Month: July 2014

Investing in a Series

On By Victoria LK Williams (Vicki Williams)In UncategorizedLeave a comment

Reading a series of books and you can’t help to become entangled with the storyline!

I love reading a series of books, so maybe that’s why I’m dedicating myself to writing my own mystery series. I actually have the outlines for two series, in different genres. I’m excited to get my ideas and words down in book format, and am now currently writing book number three.

Basic RGB

But most people who like book series started reading them at an early age. How many of you “series readers” started out reading something like  Nancy Drew or The Hardy Boys? Some of our younger readers right now maybe in the middle of their own favorites: like the Harry Potter series. The series that we read are different than what our children are reading. Book genres for young adult readers have changed over the years, reflecting the changes in our society.

shelves of bookseries

 I’ve even noticed that the type of series you read changes as you get older, often reflecting your own changes in lifestyles. Your reading selections may also change as you interest and activities change.  Seasonal series may influence your reading choices too.  During the Christmas holidays, I love to read short stories that reflect the season.

There’s just something about getting into a series; you feel like you’re part of it. You become friends with the hero, you hate the villains, you anticipate the storylines, and you cheer for the underdog. You discover that you have your favorite characters and you have the characters that you dislike so much that you can’t wait to see them killed off, arrested or just done away with & written out of the story.

Another factor that keeps you interested in a series could be the time period it represents. Or the location of where the series was written. I know my mother loves Regency Romances, but I personally am fond of an Alaskan mini-series. There’s something about sitting on the beach, reading about cold Alaska weather that makes me feel good.

Open-book-at-a-beach-001 

It’s interesting to watch where the writers mind is going and follow along as they develop the characters from book to book, hooking you in so that you can’t wait to read the next book in the series.

How far are you into the current series you’re reading? Is it a romance, a historical, or an investigative series?

So, what kind of series has you hooked?

 

 

And so it begins…

On By Victoria LK Williams (Vicki Williams)In UncategorizedLeave a comment

 

“If we are the trees, words are our roots; and we grow as we write” 
― Munia Khan

 

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As I mentioned in my last post; there has been some changes in our home over the past few months. The cutest change is the edition of our two new kittens, but there are other changes going on as well.

Probably the biggest change for my husband & me, is the graduation of our son. In four weeks he has off to college and we’ll become “empty-nesters.” So, as he begins his new adventure we will be settling into a routine of our own, not unlike what we had when we first got married.

emptynester

Another new change in my life is a commitment to my writing. I have one book under my belt a second one being looked over by the editors and a third one that I’ve got a good start on. I even have outlines for another whole series.  I am designing a website, and learning all I can about every aspect of putting my books together.

school_research

Probably one of the most interesting things about this writing adventure, is finding a little bit more about myself. That and doing research on things that I never even thought of before. As I take my characters into new adventures, I want to make sure that the story that I’m telling my readers is accurate. A little bit of education isn’t hurting me either; it is actually sparking some new life into my writing.

So as I enter this new phase of my life I’m excited about it and I invite you follow along as you read my blogs and share my adventures.

Distractions!

On By Victoria LK Williams (Vicki Williams)In UncategorizedLeave a comment

 

My blog post been few and far between us last month, but I have a good excuse, really!

We’ve had a recent addition to our home; two sweet little kittens and, boy, are they distracting. It’s amazing just what they find to get into. That new play toy  they just discovered, and are having such fun with; it is such an everyday item to me, something I don’t give a second thought to. But to these two inquisitive little beings; it’s new, it’s exciting and it’s something that needs to be tested out.

 

When I’m sitting at my desk writing, I find that tapping away at my keyboard also means tapping away at little paws. They want to walk across the keyboard, or they find something interesting on the screen that they think they can touch, regardless of what I am working on. But, of course, that’s not possible, and, after trying to get to the object on the screen a few times, they lose interest. Soon they’ll find something else to play with for a while; like chasing pens and paperclips or fighting with each other over a rubber band. Then all of a sudden they’re tired and, just like that, they just plop down wherever they want too for a quick nap. It might be across the top of my keyboard, it might be my lap or lately my shoulder (one has a particular fondness for this area).

fletch & Speckles

To create some order, peace and quiet in my office, I’ve had to go get a second-cat bed for my desk. Our old 18-year-old is tolerant, but she is also set in her ways, and the introduction of these two new kittens is been a little bit stressful for her. She doesn’t want to give up her spot on the desk (who can blame her) but she’s willing to share; as long as they keep to their own space. So there are now two cat-beds on my desk, each at separate ends. That’s not much room for work, but there’s plenty of room for two kittens and one old cat.

all three on desk

So, I apologize for being lax in my promised blogs, but clearly I have a good excuse. As the kittens settle down and life becomes more routine for all of us, I’m sure I’ll be less distracted and will get back to writing mode.

And I’ll be catching up soon, at least until they do something else that is cute and entertaining!