Minnette Meador writes the Starsight and Centurion books, among others, and is a really fun author, as well as a member of the gather community, and a fellow inhabitant of Portland Oregon. She invited me to join textnovel.com to read her new thriller, the Bell Stalker, so hot off the press it’s not even written yet. I’m certainly enjoying the experience.
But you have to be a member to read, and the first thing they asked when I joined was did I want to join their competition too. They said their stories have to start with a synopsis, and I thought it might be good practice. But I couldn’t think of anything to write so, with kind permission of Pat Bertram and Second Wind Publishing, I’ve reused my entry from Pat’s More Deaths than One contest, and am now trying to turn it into a novel.
If you’ve not read More Deaths than One you really should. It has the most amazing premise—a man finding an obituary for his mother when she can’t possibly just have died. In Pat’s novel, the man’s mother died twenty years ago, and again, apparently, in the present. In mine she’s still very much alive and trying hard to marry him off.
My novel’s listed under romantic mysteries and it’s called Obituaries. You can find it by typing “Obituaries” into the textnovel search bar under story name (or type “Sheila Deeth” under pen name), but you have to sign up for an account if you want to read it. Type “the Bell Stalker” or “Minnette Meador” to find Minnette’s novel, and if you like what you see please click on the thumbs to give us points. (Clicking on the cell-phone makes them send email notifications for new chapters, but it probably does lots more interesting stuff if you’re less technologically challenged than me.)
Meanwhile, if you’re looking for a nice safe place to type your own novel, password protected to keep your copyright safe (at least I think that’s what it does), with the added advantage of space for character and plot notes, and the incentive to post as many bits as you can to fulfill the challenge, textnovel seems like a fun site. Of course, I’ve only been there two days. And formatting’s even harder to get right there than on gather. But I’m really enjoying the writing and hope you might enjoy reading it too. Hope to see you there!
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Comments: 19
I bet you will do very well Sheila, I know you write so well, I wish I had time , or more time, to spend doing what I was enjoying so much, but so much has happened in my life in the past few months, it is like I am starting all over again. I had better get busy, I think this might be just what I would like to do, a bit at a time, but don't seem to have the push lately, writing really small things when I get a minute or two, and it shows, take care, love, Elsie
Thanks for this information. I never heard of it. And I had not heard of Second Wind Publishing either. It is very exciting to know there are places to go to read what people have written with publishing in mind. And I will go back to read the other stories.
thanks for the info, I'll go check em out
Perhaps if I ever really retire....
I look forward to hearing your progress.
Sounds great Sheila, you're the second one to mention textnovel.com recently. I'll have to check it out. Best of luck with writing the novel. I know your writing is very good, I'm sure that it will be a joy to read.
It sounds a fun way, Sheila ... but I've already got far more on my plate than I can handle. But best of luck!
Sounds interesting, I might check the site out later today.
I appreciate this information and like John Beck am waiting for time.
hurt heart
Sounds like a great site. I'll have to check it out, thanks for the info! "More Deaths than One" sounds quite fascinating, too!
I will check out the site to see what it's like.
It may be just the place to get my numerous works in progress out there. And, to edit them some time. It may come in handy later, also.
Who knows what could happen.
Anywho, Sheila, I wished to inform you about a little rule I have about my group, Anythingwriting , whenever you have a post that is nonfiction, not short stories, novels, poems, drabbles, or the like, then you must have the tag, "Journal entry." Otherwise, I can not accept the post into my group. Please place the tag, "Journal entry" on this and resubmit it to my group again. Thanks for listening.
Sorry; I knew and I forgot. Will fix it. And thanks.
Thanks hon for the tag.
And, thanks for posting to my group, Anythingwriting
Thanks for the input Sheila. I will have a look.
Thank you Sheila. I'll check it out when I can find a little time.
Thank you Sheila, As soon as time allows, I will try to get there. thanks for also lettingme know who Pat Butram is. I have had many PM's in my inbox on gather, but not knowing who he was I deleted. Now I will know to try to find time to read.
You certainly have the creative talent and good compositional style, but there is of course great and tremendous fear you will spell a word wrongly. There's no letter u in color. Trust yourself and have fun, not expectations. I believe you do earnestly care about your writing. The quality easily shines through.
You forgot to mention that there is a Dorchester contract in the future for the best romance book in November and $1000 contest for one person who can complete 20 chapters by July 31st (no particular genre, I don't think). ~LOL~ Shiela's story is MARVELOUS so make sure to get over and read it. www.textnovel.com - You have to register, but it's a great place for a lot of free reads. Thanks for the mention, Shiels ~grin~