I’ve written two other suspense novels besides Deadly Choices, but it’s been hell getting them published. I think that’s because I wrote Deadly before starting my ADHD meds. Thus, my first novel was one mad dash to the finish line in only 211 pages! The premise was simple: A female paramedic kidnaps the baby she just delivered, then gives it to her best friend, a Born-Again Christian foster care mom, to raise as her own. Friendship, trust, betrayal. It was fascinating to explore how easily a person can tiptoe over the line of legality to reach their heart’s desire.
Deadly Choices won Third Place for Mystery Fiction at the Police Writers Association Conference (currently the Public Safety Writers Association) in Las Vegas, 2006.
Fatal Reaction and Window of Guilt have been more complicated sells. Although previously represented by a Florida literary agent, I pulled both manuscripts after a handful of months because I felt they needed re-editing. We’re talking 300 pages per book, here. Ideas need to be clear, concise, and there needs to be lots of red herrings — fake leads — in the plot line progression.
Now I’m ready to start again. Looking for an ambitious agent to get me there. I do lots of my own marketing and speak throughout the country so it shouldn’t be a problem. Hopefully! And I am on my ADHD meds now!
Author Jennie’s First Blog
StandardThis is my first blog ever. I want to devote it to Julia and Julie. This is the new movie in which Julie, a bored government worker, resolves to teach herself to cook by preparing each of Julia Child’s 524 French cooking recipes in just 365 days, then blogging about the experience. Fascinating to contemplate whether this yummy movie will inspire us to toss our frozen pizzas in the trash and begin cooking healthy meals from scratch.
When it comes to this Movie, the word “healthy” is really an oxymoron. “Butter” is the Numero Uno word in this movie, as in “Everything tastes better when it’s cooked in butter.” That cooking theme doesn’t do much for food lovers with clogged arteries or three-hundred pound thighs. But it sure causes one to reflect on how these French dishes would taste with low fat ingredients sauteed in butter-substitute.
I should tell you that before becoming a published suspense author, I was a freelance journalist for newspapers and magazines. I’m used to asking questions. Thus, each of my blogs will pose a question for you to think about or discuss with me or a friend. My first question is: Are you the type of person who would feel comfortable messing with the printed instructions of a recipe in order to change the nutritional value of that recipe? Or maybe you popped open a cookbook, found a tantalizing recipe, but realized that your pantry was missing one or two ingredients. Would you prepare the recipe anyway? Why or why not?
Jennie Spallone 