Know Your Characters

Any good fiction includes great characters. To develop those unique individuals, you need to know them. The easiest way to know them is to base the character's traits on the ones you admire, or dislike, in people you know.

When you have a character that is the personification of Great-Aunt Maud, think about phrases she has used, ways she used body language, how she sounded, and favorite smells - like Mrs. Violet (Jones), a third teacher in the primary school I attended, who always wore a cluster of violets and smelled of lavender cologne. Also, think of what might have frightened her or motivated her for good. What were her favorite foods, music, books and movies? How did she sound when she spoke and laughed? How would her touch have felt? If you describe all of these, your readers will know her too.

In Smoke from Distant Fires, I know how Millie thought and acted because she is based on the traits of my mother. I simply introduced her to my readers. In my short story, Christmas Feathers, which will be out in the middle of October, James and Rachel Bryson are very dear to me because they were my g-g-g grandparents. Naturally, I never met them. Although, at the end of a very long day, it feels like I may be old enough to have known them personally. I read about the time in which they lived, the County History, and have heard enough family stories and observed family traits, to "know" my characters. If you know them well and describe them equally well, your readers will know them too. Introduce a friend to others in your next book.

A Recommended Read

Let me recommend an unexpected book - Out of the Darkness: My Journey Through Foster Care by Kailamai Hansen. I say unexpected, not because I would not have expected a beautiful young woman like Kailamai to write such a book, but because I never took the time to think about what happens to kids when they age-out of foster care.
As a woman in a loving home, with three birth children and three adopted children, maturing into adulthood is an exciting step. Yet, just because one is eighteen, it does not make them an adult. And, as a psychologist, I know that children who have gone through trauma in their young lives, do not mature "evenly." They may be very "street smart" and have no idea how to write a check or how to shop for groceries.
When eighteen-year-olds age-out of foster care they have nothing, no bedding, no dishes, no cooking utencile. You get the idea. Kailamai's book helps us understand the unique situation these kids are in. On there own - with no place to go - with no means of getting there - and with no mentoring to help them grow into their freedom. We would all benefit from reading, Out of the Darkness.

Doris
Copyright 2014 Doris Gaines Rapp, Ph.D.

Amazon Author Page

Your Amazon Author Page is important! All you do is about your writing - creating the story or manuscript, promotion/marketing and distribution!  "But, I don't want to take the time to set up profile pages, blogs, social media sites - all that stuff," you may whine. I know  did. 
Then, someone asked if I had written some books I wouldn't even read. The books had appeared on the Amazon Author Page I had only taken the time to give my name to but not set up! Thank goodness the friend found the errors on my page. I was able to go to Amazon Central and finally do it right. Did it take a little time? Sure, but if I hadn't, the readers I would want to attract to my books may have been turned off by the inclusion of the not-mine books. Take a little time and do it right or you may not find readers for the books you have poured months into. Put on your Big-Girl/Boy's author-beret and schedule the work that goes with the wonderful novels or non-fiction you have written. Remember, "What you do not naturally do, you must deliberately do," quoth me.
Doris
Doris Gaines Rapp
Copyright 2014 Doris Gaines Rapp

Good Morning Ukraine!!

It's is morning here in Indiana. The sun is shinning and God is with us because He never sleeps nor looks away. His eyes are fixed on you with His love and presence. I see from my blog stats that several readers from Ukraine are online today. Perhaps you were interested in the previous post about November being Native American month here in the U.S. Perhaps you have an opportunity to go online and "think of other things."

Hiawassee had very difficult days too. She was stalked by bounty hunters all of her life and shunned by her husband's family, his community and his church, but she never held a grudge. She provided balance and love for her husband and their sixteen children.

I thank all of my readers, from every country. You are precious to me and I pray for your well being each day. God has blessed me with words to write and readers to read. May the Lord God bless your day!

Doris
Doris Gaines Rapp
Hiawassee - Child of the Meadow
Smoke from Distant Fires
Escape from the Belfry
Length of Days - The Age of Silence

Native American Month - November

November is Native American month. I created a board on Pinterest to post books, art, activities and even Geocaching (tracking practice) to have fun during the month while learning about the Native Americans who lived here and still do. Check it out at: http://www.pinterest.com/dorisgainesrapp/native-american-month-november/

Kindle Unlimited Titles Off the DBW Ebook Best-Seller List

For those of you who are authors, writers, novelists - you may find Digital Book World's decision of interest:

Kindle Unlimited’s effect on the best-seller list has indeed grown.
Kindle Unlimited titles have been removed from the Digital Book World Ebook Best-Seller list due to an inability to sort out retail purchases from Kindle Unlimited “reads” when creating the list.
After discussing several possibilities with Amazon as to how to include titles that had robust sales but also had reads on the new ebook subscription platform counted toward Amazon Kindle sales ranking, no solution was found. The conversations were constructive and amicable but, ultimately, not successful.

If you want to read more, go to:

http://www.digitalbookworld.com/2014/kindle-unlimited-titles-off-the-dbw-ebook-best-seller-list/?et_mid=684371&rid=240989062

Book Launch - Monday!

Hiawassee - Child of the Meadow, my newest Historical Novel, will be available to order from your neighborhood bookstore and online at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Cokesbury and other online bookstores, on MONDAY!! The cover has been up for a few week. A cover is the first thing readers see. Make sure it reflects your message. To me, Karen Noles beautiful painting of an Native American girl is Hiawassee.

It is important for the book to circulate as soon as possible.
I have gotten some Reading Partners who will read it ahead of time and post a review on Amazon. If you are interested, send your email address on the Chat Line of Facebook to my author page. It is
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Doris-Gaines-Rapp-Author-Page/127290457340650.  And, while you're there, please "Like" my page.

Blessings to you all,
Doris