BIRDS

Where do your ideas come from?

Have you ever owned a bird?  When I was growing up, we had a green parakeet.  My brother and I were supposed to keep the cage clean but, of course, we did a lousy job of it.  My mother wasn’t too happy with us and the bird would make noise all day which drove her crazy. The bird had to go.  She found another home for it and one day after school, Jim and I had a job to do. We had to place the bird in a box and walk it to it’s new home.  They had a cage so that wasn’t a worry.  Here I am thinking about the bird and I don’t remember it’s name.  Shame on me.
      The bird is one of the many parakeets in this book.     

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                                    The Forger                 Barb's Books

Ideas and where do they come from?

    When I first taught special education in McIntosh, MN, I carpooled with two other people. In the morning, driving northwest on highway 2, we never saw the peacocks. As we drove home at the end of the school day, peacocks strut their stuff at the edge of the long driveway. The landowners were farmers. I always thought it a bit odd to see peacocks in basically the middle of nowhere, but didn't think much of it.

    As a child, we had a green parakeet for a short time. It didn't take my mom long before it drove her nuts and my brother and I had to find another home for it. Someone gave my mom a bird just like it many years later but she didn't keep it long.

    Growing up, my parents took us fishing. We lived in Minneapolis so it was a treat to go north to Red Lake to fish. We also had relatives who lived on lakes. Dad loved fishing and so did Mom. I always did and so have my brothers and now my children and grandchildren.

    One day it hit me--why not write a book that will include fishing, writing and birds? Seriously, why not?

     My first book in the series, THE FORGER.  An Experienced Goods Detective Squad Mystery.  I'm sure that you'll love it and if you do, please leave a review.  

                                     Barb's Books.                         THE FORGER

Secondary Characters

The secondary characters need also to feel emotions and are a vital part of your story or novel.  I had trouble with that.  I had trouble following my seconds and writing back stories about them.  I had few integral scenes in my books.  One of my editors made me add ‘fun’ times for my characters.  I had them staying at home and watching I Love Lucy reruns, which is ridiculous for young folks.  She challenged me to be more and do more so I added ice hockey tournaments since it was winter.  In another White House Dollhouse book, I began with National Park Exposition in St. Paul. CLUED to DEATH has many secondary characters.  Do your books?  Each character has a personality. Do you like or dislike them? Here’s a challenge for you—write about your most important secondary character or else try this example:  1) Choose a city—New York City for an example. 2) a taxi driver or transit worker and a teacher or a salesman. 3) a disagreement between two. 
        Set your timer for fifteen minutes and write.  Let’s see what happens and who comes out on top!  After, take a count of your five senses and emotions. Angry? Mad? Happy?

       Let me know with a comment and I’ll get back to you.  Take care and happy writing!

    Barb

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