Paige Hawthorne: Blog

Someone pointed out that I've been nominated for something called the Clitorides Award. New to me and news to me.

Now I'm in favor - culturally-driven mutilation aside - of most things clit. In my fiction and in my life. But what about a writing award named after an intimate body part? This deponent knoweth not.

Should you wish to voice some positive affirmation for the Winter series, the Clitorides link is in the left-hand column of this site's home page. Once you're in, some of you may be able to figure out what to do next.

For those who don't plan to vote for Winter, the polls are closing … now.

I have garnered two votes, two more than I had planned on, since I know nuttin' from nuttin'. I may well have poll-peaked because I don't vote for myself.

Paige

Several readers have pointed out the similarities between my fictional 'Kill Zone' in Columbus Ohio and the real-life nightmare in Nevada.

In describing a planned massacre in "Winter's Woes", I wrote:

Hank said, "We're pretty sure about most of this. KZ stands for Kill Zone. The FreedomRiders are starting to organize a massive rally in downtown Columbus, Ohio. Thousands of white supremacists."

Nobody knows how many America Nazis are out there. Thousands and thousands, and that might be conservative.

Daddy and I listened. "Dozens of Idaho FreedomRiders will be on rooftops. In hotel rooms, offices facing the street. Automatic weapons, grenades, rocket launchers, the works."

Daddy spoke quietly, "They're going to kill everyone."

Hank nodded, "Everyone. Skinheads, supremacists, KKK. And counter-protesters. Liberals, college kids, mothers. Civilians. The attendance levels will be significant, post-Charlottesville.


Was I prescient? No, not at all. Anyone who thinks about mass murders could figure out practical, and dystopian, methods of ensuring mass casualties.

I waited several days after the Vegas attack to post this. Respect.

Paige

Yes, "Winter's Woes" is finished, the final chapter finally posted. But that doesn't necessarily mean you've seen the back of me. Not necessarily.

I could always write another story, you know. So you Winter-deriders may someday be subjected to yet another … Winter onslaught. That's right, better try to stuff that champagne cork back in the celebration bottle.

Now I realize that the threat of an additional narrative concerns not only discerning readers, but three cowering editors - - Thorny, Steve, and Mike. Who have been desperately trying to dissociate themselves from the series. Tough. Noogies. As we say on the playground of life.

Sorry not sorry.

Paige

While I don't presume to speak for Editorialdom, I can tell you what my three boyos - Thorny, Steve, and Mike - are doing with "Winter's Woes".

1) Mistakes. I write like I think, fast and casually. The editors catch an amazing amount of flubs. Otherwise, the reader distractions would be … um, distracting.

2) Critical Analyses. For example, in "Woes" I had lazily ignored the actual process necessary for an insurance company - Oasis - to take its products to market.

3) Perspective. It's easy for a noob to fall in love with her own prose, to become lost in the gorse. At the expense of the narrative. Cogent editorial reminders - "You stupid bitch!" - can be useful.

4) Ideas. While perhaps not so fungible, a creative rethink can suggest new directions. Such as starting a new series featuring Walker. Or Vanessa. Or Pilar. (In this instance, I'm more likely to follow Robert B.'s example and construct an entirely new character that peripherally interacts with Winter and crew. Like Sunny Randall. And Jesse Stone. Both in Spenser's orbit.)

Overall, are editors a plus, a cipher, a negative?

Hmm.

Paige

Book blurbs can be unreliable, can't they? I pay no attention to ones from Stephen King and Clive Cussler. And they aren't the only writers who seem to praise any book that crosses their path.

But some blurbs - like the NY Times, Michael Connelly, NPR, etc. - - are usually valid signalers.

Another author I believe in is Lee Child. Who, in his back-cover praise of Don Winslow, said "Shakespearian … "The Force" is probably the best cop novel ever written."

I'm enjoying the book only partly because Winslow writes sort of like I do. Or, I write like he does would be more accurate. Short, choppy sentences. Like:

"So that's something. Next."

And, talking about condoms: "Double wrap the groceries."

Taken out of context, this doesn't mean much. But I dig the style.

Paige