As many of you know my friend and author Joe Clifford has a new book out. LAMENTATION is making its rounds. There are even talks of a movie deal. No. This is not one of those boring promotional posts, so keep reading.
To get you as excited about this book as I am I’m going to give you a little taste instead.
You can click on the cover to buy Lamentation, now available as an e-book, too.
As some of you know I’ve been working on a new book. I am very excited about this project because I think it’s one of the best stories I’ve ever written. I’ll give you a little teaser later in the post. For now I’d like to share something else.
I have always considered myself a pantser, as I’ve said many times. I was recently approached by author/writing coach Joel D. Canfield who invented an outlining program for pantsers called Outline Your Story in 12 Sentences. Sounds to good to be true, right? Being the type of person that I am, always eager to help another writer, I allowed him to use me as his guinea pig. 
Pacing is the rhythm of the novel, of the chapters and scenes and paragraphs and sentences. It is also the rate at which the reader reads and the speed at which the events unfold. By using specific word choices and sentence structure– scene, sequel, chapter, novel structure– we can tap the emotions of the reader so that the reader feels what the writer wants them to feel at any given point in the story.
Almost everything you read on the internet deals with picking up the pace, because so many new writers pace their novels too slowly. But what if you’re like me, someone who writes at break-neck speed, never giving the reader a break from the action? I know when I’m doing it too. I’m literally on the edge of my seat, feeling like I just drank 40 cups of caffeine.
One of the most amazing things I’ve noticed about the writing community is the way authors support one another. Of course like anything else I believe you get out of it what you put in. If you’re nasty to others you’ll get nasty right back– and you should!
With the authors I am about to introduce to you, you’ll find no nasty here. These are kind, caring, nice people who also happen to have talent galore. Their success hasn’t made them unapproachable. Quite the opposite in fact. These authors are the type of people you can see yourself having lunch with. The type who are always willing to encourage, help, or lend an ear. The type of people young writers aspire to be.
All of these authors I blog with on Prose & Cons. Allow me to repeat myself for a second here… I take my name (brand) very seriously and would never recommend a book to you unless it interests me as well.
I won’t keep you in suspense any longer. Drum roll please…
First up, Author Arthur Kerns. Arthur Kerns is a retired FBI special agent and past president of the Arizona chapter of the Association of Former Intelligence Officers (AFIO). His award-winning short fiction has appeared in numerous anthologies. In March 2013 Diversion Books, Inc. published his espionage thriller, The Riviera Contract and in May 2014 the sequel, The African Contract.
You might remember an incredible story I posted a while back from Art. It’s called A Stranger Reads My Book. If you haven’t read it, click on the title. It’s one of my favorite posts on Prose & Cons. Not only will you love this short story, you’ll wish it happened to you!
Art’s latest book is called The African Contract.
I had the pleasure of interviewing my friend and co-author on Prose & Cons, Joe Clifford. After you read this interview I’m sure you will agree there aren’t many authors who would have answered my tough questions with such honesty. Joe is a rare person. He’s talented, humble, funny, an all-around nice guy. But don’t tell him I told you, he has a rep to uphold.
Crime Fiction Writer Sue Coletta 