How Morgan St. James went from getting rejections to becoming a speaker and the author of a new book for writers

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Marina Del Ray, California, United States of America (Free-Press-Release.com) November 28, 2011 -- Morgan St. James didn’t start out to be an author. The bug bit her during the time she was an interior designer. A prestigious magazine asked St. James and her partner to write an article for them and she was hooked. Years passed and she wrote many magazine articles and a few for local newspapers. Most were “how-to” articles.

Writing articles for the media didn’t mean she knew how to write fiction. In the late 90s St. James and her sister Phyllice Bradner (also a writer with publication credits, but not in fiction) embarked upon writing a cozy mystery series, and as often happens when writers transition to writing fiction, the sisters thought they had it nailed. After all, they had lots of published work to their credit. It took six years to write that first book followed by several rejection slips for them to accept that they might be polished writers, but didn’t really know the ins and outs of writing fiction and still had a lot to learn.

They studied with a manuscript evaluator and were amazed to see how much they learned. A year and a rewrite later the first Silver Sisters Mystery was ready to submit and it did get pulished. By now, St. James was 67 years old. Even after the first book was published , she continued to study the craft of writing fiction. Now, at a youthful 72, she gives workshops for writers and has five published mystery novels—three Silver Sisters Mysteries written with her sister and two novels written as Arliss Adams, with more in work. She says writing, constantly learning new things, keeps her young.

Her recently released book, Writers’ Tricks of the Trade, 39 Things You Need to Know About the ABCs of Writing Fiction, written in breezy, easy-to-read prose, uses anecdotes, examples and many tricks and techniques learned in the “school of hard knocks” to give both published and aspiring fiction writers a handy compendium to refer to for information or inspiration.

St. James says, “I wanted to write a handy guide filled with hints, tips and techniques that fiction writers could refer to for a number of things, but didn’t want to write in the dry textbook style found in so many manuals. My choice was the same casual storytelling technique I use in my workshops and talks, and I made sure every chapter was filled with immediately usable information.”

As confirmation that the new book is exactly that, Maralys Wills, author of Damn the Rejections—Full Speed Ahead, says, “Whether you are a novice or an experienced author, you'll find this book so full of vital information, you'll want to explore every page. Best of all, it's written in clear, lively prose."

Author Tony N. Todaro, founder of the Greater Los Angeles Writers’ Society, the largest writers group in California, says, ““Morgan St. James has written a terrific book that every writer should own. This is a modern, street‐smart, working handbook...”

Books of all genres make wonderful affordable gifts. If you have aspiring or published writers on your list, Writers’ Tricks of the Trade: 39 Things You Need to Know About the ABCs of Writing Fiction is available as a paperback, Kindle and eBook from Amazon and most online booksellers, or order from your favorite local bookstore.

Fully committed to helping other writers, St. James writes Spotlight articles in the Los Angeles and Las Vegas editions of examiner.com about authors, writers' organizations and events. The appreciative comments received on her weekly Writers' Tricks of the Trade column in both editions inspired her to write the book.
More information can be found online at http://www.morganstjames-author.com

More information can be found online at http://www.morganstjames-author.com

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