Backstage at the Opera -- Part 3 of 5

This is part 3 of a scene from Where Love Once Lived that takes place in the green room after an opera. This is fiction, of course, but based on my experience.

“Yes, of course,” she said, “the Combine. Brian, you need to
update me on the rest of the guys sometime.” She turned to Tony.
“What about you? Is this your career? Opera, I mean?”
“I wish.” Tony pulled hairpins out of his wig and put them on the
coffee table next to Brian. “You have to be able to travel to make it
in opera. See that guy over there? He has a house in Houston, but
he’s gone ten months out of the year. He’s one of the top singers
right now, and we’re lucky to get him here in Austin. I can’t go anywhere.
Dad had a heart attack, and I took over the family barbershop—
oh, that’s a boring story. Tell me, do you have any children?”
“One. Julie’s a student at UT.”
Tony pulled off his wig, and he looked strange with a hairnet on
his head. It wasn’t long before he removed the pins from the hairnet
and had it off too. He held the wig gingerly in one hand.
“I’m going to be in trouble for doing this myself, but I can
only take it for so long.” His hair was a mess, even after he brushed
through it with his free hand. “University of Texas,” Tony said. “Oh,
those were the good old days. I remember how you and Brian were
always together. Everyone in the Combine assumed you two would
marry someday. It was a match made in heaven. That’s what everyone
said.”
She watched as Brian squirmed.
“You’re quiet tonight,” she said.
His only response was a smile and a shrug, proving she was
right.
“He’s quiet because I know what happened,” Tony said scratching
his head again. “He told us all about it when he came back to
town. We told him he deserved what he got.” He stood, still holding
his wig in one hand, and looked at Brian. “He’s sorry, Karen, dear.
Deeply sorry. You should’ve heard him at the last meeting. You must
forgive him.”
Karen looked at Brian who silently rolled his eyes as he sat on
the sofa next to Karen where Tony had been.
“I told her I was sorry,” Brian said softly.
Tony stood in front of Karen, so she grabbed his arm, wanting
to explain.
“What we had then may have seemed like a match made in
heaven, but evidently it wasn’t. I hope you don’t think we’ll ever
get back together.”
This only reminded her how deeply she loved Brian and how
much it hurt when he left her. She glanced at Brian and wondered
what it would have been like if they had stayed together.
Tony looked at Karen, grinning, and took her other hand in his.
“You still can’t lie, can you?”
“I’m not lying,” she said, half believing Tony knew what she was
thinking.
Tony pulled her up from the sofa.
“Karen, you’re so sweet, so lovely. I might marry you myself if
this lug doesn’t step up soon.”

Backstage at the Opera -- Part 2 of 5

This is part 2 of a scene from Where Love Once Lived that takes place in the green room after an opera. This is fiction, of course, but based on my experience.

Brian put an arm around Tony. “You surprised me too, buddy,”
he said. “Exceptional performance! I didn’t know you had it in you.”
“Yes,” Karen said. “It was an astonishing experience—the sets,
costumes, lighting, and all the people. The actors, singers, and the
orchestra, it all touches your senses in so many ways. After my experience
tonight, I’m buying season tickets.”
“Wonderful,” Tony said. “No, wait. Take my comps. I get two
freebies for each opera, and my other friends don’t care about me
enough to come see me.”
She looked at Brian. Why was he so quiet tonight? Probably letting
Tony have his spotlight. Tony seemed to be overjoyed from the performance.
She’d watched Tony on stage as the actors took their bows,
and she could tell how important the accolades were for him. The applause
had lasted forever and quickly turned into a standing ovation.
“Thanks,” Karen said. “I’ll take comps anytime.”
“Good, good, good,” Tony said. “You two can come together to
the opera. Wonderful.” He spun around in joy as if to let them know
he meant it.
She wanted to tell Tony she’d prefer to have her own ticket.
Instead, she said, “Thank you.”
“I probably won’t get another small part like this one again,”
Tony said.
“Why not?” she asked. “You’re good.”
“There aren’t enough to go around, and I’m competing with
sixteen or so other tenors in the chorus. Most of them are music
performance majors at UT and much, much younger than I am.”
“So we won’t see you again on stage?” Karen asked.
“Oh, yeah. I’ll be in the operas singing in the chorus. Just not
doing solos.”
Several people left, freeing up a sofa nearby. Tony took Karen’s
hand and walked toward it.
“So, Brian has been telling me a bit about you. He says you’re
teaching at an elementary school in South Austin.”
“That’s right,” she said. “I’ve been in Austin since college, but I
lost track of you and the old gang.”
“The Combine, you mean,” Tony said as they sat on the sofa.
Brian sat across from them on the edge of a coffee table.
Seeing Tony again was fun. She should have found him earlier.
She didn’t need Brian to keep up with their college friends. After
Brian left town, she hadn’t felt like seeing anyone and soon drifted
away from the old gang.

Backstage at the Opera -- Part 1 of 5

I've mentioned before that I sang in the Austin Lyric Opera Chorus for many years. It was a big part of my life because of the many rehearsals required each season. I met many people while in the chorus and am thankful for the friendships that began there.

This is part 1 of a scene from Where Love Once Lived that takes place in the green room after an opera. This is fiction, of course, but based on my experience.

Austin Lyric Opera’s production of the Marriage of Figaro had
received great reviews, but Karen didn’t know what to expect. She’d
never been to an opera. But by the end of the performance she had
found a new love. Brian also seemed to be amazed as they walked
silently from the auditorium to the green room to meet Tony.
The room wasn’t huge, so it seemed crowded with actors and
guests. She spotted Tony and grabbed Brian’s hand to lead the way. It
was so natural, holding his hand, but she quickly let go, not wanting
Tony to get the wrong idea about them. Tony was still in costume,
and he looked larger than life the way his eyes and facial features
were highlighted with stage makeup.
He met them halfway as they crossed the carpeted room with
paintings on every wall. Karen saw a concert piano in one corner
and a full-length mirror near the interior door. The other people in
the room, some in costume, and some not, talked and laughed, filling
the room with a murmur of sound.
Tony dramatically kissed the air on each side of her without
touching her.
“Karen, you’re more lovely than ever,” he said. “I wish I could
hug you, but I don’t want to muss your scrumptious dress with
makeup and sweat.”
He made such a face when he said muss she had to smile.
He kissed her hand before he walked around her.
“Mmm! Look at you. So radiant.” When he was facing her again,
he said, “I’ve missed seeing that smile.”
He held both hands and beamed with all his attention on her.
She had dressed up for the event, wearing a sleek, black dress with
a lightweight, shiny black coat. It was mid-January, but unusually
warm for central Texas.
Back in college, Tony was the one everyone enjoyed being
around. He had an Italian accent, which had all but disappeared,
and a European flair that was stronger.
“Hello, Tony. You still know the way to a woman’s heart—
unabashed flattery. You haven’t changed a bit.”
“I wish.” Tony made a funny face. “I just added thirty years and
forty pounds. That’s all. “Tony joined hands with Karen and Brian,
one on each side of him. “Look at this,” Tony said. “I love, love, love
seeing you two together again—the way it should be.”
“Don’t get the wrong idea,” Karen said, pulling away from both
of them. “Brian invited me to see the opera because of you.” She
shouldn’t have to explain. If Tony assumed they were back together,
that was his problem. “I’m glad he did, though, because you were
great as Antonio. I knew you were good in college, but I had no idea
you could do what you did today—the acting, the singing, all of it
was outstanding.”
“Thanks,” Tony said.

Making Your Settings Come Alive

To make your settings believable, try visualizing the location where the scene takes place. Best yet, use a photo of or a visit to a real place.

In Where Love Once Lived, I could see in my mind the places where each scene took place. Some settings were imaginary and some were real, but they were all clear to me as I moved the characters about in the scene.

There is one scene in the book where the male and female protagonists meet on the campus of the University of Texas. I'd been there often enough to easily describe the scene, but before I began writing, I went there again.

I walked along the same sidewalks described in the book and sat on the bench where my fictional characters sat. I went to the Student Union and found out Brian and Karen's favorite place to eat had been replaced by a cluster of fast food stands you find in malls and airports today. I went on a Friday and listened to the Carillon play.

I took photos and posted them on my website, not only for future readers of the book, but for me to look at as I edited.

The photo shown here is of the bench where Brian and Karen had a picnic lunch while talking about their future. To see the other photos, go to http://sidneywfrost.com/settings.htm and click on the setting locations to see the photos. There are also photos taken at the State Capitol, the Cabin, Mount Bonnell, and a church in South Houston that was in my mind as I wrote about the one set in Redondo Beach, California.

Let me know what you think about setting descriptions. Have you read books that made you feel you were there with the fictional characters? What if the author is describing a place you know quite well and you find errors. Does that bug you the way it does me?

In an early version of Where Love Once Lived, I described Manor as being west of Austin instead of east. None of my writing classmates noticed. But as soon as my Austin friends read it, they all pounced on me.

Naming Your Characters

Sometimes while reading a novel I get characters mixed up. Usually, it is because they have similar-sounding names.

So, while writing Where Love Once Lived, I made a special effort not to fall into that trap. It's hard enough for the reader to remember who's who. Don't confuse them more with Jane, Janis, and Joan.

I named some of my characters after real people. Friends of mine. The first started accidently. The male protagonist, Brian Donelson, was referred to as BD for much of the first draft. BD stood for bookmobile driver who didn't have a name yet. Later, I reunited with an old friend, Brian Donelson, and used his name. Since the character is likeable one, the real Brian hasn't complained.

Be careful using real names. I thought it would be fun to give the mayor of Austin my sister's name. My sister didn't agree. She said she'd rather not be associated with a character who is overly assertive and pushy, but mostly overweight. So I came up with another name, a fictional one. However, the new one has the same initials as my sister, since I needed a name I knew wouldn't conflict with other names.

Where Love Once Lived has many characters in it. To keep them straight in my mind and make sure I didn't have similar sounding names, I created a database of the names sorted my last name and first name.

If you are searching for a name, let the Social Security Administration help. See: http://www.ssa.gov/OACT/babynames/ for a list of the most popular male and female names by year. If you have an older character, don't give him or her a name that's popular with children today. Look up what was popular when the person was born. Some names are popular all through the years, but watch out for the more trendy names that come and go.

You may want to check this website: http://www.behindthename.com/ to find what a first name means. This site also provides popular name by country and other name considerations.

Watch Where You Put Your Cell Phone

Only a few people know I lost my cell phone recently. It's not something I like talking about because of the way it was lost. But, now since I've gotten beyond that feeling of loss of control (See God Works in Mysterious Ways--Again for more about that) I'm ready to confess I drove off with my cell sitting on the roof of the car.

I left the house in a hurry to get to an appointment for a photo of me to go on the back cover of Where Love Once Lived and didn't think about my phone until I got to I-35. I pulled over as safely as possible and got out of the car to check the roof. Of course it was gone. I had been driving over 60 miles per hour since turning onto Highway 195.

If I turned around to look for the phone I'd be late for the appointment. All I had to do was call the photographer and reschedule. He'd understand. Then I realized I couldn't call. I didn't have a phone. My next dumb thought was to call Celeste and ask her to look for the phone. Again, no way to call.

So, I continued to the studio and called Celeste from there. She searched the route without success.

When I got home I searched the entire route from home to Highway 195. No phone. I canceled the phone service and checked the lost and founds the next day. Finally, I decided it had been found by someone who wanted to keep it or it had landed on the highway or interstate and had been trampled to death. So, I let it go and bought a new one.

Today, I was out walking in the neighborhood and saw something that made me laugh. No, it wasn't my phone. What I saw was a handyman's pickup truck with a large drink on the hood. That's it. Next time I'll put my phone on the hood. That way I'll have a better of chance of noticing it before I drive too far.

So, that's my confession for the day. Have you ever done anything like that?

Readers Love Reunion Romances

While Where Love Once Lived is not biographical (I keep saying), there are certainly events in my own life that were similar to the events in the book. I also told you in an early post that Where Love Once Lived is not officially a romance. This I found out the hard way after working with the publisher and making changes trying to turn it into a romance. See Where Love Once Lived is NOT a Romance if you want to read the details. I'm planning a future article on the importance of knowing your genre before you start writing. I didn't.

But I did have an opportunity to reunite with an old love once in my life and I think that experience helped make the reunion between Brian and Karen in Where Love Once Lived more realistic. In the book, their friends assume the two will pick up where they left off thirty years ago.

In my case, my high school girl friend Jinx and I didn't fall madly in love when reunited as our friends thought we would. Still, we enjoyed being together because of the history we had with one another. We quickly learned we were meant to be friends, not soul mates.

If you're planning to write a novel, I suggest you buy the latest copy of Novel and Short Story Writer's Market and read the Genre Glossary.

I Selected a Cover

Thanks to all who participated in helping me pick a cover for Where Love Once Lived. Here are a few of the comments I received:

Blue:

I like the blue cover better, Sid. I think it matches the other colors in the illustration better. Also, blue indicates serenity and peace and I think it works better for your book.

I like the blue with the simpler font -- it flows more where the love once on the green stands out too much -- to me. I like the red which catches your eye without being so stark. So there you go -- I may be off base in that have never had to design a book cover ! : ) Just coming from an artist view.

I'm all for the blue----

I like the all blue one the best. I particularly like the red and its meaning. You have done a great job on this.

Green:

...likes the green !

really like the Green one..brings out the people better

It is a close call; but, I think the green cover might be the better choice.

I like the green one best but the blue cover also has appeal.

Both:

Tough decision! I, too, like them both. I'd say that Cover 2 is more masculine if that means anything. Stronger color, font. Glad I don't have to make the final cut!

I like them both. You need to decide.

So, it wasn't a simple decision. But, ultimately, as some of you pointed out, it is my decision. Perhaps this is why regular publishers don't give the author much say in the cover design. What do we know about marketing?

I was talking to a representative from Barnes and Noble Bookstore while at a writing conference and he told me how important a cover is. Now, my book may not be displayed in a bookstore long, but I hope the front cover will be shown on Amazon for years.

So, all things considered, I decided to go with the blue one. Why? I don't know. It just feels right. I added my photo on the back cover, bottom left and asked them to make the title and author font on the front cover larger and bolder.

Hope you like it.

BOOK REVIEW: Sell Your Book on Amazon

I read Sell Your Book on Amazon, Second Edition, by Brent Sampson, published in 2010 by OutskirtsPress.com.

This book provides an insight into the many ways you can sell books on Amazon.com. These techniques could be useful to book publishers of all sizes, but I believe the independent publisher or self publisher will benefit most. Sampson describes ways to increase sales and profits in a simple, easy to follow format.

I bought this book because I have a self-published book due out soon and I know it will be up to me to create interest in the book. Amazon is the best known online bookstore in the world and it is profitable because it helps publishers sell books. Sampson's book tells how to take advantage of the many ways Amazon can help.

Sell Your Book on Amazon describes how to set up your author center and profile. It describes how to take advantage of reviews, lists, and guides. It tells you how to automatically add your blog to Amazon.

The book also tells the reader how Amazon works and how it changes. It also tells you how you might make more profit on each sale.

Although my book is not out yet and I haven't used what I learned, I feel confident now that I can get more out of the Amazon services. The only trouble I had with the book was that there tended to be some repetition. Sampson would describe a technique in detail in an introductory summary and then again in a detail chapter.

BOOK REVIEW: Finders Keepers by JoAnn Carter

I read an intriguing inspirational romance recently called Finders Keepers by JoAnn Carter. It was advertised as a book, but it was about 3,000 words long so I guess it would be considered a short story. However, it was formatted like a book and separated into chapters. I found the eBook free from White Rose Publishing. I don't remember how it came to my attention initially, but the word "free" did catch my eye.

The length, or shortness, of the book surprised me, so I looked up the publisher's website and found the following in the Submission Guidelines section:

We publish romance in a variety of lengths:

Short stories range between 10,000 and 20,000 words (ebook)
Novelettes are between 20,001 and 35,000 words (ebook)
Novellas are between 35,001 and 60,000 words (ebook)
Novels are between 60,001 and 80,000 words (ebook & print)

White Rose publishes romance only and the story must be either Christian or such that it is not anti-Christian. As you can see, only novels are published in print form. The rest are digital only. I checked Amazon and found many of their eBooks available in Kindle format.

The availability of eReaders and the popularity of eBooks has made it possible for authors to publish odd-sized stories. I believe that is a good thing. The story I read, Finders Keepers, was excellent and as long as it needed to be. In the past, a story of this size would only be found in magazines or compilations of short stories.

If you have a story idea that isn't long enough for the print market, check White Rose Publishing. Or, if you're interested in some excellent reading, some of it free, some a dollar or two, check there also.

I saw a warning somewhere on the website that the free books had not been edited, but I still couldn't resist sending JoAnn Carter a few corrections. She was very gracious about it. She has a number of other excellent books available. Check them out.