April's Affections and Intrigues: Love and Mystery Bloom

Eileen Davidson

Features & Posts

No posts found.

9 comments posted.

Re: Dial Emmy For Murder (8:09pm June 22, 2009):

one of my previous comments, the very long one above, answers that question!

Re: Dial Emmy For Murder (12:46pm June 21, 2009):

Just like all busy moms, it's amazing what we can do when we put our minds to it, right? It's called one of woman's greatest gifts, multi tasking!
Thanks to everyone that posted comments. I had a great time and hope to do it again. Happy Father's Day! xo Eileen

Re: Dial Emmy For Murder (11:23pm June 20, 2009):

I certainly hope so!!! That's why we email back and forth. If I get something back from Bob that just seems wrong, I rewrite it and send it back, and vice versa. His strengths are the cop stuff, and plot points and development. I am better at dialog, romantic stuff and female character development. Also anything Hollywood or industry related and California. for obvious reasons.
You guys are making me think this is a crazy undertaking! How have we written almost 3 books this way!!!!

Re: Dial Emmy For Murder (11:06pm June 20, 2009):

Writing partners are very common when it comes to script writing. You often see scripts written by two people. As far as books go, it obviously needs to be very collaborative. Bob and I really don't fight! If I feel strongly about something he will relent. And I certainly try to maintain an open mind with his choices, especially since he is the expert. He (and his wife, Marthayn, another wonderful novelist) have both taught me so much.

Re: Dial Emmy For Murder (8:16pm June 20, 2009):

I know. Very sad. I can only hope you would enjoy them. They are very informative what goes on behind the scenes. I call it 'truthiness'. (I think Steven Colbert coined that word, I stole it!) a little truth and a little imagination.

Re: Dial Emmy For Murder (7:58pm June 20, 2009):

Hi I am back! In answer to Rosemary's question I have no idea if this is common practice. I personally don't know of any other writing "teams". And Jean! You are wo right! Bob definitely has a different flavor to his writing. He is a prolific mystery and western novelist. Sometimes, especially at the beginning of a new book, his Alexis (our heroine) voice is downright male! Just a couple of weeks ago I had emailed him the first few chapters of our third book, "Diva Las Vegas" and he emailed me back some chapters. After I read them I emailed him and asked if he had just finished a western. Alexis sounded like a cowboy! Not to mention he uses terms that are simply not California. It's actually pretty humorous. I'm sure he finds my choice of words and tone funny, too. Such as I had written an actress referring to another woman as a "chick". He thought that was immature. I'm sure it is, but that's how some of us grown women talk out here!! To V. Bob had approached my husband who is Vince Van Patten (cohost of the World Poker Tour) to write a mystery novel in the poker world. My husband is very bad at typing, so Bob would fly out here for a week and they would write 24/7. We had him over for dinner and I suggested we write a SOAP OPERA MYSTERY.He said sure but nothing ever came of it until two months later I called him up and asked if he was serious. He said yes and did I have any ideas and I said yes and typed them up. He pitched it to Penguin Publishing and we got a two book deal! Sorry the comment is so long!!!!

Re: Dial Emmy For Murder (2:04pm June 20, 2009):

Otherwise I have a hard time figuring out what comes next. Maybe with more experience I could do it that way. Bob likes to be surprised. I guess I'm more of a control freak!!btw I am heading out to my 8 year old niece's talent show. I'll be back in a few hours. Does anyone have any questions? If you do, I will answer them when I return. I'm really enjoying blogging. It's fun to communicate with all of you!

Re: Dial Emmy For Murder (12:39pm June 20, 2009):

Thank you so much! I'm having a lot of fun writing about the behind the scenes stuff.I'd like to say I exaggerate the different scenarios, obviously I do change them, but there really is so much reality to draw from! Thankfully, or I wouldn't be writing the books!

Re: Dial Emmy For Murder (8:57am June 20, 2009):

Hi Stacey.. you're right! It is an odd way! But when your writing partner lives across the country, you gotta do what you gotta do, right? At first it seemed very strange. I guess I'm kind of getting used to it!