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On the way to Cincinati
Author: bob03.12.2008
Yes, I spelled it wrong. On purpose. I used to always spell it wrong, but after enough lecturing by you know who, I’ve learned. Cincinnatti. Wait. Spell checker says that’s wrong too. How about: Cincinnati? Ok.
I’m on my way to that city to meet Jenny and work on our next collaboration and then drive together to Bethlehem, PA—which has immense Biblical implications. Like who is the third King and who is bringing the incense and frankfurters and other stuff. And who in Bethlehem is doing the virgin birth thing. We have a friend there, Katherine Ramsland, but somehow I don’t see her doing that in a manger. Investigating a murder scene in a manger, yes. Cause Katherine does that sort of stuff. And vampires. And, well. Enough said. And I didn mean she ‘does’ vampires, at least as far as I know. Boy, I’m gonna get in trouble for this post.
I did a little stage show with Katherine and Elizabeth George last weekend at the Whidbey Island Writers Conference, which was kind of interesting. We were in the local theatre and there was a crime scene. We talked about how we would approach things from our particular points of view. Katherine as a forensic scientists and non-fiction writer; Elizabeth as a mystery writer; and me, well, as me. I was right of course.
So I’m on the plan listening to some Pink Floyd—The Wall—and just re-read the opening two scenes of WILD RIDE that we sent in a long time ago as part of our proposal for Wild Ride. And I started to smile. I really like these two characters and the set-up in the amusement park.
Jenny & I learned to write a book together on DON’T LOOK DOWN. I think we got the system down on AGNES AND THE HITMAN. But I think WILD RIDE is going to rock. Because we’re doing a couple of things a bit different with it: dropping the romance—more of a early Moonlighting type of relationship between her heroine and kinda hero—and we’ve got a paranormal element that is going to let us swing wide.
It’s actually a lot more like the early X-Files than Moonlighting. I re-watched the pilot for X-Files not long ago and it was really well-done. Very funny, too. So we’re shooting for that.
No, I didn’t finish THE JEFFERSON ALLEGIANCE but it’s at 95,000 words and just about done. I’ve got all the pieces in place to write the climactic scene. In fact, I’ve got all the character en route to location of the climactic scene, so that’s good. I left the printed out manuscript at home with Deb to go through and clean up my stuff as she’s the grammar expert and can get rid of all those dangling things I dangle. And besides, the idea was her’s to start with, so I’ll find out if I kept the plot on target.
An hour out from Cin—whatever. Actually, the antagonist in JEFFERSON works for the Society of Cincinnati, so I had to learn how to spell it. The oldest military society in the United States founded in 1783. And the protagonist work for the American Philosophical Society, the oldest learned society in the country, founded in 1745 by Benjamin Franklin.
So lots of cool history in the book. And no, not info-dump.
March 12th, 2008 at 8:55 am
Ha ha ha ha ha ha.
..and they brought incense and frankfurters. You are so in trouble with the big guy.
Hope you don’t have too much work in Ohio. I heard the drive was lined with shovels.
March 12th, 2008 at 8:57 am
I’m really looking forward to Jefferson Alliegance, Bob. I enjoy historical suspense/mystery stuff, so this sounds pretty exciting to me.
And have lots of fun with Wild Ride. Moonlighting/early X Files, hmmm? Oh yes, this sounds good.
Wish I’d been a fly on the wall at Whidbey.
March 12th, 2008 at 9:41 am
Never saw X-files. X-files is post-television in my world. Loved KOLCHAK, THE NIGHT STALKER, though. I kept wondering when Simon Oakland would explode. And remember when the monster looked just like Ruth McDivett? Good stuff.
Have fun with Ms. C.
Hope you’ve got on your ankle armor.
March 12th, 2008 at 9:48 am
Frankfurters and spellcheckers and vampires, oh my. Snort.
Book done yet? (Either of them, I’m not picky.)
March 13th, 2008 at 12:55 pm
So, Bob, does it feel odd to be traveling from left to right instead of right to left?
March 13th, 2008 at 8:09 pm
Jenny said to harass you if you hadn’t blog yet tonight. I live to serve. It’s the cherrybomb motto. Or one of them. Or could be if either one of you so commanded. Bob only knows. Eh. Maybe I should stop blathering and wait patiently for you to post some pithy observations about traveling with Jenny.
March 13th, 2008 at 8:15 pm
OOh, an unattended blog, and me feeling all Limerick-y. Let’s see how should it begin?
There once was a writer named Bob,
Who carried a Glock on a fob,
He spoke and he wrote,
Did it all on a boat,
But, hey, it beats having a job!
Next~
March 13th, 2008 at 8:47 pm
Nice job, Ltl.
Please blog, Bob. And have fun with the iPhone, voice recorderless as it may be.
March 13th, 2008 at 9:28 pm
Hell, he rendered me speechless with:
And I started to smile.
I’m waiting for confirmation that he stopped before it was too late.
March 13th, 2008 at 11:21 pm
Damn. I would harass thee, Sir Bob, but I’m outclassed. Sheryl’s got the harassment under control, Ltl’s outdone me in Limericks, and you’ve rendered BCB speechless (and brought her back from the verge of Lurkerdom). Clearly, you have great powers, Obi Wan.
Tolkien-ku:
The road goes ever on and on
On from the door where it began
And I would follow if I could…
If only Jenny would stop telling her minions to harass me on my blog by leaving endless comments that also go on and on but unlike Bilbo’s song never seem to come to an end.
March 14th, 2008 at 5:17 am
I may be a lowly minion now, but I’m doing Chai Tea every morning and hope to be promoted to henchman–henchwoman–by August.
Beware! Be very ware!
March 14th, 2008 at 5:19 am
harass harass harass
We’re under orders here Bob. What’s a CB to do?
March 16th, 2008 at 9:49 am
Am extremely tired and over-stressed, but just reading the words “a lot more like the early X-Files” in the context of a book by you and Jenny made my sad little heart sing!