Let’s Talk with Terry Odell
Let Us Know What You’d Like To Know by Terry Odell
When we founded Booklover’s Bench, we wanted our focus to be on readers. A quote from Samuel Johnson says, “A writer only begins a book. A reader finishes it.”
Each week in this space, one of our team shares something we hope readers will find interesting, but as I think about what to write each time it’s my turn, I wonder: What do readers want to know about authors? Their daily routine? Their writing process? Where they write? What they love about writing? What they don’t love about writing? Their pets? Favorite foods? Anything? After all, we’re people, too.
So, readers. Here’s your chance. Let us know what you, as readers, are interested in. Enter the Rafflecopter contest with your suggestion. For a second entry, leave a question in the comments for a chance to win … drum roll … books!
I judged a major mystery contest last year, and I received cartons and cartons of mystery books which are now in need of a good home outside my office. Winner will get 3-5 randomly selected books.
US residents only, for legal and postage reasons. However, should the random number generator choose someone outside the US, I’ll substitute an ebook download.
Rafflecopter giveaway
Fine Print
No purchase is necessary. You must be at least 18 years old to enter. Winners will be chosen by Rafflecopter from all entrants for the prize. Winners will be notified by email. Booklover’s Bench authors are not responsible for transmission failures, computer glitches or lost, late, damaged or returned email. Prizes must be claimed within 5 days or they will be forfeit. Sorry, but for legal and postage reasons, physical prizes to US residents only. Winners outside the US will receive a book download.
Posted in Let's Talk, with Terry Odell, zed: Former Authors • Tags: BLB Discussion, books, box, giveaway, mysteries, surprise | 8 Comments
Do you base your characters on real,people?
Good question, Sandy. I’d say there are bits and pieces of “real” people in many of my characters. More personality traits, or quirks, or just little things I observe that make me want to show that in a book. My characters tend to be composites.
Do you write about places you’ve lived or do you totally make up your locations?
Most of my books and stories are based on places I’ve at least been to. However, when I need more details than I remember, or the time of the year is different, I try to find people I know who can answer my questions. My sister-in-law lives in Oregon, and she’s been invaluable with my Pine Hills Police series.
Now that I’m living in Colorado, I have more books using that setting, such as my Triple-D Ranch series, and my Mapleton series.
I like to know how much of a story is based on personal experience.
Nancy – short of writing memoir, I think there are snippets of personal experience, but I think most of those experiences tend to be emotional reactions rather than fact. I know my days on the cattle ranch, and my cruise experiences gave me the ability to come from reality, but you don’t have to find a dead body to write a murder mystery. It’s all about translating the emotions you’ve felt to the fictional situations you’re writing about. We’ve all felt happiness, fear, dread, excitement, and that’s what brings the characters and the book to life.
I meant your personal experiences in terms of research, and things that have happened to you personally that you put in your stories. For example, I put many of my poodle’s antics into my mysteries. Your cattle ranch adventures and cruises would have provided lots of material.
Yes, they did!