Enjoy the PROLOGUE to Philly Style and Philly Profile and then listen to the audio verstion!

  Prologue 

Walter Chandler’s legs pumped like automobile-engine pistons as he dodged the occasional newspaper stand with the owner holding out the late afternoon copy of The Philadelphia Bulletin. This was one of the obstacles Walter faced as he sprinted the length of the 69^th Street elevated subway station. He skirted past this obstruction like he did when he won the Championship of America hurdles race at the Penn Relays track and field carnival.

He squinted in the glare of the late-afternoon sun that streamed through the spaces between the iron beams, supporting the platform. Walter dodged groups of people getting on and off regular scheduled El trains coming from Center City, the heart of downtown, Philadelphia.

Walter reached the stairs to the concourse and then the long corridor that led to the platform of the high-speed line that carried commuters to Norristown, a small town on the western side of Philadelphia. Norristown was situated in the direction of the state capitol of Harrisburg.

Walter evaded two old ladies who were not watching what was going on around them. He peered down the passageway, saw the 4:09 train and picked up speed. His thoughts raced faster than his feet. ‘If I don’t hustle, I won’t reach the train. I can’t be late.’

His forearm knocked open one of the swinging doors; he put on a burst of speed that would make Olympian Carl Lewis blush with envy. Walter smiled as he stepped through the train doors and sat down on the black plastic seat. Breathing hard, he closed his eyes for a few moments. He opened them and saw every seat taken except for a few near the front of the car.

He heard the conductor yell through the window,” Pull outta here.” The high-speed line car jerked forward, eased out of the 69^th Street terminal and headed to Norristown.

Walter endured the 30-minute commute, knowing that when he stepped off the train, a phase of his life would end. When he got the telephone message, he was suspicious, but he knew he had to go to Norristown or he wouldn’t find any inner-peace.

He got off the train and walked the three blocks to the First Pennsylvania Bank on McArthur Road. Inside the bank, he headed for the

safe deposit boxes. Walter put the letter in the box, closed it, locked it, and smiled at the bank teller who gave him the lock-box key. He walked away from the vault area of the bank toward the front entrance.

Walter had a few minutes before the meeting. When it was over he’d sprint to catch the high-speed line train for the return trip to the 69^th Street Market elevated station.

After catching the elevated subway to West Philadelphia, he’d relax for the rest of the day. He might even jog over to Franklin Field, near Spruce Street, in West Philly and get in a few laps around the track he’d made famous, five-years ago, on a warm spring day. He laughed as he pushed the revolving door.

Walter stepped out of the bank door. He stared straight ahead, across the street, to the pawnshop that had the black and orange sign that advertised discount prices on gold, silver and electronic equipment. The lock-box key felt good in the palm of his hands. He didn’t see the Deuce& and a Quarter Oldsmobile.

Walter’s foot touched the pavement. The car bumper sent his body rolling back onto the sidewalk. The force of the car knocked the lock-box

key and it made a jingling noise as it bounced off the sidewalk curb and into the gutter.

His body rested against the steps of the bank.

Spectators gathered.

Walter looked up and then closed his eyes as the late-afternoon sunlight washed his lifeless body.

( Please click on the link to listen to the audio version of  the prologue)

Thompson On…The Successful 21st Century Author!

Successful twenty-first century authors have three lifestyle components: Passion, Organization, and Uniqueness.
Passion: Successful authors love their craft!
They delve into the storyline with abandon. They make time to write and know their most creative time of the day. This is different for each author.
I know of a writer who sneaks out of bed at four a.m. and writes until six a.m. and then returns to bed and the warmth of their spouse.
In the space between daily tasks writers will find a time to write. I’m a high school teacher and sometimes, in the six minutes between classes, I will have a pencil and pad in the hallway and in between yelling “Get to Class!” I write a few lines for an upcoming manuscript.
Later, after the closing school bells sounds, I expand on the idea and thought and make it into something that is readable. You write when you can!
The health of a writer’s soul must be nurtured and developed.
Successful authors find the time to write and creating that “next” new and exciting scene in their novel.
Organization: Successful writers…Write!
They write story lines. They write chapters. They outline. They jot down notes for the book. They are on schedule with dates of submissions and deadlines jostling their brain cells.
Successful writers use technology. From pen and paper, Dictionary.com accounts, thesaurus, the smart authors have everything at arm’s length at their writing station.
They write!
I’m an author who uses his android to keep a schedule of his writing. I have the chapters organized with one and two notes on what I want to accomplish in the writing of that particular chapter.
I have two folders:
***One folder with all the chapters listed and the particular notes, setting and dialogue that fits that particular moment in the novel.
I have another folder for the entire novel. When I finish a chapter in one folder, I copy/paste that chapter into the folder for the entire novel. As the chapters build, I can see the word count and get a flow for the storyline.
These two folders give me the opportunity and freedom to work in one folder and keep a completed version in another folder.
For Example:
Folder One: Each individual chapter word document is listed 1-to 50 with all the incomplete chapters.

Folder Two
: The entire novel. As I complete a chapter, I add that chapter building the first draft.
Right now, I’m up to Chapter Three in Chasing the Wind!
Uniqueness: Successful writers have their own voice, pacing, and storyline.
They are not robots.
They do not write in the trendy categories, popular genres or alter themes to suit the masses.
Unique writers write how they feel and the story they want to tell.
They are creative.
Despite our reasons for pulling the chair into a comfortable position in front of a computer and write, we measure success by finishing what we start!
Remember:
“Keep Writing…Keep Believing…Never Give Up On Your Dreams”

Thompson On…Elements of Novel Writing!

J. E. Thompson Speaking at Decatur Book Festival!

Novel writing is demanding!
The novel writing process incorporates elements that must be blended and mastered to create a successful novel. I’ve developed a series of articles that will help you unit these diverse elements together and craft that prize winning book.
Once mastered, your readers will know where they are with a setting that has a unique sense of place, populated with a carnival of characters that are believable and invites the reader’s empathy as they face perilous situations, and descriptions that are loaded with specific and vivid details. There are other elements like Point of view and Sub-Plots that are also discussed in separate articles.
The information in these articles helped me construct four novels: A Brownstone in Brooklyn, Philly Style and Philly Profile, the national award winning The Ghost of Atlanta and Phantoms of Rockwood. Now, I’m still using this information as I construct my fifth novel, Stormy Winds.
Elements of Writing Series: Please click to read the entire series: Point of View, Description, Setting, Sub-Plots and Building Dynamic Characters:
http://www.authorsden.com/visit/viewarticle.asp?AuthorID=138087
Biography: Mr. Thompson is a former Creative Writing Instructor at Evening at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia and a National Award Winning Author. Mr. Thompson’s third novel, The Ghost of Atlanta, is a 2011 Gold Medal winning National Award Winner that was recognized by Readers Favorite.