Category writing
The Stuff That Binds
You need something to bind your story together. No I’m not talking about adding more fiber to your literary diet. What I’m talking about is the thing that makes your story stand out in a field of similar work. There are a finite number of story lines and when you filter down to stories within […]
What Writing Your Novel and Dog Training Have in Common
When I’m not writing, a good chunk of time is spent training our dogs, two Pembroke Welsh Corgis. They are (most of the time) good little pups, who compete in American Kennel Club sanctioned Obedience and Rally trials. Writing and dog training are more connected than I first thought and there are five principles that […]
To Print or Not to Print – No Question
Converting an e-book to a conventional printed version is a no-brainer. Well, that’s what I thought when I decided to take Little River from the e-book only world to print. With an old-fashioned book in your hand, I find that you can reach more readers and potential readers than with the electronic version alone. I’ve […]
Another WTF Moment
I’m a creature of habit. I have my routines and my way own peculiar way of doing things. I’d like to say I’m the kind of guy who can “roll with it,” as things come along. I’d like to say that – but that wouldn’t be true. Maybe, I used to be that guy, but […]
Little River Print Release & Cover Reveal
The e-book version of Little River has been out for a few months and I’m extremely grateful for the support and encouragement from readers and other writers. Now it’s time for the next step, gearing up for the print release. The date has not been etched in stone, but it is coming on me fast. […]
Location, Location, Location
Location, location, location – that’s what the old real estate sales slogan proclaims. The advice applies to more than selling your spinster aunt’s crumbling brownstone. Location in writing matters too. When you’re really into a book and the words paint a vibrant image of where the story is happening, the location becomes a character. The […]
Drone Wars and Social Media
Strike the unsuspecting target from miles away with the click of a mouse button. The drone warrior unleashes an attack to disorient, disable and destroy the selected victim, from the safety of a dark room, illuminated only by the flicker of a computer monitor. Don’t think like I do? Blam. Don’t believe the same ideology? […]
Sneak Peek
This week, I’ve been hip-deep in revisions and rewrites for a new novel. Like Little River, this new work also deals with trafficking, but this time, the trafficking takes a different form – the black market in human organs. I think we’ve all heard the urban legends of unsuspecting victims regaining consciousness in an ice-filled […]
Human Trafficking is a Third World Problem, Right?
Law enforcement struck a heavy blow against human trafficking organizations in the last month, with major arrests in Thailand and Spain. Police raided a prison island off the coast of Thailand where hundreds of Burmese refugees were held for ransom, or auction. The European arrests netted 75 criminals in a Chinese-based trafficking ring. But, what […]
Will New Human Trafficking Laws Make A Difference?
When I wrote Little River, my human trafficking thriller, I was struck by how the Jamaican government responded to the issue of human trafficking on their island nation. Silence. With the disappearance of Natalee Holloway from Aruba, in May 2005, media accounts of the search, reports of the girl’s last known location and focus on […]
James L'Etoile 