Mimi Barbour

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Do your characters make you suffer from insomnia like author, Toby Neal?

February 29, 2012 By Mimi Barbour 59 Comments

 ****

Welcome to my blog Toby. I loved your post about insomnia, and must say I have experienced it quite often myself. Mind you, I don’t recall having to terrorize one of my poor characters into making them even crazier, but then again, maybe I should. It could add a new element to my one of my angel stories!!

How lucky can you get living in Hawaii!!??
I wanna be you…

Toby Neal was raised on Kauai in Hawaii. She wrote and illustrated her first story at age 5 and has been published in magazines and won several writing contests. After initially majoring in Journalism, she eventually settled on mental health as a career and loves her work, saying, “I’m endlessly fascinated with people’s stories.” She enjoys many outdoor sports including bodyboarding, scuba diving, beach walking, gardening and hiking. She lives in Hawaii with her family and dogs. Toby credits her counseling background in adding depth to her characters–from the villains to Lei Texeira, the courageous and vulnerable heroine in the Lei Crime Series.

Last night I had insomnia. This is not all
that unusual; as a ‘thinker’ I am unduly burdened by brain processing, and I’d
been knocked out all last week by a cold and resulting cold medicine, and last
night was the first time I went to bed without chemical help. Even so I did an
afternoon workout hoping to be too tired for the ol’ sleeplessness to come
back.

Didn’t work. At around 2 a.m. I woke up
(unable to see clock without my glasses, and putting them on is admitting the
insomnia is really bad, so the time remains a fuzzy red figment in the dark)
and was plagued by the sense that the bad guy in my sequel is just not scary
enough.

Creepy, yes. Disturbing. The potential for
a great deal of gore is also there, which I’ve handled with buckets, tarps and
scene cutaways (I tend to be of the suggestive rather than explicit school when
it comes to violence) and he’s nicely crazed with a well developed pathology.
Even so, he’s just not ‘popping’ for me… and if it’s not working for me it’s
definitely not going to be working for readers.

So in my insomniac bed I thought of an old
standby suspense technique—the ticking clock. I had it in there, but an early
death of the victim sort of killed it (ha! Pun!) and so today I did what I have
to do to keep track of time—printed out a calendar of the month, stretched out
the timeline and extended hope for the hopeless. I gave the victim a clear
expiration date that the reader knows and Detective Leilani Texeira doesn’t,
and had the guy who, in the original, lay in a coma and was peacefully
slaughtered, wake up and demand to know what the hell was going on.

And suddenly, the story’s scary. Urgent. A
date at the top of each chapter begins a new day and reminds you the dude in
the cave is going to buy it if Lei doesn’t get off her toned ass and out of the
pool with the hot developer  and track
down the madman.

I
feel a heady power— I can manipulate time! I can bring back the dead, and
invent entire bureaucracies! I can just freakin’ make stuff up, and when it
doesn’t work, I can completely change it!

 I
love being a writer. Even the insomnia—when it amounts to something useful.
Unfortunately sometimes I forget the brilliant ideas I have in that effortless
gray between sleeping and awake.

Do you have insomnia? How do you handle it,
and what usually brings it on?

Amazon
Free today as a Promotion so get a copy now!!! 
Torch Ginger, the sequel to Blood Orchids, will be released May 2012.

Visit Toby at her website and follow her on twitter and facebook
*~*~*
For this Leap into Books Blog Hop I will be happy to present the lucky winner with a $10 Amazon Gift certificate. All you need to do is leave a comment with your e-mail address. And, I’ll be adding your names to my newsletter list, so I hope you won’t mind getting a periodic letter from me telling of new releases and special news!

Giveaway Hop – Leap into Books

****

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Related

Comments

  1. Judy B. says

    February 29, 2012 at 1:30 pm

    I added myself to your feedburner email followers list. I am beachbird2
    Thanks for the giveaway.

    Reply
  2. Kali S says

    February 29, 2012 at 6:59 pm

    Thank you for the giveaway.

    dontkillkittens8(at)netscape(dot)net

    Reply
  3. Morphine says

    February 29, 2012 at 7:19 pm

    kjmillionie[at]gmail[dot]com

    Reply
  4. momma8385 says

    February 29, 2012 at 11:56 pm

    Thank you for this great giveaway.
    🙂 Jeanne, jeannebates_t@yahoo.com

    Reply
  5. Steph says

    March 1, 2012 at 12:01 am

    Thanks for the giveaway!!

    stephward84(at)hotmail(dot)com

    Reply
  6. marybelle says

    March 1, 2012 at 1:22 am

    Thank you for the giveaway.

    marypres(AT)gmail(DOT)com

    Reply
  7. Lioness says

    March 1, 2012 at 2:26 am

    Thanks 😀

    email: cigam9[at]gmail[dot]com

    Reply
  8. C ssm says

    March 1, 2012 at 3:33 am

    Thanks for the giveaway. c(underscore)ssm(at)yahoo(dot)com.

    Reply
  9. Dani says

    March 1, 2012 at 5:10 am

    ellepaulette@gmail.com

    Reply
  10. Leannessf says

    March 1, 2012 at 6:14 am

    Thanks for the giveaway!

    Leanne
    leannessf@gmail.com

    Reply
  11. Unknown says

    March 1, 2012 at 9:44 am

    thanks for the chance to win!!

    catherine0807 at hotmail dot com

    Reply
  12. ame1184 says

    March 1, 2012 at 1:27 pm

    thanks for the giveaway : )

    ame1184 at gmail dot com

    Reply
  13. Anonymous says

    March 1, 2012 at 4:26 pm

    Thanks for doing this giveaway!

    ~Krista
    theangrypollo{ AT }yahoo{DOT }com

    Reply
  14. savannah says

    March 1, 2012 at 8:16 pm

    Thanks for the giveaway, and I would love to be added to your newsletter!

    savannahm1987@gmail.com

    Reply
  15. Liese2 says

    March 1, 2012 at 8:27 pm

    Thanks for the giveaway!
    sqwalker2@hotmail.com

    Reply
  16. Liese2 says

    March 1, 2012 at 8:29 pm

    please add me to your newsletter, too.
    sqwalker2@gmail.com

    Reply
  17. Cassandra says

    March 1, 2012 at 8:50 pm

    Thanks for the giveaway!

    CassMartino AT gmail DOT com

    Reply
  18. Nikki says

    March 1, 2012 at 9:01 pm

    GFC follower- loverofanimals49

    Thanks for the giveaway!

    loverofanimals49 at yahoo dot com

    Reply
  19. Carrie says

    March 1, 2012 at 9:09 pm

    Thanks so much for the giveaway!

    celjla212 at aol dot com

    Reply
  20. Lisa Richards/alterlisa says

    March 1, 2012 at 9:17 pm

    GFC- Lisa Richards
    I simply use insomnia as an excuse to stay up all night and read.
    (___/)
    (='.'=)
    (")_(")

    alterlisa AT yahoo DOT com

    http://lisaslovesbooksofcourse.blogspot.com/

    Reply
  21. jwhitus says

    March 1, 2012 at 9:47 pm

    GFC – jwhitus

    jwhitus at hotmail dot com

    http://www.walkingonbookshelves.blogspot.com

    Reply
  22. Julie W says

    March 1, 2012 at 9:55 pm

    Thanks so much for participating in this awesome blog hop!!
    GFC: Julie Witt
    jwitt33 at live dot com

    Reply
  23. Katie Amanda says

    March 2, 2012 at 2:08 am

    Thanks!

    GFC: Katie Amanda

    katieamanda1(at)yahoo(dot)com

    Reply
  24. Kris says

    March 2, 2012 at 2:35 am

    Thanks! I look forward to following your blog.
    secretpearls(at)gmail(dot)com

    Reply
  25. Tiff Pull says

    March 2, 2012 at 4:30 am

    Thanks so much for this giveaway.

    pulliam_t@yahoo.com

    Reply
  26. RAJEEV KULSHRESTHA says

    March 2, 2012 at 1:07 pm

    very nice

    Reply
  27. Anne says

    March 2, 2012 at 4:08 pm

    Thank you for participating in the hop.

    acm05atjuno.com

    Reply
  28. K. Cleaver says

    March 2, 2012 at 10:15 pm

    Thanks! I'm already following you on GFC (Gracie).

    Reply
  29. Emily @ Falling For YA says

    March 2, 2012 at 10:31 pm

    Thanks for the giveaway!

    Emisbookblog(at)AOL(dot)com

    Reply
  30. Becca says

    March 3, 2012 at 12:36 am

    Thanks so much for the chance! sbcashortie at hotmail dot com

    Reply
  31. Lexie@BookBug says

    March 3, 2012 at 4:50 am

    Thanks for the giveaway!
    lexie.bookbug at gmail dot com

    Reply
  32. Cindy says

    March 3, 2012 at 5:08 am

    Thank you for the chance to win your giveaway.
    cindymacbeth at gmail dot com

    Reply
  33. Ricki says

    March 3, 2012 at 8:36 pm

    I don't really get insomnia, but I love that cover!
    GFC – rickimc
    rickimc[at]aol[dot]com

    Reply
  34. Puie says

    March 3, 2012 at 9:00 pm

    Wow, thanks for the giveaway 😀
    Add me to your newsletter 😀
    email: puieread at yahoo dot com

    Reply
  35. Unknown says

    March 3, 2012 at 10:02 pm

    Thanks so much for participating in this hop and for the giveaway chance! I'd love to receive your newsletter 😀

    Gena Robertson
    robertsongena@hotmail.com

    Reply
  36. Shane R. says

    March 4, 2012 at 1:10 am

    Thank you! I don't mind being added to the newsletter.

    shanerus at gmail dot com

    Reply
  37. Catherine Lee says

    March 4, 2012 at 2:34 am

    LOVE Leap Day!

    catherinelee100 at gmail dot com

    Reply
  38. Aurora Celeste says

    March 4, 2012 at 4:19 am

    Thanks for the giveaway!

    auroraceleste(at)gmail

    Reply
  39. Jaime Lynn Lester says

    March 4, 2012 at 5:30 am

    Thanks for the giveaway! I am already an email subscriber of yours! jeepgirl529@yahoo.com

    Reply
  40. Sarah Walker says

    March 4, 2012 at 7:31 am

    Thanks so much for this amazing giveaway! You rock 🙂

    sreis1987 (at) gmail (dot) com

    Reply
  41. Sophia Rose says

    March 4, 2012 at 8:44 am

    Thanks for participating in the hop and for the giveaway opportunity.

    sophiarose1816@gmail.com

    Reply
  42. Sherry says

    March 4, 2012 at 5:10 pm

    Thanks for the giveaway.
    sstrode at scrtc dot com

    Reply
  43. Caitlin says

    March 4, 2012 at 6:45 pm

    Thanks for the giveaway!
    gokarter418 (at) aol (dot) com

    Reply
  44. camp3369 says

    March 4, 2012 at 7:18 pm

    Please add me to your list and enter me in the drawing. Thanks
    annette3369@yahoo.com

    Reply
  45. Kaci Verdun says

    March 4, 2012 at 7:34 pm

    Thanks for the giveaway!!
    kacidesigns@yahoo.com

    Reply
  46. Katrina says

    March 4, 2012 at 7:46 pm

    Thanks. 🙂 oneagainst at hotmail dot com

    Reply
  47. susan1215 says

    March 4, 2012 at 7:52 pm

    Please enter me

    s2s2 at comcast dot net

    Reply
  48. slehan says

    March 4, 2012 at 8:16 pm

    slehan at juno dot com
    Thanks for the contest.

    Reply
  49. BookAttict says

    March 4, 2012 at 8:22 pm

    Thanks for the amazing giveaway!

    elizabeth @ bookattict . com

    Reply
  50. Kimberly R. says

    March 4, 2012 at 8:26 pm

    Thank you for the great giveaway!
    kimberlybreid at hotmail dot com

    Reply
  51. Lilian says

    March 4, 2012 at 11:18 pm

    Thank you for your generosity!

    I would love to be entered~
    lilianxcheng AT gmail DOT com

    Reply
  52. throuthehaze says

    March 5, 2012 at 2:23 am

    Thanks for the giveaway!
    throuthehaze at gmail dot com

    Reply
  53. Ana Norte says

    March 5, 2012 at 2:24 am

    Thank you for the giveaway!

    aluisanorte [AT] uol [DOT] com [DOT] br

    Reply
  54. Penny Kathleen says

    March 5, 2012 at 5:15 am

    Thanks for the giveaway! I'm happy to be on your list!

    pkbw28(at)gmail(dot)com

    Reply
  55. Gretchen says

    March 5, 2012 at 8:18 am

    Happy Leap Year!

    gretchengerth at gmail dot com

    Reply
  56. Ms. Em says

    March 5, 2012 at 4:25 pm

    Thanks for the giveaway!! LadyMagic0@aol.com

    Reply
  57. Mimi Barbour says

    March 5, 2012 at 5:03 pm

    Congratulations to Savannah who has been chosen as the winner of the Amazon $10 certificate for this blog hop. I want to thank all of you who left comments and hope you'll participate with me again. I do love reading your little notes…so thank you.

    Reply
  58. savannah says

    March 5, 2012 at 5:23 pm

    Thank you 🙂

    Reply
  59. Barbara R. says

    March 6, 2012 at 4:45 am

    Thank you for the giveaway
    brlucky7 at gmail dot com

    Reply

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