Malynda McCarrick

In my quest to be a writer – or, more significantly, to be an author – I have met a lot of like-minded people and I’ve read a lot of books on the subject of writing, publishing, writing well, publishing made easy, writing quickly, publishing traditionally, writing despite distractions, publishing against all odds…you get the idea. I’ve read a lot of books.

Though reading to be a writer is important, I finally came to the incredibly easy conclusion that to be  a writer I had to – duh – write.

So I put down the books (lined them up neatly on my bookshelves) and dove in to writing. That was several years ago and I’m still writing. I have always been a bit of a commitment-phobe so nobody is more amazed than I that my fingers are still tickling the keyboard in obsessed story pursuit.

I love what I do. I’ve never found anything that gave me the soul-serving, this-is-my-life, it’s-about-time-I-found-fulfillment type happiness that writing brings me. The only other thing that gives me that is my art. Stick a paint brush in my hand with a full range of paint colors and I am in my own version of heaven. If I could spend every minute of every day writing and painting…oh my goodness! True happiness!

But, as anyone with creative skills can tell you, it’s not as easy as it sounds. Have you ever heard of starving artists? It’s a lot of work. You have to decide early on where you want it to go. Do you want to make a living at it or is it ‘just’ a hobby…not that writing or painting as a hobby is a bad thing, maybe it’s the best thing. I have turned a lot of interests into businesses over the years only to see them crash and burn and disappear from my life forever. Was it a passion, can your passion leave you that easily if it doesn’t make you rich? Maybe it wasn’t your passion after all.

So I love to write and paint (create art in many forms). I’m not getting rich and probably never will, but I still love what I do. Am I committed? I think so, but then…how long does commitment last? Are there rules about such a thing?

Though I’ve never had a problem coming up with story ideas, sometimes I like to shake things up. I guess that comes from my art background. My college professor used to tell us to turn our canvas upside down while painting, just to get a different point of view and see things better. Since I haven’t figured out how to turn my writing upside down (and not sure how my keyboarding skills would improve if hanging from the ceiling) I came up with a couple of ways to stir up my imagination using my art background.

In painting, we’re taught to learn the skills of the masters by copying them. By that I mean you literally set a classic painting in front of you and paint your best version of it, trying to imitate the original the best you can. How I want to interpret this in writing is by using the science of opposites…take a classic story/book and rewrite it exactly opposite. For instance, the book starts out with “It was a dark and dreary night…” so you’d write it as “It was a bright and sunny day” or maybe “It wasn’t a dark and dreary night” and so on. This makes you really pay attention to the words and writing structure.

Another idea I am toying with is to write a story second. I mean, design the cover first, then the title (based on the cover art), THEN write the story. It would really make use of your creative abilities and push you to think from a different direction. There’s a lot of cool stock images out there online to use, and some you can even get for free.

That gave me another idea…write a story backwards. Yes, it’s exactly what it suggests. Write the ending, then write the rest of the story. The beginning hook, of course, would be the last thing you write. Some people already write like this, or at least plot their story this way. Me? I am what is called a “pantzer” which means I tend to write by the seat of my pants. I rarely know what’s going to happen before I write it.

I plan to try these all real soon, as soon as I finish my latest project this summer: I’m doing Camp NaNo, writing a novel in a month, in July. We’ll see how that goes.

I – and several other local authors – will be here in a couple of weeks, come join us!

Ankeny Authors Fair Saturday, April 13, 2013

9:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Hosted by the Kirkendall Public Library at the Pinnacle Club 4100 NE Otter Creek Dr, Ankeny, IA 50023

For more information on who else will be there, go to the website:

http://www.ankenyiowa.gov/index.aspx?page=1396

Just about any writer will tell you, finishing that current book – or story – is harder than starting it.

Or is it just me?

Maybe it’s me.

I start each story with excitement, passion, visions of it wowing my fans and public. I can’t wait to write that next word or page. All energy is focused on what will happen next as I pour out my heart and soul through fingertips glued to keyboard. This will be my best work! The “one” that puts me on the bestseller lists. The “one” that gets me recognized. The “one” that makes me so successful that I finally get to quit that day job for good and devote my time completely to writing.

Then I get about three-quarters of the way through my story and it starts to waver. Where is the excitement, the energy, the passion? What happened?

I’ll tell you what happened…I got bored. I’ve been writing that story for what seems like years and I’m ready to start another story. My passion has pooped out on me, my excitement has exited, my energy…gone.

I just have too many ideas that I want to write right now. That’s why I tend to start each project by writing fast, while I’m still excited about it. Unfortunately I’m not writing fast enough, the end doesn’t come fast enough.

I blame it on life. Life throws too many things at me that I have to deal with – clean the house, go to work, pay the bills, worry about everything, stress out over worrying about everything, stress out over the fact that I am stressing out over worrying about everything, then stress out some more.

How do I shut it all off and just get back to writing again? Do I need to work in a soundproof, padded room? Isolate myself from my surroundings? Nope, can’t do that. Then I’d worry about the things I can’t see or hear that are going on around me.  SHEESH!

Such is the life of a creative person. It ain’t easy, folks! But I wouldn’t have it any other way. I can’t imagine never having an abundance of creative ideas bombarding me all the time. What do non-creative people do with their time, how do they get through the day if their imagination isn’t pumping like a steam engine all the time?

What is life if you aren’t always trying to reinvent it?

Boring. Depressing. Terminal. That’s what.

Time to go create! Change the world – your world – and make it more interesting, even if it’s just for the length of time it takes to write a book. Or read a book.

Escape from reality and enjoy!

Book Signing Event

5 Local Authors will be signing books and meeting with their fans.

Where and when:

Kraze Outfitters -  4800 Maple Drive, Pleasant Hill

Saturday, March 2, 2013 – 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm

Malynda McCarrick is an artist and writer living in Des Moines, Iowa. As a child she had a vivid imagination and liked to create stories so it was only natural to become a writer and let her ideas live through her characters. She enjoys writing Paranormal Suspense with fun, quirky characters and lots of humor and fun action.

C. Deanne Rowe  has always loved the power of words. How they could make her cry, laugh, or provoke all range of emotions. She believes she wouldn’t be who she is today without words. She learned to feel good listening to songs which filled her heart and learned the meaning of love watching all the good romance movies. Words have been her friend, comfort, and teacher. It was only logical she would be an author, to spin a tale which would captivate readers.

 Jerry Hooten   served in the U.S. Navy as an electronics specialist working with guided missiles.  Twenty one years as a security specialist with the Postal Inspection Service and three years as the Area Security Coordinator for the U.S. Postal Service. He currently is a consultant to mystery writers providing information on police procedures, weapons and surveillance techniques.  He has assisted such great writers as:  Michael Connelly, Jim Swain, M.J. Rose, and the late Barbara Seranella.  He has written “Don’t Talk to Strangers”, the sequel, “Dead End”, “Friends and Others”,  “The Pension Plan” and the latest book, “Hunter”.

   Ann Morris   worked for Iowa Workforce Development as a bilingual representative and was Coordinator for the New Iowan Center. She’s been a Spanish teacher for nearly 20 years and worked with many community agencies that serve a multitude of cultures new to our country, including our Latino friends.  She writes Children’s books in English as well as in Spanish, hoping to encourage not only children learning to read, but to encourage other language learners to challenge themselves with lower level reading in English and Spanish.  Mommy and Mikel Go for a Walk/Mikel y mami dan un paseo is her first pair of books.  She includes a positive adult role model and a curious child with a unique learning experience in each story.

Rachel Eliason is a forty two year old transsexual writer living in the Midwest. She has a collection of short stories available at Amazon.com and Createspace. This is her first full length novel. Run Clarissa Run: “Life in a small town can be tough when you’re a little different, but for a fifteen year old transgender kid it can truly be hell. Clark is harassed daily at school for his effeminate behavior and appearance. He has no friends and a brother that is as likely to be on the teasing as to prevent it.
As Tony becomes aware of Clark’s transsexuality and his growing feminine alter ego, Clarissa, things become incredibly complicated. Will Tony be Clarissa’s salvation, or her undoing?”

Here we are, venturing into a new year – according to the calendar.

But, enough about that…let’s talk about something more important than new years and new beginnings.

I want to talk about me. Yeah, I said it! I want to talk about me. Why do I want to talk about me? Because, maybe by talking about things that bother me, someone out there can relate to what I have to say and we can make a difference in this world. Change things. Make it happen. Bring peace and happiness where there is currently a dull, black void of despair.

Okay, so maybe that’s putting too much pressure on us to make something happen. But, just think…if everybody put themselves to work and made one little, eensy, beensy bit of difference maybe it would add up to BIG change. BIG BIG change!

Here’s where I want to see change: the horrors and cruelty of the world, mainly to animals but also to those people who can’t defend themselves against it. I’m not going to rehash the horrors that have just happened in the past year, we’ve all seen it on TV and we know what’s going on in the world. Rehashing it isn’t going to make it better.

It’s time to make a difference, people! Stop sitting around, bemoaning and complaining about how bad the world has become and whining about the bad people in the world. Stop it! Do something about it! Let’s do something together! We don’t, actually, have to BE together to DO something together…I just mean let’s do something (all of us, on our own or with a group of others) and work toward that positive change!

My contribution – or one that I am thinking about doing, for starters – is to get involved in those causes near and dear to me (and for each person there will be something different, but you need to figure it out and go out and get involved) and that falls in two areas: animals, of course, and children. It’s a start.

#1) What I am capabale of doing is art, so what can I do with my art? Use it as a fund raising tool to help support my causes. My idea is to create artwork of the beautiful wild and exotic animals that are being threatened and make that artwork into notecards, etc. that I can sell to help fund organizations that are working to save these animals from the cruelty and savagery of mankind.

#2) I need to start researching local chapters of people pushing our politicians to make stricter laws against those who commit unspeakable crimes against children (anyone who knows me, knows how hard I took the news of Lyric and Elizabeth this past year). Maybe, get in touch with Noreen Gosch, find out what she’s doing and help her make it happen.

I would be good at these things. I am good at making myself heard (I can get in the faces of people and make them listen to me…call it a gift) so I need to use those unique talents! And I can produce artwork that would sell! I just need to start painting, again, and find a source to produce my product. This is all doable! And, what if I write a new book that is centered around these subjects and I can sell copies with part of the profits going toward the cause? Why not?

No excuses!

I’m revved! I will keep you informed on how it is going but I’m counting on my fans, friends and public to keep me on task and get behind me on this!

Let’s go change the world!

…wow, I used a LOT of exclamation points. I must really mean business!!!

As I sit here writing this, a winter storm is wreaking havoc outdoors. The first of the season, the first in a few years, and I accept the blame for daring Mother Nature to do her worst.

I have always loved wintertime. As a child I would spend hours building forts in the front yard until my mother had to drag me inside to eat or go to bed, otherwise I’d sleep outside in one of those forts. Maybe it’s because I was born in December that I am a winter fiend, I don’t know. I don’t hate summer but I sure don’t like the heat. I survive best when there’s a chill in the air.

The other reason for my love of the season? I no longer have to make excuses to stay indoors and play away at my computer, writing and writing and writing. You grow up hearing the words, “It’s nice outside, you should be outdoors enjoying it” but I prefer to be indoors when it’s hot out. Sure, I love a beautiful summer day just as much as the next guy, but there’s nothing as peaceful as a winter day right after a fresh snow. And, yes, I am just crazy enough to admit I love shoveling snow! Especially after dark. The neighborhood is quiet, a hoot owl talks to me from the woods behind my house, and even the cars that drive by are muffled by the snow on the street.

No hot-rodding, wheelies, or drag racing with screeching tires on snow covered surfaces! It’s heaven…until those people drag their snowmobiles out and race up and down the street. Oh well, I grab peace and tranquility wherever and whenever I can get it.

So now I get to spend my time writing, guilt free that there is a “beautiful” day outdoors that I am wasting.

The project I am working on right now is the sequel to my first book, “Ghosts, Gunman and the Grinning Cat.” My goal is to get it done and published by next spring. I am well on my way. I am near the end of the story and have started edits. As soon as I have settled on a title I will pursue a cover artist and get that part started, probably not until mid January.

This story is Roxie’s story. If you’re familiar with the first book, you know that Roxie is Danielle’s friend and partner. She is Goth, stoic, tiny in stature but mighty in opinions and plays a good balancing act to Danielle’s hyper personality.

Roxie has just been made partner in the hotel and has lots of plans for the historic old structure, first and foremost is the renovation of the last two floors (four and five). Unfortunately, in opening up those floors Roxie unwittingly opens the door to a treasure chest of long held family secrets that someone would prefer were left hidden.

It is a roller coaster of who-done-its and where-is-this-going-now that fans of the first book will find intriguing and keep them on the edge of their seat until the very last page!

So, stay tuned! As soon as I get that book done, there are three other stories rolling around in the planning stages that I am anxious to get going on!

Shucks! I LOVE being a writer!

At last! The 2012 political mumbo-jumbo is over, and nobody is happier about it than me.

Trust me! I loathe negativity and hatred…dare I say, I hate it?

It has been a fantastical amusement ride gone terribly wrong and I, for one, don’t want to get on that ride again!

I tried not to let it bother me, I tried to get on with my life and ignore the negative vomit being spewed by the media and anyone else with too much money out there, but unless you can hide away in a cave somewhere there’s no way to avoid it. It felt like they owned each and every one of us! They came into our homes through TV, radio, and newspapers then further added insult to injury by calling us on our phones and knocking on our doors. And this constant bombardment was legal. That’s the hardest part to swallow. It was abuse, assault and home invasion and yet considered legal!

Enough about it! It’s over and I hope we have all learned a [painful] lesson from it all.

I have. Get a good set of ear plugs and learn to use them!

I was seriously stressed out by it all, and I do not exagerate about that. The week leading up to the election I couldn’t sleep, I had headaches, panic attacks were a daily occurence and I was consumed with feelings of doom and gloom. The media had me convinced that the end of the world was coming…and soon! Everywhere you went people were bickering and fighting, as though it were a civil war out there! And then there was Facebook! I deleted over 200 people from my page because of their negative and hateful comments.

What happened to people? Had they been this horrible all along and all it took was to have the media stir them up and get them going at each other?

Or was it more than that?

Somebody told me yesterday, that it is all in the ultimate plan of the Universe – or Nostradamus, whichever you prefer to believe – that right now (until the end of 2012) the world is destined to be a giant boiling kettle of hatred, negativity, and violence. The end of the world is supposed to happen on December 21st so we just need to hold on until then.

All will correct itself come 2013. In fact, 2013 is supposed to be the year that all your dreams will come true…okay, so maybe I made that part up. But one can hope, right?

This has been such a painfully disappointing year that I want to put my own prediction out there, shout it to the Universe, make my intentions known. Here it is:

2013 will be MY year.

Everything I have worked toward, will come to me. My year of abundance, my year of phenomenal success, the year I will finally be surrounded with joy and happiness.

And I wish to share that with all those I care about!

Let’s make it happen!

I decided to publish my collection of names that I have gathered over the years.

Now available in Kindle and print books at Amazon!

 http://www.amazon.com/Name-Sourcebook-for-Writers-ebook/dp/B009S7W6F8/ref=sr_1_11?ie=UTF8&qid=1350507103&sr=8-11&keywords=malynda+mccarrick

I dream of being a wildly successful author in 4 easy steps:

1) People buy my books and actually read them

2) They tell me they love my books and give glowing reviews anywhere and everywhere they can

3) I get to keep writing more books because I enjoy it and readers love them – I know, because they’ve told me they do!

4) Repeat steps 1 through 4 indefinitely

I wonder if any other writers have this dream…