Say NO to Bad-Ass B.O.

Walking through the grocery store this morning, I was suddenly overcome by an odor that was so strong it was palatable.  This stinky stench filled the store in a matter of moments.  The best way I can describe it is to say it smelled like a layer of body odor, covered with curry, layered in dry urine, swirled with something musky and sweet and then topped with more body odor.  It was the most bad-ass B.O. I’ve ever smelled!

People in the store grimaced and I, wearing a cotton wide-necked sweater, buried my nose in the neck of my shirt.  My eyes watered from the potency of the stench and, though I haven’t checked, I am certain my nose hairs were burned clean off. 

My first inclination was to think a homeless person may have wandered into the store for warmth or to use the restroom; and compassion tugged at me.  But then, I caught a glimpse of the odorous wonder and compassion left me.

It was a young woman, maybe in her early twenties.  I let my eyes run the course of her body from her feet to her head.  She was dressed in clothing that looked clean and pressed.  Her hands were manicured and her nails painted.  There was no dirt on her skin and she wore shiny lip gloss and gold earrings.  There was nothing that indicated that she might be homeless.  In fact, she appeared well groomed, as if she had showered this morning; though the stench spoke otherwise.  My eyes stopped on her hair, which hung in thick dreadlocks; thick, dried, clumpy dreadlocks. These weren't the nice looking, fashionable kind of dreadlocks.  These were muddy and mangy looking.   I shivered internally, imagining the amount of bacteria in each pasty lock and wondering when was the last time her whole head had been given a good, solid scrubbing.

 

As I passed by her, the odor triggered my gag reflex.  How could someone with such a pretty, clean face smell so horrible?  Upon returning from the store I could still smell it.  I was having a Seinfeld moment…the B.O. was like an entity that had latched onto me.  I threw my clothes into the washer and jumped into a hot shower. 

I’m now free of the stench but still curious as to how someone can smell that bad and not know it?  An even bigger question is why aren't her friends telling her that she stinks?!    Maybe we need a sign that says, "Just Say NO to Bad-Ass B.O."  So, when someone smells that bad you don't have to say anything, you just hand them the sign.  ~

 

Colorful Reflections

I’ve been a bit under the weather these past couple of days, which is no fun.  The upside is that my body has forced me to lie down and rest, wherein I have had time to reflect on things that often get lost in the hectic hustle and bustle of daily life.  Looking out my window, I see the leaves on the trees changing colors and feel the crisp, cool air as it blows through my bedroom curtains.  I love fall.  It reminds me that everything in life is seasonal…and that everything changes as it grows and time passes.  Change can be both beautiful and difficult.  Letting go of what was so you can embrace what is and what is yet to come, can be scary; but without change, our lives and hearts grow dormant and dry.  The turning leaves remind me that a new adventure is ahead…that life has more to offer…and that just as each tree is colorful in its own way, so are the people around me.

Wiping the American Ass

I was cleaning the bathroom this morning and replacing an empty toilet paper roll with a new one.   In my haste, I inadvertently hung the roll so that the toilet paper dispensed from the bottom instead of neatly rolling over the top.  Upon noticing the error of my ways, I quickly corrected it.  My nine year old witnessed this action and asked, “What was wrong with the way it was?”

“I put it on backwards the first time,” I explained.

He stared at the toilet paper and cocked his head to the side.  “There’s a backwards?”  He asked.

“Well, not so much a backwards…” I muttered.  “I just put it on wrong.”

His stare intensified and he squint his eyes.  “There’s a wrong way to put toilet paper on?”

“Yes!”  I exclaimed.  “The right way is when the toilet paper rolls over the top and hangs down ever so slightly,” I explained.

“Why?”  He asked.

“Why?” I repeat, as if he should already understand the ramifications of a toilet paper roll hung awry. 

“Yeah, why?”

I stare blankly, suddenly realizing I have no answer.  There is no justifiable reason other than the fact that I sometimes like to form a little triangle with the square that hangs down.  I tell him about the triangle and he says, “Mom, don’t you just rip the triangle off when it’s time to wipe anyway?”

“Yes.”  I hang my head and sigh.  “Yes, you do.”

He stares at me.  “Then I don’t get it,” he says and walks away.

And it got me thinking…

Our political system isn’t much different than that roll of toilet paper.  Some think it should roll from the top.  Others think it should roll from the bottom.  And as we adhere to our anal, preconceived notions about how it should be or how it has always been … are we missing the fact that regardless of what side it comes from, it’s still toilet paper.  It’s still what we need.   

Up, down, left, right, triangle, no triangle… it doesn’t really matter…because what we should be focusing on is cleaning up our nation, or as I like to call it, wiping the American ass.   ~  

 

Playful Eroticism

There's something to be said for this.  Anyone can watch something, but the written word coupled with the human imagination is so much more powerful.  :)

As a writer, I find myself unable to continually describe human intimacy in a manner that escapes the fallout of redundancy.  That being said, I do enjoy a good love scene now and again and have incorporated some playful eroticism into my next suspense novel. 

Meeting Your Match

The other day I was asked if I publish my own books and if I publish other writer’s books.  I’ve been asked this question A LOT.  The answer is no.  In fact, I know little about the literary world from a publishing aspect.  I have several writer friends who have chosen to self-publish their books through Amazon and other outlets; some are happy with their decision and others are not.  I have friends who have signed with literary agents and those who have signed directly with publishers.  I don’t believe there is a right or wrong path.  Each avenue presents positives and negatives.  Each route has challenges.  I think the important thing is for every writer to ask themselves what they want and then pursue the avenue that best matches that outcome.  One must realize that writing is a subjective field, just as all other facets of entertainment.  A book that I may love, the next person may deem mediocre.  Getting published is a matter of finding the right “fit” for your work and for yourself.

When I began my journey toward getting my debut novel (No Easy Way) published, I received thirty-six rejection letters and did about a million re-writes.  Then, I entered a contest and my book was nominated for The Heart of Molly award through Heart of Denver Romance Writers.  Before I knew it I had found the right publisher for my book…the right “fit” for my work and for me. 

Since then I’ve had five novels published and one short story and I couldn’t be happier.

If you’re a writer who is considering getting your work published, ask yourself what you want, research the available outlets and then don’t give up.  Finding that perfect publisher for your work can feel like online dating… you might have to jump through a lot of hoops and kiss a lot of toads before you finally meet your perfect match. ~

Wham-Bam-Thank-You-Scam

Have you ever been taken for a ride?  I mean, totally scammed?  I have and it makes me wonder how people get away with it, both internally and externally.  If you lie, cheat and steal for a living, how do you sleep at night?  Aren’t you always looking over your shoulder, wondering if you’re about to be busted?  I would be… I would be in a constant state of fear…and what kind of life is that?!? 

When you’re the one that falls for the scam it makes you feel stupid, like a big doofus.  Hindsight is always twenty/twenty and how easily you look back and see all the red signs piled up.  They were there the whole time, but you couldn’t see them.  You weren’t looking.  You were trusting. 

It reminds me of some of the shady characters in my mafia series, Just Call Me Angel.  They live moment-to-moment, always looking over their shoulder, never at peace.

I've decided that scammers are the equivalent of a wham-bam-thank-you-ma’am.  What seems exciting at first becomes crushingly empty afterwards. ~

Summertime Mommy Monster Syndrome

Being a writer and a mom isn’t always easy, but it’s particularly hard in the summer, when school is out.  During the summer, moms wear their normal hats of parent, teacher, counselor, playmate, entertainer, nurse, prayer warrior, taxi driver, cheerleader, chef, maid, butler and nanny… the only difference is that we wear these hats 24/7.  When school is out, mom gets no break.  Between baseball practices and games, swimming, rehearsals, plays, sleepovers, movies, vacations, etc., there is little time to think, much less to write.  Any creative person will tell you that if unable to express their creativity it begins to back up inside of them, and like a clogged hose, will eventually result in an explosion of epic proportion.  When I have a story that is dying to get out and I don’t have the time to write it, I begin to feel frustrated.  If the frustration lasts several days it morphs into resentment toward everything and everyone inhibiting my ability to sit down in peace and write.  In me, resentment manifests itself as crabbiness and a severe lack of patience.  If this continues, my family begins to suffer because Mommy has now become a miserable monster…if you don’t believe me, just ask my husband and children.   

The good news is that I have found ways to avoid the Summertime Mommy Monster Syndrome.  It isn’t fool-proof, but these things have helped  me to continue to write even when the kids are home, despite their many activities and the constant interruptions. (i.e. “Mom, look!” … “Mom, come here!”…. “Mom, where’s my glove?”…. “Mom, look!”…. “Mom, watch this!”…. “Mom!  MOm!  MOM!”… Oh, and did I mention, “Mom, look!”)

1.      I write late at night after the kids are in bed.  Yes, it means I spend the next day tired, but that’s nothing an extra pot of coffee or a couple Five Hour Energy drinks can’t solve.

2.      I write very early in the morning before the kids awaken.  Again, it can leave me groggy, but it’s well worth the sacrifice of slumber.

3.      I take my laptop to practices and rehearsals and write in the bleachers, in the theatre or in my car.  (purchase one of those plug adapters so you can plug your computer into your cigarette lighter)

4.      When the kids are watching television or being loud, I plug my headphones into my computer so I cannot hear them; thus I am able to concentrate on what I am writing.

5.      When I do suffer from Summertime Mommy Monster Syndrome, I have a martini or a margarita and a good cry.  It releases the frustration I feel, renews my spirit and helps me regain my focus and provides motivation for me to tackle another day.

Summertime is a needed break for kids and they deserve our fullest attention; however, in giving them our fullest we mustn’t forget to take care of ourselves too.  After all, when we’re not at our best we can’t give them our best.  As demanding as being a mom is, I wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world.  J

Interview

Below is an interview with S.R.Claridge, author of mystery and romantic suspense novels, published by Vanilla Heart Publishing.  Susan, thank you for joining me today.

What are you currently working on?

I just finished my first short story, entitled Petals of Blood, which came out in February.  Right now I am working on the fourth book in the Just Call Me Angel series (due out in May) and an independent mystery/suspense novel that I hope to wrap up by the end of the year.

Do you have a favorite character from one of your novels?

Yes.  I like Olga and Chase from the Just Call Me Angel series.  I also like Braznovich from No Easy Way.

Tell us a little bit about yourself.  Who is S.R.Claridge?

I hate this question.  It’s like Where’s Waldo?  Okay, let’s see…Who am I?  Hmmmmm.  I’m your average forty-one year old wife of 19 years and mother of two grade-school age children.  I spend most of my time playing chauffer to my kids.  I sleep very little.  I don’t text while I drive.  I have a personal policy to at least acknowledge every email I receive.  I love Mexican food and homemade Italian food.  I can’t sew, but I’m really good with duct tape.  I love shooting a 357 magnum…it makes me feel like a Charlie’s Angel.  I prefer nighttime over day time, moonlight over sunlight and candles over lamps.  I like music and movies… and I love the stage.   I hate documentaries, unless they’re about my favorite actors.  My favorite time of year is fall.  I love costume parties, Grey Goose martinis with bleu cheese olives, spicy bloody marys and non-sweet margaritas; and nobody makes a better whiskey sour than my dad.  J     I love Jesus and I know that anything good in me comes from God.  I believe in the freedom of forgiveness, the power of prayer and that people can change.  I’m a writer who is constantly inspired by the world around me.  Mostly, I’m thankful for every blessing in my life.

What’s the best thing you ever did?

Birthed my daughter and my son.

Aside from your children, what’s the best thing you ever did?

Best thing, like married my husband, or best thing like an act of kindness????  I once wrestled a stranger to the ground and sat on him so he couldn’t jump from the freeway overpass and kill himself.  I guess that was a good thing.  And I pulled a little boy out of the pool before he drowned.   Oh, I pulled a newborn llama out of its mother, and cleaned the slime off its hooves and nose, though it would have probably come out by itself eventually. I don't know if that counts. 

What’s the worst thing you did?

I’ve made too many mistakes to list.

What is something most people don’t know about you?

I had my nose reconstructed in 1999.  I smoked for four years.   I was a vegetarian for four years, ironically it was the same four years I smoked.  I had my appendix out at the age of 15, my ACL repaired at the age of 29 and two c-sections.

Why do you write Mafia books?

Because I love anything Italian.  Baddah Bing, Baddah Boom.

What is your advice for aspiring authors?

My advice for aspiring anybody's is don't ever quit and always, always try to think outside the box.

List your books:

No Easy Way

Petals of Blood

The Just Call Me Angel Series:

Tetterbaum’s Truth

Traitors Among Us

Russian Uprising

Death Trap  (coming out in May 2012)

Is there a website where readers can find out more about you:

www.AuthorSRClaridge.com    You can also find me on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Xanga, Blogger, Pinterest, Goodreads and various other writer sites.

Balancing Life

Balancing a family and a writing career isn't easy.  In fact, just being a mom and a wife has its challenges.  I've reached the stage in life where I spend more hours in my car than I do in my home (not counting sleeping time, of course).  Between my son's football, basketball and baseball schedules and my daughters rehearsals, piano/vocal lessons and run club, I have officially added a new repertoire to my resume, and it's called "chauffer."  Were it not for the invention of the laptop, my writing career would be null and void. Before I owned a laptop, countless chapters had been etched onto napkins in my car, or scribbled onto old receipts dug from the bottom of my purse.  Now, my laptop goes where I go and at practices and rehearsals and lessons I can usually be found sitting in my car with my computer propped atop my lap, rapidly typing away.  It's what I do and what I love to do.  ~

Novel Topics

Miriam asked, “how do you choose a topic for your novels?”

As I think many writers do, I choose topics that are of interest to me personally, or in which I feel I have some experience or base of knowledge to incorporate into the characters or the plot.  This is why I am a mystery/romantic suspense writer as opposed to an erotica or paranormal writer.   J   I’ve actually attempted to write erotica once and quickly realized I lack the creative vocabulary necessary to describe certain bodily images and encounters.

I have always been intrigued by Mafia families and particularly the loyalty with which they operate; thus, my Just Call Me Angel series is mob based.  The fourth book in the series will be released soon.

My first novel, No Easy Way, is a murder mystery with an underlying theme of the power of faith and forgiveness, and the challenges in marriage.  My faith in God has always been a predominant part of my life and it is due in part to that faith and the God-given power of forgiveness that my husband and I will be celebrating our 20^th anniversary this year.

I am currently writing a suspense thriller about a cult group with underlying political interests.  This book has been three years in the making and I have researched several religious cult groups throughout the United States.  It has been by far the most taxing book I’ve written because the story itself is fiction, but it is derived from a great amount of non-fiction data and stories of real-life individuals.  In essence, it’s a fiction book that holds a great deal of underlying truth.  It is my hope to have it released this year. 

Thank you for your question Miriam. I’ve emailed you a download code for a free copy of Tetterbaum’s Truth.  I hope I’ve answered your question adequately.  J

The Imperfect Process Toward Perfection

Jill wrote:  “I am interested in your process – the down and dirty discipline that you practice every day (e.g., schedule, duration, process) in order to ensure you feel like you’ve accomplished something with your writing on a daily basis.  Is there a certain time of day that you write? Do you shoot for a certain word count? What do you do to eliminate writer’s block? Do you formulate an outline before writing, and is it specific? Or do you create a more general framework of the plot and sequence of events, and let the writing fill in the details?  Where do you get your inspiration when you just don’t feel like doing it any longer on any particular day/week/month?”

Wow!  This is the longest question I’ve ever been asked.  I’m going to do my best to tackle each of these issues… so bear with me.

My “down and dirty discipline” on a daily basis varies because I’m not only a writer, but a mom and a wife as well.  My evenings and weekends are a crap shoot for writing…sometimes I’m productive and sometimes there’s just too much going on.  I accomplish the most during the weekdays between the hours of 8:00am and 2:30pm, which is when my kids are at school.  It is also not unusual to find me up between the hours of 2:00am and 4:00am rapidly typing away.

I don’t officially shoot for a particular word count, however, I am satisfied if I can knock out a minimum of 3,000 words during the day.  Sometimes it’s less and sometimes it’s more.

With regards to writer’s block…it’s never been an issue for me. (knock on wood)  That may sound crazy, but there are enough hours during the week when I am unable to write because of everything else going on; so by the time I am able to sit down and write again, I am chomping at the bit to get my thoughts on paper. 

I never make an outline before writing, nor do I frame up the plot or organize the events.  I usually start with a cup of coffee and one simple idea… either a place or a person and the story builds from there.  When I’m working on a novel I am thinking about it constantly.  In the shower, lying in bed, driving, cooking, switching loads of laundry…it is prevalent in my thoughts and I am always mulling through what I think might happen next.

Where does my inspiration come from?  Everywhere and everyone.  A name can inspire me, or a newspaper or magazine article.  Something I hear on the radio can prompt revelation and birth a new story.  Mostly, though, I give credit to God because, after all, He created the creativity that enables me to write in the first place.

I hope I’ve adequately answered your question.  If I haven’t, shoot me another email and I’ll try again.

Thanks Jill!

From Real Life to Fiction

The question was:  Are the characters and events in my novels based on real life experiences and real people in my life?

I’ve been asked this question many times.  In fact, every time I go to a book signing or speak to a book club or readers group, this is one of the first questions people ask.

The answer is:  Yes and No

My debut novel, No Easy Way, contains some real life experiences, though the situations are beefed up to add a greater fictional element of suspense and surprise.  The characters are derived from people in my life, but they are more like combinations of individuals.  I borrow one trait from one person and another trait from someone else and mesh them together to form the persona I want for that particular character. 

In the Just Call Me Angel suspense series, which centers around the Mafia, I am not writing from personal experience; thus I spend more time on research for this series because I having nothing else to draw from.  However, my main characters are still a dichotomy of people in my life, and when I can work in a personal experience I do it because it helps create depth and emotion in the scene.

When I’m writing a novel I find myself more in tune with the people around me, with their idiosyncrasies and habits.  I then use these mannerisms as persona definitions when I shape each individual character.

For example:  In the Just Call Me Angel series, Olga’s physical structure is based on a combination of two older woman who were in my life as a child.  One was my Serbian Aunt named Olga and the other was a family friend we fondly called, Granny Janny.   If you meshed their looks, how they walked and gestured with their hands when they talked, you would end up with Angel’s Aunt Olga in my books.

Just for fun, I add my Alma Mater (University of Missouri, Columbia) into every book I write.  It keeps my characters grounded when I, as the author, can relate to where they came from.  Into each novel I also write in secret numbers or names that only those closest to me will be able to reference as meaningful. It’s like my own little game of clue behind the scenes.   

I use people in my life to give me the creative inspiration that helps with character development and I believe that when characters are solidly built, they will write the story for you.  ~

Blog Q&A With a Prize Giveaway

I'll be honest...I'm not the best blogger in the world.  In fact, truth be known, I hate blogging.  Every time I sit down at my computer to blog, a wave of frustration rushes over me.  I stare at the blank screen, growing more and more edgy and irritated.  What should I write?  I mumble to myself.

Here's the problem:  I don't think my daily life is all that entertaining to think that anyone would want to engage in reading about it on a regular basis.  I realize blogging is all part of marketing-my-books, and that readers want to feel like they know the author better; but it seems like a waste of valuable novel-writing time, doesn't it? Wouldn't readers rather I finish the next novel than know that I got up this morning at 6:30am, took the kids to school, threw in a load of laundry and re-heated my coffee five times because I kept setting it down and walking away? Are my personal hygiene routines really blog-worthy or is it good enough to assume I shave my legs, color the gray from my hair and pluck my eyebrows, and leave it at that? 

Since I am in the process of writing two novels and one short story, and can't come up with good blogging ideas, I'm going to leave the blog topics to my readers.  Tell me what you'd like to know and I promise, unless it gives away a plot from one of my novels, I will blog about it and do my very best to answer your question.

You can either post your topic or question in the comment section below OR email me at:
AuthorSRClaridge@gmail.com   Put "Blog Q&A" in the subject line of your email.

I'll even go a step further.  The first ten people to comment or email will receive a free download of one of my books in any form you would like (pdf, ipad, sony, nook, kindle, etc.).  So, bring on the questions!

Black Flat Shoes

Have you ever had a dream that, even after you awaken, still haunts you? 

Last night I had such a dream and I'm still trying to shake it from my thoughts.  I woke up several times during the course of the night, but every time I went back to sleep I re-entered the same dream; and strangely enough, I re-entered almost exactly where I had left off. Even more odd is the fact that certain elements of my dream came from dreams I had had previously, but were now interwoven into this new climaxing plot.

Ever since I was a little girl I have always been a vivid dreamer.  My dreams, whether good or bad, are at the very least colorful and exciting.  I even have a couple re-occuring dreams that have lasted my lifetime, visiting me once every couple of years.  It is not odd for me to jolt up in the middle of the night sweating and screaming, or even laugh so loud in my sleep that it awakens my husband next to me.  The poor guy never knows what to expect when we go to bed.  (and I don't mean that in a nudge-nudge-wink-wink sort of way) 

Here are just a few crazy elements from last night's dream:

1.  I was being given a tour of a theatre and the man asked me what the sides of the stage were called.  I said, "wings."  He smiled and said, "Because you answered, now you can fly."   With that we magically flew to the next level in the theatre.

2.  Still on the theatre tour, we came to another stage and he asked me to show him my blocking.  I told him I didn't have any blocking and he became angry.  "Look at your feet," he yelled at me and when I looked down, I was wearing black flat shoes; which was odd because I had arrived on the tour in heels and had never taken off my shoes.  "Where are MY shoes?"  I asked him.  We then magically appeared in front of a large, aluminum walk-in cooler.  He opened the door and my shoes were sitting on the floor of the cooler.  I picked them up and they were ice cold.

I know what you're thinking at this point because I thought it too:  Cold Feet.  It must be symbolic for the fact that I have cold feet about something going on in my life.  But there's more...

3.  The black flat shoes disappeared from my feet and he told me to put my shoes back on.  I tried and I tried and I tried but they wouldn't fit.  "The cold must have made them shrink," I said.  Then he took my chin in his hand and said, "no, the shoes have not changed; you have."

I could bore you all day with strange twists and turns from this dream.  There were demons and people with axes and elevators that opened into dimensions instead of rooms. At one point my beating heart was taken from my chest and I was holding it in my hands.  The tour guide was dressed as a surgeon and asked me, "Who do you trust more with your heart?  Me or you?"  Since he was a surgeon I carefully handed it to him.

The last thing I remember I was fighting someone on a roof top while the tour guide watched.  I yelled to him for help, but he said, "I cannot help you fight against yourself." 

I stopped fighting and looked back at him and asked, "Why am I fighting against myself?"

He said, "part of you wants your shoes back."

How silly, I thought, to be waging war over a pair of shoes.  "How do I stop the fight?" I asked.

"Give her the shoes," he said.  I threw my heels at this other me and she put them on and instantly disappeared.

The battle was over and  I was exhausted.  He put his arm on my shoulder and said, "Are you ready to stop fighting now?"  I nodded and the black flat shoes appeared on my feet and we magically appeared back at the first stage where we had started. 

"What do I do now?"  I asked him.

He smiled at me.  "You fly."

"How?"  I yelled to him as he walked up the aisle of the theatre and out the door.

He was gone and I stood alone on the stage with my black flat shoes.

From Here to There

Transitional words create powerful links in your story, taking the reader from one idea to the next.  Here are some common categories and examples of transitional words and phrases gathered from The Writer's Handbook.

Addition

furthermore, moreover, too, also, in the second place, again, in addition, even more, next, further, last, lastly, finally, besides, and, or, nor, first, second, secondly

Time

while, immediately, never, after, later, earlier, always, when, soon, whenever, meanwhile, sometimes, in the meantime, during, afterwards, now, until now, next, following, once, then, at length, so far, simultaneously, this time, subsequently

Place

here, there, nearby, behond, wherever, opposite to, adjacent to, neighboring on, above, below

Exemplification or Illustration

to illustrate, to demonstrate, specifically, for instance, as in illustration, for example

·        

Comparison
in the same way, by the same token, similarly, in like manner, likewise, in similar fashion

Contrast

yet, and yet, nevertheless, nonetheless, after all, but, however, though, otherwise, on the contrary, in contrast, notwithstanding, on the other hand, at the same time

Clarification

that is to say, in other words, to explain, that is, to clarify, to rephrase it, to put it another way

Cause

because, since, on account of, for that reason

Effect

therefore, consequently, accordingly, thus, hence, as a result

Purpose

in order that, so that, to that end, to this end, for this purpose

Qualification

almost, nearly, probably, never, always, frequently, perhaps, maybe, although

Intensification

indeed, to repeat, by all means, of course, doubtedly, certainly, without doubt, yes, no, undoubtedly, in fact, surely, in fact

Podcast - Author S.R.Claridge - The Author Show

Podcast - Author S.R.Claridge

Columbia Missourian Article

Thriving romance novel industry pulls in MU alumna and writer

Friday, February 18, 2011 | 5:51 p.m. CST; updated 10:18 p.m. CST, Friday, February 18, 2011

S.R. Claridge poses for a picture Friday at Broadway Brewery where she was promoting her novels "No Easy Way" and "Tetterbaum's Truth." Claridge is a MU grad and currently lives in Broomfield, Colo.   ¦  Melissa Klauda

BY Rachel Krause

COLUMBIA — The first thing Susan Claridge ever wrote was a poem after the death of her grandmother. The process of writing provided a way for her to vent her emotions.  
"Since then I've always written, it's been my outlet," Claridge said. "I just never tried to get published or thought of myself as a writer."
Claridge, who graduated from MU in 1992 with a degree in psychology, now writes romance murder-suspense novels under the name S.R. Claridge. She was visiting Kansas City, Columbia and St. Louis this week to sign copies of her first novel, "No Easy Way," published by Vanilla Heart Publishing.
Claridge, who sprinkles MU references into her writing, spent some time over the noon hour at Broadway Brewery on Friday. She signed her way through a couple of stacks of books, selling 20 to 25 books. It was more a chance to have lunch with her husband, mother-in-law and friends.
Claridge is a new player in the booming romance genre that has many American readers smitten. The genre made up the largest share of the consumer market and generated $1.36 billion in 2009, according to Romance Writers of America. Claridge said part of the reason behind the romance genre's popularity is because there is a part of everyone that longs for romance.
"I think relationships in general, that's the main focus of everyone's life," Claridge said. "We're all seeking love, romance and attention. Particularly with our target audience, the married women in their 30s, 40s and 50s, a lot of that romance may have fizzled a bit. There's a deeper foundation of love, but that outward display of romance isn't as prevalent."
Claridge said "No Easy Way" started out as a nonfiction book on marriage before she had the idea to make it more interesting by drawing the same themes into a murder mystery.
"What sets it apart from other murder mysteries is it has an underlying message which most mysteries don't," Claridge said. "This is kind of an oddball book that has a message of faith and forgiveness woven through it."
Her mother-in-law, Beth Claridge-Gillespie of Kansas City, read manuscripts along the way, making edits and suggestions. Although Claridge-Gillespie does not consider herself a romance novel fan, she likes her daughter-in-law's first book and said the genre provides a way for people "to be taken away from the humdrum of their lives and to be whisked off into somebody else’s world."
"I think most romance novels have a happy ending," Claridge-Gillespie said. "That's the ultimate: We all want a happy ending in our life."
Two of Claridge's editors are men, which she said gives her a good male perspective. Her husband, Cash Claridge, said despite the romantic theme, men shouldn't be turned off, especially with her second novel, "Tetterbaum's Truth," which centers around the Chicago mafia.
"I've had many guys tell me how good it was," Cash Claridge said. "The mafia always gets guys."
Claridge, who now lives in Colorado, has included MU and Columbia in her two novels. In "No Easy Way," the main characters, Tom and Kate, are both MU graduates and have an encounter at Murray's Restaurant, where Claridge and her husband got engaged. In "Tetterbaum's Truth," out on e-book and set to be released in March, the main character is an MU journalism student and there is a reference to Shakespeare's.
“It's something I have an affinity to and can relate to," Claridge said. "It just gives one more layer of depth to the story for me."

Press Release - October 2010

Suspense Novel, NO EASY WAY,

Creates Mystery and Delivers Hope -

October 2010

Author S.R.Claridge signed a contract with Vanilla Heart Publishing for the release of her

latest suspense novel,

No Easy Way

available now.

AMAZON calls

No Easy Way

“interestingly twisted” and “skillfully woven to challenge the most seasoned sleuth.”  Readers Review calls it a “highly recommended read,” stating it “tugs at your heart while taunting the mind,” which is what sets this novel apart from others in its genre. It is a well-constructed mystery with real-to-life characters and an underlying message of hope.

Nominated for the HODRW (Heart of Denver Romance Writers) Heart of Molly Award, S.R.Claridge is grabbing the attention of both fellow writers and readers. She says her background in theatre and psychology help her fill the pages with enough dramatic suspense to keep readers guessing until the very end; and her life experience is what weaves the underlying thread of hope throughout. S.R.Claridge says, “I want my readers to feel they are right there with the characters and compel them not to give up because in life there is no easy way, but we still have to press on.”

Like the characters in her novel, readers will find themselves unable to step away from the story, as they will be hanging in a twisted balance of crossed lines and misunderstood motives, all pointing to one simple truth … there is No Easy Way.

No Easy Way

by S.R.Claridge is available on Amazon, B&N, OmniLit, Smashwords in Ebook and print. More information, video and free excerpt can be found on the publisher website: www.vanillaheartbooksandauthors.com/S.R.html

S.R.Claridge grew up in St.Louis, Missouri where she graduated from Lindbergh High School and furthered her education at the University of Missouri, Columbia with a Bachelors degree.  She now lives in Broomfield, Colorado with her husband and two children. She is currently working on a series of mystery novels, the first to be released February 2011,  and is available for comment  at 303-926-8877 or 913-488-4557 or via email at authorsrclaridge@gmail.com

# # #

1 of 1 PRESS RELEASE  -  NO EASY WAY

Press Release - February 2011

Main Course Mystery with a

Side Dish of Hope

Author S.R.Claridge serves up a main course mystery with a side dish of hope in her suspense novel, NO EASY WAY, published by Vanilla Heart Publishing. 

With today’s divorce rate climbing, S.R.Claridge touches on the challenge and turmoil of the modern marriage, set in a background of mystery and mayhem.  This book not only entertains, it grabs the reader and propels them down a road of introspection.  Plot twists challenge sleuthing minds, while real-to-life character conflicts shed light on what S.R.Claridge calls out as the one simple truth… there is No Easy Way.  

Unlike any other suspense novel, NO EASY WAY will linger with you long after you’ve closed the book.  Once you’ve cracked the cover, there is no easy way to put this book down.

Nominated for the "Heart of Molly" award (HODRW) NO EASY WAY is drawing the attention of the literary world and Author S.R.Claridge is setting out on a mid-western book tour through Kansas City, Columbia and St. Louis.  Media/Press are extended an invitation to the local book tour stop and at their request either a free download or free print copy of NO EASY WAY.  Personal interviews with the Author can be arranged by emailing a request to vhpauthor@gmail.com

# # #

Press Release

TUESDAY TALKS

Spotlight Author:  DEBBIE DADEY

I'd like to introduce you to my Spotlight Author, Debbie Dadey. 

Before we get started talking about your books, tell us a little about yourself.  Where are you from?  What is your occupation outside of writing?  I am from Henderson, KY (western KY.) and I am a full time writer.  I used to be a first-grade teacher and then became a librarian.  My favorite part of the teaching day was sharing stories.  It was my dream to write a book.

Would you describe yourself as an introvert or an extrovert?

I’ve always thought of myself as more of an extrovert, but I think every writer is a bit of an introvert.  I just love tucking myself into my little home office and creating new worlds.

Do you have any pets?  Yes, I have three dogs.  Bailey is a mix, Skip is a Maltese, and Shadow is a Schipperke (I’m sure I spelled that wrong!).  They are my writing assistants as they lay all around me while I write.

What are your favorite books to read?  Right now I’m reading The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest, which is way out of my comfort zone as far as language and such, but I loved the character so much in the first two books I had to read on.  I really enjoy reading children’s stories. 

Where is the most unique place you have traveled?  I went on a school visit to Cairo, Egypt and took along my son.  The Cairo American College mothers were such wonderful hosts and made sure we had a lovely time.  I hope they are all well now.  My son was in eighth grade and I promised my daughter I’d take her along on a school trip to someplace like that, but I haven’t gone anyplace as exciting (no offense to Kansas and other states).  So if you live in a unique place I hope you’ll invite me!

Aside from your successes in the writing industry, what in your life has given you the greatest sense of accomplishment? My marriage to my husband and my three wonderful children are blessings beyond my wildest dreams.

How many books have you written and how many of those are published?  I have sold 151 stories to be made into books.  I have written many, many more stories that weren’t and probably will never be published.  My first book was Vampires Don’t Wear Polka Dots which turned into The Adventures of the Bailey School Kids series.  My most recently published book was The Wrong Side of Magic, part of the Keyholder series.  A complete list of my books can be found on my website, www.debbiedadey.com.

Do you have one particular genre that all your books fall under (i.e. suspense, romance, etc.)  or do you write in many different genres?  I like my children’s books to have humor, suspense, and some mystery. 

How much character and plot detailing do you plan out before you begin writing a novel, or are you a “pantser” (fly by the seat of your pants) ?  I am definitely a planner.  I do character sketches and an outline.  I have some examples on the writing page of www.debbiedadey.com.

Prior to becoming a published author, how many rejections did you receive?  How did you handle the rejections?  Way too many!  First, I cried-then I got mad.  In the back of my head, I always had this idea that they’ll be sorry when I win the Newbery!  I’m ever hopeful!

How and when do you write? Do you keep yourself on a schedule or do you work while the muse is with you?   I usually write in the morning and early afternoon before the kids get home from school.  It is a bad day when I don’t get to write.  Except, I never write on Sunday as that is my day of rest.

If you have a new release coming out, tell us about it.

I am so delighted to have been working on a new series that comes out in the summer of 2012 with Simon and Schuster.  It is a chapter book series that I’m having great fun writing and researching.

If you could give one piece of advice to writers trying to get published, what would that advice be?  Persistence.
What's up next for you and your writing? I love writing chapter books, but I also have this longing for writing novels.  So I’ll keep writing!

Anything else you'd like to share with my blog readers?   My favorite part of writing is the actual writing; it’s the rewriting that I hate.  But I know that’s the difference between an okay story and a much better one.  So, I’ll do my best to keep rewriting!  Reading my story out loud is a great way to find mistakes.

Where can we read more about you and your work?  www.debbiedadey.com

Debbie, it has been a pleasure getting to know you and your work a little better.  Thank you for being my spotlight author today.  God bless you in your future endeavors.  J