Speaking of my next mystery, here’s the news you’ve been waiting for…my fourth book will be out this summer.  Like me on Facebook, follow me on Twitter @ttrent_cozymys or follow this blog to see the cover reveal and find out when it will be available for purchase.

Hints about the book?

Bees, Bridezillas and Bratwurst.

Now, answer these questions about this bridge.

1.  Where is this bridge?  State, country, town?

2. Notice the overgrown grass.  Draw a diagram on your paper of the bridge and the property around it.  Is it deep in a forest or just an unkempt piece of land?

3.  Imagine putting your feet in the water while sitting on the bridge.  Is the water clean or dirty?  What kind of creatures do you see swimming around? What does the air smell like?

4.  What is the temperature?  Is it a balmy summer day or a day in fall with the first hint of crispness in the air?

5.  Look down into the water.  There is something under the water sparkling as the suns rays hit it.  Reach in and grab the item and describe it in full detail.

6.  Create the character who lost that item.

7.  What kind of mystery can you create from all of these elements?

As you create your characters, take time to write their personal histories.  The more you  create about your characters, the easier it will be for you to write how they will respond to the situations you write for them.

Baby Boomer in Denial  

So, going back to our old man let’s answer some questions about him.

1.  What is the name his mother gave him?

2.  What name does he go by these days?  What does it have to do with his personality or his history?

3.  Why is this man living on the streets?  Does he have an addiction?  Is he mentally ill?  Is he just down and out?

4.  Take 20 seconds and look into his eyes.  Write the first thing that comes to your mind.

5.  Look at his hands.  Describe his fingers, fingernails, knuckles, etc.  What occupation do you think he might have had?

6.  Look at his cuffs.  They don’t match.  Even though you can’t see everything he has on use your imagination and fill in the missing pieces.  Tell  some of the history of the outfit.  How long has it been since it was clean?  Does he have socks and properly fitting shoes on his feet?

7.  If his life could be different what would he wish it to be?

Once you finish writing about this man, take it a step further and write an interaction with another character.

Choose from this list.

1.  A social worker

2.  One of his children

3.  A business person

4.  Another street person

5.  Something supernatural

Photo found at Morguefile

Two of my stories are now up at Smashwords and can be downloaded for free.   The Smashwords links are listed above each book cover and eventually the stories will be available on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Apple, Sony and Kobo.  You will find different formats for several ereaders on the Smashwords page.

Click Here for Smashwords Link for Secret Santa

Enjoy this heartwarming short Christmas story of a Christmas store owner who finds herself in a Christmas gift exchange. How can the “Santa” ever surprise a person who for Christmas, it’s just business?

Click Here for Smashwords Link for The Christmas Find

In this short story full of the Christmas spirit, a woman digging through a flea market table finds a treasure that reminds her of a Christmas long ago. Can the past be recaptured by looking into a snow globe?

I am busy working away on my fourth cozy mystery.  Here are some hints, or should I say “clues” about the book:

It continues with the life of Betsy, our helpful hints writer and the ever-growing cast of characters in Pecan Bayou, Texas.  I really wanted to explore what would happen if she were to give bad advice in one of her columns.  I originally wrote this book during NaNoWriMo and since writing it, have taken out a major plot element and reversed a character.  Doing this greatly slows down my writing process, but hopefully it improves it as well.    I can’t disclose too much, but I have been researching plenty about bees and looking at book cover designs with bees on them.  My oldest son is terrified of bees because the two of us were caught in a swarm many years ago when he was a small child. So, he has made it pretty clear he doesn’t want to talk to me about this book even if he is a high-felootin literature major.

April 2 is Autism Awareness Day!  Take a minute to reflect on people you know with autism and their families.  We’re an autism/Down Syndrome family and always appreciate the people who go out of their way to show acceptance, patience and kindness.

How David Met Sarah by Anne Kelleher

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I loved this book. How David met Sarah is a story about David, an adult with Down Syndrome. After reading just a little of it, I realized I wanted to read it to my son who also has Down Syndrome. It shows what the world is like for a person with developmental delays. We see David’s fears, his joys, the discrimination he endures and his understanding of life. I applaud Anne Kelleher for so beautifully telling David’s story.

If you know an adult with Down Syndrome, please share this book with them and then check out the sequel, When David Was Surprised.  It is wonderful to find fiction like this for the people we love.

On the road again…

March 5 – Spotlight at Melina’s Book Blog
March 6 – Spotlight at BK Walker Books Etc.
March 7 – Spotlight at Mass Musings
March 7 – Spotlight at Hywela Lyn’s Romance Out of This World
March 8 – Spotlight at Writing Innovations
March 8 – Guest Blogging at Bookalicious Travel Addict
March 9 – Spotlight at BK Walker Books
March 9 – Guest Blogging at Lori’s Reading Corner
March 9 – Reviewed at The Self-Taught Cook
March 9 – Guest Blogging at Brooke Blogs

Click here to purchase the paperback.

Also, I’m working away on my fourth novel.  Actually, I’ve been writing and then tearing it up and then rewriting.  I have a new character who is giving me trouble just like she does to Betsy.  What am I trying to create?  A villain with a good heart.  I suppose it is a classic lesson in character creation, and I have all bad parts down, but bringing out her vulnerability is going to take some thinking.

Who are some well-known villains in fiction with a good side?

Who are some of your favorite fictional characters? Which characters stand out in your memory long after you’ve read the book, seen the movie, or the TV series has ended?

Many elements of fiction writing are essential to creating a good story, but it’s the characters who truly make a story come alive.

Plenty of books have been published on the mechanical or technical aspects of creating fictional characters, so this book is not about the science of creating characters. Instead, 25 Ways to Create Classic Characters Readers Will Love is designed to inspire.

In this book, you’ll find 25 ideas for creating believable characters that are as unique and complex as the cast of characters in real life. In addition to the 25 helpful tips, you’ll find the author’s list of favorite fictional characters, and an extensive character interview section to help you get intimately acquainted with your characters.

Use 25 Ways to Create Classic Characters Readers Will Love to give you a jump start on creating the characters that will fuel your stories and win the hearts of your readers.

Get this ebook free today!–25 Ways to Create Classic Characters Readers Will Love