Okay, what if you have a character who is an expert marksman? She's a female police officer who knows alot about guns. She also shoots competitively.
You can read about how it's done. Except that I've found reading doesn't always provide the type of information that allows transfering to the page what it really feels like shooting a pistol. And doing it competitively.
What do I do?
I take a gun class.
A friend (actually I have two friends) who are NRA certified instructors.
I began the class at 9 a.m. I and didn't finish up until 7 p.m. There were two of us taking the class. This other person asked a lot of extraneous questions and probably why it lasted longer than it should have.
This was actually my second gun class. The first time I didn't bring it beyond getting the certificate. And since those things expire, this time I was determined and still am determined to follow it through to the point where I would hold a gun permit.
So now I've got myself another certificate that says I pretty much know how to use a gun. Or at least I know enough not to go shooting myself or anyone else. It's no laughing matter because guns are serious business and nothing about them should ever be taken lightly or for granted.
A gun is an intimidating instrument at best, and knowing full well that its intention is to either put holes into a target or into flesh, well it leaves at times in awe.
Holding a gun one suddenly becomes aware of the power inherent in such an instrument. And that a certain protocol needs to be strictly followed everytime a gun is held.
Both instructors I have had are stickler when it comes to gun safety, which is always a good thing. For me whenever I see a gun I know safety is first and foremost, and again I never take for granted that a gun is safe.
I've come to respect these weapons and know that whenever I'm around them, I will steadfastly stick to that protocol established during my training periods.
I now know the types of guns, the types of ammo each gun uses, the calibers of bullets used, and the equipment needed to maintain a safe environment in which guns are used.
And my training I think will probably last a while, if not a lifetime. Competition shooting involves the entire psychological make up of the shooter. One does not merely go to the firing range and shoot. One needs to be mentally and physically capable of shooting. Body, mind, and even spirit do come into play. Breath control, stance, physical fitness in terms of holding the gun and maintaining a steady hand do not come easily if at all in those first sessions at the range. No indeed because this is when the realization hit that certain physical muscles may simply not be strong enough to get the job done. And training to reach this peak of fitness will involve a lifetime commitment.
Considering the amount of guns in use in the U.S., I think it is imperative that more know about these weapons, how they are used, how to make them safe in terms of follwing the rules rather than staying ignorant.
The person in my last class took the course mainly for that reason. He simply wanted to know how to use a gun, and not look like a complete idiot if he ever needed to use one. His son-in-law owns over 40 guns and probably one of the reason for this attitude.
Gun sales have risen in my state due to the vicious senseless killings of a Cheshire family. I'm sure the argument of whether a gun could have saved that family will go on and on, but knowing what happened, and the fact they were defenseless to protect themselves from these attacker has compelled some to at least give potential victims a chance to defend themselves.
Now how does it all play in with developing my characters?
If I am going to write about a female cop who is an expert marksman, then I darn better well know what I'm writing about or else the story's not going to fly, and I'll have readers throwing the book against some wall.
I no longer want to remain ignorant about guns. I need to know how a gun feels in the hand, how to hold it, how to position myself when shooting at a target. And how it feels when that bullet leaves the gun, and some guns do have more recoil than others. Knowing that pulling the trigger involves an element of surprise rather than anticipation. It's the little things that lend credibility to a story, and the only way to learn about those "small seemingly inconsequential elements" is to simply live your character's lives, if possible. And see through their eyes what eventually will be transferred to the page.
I'm not complaining. The temps this week have been into the 80's with record highs today hitting perhaps 90. And it's October 5. I remember when this would be sweatshirt weather. Instead, today I'm still wearing sandals, shorts and tank tops. Like I said, I'm not complaining. I have a full tank of oil downstairs in my basement. I have a new furnace waiting to click in when the temps go below 65. Over the past five years since my husband's death I've worked at winterizing this place. Determined to do that ever since that night I found myself using rolls of duct tape and taping plastic sheeting up across the large picture window as well as the side windows in my living room, not to mention the side door which was allowing the biting wind of a Nor'easter to come through. And doing this at the stroke of midnight. It's not a night I care to remember yet I know I will not forget.
When you're alone during a blizzard and realize you're totally alone except for a 14-year-old diabetic cat, well that's when reality sets in and you know you've got to prioritize.
And for me that was to get this house as energy efficient as possible in terms of fuel usage which after that winter became the main priority for me for the next several years.
So we will see this winter how well I've done. New roof, well fairly new as it's now four years old. New windows, new bow window, new storm doors, new furnace, and yes a renovated bathroom all of which should have me pretty well set for this winter.
But if we continue to have above average temps here in the Northeast, then maybe I won't be as concern about being up here with my diabetic cat hoping the power doesn't go out while another Nor'easter blows on through.
Then again, anyone who lives here in the Northeast knows that it can be summer today, and winter tomorrow when temps fall 30 degrees.
We just never know.
Why we are always prepared.
It gets scary sometimes. First, it seems Friday nights are here, and suddenly I'm at the computer again come Monday morning.
As the end of August approaches I remind myself that I need to focus on all of my projects which have been pretty much work-in-processes. The problem with summer it allows too many distractions. I love to be out there either at my sons's places where I spend time with the grandkids.
Or in my garden where I am now benefiting from what I planted this past spring.
Or walking around the perimeters of Lake Winfield, a quiet place where often times inspirations sprout somewhere inside my mind, and help me start yet another project.
And so far what is on the list of things that require my attention?
Promoting my stories, which as anyone knows can be a full time endeavor.
Writing my stories, again that might at times require more hours than what is in a 24-hour day.
I've just finished working with my editor Cindy at Dark Eden Press on my newest release -- Appetite For Lust. Thank you Cindy for your invaluable suggestions. This was will be up on DEP's site September 28. I can't wait!!!! I also can't wait to see the cover art for this story. Considering we're talking about Master Chef's who have their own shows on the Food Network Channel (fictitious of course) and I'm re-introducing my very favorite character Zara from a previous story GAMES PEOPLE PLAY, I'm hoping readers will enjoy this one as much as I enjoyed creating it.
I'm still waiting for CANTERVILLE, and expect the edits to come in any time now. The cover art is here on this site and also up on Loose Id's Coming Soon page. I think readers will be drawn into the storyline. Why do I know that? Because the story pretty much consumed me for a long time while writing it, especially researching what I needed to know to produce a credible story that would ring true. I think this one does. For one thing when I was in the process of writing this one my whole world came crashing down with the sudden death of my husband. And I think that in and of itself helped me in some way to write this story or to complete this story some months after becoming a widow and because of my frame of mind produce a compelling drama with characters that become larger than life.
And I'm just about completing another project -- a book on dating. Yeah, dating...at this stage of life, which for me means approaching the other end of baby boomers, meaning those born in 1946 who are now entering their 60's. Is it possible. I don't feel 60. In fact I've found that the more things changed the more they stay the same. And dating at 60 can be no different than dating in your 20's. I explain all of this of course in my own journey into the dating scene. Also, at my Yahoo Group specifically for Baby Boomers. Anyone want to know more about it or the book just email me at marie-roy@sbcglobal.net.
And so it goes, writing projects. I won't go into my other projects that involve me renovating my house...that's a whole other blog.
At times it's pretty much like walking through cold molasses, putting one foot in front of the other, and struggling to keep on a narrow pathway, where I won't fall over to one side and become stuck in the sticky sweet quagmire of life.
At times that's pretty much what it feels like.
