Who Do That Voodoo?

A lot’s going on as August winds down. Of course, there’s the usual: school, work, write, walk the dogs. (They’d be very sad if I left them out of my “Important Things To Do” list.) But with September comes a host of new tasks for me to tackle, mostly on the writing front. Several people have asked, “Where can I get one of your books?” Well, you can’t- at least not yet. So, in the meantime, I’ve decided to do a blog novelette, that way people who are interested in reading my stories can get an idea of my writing style. Mondays will still be my normal blog post, but every Thursday in September I’ll post a new chapter in the novelette. Of course, this will be as time permits. I don’t want to detract from Voodoo Dolls, so we’ll see how it goes. 

The other thing people have been asking is why I chose to write about Voodoo (I think the idea creeps them out). Well, there are several reasons. One: everything else YA paranormal has been done to death- no pun intended. Two: I love, love, LOVE Marie Laveau. I think she is the most amazing woman (besides my mom, of course) who ever walked the face of the earth.  Born a free woman of color, she amassed a fortune and a following, and though she wasn’t the first Voodoo Queen of New Orleans, she’s the only one people seem to remember. Three: I love New Orleans. I love everything about it from Bourbon Street and beads to mask and Mardi Gras. The history, the culture, the food, (don’t get me started on the food!) I love it all… including Voodoo.

The practice is dark and mysterious, yes, but also very misunderstood. It’s not all about snakes and skulls and human sacrifice. In fact, it’s not really about that at all. Well, not in New Orleans anyway. I could give you a history lesson on one of the world’s oldest religions, which predates Christianity by over three thousand years, but I’ll refrain. Read my book instead!!! Suffice it to say, New Orleans Voodoo is a mixture of Haitian Voodoo (yeah, the human sacrifice kind) and Catholicism. Yep, that’s right, Peter, Paul, Michael, and all the other saints play a huge role in New Orleans Voodoo. And if J.K. Rowling can incorporate witchery into her Middle Grade turned YA novels, then I don’t see the harm in a little Voodoo magic!

Creak! That’s the sound of me stepping off my soap box. Sigh… sometimes I get short of breath being up there! So, Voodoo it is, because it fascinates me, because it’s fresh, because vampires and werewolves and shape-shifters are so eighth grade.

Now that I’ve gotten all of that out of the way, we can get to the fun stuff! September’s blog contest!!! Ok, so this one is going to be a little different than the last. There are no characters to name, so anyone can enter. Anyone can win. I’ll be giving away a wonderful Café Du Monde gift basket which includes beignet mix, chicory coffee, and a souvenir mug. I’ll have a special blog post Saturday, September 3 with details on how to win! So be sure to check in on that, and, of course, Thursday’s first novelette blog post.

Until then, happy writing,

P.K Dawning.

And The Winner Is...!

Lanette!!! Congratulations! You've won! Drystan Crowley is the newest character in my book-to-be, Voodoo Dolls! To claim your prize, you can message me on Twitter, follow me on Facebook, or find me on AQ.

Thanks again, everyone. All the names were really awesome! I hope y'all had fun, and will continue to follow me on my writing adventure. I promise my September contest is going to be even better!

P.K. Dawning

Name That Character Contest

Okay, so this is the first time I’ve done anything like this, but I’m stuck and thought this could be fun! After my insane writing session last night, I realized I needed another character, but I am so out of good names at this point. So, I’ve decided to hold a Name That Character contest. That’s right; I want you to name my next character! The winner will be decided at random- you know, the old names in the hat gig- and receive a $25 Amazon gift card. Or something of the equivalent. (I’m open to suggestions)
I’m looking for a cool name, something edgy but not too out there. I need first and last, please. I’ll give a brief background of the character, so y’all can come up with some good ones.

So here goes: He’s definitely an antagonist (the bad guy), seventeen, dark, and enigmatic- a senior at Jackson Hill Prep School. He’s kind of grunge, but not emo, and drives a black vintage Camaro. He’s also a clandestine member of the Secte Rouge- an ancient Voodoo sect trying to regain strength in New Orleans. Of course, Shay Abshire will have to defeat him… even if that means death. I can’t say for certain whether or not he lives or dies, but he definitely gets put through the wringer, so to speak. So if you need to vent your wrath on someone, this might be a fun way to do it. I promise I won’t let this scumbag of a character get off easily.

I’ll run this competition until Monday, August 22. The winner will be announced in that week’s blog post. I would like to have at least 20 entries, so it may run longer if necessary. To enter, simply post your suggestion in the comment section of my blog. Facebook won’t work, folks. To be considered for the contest your name must be on here.

Thanks for all the help! Hope y’all have fun with this. I look forward to reading your names. Good luck!

P.K. Dawning

A Slow Jazz Mourning

It’s true, I’ve fallen behind again. Well, as far as the blog is concerned. I’ve actually been moving right along in the book. Sort of. Instead of offering a million excuses as to why I haven’t updated the blog- which, by the way, I do have, and some are even pretty good. I’ll just dive right into what’s going on in the writing department.

In the past week I’ve had two major revelations about writing. The first being: books are a lot like guys. Though inherently the same by nature, they all possess a uniqueness, and some are just not as much fun as others. The second: it’s hard to move forward without a good foundation. That’s the problem with Voodoo Dolls. I can’t move forward without finishing the first chapter. Side note- yes, I’ve written more than the first chapter.

What’s the problem with the first chapter you ask? Well, friends, let me explain. Chapter one opens with a traditional Jazz Funeral, complete with Dixieland Jazz band, mournful drum major, second liners, and curious tourists waiting to join the parade. Enter problem. How the heck do you capture the essence of a city like New Orleans, sum it all up, and put it on a page? You can’t! It’s impossible!

Sure, I can describe the sights and sounds. I can explain the way the hot summer air settles on your skin like a film. I can tell you how the clomping of mule hooves falls into the rhythm of the music. I can even describe the way the scent of magnolia blossoms mingles with the aroma of freshly baked beignets and the stench of stale beer wafting from the gutters. But can you see, smell, taste, and hear it? Can you feel it? Can you be in New Orleans without ever once having stepped foot on the uneven redbrick streets?

Perhaps I’m over thinking this and I should just write it, but I want to do right by a city I love. I want my readers to see there is so much more to New Orleans than beer and Bourbon Street, masks and Mardi Gras. There is so much culture and history. Of course, I know I can’t capture it all. But if I can just capture a glimmer, a glimpse of it… then I would be satisfied.

It won’t always be a slow jazz mourning.

P.K. Dawning

The Journey of a Thousand Words

Being behind the eight ball is never a good thing. Of course, I put myself in this situation, allowing one day to bleed into the next without writing anything substantial on the book. To be fair, June was a very turbulent month for me and even though I wasn’t writing, I was gathering hordes of useful information for the book. But, the time for research is over. I have to write!

Today is a new day, a new month! Today marks the beginning of the end. From here on out, I’m dedicating myself to my story- a thousand words a day, without fail, until it is done!

Fingers crossed!

P.K. Dawning

Truth Be Told

California was meant to be a clean slate, but somehow it has turned into a quicksand nightmare that I can’t seem to pull myself out of. I used to take pride in my ability to think my way through difficult situations, to set my mind to a task and accomplish it. Lately, I can’t seem to do either. And it’s not just hindering my writing, it’s hindering my life. But since this blog is primarily about writing, let’s focus on that, shall we?

When I decided it was time to start work on Voodoo Dolls (yes, I’ve officially released the tittle) I knew I needed a different approach than I took with Phantom Ink. Writing fast and loose was fun, but with every scene so off-the-cuff, I was left with a gigantic editing job. Too gigantic, as it turned out. Lesson learned. So, to avoid the possibility of a major manuscript nip-tuck in the future, I spent a month creating a semi-detailed outline. I broke each chapter down based on main events. Then, I took it a step further, fleshed out characters, strategically placed pivotal plot scenes, and filled in the gaps. When I was finished, I essentially had a complete synopsis. And that’s where progress stopped.

Why, you ask? Good question, one I’ve been kicking around in my head since May. I’ve got a skeletal version of the story just waiting for me to add the flesh, and believe me, I’ve tried… on many occasions. Oh, don’t get me wrong. I’ve written, though, lately I spend more time staring blankly at my computer screen than typing madly on the keyboard. The problem is, when I come to a part that’s not written to my liking I become fixated on it. I run the scene through my head, playing it over and over like a video. I move paragraphs, rearrange sentence structures, change words. Edit. Delete. Undo.

Argh! It’s maddening! Unable to move forward, I eventually just shut down. And I’ve tried everything. From meditation to medication, nothing seems to work. In my last post I said I felt like I’d lost my inspiration. Now I fear I’ve lost so much more than that. I’m afraid I’ve lost faith… in myself.

Not even sure I’m deserving of a pseudonym right now.

P.K. Dawning

The Death of a Writer

So, I’m trying to do better about blogging. A “hot” professor has been on me to build/maintain a better online platform. The truth is, I’ve been kicking ideas around for the past week, but I’ve failed to come up with a single good one- as far as blog topics are concerned- and that made me wonder: is it better to write crap than nothing?

Generally, I’d say no, but lately my stretches of writing nothing have become impossibly long. I suppose I could do a post on writer’s block, but that’s been done to death. Besides, that’s not my problem. I’m heartsick and homesick, and my writing is paying the price. I feel completely dead inside. My passion for the story hasn’t died, but something has. And it’s been dying slowly, day by day, since the moment I first unpacked my bags here. If I can, for a moment, steal a bit of melodrama from the Master of the Macabre himself. California will be the death of me- one way or the other. I truly believe that. Maybe not a physical death, but a spiritual one. If I can leave California without being completely jaded, it will be no small miracle.

And if I can finish the WIP without being institutionalized, I will confess, convert, and join a nunnery. I think I’d look pretty darn good in a habit. All jokes aside, I’d love to just lock myself away and write until my fingers bleed. Unfortunately, life will not allow it. Though, I’m certain it will… someday. Until then I suppose I will keep inching along, fingers crossed, silently praying for a change. For now, I’ll settle for writing crap. Anything’s better than nothing, right? Besides, it worked for a certain -ekhem!- vampire novelist.

Here’s hoping the next post is better.

P.K. Dawning.