Chewing the Pencil

Home is where the writing materials are

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Los Angeles: Interview by Alex Kent:

Born in the United States to an Air Force test pilot, Niki Chanel spent her formative years in Europe. One of three girls, she moved frequently - often not finishing a school year where she started.

"What was it like?" I asked her.

"Oh, sometimes, they would tap me on the shoulder and say, 'Come with me if you want to live.' Well, 'come with me…', anyway." She smiles at me coyly. "Then they would take me to the police car parked outside. The vehicle was labeled AP's for Air Police, but we all called them apes. They, in turn, drove me to the flight-line where I was reunited with my family, but not before I had wondered seriously about what I might have done to warrant an arrest. The school kept information from me about what was going on... and they kept my favourite lunchbox - and my lunch!"

Quiet parental conversations that involved the details of job assignments and upcoming transfers were withheld from the girls, so it was always a surprise to Niki when the moving trucks came to pack things. It was even more of a surprise when her stuff was missing when they reached their final destination. "Kids don't get respect." She looks at me as if to also say, "You know?"

Later in life, Niki was to learn that her sister's suffered similar, though different, confusing lives. "I always thought it was just me."

Each daughter found a different way to cope: One escaped into comedy, one into fantasy and Niki into ancient history and mystery. All three of them write.

Niki Chanel now lives in Los Angeles. She studied for her BFA (bachelor of fine arts) from California Institute of the Arts, a G.G. (Graduate Gemmologist degree) from the Gemological Institute of America and has studied ancient Egyptian history since the 6th grade. "Thank you Mrs. Vescovi!"

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Tongue Twister Titles

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It has been said that dyslexia is a gift. Upon first hearing this I thought it was a joke - an awkward one. For me, dyslexia can be vexing. You see, I am dislexic and can have great difficulty reading or finding the right word. I sometimes switch parts of sentences with others causing the original meaning to be lost. The up side of this practice is that the warped meaning is often quite funny, and everybody can all use a laugh.

In time I came to learn what was meant by the gift idea. In order for a dislexic mind to make its way in this world, it must adapt: find quick solutions and use tricks to cope. The most common technique is to have far more words at one's disposal so if the best one is illusive, an appropriate substitute can be utilzed.

Once the brain has this procedure down, it can be used in other arenas; problem solving, for example. If you want something done that can't be done - ask a dyslexic. Dyslexia is home of the out-of-the-box thinkers. This brings me to my point: some of my fondest inspirations have come from dyslexic snafus. If my sister blircles the sock (circles the block) my next mental visual might be a spirally patterned pair of socka or stocking feet that spin... etc. Each of these thoughts gives rise to another and another internal picture and eventually I have an ah-ha for my next character or chapter.

Recently, I found a book of tongue twisters and thinking 'this aught to be what dysexics should avoid', I bought the book. I was surprised I could say each one outloud - flawlessly. But how is that possible? Eureka! I'm cured! But then I notice I was still applying the repair tactics of visualising the silly thing I was reading. Curses.

'Normal' people have trouble saying these little peter-pipers but I, who ordinarally had a dreadful time of it and made tongue twisters out of daily jargon, was at home in this land of tangled terms. I found myself thinking that if I could gently introduce this form of prose to others, they could experience this world of the gift, could learn to think out of the box; outsiders could get a feel for dyslexia with these tongue twisters! I could be all: 'Welcome to my world' and be lonely no longer. Then it hit me: a world of snarles and kinks could be fun! 'That's it! ' I could even title some of my books with tongue twisters to get my readers in the mood. Turn about really could be fair play!

So if you are not one of us that see letters rotated, misplaced or up-side down, you may enjoy yourself on my turf of twisted terms.

Dyslexia can be a powerfully creative tool.

What Made Me Do It?

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When I was in high school, I had an accident that caused me to be bed ridden for months. To ensure that I would gradiate, my teachers prepared work for me to do at home. All of the assignments were easy - straight forward... except English.

I was to write in a journal every day, read novels and write papers. Journal? Check. Read? Check. Write? "What Should I write about?" I asked my instructor. He sent me a series of articles he had picked up from various sources and told me to choose one and comment on my opinions rearding the subject matter or talk about how it made me feel. One of the pieces was about fire walking in Ceylon.

Chanel writes from Wrongs

Lifetime of living with nutty people kinda makes you crazy

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Los Angeles : "My therapist told me to face my fears, so I write about what I'm afraid of. " N.C.

A multi genre author, Niki Chanel comes to us from an artistic background of paint, film and ancient history. So it is no mystery that she should write stories of artists, celebrities and kings. But what does surprise are the local werewolves, evil twins and ghosts of nuns that have 'everyman' personalities, quirks and neurotic tendencies.

Niki Chanel in Barcelona, Spain (Catalonia)

"One of my sisters and I are dyslexic and the other sister is left handed. We were told that these anomalies are two sides of the same coin. I guess that makes us Leftists"

Foreign Bodies : romantic science-based intrigue

American college students vie for the love of foreign exchange students, a grand prize contest for a 'killer' job and money... but first they have to save the world.

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The Third Cake : romantic comedy

A love affair erupts from a grudge between an art gallery owner and a critic.

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Tomfoolery : intrigue

An investigative reporter from Florida gets lost in Toronto, Canada, endangers the lives of half a dozen people and falls in love with a neurotic flirt when he goes off his assignment in pursuit of a deadly hunch.

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Black Bug's Blood* : romantic paranormal

Fred is on a quest: he must help the townspeople locate a missing person, try to save a damsel in distress and he is so close to solving a crime he can smell it... and why not? Fred is a dog!

Excerpt ~

Click. Buzzz. It was over. The ensuing silence caused Bernie to lapse into a minor panic attack. She killed Fred! She fried him like a meatball sandwich in a microwave!

"I think he's coming 'round. It would be best for you to be with him when he wakes. Why don't you go be with…Fred. Is that his name?" Bernie nodded. "I've got to write up the procedures and get an antibiotic injection for him. Don't move him, yet. Just keep him calm. I'll be back shortly."

Bernie wrapped his arms around the half-sized mummy that was Fred - or what was left of him. Leaning on elbows, he searched for the sign of life that Darlene had witnessed. After what seemed like an eternity Fred's eye rolled under a blood stained eyelid and Bernie yelled in a hysterical whisper "He's alive! Oh, thank God! Thank you, God. No… wait! Why am I thanking God? Would God let this happen? Fred hasn't done anything to deserve this!" Bernie's anger mounting, he found himself fighting off the internal beast again, complete with twitching.

A small sound from Fred, brought Bernie back and he realized he had squeezed a wound. "Oh, shit, buddy, I'm sorry. You're awake. I know it hurts. The doc's gonna give you something for the pain and probably something to help you sleep. I'm so sorry this happened to you." Dr. Darlene Hutchinson had appeared in the doorway with a syringe and a manila file folder. Respecting the moment, she stood in silence until Bernie noticed her. "Doc can you do anything for the pain?"

"Right here." She raised the hypodermic cocktail. Eyes fixed on Fred, she announced, "I have some medical advice for you."

"Whatever you say, doc; you're the best and I thank you from the bottom of my heart for everything you've done. I'll do anything you suggest."

"Like I said… my medical advice…" She peered at him in shrewd evaluation.

"Yes…?"

"I think you need a drink."

*Originally titled Fingernail Moon

Revenge Court : horror

The future of criminal law has been irrepairably changed by a heinous deed. Now the guilty are no longer encarserated - they are hunted.

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Taking It Personally : gay

A young man, terrified to admit he might be gay, stresses his way through life in a series of hilarious and sometimes introspective experiences where we can all see a bit of ourselves in an underworld of glamour, creativity and alcohol. A bit more unexpected is an exhortation of a gendre-confused male photographer's "coming-out", learning to live with a new lifestyle befriending Howard.

Pistacio : sweet romance

A young mother has been hurt in love and it takes her small child to break the spell of sadness so she can love again.

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Latch-key Lover : erotic

Audry was never that interested in boys so when her best friend finds out she has a lover, she wants to meet him. However this is not possible because Audry, herself, doesn't know him.

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Revamped : paranormal

An elderly spinster has befriended some younger women. Everything is chummy until one of them disappears and all that remains is a bit of blood..

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Trinket : historical mystery & intrigue

An epic tale of future sight and a race against an ultimate evil to save humankind from eternal slavery.

references

"Trust your hunches. They're usually based on facts filed away just below the conscious level."

~ Dr. Joyce Brothers

RWA Nationals 2008 in SF

30 June - 3 Aug, 2008

COMMENTARY

San Francisco, California : Although the 2008 Romance Writer's of America, though global, started on Thursday 31 July, my RWA courses started on Wednesday because I am primarily a script writer and Wednesday was the Scriptscene members lecture day. (Scripscene is an offshoot of RWA). Wonderful. Fabulous. I enjoyed every minute with Leighanne Haddock, set decorator; James Dalessandro, veteran screenwriter and author; Marilyn R. Atlas, award-winning producer and personal manager among other vivacious and enlightened members.

The book signing was enthusiastically attended by hundreds of RWA members from all over the planet. About 450 authors were organized alphabetically making it easy to find your favourite for a face-to-face conversation, photo and autograph. Nora Robert's, J.R. Ward and the like were drawing the longest lines and crowds, of course. Ahh, stardome.

The Awards Luncheon was tasty,as usual. I was delighted to find 2 paperbacks on my chair. One of them being Jessica Andersen's "Night Keepers" about the 2012 final prophesies. You really should go see her website - quite spectacular! I met her at Romantic Times in Pittsburg earlier this year and was impressed by her energy and personal power. She was also rooming with a friend of mine. The premise of "Night Keepers" involves the Aztec calendar that follows the celestial aligning of the planets as they queue up facing the center of our galaxy every 25,000 years or so. Some think it will be the end for us here on Earth. Others believe the magnetic poles will flip causing some, but not undo, disturbances. Still some think the calendar can only be so big and the last date of 12.21.2012 is trinary coincidence. Still the websiet is cool, complete with a countdown clock!

Anyway, getting back to the luncheon... Connie Brockway is a an enthusiastic and talented performer perfect for just such a venue. She was prepared with writer's 'ditties' and songs to go with them. She sang (and got us to sing along) played piano like a fiend and cracked the right amount of jokes - all pertinent. Very entertaining and inspiring. Besides, she looked great!!

The course: Writing between the Lines" got my attention. Goodie bits about tags, beats, movement and 'M' dashes were intersperses between how male dialogue should be writen shorter than female dialogue because it is more real and how to show what a character is thinking without quotes, underlinings or italics: ie. He watched her fingers slowly exploring the dogs fur. (You know what he's thinking:)

I was fortunate enough to find a seat in the Cherry Adair course on layering. Wow! She was funny, to the point and had what I was looking for; cross-over info craft for script-to-book and back. She had a slightly different technique for keeping scenes organized than I use for scripts. Write your scenes on 3x5 cards so you can lay them on the floor or large table. This allows you to pepper your story with clues: Enter the gold necklace. Remember the gold necklace. Loose the gold necklace. Find the necklace and receive the payoff.

She also covered character backstory listings and, while I use this too, many others were madly scribbling away. However it was her character motivation that was pure gold. "Every hero/ine wants what they don't need. They must have motivation for everything they do and it's our job as writers to craft their story around them." It sounds so simple but can be damn hard to pull off.

Sunday, of course there was the Gala event for the RWA Awards and many a gown were blinging through the elegant, dim-lit presentation. This night is the Oscar's for authors. Julia Quinn won in her catagory, which pleased me no end. She was the workshop speaker for my Los Angeles chapter of RWA some months previous and I enjoyed her candor very much.

Finally, the sweet tables - piled high with fabulous confections of every flavour: pineapply, chocolaty, buttery, creamy. Dreamy!

I was careful not to over-eat 'cuz I had had an eye on the jacuzzi all week and nothing was gonna stop me:)

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Romantic Times 2008

12 - 20 March, 2008

COMMENTARY

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania : Arriving on Tuesday, the 15th, my good friend (and a published writer) Christine London, her husband and I were turned away from the entrance of our hotel by a police barracade. Thinking RT was for romance writers and not for intrigue and suspense tale-spinners, this rebuff only made it all the more rewarding when we finally 'snow-angeled' into the down comforters of our freshly made beds of our room. Turns out, Barack Obama had been staying at the Hilton and was leaving just as we drove up. Ah, yes - the presidential campaign was in Pittsburgh this week.

Moving right along, and being RT virgins (woo-woo!), the welcoming wagon of Jade Lee and Anne Elizabeth gave us an eyefull of what it means to brand yourself! While Chinese-American Jade Lee writes about Chinese lore mixed with erotic historical leanings, dressed in wide sleeved asian jackets embroidered with dragons, Anne Elizabeth portrayed her sensual anime characters by allowing her voluptuous breasts to spill over a tight, black corsett all week - "live boldly" being her motto.

From there I fell headlong into vampires and ghouls attending a class that covers cross-genre techniques in order to revitalize 'biting' character sketches. [I, myself, have such a manuscript, "Revamped", but more on that in the books section.]

Further workshops included 1) Accomplished authors explaining how they got where they are and giving advice and telling tales. 2) Workshops of agents and publishers telling us they could not survive without un-solicited material, so send it in! 3) Editors explianing what they want, what trends are growing and which rules can be broken. 4) Science Fiction, supernatural, futuristic fantasy were all joined by the Mind-bending Psychic Sunday, a feast of inner findings presented by professionals in the fields of Reiki, Numerology, Runes, Tarot, metaphysical philosophy and Hands-on-Energy. All invaluable and fascinating!

Then there were the parties... Wow. First we have the Old Hollywood. That was grand! Long gowns and tuxes except for the cover models.

Niki Chanel with male cover model, Brian at RT, 2008

Next comes the body cream; a slight sheen from the make-up (what else can this be?) accentuates the hills and dales of their physiques making them the ideal photo opportunities.

Last, but not least, their manner is polite and accomadating to the last. They danced and smiled for the cameras as well as any Hollywood star. I know a good thing when I see it and got many a close dance in! Thanks, boys!

Flying back to Los Angeles I met a musician that invited me for Japanese lunch. Over a meal of sashimi and assorted sushi, we shared some sake and conversation. Turns out we are booked on the same flight. Alas, the airlines insist you sit in your asigned seat (In case of a firey death, I'm sure) so I must be content to sit next to another amazing individual, this time a fascinating, positive minded actor / director / writer returning from his New York stage play.

I find it odd that one rarely meets really intelligent, talented and worldly people in one's daily life... but get on a train, a boat or plane and - OMG - where have they all been hiding?! If they would have me, these sorts of folks would be my best friends!

Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success.

Albert Schweitzer

Stuff That Occures to Me

By Niki Chanel

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Phoenix, Arizona : Stephanie, Stephanie, Stephanie. Mrs. Meyer's series has taken the planet by surprise - almost as totally as the antagonist in her first book "Twilight" has taken the top rank in sales.Everywhere, I hear teenagers talking about the material; girls can't get enough of it and boys seem rebellious to read it because the book gets more attention than they do (that's what they told me, anyway:)

As a writer (and reader) I am fascinated by Stephanie's multi-layered plot line(s), especially when I realized she is relying on our paranormal knowledge of Vampire mythology. Until now, the blood sucker has been the 'bad guy' yet here he seems to be our saviour!

Stephanie writes science fiction for people who don't like science fiction. Below is an interview with Stephanie talking about her book and characters.

Crap! Now, I have to rewrite my stories! :)

West Hollywood Book Fair

29 September, 2008

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West Hollywood : Eden Bradley, Donna George Storey, Christine London and I were at the West Hollywood Book Faire again this year. While we were pleased that it wasn't as hot as last year, we were a bit concerned that there were fewer patrons in attendence. This year was a bit more subdued than last, with a noticable absence of frivolity that the 2007 faire flaunted. I missed the scantily clad hunks of yum prancing around for photos ops, long lines for food and highly decorated booths. This year had short lines for the toilets!

The relaxed and reserved atmosphere, however brought a new intellect with it. More people were interested in 'talking shop' andI spoke to several people that will remain in touch.

There was a difference in presentation, too - a bit more somber. Our booth, however, was even better than last year and that's sayin' something! Booth E44 was the Romance and Erotica Authors exotic tent of the Sultan - a throw pillow heaven!

Ray Bradbury was the guest speaker on Sunday. As a rule he rarely makes public appearances. Being 88 years old, one might think that the frailty of old age would keep him home. But NO! He's still writing. His voice was strong and projected through a large crowd like an opera singers'; What he had to say was dramatic, emotional and timely. He talked aabout what inspired him to write (mostly comic books) and how he became (known and paid) (speaking up and 'calling' publishers on their meddling. It was inspiring to hear - for writers as well as for readers. I believe many people there realized it's time to pick up a Sci-Fi paperback!

http://www.westhollywoodbookfair.org and read about last years fair in the archives.

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LARA News

LARA website

LARA Speakers, Trish Albright on Adventure & Action

22 Sept, 2008

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Los Angeles: Sunday's LARA lecture was given by Trish Albright, writer of romantic, historical adventures whose new book "Siren's Song" is out now at local bookstores.

Her website is beautiful http://www.trishalbright.com/index.php

Education

Want to Write Your Story?

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Probably the most recognized book on the art of story telling is the book titled, simply enough, "Story" by Robert McKee. Informative, insightful and entertaining this treatise to words will give you the tools you need, whether you are a novelist, playwright or scriptwriter. Read it cover to cover or open it anywhere - you will learn something valuable. [ISBN: 0-0-39168-5]

A good website to glean these techniques to help one become a good writer is by Randy Ingermanon. He outlines a program from idea to finished product. He does however, wish to sell the papers he has written on the subject.

Two others (with free tips) are written solely to help the novice. Benet Simon in his blog - write-a-story even tests you!

10 Tips is a third spot to go on the internet for help with your writing.

continued

"What we want is a story that starts with an earthquake and builds to a climax."

Samuel Goldwyn