For Dog Lovers - Our Fur Babies is Now Available

If you like dogs, you'll most likely relate to my first non-fiction ebook, OUR FUR BABIES 

Available at Amazon, this book relates the experiences my husband and I have shared through adopting our beloved dogs. Complete with pictures, OUR FUR BABIES introduces the reader to each dog my husband and I've loved through our married years, starting with Sadie, the first, next Missy, on to Morgan (from whom I got my pen name), then Rascal, and lastly, our present fur baby, Buster.

The cover picture, from long ago, features our first fur baby, Sadie. We look much younger there, than later, as the book progresses.

You may laugh or shed a tear or two reading this book, or perhaps you'll be inspired to adopt a dog of your own, if you haven't already done so. 

And, if you go for fiction, I also have a few other books, in which dogs play a prominent role. Check out FOR THE LOVE OF DOG, about an officer who takes drastic steps to keep his K9 companion. 

Another one you might like is the romance, HER HANDYMAN, about how a crazy canine's antics bring a handyman and popular artist together in an unlikely way.

Morgan Mandel

Looking forward to Oswego Literary Festival! by DL Larson

                        Looking for something to do this Saturday? Stop by the Oswego Public Library.
                                              32 West Jefferson Street, Oswego, IL 60543
                          Their annual Literary Festival takes place rain or shine, 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

                  

         Local authors will be in attendance. Bring your checkbook, your credit card or cash!
                            Support your local author by writing a review on Amazon.com


Hope to see you there!

DL Larson
www.DLLARSON.com

twitter: @DL_storyteller

Follow-up on my Tweeting Experience! by DL Larson

In my last blog I shared my attempts at tweeting for the first time. I posted five tweets, then later added one more: One reporter. One warrior priest. One werewolf. And one thief. A deadly dragon, a missing baby and Savagers eat their prey.

I received 2 hearts, meaning two publishers were interested enough to ask for a query. I received three other hearts in my other pitches. Overall, I was delighted to have gotten some attention. Now, the work begins. 

I researched the various publishing houses. They all seemed legitimate and I felt my book could possibly fit within their interests. Most want the basic query and bio sent to them. A few want a synopsis and the first ten pages, others prefer the entire manuscript. 

I will continue to research these publishing houses, and I will most likely send out a few queries. In the meantime, I have sent a query to a literary agent I have researched. I remarked that during the pitch fest, I drew interest from several publishers. I didn't name names, but I conveyed I have gained attention on my first pitch madness experience.

Where will this get me? 

I have no idea! But I'm learning as I go. Keeping up with social media is a full time job, and I wonder how writers find the time to write when so much is demanded of them elsewhere. Another thing that makes me smile ... I have a few followers on Twitter! They obviously know how twitter works better than I do. I believe it's another venue to gain followers on their site. It's a numbers game and I'm sadly behind, but at least I'm in the game.

'Til next time ~

DL Larson
DL_storyteller

Tweeting for the First Time! by DL Larson

I've enrolled in a class for writers. I want to learn more about tweeting and twitter. Today I'm supposed to tweet 10 pitches. Up to 10 pitches of my sci-fi romance. I feel as if tweeting is something kin to playing scrabble. I have 140 characters to explain my book. In that 140 characters, I must include #SFFPIt - the hashtag regarding the pitching that is going on today in the sci-fi genre. In that 140 characters, I must include what type of Sci-fi, so I included SFR. That stands for Science fiction romance. That takes 12 characters out of my 140 character limit.

I angst over these pitches. I have a two-part book. Do I pitch the first part that leads into the second part? Or do I jump over the first part and attack the second part? I need a hook, a hero, a stake, and an inciting incident.
OR ...
I could have a hero, conflict, desire.
Or ...
I could have a hero, setup and a twist. You get the idea. The possibilities are numerous. But what is the best way to form the pieces together to entice an agent to want to see more? Only the writer can determine that. And that brings me right back to the angst part of my day.

Last night our small community was hit with three tornadoes. Everyone is fine. Our home still stands, a machine shed was damaged and we have fields of damaged crops and standing water. We have been without electricity for 24 hours. We cleaned debris and tree limbs out of my daughter's yard. It took hours and hours and hours. And all the while I'm dragging branches and raking sticks and leaves, I'm trying to conjure up the perfect tweets for my book.

I've only tweeted one so far today - because the electricity just came back on! I don't believe I have anything fantastic to offer. But for my first time at tweeting a pitch, I'm happy to have tried.

Here they are:

#SFFPIt Wolf works nights. Ancestral spirits help him kill a dragon. The Lord heard his plea. If only insanity could be cured so easily.

This is within the 140 characters, but I didn't mention it was a romance. A colleague was confused by the Lord part. So I continued on with a different approach. He suggested I introduce Part 1 rather than part 2 (the above one is about part 2.)

#SFFPIt #SFR Wade, a priest & killer, loves Rock 'n Roll. A snoopy reporter tip-toes into his life. How can he fall for a human? Part 1-2

 This one explains the beginning of my story, and hopefully the oddity of being a priest and a killer, and intrigued by a human. 

#SFFPIt #SFR Wade protects his werewolf prince. They are considered aliens on Earth. No one knows they exist, except the enticing reporter.

Does this one show a bit of intrigue? I don't know. I'm still not happy with my pitch. But does it say enough to want to read another pitch? 

#SFFPIt #SFR Wade forgets he loves the human, Tracy. She fears the werewolf will kill Wade because he's wounded from the dragon slaying. 

When a book has many layers, it's unclear to me which avenue will bring the most interest. But in this order, the pitches begin to form a story. Enough to attract an agent? I have no answer to that.

#SFFPIt #SFR Wade knows the wolf better than anyone. Priestly chanters protect Wade even though they can't stop Wolf from attacking him.

This will be my last pitch because I've run out of time. Maybe it will be enough to draw some interest. Either way, I've learned a great deal about twitter and tweeting. And I've learned pitching is intense and confining at the same time. Maybe that's the true purpose. How well can a writer tell her story?

'Til next time ~

DL Larson

visit me on twitter: DL_storyteller

Roald Dahl, A Tribute To His Legacy! by DL Larson

This is a picture of Roald Dahl, author. He is known for many children's books. You may recall James and the Giant Peach, (1961) Charlie and the Chocolate Factory ,(1964) The Fantastic Mr. Fox, (1970) The BFG, (1982) Giraffe and Pelly and Me, (1985) Matilda, (1988) and My Year, (1993) published after his death. The list goes on and on, but these are many of the American favorites.

He didn't begin his writing career until after his children were born. He wrote in the small hut (pictured) at the edge of his garden. And my favorite, since I too favor this technique ... he wrote in pencil on yellow paper.

Roald Dahl was born in Wales, 1916. He was a fighter pilot in WWII. Much of the world will celebrate his 100th birthday this summer. Disney has The BFG coming out in July, directed by Stephen Spielberg. If you'd like to watch the trailer, google: Disney's The BFG. The official trailer will come up.

I received a poster at my library as a promotion for the upcoming movie. We still have the book, The BFG, in our classic section. I brought it home to read. The story comes to life immediately with an orphan girl being abducted by a giant. From there the action keeps going. I'm not quite finished, but I do believe the Queen of England will take a significant part in the resolution of the story.

This book is exactly what I've been looking for my upcoming summer reading program. This book will fit nicely with our theme "Challenge Yourself - READ." The story is full of action, misunderstanding and misconceptions, with a 'try at all cost' emphasis. Dahl subtly shows the reader how narrow-minded we human beans are.

Dahl reminds me of Dr. Seuss with his whimsical made-up words. In The BFG, the giant taught himself how to read, and although his speech pattern is a bit roughysided, he's understandable!  It's scrumdillyious. And a twister to the tongue at times. Dahl created or made up 238 words in The BFG. He called it gobblefunk.

Many of Dahl's books have become movies. He wrote the screenplay for Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, as well as You Only Live Twice. He wrote adult fiction, specializing in short stories for magazines. His work could be found in Ladies Home Journal, The New Yorker, Playboy, and many others.

Another thing I admire about Roald Dahl: Writing and English were not his best subjects in school. Oh, how I love hearing that about other authors. My English teachers in high school and college repeatedly told me I was too chatty with the readers. I believe I was blogging and didn't know it! Another told me it felt too much like a movie in her head. One of Roald's grammar school teachers wrote on his report card: "I have never met anybody who so persistently writes words meaning the exact opposite of what is intended." (taken from mentalfloss article/527-17/11)  Such is the life of a writer who prefers imagination over perfection.

Roald began writing at a request from another writer, C.S. Forester, who was looking for a story about a soldier who had been on the front lines during the war. Dahl agreed to write something and ended up writing an article he called, "A Piece of Cake." He was paid $1,000. The title was changed, but not much else. The article came out as, "Shot Down Over Libya."

Have you read any of Roald Dahl books? If so, what is your favorite? Have you seen any of the movies?
Do you remember any of his jumbly words?

'Til next time ~

DL Larson
www.DLLARSON.com

Authors, Remember The Logistics of Pet Ownership

The hubby and I are planning the logistics of our next trip to the cottage in Wisconsin. Much has happened since the last time we  vacationed. The saddest of all was the deterioration of our Amstaff, Rascal, whom we'd loved for almost eleven years, and who crossed the Rainbow Bridge in November.

Happiest, was the addition of our Miniature Pinscher, Buster,whom we adopted shortly thereafter to take our minds off our loss, and to provide a home for an animal in need.

Rascal was getting up in years and had been with us since a puppy. She knew what was accepted and what wasn't. Two-and-a-half year old Buster, on the other hand, still needs training, although I must say, he does very well in obedience classes.Also, he's very adept at giving us kisses.

Anyway, we're figuring out our strategies ahead of time to keep our little animal safe, so we can all have a good time. When we're away from the cottage, we may need to put him in one of the bedrooms and close the door. That sounds like a possible solution, but, there are other matters to consider, such as blocking off any targets of exploration in that room, such as under the bed, where objects are stored. Then there's the dresser, above which is the TV, and underneath runs the cable and electric wires. We'll set up barriers and see if that will work. Otherwise, we may need to resort to placing him in a crate when we're gone. 

Of course, we'll also need to keep him company and make him feel at home in the new environment, along with addressing his physical needs, such as walks, food and water.

Why am I mentioning this on a book blog? When writing fiction, it's important to make fiction seem authentic and believable. I enjoy reading books where dogs are included, and I also like watching movies where a pet plays a small or large role. However, often it seems a dog is added merely for decorative or emotional purposes, and the logistics of dog ownership are absent. 

Matters such as where a pet is allowed to stay in the home and the reasons are not always revealed to the reader. What's even more irksome is when a book character gets up, and no mention is made about seeing to the animal's needs. Let the poor dog out, please, and give it some food and water!

 

Instead, the book character leaves and goes about life trying to solve a mystery, or falling in love. Then, later, when the character deigns to come home, whatever time that may be, the animal sometimes is greeted, other times ignored, along with its needs. 

So, if you decide to add a dog or other pet in your book, remember that I and other pet owners are not happy if an imaginary animal is treated poorly. I beg you, when including a dog or other pet in your book, remember the logistics of pet ownership.

R.I.P. Rascal - Here she is in her younger
 years in the backyard with Morgan Mandel.

Find all of Morgan Mandel's books at

http://www.amazon.com/author/morganmandel

Also, find excerpts and descriptions at: http://morgansbooklinks.blogspot.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/morgan.mandel

Twitter: @Morgan Mandel

Remembering Long Ago Days & Raspberry Beret! by DL Larson

Today, we said 'good-bye' to a musical genius, Prince Roger Nelson. I remember him as Prince. "Mom! It's Prince, turn up the radio." And Raspberry Beret would blast through the speakers as we drove down the road. It was 1985 and my daughters loved Prince, or later, the musician, Formerly Known as Prince. It wasn't until 2000 that Prince got his name back. The dispute over his name escapes me now, but it was a BIG deal back in the '90s. Something about copyrights and money!

I always worried my girls would all too easily understand the meaning behind that song. I suppose they did eventually. But the song drew vivid imaginings in my mind, I'm sure it did many young women. A young man and woman in an empty barn ... and a raspberry beret!

Purple Rain, was the other big hit, I remember. It hit the charts in 1984. Saying good-bye and moving on was the theme to that song and I'm pretty sure I knew that one by heart, too. Please don't tell my daughters!
I always pretended not to like him too much.

Prince won seven Grammy Awards and had thirty nominations. Five of his singles topped the charts and fourteen others hit the Top 10. Prince is an Oscar Winner for best original song for Purple Rain.

We had an upsurge of Prince in the early 2000's when my granddaughters discovered Raspberry Beret. I'm sure their mother had a lot to do with that. It felt as if I'd gone back in time when I heard from the back seat, "Grammie, put in the cd with Purple Rain."  And then, "Let's listen to it again!" A new generation with just as much enthusiasm for this musical icon had modern technology to feed their impulses. On any given outing, I heard Purple Rain some dozen times. Okay, maybe not that many, but it was a lot!

When a performer stretches beyond the generations, one knows they are listening to perfection. Prince had so many wonderful songs, always with a story. They were sexy, devout or fun. Sometimes all three in one song. He was a legend. He was a hero in our house. And he will be missed.

Heaven is singing tonight! It's bound to be a fabulous time. I imagine there will be a lot of purple!

'Til next time ~

DL Larsonwww.DLLARSON.com

New Mystery Website

I got inspired by a 50% off deal from Wix.com. I already had one website from them, which is Morgan Does Chick Lit.Com, and decided it was time to devote a separate website to my dark side, the one that compels me to write mysteries

So, yesterday, Morgan Does Mystery.Com was officially born. Nothing too fancy, just enough to get the word out about my mysteries without boring readers. Also, I happened to like the template background, which seemed kind of mysterious to me.

If you get a chance, I invite you to check out my official mystery website. If you haven't popped over yet to my romance/chick lit one, by all means you're welcome there as well.

http://morgandoesmystery.com
http://www.amazon.com/author/morganmandel

Searching for Integrity! by DL Larson

This picture was taken last week. My grandchildren and I had a good time painting Easter eggs. We look pretty carefree, yet I've been worrying quite a bit lately ... what does the future hold for our young ones? In the last six months there have been over sixty terrorists attacks around the world.

I know this blog is supposed to be non-political and non-religious. But I can't help wondering if all these polite rules have been a hindrance to us as a nation. 'Don't talk politics or religion in polite company.'  I grew up hearing this rule over and over. I tried to adhere to it most of my life, and I wonder if I should have stood up long before now to say, 'where has that attitude gotten us?'

As a writer, I want to express my frustrations, yet there seems to be so many problems facing us as a nation, I'm ashamed I haven't spoken out sooner. I speak as a wife, mother and grandmother, neither Republican nor Democrat. I'm not a very political person, but I want my country strong so my grandchildren will inherit a great country, not one that has slid into despair and desolation.

I want my politicians to have integrity. That's right. It really boils down to that. Where has the integrity of the government gone? I realize a public entity may not hold personal values, but the people who are in charge sure should. It's one of the main ingredients that made this nation great. It's all but disappeared and we, the people, let it slip away because we've all been so blessedly polite. Or maybe we weren't paying attention when we should have been keeping a closer eye on our government and its actions.

I want my government to take action in protecting our borders. I want an easier avenue to citizenship for those who are here illegally and want to stay. I relate this to some young man or woman stepping out of the closet and admitting to the world they are homosexual. The world didn't end with their confession. Their life changed, and I pray, for the better. No more secrets. Illegal immigrants need a path to become a working, thriving part of our nation.

I want our soldiers to receive the benefits they need and deserve. The fact that our congressmen and senators have lifelong benefits and our soldiers don't, irks me. This is wrong. We hear VA hospitals are helping out more and improving. I personally know they have not in my area. Let us not grow lazy in believing the propaganda that is being delivered to us by the very folks that allowed it to happen in the first place.

I want a safer world, free of tyranny and terrorists. I know I'm asking for the moon, but if integrity were instilled to all at a young age, maybe our world would not be littered with this disease of  'my way or no way.'  Perhaps we would learn to tolerate our differences. Perhaps we could be happy with our own chunk of the world and not believe we are entitled to take more without asking.

Book Beat Babes is a group of writers with followers who are mainly writers. So I challenge you, start writing to your Congressmen, your Representatives and Senators. Make your values known. Be attentive to the world around you. Speak up. It's time ~ way past time ~ we start using our talents to let our thoughts be known in a public way.

Below is an web address to the Federal Representatives. It lists all by state.
http://www.house.gov/representatives/
Here is a site for Senators:
http://www.senate.gov/senators/contact/

Speaking up is scary. But as writers, we have the tools to start a conversation that could bring about change. I want a secure future for my grand kids. I don't want them growing up with threats of terrorism, bombs in public places, or afraid to play in their backyard for fear of what might happen if a car drives by. Stray bullets and angry mobs will not fix our problems. Integrity, even in small doses, feeds the conscious to act more civilly. It's a small, but significant step toward a brighter future.

'Til next time ~

DL Larson
www.DLLARSON.com

Beware of Rip-Off Agencies! by DL Larson

I've been searching for possible agents and publishers lately. I've come across at least a dozen who are closed to submissions. Sigh ... it's frustrating yes, to finally find a possible agency that might fit my type of writing, only to find the door closed before I've had a chance to inquire.

I also found a few disturbing remarks. Yes, most don't bother returning a 'no thank you, not interested' note. I came to terms with that long ago. Others want only inquiries that have been sent solely to them and no one else. They state they will respond within four to six months. Really? Still? In this day and age. I don't know anyone who actually believes this anymore. I used to play by the rules and wait and wait ... and wait, only to realize it was time to move on.

The one that bothered me the most was on the Alloy Entertainment site. They sound reasonable and interested in hearing from all types of writers. That's wonderful, but this is from their Submission Guidelines:

• Submission Guidelines: We are evaluating full fiction manuscripts only—please, no scripts or fan-fiction. Please send us a query e-mail that contains a brief overview of the premise of your book and a short description of your writing background. In addition, please include the first three chapters of your manuscript in a Word document, as well as a link to your book or Goodreads page if you’ve already self-published the book. And, agents, feel free to get in touch for your clients! We cannot accept submissions from legal minors. Please note that Alloy is constantly developing new titles. In light of the numerous submissions Alloy receives and Alloy’s own in-house development, Alloy may already have (or may in the future) independently develop a project based upon an idea or theme that is identical or similar to your material, and you acknowledge that you will have no interest or claim therein.

It's the last sentence I have an issue with. It sounds dangerously close to stealing. They may not like your work, but they like your theme, your plot, your characters. Where does that leave you, the writer, if they steal your work? 

Does anyone have a comment to share about this? I'd be very interested in hearing from other writers.

'Til next time ~

DL Larson

www.DLLARSON.com

Want to stay healthy? by DL Larson

I don't generally write about health topics, but I want to share what I've discovered this winter. It's simple. It doesn't taste bad. It's not expensive. And ... It's all natural! I imagine my grandmother would have known about this remedy, but it was new to me.

It started in my sinuses. No infection, just nagging stuffiness, congestion and the like. I didn't have a cold either. I rarely catch cold or the flu. But I coughed when I laughed or tried to carry on a conversation. It was irritating at first and then became a real nuisance. I appreciate the patience my co-workers showed with my persistent cough.

I tried many remedies, none that worked. Then one day I saw an article about the wonders of honey and cinnamon. The combination of these two ingredients can and does solve many ailments. It cured my nagging cough. I made my husband take it as well for his asthma cough. It worked for that, too. The recipe called for 1 tablespoon of honey (raw is best) and 1/8 teaspoon of cinnamon. Stir the two together, heat in the microwave for a few seconds and spoon it into your mouth like cough syrup. Do this for three - five days. Best taken on an empty stomach.

It worked! My cough is gone. And the better thing, my husband's asthma cough has disappeared. And let me tell you, that has been around for way toooo long!

Honey and cinnamon have other benefits too. They are known to help with arthritis - 2 Tablespoons of honey, 1 teaspoon of cinnamon added to a cup of hot water. Best taken before breakfast. Taken daily, this helps relieve pain. Since I have RA, I've tried this, and it's pretty fantastic. The weather still affects me though, so it's not a cure all. But I didn't expect it to be. But help is help. Less pain is always a plus for me!

For cholesterol control, use 2 Tablespoons of honey and 3 teaspoons of cinnamon with 16 ounces of tea or water. It reduces cholesterol levels within hours. This can be taken up to three times a day to keep cholesterol manageable.

Upset stomach? Indigestion? Gas? Cinnamon and honey taken before eating, can relieve acidity and digests the heaviest of meals and relieves gas.

A researcher in Spain proved that honey contains a natural ingredient that kills germs that cause the flu. Honey and cinnamon strengthens the white blood cells, which boosts the immune system. And the list goes on and on.

If you're looking for a cure all, I don't have an answer to that, but if you want to boost your energy and feel healthier, try the honey and cinnamon remedy. Then you'll have the energy to write!

'Til next time ~

DL Larsonwww.DLLARSON.com

Mark Your Calendars for Wed, Feb 3

Hi Gang,

Just to let you know, my interview of popular romance book cover model, Jason Aaron Baca, is set for Wednesday, February 3 at The Blood-Red Pencil Blog at http://bloodredpencil.blogspot.com.

Jason is on over 400 romance book covers and is closing in on Fabio's record.

I hope you can join me over there next Wednesday. Here's a teaser picture from one of his book covers:

And there's lots more pictures you'll see next Wednesday over there!

Find all of Morgan Mandel's romances and mysteries at
http://www.amazon.com/author/morganmandel

Excerpts and links are also at:
http://morgansbooklinks.blogspot.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/author/morgan.mandel

Twitter: @MorganMandel

Adding Twists & Turns In Your Writing! by DL Larson

My go-to book for writing has become Donald Maass's book, 'Writing 21st Century Fiction.'  As many times as I read it, I always find new techniques to implement into my writing. Like adding twists and turns. I feel I add my share of twists and turns, but he encourages a writer to go beyond the expected and create something unexpected.

Mr. Maass suggests to open your manuscript to any scene, then ask yourself, "what would blow the story sideways right now? Go for it."

So I found a spot in my WIP that I thought was too much narrative and not enough action. I added the unexpected. BAM! It added flavor and a dash of ridiculousness to the scene. I loved it. My writers group at the time did not find it a reasonable change. Some said it mislead the readers at what that particular character was all about. I contemplated removing the addition. I changed my mind and kept it in. My unexpected twist opened up my story line and created a deeper layer of involvement than I had originally intended with that character. It gave that character a new purpose the reader had not been aware of previously. I hadn't realized this new twist would bring the character to life. What a pleasant surprise.

Basically, I'm not telling you anything new. But this can serve as a reminder to not be too comfortable with your plot. Add the unexpected. Donald Maass suggests, "If the expected happens, change it. If nothing new is discovered, discover it and add it."

That's great advice ~ for all of us!

'Til next time ~

DL Larsonwww.DLLARSON.com



 

Good-bye to Alan Rickman! by DL Larson

I'm sad this great actor has left us so soon. I first adored Alan Rickman when he played the Sheriff of Nottingham in Robin Hood, Prince of Thieves, starring with Kevin Costner.

He was genius in his portrayal of nasty characters. And funny. Even likable. He had a way of revealing just enough of his character's hidden emotions to draw the viewer in.

And I have to mention his part as Hans Gruber,
in Die Hard, with Bruce Willis. A fabulous performance. He was a gifted criminal in front of the camera.

Most of all, we remember Alan Rickman for his role as the Master of Potions, Professor Severus Snape, in the Harry Potter movies. What a wonderful, delightfully, frightening character. Having read all of the Harry Potter books, I know first hand what a magnificent job he did bringing Prof. Snape to life.

Alan Rickman never received an Oscar for his performances, and he said something to the fact that, 'parts win prizes, not actors.'  How profound of him. I know as a writer, I would love to have someone of his caliber portray one of my characters. I imagine that is a dream of many writers ~ to have their work turned into a movie or play. Writers also strive for awards to show the world they are worthy, and folks should read more of their books. I don't believe I've ever come across a writer who would say, 'plots win prizes, not writers.' But then writers are a pretty insecure bunch. We dream of big characters, we rarely get to become one. Alan Rickman had the uncanny ability and opportunity to give a big character life. And we are all better for it.

Rest in peace, Alan Rickman. You will be missed.

'Til next time ~

DL Larson
www.DLLARSON.com

We at Book Beat Babes hope to get back in the swing of things and blog more regularly than we have these last several weeks. So please stop back soon.