How Much to Tell the Reader

A book has an intriguing subplot. It's cool. It's satisfying. It's unique.
So how much do you tell the reader?
When I introduced my Dead Detective Series, I thought it was essential to keep the fact that the main character was dead a secret until the reader got to know her a little. Not so the reviewers, who started with that, thrilled with the idea of dead people investigating crimes in order to provide answers for victims. The book got EPIC's Best Novel of 2012, despite the fact I thought the reviews spoiled the surprise for readers.

I'm about to send my next project into the world, A LETHAL TIME AND PLACE (December). It, too, has surprises, though they have nothing to do with the Afterlife. The lead characters have secrets, and it's obvious from the first they're desperate to protect them. That becomes difficult when they witness a murder and take in a young orphan. Murder will out, as they say, and secrets are hard to keep with a teenager around.

I'm having a little difficulty writing the promo copy. How do I get across how enjoyable the process of finding out about these people is without giving away the very things the reader will want to read the book for? I guess it's a good problem to have--so much mystery in the mystery!

I'm looking for reviewers who'd like a free e-copy, so contact me if you're the reviewing sort and this book sounds like something you'd enjoy.
 www.pegherring.com or find me on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/pages/Pegs-News/108697482481217?ref=hl#

It's football season...let's kill someone!

Hello fellow criminal minds...

I don't have to tell you (or maybe I do?) that it's FOOTBALL season, and as such it may be the perfect backdrop to... MURDER! Hey, think about it... a sport that already involves plenty of violence, competition is paramount, professional and petty jealousy abounds... there's drugs, heavy partying, sex... remember those two athletes that pulled guns on each other in the locker room? Professional sports are fertile ground for revenge or maybe just getting rid of the competition. How about somebody faking an injury in order to spend time with a teammate's or rival's wife or girlfriend? How about a family member that's jealous of a sibling's, cousin's, or even child's success? Oh man, the list goes on and on. Mankind is a flawed ideal, a runaway train loaded with explosives just waiting to hit that schoolbus stalled on the tracks ahead. Our job is to make the trip as exciting, interesting, and enjoyable for our readers as possible! So go ahead, tackle a sports crime and you might just make a GO_O_O_O_OAL!!!

Post NYC Pitch Writers Conference 2010

What can I say except... wow. I participated in the 2010 NYC Pitch & Shop writers conference and I had a great time. I met some very talented people who also happened to be very nice and a lot of fun. It was an eye-opening experience and I learned a lot of things. I actually wished it didn't have to end so soon, even though I have to admit I was exhausted by the time it did end. I learned how to pitch my manuscript, I learned how to write and tighten my pitch, and I learned a little about the publishing industry (such as how subjective it is!). I was lucky because the editors of two publishing houses indicated that they wanted to see more of my manuscript, so wish me luck. I know I'm keeping my fingers crossed! Anyway, like I said, it was a wonderful time and I could feel my atrophying creative muscles come back to life. It was great!

The 2010 NYC Pitch and Shop Conference

I've always wanted to attend a writer's conference, but time and/or finances didn't always permit. This year however, I'm actually going to attend. Now , I've heard that going to a conference is one of the best ways to find an agent, and since I'm still in the market for an agent I figure it's a good investment. This particular conference is set up to allow authors to "pitch" their manuscripts to (not at) actual agents. Even if I don't find an agent at this event, at least someone may remember my face and have a decent word to say about me and/or my work in the near future... Anyway, below is the email I received from the conference and I urge everyone to join me!

NYC PITCH AND SHOP CONFERENCE
Shop The Novel, Pitch the House

Dear Arnold,

Hello and thank you for your application. It is clear you are a serious writer and one capable of writing a manuscript that editors and agents will want to see. Following a review, we have decided to accept you into the upcoming NYC 2010 Pitch-and-Shop Conference.

Pre-conference assignments will follow upon registration. They are designed to help you perfect your pitch and focus on those specific elements the conference Editors want to see and hear you talk about.

At the conference, we will work to help your manuscript find a home at a major publishing house. If a publishing house wants to publish your novel, they will ask that you be represented by an agent; therefore, if necessary, we will assist you in finding suitable representation. We work with several agencies, including ICM, Folio Literary, Dijkstra Agency, AEI, Amster Literary, and others. No fee is involved. However, if your manuscript is not yet ready, the conference will provide you with a firm list of additional prep work you must complete before securing yourself either an Editor or an agent.

Registration can be accomplished at http://nycpitchconference.com/pc-registration.htm

More information will follow in the weeks prior to the conference.

We look forward to working with you.

Please RSVP you received this mail.

Best Wishes,

Michael Neff
Fiction Workshop Editor
NYC Pitch and Shop Conference
http://nycpitchconference.com