Friday, May 16, 2014

Please Welcome Thriller Writer D. M. Annechino

Omnimystery News: Guest Post by D. M. Annechino
with D. M. Annechino

We are delighted to welcome novelist D. M. Annechino to Omnimystery News, courtesy of iRead Book Tours.

Daniel's new medical thriller is Hypocrisy (CreateSpace; March 2014 trade paperback and ebook formats) and he titles his guest post for us today "Plot vs. Character".

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D. M. Annechino
Photo provided courtesy of
D. M. Annechino

Of all the issues related to writing fiction, none is more subjective or controversial than the long­standing argument over which is more important, plot or characters. Anyone with even the most limited knowledge of fiction — reader or writer — could build a strong case either way, and there is no absolute right or wrong. As a writer myself, I, of course, have my own opinion; a very strong opinion. Needless to say, any successful, well­written novel must have both a strong plot and fascinating characters. That's a given. However, I'd like to build a case for characters.

Of all the novels I've read throughout my life, those most memorable, locked in my mind forever, are books whose main characters were three dimensional and lifelike. A novel could have a highly compelling plot, but if interesting characters do not support it, the story will likely go flat no matter how complex, and leave the reader disappointed. As a novelist, you're competing with God and that's no easy task. To create characters that live and breathe and literally jump off the pages requires a very unique talent.

Not to minimize the importance of plot, it is my strong contention that plots — and please forgive me for saying this — are a dime a dozen. Consider this: if you pick up any major newspaper in the country and skim through its pages, you can find dozens of plot ideas from real­life situations. The husband who has two wives — one on the east coast and one on the west coast. The corrupt politician who accepts a bribe. A national security leak. A conflict in the Middle East. For no particular reason a lunatic walks into a classroom and executes the students. An average Joe rescues a child from a burning building and becomes an overnight hero.

Not only are plots everywhere, but many storylines have a familiar ring. How many times have the two main characters in a romance novel hated each other throughout the book, only to fall in love at the end? How many times has the good guy, the character you least expected, turn into the villain? How many books about lawyers and doctors and superheroes follow the same formula? How many times have you read a classic cat and mouse whodunit mystery with a familiar storyline?

On the flip side, have you ever seen the likes of Hannibal Lecter in Silence of the Lambs, or Scarlet O'Hara in Gone with the Wind? Has either character ever been cloned in any other novel? Their uniqueness and originality cannot be easily duplicated. Although the plots for both of these memorable novels were compelling and engaging, it was the main characters that grabbed your attention and kept you turning pages.

The ultimate challenge for all novelists is to write a book with both an original, attention­grabbing plot and fascinating characters. And this is a tall order. But remember this: if you create complex, truly intriguing characters, the story can be a lazy tale about someone building a horse barn and your readers will be totally engaged.

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Daniel M. Annechino, a former book editor specializing in full-length fiction, wrote his first book, How to Buy the Most Car for the Least Money, in 1992 while working as a General Manager in the automobile business. But his passion had always been fiction, particularly thrillers. He spent two years researching serial killers before finally penning his debut novel They Never Die Quietly.

A native of New York, Annechino now lives in San Diego with his wife, Jennifer. He loves to cook, enjoys a glass of vintage wine, and spends lots of leisure time on the warm beaches of Southern California.

For more information about the author, please visit his website or find him on Facebook and Twitter.

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Hypocrisy by D. M. Annechino

Hypocrisy
D. M. Annechino
A Medical Thriller

Dr. Lauren Crawford is a brilliant research scientist who discovers a revolutionary treatment for cancer that not only extends life, but much improves the quality of life for terminal cancer patients. The treatment, in some instances, can even cure certain cancers. On the evening before Dr. Crawford holds a press conference to announce that the FDA has given preliminary approval of her new cancer treatment, somebody follows her to her car and puts three bullets in her head. Was it a planned murder with a motive, a mugging gone badly, or merely a random act of violence?

Two New York City homicide detectives, Amaris Dupree and T.J. Brown, are assigned to the investigation. The detectives evaluate the circumstances surrounding Dr. Crawford's death, and follow a trail of clues that exposes a sequence of startling facts. One by one, the detectives carefully examine each suspect and piece together a puzzle with unimaginable implications. As the investigation gets more intense, and the detectives get closer to solving the murder mystery, someone threatens Dupree's life. The detectives now realize that Dr. Crawford's murder was much more than a homicide. And if they don't arrest the murderer soon, Dupree might be the next victim.

Amazon.com Print/Kindle Format(s)  BN.com Print/Nook Format(s)

2 comments:

  1. Thanks so much for posting my Plot vs. Character essay. I appreciate your support. I hope my perspectives help the up and coming novelists looking for techniques to improve their writing. Thanks again.
    D.M. Annechino

    ReplyDelete
  2. D.M. - Thanks for the essay. Indeed plot vs character can be a lively debate. You make a great case for the greater 'uniqueness' of character. Additionally you acknowledge both plot and character are necessary. The fulcrum upon which such discussions shift is semantics. What is each individuals definition/meaning of "most important".
    The debate can be fun and educational - as your piece certainly is. Thanks for your perspective and good luck with your book. As a physician and author poised to release my debut medical thriller within weeks I wish you the best. Your story summary is fascinating and I've put "Hypocrisy" on my to reading list. Thank you.

    ReplyDelete

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