, if they are avid readers such as myself, they can in fact offer quite a bit to help one improve upon their writing. However, that said, they are still not professional editors and cannot take the place of one.

Now I am not going to get in to how to find a publisher as, like I've said, that information can be found within my first post. But for those of you who are still in the thought process in regards to writing a book, I may be able to add a little something else...

When I wrote my book about Billy the Kid, I initially began it as a biography. Well...I quickly abandoned that approach as there are already TONS of biographies out there.

One of the most important rules of writing is to write what you know, especially if it is your first novel. Well, I knew all about Billy backwards and forwards--No problem. So, because I chose to abandon the biography as they are a dime a dozen, I decided that if I were going to take the time to write this novel I was going to write it so that it had the potential of possibly bringing in a fair income. Will that happen? I can't say. I can tell you, however, That Billy the Kid sells!  Unfortunately, obscure topics are often much more difficult for readers to locate. Basically, I'm praying/hoping that my book will be granted the same fortune as all of the other books that reveal the life of William H. Bonney. And as I had mentioned previously in my blog as well, I did not write this book in an orthodox manner. I wrote it through the eyes of a fictitious, young wealthy socialite from the east who had been sent to New Mexico to marry Billy's employer and owner of the land Billy and the other hired-hands worked

The reason I told you ALL of this information just to get to the part where I discuss the publisher is this:

I wrote about Billy the Kid, therefore, I checked out the very same publishers who publish books on him and other western literature. My first choice was Sunstone Press, the very same publisher who publishes the books on the accepted, undisputed authority on Billy the Kid, Frederick Nolan. When Sunstone Press accepted my book (very quickly I might add), I was so very, unbelievably excited! I was going to be published alongside the very man whose books taught me about my subject, not to mention the man who is undisputed to be the expert on Billy the Kid.

My novel is an epic length (130,000 words) which is difficult for a first time author to get published. Remember, publishers want to make money, and to do this they need to spend money on you in order to get your book out there in addition to running marketing campaigns, etc., etc...

As a 1st time author on their payroll, you must remember that you are at their mercy--don't argue! Of course you may voice your concerns and opinions, but don't be a pain in the ass; don't make them sorry they administered a contract to you.

The option of self-publishing is a wonderful ability now, but before you decide to turn to that, try seeking out a publisher first!

Now, I was nervous! Under Sunstone Press's website (Sunstone Press) they have several groups of genres. They have Outlaws, which most of you ought to know that is what Billy was considered and is found under that category. They had a genre marked strictly for cowboys, which of course Billy the Kid is found under as well. However, Billy has his own genre--Click on "Billy the Kid" and it takes you to all of the books they sell/published on the infamous, notorious outlaw. This had me extremely anxious! But no matter, I submitted my manuscript nonetheless because if you want to be a writer you have to ignore the personal roadblocks and go for it. You have to leave the fright far behind!

Upon receiving a letter from the publisher (which could have only meant good news as compared to receiving back your full manuscript) I was thrilled!

And not only did I receive the letter, but within the letter, sent directly from my editor, he  told me that I "obviously knew what I was talking about." Reading those words gave me a heady feeling and I only wish it for each and every one of you who are trying to get your foot in the door in the publishing community!

Now that I've mentioned that last bit yet again, as I've discussed it in my first post, please remember that you must submit your manuscript to a publisher that deals with your genre. For example, you do not want to send a horror or thriller story to a publisher that strictly prints books on gardening! This is where researching your publishers come in, and that being said, be prepared to be rejected more than once! But don't lose heart! A true writer who believes in their brainchild will not give up!

Now, that being said, be sure you spend the $35 dollars to copyright your precious work!!! Take no chances!

A publisher/editor doesn't want to see a sloppy submission, so go to the site of the publishing house you want to submit to and be sure to find out what they require in forms of submissions; usually one example chapter, an Author's Bio, a Marketing Plan, Brief Synopsis, and in my case, a movie treatment in the event it is sold to Hollywood. And please remember that the last thing you want to do is come off cocky in your submission! You should certainly appear confident, but watch your tone! Remember...you are humble as a new author--a publisher/editor holds your future or literary happiness in their hands, so respect that.

For some extra help, go to the Literary Market Place to research publishers.

I have been writing since I was six years old, and now I'm in on how it all works. It used to seem so hard, difficult, and confusing, and certainly submitting a manuscript was not as easy as it is today!

One of the MAJOR rules to consider is to make sure your writing is clear and that you've edited your work before submitting it. No editor/publisher wants anything to do with a potential author who doesn't bother to even submit the necessary work right.

And remember to please, please, please come to any one of us published authors with questions. We're all only too happy to help :o)

Don't Make Your Protagonist Perfect, Perfect, Perfect. Employ Character Flaws!!!

When writing...

If you have a solid idea of the bare bones of your story and are ready to flesh them out, try to remember this: Make your characters as fallible as you can. After all, nobody is perfect--we all have flaws.

The reason I raise this issue is not only because it's true, but because I knew a girl who aspires to be a writer. She's in her mid to late 20s, and she had put me on the spot and had me read what she had written so far.

From what I read, the dialogue wasn't up to par, and more than that, her protagonist and subsequently the "good guys" relating to the protagonist were all described as good-looking and otherwise perfect, whereas her antagonist(s) sported seriously flawed looks and behavior. What utter triteness! The good guys are beautiful, the bad guys are ugly. Check please!

I pointed this out to her and suggested that she use every chance she could in order to create a much more realistic, and therefore profound story, and that included putting a blemish on her faultless protagonist, et al. The more imperfect your characters are, especially those in the protagonist role, the more you have to work with (not to mention the realism you'll garner within your pages). Creating imperfect characters who are subject to the moral code and confused when confronted with it is not only much more fun but makes for an interesting read. Tormenting your protagonist with a dilemma enables you add depth and character as well as interesting scenarios.

At any rate I don't think she agreed with me, and that among other things told me she wasn't mature yet enough to write a novel. That being said, she had abandoned her "novel" which only stated further that she wasn't a true writer, at least at present. Writer's don't abandon their work for new boyfriends. And though I knew this, as a writer, I still felt obligated to be truthful to her while reading her shaky, unfinished manuscript.

I am not fair to any of my characters. They all have good in them, they all have bad in them. The only intervening factor regarding both aspects is the degree to which they are good and bad. Employing these characteristics to all of my main characters allows me to have something to work with, to perform character arcs and quite possibly allow them a form of redemption if their character is found wanting. You'll have the ability to allow your characters to grow.

You want to make sure your characters have to face adversity, and by causing them to face moral and ethical situations will allow you to push the story in different directions all while keeping your readers on their toes. Don't make it too easy for your audience to know what your character will do based on the personality you have created for him/her. A character that does not make any mistakes and, therefore, cannot grow and learn, is boring. Making your characters imperfect will also help your readers relate to your work which, I might add, opens the door to their becoming attached to your story.

In my case, my characters have the potential to surprise my audience (and even myself) by possibly doing the opposite of what they and the readers would think. There is no telling what either my protagonists or antagonists will do in any given situation, and this helps keep the suspense going.

If you keep everything on the straight and narrow you won't have much of a story. You certainly wouldn't have an interesting story (in most cases) to say the least!

Don't Make Your Protagonist Perfect, Perfect, Perfect. Employ Character Flaws!!!

When writing...

If you have a solid idea of the bare bones of your story and are ready to flesh them out, try to remember this: Make your characters as fallible as you can. After all, nobody is perfect--we all have flaws.

The reason I raise this issue is not only because it's true, but because I knew a girl who aspires to be a writer. She's in her mid to late 20s, and she had put me on the spot and had me read what she had written so far.

From what I read, the dialogue wasn't up to par, and more than that, her protagonist and subsequently the "good guys" relating to the protagonist were all described as good-looking and otherwise perfect, whereas her antagonist(s) sported seriously flawed looks and behavior. What utter triteness! The good guys are beautiful, the bad guys are ugly. Check please!

I pointed this out to her and suggested that she use every chance she could in order to create a much more realistic, and therefore profound story, and that included putting a blemish on her faultless protagonist, et al. The more imperfect your characters are, especially those in the protagonist role, the more you have to work with (not to mention the realism you'll garner within your pages). Creating imperfect characters who are subject to the moral code and confused when confronted with it is not only much more fun but makes for an interesting read. Tormenting your protagonist with a dilemma enables you add depth and character as well as interesting scenarios.

At any rate I don't think she agreed with me, and that among other things told me she wasn't mature yet enough to write a novel. That being said, she had abandoned her "novel" which only stated further that she wasn't a true writer, at least at present. Writer's don't abandon their work for new boyfriends. And though I knew this, as a writer, I still felt obligated to be truthful to her while reading her shaky, unfinished manuscript.

I am not fair to any of my characters. They all have good in them, they all have bad in them. The only intervening factor regarding both aspects is the degree to which they are good and bad. Employing these characteristics to all of my main characters allows me to have something to work with, to perform character arcs and quite possibly allow them a form of redemption if their character is found wanting. You'll have the ability to allow your characters to grow.

You want to make sure your characters have to face adversity, and by causing them to face moral and ethical situations will allow you to push the story in different directions all while keeping your readers on their toes. Don't make it too easy for your audience to know what your character will do based on the personality you have created for him/her. A character that does not make any mistakes and, therefore, cannot grow and learn, is boring. Making your characters imperfect will also help your readers relate to your work which, I might add, opens the door to their becoming attached to your story.

In my case, my characters have the potential to surprise my audience (and even myself) by possibly doing the opposite of what they and the readers would think. There is no telling what either my protagonists or antagonists will do in any given situation, and this helps keep the suspense going.

If you keep everything on the straight and narrow you won't have much of a story. You certainly wouldn't have an interesting story (in most cases) to say the least!

Blog Hop Interview

            I want to thank Reece (@Reece_Bridger ) for the opportunity to be a part of this by selecting me and pinging me to take part in a blog-hop, prompting me to discuss my work.

            I think it’s wonderful that she has taken the time to initiate this interview as a way to encourage writers to discuss and promote their writing—I think we all (those of us who are fortunate to be published authors) want to help others who are aspiring to achieve their own literary dream, and I am more than happy to participate. Any considerate offering such as this ought not to be squandered!

            So thank you kindly, Reece, for selecting me as one of your three picks and boosting me to discuss my novel!

1)      What are you working on right now?

            Presently, I am in the final proofing stages of my first novel (with the sequel itself halfway written) which I had gotten the idea for about 25 years ago when I was thirteen—I wasn’t mature enough back then to tell the story in the profound way it deserves, but little more than four years ago that old idea began to surface in my mind again and so I decided, “Why not?” After all, I had invested so much time in learning about all of the facts and details concerning what had happened under recreational circumstances which could only mean I’d be able to put my story together appropriately.

            Bandita Bonita: Romancing Billy the Kid is a story that details the account of the New Mexican Lincoln County War (1878), the small war that was responsible for initially catapulting William H. Bonney, aka, Billy the Kid, into the legend he became in those days and still is today. The story deals with Elucia Howard, an eastern socialite who crosses paths with the Kid and, through unfortunate circumstances, finds herself caught up in the whirlwind along with Billy and the gang of men who fought with the Regulators. She describes the account of the war from a first person perspective, as well as giving the audience a look into Billy’s personality which I was able to put together based on the countless, detailed information and interviews taken from those who knew him during those volatile days.

 

2)      How does it differ from other work in its genre?

            I suppose I couldn’t say for sure, but though I had to tell this story in an unconventional manner, creating a fictitious female protagonist whom did not exist, let alone ride with the Regulators and fight alongside of them, I had an initial goal of using my protagonist to tell the details as we know them today, and so the story sticks very closely to the facts. I did not take liberties and bend the facts to fiction, but rather I made sure to bend fiction to fact, making sure the two melded nicely and justly. So it’s half fiction/fantasy and historical fact.

 

3)      Why do you write what you do?

            Because over the years I had not only become extremely fascinated with Billy—this boy who not only had to learn to survive on his own from the tender age of 14—but began to hold a considerable amount of affection for him as he is one of my three favorite historical figures. The maternal instinct in me developed the desire to want to nurture his memory and try to offer my own perspective on who I believe this boy was based on the numerous accounts told of him, and to have my book serve as a highlight to the biographies written by the countless numbers of men—the veritable “Boys Club” of Billy Bonney. I wanted to create a character study, but I did not want to write yet another biography. I wanted to tell a story that paints Billy as a three-dimensional literary being, and for the most part, I think I have a pretty good handle on him.

4)      How does your writing process work?

            I spend a lot of time thinking up a story before laying it down. It took me three years of mentally considering this account before finally sitting down to write it about a year and a half ago.

            My writing process consists of driving around endlessly while listening to my music (especially music that I can make relate to the tale I want to tell) and thinking about what it is I want to say. It often works like a charm, and though I’m extremely fortunate in that I can come up with fun scenarios or dialogue without too much effort thanks to all of that time spent sussing things out and smoothing out the lines before even beginning my project, there are some occasions when I hit a wall. I can’t rightly consider it writer’s block because I’m far too involved in this story to truly have any problems such as that (this story now unfolds in my mind as though it is second nature), but sometimes I have a new idea that I want to insert and so I head out in my car, drive for however long it takes, and when I arrive back home I’ve got the answer!

 

I hope the three I select will also take the time to complete this short interview as it does serve an incredible purpose. That is…it serves a purpose if you truly believe in your work and have every intention of taking advantage of any opportunities that come your way to get it out there and share it with others.

 

I would like to select these three in the hopes that they, too, will take this opportunity and run with it. Publicity is publicity—don’t waste it!

 

** Please take these questions and apply them and their answers to your blog/website.

 

@Gary_C_King

 

@GiselleMarks1

 

@KMWeiland

 

Blog Hop Interview

            I want to thank Reece (@Reece_Bridger ) for the opportunity to be a part of this by selecting me and pinging me to take part in a blog-hop, prompting me to discuss my work.

            I think it’s wonderful that she has taken the time to initiate this interview as a way to encourage writers to discuss and promote their writing—I think we all (those of us who are fortunate to be published authors) want to help others who are aspiring to achieve their own literary dream, and I am more than happy to participate. Any considerate offering such as this ought not to be squandered!

            So thank you kindly, Reece, for selecting me as one of your three picks and boosting me to discuss my novel!

1)      What are you working on right now?

            Presently, I am in the final proofing stages of my first novel (with the sequel itself halfway written) which I had gotten the idea for about 25 years ago when I was thirteen—I wasn’t mature enough back then to tell the story in the profound way it deserves, but little more than four years ago that old idea began to surface in my mind again and so I decided, “Why not?” After all, I had invested so much time in learning about all of the facts and details concerning what had happened under recreational circumstances which could only mean I’d be able to put my story together appropriately.

            Bandita Bonita: Romancing Billy the Kid is a story that details the account of the New Mexican Lincoln County War (1878), the small war that was responsible for initially catapulting William H. Bonney, aka, Billy the Kid, into the legend he became in those days and still is today. The story deals with Elucia Howard, an eastern socialite who crosses paths with the Kid and, through unfortunate circumstances, finds herself caught up in the whirlwind along with Billy and the gang of men who fought with the Regulators. She describes the account of the war from a first person perspective, as well as giving the audience a look into Billy’s personality which I was able to put together based on the countless, detailed information and interviews taken from those who knew him during those volatile days.

 

2)      How does it differ from other work in its genre?

            I suppose I couldn’t say for sure, but though I had to tell this story in an unconventional manner, creating a fictitious female protagonist whom did not exist, let alone ride with the Regulators and fight alongside of them, I had an initial goal of using my protagonist to tell the details as we know them today, and so the story sticks very closely to the facts. I did not take liberties and bend the facts to fiction, but rather I made sure to bend fiction to fact, making sure the two melded nicely and justly. So it’s half fiction/fantasy and historical fact.

 

3)      Why do you write what you do?

            Because over the years I had not only become extremely fascinated with Billy—this boy who not only had to learn to survive on his own from the tender age of 14—but began to hold a considerable amount of affection for him as he is one of my three favorite historical figures. The maternal instinct in me developed the desire to want to nurture his memory and try to offer my own perspective on who I believe this boy was based on the numerous accounts told of him, and to have my book serve as a highlight to the biographies written by the countless numbers of men—the veritable “Boys Club” of Billy Bonney. I wanted to create a character study, but I did not want to write yet another biography. I wanted to tell a story that paints Billy as a three-dimensional literary being, and for the most part, I think I have a pretty good handle on him.

4)      How does your writing process work?

            I spend a lot of time thinking up a story before laying it down. It took me three years of mentally considering this account before finally sitting down to write it about a year and a half ago.

            My writing process consists of driving around endlessly while listening to my music (especially music that I can make relate to the tale I want to tell) and thinking about what it is I want to say. It often works like a charm, and though I’m extremely fortunate in that I can come up with fun scenarios or dialogue without too much effort thanks to all of that time spent sussing things out and smoothing out the lines before even beginning my project, there are some occasions when I hit a wall. I can’t rightly consider it writer’s block because I’m far too involved in this story to truly have any problems such as that (this story now unfolds in my mind as though it is second nature), but sometimes I have a new idea that I want to insert and so I head out in my car, drive for however long it takes, and when I arrive back home I’ve got the answer!

 

I hope the three I select will also take the time to complete this short interview as it does serve an incredible purpose. That is…it serves a purpose if you truly believe in your work and have every intention of taking advantage of any opportunities that come your way to get it out there and share it with others.

 

I would like to select these three in the hopes that they, too, will take this opportunity and run with it. Publicity is publicity—don’t waste it!

 

** Please take these questions and apply them and their answers to your blog/website.

 

@Gary_C_King

 

@GiselleMarks1

 

@KMWeiland

 

The Writing Process

This is another short blog, so hopefully your ADHD keeps itself in check. How do I know you have ADHD? Because all writers do.

Every writer has/needs a process.

My process consists of driving my car with my music blaring loudly. When I find myself stuck (and not due to writer's block, mind you-that's completely different), I take to my car, blare my music, and by the time I come home, hours later, I have the answer.

One of the most important habits you can have as a writer is, no...not drinking or drugs, but a process!! You need something in your life that allows you to tune all else out (or even if it doesn't tune all else out, it's simply just some time for you and yourself) so you can contribute important ideas to yourself.

When I'm driving other things have a tendency to get in there: Work, marriage, family, friends, life in general, yada yada....but ultimately, when I get home, I've got the answer to the riddle I was trying to solve in my writing--when I left my house in the first place.

EVERY WRITER NEEDS A PROCESS!!!!

The Writing Process

This is another short blog, so hopefully your ADHD keeps itself in check. How do I know you have ADHD? Because all writers do.

Every writer has/needs a process.

My process consists of driving my car with my music blaring loudly. When I find myself stuck (and not due to writer's block, mind you-that's completely different), I take to my car, blare my music, and by the time I come home, hours later, I have the answer.

One of the most important habits you can have as a writer is, no...not drinking or drugs, but a process!! You need something in your life that allows you to tune all else out (or even if it doesn't tune all else out, it's simply just some time for you and yourself) so you can contribute important ideas to yourself.

When I'm driving other things have a tendency to get in there: Work, marriage, family, friends, life in general, yada yada....but ultimately, when I get home, I've got the answer to the riddle I was trying to solve in my writing--when I left my house in the first place.

EVERY WRITER NEEDS A PROCESS!!!!

Developing Your Characters

This is a short one:

First of all, pacing is everything in a story, especially if you're like me and write epic length novels.

How does pacing play into developing your characters? Simple. Don't get too involved in their backstory. Give some pertinent information into their past, absolutely, but don't spend a whole hell of a lot of time going into this and that. A) Most readers don't care, and B) You'll lose your readers. Do you want to lose your readers? I didn't think so.

The development of your character doesn't necessarily lie within their backstory anyhow. Sure, their past plays a part in who they are, but you don't need to get into their past right off the bat. In some stories this is critical, of course, but it adheres mostly to sci-fi stories and the like. If you're writing regular literature, the development of your character can be fulfilled as you tell the story in present tense. In addition, over time, your characters will reveal themselves in due course, and your readers can learn all about them based on their behavior or thoughts/thought processes, or how they interact with other characters. Those last two sentences are two of the most important things you need to know in terms of developing your characters. And even then, don't spend too much time in describing what they're all about. And again, you can use their development to your advantage by allowing their personalities to unfold as you tell your story.

One of my favorite reasons for writing from the 1st person POV, or even reading from the 1st person POV is because you are in the character's head. Whatever their thoughts are, they become your thoughts. There's nowhere for them to hide. When a writer writes from the 2nd person POV you still get a nice glimpse of who you are dealing with as you read, but often you must make some speculations, and that's not to say it's a bad thing, AT ALL!!! It's quite fine! It's only my opinion as to why I appreciate the 1st person perspective.

Developing Your Characters

This is a short one:

First of all, pacing is everything in a story, especially if you're like me and write epic length novels.

How does pacing play into developing your characters? Simple. Don't get too involved in their backstory. Give some pertinent information into their past, absolutely, but don't spend a whole hell of a lot of time going into this and that. A) Most readers don't care, and B) You'll lose your readers. Do you want to lose your readers? I didn't think so.

The development of your character doesn't necessarily lie within their backstory anyhow. Sure, their past plays a part in who they are, but you don't need to get into their past right off the bat. In some stories this is critical, of course, but it adheres mostly to sci-fi stories and the like. If you're writing regular literature, the development of your character can be fulfilled as you tell the story in present tense. In addition, over time, your characters will reveal themselves in due course, and your readers can learn all about them based on their behavior or thoughts/thought processes, or how they interact with other characters. Those last two sentences are two of the most important things you need to know in terms of developing your characters. And even then, don't spend too much time in describing what they're all about. And again, you can use their development to your advantage by allowing their personalities to unfold as you tell your story.

One of my favorite reasons for writing from the 1st person POV, or even reading from the 1st person POV is because you are in the character's head. Whatever their thoughts are, they become your thoughts. There's nowhere for them to hide. When a writer writes from the 2nd person POV you still get a nice glimpse of who you are dealing with as you read, but often you must make some speculations, and that's not to say it's a bad thing, AT ALL!!! It's quite fine! It's only my opinion as to why I appreciate the 1st person perspective.

Using Your Characters To Write A Great Story

If you want to write a great story (and great stories are debatable depending on who you speak with), do yourself a favor and live with your characters a while. Living with them allows you to study who you want them to be and understand them in order to develop them accordingly which should ensure that you will create a well-rounded character that your readers will care about.
 
Allow me to offer you an example: If you met a new friend, odds are you wouldn't grant that friend your trust until you knew them well enough, right? Well, the same goes for your characters. And just like that friend, the more time you spend with your characters, the more you learn to love them. The more you learn to love them, the more you care about their wellbeing. The more you care about their wellbeing, the more you care about how they handle their dilemmas (and all good stories need dilemmas).
 
There are a lot of authors nowadays that churn out story after story, self-publishing them, and the lack of attention they put in to the development of their characters comes through—the flimsiness shows. Stories like that are what I think of as 1-dimensional. The story itself has no backbone. It's fluff, and the reason being is because the characters are merely there for the purpose of moving the story along so a writer can self-publish for the purpose of hoping for sales (of course if the book is no good, you can probably say b'bye to sales). But the characters are what make the story!!! There is no story without characters!!
 
If you love your characters, odds are readers will, too, and they will give a damn and be enthusiastic to read about them to find out how they handle this or that situation, or how they react to circumstances. Once again, and I can’t stress this enough, if you care about your characters, your audience will care about them also.
 
I know it's hard, but spend time with your characters for a decent amount of time. I lived with mine for three years before I decided to write the first story in my trilogy. My characters are no longer an extension of myself, but they are their own entity--okay, with the exception that they do what I want. But the thing is, despite having them do what I want, I now wonder how theywould handle a situation as opposed to simply deciding on what I want them to do and throwing them into predicaments and makingthem dance through it. I labor over how so-and-so would maneuver through obstacles--it's no longer how I would do it or howI want to make them do it; It's all about the personality I created for them and how that personality will play into their situation and cause them to react. I don’t decide how I want them to behave, I take the time to wonder how they would handle the predicament  I have put them in. I know my characters so well that I know what they would and would not do. If I come up with a way to resolve an issue, and I know in my heart that that’s not how my character would go about it, I nix my idea and figure out another resolution.
 
When your characters come into their own it shows--it projects from the pages and onto the reader. I realize it's tough to sit around thinking on and considering your characters, especially if you're keen to start writing, but in the end it's so completely worth it!
 
My characters are now like family to me. Of course I realize they do not exist outside of my head, but they do exist, and I have to consider their feelings and emotions just like I have to consider the feelings and emotions of my friends and family. If I don’t consider the personality I have developed for my characters and have them solve problems willy-nilly in order to move past an issue, then it becomes inherently clear (even to readers [who pay attention]) that it is, well, out of character for them.
My characters are just as important as the story I want to tell—without them, well hell…I have no story to tell!

 

Using Your Characters To Write A Great Story

If you want to write a great story (and great stories are debatable depending on who you speak with), do yourself a favor and live with your characters a while. Living with them allows you to study who you want them to be and understand them in order to develop them accordingly which should ensure that you will create a well-rounded character that your readers will care about.
 
Allow me to offer you an example: If you met a new friend, odds are you wouldn't grant that friend your trust until you knew them well enough, right? Well, the same goes for your characters. And just like that friend, the more time you spend with your characters, the more you learn to love them. The more you learn to love them, the more you care about their wellbeing. The more you care about their wellbeing, the more you care about how they handle their dilemmas (and all good stories need dilemmas).
 
There are a lot of authors nowadays that churn out story after story, self-publishing them, and the lack of attention they put in to the development of their characters comes through—the flimsiness shows. Stories like that are what I think of as 1-dimensional. The story itself has no backbone. It's fluff, and the reason being is because the characters are merely there for the purpose of moving the story along so a writer can self-publish for the purpose of hoping for sales (of course if the book is no good, you can probably say b'bye to sales). But the characters are what make the story!!! There is no story without characters!!
 
If you love your characters, odds are readers will, too, and they will give a damn and be enthusiastic to read about them to find out how they handle this or that situation, or how they react to circumstances. Once again, and I can’t stress this enough, if you care about your characters, your audience will care about them also.
 
I know it's hard, but spend time with your characters for a decent amount of time. I lived with mine for three years before I decided to write the first story in my trilogy. My characters are no longer an extension of myself, but they are their own entity--okay, with the exception that they do what I want. But the thing is, despite having them do what I want, I now wonder how they would handle a situation as opposed to simply deciding on what I want them to do and throwing them into predicaments and making them dance through it. I labor over how so-and-so would maneuver through obstacles--it's no longer how I would do it or how I want to make them do it; It's all about the personality I created for them and how that personality will play into their situation and cause them to react. I don’t decide how I want them to behave, I take the time to wonder how they would handle the predicament  I have put them in. I know my characters so well that I know what they would and would not do. If I come up with a way to resolve an issue, and I know in my heart that that’s not how my character would go about it, I nix my idea and figure out another resolution.
 
When your characters come into their own it shows--it projects from the pages and onto the reader. I realize it's tough to sit around thinking on and considering your characters, especially if you're keen to start writing, but in the end it's so completely worth it!
 
My characters are now like family to me. Of course I realize they do not exist outside of my head, but they do exist, and I have to consider their feelings and emotions just like I have to consider the feelings and emotions of my friends and family. If I don’t consider the personality I have developed for my characters and have them solve problems willy-nilly in order to move past an issue, then it becomes inherently clear (even to readers [who pay attention]) that it is, well, out of character for them.
My characters are just as important as the story I want to tell—without them, well hell…I have no story to tell!

 

Dealing With Publishers

If you've written a novel and are lucky enough to get picked up by a publisher, do yourself a favor and don't make waves because suddenly, after all the rejections you've received, that acceptance letter and contract has a funny way of making you arrogant and giving you a sense of importance. But remember the reason you feel that way--because that publisher chose you and not necessarily because you're some special entity or the best author who ever lived.

Editors have a way of wanting to make your work marketable, and when this happens you need to listen.

As a writer who is soon to be published, I understand how attached you are to your work, but the thing is a publisher who submits a contract to you in order to establish your work might have second thoughts in dealing with you if you are a huge pain in the ass.

For example, my editor wanted to change my title. I was attached to said title; I had modeled it after the pulp westerns from the 1800s. But I agreed with my editor that most people today wouldn't realize that, and I begrudgingly agreed with him in regards to changing my title. The publisher's marketing department liked my editor's title better, and because they want to sell copies of the book and make money (making you money in the process) they often know better. So I had to let my title go. And really, what's the big deal anyway? It's not as if my story changed. I might have preferred my title, but in the end, I understood the need for the title they chose.

If your editor makes suggestions, take them seriously. Remember, they're investing in you. Unless you're an accomplished writer in the sense that you've written several books and therefore have some clout with the publishing industry, think about the last time someone financially invested tens of thousands on you based on their belief in you and your work. Probably never. Based on that alone your editor/publisher deserves some respect in making marketing decisions.

And it's okay to ask questions, but don't question your editor. What I mean to say is your editor is more than happy to explain things to you, but if you begin to interrogate him/her on their ideas/decision making, you will not ingratiate yourself to them at all, and the last place you want to be is on bad terms with your editor. Suppose, like myself, you have a sequel in the works? If you're a difficult person to work with, even if your publisher goes ahead and publishes your current work, they may not want to be bothered with the second work and it's back to the drawing board and rejections for you.

As for me, I not only want to publish my sequel with the same publisher who is putting out my first work, but I chose my publisher based on the fact that they publish the premier authority on Billy the Kid, Frederick Nolan, and I am honored that they chose me back. Therefore, I want to stay on their good side and remain with them. It's a feather in my cap that I am not only being published with the same publisher that prints one of my favorite authors who writes about and is the number one expert on my favorite historical figure, but also because after submitting my manuscript, they gave me many nice compliments, one of which was the statement that I obviously knew what I was talking about. Being that my story is a period piece that's based on historical fact, this was a major deal to me, and it helped instill even more confidence in myself because they saw and admitted that I knew my stuff.

So, if you are lucky and get yourself a publisher and a contract, and you've done the research on your publisher (see my post on Attempting To Get Published), make sure you don't grow too big for your britches simply because you're getting published. The same person who made you feel that way can make you feel incredibly small conversely if you fail to be modest and listen to their point of view with an open mind.

Dealing With Publishers

If you've written a novel and are lucky enough to get picked up by a publisher, do yourself a favor and don't make waves because suddenly, after all the rejections you've received, that acceptance letter and contract has a funny way of making you arrogant and giving you a sense of importance. But remember the reason you feel that way--because that publisher chose you and not necessarily because you're some special entity or the best author who ever lived.

Editors have a way of wanting to make your work marketable, and when this happens you need to listen.

As a writer who is soon to be published, I understand how attached you are to your work, but the thing is a publisher who submits a contract to you in order to establish your work might have second thoughts in dealing with you if you are a huge pain in the ass.

For example, my editor wanted to change my title. I was attached to said title; I had modeled it after the pulp westerns from the 1800s. But I agreed with my editor that most people today wouldn't realize that, and I begrudgingly agreed with him in regards to changing my title. The publisher's marketing department liked my editor's title better, and because they want to sell copies of the book and make money (making you money in the process) they often know better. So I had to let my title go. And really, what's the big deal anyway? It's not as if my story changed. I might have preferred my title, but in the end, I understood the need for the title they chose.

If your editor makes suggestions, take them seriously. Remember, they're investing in you. Unless you're an accomplished writer in the sense that you've written several books and therefore have some clout with the publishing industry, think about the last time someone financially invested tens of thousands on you based on their belief in you and your work. Probably never. Based on that alone your editor/publisher deserves some respect in making marketing decisions.

And it's okay to ask questions, but don't question your editor. What I mean to say is your editor is more than happy to explain things to you, but if you begin to interrogate him/her on their ideas/decision making, you will not ingratiate yourself to them at all, and the last place you want to be is on bad terms with your editor. Suppose, like myself, you have a sequel in the works? If you're a difficult person to work with, even if your publisher goes ahead and publishes your current work, they may not want to be bothered with the second work and it's back to the drawing board and rejections for you.

As for me, I not only want to publish my sequel with the same publisher who is putting out my first work, but I chose my publisher based on the fact that they publish the premier authority on Billy the Kid, Frederick Nolan, and I am honored that they chose me back. Therefore, I want to stay on their good side and remain with them. It's a feather in my cap that I am not only being published with the same publisher that prints one of my favorite authors who writes about and is the number one expert on my favorite historical figure, but also because after submitting my manuscript, they gave me many nice compliments, one of which was the statement that I obviously knew what I was talking about. Being that my story is a period piece that's based on historical fact, this was a major deal to me, and it helped instill even more confidence in myself because they saw and admitted that I knew my stuff.

So, if you are lucky and get yourself a publisher and a contract, and you've done the research on your publisher (see my post on Attempting To Get Published), make sure you don't grow too big for your britches simply because you're getting published. The same person who made you feel that way can make you feel incredibly small conversely if you fail to be modest and listen to their point of view with an open mind.

The Fallout of Being Published

After discussing how friends/family do not take you seriously as you're writing your novel, a funny thing happens when you've completed it and finally find a publisher who does take you seriously. And it could be my imagination, but in all honesty, it seems as though there's a bit of jealousy going around.

People seem to think that once you become published you automatically get a large paycheck. While this is true in some cases (provided you're super lucky and have a commercial publisher pick you up), in most cases this does not happen. But, that doesn't mean you won't make any money.

The jealousy, I suppose, is well founded because when you write a novel and a publisher takes you on, you still have the opportunity to make serious money, whereas those friends of yours who never truly supported you and left you to dangle out there all on your own, stuck in your head while your sanity waned, will never have that opportunity. So even though odds are a big check isn't coming your way as soon as you sign a contract, you're still in the running for a big check to possibly find it's way to you some day.

Most novels take a while for the public to notice them. Many authors need to work at getting their novels out there via word of mouth, book signings, the internet, and other various, creative ways that involve making your brainchild known to the public.

Anyhow, it really just flat out sucks when the same friends who couldn't be bothered to help you by listening to your lamentations or to offer help in the form of advice during your writing period when you needed it most become some version of a jerk after you do finally become published because they aren't going to receive a piece of the pie. The sad thing is this:  I would have remembered anyone who had been there for me while I wrote my first novel. Unfortunately, no one was truly there for me with the exception of my husband, and he would have received the spoils anyway.

***Be careful how you treat people--you never know who they'll become later in life.

The Fallout of Being Published

After discussing how friends/family do not take you seriously as you're writing your novel, a funny thing happens when you've completed it and finally find a publisher who does take you seriously. And it could be my imagination, but in all honesty, it seems as though there's a bit of jealousy going around.

People seem to think that once you become published you automatically get a large paycheck. While this is true in some cases (provided you're super lucky and have a commercial publisher pick you up), in most cases this does not happen. But, that doesn't mean you won't make any money.

The jealousy, I suppose, is well founded because when you write a novel and a publisher takes you on, you still have the opportunity to make serious money, whereas those friends of yours who never truly supported you and left you to dangle out there all on your own, stuck in your head while your sanity waned, will never have that opportunity. So even though odds are a big check isn't coming your way as soon as you sign a contract, you're still in the running for a big check to possibly find it's way to you some day.

Most novels take a while for the public to notice them. Many authors need to work at getting their novels out there via word of mouth, book signings, the internet, and other various, creative ways that involve making your brainchild known to the public.

Anyhow, it really just flat out sucks when the same friends who couldn't be bothered to help you by listening to your lamentations or to offer help in the form of advice during your writing period when you needed it most become some version of a jerk after you do finally become published because they aren't going to receive a piece of the pie. The sad thing is this:  I would have remembered anyone who had been there for me while I wrote my first novel. Unfortunately, no one was truly there for me with the exception of my husband, and he would have received the spoils anyway.

***Be careful how you treat people--you never know who they'll become later in life.

Brief Synopsis Of My Upcoming Book: Bandita Bonita: Romancing Billy the Kid (Soon To Be In Print)

Brief Synopsis:

 

Lucy, a New York societal heiress, is sent to New Mexico to marry John H. Tunstall, a wealthy Englishman and proprietor. Miserable at the prospect of leaving the comforts of her home to live in the uncivilized west and to marry a man nine years her senior whom she does not love, she finds solace in her newfound friendship with Billy, an outlaw who is hired by Tunstall to work his fields and eventually becomes part of Tunstall’s hired guns, a group of men felt necessary by Tunstall in order to protect himself from the volatile circumstances of Lincoln County as his proprietary competition attempts to push him out by whatever means necessary, including murder.

The Santa Fe Ring is a notoriously crooked band of men who run Lincoln County and plot out the murder of John Tunstall in order to remove him from his role as their competitor in business and to relieve him of the audacity he exhibits in setting up industry within their territory despite their threats on his life. When The Ring finally eliminates John, they set their sights on the murder of Lucy to make a further example of their power after she threatens the town Sheriff due to his errant ways.

The Regulators, a gang of deputized men including Billy the Kid,  are created to serve justice to those involved in the murder of Tunstall, Hearing of the plot on Lucy’s life through the capture of Santa Fe Ring prisoners responsible for John’s death, they bring Lucy into their protective custody, as to do otherwise would mean the near certainty of sealing her fate by The Ring’s nefarious plan to do away with her.

Now riding with The Regulators, Lucy is recognized and becomes considered an outlaw with the gang after the prisoners in which The Regulators had been responsible for are killed while in their custody. With her new status, she is forced to continue on with The Regulators until her safety to return home can be assured. A problem arises with this plan, however, as Lucy herself wishes to not only stay with Billy, the boy whom she loves, but refuses to go back to a life that is confining and where her marriages are arranged as she is traded like chattel at her family’s convenience in order to contract business propositions. Lucy’s life in New York harbors no regard for her own happiness, a virtue she has discovered while experiencing the freedom of New Mexico and the love of Billy.

Further hindering her safe return is the bounty of a large sum of money Lucy’s father has placed on his daughter in the interest of having her caught and safely returned home which threatens to bring droves of bounty hunters and regular men alike to track her down. This not only potentially jeopardizes her life in the event she is found and a fight breaks out in order to capture her, but jeopardizes the lives of the men meant to protect her as they now must consider additionally contending with those outside the pack of their familiar enemies.

The Regulators, now stripped of their lawful position, are resigned to fight The Santa Fe Ring and demolish this band of corrupt law and businessmen who cause the oppression of the territory’s people, and employs the use of crooked law in order to attain wealth and justice for their own evil ends. Lucy fights with her own conscience over the war that breaks out between the two factions, but ultimately decides to keep running with her friends, The Regulators, as she is willing to die in order to preserve her own freedom, a desire which runs parallel to the ideals of The Regulators in eradicating The Ring and ridding the territory of them.

Lucy experiences a whole new side of life in the west and feels as though a newborn babe experiencing for the first time the autonomy she had been denied all of her life. It is during all of this when she meets James Moffey, another young boy to whom she becomes attached and who, in return, falls in love with Lucy much to Billy’s chagrin as the latter is both in love with Lucy, sharing a special, unbreakable bond with her, and feels responsible for her protection from any harm which could befall her in such a vicious climate as the west. Further causing Billy agitation is the fact that he makes every effort to talk Lucy into going back to New York despite his wanting her with him as he is willing to sacrifice being with her in the interest of her safety, while Moffey encourages her to stay as he wants to be with her. Billy finds Moffey’s behavior to be irritatingly selfish and counter-productive to his own desire to keep her safe from injury, convincing him that Moffey could not possibly truly love her if he is willing to subject Lucy to a life of poverty and struggle should she survive the war and stay with someone so beneath her in station.

In addition, Lucy must face the torment of dealing with the girls Billy carries on relationships with in the towns that sympathize with and hide The Regulators, protecting them from their enemies. She is forced the humiliation of these girls who taunt her out of jealousy over Billy. Each trial and tribulation that Lucy must face contributes to the alteration of her lady-like refinement into something hard-bitten as she is obligated to survive the harsh climate she is caught in the middle of as it wears down her polish and roughens her edges. The influences of both The Regulators and the circumstances of what results in the Five Days War of Lincoln County shifts Lucy’s once distinguished character into something resembling a radical who is willing to do what needs to be done to defend herself and guard her friends in the midst of an ugly battle devised from greed.

Among other things, this novel touches on the concept of the levels in which we as people, sophisticated or otherwise, are willing to sink to in the interest of self-preservation.

Brief Synopsis Of My Upcoming Book: Bandita Bonita: Romancing Billy the Kid (Soon To Be In Print)

Brief Synopsis:

 

Lucy, a New York societal heiress, is sent to New Mexico to marry John H. Tunstall, a wealthy Englishman and proprietor. Miserable at the prospect of leaving the comforts of her home to live in the uncivilized west and to marry a man nine years her senior whom she does not love, she finds solace in her newfound friendship with Billy, an outlaw who is hired by Tunstall to work his fields and eventually becomes part of Tunstall’s hired guns, a group of men felt necessary by Tunstall in order to protect himself from the volatile circumstances of Lincoln County as his proprietary competition attempts to push him out by whatever means necessary, including murder.

The Santa Fe Ring is a notoriously crooked band of men who run Lincoln County and plot out the murder of John Tunstall in order to remove him from his role as their competitor in business and to relieve him of the audacity he exhibits in setting up industry within their territory despite their threats on his life. When The Ring finally eliminates John, they set their sights on the murder of Lucy to make a further example of their power after she threatens the town Sheriff due to his errant ways.

The Regulators, a gang of deputized men including Billy the Kid,  are created to serve justice to those involved in the murder of Tunstall, Hearing of the plot on Lucy’s life through the capture of Santa Fe Ring prisoners responsible for John’s death, they bring Lucy into their protective custody, as to do otherwise would mean the near certainty of sealing her fate by The Ring’s nefarious plan to do away with her.

Now riding with The Regulators, Lucy is recognized and becomes considered an outlaw with the gang after the prisoners in which The Regulators had been responsible for are killed while in their custody. With her new status, she is forced to continue on with The Regulators until her safety to return home can be assured. A problem arises with this plan, however, as Lucy herself wishes to not only stay with Billy, the boy whom she loves, but refuses to go back to a life that is confining and where her marriages are arranged as she is traded like chattel at her family’s convenience in order to contract business propositions. Lucy’s life in New York harbors no regard for her own happiness, a virtue she has discovered while experiencing the freedom of New Mexico and the love of Billy.

Further hindering her safe return is the bounty of a large sum of money Lucy’s father has placed on his daughter in the interest of having her caught and safely returned home which threatens to bring droves of bounty hunters and regular men alike to track her down. This not only potentially jeopardizes her life in the event she is found and a fight breaks out in order to capture her, but jeopardizes the lives of the men meant to protect her as they now must consider additionally contending with those outside the pack of their familiar enemies.

The Regulators, now stripped of their lawful position, are resigned to fight The Santa Fe Ring and demolish this band of corrupt law and businessmen who cause the oppression of the territory’s people, and employs the use of crooked law in order to attain wealth and justice for their own evil ends. Lucy fights with her own conscience over the war that breaks out between the two factions, but ultimately decides to keep running with her friends, The Regulators, as she is willing to die in order to preserve her own freedom, a desire which runs parallel to the ideals of The Regulators in eradicating The Ring and ridding the territory of them.

Lucy experiences a whole new side of life in the west and feels as though a newborn babe experiencing for the first time the autonomy she had been denied all of her life. It is during all of this when she meets James Moffey, another young boy to whom she becomes attached and who, in return, falls in love with Lucy much to Billy’s chagrin as the latter is both in love with Lucy, sharing a special, unbreakable bond with her, and feels responsible for her protection from any harm which could befall her in such a vicious climate as the west. Further causing Billy agitation is the fact that he makes every effort to talk Lucy into going back to New York despite his wanting her with him as he is willing to sacrifice being with her in the interest of her safety, while Moffey encourages her to stay as he wants to be with her. Billy finds Moffey’s behavior to be irritatingly selfish and counter-productive to his own desire to keep her safe from injury, convincing him that Moffey could not possibly truly love her if he is willing to subject Lucy to a life of poverty and struggle should she survive the war and stay with someone so beneath her in station.

In addition, Lucy must face the torment of dealing with the girls Billy carries on relationships with in the towns that sympathize with and hide The Regulators, protecting them from their enemies. She is forced the humiliation of these girls who taunt her out of jealousy over Billy. Each trial and tribulation that Lucy must face contributes to the alteration of her lady-like refinement into something hard-bitten as she is obligated to survive the harsh climate she is caught in the middle of as it wears down her polish and roughens her edges. The influences of both The Regulators and the circumstances of what results in the Five Days War of Lincoln County shifts Lucy’s once distinguished character into something resembling a radical who is willing to do what needs to be done to defend herself and guard her friends in the midst of an ugly battle devised from greed.

Among other things, this novel touches on the concept of the levels in which we as people, sophisticated or otherwise, are willing to sink to in the interest of self-preservation.