Welcome Author Don Bruns!

Yes, folks, we have two author interviews back to back this week...and that means another chance to enter to win the prize pack of books this month!

Give a hearty hello to Don Bruns, who is a musician, songwriter, advertising executive and award-winning novelist. Bruns is the author of Jamaica Blue, Barbados Heat, South Beach Shakedown, St. Barts Breakdown and the forthcoming Bahama Burnout, a mystery series featuring rock and roll journalist Mick Sever.

Bruns is also the author of Stuff to Die For and Stuff Dreams Are Made Of. He has authored several short stories and served as editor of the anthology, A Merry Band of Murderers, which reached #5 on the Independent Mystery Bestsellers List in 2006. He is also a frequent contributor to The Little Blog of Murder. A former road musician who traveled and performed throughout the US with major entertainment acts, Don Bruns recently released a CD of original songs called "Last Flight Out," and performed two original songs at the 2004 Edgar Awards ceremonies. Don Bruns divides his time between Ohio and South Florida.

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

I sent my first short story to Alfred Hitchcock Magazine when I was 12 years old. They promptly sent it back. So, when I turned fifty years old, I wrote another mystery. This time, with the help of Sue Grafton, it was published by St. Martin's Press, and with the 8th novel out this month I haven't looked back.

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

I think the Hardy Boys were the reason I started writing mysteries. In the fourth grade, our teacher had us write a Hardy Boy type mystery...each of us writing one chapter. At the end of the year we had a book and I realized that I really could be a part of this writing thing.

Tell us about your latest writing project or published title.

Bahama Burnout is about a recording studio in Nassau that burns to the ground under mysterious circumstances. When it's rebuilt, ghostly things start to happen. Sessions are erased, instruments are smashed, and journalist Mick Sever investigates the strange happenings, realizing his life may be in danger as well.

How do you go about developing your characters?

Characters seem to develop themselves. I always thought that writers just said that to give their writing a magical kind of feel. But characters develop in response to their situation. When they being threatened with death, they respond a certain way. When they are with friends, they respond to the way that person treats them. I have no choice but to develop them in relationship to their surroundings.

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

The worst part of writing is the actual marketing. You try any number of avenues. I haven't started Twittering yet, but I suppose that's next.

The most rewarding part of writing is talking to someone who's read your book. ( And liked it.)

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

I play guitar. Used to do it professionally and it's very therapeutic.

What was one of the most surprising things you learned in creating your book(s)?

That I come up with sentences, phrases, quotes and thoughts that I never would say or use in real life.

When you write, what method do you prefer?

Computer. Note book. Sometimes I have to write on my arm.

Don, thanks so much for being here today!

Readers, for a chance to win a signed copy of his latest book, go to Don’s book tour page, http://don-bruns.omnimystery.com/, enter your name, e-mail address, and this PIN, 8459, 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 Don’s book tour page next week!

Writers' Wednesday: An Interview with Jessica Coulter Smith

Welcome to another edition of Writers' Wednesday! Remember, every comment on an author feature this month enters you into a drawing to win a great prize: a collection of books from some fabulous authors. So chime in and give Jessica Coulter Smith a warm welcome today!


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

I began writing in high school. I had an amazing English teacher, Mrs. Robinette, who asked us to write a short story. It could be about anything we wanted. I hate to admit that I don't remember what I wrote about, but I've been writing ever since. In the mid-1990's I had 3 poems published, then in the early 2000's I had another 2 poems published (all in anthologies). Whispering Lake, my new release, is the first novel I've completed. Somewhere in my many boxes there is a floppy disk (showing my age!) that has a teen story saved on it. I began that story in eleventh grade and have never finished it. I keep telling myself I'm going to unearth it one of these days, but that day hasn't arrived just yet.

Tell us about your latest writing project or published title.

Whispering Lake was picked up by Hearts on Fire Books and published first as an e-book in August 2008 and later as a large paperback in November 2008. It's about a young woman with a special gift who's had a bit of trouble in the romance department. She ends up being torn between a ghost and a guy she thinks is your "average" guy. What she doesn't know is that her "average" guy is really a werewolf. I won't spoil the story and tell you who she chooses!
Currently, I'm writing a werewolf series called the Ashton Grove Werewolves. The first book, Moonlight Protector, is almost finished. It should be released in early 2009, with 5 other books to follow.

5 other books - wow! What advice would you give to new writers just starting out?

Don't give up! If you have any doubts or concerns over the story you have written, read it over - read it over a hundred times if you need to, but in the end you're going to have to send it out. If you don't submit because "you just aren't ready" or you "can't handle a rejection letter," then take a breath and hit send anyways. You're going to get a rejection letter - or a hundred. I won't lie, no matter how prepared you think you are, you're still going to be bummed when you receive it. However, if you're lucky, they may have something constructive to say. Most don't ... either way, you will eventually receive an acceptance or you'll go back and look over your story one more time and maybe tweak a few things. In the end, it will be worth every single rejection when you finally find your publishing home.

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

I like to read romances mostly, but I also enjoy a good horror or mystery book every now and then. Some of my favorite authors are Charlaine Harris, Katie MacAlister, Terri Garey, Angie Fox, Mary Higgins Clark, and John Saul (in no particular order).

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

Yes I do! Depending on how bad the "block" is, I either sit down and start writing nonsense until something actually comes out that's useful, or I will re-read what I've already written. Sometimes a bit of editing goes a long way! Even changing the structure of a few sentences will sometimes help me start writing again. Or by reading what I've accomplished so far I may be inspired to write another chapter or two. If all else fails, I take a week off to read and relax my brain and then I get back to it and work twice as hard as I did before.

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

I actually don't use just one method. I predominantly compose my books on my laptop, but I also keep a black steno book with me at all times. If I last wrote something on the laptop, then I'll pull out the steno book and jot down the last few lines in case inspiration strikes when I'm away from the computer. I don't have a particular space in which I write though. Most of the time you'll find me on the couch with the TV on as background noise, but occasionally I'll feel like avoiding human contact all together and I'll grab the laptop and head to the bedroom.

You've shared some great insights with blog readers here today. Is there anything else you'd like to mention?


I would just like to say that finding the right publisher is paramount! Decide what you want to get out of the experience and then start your search. I had a list of probably fifteen publishers (or more) and whittled it down to about five or six after doing a little research on each. I actually decided to go with Hearts on Fire Books because they were small and fairly new. I knew that I would get more one on one attention from them than I would a larger company with hundreds, possibly thousands, of other authors.


E-book verses paperback is another consideration. I was lucky enough that my publisher did both. Just because you're offered a contract, doesn't mean you have to sign it (no matter how exciting it may be!). Make sure that your needs are being met by the publisher before signing anything. If it doesn't feel right, then either take some time to think about it or move on to the next place on your list.


Readers, want to know more about Jessica and her works? You can visit her website right here.

Review of Catch of the Day by Kristan Higgins

You might remember that I sat next to the funny and fabulous Kristan Higgins at a book signing last month. I picked up her book Catch of the Day, which won the RITA last year -- and thanks to 2 cross-country flights last weekend, I finally got a chance to sit down and read it. Here's the skinny on this romantic comedy:

First Date à la Maggie:

Take one lovelorn diner owner (me).

A generous helping of nosy local gossips.

A dollop of envy at married sister's perfect life.

A splash of divine intervention (my matchmaking priest)...

Combine ingredients with one adorable puppy, add a strong but silent lobsterman with a hidden heart of gold—and watch the sparks fly.

The first thing I liked about this book: the terrific first-person voice, funny and self-deprecating and likable from page one. Maggie is the town spinster at age 32. She owns a diner, has a crush on the new priest in town, and finds her love life (or lack of one) the center of everyone's gossip circle. It doesn't help that her identical twin, Christy, has the life Maggie has always wanted: the perfect husband, the perfect job, the perfect baby daughter. When she finally finds a local guy who might be perfect, she puts her foot in her mouth more times than you can count. You'll like her, laugh at her, and feel for her all at the same time -- a great combination of character traits that (for the most part) are girl-next-door believable.

The second thing I liked about this book: it's a contemporary romance that isn't about too much more than a collection of small-town folks and the loves and lives they share. There isn't any paranormal activity in Gideon's Cove, Maine, no suspense or erotic encounters either. It was refreshing to see that you can, in fact, get lost in the everyday activities of quirky, appealing characters.

The only thing I didn't entirely like: the black moment in the story results from a classic "misunderstanding" that really could have been straightened out with a brief conversation between hero and heroine. (It's okay, Kristan, if you're reading this -- I still suspended my disbelief because by that point in the story I loved Maggie and Malone). Still, I wanted them together enough to keep reading, even though I really just wanted to kick Maggie in the keister and straighten her out.

Bottom line: Catch of the Day is a really fun, appealing comedy that will draw you in from start to finish. Pick it up if you get the chance!

EPICon Revisited

"I get it now; I didn't get it then. That life is about losing and about doing it as gracefully as possible...and enjoying everything in between." ~Mia Farrow

Well, I made it back from the EPIC Conference (bleary-eyed and drinking coffee by the gallon this morning, thanks to a hellish flight yesterday which included not only a "ground stop" of an hour in Vegas before we left BUT ALSO a "funky jetway" when we landed which prevented us from deplaning for another 30 minutes...)

but anyway...

I did not win the EPPIE in my category (sad face here). But I'm still glad I went, and I'm still pleased to be a finalist. While I'm disappointed, I have to remind myself that my first ebook was published less than 2 years ago, and my first print book less than 1 year ago. I have a lot of learning and growing to do. I also found it interesting, listening to all the presenters being introduced, that almost every one of them writes full-time. So I guess I'm also pleased that I can squeeze out a book a year while also working a full-time job (until Oprah calls, anyway).

I'm now off to teach on 4 hours of sleep...this should be fun...

EPICon!

"I hope for the best, it's great to be nominated even once in your life." ~Christina Aguilera

Greetings from Las Vegas, Nevada, and this year's EPIC Conference!

Hubby, mom and I have been enjoying the conference along with the Vegas sights...and tonight is the big awards banquet. I promise lots of pictures and details (probably Monday, since we'll be traveling home tomorrow).

Hope you're having a great weekend!

Dentyne Creative Writing Contest!

"It's not plagiarism - I'm recycling words, as any good environmentally conscious writer would do." ~Uniek Swain

Here's an upcoming contest for playwrights! One woman in my critique group writes both novels and plays, and let me tell you, it's a whole different animal. Fascinating, though. So if you're a budding playwright, or if you know anyone who is, check out the info below...the deadline is soon (March 9th), but the prize is pretty tempting, so check it out:

DENTYNE® AND MANHATTAN THEATRE CLUB GIVE ASPIRING PLAYWRIGHTS A SHOT AT STARDOM

National and Student Playwriting Contests Examine Modern Relationships
in the Digital Age; Winning Plays to be Performed in New York City

Dentyne®, the gum brand behind the popular Make Face Time™ campaign and Manhattan Theatre Club, one of the country’s most prominent and prestigious theatre companies, today announced two playwriting contests about personal relationships in the digital age – one a national contest open to the public and the other a contest open to students at participating colleges and universities. As part of the contests, Dentyne® and MTC are inviting budding playwrights from across the country to write short plays about sustaining personal relationships in the age of technology...

Want to know more? Click on the graphic below:

Small Press Month Contest - The Details!!

OK, folks, here it is: this month, every time I feature an author interview on my blog, everyone who comments that day will have his/her name thrown into the hat to win a prize.

Here's the prize, a combination of donations from some of the authors and yours truly:

To One Lucky Winner (to be announced right here on April 1st):

Winner's choice of any e-book by Danielle Ackley-McPhail
E-copy of Riley's Journey by PL Parker
Speculative Realms (print copy, compiled by Karen Lee Field)
$10.00 Amazon gift certificate
2 "gently used" books from my own library -- I'll contact the winner with the choice of titles

I will probably be adding to this prize package as the month goes on, so check back often -- and make sure to comment!

Writers' Wednesday: An Interview with Minnette Meador

Welcome to Writers' Wednesday! In celebration of Small Press Month, all comments left on EITHER a WW post OR a special weekend author feature this month will be tossed into a hat for a chance to win a grand prize goodie basket -- lots of cool books, both hard copy and ebook! I'll be posting more details in the coming days, but until then, today is your first chance for entries...so comment away!

Hi, Minnette, and thanks for being here today. Tell us about your latest writing project or published title.

Thanks, Allie…it’s so nice to chat with you!

I was very honored to have my first two romances published by Resplendence Publishing, The Centurion & The Queen and The Edge of Honor. Both books deal with ancient Roman Britannia, around 60AD, and feature Marius, a stern, sexy Roman Centurion, and Delia, a fiery kick ass Celtic Queen. They struggle against the backdrop of a revolution to find love and fight together against the indomitable Roman army to save Delia’s dying Celtic people. For excerpts, go to CENTURION or EDGE.

How do you go about developing your characters?

I struggled with character development for years, trying a lot of methods that didn’t work for me. Then one day, someone sent me this wonderful character development sheet and it worked wonders! (Here’s a link for anyone interested – it’s the last on the list.) I also realized two things: 1. All human beings are flawed; and 2. The best way to get to know a character is to close your eyes and jump right into the middle of their skulls with both feet.

You have to show those flaws and what’s on their mind. For example; Delia is a kick ass Celtic Queen who is saving the dying Celts from the Roman invasion, an impossible task. Sounds very heroic, doesn’t it? But here’s the deal; she’s terrified she’ll make a mistake, feels like a roiling mass of fear most of the time, and can’t abide horses, even though her people practically live on the beasts. She makes snap, rash decisions at times, and some of them bad. Marius is your standard handsome, brave, and normally flawless Roman Centurion; a man men would follow off a cliff if he ordered it. But inside, he hates violence, even though he’s the best swordsman in Rome, feels compassion for the people he has been ordered to conquer, and also makes rash decisions (especially when it comes to Delia). It’s what I call flaws, claws, and inward jaws…and we all have them. If you can build in some flaw to your character, inward turmoil or contradiction (one of my favorites), and mistakes into what they do, this give them dimension.
It’s the imperfections that make everyone interesting.

That's great advice. What other advice would you give to new writers just starting out?

This is what I tell all new writers:

1. Writing is 10% writing and 90% editing. Edit 'til you can't stand the thing, then do it three more times. Then have someone else edit it and then go through it three more times after that. You should be there when you start to change words BACK to what they used to be. Here’s a good example; I edited this interview for three hours before I was almost satisfied. You know you’re a writer when...you edit your IMs and text messages...

2. Get yourself a critiquing partner and a set of beta readers (family does nicely, especially if you have older kids...they do owe you; friends and co-worker are always good). LISTEN to what they have to say and be prepared for criticism. That’s what you don’t pay them for. A critiquing partner is absolutely an imperative and there are lots of groups out there that can help you find one...www.critters.org comes readily to mind, but there are many out there. Check in your genre. Or join a writing class in your community...that’s where my fabulous, wonderful, adorable partner came from.

3. Take classes, join associations, join groups, get involved in the writer's community (it's huge) and contribute to it. Harder to do than you think, believe me.

4. Be prepared to spend every waking hour on your dream and even some of your sleeping ones. The muse doesn't rest...at least until you need her, which leads me to...

5. DON'T RELY ON THE MUSE TO HELP YOU. (S)he will always let you down when you need her/him most. Being a published writer does not take inspiration, it takes dedication. You cannot wait until the art moves you...art is a lazy, drunken sod and it’s up to you to move it along. Hardest thing to do as a writer is to keep going. There are lots of tips on how to break writer’s block out there. The best advice I ever received? Get off your ass and hit those keys (or move that pen, if you’re a purest) - who cares what you write, just write.

6. Be kind, be loving, live well, and treat others well. When you critique someone or even give them an opinion on their work, keep in mind yours is (or will be) in another's hands one day. Creation is a fragile thing and easily destroyed...look at an egg sometime. I know; I shelved writing for twenty years because of a criticism. I regret it to this day.

7. You must develop a thick skin for this business...the whole “slings & arrows” thing. Not everyone is going to like your work....not everyone appreciates the hours that went into its creation...not everyone is kind. A gentle grace is needed to be a writer, I think...swear and punch through walls when you get home, but keep in mind it’s only one person’s opinion. You can choose to agree...or not. Did I mention this profession takes a bit of ego, as well?

8. There is no reward without sacrifice. When you see your name in print, the paperback crushed in your trembling hands, I promise, it will be worth all the pain. All you have to do then is write the next one...

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

As a rule, I haven’t suffered much in the past from writers block, but recently, this has been a problem. I think this is always the most difficult thing about writing, especially after you’ve done it for a while. It’s frustrating and makes you want to cram your head into a vice until an idea…or your brains…pop out. As far as the most exciting or rewarding? It’s when you’re in the groove, when the world around you fades into a blur of god-like tendencies, when the words splash across page after page and you can’t get them out fast enough (typos be damned!). It’s when you don’t write the story, but the story writes you, and the muse is a screaming banshee standing on your shoulder, punching you in the ear. That’s the best…and it’s rare (not to mention exhausting).

What was one of the most surprising things you learned in creating your book(s)?

Research is my second love and is constantly jealous of my first, so tries to tangle me in misguided avenues, riches of curiosity, and adventures down dark alleys of information that have nothing to do with my book. But for the Centurion books, the information was overwhelming! In many ways, even though I outline, the research drove so many aspects of these books I was amazed. The truth of the times, the harsh cruelties of the Romans…and the Celts…of those days, added grittiness, and an unexpected grandeur I hadn’t even imagined. This era was amazing. I have two more books I will be writing about it in the future.

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

Recently, there have been two movies that have really inspired me, both musicals. Moulin Rouge and The Phantom of the Opera. The depth of their creativity really reached into some dwindling spark in me that came as a bit of a surprise. Moulin Rouge especially got me on my feet when I watched it…that hasn't happened since I was a kid. I continue to look for these same inspirations and have yet to find them. But I keep looking…Sublime imagination hardens with age, unfortunately; we really have to work for it as we get older (damn life lessons anyway!).

Thanks so much for sharing your journey with us. Is there anything else you’d like to mention?

I have been on a bit of a hiatus for a few months as my husband has been extremely ill and we’ve been fully focused on this recovery. I do have several new books contracted for 2009 and 2010: A Boy & His Wizard (children’s book) is slated for November 2009 with Stonegarden; Starsight III (epic fantasy) March 2010; A Boy & His Lizard, June 2010; and God Wars; the Starsight prequel, November 2010. I am also working on two new romances that haven’t been picked up yet; Keenan’s Dilemma (romantic paranormal comedy) and The Gladiator Prince (third book in the Centurion series).

Allie, thanks for this wonderful opportunity. I wish everyone blessings and beatings!

Read Across America Day!

Did you know that today is Read Across America Day ? This was started by the National Education Association, as a way to celebrate Dr. Seuss' contributions to chlidren's literature and also to encourage everyone to READ together (ideally with your kids). It's always on or near his birthday, March 2nd.

What's your favorite Dr. Seuss book? I always liked The Lorax (though it's a bit sad, isn't it?) -- also And To Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street and Oh The Places You'll Go!

What about you?

Small Press Month: A Contest!

"What gunpowder did for war the printing press has done for the mind." ~Wendell Phillips

March is Small Press Month, which is a great time to celebrate the many small presses that are successfully making names for themselves in the publishing industry. I know that I am forever grateful to Samhain for taking me on 2 years ago, as an unknown author.

Now, the contest news...each weekend this month, I'll be featuring 2 small press authors, sort of an extended Writers' Wednesday. Each comment you leave on one of the weekend author features will earn you a spot in the month's giveaway...a prize donated by each featured author!

Check back later this week, and I'll have the list of prizes posted. Then look for the first featured interview on March 7th, and make sure to leave your comments!

For more about Small Press Month, click here.

More Writing Prompts

"The spirit of creation is the spirit of contradiction. It is the breakthrough of appearances toward an unknown reality." ~Joan Cocteau

Do you use writing prompts? If so, do you have favorite sites or books you visit? I don't usually, but I think I may try to change that and use them every so often, just to boost my creativity. Sometimes I get so stuck in my current story that the words simply refuse to flow.

Anyway, here's a great page from Writer's Digest, with some prompts...

Writer's Digest Tips

"I keep six honest serving men They taught me all I knew; Their names are What and Why and When and How and Where and Who." ~Rudyard Kipling

Happy weekend! Thought I'd share a couple of interesting tidbits from the latest issue of Writer's Digest...

"Romance Gets Real" is an interesting article about Harlequin's latest imprint, a non-fiction line that's currently acquiring in the areas of self-help, relationships, health, sex, diet, fitness, and beauty. Looks like the economy is forcing everyone to be promo-savvy about what the customer is looking for.

"(Over)Exposing Yourself" is a helpful article about how to create good publicity for yourself and when to stop from going too far. The tip I liked best in this one was #6, Make a Sincere Effort. If you're an author who's approaching a bookseller about carrying your titles, make a good-faith effort in the store and buy a book. Easy tip, but I bet a lot of authors don't bother.

And a great writing prompt, if you need to break away from your current WIP and get the creative juices flowing: A 20-something man is sitting in a taxi outside of his parents' house, trying to find the strength to tell them that he _____________________

Have fun!

Promo Possibilities Everywhere...Who Knew?

"Good as it is to inherit a library, it is better to collect one." ~Augustine Birrell

A few days ago, I mentioned this new site, PaperBack Book Swap, as a cool place to exchange the books you've read for ones others have posted.

I've already sent and received one each, which is pretty neat, but - guess what? If you're an author, I think this might be a place for a little self-promo. I was Googling myself yesterday and got a hit on this very site for Lost in Paradise. It's on 2 people's Wish Lists! So...think I'm going to "swap" them a copy...with a little bookmark/excerpt booklet/info about my upcoming releases inside. I mean, who doesn't like an autographed copy and a free bookmark, right?

Authors, check and see if your books are listed there...it might be a chance to make a personal connection with a new reader! (Diane, I know 2 of yours are...)

Presenting at the EPPIEs!

"Real success is finding your lifework in the work that you love." ~David McCullough

Less than 2 weeks until the EPPIE awards banquet, and I'm getting pretty excited...

Interestingly enough, a call for presenters came out on the EPIC loop the other day, and I figured since I was going to be there anyway, I'd volunteer. Turns out they still needed people, so I'll be presenting the finalists/award winner for the Non-Fiction category. Heck, I'm pretty excited for that too.

Anyway, this is cool: the presenter for my category, Contemporary Romance, is a member of my local RWA chapter and critique group. She asked to present this one specifically because both I and another member of the chapter are finalists. We're a very small chapter (less than 30 people), so to have 2 finalists in the same category is neat and a true accomplishment for us!

Can't wait to tell you all about it...

Writers' Wednesday: An Interview with Valerie Patterson

Welcome to Writers' Wednesday! Say hello to Valerie Patterson...

Valerie, I know you've just had a new book released. Congrats! Can you tell us about it?

Gee Whiz Meets SHAFT was released February 14th by Asylett Press. It's such a fun book. I had a lot of fun writing it. It's a little bit of everything. It's a comedy--a spoof on spy thrillers with some espionage thrown in--with a thread of romanceto tie it all together in a neat little package.

Sounds like fun! How do you go about developing your characters?

It all starts with a name! When I start a new manuscript, I select my characters' names and build from there, fleshing ou tphysical attributes and moving on to personality traits before rounding it out with career choices. I have to be able to havea solid mental image of my characters in order to establish how they would speak, act, react, think, and even move through scenes. For me, selecting a name first allows me create a character that comes to life in my thoughts. If I can see and 'hear' my character, then I believe my readers will be able to as well. Iwant my readers to relate to this character, obviously, but I also want them to come away from the book with a strong mental image of who the character was. For me to make that happen, it all begins with the name.

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

Do not submit the first thing you've ever written unless you've gotten a ton of feedback from peers--not just family and friends--from people who are not afraid to tell you what's wrong with the plot, what doesn't ring true with your dialogue, and why they dislike your hero/heroine. Always keep in mind that your words are not valuable little pearls tied together with unbreakable twine. You have to be able to rewrite and revise and bullet-proof your work. You have to be able to take criticism without it drawing blood and shattering your confidence. And then remember that not everyone on the planet is going to like what you've written. Accept that people have different tastes, listen to their comments and then move on, using what you can to make your work stronger and chucking the rest. Above all else, never give up. If a door closes, look for a window and then crawl through it. If writing is your passion, don't give up on it. Pursue the dream until it's a reality. Anything worth having, is worth the time it takes to achieve it.

That's such great advice...So, what do you find most difficult about writing?

The middle! When I start a new project, I generally have the beginning and the ending all worked out, so it's the middle that gives me problems. I'm all excited about starting, so I jump right on chapter 1. And then I've got the ending formulated and want to jump on that. Since a book generally requires more than a beginning and an ending, I find the middle to be the most challenging.

I can appreciate that - I have trouble with the middles myself. What do you find most exciting or rewarding about writing?

You'd think it would be the beginning or the ending, right? Nope. It's the complete package from start to finish. When I type THE END on a manuscript, I'm immediately ready to read the whole thing to see how it reads. I read it through once and then I break it down by chapters, reading each one out loud. When we read silently, our brains compensate for missing letters andsometimes missing words. By reading a chapter out loud, I'm able to identify any sentences that aren't quite right, pick up on missing words, and catch problem words like They're/Their and Your/You're. For me, the entire process of creating a written work is very rewarding. I imagine--for me--it's akin to an artist just finishing a painting.

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

In all honesty, writing actually balances my life! I use writing as an escape. Getting lost in a new work-in-progress allows me to take the stress of the day and pound it out on my keyboard. I like nothing better than to come home from the office and sit down at the computer and develop a character, flesh out a plot,or work on a chapter until I feel human again! Writing not only keeps me stress-free, it keeps me sane!

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

I've had small bouts of writer's block that barely qualify as writer's block because I just edit through them, meaning I workon editing a piece until the creativity flows again. However,there was one point in my life where I was unable to write for more than a year. My Dad died somewhat young and very suddenly in November 2001, just about a week before I received a contract for my first book. I never got to share that joy with him, and it bothered me greatly because my dad was a HUGE supporter of my writing. I did the revisions on the piece that the editor asked for, but I didn't write a single word of a new manuscript or a work-in-progress for over a year. I just couldn't. Nothing was there.

I began writing again by writing a piece about my dad. It seemed that singular piece opened the flood gates and words just poured out of me. It was a very emotional process that not only brought writing back into my life, but helped me through the grieving process. If you're faced with seemingly unending writer's block, just sit down and write something--anything--so that the process begins again. Who cares if that very first piece is any good? Chances are whatever pours out next will be!

Valerie, thanks so much for sharing your writing journey here today. Readers, you can find out more about this author and her works right here.

A Inside Look: What an Editor Wants

The other day, my Samhain editor posted a brief note in our Yahoo author group about referring authors to her. I thought her response was an interesting look at what one editor, anyway, is looking for in new authors:

If you are familiar enough with the author's writing, professionalism and promotional savvy to give them a personal recommendation, you may give them my direct email address and have them submit the standard submission package directly to me...However, please don't be disappointed if I reject your friend/acquaintance, as of course I do reject the great majority of submissions that I read.

I am less receptive to sci fic/futuristic, western romance, or American-set historicals than other editors. At the moment I am actively seeking red hot Regency/Georgian/Victorian/Edwardian historicals, m/m, paranormal, and mystery/suspense and am always looking for well-written fantasy and romantic comedy.

I think it's really worth noting the sorts of things she considers. Professionalism. Promotional savvy. Those things - your behavior on loops, the reputation you develop at conferences or signings or other appearances, your willingness to promote yourself whenever possible - they do make a difference in the long run. There are so many talented authors, so set yourself apart in additional ways. And remember that the publishing world is not that big (people talk), and your behavior on the Internet will circulate faster than you might imagine.

Just thought I'd share.

Hooray!

"It is written." ~Slumdog Millionaire

I stopped watching the Oscars 3 years ago, after "Brokeback Mountain" won Best Director but not Best Picture because, Academy members later revealed, they couldn't bring themselves to vote for a film about gay cowboys (as if it wasn't about anything else...)

And I didn't watch last night except for the first half-hour or so, because I thought the same thing would happen with "Slumdog Millionaire." I mean, who would vote for an independent film about India with no-name stars, that's partially subtitled, when you have Brad Pitt on the ticket?

But sometimes the right thing really does happen. Slumdog picked up 8 total awards last night, as it should have, and was the darling of the Oscars this year - as it should have been. I hadn't realized how close the movie came to not even releasing in this country; it almost went straight to DVD. Now it's the Best Picture of 2009!

I have had people say to me that this film is violent. I didn't walk away the first time thinking that. I tried to understand, the second time I saw it. Yes, there is violence in the movie. It is part of the plot, part of the point, that half this world lives in extreme, unpleasant conditions -- and yet hope and love can triumph there as well. The violence is not in this film for gratuitous reasons. It's there so that the happy ending is that much more sweet when we get to it.

Anyway, I'll step off my soapbox now. Anyone else watch the awards show? Did you make it through the whole thing? Whose dress was the best?

Oscar Movie Marathon: The Review

"The length of a film should be directly related to the endurance of the human bladder." ~Alfred Hitchcock

Whew! Actually made it through all 5 movies yesterday without losing my eyeballs or falling asleep! The theater was almost full, so I wasn't the only crazy person, and everyone there was having a good time, being in the same boat and all. The staff even came in between movies and did trivia for prizes (no, I did not win any...)

So here's my roundup:

Milk - Wow. This movie was more amazing than I expected. Sean Penn plays Harvey Milk, the first openly gay elected official in this country (San Francisco late 1970s). The whole movie is powerful, funny, and heartbreaking at the same time, since it's the story of a gay rights movement which really hasn't come all that far in the 30 years since. Very, very moving and GREAT acting (James Franco is great as Penn's lover). I'm pulling for Slumdog to win the Oscar, but this is a close second. And Sean Penn is just terrific.

The Reader - Um. Hmm? Not sure this one should be in the running for Best Picture. It's well-acted, but it isn't one of those movies that will stick with you for days. Plus it is incredibly depressing and beyond that, seemed to wander, especially in the second half. Kate Winslet plays a German woman who seduces a 16-year old boy...but he later finds out she's being put on trial for her actions as a Nazi guard years earlier. It seemed to have potential but didn't do it for me. The acting is good, though, and Kate Winslet has a good chance of getting the Oscar for Best Actress. She looks horrific - no makeup and she ages 40 years in the movie - I think the Academy likes that sort of thing.

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button - Much better than I expected. Even though it's the longest (almost 3 hours), it didn't feel that way. The makeup (and the acting) of Brad Pitt is amazing, as he ages backwards from an old man to a teenager. And how is it possible that Brad Pitt can still look 19 in the right makeup?? Anyway, it's one of those sweeping life sagas, complete with a love story (his great love is played by Cate Blanchett), and it's quite moving. Sad, though, very very sad - especially at the end.

Slumdog Millionaire - Well, I've already seen this one, and it's still my favorite. I just love the originality, the acting, the story that is part-adventure, part true romance, and the fact that it exposes a world of violence and poverty that at least half our world lives in. I think this was the crowd favorite last night, too.

Frost/Nixon - If there's a dark horse in this Oscar race, it's gonna be this movie. Even though it was the last one of the night, and even though it has less action and more conversation and intellectual plotting, I was mesmerized from beginning to end. First, the story itself is fascinating: a playboy Australian talk show host gets an interview with Richard Nixon after he resigns the Presidency. The host is WAY in over his head, and Nixon is determined to exonerate his name, and so it's a battle of wills and personalities that is INCREDIBLY acted. These two actors played the same roles when it was on Broadway, and you can tell they've been living with these characters for a while. The subtleties of each give a terrific insight into what was happening in those months and years after Watergate (and I imagine this would be even more powerful for those who remember the time, as I don't). If you get a chance, rent this one - don't think because it doesn't have constant physical action that it isn't absolutely compelling. I wouldn't be surprised to see this one win, either.

So there you have it...I don't know if I'll actually stay up to watch the awards show tonight. I'm still pretty tired, and the show itself is so drawn out. But at least I can talk about the movies tomorrow!

An Oscar Movie Marathon!!

"Cinema should make you forget you are sitting in a theater." ~Roman Polanski

Well, I am spending the entire day in a dark place with strangers...

...at an Oscar movie marathon where they're showing the 5 nominated Best Picture movies, back to back. We start at 10:30 am, and the last one begins at 9:45 pm. Am I crazy? Will I actually make it? Check back here tomorrow to find out! In the meantime, here are the 5 movies:

Milk

The Reader

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Slumdog Millionaire

Frost/Nixon

I'll see you here tomorrow with my opinions and award predictions~

Pee in Dangerous Places

I was reading the latest issue of Writers' Digest last night and came across this excerpt (from Pep Talks, Warnings and Screeds: Indispensable Widsom and Cautionary Advice for Writers by George Singleton) which I just loved. So here's your Friday word of advice:

I fear that there's not enough danger in everyday life. I'm not talking about gang-related violence and how the ease of buying handguns in America causes everyday danger. I'm talking about public restrooms. In the old days, there weren't fast-food restaurants at every intersection. In the old days, if a traveler had to use the restroom, he had to go into strange Texaco and Gulf stations or roadside rest areas. There was always graffiti in these places that read something like, "Want to have a good time? Meet me here at 4:30." Then the traveler would look at his watch and see that it was 4:28 or thereabouts.

Such anxiety and tension causes good fiction. It's a different kind of tension than when the automatic hand dryer is broken. So my advice for beginning writers is to pee in dangerous places, always. Then give your characters that feeling of imminent danger.

Today's Featured Author: Barbara Levenson

Welcome everyone...it's Writers' Wednesday on Thursday this week! Today I have the pleasure of interviewing mystery writer Barbara Levenson, whose novel Fatal February just released. At the end of this interview, Barbara will be sharing how and where you can win a signed copy of her book, so pay close attention. And enjoy the chat!

Barbara, thanks so much for being here today. Can you tell us a little about your background?

I began my legal career as a prosecutor in the office of the Miami-Dade State Attorney. My first boss was Janet Reno, who later became the Attorney General in the Clinton administration. This was in the wild 1980’s, the era of the “cocaine cowboys.” I was promoted rather quickly to the narcotics division. We were facing well known criminal defense attorneys, so I learned to litigate under fire.

After a few years, I opened my own law office, specializing in criminal defense and civil rights litigation. I had many interesting clients including representing several people who had their boats confiscated under the “Zero Tolerance” policy of the Reagan administration. Guys out for a Sunday fishing outing were hauled over and told miniscule seeds of marijuana were found on the deck, and the boat was then seized. These cases became famous enough to land me an interview on Night Line and several NPR reports.

One day my husband looked at me and said, “Why don’t you run for a judgeship?” I thought he was crazy. There were only a few women serving as judges at the time, and the election campaign would involve the entire Dade County which is larger than the state of Delaware. But we like a challenge in our family. I served on the bench for twelve years and now still sit occasionally as a senior judge.

Wow, sounds like an exciting time! But when did you first begin writing? Was there an event that triggered a desire to write?

I began writing in elementary school. I wrote stories to entertain my friends. It was in junior high school that I realized that my humorous stories made my peers smile and the scary ones made them plead for more. I was hooked.

What are your latest writing projects?

Fatal February has just been published. It is the first in a mystery series whose protagonist is Mary Magruder Katz, a Miami criminal defense attorney. She is the epitome of the real Miami. She is half Jewish and half Southern Baptist. Her hot Latin boyfriend is half Cuban and half Argentine. The real Miami’s melting pot usually begins in the wedding chapel. This series of books takes readers into the way life is lived in Miami; not the usual South Beach tourist picture. The second book in the series, Justice in June, will be published in June, 2010. (Oceanview Publishing). I am also working on a book for middle school boys who seem to be left out of the mystery genre.

I think the idea of targeting middle school boys is a terrific one! Now, what advice would you give to new writers just starting out?

The first piece of advice is one a writing teacher gave to me. If you want to write, sit your behind in the chair and write. Do not stop in the middle of your book because you don’t know how to finish it, or you are bored. Don’t be one of those people who tell you, “I was writing a book but I didn’t have time to finish it, or I have too many other commitments now, but I’ll do it later.”

My second piece of advice is to write about things you know about or have thoroughly researched, and write what you like to read. Then you will find your own authentic voice. Finally, go to seminars, conferences, and join organizations where you will network with authors, publishers, book sellers. Learn everything you can about the publishing industry. For me, writing a book is the easy part. Knowing how to sell it is much harder.

Describe your writing space.

I live in two houses. Miami is home base for the last 33 years, and the Miami house is the house we have lived in for 33 years. Now that our children are grown, I have a small study on the second floor. I always have my computer (I always write on a computer) facing a window. What I see from the house in Miami is a landscape of trees, with something in bloom all the time, birds including wild parrots that scream to each other in their own language, and the South Florida sky that is a blue that cannot be duplicated.

Now that I am not confined to full-time judging, in the summer and fall, we retreat to a house in Vermont. The house is built on a hillside. My writing space is in the lowest level where I look out of two sets of sliding doors. Here I can see woodlands and mountains in the distance. One day a family of wild turkeys trotted down our walkway and peered at me through the glass. They were a great audience as I read aloud from the scene I was working on. They didn’t offer one criticism.

Miami and Vermont - what a great combination! What do you like to do when you’re not writing?

My husband and I bred and showed German Shepherd dogs for many years. We still have two German Shepherds. We did all the training and traveling with them and finished eleven champions in the show ring. Now, with only the two aging dogs, I like to just have fun with them. Fatal February has a German Shepherd named Sam who is based on my male dog, Ned. Sam is Mary’s constant companion and stress-reliever.

My other passion is ice hockey. We have a National Hockey League in South Florida and we go to as many home games as possible. You can’t think about any problem when you are totally into the fast action of a good hockey game. I am also involved in many activities at the University of Miami where I went to law school. We live near the campus. I have become acquainted with the members of the women’s basketball team and have them all over for dinner once each season, for some home cooked food and home cooked conversation. Some of them are very far from home for the first time. This year one is from Alaska, and one from Eastern Europe.

Barbara, thanks so much for sharing your story with us today! OK readers, here's the skinny on how to win her book:

Barbara Levenson is giving away a signed copy of her book, Fatal February, to one lucky tour visitor. Go to Barbara’s book tour page, http://barbara-levenson.omnimystery.com/, and enter your name, e-mail address, and this PIN, 8181, 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 Barbara’s book tour page next week.

Thanks for joining us...and have a great day!

The February Samhellion is Up!

"Make a list of important things to do today. At the top of your list, put "eat chocolate." Now, you'll get at least one thing done today." - Gina Hayes

Hey all, the February issue of The Samhellion is up, with all things romance and Valentine's Day...including a yummy recipe sent in from Yours Truly. Give it a look!

Do You Read Your Own Books?

"I see the notion of talent as quite irrelevant. I see instead perseverance, application, industry, assiduity, will, will, will, desire, desire, desire." ~Gordon Lish

Back at the Borders signing a couple of weeks ago, a fellow author asked me if I had read my own books. I blinked, thought about it, and then realized...No.

Here's the thing: you write a book. You edit it a couple (or 10) times. Your editor sends it back with suggested changes, which you make. Your editor sends you 1-2 rounds of edits, which you make. Your editor asks you to read it through one more time before the FLE (Final Line Editor) gets it. And then before the print release, you read through the galleys one more time to catch any glitches.

So once those books come out in print, I for one am not at all interested in picking them up and reading them yet again. I've read interviews with movie stars who say they've never seen the complete movie they just filmed, and I always thought that was strange. Not anymore. (OK, this is not to say I'm comparing myself to Reese Witherspoon or anything...just the similar abstract concept...)

It's a weird sort of phenomenon. And having just finished the 2nd round of edits for One Night in Napa, I will say I feel the same way this time around. I still love the story, but I don't think I'll be picking it up in print and reading it page by page.

Hey, authors out there - what about you? Have you read your own books?

Two New Websites

"All good things are wild, and free." ~Henry David Thoreau

Hey readers, here are 2 websites I recently discovered that might interest you:

For readers: PaperBack Swap Book Club is a website where you can list the books you own -- and browse the books that others own -- and then swap them by mail if you'd like! Instead of dropping off the books you've read at a library or used bookstore, you can get credits and swap them with other readers, for books you'd like to have. Seems like a pretty neat concept -- I'll be trying it out later today.

For writers: Blazing Trailers is another place to upload your book trailers. Looks like it's similar to Preview the Book, and it's FREE! So check it out -- another place to spread the word about your books.

A Release Date!

"The difference between involvement and commitment is like ham and eggs. The chicken is involved; the pig is committed." ~Martina Navratilova

Well, I think I have an official release date, anyway, for One Night in Memphis (print). Originally, when I got the galleys to proofread, Samhain told me May 26th. I wrote back asking if it could be pushed up at all, since I have a signing at my local Borders scheduled for May 16th. I never heard back, so I figured that was a No. I mean, I know they have their schedule pretty much set, week by week.

But...it's available for pre-order right now at Amazon, with a May 1st release date listed, so I'm hoping that's the true, new one.

Exciting! (And if you pre-order it now, it's on sale...)

Happy Valentine's Day!

I know, I know -- much about this day is overblown and commercialized. I mean, why can't we celebrate our love for others with cards and flowers and kind words and yummy dinners and decadent chocolate the other 364 days of the year (oh wait -- I definitely do the chocolate thing more than once a year!)?



Valentine's Day is still a great day for romance, though, so here are a few memorable movie kisses to warm your heart and remind you why love stories are such wonderful things...

And This Weekend I'd Like To...

"Easy reading is damned hard writing." ~Nathaniel Hawthorne

The beginning of a 4-day weekend ~ what a glorious thing!

Writing goals for this weekend:

1. Finish edits for One Night in Napa.

2. Finish reading through Summer's Song for the umpteenth time.

3. Write a query letter and synopsis for the above and send it off.

4. Write 2 reviews for The Long and the Short of It.

Whew! Think I can do it??

((And a shout-out to my sister, who's celebrating her birthday today!))

The Dirty Little Secret

"What we do not see, what most of us never suspect of existing, is the silent but irresistible power which comes to the rescue of those who fight on in the face of discouragement." ~Napoleon Hill

I was talking to a fellow writer in my local RWA chapter last night, and the topic of revising came up. Turns out she spent all of January rewriting a book for her publisher, Harlequin. Now, she's multi-published with them, so when I found out that her editor had asked her to rewrite nearly this whole story before they would accept it, I was shocked.

I mean, I sort of thought that once you've established your name with a major publisher, you can pretty much write the story you want and they'll take it.

Nope.

She said the new story is a totally different book. It has the same first and last chapters as the original, but that's it. Then, once she sent that one in, she got the edits for another book she'd proposed. This one had fewer requests, but it had them in tricky one-liners, like "Don't let the secondary characters take over," "The hero and heroine are apart for 50 pages. Please address," and "Please take out X amount of scenes with the villain." Those aren't necessarily things you can fix in an hour or two.

And I said, "Wow, that's the dirty little secret about publishing that no one tells you when you're unpublished, huh?" You're led to believe that once you write a book, if a publisher/editor likes it, they'll take it, tweak some sentences here and there, and that's the end of the story. You don't realize that it might just be the beginning, and that you might be asked to substantially revise portions of the book -- even the portions you love and agonized over.

She said, "It's a good thing unpublished writers don't know that! If they knew it got harder instead of easier, they'd probably get so discouraged they'd stop trying altogether." Pause. "Then, of course, they wouldn't be any kind of competition for us, so maybe we should tell them..."

LOL. She's funny that way.

It's an interesting thing to realize, though -- you may be a terrific writer, you may be on the NY Times best-seller list, you may have an agent...but you may still have to do major revisions of a book before your editor will agree to contract it.

Don't be discouraged. Just be aware.

Writers' Wednesday: An Interview with Shelley Munro

Welcome to Writers' Wednesday...are you getting ready for Valentine's Day?? My featured author today is Shelley Munro. Enjoy!

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

My name is Shelley Munro. I live in New Zealand with my husband and a bossy wee dog called Scotty. My favorite hobby is travel, and luckily, my husband shares my love of exploring the world. We’ve visited lots of different countries and continents including Africa, Europe, Asia, America and Central America. I enjoy reading, all sorts of books and genres, and of course, writing. When I’m not writing I enjoy walking, running and cycling.

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

I’ve always read a lot and the desire to write followed quite naturally. I wanted to write romance, inspired by New Zealand writers Robyn Donald, Daphne Claire and Susan Napier. Although I started writing a couple of times, I never finished anything. Then I discovered boys and that was it for a while. I found one I really liked and married him. We decided we’d go to Britain on a year long working holiday. We enjoyed the travel so much our trip lengthened into six years. Eventually we returned to New Zealand, and I started thinking about writing again.
I remember waking up one morning and thinking if I wanted to write a book and sell it, I should start straightaway or I’d run out of time. I think the stars were in alignment that week because I came across an advertisement with details of an Auckland University course on writing romance. I enrolled straight away. One of our local ladies’ magazines mentioned Romance Writers of New Zealand. I sent off my check to join the group and started my writing journey.

Exciting! So tell us about your latest writing project or published title.

I’m currently working on stories in my Middlemarch Mates series, stories about black leopard shifters who live in the small New Zealand town of Middlemarch. Cat Burglar, book six came out on 31 Dec 2008 and Leticia’s Lovers is due out in 2009. Cat Burglar features two new characters and introduces the local cops. Leticia’s Lovers features Leticia, with brief appearances from her brother Lucas and his partner Saul introduced in an earlier Middlemarch Mates book called Stray Cat Strut. I’m working on book eight and intend to introduce some new characters to the town. Of course, there will be cameo visits from some of the old characters as well. They give me problems if I try to leave them out!

How do you go about developing your characters?

Generally I start off with an idea for a scene or a snippet of conversation or a line of dialogue. If it’s a new book I’ll mull it over in my head, pulling the idea this way and that until my characters take on substance and become real to me. Sometimes I’ll take months to think about things, and other characters come together more quickly. I’ll think about possible conflicts and flesh out a background for my character. I don’t plot as a rule, but once I have all my main character conflicts sorted out, I can start writing.

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

They should read widely across all the genres and look at the way other writers do things. If a book works for you, great. Once you’ve finished reading it, go back and work out why you enjoyed the book so much. If you hated a particular book, look closer to see which things didn’t work for you. Use all the books you read as text books.

The other thing I’d suggest is to get into the habit of writing every day. It will stand you in great stead for later when you’re published.

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

It’s always difficult to face rejection, which comes with the territory. Writing is a solitary profession. A writer needs to sit in front of a computer and write. It’s not always easy to forgo family, friends and special interests to write.

One of the most rewarding things about writing is the contact with readers. I treasure the notes and emails I’ve received from readers.

Thanks for a great interview today, Shelley! Anything else you’d like to mention?

You can find me at my website http://www.shelleymunro.com/ or my blog www.shelleymunro.com/blog
I also have a monthly newsletter that you can join from my website. Members of my newsletter receive special excerpts, have the chance to enter member-only contests and hear all my news first. A sign-up form is on the sidebar of my blog. And finally, I have a MySpace page at http://www.myspace.com/shelleymunro

Thank you!

Okay, Now I'm Nervous

"The test of literature is, I suppose, whether we ourselves live more intensely for the reading of it." ~Elizabeth Drew

I mentioned yesterday that I'll be presenting a workshop at the CTRWA's Fiction Fest 2009 Conference in May - I had agreed to do one after one of the officers sent out a plea back in January. And if you read yesterday's blog post, you know I rarely turn down a chance at promotion or networking).

Anyway, I finally saw the offical schedule for the conference - and now I'm nervous. See, most conferences I've been to (not that many, but still) have a variety of workshops to choose from each session. You know, like 3 or 4 at least. I was even a little worried that no one would come to mine (it's called "Cutting Deadwood: Tightening and Trimming Your Writing").

Now I find out that there are 4 separate sessions, and only 2 workshops each session. Yikes! That means that everyone who goes will be choosing between mine and only one other "(The Author/Agent Relationship"). These two are during the last session of the day, so I suppose a few people might skip out early. And the other workshop is being given by a NY Times best-selling author and her agent, so I'd think that's a pretty big draw. But what if a few people stick around and decide to give mine a try?

Gulp...

Take That Step out the Door and Network!

"All books are either dreams or swords,
You can cut, or you can drug, with words." ~Amy Lowell

So...the signing at Borders...

There were 13 authors, some big name, some (like moi) not. Varying genres. Most of us brought gift baskets to give away, which we did every half-hour to customers who filled out entry cards and hung around to hear some of us read from our books. We had probably 6-8 people who stayed a couple of hours, and then probably 15-20 more browsers.

I sold 2 books, certainly not great, but average for most who were there, with the exception of Kristan Higgins, who's a pretty big new name. But even she sold maybe 10 at the most.

Better than the sales, though, was the chance to network with other authors. Kristan, especially, was great fun to chat with (really, she's hilarious - I can't wait to read her books). She also gave me a lot of good advice and said the #1 reason that manuscripts get rejected is because of length. If you're pitching a single title, it has to be 90K words. 100K is better.

She's also the president of the CTRWA and presenting a workshop at the Fiction Fest 2009 Conference (I'll be there too - more on this tomorrow), and spending 3+ hours sitting next to her at a signing, I gotta believe, might be a nice connection at some point down the road. At the very least, we had fun:




Hubby and I also stayed over at a local B&B afterwards, and when the owner found out I'd been in town for a book signing, she gushed and pulled out her checkbook so that she could buy a signed copy of both of mine, for their library! (Another reason to always carry a few extra in the trunk of your car) She also took bookmarks and excerpt booklets to put in every guest room, because "Guests love when they hear that an author stayed here!"

So, as I've said here many times before, if you have the chance to do any kind of public appearance with your books, or even have the chance to talk about them with someone new, DO SO! You never know who you'll meet and what doors it might open for you down the road.

Book Signing Update

Had a great time at yesterday's Border's Romance and Chocolate Event - come back here tomorrow for a rundown of all the details, OK?

Teaser 'til tomorrow: didn't sell a lot, but had a chance to do some great networking, which definitely made the day worthwhile. And I got to sit next to best-selling author and recent RITA winner Kristan Higgins!

Just a Quick Reminder...

Romance and Chocolate Event at the Borders in Farmington, CT today! Cross your fingers that I sell lots of books (and don't make an idiot of myself while reading excerpts)!

Oh, and I'm blogging at Samhain today. Stop by and leave me a comment if you'd like :)

Happy weekend!

Do You Read Harlequin? Part Two

'ouk imae idenai, ah mae oido' (Translation: "The more I know, the less I know") ~Socrates

Well, I have to say a big Thank You to everyone who chimed in with their opinions yesterday. I really am unfamiliar with most of Harlequin's lines, but it does seem as though probably some authors are simply better (or more appealing) than others, even within a line. And Diane you're right: Harlequin authors definitely enjoy more widespread exposure than those from smaller and lesser-known presses.

And Rita, thanks for the link to the Silhouette Special Edition Editor Pitch -- there might be a blog reader here who'd like to find out more too.

Finally, I do want to mention that the Harlequin website has podcasts for almost every line, where you can listen to the editors talk about what they're looking for -- and what they're not. I spent some time last night and gained a couple of tips.

PS: Christina Phillips is interviewing me today on her blog. Would you drop by and leave a comment so I don't feel so lonely there???

Do You Read Harlequin?

"The minute I heard my first love story I started looking for you, not knowing how blind that was. Lovers don't finally meet somewhere. They're in each other all along." ~Jalal ad-Din Rumi

The other day, I was perusing the boards at Absolute Write (if you're a writer and don't visit occasionally, well, you should). And one author in the Romance/Women's Fiction section was writing about the fact that she's a category romance author for the Harlequin Superromance Line. She cited sales numbers of $16-20K on each book she's written for them...which naturally made me hop over to the Harlequin Writers' Guidelines page to find out more.

Turns out the Superromance line runs 60 - 65K words and is pretty similar to contemporary romance, which made me think maybe I could pitch Summer's Song to them. (Hey, those numbers aren't small ones.) I even went to Borders and bought 2 so I could do a little research.

And there's the problem.

No offense to anyone, and someone or something is probably going to strike me down for saying this, but -- I didn't think the quality of writing was good. At all. Maybe I just picked 2 mediocre authors.

But that leaves me thinking, if it's a line that holds potential for something I write, for that kind of money, should I explore more? Should I query them? Should I change the story structure of SS so it fits what seems to be their formula?

Hmm...don't know...still trying to figure it out. Has anyone read a certain Harlequin line they really liked?

Two Contests for Writers

"At the touch of love everyone become a poet." ~ Plato

No Writers' Wednesday today - but instead, an announcement of two upcoming writing contests that might interest some of you:

The Sandy Contest (I think it's for unpublished authors only) - Deadline is Feb 17th and word of mouth has it that they're light on romance entries. Final judge in that category is an assistant editor at MIRA - no small potatoes!

Share Your Romantic Story Valentine's Contest - open to anyone, and the prize is a $250 gift certificate to the restaurant of your choice! Deadline is February 6th, though, so get writing (or dig out those romantic stories if you have them lying around).

Good luck, if you decide to enter!!

Agent or Not?

"Don't tell my mother I work in an advertising agency - she thinks I play piano in a whorehouse." ~Jacques Seguela

The conversation about romance writers having an agent is an interesting one. Some want one without question, so they can snag that publishing contract with a big NY house. Others are much more hesitant, because romance is one of the only genres in which you can still get contracts without having to go through an agent (with some, not all, bigger publishing houses). If you don't have an agent, you might miss out on rights opportunities and get sucked into contracts that don't benefit you the way they should. But if you don't have an agent, you also keep all your sales profits yourself.

A new author recently introduced herself on the Samhain Yahoo Author group -- her agent just sold her first book to Samhain. Here's the thing: if I ever have an agent, I want him/her to submit my books to publishers where I can't break in myself. An agent takes 15% of the money you make, right off the top. I love Samhain -- you know I do -- but I'm not sure the profits there warrant an agent. It's still considered a small press, even though it may be up and coming. On the other hand, I guess I'm glad that it has such a great reputation that agents are submitting to it.

What do you think?

A Great Blog Post

"Publication - is the auction of the Mind of Man." ~Emily Dickinson

Just a quickie, 'cause it's Monday:

Read this blog post by Lauren Dane (she's a fellow Samhain author, so I feel especially proud) - she discusses what it means to be a "published author" as defined in a few different ways.

And have a great day!

Super Sunday!

"Some people think football is a matter of life and death. I assure you, it's much more serious than that." ~Bill Shankly

Well, it's Super Bowl Sunday - do you have any plans?

We'll be heading to a friend's house for what has turned into an annual party - quite a nice tradition, I must admit. Most of us who will be there work together as well, and we all buy squares in the workplace pool, so whether or not the game or the teams excite us, we're always having a good time. Sometimes we even win some money!

What are your plans? Do you watch the game? Get together with friends? Spend any money on pools and hope for the best?

Romance and Chocolate!

"All you need is love. But a little chocolate now and then doesn't hurt." - Charles M. Schulz

I know I mentioned this event before, but since it's so close now, only 1 little week away, I thought I'd mention it again: I'll be one of a bunch of authors at a "Romance and Chocolate" book signing event at the Borders in Farmington, Connecticut next weekend.

It's going to be held Saturday, February 7th, from 2 - 6 in the afternoon, and we'll be reading excerpts, giving away gift baskets, and offering corny games and prizes to any suspecting book browser who wanders our way!

Check out the finalized list of authors (in no particular order):

Denise Eagan

Kristan Higgins

Kathryn Smith

Stella Price

Jessica Andersen

Marie Force

Cat Johnson

Tilly Greene

Allie Boniface

Annette Blair

Isabelle Santiago

Emily Bryan

Donna Michaels

Leigh Ellwood

The Borders is located at 1600 South East Rd, Farmington, CT, and the phone # is 860-674-8110, so if you're anywhere close by, stop by! We'd love to see you :)

Finished...For Now

"I like to see a man proud of the place in which he lives. I like to see a man live so that his place will be proud of him." ~Abraham Lincoln

Well, the print galleys for One Night in Memphis are proofread, the first round of edits for One Night in Napa are done, the blurb form is tweaked, and for right now...I'm finished.

Next week, I'll get another round of edits for Napa, and then I'm hoping for my cover sometime in the next month or so after that (can't wait to see what the artist does this time!). Then some of my promo events start up (check out the sidebar...will I see you at any of them?)

I suppose I should really start thinking about what project is next. I want to submit Summer's Song to my Samhain editor, so I need to do another read-through of that. And actually, I should decide which One Night... book I want to start drafting. I have One Night in Savannah outlined, and I'm pretty happy with it, so we'll see. I should probably pull out a map and see what cute/attractive/jazzy/sinful city in the midwest I can set a novel in. So far I've done both coasts and the south.

Any suggestions?

Two Opportunities

"If you're not actively involved in getting what you want, you don't really want it." ~Peter McWilliams

An opportunity for readers: The Long and the Short of It is, in their words, "desperate" for new reviewers. If you like to read romance, you enjoy discovering new authors, and you'd to get like free ebooks (and print books too!), consider joining their team. They also run an incentive program, so you earn points that go toward cool prizes with every review you do. Interested in finding out more? Click here.


And an opportunity for writers: NYT best-selling romance author Brenda Novak runs a hugely popular and successful online auction each May to raise money for diabetes research. She's looking for donations for her 2009 auction right now, so consider giving away a signed copy of your book(s), or a critique of an unpublished author's first three chapters, or a gift pack, or... This is a GREAT opportunity to promote yourself, so click here if you want to know more!

Writers' Wednesday: An Interview with Donna Bolk

Welcome to a wintry edition of Writers' Wednesday (here in the northeast, anyway). Welcome to Wild Rose Press best-selling author Donna Bolk. Sit back and enjoy!

Good morning, Donna, and welcome to my blog! Can you tell us a little about your background?

I've held a variety of jobs over the years, to name a few; gas station attendant, prison courier, instructor, waitress, role player, army sergeant, and dog groomer.

I will celebrate my 30th wedding anniversary this year. My husband and I, have had the pleasure of raising three incredible sons, who are now in their twenties. Our oldest son is and artist, our middle son is a songwriter and bass player in a punk band, and our youngest is pursuing a career in writing.

Currently, my sister and I own and operator a dog grooming salon. I have the good fortune to be able to go to work each day and collect more than my share of doggy kisses, and unconditional love. And at the end of the day, I get to slip into my furry pink slippers and write. Life is good.

What an interesting and exciting life so far! So when did you first begin writing? Was there an event or moment in your life that triggered your desire to write?

I don't remember a time when I wasn't writing. Growing up I went through the daily - I want to be when I grow up stages. I discovered through writing I can do just that - from detective to showgirl, I can be them all.

Tell us about your latest writing project or published title.

I'm in the editing stages of Package Deal. It will be released through The Wild Rose Press in 2009. It's a romantic comedy that centers on a foster mom, and her five kids.

Saving Cinderella was released in 2008. It's a Cinderella in reverse story, about a young woman who goes from riches to rags. It's a romance so you know there's a happy ending for my heroine.

Wow, sounds intriguing. How do you go about developing your characters?

I start with a story idea, and two main characters, the other characters flow from the story line. For example in Saving Cinderella, by the time my hero a Adam (a country doctor) arrives at his ranch, his twin brother Josh is waiting on his porch. Now, Mallory my heroine is already out of element, going from rich to poor and city to country life. But she has the added surprise of her husband's twin bother, and to make things even more interesting, Josh is preacher. And because I so enjoyed his character, I had to give him a love interest. Enter Harley, a lady with a shady past. So, as you can see one character just rolled into another.

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

Write for the pure joy of it. Getting published is great, but if you don't love what you're doing it will get old and heart breaking. And of course the standard read, read, read, and write, write, write.

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

I read everything, but my favorite genre is woman's fiction, closely followed by romance. As for favorite author there are just too many to choose just one. However, I will put Donna L. Bolk at the top of my list as favorite author. I am a firm believer that you have to be your own biggest fan, if you don't believe in yourself, you can't expect a reader to believe in you. I give one hundred percent plus to my writing. The reader deserves no less.

Your own cheerleader - I like that theory! What do you find most difficult about writing? What do you find most exciting or rewarding?

Most difficult - that's easy. Where do I put that dang comma! The most rewarding is also easy. Hands-down it's hearing from my readers.

Great interview, Donna. Anything else you’d like to mention?

Thank you for letting me share a little about my books and myself . And thank you to the readers who took time out of their busy schedules to read it. Warm regards to all!

Today, Just a Picture

"Love at first sight is easy to understand; it's when two people have been looking at each other for a lifetime that it becomes a miracle." ~Amy Bloom

I know, there were a lot of great photos from the inuaguration a week ago. But this one I love: the Obamas between balls, in a freight elevator (who said being President was glamorous??). And she's wearing his coat, because, you know, it was about 20 degrees in Washington that night. I just love the intimacy between them here.

What's in a Warning?

“Why haven't women got labels on their foreheads saying, "Danger: Government Health Warning: Women can be dangerous to your brains, genitals, current account, confidence, razor blades and good standing among your friends” ~Anonymous

Two parts of writing blurbs I'm not crazy about: (1) The Warning and (2) The Comparison Titles. For marketing purposes, Samhain likes authors to add a warning to any titles that have explicit language, sex, situations, etc. But they also like it when authors come up with "creative" warnings that are humorous or sarcastic or somehow tease the reader into buying the book. Since my books are more sweet/sensual than anything else, and PG-13 rated, I don't have any necessary warnings. But my editor wants a cute, clever warning, so I spent yesterday wracking my brain trying to come up with something.

Here are three possibilities for One Night in Napa I have so far. Which one jumps out at you the most?

#1: Warning: This title contains a ticking clock, family secrets, and enough sexual tension to heat every corner of an enormous mansion…especially when the power goes out.

#2: Warning: This title contains a hunky hero who thinks he knows it all, an unconventional heroine who’s gonna show him how wrong he is, twisted family secrets, obscure references to Greek mythology, and fireworks galore.

#3: Warning: This title contains lots and lots of sexual tension, innuendos galore, and twenty-four short hours in which family secrets turn out to be more dangerous and damning than you’d ever imagine…

I also have to come up with book titles that are similar to mine, so Samhain can market appropriately to booksellers. But I always struggle with those too. That's next on the agenda...

Inspiration and Motivation

"I asked Ring Lardner the other day how he writes his short stories, and he said he wrote a few widely separated words or phrases on a piece of paper and then went back and filled in the spaces." ~Harold Ross

Hey writers, one of my favorite ezines just published their January 2009 issue, and it's a great one for jump-starting your writing.

WOW-Women on Writing's "It's About Time" issue features all kinds of articles on how to get more writing done, how to set goals and deadlines, why blogging is such a great tool, and more. They also have contests to enter...so hop on over and check it out!