tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28839948.post7860700798621515849..comments2023-07-30T04:17:57.421-06:00Comments on Beth Groundwater: Today's Mystery Author Guest: Donnell Ann BellBeth Groundwaterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13999372882748655834noreply@blogger.comBlogger52125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28839948.post-61569106322109989452013-01-31T20:47:50.999-07:002013-01-31T20:47:50.999-07:00Cathy, Thank goodness you hadn't submitted yet...Cathy, Thank goodness you hadn't submitted yet, right? Thank you for commenting! <br /><br /><br />Norma, that is a great idea, interviewing your characters. How cool that one fessed up. Thanks for stopping by!Donnell Ann Bellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07943037206984648849noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28839948.post-12964732406569366262013-01-31T20:36:10.879-07:002013-01-31T20:36:10.879-07:00Donnell, I couldn't figure out who my killer w...Donnell, I couldn't figure out who my killer was. I went through at least three drafts and always stopped before the end, as I didn't know who did the deed. So I wrote a half page in each of my suspects viewpoints, and darned if one of them didn't say, "So I killed her." (And I've gotten comments/reviews saying - "I could not figure out who the killer was!" - So it works that way too. Norma Husshttp://www.normahuss.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28839948.post-52767648125092214962013-01-31T19:33:14.463-07:002013-01-31T19:33:14.463-07:00Donnell, I have had that experience - writing all ...Donnell, I have had that experience - writing all the way to The End, and then realizing I had the wrong person as the killer. I didn't know that was a good thing! Thanks for a great article.<br />Catherine DiltsAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28839948.post-91454068845537161162013-01-31T12:11:31.650-07:002013-01-31T12:11:31.650-07:00Thank you, Karin! I think one of the things that ...Thank you, Karin! I think one of the things that we forget in fiction is it's not black and white, and we as the creator have the power to change. We get so set on an idea--at least I did. This was the first book I had totally plotted and it got in the way with my muse. Donald Maass saying, oh, by the way, just change it, was an important reminder that, well, guess what? It's fiction! <br /><br />I hope you enjoy Deadly Recall! Thanks for commenting!Donnell Ann Bellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07943037206984648849noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28839948.post-40595680013328568282013-01-31T12:02:31.913-07:002013-01-31T12:02:31.913-07:00Great post, Donnell. As someone working on her fir...Great post, Donnell. As someone working on her first romantic suspense, it resonated with me. Can't wait to get my copy of Deadly Recall.Karin Huxman - Romance Authorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06631036942444502510noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28839948.post-44549302092285470912013-01-31T09:15:55.829-07:002013-01-31T09:15:55.829-07:00Cynthia, fantastic! I assume you thought you HAD ...Cynthia, fantastic! I assume you thought you HAD to know who killed the victim? Maybe in ACTUAL police procedure, but never in fiction. Yours must be a great story with plenty of red herrings. Good luck finding out who it is! Thanks for commenting. Donnell Ann Bellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07943037206984648849noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28839948.post-11733774207236483982013-01-31T07:39:11.769-07:002013-01-31T07:39:11.769-07:00Donnell, you made my day! I've been frustrated...Donnell, you made my day! I've been frustrated by the dead body that appears in the opening scene of my story and, after months of attempted plotting, I still don't know who killed the guy. You have lifted that load from my shoulders. Now I can happily go back to writing and wait to find out who did it. <br /><br />Cynthia BeckerCynthia Beckerhttp://chipeta.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28839948.post-42940724651302233872013-01-31T04:24:20.100-07:002013-01-31T04:24:20.100-07:00Yay, Sparkle Abbey's in the house! Micro tens...Yay, Sparkle Abbey's in the house! Micro tension, another useful term. See you soon at Left Coast Crime. It will be my first, too!<br /><br /><br /><br />Hi, Unknown! (wish I knew who you were If you ever get the chance to take his workshop, well worth the time and money and even to travel if you can. My foot is healing, slowly. Right now we call it, "franken foot" ;) Thanks so much. If you do read Deadly Recall, I hope you enjoy it! Thanks for stopping by! Donnell Ann Bellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07943037206984648849noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28839948.post-21597216799752848812013-01-31T04:20:50.990-07:002013-01-31T04:20:50.990-07:00Jessica, thank you so much for your nice thoughts ...Jessica, thank you so much for your nice thoughts on The Past Came Hunting! Yes, D.M. certainly makes an impression, no matter how much you try to ignore him ;)<br /><br />L.A. I believe the book we worked on in that workshop was The Breakout Novel. Thanks for stopping by!<br />Donnell Ann Bellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07943037206984648849noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28839948.post-3246716190455015362013-01-30T23:57:23.724-07:002013-01-30T23:57:23.724-07:00Hi Donnell,
Loved your post and you provided go...Hi Donnell,<br /> Loved your post and you provided good food for thought. Not knowing who the killer is, interesting. I would love to do a workshop with D.M. but he's never where I am. Sigh.<br /> How's your foot?<br /> "Gotta" read your new release!Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03310826834207977388noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28839948.post-11463579619946956362013-01-30T22:23:50.238-07:002013-01-30T22:23:50.238-07:00What a great post, Donnell. Can't wait to read...What a great post, Donnell. Can't wait to read Deadly Recall! We've done a couple of full-day workshops with The Donald and have to say there's always an ah-ha moment. The most recent was in Minneapolis and the take-away was "micro-tension." Looking forward to seeing you and Beth at our first Left Coast Crime!Sparkle Abbeyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05172192397940710910noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28839948.post-54003715682392948032013-01-30T18:54:16.607-07:002013-01-30T18:54:16.607-07:00Hi Donnell,
I'm so excited your second book is...Hi Donnell,<br />I'm so excited your second book is here.<br /><br />I loved your post. I'm about to work on a cozy mystery series after Stone of Heaven is released, so your advice, and of course that of Donald Maass is super timely.<br /><br />Now, tell me which book of his had such advice, pretty please!! And I'll go check. I know my killer too, and I don't want it NOT to be a surprise. <br /><br />Got to learn how to do that. It sounds impossible. Really, sounds impossible.<br /><br />Hugs<br />LALeslie Ann aka LAhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15584041234338927880noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28839948.post-59007455230108659352013-01-30T18:51:36.690-07:002013-01-30T18:51:36.690-07:00Loved The Past Came Hunting and I can't wait t...Loved The Past Came Hunting and I can't wait to read a full blown Donell Bell mystery! Especially one influenced by Donald Maass!Jessica Aspenhttp://jessicaaspen.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28839948.post-77972562709076351382013-01-30T16:55:02.354-07:002013-01-30T16:55:02.354-07:00Beth, thank you so much for hosting me today. So ...Beth, thank you so much for hosting me today. So great to see everyone and so excited about this release. See you at Left Coast Crime!Donnell Ann Bellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07943037206984648849noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28839948.post-48850542939296602462013-01-30T16:06:15.517-07:002013-01-30T16:06:15.517-07:00Theresa, I know, it so annoying to hear something ...Theresa, I know, it so annoying to hear something we've written doesn't work -- or it might work better if you switched this or did that. Vice versa on the challenging, friend. Thanks for stopping by!Donnell Ann Bellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07943037206984648849noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28839948.post-21943472205069236702013-01-30T16:03:48.480-07:002013-01-30T16:03:48.480-07:00Hi, Marilyn: I believe it's more of a suggest...Hi, Marilyn: I believe it's more of a suggestion... after all, it's our baby, right? But it was a pretty strong suggestion, or it wouldn't have impacted me as much. Great to see you!Donnell Ann Bellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07943037206984648849noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28839948.post-27334241676678747842013-01-30T15:40:45.041-07:002013-01-30T15:40:45.041-07:00Hi Donnell,
Yeah, I just hate it when the voice of...Hi Donnell,<br />Yeah, I just hate it when the voice of success and experience is right! I've learned that the more annoyed I get at some advice like that, the more it burns my stomach . . . the more right it is.<br />I think it's a blessing to have people like that to continue to challenge us to be better writers. Yes, I'll try to remember that the next time you "challenge" me with wonderful feedback . Can't wait to read your latest release!Theresahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03731545124996878153noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28839948.post-49474396681618364602013-01-30T15:12:59.921-07:002013-01-30T15:12:59.921-07:00Beth and Donnell,
I know that Donald Maass is full...Beth and Donnell,<br />I know that Donald Maass is full of good ideas, but I must admit I never heard that a mystery writer shouldn't know the identity of the killer from the start of a book. I learned something new today. Great post.Marilyn Levinsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10424778692932139865noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28839948.post-50238705716908608092013-01-30T14:05:49.775-07:002013-01-30T14:05:49.775-07:00Loralee :)))) Then my work is done here .... Oh, I...Loralee :)))) Then my work is done here .... Oh, I hope this helps you. As much as I fought it, I *think* it worked. Thanks so much for your positive feedback! Let me know when I can read your un-stymied book in print! Thanks for stopping by.Donnell Ann Bellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07943037206984648849noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28839948.post-27274123080500892282013-01-30T13:56:29.586-07:002013-01-30T13:56:29.586-07:00Donnell, I think you've given me the answer to...Donnell, I think you've given me the answer to my stymied plot. Gonna pull out my Maass book and read it again. Thanks! I'm anxiously waiting for your new book to be released. The first one was fabulous!Loraleehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03642869592750484556noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28839948.post-63055658115411353252013-01-30T13:39:49.765-07:002013-01-30T13:39:49.765-07:00Cyndi, well, ahem, I was definitely a hard sale. ...Cyndi, well, ahem, I was definitely a hard sale. Thanks so much, Debra Dixon designed the cover. I am beyond pleased. Thanks for swinging by! Donnell Ann Bellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07943037206984648849noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28839948.post-79179344157053086532013-01-30T13:38:31.847-07:002013-01-30T13:38:31.847-07:00Leslie, Whoa. Donald Maass emphatically said chan...Leslie, Whoa. Donald Maass emphatically said change your killer. All right. Maybe not emphatically. But somehow I took it that way. ;)<br /><br />Mark, I think many people agree with him. Thanks for commenting, you two.Donnell Ann Bellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07943037206984648849noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28839948.post-17448137253654583202013-01-30T13:17:28.479-07:002013-01-30T13:17:28.479-07:00Very interesting, Donnell. It's hard to change...Very interesting, Donnell. It's hard to change our minds to look at something from another angle, but darn if you didn't do that! Congrats on the the book. Love love love the cover. Cynthia D'Albahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15851986671527903732noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28839948.post-37791381830461420942013-01-30T13:13:23.290-07:002013-01-30T13:13:23.290-07:00Must agree with Don. I let my characters write th...Must agree with Don. I let my characters write their stories and never know until late "who did it". Seems to work quite well.Mark W. Danielsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05127689413680147200noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28839948.post-54780024739203420672013-01-30T13:03:38.801-07:002013-01-30T13:03:38.801-07:00I attended Don's week-long Breakout Novel Inte...I attended Don's week-long Breakout Novel Intensive workshop last April in Hood River, Oregon. Whoa. Exhausting and exciting. I went home and started the ms. over -- with an August deadline. Didn't change the killer, but relied heavily on Don's exercises on building your character, especially through adding reversals and contradictions. I highly recommend a workshop with him. Leslie Budewitzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11942314846112875042noreply@blogger.com