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Ron Adams's Blog (47)

KEY LIME SQUEEZE Casting Contest!

When I write a story, I like to cast the movie at the same time. I know, pretty arrogant to think that one of my books would be made into a movie. But putting a "face" in my imagination as I set up a scene helps me to better project that onto paper. And, from talking to some of my fellow writers, a lot of us fiction writers do the same thing.

So here's my challenge: Cast the movie version of my new novel, Key Lime Squeeze, scheduled to be released in September 2008. So what if… Continue

Added by Ron Adams on July 27, 2008 at 8:16pm — No Comments

Key Lime Squeeze Reviewed by Steven Clark Bradley

Book Review:

Key Lime Squeeze by Ron W. Adams

Author Ron Adams has taken readers into the world of the sleuth with his excellent and crafty new novel, Key Lime Squeeze. Ron is an artful painter with words as he takes the reader into a sinister world that is really not exactly a hard-boiled crime drama and not exactly a story of the mafia, but a fine and adroitly woven tale that is both familiar and unique. It is indeed a book that I found to be riveting and which kept me asking… Continue

Added by Ron Adams on July 14, 2008 at 5:53pm — 1 Comment

When Insults Had Class

Once upon a time, before the advent of the two word insult ending in 'you', There were those who's pride in language and articulation made the art of the insult worth the effort. To those who enjoy the classics, I submit the following:

He has all the virtues I dislike and none of the vices I admire. -- Winston Churchill

I have never killed a man, but I have read many obituaries with great pleasure.-- Clarence Darrow

He has never been known to use a word that… Continue

Added by Ron Adams on July 13, 2008 at 6:09pm — No Comments

Six Mistakes Even Bestselling Authors Make

Many of us belong to several book and discussion groups, and the benefit to that is that we get to hear from authors and experts in a wide variety of fields. This message came to me from David Montgomery, who writes about books for several major publications. According to the message he sat in on a talk given by bestselling thriller writer Joseph Finder the topic of which was "The Six Biggest Mistakes Even Bestselling Writers Make." It’s also worth noting that when I shared this with my editor… Continue

Added by Ron Adams on July 13, 2008 at 6:04pm — 1 Comment

Variety is the spice of (writing) life

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

Added by Ron Adams on June 30, 2008 at 9:52pm — No Comments

Dialogue vs. Narrative

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

Added by Ron Adams on June 29, 2008 at 7:52pm — No Comments

Suggestions for Presenting Yourself To An Agent

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

Added by Ron Adams on June 28, 2008 at 9:54pm — No Comments

"Do I Have What It Takes?"

"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

Added by Ron Adams on June 27, 2008 at 10:39am — No Comments

Summer Reading

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

Added by Ron Adams on June 27, 2008 at 10:03am — No Comments

A Cold Day in Buffalo

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

Added by Ron Adams on June 14, 2008 at 12:50pm — No Comments

Is It November Yet???

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

Added by Ron Adams on June 5, 2008 at 7:41pm — No Comments

Rules for Writing Detective Stories, and Suggestions on How to Break Them

I have a copy of Sue Grafton’s text, “Writing Mysteries.” In my office. Somewhere. It is a really good reference for anyone looking for practical information on the art of writing in the mystery/detective fiction genre. In it is a chapter on the rules of mystery writing and how to break them. I was grateful that unconsciously, I followed most of her advice in my writing long before I knew she had advice. I’m still looking for the book, however. Unlike my writing, I don’t know how this… Continue

Added by Ron Adams on May 18, 2008 at 10:05pm — 2 Comments

To An Old Classmate

Recently an old classmate of mine from Randolph High School back in Massachusetts got in touch with me via e-mail. He caught me up on a few things in his life, and a few things about a mutual friend and classmate. With our 30-year high school reunion coming up in October, it got me to thinking about where my life has been. He mentioned in his e-mail that I should try to send a note home to let everyone know whether I would be attending, and to let them know what I’ve been up to. This is a… Continue

Added by Ron Adams on May 14, 2008 at 6:45pm — No Comments

On the Lighter Side of Writing

I am a big fan of Shel Silverstein, one of the best poets I've ever read (W.B. Yeats not withstanding). I have been re-accquainted with his writing thanks to my children. I recently posted a personal look at how I write. This one might work just as well.

Writer Waiting by Shel Silverstein

Oh this shiny new computer -

There just isn't nothin' cuter.

It knows everything the world ever knew.

And with this great computer

I don't need no writin'… Continue

Added by Ron Adams on May 4, 2008 at 5:33pm — No Comments

Book Attic Interview

The Book Attic Interviews Author Ronald W. Adams

City: Hamburg

State: New York

Country: United States of America

Tell us what makes you proud to be a writer from your City, State or Country?

I was born and raised on the South Shore in Massachusetts, but have lived most of my adult life in the Buffalo, NY area. I love this area for so many reasons. Mostly, I love it for the people. My experience here has shown me that there is a reason Buffalo is known as the city… Continue

Added by Ron Adams on May 1, 2008 at 11:01pm — No Comments

On Writing, Finally

3. Stop, look, and listen. And smell and taste while you’re at it. Books are a wonderful way to convey your ideas, but if you want to add texture and substance, you have to use all your senses. It’s not enough to say you ate delicious Buffalo chicken wings, though to be honest that should be enough. From what I understand, there are a few people that have never eaten Buffalo wings before. For those people, you can tell them about the steam rising off the plate of red-sauced chicken parts, awash… Continue

Added by Ron Adams on April 23, 2008 at 6:34pm — No Comments

Enspiren Press Mystery Writers Chat

Just a reminder that on Wednesday night, April 23rd, from 9pm to 11pm EST, Enspiren Press mystery writers Kim Smith, Chris Redding and Ron Adams will be hosting a chat in the inspiredauthor.com chat room. It promises to be a fun and informative look at three rising literary talents.

Chris Redding wanted to be a writer since she was ten years old. She belongs to Romance Writers of America and New Jersey Romance Writers. She lives in New

Jersey with her husband, two kids, a hound… Continue

Added by Ron Adams on April 20, 2008 at 7:53pm — No Comments

16 things it took me 50 years to learn

Passing on the wisdom of one of the greatest humorists of our time, Dave Barry

16 THINGS THAT TOOK ME OVER 50 YEARS TO LEARN:

by Dave Barry, Nationally Syndicated Columnist

1. Never, under any circumstances, take a sleeping pill and a laxative on the same night.

2 If you had to identify, in one word, the reason why the human race has not achieved, and never will achieve, its full potential, that word would be "meetings".

3. There is a very… Continue

Added by Ron Adams on April 9, 2008 at 8:00pm — No Comments

Smart enough to listen to good advice when I hear it

My Dad has always been a source of wisdome and common sense in my life. Even though I am long grown up, (debate on that point may be open), he stil manages to share with me little nuggetts from time to time, and I like to think of myself as smart enough to listen to good advice when I hear it. The following was written by George Carlin, and came to my attention via my Dad. You may have seen it, or heard about it, but it’s still profound and worth sharing.

A Message by George… Continue

Added by Ron Adams on March 30, 2008 at 7:20am — No Comments

"Hey Dad, what's your favorite part of your job?"

At dinner last night, my son hit me with a BIG question. There are always questions, especially with 10 year olds, but this was a BIG question. I work as a physical therapist in a nursing home, and spend a lot of time helping people who, because of physical and mental impairments, can't help themselves. It can be very trying, very physical, and at the end of the day exhausting. So it took me a minute to give him something positive to hang on to.

"My favorite part is making people… Continue

Added by Ron Adams on March 20, 2008 at 8:29pm — 1 Comment