Plotting Along

One of the questions asked at my author talk last week was why did I chose to develop three plots? There wasn’t time to really delve into this issue, so I gave a short, but honest answer: I didn’t think I had the experience to develop only one plot line.

That question stuck with me through the week so I went to my personal library. Fredric Brown, writing a section on plot lines for Mystery Writer’s Handbook, states, “plots aren’t ‘got,’ they are constructed.”

In An Unexpected Death, I knew one plot line, but the second one developed as I developed the character Nick. I needed him to be doing something, and as the story developed, I read articles about China and their need for energy, which changed Nick’s original role. And voilá, without prior planning, I had another plot line that lead to a surprising subplot near the end.

Author Talk and Book Signing

My first author talk at Celebrate Virginia Del Webb April 3, 2016

I survived my first book talk! The thirty-five people in attendance made me feel welcome and comfortable. Although I was nervous about giving this presentation, once the first slide went up, I was off and running, sharing experiences in writing and publishing my first mystery. 

I made sure I covered the most asked questions: How long did it take you to write this? Where do you get your ideas? I shared Summit's story, with hanky in hand, and told them how important first readers are, showing them the twelve pages of comments by one of my first readers. I also covered the pros and cons of self-publishing. 

The presentation ended with three of my favorite quotes: 
"You can't edit a blank page." Nora Roberts
"Story is character." Elizabeth George
"Description begins in the writer's imagination, but should finish in the reader's." Stephen King

The talk was hosted by the Page Turners book group, and unbeknownst to me, they brought Finger Lakes wines, cheese and crackers for everyone to enjoy during the talk. A delightful afternoon.