Spill the Tea Tuesday: K-Pop Rocks!

Today, author Judith Gonda is here to spill the tea...

I’m thrilled to join you today to spill the tea! I’m so excited to share how the K-pop boy band Stray Kids has inspired me as a writer and brought me great joy! 

I first discovered Stray Kids two years ago. 2020 had been a rough year. One night I was scrolling through my Twitter timeline as I often did in the wee hours when pandemic angst haunted me. The February 2020 release of my debut mystery novel, MURDER IN THE SECRET MAZE had coincided with the beginning of the pandemic. Not ideal. Did anyone want to hear about a newlywed landscape architect convinced her missing husband had met with foul play when the whole world was grappling with a terrifying disease?  Everyone, myself included, was preoccupied about their own survival, not some fictional character’s. 

As I randomly scrolled, I happened upon a post by a book blogger I followed. It included a link to the official Stray Kids music video for their hit “God’s Menu,” an ode to their unique flavor of music. 

Stray Kids were the joy I didn’t know I needed. I was immediately mesmerized. I’ve always loved music, but this was different. Their amazing stage presence, the precise execution of their synchronized dance routines, the beautiful range and harmony of their voices—it was all breathtaking. Like other K-pop groups, they wore flashy fits, glitter makeup, and sported hair colors in every shade of My Little Pony. Each of the eight members had his own unique charm and charisma. I was instantly drawn to Felix, the member whose angelic face belied his deep voice. And then there was Hyunjin, the sexy Adonis of the group, whose hypnotic gaze pierced through the computer screen and captured my heart. But there was something special about the Stray Kids that went beyond their brilliant talent. They seemed to be very nice people too. Decent human beings. Authentic. Sincere. Humble. Polite. Compassionate. Warm-hearted. With nary a hint of the narcissism often seen in so many celebrities. Their cheerful demeanors and playfulness always put me in a good mood.

It's so difficult to pick my favorite thing about them. But if pressed, I’d have to say it’s the mental health related themes of hope, optimism, inclusivity, resilience, love, caring, and perseverance. These themes infuse their songs, especially in relation to how they impact their own professional journey in the very competitive Kpop industry. Their lyrics are uplifting, humorous, and feisty. A few songs focus on love and sexual attraction, but most are about loving yourself, valuing your own voice, and not caving to feelings of self-doubt. They thumb their nose at haters, using the hate of others to fuel their artistic journey to always try harder. They let criticism and rejection roll off their backs. 

It wasn’t long before I realized the challenges they faced as Kpop idols, the self-doubt, the doubts of others, the subjectivity of critics and reviewers, were similar issues that writers faced. 

I soon found out I wasn’t alone in my admiration of Stray Kids. They were gaining popularity internationally. And this past July, I had the chance to see them in person when their Maniac concert came to Los Angeles.

SEE IT HERE!

I was convinced the positivity I felt from their videos would be the same if I saw them in person. And I’m happy to report, I was correct. They were even warmer and more joyful than I’d expected. Their positivity, love for their fans, and determination to give their all came across so strongly, whether it was playfully adding a couple of cartwheels to a number, thanking the fans profusely, or respectfully acknowledging the ASL interpreter signing their rap songs with gusto. When they spoke to the audience it mirrored the message of their songs, acceptance. They even asked how many in the audience had come alone. The show of hands was met with supportive applause. 

They communicate with their Korean and international fans often (most members speak some English and two are Australian), which builds bonds. I liken it to the Facebook cozy mystery groups where authors and their readers interact and make friends. They not only have music videos, they have practice videos, and Vlives and Bubble, apps where K-pop idols talk to fans in real time, and where discussion of their TV viewing habits led me down the K-drama rabbit hole (but that’s another blog post). Their humor and that of their fans, keeps me buoyed and hopeful for the world because I’ve encountered so many positive-minded people. Really sweet people. 

Of course, there are some villains, as in any good story. The antis, as they’re called, who are the haters notorious for starting malicious rumors about Kpop idols, somewhat analogous to the trolls who write random mean-spirited reviews. But like resilient writers, Stray Kids focus on the positive and keep moving forward.

I’ve gone on a lot about how uplifting the Stray Kids are, but what have I learned from them as it relates to publishing? Parallels abound. Focus on producing a lot of high-quality content, not only books, but for blog posts and social media. Be authentic, be sincere, and embrace your own voice. In keeping with this sentiment, in MURDER IN THE COMMUNITY GARDEN, the third Tory Benning mystery, my MC has become a Stray Kids fan.

I’m also trying to model the way Stray Kids interact with their audience, by putting myself out there more, despite my introvert tendencies. I see how brave the Stray Kids are about not only expressing their talent, but promoting it as well, and writers must do the same, despite all the potential rejection we face. Positivity begets positivity. And determination leads to success. If you need some sunshine in your life, check out the Stray Kids!

Judith Gonda is a mystery writer and Ph.D. psychologist with a penchant for Pomeranians and puns, so it's not surprising that psychology, Poms, and puns pop up in her amateur sleuth mysteries. To learn more about her books, please visit her website. You can also follow Judith on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

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Spill the Tea Tuesday: Writing Inspiration

 Today, author Leah Dobrinska is here to spill the tea...

Aren’t you ever afraid you’ll run out of ideas?

I get this question a lot. 

How did you come up with this story?

That’s another FAQ.

Today, I thought I’d spill the tea on writing inspiration. The cool thing about writing—or creating in general—is that it’s a constantly evolving process. There’s no one-size-fits-all approach. Inspiration will strike me in a different way than it’ll strike Kara or any number of the other authors.

Here are just a couple examples:

Some authors I know are deeply inspired by photos and visuals. They’ll spend hours upon hours crafting Pinterest mood boards, finding images that spark an idea or reinforce a vision they have. Or they visit a certain place and, in their mind, a fictional world immediately springs up around it.

Some authors think first of famous people who fit the look of their main characters. They find photos that they pin up for reference when describing physical features.

Some authors are inspired by certain color schemes. I know an author who carries around sticky-tabs that are the same color scheme as her book’s cover, just because it makes her feel happy and close to her story.

Some authors require certain scents to write. A particular brand and scent of candle gets associated with a book, and it must be burning each time they set out to put pen to paper (or fingers to keys). 

For me, I’m a music person. In the early stages of brainstorming a new story idea, I start to compile a playlist. Sometimes the songs I add to it are tied to specific plot points. For example, my entire debut novel, Love at On Deck Café, was inspired by “The Long Way” by Brett Eldridge. I heard the song on the radio, and immediately a scene and two characters—complete with their backstories—popped into my head. While much of the plot changed from first draft to final draft, that scene—the late-night drive around town that Julia takes with Samson—remained at the very center (literally!) of the book. 

In other cases, when I’m picking songs for my playlist I’m considering the overall vibe and how it overlaps or calls to mind how I want the book to feel. Perhaps no one but me would understand why the song makes the playlist, but there’s just something about it that connects it to the story for me. My second book, Good To Be Home, features Daniel, a side-character from Love at On Deck Café. I knew his personality, and when I heard the song “Hold My Girl” by George Ezra, I felt a pang in my chest at how perfectly the desperate sentiment of that song captures exactly how I imagined Daniel feeling about his ex-girlfriend, Isabel. He just wants a chance to hold her! (Don’t worry…I gave him that chance!)

My third book in the Mapleton series is out today, actually! It’s a Christmas small town romance titled Together With You. I had already drafted the first version of the book when Taylor Swift dropped “Christmas Tree Farm” a few years back, but it immediately went on the playlist just for the general merriment it provides and for the fact that Together With You is set on a Christmas tree farm. Likewise, there’s an ugly Christmas sweater scene, and the song “You Look Good” by Lady A basically inspired the entire tone of it—kind of flirty, kind of feisty, and so much fun. 

I build my book playlists before I begin drafting and tweak them as I go. Then I play them. Over and over (and over!) again—not while I’m writing, but pretty much any other time of day. My family really loves me for it (ha!), but this is one way I stay connected to my story—mulling over ideas and scenes—even when I’m not actively working. Listening to the music that’s connected to what I’m creating makes me eager to get back to my projects. And it always amazes me how the right song can call to mind the exact right emotion I’m trying to convey.

So to answer the question at the top of this post, no! I’m not afraid I’ll run out of ideas. I’ve got too much fodder for stories all around me! I think most authors would agree.

Leah Dobrinska is the author of the Larkspur Library Mysteries, a cozy mystery series set in the Wisconsin Northwoods (Level Best Books, 2022), and the Mapleton novels, a series of standalone small town romances. She earned her degree in English Literature from UW-Madison where she was awarded the Dean’s Prize and served as a Writing Fellow. She has since worked as a freelance writer, editor, and content marketer. Leah lives in Wisconsin with her husband and their gaggle of kids. When she's not writing, handing out snacks, or visiting local parks, Leah enjoys reading and running. Find out more about Leah, join her newsletter community, and connect with her through her website, Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.

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Spill the Tea Tuesday: Don't Lego

Today, author Rosalie Spielman is here to spill the tea...

Building a writing career is not unlike building with Legos. Everyone builds a little different, some faster than others, some use different methods and are more or less organized than others, and some might have to restart to make their structure work. But everyone has to put the work in, piece by piece, and build it up over time. 

In 2019, I started querying a cozy mystery. During my research, I was introduced to the mystery writers organization, Sisters in Crime (SinC), and joined the national and local chapters. They are a great organization that has provided a plethora of learning and networking opportunities, and joining ended up being my first step toward publication. In the Lego metaphor, it has been a base plate that provides my structure support. 

As a SinC Chesapeake Chapter member, I received an email about anthology submissions. Had I ever written a short story? No, not really. But I had an idea for a story, so I decided to try it. Grabbing this opportunity ended up being my next building block.

I was shocked when I got the email that said my paranormal mystery short story had been accepted for the anthology. Especially since it had come right after a couple agents passing on full manuscript requests. I was in the process of rewriting (aka rebuilding) that manuscript and was thrilled to know I would have something for my writing resume. I was determined to use my new “cred” as best I could and create some opportunities: I contacted the agents who previously or still had my full, let them know about the anthology acceptance as well as changes I was making to the manuscript. I got three re-requests and one of them stuck. So just a little over a month after hearing I was accepted to the anthology, I signed with my agent. That could be considered several blocks built!

The next opportunity was presented shortly after that. My agent posted that a small publisher, Gemma Halliday Publishing, was looking for more writers for their multi-author series, the Aloha Lagoon Mysteries. Though I was doubtful that I’d be accepted, I did my research and decided to give it a shot, throwing my hat into the ring with four story ideas, plus a writing sample, using my short story for the anthology as my sample! The publisher liked one of my pitches and loved the short story, and asked me to write and submit a synopsis and three chapters. My pitch was eventually accepted, and I signed my first contract in November of 2020.  

That Lego building block became my first book, Death Under the Sea, which led to a second Aloha Lagoon book, Death on a Cliff, which is being released today! Shortly after my contract on my second book, another Lego was added to my build when I received an offer from the same publisher for my original manuscript. Welcome Home to Murder, the first in the Hometown Mysteries series, was published last month. 

And that anthology story, my first publication building block? Strangely enough, it won’t be released until the end of this month! So if you’re interested in the story that started it all, check out Chesapeake Crimes: Magic is Murder! and my story “What’s a Little Murder Between Mammals.”

I’m determined to keep building on my structure, grabbing all the building block opportunities I can! No matter what your end goal, keep working away. I’m no expert, I’m just getting started, and not even sure what my Lego creation will look like in the end! But advice – if you’re a mystery writer, join SinC. And regardless of your genre, build up your resume. Try your hand at short stories, flash fiction contests, or whatever other opportunities come your way. Just keep building!

Rosalie Spielman is a mother, veteran, and retired military spouse. She was thrilled to discover that she could make other people laugh with her writing and finds joy in giving people a humorous escape from the real world. She currently lives in Maryland with her husband and four creatures—two teens and two fur babies. For more information on her books or to subscribe to her newsletter, go to www.rosalie-spielman-author.com

Welcome Home to Murder, the first in the Hometown Mysteries series, was released in June. Death on a Cliff, Rosalie's second contribution to the multi-author Aloha Lagoon series, will be released today, 9 August. You can find order links on her website. 

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