MY MAGIC MIKE!

I've written millions of words and now have 2 published books and a 3^rd on the way, Murder & Obsession. But an odd thing happened on the way to publication, I'm suddenly stumped even wordless—innovation is gone because my publisher has asked for a tagline and blurb.

They want me to turn a 140,000-word manuscript into one or two sentences, and then entice the reader in 100 words or less with a blurb. I go blank.

         I panic; well I did until I met Michael Di Gesú, creative genius and my own personal Magic Man! Sorry, Channing Tatum, but Michael Di Gesú was the 'Magic Man' long before you claimed the title!

Michael Di Gesú Presents…

         To show you the process we go through I'm showing my originals and Michael's response, and how, after just a few emails we came up with perfection!

My original tagline was:

One man's obsession will create every possible obstacle for an ill-fated couple.

Michael said.

"This can use a bit of punching up…."

Flames burn between a hardboiled cop and an aspiring artist but soon extinguish as another man’s obsession ignites into a towering inferno, destroying the couple’s happiness.

I countered with:

Flames burn between a hardboiled cop and a gifted artist but soon extinguish as another man’s obsession ignites into a towering inferno of desire that drives him to destroy the object of his madness.

Michael responded with:

Flames burn between a hardboiled cop and a gifted artist but soon extinguish as another man’s obsession ignites into a towering inferno of desire, driving him to destroy the object of his madness…Sarah.

RESULT:

Flames burn between a hardboiled cop and a gifted artist, but soon extinguish as another man’s obsession ignites into an inferno of desire, driving him to destroy the object of his madness.

*****

My original blurb was:

The road to marital bliss is never easy, but for Detective Quaid and his fiancée, Sarah Davis the path down the aisle to the altar is a minefield.

His grandfather's cabin was to be their honeymoon retreat; instead, it becomes a crime scene. Running from incarceration was supposed to help Steven find answers, but while he fooled the trackers, he couldn't outsmart the ultimate predator. Not once the grizzly had his scent.

Mauled, shot, and no longer a cop, can Steven Quaid bring the actual culprit to justice?

Michael's suggestion was:

Love is never easy, but for Detective Steve Quaid and his fiancée, Sarah, their road to happiness is laden with minefields.

Steve’s countless hours reconverting his grandfather’s cabin into the perfect honeymoon nest for Sarah soon becomes the bloody crime scene for her death. Distraught, Steve is accused and escapes into the Alaskan mountains, biding his time to find the truth…

Who killed his beloved?

A seasoned woodsman, he outsmarts even the cleverest of trackers. All but one…

Mauled by a grizzly, he barely escapes.

But will he live to bring the true murderer to Justice?

My response after the fewest of changes was:

I knew you could take my meanderings and create magic! Thank you!

RESULT:

Love is never easy, but for Detective Steve Quaid and his fiancée, Sarah, their road to happiness is laden with minefields.

Steven’s countless hours reconverting his grandfather’s cabin into the perfect honeymoon retreat for Sarah soon becomes a bloody crime scene detailing her death. Accused, Steven escapes into the Alaskan mountains, biding his time to find the truth…

Who killed his beloved?

A seasoned woodsman, he outsmarts even the cleverest of trackers. All but one…

Mauled by a grizzly, a half-dead Steven barely escapes.

But will he live to bring the true murderer to justice?

*****

         

It was that easy!
If you've finished your masterpiece and suddenly feel intimidated

because you just can't whittle it down to a few words – contact

Magic Michael Di Gesú of Michael Di Gesú Presents…

 and create perfection with a true artist.

*****

If you're looking to tighten your writing, eliminate the fat or just kick-start your creativity consider joining the WEP - Write...Edit...Publish Flash Fiction Challenges. Hosted by the indomitable and talented Denise Covey and me, her assistant, this year we have three challenges scheduled. 1000 words, short story, poem, photography, screenplay - you decide, but please consider joining the fun! WEP 2015!