A large part of how that sense of urgency is created is through chapter by chapter cliffhangers. Readers will naturally look to the ends of chapters as opportunities to pause on their reading and, as the author, you want to make that as difficult for them as possible. So by having an important or suspenseful event occur at the end of a chapter, you give the reader incentive to keep your book in their hands.

1) The Hook

The hook is the portion at the end of a chapter that hooks you in and makes you want to continue the story. There are many options for the hook, one of which is a peril cut. A peril cut involves putting the protagonist or another important character in great peril, which is revealed right at the end of the chapter. There are many different ways you can put your protagonist in mortal peril from having them get captured and thrown in a van or having them get hit over the head and blackout. These actions put the story in suspense, making the reader need to continue reading to find out if their protagonist will be safe.

The other option is to make the cliffhanger at the end of the chapter more about character-based or emotional suspense. So this would involve revealing crucial character information at the end of a chapter. Perhaps one character finds out another lied to them or one character finds out another is the perpetrator of villainous events in the story. Or maybe we find out a devastating or otherwise emotionally taxing event has occurred at the end of the chapter.

2) The Bait

Equally as important as the hook is to bait your readers with the first few paragraphs of the next chapter. Think about it, when you’re reading and you get to the end of the chapter and read a cliffhanger, what do you do? You flip to the next page, see what the start of the next chapter looks like, and decide if you’re going to keep going or stop reading for the night. And, as an author, your goal is to make sure your readers don’t put your book down.

The easiest way to hook your reader into the next chapter immediately is with a strong opening line and by directly connecting it to the previous chapter. So if your cliffhanger is that a character gets knocked unconscious, the next chapter should begin with them waking up and orienting themselves with their new surroundings. If the cliffhanger is about a character finding out some devastating information about their friend, the next chapter should begin with what they choose to do immediately after finding out that information.

This becomes much trickier in a novel that switches POV’s, time, or settings. In those instances, you need to establish the POV, time, and setting as quickly as possible while also hooking the reader into these new circumstances. It becomes much easier to put a book down when a reader is hooked into one situation and it switches to another. Make it harder for them with a super strong opening paragraph and by creating a sense of urgency and suspense with each POV, scene, and time period about which you’re writing.

3) Practice

One of the best ways to get good at writing cliffhangers is by avidly reading. When reading, start to pay attention to how an author ends each chapter and begins the next. Notice the different circumstances and techniques used and which ones keep you most hooked into the book.

Once you’ve been paying attention to these details in books for a little bit, begin to brainstorm some ways you could employ them in your own manuscript. Since you’ve likely plotted out your book, what would be particularly good spots to include chapter cliffhangers? Mark those spots and attempt to structure your chapters accordingly.

The post How to Write a Chapter Cliffhanger appeared first on Dorrance Publishing Company.

Name:

Hometown: Grove, Oklahoma

Book Title: Stuff In The Cornflakes

Genre: Nonfiction

Dorrance Publishing (DP): Describe your book in 10 words or less.

Stephen Helm (SH): Childhood memories of a loving brother and very abusive parents.

DP: What made you want to write your book?

SH: Time and again the boy wanted to tell someone about the beatings, the terrible conditions, and the sexual abuse by both parents. He was just a kid. He was unable to tell. It was an impossibility for his young mind to deal with. At the age of seven, after his adoption, his mother told him to forget all. He could not and vowed one day to tell the truth. A lie must be wrapped in a nice box with a fancy ribbon. The truth, however, can run naked through the streets.

DP: How long did it take you to write your book?

SH: It took me 6 months to write.

DP: How do you choose the names of your characters?

SH: He was called the “boy” the same way a person would name a dog “dog”.  He simply did not count. “Lonnie” was his brother’s real name. “Leon or old Leon” was his old man’s real name.  “The woman with the long blonde hair,” just could never be called mother on this or any other planet.

DP: What do you do when you have writer’s block?

SH: I sit in our kitchen and talk to my wife. She gives me suggestions.

DP: What was your favorite chapter (or part) to write and why?

SH: Once they asked Mozart (I’m not comparing myself to Mozart), don’t you think your music has too many notes? He said his music had exactly the right amount of notes. Not one more, or not one less.

I think of my book the same way.  I can’t take this or that part out and say it’s perfect. That’s like asking a mother which part of her newborn baby does she like the best…this arm or that one.  I gave birth to the book, I like it all equally.

DP: If you were stuck on an island and had to have one person from each category with you, who would they be and why:

a. One character from your book:

SH: The doctor who treated the boy. For his kindness and courage.

b. One fictional character:

SH: There are no fictional characters in the book.

c. One famous person (living or dead):

SH: Will Rogers. Picturing him in sandals is what I hope Jesus is like. Someone else already said that.

DP: Besides writing, what are your other interests?

SH: Spending time with my eight grandchildren. And working on another book, “Shoot East Of The Smoke”.

DP: Do you keep a journal?

SH: No, but everyone should.

DP: How did you celebrate the publishing of your book?

SH: I hugged my wife.

DP: If your book was made into a movie, who would play the main characters?

SH: Very hard for me, for the two kids.  Don’t know very many young child actors. For “old Leon” I would suggest the head guard in the “Shawshank” movie. For the “woman with the long blonde hair,” I would suggest Ann Chapman. Would have little in the way of dialog. I hope she would not have an accent. She would really need to be a serious dramatic actress.

To play the doctor, I would suggest Sam Waterston, the star of “Killing Fields”. The boy who would play Lonnie would need to have Native American features with jet black hair and be muscular. The “boy” would need to be skinny and have platinum blonde hair. For the junk dealer: Graham Green. The grandmother would be played by a Native American woman in her sixties.

Her husband, “Burt” would be played by Bob Balaban. Semi coherent, but when lucid fun to be around. The “boy” loved him. The “Angel in the Sun” would be played by an attractive, slender Cherokee woman with jet black hair, which is styled like the late 30’s or 40’s. She wants to hide from everyone the fact that she is Indian. She would not want to openly discuss her relatives or her heritage. The slightest embarrassment to her becomes monumental. Appearance to her is everything.

DP: What did you enjoy most about working with Dorrance Publishing?

SH: Dorrance contained the most honest and direct people. Absolutely professional. Really enjoyed working with them.

DP: Five favorite books of all time?

SH: Any by James A. Michener. The favorites would be “Alaska”, followed by “Hawaii”, “The Source”, “The Covenant”, and then “Texas”.

DP: One sentence of advice for other writers:

SH: Never ever give anyone advice, even if they ask for it. That’s a load too heavy to bear. Try to appear to be the last person anyone would want advice from.

Are you ready to publish your book? Contact us today!

The post Author Spotlight: Steven Ralph Helm appeared first on Dorrance Publishing Company.

Name:

Hometown: Shamokin, PA

Book Title: Detective Davis and the Swamp Bandits

Genre: Mystery/Adventure

Dorrance Publishing (DP): Describe your book in 10 words or less.

Timothy Horne (TH): It’s about a group of detectives who solve a robbery.

DP: What made you want to write your book?

TH: I had written poems in the past and thought it would be exciting to write a book.

DP: How long did it take you to write your book?

TH: It took me about 8 months.

DP: How do you choose the names of your characters?

TH: All of my characters’ names are random.

DP: What do you do when you have writer’s block?   

TH: I think about different ways the chapter can end.

DP: What was your favorite chapter (or part) to write and why?

TH: I think the last chapter was my favorite part of the book because it really brought the story together.

DP: If you were stuck on an island and had to have one person from each category with you, who would they be and why:

a. One character from your book:

TH: I think I would choose Detective Davis because he is the main character.

b. One fictional character:

TH: I would pick Gibbs from NCIS.

c. One famous person (living or dead):

TH: I would choose Jesus.

DP: Besides writing, what are your other interests?

TH: I also collect coins.

DP: Do you keep a journal?

TH: No, I don’t keep a journal.

DP: How did you celebrate the publishing of your book?

TH: I celebrated with my family.

DP: If your book was made into a movie, who would play the main characters?

TH: I think Will Estes would be a good fit for Detective Davis.

DP: What did you enjoy most about working with Dorrance Publishing?

TH: I enjoyed getting to see my book develop.

DP: Five favorite books of all time?

TH: 1) The Bible 2) The 39 Clues 3) The Chronicles of Narnia 4) Mere Christianity 5) The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe

DP: One sentence of advice for other writers:

TH: Never give up on your ideas if they don’t seem to be coming together right now.

Are you ready to publish your book? Contact us today!

The post Author Spotlight: Timothy Horne appeared first on Dorrance Publishing Company.

Name:

Hometown: St. Louis, Missouri

Book Title: A Dog Named Chilli: My New Home

Genre: Children’s/Fiction

Dorrance Publishing (DP): Describe your book in 10 words or less.

Mark Chartrand (MC): Life lessons wrapped up in adventure for young readers.

DP: What made you want to write your book?

MC: My dog Chilli was the reason I wrote the book. It’s a fictional story of course but, at the time I adopted him from the APA of St. Louis I was dealing with a lot of issues in my life due to some poor choices I made. The outcome of those choices landed me in prison taking me away from everyone I loved, including my dog Chilli. I had plenty of time to think about my mistakes. During that time, I thought about Chilli’s life and what he endured before he was rescued, and I brought him home. I guess you could say we rescued each other.

DP: How long did it take you to write your book?

MC: I wrote “A Dog Named Chilli: My New Home” in six weeks. The story came to me as I loosely based the characters Chilli encounters on situations I found myself in at different stages of my life. The most important lesson I want young readers to take away from the book is to make good choices in life. Learn how to work with others who are different from you. Try not to judge someone before you get to know them. Be confident and believe in yourself. Stand up for your friends to bullies. Be sure to think things through before you make a decision, as those decisions could dictate the kind of life you will lead.

DP: How do you choose the names of your characters?

MC: I chose the names of my characters for this book after family, friends, characters from my favorite T.V. shows and movies as well as pets I had growing up.

DP: What do you do when you have writer’s block?   

MC: When I get writer’s block, I write in my journal. I write about my day. I find that when I do this and distract my mind from the story it helps me get past my block.

DP: What was your favorite chapter (or part) to write and why?

MC: Chapter four in the book is my favorite. It’s one of the first lessons that Chilli figures out when it comes to judging people. Chilli’s first impression of Gary’s character is that he’s a mean, grumpy old man. By the time the readers get to this part of the book with Chilli, they see that Gary isn’t a mean person. He’s just sad as he is dealing with the recent loss of a loved one. Chilli see’s the sadness in Gary’s eyes and realizes that he passed judgment on Gary before he got to know him. The line in this part of the story where Chilli talks about Gary’s laughter and how it makes you feel good to be in its presence is definitely one of my prouder moments as a writer.

DP: If you were stuck on an island and had to have one person from each category with you, who would they be and why:

a. One character from your book:

MC: The Character from my book that I would want to be stuck on an island with is Chilli. The reason why is simple: he is truly my best buddy and we would have a lot of fun!

b. One fictional character:

MC: The fictional character that I would want to be stuck on an island with would be Mickey Haller from the Michael Connelly Novel “The Lincoln Lawyer”. The reason why is, given some of my life experience, Mickey Haller being the type of Lawyer he portrays in Connelly’s novels would lead to some great conversations about the moral dilemmas of determining what is right and wrong in the eyes of the law. Then having to defend that position.

c. One famous person (living or dead):

MC: The famous person I would want to be stuck on an island with would be Paul Newman. The reason why is his character portrayals in the movies “Color of Money” and “Nobody’s Fool” reminds me of a combination of both my Grandfathers. For different reasons, but they were both important to me in my life. I miss them both very much.

DP: Besides writing, what are your other interests?

MC: Other than writing, I love St. Louis Cardinal Baseball. One of the books I wrote that will be out soon titled “Out of Play” is based on the St. Louis Cardinals and Chicago Cubs rivalry. Even though he is a grown man, I love hanging out and doing things with my son Cohl. I really enjoy going to concerts or live music performances. One of my greatest memories of a live performance was seeing B.B. King on Beale Street in Memphis. I’m an avid moviegoer. I enjoy working out, camping, float trips, anything that has to do with the ocean, and of course going on rides with my best buddy, my dog Chilli!

DP: Do you keep a journal?

MC: I do keep a journal. I do that to help keep my story ideas for upcoming projects in order. I also use it for the current books I am working on when an idea for a storyline pops into my head.

DP: How did you celebrate the publishing of your book?

MC: I made a pizza and read my book reliving the story I created about Chilli and all his friends. Then I called my mom and all those who stood by me as I’ve been on this journey at this stage of my life to get their thoughts on the final product. I sensed a little bias, but they all said they loved it!

DP: If your book was made into a movie, who would play the main characters?

MC: If this book were made into a movie, I would like to see Ryan Reynolds play Chilli. Charlie Day play Hercules, Kevin Hart to play Lucky, Zac Efron to play Thomas, Christian Bale would play Higgins, Hugh Grant would play Elton, Joe Pesche and Robert Deniro to play the Farillo Brothers, Samuel L. Jackson would play Razor, Bradley Cooper would play Carl, Charlie Sheen would play Bandit, Vince Vaughn would play Harry, and Charlize Theron would play Rose… I’d be lying if I hadn’t given this some thought (wink, wink Hollywood)! I think this group of talented actors would make a great movie!

DP: What did you enjoy most about working with Dorrance Publishing?

MC: What I enjoyed the most about my working with Dorrance Publishing was the encouragement I got from the beginning when I submitted my manuscript. Barb Ennis and Sandi Kruse were instrumental in helping bring this story to life. I’m very grateful for all their help and feedback during this process.

DP: Five favorite books of all time?

MC: My five favorite books of all time are:

1) ” Empire Falls ” by Richard Russo

2) ” The Life We Bury ” by Allen Eskens

3) ” Paper Boats ” by Thao Lam

4) ” The Stand ” by Stephen King

5) Anything written by Author’s Michael Connelly, and David Baldacci

DP: One sentence of advice for other writers:

MC: The advice I would give to any writer would be “Don’t take yourself too seriously we all have a story or stories to tell, so just write about them!”

Are you ready to publish your book? Contact us today!

A Dog Named Chilli: My New Home

The post Author Spotlight: Mark Chartrand appeared first on Dorrance Publishing Company.

Name:

Hometown: Portmore, St Catherine, Jamaica.

Book Title: True Reflections

Genre: Spiritual

Dorrance Publishing (DP): Describe your book in 10 words or less.

Latoya Harris (LH): It is engaging, it’s realistic, and relatable. It is an enthralling compilation of God’s goodness.

DP: What made you want to write your book?

LH: I was faced with multiple afflictions and the inspirations kept coming. I normally write my thoughts and people also encouraged me to write.

DP: How long did it take you to write your book?

LH: It took approximately 3 hours on and off.

DP: How do you choose the names of your characters?

LH: I wrote about real-life events with real characters.

DP: What do you do when you have writer’s block?   

LH: I normally just take a break from writing.

DP: What was your favorite chapter (or part) to write and why?

LH: My favourite chapter is “Learning to Love”. It is my favourite chapter because I had to revisit my past and I also spoke about my mother. I’m her only child and we had problems expressing our love. Sometimes in life, you will have to revisit your past to pave the road for the future.

DP: If you were stuck on an island and had to have one person from each category with you, who would they be and why:

a. One character from your book:

LH: Joan Campbell.

b. One fictional character:

LH: No fictional character.

c. One famous person (living or dead):

LH: None.

DP: Besides writing, what are your other interests?

LH: Well, I am a Registered Nurse. I love my work because I love to see people being restored to health. I love to sing even though I am not gifted to sing. I do very well at encouraging people and also enjoy cooking a lovely meal.

DP: Do you keep a journal?

LH: Yes.

DP: How did you celebrate the publishing of your book?

LH: At first, I was in a place of denial. I had problems with English Language and now I am a published author. It is like I am still dreaming. I am now waking up out of the dream. Everyone is happy for me and helping me to see and believe it’s a great accomplishment. December 13^th is my birthday and I celebrated by hosting a birthday party and book launch on December 14^th, 2019. In Jamaica, my story has been placed in the Newspaper and the Caribbean News as well. It is all over the world via Facebook. It is a great feeling, but I am humbled.

DP: If your book was made into a movie, who would play the main characters?

LH: I would be one of the main characters because of the title: True Reflections. These are my reflections. In addition, my mother: Joan Campbell.

DP: What did you enjoy most about working with Dorrance Publishing?

LH: The employees of the company are easy to talk with.

DP: Five favorite books of all time?

LH:

1. Rules of Engagement by Dr. Cindy Trimm

2. Woman Thou Art Loosed by T.D Jakes

3. The Lady, Her Lover, And Her Lord by T.D Jakes

4. Crushing by T.D Jakes

5. Woman by Myles Munroe

DP: One sentence of advice for other writers:

LH: We should remember that people will always remember what we say, so we should remain positive.

Are you ready to publish your book? Contact us today!

The post Author Spotlight: Latoya Harris appeared first on Dorrance Publishing Company.

Name:

Hometown: Wetumka, OK

Book Title: Darkness

Genre: Fantasy

Dorrance Publishing (DP): Describe your book in 10 words or less.

Crystal Nix (CN): Darkness is a vampire story where Lauren is trying to find love.

DP: What made you want to write your book?

CN: I have always loved writing since I was young. I wrote poetry for a while.

DP: How long did it take you to write your book?

CN: It took about six months.

DP: How do you choose the names of your characters?

CN: They just come to me when I am working on the story.

DP: What do you do when you have writer’s block? 

CN: I work on other stories or works I have or I just start typing anything that comes to mind and go from there.

DP: What was your favorite chapter (or part) to write and why?

CN: The ending, I am a sucker for happy endings.

DP: If you were stuck on an island and had to have one person from each category with you, who would they be and why:

a. One character from your book:

CN: Magdalene, being a witch may be handy.

b. One fictional character:

CN: Acheron from Sherrilyn Kenyon books, then we wouldn’t have to be stuck…haha!

c. One famous person (living or dead):

CN: Ian Somerhalder, he just seems so down to earth. It might be an interesting adventure.

DP: Besides writing, what are your other interests?

CN: I love spending time with family and friends or working with my dogs.

DP: Do you keep a journal?

CN: Yes, I have always journaled.

DP: How did you celebrate the publishing of your book?

CN: Pizza dinner with family.

DP: If your book was made into a movie, who would play the main characters?

CN: Not really sure, I’d just hope that they could be good actors with characteristics similar to descriptions of characters.

DP: What did you enjoy most about working with Dorrance Publishing?

CN: The publishers were very forthcoming so I knew what to expect.

DP: Five favorite books of all time?

CN: This is a hard question as I love to read. I love Nora Roberts, especially the series about the Quinn brothers. I am also a huge Sherrilyn Kenyon fan and love all the Dark Hunter novels.

DP: One sentence of advice for other writers:

CN: Never give up!

Are you ready to publish your book? Contact us today!

The post Author Spotlight: Crystal Nix appeared first on Dorrance Publishing Company.

Hometown: Phoenixville, PA

Book Title: In and Out of Uniform

Genre: Memoir

Dorrance Publishing (DP): Describe your book in 10 words or less.

Lisa Kirk (LK): Inspiring, healing, hopeful, recourse, courageous, liberating, must-read, heart-wrenching.

DP: What made you want to write your book?

LK: I have been through so much in my military career and I wanted to inspire those who had faced the same challenges that I had faced in the book.

DP: How long did it take you to write your book?

LK: It took me about a year to write my book.

DP: How do you choose the names of your characters?

LK: The names of the characters are protected as I didn’t want to give out their actual names based off the story in the book. My family is easy to figure out, but in the military, those who know me will probably know who those individuals are.

DP: What do you do when you have writer’s block?   

LK: I love to listen to spa music or classical music when I get the writer’s block.

DP: What was your favorite chapter (or part) to write and why?

LK: My favorite chapter would have to be Chapter 5: Opportunities. I have accomplished a lot in my career and it is a positive chapter for the readers.

DP: If you were stuck on an island and had to have one person from each category with you, who would they be and why:

a. One character from your book:

LK: My mommy because she is the best.

b. One fictional character:

LK: John Wick because he is a protector.

c. One famous person (living or dead):

LK: Janis Joplin because we would serenade the island with amazing music.

DP: Besides writing, what are your other interests?

LK: I love playing guitar, playing hand pan, and working out. I’m also an artist who loves to do sip-n-paints and giving paintings to others.

DP: Do you keep a journal?

LK: I don’t keep a journal. Cognitive Process Thinking is a form of therapy that I went through in the military that helped me write my trauma out and process it in a certain amount of time. I used these stories in my book to help others.

DP: How did you celebrate the publishing of your book?

LK: I haven’t celebrated my book because I am humble. I seriously want to inspire and keep praying this book will continue to touch and heal those who have dealt with the same similarities that I had.

DP: If your book was made into a movie, who would play the main characters?

LK: I would love to play myself in the movie, but if I cannot be the main character then I would like Regina Davis. I cannot think of any other characters at this time because it would simply be an honor for my book to become a movie.

DP: What did you enjoy most about working with Dorrance Publishing?

LK: Dorrance kept me well-informed throughout the whole process.

DP: Five favorite books of all time?

LK: I am not an avid reader since I am a busy woman.

DP: One sentence of advice for other writers:

LK: Be honest, be strong, and believe.

Are you ready to publish your book? Contact us today!

The post Author Spotlight: Lisa Kirk appeared first on Dorrance Publishing Company.

Name:

Hometown: Aubrey (Dallas) Texas

Book Title: The Alaska Chronicles

Genre: Nonfiction/Adventure

Dorrance Publishing (DP): Describe your book in 10 words or less.

Keith A. Nelson (KAN): A young man just out of High School travels to Alaska.

DP: What made you want to write your book?

KAN: I thought that it would be a good idea to write all of this down while I still remembered the details.

DP: How long did it take you to write your book?

KAN: It was intermittent….a chapter at a time over about 18 months.

DP: How do you choose the names of your characters?

KAN: This book used mostly real names of the characters. In other writing, I look at things such as age, region, personality, demographics, etc.

DP: What do you do when you have writer’s block?   

KAN: I try to think through it….tweaking the plot if necessary so there is a better flow. However, before I write I usually have put it together in my mind.

DP: What was your favorite chapter (or part) to write and why?

KAN: I like writing epilogues. It can be used to explain things and give a different time perspective to what has happened in the story.

DP: If you were stuck on an island and had to have one person from each category with you, who would they be and why:

a. One character from your book:

KAN: The hitchhiker George Heath. I’d love to talk to him after all these years.

b. One fictional character:

KAN: Mr. Spock in Star Trek (you said fictional).

c. One famous person (living or dead):

KAN: Elon Musk…what a bright guy. I’d love to pick his brain.

DP: Besides writing, what are your other interests?

KAN: Reading (obviously), current events, target shooting, photography, collecting various things.

DP: Do you keep a journal?

KAN: No…but I should have. I’ve always relied on my memory, which was excellent in my youth but not so much these days.

DP: How did you celebrate the publishing of your book?

KAN: I’ll wait until I get encouraging information on sales before I celebrate….but even then I’m pretty stoic.

DP: If your book was made into a movie, who would play the main characters?

KAN: A casting guy I am not, and I don’t know too many young actors now. I would hope they were realistic and appropriate for the parts.

DP: What did you enjoy most about working with Dorrance Publishing?

KAN: They were very patient with me. I am a bit particular about my writing and they rolled with it and didn’t complain.

DP: Five favorite books of all time?

KAN: This is a tough one…so many books, but I will list 5 that had an influence on me.

Catcher in the Rye – J.D. Salinger

When the Lion Feeds – Wilbur Smith

The Old Man and the Sea – Hemmingway

The Gods Themselves – Isaac Asimov

The Green Berets – Robin Moore (Robin became a friend of mine)

DP: One sentence of advice for other writers:

KAN: Keep working your craft and don’t get discouraged by rejection.

Are you ready to publish your book? Contact us today!

The post Author Spotlight: Keith A. Nelson appeared first on Dorrance Publishing Company.

Name:

Book Title: Murder Behind the Badge

Genre: Crime/Mystery

Dorrance Publishing (DP): Describe your book in 10 words or less.

Dorothy J. Moore (DJM): Suspense, Mysterious and Thrilling.

DP: What made you want to write your book?

DJM: My book is fiction and I wanted to write it because of my imagination.

DP: How long did it take you to write your book?

DJM: I started this book a long time ago. For a while I put it away, but then I decided it was time to finish.

DP: How do you choose the names of your characters?

DJM: All the names of my characters just came to me from my head.

DP: What do you do when you have writer’s block?

DJM: This is my first book, I haven’t reached that point yet.

DP: What was your favorite chapter (or part) to write and why?

DJM: The last chapter, Chapter Forty Two. It seemed that everything was coming together for Lieut. Bradford. At the end, he found love and peace.

DP: If you were stuck on an island and had to have one person from each category with you, who would they be and why:

a. One character from your book:

DJM: Captain George Marsh. He was a family man and romantic.

b. One fictional character:

DJM: I always liked leprechauns.

c. One famous person (living or dead):

DJM: Paul Newman, he was always my favorite actor.

DP: Besides writing, what are your other interests?

DJM: I like to travel and I also like walking.

DP: Do you keep a journal?

DJM: No.

DP: How did you celebrate the publishing of your book?

DJM: I don’t think I’ve really done that yet.

DP: If your book was made into a movie, who would play the main characters?

DJM: Commissioner Maxwell (Tommy Lee Jones), Lieut. Bradford (Harrison ford), Captain George Marsh (Robert Duvall).

DP: What did you enjoy most about working with Dorrance Publishing?

DJM: Working with Dorrance I learned a lot about writing a book because in the beginning I knew nothing. I enjoyed talking to each person from different departments that walked me through the process step by step.

DP: Five favorite books of all time?

DJM: The Other Side Of Midnight (Sidney Sheldon), The Stone Diaries (Carol Shields), The Pelican Brief (John Grisham), Little Women (Louisa Mae Alcott), A Thousand Summers (Garson Kann).

DP: One sentence of advice for other writers:

DJM: Keep writing, don’t stop!

Are you ready to publish your book? Contact us today!

The post Author Spotlight: Dorothy J. Moore appeared first on Dorrance Publishing Company.

Name:

Hometown: Shoshoni, WY

Book Title: Dragons, Cowboys, and Other Mythical Creatures

Genre: Poetry/Fantasy

Dorrance Publishing (DP): Describe your book in 10 words or less.

Linda Crichton (LC): My book is adventures in poem form.

DP: What made you want to write your book?

LC: My husband encouraged me to put my poems in a book. And I have loved writing poetry since I was in high school.

DP: How long did it take you to write your book?

LC: It took about one year.

DP: How do you choose the names of your characters?

LC: I try to imagine the character and then a name comes to me.

DP: What do you do when you have writer’s block?

LC: I take a walk and relax.

DP: What was your favorite chapter (or part) to write and why?

LC: I enjoyed writing all of my poems and some have special twists at the end like shadows about a cowboy and the duel about two young men in love with the same girl. And gone fishin is about a little boy Trent and his family and going no where is about a girl getting on the train in tears. I loved writing them all and hope people will enjoy my book as much as I loved writing it.

DP: If you were stuck on an island and had to have one person from each category with you, who would they be and why:

a. One character from your book:

LC: God because he can get me off the island. He knows everything and it would be exciting to talk with him and be with him.

b. One fictional character:

LC: Jack sparrow because he got off the island before and can do it again.

c. One famous person (living or dead):

LC: Albert Einstein because he can figure a way off the island and would be very interesting to talk with.

DP: Besides writing, what are your other interests?

LC: I love my family and church. I love the outdoors camping and hiking. I like to crochet and make things for my grandkids. I like to read. I like animals, horses and cats dogs, llamas, etc.

DP: Do you keep a journal?

LC: Yes, I do.

DP: How did you celebrate the publishing of your book?

LC: My husband and I and some family all went out to eat supper. Everyone was very excited for me. I could barely eat I was so excited.

DP: If your book was made into a movie, who would play the main characters?

LC: I have so many characters in my book of poems .it would depend on which poem it is.

DP: What did you enjoy most about working with Dorrance Publishing?

LC: They encouraged me and answered my questions. They are wonderful people to work with and made my dream come true.

DP: Five favorite books of all time?

LC: The Bible, The Book of Mormon, Socrates, Clive Cussler Pirate, Anne McCaffery’s Dragonriders.

DP: One sentence of advice for other writers:

Love what you do and the subject and keep writing your dreams.

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