I think I write high concept. I've written two books set in a world where a retro-virus exposed human DNA that transformed people into mythical creatures, two mysteries where the sleuth was a trailer park manager, a cyberterrorism book back when the Internet was brand new, and books with a blind hero, a one-eyed sexually abused heroine, and the discovery of the true cross in Iraq. Still, when an author says she sold a book based on a twenty word pitch--and had movie companies calling based on that same pitch, I really had to listen.

Today at the Dallas Mystery Writers of America meeting, author Lori Wilde (www.loriwilde.com) put on a workshop on how to make your story high concept. She has some interesting rules I'll have to play around with--relating to combining universal issues with specific detail (e.g., her high concept included a bride having pre-wedding jitters (a universal theme) and who then arranged a fake kidnapping (creating interest) but who was actually kidnapped by someone else (creating the twist). She had a workbook she sold for $20 (Karen bought it--I'm hoping she'll share) that goes into more details. When I come up with my NaNoWriMo book idea (it had better happen tomorrow), I'll see if I can apply her rules and let you know how it goes. Afterwards, I had Karen drop me off at the A-Kato tournament (Karate/Tae Kwon Do). Unfortunately I missed Garrett Foster's sparring matches, but I was there in time to see Halleh Bahramnejad win the woman's black belt division. (Good work, Halleh).

I took the train home (after a brief but pleasant drive to the train station in Mr. Thibodeaux's Porshe 911) and managed to finish most of William Lashner's A KILLER'S KISS which I enjoyed very much (although I think the ending sort of let up a bit). Here's my review: www.booksforabuck.com/mystery/mys_07/killers_kiss.html. Then I worked on finishing the publication process for A FULL ENGLISH DEATH by Anthony Perham. I plan to publish tomorrow so check back often.

I'm going to make THE CHICKEN RESCUE LEAGUE by Amy Eastlake the www.BooksForABuck.com book of the day. When a trailer park manager's boyfriend is found murdered, the police aren't sure whether she did it--or her ex-husband. Either way, she's got to find the real killer. Could angry chicken-protectors be behind the murder? Sassy, fun and dangerous--and only $3.99. (How's that for high concept??). Learn more, read the excerpt, or buy the entire eNovel here: www.booksforabuck.com/mystery/mys_04/chicken_rescue.html. (Available in HTML, Adobe PDF, Palm Reader/eReader, and Microsoft Reader formats). Here's the cover (cover design by Karen Leabo):

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