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z By Charles Rush Jack Schaefer and Focus on the

a Dorothy M. Johnson Details g page 3 he 2006 Pikes were a big influence for a Peak Writers their Western short Conference is stories, a far cry from M February Write

s T Brain honored to have Johnny the predominantly pulp fiction of their day. I w Page 3 D. Boggs as the Friday

e night featured speaker have several friends in the business. David

N Strategic Goal and as a faculty member Setting during the conference. Marion Wilkinson. Mike page 4 Johnny Boggs is one of Blakely. Ol’ Max Evans. the few Western writers I’m always impressed by Before You Begin to have won both the their work. I read a lot, Your Novel prestigious Spur Award from Jack London to page 5 from the Western John Jakes and Russell Writers of America, and Banks to Les Savage Jr. March Write Brain the Western Heritage Reading everything, and page 5 Award from the National Cowboy and reading with a critical, constructive eye. Western Heritage Museum for his Why did this phrase work? What’s Spotlight on fiction. He is the author of 27 wrong with this dialogue? How would I Rupert Holmes published novels. Charles Rush, PPW have structured this sentence? Why page 6 vice president, conducted the following didn’t I think of this story? Look at how interview with Johnny Boggs. this transition flows. Write Now PPW: How did you start your PPW: I was impressed with your page 7 writing career? voice in your new novel, Camp Ford. BOGGS: Well, if you don’t count How did you develop your style, or March All-Day selling stories to my classmates in third voice? Workshop with grade, my background is in newspaper BOGGS: A lot of experimentation. Dave Moja I took several theater classes in college, page 7 journalism. I worked in newspaper sports departments as a reporter and editor. I so I often approach a character the was also dabbling in writing short fiction same way I would as an actor. It’s a Hot Topics cliche, WHAT’S YOUR MOTIVA- page 8 and nonfiction for various magazines, eventually tried my hand at novels, and TION?, but it works for me. Also, I left the newspaper world in 1998 to probably had 15 published short stories make a living writing on my own. before I seriously tackled my first novel. One thing I’ve learned is that official VOLUME IV, ISSUE 1 PPW: When did you first develop January 2006 an interest in writing Westerns and it’s harder, much harder, to write a publication novels of the West? good short story than to write a good of the BOGGS: I always had an interest in novel, so that is great training. I don’t the West, which first came from TV want to write the same story again. I Pikes Peak shows and movies—I skipped school to vary settings, time period, characters, Writers watch ‘Fort Apache’ on TV—and first viewpoints, structure, plot. Part of that tried writing Western stories in junior is to keep me fresh, and to keep, I high and high school. I’ve also always hope, readers guessing. been interested in history, so I knew PPW: How important is your These are not early that I wanted to write Western research for a book like Camp Ford? “ novels solidly grounded in history. How much did you do? books, lumps of PPW: Did you have certain authors BOGGS: A ton. I’m a history buff. I or mentors that influenced you? How travel when I can, read microfilm lifeless paper, but did they? copies until my eyes are blurry. I love BOGGS: Mark Twain, Alexander old newspapers for not only facts but a minds alive on the Dumas and Charles Dickens are sense of place and language. Yet this is among my favorites, Twain and something I can’t stress enough: At shelves. Dickens for their voice, their dialogue, some point your imagination MUST ” Dumas for the thrill of the adventure. —Gilbert Highet continued on page 2 given you positive feedback on your former like vacuuming dust bunnies from under From the Editor columns. You know you can do this.” my bed—a task that will distract the Boosted with confidence, I turn on my Monster at least for the moment. If I’m I’m the Queen of computer, open up my word processing smart, I’ll sneak back to my computer and Procrastination. program and stare at the blank page. I type type out 500 words as fast as I can. Sure, I have a lot a line or two. I finish the first paragraph. I Last issue we started the “Write Now” going on in my life. think to myself, yeah, that’s interesting. And column (see page 7) here in the PPW And, sure, I can then I’m interrupted. Not by my cats or my NewsMagazine. The point of freewriting always make husband, but by the Perfection Monster. exercises is to help all of us slay the excuses I have more “Are you crazy?” he yells at me. “What Perfection Monster and realize some of our important things to kind of crap are you feeding these folks? best writing comes from somewhere deep do than whatever Do you think they really want to listen to inside, way far away from any critics. I task it is I really need to accomplish. But to you dribble and drabble on and on about encourage you all to give freewriting a try, be honest, my procrastination is directly this? No one can relate to this junk.” whether it’s through the exercises related to my drive for perfection. What do I do? I cringe. I close my eyes presented in each issue, or at events such Can any of you relate? and take a deep breath. I rewrite one line. as our February Write Brain (see page 3). Let’s take, for instance, this column. Then another. The breathing didn’t help If I can keep my own suggestions in Every time my deadline rolls around, my with the Monster. I delete every word I’ve mind more often, perhaps (someday) I’ll head says, “Let’s sit down and pump this typed and start over with a new topic. have a new title, the Queen of puppy out. You know it won’t take you all Sometimes I turn off my computer and go Productivity. that long. It never really does. People have take on some utterly more important task In peace, Bimonthly NewsMagazine of the Pikes Peak writing community Words of Writing Wisdom from Johnny Boggs 4164 Austin Bluffs Pkwy 246 Colorado Springs, CO 80918 continued from page 1

e eight hours a day, longer when I’m on n

i 719.531.5723

z take over. Research is great, but don’t get deadline.

a E-mail: [email protected] g bogged down in minutia. PPW: What advice would you give to our a Web site: readers who hope to get that first novel M www.ppwc.net PPW: I noticed a change from your s

w earlier Western novels to your latest, a novel published? e PPW Officers

N of the West. Do you believe this reflects a BOGGS: Develop a thick skin, and President general change in Western writing by other never give up. Rewrite, revise, and rewrite. Chris Mandeville authors? Also, publishers fear the “one-shot” writer, Vice President Charles Rush BOGGS: Well, some readers definitely so as soon as the first novel is done, immedi- Secretary want their traditional Westerns. If they ately start on the next one. Chris Meyers didn’t, you wouldn’t still see Zane Grey, Max PPW: Once published, what is the Treasurer Brand and Louis L’Amour in print. But I greatest challenge for continuing to be Jennifer Webster-Valant think the future of the West is in new published? stories, new ideas, getting our product BOGGS: Sales talk. There’s no question beyond that stereotypical Western reader. about that. I don’t mean you have to be a Editor You see that with other writers today, but bestseller, but you have to work, and Kirsten Akens you also see publishers and writers unwilling produce. Market yourself. Consider yourself to take that leap, to try to tell a different as a marketable commodity. It’s a crappie Graphic Design Martha Lancaster Western story. job, but if you’re a midlist writer, or PPW: In your opinion, what does the beginning writer, it’s a key part of the future hold for Western writing? writing game. It’s a key to survival, but there BOGGS: Readership is declining for are no guarantees. This is one hard way to many categories, which concerns everyone, make a living. and the first line a publisher will typically drop is its Western line. The challenge for us Bio: Charles Rush has been associated with Pikes Peak Writers operates as a non-profit, tax exempt today is to get children interested in the the Pikes Peak Writers Conference for eight years. organization incorporated in November 2001 as the Pikes Peak West, in our history, and keep them He was the 2004 Conference Director and Writers. PPW NewsMagazine is a bimonthly publication serving interested from childhood to the young Deputy Director the two years previous. members of Pikes Peak Writers group. The opinions expressed Instrumental in organizing the Pikes Peak in PPW NewsMagazine don’t necessarily reflect those of the adult level and eventually as adults. Writers as a nonprofit group, he served as the editorial staff/board of directors. Articles in PPW PPW: Tell me about your typical writing first vice president. He remains on the board of NewsMagazine may not be reproduced without the written day. directors. Recognized several times in the Paul consent of PPW. BOGGS: It’s my job. I shower, read the Gillette Writing Contest, Charlie has had three ©2006 Pikes Peak Writers. newspapers over breakfast, and go to work. short stories published and his historical novel, The Devil’s Chessboard, was published in Knock off for lunch. Go back to work. Quit 2004. 2 Pikes Peak Writer around five. I work Monday through Friday, the mind of a writer? That is where the World Building workshop came in. Focus on the Details World Building focused on the details: By Bret Wright the flora and fauna as well as the social and physical constructions that make a story really come alive. In addition to the presen- he two instructors tations, workshop-goers were treated to a addressed a quiet but catered working lunch where they had the T enthusiastic crowd on opportunity to build worlds of their own in November 5th, 2005. Each of areas that interested them. From children’s the nearly 50 attendees paid books to science fiction, experts provided rapt attention to what Chris hands-on instruction on how to write Mandeville and Deb Courtney were telling between each presentation. These two novelists related what the experts said to about worlds believably and seamlessly them about the day’s scheduled events. while following the “rules” of each genre. Some jotted down notes, while others how they incorporated the concepts into To further add to the abundant informa- stared in postures of complete engagement. their own novels. Creating a new world may sound easy. If tion available to the writers, the guest They were all there on a heady mission: speakers were given the opportunity to set To Build Worlds. Creation involved an author does the job properly, it will certainly seem that way to readers. But up displays reminiscent of science fair everything from laying down geological booths to encourage attendees to explore structures and determining laws of physics authors must know their worlds intimately in order to write about them in their topics further. Many people took advantage to molding societies, cultures, individual of these booths, taking in the artifacts, mores, and . . . fashion statements. narratives convincingly. Think about a typical walk downtown or around your tools, and products each expert had to To an outside observer the mission offer. There were a lot of questions, and might be reminiscent of a sort of training neighborhood. Most people are so familiar with the world that surrounds them that each was addressed enthusiastically by ground for Slartibartfast apprentices (the specialists who were obviously passionate creator of Norway’s fjords, according to they’d have no problem writing about a simple walk to the corner store. The about their subject matter. The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy). But In all, the day-long event proved to be the attendees were there on serious narrative would include the smell of the lilacs in somebody’s backyard and the feel exciting, informative, and well worth business. They were there to learn how to setting aside an entire day to attend. Before build the backdrops for their novels. Just of hot asphalt through thin-soled shoes. This works fine for novels based in an the end of the day rolled around, several as nothing in the world occurs in a writers were already asking when the next vacuum, nothing in a novel occurs without author's everyday, real world, but what about the world that lives completely in World Building workshop will be held—a an author first conceiving it. Characters sure sign of success! move through these worlds. They act and react to their surroundings based on what authors determine to be the rules. Clothes Write Brain 2006—February brush across skin, rocks stub toes, colors and light interact, and the literal and Except for February, Write Brain Sessions will continue to be held on the second Tuesday of each month. These informative metaphorical fight for existence plays out meetings are always free to Pikes Peak Writers members, and frequently include guest speakers, interactive exercises, insider information about the Pikes Peak Writers Conference, and opportunities to network with other writers. Plan to join us today! in an organic orchestra of minute detail. That’s a lot of detail. What: Write Brain Session “Improvisational Writing” with Deb Courtney In order to write convincingly, an author When: Tuesday, February 21, 2006, 6:30 p.m. (The third Tuesday, not the second) must weave the world of her characters Where: Cottonwood Artists School, 25 Cimino Drive, Colorado Springs into the narrative of her story. On this day Cost: Open and free to PPW Members in November, Pikes Peak Writers, in RSVP: If you would like to participate in this Write Brain session, PLEASE RSVP by partnership with Sigma Tau Delta (the writing to [email protected] AND INCLUDE YOUR CONTACT INFORMATION. Note UCCS English Honor Society), brought that this does not commit you to attending, but does enable us to prepare enough local authors, students, and subject matter materials for expected attendees, and importantly, it gives us a way to contact you if we experts together to help writers build their have an emergency change to the Write Brain session, such as a postponement due to own worlds. A wide array of disciplines weather. We will make every attempt to post changes to the PPW Yahoo loop and this were represented including geology, botany, Web site, but to be ensured of notification you must RSVP. astronomy, physics, textiles, fine art, and yoga. There was even a druid and a poker Details: What does your main character’s perfume smell like? Does food hold a memory expert. All of these experts, many with association for someone in your latest fiction project? Does a character have texture issues, PhDs, gave presentations about how their perhaps always wanting to avoid the gritty dry feeling of sand in his shoes? Knowing the subjects work in the world, and how to answers to these types of questions, and even better, including the answers in some form in write about them in a way that is believable your fiction will create writing that stirs all the senses, allowing the reader to experience the to the reader. sights, sounds, tastes and textures of a fictional world. It can be difficult to remember as a To tie it all together in a context with writer to include sensory details beyond the visual. This Write Brain Improv session will use meaning for writers, authors Giles Carwyn multi-sensory prompts to encourage writers to include such sensory detail. Deb Courtney and Todd Fahnestock, (authors of the will facilitate this fun twist on Improv. Come prepared to write! newly released Heir of Autumn), spoke Pikes Peak Writer 3 The Business of Writing: Strategic Goal Setting by Linda Rohrbough writing buddy uses and ideas I got from more productive. I feel better about my www.MargieLawson.com. I keep mine missed objectives because I now I count feel an obligation electronically (no hard copy). At the top, I failure as part of succeeding, as odd as that to adhere to the have reminders of the important tasks to sounds. It makes me take a look at what I’m Itradition of goal accomplish that week. Next is a table with doing and moves me toward my writing setting at this time four columns and seven rows. The first row goals. of year. But being a has the headings. Column one contains the I encourage you to make measuring part no-nonsense kind of six days of the week I work, the second has of your strategic goal setting. I’m willing to gal, I want to put a my “winner” goals, the third column my share a blank version of the Microsoft new spin on this “super star” goals, and the last column is Word document that I created for this topic by tackling my “maybe” goals. purpose. Just e-mail me and ask for it. strategic goal I write in the goal and estimate when I’ll setting. start and finish the work. I record what I I’m sure you don’t need to hear another did and the actual time spent at the day’s lecture on what you should be doing. We’ve end. Here’s an example taken from a all heard about creating realistic, achiev- Monday: able objectives because those are the kind DAY WINNER SUPER STAR MAYBE that encourage you and will actually take (I do these every day, no matter (I fit these in once the you someplace. And we all know how to what. Like my Yoga. Just do it.) WINNER goals are complete.) (I may get to these or not.) divide the task of writing our novel into Edits band book Start edits band book Talk to Lizzie, chunks and divide the chunks down into proposal, proposal Review FOD research daily tasks. But what I’m talking about is MONDAY 11-14 Answer e-mail Projected: 1-2 p.m. Projected: 2-5 p.m. strategic goal setting which is doing more Projected: 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Actual: 8-10 p.m. Actual: Not done than one thing at once, killing two birds Actual: edits 2-5 p.m., with one stone, so to speak. e-mail 5:30-7 p.m., Basically, most of the advice on setting goals set 7:30 -8 p.m. objectives for yourself assumes you know yourself and your writing habits. Strategic goal setting gets you into reality about what As you can see from the sample, I learn Bio: Linda Rohrbough has been writing you’re actually doing as opposed to what a lot about myself doing this exercise. And about the computer industry since 1989 and you think you’re doing. This involves the it forces me to evaluate what goals will has more than 5,000 articles and five books to keep me headed the direction I want to go. her credit. Her work has been honored three simple but challenging task of measuring. times by the Computer Press Association. She At the advice of writer friend Jodi My objective is to fill out the goal sheet on has an agent for a nonfiction book she’s Thomas, I got myself a cheap stopwatch at the Saturday before the coming week and writing with her doctor, has finished her first Wal-Mart. It’s only clicked on when I am record what I did each day. techno-thriller novel, and is working on a actually writing. Not when I do all the What really happens is some weeks I second novel. other stuff I’m tempted by like e-mail, accomplish filling out the goal sheet on Visit her Web site www.PCbios.com. browsing the iTunes store, or Googling Saturday for the next week. Others I don’t something from an infomercial. Jodi said I’d get to it until Tuesday or Wednesday. And I Strategic Goal Setting find I spend surprisingly little time writing. may look at it two or three times a week, Involves Measuring She was right. instead of at the end of every day. There have 1. Get a stop watch and only start it By tracking my actual minutes and been times I didn’t do a goal sheet at all. when you’re writing seconds writing, it was on my mind more Now you can imagine that if I don’t do when I wasn't writing. I also noticed I got the goal sheet perfectly, I don’t do the goals 2. Set goals weekly for each day’s a significant quantity done in that small perfectly either. And you’d be right. But work. Track what you plan compared to amount of time, which I found very since starting these sheets six months ago, what you actually do. (You may e-mail encouraging. I don’t live with the despite what I can only call failures, I’ve [email protected] and ask for a stopwatch now, but it’s still on my desk been more than twice as productive as I complimentary blank Microsoft Word in plain sight. was before. 2003 version of the goal sheet.) Another tool I adopted is the weekly Measuring is strategic because it gets you to know yourself better, helps you set goal sheet. It’s a combination of one my 3. Remember, failure is part of realistic goals, and therefore, makes you succeeding. 4 Pikes Peak Writer With the basics in hand, it’s time to Before You Begin Your Novel . . . create the logline. The monologue and one- chapter aspects are interesting but not In Three Parts relevant. “Housekeeper” and “paid companion” are redundant, so I choose the By Dawn Smit Miller It may also give a sense of time, whether first as more concise. The money aspect past, present or future, and a sense of place doesn’t show up until the end of the book, if the place is important to the kernel of the and I don’t have to give that away. Here’s Part One: Using the story. my result: Logline to Focus Your “In the Old West, a cowardly sheriff… A taciturn housekeeper (protagonist) “Two teenage refugees crash land on a must try to clear herself of her employer’s Story planet… death (goal) by confessing to the murder of If a logline is silent on these topics, the her husband 30 years before (obstacle). What is a logline? reader may assume that the genre is Now it’s your turn. A logline is a brief description (generally mainstream and the place and time are here Internet resources 25 words or fewer) of a plotline. It is the and now. And all of this in 25 words or fewer. Play with a random logline generator: kernel of the story, stripped of everything http://www.lifeformz.com/ To put everything together, let’s take the unessential. Screenwriters used it first to cgi-bin/idea/idea.cgi pitch their works, and it’s proved so example of Dolores Claiborne by Stephen King. It’s the story of an islander woman in Read two good articles on loglines: effective that fiction writers have borrowed http://www.twoadverbs.com/loglinearticle.htm the concept. Maine who works as a housekeeper and paid companion of an elderly widow. When the http://www.screenwriting-on-the- Bestselling novelist John Saul calls the net.com/log-line.html logline, “The 25 Most Important Words widow falls down a flight of stairs and dies, You’ll Ever Write,” in his workshop of the Dolores is suspected of killing her for her same name. He asserts that if a writer can’t money. Already under suspicion for her Bio: Dawn Smit Miller is a freelance editor and the author of Through Spiral Eyes (a write a logline for a story, the story may be husband’s death 30 years before, Dolores must come clean and hope that the authori- novel) and Rainbow Editing™: A Colorful unwritable. New Take on the Editing Experience. She is What does a logline contain? ties believe her. The story is a monologue also the coordinator for the Paul Gillette and is formatted as one chapter with no First, it describes the protagonist. Writing Contest. Visit www.dawnsmit.com for breaks from beginning to end. more information. “A farm-boy, a princess, and a smuggler… “A judge on the take… “A miserly employer… The description should include a noun Write Brain 2006—March that concisely portrays that aspect of the What: Write Brain Session “How to Turn Ideas into Plots” protagonist’s personality that moves the with Carol Caverly story forward. It may also contain an adjective or short phrase that gives further When: Tuesday, March 14, 2006, 6:30 p.m. characterization, often revealing a flaw in Where: Cottonwood Artists School, 25 Cimino Drive the protagonist that plays into the conflict. (street name recently changed from 101 Conejos), Colorado Springs It does not contain the protagonist’s name, Cost: Open and free to PPW Members since “John Smith” wouldn’t mean anything RSVP: If you would like to participate in this Write Brain session, PLEASE to the reader at this point. RSVP by writing to [email protected] AND INCLUDE YOUR CONTACT INFORMA- Second, it contains the protagonist’s goal. TION. Note that this does not commit you to attending, but does enable us to prepare “…to return home. enough materials for expected attendees, and importantly, it gives us a way to contact “…must save her family from… you if we have an emergency change to the Write Brain session, such as a postponement Third, it contains the obstacle that stands due to weather. We will make every attempt to post changes to the PPW Yahoo loop and between the protagonist and the goal. this Web site, but to be ensured of notification you must RSVP. “…must learn to work together… Details: In this workshop, we’ll brainstorm our own backgrounds to produce “…struggles to escape… unexpected characters, settings, and plot points. In the second half we’ll twist our Fourth, it will hint at what the protago- ideas through a series of exercises involving story lines to come up with a creative, nist will lose if s/he fails to reach the goal. well-motivated plot and characters for your next novel. In revealing the goal, the obstacle, and the cost of failure, the logline may imply what the resolution will be, but it does not have Bio: Carol Caverly is the author of the Thea Barlow Wyoming mystery series, All the Old Lions, Frogskin and Muttonfat, and Dead In Hog Heaven. The books also appeared to state it. If the main character must risk as selections of the Detective Book Club. Her latest short story was included in the anthology, her life, then the implied cost of failure is Homicide Host Presents. Though now living in Colorado Springs, Carol used her extensive death. background of Wyoming ranch living for the settings of her mysteries. The logline will contain information about the genre, either implicitly or explicitly.

Pikes Peak Writer 5 “You wind up wondering ‘who is this god Spotlight On . . . Rupert Holmes telling the story?’ But if A and B are conspiring against C, and if C is telling the story, then there’s no fog in the story telling If You Like a Good Mystery . . . it just naturally gravitates toward first person.” By Bret Wright Holmes is quite He uses a classic pop tune to drive home philosophical the idea of choosing the correct narrative he note on the short story assign- about his success point of view. “I’m a huge Beatles fan, but ment for English class read, “You are in the mystery She Loves You is the strangest song they T a mover and a shaker. Continue to world. A name, ever wrote. Here’s this person—we don’t write.” Doctor Sarah Roody’s note gave he says, will only know who it is—and he’s saying, ‘I’m Rupert Holmes all the permission he take you so far. sounding happy because she’s in love with needed to fill his life with written word and After that, talent you. You should be glad! Yeah, yeah, yeah.’ song. He wrote for pleasure in his teens and and hard work are Who’s this being sung to?” twenties while pursuing a career in music all that stand Of course, there’s more to a story than that has spanned decades. between you and point of view. Actual story-telling that must So, what do you do with your life after success. “Ninety percent of the work in a occur and it must draw readers in and keep you’ve been labeled an “American treasure” manuscript goes into the first half. The them there. “The story is finished when it’s by the Los Angeles Times? If you’re Rupert second half requires the other ninety told. That sounds a little trite, but it’s true. Holmes, you write and supervise the percent.” The bigger question in my mind is always production of musicals on two continents, Underneath the entertaining person- ‘When does the story begin?’” This is where winning multiple Tony awards in the ality is a soul that is driven to plumb the Holmes feels he excels. As a song writer he’s process. You create and write a hit sitcom. depths of human emotion every way it practiced at the art of telling a story quickly. You write chart-topping songs for pop can. When he writes, he writes with Think of a song as a piece of very short bands. You win “Edgars” for your stage passion, exploring every aspect of a fiction set to music. “As a ‘story songwriter’ productions, and you write a mystery novel character. In fact, he has a tendency to most of my 104 songs are fiction. I mean, if called Where the Truth Lies, which gets overwrite the first drafts of his books. you think about it, all songs are stories, and optioned by Hollywood and made into a “The first third of my novels are almost most fall under the category of fiction. movie starring Kevin Bacon. always over-written,” he says. “I like to Eleanor Rigby probably didn’t exist. She wasn’t a real person. Right?” That’s what you do when you’re Rupert get to know my characters . . . set them Holmes. in motion and just run after them. I have His foray into the printed word has been met with commercial success and a warm “I’ve always written,” says Holmes. a hard time getting to the crisis because reception from the writing world. The Indeed, he has. A prolific writer, Holmes I’m enjoying the characters and their lives writing community, in his opinion, is much always seems to have something going on so much.” more welcoming than others he’s familiar both the front and back burners. Swing, his with. “There are probably more overtly second novel for Random House, blends crazy people in music” than in writing he his passion for music with his love of “Ninety percent of the work says. But the best thing about being a mystery fiction in a unique sort of way. in a manuscript goes into writer, when a person looks at it pragmati- Although the book is wonderfully written, cally, is the low startup cost. “You can start tight, and self-contained, the publisher the first half. The second with a pencil and a pad of paper,” and then requested one last revision of the sort that half requires the other you can change the world. Or at least most authors will never hear: Random entertain somebody for a few hours. House wanted a full musical score to go ninety percent.” with the book. Not only that, but they When the vision of a book is fully realized, both the author and the reader wanted the music to have additional clues His lead character in Swing is especially that weren’t in the novel and—“Oh yeah, leave the experience with a sense of loss. real to him. Not that Ray Sherwood is a The author has to say goodbye to a cast of they wanted it in about six months. No paper alter-ego, but “He’s all the things pressure or anything.” characters that he has lived with and grown that haunt me. The humor. The music. attached to. The reader puts the book down Holmes managed the task with aplomb, Where there is good in me, I’ve tried to put with a sigh, knowing that the characters writing and recording seven original songs, that into Ray. So I guess that he’s the live on, but the reader will no longer be most with full Swing band accompaniment. closest thing to me that I’ve ever written.” witness to their private moments and inner The CD is smooth, and adds a depth to the Part of the affinity for a character comes thoughts. A kind of disappointment, a storyline of the book that is quite striking in the way a writer presents him or her to certain air of mourning, sticks with a reader and unlike anything else out there. the world. Holmes says that point of view is until there is a sequel, if there is one. Although the book stands very well on its particularly important in a mystery novel. On the other hand, novels are often own merits, the deluxe edition that For him, a good mystery means that the includes the CD is worth the extra couple turned into movies. The best of these allow narrator is somewhat in the dark about a reader to see the characters come to life, of dollars. what’s going on. Writing in third person doesn’t appeal to him for that exact reason. continued on page 7 6 Pikes Peak Writer Inspired? Here we go again. Grab your Spotlight on . . . favorite writing utensil and paper and set a Write Now timer for five minutes. Think (briefly) Rupert Holmes about the following: December welcomed PPW’s first Write Trouble calls me on the phone each day at 10 p.m. continued from page 6 Now Contest. Our winner was Rebecca Now hit that timer button and write! Davis. Rebecca owns a graphic design and Don’t think about punctuation or grammar. and to fully experience the world as the advertising business with her husband, Don’t edit. Just let the thoughts flow author wrote it. In the case of Where the John. She has an extensive background in through your pen—and have fun. Truth Lies, Holmes had the unique experi- copywriting and marketing. Currently, she’s Okay, finished a piece you love (or will ence of seeing his own vision portrayed working on expanding her creative expres- love with a little editing)? masterfully. “I had a private screening, sion to include young adult fiction and which was unbelievable,” he says. It wasn’t creative nonfiction. Congratulations! Once your timer has beeped, edit a little a little room with noisy equipment running (if it needs it). Then submit your entry to in the background, but a full theater with Her entry: [email protected] no later than March 1st, his own private phone to the projectionist’s Morning arrives earlier every day. 2006. We can’t offer money or prizes, but booth to start and stop the movie. Directed Especially since Mom moved in with us. we’ll pick our favorite to highlight in an by Atom Egoyan, Holmes says the film Dementia, pre-Alzheimer’s. Experts say “keep upcoming issue of the PPW NewsMagazine version of his book is a “remarkable and a sense of humor.” Is “funny” finding dentures and run it with your bio. creative representation” of his novel. “Most grinning from a glass in the refrigerator? Biting Here are the rules: of the scenes look like what I had in my cold! Sometimes Mom’s here, laughing and mind when I wrote them in the book.” making small talk. Sometimes, in her place, Judging criteria are inventiveness and creativity. Only one entry per person. Fiction coming to life. Whether it’s in the someone bitter, confused and unhappy to be Please include your full name with your reader’s mind or interpreted to the big living with us. We wonder who are you? What entry. All entries will receive an e-mail screen, there’s a magic to writing that did you do to Mom? Night—time to recharge, confirmation. Entries become the property Holmes believes he was born to create. With reflect, regroup. Lately, sleep isn’t interrupted of PPW and the decisions of its judges are the release of his new movie, a box set of his by Mom letting someone in, a phantom visitor final. Entries must be 100 words or less. songs coming out soon, a murder-mystery- or hearing eerie moans. Titles are recommended but not necessary. musical play called Curtains opening next Still, morning arrives earlier every day... summer with a score written by Kander and Questions? E-mail [email protected]. Ebb (Cabaret), what’s left to do? Happy writing! “Well, I’m working on a couple of new novels and developing some series charac- ters. One is contemporary, and the other is All-Day Workshop—March extremely period.” What: Taxes for the Creative with Dave Moja Paul and Linda McCartney once told When: Saturday, March 11, 2006 Holmes that they were huge fans of his. Morning Session: 9:00 - 11:30 a.m. Afternoon Session: 1:30 - 4:00 p.m. This floored the young Rupert Holmes. But Where: Cottonwood Artists School, 25 Cimino Drive, Colorado Springs it doesn’t come as any great surprise to the Cost: RSVP now! Participation is limited to 50 attendees per session. rest of us, because Doctor Sarah Roody Morning Session: Afternoon Session: was right: Holmes really is a “mover and PPW Members: $20 PPW Members: $20 a shaker.” Cottonwood Members: $25 Cottonwood Members: $25 What will he do when he finally sets his General Admission: $30 General Admission: $30 keyboard aside? (You can pay online via PayPal at http://www.ppwc.net/workshops.html.) “I’m not sure,” he says. “But I won’t sit Join The Cottonwood Artists School and Pikes Peak Writers on Saturday, March 11, at a around drinking Pina Coladas. I hate those jointly-sponsored, dynamic full-day workshop on taxes. Yes, dynamic. Accountant Dave things!” Moja has spoken at Pikes Peak Writers Conference on this subject for the last several years, and we guarantee it will be as dynamic a presentation on taxes as you’ve ever experienced. Bio: Bret Wright is a writer and editor from The workshop is split in two sessions. Participants can elect to attend one or both; the Colorado. His interviews regularly appear in cost for the workshop is per session. The morning session will consist of an overview of tax Informart Magazine and Futures considerations for people in arts-related professions, from freelance writing to fiction writing Mysterious Anthology Magazine. He writes to painting and sculpting—if it’s creative, it’ll be covered. Learn what is deductible, what is short fiction as well as novel length fiction, and is the publisher/editor of Apollo’s Lyre not, what raises red flags with the IRS, how to keep your records and more. Ezine a recipient of Writer’s Digest’s Top 101 Following a one-and-a-half hour break for an on-your-own lunch, the afternoon will be a Sites for Writers in 2005 and 2006 bit more hands-on as Dave prepares a mock Schedule C. Participants are encouraged to (www.apollos-lyre.com). bring their receipts and records and follow along, asking questions that pertain to specific situations. At the end of the afternoon, attendees will have a good start on 2005 returns. Bio: Dave Moja is a CPA and has a BS in Accounting. He’s worked for three national accounting firms and managed his own CPA firm for seven years. He specializes in mission organizations, planned giving and church consulting. He is a member of the American Institute of CPAs and is a CPA in Colorado and Georgia. Pikes Peak Writer 7 PIKES PEAK WRITERS 4164 Austin Bluffs Parkway 246 Colorado Springs, CO 80918

January 1-31, 2006, for $260. Open financial circumstances that prevent you registration begins February 1 and from attending, and your writing aspira- nonmembers will pay $285. Registrations tions. Please limit this to one page, but you postmarked after April 1 will be $325 may attach a short (limit 500 words) (members) and $350 (nonmembers). Forms sample of your writing. The postmark Register for Conference Now! available online at www.ppwc.net. deadline for this application is Friday, For PPW members, registration is open Come to PPWC 2006 to see first hand March 17, 2006. now for the Pikes Peak Writers Conference, why we have earned a reputation as one of Applicants should address submissions April 21-23, 2006. Don’t miss: the best deals going in commercial fiction to: •Three days of workshops covering the conferences, as well as the “friendliest” PPWC Scholarships craft and the business of writing—over 40 conference, not to mention being ranked as 4164 Austin Bluffs Parkway Suite 246 to choose from with offerings for the one of the “Top Ten” writer’s conferences Colorado Springs, CO 80918 experienced writer, the newbie and in the nation by Writers Digest Magazine. Open Critique everyone in between Conference Scholarships •Ten-minute personal pitch appoint- January’s Write Brain focused on the ments with editors and agents—which you Pikes Peak Writers will offer a limited process of group critiques. Our next open request from a list of more than a dozen number of scholarships to aspiring writers critique meeting will be held Wednesday, names—at no additional cost who couldn’t otherwise afford to attend the March 22. Mark your calendar now! •A beautiful conference setting at the 2006 Pikes Peak Writers Conference. Details can be found on the PPW Web site foot of Pikes Peak in a luxury hotel Awarded scholarships will include full at www.ppwc.net. registration fee. In return for the full •Conference registration fee includes six registration fee, scholarship recipients will meals, with sit-down meals at tables hosted help out as needed on site during the by PPWC faculty conference and will be asked to submit a •New offerings each year—recent piece for the PPW NewsMagazine. The examples are the on-site micro fiction scholarships are possible through the contest and the “Reality Track” activities generous contributions by many friends and which included the participatory participants of the Pikes Peak Writers “Surveillance” workshop Conference since 1993. Members of PPW may register Send your name and address, the 8 Pikes Peak Writer