About My Books

Blog posts by author Lynette M. Burrows on all things related to writing her books from how she got an idea for a book, people, places, and history that inspired a book, and her process for writing a book.

Sneak Peek At A Work-In-Progress

Lynette M Burrows

There are wine tastings and cheese tastings and sneak peaks. Today I decided to give you a small sneak peek at a work-in-progress. The working title is Ian’s Trust. So without further ado, please enjoy this sneak peak Ian’s Trust Angry and distrustful after his parents are Taken, Ian must rely on his best friend’s help when he and his siblings hide in the Smokey Mountains. But if Ian doesn’t stop their pursuers, the Cleaners, he and his siblings face re-education or death. %%% Ian Henry Hobart breathed in the odors of rank sweat, burnt coffee, and sweet ink. He loved the tiny newsroom and not just because working as a copyboy took him out of high school for half the day. This afternoon the room pulsed with twelve loud-talking men and the clack, ratchet, and ding of typewriters. Under it all the rumble of the presses downstairs sent vibrations through the floor, through Ian’s shoes, and into his bones. The Ambrose Chronicle served the community of Ambrose, Virginia and the surrounding area. The next closest city with a newspaper was Lynchburg. “Hey, Ian.” Montgomery Jones, Ian’s best friend and the second copyboy at Ambrose Chronicle, sat on the copy bench […]

If She Loves a Rag Doll, Is She Still Evil?

Lynette M Burrows

In My Soul to Keep, there is a character who is a murderous psychopath. She’s been purposely programmed to be that kind of person.  So how do you go about creating a story villain who’s truly evil but has some redeeming qualities? If she loves a rag doll, is she still evil? HOW Fortunately I had a mentor who knew how. How did he know? First, he’s smart. Second, he’s studied successful fiction and movies for a long time. What did he say to me that gave me a clue? He reminded me that a great story villain isn’t all villain all the time.. He also reminded me to look at the villains in books I’ve loved. For example, in Dean Koontz’s The Watchers there is a creature who had been created to be a destroyer, a murderer. He’s loathsome in appearance in and in deed. However, there’s a scene where the investigator-character discovers the monster’s lair. In the lair, the monstrous villain has treasured objects that include a collection of Disney branded toys and movies. It made this reader’s heart soften a touch toward the monster. And it made the monster more real, less one dimensional. WHAT I DID I […]

The Excitement–and the Mess–Build

Lynette M Burrows

There’s a lot going on at my house and the excitement—and the mess—build. Soon they will crescendo at nearly the same time. My hubby gets to come home this week and at the end of the week, I will be appearing at the Longview Literary Festival in Lee’s Summit, Missouri. The Festival is free and runs from 10 am to 5 pm, Friday, October 26th. I’d say I’m cleaning house in preparation for hubby coming home but that’s not exactly true. Take a look. Preparations My dining room has been converted to a workshop, staging area, and collections point. I wanted to do a little something special for my sales table at the Festival. And being the overachiever whose OCD kicks in at every opportunity, things got a little out of hand. Yup, those are two of my too-curious-for-their-own-good dogs in the crate in the lower right corner. They caused a couple of paint mishaps that could have been disastrous. Don’t worry. They will only be in there for a few more minutes. The product I’m using to paint the styrofoam head drys quickly. Have I gone overboard? Definitely. Is it worth it? It’s been fun, stressful, and fun. Of […]