or…..
A Lesson on Narration Styles and Adverbs
​By guest contributor Macy Cochran

​Hello writers, new and experienced alike!  There’s never been such a thing as over-studying, so allow us here at IngramElliott to offer our best lesson on narration styles and adverbs in dialogue tags, a couple of the most important aspects to consider while drafting.
           
Point of View
The point of view (POV) of your book sets the initial tone for readers whether we’re aware of it or not.  While first person narrative gives the story a tighter grip on the main character, third person offers a more story-telling tone.  But let’s dig deeper…

First person narrative is used often in thrillers and young adult novels so readers can feel a deeper connection with the main character (MC).  This style of POV reads as though the MC is speaking his thoughts, though it can be written in present tense or past tense.  I’ll share an example from John Green’s young adult novel The Fault in Our Stars, “I woke up in the ICU.  I could tell I was in ICU because I didn’t have my own room…”

Notice how that quote is written as if coming straight from the mind of the MC and being told as though it happened in the past by using past tense verbs.  This narration style is used frequently when authors strive for their audiences to experience a more intense relationship with the book and the characters within, and past tense is included to give a more nostalgic tone.  Here’s an example of first person, present tense in Gayle Forman’s If I Stay: “I can feel them praying.  Which also makes me think I’m dead…And I’m not crying either, even though I know that something unthinkable has happened to my family.”  This tense is used by authors who want to convey a story that’s more action-packed with an in-the-moment feel. 

Third person narrative is a regularly used POV, especially in literary fiction, using pronouns like “he,” “she,” and “they,” opposite of first person’s pronouns like “I,” “myself,” “me,” etc.  However, there are two types of third person POV––omniscient and the more common past tense.  Third person omniscient is rather flexible for writers in that this POV is all-knowing of numerous characters in the story, following more than just one character.  This omniscient style allows readers to be aware of what is happening in each of the character’s lives, permitting the author to “head-hop” from one person to the other. 

Editors note: Take care when hopping from one character to another while using omniscient point of view--if not crafted with much care, this approach may confuse readers. 

Third person past tense follows only one character, similarly to first person, though the story is told from the author’s point of view, saying things like, “He walked to the store,” or “She helped the man up, and then she pushed him back in his chair.” Most genres in commercial fiction such as thrillers or young adult pieces are written in first person narrative.  Literary fiction is most often seen in third person.  Some examples of this are Great Expectations, Pride and Prejudice, and The Scarlet Letter. 

Overall, each of these POVs is fun to work with, so before you take on your first draft, do a little research and find which narration style works best for you!

Now for the Adverbs
Watch out, avid writers, because we’ve all come across adverbs in dialogue tags like this one: “‘I love you,’ she said sweetly.” Now let’s try, “‘I love you.’  She touched his cheek and rubbed the tip of her nose on his.” Notice how readers can interpret that the dialogue was said sweetly due to the actions that followed. 

Editors often warn against adverbs in dialogue tags because adverbs are known to tell action instead of show it.  But how come we see adverbs so much in bestselling novels? Many times, authors with a high platform can get away with including these risky techniques in their writing because publishers want the authors’ exposure. 

But the cornerstone to good writing is using exciting verbs that help the reader see the action rather than taking the easy way out by using adverbs.  The best way around adverbs is to step back, imagine what action you’re trying to convey, and search out your best verb for that description. 

​So once you’ve nailed your POV and started writing, choose your words carefully!  They just might land you on the bestseller list…           

​Macy Cochran is a freelance editor and writer for the Tryon Daily Bulletin. Learn more about how to work with Macy on her website at ElegantEditingServices.com or by email at eleganteditingservices@gmail.com. ​

By contributor Macy Cochran

Last year (isn’t it relieving to call 2020 ‘last year’?) was difficult for everyone, even writers who were probably comfortable with being quarantined at first.  So we authors had to suffer through somehow, whether that was reading books or writing them. . . .  No matter the trials and errors of making do with the little inspiration last year brought, here’s how authors at IngramElliott stayed sound!

​January 2020 brought Robin Elno’s Wild West stories and sent him on a virtual book tour the following month, allowing his audience a chance to connect with his newest Clown William series novel, Clown William and the Wind of Vengeance.  Check in at http://www.ingramelliott.com/news--updates/archives/01-2020 to learn a little more about Elno’s award-winning series.  Flashforward to the end of his virtual tour in March, and read all the praise for his latest novel at http://www.ingramelliott.com/news--updates/archives/03-2020.  Here, you can get to know the author of the much-loved series for both youth and Wild West-loving adults!

By April, the year was nearly half-way over.  Woo-hoo!  We celebrated by sharing with you some upcoming new releases to help weather the effects of staying indoors during the pandemic and highlighted author interviews with Marsha G. Cook and Jeffrey Meyer on their new releases, inspirations for their new books, and more. ​

​At the half-way point of 2020 (finally) it was time for us writers to get serious with marketing our works.  Hanging out on social media during quarantine––what better way to pass the time?  Moreover, what better way to market your writing?  Learn all the ins and outs of using social media platforms to reach a broader audience by clicking on our link: http://www.ingramelliott.com/news--updates/archives/06-2020.  

In August, we offered some more insightful tips on how exactly writers are supposed to build their online platform. Guest Instagrammer and guest contributor Marc Anthony Brown shared his extensive experience in building a strong platform on the book-cover-friendly social media platform.

Between hashtag strategies on Instagram to interacting with fans, http://www.ingramelliott.com/news--updates/archives/08-2020 is where to find this useful info and revisit Marc's excellent recommendations. 

​Last year, finding the motivation to keep writing through the hard times of 2020 was challenging to come by.  That’s why we brought you a Q&A with Vince Bailey, author of his award-winning novel, Courses of the Cursed.  At http://www.ingramelliott.com/news--updates/archives/07-2020, perhaps you can draw some inspiration from Bailey’s story and how he came to be a writer.

​Alas, 2020 ended, and perhaps you writers out there used this slow year of quarantining to complete the manuscript of your dreams.  If that’s the case, you’ve heard the rumors of the dreadful editing process. . . .  But don’t fret!  Here’s a relief––even editors need editors!  Though the editing and revision of your novel might sound challenging at first, this blog post might offer some comfort and advice on how to get that manuscript ready for publication (http://www.ingramelliott.com/news--updates/archives/11-2020). 

Writers, though perhaps homebodies at heart, certainly had their fair share of struggles last year, but we remembered one thing if nothing else: writers stick together.  And unite, we did.  With much hope and cheer for the optimistic year ahead of us, let’s reflect on the last one and apply what we learned to further our writing opportunities in the months to come!

By guest editor and contributor Macy Cochran

Patience is key to publication, and after writing a novel, the dreaded editing process is next, calling for the utmost patience. Writing a novel might sound like the difficult and tedious part of publishing, but isn’t editing your work the most time-consuming part? 

The editing and revision process is hard on the author and even more trying when beginning the process right after completing your last chapter.  All writers need a break from their manuscript, so before taking a nose dive right back into your novel, give yourself a break and allow for time to refresh your creative mind prior to looking upon your manuscript with a pair of fresh eyes. 

Some of the best practices for editing your work prior to publication or professional editing can be quick and easy if you take one step at a time. 

First, read through your manuscript checking for instances where you might “tell” the action instead of “showing” it.  Doing a word search for adverbs that end with “ly” is a perfect place to start.  The best way to avoid pesky adverbs is to consider the sentence and create a description the adverb was trying to imply.

All writers face overused words that always make their way into your work.  While editing your own piece, start cutting some of those overused words.  Though it might seem time consuming, a quick read-through of your book is what will call attention to any sort of redundancy that’s woven within. 

Like most authors, we’d like to think our work is a masterpiece that needs no professional editing.  The problem is that all authors need editors, and even better––all editors need editors.  While you might not catch some awkward phrasing or wordy sentences, an editor is sure to polish those blemishes. 

Editors can seem intimidating in the beginning because they’re literally hired to find your mistakes. But what might not meet the eye upon first introduction is that working with an editor builds a level of trust.  An editor cares for your book as much as you do, and that’s why they chose to work with you. 

​
Macy Cochran is a freelance editor and writer for the Tryon Daily Bulletin. Learn more about how to work with Macy on her website at ElegantEditingServices.com or by email at eleganteditingservices@gmail.com. 

"A philosophical bishop gets dragged into a dangerous world in this thriller."  -Kirkus Reviews
​
Meyer, the author of A Call to China (2017), cleverly models his story on the famous 16th-century Chinese narrative Journey to the West, in which a monk, accompanied by three colorful companions, takes a lengthy pilgrimage to India to recover Buddhist sutras. In this novel, set in the near future, that monk becomes Brendan Donovan, the kindly but naïve Catholic bishop of Charlotte, North Carolina. He wakes up one day, after two months in a coma, as the only survivor of a terrorist car bombing.  . . . Meyer serves up an enjoyable cautionary tale that makes an ancient story plausible for the modern era. Using Brendan’s plight, the author examines how difficult it would be to go completely off the grid and how well-meaning people can unintentionally put themselves in danger.  . . . Indeed, the result is as much a character study as it is a suspenseful thriller—and it’s one that will make readers think twice about those in power.
​
Read the full review at www.kirkusreviews.com

Fans of Jeffrey F. Meyer may be surprised to know that he was a member of the Franciscan Order and studied to be a priest for seven years. This important time in his life, combined with thirty-five years as a professor of Religious Studies, informs, inspires, and influences his latest novel, Crooked Lines. 

Crooked Lines follows Jeffrey's award-winning debut historical fiction novel, A Call to China, heralded by Kirkus Reviews as "An engrossing fictional exploration of family, culture, and what it means to belong in both China and America."

Set in the late 2020s, Jeffrey's latest visionary work of fiction asks the question: Can our hero and his strange band of friends find the courage to restore democracy to an America teetering dangerously on the precipice of authoritarian rule?

When asked about his motivation to write, Jeffrey notes, "Since I retired from UNC Charlotte in 2008, I have spent most of my time writing fiction, a first novel that I could never get right, then A Call to China, now Crooked Lines, and I’m working on another novel, now about half way through the first draft. I consider myself lucky to have this inner urge to write fiction¸ which I suppose was inborn, something in my heart and mind that can’t be fully explained."

And Crooked Lines is no ordinary literary journey. The reader will encounter action, humanity, humor, and serious issues, all wrapped into a framework based upon an abridged translation of the Chinese classic Journey to the West.  This pilgrimage story follows a famous Buddhist monk traveling from China to India in order to bring back to his native country all the sacred scriptures that were lacking in China. The monk seems unlikely to succeed.  

In Crooked Lines, Bishop Donovan is an ordinary man, neither brilliant nor possessed of heroic virtue. Set in a future where authoritarian governments have taken hold around the world and the planet heads toward a climate disaster, Bishop Donovan and two unlikely companions—an Asian monk and a former pro-football player—risk everything to share a way forward with the world. 

​Accepting the complexity of all human beings, Crooked Lines also deals with a number of important issues: authoritarian government, the threat of climate change, the intersection of religion and politics, the place of faith in a cynical world, women’s role in traditional religious institutions, and the meaning of success and failure as individuals and institutions strive to realize their ideals.

We chatted with the author about his new novel in advance of it's upcoming release. Crooked Lines is available September 18, 2020 in print and e-Book. 

What fact about yourself would surprise your fans?
Readers might be surprised to know that I was a member of the Franciscan Order, studying to be a priest, for seven years. I left the order about a year and a half before ordination, but my time in the Order was very important in my life.  I became aware that a number of my colleagues who also left the Order resented the time wasted and years lost. I did not.  I felt that I gained a lot by the experience, maybe the most important thing was learning how to live in a community. Another thing was learning of the importance of religion or spirituality in human life, a conviction I have never lost.  That conviction is obvious in Crooked Lines, as it is in all my writings, fictional and academic. 

Where do you find joy in life?
Exploration and travel.  Learning about nature, in the manner of Mary Oliver (for its spiritual meaning), and exploring and foreign lands and peoples.  I’ve spent, for example, about three years of my life in Asia, mostly China and Taiwan, amazed and intrigued at times at how different these cultures are from my own, and at other times marveling at how much alike all of us are, from the east or west,  as human beings.

Tell us something about Crooked Lines that's not in the summary.
The inspiration for Crooked Lines comes from an Asian source.  About three years ago I was reading an abridged translation of the Chinese classic Journey to the West, a sort of pilgrimage story in which a famous Buddhist monk goes from China to India in order to bring back to his native country all the sacred scriptures that were lacking in China. The monk seems unlikely to succeed.  He is often diffident, somewhat fussy about his own comfort. How will he be able to make the arduous and dangerous journey across the Silk Road to India?  He does it by finding three companions who will accompany and help him, the chief one being Monkey, probably the most popular character in all of Chinese fiction. The three are mischievous, sometimes badly behaved characters as well as “superheroes” so there is a strong element of fantasy in the novel.  My aim was to retell this story in a western setting, preserving the serious religious purpose while using elements of fantasy and humor. 

What books did you love growing up?
As a kid I remember riding my bicycle to the local library in Cincinnati, where I grew up, and checking out books regularly.  I read all the Wizard of Oz series, the Hardy Boys (young detectives) stories, and I recall going through an African period, reading stories about its fascinating animals and terrain. I can remember only one title, Treks Across the Veldt, though I read many. These were books written from the imperialist’s point of view, glorifying the big game hunters and explorers, with the actual people of Africa playing secondary roles as scouts and bearers. But early in my teen age years I began to read adult books that left a permanent mark on my mind, like Pearl Buck’s The Good Earth, about a Chinese farmer and his family. Another was J.D. Salinger’s Catcher in the Rye.  I was also deeply moved by the Anne Frank story. 

Why did you pick this particular subject matter to write about?
Besides my love for the original story of Journey to the West, I took up this novel as a way to touch on three issues that I consider crucial at this time in American history, and really, world history.  The first is the growth of authoritarian governments around the world and the corresponding weakening of democracy, which can be seen right now in the U.S., China, India, the UK, Poland, Hungary, Brazil and the Philippines. The second is climate change, and the third is the role of women in world religions—name me a single world religion where the patriarchal model does not dominate.

I hope these issues become more tangible as the reader encounters them in real social settings in the novel. 

A professor at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte for thirty-five years, Jeffrey F. Meyer taught Asian religions in the Religious Studies department, with a focus on Buddhism and Daoism. He is married with three grown children and currently living in Davidson, North Carolina.
​
His first novel, A Call to China, is a Silver winner in the 30th Annual Benjamin Franklin Awards and a finalist in the 13th Annual National Indie Excellence Awards and the 2019 NextGen Indie Book Awards.

Follow the author on Goodreads.

Marsha G. Cook's debut novel, Whispers on the Wind, will transport YA fans into new realms of mystical magic. The author knows a little bit about new realms, too, and shares some insights into her world upon the launch of her book this month. 

Growing up in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, a five-year-old Marsha was known to chat with her maternal grandmother, Nanny Angel. Marsha had plenty of opportunity to witness magical moments raising her own six adopted children. After a career as a YMCA director, Marsha followed her intuition and studied metaphysics and spirituality, leading to her current passion: teaching and co-directing an accredited school of metaphysics and meditation. 

These unique experiences inspired Marsha to write her first novel, geared towards helping  young people understand their special abilities and insight, and planting the seeds to help them see beyond our three dimensional world.

"Whispers is meant to take you on a journey of discovery," says the author. "As Meems learns there is more to our world than she ever thought, so may the reader discover what's outside the box in their life."

Interview with author Marsha G. Cook

What fact about you would surprise your fans?
At one time, back in high school, I performed in musical theater and was headed to NYC to sing and dance in an off Broadway show.

What makes you the happiest?
Seeing the light shine in another's eyes when the seed I've planted becomes a flower.​

What's your favorite scene in 'Whispers'?
I really enjoy the moments in Chapter 21 when Meems meets Emme. How often do people get to chat with a Ghostie?!

What inspired you to write about this particular subject matter?
My gifts as one who sees beyond the three dimensional world we live in began when I was a young child. ​I've dedicated most of my life to sharing these gifts with others, so that they too will enjoy the enormity and connections that surround us and know how connected to everything in the Universe they truly are and how powerful they may choose to be.

Marsha grew up in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and at the age of five was known to chat with her maternal grandmother; often telling her mother that Nanny Angel was sitting in the corner and all ‘mom’ had to do was talk to her. After raising six adopted children, Marsha returned to the work force as a YMCA director.

Obtaining both a bachelors and master’s degree in holistic nutrition at the age of fifty, she then studied and became ordained as a non-denominational minister with a doctorate in metaphysics and spirituality. This led to a decade-long foray in teaching and co-directing an accredited school of metaphysics and meditation center known as The Nook (Kent Cook Institute). Marsha considers herself a ‘seed planter’, helping people to discover there is more to our world than meets the eye. 

Connect with the author on Facebook and Instagram @whispers_on_the_wind.

Instagram is an invaluable tool for authors with a visual model perfect for book covers, and hashtags that focus on the book writer and reader communities, such as #bookstagram #indieauthors #authorsofinstagram and #bookstagrammer. Our guest blogger, Marc Anthony Brown, a writer and comic book editor shares his thoughts on building a community and gaining followers on Instagram. 

Vince Bailey's second installment in the award-winning Curtis Jefferson series is available August 1st. We thought it was a great time for a conversation with our author about the series and his life as a writer. 

 ​Courses of the Cursed
Book 2 Curtis Jefferson series
Available August 1 in print and e-book anywhere books are sold

​African American youth Curtis Jefferson is still serving his one-year term at Fort Grant, where a horrific massacre still haunts the inhabitants. In the second book of the Curtis Jefferson series, our hero continues to be challenged by his nemesis, Harvey Huish, while a café owner struggles with a premonition that her nephew will be the victim of a treacherous plot. The parallel stories share a common theme: the curse of Fort Grant. 

Vince Bailey’s award-winning Path of the Half Moon—the first book in the Curtis Jefferson series—was the Winner of the Arizona Authors’ Association Literary Award and the Chanticleer International Book Awards for Paranormal and Supernatural Fiction. 

Interview with author, Vince Bailey 

What fact about yourself would surprise your fans?
I think maybe readers might be surprised to know that I am 70 years old (unless, of course, they've looked at my photo). I say this because the series is given from a teenager's point of view. I believe I can do this quite handily at 70 though, because I'm still 15 in a lot of respects. Just ask my wife.

What brings you joy in your life?
Developments in the lives of my five children gives me my greatest joy. When good kids develop into good people--well, that's the best possible legacy one can leave to this world.

What is your motivation to write?
I think ego is one strong motivator for most authors, and I question the honesty of authors who disagree. People like to do things they are good at and people are usually good at things they like to do. But another thing that motivates me is the feeling I get when I connect on a personal level with complete strangers through my writing. That's electrifying!

What books did you love growing up?
At 10, I loved the Hardy Boys mysteries. At 12, it was Tom Sawyer. At 14, it was A Catcher in the Rye. At 15, it was Lord of the Flies. At 16, it was Lord of the Rings. At 17, it was The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test. At 18, it was One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. At 20, it was One Hundred Years of Solitude. Quite the variety! Of course there were many in between--I was a voracious reader. These are just the standouts.

Tell us something about Courses of the Cursed that's not in the book blurbs.
Courses of the Cursed was once a part of a continuous 1200-page work. Being a neophyte novelist and having no knowledge of publishing protocols, I let my characters run away with my "book," paying no heed to its burgeoning size. My agent read it through, loved it, and promptly set me to work breaking it into three manageable stand-alone books. It was a year-long task of recreating, deleting, and weaving chapters together, seeking a good blend of sovereignty and continuity. The result is the Curtis Jefferson/Fort Grant series: Path of the Half Moon, Courses of the Cursed, and the upcoming Merging Paths.

When did you first realize a desire to write?
I recall writing my own comic book versions of Flash Gordon episodes. Not that I plagiarized the story lines--those were mine--but I did steal the characters and the interplanetary settings. I think I was eight at the time. Throughout the years, I've written news stories, magazine articles, opinion pieces and a few short stories. I currently pen a monthly column in a nationally published trade magazine. All the time I wondered when I would find the time to write the Great American Novel (I was and still am a full-time employee of a commercial construction firm).

​About 15 years ago, I gave up wondering and started to write Path of the Half Moon, a chapter at a time. It took a good twelve years of piecemeal writing on evenings and during weekends to produce the 1200-page Jeremiad described above. I am still polishing the 3rd book in the series. It never ends.

Available September 1

Whispers on the Wind
Mary Elizabeth Emily Mearcham, known to all in her life as Meems has a gift. She has several actually. She just doesn’t know it. Meems is a psychic. After a frightening experience as a toddler she closed herself off to her gifts. Her Grandmother, who is also quite clairsentient, knows it’s time for Meems to awaken her power. Drawing Meems into the journey of becoming all she is meant to be isn’t going to be easy. Will her fear override her potential? Will darkness stop her from accepting she is no normal girl? ​