National Poetry Month: 30 Days of The 5-2 (2014)

April is National Poetry Month, and today is Day 29 in the "30 Days of The 5-2" blog tour. Check out the list of the tour to visit other posts celebrating The 5-2. The Editor of The 5-2 Crime Poetry Weekly is Gerald So, who was interviewed recently by Matt Forrest Esenwine at Radio, Rhythm & Rhyme. 

All April revenue from 5-2 and Lineup poetry anthology books and merchandise is donated to the nonprofit Academy of American Poets, supporting poets at all stages of their careers and fostering the appreciation of contemporary poetry.

I'd like to suggest a poem by Linda Lerner, entitled, "Fear As Loud As A Mugging," that appeared on The 5-2 Crime Poetry Weekly on April 14, 2014.  For a real treat, listen to Linda recite her poem as you read along.

The National Center for Victims of Crime offers "Help for Crime Victims."

From The 5-2 Crime Poetry Weekly, Linda Lerner's bio:

LINDA LERNER's Takes Guts & Years Sometimes was published by NYQ books, 2011. She previously published thirteen collections of poetry. Forthcoming: a chapbook of poems inspired by nursery rhymes illustrated by Donna Kerness (Lummox Press). Yes, the Ducks Were Real will by published by NYQ books in 2015.

Follow The 5-2 Crime Poetry Weekly on Twitter @PoemsOnCrime.

To submit to The 5-2 Crime Poetry Weekly or find out more about guest opportunities, visit here.

One of Ray Bradbury's "12 Pieces of Advice for Young Writers," which he calls "writing hygiene," includes: "...create a course of bedtime reading, that includes: one short story, one poem, and one essay...". WritingClasses.com offers a "Poetry Writing Resource List." Be sure to check out Poets & Writers' "Tools for Writers."

Ever wonder what the Poet Laureate of the U.S. does? Stop by the Library of Congress site to find out!

Thanks to Gerald So for inviting me to participate in #30OfThe52.

Follow me on Twitter @katcop13. 

Marilyn Meredith: The Importance of Weather in Writing

I am thrilled to welcome the talented, prolific mystery author, Marilyn Meredith, to discuss the importance of weather in writing. 

Marilyn is the author of over thirty published novels, including the award winning Deputy Tempe Crabtree mystery series. She borrows a lot from where she lives in the Southern Sierra for the town of Bear Creek and the surrounding area, including the nearby Tule River Indian Reservation. She does like to remind everyone that she is writing fiction. Marilyn is a member of EPIC, three chapters of Sisters in Crime, Mystery Writers of America, and on the board of the Public Safety Writers of America. Visit her at http://fictionforyou.com and follow her blog at http://marilynmeredith.blogspot.com        

In Marilyn's latest novel, Spirit Shapes, ghost hunters stumble upon a murdered teen in a haunted house. Deputy Tempe Crabtree's investigation pulls her into a whirlwind of restless spirits, good and evil, intertwined with the past and the present, and demons and angels at war. Spirit Shapes is available directly from the publisher in all formats, and also on Amazon. 

The Importance of Weather in Your Writing

by Marilyn Meredith

Weather can play a big part in any mystery. At times it can be as important as a character.

In my previous Deputy Tempe Crabtree mystery, Raging Water, too much rain creates havoc in the small town of Bear Creek, eventually cutting them off from the rest of the world.

Fog is a major player in Spirit Shapes.

Fog swirls around the deserted Wilkinson House adding to its haunted mystic.

Fog adds to the gloomy atmosphere.

Fog cuts down on visibility making the reader and the characters what it might be hiding.

Fog gives everything a gray, colorless appearance.

Fog makes the air damp.

Fog causes the temperature to drop—as does the presence of ghosts and evil spirits.

That gives you a taste of what one kind of weather can do and does in Spirit Shapes.

For all you writers out there, think about how weather can enhance your stories. And readers, pay attention to how the author of the books and stories you read use weather to add to the atmosphere and suspense.

***

Marilyn is offering a terrific contest for a lucky commenter: The person who comments on the most blogs on her blog tour will have the opportunity to have a character named after him or her in the next Deputy Tempe Crabtree mystery.

Tomorrow, Marilyn will be visiting author J.R. Lindermuth's blog: http://jrlindermuth.blogspot.com  

Thanks, Marilyn, for visiting From Cop to Mom & the Words in Between as part of your blog tour, and for sharing your words of wisdom on the importance of weather in writing.

Zora Neale Hurston Quote

Folklorist, anthropologist, novelist, and short story writer Zora Neale Hurston was born in Alabama on this date in 1891. 

One of her quotes:

"If writers were too wise, perhaps no books would get written at all. It might be better to ask yourself "Why?" afterwards than before. Anyway, the force from somewhere in Space which commands you to write in the first place, gives you no choice. You take up the pen when you are told, and write what is commanded. There is no agony like bearing an untold story inside you." 

Zora passed away from heart disease on January 28, 1960, and was buried in Fort Pierce, Florida, in an unmarked grave. In 1973, novelist Alice Walker and literary scholar Charlotte Hunt found the unmarked grave and marked it as hers. 

Craft of Writing Quote

I enjoy collecting quotes on the craft of writing. I'd like to share a couple of quotes from American writer Marion Zimmer Bradley  who passed away on this date in 1999.  

“There's no "magic secret"; writing is like everything else; ten percent inspiration or talent, and ninety percent hard work. Persistence; keeping at it till you get there. As Agnes de Mille said, it means working every day—bored, tired, weary, or with a fever of a hundred and two.” 

"Think of this: a thousand pages sounds like a lot. But write three pages a day and a year from now you'll have a book."

In "What Is A Short Story?" Marion offers advice on the elements of the short story. 

Clipart source: Book Dreaming, Home of MG Author Shannon O'Donnell

2012 Spilling Ink Short Story Prize

I just learned about a writing competition, and the deadline's around the corner. But if you've got an unpublished story that's no more than 1500 words, any genre, and are willing to spend $10 on the entry fee, you may want to consider entering it into the 2012 Spilling Ink Short Story Prize. Spilling Ink Review is a quarterly e-journal (@spillinginkling on Twitter).

The guest judge is Richard Beard (@BeardRichard on Twitter).

Deadline is May 31, 2012.

Check out all the rules ~ and good luck!

Happy Birthday Gotye

Gotye, the Belgian-Australian recording artist who sings "Somebody That I Used to Know," turns 32 today. 


A few weeks ago, my 14-year-old son introduced me to the fascinating song; he said it was the number one song on iTunes. I was immediately hooked; I quickly learned the rest of the world is crazy about it, too! The song, a slow-building duet with New Zealand singer Kimbra, is achieving phenomenal success. 


Richard Smirke of Billboard describes it: "The song, which mixes sparse, shuffling percussion; spooky tremolo sounds; and an earworm melody played on a xylophone, has since topped the charts in more than a dozen countries..."


Michael Martin (@Michael_Kronicle) of @HuffPostEnt interviewed Gotye last month, and among the topics discussed is Gotye's experience in writing the song. A video of their interview (just shy of 24 minutes) appears on @HuffPostEnt. 


To date, the video of the song has been viewed more than 218 million times. In Australia, "Somebody That I Used to Know" has been certified 8x Platinum! 


Another video gone viral is a cover version of the song, performed by Walk Off The Earth, in which the five band members play one guitar ~ it's super cool!


I'm addicted to it ~ the haunting melody, harmony and the intensity of the singers' emotions ~ as if they truly were scorned lovers. The song certainly has struck a chord with worldwide listeners. What about you? Have you heard this song before? Like it? Love it? Hate it? 

The Wisdom of Da Vinci

On this date in 1519, the world lost a genius, Leonardo Da Vinci. Whenever I read his quotes, I'm in awe of his wisdom ~ yet it doesn't come as a surprise, coming from an artist of his magnitude.

Here's a few of my favorites:

"Art is never finished, only abandoned." (This reminds me of a Hemingway quote I once read, of which I'm paraphrasing: "Writing is never done; it's just due.")

"I have been impressed with the urgency of doing. Knowing is not enough; we must apply. Being willing is not enough; we must do."

"Although nature commences with reason and ends in experience it is necessary for us to do the opposite, that is to commence with experience and from this to proceed to investigate the reason."

Think you know a lot about Leonardo? Check out this fun trivia quiz.

Did you know that Leonardo was an inveterate procrastinator? The Last Supper was only completed after his patrons threatened to cut off his funds; Mona Lisa took 20 years to complete! By the way, the Writing Center of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill offers excellent advice in assisting writers who suffer with procrastination.

Visit Biography.com for vital info and a video on the life of the gifted painter of The Last Supper and Mona Lisa. An article by Jeanna Bryner on LiveScience reveals 25 Secrets of Mona Lisa.

It's in Italian, but there's a Twitter account devoted to the Vinci, Italy museum @museoleonardo.

My daughter, Miranda, had the privilege of viewing the Mona Lisa when she visited the Lourve last summer during her 21-day tour of Greece, Italy, and France with the People to People Ambassador Program. (On Twitter: @PeopleToPeople). She was deeply moved by the experience. I dream about visiting France and Italy someday.

As a part of the Diamond Jubilee of Her Majesty The Queen, from now through June 10, 2012, visitors to Bristol can view an exhibition of ten Da Vinci drawings.  In addition, Da Vinci-themed workshops, family events, lectures, guided tours, and more are being offered.

I will make it to Bristol one day ~ my grandfather was born in London in 1911, and his maternal ancestors (his mother, Beatrice Needham, was born in Fishponds), lived in Bristol for hundreds of years. I've done extensive genealogy research, and have even found relatives online -- and I can't wait to visit.

How about you? A favorite Leonardo Da Vinci quote? Have you experienced the viewing of either Mona Lisa or The Last Supper?

Backspace/SEMINAR Log Line Contest

Up for a fun log line challenge?

The Backspace Writers Conference is hosting a log line contest. For more info on the conference being held May 24-26 in NYC, check out this article in the March 2012's issue of Writer Magazine. 

Three winners will be chosen based on originality and execution by Judges from Folio Literary Management. Each winner receives a pair of tickets to the Broadway smash, Seminar. The tickets can be won on someone else's behalf (but can't be transferred once a name is connected to the voucher), which must be redeemed by May 13; performances run until May 27. Seminar currently stars Alan Rickman until April 1, then Jeff Goldblum joins the cast on April 3.

The title and pitch for your log line (limit: 100 words) is for a fictitious novel -- not your own. According to the announcement: "The more inventive and high concept your story idea, the better!"

One entry per person. Read the official rules before filling out the form. There's a Facebook angle involved in the contest, too; authors who receive the most combined "likes" and comments will each win a signed and personalized copy of literary agent Donald Maass's Writing the Breakout Novel and The Fire in Fiction. 

The deadline is April 15. Winners to be announced April 22.

Good luck!

Ben Hecht: The Shakespeare of Hollywood

On this date in 1894, one of my favorite screenwriters of all time was born. Ben Hecht was also a director, producer, playwright and a novelist.

Ben was the first recipient of the Academy Award for Original Screenplay, for the movie Underworld (1927).

The screenplays he wrote or worked on (many times uncredited) include the following:

Scarface (1932), The Front Page, Twentieth Century (1934), Barbary Coast (1935), Nothing Sacred (1937), Some Like It Hot, Gone with the Wind, Gunga Din, Wuthering Heights (all 1939), His Girl Friday (1940), Spellbound (1945), Notorious (1946), Monkey Business, A Farewell to Arms (1957), Mutiny on the Bounty (1962), and Casino Royale (1967; released after Hecht's death in 1964).

He also provided story ideas for such films as Stagecoach (1939). In 1940, he wrote, produced, and directed Angels Over Broadway.

Six of his movie screenplays were nominated for Academy Awards; two won.

My personal favorite is His Girl Friday. If you've never seen it, try to get it from your library (or watch it online at IMDb). The rapid-fire dialogue is extraordinary. As a police officer, I worked with the media for 16 years, so this movie is even more endearing to me. It's quite evident in this film that Mr. Hecht had an extensive background in journalism.

When Hecht was living in New York in 1926, he received a telegram from a screenwriter friend who had recently moved to L.A. "Millions are to be grabbed out here and your only competition is idiots. Don't let this get around." He traveled to Hollywood, and began his career by writing the screenplay for Underworld, as the sound era had ended.

We know where that landed him!

The 2012 Academy Awards

I'm thrilled that Woody Allen won the Best Original Screenplay Academy Award for Midnight in Paris. I blogged about my admiration for the film on Women of Mystery in January.

How wonderful that Christopher Plummer finally gets to take home the Oscar. I loved his acceptance speech the most. Such class!

I'm glad I got to see The Artist, the Best Picture winner. I took my teenage daughter to see it ~ we absolutely loved it. After it ended, I asked her, "Well ~ what do you think for Best Picture? Midnight in Paris, Hugo, or The Artist?" since we had seen and loved all of them, and we knew it would be a tough decision. We were stumped.

A theatre patron on the way in as we were heading out asked if we liked it. Her hesitation, as I've heard from so many others, was that it was a "silent" film. We reassured her that she would enjoy it thoroughly. When you think about it, there is no other way to honor the silent film era but to make a silent film, and in black and white.

During the Oscar telecast, my husband keenly noticed a cameo of Jim Parsons, the extremely talented, multi-award-winning actor who portrays Dr. Sheldon Cooper on The Big Bang Theory, during an extremely brief video clip of the winning Best Original Song, "Man or Muppet." If you're a fan of the show, you'll love the video -- it's awesome.

Available for a limited time, you can watch the Oscar-winning "Best Animated Short Film," The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore. 

For a complete list of winners, click here.

Did you watch the Oscars? Did any of your favorites win? Didn't Angelina Jolie look ridiculous as she awkwardly stood with her right leg sticking out of the slit in her dress while presenting? It didn't take long for @AngiesRightLeg to pop up on Twitter (which currently has more than 13,000 followers).

"The Raven" by Edgar Allan Poe

On January 29, 1845, readers of the New York Evening Mirror were treated to a narrative poem called "The Raven" by Edgar Allan Poe.

The editor of the Mirror, Nathaniel Parker Willis, introduced the poem, calling it "unsurpassed in English poetry for subtle conception, masterly ingenuity of versification, and consistent, sustaining of imaginative lift...it will stick to the memory of everybody who reads it."

Image: The Edgar Allan Poe Society in Baltimore

Poe was paid nine dollars for its publication.

George Rex Graham, a friend and former employer of Poe's, had declined Poe's offer to be the first to print "The Raven." Graham said he didn't like it, but paid Poe $15.00 in charity. Graham made up for his poor decision by publishing Poe's essay, "The Philosophy of Composition" in Graham's American Monthly Magazine for Literature and Art, a year later.

Happy Birthday, Wilkie Collins

On this date in 1824, British novelist Wilkie Collins was born. 


T.S. Eliot described The Moonstone as the first and greatest of English detective novels.


A quote from The Woman in White seems to have stood the test of time:


"There are foolish criminals who are discovered, and wise criminals who escape.  The hiding of a crime, or the detection of a crime, what is it?  A trial of skill between the police on one side, and the individual on the other. When the criminal is a brutal, ignorant fool, the police, in nine cases out of ten, win.  When the criminal is a resolute, educated, highly-intelligent man, the police, in nine cases out of ten, lose."


Click here for more Wilkie Collins quotes.  

Bouchercon 2011: St. Louis

I am very excited and thrilled to be a moderator at a terrific panel called, "Writing From the Headlines," with a spectacular line-up of panelists at next month's Bouchercon in St. Louis. Our panel's title is "She's Not There" (all panel titles were taken from True Blood, Wire in the Blood, and various shows written by Robert Crais) and will occur on Friday, September 16, 2011 from 11:30 am - 12:30 p.m. in "Landmark 4" room of the Renaissance St. Louis Grand.

I will have the privilege of introducing and interviewing: Pamela Callow (@PamelaCallow) Diane Fanning (@DianeFanning), Ryan David Jahn (@RyanDavidJahn) Karen E. Olson (@kareneolson) and Rick Reed (@JackMurphy1010).

I am grateful to programming chairs Judy Bobalik and Ruth Jordan for arranging such an awesome group and bestowing upon me the absolute honor of moderating this panel.


If you are attending Bouchercon next month, I hope to see you at our discussion ~ and come prepared with intriguing questions for these talented authors who have written true crime and/or written mystery, thriller, and detective fiction influenced by or based on true crime events.

I will devote blog posts to each of these authors to get to know each one of them better ~ so stay tuned!

Reed Farrel Coleman at Sachem Library, Holbrook

Today ~ Saturday, May 21, 2011, Long Island Sisters in Crime welcomes Reed Farrel Coleman-- three-time Shamus Award winning author of the Moe Prager series -- as their guest speaker, from 12-2 p.m., at the Sachem Public Library, 150 Holbrook Road, Holbrook, NY (Suffolk County).

The event is open to the public; admission is free. 

Follow Reed on Twitter @RFColemanBooks and on Facebook.

Silk Road Review: Flash Fiction Contest

Silk Road Review is holding a flash fiction contest, in which writers can submit up to two entries. There is no fee to enter.

A prize of $500 will be awarded, along with publication in the Silk Road summer print issue, and on their website. The word count is 1200 words or less. All pieces will be considered for publication.

The deadline is quickly approaching -- this Friday, May 6, 2011. Judging will be done by the editors of Silk Road Review. 


Silk Road Review is published twice yearly, in the spring and fall. You can read their mission statement here. They publish fiction, non-fiction, poetry, and translations.

Silk Road Review is made possible by the generous donation of Pacific University in Oregon.

You can follow Silk Road Review on Facebook.

The red tent artwork was done by Vol. 6.1's cover artist, Orna Ben-Shoshan.

NYT Best Selling Edgar Authors on Writing

In honor of the 65th Gala Banquet of the Mystery Writers of America's Edgar Awards tonight at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in New York City, here is a video of several Edgar Award-winning authors who talk about writing, produced by Open Road Media.

I attended the MWA (Mystery Writers of America) Edgars Symposium in Manhattan yesterday, followed by the MWA Agents and Editors party ~ both events were marvelous!

The list of nominees was announced on Edgar Allan Poe's 202nd birthday, on January 19, 2011.

Best wishes to the nominees, and all who are attending tonight's Gala Banquet!

   

War Story Wednesday: "Jail Mail'

Over at Women of Mystery, I share a story about my experience as a gal Friday in the early 80s, corresponding with inmates, before joining the Suffolk County Police Department in 1986. Stop by if you have a chance.

As always, if you have a war story you'd like to share, feel free to do so in the comments below, or provide a link to your post and I'll update this post to include it.

L.I. Sisters in Crime Welcomes Hank Phillippi Ryan

A new chapter of Sisters in Crime recently formed on Long Island, and I immediately joined (although I happily remain a member of the New York/TriState chapter).

We are very excited to have Emmy award-winning reporter and award-winning author Hank Phillippi Ryan as our guest speaker this Saturday, December 4, 2010 at 2 p.m.

Our meeting, which begins at 1 p.m., is open to the public ~ so if you live in driving distance to Holbrook, Long Island, stop by the Sachem Public Library, 150 Holbrook Road. Hank will join us at 2 p.m. ~ and here's what's in store:

"Using TV Technique to Write a Killer Novel"

THE SCOOP! EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT WRITING--HANK LEARNED ON TV!

Here's what you need to do to produce a successful television news story:
Develop memorable characters. Build suspense. Show conflict. Tell a compelling
story. Create a satisfying ending. Find justice. Change lives. That's exactly
what Boston's premier investigative reporter Hank Phillippi Ryan's been doing
for her entire career.

But here's the scoop. Writing a successful mystery, thriller or romantic
suspense novel-or short story!--requires exactly the same things. And Hank's
years of experience with journalism can now give your book or short story a
boost.

With her top-ten list of questions, journalism techniques and solid practical
applications, this Emmy- (and double Agatha, Anthony and Macavity-) winning
reporter will teach you the secrets of television news. And then: she'll show
you exactly how those skills can work for you to develop the novel or short
story you always wanted to write. Or to make your next work of fiction better.

It's your chance to learn the inside scoop.

***

Hope to see you this Saturday ~ and spread the word!

Also -- a reminder -- this Saturday is the first "Take Your Child to a Bookstore" day. Read more about it on my post on Women of Mystery.

Astoria/LIC Int'l Film Festival

Later this month, Astoria will host its first annual International Film Festival, from October 22-24, featuring "over 50 indie films from and about England, Hungary, Austrialia, China, Darfur, Ecuaror, Russia, Spain, Bhutan and Cape Town as well as best of every NYC borough's pick."

What a bargain, too; $10 gets you a full-length feature, a short and a supershort; a $75 Superpass gets you in all three days. Daypasses are $35. Events also include readings of screenplays and short stories.

The Discover New York blog lists the Astoria Film Festival as the #1 thing to do in NYC this fall.

All activities will be held at The Secret Theatre, 44-02 23rd St., Long Island City, NYC 11101.

I'm happy to announce that the New York/TriState Sisters in Crime (SinC) will have a session on Saturday, October 23, from 2-4 p.m., where several members will read their work. For information on tickets for that session, visit here. A special thank-you to fellow SinC member Lina Zeldovich for arranging this session with the Festival organizers. Lina has written an awesome article about the Astoria Film Festival at Woman Around Town, including a brief overview of the films. I'm excited to learn that Love in the Age of Dion by writer-filmmaker Phillip Cioffari is among them.

On Wednesday, October 6th, from 4 p.m. - 5:30 p.m., a press conference will be held at the LIC Market ~ (a French cafe with baking on the premises) 21-52 44th Drive. Enjoy a free tasting menu and trailers of festival films, plus an interview with the Film Festival Director Dennis Cieri and the director of The Secret Theatre, Robert Mazda.

For further information or to RSVP, please contact: info (at) astorialicff (dot) com. or visit www.astorialicff.com. If you are interested in helping out, the Festival is looking for volunteers.

The Festival is on Facebook & on Twitter @AstoriaLICff. For a listing of films and events, click here.

Come follow me on Twitter @katcop13.

Guest Post at Jen's Book Thoughts

It was my absolute honor and privilege to attend a "Trifecta of Book Launches" on Tuesday, September 28, and report about it for Jen Forbus of Jen's Book Thoughts.

If you get a chance, stop by and read all about the event held at Partners & Crime on Greenwich Avenue in New York City ~ for authors Hilary Davidson, Joelle Charbonneau, and Joshua Corin. Check out the photos, too!

If you'd like to see additional photos from this event, visit my gallery.