The Question that Changed Everything

Steve Bradshaw 

My first book was published on July 4, 2012. The BLUFF CITY BUTCHER is the story of a genius serial killer hunted by a world-renowned forensic sleuth. The modern-day mystery/thriller draws upon my life experience as a Texas Forensic Investigator. This 120,000-word, 440-page novel would launch my writing career. All I needed was a publisher. Following a long and painful search for a literary agent, and after hundreds of thoughtful rejections, the opportunity arrived. I flew from Tennessee to Florida to negotiate and sign a contract with my first publisher, the Barringer Publishing Company. At last, my fears of never being published would come to a resounding end. Or would they?

We sat face-to-face across a long table. Contract negotiations seemed to move along well. I signed and slid the contract to my future publisher. With pen in hand inches from his dotted line he paused. He had one more question. Looking back, I am certain it was the question he always saved to the end for new writers. It was the sleeper, the deal-breaker question. “What is your next book?” he asked.

I had answered every other question with ease. I should have been ready for this one, but I was not. My head had lived inside the BLUFF CITY BUTCHER book for a year. My brain had been drained. I had not yet recovered. I had not even begun to think about the next book. But the publisher expected an answer. As I frantically searched the dark abyss between my ears, his pen backed away from the contract almost an inch. Then he leaned closer. His cordial smile melted away. I saw concern, surprise, and doubt creep into his squinted eyes. That’s when I said it. “The BLUFF CITY BUTCHER is book one of my forensic thriller trilogy.”



His face changed almost immediately. The smile returned. Then his pen scribbled his name on the dotted line. I made it. I said the right thing—trilogy. It made perfect sense. Now we had a deal for three books. I did not have to worry about a publisher for at least two more books. But then he asked one more. “What do you call your forensic trilogy, Steve Bradshaw?”

Easy. It popped into my head, the name of a key character in the book. He is a billionaire patriarch—Albert Bell. “I call it The Bell Trilogy.”

“Perfect,” he said. My most favorite word. He slid the contract back and shook my hand.

Not until later did I realize what my publisher had done for me before he had made his first dollar with Steve Bradshaw novels. He had forced me to take control of my inspiration. If I was going to be a serious, long-term writer, I had to get a leash on it so it’s there when I need it. Writers can allow their imagination and inspiration to run free, but they must know how to take control of both when creation time is upon them. Serious writing is a business. Writers must do command performances often. They must learn to control their art—the story.

Because I committed to a trilogy that day, I was forced to manage a story arc over a half-million words. It was like taking a sixty-foot wave the first time I surfed! My commitment to The Bell Trilogy changed the slope of my growth as a writer. It changed the way I look at a story, a plot, and character development. It made me learn how to grab and hold onto my audience. It made me make my books matter.

Today I have seven published novels, five audiobooks, one screenplay, and am working on a lucrative ghostwriting project—I call it exercise. My seventh novel SHARED INNOCENCE just released. It is book one of my second forensic thriller trilogy.

The BLUFF CITY BUTCHER will always be my number one. My first novel taught me so much as a writer, and it continues to be my best seller even today. Book one of The Bell Trilogy continues to bring me new audiences every day. I think it is because this book does it best. It shows readers why my novels are uniquely mine, and that’s a good thing

Steve Bradshaw writes his unique brand of thrillers by drawing upon his experiences as a Texas Forensic Investigator and a Biomedical Entrepreneur. Steve investigated more than 3,000 unexplained deaths for the Medical Examiner’s Office later ruled homicide, suicide, accident, natural, or undetermined. Steve later started an innovative pliable-structured implant company. As founder-president/CEO of Active Implants Corporation, he raised $25 million and led the acquisition and development of an artificial meniscus now under FDA clinical review. Drawing upon these prominent roles Steve pursued his next dream—writing. Now Steve takes his audience with him into fascinating worlds of fringe science, modern forensics, and the hunt for real monsters in a world far more complex than ever imagined.  Steve has seven published novels, five audiobooks, and a screenplay. 

Website: stevebradshawauthor.com, Email: steve@stevebradshawBOOKS.com, facebook.com/steve.bradshaw.9400, twitter.com/sbauthor, linkedin.com/pub/steve-bradshaw/18/246/660

Titles: BLUFF CITY BUTCHER, THE SKIES ROARED, BLOOD LIONS, EVIL LIKE ME, SERIAL INTENT, TERMINAL BREACH, and SHARED INNOCENCE.

Screenplay: TERMINAL BREACH

Audiobooks: BLUFF CITY BUTCHER, THE SKIES ROARED, BLOOD LIONS, EVIL LIKE ME, TERMINAL BREACH

Like Giant Redwoods Authors Helping Authors

By Doyne Phillips, Managing Editor for Southern Writers Magazine

I recently attended the Southern Authors Event at the Collierville Burch Library in Collierville, TN. Author Steve Bradshaw put it together with 11 other authors from the Mid-South region. Deanna Britton, Director of the Collierville Burch Library assisted in the event and was in attendance. Annette Mastron, our Communications Director of Southern Writers Magazine and I covered it before with ads and blogs on Suite T and during the event as well. It was an exceptional event and one they all should be proud of.

Seeing the cooperation of the authors, Deanna Britton and Southern Writers Magazine brought back to me the importance of supporting each other. A topic I covered in the past in a Suite T Blog titled The Secrets of the Giant Redwoods and Southern Writers Magazine. Here is a portion of that below. You may read the blog in it’s entirety at this link.

The ancient redwoods live 500 to 800 years with the oldest being 2000 to 2200 years old. They do stand tall and proud and appear to do so with such great ease. Many standing over 200 feet tall. The tallest, believed to be the world’s tallest tree, is said to be 379 feet. Such great height must surely need great support and it has but not as you would think. The roots of those redwoods are only 10 to 12 feet deep. So how do they support themselves? 

Their roots may not be deep but they spread out 3 to 5 times their height. A 200-foot redwood could have roots spreading out 600 to 1,000 feet. The tallest could spread out 1100 to 1800 feet.  But that is not their only secret to their support. Each redwood tree’s roots, while spreading out to great lengths, are also intertwining with the roots of each tree in their immediate area. They support each other.

Thinking on this, I wondered what it would be like to have such a support system. Individuals intertwined with other individuals. All are supporting one, and one is supporting all. Believe it or not that is what Southern Writers Magazine was founded on. We began with the vision of “a magazine by writers and for writers”. It has developed into over 3,000 authors sharing their ideas with them. Each author like a giant redwood intertwined with other authors supporting them as they are supported.

Our hope at Southern Writers Magazine is that with this support we all can grow tall in our craft and have a long career as writers. We know with the continued support of each of you this can happen. If you haven’t joined the forest of authors do so. Add your support and enjoy the support of others. Southern Writers Magazine will be here for your continued success.  

Southern Writers Magazine Supports an Authors Event

By Steve Bradshaw, Specialty Writer for Southern Writers Magazine and Author of The Bell Trilogy books 

You are invited to a Southern Writers Magazine event: 12 SOUTHERN AUTHORS AT COLLIERVILLE BURCH LIBRARY SEPTEMBER 14, 2:00-4:00 pm in Collierville, TN

The Collierville Burch Library is pleased to welcome twelve published southern authors to the SOUTHERN AUTHOR EVENT on Saturday, September 14, 2019 from 2:00 to 4:00 pm.

International Thriller author, Steve Bradshaw worked closely with the Collierville Library staff in assembling a gifted group of southern authors to present their latest book releases and to meet the public.

“We wanted to have authors representing each of the most popular genres at this event,” Steve said. “Our authors write historical crime fiction, cozy mysteries, Christian mysteries, Romance, Young Adult, Christian non-fiction, Memoir, Short Stories, and Children books.”

“Attractive promotional elements and fun for the attendees were the keys to organizing an author event supported by SOUTHERN WRITERS MAGAZINE,” said Editor and Chief Susan Reichert. There will be 50 new releases given away on September 14, each signed and personalized for the lucky winners. All you need to do is stop by the Collierville Library before September 14 and drop you name in the registration box. The drawing on September 14 will decide the winners. You must be present to win. The library marketing manager Linda Brown said, “I want everyone to have a good chance at winning a great novel at our library. Although their supplies will be limited, we are pleased the authors will bring more of their books for purchase.”

The SOUTHERN AUTHOR EVENT will debut two nine-year-old writers with their first books. Come by and meet these wonderful young writers and talk to an author in your favorite genre.

Participating Authors include: Nick Nixon, Deborah Sprinkle, Michael Hicks Thompson, Tracy Crump, Jean Brunson, Sharilyn Hunt, Sandra Wright, Rene Dick, Patricia Bradley, and Steve Bradshaw  

A Book A Minute – What’s Your Goal?

By Doyne Phillips, Managing Editor for Southern Writers Magazine

In a recent conversation with Steve Bradshaw, author of the Bell Trilogy and other books, I reminded him of his goal he once shared with me.  He had a goal of a specific number of books to sell which in his mind would validate him to himself as an author. Most authors have a personal goal. It may be as simple as having a book for family and friends to read. Some write technical or educational books to be published for advancement in their career. Some write for the money which I wrote about in one of my Suite T blogs.

Whatever your personal goal is it is personal and share it only of you like. But how about a goal of “1 Book A Minute”? The idea came to me when I was looking over the books of Andy Andrews in a gift shop. I have always thought Andrews to be a great author as well as a smart marketing author. Yet knowing this I was still surprised to see the book mark in each of his books stating, “Every minute a book by Andy Andrews is sold somewhere in the World”. Amazing!  I thought to my self that is a lot of books and then of course I had to do the numbers. I came up with 1,440 books a day, 43,920 a month and 527,040 books a year. Over a half a million a year! That may or may not have been a goal for Andrews but if it was how do you get there?

As I said earlier Andy Andrews is a hardworking marketing author. He is known to travel to gift shops, book stores big box stores where his books are sold to autograph his books and return them to the shelves. I ran across him in a Walmart store doing just that. Speaking engagements with groups are a big benefit as well. Corporations with large number of employees will tend to purchase each employee a copy of the book the author is promoting or asked to speak on. This can lead to interest in other books the author may have and further purchases from the individuals. Once an author is established in a company they may be recommended to other companies throughout that industry. 

This straggly could give book sales a big boost especially if it is a worldwide business or industry.

It should be worth noting the bookmark does state “in the world”. This tells us Andrews has a worldwide market. As an author you should not hesitate to be thinking worldwide. With today’s technology you can reach the world from the comfort of your easy chair or desk. An example would be if your language is English reach out to English speaking nations to market there. If you go global and the markets warrant there could be translations to other languages.

Most importantly do you have a personal goal? If yes, what actions are you taking to get there. Do you need help? If yes, seek it out. It will take work but the effort is worth the results. Pick out your numbers to reach by the minute, hour, day, month or year. Have a number you would like to reach and get started. Let us know of your progress.       

    

REACH YOUR TARGET MARKET or PERISH

By Steve Bradshaw

Global book publishing is a robust $112 billion industry. To put that into some perspective, the global recorded music industry is a mere $16 billion. Although these numbers present an enormous opportunity, authors seeking success today face a very different world than the greats of the 20^th century.

Earnest Hemmingway, J.D. Salinger and John Steinbeck wrote their ground-breaking novels more than fifty years ago. In the 1950s, when Hemmingway stood at his chest-of-drawers and pounded out For Whom the Bell Tolls on his Royal Deluxe typewriter, I suspect the most influential author of the day spent little time thinking about his target markets or his productivity goals. Hemmingway and the other greats of that day lived in a world very different. They had half the population, a sliver of the competition, and minimal competing technologies. The Hemmingways of the world could focus on the creation of their masterpieces. Most authors today do not have that luxury.

Unlike Agatha Christie (85 books) and Dean Koontz (91 books) and many more of the most successful, modern-day authors, Hemmingway achieved his greatness with just seven books published, three more posthumously. The Pulitzer Prize and Nobel Peace Prize recipient created exceptional literary works and set the bar high. Today an author must deliver a quality product or perish. However unlike the 20^th century the great authors of this day can be swept away in the tsunami of titles that flow into the world each year regardless of the quality of their work.

The UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization) reports 2,233,893 new books published worldwide last year. Amazon adds ~1,000,000 new titles each year. The Pew Research Center recently reported 65% of Americans read at least one printed book a year. The average is twelve printed books a year (the median four). They also reported 28% of Americans read at least one eBook, and 14% listen to at least one audiobook.  Based on the current U.S. population, Pew’s findings translate into 214,000,000 printed books, 92,000,000 eBooks, and 46,000,000 audiobooks sold in a year. How many of the combined 352,000,000 books sold in America were yours?

Regardless of the decade or century it is safe to say all writers like to write. It is also safe to say all writers want to be read. Unlike the Hemmingway days the writing talent in the world is a hundred-fold greater in numbers, more educated, and more equipped to produce high-quality literary products. As reported by UNESCO, a morass of new titles pours into the world every year now. Would the J.D. Salingers and Ralph Ellisons and Harper Lees and Truman Capotes be found today? Probably not! Are there undiscovered greats walking among us? Yes! Why those answers? And what can we do about it?

Most writers today do not have the luxury of just focusing on the creative process and the quality of their product (book). Most must also identify and aggressively pursue their piece of their target market. More than ever before a writer must understand their market, the segments, trends, and market expectations. Doing the marketing research today (or paying for it) allows you to shape your unique promotional strategy that increases your chances for discovery and success.

Do you know who reads your books—age, gender, education, social media practices, entertainment preferences, and the like? Do you know how your target market finds the books they read? Do you know how they like to experience a book—printed, digital, audio, at launch, on sale, etc.? Did you know printed books are most preferred today, and sales are increasing? Did you know eBook sales are flat, and more people are moving away from eBook readers to tablets and smartphones? Did you know audiobooks are peaking at 14% of the market? If you did not know these basics, I suggest you start doing your research.

Do you believe you write as good as some of the bestselling authors? I would bet writers with five or more published books in the world know their work is good. I also suspect they are focused on writing their next novel and implementing their marketing plan. Do not accept low and slow sales. 

Do not be patient. And do not stop writing. Just market your babies with the same intensity that created them. Unless you are a New York Times bestseller with one of the big five publishers, your great works may never be discovered unless you do your research and implement a sensible market plan.

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Steve Bradshaw writes international mystery/thrillers. He draws upon his experience as a forensic investigator and the founder, President/CEO of an innovative biomedical venture. Steve writes lightning-paced forensic thrillers and speaks at companies and organizations about fascinating worlds of forensic investigation, fringe science, and pursuit of new ventures. Steve has six published novels in softcover and eBooks. His audiobook collection releases the end of 2018. Excerpts of all books can be viewed on his website, stevebradshaw.org. To schedule Steve for speaking and book signing events call (901) 230-7343.

Lessons Learned From #6

By Steve Bradshaw, Author of Terminal Breach

How many authors can open one of their published novels and see the story they had in mind back when they pounded out their first sentence? If you can say your novel is as you had planned from day one, then I am truly impressed with your ability to grasp and commit to an abstract notion. I laud your outlining and organizational skills and admire your control of settings, scenes, and characters. As my sixth international thriller TERMINAL BREACH released on August 28^th, I can say I do not possess that astounding level of discipline. As a matter of fact I am just beginning to understand where my stories come from and who is really in control of key parts of the process.

“The President of the United States is awakened by the two words he prayed he would never hear—terminal breach.” This abstract notion floated around in my head for several years before I sat down to write TERMINAL BREACH. The concept competed with many others that did not make the cut—this time. For me, selecting the right thing to write about is the most important hurdle to clear, and it is totally in my control. The story concept must be strong enough to hold my interest, and to keep my creative juices flowing for months of alone time. It must carry me through hundreds of hours of research, rewrites, and the weaving together of 100,000+ perfect words. If the story concept I select can do all these things, I know the finished product will matter, and it will earn an audience.

Because we come into writing with different skills, knowledge bases, life experiences, and interests, we each find the genre (or two or three) that best stages our creations—the place where we want to live. Because I live in the suspense/thriller genre, before I type my first word I know I will be writing a heart-pounding page turner. I knew TERMINAL BREACH would be a chilling international forensic story based on an abundance of mesmerizing facts and a plausible mega-dilemma (or two). I knew my reader’s ride would be tumultuous, spellbinding, edgy, and real with a touch of the surreal. And I knew the climax would be unexpected and resolution thought provoking. These defining parts of my story creation process are in my being. It is the skeleton I breathe life into. It decides what stays and what goes!

One of my most profound discoveries as a writer has been to find many of the best parts of my stories are written by my characters. Once I create and position them in an environment with a set of situations and dilemmas, they always rise to the occasion to take my story places I never planned nor could have predicted. The dialogue and behavior of characters opens a new dimension in my writing process. For me this creative stream is not a conscious operation. When I write I look for that moment when my characters start talking and doing on their own. When I get there, I close the doors to my study, turn down the lights, and hold on tight. My best writing flows naturally.

When an unknown entity—code name GRAY WOLF—commandeers a nuclear missile silo in North Dakota and threatens to launch a Minuteman III ICBM into the world, the President of the United States is faced with a mega-dilemma. Containment options would decimate a third of the country and kill millions. Can the macabre forensic pieces of an insane international puzzle provide the POTUS with more options? Can a nuclear Armageddon triggered by a rogue U.S. missile be averted, or is World War III the only outcome for a TERMINAL BREACH?   

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Steve Bradshaw draws upon his experiences as the youngest forensic investigator in Texas history, an innovative biotech entrepreneur, and a founder-president/CEO. Now dedicated to writing his unique brand of mystery/thrillers, Steve takes readers into fascinating worlds of fringe science, chilling forensics, and captivating mysteries. His book TITLES: TERMINAL BREACH • SERIAL INTENT • EVIL LIKE ME • BLUFF CITY BUTCHER, free today on Amazon • THE SKIES ROARED • BLOOD LIONS Social Media links: stevebradshawBOOKS.com, steve@stevebradshawBOOKS.com, facebook.com/steve.bradshaw.9400, Twitter twitter.com/sbauthor, Linkedin.com/pub/steve-bradshaw/18/246/660

 

I Want to Giveaway 100,000 eBooks

By Steve Bradshaw

I am pleased to offer the first book of my forensic mystery/thriller trilogy free on Amazon. The BLUFF CITY BUTCHER.

Yes, the above statement grabs attention. And it is now my gateway marketing tool to introduce my brand of suspense and intrigue to my target market.

I investigated gruesome homicides, interrogated heinous killers, and navigated the macabre. My life-unedited experiences as a forensic sleuth now live in my novels. My Amazon 5-star Bell Trilogy has had success, but still only reaches a small sliver of the thriller market. Because there are a million new titles each year, it is easy to become lost in the shuffle. Therefore, it is time to try something new.

Alluring book covers, gripping titles, and tantalizing bullets on back covers may not be enough today. A steady dose of marketing on social media, creative websites and blogs, newsletters, book reviews, awards, and selected paid advertising reaches a small fraction of my audience. In the morass of titles flooding the literary world, I need something more for new readers to take a look at my novels. I have decided to change the playing field and now offer a FREE eBook on Amazon. But not just any eBook. I am giving away the first book in my Bell Trilogy.

All writers want their words read. If we did not, we would put our manuscripts in bottles and bury them in the backyard. Few of us would go through the demanding creative process to be ignored completely. No! We write to be read. We believe in ourselves—our writing. With five novels in the marketplace and number six releasing in the summer, I have built a following. I get feedback and know my books are devoured and readers want more. Therefore, if I can find a way to reach new readers, I know they will do the same thing.

Offering the first book of a trilogy free, makes sense for several reasons. First, it is not a lost sale. It is a catalyst for new sales. I am wagering once they read one free book they will purchase the next books in the trilogy and more. Second, if my current readers want to share me with their friends and families, gifting a free eBook is an excellent way. Third, new readers surfing the market can download me free and in an instant. It gives me a chance to gain a new reader I otherwise would not have. And fourth, a free eBook will improve my rankings on Amazon. That increases your visibility.  

My goal is to give away 100,000 eBooks over the next six months. I am confident this promotion will allow me to reach more of my target market, and at no cost. Offering a free eBook could be my most valuable marketing tool in today’s world. I will let you know!

Tell your mystery/thriller lovers to visit Amazon and download a free BLUFF CITY BUTCHER eBook today at https://www.amazon.com/Steve-Bradshaw/e/B001LHKXAS. And visit my website to read excerpts from books two and three, THE SKIES ROARED and BLOOD LIONS, at https://www.stevebradshawauthor.com  

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Steve Bradshaw is a forensic mystery/thriller author drawing on life experiences as forensic investigator and biotech entrepreneur. He received a BA from University of Texas and trained at the Institute of Forensic Sciences where he investigated over 3,000 traumatic deaths for the Medical Examiner Office. After raising $30 million and serving as the founder-president/CEO of an innovative biomed company developing a leading-edge knee meniscus implant now under FDA clinical review, Steve stepped down and now writes his unique brand of forensic mystery/thrillers. His latest novel is Evil Like Me.

Hook a Reader

By Annette Cole Mastron, Communications Director at Southern Writers Magazine

My friend and author, Steve Bradshaw was stirring up social media the other day by posting a picture on Facebook. He gave a writing prompt with the posting of an intriguing picture saying, "there's a story here. Write the first sentence..."

My sentence was "'Murder in the family mausoleum' was the lead story for a week; then, another victim was found."

Author Michael Hicks Thompson responded, "Randolph Horn had always lived in a mansion. His last would be his forever."

Author Claire Fullerton's sentence was, "It takes the permanence of a graveyard to remind me of my impermanence."

Author Nick Nixon's sentence, "As I knelt beside the gravestone to lay some flowers down, the ground beneath me started to tremble. Suddenly a pasty, gray hand burst out of the grave and grabbed my ankle! Ahhhhhh!!!!"

Author Loryn Kramer Staley's sentence was, "Hidden in the shadow the old elm provided, she was relieved to find she was on this side of the daisies.

Author Devin Greaney wrote, "June 8, 1874, Rosa laid down to bed in her home on North Main, yet she awoke, of all places, in this cemetery which she realized was odd though not nearly as much as her discovery that it was now 2017."

Reader, Janie wrote, “Two sisters looking for relatives that were gone before them! Gone but not forgotten!"

Reader, Laurie's sentence, "I know I only have an hour or so before the darkness will be here... right here, once more."

Reader, Mike wrote, "The only ability Tripp had over making a grand entrance was the pomp and circumstance surrounding his grand exit and it's awe inspiring finality. He had commissioned his majestic mausoleum eighteen years ago and no detail was left unfinished. It has been said that, "You can't take it with you" but, apparently, they didn't know Harold Robinson, III."

Reader Julie's sentence was, "The moment he saw the old stone church in the middle of the beauty of its green surroundings he felt the sinister uneasiness he had felt before. He felt it beckoning yet a fear so pervasive overcame him he couldn't move. Suddenly he realized........"

Steve's post provided fabulous responses from authors and readers, alike. Authors' sentences had a different but clearly connected perspective. Authors want to hook the reader with the all-important first sentence. Readers wrote what they wanted to first read, which essentially is the same thing. 

Lessons for authors can be learned through an exercise like this, and it gets everyone's creative juices flowing. 

Thanks to Steve, it fueled me to write this blog post. How about you? 

If you didn't see Steve's picture, here it is, and now it's your turn to write the first sentence of the story behind this picture. 

Ready, get set...go. 

Collaborative Beauty

by Gary Fearon, Creative Director, Southern Writers Magazine


Each time I attend a writers conference, as I had the pleasure of doing this weekend, I come away with a renewed sense of the community spirit that writers share.  It's a brotherhood and sisterhood unique in the fact that we all have something to say.  Not only do we respect each other's right to say it, but we're eager to help each other do so.

The folks who visited my table for 15-minute one-on-ones were all promising writers with diverse interests: songwriting, playwriting, creative fiction, and more.  They were each working on projects at various stages of completion.  But what they all had in common was the question, "Now what do I do?"

My first question back to them is to find out whether they have a platform for promoting their work. I'm quick to recommend Edie Melson's comprehensive but easy read, Connections: Social Media and Networking Techniques for Writers.  Lots of books offer advice on using Facebook for marketing, but few address specific promotional tactics to help writers develop an online audience, and Edie has practiced what she preaches with great success.

To those who want to know how to approach a publisher with what they've written, I then pull out my copy of W. Terry Whalin's Book Proposals That $ell: 21 Secrets to Speed Your Success.  From coming up with an elevator pitch to putting together the whole presentation package, Terry's voice of experience as an acquisitions editor has helped countless writers learn how to get their feet in the door and their manuscripts looked at.

Occasionally, I can even answer a writer's question without the aid of a book! But in moments like these I'm reminded of how grateful I am for Terry and Edie.  I'm especially grateful that they contribute their talents to each issue of Southern Writers Magazine.

As a huge movie buff, I have an affinity for the insights of screen and stage writer Shelly Frome, who left his mark in the Big Apple before taking up roots as a Southern novelist.  Shelly's articles on screenwriting also appear in each issue.  He explores themes, scenes, character motivations and much more from an insider's perspective.  If you like to ponder the psychology of what's on the silver screen, Shelly is the man in the director's chair.

Acclaimed Virginia poet and author Sara M. Robinson is one busy gal.  In fact, she presented at another convention herself just a few weeks ago.  But she finds time to contribute her deep thoughts via "Poetry Matters" in each issue.  Her ability to analyze prose and its purpose is of TED Talk caliber.

C. Hope Clark is another regular in the mag who parlays her talents as a novelist into valuable instruction, in this case on writing dialogue.  You can catch a glimpse of Hope's enviable ear for the spoken word via an entertaining new video she and I collaborated on, called What Rhett and Scarlett Can Teach Writers About Dialogue at bit.ly/RhettWrite

What can I say about Steve Bradshaw besides that he is a scholar and a gentleman, and has seen more corpses than Vlad the Impaler? Well, that's been a necessary evil in his career as a forensic investigator, biotech entrepreneur, and now a celebrated mystery author. His articles in each issue dig into medicine and murder as only someone who has investigated over 3.000 unexplained deaths can do, so that you don't have to.

We couldn't do what we do without those talented folks, much less the 30 to 40 authors who appear in each issue and an awesome writing staff that includes Vicki H. Moss, Chris Pepple, Jessica Ferguson, Londa Hayden, Barbara Ragsdale, and Annette Cole Mastron, who also makes this very blog you're reading happen.  Put them all together with our fearless leader, Editor-in-Chief Susan Reichert, and it adds up to a collaboration much greater than the sum of its parts.

This is not so much a shameless plug for the magazine (although it is!) as much as a well-deserved plug for these authors and any others who sacrifice their own precious book-writing time to show other writers how it's done. We never take them for granted, and I hope when you meet them at a conference, you'll take a moment to thank them too.

Writing a Trilogy-Hook, Hold and Satisfy

By Steve Bradshaw

When the first book of The Bell Trilogy published in 2012, it launched my journey as a mystery/thriller writer. At that time I did not realize writing a trilogy was tantamount to catching a sixty-foot wave the first day I picked up a surfboard. Writing the next two books of the trilogy proved a daunting task. Now, the trilogy doing well and the release of my forth novel in November—EVIL LIKE ME—and well into writing fifth thriller for a May 2017 release, I have a few lessons learned to share that may help the trilogy writers out there.

The typical novel length ranges from 80,000 to 120,000 words. For most writers, managing a “story arc” over that amount of “word acreage” is enough of a challenge. If you subscribe to Nigel Watts (Writing a Novel) philosophy, there are eight elements of the story arc that must be addressed—stasis, trigger, quest, surprise, choice, climax, reversal, and resolution. Each element must be well crafted to successfully hook, hold, and satisfy the reader. Writing a trilogy significantly amplifies that writing challenge.

By definition a trilogy is three connected works with a combined length between 250,000 and 400,000 words. Not only must the “story arc” be well crafted for each novel, it must also be firmly in place for the trilogy as an entity. Just as each book must have a beginning, middle, and end, the trilogy (as a connected body of work) must too.

When considering the construction of the “trilogy story arc”, the writer must think in broad terms. For example, the first paragraph in the first book must have some relevance to the last paragraph in the last book—if not, why a trilogy? The characters throughout the trilogy must be introduced, develop or fade, or drop out for reasons that support the individual book story arcs and the trilogy arc. There must be good reasons for each character and event or the reader will not invest the extra time and attention to read “three novels”. A trilogy asks a lot of a reader. Therefore the reader asks a lot of the writer. Everything must connect and be relevant to the trilogy experience or it must be eliminated. There is no room for tangents and dead ends.   

Some authors just write. Others have outlines and plans. To write a trilogy, I believe a plan is necessary because there are a lot of details to manage over the course of its creation that can take two to three years. I kept track of each character and story event on a master timeline (on and EXCEL spreadsheet). The Bell Trilogy had roots a century old.

If you decide to write a trilogy, you will benefit by laying out the key elements of your story arc that you believe will hook, hold, and satisfy your readers over the duration of a quarter-million or more words. Be sure the story merits three books? If it does, grab your surfboard and take that sixty-foot wave. 

It is an incredible ride.

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Steve Bradshaw is a forensic mystery/thriller author drawing on life experiences as forensic investigator and biotech entrepreneur. He received a BA from University of Texas and trained at the Institute of Forensic Sciences. Steve investigated 3,000+ unexplained deaths for the Medical Examiner Office. As founder-president/CEO of an innovative biomed company, he led development of an innovative meniscus implant now under FDA clinical review. Today, Steve puts his readers on the front row in fascinating worlds of fringe science, forensic investigation, and the chilling pursuit of real monsters. Visit his website and read the first chapters of second edition of The Bell Trilogy—BLUFF CITY BUTCHER, THE SKIES ROARED, and BLOOD LIONS. His new novel EVIL LIKE ME just released. Social media links are: Website, Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn

Book Signings, Selling and Future Ideas

By Doyne Phillips, Managing Editor for Southern Writers Magazine    

Author Michael Hicks Thompson recently had a book signing for his latest work, The Rector, A Christian Murder Mystery. There is a lot of excitement around Thompson’s latest work. The Rector was chosen by the Beverly Hills Book Awards as a Finalist. The signing was at The Booksellers of Laurelwood in Memphis TN. Booksellers is one of those meccas for authors and readers alike. It is a great venue for authors to introduce their work.

Book signings can do many things for an author. Many of which I saw at Thompson’s book signing. Let’s look at a few very important points of a book signing.

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Personal contact with your readers. Readers love to meet the author. Book signings give readers an opportunity to meet their heroes, the ones that gave life to their favorite characters. Everyone wants to know the author and this gives the readers personal time with them. When given a chance readers will express their fondness of the author and his talent. It builds a bond between the author and reader that could last for years.

·       Book sales. I must say I have bought a book simply because the author was there in front of me to sign it. My thoughts were that if someone mentioned they liked this author I could always make it a gift to them. The point is signed books sell. This reinforces the closeness and proves the personal contact a reader had with the author.  Author Steve Bradshaw, The Bell Trilogy, told me that book signings were his bread and butter. From there many more opportunities came which led to more sales.

·       New ideas. Having attended signings that included readings and personal contact with the author, there seemed to be discussions with the readers concerning the characters and the story line. The author hears such things as will the main character ever do this. Have you ever thought of the character taking off on a tangent to do this? Will there be a sequel? By the way the sequel to Michael Hicks Thompson’s The Rector, entitled The Typewriter, will be released this year. Feedback from the readers can make an author aware of how his work is seen and could bring great ideas to the forefront. It may lead an author in a direction not considered. Many times a reader will offer a new story or book idea for your consideration.

So when considering a book signing go into it with the awareness that this is more than you meeting and greeting and selling your book. Prepare to form new relationships that could be lasting ones. Be aware of additional opportunities that may spin off this event. Be open to the path should it unfold before you. Keep a note book or personal devise nearby to jot down any ideas, story lines or contacts that may arise.

Selling your book is definitely an important part of your book signing event but there other ways that may come along that can be just as productive and profitable to your writing career. Being prepared for and aware of these opportunities as they come could make each and every book signing productive.