TITLE: Florida Novelist gets James Patterson Video Critique
DATE: 9/11/2015
LOCATION: Saint Petersburg, FL
SUMMARY: Florida author Karen Swartz gets video critique by James Patterson
FULL TEXT:
Florida native and novelist, Karen Swartz was among 20 candidates selected for a critique by best selling author, James Patterson. Patterson selected opening lines from over 1900 submissions through his Master Class online writing course. As a student of the course, Swartz submitted two variations of the opening lines for her next novel, Waking Reality, a follow-up to her debut novel, Dreaming Is Free.
Patterson was videotaped as he read his chosen submissions. He provided candid commentary on whether students accomplished hooking the reader in just a few words. While some opening lines were panned as “a little over the top”, “lame” or “too predictable”, Swartz’ submission garnered a positive “I get it, not bad.”
“My submission was for a contemporary romance which appeals to a female audience, a genre frequently referred to as ‘Chick Lit’,” explained Swartz. “To expect something positive from a fast-paced macho murder mystery writer like Patterson was very optimistic, so I was absolutely thrilled with his comments.” Patterson’s favorite submission indeed was short, sweet and decidedly not romantic; “A heavy hand pounded on the door; friends don’t knock.”
The Master Class series on writing involves twenty two videos by the bestselling author, which acquaints aspiring and experienced authors with his process of writing. Other components of the course include group chat sessions, ongoing community interaction, opportunities to interact with Patterson via video and periodic assignments.
Swartz’ self-published debut novel Dreaming Is Free is a contemporary romance where a design graduate dreams that her soul mate is a British rock star, and finds nothing but misfortune when she meets him in real life. Originally published through Amazon’s Kindle publishing and Barnes & Noble’s Nook press almost two years ago, the book is now available in paperback locally at Haslam’s Bookstore in St. Petersburg, Florida as well as through Amazon.com.
Swartz received encouragement from readers and publishing industry professionals, including a Writer’s Digest judge who found Dreaming Is Free “surprisingly fun”, so she decided to continue the story with a second book. The follow-up novel, Waking Reality, is currently being edited, and is anticipated to be released late 2015 or early 2016.
“I hope Mr. Patterson doesn’t mind, but of the two openings I submitted, I don’t plan on using the one he chose,” Swartz added. “But his Master Class online writing course has given me some excellent tools to write a more sophisticated novel without sacrificing the interest of the reader.”
Swartz has extensive experience from screening and writing motion picture scripts in Hollywood to scripting commercials and shorts for venues like the Amalie Arena (aka the Ice Palace) and Busch Gardens Tampa. You may contact Karen Swartz at 727-235-2359 or visit http://www.karen-swartz.com for more information. A video excerpt of Patterson’s critique can be found on the web site at http://www.karen-swartz.com/?p=118. Dreaming Is Free is available in hard copy and Kindle editions on Amazon at http://www.amazon.com/Dreaming-Free-Vampire-Romance-Vampires-ebook/dp/B00AORS03S.