Shameless Promotion

Just a reminder that the Tote Bag contest (mentioned above) runs through August 26, so make sure to enter!

And if you didn't get a chance to read my interview over at WOW! yesterday, take a jaunt over there and check it out.

Marianne has two short stories available at The Wild Rose Press:




They only cost $1.50 each - how can you beat that? Buy them, download, and read over your morning coffee or your lunch.

On a side note, I sent off my latest complete work, One Night in Memphis, to my editor at Samhain. I'm nervous, though...one previously accepted novel doesn't mean the next one gets a free pass, unfortunately.

So it's off to the press release drawing board today, while I figure out how to turn a phrase that is at once witty and intriguing, brief and interesting enough to make newspapers/radio stations want to know more about One Night in Boston. (A shameless plea: if you've read - and liked - it, could you pop over to My Bookstore and More and leave a review? Thanks!)

Writers' Wednesday: An Interview with Author Jay Young

Welcome to Writers' Wednesday! We have another great author interview scheduled for today, this time with Christian historical author Jay Young.

But before we get started, hurry on over to The Long and Short of It and read the glowing review of my newly released novel, One Night in Boston. My favorite part: "Boniface has a delicate touch, her flashbacks are smooth, clarify the tale, but do not slow the pace. Her word choice and comparisons are lovely..." (Thanks, Nancy!)

Also, today I'm featured in an interview over at WOW - Women on Writing. If you're not reading this e-zine, you should be! It's a terrific resource for any writer. And Angela did such a nice job with the interview!

Moving on, make sure you read the sticky note above, and post a comment if you're interested in being entered into the Tote Bag Contest. Hey, what do you have to lose??

Finally, take a moment to offer a hearty congrats to Marianne, who has not one but TWO short stories releasing today with The Wild Rose Press. She's running a contest to celebrate, so drop by her blog to enter.

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And now, without further ado or distraction, let's get to know Jay Young.

Hi Jay! Thanks for joining us today. Can you tell us a little about your background?

I was born in 1970 and grew up in Rockville, Maryland. My future wife and I grew up attending the same church and started dating in high school. I went on to study Accounting and MIS at Baylor University and got married after my Junior year. Upon graduating, my wife Cheri and I lived in Sacramento, CA for twelve years where we had four children. I worked in the computer field and served as the Worship Leader at our church, playing and recording with several bands and teaching guitar on the side. In 2005, we moved to San Antonio, TX where we’ve been living happily, trying to keep up with these wonderful kids and life in general.

When did you first begin writing? Was there an event or moment in your life that triggered your desire to write?

When I was a kid I wanted to be an author when I grew up, but somewhere along the line I gave up on it. When we moved to Texas in 2005, I decided it was time to spend less time focusing on music and try something else. I had toyed with the idea of writing, but I couldn’t think of what I could possibly write about. SQL Programming? How to play the guitar? How to change diapers? Then one night I was out riding my bike and I decided I would pray about it. Immediately the idea for the novels sprung into my head. I realized that I had several ideas and several parts of scripture that I had been studying that would fit into an exciting story. By the time I rode home, I already had the storyline and most of the characters in mind. It was like God had been holding this gift-wrapped box for me for twenty-five years, just waiting for me to ask for it.

Now, I’m a huge reader and a huge music fan, but one of my biggest hang-ups is the lack of diversity and quality in the modern Christian music and literature scene. There are a handful of Christian bands and authors I really dig, but there simply isn’t much available for Christians who enjoy “edgier” entertainment, so I wanted to write a novel for all the guys like me. Late 20’s / Early 30’s. Grew up reading X-Men and watching Thundercats. Loves Pulp Fiction. Reads Stephen King. Watches the Simpsons every week. Owns every Metallica album and sees them every time they come to town. Probably has some tats and closed-up earring holes. Loves Jesus with all his heart. I think there are LOTS of guys out there who fit that mold who are just waiting for a story and characters they can relate to, and that’s what I’m trying to do with the entire Heroes Series. Surprisingly, I’ve heard from many readers in their 60’s and 70’s who really enjoy the books as well. The language I use tends to be pretty mature, so I think the books lend themselves more to older readers than to children or pre-teens.

The novels incorporate a lot of heavy-duty scriptural insight and conjecture, so Biblical scholars can enjoy the stories on a deep level, but I’ve also tried to make the stories accessible to folks who barely know anything about the Bible. The novels see-saw back and forth between modern and ancient times and use a variety of POV’s and narrative styles.

Tell us about your latest work.

I’m right in the middle of a five-book series. Book One introduced all the characters and set up the storyline. Book Two was all action-packed payoff. Book Three takes place three years after the end of Book Two, so I’m introducing a few new characters and a very involved back-story involving the patriarch Levi. We tend to think of poor Joseph, sold by his brothers into slavery and what a great guy he was, but I’m digging into what drove those brothers. Levi in particular is such a fascinating character, driven by so much pain.

I’m also dealing with my main character confronting his estranged father who had abandoned his family, so there’s lots of pain surfacing in that story as well. Basically Book Three is about pain – especially pain caused by the mistakes of a father. That’s the deep stuff, but I’d say the book is at least half all-out action. I love writing battle scenes – big and small. I also love digging into the characters to see what makes them tick – where do their actions come from; what is God doing in their lives; how do they cope with trials and confusion; all that good stuff.

What do you find most difficult about writing? What do you find most exciting or rewarding?

For me, the fun part is writing the outline. I spend a few weeks writing a complete outline and timeline before I write a single word. I love putting together the pieces of the puzzle and imagining the characters in the outline process. By the time I’m ready to write, it’s more like coloring inside the lines, so I can focus more on the language and emotions without worrying about the story going off track. The most rewarding part is reading a particular paragraph or chapter and finding myself moved emotionally – knowing I hit the right emotional notes along the way and hoping that other readers will feel the same way when they read it.


The hardest thing for me is deciding how to start a chapter. At what point in the story do I jump in and how much should be told in flashback? What POV should I use? What verb tense should I use? How can I make the first paragraph engaging, but set a tone that’s maintainable? It takes almost as long to write the first paragraph as it takes to write the rest of the chapter.


What advice would you give to aspiring, unpublished writers?

It actually doesn’t take much time to write – it just takes an effort. I think about the characters and plot while I’m driving or lying in bed or doing something non-constructive. I jot notes or write on my lunch break or when I get an idea. I’ll write a few times a week for about an hour or two after the kids have gone to bed if my wife’s watching a show I don’t want to watch. I’ll take 4 – 6 hours on a Saturday once or twice a month and really crank out the words. Instead of working on home improvements or watching American Idol and Survivor, I just use those extra hours to write and it all adds up. With Microsoft Word, Google, and Wikipedia, everyone has the tools to at least attempt writing. And with e-queries, e-books, webzines, POD publishing, and self-publishing, it’s easier than ever to get your writing out to the rest of the world.

What kinds of books do you like to read? Who is your favorite author?


I love Fantasy, Sci-Fi, Horror, and some modern-genre stuff, like Chuck Pahlaniuk. My all-time favorite author is Orson Scott Card. The humanity he instills in his characters and the complex dilemmas he puts them through are just brilliant and moving. More recently, I’ve been inspired by Carol Berg – a computer programmer turned author who writes truly engaging Fantasy novels. I’d have to throw Robert R. McCammon into the mix as well. And since I’m throwing in authors, let’s toss in Dan Simmons. I was reading his Hyperion series when I began writing my own series and I’d like to think a little of his brilliance rubbed off. Just a little, though.

Thanks so much for a fascinating interview, Jay! Want to know more about this author? Visit his webpage below. And leave a comment letting us know you were here today!

Jay L. Young is the author of the Heroes Series – an epic series of Christian Fiction novels which chronicle the battles and tribulations of Noah “No” Argentar and a band of heroes called The Faction. His novels have been described as “the X-Men meet the Old Testament”. The first novel, titled “Heroes Of Old” was released by iUniverse publishing in 2007, followed shortly by the second novel, titled “Spirit Of Heroes”. The third novel in the series, titled “Sanctuary of Heroes” is scheduled to be released in late 2007. Two additional novels, titled “Tribulation Of Heroes” and “The Will Of Heroes” will complete the five-book series.


Jay Young

Jay Young's Amazon Page

A Lot of Little Things to Mention

OK, today there's a potpourri of news and links for me to mention, so hang on and make sure you don't miss anything!

First, my good writing friends Marianne and Judy, have been working oh so hard on the launch of their new site, The Long and the Short of It. Go take a look at the site (still under construction) and then mark August 27 on your calendars, because that's the Grand Debut, with chances to win all kinds of great stuff that whole week.

And after some foot dragging, I have let them convince me to become one of their reviewers, so you might see my profile over there as you poke around. I'll also be popping in as a guest author and providing some articles on the craft of writing every so often...should be fun!

In the next day or so, I should have a sticky post up here about the great Tote Bag Contest, where you could win a tote bag filled with books just for posting a comment on any reviewer's blog! Until then, stop by Marianne's blog to find out more.

I shared my book trailer for One Night in Boston with you last week, but I've since uploaded it to Preview the Book, and they did a terrific job not only creating a page for me with all the info, but also designing a banner free of charge. If any authors are looking for extra promotion, they offer free hosting of your trailer for 1 year. Yes, free! How can you beat that??

Lost in Paradise has finally made it to the "Coming Soon" page at The Wild Rose Press. You can check out the blurb here (just try to ignore the fact that they spelled "Champagne" wrong, OK?). Scroll about 2/3 of the way down the page...it's on the right hand side.

And finally, I just got my cover for Lost in Paradise as well. I like it a lot - very very yummy - but the only problem is...they spelled my name wrong. Take a look.

Good people to work with over there at TWRP, but I'm wondering if there's an opening for a proofreader??

Tomorrow there will be lots more to announce, along with an author interview, so make sure to stop back!

The Things I Learned

As I was walking across my person's lap yesterday, I saw my picture on her blog. I told her if she was going to write about me, it was only fair I get my chance too. So today she's taking a break, and I'm the guest blogger.

Most of you know that I spent most of last week in the hospital. Even though it was a very nice hospital, with an even nicer price tag according to my person, I couldn't wait to leave. Here are 5 things I learned:

1. When you aren't feeling quite right, you should never wait until the last minute to let someone know. Yes, we cats pride ourselves on our stoic demeanor, but let's face facts: when you can't breathe and you can't eat and you're freezing 'cause your body temperature is 4 degrees lower than it should be, it's sort of stupid to pretend everything's fine.

2. Be nice to the people who are taking care of you. Even though the doctors and nurses might hurt you when they're checking things out, they also give you good drugs and make your heart stop pounding so hard and even put you into an oxygen cage if you're having a hard time breathing. They will also call you "handsome" and coo at you when you're trying to sleep. But they mean well.

3. It's good to have a friend. When I came home, the other cat in the house (you know, the younger one who isn't nearly as bright or experienced as I am), shared his sleeping space and his food with me. He also followed me around and sniffed me A LOT. I think he missed me while I was gone.

4. The man that my person lives with isn't as tough as he likes to pretend. Oh, sure, he likes to complain about my hair everywhere, and how much my food and my litter and my vet bills cost, but when I was sick, he drove really really fast down the highway in the middle of the night to get me to the hospital. Plus, since I've been home he's relaxed the "no cats in the bedroom" rule.

5. When you're sick, the best place to be is home. Trust me on this one.

Unconscious Mutterings

Update: My cat is slowly showing his old personality (yay!), and though he's still so skinny from not eating for 5 days, he's eating more now every day. The vet said he was overweight last year, anyway. I suppose hospitalization is one way to put your pet on a diet :)

Here's a pic of him cleaning himself yesterday (and looking appropriately insulted that I caught him in such an unflattering position).




I have to send thank-you notes to the doctors who nursed him back to health, although I'm not sure there are words to properly say thank you for saving my heart. I'll spend a little time browsing the card aisle today in Target and see what I can find.

Here's a fun weekend meme I found for today. Visit here if you want to play along!

1. Voyage :: Mayflower


2. Patricia :: Richardson (great actress)


3. Transformation :: The ongoing saga over at Marianne's Pillar Place


4. Vocabulary :: I wish more people had one that included fewer 4-letter words
   
5. San Francisco:: RWA national conference next year!


6. Edward :: Norton (great actor)


7. Sawyer :: Yummy eye candy on LOST


8. Literary :: Novel (and what is a "literary novel," exactly?)


9. Tiger :: main character in Life of Pi, which I'm reading right now


10. Seal :: He married Heidi Klum??

A Couple of Good Reads

I'm off to my local RWA chapter meeting this AM, so here's a quick post with a couple of interesting articles that have appeared in the last week. Good info on e-publishing, both for those who are familiar with the growing industry and those who aren't.

An Entire Bookshelf in your Hands

A Look at E-Publishing

OK, I have just enough time to give the cat his morning medication, grab a Starbucks latte, and drive the hour or so to my chapter meeting.

Have a great Saturday!

TGIF of a Verrrrrrrrry Long Week!

Great news! My cat came home from the hospital yesterday!! He's pretty weak, but I suppose I would be too if I'd just spent 3 days away from home being poked and prodded and shot full of drugs. He hasn't eaten anything since last Sunday, so the goal now is to try and get something down him. I'll try and post some pics of my beautiful guy in the next few days.

And now for the Friday Feast!

Appetizer
What is your favorite kind of pie?
Believe it or not, I'm not a big fan of pie. I think this goes along with my aversion of cooked fruit (I only eat fruit raw). But my husband's great aunt makes a mean coconut cream pie, so I'd pick that as my favorite.

Soup
Name something that made you smile this week.
When I got the news my kitty was coming home!

Salad
What do you do to cool off when the weather is hot and humid?
Take a dip in the pool, of course :)

Main Course
You receive $1,000 in the mail with a letter that says you can only use the money to redecorate one room in your home. Which room do you pick, and what do you buy to spruce it up?
Tough one. Probably the master bathroom. It's small, so for $1,000 I could probably re-tile the floor and buy a new sink/vanity. We haven't done a thing to that room since we moved in 18 months ago, and it needs some help!

Dessert
Fill in the blank: My _________ says __________, but I __________.
My hubby says I worry too much, but I prefer to think I'm just overly aware about the world around me :)

P.S. If you didn't get a chance to see it, click on my newly created book trailer (in yesterday's post or linked on the sidebar) and let me know what you think!

My Very First Book Trailer!

Well, here it is: the book trailer for One Night in Boston. It was my first attempt, but I'm quite pleased with the way it turned out. For anyone who's interested, I used these links for help: Creating Multi-Media Slide Shows and How To Make a Book Trailer. Altogether I'd say it took me 10-12 hours to complete and cost me $6.00 total (to download the sound clip from this site.

The one thing I'm trying to figure out now is how to format it into a .flv or .mov file (right now it's in a .wmv file). Anyone know if this is possible?

Update on my sick kitty: thanks to everyone for the positive thoughts and prayers. After a bit of touch and go, it looks as though he's going to be coming home either today or tomorrow. He's older, 12 years old, and the poor thing has been diagnosed with heart disease. This means medication for the rest of his life; it also means the rest of his life is going to be anywhere from a few months to a couple of years. But you know what? He's coming home, which is the most important thing.

Makes you realize how much you take things for granted.

Enjoy the trailer!

Writers' Wednesday: How To Take the First Steps Toward Publication

Welcome to Writers' Wednesday!

(No new word on the kitty front, by the way. Should find out more later this AM)

A few days ago, a friend of mine emailed to ask me how one goes about getting published. She'd written a few novels, see, and wanted to see if she could publish them. Considering I've spent the better part of the last 5 years learning about the craft of writing and the business of publishing, it was hard to articulate in just a few sentences where she should start.

But then I thought, well, other people will probably ask the same question at some point, when they find out I'm a writer.

So I thought I'd share my top 5 places to start learning about writing and publishing for aspiring writers. All but one is an Internet resource, because I think the online world is rich with information. Plus it's fairly accessible for most people. Here you go. Feel free to disagree or add your own!

1. Writers Village University - I would strongly suggest taking a class or two on the craft of writing. Even if you have a degree in English or Communications or something related, creative/fiction writing is much different. This online "university" offers both classes and study groups where you can post your lessons and assignments. I cannot over-emphasize how helpful WVU has been to me in my pursuit of publication.

2. Absolute Write - Another hugely helpful onlne forum, with groups devoted to everything from the craft of writing (genre by genre) to promotional ideas to ways of dealing with frustration and rejection. AW has a huge membership that is more than willing to share ideas and advice with newbies. Plus it's free!

3. Agentquery - At some point, most aspiring writers will want to query literary agents for representation (only because it's increasingly difficult to sell your project to a publishing house without an agent). This site allows you to search by genre or keyword. Most listings give you pretty good information as far as what the agent's looking for, how to query, etc. Another couple of helpful agenting sites: Kristin Nelson's blog and Jessica Faust's blog. Both agents discuss with candor what authors need to know to compete in the publishing world.

4. Preditors and Editors - Unfortunately, there are many people/sites/companies out there that market themselves as successful agents or publishers, when in fact they aren't. This site can help you search by name and see if anything negative has been reported about a particular agent or publisher. (Piers Anthony is another good resource for this kind of search, though he does electronic publishers only)

5. Writers' Market - This is the only resource that isn't an online one. I would really suggest getting a copy of this guide. Published annually, it gives very specific information about a variety of publishers, agents, and markets for writers in all genres. Also usually includes some articles by established writers on various aspects of writing and approaching different markets.

That's really just a start, but I hope it gives new writers (or even seasoned ones) a place to explore. The best thing you can do? Research! And don't think you'll find out everything you need to know overnight...be patient...it's a long process for most of us!

No Blog Today...

...because I spent most of yesterday and last night taking my very sick cat to 2 different vets and ended up leaving him overnight in an animal hospital. He's my buddy, the first pet I owned as an adult. I've known him longer than I've known my husband.

Prayers, please.

And the Journey Goes On

Yesterday I spent a great deal of time working on my latest WIP, One Night in Memphis. It was actually really nice to have almost a day to work on it. I'm near the end, which makes me happy, but the last 4 chapters now staring me in the face have some serious work ahead of them. I've changed where and how this story ends 3 times, and I'm still not sure I'm satisfied with it. On the bright side, however, I love my villain. It's only the second time I've had a really bad guy in a story, and I'm pleased with the way his character has emerged. Either that or I'm scared at how easy it is to write him!

I also played around with making a book trailer to promote One Night in Boston. We're such a visual, techonologically-oriented society these days that I suppose it was inevitable I start thinking about it. Anyway, while some production companies can charge $100s or $1000s of dollars to make you one, most people also have Windows Movie Maker as part of their computer software package, and lo and behold, it's pretty easy to use!

I played around a lot yesterday and had a great time. It didn't take me that long, either. So tomorrow or the next day I'm hoping to have it up for your viewing pleasure!

Today, Some Movie Reviews

I've had a chance to watch a few movies over the last week or so (oh, how I love summer vacation...)

Stranger Than Fiction - Emma Thompson plays an author with writer's block. Will Ferrell plays the man who turns out to be the real-life incarnation of the main character she's trying to kill. Great cast, with Dustin Hoffmann, Maggie Gyllenhaal, and Queen Latifah playing some of the minor roles. It's a little off-beat, but it has a nice message about how Ferrell's character decides to finally live his life, when he discovers he's supposed to die according to the novel that stars him. It's also a neat little commentary on how authors really can bring their characters to life...and as an author, that was kind of cool to see. My husband turned to me when it was done and said, "Well, there you go!" B+

The Painted Veil - Deeply moving, beautifully filmed love story starring Naomi Watts and Ed Norton (who also both produced the movie). It's a Greta Garbo remake, based on one of Somerset Maugham's stories and set in 1925. Two young Americans marry in haste and move to China, where he's a bacteriologist for the government. She's a spoiled young wife who's bored and has an affair almost immediately. When he finds out, however (in a terrific scene that's loaded with tips on how to show the multiple sides of a character), he tells her he'll divorce for adultery unless she ends the affair and goes with him to a small town thousands of miles away, where he has been called to deal with a cholera epidemic. With no choice, she goes with him...and the rest of the movie is the story of how they deal with the affair and, eventually, fall in love again. Beware: this does not have a traditional happy ending, but it's a great story, terrifically acted, and it was filmed in China, so the scenery is gorgeous. A

Little Miss Sunshine - This is the wacky movie that came out recently starring Greg Kinnear, Toni Collette, Abigail Breslin, Steve Carrell, Paul Dano, and Alan Arkin. They're all lumped together in a VW bus driving across 4 states to get young Olive to the Little Miss Sunshine pageant in CA. What a group of misfits! And yet that's the whole point, how they're such a dysfunctional family and yet they pull together and know what's important, especially when they get to the pageant and see nothing but falsities everywhere around them. There are both hilarious and touching moments in this movie; it was a good one A-

The Bourne Ultimatum - Saw this latest Matt Damon thriller in the theaters last Friday and liked it just as much as the first 2 Bourne movies. Again, there's great action and suspense, good acting, and enough fights and car chases to keep you on the edge of your seat the entire time. Some really great plot twists that are delivered well, too. A-

Half Nelson - This was an independent film that never made it to most theaters, I believe. It stars Ryan Gosling (I think he's a terrifically talented author) as a quirky but talented middle school teacher/basketball coach who also has a serious drug problem. One day, a student finds him smoking crack in the girls' locker room, and from that moment the two develop a bond that's both painful and touching. He wants to protect her from that life, even as he's living it, and she wants to both look up to him and take care of him. It's a complex situation and one that's frustrating and painful to watch at times. However, the ending does show us the redemptive power of human companionship along with the message that often people find it in the places they least expect. It's not a particularly pretty movie, but it's well-done. B

So that's my Sunday morning movie review. Have you seen any movies lately that you loved (or hated)??

A Review from Mrs. Giggles

So I mentioned yesterday that One Night in Boston was just reviewed by Mrs. Giggles, a notorious no-holds-barred reviewer. I didn't expect her to get to it so quickly, since it just released last week, but there it was from Google Alerts yesterday morning, waiting in my email inbox.

Yikes.

She's been known to slice up authors for breakfast, giving scores below 50 (out of 100) without blinking an eye. In fact, on the same page as my review is one that got an 08. I kid you not.

What did she give me? A 73.

I know, not too shabby at all. But it was the review itself that made me laugh out loud. She HATED my heroine. In part, here's what she had to say about poor Maggie:

The heroine is such an irritating creature. She's stupid, which is bad enough, but she is also very emotionally needy, irrational, and neurotic. She overreacts too often. Maggie is like this black hole that sucks all the joy from the people around her because she demands that they cater to her all the time.

Perhaps it is fortunate that the hero in this story, Jack Major, is rich and has enough brainpower to ensure that Maggie will never have to worry about having a thought ever again.

If you want to read the whole review, go here, though WARNING! there are several plot spoilers in there.

My favorite paragraph, though, is this one:

Make no mistake, I recognize that under any other circumstances, I will love One Night In Boston. It can be a shamelessly manipulative story at times, but Ms Boniface's writing style is such that I can be easily persuaded to let her play me like a violin. The author takes the trouble to explain her characters' emotions so that I have a good idea what is happening inside her characters' heads. As a result, I find these characters pretty memorable. What I'm trying to say is that this book affects me, which is the reason why I grade this book pretty high despite my problem with the heroine.

Aha! I think there's actually a compliment in there, if I'm not mistaken. And the fact that my review is paragraphs longer than many she writes (she REALLY did not like Maggie) just leads me to think, hey if she despised the heroine, at least something about Maggie engaged her to that level of emotion, right?

Whew, you definitely have to have a thick skin for this sort of thing. I was cheered after reading this review to see that Google Alerts also let me know about a 4-star review of ONIB at the Mobipocket site.

Either way, it's OK, I suppose. I checked my writer's ego at the door a while ago - advice I will pass along to anyone else who's published or nearing publication or even thinking about it. :)

Have a great weekend!

Fridays Feast

Happy Friday Feast!!

Appetizer
On a scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being highest, how polite are you? Hmm...about an 8, I'd say. I have my moments where I lose patience (and politeness along with it) - mostly with ignorant people and bad drivers :)

Soup
What was the last thing that made you laugh out loud? Actually, a review of my novel One Night in Boston that I read this morning. Mrs. Giggles (she's famous for lambasting people's work) tore it apart, up one side and down the other, and still gave it a 73, which is high for her. Too funny. More on this tomorrow.

Salad
Who is your favorite cartoon character? I guess Bugs Bunny. I loved the traditional Saturday morning cartoons when I was a kid!

Main Course
Tell about the funniest teacher you ever had. I honestly can't think of a "funny" teacher. I had a couple of math teachers in HS who made us laugh only because they were so far out there.

Dessert
Complete this sentence: I strongly believe that ______________________. The world would be a better place if people slowed down and appreciated what they had, rather than complaining about everything they don't.

3 Brief Reviews

First off, prayers this AM for everyone involved in the horrific bridge collapse out in Minneapolis. What a terrible thing.

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I mentioned last week that I made my way through 3 books while on vacation:

Welcome to Temptation by Jenny Crusie - I had wanted to read another Crusie novel, and while this one was definitely a juicy read, I didn't enjoy it as much as Faking It. In this story of a pair of sisters who come to Temptation, Ohio, to film a documentary and get caught up in the manipulations of the local mayor and town board, Crusie does do a terrific job painting the idiosyncracies of a small town, All the characters are quirky and well-drawn. The attraction between Phin (great name!) and Sophie is hotter than hot, too. I really enjoyed the first half and only felt my interest wane after the plot got SO convoluted that I had trouble suspending my disbelief anymore. Still, it was a quick, entertaining read.

Little Children by Tom Perrotta - A interesting dark satire on suburban life that my mom passed along to me. I didn't really care for this one; it's the story of a bunch of dissatisifed spouses who end up having affairs with each other while also banding together against a register sex offender who comes to live in their "perfect" small town. Perrotta definitely lambastes the 30-something couples who live in their nice homes and drive nice cars and couldn't be more unhappy, but after a while I got tired of reading about self-indulgent adults who should know better.

The Rule of Four by Ian Caldwell and Dustin Thomason - This one was recommended by one of my students last year, and it's a similar sort of historical thriller as The DaVinci Code. Two Princeton roommates are studying an ancient text, trying to unlock its secrets, and in the meantime get caught up in scandal and murder happening on campus because of others trying to solve the secret as well. I did enjoy this book, though it got a little long in places. The authors are young guys in their 30s, best friends who went to Ivy League schools themselves, and they've done a thorough job in creating this storyline. Good ending, too, with enough of a twist that I had to read it twice.

Have you read anything good lately? Besides One Night in Boston, I mean ? :)

Writers' Wednesday: An Interview with Jim Melvin

Welcome to Writers' Wednesday! Today we have another author interview, this time with fantasy writer Jim Melvin. Sit back, relax, and learn about his six-book series premiering in fall 2007, The Death Wizard Chronicles.

Hi Jim! Thanks for joining us today.

1. Can you tell us a little about your background?

I was born in New York state, but I spent most of my life in and around St. Petersburg, Florida, where I worked as a journalist (reporter, designer, editor, supervisor) at the St. Petersburg Times for 25 years. I wrote a horror novel in my early 20s called Sarah's Curse that was represented by an agent but never published. At the time, I wasn't overly concerned because I believed my second or third novel would be the one that hit it big. However, I got married, had kids, and began working 50-hour weeks -- and there never was a second novel. Until now. Three years ago, I finally became serious and began writing my series. Now I'm just a couple of months from completing all six books.

2. When did you first begin writing? Was there an event or moment in your life that triggered your desire to write?

I first began to write in my late teens. The trigger came when I began to seriously question what I wanted to do with the rest of my life. I'm one of those people who is equally good at both language arts and mathematics. A friend of mine went on to be a nuclear engineer. I'm glad I chose writing instead.

3. Tell us about your upcoming publication.

The Death Wizard Chronicles is an action-packed, six-book epic fantasy that is adult in tone. If it were a movie, it would be R-rated. However, there is a lot going on between the lines, especially in terms of Asian philosophy. I am a Buddhist in the Theravada tradition and have spent many hours meditating. My protagonist is called a Death Wizard because he is able to meditate so deeply, his heartbeat stops and he enters the realm of death, where he feeds on death energy. I originally conceived the series in my early 20s, but did not starting writing it until my mid-40s. In some ways, I'm glad this happened. I'm much worldlier now than I was then. This is my time.

4. How do you go about developing your characters?

Before I write a single word, I play scenes and character interactions over and over in my head. I do this while driving, in the shower, before I fall asleep at night, etc. So by the time I start to write, I have a firm grasp on the traits of my characters. Still, that doesn't mean that they don't evolve. In any long work, your characters will grow in unexpected ways and directions.

5. Tell us about your promotion strategies. How do you plan on making Jim Melvin a household name?

I'm going to market myself online as much as I can. Experienced writers such as Chris Stevenson and Bob Andelman have been a big help to me, in this regard. And I do have one ace in the hole. I have a lot of friends in high places at the biggest newspapers in the United States. I'm going to call in some chips and get as many features/reviews as I can. Hopefully, this will build a groundswell.

6. What advice would you give to aspiring, unpublished writers?

You have to try to improve yourself -- at least a little bit -- every single day. You can do this in a variety of ways. Read fiction and nonfiction. Talk to as many other writers as you can. Interview experts who have the knowledge you lack. Ask yourself, "What is it that I don't know?" And then tirelessly find a way to know it.

7. What kinds of books do you like to read? Who is your favorite author?

Fantasy is by far my favorite genre. Horror is second. Everything else a poor third. My favorite author is Tolkien. I've read LOTR at least 25 times. I also love Stephen King, George R.R. Martin, Steven Erikson, and Stephen Donaldson. John Updike is another personal favorite. But no one compares to Tolkien, in my opinion. Still, my style/content is closer to Erikson's than it is to Tolkien's.

8. What do you find most difficult about writing? What do you find most exciting or rewarding?

Most difficult? Describing settings of which I am unfamiliar. I had to read a lot of books on medieval architecture before I felt comfortable describing palaces, castles, etc.
Most exciting? That's easy. I love writing the ending. To me, that's what makes everything else worthwhile.

9. How do you balance writing with the rest of your life?

Right now, I'm very lucky to be in the position of not having to work. But I am a house-husband with three young kids, so it's not like I'm not busy. I write and/or edit from 8 p.m. until midnight seven days a week, virtually without fail. TV? Forget it. I also try to squeeze in an hour or so during the day when the kids are in school or summer camp. On this schedule, I've been able to average about 40,000 words a month.

10. Can you tell us about your next writing project?

I live, eat, and breathe The Death Wizard Chronicles. When I'm finally done, there will be another project -- probably a standalone horror novel. But as of now, I have no idea what it will be about. That's not to say I won't be excited about it, when the time comes.

Interested in knowing more? Stop by Jim's blog. And thanks for joining us today!

Have You Heard of this Author Yet?

Her name is Patricia Wood, and her debut novel Lottery is coming out this week.

From her website:

Perry’s IQ is only 76, but he’s not stupid. His grandmother taught him everything he needs to know to survive: She taught him to write things down so he won’t forget them. She taught him to play the lottery every week. And, most important, she taught him whom to trust. When Gram dies, Perry is left orphaned and bereft at the age of thirty-one. Then his weekly Washington State Lottery ticket wins him 12 million dollars, and he finds he has more family than he knows what to do with. Peopled with characters both wicked and heroic who leap off the pages, Lottery is a deeply satisfying, gorgeously rendered novel about trust, loyalty, and what distinguishes us as capable.

Looks like a terrific read, and one I can't wait to get my hands on. Here's a link to a great article that just came out in her local paper, and check out this blog post for a humorous look on how selling a debut novel for a six-figure advance still doesn't mean you'll become a household name. :)

Oh! I almost forgot: here's a contest from author Gay Walker where you can win your very own autographed copy of Lottery! Just mention the book and author by name on your blog, then let Gay know. (Thanks Marianne for this tip!)

So go out and support a brand new author!

And The Winner Is...

A hearty congratulations to ollie1976 (jen), the winner of the Boston Bonus Basket drawing! Jen, email me at allieb@allieboniface.com and we'll work out the details. Thanks so much to everyone who left comments last week to help me celebrate the release of One Night in Boston.

And speaking of which, here's an interesting thing: someone has already reviewed it, at the MBAM website. Unfortunately, that person only gave it 3 stars out of 5. Here's the comment, in full:

"Good plotline and well-written but I think it would have been better if it focused more on the present w/ the 2 leading characters."
OK, well, yeah, it's a 24-hour novel, so to get some info across, there are flashbacks. And hey, my editor liked the technique. Still, at first I was like, what? 3 stars? That's 60%...or a failing grade. Terrific.

Then I had to back up and remember a few things.

1. No author gets 100% 5-star reviews from everyone. Thanks to the amazing human brain and the variety of human opinion out there, some people will like your work, some people won't, and many will probably fall somewhere in between.

2. I'll take the "good plotline" and "well-written" comments anytime. A lot of the stuff that gets published isn't.

3. I really, really enjoy writing. Somewhere in the last few weeks, with all the hype of my release date and promoting my novel, I haven't had a chance to write very much at all. And you know what? I miss it. Yesterday I sat down for a solid few hours and wrote 1000+ words on my current WIP. And it was so joyful. I have to remember that while publishing is nice, and reviews will be up and down, the craft of weaving a story is my first love.

So that's what I'm off to do now, more work on One Night in Memphis (and hey, no flashbacks in this one!). What are you up to today?

Whew...I'm Back...Finally!

Well, I'm back from my vacation (which had a spotty Internet connection, thus my absence the last couple of days)...

Long day of driving yesterday, like about 10+ hours in the car along with thousands of other travelers. Traffic actually wasn't bad except at the I-95 merge in Delaware/New Jersey. But why, oh why, do so many people drive SUVs and mini-vans? I know the answer logically, I suppose: families with kids need the room. But they're such gas guzzlers. Worse than that, they kill me vision-wise on the road because I'm driving my tiny, conservative Toyota Corolla and I'm surrounded on all sides by these enormous vehicles strapped high with bikes and coolers and luggage and I can't see a thing. Really.

What is it about vacationing that makes one glad to be home? As much as I enjoyed the relaxing time away, there is something about walking into one's own house, sleeping in one's bed, that feels better than the whole vacation week put together. Of course, today there's laundry to do and groceries to buy and a lawn to mow and...

But still.

Last day to enter my "Boston Bonus Basket" contest! If you leave a comment today, your name will be put into the drawing one more time. The winner will be announced tomorrow...good luck, and thanks for stopping by!

Vacationing in the Outer Banks

Well, I've been in Southern Shores, NC, all week and having a lovely time. It's a funny place, if you look at a map: just a slip of island, barely wider than 1/4 mile in places. Tiny towns dotted along the water, and gorgeous homes on both sides of the highway that winds its way north and south. Kitty Hawk, site of the Wright Brothers' famous first flight attempts, is right down the road, and it's a neat place to visit. Unbelievable to think how far technology has come in less than a century!

Hubby and I rented a house for the week with 5 other couples, and it's been a great mid-summer break. The weather is great, the company fun, and every day relaxing. It's one of those vacations where your bathing suit stays damp all day long, you're not sure exactly what time (or day) it is, you eat and drink more than you probably should, and you can smell the ocean air and feel the salt on your skin and in your hair whenever you step outside. I've even finished 3 books on my Summer TBR list...and I'll share those next week when I'm back home!

Have you entered my contest to win a "Boston Bonus Basket" to celebrate the release of One Night in Boston? All you have to do is post a comment on this blog...and everytime you do, your name will be entered into a drawing to win this prize. I'll be taking names until Sunday the 29th, and announcing the winner on Monday the 30th, so stop by often and leave me a comment!

Writers' Wednesday: An Interview with Christine Norris

Welcome to Writers' Wednesday! Today we have another Samhain author with us, Christine Norris. She is the author of 2 YA novels, Talisman of Zandria and Return to Zandria, and she's busy on a virtual book tour this summer. I'm thrilled to have her here today!

Hi, Christine! Can you tell us a little about your background?
I'm from New Jersey, born and raised. South Jersey, so the Philadephia suburbs, not the NYC suburbs. LOL. I went to college....a couple of times. I have a degree in Kinesiology (of all things) from Temple University. I always did well in the writing and English classes, though.

When did you first begin writing? Was there an event or moment in your life that triggered your desire to write?
I was sort of encouraged to write in High School, I had an English teacher who always said I had talent. .I dabbled here and there over the years; being a writer just never occured to me! Then I read the Harry Potter series, and about JK Rowling - no formal training, a welfare mom. I knew I could do it too, I just had to find a story.

Tell us about Talisman of Zandria.
Talisman is my first book. It's about Ivy, a shy girl, who thinks she's just not very brave. She winds up in Zandria, which is a magical place just outside of our world. One problem piles on top of another, and the only way for Ivy to get home is to recover the Talisman of Zandria. It's all very thrilling, and Ivy has to really dig deep to find that she really is braver than she thinks.

Return to Zandria is the new book, and it takes place three years after Talisman of Zandria ends. Ivy's now fourteen, and has pretty much forgotten about Zandria and magic. She's too 'grown up'. But the people of Zandria need her again, and so she goes off to help them, which requires bringing some of the people of Zandria into OUR world, which comes with its own set of problems. There's lots of intrigue and fighting and fleeing and flying.

How do you go about developing your characters?
Like a good stew, they develop over time. I don't usually outline books, I usually have a general idea and just start writing. Once I've got the basic story down, I go back and add in all the flavors. I discover things about them that I didn't know before when I do my rewrites. I'm working on the third book of a series, and I've just now discovered something about one of the main characters! It doesn't affect the first two books, but it totally took me by surprise.I keep little notebooks I buy from the dollar store and write things down about the characters as I find them out.

Tell us about your promotion strategies. How do you plan on making Christine Norris a household name?
This Virtual Book Tour is a big part of my promotion for this book. Plus I have the website, and the MySpace page, and my blog. I'm putting my name and the titles of my books in as many places as I can. When someone's got a guest blogger spot, I'm there. My hope is that eventually people will say, "oh, I've heard of her!", because I'm all over the place! It takes time, and is a slow process, but it's been fun. I also like to do local book fairs, and speak to schoolchildren and booksignings.

What advice would you give to aspiring, unpublished writers?
Keep writing. Just like learning to play the violin, or soccer or to paint, writing takes practice. Read, read, read. More than just a step-by-step class, reading and writing is the best way to learn. Be willing to write crap, and be willing to hear that your writiing isn't the best. Prepare for rejection, but don't expect it. Do your homework, and don't fall for the scams. Remember that this is a business too, and if you want to be a writer and not just a hobbyist, learn all you can about the business of books.

What kinds of books do you like to read? Who is your favorite author?
All kinds! One of my purchases this summer is going to be a bigger bookcase. Right now they're kind of all piled up and I'm afraid they'll fall over. But mostly I read what I write - middle grade or YA fantasy. I have several favorite authors, like Tamora Pierce and CS Lewis or JM Barrie (Peter Pan is one of my favorite stories of all time!). At the moment I'm liking James A. Owen, whose book, Here, There Be Dragons is my new favorite book. He blends classic literature and mythology, both of which I also love, and does it in a way that takes you on a great ride. He's got a new book coming soon and I'll be right there waiting to get it. I'm such a geek.

What do you find most difficult about writing? What do you find most exciting or rewarding?
The first draft. Sounds strange, but since I don't outline or really plot ahead, (sometimes I do, if I get a great idea) there are times when I just want to tear my hair out because the story just won't come. The best part is the rewriting. Some writers totally hate rewriting, but I love it, because it give me a chance to make the story shine. There's nothing more satisfying than a good rewrite.

How do you balance writing with the rest of your life?
That can be tough. During most of the year I'm also a substitute teacher, so I always have a notebook with me. I get quite a bit done during the downtime. And there are times when I have to actually remember there IS a rest of my life. I can spend days in front of my laptop, while the house gathers dust around me. LOL. If I get too involved, I try to schedule some writing time - usually after my son goes to bed, or afternoons while he's watching cartoons. The library is also good for that too - he can read and I can work.

Can you tell us about your next writing project?
I'm really excited about that too. My next book, THE CROWN OF ZEUS, will be released by Samhain Publishing early in 2008. It's the first of a series, and I'm hoping Samhain will be willing to publish all of them. I've written the second, and I'm about halfway through the third. The series combines mythology and magic,and is developing other undertones as well. It's a great book (but I may be biased in saying that). I'm also working on a full-length book for the Wizard Acdemies series of books (Click here to see more) which are like Harry Potter, but with all kinds of different magickal schools and students. A group of authors worked on the first two books, and the one I'm working on now is just expanding on the first two short stories I wrote for them. That's been challenging, because you don't want people to say you're copying from other people's work, but still remain true to the mythos, which our editor created. I hope people see them as what they are and not as something else. The editor's got an agent interested in those books, and he's trying to get other rights to them sold, like TV or movie rights. We're kind of holding our breath on that one.


Thanks for having me today, Allie, it's been fun hopping around the internet and visiting all these other blogs.Have a great day, everyone!

P.S. Readers, remember that anyone who leaves a comment today is also entered into my contest to win the "Boston Bonus Basket" in celebration of the release of my novel One Night in Boston (see yesterday's post). The more times you comment this week, the more times your name will be entered to win!

Happy Release Day!

It's here! My very first novel, One Night in Boston, is available today!

You can read more about it here...

And remember, anytime you post a comment on this blog (or link to my contest on your own blog), you'll be entered into the running to win my "Boston Bonus Basket" full of prizes. Want to know what you could win? It's all right here.

Thanks for stopping by and helping me celebrate!

Win a Boston Bonus Basket!!!

Happy Monday, and greetings from the Outer Banks, North Carolina, where I'm vacationing this week!

In honor of this being the week of my debut novel's release, I'm hosting a contest to win...

((drum roll))

...a Boston Bonus Basket!

That's right, you could be the next winner of this collection of Boston-themed goodies:

Boston Red Sox hat
1-lb. bag of Boston Baked Beans
30-ct. sampler of Boston Tea
Free download of One Night in Boston

Isn't that worth trying for?

All you have to do is leave a comment any day (or every day!) this week on my blog. The more times you comment, the more times your name will be entered. And if you post a link to this contest on your own blog, I'll enter your name an additional time (make sure to let me know it's there!).

The contest begins today and runs through Sunday, July 29, so make sure to leave your comments this week. I'll announce the winner on Monday, July 30.

And get ready for tomorrow's official release of One Night in Boston - I'm so excited!!

Friday's Feast and a Tease 'Til Monday

Here's my Friday Feast!

Appetizer
On a scale of 1 to 10 (with 10 being highest) how much do enjoy watching sports on television?
Hmm...probably about a 3, though it depends on the sport. Olympics are higher. I'd rather watch in person.

Soup
If you could completely memorize any one work of fiction, which one would you pick?

Wow...there are so many to choose from! Maybe Shakespeare's Othello; it has such beautiful language. Or A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith. I always loved that story. Or maybe e.e. cummings' entire collection of poetry. Does that count as fiction?

Salad
What is your favorite breakfast food?

If I'm being good, a bowl of Frosted Mini-Wheats with berries on top and vanilla soy milk. If I'm not, a huge chocolate chip muffin with a Starbucks latte.

Main Course
Name something fun you can do for less than $10.00.

Get a book or a video from the library. (Hey, that's free!). Go to a matinee (there's still a place here that charges $6.00 before 6 pm). Spend an afternoon miniature golfing. Window shop at the mall. Go for a walk in the local park and arboretum.

Dessert
How long does it usually take you to fall asleep?

Luckily, less than 10 minutes most nights.

###

Just a quick update: I'm going on vacation, and I won't be blogging again 'til Monday the 23rd.

But..

Make sure to stop back then, because I'll be introducing a contest to celebrate the release of my debut novel, One Night in Boston. You'll be able to enter all week long, and don't you want to know what you could win??

See you here on Monday to find out!

The Dangers of Reading Romance

Well, here's an interesting column that's been circulating on some of the groups I belong to: "Harm in Reading Romance?"

Now, I know the growth of erotica in the romance writing genre might be a source of angst for some readers. But you know what? Then don't pick up those books to read. Plenty of books in that genre still feature the development of an emotional connection between two people that doesn't involve any bedroom scenes [like mine :) ]

The other argument, that reading a romance is disillusioning and somehow damaging to one's own relationship, is a little more interesting. Are the heroes in novels better-looking, stronger, better listeners, and more sensitive than the men we marry in real life? Perhaps some of them are. So are some (many?) of the heroes in movies we go to see. Should we stop reading and viewing different forms of entertainment -- especially escapist entertainment -- because we will develop impatience and dislike for our own partners? I say no. Honestly, if one cannot read with a discerning eye, and an understanding that art does not mimic or predict or create life, then maybe there are some larger problems at stake.

I'll continue to fall in love with the heroes in novels and on the big screen, knowing full well that the man I come home to every day is different from them in many ways...and thank God. He's real, he's here, and he loves me. Can't say that about fictional characters, now can I?

Writers' Wednesday: How to Make the Most of a Writing Conference

Welcome to Writers' Wednesday! Since the RWA National Conference just wrapped up, I thought it might be useful to talk about writers' conferences in general: how to pick them, what to expect, how to make the most of your experience there. I haven't attended a ton of conferences, but I've learned something different at each one. I'm hoping readers today will also leave their personal tips.

Here, then, in no particular order, are my top 5 tips for making the most out of a writing conference:

1. Choose your conference carefully. Match the genre you write with the focus of the conference, if possible. If you're a mystery writer, you'll probably gain more from the "Hardboiled Heroes and Cozy Cats Conference" than the "Put Your Heart in a Book" Conference. Research the agents or editors who will be attending, if you're looking to pitch a story or learn more about a certain publishing house. Register as early as possible to get those agent/editor pitch spots, too - they go fast!

2. Consider the cost-effectiveness of attending. Is it a 1-day conference within an hour's drive? Or is it a 2-3 day conference that will require you to travel a longer distance and pay for hotel accommodations? Consider how much bang you'll get for your buck. I've been to 1-day conferences that were well worth the $80 or so, and larger conferences where I paid $200+ for the conference registration and $100+ for a hotel room and didn't gain as much as I thought I would. If you're traveling to a conference that requires an overnight stay, consider rooming with someone else who's going, or better yet, look for conferences in locations where you have friends or family and can stay for free!

3. Plan your days ahead of time. Usually the list of conference workshops is available before you get to the actual conference. Have a plan for which you really want to see...and have a backup in case those fill up. Get to your top choices early to get a good seat, too!

4. Take advantage of down-time to talk to other attendees. One of the most fun and rewarding parts of attending a writers' conference is meeting all the other people there. Sit with someone new in a workshop or a meal. Introduce yourself while you're standing in line. Writers, speakers, editors, agents...all are pretty friendly people, and all are there because they share the same interest!

5. Step out of your comfort zone. While some (many?) writers are more introverted than extroverted, a writers' conference can be a perfect place to work on those speaking and social interaction skills. Go to the social events. Sign up for an agent/editor pitch. Offer to volunteer, if that's an option. You'll be surprised how fast the time will go once you're involved and meeting all the other attendees.

Bottom line: how fun,gain knowledge, and network. Writing can be a lonely business much of the time, and if nothing else, conferences offer the chance to step out of your living room/office/bedroom/basement and acquaint yourself with the other writers out there!

One Week!

Seven days!

One hundred sixty eight hours!

That's how long 'til the electronic release of my very first novel, One Night in Boston. If you haven't read the excerpt yet, click here.

I'll be on vacation next week, but still blogging. Plus I'll be running a contest to celebrate and promote my release, so make sure to stop back!.

Tomorrow's another Writers' Wednesday, and I'll be featuring a "how to" column. I'll also be chatting tonight with other Wild Rose Press authors and readers, so if you're inclined, join us!

Two Books

So I had a chance to read two books from my summer TBR list:

The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

My teen students have raved about this one for years, so I thought it was about time I picked it up. It's written in 1st person POV, as a series of letters to an unknown "friend." The writer is 14 year old Charlie, who's a bright but shy "wallflower" with some serious self-esteem problems. Through the course of the story, he finds some good friends who introduce him to dating, partying, and dealing with school bullies; he also deals with some deep-rooted issues in his immediate and extended family. It's a well-written coming-of-age story, and I can understand why teens like it. The narrator exposes the nasty side of high school as well as the exhilaration of finding true friends who'll stick by you no matter what. The only thing I didn't like was the ending...you find out the "secret" that's been messing up this kid since childhood, and it's a particular sticky one that isn't really dealt with before the story ends. I would have liked a more upbeat and complete resolution. Still, the voice is well done and compelling.

Eye Contact by Cammie McGovern

This debut novel by a woman who's also the mother of an autistic child is a thriller/mystery about a 9 year old, Adam, who becomes a witness to a playmate's murder. The only problem? He's autistic, and breaking his silence to find out what happened comsumes most of the novel. I loved this book. I thought it was tremendously interesting and layered believable levels of conflict and suspense all the way to the end. Adam's mother, Cara, is raising him alone, and we see first-hand the challenges--and wonders--of having an autistic child. The author gets across her message of the power of a mother's love along with writing a pretty good mystery...you really do not know until the final pages who the killer is. Thanks again to a student for recommending this one!

(Incidentally, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time by Mark Haddon is another wonderful book about a main character with autism. The entire story is told from the MC's POV, as he unravels the mystery of a pet's death and, eventually, his own mother's disappearance. It's a terrific look at the way the autistic brain works. Fascinating.)

So that's my Monday report! What good books have you read lately?

The Buzz About RWA

Well, the big news this week is that RWA, the national romance writers' organization, has made some significant changes to which publishers they'll name as "RWA-approved."

RWA approval has (or used to have, before this fallout) huge influence in the romance-writing world. Their "approval" of a publisher basically means it's one that legitimate, royalty-paying, and looking out for the best interests of the author. Romance writers target RWA-approved publishers because they know they will get a fair deal. RWA has always marketed itself this way, to both published and unpublished authors, as being the support team for writers who are trying to learn the craft of writing and become successfully published one day.

Until now, apparently.

Their latest changes include this:

"Commencing with RWA’s 2008 National Conference, for official publisher participation, a romance publisher must verify to RWA that it: (1) is not a Subsidy Publisher or Vanity Publisher; (2) has been releasing romance novels via national distribution for no fewer than three years, with no fewer than two full-length romance novels or novel-length romance anthologies published in each of three consecutive years; (3) provides per book advances of at least $1,000 for all books; and (4) pays all authors participating in an anthology an advance of at least $500...

"The Board updated the definition of Subsidy Publisher or Vanity Publisher
to: any publisher that publishes books in which the author participates in
the cost of production or distribution in any manner, including publisher
assessment of a fee or other costs for editing and/or distribution...publishers whose primary means of offering books for sale is through a publisher-generated Web site*; publishers whose list is comprised of 50% or more of its books written by authors who are principals in the publishing company; and publishers whose business model and methods of publishing are primarily directed toward sales to the author, his/her relatives and associates."

What does this mean? Basically, RWA is lumping together vanity publishers (which are publishing companies that people pay to publish their books - not recommended at all and a huge waste of money...authors should always be paid for their work, not the other way around) with small e-publishers (like Samhain and The Wild Rose Press, my 2 publishers), many of which are 100% legitimate, professional and royalty-paying. This is terrible damaging to e-publishers and, in fact, a total misnomer. RWA doesn't care.

What's worse is that as of this decision, RWA is pulling their recognition of all publishers that don't meet their new guidelines. This includes Samhain, which just a few months ago received the RWA-recognition. No grandfathering allowed (forget that Samahin just signed an imprint deal with Kensington, which is RWA-approved and will remain so).

Finally, what's also interesting is that these new guidelines might also throw out major publishers like St. Martin's and Avon, actually everyone except Harlequin. Check out more on this fact here. RWA still apparently doesn't care.

What does this mean for me? Well, I can't say that being a member of RWA has even given me much. They send out a nice monthly magazine, and they provide information on reputable publishers and agents and conferences, but I'm thinking that this latest move, to keep out small publishers from their exclusive circle, means I might spend my $75/year somewhere else.

However, this also means that I won't be able to belong to my local RWA group, since national membership is a requirement. Still, on the purposes of principle, I think I might bow out.

Finally, though, my overall reaction is...so what? The last time I checked, people didn't buy books based on whether or not the publisher was nationally "approved" by some kind of self-governing body. And Borders doesn't have separate shelves for separate publishers, do they? If a book is on the shelf, and it looks interesting, people will pick it up. Period. In fact, I'm sure most of my non-writer friends who read my blog will have no idea what RWA is or why any of this should matter.

In the long run, I'm just going to write.

Hi, My Name is Allie, and I'm a Writer

Hi, everyone ~ I'm back! (This is me waving hello...)

I've been away for a few days, out in the city of Cleveland while my husband was attending a conference. Since I used to live there in the mid-90s, I had 2 days to myself to play and visit old haunts and, best of all, catch up with a couple of friends.

One, in particular, is a woman I met at my very first teaching job. She's teaching a 3-week intensive summer creative writing class to middle schoolers (6th-9th graders)...and since I was in town, she asked me if I would speak to her students. "...you know, since you're a writer and you have two novels under your belt."

Gulp.

She says this to me, by the way, on the phone 12 hours before we're supposed to get together for lunch. Here's the conversation:

Friend That I Love: "I know you were going to come by for lunch, but I was thinking, maybe you could come early and talk to my students?"

Me: "Um. Sure."

Friend That I Love: "We've been talking about the writing process, and I thought you could just tell them about yours, let them see what a real writer looks like."

Me: "Um. Sure."

Friend That I Love: "How long do you think you want to speak? Because we can stop whatever we're doing when you come in."

Me: "Um..."

And thus was the introduction to my very first speaking gig as a writer. Let me tell you, if you think perfecting a pitch for an agent or editor is tough, think about preparing it for a roomful of 12 year olds. Even though I'm a teacher, and used to getting up in front of students and talking, this was really, really different. This was the first time I called myself "a writer" out loud, in public, for the world to hear.

It was terrifying.

It was exhilarating.

It was exhausting.

30 minutes, and I was done. But they were cute, and fun, and interested, and I had a chance to tell them not only what I write but some of the things I've learned along the way.

What an interesting experience, really, to look inside and think about yourself--and then talk about yourself--as someone who creates stories. Someone who will, in a matter of weeks, have a novel published. Someone who is very different from the person I've defined myself as all these years.

Hi, my name is Allie, and I'm a writer.

Welcome to Writers' Wednesday!

Today we're featuring an interview with Samhain author Diane Craver. Let's see what she has to say about her experiences writing inspirational romance...

1. Can you tell us a little about your background?
I grew up on a farm and went to the same small rural school all twelve years. When I started college at Ohio State, it was a big change going to a big ten university. I met my husband when we were both teachers at a state orphanage. My faith is important to me, especially since I’ve been through some difficult times with raising two children born with special needs. I love celebrating holidays and spending time with our family.

2. When did you first begin writing? Was there an event or moment in your life that triggered your desire to write?
Ever since I was small, I’ve enjoyed writing. When I was in junior and senior high, I wrote a few stories for fun and also wrote poetry. Since I was high school yearbook editor, I wrote, assembled and edited the yearbook. After I married and started a family, I no longer taught full-time so turned to writing. I wrote nonfiction when our oldest daughter was a toddler. I had several magazine articles published by the time I wrote a special needs book. I also published a “creative nonfiction” book, The Christmas of 1957, which is about how a little girl’s faith helps her father in overcoming a disability. It’s based on a true event from my childhood. Around 1995, I attended a romance writing conference in Cincinnati. I met many published authors and their enthusiasm was contagious. I decided to start writing fiction. I loved it but I got off to a slow start with six children at home.

3. Tell us about your latest novel.
Three books released in 2007. A Fiery Secret and No Greater Loss are available in print now. My mainstream, Never the Same, will be released in print on August 21st. I thought it’d be interesting to write about characters wanting to change their lives after surviving a traumatic event.

Here’s a blurb of Never the Same:
When fashion buyer Kimberly Collins and high school senior Tori Moorhead escape a burning plane, both women make radical decisions that intertwine their lives forever.
Kim’s priorities change, especially in the bedroom. She’s thankful to be taken to another world—one of love and romance, not of smoke and death. When she decides she wants another child, her husband reveals his own shocking plans for their family.
Pregnant teenager Tori is on her way to get a secret abortion when the plane crashes. The baby’s teen father wants to get married. Her dad pushes for adoption. Caught between the two men she loves, Tori struggles to make the right decisions for her baby and the future she dreamed of.

4. How do you go about developing your characters?
I think of interesting and big conflicts for the main characters first. Then their goals in life, problems they have to conquer, and get a feel for their motivations. I list their physical descriptions and try out different names until I feel comfortable with the name selections. In my book, A Fiery Secret, two of the characters are based loosely on two of my daughters. For a few days dialogue, scenes, setting and characters parade across my mind before I write anything down. I have a general idea of big scenes for each main character in the beginning, but the neat thing is that might change when the characters take over the story and become very real to me.

5. Tell us about your promotion strategies. How do you plan on making Diane Craver a household name?
Of course, I’d like to be a household name but I’ll have to admit that it’s mind boggling to me how there are so many talented authors. I definitely don’t want to be the author who doesn’t make it, so I do spend time doing all kinds of promo work. I do online chats, post excerpts, do contests, keep my website updated, book signings, take out ads online, interviews and distribute promo items to as many places as possible. I did place ads in Romantic Times for my books with reviews for two. I also placed an ad for Never the Same in Romance Sells which goes to 7,000 librarians and booksellers. I heard that a reader needs to see the author’s name nine times before they’ll remember it.
I’d like to be able to hire a publicist someday to help me in selling my books. If not a publicist, I am considering using the AuthorBuzz promo services of the marketing genius, M.J. Rose.
But the most important thing I need to do is to keep writing books, and each time I want to write the best book possible.

6. What advice would you give to aspiring, unpublished writers?
Follow your heart and believe in yourself!
You have to be persistent and develop a thick skin when it comes to rejections. Remember this is a subjective business so don’t get discouraged. You can’t give up. I almost did but a published friend of mine, Dianne Castell, told me not to quit and to submit to this new publisher. I took her advice and submitted to Samhain Publishing. Within a month, I received three book contracts. Also write consistently. Writing is a craft and you have to keep at it to grow as an author.

7. What kinds of books do you like to read? Who is your favorite author?
I have many favorite authors and here are some of them - Debbie Macomber, Jayne Ann Krentz, Sandra Brown, Mary Higgins Clark, Mary Jane Clark, Marion Chesney, John Grisham, Jude Deveraux, and my friends, Dianne Castell and Stacia Wolf.

8. What do you find most difficult about writing?
The most difficult thing about writing is trying to find enough time to write. Also I’m a slow writer so it’s always discouraging to me to hear how many authors write so much more in a day’s time than I do in a week.

What do you find most exciting or rewarding?
The most exciting thing about writing is when I’m happy with the dialogue I’ve created, and I feel confident that readers will enjoy the interaction between the characters. I probably like writing dialogue the best. I love the freedom writing gives me and that I can work at home instead of having to drive to work daily. I also think researching the careers of my characters is rewarding as a writer.

9. How do you balance writing with the rest of your life?
I’ve tried writing so many words a day as a goal but I’m having more success thinking in terms of pages and chapters. I don’t feel like I have very much personal time because I’ve had three books releasing so close together. I feel like I’m in front of the computer all the time with editing, doing online chats, writing entries for my blog, and etc. Then there’s housework, laundry and so many other things to do. While writing my new book, I’m taking breaks to do other things. I like to walk, go for a bike ride with my daughter Amanda, swim with my daughters, husband and son, watch movies, or read.

10. Can you tell us about your next writing project?
I started a new book about three sisters named Shannon, Regan and Whitney. Whitney, the youngest sister, lost her correspondent husband in Iraq 2 years ago. Right after he died, Whitney left her job in New York to take care of her ill mother in Ohio. Her older sisters had families so she wanted to do it. But now that their mother is dead, her sisters are trying to get Whitney involved in life again by signing her up for skydiving. Whitney doesn't want to return to NY as a TV news producer, but she definitely doesn't want to go skydiving. They tell her how many hot guys skydive, but Whitney is scared of heights and hates flying. She proposes that they all three start a business together. They are throwing out crazy and fun ideas for their new business. The middle sister, Regan, is married to a firefighter and she wants him to quit. She’s afraid he might die and also because of another firefighter named Anna. Regan thinks Anna is interested in her husband. Shannon has some issues and has a jealousy problem.

Thanks, Diane!


Stop by Diane's blog to leave her a comment today, or post one here. And thanks for stopping by! If you're an author who'd like to be interviewed on my blog, drop me an email at allieb@allieboniface.com.

Another Vacation!

I'm off on another vacation today...the beautiful benefit of being a teacher who is also married to a teacher, with no kids, which = summers off.

It's not a *real* vacation, I suppose not for hubby anyway, who's going to be at teacher training all day Wednesday - Friday, but since the training takes place in Cleveland, my former hometown when I was in graduate school, it'll be vacation for me as I tag along and spend those 3 days catching up with old friends and visiting some old haunts. Should be fun!

And just in case you didn't get a chance yet, stop by and visit my brand new website...up and running just in time for the debut of One Night in Boston (publication date 2 weeks and counting!) You can read an excerpt here.

Tomorrow, a fellow Samhain author will be here for an interview...Diane Craver. Make sure to leave her a comment or two, OK?

And yes, since my Internet access will probably be limited while I'm away, and because Blogger doesn't let you future-date your posts, I'm posting Writers' Wednesday and Diane's interview this morning as well.

See you on Saturday!!

Websites Worth Visiting

"You must be the change you wish to see in the world."
~Mahatma Gandhi

So I have 3 websites I'd like to mention today:

1. The Long and Short of It - This is a new review site for short and long romance fiction that was started by my good writing friends Marianne Arkins and Judy Thomas. They have taken on the mammoth task of reviewing romance, and to date have done a marvelous job of both reviewing and getting a number of guest reviewers to sign on as well. I did do one review, of Marianne's short story "Tickle Fights and Barbecues," which should be appearing sometime soon. Stop by if you're in the mood for a little romance...or if you're interested in revewing, I know they're still looking for volunteers!

2. Glass Slipper WebDesign - I've mentioned this web design company before, as this is the one that's doing my website/blog redesign. I just wanted to say again that the owner, Jo, is a marvelous professional and has been terrific in working with me. If anyone's looking for a web designer with a personal touch, I highly recommend her. My new website is up as of today, so please visit and let me know what you think!

3. Freecycle - Not writing related, but this is a terrific resource that everyone should be aware of. This site, with local groups all over the US, promotes recycling used items instead of throwing them away. In their words, "It's a grassroots and entirely nonprofit movement of people who are giving (& getting) stuff for free in their own towns." I joined up about 6 months ago and have since passed on a bagful of shirts my husband outgrew, 2 juniper plants that we pulled out of our front lawn, and a carton of Capri Sun juice pouches. Wondering what else people put up for grabs? This was the list from my local group last night:

4' x 6' Oriental type rug with fringe
Videos & CD games for kids
2 Old powerwheels
Craftsman 12/5hp tractor (not working)
Twin custom made platform bed
4 Maroon Patio chair cushions
Bag of purses and 2 wall shelves

I'd encourage everyone to check out this site. One of the fringe benefits is meeting the people who are also freecycling, whether picking up or donating. It's a nice way to meet people from your community. Has anyone else tried it?

Vacationing...

"Too much work, and no vacation,

Deserves at least a small libation.

So hail! my friends, and raise your glasses,

Work's the curse of the drinking classes."

~Oscar Wilde

Randomness...feed your mind and your blog


1. What is your favorite vacation spot?

This is a hard one...I'd say someplace warm or someplace that has great historical or cultural significance. There's not one single place I'd go back to time and time again. New is good.

2. Would you rather drive or fly?

Ugh. Both have their downfalls. Driving is nice if we're talking a single day's worth. But there are some *terrible* drivers on the roads. Seriously. Flying is convenient for getting to far-away places quickly, but I sort of have this whole crashing fear, so...

3. Have you ever been on a cruise? Would you want to go on one?

Oh, interesting story...hubby and I went on a 5-day cruise of the Hawaiian islands for our honeymoon, and I was seasick the whole time. So no, I wouldn't want to go on another one.

4. What has been your best/worst vacation?

Best: toss-up between Maui (actually staying on the island, not cruising around it) and Germany/Austria/hiking the Alps.

Worst: no such thing.

5. How long do you think is long enough for a vacation?

1-2 weeks. After that it's nice to come home and sleep in my own bed!

6. Do you spend alot of money while on vacation? Do you buy alot of souvenirs? What's the coolest one you've gotten?

I spend more than I probably should, but on events/adventures/dinners. I don't buy a lot of material things on vacation. The coolest souvenirs are always pictures and memories.

7. If money were no object, where would you go on vacation?

Italy and Greece!