Category: mystery

Shirley Kiger Connolly – Authorview

On By Betty OwensIn author, award-winning, civil war, fiction, mystery, RONE, RWA, Shirley Kiger Connolly - Authorview


Nickname or “wannabe” name If you don’t have a nickname, you can choose one you’d like, that tells us a little bit about who you are:
When my sister and I were young we used to trade pretend names: Mergatroyd Glutchensnable and Thusneld Burpsack (can you believe it). I don’t think I’d use one of them these days.
I am (what you do): Often scatterbrained (call those “Shirley-Days”)
My best trait: Hmm, there are so many (hardly)
My bad habit: Scratching
Qualities I admire: Humor over Criticism
What I like to read: Human Interest stories and feature stuff about people
What I write: words mostly
What I watch: Classic Movies and Nicholas Sparks movies. I could watch The Notebook a million times.
My family: My immediate family is very close
My favorite food, snack, or beverage: Mexican food, Good n Plenties, Icewater with lime and sugar (not all at the same time)
What I love to do: buy shoes, decorate, fix big fancy dinners (only occasionally)
What I admire: positive people
What makes me happy: being a Christian and having a family that loves me
What makes me sad: negative family members and people that make fun of the Lord
I believe: the Lord is coming soon for me and those who love Him

Shirley’s Bio:
Shirley Kiger Connolly, daughter of a 1940s mystery writer, enjoys penning historical fiction romances and books filled with lighthearted devotions and reflections. Shirley majored in English and Journalism, later joining the graduates of ICL. Shirley was blessed to discover her first Decisions historical romance, Say Goodbye to Yesterday, won 2ndplace in the RWA Ida Awards contest. Her second Decisions book, That Impossible Dream finaled in the Carolyn Readers Choice contest and was also selected as a RONE nominee. Her third Decisions book, Second Time Promise just recently won Fourth Place in This year’s OKRWA- IDA contest. She and her husband reside and minister together in Central-South Texas. Readers can visit her anytime on her blog, http://apenforyourthoughts.blogspot.com, at her Author Page on Facebook, http://facebook.com/shirleykigerconnollyauthoror over on Twitter http://twitter.com/shirleyhere
Shirley’s latest release:
Not Quite An Angel
Sir Geoffrey Wentworth thought he knew every alluring woman in San Francisco by now, until on the night before his return to England he meets and is mesmerized by the mysterious Lady Delphia, the daughter of a French Marquis. Not only has she appeared out of nowhere, she unwittingly steals his heart.

When Sir Geoffrey tries to learn more about this irresistible lady of the night, the two are caught in the middle of a severe San Francisco earthquake. Sir Geoffrey soon learns this woman of mystery is no daughter of a marquis, at all, but is the younger sister of a simple country parson, and already engaged to be married.

If there is anything the honorable Sir Geoffrey Wentworth, 2nd son to the Viscount of Salisbury cannot abide is being duped by a woman.

Any of Shirley’s books can be purchased at both online and print bookstores here or at her publisher’s website: here. Readers can also find Shirley’s Civil War romance here.

 

A Writer’s Life – In Pursuit of Dreams – Elizabeth Noyes

On By Betty OwensIn A Dozen Apologies, author, dreamer, dreams, Elizabeth Noyes, fantasy, fiction, Harriet Tubman, Interview, March, mystery, suspense, Write Integrity Press, writer4 Comments

  • Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world. ––Harriet Tubman

A writer’s life is built on dreams. We learn to weave fine threads of fact and fantasy into stories to entertain, to educate, and to inspire. During the month of March, I’m stepping aside to allow four fellow writers a chance to tell about their particular journeys through the fanciful world of fiction, romance, mystery, and suspense. 


Elizabeth Noyes debuted in February in the collaborative novella, A Dozen Apologies, from Write Integrity Press. She has kindly consented to an interview. I hope you’ll enjoy her candid answers as much as I did.

Would you consider yourself a dreamer?

Elizabeth: The banner on my website reads – Professional Writer. Aspiring Author. Dedicated Dreamer – so yes, I do consider myself a dreamer.

Daydreams or night dreams? How else do you come up with ideas?

Elizabeth: Daydreams, night dreams, the daily grind, and a troupe of characters who’ve come to life in my head help me write. Seriously, ideas come all the time: two women hug and – poof! Long lost sisters separated at birth are reunited at the reading of a will. An abandoned car on the side of the road becomes a woman fleeing from an abusive marriage. Or a mother feeding her toddler bits of food in a restaurant morphs into a young woman traumatized by an attack that left her unable to have children…except now she’s stolen someone else’s child for her own. Ideas are everywhere. All we have to do is see them and play the what-if game. 

It’s the nighttime, though, when my scenes come together. For more years than I care to count, I’ve composed scenes, complete with dialogue and action, while “sleeping.” Experts today call it Focused Dreaming. I call it designing my own pleasant (or sometimes not so pleasant) stories. At other times, all I have to do is sit down at the keyboard and my characters write their own story. Sometimes I have to throw the outline out and let them have their way. It makes for an interesting ride, sort of like reading a new book because you have no idea where it’s going to take you.

What steps do you take to bring your dreams to life?

Elizabeth: Using a scene conjured up from something in real life, I envision the characters’ physical and temperamental characteristics, add dialogue, spice it up with a bit of action and angst, and let it play like a movie through my head. Somehow it stays cemented in my brain until I can get it down on paper. That usually gives me the germ of an idea.

From there, I need visual confirmation. The next step is a visit to Mr. Google for images – young woman with blue eyes, man in suit, blond-haired toddler, crooked-tooth smile, black truck, red sports car, mountains, dogs, and even particular pieces of clothing. If I can see I can describe it, and the possibilities are endless. Next is the character study where my hero and heroine (and sometimes villain) comes to life. I use a comprehensive list of interview questions to get to know them. After that, I may write their backstory. It takes longer, but it makes my characters real people with a history and memories and hang-ups. I can often use bits and pieces of their background in the story.

Filling in the middle: how do you keep yourself moving forward?

Elizabeth: Wow, let’s talk discipline now. I have my outline, complete with inciting incident, plot, story arc, a few scenes already in mind, and how the story ends. I have my visuals. I have some scenes. To make it all work (for me) requires immersion in the story. I’m not one of those lucky writers who can slap/dash off a chapter in 30 minutes here or an hour there. I need large chunks of time. I become the characters. I’m in the action. Time becomes another dimension for me. I’ve given my husband permission to poke me if I don’t move for six hours, but he’s never to question my tears, hysterical laughter, or odd contortions as I put my boys and girls through their paces. He does give me strange looks now and then. LOL


Do you have any advice for other dreamers?

Elizabeth: I have a quote on my website that speaks to this question. “Dreams are stories set down on paper.” Scads of books and classes are available claiming to know the one sure-fire way to write a successful novel. What I’ve learned is there is no one-size-fits-all. I encourage everyone, not just writers, to believe in their dreams.


Elizabeth Noyes is a professional writer, aspiring author, dedicated dreamer—lives in northeast Atlanta with her husband and best friend, who listens tirelessly while she tells him all the stories clamoring to get out of her head and onto paper. Her days and nights are a balancing act between working full-time, entertaining three grandchildren, participating in church, and a demand (her own) to write, write, write. She is also an avid reader across many genres.

A Dozen Apologies, a novella collaboration created with 11 other authors, is her first published work. It releases on Amazon February 14, 2014. Her first full-length novel, a romantic suspense entitled Imperfect Wings, will be out later this year.

                                                           www.twitter.com/ENoyes5246