Kristina Stanley

Farley’s Friday: Are boots worth the hassle?

~ Kristina Stanley ~ 9 Comments

Farley here,

Winter has arrived, and with that my fashion has changed.

Kristina makes me wear boots. We meet in the front hall, and she puts on her coat and boots. I wait until she turns to me with the dreaded boots.

I resist the boots by stretching my toes, so it makes it hard for Kristina to get the boots on tight. I’m thinking, “Maybe I can lose the boots in the snow.”

Farley with Boots

No such luck at first.

But then we hit deep snow. First I lose one…then another…then the third.

That back one just won’t fall off. I think I’ve gotten away with this until my pads start to hurt. I flatten in the snow and try to pick the ice out of my pads with my teeth.

Kristina walks towards me. Mathew has gone in search of my boots.

I roll my big brown eyes at her and wag my tail. I hope she isn’t mad at me.

She smiles, kneels in the snow, and takes off her winter mitts. She pokes in between my pads and gets the ice out. This takes a while. Her hands turn red. She’s shaking a little, so I know she’s cold, but she keeps going.

Then she wraps her hands around my paws, one by one, and warms them up.

Mathew returns with my boots, and puts them back on. This time I’ll try to keep them on.

My humans are the  best.

Woof Woof

Farley’s Friday: Claim Your Human

~ Kristina Stanley ~ 6 Comments

Farley here.

Kristina loves dogs. That’s fine, but she should love me the most.

To get her fill of other dogs, she likes to do something she calls “Dog Sitting.”

I like it when she dogs sits other dogs and we’re outside.

Farley Flint Stick

 

But when a dog enters my home, I have to claim Kristina as mine.

 

Farley and Kristina on couch

I don’t mind sharing a stick, but I do mind sharing Kristina. No one else can go near her!

Woof Woof

Fictionary: Online Story Editing Tool + Online Course

~ Kristina Stanley ~ 4 Comments

I’ve found a lot of joy over the years helping authors promote their books online. Now, I’ve expanded that to help authors learn how to do their own story edit. Some of you know I not only write books, but I’m also the CEO of Fictionary.co.

Fictionary is the first online tool for editing your story, not your words. Think characters, plot, and settings.

Fictionary is developed by writers for writers. That’s me 🙂 and indie author Michael Conn. Our third co-founder is Mathew Stanley – yup – my husband. He’s been my first reader and eagle-eye-editor for years.

Today, I’m thrilled to announce the Fictionary Story Editing Course.

Helping Authors Create Stories That Work

We believe to become a successful author, your novel needs to tell a great story.
Combining Fictionary with an online course seems like a great way to give authors the knowledge and process they need to complete their own story edit and ensure their story works.
Twitter Fictionary Course

Fictionary Story Editing Course

This course will guide you through your manuscript with a scene-by-scene approach to editing. Fictionary focuses on the story, not the words.

We’ll send you the first two lessons when you sign up for a free 10-day trial.
The full 14-lesson course will also now be included with a Fictionary subscription.
  • Lesson 1: How To Use Fictionary To Make Your Story Work
  • Lesson 2: Characters And Novel Structure
  • Lesson 3: How To Improve Your Plot
  • Lesson 4: How To Improve Your Settings
  • Lesson 5: How To Use Word Count To Evaluate Your Scenes
  • Lesson 6: Connect Your Readers To Your Characters
  • Lesson 7: Make The Most Of Your POV Characters
  • Lesson 8: Story Arc And Engaging Your Readers
  • Lesson 9: Finding Plot Holes
  • Lesson 10: Draw Your Readers Into and Out of Each Scene
  • Lesson 11: Maximize Your Use of Tension And Conflict
  • Lesson 12: Check For An Empty Stage
  • Lesson 13: Keep Your Timeline Clear
  • Lesson 14: Bringing It All Together
We hope you get a chance to experience Fictionary and the Story Editing Course.
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Mystery Mondays: Luke Murphy On Writing A Sequel

~ Kristina Stanley ~ 12 Comments

Today, we have the pleasure of welcoming author Luke Murphy to Mystery Mondays. Luke’s new book. WILD CARD, was released last week by Imajin Books.  He’s here to talk about writing a series – something he has a lot of personal experience with.

I met Luke via Imajin Books, loved the first two books in the series: DEAD MAN’S HAND and KISS & TELL and am looking forward reading WILD CARD.

Over to Luke…

Writing A Sequel

By Luke Murphy

So I’ve written my first sequel, which was a new experience for me. WILD CARD is the second part to my debut novel, DEAD MAN’S HAND. I have no plans, no idea how many books I’ll write with these characters. I’ll just write, and see where the characters take me. Who knows?

PROS: There are definitely some benefits to writing a sequel.

Characters

For one, the main cast of characters are already formed. Readers are familiar with the main characters in the series, and there is no need for a lot of backstory to get readers caught up, or a lot of explicit detail to show character traits and physical appearances.

Setting

Since I already researched the setting of my first novel, I can save that time for novel #2, because I am already familiar with the city (Las Vegas) that I’ve chosen for the setting of my adventures.

Readers/Fans

Since I have book #1 under my belt, I’ve already formed a small fan base and readership who are earnestly awaiting my next novel. I won’t have to worry about reaching those readers, as they are returning customers, and will already be searching out my books.

CONS:

Expectations

Because DEAD MAN’S HAND garnered so much attention and success, now there is a level of expectation that comes with my next book. With so much praise and five-star reviews, readers have a high expectation of what they are looking for with a new Calvin Watters’ book.

Time

I don’t have to tell you that it’s a lot faster to read a book than it is to write it. Readers are expecting another book as soon as they finish reading the previous one. It took me five years to write the sequel to DEAD MAN’S HAND (sandwiching another book in between), and once readers have finished WILD CARD, they will be expecting another Calvin Watters adventure. I might not have time to breathe.

Ideas

There are only so many ideas/conflicts to write about, so coming up with new, fresh ideas for my characters with each new novel, can possess a bit of a challenge for a writer.

With all that said, I really enjoyed writing WILD CARD, the sequel to DEAD MAN’S HAND, and I look forward to possibly writing more Calvin Watters’ adventures in the future.

WILD CARD

Pageflex Persona [document: PRS0000040_00071]This time, it’s not a job.

After proving his innocence as a murder suspect, taking down an assassin, and being an instrumental part in solving a high profile murder, Calvin Watters believes he can finally move on—until Ace Sanders’ prison escape catapults him into action.

This time, it’s personal!

Something has always bothered Detective Dale Dayton about the arrest of Ace Sanders. Call it police intuition, but his inner ‘cop alarm’ keeps twitching. When Dale reopens the case, he’s introduced to new evidence that leads him into a political nightmare.

Who will play the Wild Card to survive?

While Calvin tracks Sanders across continents and into unknown, unfriendly surroundings, Dale remains in Vegas to uncover the truth behind police corruption, prison escapes, and hired assassins. But Calvin and Dale must be vigilant, because there’s a deadly, new player in town.

Who Is Luke Murphy?

1425368_517024845062353_568710561_oLuke Murphy is the International bestselling author of Dead Man’s Hand (Imajin Books, 2012) and Kiss & Tell (Imajin Books, 2015).

Murphy played six years of professional hockey before retiring in 2006. His sports column, “Overtime” (Pontiac Equity), was nominated for the 2007 Best Sports Page in Quebec, and won the award in 2009. He has also worked as a radio journalist (CHIPFM 101.7).

Murphy lives in Shawville, QC with his wife, three daughters and pug. He is a teacher who holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing, and a Bachelor of Education (Magna Cum Laude).

Wild Card, a sequel to Dead Man’s Hand, is Murphy’s third novel.

For more information on Luke and his books, visit: http://www.authorlukemurphy.com, ‘like’ his Facebook page www.facebook.com/AuthorLukeMurphy and follow him on Twitter www.twitter.com/AuthorLMurphy

Review Blurbs

“All the danger, treachery, and action a thriller reader could wish for. Luke Murphy has the touch.”

—Steve Berry, New York Times bestselling author of The Lost Order

“Hold on for a wild ride that doesn’t end until the last page.”

—Jordan Dane, bestselling author of the Sweet Justice series

“Murder, sex, hackers…an elaborate criminal chess game: Luke Murphy delivers.”

—Bryan Gruley, author of the Starvation Lake trilogy

Farley’s Friday: Freedom from bears and golfers.

~ Kristina Stanley ~ 10 Comments

Farley here,

Two obstacles stand in the way of my off-leash freedom. Bears and golfers.

I haven’t seen a bear in weeks. Dare I suggest they’ve all gone to a higher altitude in search of a place to hibernate?

When winter is on the way, golfers go south, I think.

Farley w stick

For me the coming winter is a reason to celebrate. I have miles of open grass to play on. There are sticks everywhere in the forest. I don’t have to wear a leash. And…My hair grows long.

Three cheers for winter!

Woof Woof

Farley’s Friday: How to train your human.

~ Kristina Stanley ~ 15 Comments

Farley here,

Nine years ago today, I started taking care of Kristina and Mathew. They had a lot to learn.

MAtt Tina Farley

Look how cute they were that first day! I look a little shocked, but I got the hang of taking care of humans (meaning getting them to do what I want) pretty quickly.

First, make sure your human knows when to feed you. Pawing at the bowl and banging it against the wall is a great training technique. This works for the water bowl, too.

Then, make sure they put your crate or bed in their bedroom. This is easy too. Practice your best sad cry at 3 am. Don’t stop until crate/bed is moved beside your human. It only took me a year to move from the crate to their bed.

Humans don’t like it if you pee inside the house, so run to the door and prance in circles. A little woof will get their attention. If they’re not understanding you,  squat but don’t pee yet. They’ll run from wherever they are and open the door.

Most importantly, we dogs need a lot of love. To get invited onto a lap, sit at a humans feet, gently place you head on their foot, and give them your best loving eyes. Nudge their hand. Give a a little kiss – not too much because slobber is not appreciated. Before you know it, the human will pick you up and snuggle with you on their lap.

That’s the basics of training a human. Good luck!

Woof Woof

 

 

Farley’s Friday: Dogs and Golf

~ Kristina Stanley ~ 9 Comments

Farley here,

Happiness has descended on my village. Yup, I live in a small village.

Every spring, something bad happens. Golfers arrive and take over my park. From May to October, they hit some little ball into a hole. They don’t even chase the balls and bring it back. They just cheer if it goes into the hole. Kind of odd behaviour.

But every fall, they leave. I don’t know where they go, but now I’m free to roam and play,

Check out my terrain!

Farley on Golf Course

There are multiple places for me to dig in the sand.

There are tons of sticks in the forest for my to carry and chew.

You can’t see them, but there are also ponds for me to swim in.

And…And…there is no leash in sight.

So yes, happiness has descended on my village.

Woof Woof. Wag Wag.

Seven Drafts by Editor Allison K Williams – Fictionary

~ Kristina Stanley ~ 5 Comments

At Fictionary our mission is: To help writers become successful authors.

We think one way to do this is to bring in experts in the field of editing to share their knowledge. Today we host our first editor!

It is our pleasure to welcome editor Allison K Williams. Allison is a writer, editor, speaker, and coach. Allison has edited books published by Big Five publishers including Penguin Random House, and independent presses including Spencer Hill, as well as working with self-published authors.

[…]

Source: Seven Drafts by Editor Allison K Williams – Fictionary

Mystery Mondays: Dave Butler on MYSTERY WRITERS PAYING IT FORWARD

~ Kristina Stanley ~ 10 Comments

DaveButler_profilepicThis week on Mystery Mondays, I’m pleased to host author, Dave Butler. Dave lives a couple of hours from my home in British Columbia, Canada.

I’ve hosted authors from all over the world, and this is the closest one has been in distance. Kinda cool, I think.

And congratulations are in order. Full Curl was short listed for the 2015 Crime Writers of Canada Unhanged Arthur Ellis award for best unpublished crime fiction. Now Full Curl is published by Dundurn Press!

So over to Dave…

MYSTERY WRITERS PAYING IT FORWARD

By Dave Butler

Paying it forward: “beneficiary of a good deed repaying it to others instead of to the original benefactor.”

 Coming to mystery writing from the world of business, I was ready for the worst. In the list of literary genres, mystery/thriller is second only to romance/erotica in sales (there’s a cross-over opportunity there, but I digress…), so I knew that the potential for fame and fortune was very high (😉). I expected that writers would jostle with each other in dog-consumes-dog, winner-take-all battles, that trade secrets would be held close to protective chests, that there’d be fisticuffs for the right to be noticed by a tiny pool of hungry agents and publishers, and that despairing writers would pounce on every opportunity to trip up competitors and then step over (or on) their cold corpses to get ahead.

And with many of us living lonely solitary lives, with long hours and little in the way of validation or gratification, I assumed that the potential was also high that I’d be interacting with people who were one rejection slip away from being basement-dwelling serial killers.

However, I was wrong. It has been a pleasant surprise to discover that it’s not like that at all (with the possible exception of the serial killer potential … that I’m still not sure about…). Instead, I’ve found writers, particularly in the mystery/thriller world, to be incredibly gracious, open and friendly, and welcoming to newcomers.

In my own situation, I was lucky to have Full Curl, my first novel, shortlisted for the Unhanged Arthur Award in 2015. I had no idea what to expect when I attended the Crime Writers of Canada’s Arthur Ellis awards banquet in Toronto. While I didn’t win (way to go, Elle Wild!), I was immediately overwhelmed by how welcome I felt.

As an example, I shared dinner that evening with Ian Hamilton (author of the successful Ava Lee series). He was patient with my rookie questions, and kind in sharing experience and advice. In a Toronto bar later that evening, over a glass or two of Forty Creek whisky, he asked me the pivotal question that then played a role in a multi-book deal for me. “Why don’t you write a series?” he asked.

That same pattern has been repeated many times. I see it when I share a coffee with other mystery writers, when I read communications from the Crime Writers of Canada, and when I attend workshops and conferences. It’s almost as though “paying it forward” has become what we do in our genre.

One could argue that holding everything close to our chests might mean that we can grab more of the pie for ourselves. But I’ve realized that growing the genre, both in readers and writers, is good for all.

It’s clear that deciding to “pay it forward,” or not, is very much an individual decision. Perhaps it’s a moral and ethical responsibility, but it depends on your own perspective and your own experience. And it doesn’t mean spending so much time helping others that you miss deadlines, or lose the muse. But by sharing information on the writing life, on the business of writing, we all move ahead.

For me, there’s no doubt that I’ll “pay it forward” to recognize the kindness and generosity of those who have helped me. But at the same time, if I meet a writer who invites me in to see his/her pile of rejection letters, I refuse to go in their basement!

Who is Dave Butler?

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERADave Butler is a mystery/thriller writer from Cranbrook, BC who is the author of the Jenny Willson mystery series (Dundurn Press). Full Curl, the first in the series, in on store shelves now.

He’s a forester and biologist living in Cranbrook, British Columbia, in the shadow of the Rocky Mountains. His writing and photography have appeared in numerous Canadian publications. He’s a Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal winner, and a Fellow of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society. When he’s not writing, Dave is professionally involved in sustainable tourism at local, national and international levels and he travels extensively. www.davebutlerwriting.com

Visual Structural Editing Of Your First Draft

~ Kristina Stanley ~ Leave a comment
fictionary twitter

If you’ve been reading my blog for a while, you know I’m a panster until I edit and then I love a process.

I’ve finished my first draft of Evolution and am now embarking on a structural edit.

After spending months and months writing the draft, I owe it myself to spend the time performing a story edit before I share the work with anyone.

Of course, I’m going use Fictionary to do this.

And I’m starting today because we’ve updated Fictionary based on input from our writing community.
  • New Guide and videos to lead you through your story edit.
  • Text Editing for updating your manuscript within Fictionary.
  • Manuscript Export to Word when your edit is complete.
  • Faster (I mean a lot faster!) and easier to use.

You can start your edit, too. We’re launching Fictionary at a special price of $10 US/month. There is no long-term contract commitment, and you can try it for free first.

Try free for 10 days (no cc required) and see if Fictionary is helpful to you. It just might become your new favorite writing tool!

If you’d like more information, check out https://Fictionary.co

And of course, send me a message if you have any questions.

Happy Editing.