Author: Andi Marquette

Andi Marquette once wanted to be a seafaring pirate. But she realized that could be a problem, growing up in the Rocky Mountain West and Southwest. So she became an editor, anthropologist, and historian instead. But that, too, didn't satisfy her weird cravings for stories and strange realms. Now, she's a writer ensconced in Colorado and when she wants to go pirate-ing, she just makes something up.

My New Mexico mystery series: some news

Howdy, all —

As some of you know, I’ll be in New Mexico in a couple of weeks at a groovy author event. More info HERE.

I’ll be doing a reading from my latest and forthcoming book in the series, Day of the Dead. It’s a Chris Gutierrez mystery, in case you wondered. There are two main characters in the NM series. K.C. Fontero stars in odd-numbered books and Chris Gutierrez stars in even-numbered books. Anyway, we’re hoping for a fall release (start looking in November) for Day of the Dead, so folks at the New Mexico gathering September 14 will be getting a sneak preview of it. 🙂

Since I’ll be releasing another installment in that series, I thought I’d re-post some interviews I did with a few of the characters.

Interview with K.C. Fontero

Interview with Chris Gutierrez

Interview with Sage Crandall

And stay tuned, cuz a cover image is coming soon.

Hope everybody is having a groovy holiday weekend. Remember what it commemorates.

Cheers!

by Categories: AnnouncementsTags: , 1 Comment

Still dreaming after 50 years

Hey, all–

Today is the 50th anniversary of the epochal March on Washington. There are all kinds of things going on to commemorate this event and hopefully that will get us thinking and planning for all the work that still needs to be done.


source: Documented Rights, archive.gov

Here are some links that might interest you.

The March’s 50th anniversary website. This is the “I was there” section. Some oral history.

Live updates, ABC News.

Martin Luther King, Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech, delivered that day.

Here is the text, if hearing is an issue.

About a minute and a half of Mahalia Jackson at the March. Her singing gives me chills. More info on her HERE.

Brother Outsider: The Life of Bayard Rustin, PBS.

source: HRC

Rustin spent 60 years as an organizer and activist, and helped organize the March on Washington. He was also openly gay, and that forced him to stay in the background of the movement. This documentary reveals rare archival footage and interviews to provide a picture of Rustin’s work and life. More on that HERE.

Congressman John Lewis was there. He was the youngest speaker to address the massive crowd. Here he is on NPR today.
And here he is delivering his speech that day.

Check out this Twitter feed: @todayin1963, which is a really cool historical thing. They’re “live”-Tweeting the March (as if it’s actually going on today), using research from a variety of sources. They’re including links to archival footage, like when Peter, Paul and Mary took the stage and performed. Super cool stuff.

History.com actually has some good stuff, too. Check it out.

And check out NPR’s piece on a People’s History of the March.

This is a teachable moment, my friends. There are people still alive who remember that era, who remember that day. And no matter which side of the issue they supported, it was a pivotal and crucial time in our country’s history.

Let us all keep dreaming, friends. There is always work to do.

Best wishes to you on a Wednesday. Happy history-ing.

by Categories: Events, HistoryTags: , , , , , , 2 Comments

New Mexico gathering, September 14th!

Hey, peeps!

I’m now going to start reminding folks about the gathering o’ authors in New Mexico September 14th. That’s a Saturday, and we’re meeting outside Albuquerque at a campground for burgers n’ books. Authors who will be there to do readings and answer questions and serve up burgers are: moi, Lynn Ames, Nat Burns, Barrett, Karen Badger (scroll down), and Bett Reece Johnson as well as some others in attendance like R.G. Emanuelle.

So click HERE for the original info/flyer.

And here’s a link with some info about where we’ll be. It’s the Pine Flat Picnic Area. There’s map stuff there, too.

Go to this Facebook page (you have to request to be added) for other info and updates. Plus, we’ve got a handy guide to lodging and eats in Albuquerque in the “Files” section. So come on down!

Happy end o’ summer!

by Categories: Announcements, EventsTags: , , 2 Comments

Contract killers: more on publishing

Hi, peeps —

I’ve been thinking about publishing contracts over the past few weeks (ooo! Exciting!). Not because I want to sign you up for one. But rather because I’ve seen a lot of them and I’ve even drafted a few of them during my publishing days. And one of the things I’ve noticed is that a lot of times, they’re heavily weighted toward the publisher.

source

I bring this up here for authors to think about, but also so readers can get a sense of a little bit about a publishing contract and what kinds of things authors find in them. And some of you readers may be future authors yourselves, so hopefully this might be helpful for you. 🙂

Continue reading →

by Categories: Publishing bizness, Things that might make you thinkTags: , 4 Comments

Angst

Hey, peeps.

All writers, I think, go through periods of angst.

Mine usually happen after I turn a manuscript in to a publisher (or, if it’s a self-published work, when I turn it over to the editor) and I start thinking that said manuscript sucks giant horse ass and WTF was I thinking, turning it in like that?


source

The angst gets even worse when I start another project or resume work on one. Generally, after I finish writing a novel, I usually take about a week or two off from writing, and let my brain and muses recover. Unless something is totally demanding that I write it.

In this case — with my latest bout of angst — I took about 10 days off and then started doing re-writes on a project I hope to publish in the spring.

And I’ve had nothing but angst with this one, even to the point of actually not being able to sleep. Even though I really like working with these characters and this story.

The thought that dogs me: is this novel good enough? It has a lot to live up to, because the novella on which it’s based is proving to be rather popular with quite a few readers. I really like these characters, and I’ve been with them, now, for about seven years. I want to do them justice, and I want to do their story justice, but I’m freaking out that I’ll totally drop the ball and deliver a suck-fest.

And then I remember that I do this every time I finish a book. I write two series, and when I start the next installment in either, I freak out that it won’t be good enough, and that it won’t even make it up to what the others delivered (which I hope is good).

So I’m battling angst as I work on this particular project. The funny thing is, I had a serious case of angst when I released the novella on which this novel is based. The same kinds of freak-outs, the same feelings that I was sending my characters out into the world to get their asses kicked.

Maybe it’s just these particular characters. I don’t worry so much about the other ones. Maybe I worry about these because this storyline has a very special place in my heart, and I didn’t want to see these characters get their asses kicked. That is, I know that there are people out there who are not fans of what I write, and they’ll find fault no matter what I do. So I knew my characters would get smacked around a bit. And I know they’ll weather the storm, just as I do, but this particular storyline has really made me angsty, though I absolutely love working on it.

Upshot? Yeah. I’m in a writer-angst period. But that goes with the territory, in this writing life. I generally try to back-burner the angst and continue working on the project, but sometimes, the angst gets the better of me. That’s when I watch movies.

Any other writers go through angst?

In spite of all that, I hope everyone had a great weekend and that you’re recharged and ready for the week.

by Categories: Random WTF stuff, WritingTags: , 9 Comments

Questions Answered: Music and Writing

Hiya, peeps.

Whew. Another busy week. Got through the edits to Day of the Dead (you can read more about the upcoming Book 4 in my New Mexico series on my “Books” page — cover image and excerpt to come!) and now the manuscript is going through a second edit to make it all sexy-time (one hopes).

So I thought I’d do another quick Q&A. Every once in a while a reader asks me if I listen to music when I write and if so, what kind?

Yes, dear readers, I do. Every book and story have their own soundtracks in particular genres. I listen to a lot of chill and trance when I write the Far Seek Chronicles (as an aside, www.di.fm has some great internet channels in those categories). Some of the artists that I listen to quite a bit when I’m working through particular scenes in that series are Chicane, Blank and Jones, ATB, Hammock, and Psh Project, and JES.

I’ve also got chill channels on Pandora internet radio, and yes, I do pay for the premium services on both Pandora and di.fm because it’s better sound and no commercials.

Each book in my New Mexico mystery series also has its own soundtrack. The Ties that Bind (Book 3) involved a lot of Robbie Robertson and Primeaux and Mike. Book 4, Day of the Dead (forthcoming this fall), involved some chill (for some reason, the character of Chris Gutierrez digs chill), some Robbie Robertson, but also a lot of Jewel, Tristan Prettyman, Rachael Yamagata, Mumford and Sons, Matt Nathanson and, yes, some ranchera and mariachi. If you read it (and here’s hoping you will. . .heh), you’ll see why.

And, yes. My novella From the Boots Up has a soundtrack, as well. Lots of Jewel, Dixie Chicks (if you read it, you’ll see why), and a few different songs from different artists in the folk/pop/Americana genres. The follow-up novel I’m writing to that story has a soundtrack, too. But I’m keeping that under wraps until it’s done. 😀

Anyway. Not all writers write to music. Those of us who do have certain genres/artists we dig. I’m one of those who uses music to evoke a particular mood as I’m working on particular projects, so I do actually put some songs on “repeat” while I’m writing certain scenes. Music has always been part of my writing process.

How about yours?

Happy Friday!

by Categories: Music, Questions AnsweredTags: , 3 Comments

What’s in a name?

Greetings, peeperas y peeperos —

Hope you’re having a groovy day. I got to thinking about names and characters after the Royal Baby’s was announced. His name is still garnering some discussion on social media. “George” has a long history in the British monarchy, so that wasn’t too surprising. And most of the comments about it were along the lines of “good name,” “strong,” “masculine.” That sort of thing. The prince’s next two names are “Alexander” and “Louis,” which also got approval from the peasant peanut gallery around the world. Same reasons. When he takes the throne, he’ll be another “King George” (though I rather like “King Alex” myself).

Anyway, point being, lots of people got into the name game with the Royal Baby hoop-dee-doo. People were probably betting in Vegas on which names William and Kate would decide on, and I saw lots of discussion on social media about naming the baby and what names would be good and which ones would kind of suck. That is, not sound “royal” or “kingly” enough.

Which just goes to show you, names are important. Remember that Johnny Cash song? “A Boy Named Sue“? A lot of baggage came with that name. The kid spent his time seeking revenge on a father who abandoned him but managed to name him “Sue.” And in a society as gendered as ours, we all know what happens when a dude gets what’s considered a girl’s name. He’s considered “less than” a man, somehow “feminized” (as if that’s such a bad thing) whereas a woman with what’s considered a guy’s name doesn’t have to deal with the same issues. But gender hierarchies and social structures aren’t really the gist of my conversation here.

Rather, I’d like to talk about how names are indeed important in fiction.

So come on. Join me.


source: mumsnet

-!>

by Categories: Writing, Writing tipsTags: , , , 2 Comments

Inspiration

Hiya, peeps —

Hope everyone is doing well. I was thinking about things that inspire me. I’m not talking about writing. I’m talking about life. About what makes us keep going in spite of all the nasty, brutish, ugly things out there, and in spite of all the crappy things we as a species do to each other and to other species.

And I saw a couple of videos yesterday that summed up the word “inspiration.”

Here’s the background. Sportscaster/newscaster/awesome woman Robin Roberts was honored with the Arthur Ashe Award at the ESPYs. Here’s her acceptance speech.

But THIS video, I think, sums up why she got this recognition. That link will take you to it, at the ESPN site.

Go on. It’s about 11 minutes.

I’m pretty sure you’ll find something that inspires you. And go ahead and leave a comment here about what inspires you.

Happy Friday.

by Categories: Inspiration, Things that make you think

Different types of editors in publishing, cont.

Hi, kids. Since people seem to have been interested in the last post I put up about editing, I thought I’d put this one up, too. This, as well, was previously posted at Women and Words, where I am an administrator.

At any rate, the last post I did here on my site about editing dealt a lot with the PROCESS a manuscript goes through prior to publication. Here, I’ll talk about all the different TYPES of editors you might run across in the publishing world, including those who might call themselves acquiring editors and/or managing editors and things like that. The publishing world involves business, and many editors are thus tied up with the business itself of publishing.

We’re not just mechanics for your manuscript. We are also gatekeepers and observers of what goes on in the publishing world, tracking trends and looking for the next big kind of genre that people might want to buy. Literary agents are often editors, too. They have to be. They’re assessing manuscripts and thinking about how to get that manuscript the best placement possible. They’re looking for manuscripts that might be trendy, but with new and interesting twists. And they’re also looking for the Next Big Thing, whatever that might be.

source: DarkMatters

So yes, the nuts and bolts of actually editing a manuscript are important. But there are all kinds of other things at play, too, and these are tied to the publishing world and to the business. So let’s go have a look.

EDITING ROCKS! Read on to see why.

Continue reading →

by Categories: Editing, On editing, Writing, Writing tipsTags: , , 4 Comments