Still Thinking About NaNoWriMo

"Write only if you cannot live without writing." ~Elie Wiesel

I was interested by yesterday's blog responses, especially those that said, "Yes, do NaNoWriMo, but make sure you plot a little bit first." Actually, I didn't know plotting was allowed! I thought you were supposed to do *everything* within the month of November: character charts, outlining, thinking, writing... I do have a rough scene guide of the story I want to tackle, so I might give it a try. Still thinking, though.

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The Long and the Short of It runs a weekly contest - did you know? And today's featured trailer, which you can see right here (no personal promo or anything), can lead you to an extra entry in the contest. Or, if you're an author, you can contact them about having your own trailer featured on their site. Hey, extra promo is extra promo!

A Good Chuckle for Monday

Well, if you didn't catch the skit parodying Sarah Palin and Hillary Clinton on SNL this past Saturday, you missed out. Say what you will about its political commentary (and many already have), Tina Fey's resemblance to Palin is downright eerie, and her timing and delivery, along with Amy Poehler's, is perfect. I thought the script writers lampooned both women pretty equally, too. Take a look by clicking here.

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So I'm considering attempting National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo for short). It's basically a challenge to write a 50,000-word novel during the month of November - to let control and serious editing go and just write for 30 days. I have a book I'd like to tackle, so it might be good to jump in and see what happens. As they say on the website, you'll probably end up with a lot of crap, considering there's no time for true editing (or even conscious thought), but you also might produce the kind of raw, unique stuff that shows up in situations like that too.

I know other writers out there have done it...any words of advice??

Update on Book Signing...

"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover." ~Mark Twain

Hooray! Good day at Borders yesterday: I sold 12 books in the 3 hours we were there. It was so nice to be in my hometown bookstore and have friends come in to see and support me (a couple of students, too!). It also made me anxious to come home and write - something I haven't done enough of since school began.

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Trailer I recently finished for Devon Gray's upcoming release:

Fingers Crossed for Sales!

"In the case of good books, the point is not to see how many of them you can get through, but how many can get through to you." ~Mortimer Adler

Booksigning today at Borders ~ wish me luck!

Random Friday Thoughts

Some random musings on this Friday morning...

There's a great independent book store in Port Clinton, Ohio, that welcomes author's bookmarks and will promote you and your website link on theirs: The Book Exchange. If you're an author and you'd like their contact info, email me and I'll pass it along.

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A hearty congrats to my fellow writer Chandler Marie Craig, who right now is tossing around not one but TWO offers of representation from literary agents. Way to go Chandler!!

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Brand new author Kimberly Huff is celebrating the release of her really funny chick lit novel, Tall Skinny Cappuccino (and I can say that 'cause I got to read + review the ARC).

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I'm finishing up a trailer for Devon Gray's upcoming release, Playing for Keeps, and a freelance article for WOW- Women on Writing about the Price Sisters, who write via IM and email though they live on different continents.

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And I'm trying to revise One Night in Napa for the NJRW Conference at the end of October...it's going well but not fast enough!!

In Memoriam

“I fear that all I have done is awakened a sleeping giant and filled him with a terrible resolve.”~Admiral Yamamoto after the Pearl Harbor attack, December 7, 1941

Just a quick post today...mostly to say that I'm cheating and sending you to read my Samhain Blog post instead of writing anything intellectual or witty or profound here.

It won't be up there 'til after 3:00 pm (EST) today, but please check back and comment. The post actually means a lot to me.

Please take a moment and remember:

Writers' Wednesday: An Interview with Maria Zannini

Welcome to Writers' Wednesday! Today I'm thrilled to have fellow Samhain author Maria Zannini join me. Her debut novel, Touch of Fire, recently released, so I'm happy to have her here, celebrating and sharing her experiences. Enjoy!



Hi Maria! Can you tell us a little about your background?

If you were to list all the things I've done in my life you'd think me a Jill of all trades. I have been an artist, graphic designer, homesteader, vet technician, and art director. I've raised dogs, ratites, and blood pressure.


Not necessarily in that order.

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

It was an accident! I sent a letter to the editor of a country living magazine and he tracked me down and called me. By the end of our phone visit, he asked if I'd be interested in writing an article for his magazine.

I was.

It got a big response from the readership and realized I might be on to something. It would be several more years before I got into fiction, but I was definitely hooked.

That's such a great "discovery" story! OK, now tell us about your latest writing project or published title.

Touch Of Fire is out now! It's a fantasy set 1200 years in a future Earth where technology has been replaced with Elemental magic. An ancient alchemist's book has surfaced and threatens to bring weapons of mass destruction back into their society. Leda, a young Elemental mage is ordered to find it and return it to her elders. Her search leads her to Greyhawke Tams, an ex-soldier turned scavenger who will do whatever it takes to keep her from completing her mission. But it isn't long before they discover someone wants them both dead.

There's sex, adventure, huge obstacles and great sacrifices. And there's sex. Did I mention that? I love this book! It was great fun to extrapolate the roles of common, everyday things and ideas and show how they would be perceived in the future.

Congrats on your release. So how do you balance writing with the rest of your life?

You mean I had to balance them both? Rats! I don't think I got that memo. :o)

I will give one piece of advice to anyone who is not published yet. Get your blog and website in order BEFORE you sign that first contract. I mean it! You will not have time once that ball starts rolling. You want to build your internet presence long before there's a book out there. Trust me on this. I am still playing catch-up.

Absolutely true; I agree 100%. Now, describe your writing space for us...

[This is where I live most of the time. The painting above the desk is one I did of two of my babies, Isis and Nacho, when they were alive.]

I suffer from sciatica and cannot sit for long periods of time, so I use a balance ball as my office chair, both here and at work. And I think I've started a trend. Several of my friends at work are now using one too.

Since I still do artwork, my desk is also set up with a Wacom tablet and a scanner.

What do you like to do when you're not writing?


I am a garage sale junkie! I love to haunt tag sales and have been known to scrounge interesting "junk" from back alleys and dumpsters. Many of the antiques in my home have been lovingly restored and saved from the landfill:

[The desk, chair, even the pillow roll were found objects that were refurbished.]

People tell me I have very eclectic tastes. I think that's code for eccentric. And that sounds about right.

Maria, thanks so much for being here today. Readers, don't forget to check out Touch of Fire and visit Maria's website and blog as well!

Thanks for having me on your blog, Allie!

Why I Love my Small Press

"Everything in the world exists in order to end up as a book." Stephan Mallarme

So this-coming Saturday, I'm doing a group book signing at the local Borders. I was really looking forward to this one, since it's my local Borders and a decent amount of my friends are planning on coming by.

Then I get an email yesterday afternoon from the author who set up the signing, saying that Borders waited until the last minute and won't have any of our books in stock. Thus, we should carry in our own books for sale. Now, this would normally not be a problem...if I had known ahead of time. I have exactly 4 copies of one book, and 0 copies of the other, in my house right now. And again, this would normally not be a problem if it weren't my local store and my friends weren't planning on coming.

So at 5:30 in the afternoon, I send a semi-crazed email to the women at Samhain in charge of ordering, with a plea to look into rush shipping if it's available. I figure, I won't hear a thing 'til the next day at least, considering it's well after 5.

Ten minutes later, I get a call at home from the Marketing Director, telling me exactly how much $$ 20 copies of One Night in Boston, ordered on a rush job and shipped 2-day air, will cost me. Then she spends another 10 minutes on the phone with me trying to figure out how to lower that $$. Finally, she puts in the order for what seems to us both to make the most sense and also promises to call the woman at the printer tomorrow morning to tell her how desperate I am.

And that is why I love my small press.

Royalty Statements

"Money is the root of all evil, and yet it is such a useful root that we cannot get on without it any more than we can without potatoes." ~Louisa May Alcott

So over the weekend I received my royalty statement for the month of August - and while I can't quit my day job yet, at least I'm out of the red. You might recall that last month's numbers were nothing to cheer about, and since Samhain gives its authors an advance, until you "sell out" your advance, you get nothing except a red number of how much you still owe them at the bottom.

Thankfully, this statement included some print sales of One Night in Boston, which bumped me into the black column (I'm still not sure exactly how that works, since I thought I only saw print sale numbers twice a year...I'm hoping Diane will drop by and enlighten me). The ebook numbers for One Night in Memphis still aren't terrific by any means, but I've come to terms with the fact that my readers are going to buy my books in print much more than they're going to buy the electronic versions.

Anyway, I can put gas in my car this week, thanks to this royalty statement. So onwards and upwards!

The Right to Choose

"Censorship reflects society's lack of confidence in itself. It is a hallmark of an authoritarian regime." ~Potter Stewart

Pop quiz: what do the following books have in common?

A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess
A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle
Annie on My Mind by Nancy Garden
As I Lay Dying by William Faulkner
Blubber by Judy Blume
Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson
Canterbury Tales by Chaucer
Carrie by Stephen King
Catch-22 by Joseph Heller
Christine by Stephen King
Confessions by Jean-Jacques Rousseau
Cujo by Stephen King
Curses, Hexes, and Spells by Daniel Cohen
Daddy's Roommate by Michael Willhoite
A Day No Pigs Would Die by Robert Peck
Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller
Decameron by Boccaccio
East of Eden by John Steinbeck
Fallen Angels by Walter Myers
Fanny Hill (Memoirs of a Woman of Pleasure) by John Cleland
Flowers For Algernon by Daniel Keyes
Forever by Judy Blume
Grendel by John Champlin Gardner
Halloween ABC by Eve Merriam
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling
Harry Potter and the Prizoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling
Have to Go by Robert Munsch
Heather Has Two Mommies by Leslea Newman
How to Eat Fried Worms by Thomas Rockwell
Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou
Impressions edited by Jack Booth
In the Night Kitchen by Maurice Sendak
It's Okay if You Don't Love Me by Norma Klein
James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl
Lady Chatterley's Lover by D.H. Lawrence
Leaves of Grass by Walt Whitman
Little Red Riding Hood by Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm
Lord of the Flies by William Golding
Love is One of the Choices by Norma Klein
Lysistrata by Aristophanes
More Scary Stories in the Dark by Alvin Schwartz
My Brother Sam Is Dead by James Lincoln Collier and Christopher Collier
My House by Nikki Giovanni
My Friend Flicka by Mary O'Hara
Night Chills by Dean Koontz
Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
On My Honor by Marion Dane Bauer
One Day in The Life of Ivan Denisovich by Alexander Solzhenitsyn
One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest by Ken Kesey
One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez
Ordinary People by Judith Guest
Our Bodies, Ourselves by Boston Women's Health Collective
Prince of Tides by Pat Conroy
Revolting Rhymes by Roald Dahl
Scary Stories 3: More Tales to Chill Your Bones by Alvin Schwartz
Scary Stories in the Dark by Alvin Schwartz
Separate Peace by John Knowles
Silas Marner by George Eliot
Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.
Tarzan of the Apes by Edgar Rice Burroughs
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain
The Bastard by John Jakes
The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger
The Chocolate War by Robert Cormier
The Color Purple by Alice Walker
The Devil's Alternative by Frederick Forsyth
The Figure in the Shadows by John Bellairs
The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck
The Great Gilly Hopkins by Katherine Paterson
The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood
The Headless Cupid by Zilpha Snyder
The Learning Tree by Gordon Parks
The Living Bible by William C. Bower
The Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare
The New Teenage Body Book by Kathy McCoy and Charles Wibbelsman
The Pigman by Paul Zindel
The Seduction of Peter S. by Lawrence Sanders
The Shining by Stephen King
The Witches by Roald Dahl
The Witches of Worm by Zilpha Snyder
Then Again, Maybe I Won't by Judy Blume
To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee
Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare
Webster's Ninth New Collegiate Dictionary by the Merriam-Webster Editorial Staff
Witches, Pumpkins, and Grinning Ghosts: The Story of the Halloween Symbols by Edna Barth

Answer: VP candidate Sarah Palin tried to ban all of them from the Wasilla, Alaska, public library while she was mayor of that town.

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This, anyway, is what one of those circulated emails that I got last night said. True? I really hope not. I mean, I heard that she tried to get "a book" banned...but all of these? Some of which are recommended reading for most of the high school students I know? (C'mon...Of Mice and Men and To Kill a Mockingbird?)

Anyone heard about this? 'Cause censorship is a dangerous, dangerous thing. Once you start restricting access to words/thoughts, you take away people's ability to decide for themselves what should be read, what's important and what's immoral and what should be kept from the eyes of children (your children, anyway). And shouldn't parents be having those conversations anyway? What happens when you take away a person's right to *choose* what they'll read, and what they'll allow their children to read? Doesn't enlightenment come from having discussions about difficult topics?

I've played this here before, but it's worth a repeat, because author John Green says it so well:

10 Things I've Learned

"Often, when I am reading a good book, I stop and thank my teacher. That is, I used to, until she got an unlisted number." ~Author Unknown

Three days into a new school year, and this is what I've learned so far:

1. It's easier to get up at 5:30 am than I thought it would be, especially if you can use some of that early time to squeeze out some writing.

2. It is a delicate drill to find the exact time to leave the house in order to avoid all school buses on the way to work.

3. Lunchtime comes a lot earlier (according to my stomach) than it did during the summer.

4. Those muscles in your legs that keep you upright on two-inch heels all day long? They stop working in the summer and have to be re-trained, come Fall (ouch!).

5. Same goes for the vocal cords.

6. Some people will be over the moon-happy to see you back in the halls and classrooms.

7. One or two people will be jealous of the fact that you manage to have a life (i.e., writing success) outside of school and will try to make your life miserable as a result.

8. In those cases, it's best to end the days with (a) a good long run; (b) a good tall glass of wine; or (c) a good conversation with a close friend. Ideally, all of the above.

9. Unlike John McCain's claim in Thursday night's speech, I do not believe that public education is a "failing institution."

10. Standing in front of a group of students who are excited to see you and interested in what you have to say is still the best way to spend a day :)

Advice About Class Reunions

Wow, yesterday's blog question definitely prompted some good and thoughtful responses. Thanks! When I was going through final edits of One Night in Memphis, I was actually surprised by the number of times I had characters swearing. It was always either the bad guy, or male-male conversation. And in both cases, I think, it was realistic dialogue. Still, I cut out probably 1/3 of it in the edits, and I also emailed my editor asking whether she still thought it was too much. I'm not sure what or who else she edits, but she (somewhat laughingly) replied that she thought it was fine. If you check the Samhain page, though, there's still a warning for "Mild profanity." I figured I just wanted to be safe.

End of the week - finally! And among other things on my plate, I have taken on the task of planning my high school reunion (and no, I'm not telling you how many years. You'll have to guess. And even then, I won't tell you if you're right). So...any advice from anyone who's done it? Even better, any advice from anyone who's gone to a class reunion and either loved or hated the way it was set up? Share, please!

A Question About the F-Word

"When angry count four; when very angry, swear." ~ Mark Twain

First question: How do you feel about profanity in writing? In the novel I'm working on now, the hero swears every now and again - mostly to show that he's sort of a slacker, a little insensitive, not a great guy at the start...but that's why his change is dramatic later in the novel. One of my readers was offended by the language (specifically, the word "Christ" used twice on the first page, and the f'-word later in the first chapter). She thought it was likely people would put the book down upon reading the first few pages, and I'd be alienating an entire group of people who might otherwise enjoy the story.

Now, the villainous character in One Night in Memphis swears quite a lot, especially as the novel goes on and the danger/conflict heighten. He, of course, isn't a likable guy, and so maybe those language choices are slightly more appropriate or acceptable.

What do you think? Does profanity in dialogue bother you? Does the genre/character/plotline matter at all? Do you have a certain tolerance for it, or none at all?

Reviews Sometimes Come from the Nicest Places...

"The average woman would rather have beauty than brains, because the average man can see better than he can think." ~Author Unknown

Hi folks, I'm taking today off from Writers' Wednesday...but the weekly feature will be back next week with Samhain author Maria Zannini!

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In the meantime, check out this video about the different treatment a "sexy" girl vs. a "plain" girl gets. I've seen the same thing with a fat vs. skinny woman, but it's always sort of a jolt to realize how much looks matter in the world. Still.

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Here's a question: when a friend/coworker/boss prefaces a conversation by saying, "Now, this isn't personal..." don't you think it usually is?

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Hey, this is cool: yesterday at work a fellow teacher greeted me and said, "Why can't I buy One Night in Memphis in print yet? I can't wait until next May!"

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And a former student emailed me to ask about college/grad school advice and said, "I just wanted to say I finished One Night in Boston and loved it. I even cried at the end!!!!"

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Those kind of reviews and feedback, from people I know whose opinions I value? That's cool.

Prison Break Gets a Thumbs-Up!

OK, so I LOVED the first episode of Prison Break's new season, last night. I wasn't sure...I mean, they've already covered a lot of territory, but it seems as though the writers have a decent plot planned for this 4th season. The best part, though? Sarah, the love interest of main character Michael, is back. And they didn't try to hide her for too long - the two were reunited within the first 10 minutes or so. Amazing how a little love in the air can color a story so differently :)

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Also thought I'd mention this cool fund-raiser: Unleash Your Story for Cystic Fibrosis. You can either sign up to read, write, or donate money to those doing so during the month of September, all in the name of a pretty good cause.

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I'm off to the first day of school ~ wish me luck!

A Day to Rest - For Some, Anyway

"Labor was the first price, the original purchase-money that was paid for all things. It was not by gold or by silver, but by labor, that all wealth of the world was originally purchased." ~Adam Smith

So today is Labor Day, here in the U.S. - the official day off for working citizens in this country and the symbolic end of summer. Falling on the first Monday in September, for me it means school begins tomorrow. We always begin the Tuesday following - and why, oh why, did Labor Day have to fall on September 1st this year? Why couldn't August have stretched into the week by just one lousy day, so that September 1st fell on a Tuesday, and Labor Day fell on September 7th, and the first day of school on September 8th?

Sigh.

Well, I hope you all have a chance to do something relaxing and enjoyable today, even if it's only for a few minutes. I'm keeping an eye on the Gulf Coast and Hurricane Gustav, and saying a fervent prayer that it doesn't cause the kind of damage Hurricane Katrina did. All those people - all those businesses - all those lives that lie directly in the storm's path. I really hope somehow it loses speed before it makes landfall.

Prayers, all~

"Find"-ing Your Way Through Revisions

Just a quick tip for my fellow writers today:

Learn to appreciate the "Find" feature when you're revising your work. So often, we use the same words and phrasing for a good portion of our story. Using "Find" forces us to locate exactly how many times we've done that and rework the sentence (or image) to make it stronger. In my first-ever manuscript, one of my beta readers pointed out that my characters sighed a lot. When I did a search for "sigh," I discovered how right she was. Being forced to find another dialogue tag or body language action made my writing, and the individual characters, stronger.

"That" is another dangerous word. It often turns up as filler in a sentence and can be eliminated, tightening the phrasing. What about your descriptors of characters' appearances? Too often, writers will use a favorite term for, say, hair color. When it becomes over-used, you're going to pull your readers right out of the story. So check that too. I'm reviewing a story right now that has a decent plot, and the writing itself is pretty good, but the hero uses the same term of endearment for the heroine over and over again. While the author might be trying to make a point, I fear instead she's falling into the trap of not varying her word choice enough.

OK - that's my tip for today! I'm off to work on One Night in Napa. And yes, using the "Find" feature will be one of the ways I'll tackle it :)

TV and Movies I Can't Wait to See!

So with the coming of fall and the start of school, at least there's a bright spot: TV shows coming back on and new movies coming out. Here are the ones I can't wait to see:

TV:

Prison Break - one of my favorites! Even though last season wasn't great, I heard a rumor that they're bringing back Sarah (the love interest for Michael, the main character), so that should improve things. See: a little romance even helps an action show!

The Office - love this comedy. The only problem is that it conflicts with Grey's Anatomy, which I stopped watching last year because I was so tired of hearing Meredith whine. I still haven't given in to paying the $$$ for DVR/TivO - but maybe I should.

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Movies:

(Careful: if you visit the links, you may see spoilers!!!!!)

"Burn After Reading" - by the Coen brothers, looks quirky and stars George Clooney and Brad Pitt.

"Blindness" - Julianne Moore plays the only person who can see in a city where everyone else has gone blind for some strange reason. Mark Ruffalo is also in it, the real reason I want to see this film, but it sounds potentially intriguing.

"The Express" - this one will be the feel-good sports movie of the fall, about the first African-American to win the Heisman Trophy (that's college football, for all you non-sports fans)

"Changeling" - Angelina Jolie plays a woman who's sent to a mental institution after she meets a boy and doesn't know if he's her son or not. Already has Oscar buzz.

"Milk" - Sean Penn stars in this one, the story of Harvey Milk, the first openly gay man elected to public office. Same director as "Good Will Hunting," by the way.

"Defiance" - period piece (true story) about Jewish brothers who fought the Nazis during WWII.

"The Curiuos Case of Benjamin Button" - based on an F. Scott Fitzgerald story about a man who is born old and gets younger as he gets older; Brad Pitt stars.

So there you go - you saw them here first! We'll see which ones actually turn out to be good.

And I never talk politics, and won't really here, but after this week, isn't the Presidential race shaping up to be an interesting one??

Thank You

"Sometimes being a friend means mastering the art of timing. There is a time for silence. A time to let go and allow people to hurl themselves into their own destiny. And a time to prepare to pick up the pieces when it's all over." ~Gloria Naylor

Thanks, all, for your cyber-hugs and kind words yesterday. It's amazing how blogging can create this community of people you feel you know whether or not you've ever met them in person or have any idea what they look like. I think anyone who has a blog, or who visits them on a regular basis, has made this discovery as well. And it's a very cool one, in my opinion :)

While life goes on, regardless of the complications and crap, I've set a goal of finishing my revision of One Night in Napa in time to pitch it to an agent at the New Jersey RWA Conference in late October. I'm looking forward to the conference itself (and am going to participate in their Literacy Fair, selling my books) ~ and though I've never pitched a project to an editor or agent, I think it's probably a good time for me to give it a try. So fingers crossed and wish me luck...I have about 6 chapters, or 15000 words, to go. So it's managable. I just have to find the time!!

Funny How All the Bad Things Happen at Once...

Readers, I'm plumb worn out today. All sorts of stuff going on in my non-writing life, some of it not so good, so I'm taking the day off from blogging.

I will say, though, that if things calm down in the next few days, I'll be sending out my September e-newsletter. If you're a newcomer to my blog and haven't signed up for it yet, there's a form right over there, on the sidebar.

See you tomorrow~

Writers' Wednesday: An Interview with M. Jean Pike

Welcome to Writers' Wednesday! Today I'm chatting with author M. Jean Pike - sit back and enjoy!

Thanks so much for being here today! Can you tell us about your latest writing project or published title?

Thank you, Allie. My latest novel, a literary love story called IN THE SHADOW OF THE DRAGONFLY, will be released in October from Black Lyon Publishing. Here’s the blurb:

From above the shadows ... light.

Orphaned and impoverished, Gray Baldwin is a lost soul in search of a home, a life, and most of all -- love. Kicked from foster home to foster home, at last a restored motorcycle and the onset of adulthood give him the means to leave behind all the old threats, struggles and losses that haunt him. When he accepts a job at Hanwell Construction, life's promising new start is both his hope and his torment.

The spoiled daughter of a well-to-do business owner, pretty Hope Hanwell has a past to reconcile and a few tragic secrets of her own. She wants for nothing -- and everything, pushing love as far away as she can until love pushes back. When Gray and Hope meet, theirs is a story of heartbreak, redemption and fate at its most devastating.

Sounds like a terrific story (and I love the cover!). How do you go about developing your characters?

When a character starts to take shape in my mind, I spend a number of hours thinking about him or her before I even start writing. I get a feel for what they like, how they dress, speak, and react to different scenarios. I think about their backgrounds, where they live, what their families are like. Once I start writing their stories I become obsessed with them. I lie awake at night creating obstacles for them to overcome and I go through my day trying to see my life and circumstances through their eyes. My characters are constantly evolving and they are full of surprises. After spending months, and sometimes years carrying them around in my head, I know them as thoroughly as I know myself. They become a part of me and they never really leave me, even after I’ve moved on to other projects.

Yes, that sounds familiar! OK, what advice would you give to new writers just starting out?

There’s a whole lot of advice out there and most of it can be pretty mind boggling. I guess if a new writer asked for my two cents, I would offer these suggestions. Firstly, don’t be afraid to seek the help of a more experienced writer, be it through a writing course, books on the craft of writing, or critique partners. Secondly, know your market and don’t ever submit blindly. This will waste all kinds of time and the process of getting published is slow enough as it is. If you want to write for a specific publisher, read their titles, get a feel for what they like, and then do your best to give it to them.

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

A true book worm, I like all different kinds of books, from romance to suspense to classic literature. I love any author who can take me by surprise, make me cry buckets, or laugh out loud. Favorites? I have hundreds. The list includes Lee Child, Barbara Delinsky, Elizabeth Berg, Patricia Cornwell, Gail Godwyn, Eudora Welty, Maeve Binchy, and most recently, Emilie Richards.

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

I think every writer runs into trouble at one time or another. I wouldn’t say I get blocked, just sort of lost sometimes. When that happens, I handle it the same way as when I get lost in an unfamiliar city. Panic will do no good, and you can’t very well just sit with your motor racing dithering over what to do. I simply keep going in the direction I think might be right until eventually I find my way back to my story.

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

I do my best writing when I’m in a completely relaxed state of mind. For me, that means grabbing a pencil, a spiral notebook, and a good, strong cup of coffee and heading to the back porch. My back yard is my own private sanctuary; five acres of woods, water and wildflowers. I’ve been known to stay out there scribbling for hours when I’m chasing down a new story.

Oh, that sounds like an ideal place to write. Is there anything else you’d like to mention for our readers today?

I have excerpts of each of my books posted on my website, as well as news, contests, blogs, and upcoming events. All are invited to stop by!

Readers, I just wanted to mention that I read another of M. Jean Pike's books, Winds of Autumn, and loved it. This is one talented author ~ and I highly recommend adding In the Shadow of the Dragonfly to your "To Buy" list. It releases October 1st!

Revising: Switching from Narration to Dialogue

"I think the hardest part of writing is revising. And by that I mean the following: A novelist has to create the piece of marble and then chip away to find the figure in it." ~ Chaim Potok

OK, this is the morning I settle down and get back to revising One Night in Napa. First order of business? Fixing Chapter 2, which my critique group said was too narrative-heavy. Sigh. Of course, they're right, to an extent. So that means killing off some babies today. But I do have an idea that will change some of the narration to dialogue, tighten some of the setting and character details, and bring part of Chapter 3 into Chapter 2, so we get things moving a bit earlier. We'll see how it goes.

By the way, I'm reading a short story for review right now that has some beautiful narration, but it's trying too hard to be self-consciously different and beautiful. The first few times, I admired the language. Now it's just getting in the way. One of the top rules in writing: if the sentences draw attention to themselves, the reader is jolted out of the story ~ not a good thing.

And *that* is something I'm still working on learning, myself...

What about you, my fellow writers? What do you find most challenging when you begin to revise?

Monday Morning Meme

Here's an interesting meme ~ Diane tagged me for it.

Rules:
I am going to list three categories of books: 5 MUST Read Books, 5 Books on Your Nightstand, and 5 Look For These Soon. Anyone I tag should put these same lists on their blog but SUBTRACT one book from each list and ADD one of their own. (I've highlighted my additions) Then they should tag at least 5 more bloggers. It will be fun to see how the lists change as it goes around the blogosphere. Please come back to this post and leave a comment so I can see how the lists are changing as they go around the blogosphere!

(Since this is Book Buzz…please keep your lists to titles released in 2007-2009.)

5 MUST Read Books:
It Only Takes A Moment by Mary Jane Clark
A Mile in My Flip-Flops by Melody Carlson
Cast in Stone by Kerry A. Jones
Yellow Moon by Jewell Parker Rhodes
Conception by Kalisha Buckhanon

5 Books on the Nightstand:
Sun Kissed by Catherine Anderson
Nightswimming by Rebecca James
Pleasure by Eric Jerome Dickey
From Harvey River by Lorna Goodison
Trading Dreams at Midnight by Dianne McKinney

5 Look For These Soon:
Wanted by Shelley Shephard Gray
Just One of the Guys by Kristan Higgins
After the Fire: A True Story of Friendship and Survival by Robin Gaby Fisher
Midnight: A Gangster Love Story by Sister Souljah
The Hood Life: A Bentley Manor Tale by Meesha Mink and De’nesha Diamond

And I'll tag these 5 bloggers, if you want to take me up on it!

Liz
Chad
Chandler
MaryF
Charlotte

Home Again, Home Again

"If you come home as happy as you leave, you have had a good vacation." ~Anonymous

Ah...it's always a nice feeling to sleep in one's bed, after a week away...

What I'm Reading Now ~ The Book Thief by Marcus Zusak ~ I bought this book a couple of years ago and am finally getting around to reading it. It's won all kinds of awards and is considered YA fiction, I guess, though it's tremendous so far and definitely fit for adults as well. It's the story of a young girl growing up in Germany during WWII - and it's told from the POV of Death. Fascinating, with a really unique writing style, and I'm loving it. Anyone else read it?

What I'm Writing Now ~ This week I'm finishing up some reviews, working on an article I'm writing for WOW about author collaboration (I'm interviewing The Price sisters, who write novels via IM/email, since they live in the US and Ireland - how interesting is that?). And I need to get back to revising One Night in Napa.

What Else is on Today's To-Do List ~ Laundry! And grocery shoppping, and catching up with email, and paying bills, and getting ready for school tomorrow (I teach half college courses and half high school - the college ones begin tomorrow)...

So, what about you?

Good Reviews but Poor Sales

Just a quick blog today, since we're driving home and have to get on the road super-early:

I stumbled across another review of One Night in Memphis, 5 Nymphs from Literary Nymphs! Here's part of what the reviewer had to say:

"Boniface conveys some real danger and tension in this fast-paced tale, but shows astonishing and realistic growth in her characters. It’s not a sensual relationship yet, but it’s sweet, sensible and extremely entertaining.This is an absorbing novel, nearly impossible to put down. It has coincidence, a car chase, corruption and cool piano music. I definitely plan to read more by Allie Boniface."

OK, I know some of you might be getting tired of me posting my reviews here. But to get such positive feedback on this novel makes me really happy...especially since I just received my first month's royalty statement from Samhain, and sales were, well, not really what I had hoped. I have to keep in mind (as my husband reminds me) that Samhain readers tend to read way more spicy romance than what I write, and that a lot of my readers, I think, will still buy print rather than electronic books. (I hope, anyway.)

Interestingly, I've talked to a couple of other authors in the last 6 months who are also discouraged by their sales. One has decided to write straight erotica, "just because smut sells." The other is toying with the idea of quitting writing altogether.

It's tough, when you write and publish and market and then don't sell the way you'd like to. I suppose it comes down to why you write in the first place: to make money? to have a creative outlet? to become famous? I write because, now, I can't imagine NOT writing. And I do believe that, at some point, I am going to break into the bigger markets. That's why reviews mean so much to me...the more good stuff I can put in those query letters to agents and editors, the better :) And honestly, I'd rather write a story I knew was my very best effort, the best story I could possibly create, than give in and write to a trend.

What do you think??

Greatest Summer Olympics Moment in Recent Memory

OK, here it is: the end of the week, the end of the 2008 Olympics, and the end of my unofficial celebration of great moments in Summer Olympics history. Today, I have to recognize what I think of as one of the most exciting moments in recent Summer Olympics Games:

The US Women's Gymnastics Team Winning Gold Over Russia in 1996 (Thanks to Kerri Strug Vaulting on an Injured Ankle) ~ I picked this moment for a couple of reasons: first of all, I don't think anyone who watched this can forget Strug vaulting not once but twice on an injured ankle, then being carried out by her coach Bela Karolyi for the medal ceremony. And second, this team was so strong and deep in talent - every girl contributed to the win. I also think, when you watch their floor routines in the second clip, their choreography is stronger than what we saw in these Olympics - I think dance has been sacrificed to tumbling today.

Anyway, there was a reason they were nicknamed "The Magnificent Seven"!

Greetings from the Outer Banks!

Hey, everyone, a very exciting announcement today:

My good writing friend Liz has her short story "The Biggest Loser" featured at The Long and the Short of It today! So 2 things: first, go on over and read it. Then, drop by her BRAND NEW blog and leave her a comment telling her how much you liked it, OK? Liz is a great writer and gives terrific (and honest) feedback on the multiple drafts of stuff I give her, so she deserves a big celebration for her story today!!

*******

So I've been vacationing in the Outer Banks (North Carolina) this week, and it's been fabulous. This is the kind of vacation where hubby and I don't do much except relax, rest, sleep, and then relax a little more. It's completely not the kind of vacation I usually spend...but it's pretty indulgent and enjoyable, I'll admit. We rent a house on the water with 6 other couples, which makes it really affordable, too. Here's what this week looked like:

Somewhere around 7 am: Wake up and, if inspired, go for a run.

Somewhere around 8 am: Eat breakfast.

Somewhere around 10 am: Play some (very competitive) pool volleyball.

Somewhere around 1 pm: Eat lunch.

After lunch: Nap. Or read a trashy tabloid magazine. Or lie out in the sun and listen to my Zune.

Somewhere around 2 pm: Play another round of pool volleyball.

Somewhere around 6 pm: Figure out what we're doing for dinner.

After dinner: Go out for ice cream or to play mini golf. Or watch the Olympics. Fall asleep early.

The daily schedule might have varied a little, to fit in some shopping or climbing the lighthouse or seeing the wild horses that live on the northern beaches. But yeah, that's about it.

I meant to do all kinds of writing this week. I meant to revise One Night in Napa and possibly outline a next novel. But somehow, that didn't happen. I have to convince myself that's OK.

Now it's home - and get ready for another crazy school year. But hey, I have a great tan to show off, for the first couple weeks, anyway :)

Writers' Wednesday: An Interview with Liana Laverentz

A break from the Greatest Summer Olympics moments today, to chat with author Liana Laverentz. Enjoy the interview!

Hi, Liana, and welcome! Can you tell us about your latest writing project or published title?

The hardest question for me to answer is “What is your book about?” I tend to freeze up every time. So let me go with the blurb, here. It tells the story so much better than I can.


The last person small town bad boy Jacob Donovan expects to find when he returns home in disgrace after serving time is Rebecca Reed, head librarian. Rebecca had always had much bigger ambitions. Jake hadn’t wanted to stand in her way, so after one night of passion with his former best friend, he’d hit the open road.

Rebecca refuses to believe Jake is guilty of murder. The boy who’d been her friend and protector when they were town outcasts together could never have killed a woman. Not to mention the tender, loving man who’d given her their daughter, Katie.

But who is Jake now? That’s what everyone wants to know, including the town council chairman, who is determined to send Jake back to prison, by any means available.

Jake’s been running from love for all of his life. Will he find the courage to defeat his demons and stay this time?

Sounds terrific! How do you go about developing your characters?

I start with an external conflict, and try to imagine what kind of person would be involved in that conflict, try to figure out what kind of past or emotional baggage would lead them to be in that situation, and build from there. All my stories deal with issues stemming from childhood, and all my characters are built in layers. They don’t come fully formed, and they continue to surprise me with little details about themselves until I send the manuscript in to production.

What a great overview! Now, what kinds of books do you like to read? Who is your favorite author?

I love to read romantic suspense, or just plain suspense. Some of my favorite authors are Lisa Gardner, Rachel Lee, Erica Spindler, and Eileen Dreyer, who also writes romances as Kathleen Korbel. I think she writes awesome books. She has an obvious love for the written word and knows how to use it. I do most of my pleasure reading at night, before bed. When I read her books, it’s like looking forward to checking in with old friends at the end of the day. She makes her characters that real for you. In her book Sinners and Saints, she even made the setting, New Orleans just before a hurricane hits, a character in the book. You can tell she does her research. But she weaves it into the story so skillfully you don’t even realize you’re learning something as you read. And that there’s more going on than just the story, here. It’s a story written on several levels, and you can read it at any level you choose and still be satisfied at the end of the book.

What do you find most difficult about writing?
Believe it or not, making myself sit in the chair and just do it. Once I get started, the rest is easy.

What do you find most rewarding?
Reading a review where I realize the reviewer “got” what I was trying to do with the story.

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

I don’t suffer from writer’s block. My biggest problem is finding the time to put all the stories I have in my head and heart onto paper. Writers write. It’s what we do. We write because we can’t not write. It’s in our blood. But every word doesn’t have to be written for publication. So if you find yourself stuck, just start writing, even if it’s stream of consciousness, and it may take a while, but once you get started, you won’t want to stop. Even if the first thing you write has nothing to do with what you’re currently stuck on, just opening yourself up to the flow of creativity in your brain and enjoying the moment will eventually bring you to where you want to be. Something you write will undoubtedly spark an idea that you can tie back in to your WIP.

Either that, or pick up a book in an area that is different from the one you are trying to write. That works a lot, too. It shifts your conscious mind to something else, so that your subconscious can work out the problem. In a sense, you’re getting yourself out of your own way.

Or you can do something mindless, like the dishes, or folding laundry, or even take a walk. Slow down enough for your creativity to catch up to you again.

So what do you do when you’re not writing?

My favorite activities are reading, writing, watching movies on DVD, making soup from scratch, martial arts, road trips, and all things spiritual. I’m a huge fan of self-improvement, and am always looking for ways to keep my life balanced between writing, working, and being a Mom. I constantly listen to motivational CDs in the car, and fully believe in the power of prayer and positive thinking. At the moment I am listening to T.D. Jakes. He writes wonderful inspirational books.

What was one of the most surprising things you learned about creating your books?

I learned that you have to write a story in a totally different way when the characters have known each other before, like Jake and Rebecca in Jake’s Return, who grew up together, as opposed to two strangers meeting, like Eric and Emily in Thin Ice. I think that’s why I like them equally well. They explore totally different aspects of falling in love. In Thin Ice, Emily’s trust has to be earned, and that is no small feat, considering what she’s endured. In Jake’s Return, Rebecca’s trust in Jake’s basic goodness is right there at the beginning, and never wavers. The problem is, Jake doesn’t have that same trust in himself. Whereas Eric, in Thin Ice, has no such baggage. He knows he’s a good guy and can’t understand why Emily wants nothing to do with him. In Thin Ice, Eric is paying for the sins of those who came before. In Jake’s Return, Jake is dealing with his own personal demons. In my next story for The Wild Rose Press, a murder mystery romance called Ashton’s Secret, Nick and Meghan are strangers, but Nick has some demons to deal with, and Meghan is determined to get the out into the open for her own reasons, so it will be a whole new combination of circumstances.

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

I compose on the computer, print it out, get a mug of tea and some pillows and get comfortable, read and mark up the hard copy, then make the changes on the computer and carry on from there. Compose some more, print it out, get a mug of tea, and so on.

You're obviously enjoying a wonderful career as a writer. What advice would you give to new writers just starting out?

To succeed in this business you have to believe in yourself, and Never Give Up. It’s also invaluable to have a good friend (or, better yet, two!) to keep your spirits up and to hold your dreams for you on those days when they seem too heavy or unwieldy to hang on to. So the first order of business is to find a partner who will help you stay on track. Accountability is the key. This person can be a friend, relative, spouse or fellow writer. Critique partners are wonderful for this kind of support and encouragement. And with the internet, you can find CPs online now, so there’s no excuse! Find a friend, share your dreams, and get going!

Because if you don’t write the stories in your head and heart, no one is going to do it for you.

Liana, thank you so much for being here today! Readers, make sure to check out more at Liana's websites:

Liana Laverentz
Thin Ice (NJRW Golden Leaf Winner and EPPIE Finalist) ISBN 1-60154-016-7
Jake's Return ISBN 1-60154-124-4
Ashton's Secret (coming in 2008)
http://www.thewildrosepress.com/
http://www.lianalaverentz.com/
http://www.myspace.com-authorlianalaverentz/

Great Summer Olympics Moments, Day Three

Here we are...I know you're wondering which great moment(s) I chose for today. Well, today's a different sport: diving. First of all, the entire event amazes me. I don't think I'd be able to even climb up onto that highest platform, let alone jump off while doing a double twisting dive on the way down. And have you seent he synchronized divers? They do those crazy dives AT THE SAME TIME AS their partner. Yikes. But I digress. Today's great moment goes back to 1988:

Greg Louganis Winning Gold in Seoul - You remember this one, don't you? He hit his head on the springboard and then came back to win the gold, diving with a concussion and a bandaged head! (Warning: this video clip shows him with an earlier accident, as well - it's a little graphic, but he survived, so all is well)

Sister Trip, Revisited

OK, a brief break from the Greatest Summer Olympics Moments. Today, some photos from the sister trip I took last week:

The very cool sign they have at the Northern border of NY - into Canada:

Halfway up the challenging Ampersand Mountain Peak:

Looking up at the Ampersand Trail (yeah, that's a lot of rocks...straight up...):

Finally at the top of Ampersand (the view is definitely worth it!):

Great Summer Olympics Moments, Day Two

OK, today's choice for great Summer Olympics moments takes me to track & field. I'm also a runner, albeit a recreational one, but I do love the running events in the Games. Here are two of my favorites:

Michael Johnson Wins 2 Gold Medals and Sets 2 World Records (1996) ~ I still remember those gold shoes he wore!

US Marathoners Win Silver and Bronze in 2004 ~ American marathoners rarely medal in the marathon; it's a sport that's dominated by African and European runners. So when Meb Keflezighi won the men's silver medal, and Deena Kastor came from behind (she was in 18th at one point) to win the women's bronze, it was a major accomplishment. This clip is long, but it's worth watching (or just scroll to the last 3 minutes or so). Kastor said after the race that she was crying so hard during the final lap she could barely see...

Greatest Summer Olympics Moments

Well, in honor of the Summer Olympics, I thought I'd run a series of "greatest moments" from Summer Olympics past. Now, a caveat: these are moments that I actually remember watching, so of course many (possibly greater ones) occurred before I was around. They also don't include ths current Olympics, but I think we could all agree that Michael Phelps' accomplishments would make the top of the list. Finally, since I was a gymnast for most of my youth, I always watched the women's gymanstics competition...making my choices slightly biased, perhaps.

But that's OK, 'cause it's my blog, right? Anyway, here's my first choice, from the 1984 Games in LA:

Mary Lou Retton Wins the First US Women's All-Around Title ~ She was THE gymnastics icon for my generation of girls growing up in the sport. She received a perfect 10 on her vault, then went on to win the all-around title, and I remember her celebration. Compared to what the girls do now, her vault looks pretty tame, but it was monumental then. (And did you see her in the audience when Nastia Luikin won the same gold medal, last week?)

So awesome!

I've Been Giggled!

For those of you who don't know, Mrs. Giggles is a terrifyingly blunt (or, some would say, brutally honest) reviewer of romance novels. She tears books apart in a single sentence and can bring otherwise sane, stable authors to their knees with her opinions.

Yesterday I Googled myself (yeah, I do that sometimes) and found, to my surprise, that she had reviewed One Night in Memphis. I almost didn't want to read it (she gave One Night in Boston a 73/100 and had some harsh things to say about the heroine) - but I'm glad I did, because WOW - she liked it!

She gave me an 86/100 for One Night in Memphis, which is pretty darn good, and she had some really, really nice things to say. Here are some clips:

"One thing that I really like about One Night In Memphis is how well the author delves into the hearts of her characters to the point that the characters' emotions come off as pretty real. Dakota's feelings after she has ditched her married boyfriend, for example, are vividly portrayed to the point that I feel that I can relate to every blue feeling of hers. Likewise, there is a real yet bittersweet poetry to Ethan's suffering - I don't know whether to write a ballad about him or to give him a sweet comforting hug. I don't necessarily agree with every thing these two say, do, or feel in this story, but that's okay. I don't read romance to have a story where everyone agrees with me and does as I say, after all. Ms Boniface has made her characters real enough that their strengths and flaws make them come off as human beings...

"Falling in love over a short period of time is not an easy sell for me, but Ms Boniface manages to make me believe in her story. She even makes falling in love such a wonderful kind of bittersweet poetry to read about. A part of me will probably wish that the suspense elements have been scrapped altogether so that the story has more opportunity for the characters to moon over each other, but still, One Night In Memphis is definitely a pretty good story in my opinion. "

Yay - I'm doing the happy dance!

Another Positive Review

Just a quick blog today, since I'm recovering from last night's Maroon 5/Counting Crows/Sara Bareilles concert at Bethel Woods (awesome, by the way!):

Received another review for One Night in Memphis - a Black Seal from Writers and Readers of Distinctive Fiction. This is what the reviewer said, in part:

"Usually, the hero and heroine meet at the very beginning of a romance book, but Ms. Boniface breaks this rule and gets by with it. With her obvious talent and her gift of expressive phrasing, she smoothly moves the story along. The reader becomes a participant; one cannot wait until Dakota and Ethan actually meet face-to-face...From the first meeting to the last page, the reader savors each word, touch, and kiss. Ms. Boniface has a special voice, unique in the world of romance novels. She allows the hero and heroine to talk, become acquainted, and care for each other before sexual contact. It is a rare thing to feel delicious tension through simple dialogue and narration.

"She finely portrays the characters. The plot is certainly believable. The suspense and danger is real. In conclusion, ONE NIGHT IN MEMPHIS is a fantastic read, one the reader will remember, and I highly recommend it."

Yay!!

Writers' Wednesday: An Interview with Kassie Burns

Welcome to another edition of Writers' Wednesday! Today I'm chatting with erotic romance author Kassie Burns. Enjoy!



Welcome, Kassie! Can you tell us a little about your background?


English was my favorite subject in school, surprise, surprise, and I went on to become a journalist. As if writing all day at work wasn’t enough, I came home at night and switched on the creative juices. When I learned about ebooks I became really excited because I’m a sucker for instant feedback and I love the closer contact between authors and readers. I have books published with Extasy, Loose Id, Changeling Press and Samhain Publishing.

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


For me, writing started with reading. I always loved to read and devoured books. It only seemed natural to move on to writing them. The first thing I actually remember writing formally was a short story for eighth grade English. Naturally, it was an SF piece (although not erotic at that age, lol!.


Tell us about your latest writing project or published title.


Lately, I am like a juggler, just trying to keep those balls in the air. My most recent release was Starbound, an SF erotic romance from Samhain. I also Buried Passions from Loose Id and Earth Storm from Carnal Desires Publishing released this spring.


These books run the gamut of SF: A colony ship lost and space and invaded by aliens, an archeological dig on an abandoned planet that unleashes an ancient alien passion and a story set on Earth where terrorism brings humanity to the brink of destruction and only love can save us. What they have in common is passionate romance and complex characters struggling to overcome all obstacles to achieve their happily ever after.


Ah, the happily ever after. So how do you go about developing your characters?


I wish I knew. It’s almost a mystical process and certainly a mysterious one, like a child taking form in a womb. A story idea usually sparks their conception but somehow they take on substance in the depths of my mind and emerge full-blown. Naming them is always important, though, because I like the name to give a hint of their essence. And on the practical side, I admit to being a lifelong student of other humans and their strengths and weaknesses.


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


Write what you love. Don’t give up. The business side of writing can become overwhelming at times—not to mention confusing—so remember you started writing because it was fun and never lose that first thrill of putting words on a page.


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


I’ve always loved SF and fantasy. I love so many books and authors that it is almost impossible to chose a single favorite. Like a mother who loves all her children, I love them all for different reasons. If pressed to the wall for my very favorite, I would have to name the Merlin series by Mary Stewart, which starts with The Crystal Cave.


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


The most difficult thing is usually finding the time. I need a block of time when I’m not worn out from other things. Since I have a full-time job, a husband, a house, and two dogs, that’s sometimes hard to do. The most rewarding moment is when that new idea leaps into your mind like a burst of starshine and you can’t wait to get started writing it.


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


I’m not sure I do, LOL. Usually, something has to suffer neglect. Most of the time it’s the house which is never going to win any awards for cleanest house on the block. Other times, like last year when my husband went through a serious illness, I’ve simply had to stop writing for long periods and do other more important things.


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


I’ve never suffered from writer’s block where I didn’t have ideas or couldn’t write. I did suffer from burnout, though, a few years ago when my “writing career” seemed to take over the actually writing and I had so much going at once that writing became a job and not fun anymore. It was a hard period, but I learned to pull back and concentrate on what really mattered to me—the joy of creating a story.

What do you like to do when you're not writing?


I read, I watch most of the SF programs that are on TV, I walk the dogs and critique the neighbors’ lawns, and when the weather is cooperative, my husband and I love to go out for a game of golf.



Last question: What is your favorite movie? Did it inspire your writing in any way?


Choosing a favorite movie is about as bad as picking a favorite book. But I notice all my favorites have something in common—good people fighting against terrible odds to protect and preserve what is important to them—those they love. Strangely, my books have much the same themes.
Name names you say? I’d have to mention the Lord of the Rings movies, the Harry Potter movies, The Secret Garden, and on the romance side rather than the fantasy side, Return to Me.


Kassie, thanks so much for being here today! Anything else you'd like to mention?


I have a web site where I feature excerpts from my books, a couple of short stories and my blog. You can also sign up there for my quarterly newsletter. Check it out at http://www.kassieburns.com/

Summer Olympics Talk

"If you don't try to win you might as well hold the Olympics in somebody's back yard." ~Jessie Owens

So are you watching the Summer Olympics?? I hope so; amid all the politics and controversy there always emerge some great human interest stories. Two of my favorite so far:

The Story of the USA Flag Bearer in the Opening Ceremony ~ He was adopted as a teenager by a family who lives about 15 miles from my hometown.

The USA Victory in the Men's 4x100 Swim Relay ~ I saw this one live on Sunday night, and it was something else. Nothing like a come-from-behind victory and a split-second finger touch to excite the crowd. I know, I know: some people are criticizing the Americans for celebrating inappropriately. While I can see how some may have found the over-exuberance of Michael Phelps annoying, I didn't think he or any of his teammates were being rude or disrespectful. That's just adrenaline-fueled joy, in my opinion. Americans tend to be less reserved in situations like that...but is it inappropriate for that situation? I don't know...I'd be interested in what you think.

Next week I'll be posting some of my favorite Summer Olympics moments from past games. Anyone have any they want to throw into the ring for consideration?

Time for Some Fun - Do You Want to Win??

"The true charm of pedestrianism does not lie in the walking, or in the scenery, but in the talking. The walking is good to time the movement of the tongue by, and to keep the blood and the brain stirred up and active; the scenery and the woodsy smells are good to bear in upon a man an unconscious and unobtrusive charm and solace to eye and soul and sense; but the supreme pleasure comes from the talk." ~Mark Twain

Had a great, if tiring, time hiking with my sister over the last few days. Besides the physical exercise, it was also a really good way to talk out some of my story ideas and get feedback from her. She took all the pictures, so I'll post some later this week when she emails them my way. Hiking the Adirondacks is always a challenge: there are a lot of trails, many of which cover rocks straight up, and when it rains in the 48 hours before you hike, the extra mud adds a slippery effect :) The view from the top, though, is always worth it ~ that and the trip up, where it's just you and the trail, remind me of the important things in life.

***

Today you can win a Summer Grilling Goodies package at The Long and the Short of It, sponsored by Yours Truly. Go on over to their website to enter - it's one day only!

***
I got my first official review for One Night in Memphis over the weekend, 4.5 stars from Ecataromance. (Insert sigh of relief here) The reviewer had some lovely things to say:

"This story is exciting,funny, scary,poignant, and heart touching. I highly recommend it to anyone who believes in first and second chances for love. Ms. Boniface has penned some of the loveliest prose that I have read in any story anywhere. Curl up with this book, and spend a wonderful evening sharing the adventures on world famous Beale Street..."

The Annual Sister Trip: Final Report

Well, we're back from our hiking trip...a little tired, but happy. I'm on my way back home this morning, so I'll post the full report and some pics later on today. Come back and visit then, OK??


UPDATE:

Sorry, no pics as promised. I drove through a crazy thunderstorm/hail storm to get home and am now facing piles of laundry and an inbox with 100+ new messages. I'll see you here tomorrow...

The Annual Sister Trip, Day Two

Still on the road with sis, vacationing and hiking...

By the way, check out my trailer for One Night in Memphis, featured at The Romance Studio this week!

How's your weekend going??

Our Annual Sister Trip

"It's hard to be responsible, adult and sensible all the time. How good it is to have a sister whose heart is as young as your own." ~Pam Brown

I'm off on a 3-day hiking vacation with my sister ~ every year we take a "sister trip" somewhere, just the 2 of us, and every year we take turns choosing. She's the high adventure type, so I thought maybe this year's trip would include jumping out of a plane over Alaska or riding elephants on the Serengeti something...but no, it's relatively tame, just hiking and revisiting some of the places in Canada and the Adirondack Mountains where we stayed as kids.

I'll probably have little to no Internet access 'til later this weekend, though, so just a warning...tune back in Sunday for the full report!

Last Night's Book Club Discussion

"It is one of the blessings of old friends that you can afford to be stupid with them." ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

So last night I had the time of life...proving that the "local author" draw will always have the most power when you're doing a book signing.

My fifth grade teacher, to whom I dedicated One Night in Boston, invited me to speak to her book club. They hold their meetings in the most charming former one-room schoolhouse, on one of the Finger Lakes. 30 people showed up for the book discussion...most of them, people I knew. Former teachers, parents of former friends, even a guy I went to school with who still lives in the area. It was humbling, in a way, to know that all these people came just because they knew me when I was young :)

The discussion itself was a rousing success, with some good comments about the book and the characters. One woman even read me a sentence she'd underlined because she liked it so well. And most of them really, really got the message I was trying to convey and the characters' journeys.

One neat marketing/networking opportunity: a woman/parent of former friend had gone to the local Borders and asked if the book was in stock (it wasn't, but they ordered it). But the inventory manager said I should contact her, since they like to stock local authors' books, and this woman brought me the manager's card. Cool! I also sold 16 books, between both One Night in Boston and Lost in Paradise, but honestly that wasn't the highlight of the evening. It really was wonderful to go back to the place that started it all, to the town that raised me and have all these local people there to help me celebrate my success :)

Writers' Wednesday: An Interview with Mary Andrews

Welcome to another edition of Writers' Wednesday! Today's featured author is Mary Andrews. Enjoy!

Welcome, Mary! Can you tell us a little about your background?

I am the eldest of seven children born and raised in the military (US Air Force). I have built the cabs of CAT graters, refitted the tails of Cobra helicopters, done electronic assembly, been a relay operator for the deaf, a licensed airframe mechanic, the editor/founder of Gorbash (a now defunct magazine for aspiring artists and writers in the 80’s) AND a managed a shop as a Gypsy merchant. But all I’ve ever really wanted was to write...and get published. This dream came into fruition when Swimming Kangaroo published The Fireborn Chronicles in late October 2007.

Wow...what interesting experiences! What advice would you give to new writers just starting out?

Join a writer’s group. Don’t be afraid to try something new. Keep a copy of your original manuscript and save it. Then try out some of the suggestions from the group. If it is better, change it, if not don’t. Leave your ego at the door. If the group does not help u, find another. There are many good ones online: Lea Schizas Muse it up club, Long Story Short’s Writing Friend, Critters are all good starts.

Also, attend online conventions and locate good writing sites. The world has become the size of a Keyboard. Networking works.

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

When I begin a story, I begin by brainstorming on a piece a paper. I decide what kind of story I want to write and what market I’m targeting. Then I decide who/what my main characters are. I start at the beginning and spiral out with ‘what ifs.’ Eventually something will take shape and I have some idea of what I want to do.

Then, I open a document on the computer and start listing my scenes (i.e.: introduce characters: boy arrives at new school...he meets girl in biology class... when school lets out he sees her forced into an expensive dark car but doesn’t reach her in time and nobody seems to have even noticed...teacher takes him to office and calls parents to get him...)

I just run through the whole story like this, then I separate each scene so that there are only one per line. That becomes my basic outline. I can now fluff out each scene and fill in specifics, and I can add new scenes as needed. I keep my headers pretty general at first to help determine sequence but that can all change too if I decide.

Once I’m writing scenes, I’m pretty well along for the ride myself since the characters tend to take over and direct how things happen. The advantage to this method on the computer is that you do not have to refer to the outline, it is right there on the page as you go and you just fill in the blanks as you go. Helps to keep you on track but can be changed too.

After the story is first draft completed, I activate the TRACK CHANGES option and go back thru again. Then I go back and choose what to keep and what to lose...check GRAMMAR, SPELLING, READABILITY & WORD COUNT.

Then I take it to a writers’ group, let it sit for a while, and then rewrite with a fresh eye and the groups suggestions in mind. Then I take it thru a couple of people who haven’t seen it before and hopefully it’s ready to go and I start the process for marketing it.

That's some great insight and advice for our readers. Now, what do you like to do when you're not writing?

Puppets. I like to make and sell stick puppets, and tiny silver wire dragons (all from one piece of silver nickel wire)..

Very cool! Anything else you’d like to mention?

Yes. My website contains lots of information and links to other sites for writers as well as a sample chapter of The Fireborn Chronicles and direct links to buy it.

Also, I have just signed another contract with Swimming Kangaroo to publish The Fireborn Chronicles Book II. (smile)

Terrific! Thanks so much for being here today, Mary - and good luck with all your future writing~

Thank you for inviting me, Allie!

Title Troubles

"Lost Illusion is the undisclosed title of every novel." ~Andre Maurois

Actually, I'm not the one having title troubles - it's one of my writing friends. She's working on a romantic suspense that's set in a casino...and she can't think of anything to call it besides "The Casino Story."

I always think it's easier to brainstorm and get excited about a book if you have a kick-a** title. So...I'm asking for some brainstorming help from you all today. I've been trying to think of some good titles for her, and I've been going off the casino theme. This is what I've come up with so far, but I'd love some other suggestions. If you're feeling creative today, leave me (and her!) some ideas in the comments, would you?

Allie's Title Ideas:

Playing the Odds
Winner Take All
Beating the Odds
All In
Hearts All In
Hearts are Wild
Where the Chips Fall
Gambling Hearts
Betting Hearts

What do you think??

The Facebook Phenomenon

"We have technology, finally, that for the first time in human history allows people to really maintain rich connections with much larger numbers of people. " ~Pierre Omidyar

MySpace.
Facebook.
Twitter.

Most of you probably know what they are - online social networking sites. Places in cyberworld where you can put up your picture, a profile, and collect friends and contact others with the same interests/background/job/kinky pleasures.

For the most part, I've avoided them, in part because most of my students belong to them, and I'd rather not hang out in the same place as the teens in my life (no offense, but I don't hang around at the mall or the movie theater or the skate park anymore either).

But I decided to create a basic Facebook profile recently because it was supposed to be a step above MySpace, and because some of my author friends kept bugging me to. So I did.

The funny thing is, every time I open my email now there's another "friend request" or "bumper sticker request" or "message written on your wall." I don't even know what some of these things are. But I do sense that I could spend an awful lot of time building my profile and adding pictures and personalized songs and listing my favorites books and movies and tracking "what I'm doing right now" each time I log on.

I don't think I have the time.

The only good thing is that in the last 2 days, I've rediscovered 3 friends from college I'd lost touch with years ago. And that's pretty cool. So maybe I'll keep my Facebook profile a little longer. But just a warning to anyone out there who's thinking about friending me or sending me a card/gift/wall/message/dedicated song...I'm sort of clueless when it comes to keeping up!

What do you think - anyone out there a diehard Facebook or MySpace fan? And do you do it for networking, building your author name, or procrastinating?? :)

RWA National - The Big Dance

"Romance has been elegantly defined as the offspring of fiction and love." ~Benjamin Disraeli

For anyone who isn't familiar, RWA stands for Romance Writers of America. It's THE national writers' group to belong to, for published and aspiring romance authors. Depending on who you talk to, of course, there are pros and cons. I joined years ago, honestly, so I could write "...am a RWA member" in query letters to agents. That aside, RWA local chapters do put on some good conferences and sponsor some good contests, depending on the chapter. I joined my local one, Hudson Valley RWA, a couple of years ago and have met some terrific fellow writers.

The Big Dance is RWA's National Conference: big, splashy, and expensive as all get-out. But supposedly everyone who's anyone goes (I have not ever attended...I wanted to, this year, but, well, the economy made that decision for me a few months back). Days of workshops, mingling, NY Times best-selling guest speakers, parties, chances to meet agents and editors...you get the idea.

This year, it was held in San Francisco, CA, and my dear writing friend Cynthia Borris crashed the party. She's so good at that: hangs out in the hotel lobby and chats up those coming and going, so without paying a dime she's hanging out on the fringes and getting into the whole conference groove.

She emailed to tell me about it, and lo and behold she was talking to someone (from NY who was giving a workshop on making book videos...according to the schedule it looks like it may have been Diana Holquist, but who knows?)...the woman said, "Oh, I've heard of Allie Boniface. I hear she's a great writer."

How cool is that? I wasn't even there and my name got dropped! Major thanks to Cynthia for working me into the conversation :) She even blogged about the conference, and she's a new blogger, so drop by if you want to read about her experience.

Finally, I'd be remiss if I didn't mention the two awards given out at the Conference. The Golden Heart goes to unpublished authors (in a variety of sub-genres) and the RITA goes to published authors. My fellow Hudson Valley RWA chapter member (and hilarious writer-friend, who also throws one heck of an authors' tea) Jenna Kernan was nominated for a RITA in the Historical category this year - and even though she didn't win, the nomination is huge. If you haven't read one of her books, check out her website. You might find something you like :)

(Oh, and you can see the list of this year's winners here.)

Next year, the Conference is in Washington, D.C., and I'm making every effort to attend...

The Pros and Cons of Being a Reviewer

"When we read a story, we inhabit it.The covers of the book are like a roof and four walls.What is to happen next will take place within the four walls of the story.And this is possible because the story's voice makes everything its own." ~ John Berger

Reviews count for A LOT in the writing world, especially if you're a new author trying to convince other people/publishers/agents that your work is top-quality. But sometimes it's tough to get reviews in a timely manner - mostly because so many of the reviewing sites are flooded with requests from authors just like you.

One option, of course, is to ask other authors to review your work. This works well if the person you ask (1) writes in a similar genre and (2) is ideally better-known than you are. You can also ask the readers who've read your work to post reviews on Amazon or the Barnes and Noble website.

On the flip side, you can also help authors by becoming a reviewer yourself, by signing up with a site like The Long and the Short of It. Now, I'm partial to LASR, 'cause I'm friends with the women who established it and run it. But I also want to talk about why you might consider helping them out, whether or not you're an author yourself.

The Pros of Reviewing for LASR:
*You get to read books/stories/novellas FOR FREE.
*You get to share your opinion with other readers and with the author herself.
*You can earn points that can be cashed in for Amazon gift certificates OR free advertising on their site, if you're an author.
*Every month, you're entered into a contest to win a free book all your own.
*If you're an author, reading other people's published work can be one of the best ways to learn the craft.

The Cons of Reviewing for LASR:
*They have specific guidelines for their reviewers (I don't mind, but some might): you can't write ONLY a synopsis of the story, you can't give away the ending, you can't be rude or snarky.
*They like their reviews to be finished in 1 month (again, I don't have a problem with this, but some people are slow readers).
*If you're an author, you have to figure out how to balance reading other people's works with writing your own.

I think the pros outweigh the cons. And I've enjoyed reviewing for them and learned a lot about other genres and authors I would normally never have picked up. Seriously...give it some thought. And if you're interested, visit their site and drop them an email...and make sure to tell them that Allie sent you!