The September 2016 issue of the Los Angeles Police Protective League Thin Blue Line will feature an ad for my books, By Force or Fear and Intent to Hold. Designed by Michelle Wing of Las Cruces, New Mexico, I think it blends the covers nicely with a minimum of text. I’m marketing to cops here so I have to pander to a short (microscopic?) attention span. I know. I suffer from the same.
My advertising budget is limited so I decided to spend my bucks where I’d like to find readers. The Thin Blue Line newsletter reaches over 18,000 active and retired LAPD personnel. My books are not fine literature—I have no illusions about them. They’re entertainment, pure and simple. There’s action and adventure steeped in the procedural, authentically rendered world of law enforcement. And just a touch of sex? No. Romance? No. But there is an undeniable attraction (although the characters spend a lot of time denying) based on the premise that they’re partners who trust each other.
If you’re associated with LAPD and receive this newsletter, look up my ad. See if you think it’s as terrific as I do. And feel free to share!
This article is a re-post from Marilyn Meredith’s blog, Marilyn’s Musings which appeared June 21, 2015. Marilyn posts about writing, her appearances and often has guest poster sharing their expertise or in my case, experience. Enjoy!
Marilyn suggested I write about how I got published. It’s a great idea and may offer the unpublished writer some hope to be published!
I’ve been writing for years—since I could hold a pencil. About fifteen years ago, I got serious and decided to write a novel. It took several years but I completed Probable Cause which became By Force or Fear-eventually. Getting serious included joining a professional writing association-Public Safety Writers Association (PSWA but in those days it was known as Police Writers Association). One of the percs of membership is a free manuscript evaluation by a professional editor. I sent Probable Cause in and was encouraged to submit it as an unpublished manuscript in the PSWA annual writing contest. I tied for third place in the unpublished fiction novel category. Woohoo! This made me an award winning author!
During this time, I continuously submitted query letters to agents and publishers with nothing to show for it but a growing rejection pile. In fact, until I signed my publishing contract in January 2014, I kept this up. This was the path of traditional publishing and for a long time, this was the route I thought I should follow. In early 2013, I began to feel the clock ticking and decided to independently publish. It was a cumbersome effort but in June 2013, I published By Force or Fear on Amazon. I had moderate success.
By now, I had a second book in the final stages, Intent to Hold. Following in my first novel’s track, I decided to enter Intent in the PSWA contest. Again, I won third place for unpublished fiction novel.
Yay! Okay. So, I’m getting tired of searching for agents. I’ve won two book awards on two books so there must be some merit to my writing. As I had earlier changed directions of my plan, I decided to hold off on agent queries and concentrate on
Ohhhh, Oak Tree Press was sponsoring a contest! And in my genres—mysteries and cop stories. The winner would get his/her manuscript published in print and e-copy, (To date, By Force or Fear was only published in e-format) and provide editing and covers, plus public relations opportunities. Winning this prize would achieve my goal—to have a book published. So I entered and months later, found out I won—first place!
The road to getting Intent to Hold was not easy street. Editing proved to be a problem as I was so excited that I let many boo-boos slip through the galleys. Working with Billie Johnson, the publisher, was best when I did my job. It took a few printings to get all the mistakes corrected, but I’ve learned my lesson. Billie does her job and I do mine. The promised promotion opportunities have been consistently provided to venues I would not have found otherwise. I’m thankful to Jeana Lomprez of Oak Tree Press for her help. A huge part of what I consider my “success” is the marketing plan that OTP required up front. In doing research, I learned many places where I could market my book, plus organized my plan. OTP also published my first
PSWA Debut of both books
book, both debuting mid-July at the PSWA 2014 Conference in Las Vegas.
Fast forward to 2015: I’ve missed the PSWA contest deadline as With Malice Aforethought (my third Nick and Meredith Mystery) is not yet complete. When I do, I’ll be sending it to OTP’s Acquisitions Editor, Marilyn Olsen—the very person who recommended I submit my first story to PSWA.
At this writing, I do not have an agent, nor will I seek one.
This will be the briefest of posts, but one I take immense delight in making public. I just received a publishing contract from Oak Tree Books for my first (self-published) book, BY FORCE OR FEAR. I have taken it off Amazon and will be sprucing it up–maybe even a new cover–for re-release in e-book and paperback. I hope to launch it with as much fanfare as possible and will let the world know when it is available.
Be sure to check in on April 1st–yes, Tuesday, April Fool’s Day for an interview with Marilyn Meredith, author Murder in the Worst Degree, the Deputy Tempe Crabtree mysteries and the Rocky Bluff PD series.
BY FORCE OR FEAR cover: first e-book in a series of three featuring Nick and Meredith from Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office.
Back in May 2013, I submitted BY FORCE OR FEAR to The Writer’s Digest Annual Self-published e-Book Awards. Okay, I didn’t win. I didn’t even place but I was so very encouraged by what the judge wrote as a commentary that I had to share! Another shout-out to my fabulous editor, Billie Payton-Settles! Thanks!!
Entry Category: Fiction Books are evaluated on a scale of 1 to 5, with 1 meaning “needs improvement” and 5 meaning “outstanding”. “0” indicates not applicable. This scale is strictly to provide a point of reference, it is not a cumulative score and does not reflect ranking.
Structure and Organization: 4
Grammar: 4
Production Quality and Cover Design: 4
Plot (if applicable): 4
Character Development (if applicable): 4
Judges Commentary*:
The author has a strong skill when it comes to scene setting. I love the Sonoma setting for this thriller novel. Strong female lead and nice procedural research add to a strong plot and clever conflict throughout. I particularly like the way that the author uses short chapters to keep the tension level high and the pages turning.
The cover is intriguing and while the blurb leaves a little to be desired, the story comes through in the end.
Nice mix of narrative and dialogue and the dialogue was realistic. My only recommendation is that you take a look at the use of acronyms. Be sure the reader knows what you’re referring to here. I know that most readers are educated when it comes to these terms (DOA, DA, etc.) due to all the cop and forensics shows on these days. But, be sure that you don’t assume the readers knowledge here.
In fact, it was hard to find problems on the editorial side. I believe this book has been professionally editing and that is a refreshing find. I would recommend another look at this on the formatting side of things. There are quite a few extra spaces throughout and when the chapters begin at the bottom or middle of the page it can be disorienting.
The second draft of Intent to Hold is done. However, this doesn’t mean my work is finished. It’s been edited, read by beta readers and re-edited. I still have a few manuscripts out to readers and when they return, I’ll do the editing all over again. Invariably, someone will see something that I didn’t, didn’t see something that I did, or the story needs fixing here or there. This is the way of it.
Next comes the cover. I am working with Bob Crosby on that. He’s a Santa Rosa photographer and Picasa whiz who in his former life was a photo-journalist. His work is wonderful. I’ll also have to get blurbs for promotion, write my own short teasers for the cover, and so on.
I’m considering a print copy this time. My ebook will be out first, by the end of November, if all goes well. I hope to also have a book available in the next months, as well, but that is a lesser priority. I am also fer sure going to set up a deal where a reader can buy By Force or Fear for .99 cents if they buy Intent to Hold. I expect to retail it (ebook, anyway) for $3.99.
This is the Bay of Banderas looking south. It is in this beautiful area of Mexico that Intent to Hold is set.
It seemed to take a long time to get this book out (actually just over a year) but I think you’ll like it. My readers have said it has delves deeper into the two main characters, Nick Reyes and Meredith Ryan but is still packed with action and adventure. Intent to Hold is about the two Sonoma County Sheriff’s Deputy investigators who go to Mexico to help Nick’s estranged wife ransom her brother where they get caught in the middle of a cartel war.
I spent more than one sleepless night trying to figure how I was going to write 1,000 words every day-7 days a week for 45 days, plus keep the blog going, PLUS have a life (husband, horse, pooches, etc). The goal was to have a body of work to submit to a contest. Well, not just any contest: Public Safety Writer Association (PSWA) Writers’ Contest. My manuscript, Probable Cause, came in third last year in the unpublished novel. This was a national contest so understandably, I was excited. That book has been subsequently renamed–By Force or Fear–and published as an ebook by Amazon. The first draft of my new book, Intent to Hold, is now just over half completed. Calculating writing, beta readers, editing, then re-writing, meant I could only squeak by with 45 days of actual writing.Here’s the kicker: those who have read Intent to Hold say it is a better book than the first. Maybe I’ll do better than 3rd place…Sitting in church this morning, wobbly from lack of sleep, it came to me. There are other contests. I can still enter my first draft if I want to PWSA, or I can wait until next year when it will be completed and polished.Damn right. So that’s what I’m gonna do. Keep writing at my “normal” pace for now. When the PSWA deadline draws closer, I’ll decide which options to chose.
Intriguing title, huh? I thought so, too. It’s a fun way for writers to share their newest works. A fellow Redwood Writers’ Club member, Sunny Lockwood, tagged me for The Next Big Thing blog chain. Sunny is a writer of short stories and essays. Her newest book is Shades of Love: Stories from the Heart. Check out her blog at Onword.
A blog interview of Thonie Hevron
What is your working title of your book? My working title is Intent to Hold, which refers to the kidnapping section 209 of the California Penal Code.
By Force or Fear
Where did the idea come from for the book? This is a sequel to my first book, By Force or Fear, which I published on Amazon in ebook form last June. The title, actually both titles refer to elements of crimes. By Force or Fear is taken from the stalking statute, 646.9PC. I like to use crime codes to foreshadow the menace I address in each book. The tension in the first book dictated one of the main characters deal with a family problem that erupts in the second book. I set it in Mexico to have more latitude in plotting, the setting is glorious, and the character’s family is there.
What genre does your book fall under? Fiction, specifically suspense, with a sub-genre of police procedural. It’s unfortunate the tag for police procedural is sounds so boring, but in reality, as a law enforcement veteran, reading fiction that is accurate as well as exciting is very satisfying.
Benjamin Bratt
Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition? When I started my first novel, I used Mariska Hargitay of Law and Order SVU as a model for my lead character Meredith Ryan. These days, I tend to visualize Daniella Ruah from NCIS-LA. She oozes the self-assured competence of my young heroine. Benjamin Bratt was my hero Nick Reyes although Reyes is heavily influenced by a friend and former co-worker. Using actors for “models” helps me characterize so much! I use body movements, facial expressions and generally either try the dialog on for size or let the character make their own dialog. That happens only when you have a clear picture of who is talking.
Daniela Ruah
What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book? Detective partners Meredith Ryan and Nick Reyes sneak into Mexico to rescue Reyes’ kidnapped brother-in-law.
Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency? Self-published for now. I plan on continuing to query agents.
How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript? It will take about 8 months to write the first draft. My goal is to have it done for submission to a contest for unpublished manuscripts by May 2013.
What other books would you compare this story to within your genre? My first book, By Force or Fear, certainly. I would like to think any fiction by Michael Connelly, Robert Crais, Harlan Coben and Sandra Brown. I read PJ Parrish, David Corbett and Paul Bishop. I’d love to write like PJ Parrish-wonderful stories, layered characters and snappy dialog.
What else about your book might pique the reader’s interest? First, it is set in Mexico–the mountains above Puerto Vallarta–in the steamy jungle, dark hillside tunnels, and the ocean below. All have inherent dangers. Second, the two lead characters have a chemistry that makes readers’ guts groan. Within the storyline, I have kept the sex and violence to a minimum yet ramped up the level of excitement to the max. These two are too busy for a romance–or are they?
Sandy P. Baker
And the Blog Chain marches on:Sandy Baker is a formidable force within the Redwood Writers’ Club (RWC). RWC is the largest branch of the California Writers Club with over 200 members. Sandy is currently a Vice President and will assume the Presidency in the upcoming years and is the co-chair for the 2014 RWC Writers Conference. In her spare time, she writes childrens stories, has a thriller, The Tehran Triangle out and will publish another thriller this year. She is also a Master Gardener in Sonoma County. Check out her blog at Garden Plots or her site atSandyBakerWriter.com
I just found out that PROBABLE CAUSE, now published under new name of BY FORCE OR FEAR won third place in the 2012 Public Safety Writers’ Club Contest, category of unpublished fiction.
Woo hoo!
As I hammer out the eleventh hour re-writes on the prologue, I fall under the spell of the setting of my novel, Sonoma County, more precisely Forestville and the Russian River area. The scenery and weather have roles as strong as any character. In fact, in my first draft, the climax occurred as the heroine battled the antagonist while her house was being shattered by a monstrous mudslide. Exciting but a bit predictable so I changed it. The story takes place over a period of two months–winter months, complete with rain, flood and a mudslide (not at the climax).
Thought you might like a summary of the story. Heroine Meredith Ryan is a Sonoma County Sheriff’s Deputy wrestling with an unraveling marriage damaged by her career and an officer involved shooting. When her husband is killed in a seemingly random hit-and-run accident, she turns to her former partner for help. Superior Court Judge Stephen Giroud witnessed Ryan’s heroic shooting incident and becomes more than infatuated with her. Promoted to detective, her first homicide case promises exciting chases–in vehicles and on foot–shoot-outs and more!
It is my hope that the reader will be entertained throughout the twist and turns in this story. Rest assured, Isabel Allende won’t lift an eyebrow of concern. This is not a literary masterpiece but a fun ride to escape your daily drudges!
Cover art is DONE. Only one blurb received so far but they aren’t mandatory for the e-pub format. I designed my postcards to be sent to groups who might have an interest in reading my book: police departments, sheriff’s departments (local and Inyo County), horse clubs-polo and dressage, and reading groups. So far, that’s about all on my list.
Next blog will be about the book, BY FORCE OR FEAR. Because I will be traveling for most of the next two weeks, next post will be May 14th.
