Tuesday, September 22, 2020

Bill Johnson’s screenplay SWEET DREAMS is #197 in the never-ending series called INSIDE THE EMOTION OF FICTION


Chris Rice Cooper 

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****Bill Johnson’s screenplay SWEET DREAMS is #197 in the never-ending series called INSIDE THE EMOTION OF FICTION where the Chris Rice Cooper Blog (CRC) focuses on one specific excerpt from a fiction genre and how that fiction writer wrote that specific excerpt.  All INSIDE THE EMOTION OF FICTION links are at the end of this piece

Name of screenplay? And were there other names you considered that you would like to share with us?
Sweet Dreams. When I discovered the name had already been used I considered changing it, but I also found the title echoing around me in unexpected places, rather like the universe was telling me to keep the title. So I did. I just finished a play that went from Trials of Dark Hearts, to Winning the Trials of Dark Hearts, to The Trials and Tribulations of Sad Clowns. I got to clowns from a phrase a character uses.

What is the date you began writing this screenplay and the date when you completely finished the piece of fiction? 
November of 2001, March of 2002. This is an old script, but my favorite of all I wrote or was hired to work on.
Where did you do most of your writing? And please describe in detail. 
I'm a night writer, feeling most creative after 10 pm.        I'm also a streak writer.   
        
          When I was in my early twenties I did bellows breathing 3-4 hours a day for a year. I discovered I'm on an 11 week cycle. It starts on a high that lasts about a week, then several semi highs of about a week each, then slowly drops to a low point where my body and brain feel out of sync and nerves are irritated.
I felt most creative during my high. During semi-highs I focused more on writing and rewriting. As I dropped toward my low, I focus on editing.

      When I hit the low, I go out for a good meal and a massage. 
When I was hired to do script work, working with others ideas made it easier for me to get into a creative flow. I did some work for a Hollywood actor Neal McDonough and was an editor for screenwriter Billy Snowden, and worked for a local low budget producer Tom Shaw who hired me to write a script and do location scouting and testing of film stock.
What were your writing habits while writing this screenplay - did you drink something as you wrote, listen to music, write in pen and paper, directly on laptop; specific time of day?
I came of age writing fiction in long hand, but by the time I got to screenwriting and working with and for others, I became comfortable working on a computer with a screenwriting program.
       
          Before I began writing screenplays, I wrote and directed scripts for industrial and some corporate video. I once had to write a script, shoot some footage, and get a short video edited in 24 hours for an Olympics proposal on a tight deadline, on the day a long term relationship ended.        
 I also wrote and had some full length plays produced. Those were mostly written long hand. Through a theater group, I became an editor for a screenwriter who had just sold a script to Columbia.
        
          When I wrote for others, I typically wrote during the day. When I wrote for myself, I typically did most of my creative work in the evening.                                         
During this time I rented an office so I had a quiet working environment. Over the Christmas holidays, I could work until 2-3 am and then sleep in the office.                      
     
          The low budget film producer I worked for let me crash in his studio for 15 months while I was putting together the material for A Story is a Promise.                                      
 When I was younger, I fueled on donuts and diet soda and sometimes cheap Chinese. Now I fuel on salads and caffeine free soda or water with lemon.                                                                              What is the summary of your screenplay? A meek FBI agent is bringing over Russian women to take on the identity of his dead wife. The first five who didn't work out he keeps in a basement freezer. 
         
          The 6th potential wife is on her way to the US when a Russian hooker courier steals her identity but finds herself locked in the FBI agent's basement. When she escapes, the FBI agent struggles to figure out how to recapture the woman who was to be the replacement for his dead wife. Complications ensue and multiply until every character is trying to cross through to a place where they can have their sweet dreams fulfilled.

Please include just one excerpt. This one excerpt can be as short or as long as you prefer. I lost my formatting when I did a copy and paste, so I just did a quick reformat in Word.

INT. AMERICA/TOM HAWKING’S HOUSE - DAY
 
Sitting before an altar, TOM HAWKING lights some candles.  He is young thirties, neat. 
                                            TOM                              
I know I will never be able to really replace you, but I had to try. 

His altar is composed of various photos of his dead wife, KATE HAWKING, who bears a striking resemblance to Katrina. Strings of small Christmas lights twinkle around various pictures of Tom and Kate, obviously in love with the idea of themselves. 

                                            TOM 
 I promise you, our great love will survive. 

Christmas lights twinkle in Tom’s tear-glistened eyes. 

INT. RUSSIAN MATING/DATING SERVICE - DAY

A old, short Russian MATCHMAKER walks down a hallway with OLGA, a timid blonde who, like Katrina, has a resemblance to Kate Hawking. 
                                            MATCHMAKER                             
Take care of his needs, he’ll be good to you. 

A door along the hall opens. Sleazy music comes out. Several clumsy young girls are being taught to be strippers. The Matchmaker hurriedly closes the door as Olga blushes. 

                                            OLGA                              
I’m not going to... 
                                            MATCHMAKER                              
That’s got nothing to do with you.  

Katrina appears at the end of the hall. She nods. The Matchmaker nods at Katrina, who disappears. 
                                            OLGA                              
I do want to be able to please him. 

                                            MATCHMAKER                              
That’s easy. Even if he’s ugly and hung like a string bean, pretend he’s a Hollywood movie star like Abbot and Costello. 

                                            OLGA                              
Yes, Mother. 

                                            MATCHMAKER                             
 And don’t call me Mother, god dammit. Shit can the damn religion for a few weeks. 

                                            OLGA                             
 Shyte cane the religion. Yes, Mother. 

The Matchmaker rolls her eyes. 

                                            MATCHMAKER                              
Look, you’re young and pretty, but there’s no life for you here. Just stick with this guy for a year. Then you can get your green card and be free. 

The old Matchmaker reaches out to open a door with hands crippled by arthritis.

Why is this excerpt so emotional for you as a writer to write? And can you describe your own emotional experience of writing this specific excerpt? *and humor is one of many emotions.
I think it's easy to lock on to the emotions a relationship in the past created and to try and recreate that feeling with a new partner. This black humor script takes that idea to an odd, strange conclusion. 
There's also the idea that we can create a new life for ourselves if we go to a new place. 

           
I once wrote a novel (The Combat Poets of Maya) while sleeping in the storage space of a restaurant that had a poetry and theater night.                                            
Returning to Sweet Dreams, I teach that a story creates movement and that movement transports a reader or audience. When I wrote this script, the underlying mechanics of the story is that as each character takes one step toward what they believe will be the fulfillment of a dream, the one step of another character knocks their dream one further step away. So as each character keeps taking an additional, realistic step forward, every character ends up in a twilight zone.
        
          I thought writing a script as pure movement without plot points would impress some of the people I pitched. They assumed I didn't know what plot points were and that was that. 
I later figured out a way to pitch the script with conventional plot points, but one person who read the script suggested ways I could make the script conventional.  I had to accept that my dark comedy doesn't work for some people. It has worked better in my short plays that have been produced around the US, England, and Mexico.

Were there any deletions from this excerpt that you can share with us? And can you please include a photo of your marked-up rough drafts of this excerpt. This script is from too far back for me to have edits, but I'm currently working on a new play that is nearing a final draft. I'll include a few of those pages.                                  
          When I write a draft, I'm trying to get down the bones of the story. This script started as a 15 page short, that I'm rewriting to a 30 page one act. So I'm really expanding the script. When I write a new script, that's my goal, just get down the bones. I couldn't work with a writer who wrote a first draft, did a few edits, and the script was done.     

A sad tale of woe about edits, I'd done a rewrite on a script for a Hollywood actor that worked through some of his notes. When I was done I was in a creative high, so I started a new script. When I wrote a script, I'd put a draft on my hard drive and a copy on a floppy.
         
          When I started a new script, the script program I was using gave it the same name as the actor's script. Since I'd done so many writes on that script, I'd cleaned out all my recycling and it was taken away. 
Then I found out that script program had overwritten my new draft of that script on the floppy and my hard drive. It was lost. I could never find the thread of how I'd resolved various issues in the rewrite. The actor assumed I was blowing him off.

Has this screenplay been made into a film? And if NOT which actors would you like to portray your characters in this screenplay?
Back when I wrote Sweet Dreams, I saw Tom Hanks (Above Right) as the FBI agent and Samuel L Jackson (Above Left) as a hitman trying to track down Katrina, the courier from Russia.

How many pages? What does that equate to how long the film would be? 
100 pages. I figured a minute a page. An old aol address. That brings back memories. I used to post some of my insights on storytelling in the screenwriter area, until a new moderator announced that no one could post anything that would offend a child.                                       A guy (Above Right: Josh Olson) who went by BadCog wrote the script for the movie A History of Violence.
     
          Besides working on the play, I'm trying to see if I can use meditation techniques to tap into a more universal state of creative energy. What the poet Walt Whitman
(Right) referred to as 'God licked my brain.' I figure it will take meditating three hours a day for a year to see what happen
          Bill Johnson
is the author of the writing workbook A Story is a Promise & The Spirit of Storytelling. He's a produced playwright and was a long time board member of the Northwest Playwrights Guild. He was office manager of Willamette Writers, a non-profit writer's group. He is currently webmaster of Essays on the Craft of Dramatic Writing!
(www.storyispromise.com) a website that explores principles of storytelling through reviews of movies, novels, and plays.

INSIDE THE EMOTION OF FICTION links
 
001   11 15 2018 Nathaniel Kaine’s 
Thriller Novel 
John Hunter – The Veteran 

002   11 18 2018 Ed Protzel’s
Futuristic/Mystery/Thriller 
The Antiquities Dealer  

003   11 23 2018 Janice Seagraves’s
Science Fiction Romance
Exodus Arcon

004   11 29 2018 Christian Fennell’s
Literary Fiction Novel
The Fiddler in the Night 

005  12 02 2018 Jessica Mathews’s
Adult Paranormal Romance
Death Adjacent 

006  12 04 2018 Robin Jansen’s
Literary Fiction Novel
Ruby the Indomitable 

007  12 12 2018  Adair Valerez’s
Literary Fiction Novel
Scrim

008  12 17 218 Kit Frazier’s
Mystery Novel
Dead Copy

009 12 21 2019 Robert Craven’s
Noir/Spy Novel
The Road of a Thousand Tigers

010 01 13 2019 Kristine Goodfellow’s
Contemporary Romantic Fiction
The Other Twin

011 01 17 2019 Nancy J Cohen’s
Cozy Mystery
Trimmed To Death
 
012 01 20 2019 Charles Salzberg’s
Crime Novel
Second Story Man

013 01 23 2019 Alexis Fancher’s
Flash Fiction
His Full Attention

014 01 27 2019 Brian L Tucker’s
Young Adult/Historical
POKEWEED:  AN ILLUSTRATED NOVELLA 

015 01 31 2019 Robin Tidwell’s
Dystopian
Reduced

016 02 07 2019 J.D. Trafford’s
Legal Fiction/Mystery
Little Boy Lost 

017 02 08 2019 Paula Shene’s
Young Adult ScieFi/Fantasy/Romance/Adventure
My Quest Begins  

018 02 13 2019 Talia Carner’s
Mainstream Fiction/ Suspense/ Historical 
Hotel Moscow

019 02 15 2019 Rick Robinson’s 
Multidimensional Fiction
Alligator Alley

020 02 21 2019 LaVerne Thompson’s
Urban Fantasy
The Soul Collectors

021 02 27 2019 Marlon L Fick’s
Post-Colonialist Novel
The Nowhere Man

022 03 02 2019 Carol Johnson’s
Mainstream Novel
Silk And Ashes

023 03 06 2019 Samuel Snoek-Brown’s
Short Story Collection
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024 03 08 2019 Marlin Barton’s 
Short Story Collection 
Pasture Art 

025 03 18 2019 Laura Hunter’s
Historical Fiction
Beloved Mother

026 03 21 2019 Maggie Rivers’s
Romance
Magical Mistletoe
https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/03/26-inside-emotion-of-fictions-magical.html 

027  03 25 2019 Faith Gibson’s
Paranormal Romance
Rafael
https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/03/27-inside-emotion-of-fictions-rafael-by.html 

028 03 27 2019 Valerie Nieman’s
Tall Tale 
To The Bones
https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/03/28-inside-emotion-of-fictions-to-bones.html 

029 04 04 2019 Betty Bolte’s
Paranormal Romance
Veiled Visions of Love
https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/04/29-inside-emotion-of-fictions-veiled.html 

030 04 05 2019  Marianne Maili’s
Tragicomedy 
Lucy, go see
https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/04/30-inside-emotion-of-fictions-lucy-go.html 

031 04 10 2019 Gregory Erich Phillips’s
Mainstream Fiction
The Exile
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032 04 15 2019 Jason Ament’s
Speculative Fiction
Rabid Dogs
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033 04 24 2019 Stephen P. Keirnan’s
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034 05 01 2019 George Kramer’s
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035 05 05 2019 Erika Sams’s
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036 05 07 2019 Mark Wisniewski’s
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037 05 08 2019 Marci Baun’s
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038 05 10 2019 Suzanne M. Wolfe’s
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039 05 12 2019 Edward DeVito’s
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040 05 14 2019 Gytha Lodge’s
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041 05 16 2019 Kari Bovee’s
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042 05 20 2019 Annie Seaton’s
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043 05 22 2019 Paula Rose Michelson’s
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Chronicles
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044 05 24 2019 Gracie C McKeever’s
BDMS/Interracial Romance
On The Edge
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045 06 03 2019 Micheal Maxwell’s
Mystery
The Soul of Cole
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046 06 04 2019 Jeanne Mackin’s
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Coco Chanel
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047 06 07 2019 Philip Shirley’s
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048 06 08 2019 Bonnie Kistler’s
Domestic Suspense
The House on Fire
http://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/06/48-inside-emotion-of-fictions-house-on.html

049 06 13 2019 Barbara Taylor Sissel’s
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Tell No One
http://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/06/049-inside-emotion-of-fictions-tell-no.html

050 06 18 2019 Charles Salzberg’s
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“No Good Deed” from Down to the River
http://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/06/50-inside-emotion-of-fictions-no-good.html

051 06 19 2019 Rita Dragonette’s
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The Fourteenth of September
http://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/06/51-inside-emotion-of-fictions.html

052  06 20 2019 Nona Caspers’s
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The Fifth Woman
http://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/06/52-inside-emotion-of-fictions-fifth.html

053 06 26 2019 Jeri Westerson’s 
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Shadows in the Mist
http://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/06/53-inside-emotion-of-fictions-shadows.html

054 06 28 2019 Brian Moreland’s
Horror
The Devil’s Woods
https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/06/54-inside-emotion-of-fictions-devils.html

055 06 29 2019 Rebecca Gomez Farrell’s
Epic Fantasy
Wings Unseen
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056 07 02 2019 Randee Green’s
Mystery Novel
Criminal Misdeeds
https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/07/56-inside-emotion-of-fiction-criminal.html

057 07 03 2019 Saralyn Richard’s
Mystery Novel
Murder In The One Percent
https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/07/57-inside-emotion-of-fiction-murder-in.html

#058 07 04 2019 Hannah Mary McKinnon’s
Domestic Suspense
Her Secret Son 
http://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/07/58-inside-emotion-of-fiction-her-secret.html

#059 07 05 2019 Sonia Saikaley’s
Contemporary Women’s Literature
The Allspice Bath
https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/07/59-inside-emotion-of-fiction-allspice.html

#060 07 09 2019 Olivia Gaines’s
Romance Suspense Serial 
Blind Luck
https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/07/60-inside-emotion-of-fiction-blind-luck.html

#061 07 11 2019 Anne Raeff’s
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Winter Kept Us Warm
https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/07/061-inside-emotion-of-fiction-winter.html

#062 07 12 2918 Vic Sizemore’s
Literary Fiction-Short Stories
I Love You I’m Leaving 
https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/07/62-inside-emotion-of-fiction-i-love-you.html

#063 07 13 2019 Deborah Riley Magnus’s
Dark Paranormal Urban Fantasy 
THE ORPHANS BOOK ONE:  THE LOST RACE
TRILOGY
https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/07/f063-inside-emotion-of-fiction-orphans.html

#064 07 14 2019 Elizabeth Bell’s
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NECESSARY SINS
https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/07/064-inside-emotion-of-fiction-necessary.html

#065 07 15 2019 Lori Baker Martin’s
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BITTER WATER
https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/07/065-inside-emotion-of-fiction-bitter.html

#066 08 01 2019 Sabine Chennault’s
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THE CORPSMAN’S WIFE
https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/08/66-inside-emotion-of-fictions-corpsmans.html

#067 08 02 2019 Margaret Porter’s
Historical Biographical Fiction
BEAUTIFUL INVENTION:  A NOVEL OF HEDY LAMARR
https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/08/67-inside-emotion-of-fictions-beautiful.html

#068 08 04 2019 Hank Phillippi Ryan’s
Suspense
THE MURDER LIST
https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/08/68-inside-emotion-of-fictions-murder.html

069 08 08 2019 Diana Y. Paul’s
Literary Mainstream Fiction
THINGS UNSAID
https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/08/69-inside-emotion-of-fictions-things.html

070 08 10 2019 Phyllis H. Moore’s
Women’s Historical Fiction
BIRDIE & JUDE
https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/08/70-inside-emotion-of-fiction-birdie.html

071 08 11 2019 Sara Dahmen’s
Historical Fiction
TINSMITH 1865
https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/08/71-inside-emotion-of-fiction-tinsmith.html

072  08 19 2019 Carolyn Breckinridge’s
Short Story Collection
KALIEDESCOPE & OTHER STORIES
https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/08/72-inside-emotion-of-fictions.html

073 08 21 2019 Alison Ragsdale’s
Emotional Women’s Fiction
THE ART OF REMEMBERING
https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/08/73-inside-emotion-of-fiction-art-of.html

074  08 22 2019 Lee Matthew Goldberg’s
Suspense Thriller
THE DESIRE CARD
https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/08/74-inside-emotion-of-fictions-desire.html

075 08 23 2019 Jonathan Brown’s
Mystery/Amateur P.I.
THE BIG CRESCENDO 
https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/08/75-inside-emotion-of-fictions-big.html

076 09 02 2019 Chera Hammons Miller’s 
Literary Fiction w/ suspense, concern with animals & land management
Monarchs of the Northeast Kingdom
https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/09/76-inside-emotion-of-fictions-monarchs.html

077 09 09 019 Joe William Taylor’s
Literary Mystery
The Theoretics of Love
https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/09/77-inside-emotion-of-fiction-theoretics.html

078 09 15 2019 Linda Hughes’s
Romantic Suspense
Secret of the Island
https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/09/78-inside-emotion-of-fiction-secrets-of.html

079 09 19 2019 Max Elliot Anderson’s
Middle Grade Adventure/Mystery
Snake Island
https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/09/79-inside-emotion-of-fiction-snake.html

080 09 22 2019 Danny Adams’s
Science Fiction
Dayworld: A Hole In Wednesday
https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/09/80-inside-emotion-of-fiction-dayworld.html

081 09 24 2019 Arianna Dagnino’s
Social/Historical/Adventure
The Afrikaner
https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/09/81-inside-emotion-of-fiction-afrikaner.html

082 09 29 2019 Lawrence Verigin’s
Thriller/Suspense
Seed of Control
https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/09/82-inside-emotion-of-fiction-seed-of.html

083  10 05 2019 Emma Khoury’s
Fantasy
The Sword And Shield
https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/10/83-inside-emotion-of-fiction-sword-and.html

#084 10 07 2019 Steve McManus’s
Mystery/Suspense/Thriller
SEVEN DEVILS
https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/10/84-inside-emotion-of-fiction-seven.html

#085 10 08 2019 Sheila Lowe’s
Mystery/Psychological/Suspense with Scientific Bent 
PROOF OF LIVE
https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/10/085-inside-emotion-of-fiction-proof-of.html

#086 10 10 2019 Jess Neal Woods’s
Historical Fiction
THE PROCESS OF FRAYING
https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/10/86-inside-emotion-of-fiction-process-of.html


#087 10 11 2019 Karen Odden’s
Historical Suspense
A TRACE OF DECEIT
https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/10/87-inside-emotion-of-fiction-trace-of.html

#88 10 14 2019 Kate Maruyama’s
Love, Loss & Supernatural
“HARROWGATE”
https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/10/88-inside-emotion-of-fiction-harrowgate.html

#89 10 17 2019 Sherry Harris’s
Mystery
“LET’S FAKE A DEAL”
https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/10/89-inside-emotion-of-fiction-lets-fake.html

#90 10 18 2019 Linda Mooney’s
Science Fiction Apocalyptic/ Post Apocalyptic 
“THE TRUNK”
https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/10/90-inside-emotion-of-fiction-trunk-by.html

#91 10 19 2019 Jayne Martin’s
Flash Fiction Short Story Collection
“TENDER CUTS”
https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/10/91-inside-emotion-of-fiction-tender.html

#92 10 22 2019 Janice Cole Hopkins’s
Inspirational Romance
“IT ALL STARTED AT THE MASQUERADE”
https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/10/92-inside-emotion-of-fiction-it-all.html

#93 10 29 2019 Kristi Petersen Schoonover’s
Short Story Collection
“THE SHADOWS BEHIND”
https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/10/93-inside-emotion-of-fiction-shadows.html

#94 11 01 2019 David Henry Sterry’s
Fiction: Sexual Violence
“THE TENDERLOIN WARS”
https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/11/94-inside-emotion-of-fiction-tenderloin.html

#95 11 03 2019 Jay Requard’s
Dark Fantasy/Horror
“DEATH & DUST: THE PALE SAND ADVENTURES”
https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/11/95-inside-emotion-of-fiction-death-dust.html

#96 11 04 2019 Caroline Leavitt’s
Fiction
“WITH OR WITHOUT YOU”
http://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/11/96-inside-emotion-of-fiction-with-or.html

#97 11 06 2019 Kelsey Clifton’s
Science Fiction
“A DAY OUT OF TIME”
https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/11/97-inside-emotion-of-fiction-day-out-of.html

#098 11 13 2019 John F Allen’s
Urban Fantasy Tale
“The God Killers’
https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/11/98-inside-emotion-of-fiction-god.html

#99 11 16 2019 Damian McNicholl’s
Historical Novel
“The Moment of Truth”
http://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/11/99-inside-emotion-of-fiction-moment-of.html

#100 11 19 2019 Stacia Levy’s
Mystery/Suspense Novel
“Girl Crush”
https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/11/100-inside-emotion-of-fiction-girl.html

#101 11 24 2019 Charlotte Morgan’s
Fiction Novel
“Protecting Elvis”
http://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/11/101-inside-emotion-of-fiction.html

#102 11 26 2019 T. L. Moore’s
Children’s Christian Fiction
“Ed On My Shoulder:  Maria & The Candy Trail”
https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/11/102-inside-emotion-of-fiction-ed-on-my.html

#103 11 27 2019 Jeanne McWilliams Blasberg’s
Coming of Age Literary Novel
The Nine
https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/11/103-inside-emotion-of-fiction-nine-by.html

#104 11 29 2019 Charlotte Blackwell’s
Adult Paranormal
“MYSTIC EMBRACE”
https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/11/104-inside-emotion-of-fiction-mystic.html

#105 12 07 2019 Mike Burrell’s
Satire Novel
“THE LAND OF GRACE”
https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/12/105-inside-emotion-of-fiction-land-of.html

#106 12 09 2019 Phil McCarron’s
Screenplay
“Escapement”
http://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/12/106-inside-emotion-of-fiction.html

#107 12 11 2019 Wendy H. Jones’s
Crime Fiction/Police Procedural Novel
“KILLER’S COUNTDOWN”
https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/12/107-inside-emotion-of-fiction-killers.html

#108 12 13 2019 Sandra Arnold’s
Historical Literary Fiction
“The Ash, the Well and the Blue Bell”
http://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/12/108-inside-emotion-of-fiction-ash-well.html 

#109 12 16 2019 Amalia Carosella’s
Historical/Contemporary/Duel Timeline/ Women’s
Fiction
“DAUGHTER OF A THOUSAND YEARS”
https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/12/109-inside-emotion-of-fiction-daughter_17.html

#110 12 19 2019 Laura Bickle’s
Weird Western/Contemporary Fantasy
“DARK ALCHEMY”
https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/12/110-inside-emotion-of-fiction-dark.html

#111 12 27 2019 Brian Pinkerton’s
Science Fiction Thriller
“THE GEMINI EXPERIMENT”
https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/12/111-inside-emotion-of-fiction-gemini.html

#112  12 28 2019 Sandra de Helen’s
Lesbian Thriller
“TILL DARKNESS COMES”
https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/12/112-inside-emotion-of-fiction-till.html

#113 12 29 2019 Jo Wilde’s
Vampire Thriller
“THE CROSSING”
http://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/12/113-inside-emotion-of-fiction-crossing.html 

#114 12 30 2019 Sam Richard’s
Short Story Collection of Weird and Transgressive
Horror
“To Wallow In Ash and Sorrows”
https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/12/114-inside-emotion-of-fiction-to-wallow.html

#115 12 31 2019 Duncan B Barlow’s
Literary Fiction Novel
“A DOG BETWEEN US”
https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2019/12/inside-emotion-of-fiction-dog-between.html

#116 01 02 2020 Allison Landa’s
Young Adult Novel
“BAD HAIR”
https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/01/116-inside-emotion-of-fiction-bad-hair.html

#117 01 03 2020 Pablo Medina’s
Literary Satire Novel
“THE CUBAN COMEDY”
http://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/01/117-inside-emotion-of-fiction-cuban.html

#118 01 06 2020 William Trent Pancoast’s
Historical/Literary Novel
“THE ROAD TO MATEWAN”
https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/01/118-inside-emotion-of-fiction-road-to.html

#119 01 07 2020 Jane Bernstein’s
Contemporary Novel
“The Face Tells the Secret”
https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/01/119-inside-emotion-of-fiction-face.html

#120 01 09 2020 Terry Kroenung’s
Young Adult, Historical and Fantasy
“Brimstone And Lily”
https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/01/120-inside-emotion-of-fiction-brimstone.html


#121 01 12 2020 Melissa Yi’s
Fiction Thriller
“GRAVEYARD SHIFT”
http://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/01/121-inside-emotion-of-fiction-melissa.html

#122 01 15 2020 Marcie R. Rendon’s
Crime Thriller
“GIRL GONE MISSING”
http://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/01/122-inside-emotion-of-fiction-girl-gone.html

#123 01 16 2020 Tori Eldridge’s
Multi Genre Novel
“THE NINJA DAUGHTER”
https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/01/123-inside-emotion-of-fiction-ninja.html

#124 01 17 2020 Kristen Joy Wilks’s
Christian Romantic Comedy
“YELLOWSTONE YONDERING”
http://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/01/124-inside-emotion-of-fiction.html 

#125 01 20 2020 Susan C. Shea’s
Cozy Mystery
“DRESSED FOR DEATH IN BURGUNDY”
http://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/01/125-inside-emotion-of-fiction-dressed.html


#126  01 22 2020 Phong Nguyen’s
Improvisational Fiction
“ROUDABOUT”
https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/01/126-inside-emotion-of-fiction.html

#127 01 23 2020 Kate Thornton’s
Mystery Short Story In Its Entirety
“Ai Witness”
https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/01/127-inside-emotion-of-fiction-ai.html

#128 01 24 2020 Phil McCarron’s
Semi Fictional Essays
“The Great Facepalm: The Farce of 21st Century
Normality”
https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/01/128-inside-emotion-of-fiction-great.html

#129  01 27 2020 Kenneth Weene’s
Historicized Literary Fiction
“Red And White”
https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/01/129-inside-emotion-of-fiction-red-and.html

#130 01 28 2020 Graham Storrs’s
Science Fiction Thriller
“TimeSplash”
https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com 
/2020/01/130-inside-emotion-of-fiction.html


#131 02 08 2020 Angela Slatter’s
Short Story “Terrible As An Army With Banners”
From her Short Story Collection THE BITTERWOOD BIBLE AND OTHER RECOUNTINGS
https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/02/131-inside-emotion-of-fiction-terrible.html

#132 02 11 2020 Joan Joachim’s
Romance
Just One Kiss
https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/02/132-inside-emotion-of-fiction-just-one.html

#133 02 16 2020 Kelsey Clifton’s
Science Fiction
A DAY OUT OF TIME
https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/02/133-inside-emotion-of-fiction-day-out.html

#134 02 17 2020 Soraya M Lane’s
Women Historical Fiction
THE GIRLS OF PEARL HARBOR
https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/02/134-inside-emotion-of-fiction-girls-of.html

#135 03 07 2020
Linked Fiction
BLEACHERS Fifty-Four Linked Fictions
By Joseph Mills
https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/03/135-inside-emotion-of-fiction-bleachers.html

#136 03 15 2020
Science Fiction Romance
BLUE VISION
By Marie Lavender
https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/03/136-inside-emotion-of-fiction-blue.html

#137 03 17 2020
Crime Fiction
12 Bullets
by O’Neil De Noux
https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/03/137-inside-emotion-of-fiction-12.html

#138 03 18 2020
Flash Fiction Piece
Radical
by Kelle Grace Gaddis 
https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/03/138-inside-emotion-of-fiction-radical.html

#139 03 20 2020
Mystery
HERE BE MONSTERS
By Jamie Sheffield
https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/03/139-inside-emotion-of-fiction-here-be.html


#140 03 21 2020
Character Driven Novel
UNBROKEN
By Jamie Lisa Forbes
https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/03/140-inside-emotion-of-fiction-unbroken.html

#141 03 23 2020 
Literary Murder Mystery
COLD COUNTRY
By Russell Rowland
http://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/03/141-inside-emotion-of-fiction-cold.html

#142 04 01 2020 
Sci-Fi/Paranormal
SWEET SLEEP
By Kim Cormack
https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/04/142-inside-emotion-of-fiction-sweet.html

#143 04 02 2020 
Western Noir Short Story
“Night Rounds”
by James Reasoner
https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/04/143-inside-emotion-of-fiction-night.html

#144 04 03 2020 
Southern Fiction
LITTLE TEA
By Claire Fullerton
http://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/04/144-inside-emotion-of-fiction-little.html

#145 04 04 2020
Mainstream novel with elements of crime, mystery, and magic
THE FORGETTING FLOWER
by Karen Hugg 
https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/04/145-inside-emotion-of-fiction.html

#146 04 07 2020 
Historical Fiction
MEDICIS DAUGHTER
by Sophie Perinot
http://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/04/146-inside-emotion-of-fiction-medicis.html

#147 04 08 2020
Dark Urban Fantasy with elements of Paranormal Romance
COVEN BORN
by Stephanie Reisner aka AUDREY BRICE
https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/04/147-inside-emotion-of-fiction-coven.html

#148 04 13 2020
Mystery With A Fantasy Twist
DEATH LIVES IN THE WATER
By Shoshana Edwards 
http://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/04/148-inside-emotion-of-fiction-death.html

#149 04 14 2020
Historical Fiction
ASHES
by Sharon Glogal Friedman 
https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/04/149-inside-emotion-of-fiction-ashes-by.html

#150 04 19 2020
Vampire Horror Novelette 
Blood Thrasher:  The Devil’s in the Metal
by Adam Messer
http://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/04/adam-messers-blood-thrasher-devils-in.html 

#151 04 25 2020
Historical Fiction
Charis in the World of Wonders
by Marly Youmans
https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/04/marly-youmans-charis-in-world-of.html

#152 04 29 2020
Historical Fiction
The Master of Verona
by David Blixt
https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/04/david-blixts-master-of-verona-is-152-in.html

#153 04 30 2020
General Fiction (Family)
Bread Bags & Bullies:  Surviving the 80s
by Steven Manchester 
https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/04/steven-manchesters-bread-bags-bullies.html

#154 05 01 2020
Adventure-Thriller/Horror
Into The Ashes
by Lee Murray
http://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/05/lee-murrays-into-ashes-is-154-in-never.html

#155 05 06 2020
Coming of Age/Crime Novel
All Things Left In The Wild
by James Wade
https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/05/james-wades-all-things-left-in-wild-is.html

#156 05 10 2020
Paranormal Mystery
Southern Bound
by Stuart Jaffe
https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/05/stuart-jaffes-southern-bound-is-156-in.html

#157 05 13 2020
Mystery/Crime Novel
Yardbird
By Mark Slade
http://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/05/mark-slades-yardbird-is-157-in-never.html

#158 05 15 2020 
Horror/Crime Novel
Hotel Nowhere
By David E Adkins 
https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/05/david-e-adkinss-hotel-nowhere-is-158-in.html

#159 05 16 2020
Satire/Crime Novel
THE LYING BASTARD
by Clint Margrave
https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/05/clint-margraves-lying-bastard-is-159-in.html

#160 05 19 2020
Southern Gothic Fiction
REVIVING THE HAWTHORN SISTERS
by Emily Carpenter
https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/05/emily-carpenters-reviving-hawthorn.html

#161 05 21 2020
Women’s Domestic Life Fiction
MERCY HOUSE
by Alena Dillon 
http://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/05/alena-dillons-mercy-house-is-161-in.html

#162 05 26 2020
Screenplay/Film
BEAST MODE
by Drew Fortune and Spain Willingham
https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/05/drew-fortunes-and-spain-willinghams_26.html

#163 05 31 2020
Coming of Age/ Psychological Thriller
MY SISTER & OTHER LIARS
by Ruth Dugdall
http://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/05/ruth-dugdalls-my-sister-and-other-liars.html

#164 06 01 2020 
Psychological Thriller
IN HARM’S WAY
by Owen Mullen
https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/06/owen-mullens-in-harms-way-is-164-in.html

#165 06 02 2020 
Small Town Short Story Collection
SNAPSHOT “Old Lady”
by Eliot Parker
https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/06/eliot-parkers-old-lady-from-snapshots.html

#166 06 04 2020
Noir Crime Novel
SKIN OF TATTOOS
by Christina Hoag
https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/06/christina-hoags-skin-of-tattoos-is-166.html

#167 06 06 2020
Coming of Age/Historical
THE ORPHAN COLLECTOR
by Ellen Marie Wiseman
https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/06/ellen-marie-wisemans-orphan-collector.html
#168 06 08 2020
World War Two Historical Fiction
THE PRISONER’S WIFE
by Maggie Brookes
http://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/06/maggie-brookess-prisoners-wife-is-168.html

#169 06 09 2020
Novella 
(about the 1960s, 
Rolling Stones in their exile,
genocide, it’s survivors, and
people from places that no longer exist.)
BLUE COAST MYSTERY:  ALMOST SOLVED
by Nick Sweeney
http://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/06/nick-sweeneys-blue-coast-mystery-almost.html

#170 06 11 2020
Family Life/Coming of Age Novel
THE EXTRAORDINARY LIFE OF SAME HELL
by Robert Dugoni
http://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/06/robert-dugonis-extraordinary-life-of.html

#171 06 26 2020
Women’s Divorce Fiction
QUEEN OF THE OWLS
by Barbara Linn Probst
https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/06/barbara-linn-probsts-queen-of-owls-is.html

#172 07 01 2020
Short Story “The Belindas” from the Short Story Collection LOVE WAR STORIES 
By Ivelisse Rodriguez
https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/07/ivelisse-rodriguezs-short-story.html

#173 Inside the Emotion of Fiction
07 04 2020
Organized Crime Thriller
BLUES IN THE DARK
by Raymond Benson
https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/07/raymond-bensons-blues-in-dark-is-173-in.html

#174 Inside the Emotion of Fiction
07 08 2020
Contemporary Literature & Fiction
THE ESCAPE OF MALCOLM POE
by Allison Burnett
https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/07/allison-burnetts-escape-of-malcolm-poe.html

#175 Inside the Emotion of Fiction
07 09 2020
Horror Novella
TERMINUS STATION
by Jeff Lyons
https://chrisricecooper.blogspot.com/2020/07/jeff-lyonss-terminus-station-is-175-in.html

#176 Inside the Emotion of Fiction
07 12 2020
20th Century Historical Romance
“The Bootlegger’s Wife”
by Denise Devine

#177 Inside the Emotion of Fiction
07 24 2020
Literary Fiction Novel
“What Drives Men”
by Susan Tepper 

#178 Inside the Emotion of Fiction
07 27 2020
Short story
“Tidings of Comfort and Joyce”
by Kimberly Kurth Gray
 
#179 Inside the Emotion of Fiction 
07 28 2020
Historical Fiction
“Cher Ami and Major Whittlesey”
by Kathleen Rooney

#180 Inside the Emotion of Fiction 
08 04 2020
Screenplay
“BUNNY”
by Shaun Hughes 

#181 Inside the Emotion of Fiction
08 09 2020
Short Story 
“Wrong Road” from the Short Story Collection George’s Mother and Other Weird Stories
by Susan Berliner 

#182 Inside the Emotion of Fiction 
08 11 2020
Thriller Mystery
“Death in the Time of Ice”
by Kaye George

#183 Inside the Emotion of Fiction 
08 13 2020
Screenplay
“Igor and Frankie”
by Jim Picariello

#184 Inside the Emotion of Fiction
08 14 2020
Short Story 
Short Story “Breaking on the Wheel” from the Short Story Collection No Call Too Small. 
by Oscar Martens 

#185 Inside the Emotion of Fiction
08 20 2020
Romance
A Secret, a Safari, a Second Chance
by Liz Fielding

#186 Inside the Emotion of Fiction
08 26 2020
Mystery and Psychological Fiction 
Falling Woman
by Richard Farrell

#187 Inside the Emotion of Fiction
09 03 2020
Children’s Picture Book
MAC AND CHEESE AND THE PERSONAL SPACE INVADER 
By Jolene Gutierrez

#188 Inside the Emotion of Fiction 
09 07 2020
Screenplay
JUDE COLE
By Janelle Marie Evans

#189 Inside the Emotion of Fiction
09 09 2020
Historical Christian Romance
UNTIL JUNE
by Barbara M Britton

#190 Inside the Emotion of Fiction
09 10 2020
Screenplay
THROUGH THE SILENCE
by Elaine Roberts-Kercheff

#191 Inside the Emotion of Fiction
09 16 2020
1960s Historical Fiction
California Dreamin’ Teens Interrupted 2
by KC Sprayberry 

#192 Inside the Emotion of Fiction
09 17 2020
Screenplay
DAUGHTERS LOST TO THE DESERT
by April Snachez

#193 Inside the Emotion of Fiction
09 18 2020
Contemporary Literature and Fiction
THE SHAMAN OF TURTLE VALLEY
by Clifford Garstang

#194 Inside the Emotion of Fiction
09 19 2020
Crime Fiction
THE ACE OF DIAMONDS
by ES Gibson

#195 Inside the Emotion of Fiction
09 20 2020
Historical Fiction
Katherine-Tudor Duchess
by Tony Riches

#196 Inside the Emotion of Fiction
09 21 2020
Short Fiction
“Dinner Prep”
by Thaddeus Rutkowski 

#197 Inside the Emotion of Fiction
09 22 2020
Screenplay
SWEET DREAMS
by Ben Johnson