Forensics in Fiction

            Before I became a writer, I went back to school for forensic molecular science. The fall I began classes, C.S.I. started on TV. One of my instructors loved to point out inaccuracies in each week’s episodes, because of course, life isn’t exactly like fiction. Even so, I love the show, and of course it comes naturally that I love forensics in fiction as well!

            Probably the two most famous authors of forensic fiction are Kathy Reichs and Patricia Cornwell. Most of Reichs’ 18 novels are about forensic anthropologist, Tempe Brennan. Yes, this is the book series on which the TV show Bones is (very loosely!) based. I personally like the books better than the show, but they're both good.

    

            Patricia Cornwell writes most of her novels about medical examiner, Dr. Kay Scarpetta. There are currently 20 Scarpetta novels, with another one due this year. I read a bit more than half of these until… well, I’m not going to give any spoilers! But the writing also changed a bit, going from first person past tense to third person present tense. I always enjoyed the stories from Dr. Scarpetta’s point of view, so I didn’t like the change. I may give the new ones a read, though, because I hear she’s gone back to her previous point of view.

            Am I missing out on any other great forensics novels?

Exploring Editing Methods

            I have a love/hate relationship with editing. On one hand, it can turn a rough manuscript into a cohesive thing of beauty. But getting to that place… ugh!

            During last year’s E blog entry, I wrote about some of the challenges I faced with my own manuscripts. However, every author is going to have different strengths and weaknesses. Not the same type of editing process is going to work as well for everyone.

            Most of the time, I employ the method that the folks at NaNoWriMo advocate: finish the novel before you go back to edit a single word. When it comes to NaNo, the object is to write 50,000 words in a month, so there isn’t any time for editing. And because you’re writing at such a furious pace, some amazing things can come from your creativity when you’re not over-thinking things. The only problem I’ve found with this method is that my first draft is a chaotic mess!

Every November, I silence my inner editor
while I work on my NaNoWriMo project

            I’ve heard of other authors who edit as they go. They begin each day by reading over what they’ve written the day before and cleaning it up. Only after editing, will they move on to writing new material. Using this method, you’ll end up with a neater first draft, though it’ll probably take longer to get there.

            I’m giving this second method a try with my current manuscript. The biggest difference I can see so far is that I wouldn’t try the edit-as-you-go method unless you have a clear idea, maybe even an outline, of exactly where your story is going. Some major elements can change from the beginning of a book to the end if you don’t know where you’re going. This means a lot of editing for continuity will be necessary. So why bother giving each sentence, each paragraph, a quick polish as you go when you may end up deleting entire sections with a continuity edit? Granted, you’ll still do continuity editing with both editing styles, but there may be less of it if you’ve got a clear map of your story from day one.

            So what kind of editing method do you use, fellow authors? If you’ve tried different methods, what works best for you and why?

What Do Dogs Think About?

            Yesterday, I started telling you about my animal psychic character in my most recent book, Practically Dreaming, and what I think cats think about. Today, I’m wondering what dogs think.

            I saw a joke once about the difference between a cat’s and a dog’s diary, which I think pretty well sums it up, at least on the dog’s side. I personally think cats are awesome and not as cynical as the cat in this diary!

            However, I will admit that while cats can seriously hold a grudge, dogs can be more forgiving. Scold them for ripping the carpet from the floor and, not only do they do the lowered-head, sad-eyes-looking-up-at-you apology thing, but they’ve forgotten all about it five minutes later. They want their owners’ approval. They’re generally happy, easy-going, and fun-loving.

            Here’s a short scene in which the animal psychic, Tierra, meets her mom’s new dog, Ruby. This puppy, a sweet, white ball of fluff, is based on my parents’ dog, Bella.

Bella, AKA "Ruby"

            The hurried click of little doggie claws on the hardwood floor drew both of their attention. Ruby burst into the room as if she had been announced by a late night talk show host. She paused in the center of the room, looked around to make sure she received adequate attention, and bounced up onto the nearest lap. Luckily, Hestia had put aside her cup quickly enough to avoid spilling her tea.

            “She’s spoiled, but I love her. What does she have to say? Is she as happy as I hope she is?” Ruby was a new addition to the household, a young dog who had only been living with Hestia for a couple of months.

            Tierra paused and probed Ruby’s thoughts, though she already knew the answer. “She’s ecstatic. She doesn’t want for anything. And she loves you beyond the telling of it.”

            Hestia laughed and blushed.

            “Ruby likes the treats in the blue bag,” Tierra said. “You only bought them once or twice, but they’re her favorite.”

            “The peanut butter,” Hestia smiled. “I’ll buy her some the next time I’m at the store.”

            “And she likes when you take her to the dog park. Especially when the Standard Poodle is there to play with her.” Ruby didn’t know the name of the breed, of course, but she showed Tierra an image of the black, curly-coated dog.

            “That’s the Thornton’s dog, Marley. Tell Ruby I’ll arrange more play dates with him.”

Check out more about Practically Dreaming here.

What Do Cats Think About?

             Tierra, the main character in Practically Dreaming, is an animal psychic. In writing her character, I found that I not only had to understand what motivated her, but what the animals around her wanted as well. What exactly does a cat think about?

            Tierra’s cat is named Solaris, a spoiled orange ball of fluff. In my mind, I pictured him as something like a Maine Coon or a Norwegian Forest Cat. As for his personality, it is an amalgamation of many of the cats in my life.

            My cats do some odd things sometimes, which just defy explanation. For example, what is the deal when a cat can go from serene to insane in about half a second? They’ll be sitting all chilled out, then the eyes go wide and they sprint from the room with the speed of light. I don’t even know if an animal psychic would be able to define that behavior!

            As to the question of what cats think about when they're not sprinting about like mad creatures…I think it’s mostly sunbeams, food, sleep, and being petted. At least, that’s the way I wrote about Solaris, who always seemed to be searching out a warm place to sleep, but only after his belly was full. Here’s a little snippet from the book:

            An itch on Tierra’s nose pulled her from the depths of sleep. She reached a drowsy hand up to brush something off her nose, only to be rewarded with the tickling sensation again a moment later. Finally, giving up on the idea of continued sleep, she opened her eyes. Solaris leapt up onto her chest, his solid weight squeezing an “ooof” of discomfort from her. He spun around in a circle, kneading his paws on her chest through the comforter. His fluffy bristle brush of a tail swept across her face, telling her all she needed to know about the tickle that awoke her.

            “Sol, really?”

            The cat swatted his tail defiantly at Tierra’s face once more, surely a punishment for his nickname, which he hated. Intent on his goal, his disposition turned sweet again as he turned on his adorable charm. He spun around so he was face to face with his human, stared insistently into her eyes, and meowed. The supplication came with a clear vision of his food dish overflowing with tuna. He even sent her the image of the red label on the can. It was the premium tuna, not the cat food can. Nothing but the best for Solaris, or so he believed. He followed up his request with a more strident meow.

            Tierra loved the sounds he made, from the strong, motorboat purr to the chirping, burring sounds he made when he was happy. Her favorite was his meow. It reminded her more of a rusty gate than a proper meow. Instead of “meow” or “rowr,” the cat said something sounding more like “meh-eh.” She thought it was adorable, and Solaris knew it, too. It begged the question of who exactly was in charge here; who owned who? Tierra preferred not to ponder that question for too long.

Read more about Practically Dreaming tomorrow when I write about what dogs think! And for more about the book, you can check it out here.

Books and Babies

A few years ago, my best friend from junior high was expecting her first baby and I was expecting my first…book! I was finishing final edits on my manuscript and we were both wondering which of our little bundles of joy would arrive first. As it turned out, Magick Charm did, on September 1. Little Finn arrived about two months later.

In a way, writing books is a tiny bit like raising children. Writing them takes countless hours and sleepless nights. Editing them can make you feel alternately happy and overwhelmed. You do everything you can to make them the best books possible before sending them out into the world, a prospect both thrilling and terrifying at the same time. You feel proud when they’re received well and fiercely defensive when they’re criticized.

Proud parent of Magick Charm and Practically Dreaming

Side note: This doesn’t mean you should go on the offensive with critics of your books. Let your paper and ink children stand on their own and speak for themselves. Getting into nasty online debates is the literary version of being the dad who screams and fights with all the coaches and refs from the sidelines of his kids' games. Just don’t do it!

Marcus and his "Nen"

Today, it seems I’m surrounded by kids. My childhood friend now has two little ones, and I spend a lot of time with the newborn of another close friend. I have two paperback children and several more on the way. 

Sometimes it can take more than nine months from conception to delivery of a literary work, but hey, I don’t have to pay for my books to go to college!