One Week

One week ago today, my father passed away. I haven't blogged about it, and won't today except to say that I am so thankful for all the kind words and thoughts people have shared, that have made this grief bearable.

Yesterday a friend sent a lovely poem that I hadn't seen before, but it's worth sharing here.

“I am standing upon the seashore.
A ship at my side spreads her white
sails to the morning breeze and starts
for the blue ocean.

She is an object of beauty and strength.
I stand and watch her until at length
she hangs like a speck of white cloud
just where the sea and sky come
to mingle with each other.

Then, someone at my side says;
"There, she is gone!"
"Gone where?"
Gone from my sight. That is all.
She is just as large in mast and hull
and spar as she was when she left my side
and she is just as able to bear her
load of living freight to her destined port.
Her diminished size is in me, not in her.
And just at the moment when someone
at my side says, "There, she is gone!"
There are other eyes watching her coming,
and other voices ready to take up the glad shout;
"Here she comes!"

And that is dying.”

Fun Friday Facts from Allie's Corner of the World

"Winter is the season in which people try to keep the house as warm as it was in the summer, when they complained about the heat." ~Author Unknown

1. If I'm flying over a body of water any time in the near future, I want this guy to be my pilot.

2. I'm halfway through reading/proofreading the galley of One Night in Memphis and remembering why I love the story so much. Can't wait 'til it comes out in print!

3. It is negative 2 degrees right now, as I write this. And that doesn't factor in the wind chill. Yikes.

4. When I lived in Cleveland, Ohio, in the mid-1990s, there was a record-setting stretch of 10 days when the temperature never got above 0 at all...so I think I can live through today without a problem.

What's the temperature where you are? C'mon, let's have an informal poll here today and see where everyone's writing in from...

The Book Roast Blogspot

"The smallest bookstore still contains more ideas of worth than have been presented in the entire history of television." ~Andrew Ross

Hey all, check out The Book Roast, a fun promotional blog I just discovered. They host publishers, agents, and authors (of course) and there's a place where you can add yourself to the upcoming featured author list. Looking for some free promo? (and who isn't??). Check it out~

Writers' Wednesday: An Interview with Dawn McClure

Welcome to Writers' Wednesday! Today's featured guest is fellow Samhain author Dawn McClure. Enjoy!

Dawn, thanks so much for stopping by today. Can you tell us about your latest writing project or published title?

Asmodeus, now available from Samhain Publishing, is about Brianna, an aspiring witch who accidentally summons a demon from the Abyss. Immediately Brianna realizes she must send him back, yet she’s not quite certain it’s possible with her limited powers. When four death angels arrive unexpectedly and give her a mission to kill Asmodeus – or face the Abyss – it’s no longer a matter of if she can send him back, it’s a matter of how. Deciding the best course of action is gaining Asmodeus’s trust, she does exactly that. Only she begins to see the man he is, not the demon she thought him to be.

I had so much fun writing this novel. Brianna is hilarious as she tries to outwit a demon whose powers are so much greater than her own.

Sounds like a great read! How do you go about developing your characters?

The first thing I do is write the first draft, so I can get a solid feel for them. I concentrate on the character’s personalities as I’m writing, and I keep an index card for each character that lists their features and quirks. Very often, by the end of the first draft, I find that the characters have grown and changed. When I go back for my first revision I take a look at the index cards and ensure I stay true to their individual personalities. I keep the characters goals in mind, and the motivation that propels them to do what they do.

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

The most difficult aspect of writing for me is finishing the last chapter. Obviously, if you write romance, you need that happily-ever-after. Some of my first drafts are so corny I cringe when I re-read them. Thank goodness for revisions. It’s hard getting that perfect balance of HEA without getting too mushy. My characters tend to be assassins, vampires and demons. Mushy and demons don’t go together so easily. I find that the most exciting aspect of writing is when a story starts coming together, and the muse kicks into high gear. All of a sudden doubts fly out the window and you type as fast as you can. There’s something magical about it – and I wish it happened more often.

It is a fun experience, isn't it? But do you ever suffer from writer's block? If so, what do you do about it?

Actually, this just happened to me. I was fresh off of my first contract with Samhain, and I sat down to write…and nothing came to me. It took me a few weeks to figure out the problem. I was looking at the big picture – writing the entire novel, the revising, the editing. I criticized every word I wrote. I had to push those thoughts aside and focus on a paragraph or a chapter. The writing started flowing after that. If I sit there and think about the entire process of creating a story I get blocked. Writing a novel can be daunting, but writing a page or two? I can do that.

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

This question is easy. I like to read. My favorite genre is paranormal, but I truly like all genres of romance. Right now I’m reading Hot Wheels and High Heels by Jane Graves. Excellent book.

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

Don’t quit. Think of rejection letters as a step in the right direction. I know that sounds odd, but we all have to start somewhere. Even the best writers had to deal with rejection. Stay motivated and keep writing. All of my rejection letters are framed and proudly displayed in my office. Many of my family members ask me why I do this. I respond by telling them the rejections remind me of how hard I worked to get that first contract. I never got so discouraged that I quit writing. I consider rejection letters as the stepping blocks that will get you to where you want to go.

I think that's terrific advice! Dawn, I'm so glad you were able to share your experiences with my blog readers today. You can find out more about Dawn and her upcoming work by checking out her website.

Have a great day!

A "Marley and Me" Alternative

Marley and Me is the latest animal lovers' best-seller to hit the big screen, but I wanted to mention another, less famous animal story that's worth a read: Wesley the Owl: The Remarkable Love Story of an Owl and his Girl.

If you like stories about animals and their quirks and the way they change their owners, this is a great, easy read. Who knew barn owls had such intelligence and personality? The author, a biologist who adopts an infant barn owl and then raises him for the next 19 years, is a biologist from CA. Along with a great pet story, this book also gives some interesting insight into the eccentricity of biologists and their work, along with the incredible bond that some animals can create with their owners. I'm not sure I totally believed the part about communicating via telepathy with your pet, but it's intersting nonetheless.

It's a quick, entertaining read, and will probably make you think twice about animals and the emotional and intellectual capabilities they really do have. Give it a try~

No Blog Today

Readers, I'm taking a break from blogging today, since I'm traveling via plane for most of the day (unpleasant circumstances, but that's a blog for another day.) But I did want to mention that I read Randy Pausch's memoir The Last Lecture recently. Good book, easy read, uplifting message -- I highly recommend it. And if you're in the mood, you can watch his "last lecture" at Carnegie Mellon here:




See you tomorrow~

A List to Live By

Swiped this list from Diane -- it's great one!

1. Take a 10-30 minute walk every day. And while you walk, smile.It is the ultimate anti-depressant.

2. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day. Talk to God about what is going on in your life. Buy a lock if you have to.

3. When you wake up in the morning complete the following statement,‘My purpose is to__________ today. I am thankful for______________.

4. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that is manufactured in plants.

5. Drink green tea and plenty of water. Eat blueberries, wild Alaskan salmon, broccoli , almonds & walnuts.

6. Try to make at least three people smile each day.

7. Don’t waste your precious energy on gossip, energy vampires, issues of the past, negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment.

8 . Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a college kid with a maxed out charge card.

9. Life isn’t fair, but it’s still good.

10. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.

11. Don’t take yourself so seriously. No one else does.

12. You are not so important that you have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.

13. Make peace with your past so it won’t spoil the present.

14. Don’t compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.

15. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.

16. Frame every so-called disaster with these words:‘In five years, will this really matter?’

17. Forgive everyone for everything.

18. What other people think of you is none of your business.

19. GOD heals everything - but you have to ask Him.

20. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.

21. Your job won’t take care of you when you are sick.Your friends will. Stay in touch!

22. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.

23. Each night before you go to bed complete the following statements:I am thankful for__________. Today I accomplished_________.

24. Remember that you are too blessed to be stressed.

25. When you are feeling down, start listing your many blessings. You’ll be smiling before you know it.

My Mom is my Hero: Now Available for Pre-Order!

I've been so caught up in One Night... and other things that I nearly forgot about the anthology coming out for Mother's Day this spring, My Mom is my Hero: Tributes to the Women Who Gave Us Life, Love, and Clean Laundry. I have a short story in there titled "Blue Circle Books."

Here's the cover:

And it's now available for pre-order -- just click on the cover, above. What a great gift for the mothers in your life :)

Another Reason I Love Samhain Publishing

"Put it before them briefly so they will read it, clearly so they will appreciate it, picturesquely so they will remember it and, above all, accurately so they will be guided by its light." ~Joseph Pulitzer

A few days ago, I got my galley for One Night in Memphis via email. This is the copy of the book that needs to be painstakingly proofread, for any mistakes/wrong words/formatting errors/etc. before it goes to print. Oh, and by the way, the official print release date is May 26, 2009!

Anyway, I don't really like reading through galleys, even though I know it's important, because it's monotonous and boring and requires A LOT of active attention.

So I started reading yesterday, and I discovered that whoever formatted the book (I guess I didn't see this in the ebook) used tiny little clock faces as section/POV breaks, rather than the simple decorative swirl they used in One Night in Boston. As if that wasn't enough, not only do the clock faces appear between the section breaks within the chapters, the hands actually change time as you read through the book. So the section breaks in the 4:00 chapter read as 4:00 on the clock, and the section breaks in the 10:00 chapter read as 10:00 on the clock, and so on.

OK, maybe it's a little thing. But I thought it was so cool of them to do, matching up with my story's theme, that's it just one more reason I think Samhain is not only professional, but attentive to its authors as well.

And that's my plug for today!

A Very Nice Surprise

"Surprise is the greatest gift which life can grant us." ~Boris Pasternak

A very nice surprise showed up in my email inbox the other day: a note from my former 5th grade teacher (regular blog readers will remember that I dedicated my first book, One Night in Boston, to her -- and was a featured author at her summer book club last August). She had seen an article in the local paper about One Night in Memphis being an EPPIE finalist and releasing in May -- and did I want to come back and speak to their book club again this summer?

Of course I said yes!

Side note here: I sent out press releases to a few local papers (including my hometown one) after the EPPIE finalists were announced. Never heard a thing back. But apparently at least one was published. So...definitely write and send them out as part of your marketing strategy. I've heard of many other authors who were never contacted by a newspaper but ended up having their press release/information printed anyway. You never know!

Writers' Wednesday: An Interview with Mary Ricksen

Welcome to the first Writers' Wednesday interview of 2009! Very exciting...and our first featured author of the year is time travel romance writer Mary Ricksen. Take a peek into her world:

Mary, welcome to my blog! Can you tell us a little about your background?

I was born in Vermont, and though I have lived in several places in the U.S. and once in Canada, I still find it home. I feel like crying every time I get to go, when the plane flies over the airport surrounded by the beautiful Green Mountains, just before landing. I have lived in Florida for several years now, but I would eventually like to end up in a small town in North Carolina, where we own a small piece of land. In the Great Smoky Mountains, I feel very at home there too. I have no children, unless you want to count animals. Right now I have a black German Shepherd named Junior. He's in my book. I also have a canary. He sings so sweetly that he cheers my soul. The winters here in Florida are wondeful and I spend them in my own secret garden, overflowing with all kinds of subtropical plants. My husband and I have been together since we met at the age of 20, and married for thirty two years this last February. He's my anchor.

Right about now, in snowy New York, Florida sounds like a lovely place to be! What advice would you give to new authors just starting out?

Every one has inside of them an ability to shine at something. Some people never find that shine. I wish I'd found it years ago, but it wasn't for lack of trying all kinds of things. When you sit in front of that computer and a little thrill goes through you, that's the beginning. For me I just let it come. That of course leads to a lot of editing. But it also lets my muse loose. And that is one of the things I find that gave me the knack to write my book. To me that is the easy part. The hard parts are editing and promoting. So be persistant in your promoting, take chances, be bold, let yourself jump into it and network. Of course that itself is a learning experienc. And lastly learn the basics well, that makes for less editing.

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

For me reading is a cyclic thing. For years I read Sci Fi, then mysteries, biographys etc., I think I've tried all genres. Romance has become my favorite. Once it was Westerns, then Contemporay, I was stuck on vampires for quite awhile. And then I read Linda Lael Miller's 'Here and Then' and 'There and Now' That's all it took. I think I have read most every time travel paperback in print. And now that I started writing I have found the ebook. Cheaper to buy and faster to get. Not to mention more new Time Travel books to read! My favorite author is Diana Gabaldon.

Do you suffer from writers block? If so, what do you do about it?

I think life throws curves at us that sometimes overwhelm us. My parents are elderly and sick, and it's a lot to deal with. So my muse has gone into hibernation. I know that the short vacation we are taking will give me a lift. As I sit outside looking at the mountains, from purple in the distance to emerald in the forefront, the colors alone still my angst. The smell of the air, the Mountain Laurel, the little critters all infuse me. So when I get there I will write. Just like I always do. The country setting is inspiring in itself, it's so peaceful.

Describe your writing place for us.

Here at home I have a laptop. So wherever I feel most comfortable at the time is where I write. Lots of the time I sit at the kitchen table. We have a small house so I can't have a special place for myself. But as I sit here I can look out at the pool, with banana trees, avacado trees, palms of all kinds, pentas for color and little fanciful creatures I purchased. My canary is belting out love songs, my dog lies on my feet and my husband is in the background swearing at his computer. Life, ain't it grand?

Mary, thanks so much for visiting here today! Readers, if you'd like to find out more about Mary and her work, visit her website.

Proof that the Publishing World is Slightly Insane

"I really wish I was less of a thinking man and more of a fool not afraid of rejection." ~Billy Joel

If you're a regular blog reader here, you'll remember that a couple of months ago I got a rejection from my (now current) editor at Samhain, for Summer's Song. Here is what she said, in part:

The scene when Summer remembers what happened the night of the accident should be more dramatic and better integrated with the other plot strands. Instead of her memory coming back fully while she's in the shower, I suggest you revise so that the trauma of Dinah's abduction serves as the catalyst for her regaining her memory. Rearranging the order of these events would also prolong the tension surrounding Dinah's fate, too—if you structure it so that Summer confronts Gabe about the past events before she figures out where Dinah is hiding, the tension will really mount when Dinah isn't found as quickly...

Consider having Summer feel more guilt, more deeply, over the realization that her father lost her, his last living family member, in his effort to spare her, as well as guilt over Gabe's selflessness...However you choose to execute it, the novel will have more impact if you can better interweave the strands of Dinah, Damien, Gabe, and her father as you bring the story to a climax.

I took a lot of what she said under consideration and reworked some of the story, for what I thought was a stronger plotline overall. Sent a query letter to Avon, which resulted in a request for the full ms. Yesterday that editor emailed me another rejection on the story, saying this:

While your initial premise is strong— a young woman returning to her hometown to face a past tragedy and discover more of herself—I think some of the additional conflicts detract from the emotion (and romance) of the story. For example, because the two very weighty conflicts advance and come to a head all at once, I didn't feel the impact of Summer's eventual realization as much as I think the story calls for. Because Summer and Damian are so caught up in their own traumatic situations, they just didn't seem to have a chance to develop their chemistry.

So...while editor says/wants/likes one thing, another may feel quite differently. Same with readers, of course, and reviewers. Interesting, right??

Poor Summer's Song. It needs a home. Of course, since I revised it with the Samhain editor in mind, I should probably just send it to her. But watch her reject it again, LOL.

*****
The good news is that I also got my cover art form for One Night in Napa yesterday -- so apparently it's true: rejection and acceptance in the writing world do go hand in hand!

*****
Two contests for you to enter:

Manic Readers "Men in Uniform" unpublished novel contest

New England RWA Reader's Choice published authors contest (ebooks welcome too!)

The Best Movie You Haven't Seen

"It is written." ~ from Slumdog Millionaire

If you haven't yet seen the movie "Slumdog Millionaire," you are missing out.

Oh. My. God.

Saw it yesterday, and it was just terrific. Great writing, great filming, and a beautiful, poignant, original story -- with a great romance and a happy ending, to boot.

What's it about? Well, Jamal Malik is an 18 year old orphan living in India who's basically had the roughest life a kid could have, from an early age. His brother Salim is the only one who looks out for him (and later, the beautiful Latika, also an orphan, that they meet while outrunning terrorists). Together the brothers figure out how to survive some pretty hellish circumstances (and yes, there are parts of the movie that are disturbing in their reality).

Anyway, Jamal ends up a contestant on the Indian version of the TV show "Who Wants to be a Millionaire" -- and he's one question away from winning the whole thing when the movie opens. Of course, the producers of the show can't believe a "slumdog" could possibly know the answers to all the questions, and that serves as the premise of the movie. In flashbacks to his childhood and adolescence, we find out what kind of life experience has in fact taught Jamal the answers.

The movie is beautiful, just beautiful. Underneath the sadness of Jamal's youth is a lot of humor, along with a precious romance between Jamal and Latika, all set against the violence and poverty of modern-day India. It's been nominated for 4 Golden Globes, and I can understand why. Put it on your viewing list. Today.

Linear Writing, or Any Which Way You Can?

"Writing a book is a horrible, exhausting struggle, like a long bout of some painful illness. One would never undertake such a thing if one were not driven on by some demon whom one can neither resist nor understand." ~George Orwell

I'm a plotter when it comes to writing, 100%. I create outlines, I know where the major conflicts are going to be, I know (pretty much) how the ending will wrap up.

But with Entwined, this very messy literary romance I've been tackling the last 6 weeks, I haven't done much of that. I didn't do character sketches. I had a vague idea of the major conflicts, but I didn't think about where/when they would happen or how the story would end. I wrote a series of scenes I thought would be important to include, and away I went. And that's been fine for about the first 35K words...trouble is now I'm spinning in circles and not sure where the storyline needs to go from here.

Hmm. Brief pause as Allie steps back from the keyboard and frowns.

Where to go from here? Outline? Keep writing scene by scene and see what falls into place? Let it sit for a while and come back with fresh eyes?

Which Would You Rather Read?

"New Year's Day: Now is the accepted time to make your regular annual good resolutions. Next week you can begin paving hell with them as usual." ~Mark Twain

One of my goals this year was to write articles for ezines and newsletters...and I have one deadline coming up in the next couple of days, if I want in on the January Samhellion newsletter. The theme is Goal Setting/Resolutions (of course), and I can write pretty much anything I want to: a "how to", a general article on the writer's life, a recipe, a short story...

I just don't know which one. I don't feel particularly inspired in any direction, but I'd also like the promo and publicity that comes with having an article published, so I want to do something. Hmm.

Which kind of piece would you most likely pick up and read? Are you looking for inspiration in setting and meeting new goals? A glimpse into my personal life? Or maybe just a light, humorous read? A new recipe? A story to warm the heart?

Help me out, please!!

On Writing

"But before I go, I want to thank you for coming. Would I still do what I did if you didn't? Yes, indeed I would. Because it makes me happy when the words fall together and the picture comes and the make-believe people do things that delight me. But it's better with you, Constant Reader. Always better with you." ~Stephen King

That quote is from the Introduction to Just After Sunset, Stephen King's newly released collection of short stories. I got it for Christmas and started reading last night. And was immediately reminded why I always liked his writing: he is a phenomenal story-teller. In his short stories, he relies more on suspense and perfect characterization than horror, in case you're not a fan of his longer works. By the way, if you're a writer and haven't yet read his book On Writing, go pick it up today. Really.

*****

Also if you're a writer, a lengthy article in the most recent Romance Writers Report covered eHarlequin.com's multiple opportunities for authors. Most of them I had no idea about. Check these out:

**Writers and readers can create a profile area where they can blog, store pictures, and share bio information.

**Authors and readers can chat and interact.

**Spice Briefs, Silhouette Nocturne Bites, and Harlequin Historical Undone are short stories/novellas that readers can purchase OR places where aspiring authors can submit short pieces to get their foot in the Harlequin door.

**Readers who are members can get free online reads.

**Aspiring authors can also get podcasts by Harlequin editors talking about what they're currently seeking.

**And editors hold pitch sessions every quarter, during which aspiring authors can actually pitch to an editor in real time, through online message boards. Pretty cool, huh? The article claims that 50 aspiring authors have so far sold their first book to Harlqeuin that way -- 21 in 2008 alone. So what are you waiting for??

My Writing Goals for 2009

"We spend January 1 walking through our lives, room by room, drawing up a list of work to be done, cracks to be patched. Maybe this year, to balance the list, we ought to walk through the rooms of our lives... not looking for flaws, but for potential." ~Ellen Goodman

Happy New Year! Can't believe it's really 2009...

Marianne asked me in the comments yesterday if I had something else I'll be working on this month instead of Entwined. And that got me thinking about my writing goals for this year. I haven't made any formal resolutions for the rest of my life, but it's not a bad idea to have some benchmarks for my writing. So here we go:

Writing Goals for 2009 (remind me to revisit this blog post on December 31, 2009)

1. Finish Entwined (see -- I will!) & figure out where to submit it
2. Write another One Night novel (polished draft) and submit to Samhain
3. Sign a publishing contract for Summer's Song
4. Write another Pine Point novel (rough draft)
5. Write at least three articles for various ezines/newsletters

What about you? Any goals for the new year, writing or otherwise??

Farewell to 2008...

"Be always at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let each new year find you a better man. " ~Benjamin Franklin

Ah, I'm waxing nostalgic today...can't believe another year has come and gone! Sometimes I write resolutions for the new year, but I haven't gotten around to it yet, so that may not happen for 2009. Instead, here's a reflective meme that I swiped (and shortened):

1. What did you do in 2008 that you'd never done before? Held my own book signing!!

2. Did you keep your new year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year? About half. And no, I probably won't make resolutions for 2009. I have some idea of what I'd like to accomplish, and that's enough for now.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth? Not this year.

4. Did anyone close to you die? No, thank goodness.

5. What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008? More free time. Unfortunately, I don't see that happening!

6. What date from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory, and why? I'm gonna have to go with November 4, 2008 - the election of Barack Obama as U.S. President. Historic.

7. What was your biggest achievement of the year? Probably developing my writing career and realizing I can write more than one book!

8. What was your biggest failure? Hmm. Not traveling as much as I wanted to.

9. What was the best thing you bought? My laptop and a wireless connection for the house!

10. Whose behaviour merited celebration? The American voting public, absolutely.

11. Whose behaviour made you appalled and depressed? Where to start? How about with the guy who dressed up as Santa and shot 9 people on Christmas?

12. Where did most of your money go? Savings, actually. I'm very diligent about that.

13. What did you get really, really excited about? My various book signings!

14. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder? Probably about the same. Maybe a little sadder just because of some personal/family things going on right now.
ii. thinner or fatter? Also about the same. I try really hard!
iii. richer or poorer? Richer, in both money and life experience.

15. What do you wish you'd done more of? Traveled abroad.

16. What do you wish you'd done less of? Given in to my sweet tooth!

17. Did you fall in love in 2008? With a person? No. With new experiences? Yup.

18. Did your heart break in 2008? Yes, but not due to unrequited love.

19. What was your favourite TV program? Hmm. I'll go with favourite NEW TV program: Fringe.

20. What kept you sane? My writing. My family. My friends. The pets at the shelter where I volunteer -- nothing like furry love to make the bad feelings go away!

21. What political issue stirred you the most? The US Presidential campaign and election.

22. Who was the best new person you met? I met some cool people during my writing and book travels. And also my new students this year :)

23. Favorite book you read? I can't say I read one that really blew me away, unfortunately.

24. Favorite movie? Probably "21." Based on a true story, it's got a good script and good acting. I'd see it again.

25. What are your plans for 2009? Continue to write -- sign at least one more book contract -- and travel outside of the US.

What about you??

*****

And here is the final installment of "progress on Entwined." I reached 33, 000 words - not great but not awful. I do have something decent with which to work, though, when I have time to pick it up again in 2009.

Current Word Count for Entwined: 33,137

Yesterday's Fave Sentence: Maybe identity is everything; maybe it explains the pieces of him that never felt complete until he came to Blakely, the reason he fell for Natasha, the struggles she faces whenever she looks at a blank sheet of paper, the way words fall like waterfalls for him, when the mood is right.

Another Made-up Memoir

"Men stumble over the truth from time to time, but most pick themselves up and hurry off as if nothing happened." ~Winston Churchill

Did you see this article about the "Holocaust survivor" couple who lied in their memoir? Berkley Books has canceled the release of "Angel at the Fence" after discovering that the author made up this "true life" love story about young children who meet on opposite sides of a concentration camp fence and then reconnect years later and marry. The author claimed he only wanted to spread love and hope to readers. In fact, he and his wife met on a blind date in NYC and have been married for over 50 years.


I feel like it's A Million Little Pieces all over again. Why is it that people feel they have to lie to sell a story?


Current Word Count for Entwined: 32,356


Yesterday's Fave Sentence(s): I think I’m in love with you, he wants to say. He moves his mouth against the skin of her shoulder, practicing.

A Decision

Yes, a decision ~ I'll be signing and mailing my contract for One Night in Napa to Samhain Publishing today! Funny: the other two contracts I signed with them were dated January 2007 and January 2008. Must be a winter thing, hmm? Actually, I've made the decision to try and write/submit more than one book a year, so that I have something coming out on a slightly more frequent basis. Of course, I say that now, but actually doing the writing is a whole different story! That also means that I will likely put aside Entwined pretty soon. It's a fun project, and I've loved working on it, but it needs so much more time and attention and development that it may get put on the back burner for a while, after January 1st.

Anyway, the agent who had been reading Napa sent a rejection yesterday, which made it a whole lot easier to sign that Samhain contract without guilt or "what if" wondering. I know it will be released in 2009, I know it will go to print, and I really like my new editor. So I'm happy, overall.

Summer's Song is still with the Avon editor (I won't be expecting any feedback on that for a couple of months, at least). If Avon doesn't want it, I will probably also submit that one to Samhain. I do like working with them; they have an aggressive owner who is making bigger strides in the industry all the time; and I like building up a readership by keeping my name in one place, at least for now.

So it's a nice way to round out 2008. What about you? Goals or resolutions for the new year?

Current Word Count for Entwined: 31,453


Yesterday's Fave Sentence:(s) Involved. It’s a funny word, he realizes. It can change into pieces like I loved or O devil if you hold it up to the light and twist it.

How Quickly is "Quickly"?

"True friendship is a plant of slow growth, and must undergo and withstand the shocks of adversity before it is entitled to the appellation." ~George Washington

Question: when an agent tells you she will read your book "quickly," because she knows you've been offered a contract by a publisher, how many days/weeks/months do you think that should reasonably translate into? Let's take into consideration the December holidays ~ then give me your best guess.

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The loveliest surprise: when you open your email account and discover a message from someone in your far distant past, one of those friends who once was part of your daily life and then kind of disappeared with time. That's one of the nice things about growing older, I suppose - getting to rediscover people from your past and realizing how rich your life is when you add them to the people in your present.

*****

Current Word Count for Entwined: 30,605

Yesterday's Fave Sentence: There are truths that should stay hidden, truths that belong to no one except the people who create and hide them in the first place.

Zumba: Have You Tried It?

"Movement is a medicine for creating change in a person's physical, emotional, and mental states." ~Carol Welch

I confess: I have a new love.

Zumba.


You may have heard of it - a relatively new addition to the workout scene, it's basically an aerobics class that combines all different kinds of dance to Latin music. I have friends who've tried it and raved about it, and I finally had a chance to go myself, yesterday.


Wow! It really is a lot of fun. I thought maybe I'd trip over my own feet, or look like an idiot, but the thing is, everyone sort of does their own thing, and it's more about having a good time dancing than getting down the specific choreography. Of course, I love dancing, period, so I had a ball. The best word I can use to describe it is joyous - a whole hour of fun. And yes, it makes you sweat and burn calories too! Can't wait to go back and do it again. If you've never tried it, I highly recommend it (if you click on the link up above, you can search for classes in your area).


And by the way, working up a sweat is good for you in so many ways, physically as well as emotionally and psychologically. In fact, I wrote an article about it a while back: How Step Class can Steam up your Sheets.



*****

Just finished Vanishing Acts by Jodi Picoult. She's one of my favorite authors, though I can't read a lot of her books in a row, because the language and even the plotlines are similar after a while. But this one I enjoyed overall. The one thing I've realized about her writing, though, is that she uses too much figurative language. I'm all for appreciating a well-turned simile or metaphor, but when every other sentence has one, it's a little bit of overkill.


*****

Current Word Count for Entwined: 29,580


Yesterday's Fave Sentence: Maybe, she thinks, if she sinks far enough into the sofa, she will simply slide through to China, the way tall tales warn children who are still young enough to believe.

Winter Scenes

"I was just thinking, if it is really religion with these nudist colonies, they sure must turn atheists in the wintertime." ~Will Rogers

Know what I love most about Christmas? I mean, besides relaxing with family and the smell of the tree and opening gifts? Allowing myself to eat whatever I want :) I try so hard to be good the other days of the year. On Christmas I eat chocolate for breakfast, have a second dessert after dinner, and generally graze from the cookie plate whenever I want to.

Sigh. It always ends too soon.

Some winter scenes from the last couple of days:

Icicles hanging outside our sunroom

Deer tracks all over our front lawn

Current Word Count for Entwined: 28, 784

Yesterday's Fave Sentence: She thinks of how her own wrinkles and edges and corners have changed and wonders if others can see them the way she can.

Merry Christmas!

Wishing all my friends, family, colleagues, and readers a blessed holiday season!

A Christmas Eve Query Tip

"Christmas waves a magic wand over this world, and behold, everything is softer and more beautiful." ~Norman Vincent Peale

Merry Christmas Eve to everyone!

Here's an early gift to anyone who might be in the process of querying agents: Firebrand Literary Agency is taking First Chapter Queries for the next month, rather than query letters. Great opportunity to showcase your writing and your story, rather than your marketing/sales skills. More info here.

P.S. Writers' Wednesdays will return after the holidays!

Two Days and Counting...

Well, I tackled the last-minute shopping yesterday after school...yikes. Remind me next year to please, please finish shopping earlier than December 22nd!

I'm a crazy maniac today, too - starting (yes, starting) my wrapping after a full-day school party, so no writing news to report.

But here are some fun Christmas cartoons to brighten your day!

Three Days and Counting!

"People can't concentrate properly on blowing other people to pieces if their minds are poisoned by thoughts suitable to the twenty-fifth of December." ~Ogden Nash

Yikes - can't believe it's only 3 days 'til Christmas! Are you ready? I'm not!

Here's the promo poster for the March 21st signing I'll be part of - pretty neat, huh?

Current Word Count for Entwined: 28,101

Yesterday's Fave Sentence: She is not his twin – they did not share a womb, or a mother, or a single heartbeat above them as they grew – though they may as well share one heart between them now.

In Memory

"Death ends a life, not a relationship." ~Robert Benchley

A moment of silence today, to remember the Pan Am Flight 103 bombing over Lockerbie, Scotland - can't believe it's been 20 years ago today. 35 Syracuse University students were on board that flight, coming home from a semester studying abroad. Since I grew up near Syracuse, I remember the horror and grief vividly. Ironically, when I was a freshman in college (at another school, not SU), I ended up buying a used book that had belonged to a student who also died in that crash. Small world.

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I also have two quick links to share today, and then I'm off to watch more snow fall...


The Samhellion December Newsletter - The theme is "gift giving on a budget," so you might find an idea or two. Plus I have an article featured :)


Samhain Publishing is running an end-of-the-year "bestsellers" survey...and if you want to vote for One Night in Memphis as your fave release this year (which I would LOVE for you to do LOL), click right here!


***********


Current Word Count for Entwined: 26,974


Yesterday's Fave Sentence: He stands there and watches her go, carrying his child below her heart.

First Snowstorm of the Season!

"Cats are smarter than dogs. You can't get eight cats to pull a sled through snow." ~Jeff Valdez

Looks like it's going to be a white Christmas here! We got hit yesterday with about 6 inches - not as much as they were predicting, but we're suppposed to get more tomorrow, so...

When it started up, it was pretty fast and furious. Here's a view of the first hour:

*****

In other news, yesterday I killed two characters and cried. Really. I mean, I knew it was coming, but after I wrote the scene and got to the end, I was sad. Darn it. They were nice, good characters, too. I guess my sadness is probably a good sign, though, 'cause they say that if you don't get emotionally involved in your writing, your readers won't either.

Current Word Count for Entwined: 25,228

Yesterday's Fave Sentence: “Do you listen to anything I say, or just think about the next time you’re gonna get me into bed?”

The Season for Sharing: Day Two

"We are not in a position in which we have nothing to work with. We already have capacities, talents, direction, missions, and callings." ~Abraham Maslow

Yesterday I blogged about a few cool sites for writers ~ if you didn't get a chance to stop by, scroll down and check them out.

Today, a couple more sites, especially for those of you querying agents:

Agent Query - great, comprehensive site that lists literary agents, their areas of representation, their contact info, their current interests, etc.

Query Tracker - this neat free site provides data about agents & their response times and average number of yes and no responses. Also lets you keep track of your own query process.

Show Me The Money - in case you're wondering how much romance publishers pay (advance + royalties + average earn-out), this is the place to look. Pretty interesting!

Current Word Count for Entwined: 24,626

Yesterday's Fave Sentence: Pinpricks of light dazzled in the darkness, a galaxy of unconsciousness moving in on her swift and silent.

'Tis the Season for Sharing

In the spirit of the season (and, well, in the spirit of my blog year-round), I'd like to share a few cool sites I've stumbled across in the last few days. In fact, there are so many of them, I'm going to sprinkle them a little at a time over the next few days. Consider it my holiday gift to you :)

So all you authors out there, make sure you keep on coming back for more!

First off, Author Author is an online bookstore that not only stocks a variety of in-print hard-to-find books, but it also features an Author Purchase Program. Here's the skinny: you can order your author copies of your own book from them, at a discounted price. If you buy 50+, they'll ship free of charge. Now, you can order your author copies from your own publisher, of course. But you don't get royalties on those copies. If you order from Author Author, those copies count as external sales (which looks good with your publisher) PLUS you make royalties on them. They'll send you a free quote, and then you'll have to do the math - for me it works out that it's cheaper to order them through Author Author, so I'll do that in the future. Even if I broke even, though, I'd probably still do that, just because it will bump my sales numbers.

Second, I read an article titled "What Agents Hate" yesterday, and while it had your standard fare, it also included this gem" "I don't want to read about anyone sleeping, dreaming, waking up or staring at anything." LOL - my new editor at Samhain said basically the same thing last week!

Finally, here are some writing-prompt/creativity sites you might want to check out:

Book in a Week - think NaNo is challenging? How about writing a book in 7 days?
SmithMag - write your memoir in 6 words. Yes, really.
The Story Starter - has 340 million sentences, if you're stuck and don't know where to begin.
Writing Fix - one more site that creates writing prompts for you, on the spot.

OK, that's it for today! More fun sharing tomorrow...

Current Word Count for Entwined: 24,173

Yesterday's Fave Sentence: Or are they so entwined in the womb, one curled around the other, that a left foot of hers and a right foot of his make one complete set?

Writers' Wednesday: An Interview with Margay Leah Justice

Welcome to a wintry Writers' Wednesday! (well, here in NY, anyway). Today I'm welcoming author Margay Leah Justice...enjoy!

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

I am a single mother of two, balancing life with Multiple Sclerosis and caring for a child with Bipolar Disorder and Asperger's Syndrome along with the everyday life of being a mother and a writer.

I can't begin to imagine how busy your days must be! When did you first begin writing? Was there an event or moment in your life that triggered your desire to write?

I think I first began to write the day I learned how to hold up a pencil. I can't remember a time when I didn't write; it has always been an integral part of my life.

Tell us about your latest writing project or published title.

Here's a blurb for Nora's Soul:

When angels of light and dark collide on earth…Once he held a favored position in the heavens. But one moment of weakness casts Dante out and now he is cursed to walk the earth, collecting the souls of vulnerable women to buy his way into hell.All hell breaks loose…But standing in his way is Peter, an angel of light. Peter is everything Dante is not. Pure, above reproach. And determined to prevent Dante from achieving his goals. Peter will stop at nothing to protect the souls in his charge, even if it means achieving the impossible – leading Dante back onto the right path.And no one is safe from the fall-out.

Nora Kendall believed in angels. Once. But then she lost her brother to cancer despite all of her prayers – and she lost her faith in all things angelic. Now, she is a lost soul who wanders through life like a sleepwalker, playing it safe and leaving the risk-taking to others.Kyle Cameron is one of those risks. Burned by a bad marriage, his only concern now is providing a stable life for his children, who are left motherless by the unexpected death of his wife. This means working overtime to grow his architectural firm into a viable business – and leaving the care of his children to the care of someone he trusts. Despite his past connection with Nora, Kyle isn't certain that she's the right person for the job. He also doesn't want to reconnect with her and repeat history.But fate – and the machinations of two angels – has other ideas.

Sounds terrific! Now, how do you go about developing your characters?

I usually do some sort of a character profile/questionnaire to get them firmly fixed in my mind. I also usually have the face of an actor in mind when I write, too. That really helps to get their images down on paper.

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

Learn your craft, hone your craft and never stop learning. The day you stop learning is the day your creativity dies. Always work on perfecting your craft, but do it for yourself first. If you don't enjoy writing for yourself, you shouldn't try doing it for others. You really have to love doing it or else you will be easily discouraged when the fame and fortune doesn't come to you overnight. It's a rare thing for that to happen, so expect to put in some time with it before you achieve publishing success.

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

I love Regencies and Julia Quinn is one of my favorites in that genre. But I tend to read whatever moves me, not just one genre. In fact, I just started reading in the YA genre which is a fabulous arena for truly wonderful stories that have helped me to connect with my daughters on a new level. My favorite author in that genre is Stephenie Meyer, but I also like Mari Mancusi and Melissa Marr.

A Twilight fan, hmm? Well, I won't hold that against you! What do you find most difficult about writing? What do you find most exciting or rewarding?

For me, it's balancing the details such as setting and background info with the dialogue. Either I put in too much detail or not enough, so I'm always working to make sure the balance is just right. Dialogue, on the other hand, comes easier and I have a lot of fun doing it, especially when it's between the hero and heroine - I love the snappy dialogue from movies of the 30s and 40s and, more recently, Gilmore Girls, so when I can achieve something that comes close, I find that especially rewarding.

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

I try to do everything writing related when my daughters are at school or otherwise occupied. I tend to fit my writing around all other responsibilities, carving out whatever time I can in my schedule without neglecting my other responsibilities. Somehow, it works.

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

I love to knit, crochet, and do crafts. So I'm always creating things! I also love to read and watch movies with my daughters, and spend time with my mother, who passed down all of these creative genes on me.

Anything else you'd like to mention?

For more information on Nora's Soul - and perhaps an advance peek at what I'm working on next - you can check out my website at http://margayleahjustice.com/. You can also find me on Twitter, Myspace and Facebook.

Thanks for being here today, Margay!

A Word About Piracy

"The only thing worth stealing is a kiss from a sleeping child." ~Joe Houldsworth

For all authors: unfortunately, piracy sites abound, and they'll offer up free downloads of your book for anyone who stumbles across their site. Here's one you should check out: Esnips. Some of the books being "shared" here have been downloaded (illegally) hundreds of times. I also found one of my books on another site, so Google your book titles every so often to make sure they're not hanging out where they shouldn't be! If you find your book, click to download it and then "Report Abuse." You as an author must be vigilant at reporting copyright violation.

For all readers: please remember that accessing these kinds of free book downloads is illegal and hurts authors. When one book is copied and passed around to 10 or 100 friends and neighbors, we still only get royalties on that one initial book. Sharing is fine, and we understand that, but limit it to one or two friends, OK? Then, tell the rest of your friends and neighbors about how great our books are, so that they buy them too!

A Very Important Day

"God gave us memory so that we might have roses in December." ~James Matthew Barrie

It's true, today is a very important day.

First, it marks the end of my NaNo efforts - which, you can see, got about 50% of the way to my goal of 50K words in a month. That's OK. I think NaNo is great for writers who have never attempted or completed a whole novel. It shows you that it's possible. But I already know that :) I'll keep going with Entwined, though, and I'll keep posting my progress and fave sentences, because it keeps me on track if I have to be accountable.

Second, it's my birthday. Nope, I'm not telling how old I am (and my mom, who pops in occasionally, is NOT allowed to tell either). The celebration for today includes lunch with hubby and my in-laws, decorating the tree tonight, and quite possibly, large amounts of chocolate :)

I thought it would be interesting to check out what some of those astrology sites have to say, so here you go:

Cafe Astrology has quite a detailed description of what the next year holds for me, concluding that "...You are certainly more enterprising this year, and taking a balanced approach to life, in terms of realistic expectations, is the best approach for maximizing success. This could be challenging at times, since you are likely feeling quite restless. Rebelliousness is a possible downfall. You are more passionate, excitable, and magnetic than ever, and the year is bound to be a very exciting one!"

Hmm...

Birthscopes (quite a sparkly site) tells me that "The December 15th person spends most of their life broadening their horizons. They do this with very little objection from the people around them. This is because Venus, the ruling planet for this day along with Sagittarius's ruling planet Jupiter makes this person very likable. They tend be dreamers and for this reason should guard against being taken advantage of especially in the financial sense. As a mate the December 15th person is loving and values partnerships..."

And FamousBirthdays reminds me that no one terribly notable shares my birthday (this I knew), although Jane Austen's mother was probably in labor, since that grand-dame of the romance genre celebrates her birthday tomorrow!



*****

Also wanted to mention that The Romance Studio is running a terrific "12 Days of Christmas" contest - every day you have the chance to win one of 12 prizes given away by authors. I'll be on there soon, so visit their site to find out all about it!


Current Word Count for Entwined: 23,182

Yesterday's Fave Sentence: If there is anything – if there ever was anything – please call.

Updates

So, an update or two on the status of my writing:

~Finished the revision of Summer's Song and sent the full ms. to the editor who requested it at Avon.

~Heard from the agent who requested the full ms. of One Night in Napa who said she would "read it as quickly" as she could.

~Received my royalty statement from Samhain which includes print royalties from Jan-June 2008. I'm having a hard time reading and understanding it (as are several of the authors, so apparently the publisher's going to clarify in the next day or two). I guess One Night in Boston sold decently (though who's to say...if you want to talk numbers, email me), but it will be interesting to get the next statement, which will be July - Dec 2008 and cover an entire 6-month period of the book actually being out.

Current Word Count for Entwined: 22,360

Yesterday's Fave Sentence: Natasha studies the papers in front of her, but the words swim like Rorschach ink pictures, and all she can see is the stick with the double blue line through it.

A Destination Christmas

"Christmas is a day of meaning and traditions, a special day spent in the warm circle of family and friends." ~Margaret Thatcher

In recent years, my side of the family has met at a Bed & Breakfast to celebrate an early Christmas. We reserve a block of rooms and meet in one for all the festivities. So that's what I'm doing this weekend! No other news, as I'm off to open stockings this morning...

Current Word Count for Entwined: 22,022

Yesterday's Fave Sentence: She does not believe in ghosts – at least, she tells herself she does not – but what else can explain the feeling of dread, the nausea, the icebox room above her head?

Christmas Questions

At Christmas, all roads lead home." ~ Marjorie Holmes, American writer

This one comes from Diane - thanks! I haven't done one of these in a while. Anyone else want to borrow and play?

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Both, actually. Whichever's easier for the gift itself.

2. Real tree or Artificial? We've done both. This year it will be a real one. Yay ~ I love the pine smell!

3. When do you put up the tree? Whenever we get around it. I'm hoping for this weekend.

4. When do you take the tree down? Ditto above, though usually before we go back to school after the new year.

5. Do you like eggnog? No - yuck!

6. Favorite gift received as a child: A stuffed Paddington Bear. I still have him, well-loved.

7. Hardest person to buy for? My inlaws. They never give us any ideas.

8. Easiest person to buy for? Either hubbby or my sister.

9. Do you have a nativity scene? Yes.

10. Mail or email Christmas cards? Mail ~ I love sending and receiving both.

11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? Can't think of one.

12. Favorite Christmas Movie? “It's a Wonderful Life,” of course!

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? Yikes, whenever I can find the time. Right now I'm about half-done.

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas Gift? Probably, though I can't recall right now.

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Chocolate and Christmas cookies!

16. Lights on the tree? Of course - both colored and white.

17. Favorite Christmas song? Too hard to choose...

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? I like to stay home, but we usually end up traveling. This year we're home, though!

19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer? Yes.

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? One present on Christmas Eve, the rest on Christmas Day.

22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? How crowded the malls and parking lots are.

23. Favorite ornament theme or color? Don't really have one.

24. Favorite for Christmas dinner? Turkey.

25. What do you want for Christmas this year? Spending time with family. And a three-book contract for a six-figure advance. But I'll take the first :)

Yesterday in Borders

So here's a very cool thing: I was on a Christmas shopping spree yesterday afternoon, and I stopped by my local Borders. I walked directly past the ENORMOUS display of all things Twilight, past J.K. Rowlings' newest release, and found the "B" shelf of the Romance section.

And there sat my books.

Now, this in itself is oh-so-cool, but what's even cooler is that as of my signing there a few weeks back, the store had roughly 10 copies of both One Night in Boston and Lost in Paradise. Yesterday, I saw 5 copies of the latter and only 1 of the former. Neat, huh?

Of course, when I came home and told my husband, he said, "Are you sure they just didn't have them in the back?"

Sheesh. What a killjoy.

Current Word Count for Entwined: 21,853

Yesterday's Fave Sentence: She thinks of gray-green eyes and lets a hand drift to her belly, to the unborn child that rests inside her, growing.

Writers' Wednesday: An Interview with Anne Hope

Welcome to another Writers' Wednesday! Today I'm chatting with Anne Hope, a fellow Samhain author who has some wonderful insights on breaking into the writing world and creating dynamic stories and characters.

Enjoy!

Hi, Anne! First off, can you tell readers a little about your background?

My background is in marketing. I have a Bachelor’s Degree and a Master’s Degree in business administration. I worked as an account executive in a marketing agency and as a product manager for Neutrogena. As much as I enjoy marketing, my first love will always be writing, and I’m thrilled to now have the opportunity to make a career out of it.

Hmm...Neutrogena, huh? Any way I can score some free samples? (just kidding) When did you first begin writing? Was there an event or moment in your life that triggered your desire to write?

I officially started writing when I was eight years old, but I was spinning tales long before that. I was an only child for ten years and was pretty introverted. I entertained myself by creating characters and stories in my head. Now, I’ve become far more social, but I’m still making up stories. I guess some things never change!

Tell us about your latest writing project or published title.

My debut novel and Golden Heart finalist, Where Dreams are Made, is now available from Samhain Publishing. It’s a deeply emotional Beauty and the Beast story with loads of sexual tension.

Daniel is a reclusive toymaker trying to atone for his sins. Jenny is a hunted woman, secretly hired to mend his heart. One magical Christmas, these two lonely people learn that love can heal the deepest scars, but it comes at a price. Even as Jenny struggles to hold on to the tenuous sanctuary she’s found, the world she’s desperate to escape refuses to release her. Someone from her past is watching. Someone who will do absolutely anything to own her. Even commit murder.

Congrats on publishing your first novel! How do you go about developing your characters?

The first thing I do is write the first chapter or two, which I subsequently end up completely rewriting. But it’s my way of getting the characters talking. Once I start hearing them, then I have a better idea who they are.

The next step is to fill out a GMC (goals, motivation and conflict) grid for the hero, the heroine, and the villain. This gives me a better understanding of where the book is heading and what plot devices I need to incorporate to challenge these characters and help them grow. It also points out my villain’s weaknesses, which the hero and heroine can use to defeat him or her throughout the course of the book.

Finally, I write a short blurb on backstory for each character. Backstory is a wonderful tool when used wisely. Unfortunately, I often feel compelled to tell the reader everything about the hero and heroine in the first chapter (that’s why I usually chuck the first twenty pages or so and start over). Writing out the backstory in a separate document helps me overcome this compulsion. It also allows me to integrate specific information in dialogue or introspection that increases the depth of the characters, motivates their actions, and enriches the story.

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

First and foremost, learn your craft. Like with any career, there’s a learning curve. You never stop growing or improving, and there are always techniques you can glean from more experienced authors that will allow your work to shine.

Second, don’t give up! Believe in yourself and in your vision. This business is very subjective. Just because someone rejects your manuscript, it doesn’t mean the next person won’t love it. I firmly believe it’s all about perseverance. You only fail if you quit.

Third, don’t underestimate the importance of a strong high concept. Many editors and agents will request your manuscript based on a query letter. You need to be able to hook them with one or two paragraphs, and that’s very difficult to do without a compelling high concept. In many romance novels, the hook is the emotional growth of the characters and the development of the love story. Unfortunately, this is very difficult to convey in a couple of sentences. That’s where high concept comes in. If the premise is interesting and the conflict is powerful, you’re more likely to get a request.

Finally, always challenge yourself. Look at the market, at what’s selling, and ask yourself: how can I capitalize on that and still do something different? Trends are important. They tell us what the market wants. But by the time a trend is set, hundreds of books have been written in that particular style or genre. You want to aim for something different, while still giving readers what they’re looking for. That’s what will set you apart.

That's wonderful advice. But what do you find most difficult about writing? What do you find most exciting or rewarding?

The most difficult part of writing is facing the blank page. Every time I sit down at my computer I wonder if I’ll be able to write, and not only write, but write in a witty, creative way that will keep readers turning the pages. It can be quite daunting at times, especially on days when I’m not feeling particularly witty or creative.

The greatest reward is when I type in the last word, then read the book with a fresh eye and think: “Hey, this isn’t half bad. Did I really write this?” Another incredible reward, which I have recently discovered, is getting an e-mail from a reader telling me how much they enjoyed my book.

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

Not very well, I’m afraid. I have two young children and finding time to write can be a challenge sometimes. Now that they’re both in school full time, it’s gotten a little easier. Still, writing isn’t a nine to five job. You write when the inspiration comes. You will often see me running to my computer to type in a couple of lines, then get back to whatever it is I was doing before my muse interrupted me.

Generally, I try to write when the kids are at school or after I’ve put them to bed. Of course, the laundry often sits in baskets for a few days and meals aren’t nearly as interesting as they used to be.

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

Pride and Prejudice with Colin Firth. I absolutely love that movie! Is there anyone Mr. Darcy couldn’t inspire? I think he may be behind every smoldering look I’ve ever written. That movie is a great example of chemistry and subtext. As much as the hero and heroine pretend to hate each other, the viewer can see the attraction sizzling between them. That’s what I strive to achieve in my books—a balance between conflict and blood-pounding chemistry...

Ah, yes, the allure of Mr. Darcy. I wonder how many romance novels he's inspired?? Readers, hop on over to Anne's website today to find out more about her latest book. And have a wonderful day!

Tentative Good News

"Problems are the price of progress. Don't bring me anything but trouble. Good news weakens me." ~Charles Kettering

I like today's quote -- even though I do admit to liking good news -- because it's a variation on the "what doesn't kill you makes you stronger" theme. It's true: I've learned much more from my struggles than from my easy successes.

Speaking of good news, though, I've been sitting on this for a few days, but I thought I'd share it...even though it's not entirely set in stone.

My (new) editor at Samhain read One Night in Napa, sent me revisions she'd like to see, and then offered me a contract pending those revisions. So...it looks as though it might find a home sometime in 2009!

What's funny, though, is that the same day I heard from her, an agent responded wanting to see the whole thing as well. I sent it off, since it's not under contract yet, but in one sense I'd almost like to have it at Samhain since that's where my other 2 One Night books are. The editor even emailed me yesterday (she's putting together my contract) to ask if I wanted to consider this a collection/series and add "A One Night Novel," to the cover, since it'll be my third. What do you think?

Current Word Count for Entwined: 20,771

Yesterday's Fave Sentence: He wants her to be the last, the only, the always.

Another Holiday Shopping Idea

"I never had any doubts about my abilities. I knew I could write. I just had to figure out how to eat while doing this." ~Cormac McCarthy

I just found out about this online auction, being held to raise money for an author whose husband died earlier in the year. Lots of great items up for bid, including author, editor and agent critiques, signed books, gift baskets, and more. Plus the proceeds go to a good cause. If you're stumped for a unique holiday gift, this might be the perfect place to find one!

Current Word Count for Entwined: 20,442

Yesterday's Fave Sentence: It was the secret they shared, the one that bound them and the one, they both thought, that had drawn them together in the first place.

The First Snow of the Season

"It is Christmas in the heart that puts Christmas in the air." ~W.T. Ellis


Yesterday, in anticipation of the first real snowfall of the season, I put out the holiday decorations (I also figured it was past due for the pumpkins to be put away). I listened to some carols. I planned a cookie exchange for school. And I waited for the snow that was supposed to come - 'cause, I enjoy it, the first few times it snows. Just not anything after, say, January 1st.

Anyway, we got a teeny little dusting on the lawn. That's it. It's not even worth taking a picture of, though I had my camera ready to go this morning.

Still, I'm in the holiday spirit, so here's the link to Santa and his Singing Reindeer, which I post every year because it's just so fun to watch.

Current Word Count for Entwined: 19,583

Yesterday's Fave Sentence: "Go talk to one of the sorority bunnies over at Kismet Hall, why don’t you?”

Weekend Interview with H. Terrell Griffin

Happy Saturday! Today I'm pleased to announce a special author interview wiht H. Terrell Griffin, who is celebrating the release of his book Blood Island. Pay close attention, because at the end of this interview you'll find information about how you can win a signed copy of this book today!

Terry, welcome to Allie's Musings! Can you tell us a little about your background?

I grew up in Central Florida, served three years in the U.S. Army, earned degrees in history and law and practiced law in Orlando for 38 years. I was board certified by the Florida Bar as a Civil Trial Lawyer. I have a home on Longboat Key, Florida, where much of my book takes place, and spend as much time as possible on my boat. I’ve been married to the most delightful woman since I was in college and we have three sons and two grandchildren.

Ah, sounds like a lovely place to write! When did you first begin writing? Was there an event or moment in your life that triggered your desire to write?

I have been a voracious reader since I was a child. I discovered the joys of mystery novels while in college and have always aspired to write one. I was just simply too busy with my career and my family to take the time to try writing. As I was nearing retirement from the practice of law I decided that I had to take my shot if I was ever going to scratch the writing itch. I sat down and wrote my first book in 2005 and have been writing ever since. I think the triggering moment was when I realized that I wasn’t getting any younger and if I wanted to write a novel, I’d better get busy.

Tell us about your latest writing project.

My latest book, Blood Island, was released by Oceanview Publishing on December 1, 2008. The book takes place in Longboat Key, which is off the west coast of Florida just south of Tampa Bay, Key West and Orlando. The protagonist, Matt Royal, a beach bum former lawyer living on Longboat Key, is asked by his ex- wife to help find her 18 year old stepdaughter who disappeared while on Spring Break from college. The search takes him to the Florida Keys and to Blood Island where a very dangerous group of zealots have set up housekeeping and plan to cause great harm to the world. Matt, with the help of his friends Jock Algren and Logan Hamilton, set out to rescue the girl and stop the coming conflagration.

Sounds like an exciting read! Now, what do you find most difficult about writing? What do you find most exciting or rewarding?

I think the most difficult thing is to make myself sit down and write. I tend to go in spurts, spending days at a time at the computer and then slacking off for days at a time. The most exciting part of the process is finding out what the characters are going to do next, how they go about solving the mystery, what their next day is going to be like. I don’t write from outlines, but just let the characters take on their own lives and let the words flow. When I’m on a roll, when the writing is going just right and the characters are having fun, I am rewarded.

Describe your writing space...

I actually have two writing spaces, one in my study at home in Maitland, an Orlando suburb, and the other on the sun porch of my condo overlooking Sarasota Bay on Longboat Key.

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

I spend a great deal of time on Longboat Key, doing much of what my main character, Matt Royal, does; boating, fishing, and hanging out on the beach and visiting the local bars on our lovely island. I hold a U.S. Coast Guard 100 Ton Masters License and love being on a boat on the water. I’ve found that this life gives me a great deal of material for my novels.

I can definitely imagine that! What was one of the most surprising things you learned in creating your book?

I think the thing that surprised me the most was that I could actually write something that people would enjoy. People tell me that they enjoyed reading my books, and I am always a little surprised and a lot pleased. I have gotten so much pleasure from reading that I am overjoyed that I can actually create a book that gives others that same pleasure.

Now the good giveaway details:

H. Terrell Griffin is giving away a signed copy of his book, Blood Island, to one lucky tour visitor today. Go to Terry’s book tour page, http://h-terrell-griffin.omnimystery.com/, and enter your name, e-mail address, and this PIN, 5811, for your chance to win. Entries from Allie's Musings will be accepted until 12:00 Noon (PT) tomorrow. No purchase is required to enter or to win. The winner (first name only) will be announced on Terry’s book tour page next week.

Thanks for stopping by today, and have a wonderful weekend!

What I'm Doing...

OK, an update:

What I'm reading right now: Vanishing Acts by Jodi Picoult. I haven't read anything by her in a while (had to take a break). I like it so far, not only because of the decent plot but also because it gives me a chance to study her technique: she does a lot of switching POV and also past vs. present tense. That's what I'm attempting to do in Entwined, so it's good inspiration and motivation.

What I'm writing right now: working through revisions of Summer's Song (still!) and a first draft of Entwined, a literary-romance-paranormal story that jumps all over the place and is incredibly fun to play with.



What I'm watching right now: Fringe is my newest favorite show (good writing and acting), along with Life, which I discovered last season. I've also recently become a convert to House, along with my old faves Prison Break, Survivor (yes, I'll admit it) and Cold Case.



What I'm listening to right now: Where I Stood by Missy Higgins. Oh, and of course holiday carols. 'Tis the season, after all!



What about you?

Current Word Count for Entwined: 18,867

Yesterday's Fave Sentence: He still can’t get over the fact that the bones belong to a child, a baby, and have lain inside that wall for over twenty years.

Some Blogs for You to Visit Today

Look: the official graphic! And if you click on it, you can see the official list of all the EPPIE finalists. Very exciting.

I'm giving props to a couple of blogs today:

Liz is blogging every day about her progress working through the book Discovering the Writer Within. It’s a 40 day program to exercise one's creativity and imagination.. Go on over and see what she's up to today!

And a cousin on my husband's side has set up a brand new blog featuring her photography business (plus she has cool Christmas music playing there). I'm thinking I should probably commission her to do a new (and professional) head shot for my website. What do you think?

Current Word Count for Entwined: 18,288

Yesterday's Fave Sentence: She feels the nausea build in her stomach again, and she knows that if she is not in front of a toilet in a minute or two, she will lose her breakfast to the carpet of Silverstone Hall.