That's right! The very generous Joseph Arellano asked me to write an article for the Portland Book Review, and I submitted this tongue-in-cheek how-to article. I had a blast writing it, and it was published today! Many, MANY thanks to Joseph! Check it out!
At one of my book signing events, a woman talked about how the violence in the third chapter of my novel One Man's Castle disturbed her. After I explained how it was Walter’s chance to vent his rage on the man who had murdered his wife, she said that she would have called the police if she had been in a similar situation.
“Most of us would,” I agreed. “But then there’s no book.”
“But it was so detailed. Did you ever do anything like that?”
“No.”
“Then how do we know we’re safe here with you?”
“Because I made it up.”
I’m not sure if she ever believed me, even after everyone made it home safely that night. But it raises the question: How do quiet, mild-mannered authors write such violent scenes?
