Catching my breath and catching up

How could I forget the Southern New Mexico Book Festival in Las Cruces? But apparently I did! It was two weeks after the New Mexico History Conference, also in Las Cruces. That was fascinating and I hope to present on the Couriers there next year. It's scheduled for Cimarron, I think. It was announced at the conference, but isn't online yet. Mike has been begging to stay at the St. James hotel there, so it's on our calendar. 

On October 10, I headed back down the 25, this time with Mike and the doglette, for the Book Festival with the intention of going to White Sands afterward but ... need I say it? It was closed. So, we popped over to Old Mesilla, where I had gone two weeks earlier, for shopping and lunch. Thankfully, the Festival hotel was the TownPlace Suites, which have a kitchenette with apartment-sized fridge, stove, and dishwasher (so cute!), sitting area, table and chairs, and bedroom. So, we weren't on top of each other in a tiny motel room for two days. I spent most of Saturday at the book festival -- sold the standard five copies (why five?) and picked up my New Mexico Book Award stickers. I passed the time putting the stickers on the books, along with the CIPA EVVY stickers that my publisher got to me a few days before.   

Three weeks later, we actually had a weekend away that did not include a book signing! A couple of nights at the dog-friendly Charles Hot Springs and Resort (aka the Charles Motel and Spa aka Charles Motel and Hot Springs) in Truth or Consequences (nee Hot Springs) -- my third trip down the 25 in 6 weeks. We slipped back in time in the ever so funkadelic "Mid-Century Mystic" that, far from reminding us of our grandma's house reminded us of our first apartments. I may not have crocheted that granny square afghan and pillow, but it would be hard to prove. The room rate (extremely reasonable!) includes "all you can soak" in the restored 1940s bathhouse's private tiled tubs. It's now got me wondering what was there in 1929 and whether I can find a way to get Prudence down there ... 

The irony was that we went down on October 31 in order to avoid all of the noise and commotion of Halloween, only to find that the Charles was hosting its own Halloween party. 😄 We arrived to find the street in front of the motel blocked off for a community parade but, thanks to the GPS were able to access it via the back way. The parade started at the hotel parking lot, and Treme so wanted to join it! I think she heard the word "treat." 😄 The festivities did shut down by ten o'clock. The next day was Mike's birthday and he spent it in and out of the thermal baths. We had cake and sparkling wine and ordered in a pizza. That's what old people call a "bash." 😃

Then it was back home for four days, enough time to do laundry and pick up the mail, then back on the road to Las Vegas via Santa Fe. Friday night was spent at the Santa Fe Motel & Inn, our "go-to" in Santa Fe. Check in, quick change, and up to the New Mexico History Museum for a book signing in conjunction with the Fred Harvey History Weekend. Somewhat sparsely attended, as there were other activities going on at the same time, but five people bought the book, and I signed the ones remaining in the bookstore -- and put the awards stickers on them -- so with luck, they'll go, as well. 

We placed a take out order with Jambo Cafe, I drove the couple of miles down Cerrillos to pick it up -- and had left my wallet at the hotel! Back to the hotel, back to the Cafe, back to the hotel, and finally, dinner!

Saturday was a relaxing drive to Las Vegas, taking the Old Las Vegas Highway (aka Route 66) as far as it goes. We arrived far too early, so went to lunch and wandered around the Plaza. Finally, checked into the Woody Harrelson Suite at the Plaza Hotel (we had booked the Tommy Lee Jones, but there was a "housekeeping issue") and were entranced. I just love historical stuff! Treme gave it her imprimatur, as well. 

We just hung out for the rest of the day, then ordered take out from the new restaurant in the hotel. I won't go into detail, but ... not recommended. The next morning, we went down to breakfast separately -- again, not recommended. Next time we go, we'll go prepared. I dog sat while Mike did a turn through the antique store in the Plaza. Lunched on leftovers from the day before, then drove the 10 minutes to Coffee, Tea, & Empathy.

They had put on quite a spread of luscious little pastries and tangy fruit punch. I sold NINE books, and got to catch up with a few Harvey history friends. I wish more people had attended but, again, there were other Harvey activities scheduled for the same time -- but I absolutely cannot complain! Then picked up burgers at Burger King for dinner and back to the Plaza. 

Home again this past Monday, with nothing on the calendar until this coming Saturday -- another presentation at Wheels Museum. Then a longish break until January 9 or 10. The Magdalena Public Library has invited me -- yes, they contacted my publisher! -- to give an author talk that weekend! My fame is spreading!! And I'm on the calendar of the Rio Rancho Public Library on January 31. As I said, promoting books is a full-time job!

Where am I in regard to volumes 2 and 3? Volume 2 -- French Toast a la Santa Fe -- is with the publisher with a release date of Fall 2026. Volume 3 -- Cold Vichyssoise Cream -- is at 50,000 words and getting close to the end. In the meantime, subscribe to my Substack, Amuse-Bouche, for a monthly 

savory little morsel, mostly set in the world of the Couriers Series.  This month's is set 18 years after Liz and Gene get married. Yes, there are spoilers. 

Author reading and signing in Las Vegas

 

If anyone happens to be in Las Vegas, drop on by! Books will be for sale, but if you've already bought one, bring it and I'll sign it AND give you the stickers. Coffee, tea, and pastries will also be for sale.

The Rawlins Building is across from the Castaneda. It was the Harvey Girl dormitory in the early years. 

Point of view

 Shifting back to writing about writing -- a topic on my mind this week is "point of view" aka POV. Many authors (and readers) are familiar with first person POV, which presents the story through the mind of one of the characters -- sometimes the protagonist, sometimes a third party who is observing the protagonist (think "Great Gatsby) -- and with third person POV, which is the author basically telling the story. 

However, there are more than just two POVs possible. There is second person, in which the narrator speaks to you. This is not commonly used in novels (but it is used in blog posts 😉) because of the difficulty of keeping it up for 100,000 words, but it is used occasionally in short stories and especially in "Choose Your Own" adventure type works. 

More commonly, though, is third-person limited and third person omniscient. Third-person limited is the one you probably thought of when you read "third-person." That's where the author is speaking in third person -- he, she, they, them, it -- but from the perspective of a single character. We know what that character is thinking and feeling and seeing. The perspective may change within the novel, but when it does, it is still from that of a single character, just a different one. It is always signaled by some kind of break, either a section break (###) or a chapter break or some other kind of break that I can't think of but undoubtedly exists. You don't change perspective within a single scene. 

Third-person omniscient is where the author/narrator speaks from the perspective of every character. And that isn't the same as "head hopping," where the author sometimes speaks from one character, sometimes from another at more or less random. The author must include every perspective of every character at all times -- which is what makes it difficult to carry off throughout a novel. And the narrator knows more than the characters do; the narrator is God. 😄 Some claim that you can "zoom in and out from limited to omniscient." I won't say that you can't, but you'd better be very skilled at it. Some of the Victorians did it, especially Thomas Hardy. He loved to zoom out and make omniscient proclamations, especially as the novel neared its end. Again, it should be signaled by some kind of break.

I've written several short stories in first-person, one being "Effie's Tale" that won the Mystery Category in last year's SouthWest Writer's short story contest. I'm toying with the idea of writing one from second person and, eventually, one from third-person omniscient. I started one recently, and switched to third-person limited without meaning to. 😄 Old habits die hard! But it was also because there were too many characters -- at least 9, without counting the bit players who had walk-ons. I think for my first foray, I should limit it to at most 4 characters. 

Interview with Write on Four Corners with DelSheree Gladden & Substack

KSJE 90.9 San Juan College Farmington, New Mexico. It runs about 30 minutes. 

Write on Four Corners

And, I've revived my Substack for all those who are wondering who they are going to wait another year for French Toast a la Santa Fe, the next book in the Couriers series. I'll be publishing a short story every month, some in the Couriers world, all from my imagination. You can subscribe at Amuse Bouche. Just click on the Subscribe button, select "No Pledge" and you're in. 

And the New Mexico Book Award for Cozy Mystery!!

 It did -- it really did! It's right here in black and white and green! https://nmwriters.org/nm-book-awards/

What more can I say? I'm still reeling!

Fried Chicken Castañeda was awarded the Bronze Medal

That's right! It took third place in the Mystery/Crime/Detective category at this year's CIPA EVVY awards. Not too shabby for a first novel, eh? And yes, there were more than three entered in the category. 😆 Excelsior!

Marketing books is a full-time job!

The days when authors focused on writing and publishers and agents handled all of the marketing are long past -- if they ever existed. Authors have always attended signings at bookstores, conferences, and other venues. They've always given speeches and workshops and interviews. What's changed is who organizes these appearances. It's now all down to the author. You become your own publicist. 

Every public appearance is marketing, even when you're not selling books. My presentations to the Wheels Museum and to SouthWest Writers were opportunities for promoting my book and, as importantly, myself. I gave my "Adding Authenticity to Your Writing" to SouthWest Writers. I think of it as "Reference Resources for Lay People." 😄 There was a lively discussion afterward and several people stopped me later to tell me how informative it was. I had a great time and didn't have to grade anything! 

At the suggestion of my publisher, I suggested to my critique group -- Write Minds -- back in June that we organize group signings. Those ultimately were all held in August, with the intervening six or so weeks devoted to organizing them. Signings were so much more fun with a group! The time passed more quickly, but more importantly, more people stopped. Our group included one historical fiction (WWII) writer, two sci-fi authors, a historical romance writer, and, of course, one historical cozy mystery writer. We appealed to a much broader group of readers. People who were attracted to one book often politely talked to the rest of us -- and sometimes even bought one of our books as well. I remember someone buying my book for her mother, after having bought one of the others for herself. We agreed that the prime hours were 2-4 on Saturday and Sunday afternoons, so set up around 1:30 to be ready. Not much point in arriving before then.

Our first signing was at Books on the Bosque in Albuquerque -- in the afternoon after my SouthWest Writers presentation (whew!). They are a small, independent bookstore and coffee shop that caters to the literary crowd. They set it up as a reading event, not just a signing. We each took 10 minutes or so to read from our work, then answered questions. Unfortunately, it was sparsely attended. I wonder if we could have done more or better promotion. I suspect that if any of us were better known ... Maybe we need to join a book club or two. 😄

Then, it was back to Page 1 the next weekend and a traditional book signing at tables in front of the store. A week off, and then the two Barnes & Nobles in Albuquerque back-to-back over Labor Day Weekend. I'm exhausted! Nothing more at this point before the Southern New Mexico Book Festival in Las Cruces October 11, when I'll be giving my "Adding Authenticity" presentation again.