Writers' Wednesday: An Interview with Patti Shenberger

Welcome to Writers' Wednesday! Today I'm featuring fellow Wild Rose Press author Patti Shenberger. You're in for a treat...enjoy!

Hi, Patti, and welcome! Can you tell us a little about your background?

My background is quite varied. I was raised by my great grandparents who were in their 62 amd 64 yrs old whem they took me in at the ripe old age of 3 months. I learned early how to become a grown-up (my grandfater worked for General Motors and toured the country with the Auto Shows). We traveled around the world visiting and dining with kings, queens, and movie stars. It gave me a lot of fodder for writing romance. After high school, I dabbled at college, dropped out, got married, had two kids and went to work doing whatever would pay the bills. I've done everything from office work, to insurance sales, financial planning, retail, car porter, fabric store manager, real estate admin work and now semi-retired and writing full time. This is my favorite job (G)

Wow, what a cool upbringing! Can you tell us about your latest writing project or published title?

Right now, I am working on a category romance length novel entitled The Billionaire's Royal Houseguest. I am hoping it is something Silhouette Desire will pick up (fingers are crossed) It's the story of a pampered Princess who desparately seeks the assistance of a rich salvage diver to recover artifacts off a sunken vessel to save her small island nation. He has no intention of ever going back in the water after a near fatal shark attack on his last job. Can Princess Annabelle change his mind? And more importantly, can Victor Dragon overcome his past to include the woman of his dreams in his futre??? Stay tuned!!

My latest released title is Take No Prisoners. It's the story of Frankie Canfield who announces to the world that she is returning to her home town of Harmony to marry the man of her dreams, the Sheriff. Little does she know her PR stunt is about to go horribly wrong when a new Sheriff is in charge: the only man Frankie has ever loved and lost.

My last three titles have all been with The Wild Rose Press. You can check them out at http://www.thewildrosepress.com/ or on my web page at http://www.pattishenberger.com/

You've definitely become a successful writer. What advice would you give to new writers just starting out?

I would tell them to read everything they can get their hands on and never give up. Just because one person doesn't like your writing doesn't mean everyone hates it. I've had agents and editors at larger houses reject my work and then a smaller press picks it up and loves it. It's all subjective and you have to remember it's NOT PERSONAL!

Ooh, that's really good advice and important to remember! So what kinds of books do you like to read? Who is your favorite author?

My favorite author is Jude Deveraux, Luncy Monroe, and Lucy Gordon. I love a good romance, but I will read pretty much anything that piques my interest. Right now I'm reading The Secret.

OK, important question: How do you balance writing with the rest of your life?

Writing is very solitary work and very rewarding also. Balancing my writing has been easy for me this past year in the sense that I haven't had a day job to go to. I learned last fall that I had colon cancer and the subsequent months were a flurry of surgery, recovery, chemo, recovery, hysterectomy and now tail end of recovery. I'm fine but it took its toll. I didn't write a word most days but then I would have a spurt where I would write a chapter in a sitting. I also sold three books (granted they were already finished) during this time frame and did revisions and saw they come to fruition. My children are grown and out of the house, my hubby works retail so he's gone 6 days a week, 12 hours a day. The house is mine (G)

Describe your writing space for us...

My writing space is my home office - which used to be my son's bedroom before he moved out and into the Army. It's a total disaster right now! All the furniture from my daughter's room (she moved out) is in here while we paint her old room and turn it into a reading room of sorts with an electric fireplace and two comfy armchairs!

Well, we know you love to write. But what do you like to do when you're not writing?

When I am not weriting, I can be found with my face buried in a book. I love to read. It is my absolute favorite thing to do. Other than that, I love to meet friends for lunch, spend time with them and also travel. Hawaii, the Panaman Canal and Australia are next on my list of places to see.

Is there anything else you’d like to mention for readers today?

This is so cool! Thanks for letting me be a part of it. My web site is http://www.pattishenberger.com/, my titles can be found at http://www.thewildrosepress.com/, and thank you again!!!

Thanks, Patti - it's been a pleasure! And readers, take a look at her website and all those yummy looking short stories. For less than the cost of a Starbucks latte, you can have a quick and satisfying read today!

Sad Stories of Politicians and Royalty Statements

"Physical infidelity is the signal, the notice given, that all fidelities are undermined." ~Katherine Anne Porter

Ah, yes...yet another politician who can't keep it in his pants, this one in my very own home state of New York...

New York Governor Eliot Spitzer Under Pressure to Quit Over Sex Scandal

No wonder women read romance novels - at least the men/the heroes in the pages of those stories stay faithful!

***
On another note, I received my royalty statement from The Wild Rose Press yesterday, for Nov/Dec 2007. Let's just say it wasn't what I had hoped or thought it would be, regarding sales. In fact, I was really surprised. One Night in Boston sold nearly 10 times the number Lost in Paradise did, in the two months after it released! I'm not sure how to take that...Samhain has more purchasers/followers/marketing than TWRP? People wanted to read my first novel but not my second one? It's a little discouraging.

I know it's dificult to promote e-books, and in the last few months I've been doing marketing more with an eye toward the print releases. I've also used up my "Debut Author" angle with the various newspapers I sent press releases to, so I'll have to think of something else.

Guess it's back to the drawing board with a renewed focus on promoting Lost in Paradise, this week. And hey! If you're reading this blog, and you haven't gotten your copy yet, why not think about treating yourself this week? It's gotten some great reviews, and for less than the cost of lunch you can purchase and download it here. By the way, the story is set in the middle of summer...nice and steamy and warm, for all of you who are tired of the winter weather already!!

How Did it Get to be Monday Again??

"Love is what you've been through with somebody." ~James Thurber

I'm convinced that weekends actually go much faster than weekdays...and now that I think about it, with Daylight Savings happening yesterday, I think my theory is right, at least once a year :)

Anyway, here's the trailer I made for Diane Craver's novel Never the Same:



And I'm excited because I'm at 19,500 words on One Night in Napa! Almost a third of where I want to be (I'm aiming for 60,000 and then will hope to add about another 5,000 when I go back through and revise). I did read the first chapter at my RWA meeting over the weekend and got some really good ideas and feedback, though I don't know if I'll read any more 'til I'm finished. It sort of defeats the purpose of "just write from beginning to end without letting your inner editor go back and change things..."

But hey, I'm happy with the progress. I'm hoping to get through another 10,000 this week!

On a totally unrelated note, as I posted today and looked at the date, I realized it's the anniversary of the day hubby and I got engaged, back in 2000. Wow! Does anyone else remember the actual date they got engaged, or is that weird?

Happy Small Press Month!

"The life’s blood of contemporary and modern literature is in the custodianship of so-called small publishers. Without them, there is no future for literature." ~Walter Mosley

I just found out it's National Small Press Month...and since I've been privileged enough to be published by two small presses, I should be celebrating it!

Let me just say, for anyone who doesn't already know, that the experience of being published by Samhain Publishing and The Wild Rose Press, both small presses, has been fantastic. I have learned so much about writing and editing and marketing, on an intimate level, with everyone involved at both houses. I'm so thankful that they exist and are thriving, and that they give authors another option for breaking into publication.

Here's a neat "To Do" list if you're an author published by a small press - or even if you just want to support them and spread the word about this month.

Meanwhile, I'm off to write...and support the efforts of small presses everywhere!

Who Steals a Garbage Can, Anyway??

"There's nothing wrong with the younger generation that becoming taxpayers won't cure." ~Dan Bennett

Part 1

Friday is garbage and recycling day around here. Thursday night hubby and I always take down our enormous garbage can - standard size required by the trash company, even though we only fill it up about halfway each week, with the 2 of us - and 2 small plastic recycling bins.

Yesterday morning, I leave the house to go to work, drive down to the road (it's a long, sloping driveway, maybe 50 yards from house to road). 2 recycling bins sit on one side, waiting for pickup. No garbage can anywhere. I pick up my cell phone and call hubby, who's still up in the house, getting ready to leave.

"Sweetie? Did you bring the garbage can down last night?"

Pause. "What are you talking about?"

"Did you bring the garbage can down last night?"

"You saw me. "

"Um...it's not here."

"What do you mean, it's not there?"

"Our garbage can is missing."

"Is anyone else's there?"

"Everyone else's is here!"

"Are you sure it isn't in the ditch?"

Allie looks around for an over-sized gray can she may have missed lying on its side somewhere close by. "Yeah, I'm sure."

"Someone stole our garbage can? With the garbage in it?"

I just started to laugh. I mean, who steals a garbage can, anyway? Either someone who really can't afford to go out and buy one, or a bunch of kids playing a prank. Either way, I had to laugh. It was before 7 am and it was just too funny.

Hubby called the trash company, and the local cops, and they both said the same thing: "Yeah, that's been happening a lot around that area lately."

***

Part 2

Last night we went out to dinner, tried a new restaurant in a nearby town. It was about 6 or so when we left, and pouring rain. About a mile down the road, in front of a little historic farmhouse, sits a garbage can.

Now, no one's lived in that farmhouse for, let's say 100 years, and the local historic society uses it only a few times a year for Step-Back-inTime Open Houses. Hubby and I both look at each other.

"You think that's our garbage can?" More laughter.

On our way back, we stopped (still pouring rain, by the way) and checked. We'd left a bunch of black electrical tape around the handle, and lo and behold, this can had the same sort of tape wrapped around the handle! Even better, no garbage inside! Hey, thanks to whomever dumped it for us, anyway. (Note to anyone who might be worried about them going through and getting personal info: we burn everything paper, which means the only thing inside was some nasty food products and used plastic wrap, I think).

So we have our garbage can back, a little beat up and worse for wear (I think they dragged it down the road for a while). And I guess that means it was kids, screwing around. While theft doesn't thrill me, I suppose if the worst thing the local teens are doing is taking garbage cans and dropping them off a mile down the road, I can live with it.

You've gotta laugh, right?

TGIF!

"The best style is the style you don't notice." ~Somerset Maugham

I'm so glad it's Friday!

Some good news to report: I wrote a whopping 4ooo words on One Night in Napa yesterday and am really liking the direction it's going, so far. The hero and heroine have met and sparks are flying - not the good kind, though. More like they can't stand the sight of one another. She thinks he's too good-looking and arrogant, and he thinks she's over-reacting and snooty. Of course, I guess I can't make them *so* opposite and contradictory that they have no desire to ever get together :)

Do any other writers out there have a hard time getting feedback from their beta readers? I'm still so nervous whenever I get an email that says "So I've finished reading the first half of the story, and..." No matter how times I've posted on a writers' board, or how many times I've read a chapter out loud at critique, or sent it on with crossed fingers to another person for a fresh look, I always wait with a churning stomach to hear what they will say. I guess it's like your baby, sent out into the big bad world, and of course you want people to fall in love with it, and think it's adorable and coo and say it's the best thing you've ever created...

But you know, in the March Romance Writers Report, there's a really good article on rejection, and how it prepares you for the rough world of publishing and marketing. Those authors who sell their first manuscript with ease sometimes run into difficulty down the road, when their 2nd or 3rd isn't as well-received. I think feedback works the same way: you have to be able to take it, to look at it objectively and make your work better because of it. So to all my beta readers out there who also read this blog, I do appreciate you...so much!!

I'm off to my local RWA chapter meeting tomorrow, which I'm looking forward to since I missed the last one. I may even read the first chapter of Napa for critique, if I'm feeling particularly brave. :)

Spring Showers and American Idol

First, a quick promo mention: Samhain and Coffee Time Romance are sponsoring a terrific "Spring Showers" Event that will last nearly a month...excerpts by Samhain authors and chances to win prizes! Yes, I'm participating, and even better: you'll get to see some excerpts from One Night in Memphis, my novel that's releasing with them in July. It doesn't start until next week, but mark your calendars...and I'll remind you as well...

*****

Well, I tried it again this year. I tried to watch American Idol. I will admit that I watched, enraptured, for the first 4 seasons. After that it seemed to get *so* staged, and so overly dramatic, that I lost interest. I'm also quite suspicious that as much as they claim "America votes" and picks the winner, really, the producers of the show decide who the winner will be.

Anyway, I gave it a shot and watched both the Top 10 Men (Tuesday night) and the Top 10 Women (last night). My thoughts? Without having seen anything else of the hype leading up to it, I thought the men overall were better - and more notable. The women seemed to be mostly carbon copies, either of each other or of other singers. There were also some really rough notes for many of the women. (Hubby walked through the room at one point and said, "Is someone strangling cats in here??")

If I had to pick, I'd say David Cook singing "Hello" (in a very cool modern version) and Jason Castro singing "Hallelujah" were the best of the men, and Amanda Overmyer singing "Hate Myself for Loving You" and Brooke White singing "Love is a Battlefield" were the best of the women. But who knows? It's so much about popularity and the sad story behind the face, and who AI producers think they need this year.

Anyone else watching it this season? Anyone else have an opinion?

Writers' Wednesday: An Interview with E.J. Vance

Welcome to Writers' Wednesday! Today I'm chatting with E.J. Vance, poet and novelist. He's the author of The Revelations of Minister Skyddz, which he describes as a "version of the Bible that will appeal to bikers, prostitutes, and college students." It's due out in January 2009, so keep an eye out when next winter rolls around. Meanwhile, sit back and enjoy...

Hi E.J., and thanks for joining me today! So when did you first begin writing? Was there an event or moment inyour life that triggered your desire to write?

I began writing 'poetry' for local bands, with an idea toward forming a band as the lead singer/songwriter. I was 15 or-so, and thought it would be easy. Except I was scared of performing onstage. It didn't work out well.

Can you tell us about your latest writing project or published title?

I have several projects I'm working on currently. Mostly, it's poetry. But, I'm also (among other things) writing the sequel to my first book, The Revelations of Minister Skyddz, which is estimated to be released in January, 2009, with Swimming Kangaroo Books. I expect to do a series of 4-6, based on my own religious beliefs, but, from a (hopefully) humorousperspective. The Revelations of Minister Skyddz is an Alternate Creation Theory, which casts God and the Archangels, more or less as bikers/rock musicians. In the first book, God is suddenly up for re-election, and, the opponent is The Infidel.

Wow, sounds very interesting. So how do you go about developing your characters?

I shape my characters after people I know, or people I have a strong impression of.

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

I generally read fantasy/science fiction, or horror. I guess my favorite author is either Tad Williams, or Stephen King.

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

Mostly, the difficulties I have are inner: finding exactly the right word!

Ah, I can appreciate that! Well, what do you like to do when you're not writing?

I like to draw. I love music; I'm a bassist in a band, which is creating a new genre. I also like to play horseshoes.

Sounds like you find time to relax and enjoy life - always important. Do you have a favorite movie? Did it inspire your writing in any way?

Blazing Saddles, and, Young Frankenstein. I wouldn't say that the movies inspired me. But Mel Brooks inspires me a helluva lot!

E.J. thanks so much for being here today - best of luck with your novel and with all your future writing!

Teaching is Like That

"Teachers affect eternity. They never know where their influence ends." ~Anonymous

Every so often, amid the piles of paperwork on my desk, and the zeroes in the gradebook for work not done, and the incessant number of times I have to tell my students to stop talking and get to work, a day happens that reminds me how much fun it is to be a teacher.

Like yesterday, when Mike stopped by my room between classes to talk about last week's episode of "Lost." And when Dee wanted to show me her brand new S-with-an-arrow-through-it tattoo, because after all we're both Sagittarians and that makes me cool in her eyes. And when Jill asked me if I was coming to her high school graduation, three months from now. And when Alex, my stutterer with the attitude, volunteered to read the part of Iago in English class, even though he had the most lines, because it's the coolest character in the play. And when Nick the football player arrived early for class so he could sit in my office and read the paper and tell me he was having a five-star day, according to his horoscope.

It's that time of year when we actually become people to each other, rather than just teacher and student, when you can see that you've built a relationship there, after days and weeks of trying to set down rules and trying to show them to care about words and writing. It's a very cool thing, and it always takes me by surprise.

It also reminds me of the power we have, as individuals. Not just teachers (though I often think of that: what a strange, giddy honor it is, to be entrusted with shaping someone else's child...) but people in general. You never know the influence you can have on someone else. The person in the store that you let ahead in line. The child whose family you sponsor on the angel tree during the holidays. The struggling author whose blog you visit every day. The person you smile at on the train. The neighbor you wave to.

I think that's why writing is so cool too. People you don't know and will never meet can potentially pick up your books and be changed by them. A stranger from the other side of the world can email and say "I loved your story and it made me smile." Just think of the people you can touch. It's a crazy concept...

What Happens when the Well Runs Dry?

"Books serve to show a man that those original thoughts of his aren't very new after all." ~Abraham Lincoln

OK, I'd like to know how many writers out there have ever felt the same way: there is a finite number of stories we can create.

I read an author interview recently where the woman said that at any given time, she had at least 50 story ideas running through her head. Whoa. That scares me.

Because I don't even know if I have more than 5. Seriously. I mean, I do have this file of possible story ideas that I add to whenever inspiration hits me, but I don't think there are more than 10 or so in there. And I really can't imagine being the kind of person who has all these fabulous, complex plotlines coming at her from every direction. I do worry that there will come a time when I have nothing left to write.

I mean, no story is original anyway, right? Everything's been done before; you just have to figure out a way to do it and be new about it. But sometimes the challenge of doing that, of really creating a new and different angle on a storyline, is rather daunting.

I shouldn't worry now. I'm quite pleased with my characters and my plot for One Night in Napa. And yesterday I got some wonderful feedback from one of my dear critique partners about Summer's Song.

Still, every once in a while that sneaky little doubter in my conscience creeps in and whispers, "Oh, yeah? But what next? What happens when you finish this one? What's next if you're lucky enough to sell this one? That story idea is passe, and that one's already been done a hundred times, and that one's too predictable, and..."

So tell me: how do you come up with new and interesting and original ideas to keep the words flowing? And how do you keep the doubt away?

"Lord! when you sell a man a book you don't sell just twelve ounces of paper and ink and glue - you sell him a whole new life. Love and friendship and humour and ships at sea by night - there's all heaven and earth in a book, a real book." ~Christopher Morley

Just a quick blog today, since yesterday I spent the entire day running a bake sale and helping out at an adoption event for the animal shelter I volunteer with...it was a good day, but that means that today's my only one to do all that catch-up weekend stuff before I go back to work again!

I wanted to mention the May 17-18 Philadelphia Book Festival, which has a tremendous program this year, with all kinds of authors and publishers featuring their work, as well as shows and events for kids and adults alike. Samhain will have a table there, and I'll be handing out promo stuff Saturday and possibly Sunday as well...if anyone's in the area, stop by! The whole day is free.

And I also wanted to put in a plug for The Long and the Short of It's St. Patrick's Day Contest. Look what you can win:



*All Romance Ebooks donated - One Free Download
*Black Lyon Ebooks donated - One Free Download
*Linden Bay Romance donated - One Free Download
*Tease Publishing donated - $10 worth of free books
*The Wild Rose Press donated - Two (2) $5 Gift Certificates
*Writer's Exchange donated - $10 Gift Certificate
*The Long and the Short of It donated - a $10 Gift Certificate from Amazon.

Two (2) Second Place Prizes
Donated by The Long and the Short of It:
$5 Gift Certificate from Amazon.com
$5 Gift Certificate from Samhain Publishing
$5 Gift Certificate from Fictionwise

Go on over and take a look!

It's Time for March Madness!

"Ah, March! we know thou art
Kind-hearted, spite of ugly looks and threats,
And, out of sight, art nursing April's violets!"
~Helen Hunt Jackson



Well, since this month has arrived like a big ol' lion, in my neck of the woods anyway, it's time for me to announce my March Book-Blog Giveaway. And since this month is oh so long, I'm giving away two books: one on the 15th (can anyone tell me the significance of March 15, by the way??), and one at the very end of the month.

How do you enter? Simply leave comments on my blog. The more times you comment, the more chances you have to win. I'll pick two winners randomly from all commenters and announce the lucky ones right here!

What am I giving away? Well, this month I'm featuring Harlequin Historical author Jenna Kernan, who also just happens to be a member of my local RWA group. The March 15th winner will receive Jenna's very first book, the RITA-nominated Winter Woman, and the March 31st winner will receive her most recent release, Outlaw Bride.

Jenna's a terrific writer; you're bound to enjoy her books whether or not you've already discovered historical romances. So comment away...

Leap Year Day 2008!

"It doesn't matter who we were. It only matters who we are." ~Juliet, from the TV show "Lost"

Is anyone else watching "Lost" now that it's back on? I thought last night's episode was brilliant. Time travel is a tricky thing to portray, but it was really well written and balanced and believable. Loved the ending, too - that show doesn't usually bring tears to my eyes, but last night it did.

I"m making progress on One Night in Napa - and I'm using a slightly different strategy this time around. I'm writing all the way through, doing my best to shrug off the inner editor and just get the words down on paper. I'm not letting myself go back and look at a scene or chapter once I've finished it for the day. I'm not stopping to do research, either, or think up clever names for fictional places. So right now the pages have a lot of sentences like "Kira walked into NAME OF COFFEE SHOP HERE and tossed her cigarettes onto the counter." And so on. I'm up to 8000 words for the week, though, so I'm happy!

Finally, I have to mention how lucky I am to have met fellow authors in this area, all because of the NYC Book Fair I went to last December. Stella Price, who writes urban fantasy and lives about 30 minutes from me, is a marketing whiz. She's put together a core group of local authors and is on this crazy bender of setting up all kinds of signings and public appearances for us. I keep waiting for her to realize she could be charging an arm and a leg for what she's doing, 'cause I'm pretty sure authors hire pricy marketing people to do that sort of thing for them. :)

The latest fun event on our agenda is a "Girls' Night Out" for Mother's Day, Saturday May 10. It's at a place called The Spotty Dog, which is apparently a pub and a bookstore, combined. Cool, right? Check out the link. I'll post more info closer to the date, for anyone who's local and wants to stop by. From what I've heard so far, they're having a masseuse, a chocolatier, and romance authors on hand. How can you go wrong??

Oh, and happy Leap Year Day! What are you doing with your extra 24 hours?

The Next Big Thing

"The worth of a book is to be measured by what you can carry away from it. " ~James Bryce

Donald Maass, one of THE literary agents in the biz, has been running a neat little feature on his agency's website the last few months: What We're Looking for this Month.

It's not literal, of course, but every month the agents toss out ideas for what they'd like to see cross their desks as the next "big thing" to hit the best-seller lists. Here's Jan/Feb:

1. A literary SFF novel as original and well-written as Tim Powers’s classic The Anubis Gates or Gordon Dahlquist’s recent debut The Glass Books of the Dream Eaters: not a traditional quest adventure in a quasi-Medieval world, but a cross-over from our world with mystery, romance, historical allusions and literary references.

2. A thriller in which the unlikely doom scenario is made utterly believable with 300 pages of careful, point-by-point elimination of all the reasons why it wouldn’t happen…PLUS, featuring a protagonist of unshakeable principles whom we cheer for from their first moment on the page.

3. A multi-layered romance in which every element is as romantic as the relationship itself: setting, secondary characters, etc…PLUS, a plot in which the driving conflict is not a manufactured antipathy between heroine and hero, but the inescapable malignancy of outside forces.

4. A brilliantly written, page-turning novel with the psychological twists and turns of Donna Tartt's A SECRET HISTORY or Patricia Highsmith's THE TALENTED MR. RIPLEY.

5. A romantic (not romance) novel in the tradition of Peter Beagle's A FINE AND PRIVATE PLACE with highly emotive characters and a compelling depth of texture and description.

6. A historical mystery or thriller that in addition to mystery plot, gives us a new or controversial look at a well known historical figure. For example, a mystery set on and around the new high-rises of New York that shows us a more generous side of Robert Moses than we see in THE POWER BROKER.

7. An alternate history like Philip K. Dick’s THE MAN IN THE HIGH CASTLE or more recently, Sesshu Foster’s ATOMIK AZTEX or Michael Chabon’s latest, where, for example, the Native Americans were ceded territory in what is now the state of Nevada. When strange murders start cropping up, an outsider must enter the territory to investigate with the help of a young Native American who has something to hide.

8. A mystery or thriller with a bike messenger as the main character or villain,
like Tami Hoag's KILL THE MESSENGER, or maybe a bike mechanic main character, or some other character who makes their living with bicycles.

9. A work of narrative nonfiction that does for competitive video-gamers what Ben Mezrich did for the MIT card-counters in Bringing Down the House. I’d especially like a story that follows an American gamer trying to reach the top in South Korea, where audiences pack stadiums to observe Starcraft matches and top gamers earn six-figure salaries.

10. A genre-bending novel for the adult suspense market, one that functions like Cormac McCarthy’s No Country for Old Men – overturning clichés of the genre, challenging ideas we hold dear, and creating suspense not through the unknown but through the sheer audacity of the villain.

Interesting, huh? So do any of you writers have a WIP like that just looking for a home?? Or would any of you pick up a book like one of those to read?

And along those same lines, a writer-friend on another loop posed this question to her blog readers, and I'm passing it along to you:

As a reader what specific kinds of books do you most enjoy but have trouble finding? Please be as specific as you can and describe any kind of book distinguished by any quality such as sub-genre, non-fiction subject, time period, length, writing style or anything else that is important to you as a reader. I am looking for the kinds of book you would buy more of, if you could only find them.

The more responses, the better, so chime in!

Writers' Wednesday: An Interview with Sharon Buchbinder

Welcome to another Writers' Wednesday! It's snowy here in the Northeast USA - how about where you are? I hope warmer (and less white) than it is here...

Anyway, for a cheering read today, pull up your chair and join me as I interview Sharon Buchbinder, author of Catastrophe, available now from The Wild Rose Press.

Hi Sharon! Thanks for being here today. Can you tell us a little about your background?

I was born in Washington, DC, grew up in Windsor Locks, CT, now live in Baltimore, MD. I discovered that a BA in Psychology enabled me to work for an airline caterer, chopping lettuce, so I went back a School of Allied Health at Hartford Hospital and became a Medications Technician in 1973, during a nursing shortage. More education, more degrees: MA in Psychology, AAS in Nursing, PhD in Public Health, and a Post-Doctoral Fellowship in Children’s Mental Health—and I became a Professor. Still, I had the itch to write fiction. It drove me mad until I “ran away” for a month to our home in Florida and scratched my itch. I am still scratching at it. My website has more information and links to stories and articles. I love to hear from readers!

What an interesting journey to the world of writing! So when did you first begin? Was there an event or moment in your life that triggered your desire to write?

Always a scribbler, I began my “serious” writing in high school when my sister went off to college and I wrote her letters. She told me they were so funny, she read them to the girls in her dorm. Reinforced by that, I began receiving rejection letters from many, many magazines and even the MAN from U.N.C.L.E. I sent them a hand-written (on yellow note pad) script for the show.

Can you tell us about your latest writing project or published title?

The short story Catastrophe is now available! I had a lot of fun writing and rewriting this story and with the help of my editor, Nan Swanson, and cover editor and artist, Nicola Martinez, the story shines inside and out. I drew on my experience as a teacher, cat breeder (a decade ago), and dog owner. The names of the hero and heroine are actually the names of my great-great-great-great-(I lost track of how many greats) grandmother and grandfather. The story opens with Polly Griggs finding an eviction notice on her door. She’s devastated and desperate. Where can she go with twenty-three rescued cats? Old, maimed, and crippled, they were abandoned and she was the only person willing to take them in. Her drunken landlord can’t wait to get rid of her and harasses Polly at every opportunity. Little does she know that her academic advice to her handsome neighbor and secret crush, Simon, on how to succeed in his speech class will lead to her own rescue—and love.

Sounds like a charming story! How do you go about developing your characters?

They arrive on their own. They appear in my dreams, as I do housework, even shopping. I was standing in the checkout line at Sam’s one day, and a character demanded that I write about him. Usually they appear when I have no writing implement. Glad I had my PDA with me that day, as he turned out to be one of my favorites.

What advice would you give to new writers just starting out?

If you truly want your work published, you must be serious about your craft. Write, rewrite. Set time aside every day to focus on your story. Write, rewrite. Join RWA and the state chapters and go to meetings. Write, rewrite. Find a critique group/partner. Write, rewrite. Get readers you trust (my husband is my first reader). Write, rewrite. Grow a thick skin and accept constructive comments, and ignore the destructive ones. Write, rewrite. Take online writing courses. Write, rewrite. Read submission guidelines and follow them. Write, rewrite. Find the right niche for your work. Write, rewrite. Submit your work. Write, rewrite. Believe in your story. Write, rewrite. Resubmit. Write, rewrite.

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

The most difficult challenge is being disciplined and protecting my writing time. The most exciting and rewarding thing about writing is the impact that my words have on the reader. If I move someone to tears, laughter, a sigh, and the reader wonders about the character after the last page is turned, I know I have done my job well.

Thanks, Sharon! Readers, if you'd like to know more, visit Sharon's website...or leave a comment or question here for her. Have a great day :)

A Chuckle for Tuesday

"The human race has only one really effective weapon, and that is laughter." ~Mark Twain

I had to share this email that a friend sent me yesterday. Too funny:

A guy goes to the supermarket and notices an attractive woman waving at him. She says hello. He's rather taken aback because he cannot place where he knows her from.

So he says, 'Do you know me?' To which she replies, 'I think you're the father of one of my kids.'

Now his mind travels back to the only time he has ever been unfaithful to his wife and says, 'Are you the stripper from the bachelor party thatI made love to on the pool table with all my buddies watching while your partner whipped my butt with wet celery???'

She looks into his eyes, and says calmly, 'No, I'm your son's teacher."

I also made some headway on my WIP, which I'm officially nicknaming One Night in Napa (thanks, Marianne!) until I make a final decision. Wrote the chapter where we meet the heroine, and I love that she's a totally non-traditional heroine, esp. for the romance genre. She has super-short, spiky hair and an eyebrow ring; she smokes; and she has no interest in dating. Tough cookie, right?? I just have to remember to make her likable, too...

Actually, I love that I have a fairly clear picture of where I want this story to go (I know, I shouldn't speak too soon, or I'll jinx myself). I think that comes from it rattling around my brain for so many years. Every so often, when I got tired of working on whatever other novel I was dealing with, I'd take a break and sketch out a character for ONIN or think of ways to up the tension. Turned out all those breaks gave me a lot of ammunition to tackle the actual novel.

So I'm happy so far. We'll see how long the bubble lasts :)

The Monday Blues

"Sometimes it pays to stay in bed in Monday, rather than spending the rest of the week debugging Monday's code." ~Dan Solomon

Well, I guess I don't really have the blues, per se. I just don't have much exciting chatter for today. Among other less-than-newsworthy notes:

1. I added a ticker to track my progress on my latest "One Night..." novel - it's over there on the sidebar. As you can see, I have a way to go!

2. I'm about halfway through Lady of the Knight by Tori Phillips, another historical romance, and enjoying it. It's a twist on the Pygmalion story, so not really anything new, but it's entertaining all the same.

3. I designed some really nice brochures for One Night in Boston, to send off to my publisher. Their marketing person is sending out mailings to bookstores every other month, so it's a relatively inexpensive way to promote my upcoming print release. Oh, and I used Vista Print. I've had a lot of things done there and always been happy with the quality. You really can't beat the price, either. Some authors on one of my loops complained recently because apparently they got signed up for a program that billed their credit card $15/month without their approval. Turns out it's one of those fine-print deals if you click "Yes" to a free offer after you order from Vista Print. Listen, folks, get smart here: don't click on any free deals that seem too good to be true. And if you do, read the fine print. And finally, read your credit card statement every month and make sure you know where every charge comes from. You have to be the smart consumer.

(steps down from her soapbox)

4. Speaking of promoting my books, I've added another appearance to my list, also over there on the sidebar. It's the annual craft fair in my hometown - quite a big deal for the community, so I'm looking forward to it.

5. I watched the red carpet pre-Oscar show last night but not the awards ceremony itself. I see that "No Country for Old Men" was the big winner - no big surprise, from previous buzz. I put "Juno" on my list to rent, though I just read an article criticizing the movie for glamorizing teen pregnancy and downplaying the negative, life-changing consequences. Anyone see it and have an opinion either way?

Well, I'm off to work. Happy Monday!!

My Latest Project

"First, find out what your hero wants. Then just follow him." ~Ray Bradbury

Yes, as I promised yesterday, I've made a decision about what book project I want to tackle next. It is...

...another "One Night" book - a 24-hour/24-chapter sort of deal.

Why, when I have so many other single title ideas floating in my brain? Well, I'm being optimistic and thinking writing career-wise here. I'd like to show either Samhain or an agent, should I be lucky enough to find one, that I can sustain the 24-hour novel idea over a few books. Agents and publishers like prolific authors, I've heard. I'd also like to get through this one [maybe] by the end of April, which would give me time to let it sit and then revise over the summer and submit by August, let's say. That also gives me the summer (which is when I'm not working, so more time) to work on another project from scratch, and I have a couple I'm toying with.

So this one is going to be set either in or close to San Francisco/Napa Valley. It's going to tell the story of Grant Walker, a journalist who gets the break of a lifetime while doing an otherwise straightforward interview, and the woman he meets, Kira March, whose entire life could be affected by the discovery he makes...

It's inspired to a certain degree by a famous Greek play, though I'm not telling you which one :) And I thought of this storyline almost 4 years ago, so I'm excited to actually begin writing it.

I wrote about 2000 words yesterday and was pleased with the start. Think I'll get myself one of those sidebar counters to keep track of my progress; it's always good to be accountable to someone, I think!

Here's my first line:

Grant Walker knew it was going to be a long day when he woke up and couldn't remember the name of the woman lying beside him.

What do you think??

A Picture Blog, Today

"When it snows, you have two choices: shovel or make snow angels." ~Anonymous

Some pictures to entertain you today...

We actually have 2 cats, the one who was sick last summer and got all the attention, and this stray who showed up on our porch 2+ years ago and decided to stay. He's my hubby's favorite, because he has the most easy-going personality you'll ever find in a cat. He does, however, love FEET. He will rub against hubby's feet when he's sitting in his recliner at the end of the day, and last week, when we took apart one of my closets and had to put my shoes in their hanging bags on the floor, he was in heaven.

First he sat on top of them...



Then he decided he needed to rub up and down the length of them...

Meanwhile, outside, the white stuff was falling...and falling... (it's still snowing this AM - we've gotten about a foot, I think)...

And here's hubby bundled up and plowing it (at least it was that light, fluffy stuff, yesterday, anyway. I think we got some ice on top of it overnight. Oh, joy!)...

Finally, here's the latest book trailer I made, for Diane Craver:

And here's some exciting news: I think I've decided what book project I want to start next. See, here's the thing: before I published my first novel, I had 4 that I had worked through. Now, 2 of those have been published, 1 has been signed for publication, and 1 is waiting for possible agent or publisher queries. So...I have nothing new in my stockpile of stories! It's a little scary, to be honest. I mean, I have lots of ideas, but nothing started.

So I've spent the last few days brainstorming, and I think I've made a decision about what I want to tackle next. Curious? Check back tomorrow and I'll let you know!

"Nature has no mercy at all. Nature says, "I'm going to snow. If you have on a bikini and no snowshoes, that's tough. I am going to snow anyway." ~Maya Angelou

Another snow day! That makes 5 so far this season...a little more than usual. I have this bad feeling they're going to start taking days back from our long Easter Weekend and our April Spring Break...

And I know I haven't played in a while, so here's a brand new Friday Feast:

Appetizer
Have you ever played a practical joke on anyone? If so, what did you do and who was your victim?

I'm not much of a jokester, but I do remember when my husband and I were first dating (maybe 2-3 months in), he called his older brother and told him that I'd gotten pregnant...there was this HUGE silence on the other end of the line, and then his brother started thinking through all these possible solutions, what they would tell their parents, etc. It was pretty funny.

Soup
What do your salt and pepper shakers look like?

I have a lot of pairs...right now they're tiny and silver. I like our ones made from mini Coke and Diet Coke bottles the best.

Salad
Where is the next place you plan to visit (on vacation or business)?

Scranton, PA: A book signing
Venice, FL: Visit my parents
Philadelphia, PA: A book festival
Cleveland, OH: Fun for me while hubby goes to a conference
Outer Banks, NC: Fun in the sun with a group of friends

(OK, that was probably more than you wanted to know, but staring at the snow falling outside my window, I had to think about the next few months of vacation, not just the next one!)

Main Course
What kind of lotion or cream do you use to keep your hands from getting too dry?

If anyone has a recommendation, I'll gladly take it! Right now I'm going back and forth between Vaseline Super-Intensive Lotion and Curel. Neither one does the job the way I wish it would.

Dessert
Make up a dessert, tell us its ingredients, and give it a name.

Chocolate mousse on a chocolate graham cracker crust, layered with crushed almonds and whipped cream and dark chocolate shavings on top. CHOCOLATE HEART ATTACK

The Dreaded Agent Search

"I get up in the morning, torture a typewriter until it screams, then stop." ~Clarence Budington Kelland

Well, it's arrived: the moment I admit that I'm entering the agent search once again. OK, maybe I'm just temporarily entertaining the thought, but it's there.

See, I've gone through the whole agent query thing before, with 3 other novels. It was interesting, and I learned quite a bit, but ultimately once I realized I could sell to Samhain and Wild Rose Press, I devoted my efforts to learning about the editing and marketing processes.

And I did.

So with Summer's Song, I'm thinking maybe I'll float it out there to a few agents and see if any bite. I'd like to think that some publishing credits might help me out now, but who knows? I spent some time yesterday perusing sites, and it's a tough market out there, no doubt.

By the way, two sites I would recommend, to anyone else in the market for an agent, are The Passionate Pen (she's a private author but hosts a FANTASTIC, regularly updated list of agents and publishers who take romance/women's lit) and Agent Query.

Something to think about, though: you really have to know why you want an agent. To break your manuscript into the big houses? To help you set up a marketing plan? To focus your long-range career plans? I looked at some agents who've sold novels to electronic/print pubs. I saw a Samhain author listed as a client at one agent's site! No offense, but I can do that by myself. And they take 15% of your profits, so you really have to make sure they're making you $$ you couldn't make on your own.

I ran across one agent, though, who's decided he wants to rejuvenate the romance industry. His lists of "Wants" and "Don't Wants" are pretty specific. The latter include Inspirationals, Erotica, YA, Fantasy, Sci-Fi, Futuristic, E-Pubs, Literary Fiction, Stories with "Romantic Elements," Non-fiction, Poetry, E-Pubs.

And yet he's an agent who reps romance? Um, OK, even though electronic publishers are one of the fastest-growing areas in the romance industry. Probably a good idea to list not once but twice that you don't want anything to do with them.

Oh, and he also makes clear that last time he read over RITA and Golden Heart entries, he had this to say: "I recently had the chance to review both Golden Heart and RITA manuscripts. I have to say, I was shocked. If someone was really looking at the story, they would realize the writing was far from good. Frankly, if I had to give them a grade, I would have been giving a lot of C's and D-'s.

Stories read like comic books. Characters were stereotypical. This list was endless.

But here is the thing. These books all had "those great techniques" that have been proclaimed as being the end all be all of writing.

In the end. Did it make the story better. No.

So, please writers. If we really want to see the romance and women's fiction industry make some significant improvements, then let's work on writing (and publishing) the GREAT story and not just the stories with gimmicks."

There's a lot of the same kind of attitude on every page and document on his website. Suffice to say I did not put him on my "Submit To" list.

We'll see what I decide...I'll keep you posted...

Writers' Wednesday: An Interview with Delia DeLeest

Welcome to another Writers' Wednesday! Today I'm featuring historical romance author Delia DeLeest. Sit back, relax, and enjoy!

Hi Delia, and thanks for being here today! Can you tell us a little about your background?

I was born and raised in Wisconsin, but moved to Hawaii two years ago. I'm still a Midwest girl at heart though, and all my stories, for the most part, are set in America's Heartland. Just about everything I write is set in the 1920's. Chicago and the surrounding areas were so exciting during that time that I just don't have the heart to write in any other location.

Hawaii...wow! I love the time period of the 1920s, too. So when did you first begin writing? Was there an event or moment in your life that triggered your desire to write?

I'd always loved to write, but my handwriting is so bad that I could never read what I'd written! Then, right around the same time my youngest child started school, my husband did a computer upgrade and gave me his old laptop. I curled up with it one day in my big ol' La-Z-Boy recliner and started writing my first manuscript-a western. About four months later, I saw an old gangster movie set in the Roaring Twenties and my mind just started spewing out story ideas like a slot machine spits quarters and I knew I found my niche.

Tell us about your latest writing project or published title It Takes Moxie, the second story set in the Twenties that I've written has been released digitally and is available at The Wild Rose Press.

It was supposed to be simple. Moxie Hamilton was going to kidnap an unsuspecting driver just long enough to get to an out-of-town train station and buy a ticket to Chicago. She didn't factor in the stolen diamonds, being chased by a gun-wielding thug, or falling in love with her kidnap victim. The last one was probably one of her worst ideas, especially since she had a fiancé waiting for her in Chicago. Getting kidnapped wasn't high on Ben Kincaid's list of things to do, but that didn't stop Moxie from pulling a gun on him and ordering him to take her out of town. From the steamy heat of St. Augustine, Florida to the crime-ridden streets of prohibition Chicago and everywhere in between, Ben and Moxie leave a trail of chaos in a cross-country caper that will change their lives forever.



Currently, I'm working on a sequel, tentively titled Moxie to the Rescue. Eye of the Beholder, written after I fell in love with Gerard Butler as The Phantom of the Opera, is due to be released early 2008.

It Takes Moxie sounds like a great story! What advice would you give to new writers just starting out?

Don't write to the market, write what's in your heart. I started writing at a time when everyone said the historical romance market was dead, and to write a historical in such an unusual time period was pretty much the kiss of death. But that didn't stop me because I love the Twenties and can't work up any kind of enthusiam for writing in any other time period. My love for the era shows up in my writing and I think people can see that. A good story will sell, regardless of genre, if you only believe in it and in yourself.

That's such good advice. So can you describe your writing space for readers?

I've got what I call my own personal form of ADHD. I'm not athletic by any means (I'm really lazy, actually) but I have to be moving at all times. My kids joke about how many miles I put on my rocking chair during the day. I take the term 'laptop' literally and spend my day rocking back and forth, laptop chugging away on my thighs, typing out my stories. I just bought a chiller for my computer this weekend, and it's doing wonders drawing the heat produced by my laptop away from my thighs. After long writing sessions, the term 'hot legs' took on a whole new meaning!

I love that! OK, what is your favorite movie? Did it inspire your writing in any way?

I don't necessarily have a favorite movie, though I do tend to gravitate to those made before 1960, musicals from the 40' and 50's are always good as are gangster movies from the early 30's. I DO use bits and pieces of movies as inspiration for my books - like the aforementioned Phantom. Clara Bow's "It", an old silent made in the 20's, is invaluable for both ideas and for giving me a sense of what things were like back then. I've even had a two second long visual from Michael Jackson's music video "Beat It" inspire an entire scene in one manuscript.

Thanks so much for being here today. Anything else you'd like readers to know?

Thanks so much for taking the time to learn about me and my passion for all things Twenties. If you want to follow my adventures, visit my journal here: http://www.dulciemae.bravejournal.com/index.php

Happy Tuesday

"Language forces us to perceive the world as man presents it to us." ~Julia Penelope

Happy Tuesday Fact #1: My article about book trailers is featured in this month's issue of The Samhellion! (You have to scroll down once you get there; there's no direct link)

Happy Tuesday Fact #2: I finished my 3rd? 4th? draft of Summer's Song yesterday, and today I'm officially handing it over to some readers for feedback. I'm so glad to be done with it... (for a little while, anyway, 'til the comments come back!)

***
And in other news, I had to put down Nineteen Minutes last night without finishing it. I hate doing that. I rarely do that. In fact, the last time I put down a novel halfway through was...hmm...last summer, Perfect Match, also by Jodi Picoult. Maybe she's lost her allure for me.

I wasn't crazy about Nineteen Minutes from the start - the characters seemed contrived, too much like caricatures than actual teens, sort of the worst-case scenario of every situation you might see in a high school. And I almost lost it a few chapters back, when this one sophomore, the golden boy/star athlete says to his girlfriend (she wants him to stop picking on the nerdy kids in their class). "I can't. Because if there isn't a them, then there is no us."

No way a 16 year, especially one as vapid as Picoult has made this one out to be, would have that much self-awareness. And even if he did think it, he wouldn't say it out loud to the new girlfriend he's trying to impress. I was like, "Oh, please."

But the thing that put me over the edge last night - and you may think I'm overreacting here - was a description of a teenage girl, who walks into her mother's bedroom and the mother is wondering when she grew up, because she has all these curves. And the girl is wearing a "wifebeater tank and boxer shorts."

I cannot tell you how offensive I find the word "wifebeater." It makes my skin crawl. I refuse to let any of my own student use it. It's a horrible, misogynistic word that basically condones spousal abuse. And if someone can tell me why it's okay to be a part of our vocabulary, then please enlighten me.

I'm terribly disappointed that Picoult chose that descriptive term. She certainly wasn't doing it for effect. Worse, it didn't even make sense from a writer's perspective. The scene is written from the mother's POV; she's a judge and she's also out of touch with her daughter and teens in general. There's no way she would use that word to describe what her daughter is wearing.

Sigh.

So that's that. The book is going back to the library today. And I think I may stay away from Picoult in the future. Too bad.

Lurkers and Private Blogs

"Many attempts to communicate are nullified by saying too much." ~Robert Greenleaf

We all know what lurkers are, in cyber world, right? You may even be one (I am, many times...there, I've admitted it). Lurkers are those people who visit blogs, or chats, or loops, and just sit back and read all the comments without making any themselves. Some people dislike lurkers. I don't. But maybe that's 'cause I tend to be one. Sometimes it's just because I don't have time to leave a comment - sometimes people have already said everything I would want to say anyway. And sometimes I feel like getting information withtout necessarily interacting.

Is that wrong?

I know from Google Analytics that about six times as many people visit my blog each day than leave comments on it. It doesn't bother me. Sure, that "0 Comments" at the bottom of a post doesn't exactly make my day, sometimes. But I understand that some people really do just want to read and not feel that they have to say something at the end.

But what about you? Do you wish lurkers would leave comments? Do you resent that they show up without leaving anything behind to say that they were here?

My mom was telling me the other day about a blog she reads regularly - it's by the wife of one of her nephews, about their journey adopting 2 babies from a foreign country. Lots of pics, info, etc. She doesn't usually comment, but when she does, she does so under the "Anonymous" feature. (People do that occasionally here too...again, I don't mind. Unless it's some kind of flaming negativity, why should I need to know who said it?) A couple of days ago, apparently the woman got irritated that people were lurking and not commenting. The next day, she changed her blog to "private" so that you have to log in with a valid email and user name to read it.

Wonder how many readers she lost?

I guess I can understand that if you're really only blogging for your friends and family, then having a private blog is a good idea. But I'm thinking you should start with that private feature from the beginning. Of course, my goal in blogging was to get potential readers, so the last thing I would want is to turn people away by requiring them to sign in first. I know some loyal readers who don't even like the word verification feature on blogs!

But it does seem a little weird to, without warning, change your public blog to a private one after almost a year of blogging.

Anyway, that's my 2 cents on lurking and private blogs. I've never come across a private one before; have you? And what's your opinion on them, anyway? I'm curious...

Welcome to the Latest Stop on Marianne Arkins's Virtual Book Tour!

I know, I know...usually I only interview authors on Writers' Wednesdays. But today is a special day. We're helping my good writing friend Marianne promote her newly released novel, One Love for Liv. It's available right now ebook format, from Samhain Publishing, and will release in print right in time for Christmas! Today we get to see the inner workings of this romance author/review site co-owner/stay-at-home mom/native Californian who's right now shivering in her adopted home state of New Hampshire.

Enjoy the interview, leave comments, and pick up her book, OK? I'm telling you, it's a great, funny, sweet read with (of course!) a happy ending.

Hi, Marianne, and welcome! Can you tell readers a little bit about the book you're touring with?

One Love For Liv was released in eBook format by Samhain Publishing. I’m really excited about this for a couple of reasons. First, because it’s my first full length novel and that’s a big milestone for me. Secondly, because I really love this story and its characters. There was a time when I thought the storyline, the characters and such would preclude this from being published. I’m glad to know that wasn’t the case.

It's always a great moment to know that the work you've spent so much time and heart on will see publication, so congratulations on that accomplishment! For those writers who are just starting out, what advice would you give to new writers just starting out?

Join a good critique group of writers who are honest and ambitious and kind. Being around helpful, like-minded people can make a HUGE difference in your chances of getting published. And make sure your grammar and punctuation are up to par. Those two things will help you more, IMHO, than anything else out there.

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

I really only read books which meet two criteria:
1. Romance
2. A Happy-Ever-After

If I’m reading a new author, I will often flip to the end of the book to make certain there is a happy ending. If there isn’t one, it goes back on the shelf. I’m not so persnickety about genre – I’ll read mainstream romance, paranormal or even folks like Dean Koontz (I really love most of his books).

I like to be entertained. I don’t read for edification. Maybe that makes me shallow, but it also makes me happy...

I don’t know that I have a “favorite” author, per se. Jenny Crusie is an auto-buy as is Nora Roberts (especially her trilogies). I’ve also discovered some great new authors like Kerry Jones and Deborah MacGillivray recently. But, honestly, I’ll try just about anyone once.

Okay, a technical question: when you write, do you use the computer or compose by hand, oral dictation, or some other method?

I write almost 100% on the computer. When I’m in the groove, my brain moves so much faster than my hand does if I’m writing on paper that I either get frustrated, or my writing is so illegible I’ll never be able to figure out what I’ve written. I also like to be able to edit without scribbling and making arrows to point to things or whatnot. I’m always amazed to hear about best-selling authors who write their first drafts by hand. The idea of it mystifies me.

I've often found that movies inspire authors. What is your favorite movie? Did it inspire your writing in any way?

Can I pick two? I love, Love, LOVE both “Undercover Blues” and “The Princess Bride”. They’re both full of quirky humor and silliness, and both have romance and a happy ending. I’m also a big fan of “While You Were Sleeping” and “Ever After." Again, quirky humor, silliness, stranger characters, and a happy ending.

Do they inspire my writing? I suppose so. Most of my stories have quirky humor, silly secondary characters, romance and a happy ever after. :)

We're glad to see you here on your virtual tour, so thanks for stopping by! Is there anything else you’d like to mention?

I have a contest running on my blog to celebrate the release of “One Love For Liv. You can also visit me on my other virtual tour spots this month – the full list is here.

Thanks, Marianne! Readers, go ahead and leave your comments or questions, because she'll be peeking in here throughout the day!

I'm Not Gonna Write You a Love Song

"Promise me
You'll leave the light on
To help me see
The daylight my guide upon
Cause I believe
There's a way
You can love me..."
~Sara Bareilles

This is my new favorite song:



Fun, right?

And I am 50 pages from the end of Summer's Song, so that's my goal this weekend (maybe even today!). Finish the damn thing, put a period, type "The End" and then wait for some good-natured, patient, HONEST critique partners to give me feedback...

I'm off to write!

I'm So Pleased with this Article!

"Romance is the fiction that owes no allegiance to the God of things as they are. In the novel the writer's thought is tethered to probability, but in romance it ranges at will over the entire region of the imagination." ~Ambrose Bierce

So here's my big announcement for the day: go check out my feature article at WOW! Women on Writing! They always do such a nice job setting up their pages and all their features, and I love the way it turned out. Also take a minute to read the Editors' page...they say some nice things about the article and the romance industry in general.

I also have an article coming out with The Samhellion this month, on creating book trailers. Next time I have my webmistress update my website, I think I'm going to have her add a page with my article links. I never really intended on getting into that area of writing, but it's been a nice way to promote my author name and get some free advertising (and some paying markets!) at the same time.

Happy Friday!

It's All About Happily Ever After

"I claim there ain't
Another Saint
As great as Valentine."
~Ogden Nash

Big congrats to Crystal B. of Williamsburg, KY, the winner of my Valentine's Day Giveaway Contest! Crystal will be receiving 2 books, free downloads of my 2 novels, chocolate truffles, and beauty goodies. Thanks to everyone who entered ~ I had a great turnout. And just a reminder: I hold some kind of contest every month right here on my blog. Usually I give away a book, but you never know...I like to toss in other fun things as well. So stop back next month (or sooner!) to see what the March contest will bring...

***

Most of my regular readers know that I freelance for the awesome ladies over at WOW-Women on Writing...and Senior Editor Annette Fix is celebrating the release of her novel The Break-Up Diet today! You can order it on Amazon or from your local bookseller.

The Break-Up Diet is the true story of a 30-something single mother/aspiring writer who is working as an exotic dancer, searching for Prince Charming, and trying to find a perfect balance between her dreams and her day-to-day life as Supermom.

~Annette Fix is the Senior Editor for WOW! Women On Writing, an author, and spoken-word storyteller, living in Laguna Niguel, California with her Danish Prince Charming, her aspiring photographer son, and two rescued dogs.

Looks great, right? Also, check out the Break-Up Story Forum, a place where women can go to read and share their break-up and dating stories, the book blog, and her MySpace page.

***

Finally, in honor of Cupid's great day, here are two classic poems and three classic movie scenes, all of which should warm your heart and remind you of the power of true love and happily ever after. It's why I write about it, after all :)

Sonnets from the Portuguese XLIII (Elizabeth Barrett Browning)

How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.
I love thee to the depth and breadth and height
My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight
For the ends of Being and ideal Grace.
I love thee to the level of everyday's
Most quiet need, by sun and candle-light.
I love thee freely, as men strive for Right;
I love thee purely, as they turn from Praise.
I love thee with a passion put to use
In my old griefs, and with my childhood's faith.
I love thee with a love I seemed to lose
With my lost saints, --- I love thee with the breath,
Smiles, tears, of all my life! --- and, if God choose,
I shall but love thee better after death.

i carry your heart (ee cummings)

i carry your heart with me(i carry it in
my heart)i am never without it(anywhere
i go you go,my dear; and whatever is done
by only me is your doing,my darling)
i fear
no fate(for you are my fate,my sweet)i want
no world(for beautiful you are my world,my true)
and it's you are whatever a moon has always meant
and whatever a sun will always sing is you

here is the deepest secret nobody knows
(here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud
and the sky of the sky of a tree called life;which grows
higher than the soul can hope or mind can hide)
and this is the wonder that's keeping the stars apart

i carry your heart(i carry it in my heart)

Writers' Wednesday: An Interview with Carol Spradling

Welcome to Writers' Wednesday! Before we get started with today's author interview, just a quick reminder: today is the last day to enter my Valentine's Day Contest! Click here for all the details ~ I'll announce the winner right here, tomorrow!

Now welcome Carol Spradling, author of historical fiction and romance. Her first book, Cost of Freedom, is due out with The Wild Rose Press this spring.



Hi, Carol! So tell us: was there an event or moment in your life that triggered your desire to write?

I was always fascinated with Colonial America, but there were two events that captured my attention in a way that I knew I had to write about the 1700s. One was my middle school, history teacher, Mr. Igo. When he taught, he would pull his chair in front of the class, lean in, and speak as though it were story time. His animation and passion for this period stayed with me, deepening my infatuation with the time.

The other, I read a small blurb in a magazine about a woman who lived in pre-Revolutionary War America. Her husband was away, fighting with the Patriots while she lay dying of an undisclosed illness. A friend begged her to send word to her husband. She refused, commenting that her life was insignificant to what he did. It was more important that he stay where he was than be with her.

I knew this woman’s story had to be told.

Wow, that's interesting. Can you tell us about your upcoming published novel?

Cost of Freedom is the first book in a trilogy set in 1770, Boston. It opens with William Jackson at the Boston Massacre. He tries to diffuse the situation but gets wounded, rendering him unable to continue with the Sons of Liberty. Unknown to him, childhood friend, Abigail Matthews arrives in Boston, thinking herself an indentured servant. One night, she is alone in a cemetery and overhears two Patriots plotting against her beloved England. She flees with this information but is captured and taken to William’s home. On opposite sides of the conflict, they re-ignite their friendship, but it is not until Abigail shoots a British soldier and is marked as a traitor that she begins to see the Colonies and their fight through William’s eyes.


Sounds exciting! So how do you go about developing your characters?

Most of my characters present themselves. As I formulate the idea for a scene, they arrive,
generally with their own attitudes and thoughts of what should transpire. It is not uncommon for me to have an idea for a character’s speech and behavior. The next thing I know, I’m following them down a side road, wondering how I got there. I always find it advantageous to allow them to be themselves, rarely have they lead me astray.

As a published author, what advice would you give to new writers just starting out?

Write from your heart. It doesn’t matter what you write or how well you construct a sentence. Get the ideas on paper. You will have ample opportunities for revisions. Also, write for the joy of it. If your main goal is to be published, you will find writing frustrating.

Do you ever suffer from writer's block? If so, what do you do about it?

Writer’s block hasn’t been a problem. I am a ‘chunk writer’. Basically, whatever scene I’m thinking about on any given day is what I work on. When the flow dries up, I move on to something else. Sometimes, I’ll write small paragraphs, ideas basically, in several scenes. Other times, the entire scene will unfold in one swoop.

When I do find myself without a pressing scene, I will look over what I’ve written, pick one spot and think, what would happen if I did this. I also like to take a deeper look at the characters and try to determine what is the driving force behind them. This generally opens up an entirely new aspect in which to work.

With historical fiction, although the foundation and some of the characters are based in fact, my main characters are fabricated. This gives me the liberty to put them in places and situations without adulterating history. Plus, it breathes life into the period, providing a fresh perspective.

When you write, do you use the computer or compose by hand, oral dictation, or some other method?

Oh, I have to use the computer. I can’t touch type. For me to transfer written work to the computer screen would take forever, not to mention be frustrating. I will jot thoughts and ideas down on paper because inspiration strikes at the oddest times and a fired-up computer isn’t always handy.

Thanks for being here and sharing your experiences, Carol. Is there anything else you’d like to mention to readers today?

I hope you will enjoy William and Abigail’s story as much as I enjoyed telling it. Updates, excerpts, and soon-to-be announced release dates for Cost of Freedom are available at my website.

Happy Release Day!

"Deliver me from writers who say the way they live doesn't matter. I'm not sure a bad person can write a good book, If art doesn't make us better, then what on earth is it for?" ~Alice Walker

It's the official release day for my good writing friend, Marianne, whose romantic comedy One Love for Liv is available today from Samhain Publishing!

And here's the trailer I made for it...

Head over to her blog and wish her a happy release day, OK? Even better, go over to Samhain and buy yourself a copy of her book. She writes good comedy, believe me. I've only seen about 1/2 this novel, in its draft form, so I'm excited to finally read the whole thing!

Congratulations, Marianne!!!

Nineteen Minutes

"At fourteen you don't need sickness or death for tragedy." ~Jessamyn West

I just started reading Nineteen Minutes, by Jodi Picoult. Anyone else read it? It's about a school shooting, and from what I've heard, she delves into the social aspect of cliques in HS and what leads one boy to become so desperate he brings a gun to school. I'm only a few chapters in, and so far it's...OK. I do like her writing a lot, and the book is seamless and easy to read. But there's something that has rubbed me the wrong way, something I almost can't put a finger on. It might be the way she creates caricatures of the high school students, in their various groups, or the way she makes the mother of the shooter (and one of the primary victims) these Every-women that we should relate to, understand, and forgive for their shortcomings.

It's probably just that I teach high school, and so any attempt to write a fictional account of what happens in teenagers' daily lives naturally falls short. They are much more complex creatures than the media gives them credit for. And it is probably that part of me (that is not a parent) that cannot excuse mothers and fathers who are absent from their child's lives, who buy their children cars for their 16th birthdays because it is easier than taking a pay cut and being home in the evenings to go to games and look over homework and talk about tough times, who think their children's bedrooms should be off-limits to adults, who think it's OK to give your child unlimited privacy on the computer because, after all, back in the '60s that's all they wanted too, privacy and space and a place to rage against authority.

But I digress.

One thing I have learned over 10 years of teaching adolescents: as much as they complain about and rebel against it, they want structure and boundaries. They want someone to tell them no. They want to know where that line of "no" is, even if they cross it (and they will). They want to be loved and respected for who they are, even if that changes from day to day. They *want* you to know who they are. They want desperately to belong. And they want it to be OK to make mistakes.

Over Christmas break, I had a student who graduated 2 years ago return to visit. We were talking about college, and she said, "You were the only person who ever told me it was okay if I didn't like college right away, and if I wanted to transfer. You were the only person who made it seem like that was an option, that it wouldn't be the end of the world."

Teenagers think everything *is* the end of the world, and they need us to provide a perspective they don't yet have.

We'll see how Nineteen Minutes unfolds. It might prove to be a valuable novel, an insightful look at the world of adolescence. I hope so.

Two Contests You Might Not Have Entered Yet

"Win as if you were used to it; lose as if you enjoyed it for a change." ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

You know how much I like and promote contests, right? Well, here are 2 more you might not have heard of...

Fellow Wild Rose Press author Melissa Blue is celebrating the release of her very first novel (hooray!) by giving away both an electronic and an autographed print copy of her book, How Much You Want to Bet? Click here for more details.

Fellow Samhain author Kerri Augusto is giving away an ebook reader to one lucky reader who answers a trivia question about her new novel, Strawberries in Winter. Click here for more details.

Me? I'm still working on trailers, filling out publisher's info for One Night in Memphis, and watching the snow come down outside my window. Seriously. It snowed ALL DAY yesterday, and it's continuing this morning. You'd think I lived in the north, or something, and it was mid-February, or something...