by jphilo | Jan 29, 2025 | Mystery Update, South Dakota, West River Mystery Series
Yesterday the plot thickened.
You may be asking yourself how can that be? Just last week, Jolene revealed the See Jane Ride! cover and said the manuscript was now in the concept editor’s hands for review. Does that mean the editor wants a total plot revision? Say it ain’t so!
Rest easy readers. It ain’t so.
The plot being referred to in this post’s title is for the yet-to-be-written sixth book in the West River Mystery series. To stay on track for its release in October of 2026, my handful of notecards about a mystery that takes place during prairie fire season needed a lot of thickening. That handful of cards was also intended to contribute to the overall arc of series and its overarching mystery. That needed some thickening too.
Yesterday afternoon’s plot workshop with Midwestern Book’s concept editor and I was thick enough to accomplish both aims.
I’m not gonna lie. It was a brutal afternoon. Mainly because the concept editor kept asking hard questions like:
- Why would such-and-such a character do that?
- What possible reason could there be for Velma to stay overnight this time?
- Is that concern big enough for Jane’s mom to get her underwear in a bunch?
- How will Jane’s students contribute to solving the mystery?
- What spiritual growth will Jane experience?
- What’s the community event that gathers the town together?
- What about Dick and Jane?
My initial answers to such unreasonable questions were:
- I haven’t thought that through yet. I just thought it would be funny.
- I’m not sure yet, but Dick is going to agree with Velma.
- Everything gets her Mom’s underwear in a bunch.
- Still working on that, but they will.
- Still working on that, but she will.
- I assumed coming together to fight prairie fires was a community event.
- What about them?
To which my diabolical editor replied:
- Think harder.
- Let’s brainstorm until we figure it out.
- True, but be more specific.
- We’re not moving on until you come up with something.
- Ditto.
- Wrong assumption.
- Time to brainstorm again.
Thanks to the editor’s uncanny ability to spot plot holes and not move on until they were plugged, we worked on thickening the plot for almost 4 hours.* The picture at the top of the page shows that by the end of the 4 hours, my handful of notecards had expanded to almost 50 and categorized into 5 “acts.” The feat is actually more impressive considering the number of cards we torn up and rewrote. They’re the messy pile visible in the bottom middle of the table.
At that point the diabolical editor abandoned me, citing a flimsy excuse. Something about frosting a birthday cake for her daughter who turned 7 yesterday. After she left I used the calendars ,also visible on the table, to fit the plot into a three week mid-September 1978 through early October 1978 timeline. Then I stacked and rubber banded the cards for each act in chronological order and then banded the acts together into one thick and beautiful plot outline.
Oh, the burden the brutal workshop afternoon lifted from my shoulders!
Oh, the joy!
Oh, the freedom!
Oh, to begin writing the first draft of Book 6** and doing research to keep the story historically accurate!
All this because yesterday, the plot thickened.
*Minus 1 potty break per person and 1 session each at the espresso machine.
**The name of the next See Jane book will be announced in a few months.
by jphilo | Jan 14, 2025 | Mystery Update
See Jane Ride! cover reveal time has arrived. I love the way the design captures the atmosphere of the book and hints at the reason “ride” is in the title.
Jane’s fans may be shaking their heads at the idea of her sporting a doo-rag and black leather. That attire was not worn by the average country school teacher in the late 1970s. Then again, readers of the first four West River Mystery books can tell you that Jane is not your average country school teacher. In case you doubt that, here’s a view of the full cover.
Though See Jane Ride! won’t be released until October 7, 2025, rest assured that your favorite Little Missourians will grace its pages: the sheriff and his hungry deputy, Jane’s boyfriend, the cranky school janitor, the couple who own and run the phone company, Jane’s students and their families, and her sewing partner. New characters run the gambit from family members who come for a South Dakota vacation to seedy-looking ne er do wells passing through town. Put them all together and you’ve got one wild ride!
The second draft of the manuscript is finished, which means the hardest part of the writing process is behind me. With that out of the way, you may be wondering why the book won’t be available until October. Here’s a quick rundown of what remains to be done:
- The manuscript is in the hands of the concept editor at Midwestern Books. Her job is to make sure the plot hangs together and that the writing is clear. She’ll suggest changes (revisions, additions, deletions) to improve the story.
- The concept editor will send her edits to me to look through. I either incorporate her suggestions into the manuscript or, in rare cases, don’t.
- The revised manuscript goes back to the concept editor who sends it to the line editor.
- The line editor proofreads for mechanics (capitalization, punctuation, spelling, grammar, spacing, omitted words, etc.). She also researches for historical accuracy, character consistency (physical descriptions, work place, kind of vehicle, etc.), and references to previous books in the series.
- She sends the revised document to me to either approve and make changes or not.
- Then I send my revisions to the publisher for typesetting.
- The editor sends me a digital copy of typeset book, which I send to possible endorsers.
- The publisher sends the book to several other proofreaders to catch the mechanical errors missed by the line editor, myself, and the typesetter.
- They send their error catches to the publisher who corrects the typeset copy.
- I collect and send the back cover endorsements to publisher.
All that gets done by June so the publisher has time to get the book on Amazon and work on marketing. In between all that, I do research for the next book and start its rough draft.
Telling you all this is making me very tired, so I’ll sign off before becoming completely overwhelmed. You, on the other hand, are invited to let See Jane Ride! cover reveal fire up your imagination, speculate on what Jane will be riding and what could possibly go wrong, and then share your ideas in the comment section below. Ready…set…go!
by jphilo | Dec 5, 2024 | Mystery Update
Welcome to the West River Mysteries Holiday Gift Guide. It was created for the soul purpose of simplifying your life.* It was also created to help you avoid busting your budget. The first two items do cost money and are the perfect gift for the cozy mystery readers on your list. The remaining items are free** and perfect for the authors in your life. Primarily for this author, though they can be adapted and given to other writers. Items 3 through 7 require no gift wrapping or card, which is always a plus.
Now, in the spirit of the holiday season, here are the gifts that made the cut for the completely altruistic West River Holiday Gift Guide.
- Inscribed, signed set of four paperbacks–– See Jane Run!, See Jane Sing!, See Jane Dance!, and See Jane Dig!––are available for $60.00, which includes shipping and tax. To take advantage of this offer, send me an email with the following information: your preferred payment method (Venmo, credit card, or check); instructions about how to inscribe the books, including the spellings of the name(s) to use; and your mailing address. Place your order by December 18 to receive it by Christmas. Sooner is better as there’s less chance you will chew your fingernails down to the quick while waiting for the books to arrive in time.
- Inscribed, signed sets of individual books can be purchased for $20.00. To order, follow the same instructions as above. Consider joining the Save Your Fingernails campaign by placing your order as soon as possible.
- Write reviews of each See Jane! book, as well as for those written by other authors you love, and post them on Amazon and GoodReads. Your reviews raise visibility and help readers decide if the book is for them.
- Recommend the series to friends. Gush about the books if you are so inclined. Positive word of mouth advertising is highly effective!
- Recommend the series (and books from other authors you enjoy) to your local library. A certain amount of their book buying budget is earmarked for purchasing patron-requested items.
- Like and share social media posts about the West River books. Doing so increases visibility and gives them legs.
- Join Down the Gravel Rd on Facebook to get background information about the series and early peeks at what I’m writing before anyone else does.
I hope the West River Mysteries Holiday Gift Guide adds sparkle and magic to your life as you prepare to celebrate the season with family and friends. On behalf of Jane, her students, the citizens of Little Missouri, and Snippy the cow, we wish you a Merry Christmas!
*Actually it was also designed to boost book sales, but you can ignore that angle completely.
**They were designed to boost book sales as well…another angle to ignore.
by jphilo | Oct 10, 2024 | Mystery Update, See Jane Dig!, See Jane Ride!
An update about See Jane Dig! launch week is most certainly in order, so here’s a quick recap:
- The publisher reports that almost 5,000 books in the series (most of them for See Jane Dig!) were sold.
- At its height, its Amazon rank reached #2 in Cozy Mysteries, #2 in Amateur Sleuths, and #4 in Women Sleuths. Way to go, Jane!
- So far the book has received thirteen 5 star rankings and one 4 star ranking.
- Seven reviews have been written and posted so far. Special thanks to those who have posted reviews. They are so valuable as many potential buyers read them before making a purchase. You can post a review any time. After a book gathers 50 reviews, Amazon increases its promotional efforts.
Now on to See Jane Dig! fun on the docket for this fall:
- Chocolaterie Stam in Ames (230 Main St, Ames, IA) is once again hosting Jane’s book launch party. It will be held on Saturday, November 2 from 10:30 AM until noon. There will be a book signing, a reading of the first chapter, free chocolate, door prizes, a gift basket silent auction, live music, and The Stam may be hosting a wine tasting that morning. How fun is that? It would be great to see you there.
- Twin Cities friends, mark your calendars for November 16. I’ll be one of four mystery authors participating in a book signing at the Once Upon a Crime Bookstore (604 W. 26th Street Minneapolis, MN 55405) from noon until 2 PM. My sister lives in the area and will be attending, so you can meet her too!
One more thing that’s not really an update about See Jane Dig! launch week, though it did happen during launch week.
Drum roll please,,,,
The first draft of the next book in the series, See Jane Ride! is done. Can you hear me shouting wahoo? That’s because finishing a first draft means this author has her life back.
But wait! There’s more…
The cover for See Jane Ride! is finalized, and I’m in love with it. That’s all the excitement I can stand in one blog post, but stay tuned as the cover will be revealed in an upcoming post very soon!
by jphilo | Jan 25, 2024 | Mystery Update, See Jane Dig!, See Jane Ride!
A West River Mystery progress report is in order, so that’s what you’re getting today. Check out these small things about See Jane Dig! (Book 5) and See Jane Ride! (Book 6) that are making my heart go pitter pat.
- My editor reported that she’s read most of the See Jane Dig! manuscript. She said it’s not terrible. Whew!
- See Jane Dig! should be released in October of 2024.
- The See Jane Ride! plotting workshop with my editor has been moved up to January 29. I had to cancel a vacation and several speaking engagements while waiting for my hip/leg/back issues to resolve. As a result I’m ahead of schedule on research and brainstorming and want to turn recovery time into writing time as well.
- I started my research by reading Rally Rewind: 75 Years of Sturgis and paying special attention to accounts of details about the 1978 rally. That’s the year when See Jane Ride! takes place, and I want it to be as authentic as possible.
- Next up was an interview with my cousin who started attending the rally in 1977, an event he and his wife still participate in. He contributed several colorful memories that I can’t wait for Jane to experience too.
- Monthly calendars for June, July, and August of 1978 have been printed. The rally dates for that year, along with those for the Tipperary County Fair and Jane’s teacher inservice are on the calendar and ready to be consulted during the plotting workshop.
- Last but not least, you all came through with biker name suggestions. Here’s the complete list: Gunner, Rooster, Sweetie Pie, Tiny, Mouse, Crankshaft, Knucklehead, Loser, Skid, Smoke, Lifter, Flywheel, Flathead, Wanderer, Spoke, Burnout, and last but not least, Stryker the Biker and his sidecar sidekick, Hitch the Hiker.
Which one (or two) do you like best? Leave your favorites in the comment box. That’ll make my heart go pitter pat too.
by jphilo | Jan 11, 2024 | Mystery Update, See Jane Ride!, Sturgis rally
Do you want to help name a few characters who will appear in an upcoming West River Mystery? To be clear, I’m not talking about See Jane Dig!, the next book in the series which will be released in October of 2024. The characters in Dig! already have names and the first draft of the manuscript is with the editor. What I am talking about is the fifth in the series, See Jane Ride!
I know, it’s confusing. Thank goodness I like working ahead. Here’s the scoop on progress so far:
- Brainstorming for Book 5, See Jane Ride!, is underway.
- When brainstorming, ideas matter more than spelling. Be gentle regarding the brainstorming clip above.
- See Jane Ride! takes place in July of 1978.
- The Sturgis Motorcycle Rally will be woven into the plot. So will a few bikers.
- Sturgis rallies from the mid-seventies to mid-eighties were in the tens of thousands rather than the hundreds of thousands the event now boasts. Tens of thousands are still a lot of people in a town of under 10,000. Believe it or not, rallies were wilder and crazier back then than they are now.
- Some of those tens of thousands meandered into Harding County when we lived there. A few will wander through Tipperary County in See Jane Ride! also.
You’re invited to suggest names for the bikers who show up in the story. They’ll be big, beefy people (perhaps two men, though a man and a woman would be more interesting.) They’ll wear leathers and bandanas. That’s as far as my imagination will go until the two bikers are named. It’s hard for me to fully envision them until then.
They need names soon so I can write their character studies before meeting with my editor on February 14 to workshop the plot. (In honor of Valentine’s Day, a cherry pie will be in the oven. Dessert is good motivation for any task and the best way to celebrate a holiday.)
So I ask you again, do you want to help name a few characters for Book 5 in the series? If so, you can leave them in the comment section or click the contact button at the top of the page and send your ideas via email by February 1. I can’t wait to read your suggestions!
