Ron Adams's Blog – June 2008 Archive (7)

Which genre any writer chooses to operate in is dependent on the genre they enjoy. I write predominately in the mystery/detective genre because I am such a big fan of Robert B. Parker’s Spenser and Jessie Stone, Janet Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum, and Raymond Chandler’s Philip Marlowe. But it is a great exercise for the good writer to able to write across genres even though he may never have the opportunity to use this versatility. Many stories have the ability to cross or mix genres, so that a… Continue

At their most basic, stories have two elements: Dialogue and Narrative. Narrative also has two main purposes: to inform the reader and to describe a person, place or thing. Funny thing is, done right, so does Dialogue. Many times the dialogue between characters can give you as much if not more information about your characters and thier plight as any narrative. My editor punctuated my last novel with comment regarding this very topic, and I began to learn very quickly getting the right balance… Continue

Most big publishers won’t accept or even look at unsolicited or unrepresented manuscripts. According to many experts in the field, the best way to get a major publishing house to read your work is to work through a literary agent. But, before approaching an agent to represent you, you should finalize the presentation of your book. Remember the old adage that you never get a second chance to make a good first impression. Nowhere is this more important to the new writer than at this stage of the… Continue

"Do I have what it takes to become an author?" If someone were to ask me that question, I’d have to say I have no idea. The simple fact is every person has a story, but not every person knows how to tell it. In my humble opinion, it takes a special breed of person to become an “Author” with a big A. That would be the type of person who actually writes and finishes that novel, or book of poetry, or even that book of short stories, and see it all the way to publication. The following is a list of… Continue

Believe it or not, summer does come to Buffalo, New York. After endless months of bone-chilling cold and gloomy skies, shorts and t-shirts have replaced the parkas. It’s the time of the year to sit back, relax. And read! Let’s face it, when I go to the town pool or the beach with the family, I can always find someone, and usually more than one, digging into a book. Here are some suggestions guaranteed to make your summer months an enjoyable, book-filled season!



On the road… Continue

As many of you know already, Tim Russert passed away in the early afternoon for Friday, June 13th. He was a passionate follower of all things political, and many people I am sure have spoken with more eloquence on his accumen in that arena. He was honored, revered, and feared by those that sat across the table from him for the past 17 years. He made the arcane workings of the American political system understandable to those of us that around the kitchen table, and held those who held public… Continue

Thinking About Politics...



Here we are in the middle of a presidential election, and I find myself ready to vote for none of the above. There are 100 U.S. Senators, 435 Congressmen and women, 9 members of the United States Supreme Court, and one president, all of whom have vowed to defend and uphold the constitution of the United States of America, all of whom make themselves exempt from the laws that they pass “for our welfare.”



We have become, not a nation of laws, but a… Continue