Charity and Fiction

Recently, I’ve been part of several projects that give the proceeds to charity. In some cases, the connections are obvious. That’s the case with MURDER ON WHEELS, written by the Austin Mystery Writers, giving half the proceeds to Meals on Wheels in the Austin area. (We’re proud that, two years after publication, we’re still able to buy a few meals for them.)

If/when I get it written, I’m contributing to an upcoming anthology that will give ALL the royalties away. (More about that later.) Honestly, with short story anthologies, we’re not talking about a huge sum—it’s money I won’t miss and that the organizations can use.

I’m proud to say that the donations that will come from DAY OF THE DARK: Stories of Eclipse will be all over the map—somewhat like the stories themselves. Here’s a smattering of where our dollars will go.

*Earth and Sky

*Petconnect Rescue in Maryland; this wonderful organization "enlightens" the public on the benefits of adoption through shelters and rescue organizations and provides renewal and a new life to animals.

*Natural Resources Defense Council

*Science Center in Finland

*DonorsChoose.org, shining light on inner city schools in the Bronx

*Friends of Goldendale Observatory

*Friends of the Earth

*Morehead Planetarium

*Texas Museum of Science and Technology

*DAPCEP.org for STEM education for future astronomers and scientists in Detroit

and personal friends in need.

I’m thrilled that the authors in DAY OF THE DARK are so filled with the spirit of light and life in their generosity. This project has been one of the most gratifying things I’ve done in my writing career. I hope those who read the book will enjoy it as much as I have so far.

What connections does your fiction have with charity?

PS. You can pre-order this at Wildside Press.  

Only as Good As?

They say a writer is only as good as her last book. True, very true. If you’ve turned out a string of pearls and deliver a lump of coal, that’s what you’ll have to overcome in the next book.

I don’t think I’ve done that yet. Not to brag (OK, it’s bragging), but one reader says each Duckworthy book is better than the last one. I’m not examining that sentiment far enough to see what it says about the first two. Nope, not doing it.

But what occurred to me yesterday, as I completed a scene that I very much like, and one that popped up all on its own, as they are wont to do, is that maybe a writer is only as good as her last chapter. Her last paragraph? Her last sentence?

No wonder writers exist in a constant state of mild anxiety, broken up by periods of sheer terror, usually induced by deadlines.

Am I overthinking this? Maybe not. After all, you can’t stick awful sentences into your paragraphs and just continue on your blithe way. They all have to be crafted. They all have to hang together. Nothing must impede the reader, speeding through your deathless prose, turning the pages into the night—ideally.

When we do put in a stumbling block, we sure do depend on our beta readers to point those out to us so we can smooth the way.

This is very much on my mind as I finish up the second Fat Cat book and embark on the third. The first one was so well received, that I can’t believe the second one will measure up, let alone the third. All I can do is write the best book I can and fling it out there. Talk about a wing and a prayer!

I will add that I depend on my publishers’ editors to keep me on the straight and narrow to producing an entertaining book. However, it’s my name on the cover, right? One of my names, anyway.

This blog is duplicated at Janet's place,http://janetcantrell.blogspot.com/.