THE END OF THE ROAD

I've been writing this blog since 2012, and I think I've come to the end of the road on this site.  How I've managed to keep up amazes me,  especially in 2020.  This is the year that the pandemic seems to have put me on what I call creative crack.  My creativity has soared.  I finished  Someone Like Them a romantic suspense novel, (or is it Women's Fiction , I'm not sure anymore.)   I finished writing a mystery novel with my writing partner, L. Barnett Evans.  I also started two new novels.  One is a historical mystery and the other one is general fiction with political and social overtones.  Plus, earlier this year I wrote a play titled Ebony Eagles, the third work in a trilogy of plays I started in 2017.  All three plays have won or been finalists in  national play festivals.  I wrote Ebony Eagles in March 2020 and the play has been a finalist in two festivals and has won a third. I couldn't be happier with those results.  It has been quite a year.  However, I think it's time to find a new name for this blog, a new direction since I'm expanding my writing muscles, and probably a new blog platform. 

In 2021 Someone Like Them should be released, and if we can find an agent, hopefully, the thriller Retribution, written by L. Barnett  Evans and me, should be released by 2022.  In addition, I was the recipient of a prestigious award from my local Arts Council to indulge in a creative endeavor that will keep me on the road for a while.  So, I'm not sure if I'm going to keep up this blog or start a new one.  I have yet to decide.  Meanwhile I do have a website which I would like readers to visit:  www.crystalrhodes.com.  

I want to wish everyone a Happy New Year.  s we all know, the year 2020 has been one for the ages.      

A NEW COURSE OR THE SAME OLD DIRECTION

 I love to write and at times I admit that I overdo it.  Right now I'm doing the 5th edit of my romantic suspense/women's lit novel, SOMEONE LIKE THEM, which I've been writing about all year and have yet to deliver (but it's coming).  I'm doing edits on one of my old romantic suspense novels, SMALL SENSATIONS, for re-release in the future.  I'm working on completing the edits on a thriller co-written with my writing partner, L. Barnette Evans, from the Grandmothers, Incorporated cozy mystery series.  I'm turning one of my plays into a general fiction novel, which is easier than I thought it would be.  I'm busy entering my latest full-length play, Ebony Eagles, in playwriting contests and I recently received word that it is a finalist in one of the competitions.  On top of this I've also committed myself to writing a brand new play for one organization and working with a theatre to set up a reading of another play. Those two things happen if I win monies from two different arts organizations.  Yeah, I'm overextending myself, but I wouldn't have it any other way.  

The other day I received information about an on-line book app that specializes in hooking readers up with romance novels.  Of course I had to look into it.  I liked with I saw and now I'm considering re-releasing some of my former novels, SIN, SWEET SACRIFICE and SINFUL INTENTIONS, among others, on that app--with rewrites and updates of course.  At times it seems that although I'm setting a brand new course for myself as a writer in some areas, I'm still steeped in the same old direction in others.  Oh, well!  That's my life, and I LOVE IT!  

   

FINDING MY WRITING STRIDE

My last blog stated how I was on my fourth edit of my next novel,  Someone Like Them.  Well, scratch that, I am now on my fifth edit and counting.  I've agonized on why this book is taking me so long to get right.  Why have I not been satisfied by the main character in this book.  The personalities for the protagonists in my other novels came so easily.  Eventually, it came to me.  The protagonists in Someone Like Them started out weak, and I cannot write about weak women, mainly because I don't know any.  I was raised by strong, competent, independent women who taught me to be a strong, competent, independent woman, and that's what I write about.  In Someone Like Them I was trying to create a character I really didn't know.  Thank goodness I've finally discovered who she is, and no matter how long it takes, Wanda Carson is going to shed her light brightly in Someone Like Them.

Meanwhile, for those writers of color who might be looking for a writing community to join, I would like to suggest  Crime Writers of Color (CWOC).  Most of its members write crime and mystery novels, which I write with the co-author of our Grandmothers, Incorporated cozy mystery novels.   However, I do believe that there are some writers who are members of the group who don't write mysteries.  Nevertheless, I think it is a group worth exploring.   I stumbled on CWOC by accident a few months ago.  I find the members to be very supportive of each other and the information they share is very helpful.  I've attended a few panels and workshops that the group has held via Zoom and I've been very pleased with the results.  It cost nothing to join the group.  Simply put Crime Writers of Color in the Google search engine.  The name should come up and you can read about them.   If you're interested, follow the directions regarding how you can become a member.    

 Until next time...  

COVID and BLACK LIVES MATTER CREATIVITY

Okay, so I'm still working on Someone Like Them.  I'm on my fourth edrt and going strong, because the critique on my first edit wasn't very good, and I'm waiting for the critique on my third edit.  This covid crisis has been good for me insofar as I've given myself more time to do just about everything, which improves the quality of what I do, from writing books to writing plays.  I'm proud of that, and it's a lesson I should have learned sooner.  But, better later than never.

The Black Lives Matters movement  has turned out to be quite an advantage for Americans in general, but for black creativity specifically.  I've never seen so many pubishers looking for African American material, or so many producers looking for African American content.  I'm thinking about acquiring a literary agent for Someone Like Them and for another one of my novels I hope to re-release.  I figure that I ought to strike while the iron is hot.  Who knows how long this interest in black writers will last.  If we go by historical trends in this country this interest in all things black coud be over by the end of the year.

That's all for now.  Stay Safe!             

A WRITER' S EBB AND FLOW

 It seems like I've been working forever on my latest novel, SOMEONE LIKE THEM .  This pandemic has heightened my creativity instead of lessen it.  I've been working on two books and a new play all at once, so getting my latest romantic suspense novel out has been slow since I'm doing so much.  However, I wouldn't do it any other way.  I'd get bored if I worked on one thing at a time.

I've made progress on each of my projects.  My latest play, Ebony Eagles, is finished, and I've entered it into several play contest.  I'm still working with my writing partner on our latest mystery novel, but  it's about to be completed very soon.  As for SOMEONE LIKE THEM, I'm on my third edit of this book. Each time it gets better and better, so I have no complaints.  I hoped to have the book out this year, but that may not happen.  I'd rather put a good book out there than a rushed book.  I want it to be a book that I am proud to have written.

Meanwhile, thanks to all of those people who went to Smashwords.com to get my books last month.  Two of them were free during the month of July, but there were a lot of sales of my other books as a result of readers liking the stories from my free books.    I really appreciate the support!         

SMASHWORDS SUMMER/WINTER SALE!

Smashwords.com is at it again.  The book site is holding another sale for all of the summer sun worshippers.  Of course I'm participating in this sale. Through the entire month of JULY, all of my ebooks at the Smashwords.com site are on sale for only $1.50 and THREE of my BOOKS are FREE:  SINFUL INTENTIONS, SWEET SACRIFICE and WHOSE KNIFE IS IT ANYWAY? 

SWEET SACRIFICE is the second book in the Sin Series, and it was nominated for an award by an on-line review site.  SINFUL INTENTIONS is the third book in the Sin Series and I have to say it is one of the best books that I've written.  It only took me three months to write it, and I didn't use an outline.  The words just came to me, flowing like a river.  I still don't know how I did it.  As for
WHOSE KNIFE IS IT ANYWAY? This is the latest cozy mystery novel in the Grandmothers, Incorporated series that I write with my writing partner, L. Barnett Evans. It's very funny.   So, go to Smashwords, pick an ebook, read and enjoy .

PRODUCTIVITY PLUS!

I've been so busy that I nearly missed this month's blog post. It seems that the pandemic is affecting different people different ways, and I'm one of those people who seems to be thriving while sheltering in place during this pandemic.  I've finished two books and a play!  The first draft of my third book in the Stillwaters Series, Someone Like Me, is finished and is now in the process of being edited.  It seems like I've been writing this book forever.  

My writing partner for the Grandmothers, Incorporated cozy mysteries, L. Barnett Evans,  and I have been busy writing a  new thriller that is very different then our usual work..  We've been working on this book since 2016 (can you believe it!) and we finally finished.   We're in the editing stage now.

 As for my playwriting, one of my One Act plays. won another play festival  (my third in four years).  It will be presented in Columbus, Ohio next year, that is if the pandemic is over.   During April and May of this year I made sure that all of my books were a part of the Authors Giving Back sale at Smashwords.com.  The sale was quire successful.  Thank you to the many readers who purchased my books.   

AUTHORS GIVING BACK SALE CONTINUES!

The authors on Smashwords.com continue to respond to the shelter in place directive that citizens are being asked to follow, and we are extending the  AUTHORS GIVE BACK sale that started in April.  Titles continue to be offered at 60% off through May 31, 2020! 

This means that all of my romance suspense titles in ebook format are only $1.20 on Smashwords.  The title that launched my career as an author SIN,  remains absolutely FREE during the entire month of  May!

In addition, through May 2020, the hilarious novel, There's Something Wrong with Miss Zelda,  one of the funniest titles in the Grandmothers, Incorporated cozy book series that I write with my writing partner, L. Barnett Evans, is being offered FREE on Smashwords this month!  All of the books in this series are also on sale.  Don't miss out on this opportunity to read a good book.

Go to Smashwords.com. CLICK on one of my titles, and ENJOY!   

AUTHORS GIVE BACK SALE!

In these precarious times when nearly everyone in the country is sheltering in place to protect each other from the virus that has overtaken our country, the authors on Smashwords are responding. We are offering 60% off our titles during the AUTHORS GIVE BACK Sale through the month of April, 2020. 

This means that all of my romance suspense titles in ebook format are only $1.20 on Smashwords.  To kick the book reading off,  the title that launched my career as an author SIN, is absolutely FREE during the entire month of April!

In addition, Whose Knife is it Anway?  the latest titled in the Grandmothers, Incorporated cozy book series that I write with my writing partner, L. Barnett Evans, is on sale as well!  All of the books in this series are cheap this month, so don't miss out on the opportunity to read a good book.

Go to Smashwords.com. CLICK on one of my titles, and ENJOY!   

SMASHWORDS READ AN EBOOK WEEK IS BACK!

The 11th Annual Read an Ebook Week Sale Kicked off Sunday, March 1 and runs through Saturday, March 7 on Smashwords.com.  

My romantic suspense books will be on sale for 50% Off.  These are only some of the titles on sales:

Sin

Sinful Intentions

Sweet Sacrifice

Secrets

Strangers 

Shadows of Love 

Go to Smaswords.com, use the Half Price Coupon and Enjoy the Read!

A REWARDING MONTH FOR WRITING

I've been very busy this month and nearly missed writing this month's blog.  I had my playwright hat on and was privileged to be one of the winners of the Ivoryton Playhouse Theatre's Women Playwrights Initiative for 2020.  My One Act drama, 1200 MILES FROM JEROME, was given a  staged reading at the Ivoryton Playhouse, located in Connecticut, and it was quite a success. 

The play is set in 1942 during WW II.  It is about a courageous teacher and members of an African American family who are transporting a young Japanese American boy who has escaped from an interment camp in Jerome, Arkansas to New York City where he can be shielded by relatives.  Danger is lurking for the car's occupants every miles it will take to get there, and along the way a lot of truth is revealed.

Below is the link to the TV interview I gave while in Connecticut on a program titled "A CERTAIN AGE", with  host Li Hayes.  The interview was broadcast in Connecticut only, but it will tell you a lot about my career as a writer:

Crystal Rhodes - Author/Playwright TV Interview

Also, here are some photos from the powerful play reading that was held at the Ivoryton Playhouse Theatre in Ivoryton, Connecticut. Everyone involved in putting on the Women Playwrights Initiative for 2020 did a wonderful job!

The Cast of 1200 MILES FROM JEROME

(l to r) Justine Hall, Brie Covington, Jacob Goodhart, Kathryn Markey (Director) Crystal Rhodes (playwright) Renee Sutherland and Denise Johnson

Director, Kathryn Markey in front of the Ivoryton Playhouse Theatre in Ivoryton, Connecticut 

HELLO 2020!!

Here we are in the first year of a new decade, and I welcome it with open arms!  Last year was so fantastic for me creatively that I'm giddy with excitement to see what 2020 will bring.  My goal to finish the first draft of Someone Like Them by the end of 2019 was achieved.  I finished the final draft on December 31st, New Years Eve.  While other people were partying fervently, I was writing feverishly.  Such is the life of a writer.  It's not all wine and roses.

I look forward to going through Someone Like Them again, to fine tune it.  I like my character,  Wanda Carson.  She is a 50 year old grandmother who she is living a dream that can only be imagined by others.  Unfortunately, she discovers that all that glitters is not gold.

Someone Like Them should be released by this fall, if not sooner.  Meanwhile, I'm also working on a new Two Act play.  My latest One Act Play, 1200 Miles from Jerome, which won the 2020 Women Playwrights Initiative, sponsored by the Ivoryton Playhouse in Connecticut, will enjoy a staged reading early this year.  I'm also writing another mystery novel with L. Barnett Evans, my talented co-author of the Grandmothers, Incorporated cozy mystery series.  It looks like 2020 will be as creatively satisfying as 2019.  I sure hope so.  Meanwhile, Happy New Year!