Miniature Sightings: Free miniatures tutorials

There are so many fun things to do in miniature online, I thought I'd include a few things I've come across lately that visitors may or may not know of. But a reminder is always good, too, right? Hope you find something new to try!

Free Tutorials:

* Doll maker Cynthia Howe has a great free miniature corset pattern for a mannequin, among other freebies

* My Small Obsession's free tutorials list: sofa, plate shelf, and more

* Zooplies miniature hand fans tutorial

* Different! Miniature cereal tutorial video

* AnneMarie's chef's hat tutorial

* Carol Cook's miniature mussels tutorial

* Make a miniature layer cake by Betsy Niederer - ** Best part: How to make mini chocolate roses!

Miniatures Thursday: Another Artist Comes to Life in Miniature - Francisco Goya

IGMA Artisan Lucie Winsky, whose incredible miniature portrait dolls have been featured here before (put art in miniature or her name in the search box in lower right column), recently completed another amazing figure.

This time, for a special commission, she's brought artist Francisco Goya to life, inspired by the dark movie, GOYA'S GHOSTS, set during the Spanish Inquisition.

Goya, (born 1746, died 1828) was a bridge between the old masters and the new "modern" style of painting. His portraits were favored by royalty, including King Carlos III, and Charles IV, for whom he worked as court painter.

Lucie based her figure on Goya's self-portrait, "Self Portrait in the Studio," also known as "Self Portrait with Easel" painted in the early 1790s.

The 16 1/2 x 11" oil on canvas is at the Museo de la Real Academia de Bellas Artes, Madrid.

What's interesting is how Lucie seemed to match the features on Goya's face in the portrait! I thought the candles were an amazing addition, too, (as inspired by the movie. I've never seen this movie and am intrigued!) Fantastico!

About Goya's Ghosts:

Academy Award® nominees Natalie Portman and Javier Bardem star in a thrilling romantic drama by two-time Academy Award® winning director Milos Forman. The historical epic, GOYA'S GHOSTS, is told through the eyes of celebrated Spanish painter Francisco Goya (Skarsgard).

Set at the end of the Spanish Inquisition and start of the invasion of Spain by Napoleon's army, the film captures the essence and beauty of Goya's work which is best known for both the colorful depictions of the royal court and its people, and his grim depictions of the brutality of war and life in 18th century Spain.

When his muse (Portman) is accused of being a heretic, renowned painter Francisco Goya (Skarsgard) must convince his old friend Lorenzo (Bardem), a power-hungry monk and leader of the Spanish Inquisition, to spare her life.

Interview with Mystery Author Tim Myers

Today I have a special guest! I'm happy to welcome multi-published mystery author Tim Myers.

I had the pleasure of interviewing Tim a few (ok quite a few!) years back when he came out with his first books, the Lighthouse Innkeeping mysteries, and followed his short stories as part of the Short Mystery Fiction Society.

In his many mystery-writing personas, Tim has introduced readers to card making, pottery, lighthouse innkeeping, soapmaking, candlemaking, and more.

These days, he's writing about pizzas and math puzzles, as well as publishing several new middle grade/YA mystery and fantasy novels on Kindle. (He's even showing his "darker" side in a Werewolf PI book for Kindle. (See Amazon book list.)




Here's what Tim has to say about writing and his mysteries:

Q: What would you say is different now in this stage of your career (and in your writing?) vs. when you started the lighthouse books?

A: Publishing has changed in so many ways in 10 years, I wouldn't even know where to begin to answer that. I'm writing under several different names now, and Tim Myers is out of print, though I've never had more books published by the major houses: six this year from St. Martin's, Kensington, and Penguin/Berkley alone.


Q: What is your writing schedule? (Do you sleep? ha!) How much do you write?

A: I write seven days a week, almost without fail. It sounds boring, but I'm having great fun doing it.

Q: Is there a secret to such prolificness?

A: I've written millions of words since I started in 1993, and I still love the process, so that helps a great deal.

Q: Wow, that keeps you busy. So what's your favorite book so far and why?

A: That I've written? All of them! I tell my stories for myself, and hope other folks enjoy them, too. That sounds so arrogant in print, but I love to write, and love the process of finding out what happens next! Weeeeee!

Q: What made you decide to go direct to Kindle and begin doing your own ebooks?

A: As I said, I've got several books under contract with major publishers, but over the years, I've written books that many editors and some of my own agents had a hard time seeing me publish.

Kindle and other venues allow me to explore dark sides of the world I'd never be able to otherwise. I also wrote several books for my daughter as she grew up, some of my favorites, and couldn't find homes for them. With e-publishing, I can share them with the world! But trust me, I'm still working very closely with my agent and NY houses.

Q: What's the hardest part of your writing now?

A: Hard to say. I love what I do. It's tough not being able to claim some of my work in public, especially since some of it is doing so well!

Q: With so many books finished, how do you come up with new ways to solve the mystery? Does it make it that much harder, or?

A: There are so many ways to kill people! It's great fun, and I can always find a new victim to knock off. It makes you kind of sweet when you get your aggressions out that way! I am constantly thinking about new ways to kill people. Makes me sound gruesome, but I'm not. Seriously!

Q: What do you foresee as the future of publishing? Some authors have been cut; some houses may be in trouble in days to come. Your thoughts on the Kindle and ebooks?

A: I am happy to be living in both worlds at the moment. My out of print titles are on Kindle and Smashwords -- there's a list with links on my website. Wow, that was shameless, wasn't it? I absolutely see a place for both, and am happy to have them!

Q: How about some writing advice?

A: Write, all the time, whether you feel like it or not. Try new things if you're stale. Read, to learnand get better. Study someone who does what you want to do, and try to figure out how they do it. I still live by these words, each and every day.

Q: What was your worst writing moment?

A: Wow, when folks say no, it's never easy, is it? I still get bounced, and still don't care for the feeling!

(On a funnier note...) I had a woman standing in a line of about 50 clutching one of my books tightly. When it was her turn, she blurted out, "I just love your book. It puts me to sleep every night!" She was smiling, so I took it as a compliment and thanked her, though folks behind her were appalled by the implication.

Q: A closing thought?

A: I've never written so hard, or so much, or had so much fun doing it! The money's nice, I won't lie, but I love the story, first and foremost, and try my best to deliver every time!

Q: So what's next for you?

A:
* In July and August, I have:
A Slice of Murder (Pizza Lover's Mysteries), written as Chris Cavender, paperback for Kensington.

In A SLICE OF MURDER, A Pizza Lover's Mystery by Chris Cavender (Kensington), Not too much happens in the sleepy little town of Timber Ridge, North Carolina--which is fine with pizza-purveyor extraordinaire Eleanor Swift. The spunky owner of A Slice of Delight is trying to mend her broken heart and could use a little quiet time. But when a late night delivery customer turns up dead, she's in for just the opposite in this delicious mystery series debut, featuring pizza as the prima character . .

* Pepperoni Pizza Can Be Murder (Pizza Lover's Mysteries)

When someone bashes in the head of Wade Hatcher, the brother of Eleanor's best delivery guy, Greg Hatcher, with Eleanor's maple rolling pin in her pizzeria kitchen, it appears at first that Greg killed Wade, who was contesting their grandparents' will. Eleanor and her sister, Maddy, join forces to investigate after the local police chief, Kevin Hurley, who always knows how to ruffle Eleanor's feathers, doesn't do much. As the sisters pursue some sticky but somewhat predictable clues, their suspect list grows. - Publishers Weekly

* Coming in Sept: A Deadly Row (A Math Puzzle Mystery) written as Casey Mayes (Penguin/Berkley/Prime Crime) comes out in September. The new Math Puzzle mystery series.

Math whiz Savannah Stone makes a living creating Math puzzles in rural North Carolina. But when the mayor starts receiving death threats, Savannah needs to solve this puzzle-before the next box to be filled is the mayor's coffin.

I also have three other novels coming out or recently out from major publishers under names I can't disclose.

Tim, thanks for sharing with us. Wishing you every success and can't wait to read the latest books!

Searching for a Starry Night, A Miniature Art Mystery - now at Smashwords

Searching for a Starry Night, A Miniature Art Mystery is now up at Smashwords in pdf, html and other formats.

See sample or preview.

Searching for a Starry Night Blog Tour winners

It was a chore picking out the winners bu there are their names and thanks to all who commented about Searching for a Starry Night --

The book is now up at Smashwords too if you want a pdf or other version. (But I am checking if I need to reformat as I'm not sure if the other versions look right and I have no way to tell.)

Winners:
Print: Jill McCullough - Jill's kids love dogs, so a perfect fit! (print will be coming in a few weeks I think)

Kindle: Monti Sikes

Mini version: just because I know she could use it - Camille Minichino

New Article: The Fairies of Judy A. Raley: CDHM's The Miniature Way, August

See my story on the charming fairies made by Judy A. Raley of Once We Were Faeries, in the free August issue of The Miniature Way

Searching for a Starry Night blog book tour - Nonfiction vs fiction

Talking to L Diane Wolfe today about nonfiction vs fiction at Spunk on a Stick blog

** NOTE: I've updated the Kindle version so it may be unavailable until Weds or Thurs, so please check back.

Searching for a Starry Night blog book tour - Crafts: Make a Miniature Pillow!

Since Searching for a Starry Night focuses on the hunt for a missing miniature painting, today I'm offering a simple how to.

Here's an early Halloween treat - I'm sharing how to make a simple miniature pillow over at Anastacia's blog. The pillow can be used as is for a miniature scene, or use it to decorate a card or other decorative item. See directions at link above.

A few finishing notes: the bed is a wood punch-out kit in half-scale. I cut off the ends that stick out; sand and fill with wood filler.

I used a stretchy lace fabric at bottom sides for a ruffle. Cut out an extra picture from the fabric to decorate the end of the bed. The other pillow is purple velvet with lace glued at the ends.

Blog Tour: Amanda Lee/Gayle Trent, The Quick and the Thread

** Today I'm welcoming guest Gayle Trent, writing as Amanda Lee for her new embroidery mystery series, beginning with The Quick and the Thread: An Embroidery Mystery, coming out in August from NAL/Penguin. The next book, STITCH ME DEADLY, comes out in Feb. 2011.

Gayle, who's a fellow Fatal Foodies blogger, is also known for her previous cake mystery series, Murder Takes the Cake and Dead Pan, (Bell Bridge Books).

MURDER TAKES THE CAKE, which has been revised and updated, is also being re-released in Jan. 2011 by Simon & Schuster.

About THE QUICK AND THE THREAD:

First in a new mystery series that will have readers stitching-and itching for more

When Marcy Singer opens an embroidery specialty shop in quaint Tallulah Falls, Oregon, she throws a soiree and a Stitch-In. Soon, Marcy's sign-up sheet for embroidery classes fills up and everyone in town seems willing to raise a glass-or a needle-to support the newly-opened Seven Year Stitch.

Then Marcy finds the shop's previous tenant dead in the store-room, a message scratched with a tapestry needle on the wall beside him. Now Marcy's shop has become a crime scene, and she's the prime suspect. She'll have to find the killer before someone puts a final stitch in her.

About Gayle/Amanda:

(And readers, be sure to check out her last answer!)

Q: What you did before you began writing fiction?

A: Before I became a full-time writer, I was a secretary in the accounting and legal fields. I also did freelance writing in my spare time.

(books are: names, date released, publisher.)

Q: How did you get started in fiction and why write a novel?

A: I've enjoyed writing fiction since I took creative writing courses in high school. I've always been a little too long-winded to write short stories effectively, so novels have always been my first love (to read as well as write). :)

Q: How hard/easy has it been for you to write a novel? (and how did you find your agent?)

A: I've found the hard part has been writing two novels at once. Last year I wrote two books in four months. (Host: Four?? Gulp!) Actually, I was very blessed in that my current agent - the incomparable Robert Gottlieb - found me.

Q: How long did it take to get an agent and get your book published? What was that process like?

A: I've been on a long and weaving road as far as book publishing is concerned. I started by publishing a book called Photo Finish with a small press located in Florida. That company closed down, and I never received any compensation for my book.

I continued with small presses publishing romantic suspense and romantic comedies. I discovered the fun in writing in first person when I contributed a story to Belle Books' popular Mossy Creek series. My story appears in 'Blessings of Mossy Creek'. I formed my own publishing company and published my own books and the books of other writer for a few years. After closing the publishing company, I signed with my first agent and wrote the first book in the Daphne Martin series, 'Murder Takes the Cake'.

Q: Some nuts and bolts questions: What is the one thing that you try to put in your stories to make them unique?

A: Interesting, multi-dimensional characters.

Q: Your tip: What would you say many starting/beginning novelists miss?

A: I think many are so married to their stories and characters that they're unable to see errors an editor will spot immediately. Let me give you an example. When I was acquiring manuscripts for Grace Abraham Publishing, there was a manuscript that was good but in which there was a scene that needed to be rewritten because it was unrealistic. The writer chose to forgo being published by GA because the scene was "so cute" she refused to revise it.

Q: What keeps you inspired?

A: Deadlines, these days. [grin] Seriously, the constant "what if." I got my inspiration for Killer Sweet Tooth when we had to take my son to the orthodontist at 10 p.m. I wondered aloud, "Wouldn't it be terrible if we got there and found her dead?"

Q: What is your writing day like?

A: Chaotic. I have a lot of distractions throughout the day, so I write whenever and however I can. I've been known to write in the morning before the children get up, at night while everyone else is in bed, while sitting in the car rider line at school....

Q: What was the hardest part of writing that first book?

A; Knowing when and how to end it.

Q: What writer or writer's style inspired you and how/why?

A: I loved Victoria Holt's books when I was in high school. When introduced to Mary Higgins Clark, I found I really enjoyed those, too. I love books that are suspenseful without being too heavy.

Q: So, what's next?

A: I'm currently working on "Killer Sweet Tooth," the next book in the Daphne Martin mystery series, and the third book in the embroidery mystery series.

Q: And to sum up, what is the oddest thing you've done as a writer?

A: I once called the FBI to learn what a frozen corpse would look like and what process it would undergo as it thawed. I was referred to a coroner who, by the way, told me my question was the second strangest she'd ever received. Despite my pleading, she wouldn't disclose THE strangest question.

Gayle, thanks for sharing, (especially that last answer. Now we're wondering too. ha!) Good luck with the tour and the new book!

** Upcoming contests: Check out Gayle's Facebook page (see website) on release day, Aug. 3, for prizes and other stuff!

* See more giveaways on the rest of the tour




BUY:

Searching for a Starry Night blog book tour - Talking about Kindle!

Today on the tour I'm talking about Kindle and getting "Kindle-ized" with Helen at Straight from Hel. Stop by and comment!

(and ignore that other woman's pic in the post if she's still there. haa!)
(Helen, aww, I missed my one chance to be a tall, gorgeous super-model!!)