Paige Hawthorne: Blog

Yes, another Winter adventure - "Winter's Game" - is as ready as it ever will be for public scrutiny. First chapter was posted today. I'll toggle the Hater Switch to the On position when the eighth chapter (out of 16) is posted.

Because Christmas comes on the 25th this year, I'll be posting on a daily schedule (as opposed to every other day). One hopes - doesn't one? - that this will provide ample recovery time before the eggnog flows.

Ululations,

Paige

First of all, props to my editors. Loathe though I sometimes am to admit it, these guys know what they're doing. Often. Sometimes. My award-nominated story - "Winter's Vengeance" - had only 27 spelling errors. A record in and of itself.

Now Ed Noble may not be as well known in, say, London or Stockholm, as he is in Kansas City. But - not for nothing - he does own one-half of the third-largest used bookstore in town.

I join four other authors in the pantheon of Noble finalists. And to think I got my start right here on SOL …

Namaste,

Paige

"The world can be divided into the people who like to look under the rock and the people who don't."

Standard disclaimer: I'm not comparing myself to the author / producer / showrunner Gillian Flynn. In fact, I haven't read any of her novels, although we did stream "Gone Girl".

She gave a recent interview in the "Times" which got me thinking about the criticism my protagonist, Winter Jennings, receives in SOL. And the way men react to Flynn's characters … well, it resonated. Specifically about defying expectations of what a woman should be. Should do. Shouldn't do.

One of her characters, Amy Elliot Dunne, frames her husband for murder, fakes a rape, murders an ex-boyfriend, and steals her husband's frozen sperm to impregnate herself.

Winter Jennings is a pussycat compared to Dunne, but some SOL readers are outraged that Winter bends the law (exempli gratia: creeping a suspect's home), is married to a lesbian while having an affair with a man, has opinions on subjects like politics and guns, has a flirty, sexy relationship with her son.

Okay, that last one is borderline.

Now, I'm certainly not feedback-complaining. This is, after all, a male site, populated by male readers and writers. And I'm here happily and freely.

However … I do have a couple of thoughtful words for a couple of you misogynist fuckwads!

Paige

One of my editors … whoa, back up. The header should have been Rare Reading Opportunity. Which - that miscue - illustrates my point.

One of my editors had to cash in his early retirement package because of health issues. He will be missed both as an editor and a fan.

So … a replacement. Poofers always welcome. Make that proofers.

Any additional talents such as casting a gimlet eye on story overview, character development, plotting, continuity, etc. would be welcome. You would be joining two of the best editors in the biz, but don't be intimidated; they rarely … hardly ever … do … you know, that felony stuff anymore.

Editorial salary and benefits are commensurate with SOL Standards and Practices.

"Once more into my britches, dear friends, once more."

Paige

Despite that reader-petition, so unfair, to ban all Paige Hawthorne stories, I've completed a new one. Which my editors now have in their clumsy paws. "Winter's Game" takes us into terra incognita … the world of professional sports. Baseball, if I remember correctly.

Although there is a certain upside for you haters. Just because the editors have that potential masterpiece in hand, doesn't mean they'll finish anytime soon. Dyslexia, PTSD, dementia … this could take a while, gang.

Excelsior!

Paige