Nov 3, 2017 |
by Molly Jo Realy @MollyJoRealy
Frankly, My Dear . . . :Five Things Friday
Now that all I can for NOLA is wait for feedback, and given that it’s November, my project of the month is jump starting CENTRAL a la NaNoWriMo. Here it is day three and I’ve only 32 words written, but I think they’re pretty good words.
CENTRAL will be the second in my City Series. You know the drill. It’s really not a series because the characters and storyline are completely different. But using the location as a character is what remains the same. So, I’m affectionately calling it a series, and creating a subgenre I call location mystery. Will the world catch on? Eh. I dunno. But Stephenie Meyer created Renesme and the world thought that was a weird name. Still, she stuck to her guns. So I guess I will too. At least until I hear back from the editor and almost-agent. [Oh, side note: some peeps are asking if there will be a sequel to NOLA. I hadn’t thought about it . . . Until this week. We’ll see if the characters want to come back.]
So. Five Things you may or may not know about Central, the book, and the location:
- The opening line for my next novel. I’ve been around enough writers, and well, the mentor wrote a book called Firsts in Fiction, so I’d best get this right, right? Y’all ready for this?
“Serenity had a thing for cops. And the guys they arrested.”
I can’t say it will stay that way. But so far the pre-reader peeps are liking it. We’ll see.
- Central Park, located on Manhattan Island, is about 843 acres big (over 3.5 miles), and has been the location of over 350 films! The size is larger than some countries. And the movie total? Fuggedaboutit.
Frankly, My Dear . . . : Central Park, NYC
- The Park isn’t just a park. It’s home to the Central Park Zoo, Metropolitan Museum of Art, Tavern on the Green, many playgrounds and ball fields, as well as bridges, walkways, vendors. It’s a city unto itself!
Frankly, My Dear . . . : Central Park, NYC
- There are thousands of songs about New York City, and many of them include reference to Central Park. Two of my favorites are, of course, Sinatra’s “Theme from New York, New York” and Harry Connick, Jr’s “Autumn in New York.” While not exclusive to the Park, these songs embody a great connection to the Big Apple at the best time of year.
- CP was the first public, landscaped park in all the United States. Now that deserves some awards!
And there you have it! Five fun facts about Central, the book and the park!
What’s your favorite part of the park?
And Frankly, My Dear . . . That’s all she wrote!
Nov 2, 2017 |
by Molly Jo Realy @MollyJoRealy
Beckie and I had lunch today. It was a celebration. I finished NOLA and she got a book contract. Her publisher is looking at a three-book deal. Not bad for a newbie, right?!
The Astros won the World Series tonight. That makes me happy because I’m not really a Dodgers fan, and any team that beats the Yankees deserves a true shot at the ring.
I started writing CENTRAL today. Mostly because it’s November first and I don’t want to miss out on NaNoWriMo. And believe it or not, I picked up two small editing projects for the month.
I still can’t get my head around the fact I’m done writing NOLA. At least the first draft. It what everybody told me it would be. The squeals of excitement. The pride. The thrill of email responses from the editor and almost-agent and alpha readers. And when the edits happen, I’m okay with it. Because I have this version, the first version. And I’m really happy with that.
My brain is absolute mush and absolute electricity. I miss Rain and Josie, and yet they’re right here. I can’t wait for the Swarm to meet them.
One of my trusted Swarm Team members is Lindsay Reine. Girl, you have been a font of information and creativity. NOLA wouldn’t be half as genuine without your input. Thank you.
I had asked Lindsay to write a blurb on Halloween in New Orleans, and because I was unable to post it yesterday, here it is. Enjoy!
Halloween in New Orleans
Ahhhhh October, one of my most favorite times of the year. Generally the weather starts to get cooler, we have Saints and LSU Football, the humidity does down, people are happier (everyone is happier when they are not sweating), and it’s festival time!
I know New Orleans is famous for Mardi Gras, and we love carnival time, but did you know we have year round amazing festivals? The Po-Boy festival is a huge hit, oyster festival, tons of music festivals, the list goes on. In my opinion, the most pleasant festivals are held during the Louisiana winters. I say “Louisiana winter” because we don’t actually have a winter, we have a few weeks with slightly cooler weather and we love it.
But this is October, y’all know what happens in October? Halloween!
You have all heard the tales of the spirits and spooks that haunt the South. The superstitious, voodoo, magic, the high Priestesses, the casket girls, the souls that suffered gory deaths and the happy haunts have their stories told more frequently this time of year.
You see, here in New Orleans, the city comes to life and is energized by the curious visitors and all knowing locals speaking the words of old and suspicious tales of the new. When you get goosebumps here, it is not from the cold, but more of a reaction to the eerie feeling that something unseen is present. If you are looking for an intense “other world” experience, your curiosity will be more than fulfilled here.
All cities have their fair share of psychics who want to tell you the future. Not only does New Orleans have those, it also has people trained in the art of reading tea leaves to tell your story. This is intriguing to many as they say, you can see the tea leaves form shapes in the bottom of the tea cup. The historic Bourbon Street is no stranger to the strange as many have reported unusual events happening that can only be explained by calling it a haunting. Apparently the street is not only known for its alcoholic “spirits” consumption but for its resident “spirits” as well.
It’s been said that a ghost can follow you home, who is willing to visit New Orleans to find out?
And Frankly, My Dear . . . : That’s all she wrote!
Nov 1, 2017 |
by Molly Jo Realy @MollyJoRealy
There’s a Louis L’Amour quote I discovered years ago when reading his short story collection.
Frankly, My Dear . . .: Louis L’Amour, The Beginning
That’s never been more true to me than this very minutes.
Fifteen minutes ago, I typed the most beautiful words.
Frankly, My Dear . . . : The End
I’ve both dreaded and looked for this moment for years. In the last months, weeks, days it became increasingly difficult for me to not be emotional. I felt I was building up to a loss in my life. Soon I would finish, type those two last words, and say good bye to these characters I’ve grown to love.
Oh, but that’s so not true. I’ve not lost them. I’ve set them free. Now is the part everyone told me would come. Now I send them to my editor, my almost-agent, my alpha readers. Now I let others start to discover the beauty of NOLA.
Now, instead of ending this world, I get to share it.
Now comes the real beginning of the life of NOLA.
But first, beignets and chicory.
Happy reading, y’all.
It’s time for This Girl to get some rest.
Tomorrow I start writing CENTRAL.
And Frankly, My Dear . . . That’s all she wrote!
Oct 31, 2017 |
by Molly Jo Realy @MollyJoRealy
Because I’m still writing NOLA, and there were too many memes for one blog post . . . [View NOLA Memes, Part One.]
With words to write before I sleep,
Happy reading.
~Molly Jo
And Frankly, My Dear . . . That’s all she wrote
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Oct 30, 2017 |
by Molly Jo Realy @MollyJoRealy
Because it’s after 9pm and I once again forgot to write today’s blog post in a timely manner, and because I’m so terribly focused on writing less than four thousand words to finish NOLA, [yeah, you read that write!], and because I just now had an epiphany of how to tie up some loose ends . . .
I’m not writing a long blog post.
All y’all will forgive me, yes? I hope so.
And while this may be old hat to some of you, what follows are the memes and graphics I’ve created on this journey.
I hope, in some way, they tell you the story of Josie. But I also hope, they don’t tell too much, and leave you hungry enough to buy the book when it’s published.
Ladies and gentlemen, I give you, in no particular order, a meme-essay of NOLA, by Molly Jo Realy.
With words to write before I sleep,
Happy reading.
~Molly Jo
And Frankly, My Dear . . . That’s all she wrote!
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