Allie's Musings

Friday Fun Facts: Win a Prize! (or more than one...)

2012-02-10T00:00:00.000-08:00

Hey everyone, The Romance Studio is holding a Valentine Gala from today through Tuesday, Feburary 14th. For the next 4 days, romance authors will be chatting and posting excerpts...and you can win a lot of great prizes! I'm giving away an Amazon Gift Card AND the winner's choice of any of my ebooks. Click here for the main Gala page (then click on "Party Giveaways" to see the list of all the prizes).

And tomorrow I'm joining my fellow Hudson Valley RWA authors at the Barnes and Noble in the Palisades Mall for an afternoon of meeting and chatting with readers and shoppers! Should be fun (as long as the weather holds...believe it or not, after an almost snowless winter, we might be getting some of the white stuff tomorrow).

Happy Weekend!

Writers' Wednesday: Listening to a Book

2012-02-08T00:00:00.000-08:00

Yes, I skipped my Monday blog post....suffering from an awfully bad head cold that is making the rounds at work. Why, oh why, do people INSIST on coming to work when they're sick? I suppose I shouldn't fault the devotion of the students, maybe not even the other teachers either, but really, martyring yourself by dragging your sick self coughing to work is only going to spread around your lovely cold germs for the rest of us.

Aargh....

Well, I'm on the mend now, and anxiously awaiting the narrator demo tapes for the first of my 3 novels that will be produced as audio books this summer. When AudioLark started up a couple of years ago, and did my first 2, that wasn't an option, but now they let the authors have a listen to the narrators they're considering, and we get a say in who will read our words. How cool is that??

Friday Fun Facts: Hero Worship Contest Starting Soon!

2012-02-03T00:00:00.000-08:00

Well, it's February, and that means time for Valentine's Day and my First Annual Facebook Hero Worship Contest!

From February 11 - 18th I'll be holding a "Hero Worship" contest. Every day that week, I'll post an excerpt from either my published books OR my works-in-progress...spotlighting all my wonderful heroes, of course! All the posts will be up on my Facebook Fan Page, so you'll have to "Like" me over there if you haven't yet. Then, all you have to do at the end of the week is email me which hero was your favorite. That's it! I'll choose 2 winners from everyone who emails (yup, count 'em - two!) to receive their choice of any of my ebooks AND a $10 Amazon gift certificate. Plus you get to drool over some romance heroes just in time for Valentine's Day...

Hope you'll join me :)

Writers' Wednesday: Battling Online Pirates

2012-02-01T00:00:00.000-08:00

Hey writer friends, here's a link you might want to check out, especially if you're e-published and you've found some online scoundrels posting your ebooks for "free". Yeah, those e-pirates are awfully tough to track down, but www.muso.com is a site that will do it for you. For $15/month, the site scans the Internet daily to look for illegally posted "shared" files that violate copyrights. They'll send you an email every day, and then you can have them send an official DMCA letter to have the file removed (the monthly fee covers 60 "takedowns" although you can pay for more).

So far I'm pleased with the site. It only found 15 illegally shared files of mine the first day, and those were taken down within 24 hours. I'll probably continue with them until/unless there's not a need...which, unfortunately, may not be anytime soon, knowing piracy sites. But at least there's something authors and other artists can do to protect our copyrighted works. We've certainly worked hard enough to produce them!

**Note: email me at allieb@allieboniface.com for the email link that will take you to the $15/month fee, otherwise I think it's $25/month if you go straight through the main Muso site.

Monday Mentionables: New Banners!

2012-01-30T00:00:00.000-08:00

I have two new banner ads today, courtesy of the design staff over at The Romance Studio. Click here to see the banner ad and click here to see the headliner ad, featuring my 3 "One Night" books.

I LOVE the second one, especially! Don't you? And if you check out The Romance Studio, you'll see it live, starting later today!

Friday Fun Facts

2012-01-27T00:00:00.000-08:00

Happy Friday!!

Fun Fact #1: I have a "first kiss" excerpt up at Coffee Time Romance - check it out!

Fun Fact #2: I'll be holding a Hero Worship Contest over at my Facebook Fan Page from February 11-18, and the winner will receive their choice of any ebook or audio book. All you have to do is "like" me there to find out more...

And Fun Fact#3: If you're looking for a reasonably priced, professional web designer, try Glass Slipper Web Design. She has an expansive portfolio to look through and works with all budgets. She's been my web designer from the start, and I've been nothing but happy!

Writers' Wednesday: The Influence of Charles Dickens

2012-01-25T00:00:00.000-08:00

I read an article in Time magazine yesterday about Charles Dickens, and why he was and is such a popular author. Interesting: he was one of the earliest authors who really wrote for his audience, who understood what it took to make a connection with readers and who tailored his stories and his characters to what he thought people wanted (and later in his career, messages he wanted to send about the world he was living in). Really interesting stuff. Of course, he was the master of serialized fiction, and he made a career out of writing stories with chapters that end in cliff-hangers, with plotlines that continually move forward and characters we always want to know more about.

I can't say I have a favorite by him (I did take a Dickens seminar in college, where we had to read a book a week by him...yikes...), though I do like the very traditional A Christmas Carol and the less-traditional Bleak House (great characters, and great commentary on society getting caught up in business at the expense of the individual).

But Dickens knew what to do as a writer - connecting with readers is so valuable, and yet some authors definitely do it better than others. Social media does help in this respect, I think. Even those writers who aren't particularly comfortable talking with people in person, face to face, can do so on the safety of the computer in arenas like Facebook and blogs and chat groups and such. I think readers like the sense that an author listens to their opinions and cares about what they have to say about the world.

Charles Dickens. Huh. Never pegged him as a visionary, but guess what? Maybe we can all take a cue from him. Can you picture his Facebook page? Status update: Wrote 500 words today. Time for a new quill pen...

Monday Mentionables: A Word About Promo

2012-01-23T00:00:00.000-08:00

I've probably mentioned this before, but VistaPrint is a GREAT site for any of your promotional goodies. I've used them for bookmarks, signs, postcards, and more. Great quality and really good prices - even better since they usually email you discounts after you've ordered from them. Check it out if you haven't yet!

Always take advantage of the chance to guest blog or do interviews at the various writer-reader websites out there. Many of those are free, and all you have to do is contact the site or blog owner. If you belong to (or join) a discussion group/loop, you'll often know about opportunities before the general reading & writing public, too. There are sites that will set up these kinds of blogging/online appearances for you, too, but they often charge, so keep your eyes open for FREE chances as well.

Finally, don't underestimate the power of making personal connections with potential readers. There are so many ways to do this, from responding to comments on a social media site, to taking advantage of in-person meetings, book signings or conferences etc., to joining a writers' or reviewers' group to donating your books to giveaways or auctions. People love connecting with writers - people love connecting with others in general, since we're social creatures - so take advantage of it!

Bottom line: there are many, many inexpensive, or free ways of promoting your name. And oftne, all it takes is a little time. Good luck!

Friday Fun Facts: An (e)Book Signing?

2012-01-20T00:00:00.000-08:00

Happy Friday!

So it looks as though I may be doing an author appearance at a local Barnes & Noble - always a fun event - but for the first time ever, it will be an ebook "signing" rather than a traditional print book signing.

I'm not exactly sure how it will work. The president of our local RWA chapter is arranging it, and with the growing popularity of ebooks and ebook readers, combined with the fact that many bookstores are doing fewer traditional signings AND the fact that many of our members have only ebooks available, she thought it might be a different and unique idea to market B&N Nook downloads at this event.

So I guess I'm planning on having lots of swag available - bookmarks, excerpt booklets, maybe some other flyers/book cards for people to pick up and peruse. The thing is, I really don't know how many people will buy a download based on meeting the author in a bookstore. I mean, it's ALWAYS a good idea to promote yourself in person, spread the word, chat with potential readers, etc. But without any print books to sell or sign, well...I don't know.

We'll see. I'll let you know! In the meantime, if you have any thoughts on how to draw potential ebook readers to our table, or what kinds of free goodies work best at author appearances, leave a comment :)

Enjoy your weekend!

Writers' Wednesday: A Little Coffee, a Little Facebook

2012-01-18T00:00:00.000-08:00

Hi everyone! It's finally feeling like winter here in the Northeast, and we even got a dusting of snow the other night to confirm it. Brrr! To warm things up, I've posted an excerpt from my contemporary romance novel Lost in Paradise over at my brand-spankin' new CoffeeTime Romance Author Group (I'll be posting excerpts there weekly, from both published and upcoming/unpublished works - just click on the graphic below). Drop by for a visit...and my Facebook Author Page is also up and running, so you can "Like" me there if you're a FB fan.

Meanwhile, I'm busy writing, revising, and staying warm...hope to see you around cyberworld!

Monday Mentionables: Martin Luther King, Jr.

2012-01-16T00:00:00.000-08:00

In honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, I'm posting this. I wish we had more strong public figures today who could stand up and captivate - and motivate - this country the way he could:

Friday Fun Facts: Progress

2012-01-13T00:00:00.000-08:00

So I have started revising my novella Tequila Sunrise and am through the first 2 chapters, about 10 pages in. I'm happy with the way it's going; I'm trying to do a little more character development (but I really don't want to turn this into a novel!!) and figure out what sub-plots to emphasize and which to drop.

I'm considering submitting this to either Carina Press or Entangled Publishing when it's ready. Entangled is pretty new, which would normally scare me off a little, but it's run by the follks at Savvy Author, and I like and respect their site, and I like the look of their book covers. Anyone heard anything about them or had any first-hand experience with them?

I've also been looking at Blush, Ellora's Cave sensual imprint that's PG-13/R-rated as opposed to their normally erotic focus. I didn't even know they had this imprint until just recently, but again, I might do a little more asking around before I submit to them.

So many e-publishers these days...as always writers, do your homework before signing a contract with anyone!

Ok, I'm off to tackle some more of Tequila Sunrise. My word count goals await!

Writers' Wednesday: Where I Am

2012-01-11T00:00:00.000-08:00

Update: what's new with me? Well, I've sent out Beacon of Love to a couple of places (mum's the word right now, but I'll keep you posted with any news). I've just started a revision on Tequila Sunrise, which is currently at 25K words but will probably end up closer to 30K when I finish. Have my eye on a couple of places to submit it - my goal is by the first of March.

Let's see...networking-wise I joined Sweet Romantic Notions, a place for those of us who DON'T write erotic romance to hang out and chat about who's buying PG-rated romance these days. Am also making my way into the shallow waters of Goodreads, as I mentioned the other day, and I ended up having a lovely conversation with a woman who'd read and reviewed my books in part because she lives in my hometown. Her comment "We're very proud of our Allie" was so sweet :)

I'm also in the process of creating a Facebook fan page (I'm wayyyyy behind on this one, I know - in my personal life, I'm on FB daily. Have to catch up my author self). But when I do, I'll let you know in case you want to "Like" me there.

And, as in past years, I will most likely be donating an item (maybe 2) to Brenda Novak's Online Auction to raise money for juvenile diabetes research, which launches later in the spring. Always some GREAT and unique items to bid on, so I'll keep you posted about that too!

Whew! Now I'm off to school and that darn day job...

Monday Mentionables: Demystifying Goodreads

2012-01-09T00:00:00.000-08:00

"Demystifying Goodreads" - this was a feature article in the most recent Romance Writers Report, and it was perfectly timed since one of my 2012 goals is to be more active promoting my work and using social media.

Sigh.

I do believe in both of those goals, whole-heartedly....it's just that sometimes keeping up with everything you can possibly do online gets overwhelming. Anyone else feel this way?

Anyway, Goodreads is actually a pretty user-friendly site. If you're not familiar with it, it's another online community - this one is for readers (mostly) and writers. When you join, you post the books you've read/are reading/want to read and then give them reviews and ratings. You can also talk to other members about their opinions and recommendations. I get the feeling it could be a pretty chatty place, if you wanted it to be.

The plus for authors is that you can interact with readers. They do seem to have some effective marketing tools as well, including Free Book Giveaways for new releases, your own profile page where you can share your books/trailers/blog/other links. Like any social media site, I'm guessing, the time you put in is what you'll get out of it.

So I'm interested....how many of you belong? Log in regularly? If you're an author, have you found it useful for promo and marketing? And finally, if you're a member, please add me as a Goodreads friend!

Writers' Wednesday: Some Links for You

2012-01-04T00:00:00.000-08:00

Happy Wednesday everyone! Brrr....it's getting chilly here in the Northeast! Of course, we've had unseasonably warm temperatures this winter (with the exception of the Halloween blizzard), so it's really about time the thermometer flirted with single digits at night.

Anyway, a quick few links I'd like to share with you all today:

My writing friend Marianne has started a blog about TOS. What is TOS? Take a read and find out. She has a lot to say about it!

For authors, Noble Romance Publishing has an open call for submissions right now, and they're one of the only small presses that currently offers an advance against royalties. They also have something called a "Hot New Talent" program, which offers authors guidance in establishing and maintaining their online presence and assistance with marketing. As with any new publisher, approach with caution and ask lots of questions to find out if they're right for you.

The folks over at The Long and the Short of It have launched a redesign of their website, so check it out! They offer a variety of advertising options (heavy on my mind these days) along with free opportunites to get your name out there, like guest blogging and author interviews. Actually, many romance novel/review/chat sites offer similar free services for writers (Romance Junkies, Coffeetime Romance, and Fallen Angel Reviews are just a few), so if you're looking to enhance your online presence this year, give them a read.

And now I'm off! Remember to sign up for my e-newsletter (over there on the right sidebar) if you'd like to find out where I'm chatting, blogging, and (best of all) giving stuff away each month!

Mondat Mentionables: Making Resolutions

2012-01-02T00:00:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year, everyone! I hope you had a safe and enjoyable New Year's Eve celebration...now for 2012 and those resolutions, right?

My resolustions for this year mostly focus on my writing. I took 2011 "off" in some respects, not in the writing so much, but in the publishing (only so much control over that) and the promoting (lots of control over that).

This year, I'm going to try and improve that. And to that end, I plan on trying to up my online presence - look for more newsletters this year, more guest blogging, more social media interaction, more contests and giveaways for readers and writers alike! If you haven't yet signed up for my newsletter, there's a link over on the sidebar where you can do so. I'll be sending one out later this month with updates on where you can find me, and how you can win books, both from me and from other talented writers.

Finally, though, the best promotion is a new release, which is why I aim to spend more time writing and submitting this year. And now I'm off...to write!

What are your resolutions for 2012?

Friday Fun Facts: A Good Note to the End of the Year

2011-12-30T00:00:00.000-08:00

Happy (almost) New Year, everyone! I hope 2011 was a good one for you - it certainly had its ups and downs for me. I'm happy to share some good news on the eve of 2012, though:

I just contracted One Night in Boston, One Night in Napa, and Summer's Song with AudioLark, so they'll be released as audio books in the summer of 2012. Very excited! My other 2 novels, One Night in Memphis and Lost in Paradise, have already been with them for over a year, and I have to tell you, it's been a really positive experience all the way around. Though royalties were slow to start, they've increased steadily. More than that, though, the owner of the site, Jennifer, is a FANTASTIC person to work with. She's personable and professional and dedicated to running a smart business.

Authors, if you own the audio rights to your books (check your contracts on this one), I recommend checking out AudioLark for audio book production. I think you'll be pleased at the reception you get there.

AND...(drum roll...) I'm happy announce the winner of my "Keeping Warm in Winter" blog contest: GladysMP! Thanks to everyone who stopped by all month long to share your thoughts.

Happy 2012!!

Writers' Wednesday: Those Opening Pages...

2011-12-28T00:00:00.000-08:00

The last few days, I've been thinking a lot about story openings. This is not really unusual, since I just finished judging entries for my local RWA chapter. We run a "Hook, Line and Sinker" contest which is a little different than most romance contests in that we ask for only the first 3 pages of your manuscript.

Yes, that's it. Just 3. So imagine all you have to do in those few pages to hook a judge/editor/agent/reader! Establish setting, character, conflict, and have a voice that's either enjoyable or engaging enough to make me want to read on. Oh, and better not have any mechanical problems either!

This was followed up by a Savvy Authors' newsletter I received that featured an article called "Packing in the WOW." What did they have to say? It was so good, I'm sharing the highlights with you:

Establish a viewpoint character, and indicate what sort of person he/she is
Establish a mood/tone
Reveal the setting
Reveal what type of book this is. What are the stakes?
Divulge an immediate conflict (Not necessarily THE conflict.)
Grab the reader with a hook

(If you want to read the whole thing, just click the link above. It's well worth it, I promise).

I have to say, I've written a lot of books, and gone over the openings for those books more times that I can count, but reminders like these are always valuable to have. If you don't catch a reader in the opening pages, no matter how good the rest of your story is, they may not give you the chance to share it.

So there it is, fellow writers. Hope these tips have given you food for thought - may your writing (and especially your opening pages) be powerful and engaging and hook every reader you want - and then some!

Monday Mentionables: After the Rush

2011-12-26T00:00:00.000-08:00

Ah, the day after Christmas. The house is quiet, the tree is still up, the gifts are unwrapped, and the dishes are put away. Though some might see December 26th as a bit of a let-down, I'm enjoying the quiet of the morning after a VERY BUSY weekend. See, because we don't have kids, my husband and I are the ones that travel. We spend Christmas Eve with our niece and nephews, Christmas morning with good friends (and now their growing family) and then we do host my in-laws on Christmas night for dinner. And I love being surrounded by family, I really do. I love all the food and drink (though I'll pay for it when I step on the scale this week!), the festive decorations, and picking out the perfect gift for others. But I will also admit that I love the quiet hours when it's all wrapping up, too.

So now I have a relaxing week ahead of me. I need to score some contest entries for my local RWA chapter (I always enjoy seeing what other people are writing), but most of all, I need to work on my own projects. Some revising, some brainstorming, some promoting - all in the plans. And yes, some cleaning up around the house and putting away those decorations, though I'm not in any hurry.

This is the last week to enter my "Keeping Warm in Winter" contest, so remember that every blog comment earns you another entry. And just for fun, a question: if you have a tree up for the holidays, when do you take it down?

Friday Fun Facts: Merry (Almost) Christmas!

2011-12-23T00:00:00.000-08:00

"Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that St Nicholas soon would be there.

The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads.
And mamma in her ‘kerchief, and I in my cap,
Had just settled our brains for a long winter’s nap.

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.

The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow
Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below.
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a miniature sleigh, and eight tinny reindeer.

With a little old driver, so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment it must be St Nick.
More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name!

"Now Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen!
On, Comet! On, Cupid! on, on Donner and Blitzen!
To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!
Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away all!"

As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky.
So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,
With the sleigh full of Toys, and St Nicholas too.

And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof
The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.
As I drew in my head, and was turning around,
Down the chimney St Nicholas came with a bound.

He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,
And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot.
A bundle of Toys he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a peddler, just opening his pack.

His eyes-how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow.

The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,
And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath.
He had a broad face and a little round belly,
That shook when he laughed, like a bowlful of jelly!

He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,
And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself!
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread.

He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
And filled all the stockings, then turned with a jerk.
And laying his finger aside of his nose,
And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose!

He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.
But I heard him exclaim, ‘ere he drove out of sight,
"Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night!"

Merry Christmas, everyone! Blessings to you and your family!!

Writers' Wednesday: Murder New York Style

2011-12-21T00:00:00.000-08:00

Today, in the true manner of Writers' Wednesday, I'd like to give a shout-out to the 22 authors of the recently-released anthology Murder New York Style: Fresh Slices. If you can't tell by the title (or the cover!), it's a collection of mystery/crime short stories, all written by members of the New York chapter of Sisters in Crime. And all the stories are set in or around New York City.

I had the pleasure of attending a reading this past Monday, and the 4 authors who were there offered great insight regarding their inspirations, their writing process, and the stories themselves. It was great to hear them read and great to be around fellow writers. (Although one of the audience questions was "Since you write about murders, and people always say to write about what you know, have any of you ever experienced a murder?")

Crickets...

But beyond that, it was a lovely evening, and though I don't normally read this genre, from the taste I got Monday night, I'm really looking forward to checking out these stories. Are you a fan of crime fiction? You might want to give this anthology a try! (Best part about short stories: less time to read all the way through one, which is great for this time of year when free time seems to be at a premium)

Monday Mentionables: Two Chances to Win Today!

2011-12-19T00:00:00.000-08:00

Less than a week until Christmas...are you ready??

Well, in case you're still looking for gifts - for yourself, that is - today you have not one but TWO chances to win one!

Over at The Romance Studio, my contemporary romance novel Summer's Song is being featured as part of the Book-a-Day Giveaway, and all you have to do is enter your email address for a chance to win!

Then, I'm also guest blogging at The Long and the Short of It (10 am EST) as part of their "Stuff Your Stockings With Books" holiday contest - there are tons of books and gift certificates to be won, and every comment earns you another chance!

So...join me at one (or both) sites today, and wish yourself an early Merry Christmas!

Friday Fun Facts: Visit Me!!

2011-12-16T00:00:00.000-08:00

Hi everyone! Come over to Janet Walters' blog and visit me! Yesterday I blogged about my writing style and strategies, plus I celebrated my birthday :) I'd love to hear from you!

Oh, and happy weekend too!

Writers' Wednesday: What's in a Name??

2011-12-14T00:00:00.000-08:00

Okay writers, let me ask you: how do you choose your characters' names? Do they just come to you? Do you have a resource book you use? Do you page through the phone book? (Do you still own a phone book?) Do you wander around graveyards and look at tombstones for inspiration (no joke, I have a friend who's a playwright and he does just that). There was a great article in Writer's Digest about the importance of names, and a few points are worth mentioning:

~Some names resonate as "miniature poems" : Holly Golightly, Atticus Finch, Scarlett O'Hara
~Some names are ironic: give a clumsy, awkward guy a name like Powers or Strong
~Some names are symblic: John Singer, a deaf-mute who's a prophet in The Heart is a Lonely Hunter (but don't go too far! Avoid giving your hero the initials J.C.)
~Some names tap into connotative suggestions: Draco Malfoy (taken from root words suggesting dragon and malice)

Having said all that, I need a strong last name for my current hero. His first name is Lucas - he's about 6'7", beefy, ex-football player, and he's pretty introverted. The story takes place in a small New England town, and his family has lived there for three generations. Any ideas?

Monday Mentionables: Dealing with Rejection

2011-12-12T00:00:00.000-08:00

Happy Monday everyone! Remember, every comment on a blog post this month earns you a chance to win my "Keeping Warm in Winter" prize package!

Today I wanted to talk a little bit about dealing with rejection. I think some people are under the impression that once you publish, you never have to worry about rejection again. All your book ideas and proposals will find a contract, and your editor will love everything you submit.

Wrong.

First off, authors change editors and publishers A LOT. This means that you'll have different people buying your books, and if they like your style/ideas/genres, great. If they don't, well...not so great. Take it from me: this has happened a couple of times. And going from working with an editor who knows and likes your writing to submitting to an unknown commodity (especially as industry trends change) can be challenging and disheartening.

Best-selling authors talk about this in the current issue of Romance Writers Report. Their advice: have a routine to deal with rejection. Whether that includes a hot bath, a glass of wine, or calling a friend to vent, make sure you have a way to soothe your ego.

Then, try not to take it personally. The market changes. Sales change. Editors change. This is a business, and you are part of that business. Look at the market, your writing, and current hot genres and decide whether you want to change, shift, or keep on doing what you're doing (all valid choices, by the way).

Finally, realize that there's a certain freedom in rejection. Yes, freedom. You don't have a deadline hanging over your head. You don't have hours of promotion and social interaction to keep up with. What you do have is the time to play around with your writing, your ideas, maybe even the crazy notion for a brand new story that you never had the time or courage to try out before. Now you do.

Rejection happens, even to published authors. And rejection hurts. But it can also be empowering. Keep that in mind, and forge onward.

Friday Fun Facts: Three Random Websites

2011-12-09T00:00:00.000-08:00

Hello everyone! Happy Friday!! Today I wanted to share with you 3 completely random and unrelated but also otherwise cool (in my opinion) websites. Check 'em out:

For Writers: Writer's Digest Successful Queries - For anyone who's struggled with writing ther perfect query letter to nab that perfect agent, this blog post is full of query letters that worked, along with detailed commentary from agents about why they did. This is an author's must-have resource link!

For Shoppers: I loved this link, posted today on MSN, about how to shop for the holidays with less stress. Sadly, Christmas time has become such a rush of materialism for so many people - even in this economy, which is tough to believe. So this list of ways to bring happiness to those on your list for less $$ and less hassle was perfect. Best tip: On December 16, 2011, over 100 online retailers will be offering free shipping! Now that's reason enough to check this article - and mark your calendars!

For Everyone: www.age-me.com is a fascinating website that allows you to take a picture of yourself and age it - 5, 10, 20 years into the future - and add the effects of weight gain, sun exposure, and more. I actually read about it in a magazine at the eye doctor's office earlier this week, in an article about planning for retirement. The claim was that if you're young, it's hard to picture yourself at retirement age, so it's harder to save for it. Anyway, I thought it was a cool (though a little scary, to be honest) way to see how you might look after years of sunning yourself poolside with a drink in one hand and a cigarette in the other...or not. I haven't tried it yet (it costs $4), but I might this weekend. Just to see. You know, for research or something like that...

Happy Weekend!

Writers' Wednesday: Holiday Stories

2011-12-07T00:00:00.000-08:00

Welcome to Writers' Wednesday! Remember, every blog comment between now and the end of the month earns you another chance to win the "Keeping Warm in Winter" prize package! Today I wanted to share with you a couple of books links:

First, one of my fellow romance authors, Diane Craver, has a wonderful holiday story called A Christmas Gift (and don't you just love the cover??). Why not try out a new author and new story this holiday season?

Second, one of my publishers, The Wild Rose Press, is giving away free books right now - all you have to do is head on over to their website and see what's new today.

And speaking of which, do you have any favorite holiday stories? I do love Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol," both the written and the multiple movie versions. Do you have a particular story that puts you in the holiday mood?

Monday Mentionables: Holiday Traditions

2011-12-05T00:00:00.000-08:00

Happy Monday everyone! (Remember, every comment during the whole month of December earns you another chance to win my "Keeping Warm in Winter" gift package!)

Over the weekend, we celebrated an early Christmas with my side of the family in the town of Skaneatles, New York - which was extra-charming because every weekend in December, the village rewinds to Charles Dickens' times, and wandering Victorians carol and re-enact scenes from "A Christmas Carol" and generally remind you of a much simpler time. My favorite photo:

The woman's sign says "Where there's drink, there's always danger!" (Of course, I think to keep warm in Victorian England a lot of people drank a lot of liquor, but at least there were a few teetotalers like these women around to post warnings!)

Anyway, we had a great time, and now that our house is mostly decorated for the holidays, I'm feeling in the mood! We'll probably get our tree this-coming weekend, though it seems like a lot of people already have theirs up. What about you? If you have a Christmas tree, do you put it up at the same time every year? And when is that? Do you have a tradition for putting it up and taking it down?

Friday Fun Facts: Favorite Holiday Songs?

2011-12-02T00:00:00.000-08:00

OK folks, now that it's officially December, my month-long Keeping Warm in Winter blog giveaway contest is open! All month long, every time you comment, you'll earn a chance to win:

~Signed copy of my novel Summer's Song
~Signed copy of debut author Liz Matis's steamy novel Love by Design
~Warm woolly socks
~Gourmet hot cocoa
~And a few other surprises tucked inside!

Unfortunately, due to shipping costs, the winner must be a US resident.

So, to set the holiday mood, let's talk about holiday music. What are some of your favorites? I love many of the traditional Christmas carols, especially "Silent Night" and "Whose Child Is This," but when it comes to contemporary, these are 2 of my favorites:

So, what about you?

Monday Mentionables: A Guest Blog and a Contest!

2011-11-28T00:00:00.000-08:00

Happy Monday everyone! Today I'm guest blogging over at Savvy Authors, all about trimming the deadwood from our writing. I presented some of this info at a Savvy Authors mini-workshop over the summer and got a lot of positive feedback from the participants, so I'm bringing it back with some changes and additions.

And...a sneak peek at my December blog giveaway: everyone who comments, either here or on any of my guest posts this month, will have their name put in the running (for EVERY comment)for a chance to win a "Keeping Warm in Winter" gift package:

~Signed copy of my novel Summer's Song
~Signed copy of debut author Liz Matis's steamy novel Love by Design
~Warm woolly socks
~Gourmet hot cocoa
~And a few other surprises tucked inside!

Unfortunately, due to shipping costs, the winner must be a US resident.

Even though this contest officially begins on Friday December 1, I'm counting all comments from today forward. Join me over at Savvy Authors today!

Finally, I want to wish my mom a VERY HAPPY BIRTHDAY today!! (I won't give away her age, because you probably wouldn't believe it if you saw her anyway. Hope I get her longevity genes!)

Friday Fun Facts: Black Friday Here We Come!

2011-11-25T00:00:00.000-08:00

Happy Black Friday! Anyone brave the sales this morning? Anyone brave the new-this-year midnight sales at many of the big stores? My husband and I go out each year, usually leaving the house between 4 and 5 am, but we tend to avoid the huge/crazy places like Best Buy and Walmart (we aren't big electronics consumers, anyway). We made it a point NOT to shop the midnight sales this year because, as you probably read, many employees and consumers thought it was somewhat insensitive & disrespectful to start the shopping on Thanksgiving night, a time that's really meant for spending time with family.

Anyway, I think a lot of people must have disagreed, because the stores were virtually empty by the time we got there this morning. Our luck, though - we still managed to find everything on our lists, this year with a lot less stress!

December is right around the corner, which means, among other holiday happenings, I'm going to be running a month-long blog giveaway contest right here...and I'm also going to be guest blogging in a few different places as well, so stay tuned for your chance to win! Monday will have all the details of what's in store...

Ten Things I Am Thankful For

2011-11-23T00:00:00.000-08:00

Happy almost-Thanksgiving, everyone! I hope (if you celebrate the day) that your Thursday is filled with yummy food, time spent with loved ones, and happy memories being made. Today, 10 things I am thankful for this year:

1. My and my husband's well-being after our scary car accident earlier this month
2. The Good Samaritans that stopped right after said scary accident and helped us on a busy highway in the middle of rush hour.
3. My two jobs - I love teaching, and I love that I can write (and make money doing it) on the side!
4. My love of, and ability to, travel and see so many different places, both in this country and in others.
5. My family, both immediate and extended, even though I don't see some of them as often as I'd like to.
6. My friends. I am blessed to have wonderfully smart, funny, and supportive friends in many different areas of my life.
7. My health and fitness. I'm so happy that, at almost-41, I'm in better shape than I was 20 years ago. Love the gym!
8. Music. Just because there's always a song for every mood, and I can't imagine life without it.
9. My inner strength that allows me to deal with hard times and hurt.
10. The roof over my head, the food in my refrigerator, the fact that I can speak my mind, vote, wear what I want to, practice any religion I choose, and stand up for myself and for those less fortunate than I am without fear of punishment. It's a great country we live in, flaws and all.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE!!!!!!!!!!!!

Monday Mentionables: For Readers and Writers

2011-11-21T00:00:00.000-08:00

For readers: Who's looking forward to seeing the movie version of recent blockbuster YA novel The Hunger Games? I'm not usually a fan of books-turned-into-films, but I did enjoy the tension and interesting storyline of this book, and I think I'll probably check out the movie. Here's the trailer, if you're interested:

For writers: The Long and the Short of It is running a "Stuff Your Stockings With Books" blog giveaway in December. Here's the forwarded info:

We need authors who want to guest blog around the holidays! It doesn't cost you anything but a prize – what could be better than free promo on a really busy site?

It's easy to participate. Simply send us a COMPLETED blog post that is holiday themed (can be winter, Christmas, Solstice, Hanukkah, New Year's, etc) and NOT pure promo (no posts that are only excerpts, etc) along with an author bio, website links and ONE book cover to use as promo. Also tell us what you'll be giving away in your spot. It can be a book, a GC, or other prizes (please be as specific as possible).

The posts will go up on our guest blog pages sometime between 12/19 and 12/30 (we'll tell you your date when we schedule you) and each author will be responsible for doing a drawing for their prize from the comments on their post and then posting the winner in the comments.

Email us your blog post and other information along with which site it's appropriate for (WC or LASR) with `STUFF YOUR STOCKINGS BLOGFEST' in the subject header to lasreviews AT gmail DOT com – and we'll do the rest!

We'll accept posts up through December 14, 2011.

Short week of work for me, just 3 days this week, and then it's off to celebrate good food and good times with family. Happy Monday!

Friday Fun Facts

2011-11-18T00:00:00.000-08:00

Random thoughts on this Friday morning:

~It was 20 degrees here last night. Brr! I'm thinking about running a "Keep Warm in Winter" giveaway for the month of December, to include a copy of Summer's Song (of course!) as well as other goodies to remind us of those long-gone days of sunshine and heat. Stay tuned as next month nears!

~Since my car was totaled in my accident of 2 weeks ago, we found a replacement this week. The same car, same year, fewer miles, for just about the same price as insurance gave us to replace the other. Different color (not race car red...sigh...), but that's ok! It's safe, as we now know from experience, which is THE most important thing!

~I recently joined The Romance Studio again, after a membership lapse of a couple of years. It really is a great bang for your buck if you're a romance author - they offer tons of promo opportunities and ways to connect with readers. In terms of price, I think they're one of the best sites around.

~One of my students said yesterday, "Do you think that when e-readers become really popular, everyone will bring them to class instead of books?" I said, "Aren't they already popular? And wouldn't you like to have all your heavy textbooks loaded onto a single e-reader so you don't have to haul them to and from class all the time?" Answer: "Oh, yeah. Huh."

Happy Friday everyone! Anyone planning on tackling the Black Friday sales one week from today? Or are you just thinking as far as turkey and stuffing right now??

Monday Mentionables: Trying to Predict the Market

2011-11-14T00:00:00.000-08:00

The latest issue of Romance Writers Report featured an article "Industry Insiders Give Their Predictions" - which, of course, is nearly impossible to do, but it was interesting to read all the same. Among the points mentioned:

~Upswing in acquisitions of dystopian and post-apocalyptic stories (this is a tough one...writing a happy ending in a notably unhappy world situation...hmm)
~Erotica and paranormal romance markets are fairly saturated (which is not to say you can't sell in them, but you need something a little different & fresh)
~Upper YA is becoming more popular: think heroines between 18 and 25 (hey, that's a terrific but terribly fragile time for many women...great potential for both conflict and happy endings!)
~Contemporary romance, esp. those with small town settings, may see an upswing, along with the idea of "gentle fiction", set in places with a slow pace and charming, small-town characters

Of course, this last one interests me the most, since I just (finally! it's about time!!) finished the second draft of my contemporary/small-town romance, Beacon of Love. It's off to a beta reader now while I figure out where to send it (agent, publisher, etc) and what project I want to tackle next. Let's hope these predictions ring true in 2012...

Friday Fun Facts: News for Writers and a Thank You to Veterans

2011-11-11T00:00:00.000-08:00

Well, because I missed Writers' Wednesday this week (I've been knocked out by a bad sinus infection...think my immune system after last week's stressful accident was a little, um, depleted), I wanted to share a couple of pieces of news:

Fellow romance author Leanna Hieber announces a brand new release, DARKER STILL: A Novel of Magic Most Foul, "the first in a new Victorian Paranormal series set in 1880 New York City, full of adventure, love, faith, mystery, mayhem and plenty of spooky stuff." Leanna is a doll and I've signed with her on a couple of occasions. If you're looking for something new and different to read, check out her works.

And All Romance Ebooks has a slew of promo opportunities for writers, from ads to free to reviews and more. Check out everying they're offering by clicking here. It's a great time to take a look at your promotional plan for 2012 and start booking spots NOW (this message is for myself as much as for any other authors out there!).

Finally, I'd like to say a heartfelt THANK YOU to all our veterans on this day, who have served and continue to serve to protect our country, most especially my own father-in-law, who fought in the Vietnam War.

Happy 11-11-11, and Happy Veteran's Day. We honor you :)

Monday Mentionables: Everything Changes in the Blink of an Eye

2011-11-07T00:00:00.000-08:00

"There but for the grace of God go I..."

It's a familiar saying, right? How many times do we read stories in the newspaper or hear something tragic on the radio or drive by an accident on the side of the road and think that? But it's also all relative, too, because that's what I'm saying today after my husband and I were involved in a car accident last Friday night. I hesitate to call it a "serious" accident, though if you look at the picture of the car, you might say I'm crazy. I guess I don't consider it serious because we both walked away from it unhurt. But for a couple of seconds, though, it could have ended much differently, and that's why I think that even though we WERE that couple standing on the side of the road next to wreckage during rush hour, it could have been so much worse. The grace of God did help us out of this one.

I pray no one has to experience a car accident at all; it's a terrifying feeling in that split second when you realize someone else is going to hit you and the only thing you can do is hold on and press the brake pedal to the floor and pray the car will stop without hitting anything else. And it is absolutely true, how time slows down in a moment like that. I'm sure it was only a second or two between impact and when we stopped, but it seemed like many more, 5 or 10 or 15 seconds at least. And it's odd, the things you focus on, the sounds or the sights, and then the things you do or don't remember.

Anyway, we're fine. But it certainly does make you stop and take stock of things in your life in a moment like that one. I don't need the holiday of Thanksgiving to say prayers about all the things I'm thankful for right now~

Friday Fun Facts: Talking About Book Trailers

2011-11-04T00:00:00.000-07:00

I didn't have a chance to post on Writers' Wednesday (busy week!) but I wanted to let you know that fellow author Liz Matis has a brand new book trailer for Love by Design! Click here to see it

I always really enjoyed making trailers, both for my own books and fellow authors'. Whether or not trailers translate directly into sales is tough to know for sure, but another marketing strategy is never a bad idea. Remember, your "brand" (your name, your title, your website, your concept, etc) has to be in front of someone 7 times before they remember it - this is a marketing FACT. So a trailer combined with other marketing strategies (especially if you can make it yourself, or have someone do it for you, inexpensively) can be a good idea.

I looked back through my own book trailers and decided my two favorites are for Lost in Paradise and Summer's Song. Take a look:

Happy Friday! Have a great weekend!

Monday Mentionables: A Freak Snowstorm

2011-10-31T00:00:00.000-07:00

Yes, the HUGE Nor'easter that moved its way up the East Coast over the weekend hit us, but good! We were super-fortunate not to lose power (many people in our area did), but we did get about 10 inches of snow when it was through:

Funny thing, to see leaves and snow on the trees. You never can tell what Mother Nature has in store for us (case in point: it's supposed to be in the 50s this week!)

And just because it's Halloween, and in honor of the snow and one of the most talented modern-day storytellers, here's a clip from The Shining. I don't know which is scarier, the book or the movie, but I definitely can't watch it (or read it) when I'm home by myself! Happy Haunting :)

Friday Fun Facts

2011-10-28T00:00:00.000-07:00

Fun (?) Fact #1: It snowed here last night. Yes, really. Sigh...and it's only October. Wonder how long THIS winter is going to be?

Fun Fact #2: Hubby and I are going to be spending spring break at a race track in Salt Lake City, where he will get to drive a very fast car at very fast speeds and I will get to...watch. Hey, I'm thinking it will be good book material, right?

Fun Fact #3: I'm now more than halfway through my revision of Beacon of Love and seeing, maybe, a glimmer of the light at the end. Incidentally, I'll be looking for a couple of beta readers for the story when I'm through. If you're at all interested, shoot me an email at allieb@allieboniface.com and let me know.

Have a great weekend, and happy writing!

Writers' Wednesday: It's a Guy Thing

2011-10-26T00:00:00.000-07:00

I'm in the middle of revising my latest WIP, Beacon of Love, and I'm finding it interesting that my hero, Lucas, has really become the central character at this point in the novel. Don't get me wrong, the heroine, Sophie, is holding her own, but Lucas has somehow developed this complex backstory that (for me anyway) is enriching him as a character. I hope this doesn't turn off some readers; I know that usually in a romance the heroine is the one with the central conflict and journey. But this time, it seems as though it's going to be the guy.

Here's an excerpt from the chapter I revised last night, and even though it's told from Sophie's POV, it's still more about Lucas than about her:
*********************

“Hi there.”

She stopped in her tracks, halfway between the kitchen and the parlor. “Damn, Walker. Looking good.” The combination of dark blue button-down shirt and faded jeans suited him well.

He colored. “You ready?”

She nodded. He reached for her hand, and her fingers tingled as he tucked it into the crook of his elbow. Scratch that. Her whole damn arm – okay, the entire right side of her body, spreading fast to the left and all parts south and lonely – tingled. Could we maybe skip dinner and go right to dessert? she wanted to ask. Instead she just breathed in his cologne and led him lead her down the front steps.

“Hey, no hat!” she realized as they walked to his truck. To be fair, she’d only looked up a few seconds earlier. The parts of him on her level – broad back, wide shoulders, ass that filled out his jeans in just the right way – were more than tempting. But the rest of him up top was pretty nice too.

“No hat,” he admitted.

“I like it. I can see your face.”

He grinned but didn’t say anything, just helped her into the cab of his truck and closed the door behind her.

“So what’s the name of this place again?” she asked as they headed for the highway. He adjusted the radio to a jazz station.

“The Cove.” At the cross out by the city limits – for Barbie Collins, Sophie remembered after a minute – Lucas slowed. For a minute she thought he was going to stop, maybe say something or get out and pay respects. But he didn’t even glance at the cross, and then she wondered if the slowing was almost subconscious, a reflex that happened every time he went near one of the memorials without even realizing it.

How do you measure grief? Watching Lucas, Finn, the Walkers, even Shannon O’Brien, the answers were beginning to come to her: in little pieces, minute actions, the slightest change in the everyday ways people adjusted their lives after a loss.
****************

What do you think? Do you have a certain expectation when you read a romance novel that the heroine is going to be the focus? Do you want her story to be the focus? And, would you care if the hero had at least as central a role as the heroine?

Monday Mentionables: Don't Forget About Audio Books

2011-10-24T00:00:00.000-07:00

Opened my email to a pleasant surprise this week: my royalty statement from AudioLark, where 2 of my books are available as audio books. I released them in that format over a year ago, more interested in the process than thinking that the additional format would bump my royalties. And for the most part, the payback has been very, very small.

However, most of AudioLark's titles are now available on Audible, the biggest audio book website out there, and what a surprise to find that my sales of One Night in Memphis saw a terrific boost over the last quarter! In fact, it was a nice reminder to me not to forget that I should be marketing those books as well (hint hint...the holidays are coming). I clicked on over to my page at Audible and found a listener rating of 3/5 - not great, but I was more pleased by the fact that the average was based on 22 ratings. Not too shabby!

So...if you're a reader/listener, consider purchasing an audio book or two, either for yourself or for a friend. Remember they're great for riding in the car, listening to while you're doing housework, etc. And if you're a writer, consider putting your work into audio book format (provided you have the audio rights, if you're previously published). You never know how many additional fans you might get!

Friday Fun Facts: Words and More Words...

2011-10-21T00:00:00.000-07:00

Funny story for the week:

One of my students wrote a recent essay about the causes of the rise in teenage pregnancy. A primary cause she cited was sex education programs in schools, especially those that only teach absence. Uh huh. Absence. At first I wanted to correct her spelling - then I realized I really couldn't. Then I wanted to correct her word usage. Then I thought that maybe, just maybe, she was onto something. Maybe "absence" is actually a better form of birth control to teach than "abstinence." I mean, if you aren't even there, you can't commit the act, right?

Gotta love when people mix up words :) Maybe not in the books we read, but in student writing? Yes, it makes me smile.

(A close post-script to this essay was the one that also cited school sex ed programs for the rise in teen pregnancies, though this one said that students were more at fault, specifically those students who don't care, don't pay attention, and thus don't really know how to use a condom and just "slap it on." Uh huh. Really, I don't make these things up.)

Have a wonderful weekend!

Writers' Wednesday: Blogging at Samhain Publishing

2011-10-19T00:00:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone! Today I'm blogging over at Samhain Publishing, about why I'll never quit my day job (yes, even once I get that million-dollar advance...). Please join me there!

Monday Mentionables: Finding Time

2011-10-17T00:00:00.000-07:00

Just finished reading a great article in the October 2011 Romance Writers Report that talked about finding time to write (because we can all find time to put it off, right?!). One of the things I realized after a hectic start to the school year, and then taking a few days off to visit Iceland, was that even a week or two away from my WIP makes it that much harder to get back into the swing of things. I forget where the plotline is, I forget the subtleties of my character development, I have to spend time reading backwards instead of time moving forward.

So....write! Every day! Yes, every day, even if it's only for a few minutes. Some tips from the RWR article, which I whole-heartedly agree with:

~Find "hidden pockets" of time. You don't need a stretch of a few hours to accomplish something on your WIP. Believe me, you don't. Even if it's only 10 minutes, 30 minutes, whatever, there are still pockets of time in your day you can take advantage of. Figure out your best "natural" time to write (are you a morning person? or do you function better late at night?) and then carve out time when you don't have to be devoted to 5 other things then, and use that time to write.

~Focus/minimize other distractions. This means (as I tell my students in English class) don't have your Internet browser open, turn off your email notifications, turn your phone to silent. You'll be amazed at how those simple things can give you more time and attention to your WRITING.

~Just write. This is the age-old "Butt in Chair, Hands on Keyboard" mantra. Don't worry whether it's any good. Don't edit and re-edit as you go along. Just write. When you go back the next day, you'll find that it isn't nearly as "awful" as you might have originally imagined. Better yet, you'll have something to work with - and something is always better than a blank page of nothing.

~Turn waiting time into writing time. If you know you'll be sitting in a waiting room, or standing in line somewhere for a while, see if you can use that precious time to your advantage. Even if you can't type, can you use pen and paper to jot down thoughts for a next scene? Or a new project? Creative juices can flow anywhere, if you let them :)

~Schedule time drains. Are you a Facebook or Twitter junkie? Find it impossible to stay away from the latest season of "Dancing with the Stars"? Figure out which of those activities you must have in your life, and then schedule around them. Again, as I tell my students in English class, you don't need to spend 30 minutes at a time updating your Facebook status or commenting on your friends' 67 pictures from their trip to Disney. Give yourself 10 minutes and move on. Do you really, really, need to get sucked into watching a brand new sitcom (I know, there are a few tempting ones on TV this fall)? Or would that half-hour at the end of the day be better served to writing a page or two?

~Keep track of, and celebrate, your successes. It's hard work to write a novel! (or a novella or even a short story) Lots of people talk about doing it - far fewer succeed. So definitely give yourself credit for the milestones you reach. Your first draft of a 20K-word story?Awesome! The mid-way point of your first full-length novel? Awesome again. Finally getting through that first kiss scene and liking the way it turns out? Hooray!

Yes, writing is tough work. But you can do it - and I hope some of these tips inspired you the way they inspired me. Now I'm off to write~

Writers' Wednesday: The Debut of Liz Matis & Love by Design

2011-10-12T00:00:00.000-07:00

Exciting news!!! My very good friend and fellow writer Liz Matis has announced the indie publication of her debut novel, Love by Design! And check out the yummy cover...isn't it to die for?

The hot prime time TV show, Design Intervention, starts the second season with its own surprise makeover. Interior designer Victoria Bryce must break in her temporary co-host, Aussie Russ Rowland.

Victoria, former socialite wild child hopes the reality show will give her the clout to launch her own design line without her family connections. Russ, former bad boy Australian TV star is using the show to launch his acting career in the States.

Sparks fly on camera as they argue over paint colors and measurement mishaps leading to passions igniting behind the scenes. But when their pasts collide with the present will the foundation they built withstand the final reveal?

You can find it on Amazon right here, for the very low price of just $2.99. So support a newly published author, and raise your glass to cheer her accomplishments!

Congrats Liz!!

Monday Mentionables: A Contest Worth Entering

2011-10-10T00:00:00.000-07:00

Calling all writers! The Hudson Valley RWA's Hook Line adn Sinker Contest is going on right now and is a terrific way to get feedback on the opening pages of your story for a minimal entry fee. Official info:

Hone your skills in hooking an editor or agent by entering Hudson Valley RWA's Hook, Line & Sinker Contest. Three HVRWA members, at least one published, will critique the first three pages of your manuscript. The five entries with the highest scores will be ranked by Harlequin editor BRENDA CHIN! Entries must be received by November 1. Only $10 to enter. Click here to find out more.

And if you're not sure whether it's worth it to send just your first 3 pages, chapter member and multi-published author Shoshanna Evers blogs about the value of hooking a reader here.

Happy Writing!

Friday Fun Facts: A Fun Vacation in an Unexpected Place

2011-10-07T00:00:00.000-07:00

OK, so last weekend I was in Iceland with my mom, celebrating an early birthday for her! I know what you're thinking: Iceland? Really?

Yes, really. It's only about a 5-hour flight from New York, and we got a great deal on TravelZoo (I recommend subscribing to their "Top 20" email list which comes out every Wednesday with the best travel deals around the world, of all kinds). Anyway, we decided to give it a try. What a great trip! Iceland is beautiful, it's charming, it's small and laidback and easy to get around. They have geysers and glaciers and waterfalls, all within about an hour's drive of each. We even tried out a steam bath (outdoors, of course!) in the middle of a gray, rainy day! And if you want a little European culture, the capital, Reykjavik, can be walked in ab out 15 minutes. We just loved it.
So yes, I recommend going there if you ever have the chance. One caution: save up your $$! This place is super-expensive, especially its food and drink. But well worth it!

Writers' Wednesday: The 50/50 Project

2011-10-05T00:00:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone! Just a quick one today, since it's a busy, busy week for me:

Reminder that the WRITERS WHO CARE 50/50 project is now up and running! For a $50.00 donation, you can receive a critique of 50 manuscript pages from a published author...AND contribute to a wonderful cause, raising funds to aid Somali refugees. Here's the official link.

Happy Wednesday!

Friday Fun Facts: A Message from Abroad

2011-09-30T00:00:00.000-07:00

Happy Friday!

I'm actually writing this blog post a couple of days early, because when Friday Sept. 30th rolls around, I will be out of the country with my Mom, celebrating an early 70th birthday for her. Where to, you ask? Shh...it's a secret - but I'll be back here on Monday with pictures and (I hope) a great report!

In the meantime, something cool that that happened this week:

One of my students did her monthly "reading review" (every student has to read a book of her/his own choice every month) on my novel Summer's Song. This is the first time that has EVER happened, and while it was neat, it was also a little weird to hear her talk about it in class. Anyway, she did like it, and she even said "I liked the inspirational message about moving forward and not living in the past" which was a totally cool thing to hear about your own work!

***

And one of my favorite lines from Beacon of Love, my current WIP:

"He’d never realized how loss could take your heart, fracture it, then rely on time to paste it back together again. Not the same way, of course. Different pieces ended up next to each other, curving and overlapping the way they never had before. All there, yes, but not quite whole. Not quite the same."

Happy weekend ~ have a great one!

Writers' Wednesday: Something for Readers and Writers Alike

2011-09-28T00:00:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone! A few tidbits for both writers and readers today:

Long and Short Reviews and Goddess Fish Promotion are planning a Haunting Halloween Weekend for the end of October, and they've put out a call for paranormal romance authors who'd like to blog as part of the festivities. Always a good way to promote your name, so email the folks at lasreviews@gmail.com if you want more information.

Dreamspinner Press is offering 25% off on all their titles over at All Romance Ebooks - but only through this Friday, so check it out if you're interested!

And finally, Drunk Writer Talk is blogging about Banned Books Week, including a link to the most challenged books of 2010. Amazing, right??

Happy reading and writing!

In Memory: June 1, 1995 - September 13, 2011

2011-09-23T00:00:00.000-07:00

"And that, ultimately, is the most unselfish act of love we can offer: To end a pet's suffering, we must choose to accept our own." (Moira Allen)

Had to say goodbye to my buddy of 15+ years last week, Smooch. Boy, it's tough to let go of a pet, especially one who's been with you for so long. I adopted him when I lived out in Cleveland (actually, the week after my then-boyfriend left me). He was with me during my grad school/single girl days, through my new (now current) job, new life, engagement, marriage, my father's death, my first publication, ups and downs, two different apartments, two different houses, and the acquisition of two additional kitties in the years that passed.

But he will always be first and dearest in my heart. Miss you lots, my sweet cat. See you again sometime xoxoxoxo.......

Monday Mentionables: Some Tips from a Book Festival

2011-09-19T00:00:00.000-07:00

I spent 3 hours at the Brooklyn Book Festival yesterday, and while the networking was better than the sales, it was still a trip worthwhile. It's always interesting to talk to fellow writers (and readers!), and I thought I'd share a few insights I gained in the process.......

1. Authors have to do most of their own PR. Yes, even the best-selling ones. If you think your publisher will do all the legwork for you, think again. The more you can promote yourself, the better your sales will probably be.

2. Readers generally won't turn down a free bookmark. Make sure your author info (at the very least, your website) is clearly written on it.

3. Readers love getting anything for free, and that includes excerpt booklets (one of my favorite marketing devices) and magnets.

4. Do your research into publishers before you submit to them. Small presses have both advantages (they'll know you personally, some of them are roaring in the industry right now, they love the ebook industry) and disadvantages (lower sales, the potential to fold amid the competition).

5. An agent does not = sales. I spoke to 2 authors yesterday who both had signed with their agents over 2 years ago. One had 1 sale, to a small press that doesn't require an agent for submission. The other hadn't sold yet.

6. The best place to sell your books is through your publisher's website (if this is an option). Selling through Amazon or other 3rd-party distributors reduces your royalties.

7. Giving away free reads can be a good marketing technique, but don't overdo it. Don't give away EVERYTHING you write. You worked hard on it! Sell it!

8. Many people still won't admit to reading or liking romance. Or, they aren't really familiar with what romance is, and they're surprised to learn that some of their favorite suspense/comedy/etc authors are filed under "romance."

9. Bring along a tablecloth, pens and duct tape whenever you go to a signing. I've always used all 3 no matter what.

10. Be nice. It's amazing how far a smile and some good conversation can take you. No matter if you don't get a sale that moment, that day. You never know what might transpire down the road...

Happy Monday!

Friday Fun Facts: Writers Who CARE

2011-09-16T00:00:00.000-07:00

I know I mentioned this a couple of weeks ago, and now I wanted to share the link to the Writers That Care blog. Here's some more specific information:

FIFTY PAGES FOR FIFTY DOLLARS: That's the 50/50 Project.

How will it work? Slated to launch at CARE INTERNATIONAL on October 1st, 2011, the 50/50 PROJECT will allow anyone who makes a donation of $50.00 to submit 50 pages double-spaced of a work-in-progress for a 1-2 page critique by one of the participating authors. When the project goes live on October 1st, 2011, the link to CARE INTERNATIONAL to make a donation this this project will be posted on the MAKE A DONATION page above.

Please consider participating - or at least, please share this information with others. It's a great cause!

Writers' Wednesday: Brooklyn Book Festival This Weekend!

2011-09-14T00:00:00.000-07:00

Just a quick reminder: I'll be at the Brooklyn Book Festival this Sunday! Look for me at the Big Heart Writers booth from 10 - 12:30! More info here.

Monday Mentionables: The Week in Review (in Pictures)

2011-09-12T00:00:00.000-07:00

Ahhhhhhhh....I know I was absent from here all last week! Between flying back and forth across the country, starting school (boy that alarm clock goes off early!), and losing Internet service due to flooding from Hurricanes Irene and Lee, I just couldn't get here.

To make up for it, here's a Monday morning photo montage. Enjoy!

At the official Ernest Hemingway Memorial in Sun Valley, ID

At the unofficial Hemingway memorial - his gravesite

Hiking in Sun Valley, ID (at about 8000 feet elevation)

In memorial of 9/11: Damaged sphere from one of the Twin Towers + the eternal flame in Battery Park

One of the roads I take daily (but not that day last week) on my commute to work each day...

Frioday Fun Facts: A Long Flight West

2011-09-02T00:00:00.000-07:00

So I'm heading to Idaho for the long weekend, to visit my sister. Yes, Idaho. Anyone ever been there? Anyone ever live there?

I'll post pictures and a report when I return ~ who knows, maybe I'll be inspired...One Night in Boise??

Enjoy your holiday weekend - write like mad!

Writers' Wednesday: Tips from Maass

2011-08-31T00:00:00.000-07:00

My favorite tips from Donald Maass' Writing the Breakout Novel (yes, has a workbook as Marianne mentioned on Monday, that I want to tackle next):

1. Layer your premise. Don't give in to stereotypes or the "easy" plot turn or obvious choice. Choose the non-obvious option when it comes time for plot and character development.

2. Make the stakes high - and then higher. What happens if your character fails in his/her journey? Is it big enough? Make it bigger. This doesn't have to be "world-ending." But it should, in some sense, be the end of the world as your characters know it. Give them discomfort. Make the risks huge, and worth it.

3. Make your reader care about your characters. How? Give them WIT, SPONTNEITY, FORGIVENESS, AND SELF-SACRIFICE. What great qualities, really. How can you work them into your own novel?

4. Give the beginning high tension. The ending should somehow, someway, be suggested in your opening sentence/paragraph/section. Make the reader want to continue. What tension exists? Draw the reader on. This is a tough but crucial one.

So...I went back to the drawing board and am tackling the opening chapters again, with these thoughts in mind. I think it makes a difference - it seems to so far. We'll see!

Monday Mentionables: Surviving the Storm

2011-08-29T00:00:00.000-07:00

Well, did everyone survive Hurricane Irene? Here north of NYC, it wasn't nearly as bad as they had predicted. Lots of evacuations helped, I think. We had some moderate flooding in places (a couple pics below) and a lot of power outages, but nothing too bad. At our house, we escaped even losing power!

Today I'm a little stir-crazy and need to leave the house, though. What did I do all day yesterday? Well, I did try and be productive: read Donald Maass' book on craft, Writing the Breakout Novel and made 3 pages of notes for revisions as I tackle my WIP, Beacon of Love. I'm sure at least some of you have read it as well; if you haven't, you're missing out! He gives great, concrete advice and examples on how to amp up all areas of your novel. Definitely gave me some good places to consider. Wednesday I'll share some of my favorites :)

So, what does post-Irene look like in your neck of the woods?

Parking lot of a local mall, flooded

Highway in my area, flooded (I did NOT take this picture - I wasn't crazy enough to be on the roads in that weather!)

Friday Fun Facts: Assessing the Workshops

2011-08-26T05:59:00.000-07:00

So this week I've been giving 2 workshops at the Savvy Authors Summer Symposium, one on Prose Tightening (just finished) and one on Query Letter writing (just began). I have to say, I've really enjoyed the experience so far. I was a little nervous at first, because I'd never given an online writing workshop before, but the folks at SASS run this SO well, with support from all sides, that it's been a breeze and a pleasure!

Trivia: it seems as though the most interesting/helpful "tip" I offered in the Prose Tightening workshop was on avoiding Delay of Subject and Forms of "To Be." If you're an experienced writer, you'll know exactly what I'm talking about. But if not, I'm going to re-post here to share them with you. Maybe you'll find another tool to add to your revision tooolbox :)

Delayed subjects
As much as possible, avoid sentence structure that begins “There is/was/were…” This is called DELAY OF SUBJECT and can add wordiness to your writing. It moves the subject away from the beginning of the sentence and weakens the overall impact. Example:

Delayed Subject: There was so much for Fanny to do when she got home, but all she wanted to do was crawl under the covers and disappear.

Better: Fanny had so much to do when she got home, but all she wanted to do was crawl under the covers and disappear.(Now FANNY, who is the subject of the sentence, leads the sentence – stronger writing).

Forms of “to be”

Generally speaking, verbs like is/are/was/were and their variations are weak words. Of course you’ll have them in your writing, but examine your use of them and see whether a stronger verb would make a sentence more interesting or appealing:

Weak: The giraffe is a beautiful animal, with a coat that is like the colors of the sun and a body that is taller than a flagpole.

Strong: The giraffe is a beautiful animal, with a coat like the colors of the sun and a body taller than a flagpole. (Notice that the opening phrase of this sentence maintains use of “is” – it isn’t necessary to eliminate all of them.)

Weak: Robert was standing by the fire, waiting for Sophia to notice him.

Strong: Robert stood by the fire, waiting for Sophia to notice him. (A simple change in verb structure here eliminates was + and “ing” verb, to past tense, which doesn’t affect the meaning of the sentence)

Weak: Felicia was a gorgeous woman, Stanley thought, though she was so intelligent and witty the night he met her that he never dreamed of approaching her.

Strong: Gorgeous, intelligent, and witty, Felicia first struck Stanley as the kind of woman he’d never have the confidence to approach. (Notice the total change of sentence structure here, which puts an emphasis on the qualities of Felicia)

OR

When Stanley first met Felicia, she seemed so gorgeous, intelligent, and witty that he didn’t dream of approaching her (Notice the different sentence structure here, with a focus on their meeting and Stanley as the subject of the sentence).

Writers' Wednesday: Join the Writers who CARE 50/50 Project!

2011-08-24T00:00:00.000-07:00

For both published and aspiring writers, here's an opportunity:

Author Kathy-Diane Leveille is working with CARE International to organize a project for writers to raise money for the Somali refugees facing starvation:

"At this point I'm putting out a call to published writers to volunteer their time. Proposed to launch October 1, 2011, "Writers who CARE: 50 for 50 Project" will offer anyone making a $50 donation the opportunity to submit 50 double-spaced pages of a work-in-progress to be critiqued by a published author (chosen from the participants listed on the CARE event page). Within 90 days of receipt, the published author will provide a 1-2 page critique (no line editing) which will consist of a general overview including voice, style, character, plot, setting, markets etc at the author's discretion. If you are a published author and would like to volunteer to do a critique, contact Kathy-Diane Leveille at shadowsfall@kathy-dianeleveille.com with "Writers Who CARE" in the subject line, providing your published name (as you'd like it to appear on the event page), brief bio (max 100 words), and a link to your web site. This is a GREAT PROMOTION OPPORTUNITY and a WAY TO GIVE BACK. Writers who are looking to make a donation and receive a critique can also contact me and I will send the link to the event page which will contain all submission details once it's posted."

Monday Mentionables: Back from Vacation with a Craving to Learn

2011-08-22T00:00:00.000-07:00

Yes, I took an entire week off - hubby and I spent time in the Outer Banks, NC, with a group of friends. (The picture is of sunset over the dunes at Kitty Hawk, home of the famous first flight of the Wright Bros.) We had perfect weather and relaxation the whole time. Just what I needed! Though I didn't do any writing, I did do some reading and some thinking, both about future and current projects. One of my goals in the next 6 months is to take a writing workshop. Yes, I'm giving two this week as part of the Savvy Authors Summer Symposium. But we never stop learning, right? And I'm feeling like I need a jump start to get some of my creative juices flowing again.

Any recommendations? Alternately, any good writing books/workbooks/resources you've found helpful?

Friday Fun Facts: Tackling a Sequel

2011-08-12T00:00:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I started playing around with a second novella to follow Tequila Sunrise, my 23K word story about 2 people who meet on a cruise ship and have to go back to very different worlds after 4 days at sea. Early on in that one, I thought it might be fun to write a second story using some of the minor characters. It's the first time I've ever done that, though readers often ask if/when I'll write a sequel to one of my novels.

It was interesting, to begin chapter 1 when I already knew a lot about the characters and the setting and the situation. Actually, it gave me some freedom to just jump into the first scene completely in the middle of action that was happening in the first book. Eliminated all that introductory stuff (the way you're supposed to, ideally), even though I know I do have to fill in a few blanks if people haven't read the first one.

Still, it was fun...in the opening pages, anyway. I know series/trilogies are very popular with readers, so it will be interesting to see where this goes. I'll keep you posted!

Writers' Wednesday: Sign up for the Symposium!

2011-08-10T00:00:00.000-07:00

Two weeks left until Savvy Authors' Summer Symposium begins! Have you checked out all the offerings? My workshops, Prose Tightening 101 and Crafting the Query, will both run for 2 days, with chances for on-going discussion and Q&A from all participants. There is a huge variety of discussions/workshops from which to choose all week long, in addition to raffle prizes for all registered participants. Hope you'll take advantage of it! great way to jump-start and/or refresh your own writing :)

Monday Mentionables: Finishing, Researching, and Waiting for "The Help"

2011-08-08T00:00:00.000-07:00

Finished my current WIP today, "Beacon of Love"!! Well, finished the first draft, anyway. But at 72K words, I'm thrilled with the way it turned out, especially the ways in which the characters developed. I have to give credit, again, to this page on agent Donald Maass's website. Every so often if I was feeling stuck, I'd peruse one (or a bunch) of his suggestions to deepen the scene/emotion/character/conflict, and inevitably it got me through some writer's block moments. Once I get some kind of blurb written for it, I'll share it here so you can get the gist of the story. I'm really happy with it :)

***
In other news, the RWA Golden Heart (unpublished) and RITA (published) winners for 2011 were recently announced, and in the name of research I downloaded a few sample pages on my Nook of some of them. What better way to see what's selling and what's being loved by readers than to check out some big-time winners, right? Besides, I'm going on vacation next week and also have a couple of long plane rides coming up in September, so I need my Nook fully loaded! Any must-reads you'd recommend?

***
Speaking of must-reads, I'm so excited that the movie version of "The Help" is coming out this week! Best book I read this year, hands-down. I can't wait to see how it translates to the big screen. Here's the trailer:

Happy Monday!

Friday Thoughts: Giving Yourself "Permission" to Write What You Really Want To

2011-08-05T00:00:00.000-07:00

Last week I had the opportunity to give a writing workshop at my local library. We talked about the romance industry, various sub-genres, my own journey to publication, and then we focused on character development & first meetings between hero/heroine. I asked them to do a brief character chart, fleshing out some questions and qualities about characters in their WIP, and then we discussed them. One of the best parts of the evening came when almost everyone there said something like "Now I know what I need to work on with this" or "I'm inspired to go back and work more on my story now" or "I never knew this about my character before!"

The most interesting part for me, though, was a comment from one woman who was talking about a short story she'd written (not really a romance, as you'll see in a minute). In her story, a man and woman meet on a hiking trail, strike up conversation, and have a relationship that ends up being a few years long. In the end, though, they get into an argument and she throws a microwave at his head and kills him. (!) In rather Alfred Hitchcock fashion, the story ends with her painting her nails and bemoaning the fact that she can't have popcorn because her microwave is broken.

She said, "I really do like the story, but I feel like I can't write everything the way I want to because it's too dark. Too evil. I feel like I can't give myself permission to write this story."

We all immediately latched onto that thought and talked about how often that can happen in writing. We don't feel comfortable writing profanity because we don't speak it. Or we don't feel comfortable writing explicit or kinky sex because it means we are thinking about it (or maybe even doing it behind closed doors!). When we write about acts like murder or infidelity, does it suggest we condone them? Of course not. But I think for many people, we do stumble when it comes to writing about things we don't personally live or accept.

BUT THAT'S OK!

This idea of giving ourselves "permission" to write anything our story calls for needs to exist. In the workshop, I suggested this woman write under a pen name. That way, when she sits down to tackle a dark story, it isn't "her" writing it, but another author. Maybe that will free her. I don't know if that will work, but I think it's worth a shot.

Thoughts?

Monday Mentionables: Savvy Authors Summer Symposium

2011-08-01T00:00:00.000-07:00

Time to sign up for the Savvy Authors Summer Symposium (and yes, I'm giving a workshop and donating some prizes for the raffle too!)

*****************************************

Savvy Authors SUMMER SYMPOSIUM
sym·po·si·um (sĭm-pō'zē-əm)
1. A meeting or conference for discussion of a topic, especially one in which the participants form an audience and make presentations.
2. A collection of writings on a particular topic, as in a magazine.
3. A convivial meeting for drinking, music, and intellectual discussion among the ancient Greeks.

Join us for five days as we talk craft - from plot and character, to dialogue, suspense, theme and story question (with a bunch of stuff in between) in chats, Q&A forums and mini-workshops. Our presenters will be sharing what works - whether it's worldbuilding or setting or layering in back story; or even if it's technical detail and the fruits of research, they'll be exposing the craft that underlies a good story. We'll also be talking about publishing and promoting, offering pitch opportunities to the attendees and raffling off books on craft from folks like James Scott Bell, novels, gift certificates, workshops, 3-chapter critiques from published authors and more.

WHEN: August 24th - August 28th
Cost: The conference is FREE to Premium Members! Basic and Non-members may register for the conference for $30. (But really, why do that when annual Premium Membership costs the same?)

REGISTRATION: Click the image below

Monday Mentionables: Upcoming Writers' Workshops

2011-07-25T00:00:00.000-07:00

This coming Wednesday, I'm giving two writing workshops at the Phillips Free Library in Homer, NY:

1:00 - 3:00 pm Romance Writing for Teens

5:30 - 8:00 pm Composing Sweet Confections (for adults)

In both workshops, I'll be focusing on the following, using some well-known romances as well as a few of my own:

~Elements of a romance
~Creating chemistry between characters
~First meetings of Hero/Heroine
~Using conflict to enhance/accelerate the romance
~Achieving more with less (explicit description, that is)

All the participants will do some writing and sharing, too. I'm looking forward to it! The workshops are free and open to the public - just contact the library to reserve a space. And if you'd like a copy of my notes/handouts, email me at allieb@allieboniface.com and I'll send you one. Happy Writing!

Friday Fun Facts: Try an Audio Book

2011-07-22T00:00:00.000-07:00

Traveling this summer? Taking any books with you? Print version, or e-reader? Or...what about an audio book or two? Don't forget that downloading an audio book is a terrific way to take a story with you on the plane or in a car and requires even less space to store than an ebook!

And why am I mentioning audio books? Because two of my earliest stories, Lost in Paradise, and One Night in Memphis, are both available now from Audio Lark. I always forget to mention them when I'm doing promotion, so here's my big shout-out! And yum - I love these covers as well - don't you?

Or, if you've already read (or heard) my books, why not give another one a try? Enjoy your travels and free your hands - buy an audio book!

Writers' Wednesday: Two Helpful Links

2011-07-20T00:00:00.000-07:00

I'm about halfway through my latest WIP, Beacon of Love, and though I went through over the weekend and made some major plot changes (and a character name that just wasn't working for me), I'm surging ahead now and trying, trying to get to my goal of 60K words by the end of the month.

But...

I wanted to take a moment to briefly share two links with writers today.

The first is Goddess Fish Promotions, partner site to The Long and the Short of It and run by two of very talented writing/reviewing/promoting friends. (That's not why I'm chatting it up though). They have some great options when it comes to promoting your new release. If you'd like to guest blog or do some online appearances but aren't sure how or where to start, they will set up the whole thing for you. Great price ranges, too. Check them out here.

And the second is Savvy Authors. I'll be doing some workshops for them later this summer, but as I was perusing their site I discovered that they have the AWESOME opportunity for writers to pitch to agents and editors, on a fairly regular basis. This week alone, agents/editors from Larsen Pomada, Sourcebooks, Judith Ehrlich, and Ethan Ellenberg have been/will be there. So check it out!

Now I'm back to the keyboard...

Monday Mentionables: A Successful Saturday!

2011-07-18T00:00:00.000-07:00

Thoughts on my Saturday signing experience (4th time I've been at this craft fair in my hometown):

1. The "Local Author" angle is a HUGE draw. For the first time I had both a sign and a framed copy of an article that had appeared in the local paper a couple of years ago. The number of people who stopped by simply because of that probably made up at least half of my total sales - and these weren't people I knew, but people who just lived locally who thought it was cool that I had grown up there.

2. But don't discount the word-of-mouth-it's-who-you-know angle. A woman who turned out to be a mother of a classmate of my sister's (are you following this?) was so tickled when she found out who I was that she bought all my books!

3. Online/social media contacts do matter! One person told me they got my electronic newsletter so they knew I'd be there; another saw my post on Facebook about it. There are never too many ways to spread the word!

4. Being friendly (but not overly so) makes a difference. I chatted with one fellow vendor who was making the rounds. She asked which book was my favorite and I recommended Summer's Song, which she bought. About 4 hours later she came back because she was up to chapter 4 and wanted another one of my books! That was probably the highlight sale of my day.

5. Make yourself & your books appealing. One teenage girl asked me if I'd save her a copy of Summer's Song because she had to run home to get more money. I told her I would try, but that one was going fast (truth, I wasn't trying to play hardball). She took her last $12 out of her purse to buy it!

So yes, it was a successful author appearance (I sold 27 books total) - and I would really recommend taking advantage of any place where you can be the "local author" - people love to know/live next door to/shop with someone who's written a book or two!

Friday Fun Facts: First of a Few Summer Appearances

2011-07-15T00:00:00.000-07:00

OK, the summer signing season is upon us, and so I'll be at the Holiday in Homer craft fair tomorrow, Saturday, from 10 am - 4 pm. Please stop by and say hello if you're in the area! Always a great day :)

Writers' Wednesday: The Dreaded Sagging Middle

2011-07-13T00:00:00.000-07:00

Well, I've been moving right along, writing about 2000 words/1 chapter a day on my latest WIP, but yesterday I found myself slowing down. Badly. Struggling to care about my scene. My characters. And having no idea what comes next.

Ugh. It's Sagging Middle Syndrome.

To be fair, I'm not quite at the middle yet, but the pace is getting bogged down and I know it's coming. I thought I'd blog today about ways to tackle it, but I still struggle with that myself, so last night I went Googling in search of some help.

I found it on the website of agent Donald Maass, a widely respected agent in the business who gives workshops on, most notably, Writing the Breakout Novel. And this month, he's posting (and Tweeting about) ways to move your novel from so-so to breakout level. Just what I needed to give my sagging scenes a lift!

Here's the link - as of last night there were 40 tips listed for ways to jump-start your writing. A couple of my favorites:

What miracle does your MC pray for? Make it impossible...then make it happen.

Find a corner, crossroads or dark object in your story. Invest it with eeriness, unknown portent or dread. Go there three times.

Before a new character debuts, give your MC an expectation or fear. Make the reality three times better or worse.

Now, go check out the whole list - and be inspired! Happy writing......

Friday Fun Facts: A New Book

2011-07-08T00:00:00.000-07:00

Well, I started a new work/project/book a little over a week ago, and I'm happy to report that I'm making steady progress and meeting my word count goals...so far...I wanted to write 2000 words a day - not impossible, certainly, but that definitely requires the Butt-in-Chair-Hands-on-Keyboard approach, since it takes me anywhere from 1-3 hours to write that much.

What's the story? It's tentatively titled Beacon of Love and it's about the host of a travel show, Sophie Smithwise, who comes to a small town in Connecticut to do a piece on the haunted lighthouse there. She meets Mitch Thomas, all-around good local guy, handyman, volunteer firefighter, and sometimes-cameraman. He steps up when one of her cameramen gets sick - but the real conflict here is that the fifty-year old murder-suicide that took place inside the lighthouse, and supposedly began the hauntings, belongs to Sophie's grandparents.

Something like that.

I haven't planned out the entire plot - unusual for me - but I'm just writing and letting the story happen. So far I like where it's going. I mostly like how the hero and heroine are interacting. She's a smart ass, and he's low-keyed but keeps up with her in more ways than one. I also like (and this always happens, such a great part of writing fiction) how the characters do things I would never have predicted, or how plotlines turn based on conversation that I didn't intend when I sat down at the keyboard.

Okay, I have 2000 words to go write. Happy Friday!

Writers' Wednesday: Self-Publishing Still the Kiss of Death?

2011-07-06T00:00:00.000-07:00

Self-publishing: to many people, it's still a red flag. In a nutshell, some think if you can't get your book published through traditional channels, then it probably isn't good enough to be published at all. Thus, if you decide to take on the kiss of death and self-publish, you're trumpeting to the world that your book wasn't good enough to make it any other way.

Or are you?

These days, it seems, ebooks and the ease of digitally self-publishing have taken away that stigma, at least to some degree. Lulu, of course, has been around for a while for authors who want to self-publish a print version. But that requires a certain amount of cash up front, that authors may or may not recoup. But Amazon's Kindle Direct Publishing program (as well as Barnes and Noble's PubIt) allow authors to upload a file, format it, and have it available in digital form almost immediately - with very little financial output (excluding, of course having an editor go over your work and/or having a cover artist design your cover). Royalties through KDP are 70%, which is higher than you'll find with any other publisher. Of course, keep in mind that you are solely responsible for all marketing of your work - and that can be hugely time-consuming, especially if you don't have a reader base already established.

But what if you do? This is where things get a little interesting, in my opinion. What if you're a published author, with a fairly solid reader base, and you have a work or two that either doesn't fit with your current publisher, or is a backlist title that you have the rights for, or is simply a short work you want to have available to readers in between releases of your full-length works?

I'm friends with an author who's in just that situation, and last year she formatted and uploaded one of her previously-released books when her publisher folded and she had all rights returned to her. She spoke of the process as being very easy (esp. since the book had already been edited, and she's savvy enough to create her own cover). I emailed her last week to ask about the whole experience, and she couldn't recommend it highly enough. Since then, she's uploaded 3 of her works (2 previously released and 1 new work that had been rejected in a few places - yes, established authors get rejected too), and along with her regular sales through her publisher, those titles have brought in a solid chunk of cash.

So....it's something to consider. For a new, unpublished author, self-publishing through one of these channels might be a way to test the waters, or a way to finally get that work out in the public eye. For published authors, it might be an interesting way to supplement your backlist, especially when you don't have anything releasing for an extended period of time. Am I thinking about it? Maybe. I'll keep you posted!

Until then, I'm interested in anyone's thoughts or experiences with KDP or B&N's program. Done it? Recommend it?

Monday Mentionables: Happy 4th of July!!!

2011-07-04T00:00:00.000-07:00

Happy Independence Day, to all my friends and readers in the United States!

Wednesday I'll be back here to talk about self-publishing through Amazon's Kindle program - it's becoming more and more popular, for already-established authors as well as new, unpublished ones. Is it something to explore and consider? Seems like maybe it is....I welcome your thoughts!

Friday Fun Facts: A Review of The Hunger Games

2011-07-01T00:00:00.000-07:00

All year long my students read and devoured The Hunger Games, the dystopian YA novel by Suzanne Collins that's the first book in a trilogy (and coming out soon as a movie). I finally got a chance to read it last week, and though futuristic fiction isn't my usual favorite genre, I did enjoy it, for a few reasons. The story itself is clever - when publishers talk about wanting a "high concept" novel, this is what they mean:

In a not-too-distant future, the United States of America has collapsed, weakened by drought, fire, famine, and war, to be replaced by Panem, a country divided into the Capitol and 12 districts. Each year, two young representatives from each district are selected by lottery to participate in The Hunger Games. Part entertainment, part brutal intimidation of the subjugated districts, the televised games are broadcasted throughout Panem as the 24 participants are forced to eliminate their competitors, literally, with all citizens required to watch. When 16-year-old Katniss's young sister, Prim, is selected as the mining district's female representative, Katniss volunteers to take her place. She and her male counterpart, Peeta, the son of the town baker who seems to have all the fighting skills of a lump of bread dough, will be pitted against bigger, stronger representatives who have trained for this their whole lives.

Interesting, current, compelling.

I thought the book did a great job (though maybe didn't go far enough) in exposing our current society's fascination with reality TV and the huge/sometimes awful influence of the media. The pacing itself is also one of the book's strengths. From the opening pages, it moves along at lightning speed, and since you know that the ultimate ending of the book means the death of every character save one, you read on wanting desperately to know who that will be. There's also a romance included between the two main characters, though it's more a device of the Games than an actual love story (depending on which character you identify with).

Downsides for me? A couple of plot devices that I thought forced the conflict of the story where the author didn't need to. I won't give them away, but they're responsible for the ultimate outcome of the Games. I also wasn't crazy about the ending, since it's obvious that the author meant for the story to continue in another book. There are minor conflicts introduced that felt "tacked on" in order to set up the next book in the series, Catching Fire.

Also, just a warning: there's a lot of violence in this book, especially for a YA novel. It's integral to the plot, of course, but younger readers (and their parents) might find it pretty strong and nightmarish. I've also read quite a few scathing comments about Collins' "stealing" the plot from a Japanese story, Battle Royale. Authors do borrow - nothing's original, people always say - but I can see that perhaps using SO many plot elements/tropes from another work might rub some readers the wrong way. As always, read at your own peril!

Anyone else read The Hunger Games? Thoughts?

Writers' Wednesday: A Couple of Writing/Promo Opps

2011-06-29T00:00:00.000-07:00

Yes, I did take Monday off - the first day of summer vacation! From a teacher's POV (and of course from students' too), it's better than Christmas :) Now I just have to remember how to relax....

Writers, here are some opportunities that came through my email inbox the last couple of days. Remember, any chance you have to get your name in front of readers (or fellow writers, or editors, etc....) is one to consider. Weigh the time, effort, and cost involved, see how much it will take you away from your own writing, and then perhaps select 1 or 2 that are good fits for you:

Savvy Authors Summer Symposium: We're looking for workshop presenters, chat, and Q&A hosts on topics related to any aspect of writing genre fiction as well as raffle prizes to give away on the last day to the registered attendees. Prizes can be books - novels or books on craft or other topics of interest to authors - magazine or site subscriptions or best of all a 3-chapter critique. (**Note to blog readers: email me directly if you'd like more, and I'll forward the entire email to you)

Just One Bite Anthology: Authors wanted for All Romance's Just One Bite Short Story Contest! Thirty-two of the paranormal romance short stories submitted will be deemed "Semi-Finalists" and released onto the AllRomance.comand OmniLit.com websites on October 1, 2011.

Readers will vote for their favorite short stories during 5 rounds of voting with the field being narrowed at the end of each round. The first prize winning author will receive $1000 US.

Submissions will be accepted between July 1 and September 1, 2011. Each title must be an original, never before published paranormal romance work between 2,500 and 3,000 words.

I'll be back here Friday with my (very informal) review of The Hunger Games, a wildly popular YA novel that my students devoured this year and that I finally got around to reading.....Hope to see you then!

Friday Fun Facts: Last Day of School!

2011-06-24T00:00:00.000-07:00

Last day of school! Yes, New York State is (finally) done for the school year! Now to tackle all those writing projects I haven't had time for all year long...

But speaking of which, looking at that video clip I posted Wednesday, it's true more often that not: people who have never written a book of any kind really don't have a true concept of how much work is involved. I mean, that's probably true of a number of skills/projects/professions. But it continues to surprise me all the same. Right now, a number of my friends & relatives are asking when my next book is coming out, and I have to say "I don't know" because I don't have one contracted at this point. There's a whole slew of reasons why, of course, and I wish I did, but life and a full-time job do sometimes get in the way. But I do think many readers think, oh, a few weeks/months and you can turn out a book. Doesn't take took long after that, right? Most people don't realize it's AT LEAST a year once you go through edits, cover design, and finalizing copy before a book hits the shelves.

But I still have people tell me they have a great idea for a book, they've written some pages down already, and could I just give them some resources where they could find out about publishing it? And of course I do (I always start people at Absolute Write - great initial resource), but I wonder how many of them follow through. Then of course there are those people who have a great IDEA and want me to write the story "with" them (I think that means their "idea" and my sweat & time & heartache in turning it into a novel).

So interesting to witness the learning curve - and so rewarding to have a group of friends and a support network of fellow writers who understand exactly how much is involved.

Happy Friday!

Writers' Wednesday: So You Want to Write a Novel

2011-06-22T00:00:00.000-07:00

Have you seen this yet? Enjoy!

Monday Mentionables

2011-06-20T00:00:00.000-07:00

I know I'm late posting today, but I did want to share two worthy mentionables:

Carina Press is giving away books this week! Yes, every day you can download a book for free. How great is that?!? Click here for more information.

And one of my fellow Hudson Valley RWA members, Shoshanna Evers, is seeking submissions for a non-fiction ebook she's compiling, titled How to Write Hot Sex: Tips from Multi-Published Erotic Romance Authors. If you're interested, visit her blog here for all the details.

Hope you've had a happy Monday!

Writers' Wednesday: The Old-Fashioned Love Letter

2011-06-15T00:00:00.000-07:00

With techonology taking over the world, it's easy for declarations of love that used to appear longhand, meticulously scripted on stationery, to become online posts that are here one day, gone the next. Email, IM, Facebook posts or chats - young lovers confess their feelings in this way, this world, more and more often. Almost gone are the days of the handwritten love letter. That's not entirely bad, of course: today's communication is almost instant, so you can tell your love AT ONCE how you feel. But there's something charming about feelings that are committed to paper, in the tradition of years/decades past, right? Take a look at some famous ones:

"I can live only wholly with you or not at all – No one else can ever possess my heart - never - never - "(Ludwig von Beethoven)

"You have touched me more profoundly than I thought even you could have touched me - my heart was full when you came here today. Henceforward I am yours for everything." (Elizabeth Barrett Browning)

"Dearest, - I wish I had the gift of making rhymes, for methinks there is poetry in my head and heart since I have been in love with you." (Nathaniel Hawthorne)

"I belong to you; there is really no other way of expressing it, and that is not strong enough. How could I, fool that I am, go on sitting in my office, or here at home, instead of leaping onto a train with my eyes shut and opening them only when I am with you?" (Franz Kafka)

Sigh.

So I will admit, I'm the kind of sentimentalist that kept a few letters from boyfriends past. I dug out a few the other day to reread them, and those lines in faded ink reminded me so much of the girl I was, of the boys who wrote to me, of the way I treasured those awkward (and sometimes corny) lines. A couple of the ones I still love:

"I watch you walk across the room and I realize you are poetry: beauty in motion."

"If you make me wait, I won't mind: the more sand that falls through the hourglass, the bigger a sandcastle I will build you with it."

"Telling me to resist you is like telling me to live without the sunrise in the morning, warmth in the winter or water in the desert."

Ah, love letters...words from the hearts written down in black and white to be cherished always. Anyone have a stash from their past? Anyone still write them to their loved ones?

Monday Mentionables: Extreme Couponing

2011-06-13T00:00:00.000-07:00

Does anyone else watch the show Extreme Couponing with a combination of awe and apprehension? Do you know what it is? It's a reality sort-of show that highlights extreme couponers - those people (actually, all women on the shows I've seen, no men - and I think there's a reason for this) who clip coupons, file coupons, compare sale flyers, and then bring their coupons/laptops/spread sheets to the grocery store where they emerge some 3-5 hours later having just scored $1,000 worth of groceries for something like $1.75.

Impressive? Absoutely. A little terrifying? At times, because these women are obsessive about matching up their coupons with deals and then either buying things they would never use (and then donating them to the needy, I guess), or stockpiling things they probably will never get through. The "stockpile" is the pride and joy of these women: usually a closet, sometimes a separate room altogether, filled with everything they've scored free or almost free. And yes, I admit I'm a little jealous, considering I spend over $100 almost every week on groceries. But I'm not sure I could break down and buy 25 deodorants just because they're .10 each, or 100 packets of dried noodles because they're .15 each. What on earth will one family do with 150 boxes of cereal? Or four shelves filled with hand soap?

This is where I think the extreme couponers border on hoarding. I really do. It becomes more about the deal than about buying things you need and will use. I think, honestly, having a huge stockpile, whether or not you use it, makes some people feel very secure, and maybe rightly so. But still. I do find it a little odd.

Here's the other thing: do these people buy produce or meat? I can't believe so, at least not on the show. Because those things are NEVER on sale with a coupon. And finally, with absoutely no disrespect to those people who are racking up 98% savings when they shop, not one person featured on the show has a full-time job. These women say they spend up to 30 hours a week clipping coupons and scoping out sales, and I believe it. But there's no way I would ever have time for that! (Thus my opinion as to why no men are featured on the show: they're out working 40+ hours a week while the women are home with the kids and the coupons).

OK, this post had nothing to do with writing. But I do find this relatively new fad of "extreme couponing" quite interesting. Thoughts?

Friday Fun Facts: Rotten Rejections

2011-06-10T00:00:00.000-07:00

You know the story: debut author lands six-figure publishing deal, followed by a movie and then a second smash novel, and the author is appropriately, charmingly, and nauseatingly humble, saying, "Well, I did get about 100 rejection letters before I finally found the agent/editor/publishing house that was willing to take a chance."

Once we get past our envy of their huge success, it's worthwhile to listen to what many authors have to say about surviving the rejection letter - sometimes multiple times. Yes, the best authors have been rejected, often many times. So I try to take heart from their experiences - and surfing the Web to find some of those classic "can't believe this author EVER received a rejection letter" can bring a smile to anyone's face, I think.

In that spirit, here are a couple of sites that feature rejections of the famous and not-so-famous, all of which should make you chuckle and remind you to keep on keeping on! Write (or fill in the blank here_____) because you love it. Because you can't imagine NOT doing it. The publication (or fame, or money, or whatever else you're seeking) will come......

Rotten Rejections - My favorite here is about Carrie by Stephen King: 'We are not interested in science fiction which deals with negative utopias. They do not sell.'

Famous Rejections - Starts with Dr. Seuss ("too different from other juveniles on the market to warrant its selling")and moves on from there. Another funny one: "It is badly written and the hero is unsympathetic" (Ayn Rand's The Fountainhead)

And finally, from my own files (I save all my rejection letters), this one from an agent about Summer's Song: "Unforunately, I don't think your writing is strong enough to be publishable." (I will tell you, I still use this one in the back of my mind to motivate me, and to remind me that publishing is subjective, and never to allow one person's opinion to shape my own writing career.)

Carry on, and happy weekend!

Writers' Wednesday: Another Submission

2011-06-08T00:00:00.000-07:00

Submitted my novella "Tequila Sunrise" to Samhain last night. Fingers crossed! If they're not interested then I'll probably try my former editor who's now at Carina Press.

And now I really have to decide what NEW project I want to take on for the summer. I need a new story to lose myself in!

Monday Mentionables: Short Reads!

2011-06-06T00:00:00.000-07:00

Happy Monday!

For all my writer friends, The Long and the Short of It is seeking out short, sweet romance stories for their "Thrifty Thursday" blog posts. Info here:

The Long and the Short of It is looking for short (1300 - 1500 words), sweet romance
fiction for our Thrifty Thursdays, where readers can come and read for free
(http://tinyurl.com/njyoeh

In exchange for your short romance story, we offer $5 (payable on acceptance and
via Pay Pal only) and a free ONE MONTH book cover or banner ad (a $10 value).
The author may also choose to substitute a TWO MONTH cover/banner ad (a $20
value) in lieu of monetary payment. The author will also receive a link on our
website to their personal webpage and/or blog.

All genres are welcome as long as the story has strong romantic elements.
Additionally, all the stories accepted at Long and Short Reviews MUST have love
and romance as central. A "Happy Ever After" (or at least "Hopefully Ever After"
) is also a required, fundamental part of all the stories we publish.

More information, including how to submit your story, may be found here:
http://tinyurl.com/29p5gba

*************
And speaking of short/free reads, many authors swear by them, to keep readers interested in between longer releases and/or just to whet the interest of new readers. Check out my friend Liz's blog for one that does just that: link here.

And I'm curious: what do you think about free reads on websites/blogs? Do they make you want more from an author? Have you ever bought a book/story because you first read a freebie by that author somewhere?

(P.S. - It''s yet another maketing tool, for all you authors out there!)

Friday Fun Facts

2011-06-03T00:00:00.000-07:00

Some random facts, in no particular order:

1. I really liked the Romance Writer's Report article on writing dialogue, in the June 2011 issue. Specifically, the reminder that people tend to talk in "code" (think of married people discussing conflict in front of others) was a good tip.

2. Brava is having a contest for all unpublished authors - they're calling for novellas in any genre. More information here.

3. I was really glad I made the bed and straightened the house yesterday before work, because the crazy-high winds blew in a window screen...which triggered our house alarm...which summoned the police to our place. On a walk-through with them, I realized I failed to put away my lingerie on the drying rack, but oh well. Almost everything else passed muster :)

4. This fairly large snapping turtle was digging a hole near the bottom of our driveway. Getting ready to lay eggs? Maybe, which would be kind of cool. I've seen turtles everywhere this spring, on the side of the road, IN the road, crossing parking lots. More sightings than ever before. Wonder why?

Writers' Wednesday: WD Top Websites for Writers

2011-06-01T00:00:00.000-07:00

Every year, Writer's Digest rounds up the websites it considers best for writers, in a wide variety of genres and subject areas. So if you don't subscribe to WD, the May/June 2011 is definitely an issue you want to pick up! I won't list them all (there are over 100), but here are some that I visit on a (semi) regular basis and can vouch for their appeal/helpfulness:

Agent Query - find any agent here, listed by subject area/interest

BookEnds - agents Jessica Faust and Kim Lionetti run this blog

Pub Rants - agent Kristin Nelson has run this blog for years. Hugely helpful in terms of what agents are looking for, and she has a few series of posts regarding query letters, pubbing, etc.

Media Bistro - offers tons of resources & industry news for freelance writers

Preditors & Editors - lists agents and publishing houses along with questionable news, those who are fraudulent/not to be trusted, etc. A must-check before writers query ANYONE

Nathan Bransford - used to be an agent, now a writer, has friendly, easy-to-read posts on the inside workings of the publishing world.

WOW - Women on Writing - I freelanced for them a few times. Website devoted to supporting women's writing endeavors, really it just provides some great writing tips, industry news, etc, that anyone could find useful.

Absolute Write Forums - I check in there at least once a day. You can find information on just about any area of writing you're seeking. Forums for newbies to multi-published authors and anyone inbetween, with just about every genre and sub-genre covered. Awesome!
Happy writing/reading/researching/web surfing!

Monday Mentionables: Upcoming Events

2011-05-30T00:00:00.000-07:00

Happy Memorial Day, everyone! In honor of all those who have served to protect our country, I thank you whole-heartedly!

***

I have a couple of events coming up this summer that I'm getting excited about, so if you're anywhere in the area(s), I hope you'll join me.

Holiday in Homer Annual Craft Fair - July 16th - This is my annual "hometown" event where I usually see a slew of familiar faces and sell all my new releases. Looking forward to it again this year.

Writing Workshops - Phillips Free Library, July 27th - Thanks to the librarian, who secured a grant so she could pay me (grin), I'll be giving both a one-hour workshop for teens (on writing romance) and a longer workshop in the evening for adults on writing craft and getting published. If you're interested in attending either one, you can call (607) 749-4616 for more information.

Chautaqua Conference = August 2 - I'll be speaking and selling books at this 2-day event that includes workshops on a variety of topics, devoted to the arts and learning for learning's sake. My focus will be "How a Local Girl Made it to NYC" or something of that nature. Will have to blow up pictures of my reading in Greenwich Village last winter!

***

Think I'll spend today writing and maybe planting some flowers, if the weather cooperates. The last 2 days were beautiful, but it's pretty overcast this morning. Well, even if I have to stay inside all day, that means more time at the keyboard!

Friday Fun Facts: Finding the Time to Write...

2011-05-27T00:00:00.000-07:00

Happy Memorial Day Weekend! We have today off from school (a first-time ever), and then the next 3 days as well, so I'm really hoping to do some solid writing while I have some time. I'm revising Entwined, making it a shorter work (about 45K) - also revising Tequila Sunrise (will remain around 18K) - and finally, taking stock in what full-length work I want to tackle over the summer. It's a little nerve-wracking, because I don't have anything contracted and haven't released anything new in over a year. That's why I'm hoping to contract a couple of shorter works, to keep me on readers' radar while I work on another longer novel.

Sigh.

It's definitely hard to develop a writing career while also having a full-time job that pays the bills. Yes, I know many people do it. It's still hard!

But for now, I have 4 days ahead of me, and so I'm putting fingers to keyboard and nose to screen and slogging through.

Oh, and I'll be giving a writing workshop on the evening of July 27th at the Phillips Free Library in Homer, NY (my hometown), which should be a lot of fun. The librarian has invited me in to do a couple of talks in the past, but this time she secured a grant so she could have me in longer, and more formally. Will have to put together a compelling agenda for the evening...if you're a writer or just interested in hearing from a writer, consider joining me!

Writers' Wednesday: Another Guest Blog

2011-05-25T00:00:00.000-07:00

I also blogged over the weekend at Samhain's site - this time about things that make me feel like summer. Stop by for a visit!

***

And speaking of "making connections," the topic of my Monday blog at Savvy Authors, my former editor from Samhain emailed me (she does that every so often, just to say hi) to tell me about a guest blog SHE wrote over at Carina Press, about her desire for sweet, non-erotic romance. Give it a read, here. While the market tells us that erotic romance is still one of the biggest sub-genres, it's nice to hear that some editors (and readers too!) prefer the "slow build" over heroes and heroines jumping into bed the first chance they get.

Happy Wednesday!

Monday Mentionables: Guest Blogging at Savvy Author

2011-05-23T00:00:00.000-07:00

Well, I'm (almost) out from under my pile of paperwork, so I hope to be a better blogger this week :) Today I'm blogging over at Savvy Authors - please stop by and let me know what you think!

Monday Monday Monday........

2011-05-16T03:01:00.000-07:00

Friday Fun Facts: A Random Collection of Musings...

2011-05-13T12:00:00.000-07:00

Blogger was so wacky the last 24 hours! I couldn't post and now, well, it's almost the end of Friday :(

What am I doing this weekend? Lots and lots of grading. Sigh. At least the bulk of it will be done next week. I have to say, I'm looking forward to summer vacation more than ever this year! Been a long one.

I'm also considering what direction I want this blog to take. I mean, I used to blog 7 days a week, but it became too much. Now I try to blog Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, with some kind of common theme...and yet I wonder if I need to change my focus. Right now it's sort of a random collection of writing updates and comments on my life, which I suppose isn't a terrible thing, but I've been thinking that it probably should be more of the former and less of the latter. Hmm. Still thinking on it. May reinstitute the book-a-month giveaway I used to do, to all commenters. I sure do have a lot in my library that I could share!

Will keep you posted - in the meantime, thanks to all my regulars for always popping in to read and occasionally say hello :)

Monday Mentionables: The Help

2011-05-09T00:00:00.000-07:00

"We are just two people. Not that much separates us. Not nearly as much as I'd thought."

I know I wrote a little while back that I had started reading The Help, a debut novel by Kathryn Stockett about the world of black domestics serving white families in the South in the 1960s. I finished it over the weekend, and my original assessment stands: it's fantastic. The voice, the story, the perpsective, the glimpse into a world I knew very little about...I loved all of it. It captivated me in a way few novels have done recently.

AND...it's been made into a movie, to be released this summer! I'm so looking forward to it, and from the looks of the trailer, it seems like they've kept a lot of the crucial parts & characters the same (oh, I hope so!)

Enjoy - and if you haven't read this book yet, what are you waiting for?

Friday Fun Facts: A Random Assortment of Thoughts

2011-05-06T00:00:00.000-07:00

In no particular order, some interesting tidbits from my week:

A beta reader returned my novella "Tequila Sunrise" telling me she liked the story but thought there were too many coincidences and that the hero had too mnuch baggage. I always love another reader's perspective! Funny that I gave the hero quite a few qualities of a friend I know, baggage included. So maybe he's realistic but that's not someone we want to read about in a romance, huh?

One of my College English students remarked that he liked reading poetry for the first time in his school career because we weren't analyzing it to death, weren't swinging a giant fireman's hose at it to beat it to death and make it turn up its every suggested meaning. Made me laugh.

I want to write 2-3 other novellas around the same idea as "Tequila Sunrise", featuring minor characters that reappear as major ones. And so I need some good drink names for titles. I think "Sex on the Beach" might work. But I don't really want to go raunchy as much as intriguing/suggestive. Any ideas?

Happy early Mother's Day to all the moms out there who work so hard for their families and provide so much love and support - including my own :)

And finally, TGIF!

Monday Mentionables: What Should I Talk About?

2011-05-02T00:00:00.000-07:00

"Chautauqua is dedicated to the exploration of the best in human values and the enrichment of life through a program that explores the important religious, social and political issues of our times; stimulates provocative, thoughtful involvement of individuals and families in creative response to such issues; and promotes excellence and creativity in the appreciation, performance and teaching of the arts."

I'm happy to announce another appearance I've just scheduled for this summer: I'll be giving a talk at the Cortland County Chatauqua Festival on the evening of August 2. This is a local couple of days of workshops on a variety of topics, in my hometown, and I was invited at the end of last year to plan to attend in 2011. I'm excited and always love doing talks and signings in my local area, so of course I said yes! The concept actually comes from the concept of the Chatauqua Institute, a summer series of lectures and events intended for people's general enrichment. It originated and still takes place on the shores of Chatauqua Lake, in western New York (I've spent some time there; it's beautiful).

Here's my question to all of you: what do you think listeners would like to hear? Some will probably know me/know of me. Most probably won't. I'm billed as an author who grew up in the area, and I'll have my published books with me. What do you think people would like to hear me speak about? How I got into writing? My advice for those who want to write/publish? The world of ebooks and how technology is affecting publishing today? I have about 40 minutes total.

Any thoughts welcome!

Friday Fun Facts: A Royal Wedding!

2011-04-29T00:00:00.000-07:00

OK, who got up early today to watch the royal wedding? And who remembers getting up early to watch Diana marry Charles, all those years ago?

There's something so captivating about a wedding in the first place, two people pledging love and loyalty to each other, all nerves and emotion. Then add in a true fairytale story of a "commoner" who meets and marries her prince, and I think even the hardest hearts might have a tough time not tuning in.

I'm watching as I'm writing, and it's about 15 minutes before start-time. Can't wait to see Kate's dress, the ceremony, the guests, the pomp and circumstance of it all. Romance lives on!

Writers' Wednesday: Know the "Rules" of your Genre and your Readers

2011-04-27T00:00:00.000-07:00

A few months ago, I was revising Entwined and trying to work through a major plot point: the fact that my hero initially has a girlfriend and baby but leaves them when he goes to do research a few states away. The relationship is a strained and unhappy one, but it's still a relationship. While away from home, he falls for the heroine. I wanted some feedback on how palatable this hero would be to readers, so I posted my dilemma on a writers' forum I frequent.

The response was interesting, to say the least, and still draws comments every few days. Far and away, most people said they'd be turned off by such a guy. Romance readers don't want a hero who cheats. Beyond that, the traditional romance genre doesn't allow for a hero to be a cheater; the story would be unpublishable. Of course, I don't write traditional romance for a traditional publisher, but it's still something to keep in mind.

Others said that if it was more along the lines of women's fiction, they'd be more open to characters who don't follow the typical/predictable mold. They still wanted a clear break between the hero and his girlfriend, though. Quite a few said that because so many women have been cheated on in real life, they wouldn't want to read about a guy who did it in a novel. There could be allowances for emotional growth, but the character would have to be well explained for readers to buy into his change of heart.

A few other commenters (definitely in the minority) said they wouldn't mind/judge a hero like that automatically because relationships ARE complicated, and because it isn't realistic to think that infidelity doesn't occur in matters of the heart.

Overall, it was interesting to see the range of responses, but it did reinforce an important notion: KNOW WHO YOU ARE WRITING FOR. Know the rules and expectations of your genre, know if you can break them or how far you can bend them, and keep your reader in mind.

Always good points to remember. Happy writing!

Monday Mentionables: The Books I Read on Vacation

2011-04-25T00:00:00.000-07:00

Yes, yes, I know: I badly neglected my blog last week. But the sun and the 90 degrees were calling my name, so I'm sure you understand.

I did have a chance to catch up on my reading, and here's what I covered (for the most part, as you'll understand in a minute). And let me observe again how eclectic my reading tastes are, when it gets right down to it...

The Truth About Forever by Sarah Dessen - This one's a YA novel that's been stolen from my bookshelf at school not once but TWICE. I'd get angry except that I just can't, when it's kids stealing BOOKS to presumably READ. Anyway, I finally borrowed a friend's, and I was happily surprised that I really enjoyed it. The writing is strong and appealing, the characters are real, and the plotlines weave together well. In a nutshell, it's about a teen who spends a summer trying to deal with her father's death AND her mother's controlling nature AND her "perfect" boyfriend who wants to take a "break" AND her new job with a catering company working with people who are messy and not perfect and far from anything she's ever dealt with before. Beautifully written, really.

Much More Than Blood by Kate Hill - An erotic romance, I read this one for a review site I help out occasionally. It's a paranormal story about a female vampire who wants to turn a mortal into a vampire mate for herself. While I thought it had too much narrative and backstory, the characters themselves are strong and really likable. It's available from Ellora's Cave, if paranormal romance is your thing, and it's a novella, so it's a quick & easy read.

Velocity by Dean Koontz - A few of my students read this thriller and enjoyed it, so I thought I'd give it a try. And I do like a good murder mystery, but this one was too much for me to stomach. Killing is fine, but when the whole book is about murder after murder and how creative the killer can be (and when it's 9:00 at night), I couldn't find enough to keep me going with it. Put it down halfway through and have no intention of finishing it. Oh, well.

The Help by Kathryn Stockett - I know a lot of you have probably already read this one, as it's been getting a lot of buzz for a while now, but I finally got around to it - AND I LOVE IT! It's a terrific piece of fiction written by a debut Southern writer (OK, I admit to feeling more than a little jealous, but hey, good for her) about the black maids serving the white families in the South in the 1960s. The voices of all the characters are really what grabbed me, along with a setting I know very little about. It's captivating, really. I'm about halfway through and hate having to put it down.

So there you have it! Happy reading all, and if you have any other "must reads," let me know!