Inside Lenz Network

In the old Dragnet show, Sgt. Joe Friday used to say, "The facts, ma'am, only the facts." But when a writer is creating a book or story part of their process is making sure to check facts,particularly when they are setting out a particular set of circumstances. If you get it wrong, some of your readers will know and possibly spread the word. The internet is a wonderful source of information, but if you can't find what you want, let your fingers do the walking. Once you've figured out who might have the information you need, pick up the phone and call. It might be a friend, or the public relations division of a police department, hospital, public entity or any number of possibilities. When Morgan St. James was writing "Betrayed," she needed to know what would happen in the late 1950s if an inmate in an Illinois prison was beaten to a point where they had to be on lifesupport. The information was not readily available on the internet, so she called the public relations department at the prison in Illinois and discovered her answer, The Public Relations officer researched her and called back with the information that the policy had changed over the years. What would have happened now, wasn't the cae then. Back then the inmate would have been kept in the prison infirmary. So, St. James was able to portray the scene correctly for the era.

Okay,let's assume you've got the facts, details and any other pertinent information. How much does your reader REALLY want to know? Are you overwriting and boring them with details fans of your genre really are not interested in?Is the technical information much more than they care to read? Do they want the story to just keep moving?

In a lively discussion authors Morgan St. James, Dennis N. Griffin and Eric James Miller will share their knowledge and experience when it comes to, "Just the facts, ma'am."

Shattered Lives Radio and host, Donna R. Gore, are proud to present yet another valuable resource and information for listeners. An in depth look at victim services will be the topic of the show, relating the expansion of services for victims of crime and violence.

As Executive Director of Victim Assistance Program, Leanne Graham sees herself as a leader of the “second generation mass,” carrying the tradition of those who pioneered the victims’ rights movement in the 1970’s. Coming from a family with backgrounds in various areas of the criminal justice system, Graham has been exposed to it’s diversity, as well as it’s needs.

When children are victims of a disaster, a school shooting, or perhaps the loss of a classmate or someone close to them, we, as parents, teachers, or mental health professionals need to know how best to assist their grieving process.

As the media reports on school shootings, deaths of children, and tragedy beyond comprehension, one comforting thought is there are trained professionals ready to step in during and after the crisis to help children deal with the loss.   

Returning Shattered Lives Radio guest, Dr. David Schonfeld is tops in the field of child bereavement and now heads the National Center for School Crisis and Bereavement (NCSCB) which "aims to help prepare professionals working in schools, health care settings, and other community sites to be better prepared to meet children’s needs during and after crisis and loss."

One of the most important qualities a fictional character can possess is to seem real to the reader.

Forget just stringing together a series of words describing physical attributes and how the character carries out routine or off-the-chart situations—perhaps spiced with inner thoughts. There is more to creating someone with feelings and emotions and a physical presence. Doing that doesn’t have to be daunting. Because the reader sees events through the eyes of these players in the story, at all costs avoid moving paper dolls or overblown figures through the scenes.

Authors Morgan St. James, Dennis N. Griffin and Eric James Miller share their techniques for transferring their own experiences and emotions to the characters they create.

Carolina Sarassa is 3-time Emmy® award and a 4-time National Gabriel award-winning News Anchor and Correspondent for MundoFOX National Network News in Los Angeles. 

Carolina served in the board of governors for the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences and is currently a board member for the LA Press Club. Her first true-crime book will be published on April 2015 by Berkley a division of Penguin Books. It's now on pre-sale at Amazon.com under the title "Dancing on her Grave"

She is currently working on a book for WildBlue Press tentatively titled FEAR WAS NOT AN OPTION, a true crime story with a personal twist, about two notorious LA gang members who have turned their lives around.

On March 19-22, 2015 the National Missing Persons Conference was held in Wilmington, NC sponsored annually by CUE Center for Missing Persons. Each year the conference is attended by families of the missing as a place to network, learn and gather together with others who are suffering the same losses. It's a place where they feel safe to share, cry, and laugh together as they continue their journey to find their missing loved one. 

The theme for the 11th annual conference is "Persevere: into the unknown" and included several illustrious speakers, instructors and classes on a variety of related topics. 

Today's show is dedicated to remembrances of the conference and what attendees take away each year as inspiration to continue, either as a family member, advocate, or law enforcement.

How do you go from the great idea to a published book. Do you search for an agent and publisher, or follow the growing trend of self publishing? Darrah Whitaker is the author of the upcoming book "My Life as a Sperm," and is also the conference coordinator for the Las Vegas Writers Conference. He will share his journey from concept to completion.

Words have always been a passion for Cindy Davis who has been a freelance editor since 1998.

Cindy says, "I have loved every minute of guiding my authors toward publication," and now she will share tips and techniques with authors at all stages of their careers. Cindy's credentials include:

Written eighteen novels: thirteen mysteries, one women's fiction, one romantic suspense, and a young adult fantasy trilogyTwo regional self-published books (both have sold more than 4000 copies locally)One humorous non-fictionOne self-help for writersFifteen years editing for eight publishing houses170+ articles and stories in national publicationsTwo years penning a humorous newspaper columnInstructor for WritersCollege.comOver 550 edited novels to date. Most all have gone on to publication

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A twenty-three year veteran of the Las Vegas Police Department, Bradley Nickell discovered a hidden talent, writing. His first endeavor, REPEAT OFFENDER, is the ultimate true crime, life on the streets of Vegas from the birdseye view of a police officer working hard to protect the community.  

A contributor to American COP Magazine and POLICE Magazine, writing law enforcement-themed features, Nickell found enjoyment in the writing process and began to use his experiences to formulate his true crime book. Nickell says, "It’s not just about entertainment or education for me, my passion is to leave a footprint that lasts."

One of the most versatile writers working today, Ron Franscell has traversed the open range of journalism, fiction and nonfiction with extraordinary success. His lyrical but muscular prose has been compared to that of Robert Olen Butler, Cormac McCarthy, and Charles Frazier.  His journalism has won several national awards, including the Associated Press Managing Editors’ national Freedom of Information Award, the Investigative Reporters and Editor’s Best in the West Award, and four Pulitzer Prize candidates.  And he has frequently appeared as a true-crime commentator on CNN, NPR, Fox News, and crime documentaries on Investigation Discovery, History Channel, and A&E.