Most people are aware of the need to protect themselves from identity theft, but there are some who remain vulnerable despite precautions—fictional characters. Statistics show identity theft against fictional characters has doubled since 2018. Criminals are filling out credit card applications and loan paperwork in the names of well-known characters and ruining their credit in the process.

“These victims are extremely vulnerable,” says Al Ias of the Federal Trade Commission. “We tell people to guard their privacy, but their lives are an open book. It makes them easy prey.”

Easy prey is not how Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy likes to be described. In 2019, fraudsters purchased three tons of pineapples on credit using his name. According to local townspeople, Mr. Darcy’s mother-in-law had bragged far and wide about his £10,000 a year income, making him an alluring target for thieves who used his information on a Bank of Derbyshire Credit Card Application.

This happened one year after Mr. Jay Gatsby was targeted. Relying on his stellar financial reputation, crooks were able to open a medical account in his name and purchase thousands of pairs of eyeglasses from Dr. T. J. Eckleburg. In both cases, thieves made off with millions in fraudulent, fictional dollars and pounds.

Does it really matter to these fictional characters that others are getting rich on their good names? Yes, it does.

“We can’t have our heroes hampered by bad credit,” says Regina Jennings, author of Courting Misfortune. “Identity theft devastates a person’s financial reputation and hurts their romantic prospects. Their property might be fictional, but it’s the only property they have.”

So what can be done to protect fictional characters? Mainly, guard their private information. Authors should carefully consider before sharing too much of their background. The public doesn’t need to know their mother’s maiden name or their birthplace. Also, specifics on birth dates should be avoided. An innocent party scene can be used by fraudsters to determine their birth date and give criminals another tool with which to defraud them. Even pets’ names should be used sparingly. Consider giving fictional characters a fictional, fictional dog instead of sharing their real fictional dog’s name.

While it might take some time and forethought to safeguard our fictional friends, we owe it to them. There can be serious consequences for victims of identity theft, from being included in a criminal investigation, to losing a tax rebate, to finding one’s credit ruined. They, like everyone else, deserve justice and protection. They trust us with their stories. Let’s not leave them defenseless.

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I’m currently editing a novella collection about three brothers, but it’s on a much smaller scale. The stories are all set in the same town and share a lot of the same characters, but a different author is writing each individual brother’s story.

A project like this takes planning. Before these ladies started writing, they set down names, places, and characters. Together they matched the stories of these brothers so that they made sure that what was said in one story lined up with the next story. They each know what had happened to the youngest brother when he was in high school. They each know how the middle brother got hurt and why the oldest brother had to come home.

These women are all Americans living in 2016. They all speak English and have studied writing at the same conferences in the same industry. They’ve collaborated on the project since the beginning. Seems like it’d be pretty easy for them to get their story straight, right?

Think again.

When the three stories came in, as good as they were, there were inconsistencies throughout. Things that had been decided at the onset had been altered slightly, but minor changes over three stories meant mistakes. And while character names and their histories were agreed on, often the characters were unrecognizable across the different submissions. Someone who was somber and introspective in one story was playful and outgoing in the next.

Having taken part in a continuity collection myself, I know these issues aren’t unique to these wonderful authors.  They are merely details that have to be ironed out, which happens with every work. Nothing unusual about mistakes. In fact, it’s expected.

Just imagine, however, if the authors hadn’t talked before they wrote their stories, and yet all the stories matched up? That would be unusual. And can you imagine if forty-some authors wrote a collection of books over a span of fifteen-hundred years – authors who had never met, authors who lived under different governments, different nations, and who spoke different languages – and their stories told a consistent story?

That would be a miracle.

That would be our Bible.

I’ve always heard the facts about this holy compilation – about how God inspired men from various backgrounds and various occupations to pen His story. It wasn’t until I collaborated with other authors that I realized how challenging it is to “get our stories straight.” It wasn’t until I edited a collection, that I realized how many different ways there are to get it wrong.

The only way the Bible came to be, amid all the obstacles, is that in a greater sense the Book was not really written by men after all.  Indeed, as 2 Peter 1:21 says, “For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.”  

Sometimes we think that if we only had a word from God, we would know what to do. But we do have it. The Word of God is in our homes, on our phones, and hopefully in our hearts.

The same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead (Romans 8:11) is the same Spirit that ultimately authored Scripture. There really is no other explanation for the coherency of the work. And if a God that powerful has set down a message for you, how will you respond?

“Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.” – John 6:68

The post Continuity Issues appeared first on Author Regina Jennings.

Here are some thoughts on how to write an effect protest letter.

1. Why are you writing?

An interview on TV, a product you find offensive, a news item – what was it that prompted you to start writing?

Dear Pepsi-Cola,

I noticed your company’s name on a list of corporate sponsors who fund Planned Parenthood.

2. Who are you? And what do you want?

If you are a customer, tell them, but be honest. Don’t over-inflate your importance. And then tell them what you are hoping to accomplish.

As a customer, I’m asking you to reconsider that support.

3. Why should they change their policy? How do they change their policy?

This might be as simple as, “In the future, please put clothes on the models in your ads.” Or it might require some investigation on your part. You don’t like when your gym plays explicit music in the weight room? Tell them some comparable stations that would serve their clientele without the profanity. (True story.)

There are numerous other health organizations that offer medical aid without profiting from abortion if you are looking for a place to donate. The reason PP is offensive is because, not only do they perform abortions, but they also do late term abortions and, as recent footage has revealed, it appears that sometimes the way they end the life of the fetus has more to do with the price of the organs available than the health of the mother.

4. What is at stake for them?

Here’s where people go batty. Please don’t threaten that you will never go into McDonald’s again. They won’t believe you. Unless you are in the position to actually cancel a subscription or membership, those kinds of threats aren’t very credible because boycotts don’t usually last. What is really at stake for the company is bad press, a bad association or a tarnishing of their brand. Believe me, they spend a lot of time worrying about their brand and they don’t want it sullied. Now, once again, use your common sense. There are brands that thrive on shocking advertising, content and products. Keep in mind their corporate identity when deciding how to approach the situation.

It’s my opinion that such practices do not represent the refreshing, fun image that your company has so carefully cultivated over the years. I want to associate Pepsi-Cola with a cold, delicious drink, not with shocking videos of doctors bargaining for baby parts.

5. Restate your request.

Be clear. What are you hoping they will do? Tell them again.

Please discontinue your support of Planned Parenthood.

6. Be civil. Thank them for their time.

In order to be effective you must appeal to their sense of decency and responsibility. If you are rude and unreasonable, they are much more likely to discredit your opinion. Besides, being polite is never wrong. And you don’t know but what the customer service rep answering your letter might be as offended by his company as you are.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Sincerely,

Regina Jennings

(contact information)

They say only a very, very few people take the time to write, so your letter or email will have a larger impact than you might imagine. So, get busy. Share your opinion in a factual, mannerly way.

(Edit  7/23/15 – The example letter was written to Coca-Cola because they appeared on PP’s list of corporate sponsors. They have since requested that PP remove their name from that list and claim that they don’t support them. Therefore, in the examples above I changed the corporation to Pepsi, who remains on their donor list at this time.)

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For instance, this is my first book cover. Gorgeous, isn’t it? The blouse even matches the descriptions of Rosa’s hand-embroidery work and drawstring neckline.  The one problem we had was that this series takes place in Caldwell County, Texas – a real location that just happens to look nothing like a desert.

Before:

After:

Those sandy dunes and mountain ranges were replaced with wheat fields and some…well, smaller mountains. This picture could possibly be in central Texas, while the other could not.

My Caught in the Middle cover is absolutely adorable, but this was the second attempt.

Guess what changed?

Before:

After:

It’s not that I dislike straight hair, but Anne has curly hair and it was too late to change that part of the story. Caught in the Middle was the third book of the series, and Anne had already been described as having curly hair in both Sixty Acres and a Bride and Love in the Balance.  And as you should be able to tell from the boots, she wasn’t the type of lady to iron her curls out straight.

It does seem that most of my requested changes have been about the hair. Here’s the cover for my novella An Unforeseen Match:

This is the story about an Grace O’Malley, a schoolteacher who is going blind. One description of her (which is significant to the plot) is that she has very striking coloring – fair skin and black hair.

This was the first attempt:

I understand the name Grace O’Malley sounds like a redhead, but in this case, she wasn’t.

Second attempt:

Well, it’s not red anymore, but it’s still a long way from black. At this point I told them I could rewrite the story to go with a redhead, but having fair skin and brown hair isn’t usually consider dramatic coloring.

Finally,

It is black, for the most part. 🙂  Funny story – while discussing the cover with my editor he told me one of the earliest drafts had her with a newspaper in her hand instead of an parasol. Blind schoolteacher, remember? He was able to catch that one early. You can see that they have a very strong commitment to accuracy and working with their authors.

And now for my last cover which has perfect hair and no odd geographical formations in the background: 

Isn’t it cute? A Most Inconvenient Marriage is now available for Pre-Order! I can’t wait to share it with you. Here’s a short blurb:

With few options of her own, nurse Abigail Stuart agrees to marry her patient, a gravely wounded soldier calling himself Jeremiah Calhoun. They arrange a quick ceremony before he dies, giving Abigail the rights to his Ozark farm and giving Jeremiah the peace of knowing someone will care for his ailing sister after he’s gone–a practical solution for both of them.

After the war, Abigail fulfills her side of the bargain–until the real Jeremiah Calhoun shows up, injured but definitely alive, and wastes no time in challenging Abigail’s story. Abigail is flummoxed. After months of claiming to be his widow, how can she explain that she’s never seen this Jeremiah Calhoun before? How can she convince him that she isn’t trying to steal his farm? And will she find a way to stay, even though this practical arrangement has turned into a most inconvenient marriage?

What do you like to see on book covers? Please share!

The post Before and After: Book Cover Changes appeared first on Author Regina Jennings.

With every book I search out specific resources based on the location of the story, the careers of the characters, and the exact year, but as long as I’m writing about the mid-19th century I have a few books that I keep nearby.

First off, we must know what our heroines are wearing. Besides the hero’s broad shoulders, the ladies’ gowns merit the most descriptions.

This book is a scrumptious visual feast. The illustrations are beautiful and the descriptions are detailed. Although the pictures are black and white, they include color in the descriptions. (And all these book covers are linked to a bookseller. Just click on the picture if you want more information.)

Example:

“Sea-Side Toilette – This striking picturesque toilette consists of a princesse dress of mandarin yellow silk, over which is worn a sleeveless polonaise of ivory white India cashmere. The skirt of the dress is simply trimmed with a closely gathered flounce, surmounted by a reversed heading, and supported by a balayeuse of white muslin, edged with Valenciennes. The polonaise, which is very clinging, and falls gracefully over the train, is bordered with black velvet ribbon…”

And it goes on for another two columns. Naturally, not all of my heroines would dress so fine. Rosa Garner and Anne Tillerton didn’t have much use for fashion, but Molly Lovelace and Miranda Wimplegate (if we don’t change her name) would wear gowns straight off these pages.

Now how about the housewares, farm equipment and clothing for the rest of the family? My favorite general reference is the 1897 Sears & Roebuck catalog.

Here I can see and read detailed descriptions of everything from kitchen grindstones to poultry netting to shaving brushes. Not only does this help me describe authentic items that would be used on the farm or in the kitchen, it also gives me ideas for possible careers or story lines. A two-dog treadmill-powered cream separator? I’d like to meet the salesman who demonstrated that. Or how about the Bust Cream, guaranteed to enhance her bosom? How would a woman feel if she’d ordered that in the mail and someone found out? Fun ideas!

And because most of my stories have some connection to agriculture, I love to flip through these references:

There are dozens of Foxfire books, so if you decide to purchase one be sure and choose the one that covers the topics you’re interested in. The other two books are instruction manuals on traditional skills, although you must watch for modern helps that might have been added. They might demonstrate how to make your own cheese, but use ingredients and processes unknown in 1878. Still, they are a good place to start.

And the last research book I’ll share on this go-around is this reprinting of a 1837 home health book.

I found “The Family Nurse” at a Civil War Reenactment and have turned to it several times. Let’s face it, you can’t have a 368 page historical novel without someone getting sick or hurt. So how would a mother deal with teething babies, parasites, or scarlet fever? How did they prepare herbs and roots? Let me tell you, reading this brings a new appreciation for those coated pills we can swallow whole.

I’m always on the look out for references that will earn their space on the bookshelf and these have proven helpful through repeated use. If you have any suggestions, I’d love to hear them.

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On The Voice four judges sit with their backs turned to the contestants as they perform so the singer’s appearance doesn’t factor into their decision. During the performance, if one of the four judges turns their chair around he is offering the contestant a place on his team. If more than one judge turns, then it’s up to the contestant whose team they want to join.

There are no flops on The Voice. No delusional wanna-bes. These people are all talented, and yet some of them don’t impress the judges. Now, my untrained ear can’t always discern why the judges turn the moment they do. Many times they sit through most of the song before committing so they have as much information as possible, but the most notable exception I remember was when Judith Hill sang.

http://www.nbc.com/the-voice/video/judith-hill-what-a-girl-wants/n34157/

Three seconds into her song…THREE SECONDS…two judges simultaneously hit their button and offered her a place on their teams. They didn’t wait to hear if she would make a mistake. They didn’t give her a chance to demonstrate her range. Something about her voice inspired confidence from the first notes. They immediately knew that she had mastered her craft.

Do you ever have this reaction when you pick up a book? In writing circles you hear the term “voice” thrown around a lot. It’s that unique style that each author brings to their work. Sure we can try to break it down to vocabulary and syntax, but it’s also something undefinable that lets you know that this author can be trusted. He will tell this story with skill and not disappoint you. Sometimes it takes a few pages to hear that voice, but with the great ones we recognize it immediately…even if we’re not sure what defines it.

Voice. It’s what makes a singer or a writer unique.

Of your favorite writers, whose voice is the most unique? How about music artists?

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Even more exciting was when the lovely Dianne Burnett from Christian Book Distributors asked if I could meet her in her room for an interview.

Me? Seriously?

And thus began my misadventure.

(Notice: If you are affiliated with my publisher or agency, for your own peace of mind you might not want to read any further.) 

Being interviewed before me was the wonderful author Anne Mateer, so I found a corner of the hotel room to hide in so no untimely stomach rumbles would be recorded during Anne’s interview – which was, of course, amazing. I’ve read all her books and loved hearing more about the background and research behind them. (Her interview here.)

I was really enjoying myself until Dianne asked her to share her favorite scripture. Then panic set in and I began my education in media.

Four Steps to Flubbing an Interview

1. Don’t anticipate the questions. 

I read the Bible daily. I’ve memorized chunks of it, too. A few years ago I memorized the whole book of Ephesians, and even though I can’t quote it straight through anymore, you’d think I could come up with a favorite verse on the spot.

Well, Eph. 5:22 about submitting to your husband wasn’t really what I wanted to share. Ditto on Eph. 6:1. There are a lot of nice verses I’ve memorized over the years about love and grace, but I wasn’t 100% sure I could name the address right.

The bedside table beckoned me. Surely there was a Gideon Bible in there, but I didn’t want to disturb Anne during her interview. If I could just get a quick refresher glance so I wouldn’t misquote “My Favorite Verse” but there wasn’t time.

So what did I say when I was in front of the microphone? The only verse I could quote under pressure – Jeremiah 17:9 – “The heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked. Who can know it?” 

True story.

**Interview Tip – If you’re a writer always be able to name your favorite books and authors. If you’re a Christian writer always have a verse on hand.

2. Talk about the wrong book. 

By the time of this conference, Sixty Acres and a Bride had been out for seven months. I’d done interviews, talked to book clubs and written numerous guest posts on the themes and background of the book. I thought I was ready for the interview. What I was not ready for was to talk about Love in the Balance – the second “Ladies of Caldwell County” book. It wasn’t scheduled to come out for another six months. I wasn’t primed to discuss the heroes, or the theme yet, but like the great promoter she is, Dianne was looking ahead to the next release. I should’ve been prepared.

**Interview Tip – The industry is always looking ahead. While you’re still promoting your current book, they want to know what’s next. 

3. Give one word answers. If you know Ms. Dianne, then you know she is warmth and charm personified. You won’t meet a more encouraging lady, yet she had to pry answers out of me.

“What was the one thing you learned while researching that surprised you?”

“Um….nothing.”

Doh! I went on to talk about the research I’d done on Sixty Acres (see point #2), but nothing came to mind for the second book. In my defense, the books are sequential and in the same location so much of the research served for both books…but I did research specifically for Love in the Balance, too. Train travel, court reporting in the 1880s, blacksmithing, shoemaking, extensive time pouring over fashion plates to get Molly’s wardrobe right…I even went to Caldwell County for crying aloud. But instead of talking freely I fixation on the literal question…”What surprised you?”

**Interview tip – the interviewer wants you to be interesting. This isn’t a deposition or a Congressional hearing. If your answer to that question isn’t interesting, answer a different question!

4. Imitate other authors.

Did I mention that the poised and lovely Anne Mateer was a witness to this mess? And when Ms. Dianne asked me what spiritual truth I wanted people to take from this book I thought I had a good answer. Love in the Balance has a strong message about hypocrisy and forgiveness, but as I started to share, it began to sound very similar to the message of Anne’s book. I’d read Anne’s book and I’d never thought they were close in theme, but the longer I talked the more I found myself affirming the message of At Every Turn.

Oh no, I thought. Am I plagiarizing Anne right in front of her? Holy cow! They are going to rip the “Published Author” ribbon right off my name tag.

Thankfully I caught myself in time to steer the life lesson back to my story, but it was a close call.

**Interview tip –  Be yourself. Hopefully what makes your books unique will make your interview unique as well.

There you have it. May you profit from my mistakes. If you want to hear the interview you can listen to it here…but if you’re looking for quality entertainment, I’d recommend buying the book instead. 🙂

What’s the worst blunder you’ve ever caught on tape? 

The post 4 Steps to Flubbing an Interview appeared first on Author Regina Jennings.

No surprise my favorite art tells a story. The scene leaves you to imagine what happened before, what will happen next? Who are these people and how will this event change them?

A great blog I visit for inspiration is

http://b-womeninamericanhistory19.blogspot.com/. Barbara has several blogs where she shares little known paintings that give a glimpse of a time past. It’s a treasure trove of story and possibilities.

So here is one of my favorites. Who are these two ladies? Sisters? A maid and her lady? Did the lady on the right wear the tartan to get the man’s attention? If so, it isn’t working. 🙂

Portsmouth Dockyard by James Tissot

 What story do you see here? Where do you look for a good story?

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Do you golf? How many people have seriously asked if you are trying to make the PGA?

Perhaps you run to stay in shape. Does anyone question how many dollars an hour you’ve made jogging? Do they ask when they’ll see you in the Olympics?

But pity the honest soul who admits to spending time with paper and pen. Suddenly they must have career plans. Suddenly any success less than Suzanne Collins’ or J. K. Rowling’s seems meager. They have to defend the time they spend crafting words because it takes away from such noble pursuits as TV watching, web surfing and jigsaw puzzles. They are wasting their life examining characters, exploring values and creating worlds. They should be fishing or shopping. Doing something worthwhile, you know.

When people learn your dirty secret – that you (gasp) write in your spare time – their imagination is going to jump to book deals, signings, movie deals, etc., and maybe your thoughts go there, too. That’s fine. If you really want to write professionally, if you want to write for the market, then you are taking a different path. Your writing won’t be for your enjoyment only, but for the readers’. But don’t feel pressured into that scenario. Writing for your own enjoyment is valid. You have permission to spend your leisure hours doing it without guilt.

And don’t let any sports fan, health nut, or scrapbooker tell you otherwise.

How about you? Have you ever been afraid to tell people that you’re a writer?

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