Romance Writer's Revenge

The perfect black moment

noreply@blogger.com (haleigh) — Wed, 16 May 2012 04:00:00 +0000

I'm a sucker for angst. Black moments are my favorite part of a book, flat out. A half-assed black moment can ruin a book faster than head-hopping can.

So it's no surprise that my favorite books contain a great black moment. But they're difficult (read: almost impossible) to pull off on TV. Take two of my favorite TV shows for example: Castle and Bones. Both star a couple with massive amounts of sexual tension. Both ended last season with hints that the two would finally get together (Ter wrote a great blog about this back in July, at the end of the last season.)

Last season of Bones ended with an "I'm pregnant" cliff hanger. The two of them got together in a moment of grief, and then bam - they're pregnant, living together, perfectly happy in their relationship, have a baby, etc. No more tension, no explanation, nothing. It's not the fact that they're together that bothers me. It's the fact that we missed the good part. After years of growing tension, it was just . . . done.

Imagine a book with four hundred pages of growing tension and intimacy, conflict and fights, suspense an agonies. And just when you're getting near the climax, they're perfectly happy together.

Something vital was skipped, and as a lover of romance, it killed the story for me.

By contrast, Castle ended with an "I love you" cliffhanger as Kate lay dying after being shot through the heart. Very tragic and all that. And just as Terri predicted last year, Kate pretended she hadn't heard up straight up to the last episode. A full year of denial, denial, denial. And we got to watch as both Castle and Kate had to deal with their feelings and figure out what they wanted.

It started to come together. In this year's season finale, they were finally set up for their first date. It was sweet. I thought it was sweet enough. And then BAM - without warning came one of the best black moments I've ever seen on television.

Here's a few things that made it work so well:

it was organic to the story - it played on a weakness the heroine has had the whole show. She's obsessed with the unsolved murder of her mother (she was a teen, I think). The black moment is a final culmination of that weakness.
it was legitimate - nothing about it felt over dramatic or like they'd gone to far (to me, at least. levels of melodrama are super-subjective). Castle walked away - and there was no other choice he could have made. Our hearts could break for him, without being pissed he was missing an obvious solution
there was a surprise twist - as the black moment was building, I thought I knew where it was going. I was wrong. In the four years the show has been on, every time Kate got into trouble, Castle came and rescued her. Again, Kate got into trouble (hanging off the ledge of a building 20 stories in the air, in this particular episode) and I thought Castle would save her. She thought he would save her. For the first time in the show's history, he didn't come and rescue her

What do you think makes a good black moment? What ruins them? Any great examples, from either TV or books?

Tuesday Review: The Cottage at Glass Beach by Heather Barbieri

noreply@blogger.com (MsHellion) — Tue, 15 May 2012 04:00:00 +0000

It's almost summer and I know you need to some summer reading. Publishers have been gearing up just for this moment--God forbid we be without delightful, enthralling drama to soak up as we soak up sun.

THE COTTAGE AT GLASS BEACH is the classic women's fiction: its arc follows the story of a middle-aged married woman who takes her two girls to a family beach cottage for the summer when she finds out her husband has been cheating on her (he's a politician) and the scandal has been splashed in all the newspapers. While there, she reconnects with her aunt and slowly unravels the mystery of her mother's disappearance when she was a child.

What saves this from being like about fifty other women's fiction novels with similar premises is that this has a lovely layer of Irish folklore, which weaves a sort of compelling charm among the passages. Nora, the heroine, is clearly in need of something a little otherworldly to buffer her realities of a husband who is just too imperfect (and still doesn't know what he wants) and children who blame her for not being able to fix what was broken.

My favorite character was Aunt Maire, and the other island inhabitants who were quirky and generous to strangers. They seriously make you want to find the nearest island and take roost for a summer. And I have a real soft spot for Annie, the youngest daughter (7), who is optimistic and wise beyond her years, especially in comparison to her older, cynical, and angry sister, Ella (12).

Least favorite? Ella. Not only is this book an engrossing bit of women's fiction, but it's practically a how-to book in regards to wayward, obnoxious, hateful daughters. I must have spent half the book going, "Slap her!" or "Send her to boarding school!" In fact, I still hope Nora does. Brat. Of course, the father runs a close second, but he's not in the story enough to get a real read on him. He doesn't actually want to change his ways or give up his girlfriend to salvage his marriage (assuming Nora wanted to, and it's clear Nora doesn't); and he doesn't actually have honesty to just call it final. If anything, his behavior is a reflection of the reasons their marriage fell apart.

In the end though, you realize this isn't a book that is supposed to delve into the relationship of husband and wife, the long and short of marriage, or any of those normal topics you find in books about women's fiction with cheating husbands. No. This is a story about sisters; and this is a story about mothers--and the complicated relationships that accompany each. Those are the stories within that offer real drama and interest for your summer reading and was as compelling as the Irish folklore.(Seriously the folklore stuff had me going, "I want to go to Ireland!" repeatedly. And isn't that what summer reading is about? Make us long for far off enchantments?)

It was good. And for those of you who read the ending first, nothing to fear. (Though I was extremely tempted a half-dozen times and made myself not do it, so you can say the suspense was really good in this book. *LOL* But no worries. No bad endings to ruin your summer.)

If you have room on your summer reading list for some women's lit with a taste of Irish creme at the edges, do give this one a try. I believe you'll enjoy it.

I'm giving away my review copy of THE COTTAGE AT GLASS BEACH to one random commenter. Where would you like to spend your summer and who would you like to spend it with? What is your favorite Irish folklore? And what are you reading this summer?

And The Hero of The Best Story of the Year Is a...GIRL?

noreply@blogger.com (MsHellion) — Mon, 14 May 2012 04:00:00 +0000

It's May...and it's time to get out our planning schedules to determine which movies we'll be clamoring to see in the theaters. Of course, The Avengers has already set the bar high--all those heroes, all that wit, all that action. But I'm not worried. I know the movie that's going to kick every other summer blockbuster's ass. And it's only got one hero.

Or heroine, as it were.

What? The best movie of the summer has a GIRL as its hero?

In a word: YES.

It's called BRAVE, and it's Pixar's newest edition, and of course, everyone is worried how having a GIRL hero is going to translate into dollars, since, well, boys don't like girls and won't watch them in their movies, but girls aren't as narrow-minded about their entertainment.

But there's bows and arrows and some crude humor...and a great adventure--I think the boys will be surprised at how heroic a girl can be. I cannot wait!

In the meantime though, I'm going to work on making my heroine the star of her own book. She should be anyway, but being the boy-crazy author I've always been, I've always been much more interested in the hero--his eyes, his hair, his deep-gravelly voice. And never forget his dark and shadowy past that only the heroine can heal. Bah humbug.

My heroine has a tortured past too! Here she is, just trying to star in her own life and her own father wishes she'd been born a boy--and because she wasn't, wants to marry her off to the man he's always thought of as a son. What's a girl got to do to get some recognition for her skills? And my heroine, Nellie, has some major skills; it's just they not ladylike. Most importantly, she doesn't need a man to give her importance in her life!

I'm sure the heroine of BRAVE will save the day, but still find a guy who wants to play equals with her and not overshadow her; and that's the kind of hero I'm trying to evolve for my dear Nellie, but it's still going to be some work. Broderick is a product of his time.

What movies are you looking forward to this summer? And are your favorite blockbusters finding their ways into your writing? How so?

Music as Plot

noreply@blogger.com (Maureen) — Fri, 11 May 2012 04:00:00 +0000

My current WIP includes a method of psychoanalysis I created, which I call “Music Therapy.” I don’t go into the technical aspects or attempt to dive into any of the academics behind this controversial method (for the year 2035). I just go with it.

Even in my WIP, it’s a border science.( I’m aware that there is a legitimate theory of music therapy. I believe it involves working with autistic children and those suffering from some forms of dementia.)

In Almost Human, it is a form of emotional therapy. Where the playlist of an individual is used to diagnose and help them discover, through what it evoked from their playlist, the heart of what troubles them. And through music, they find the path toward healing.

Now, I often listen to music, as do most of us, when I write. I don’t actually put together a playlist, but music plays a big part in pushing me to the emotional limits I want to reach with my characters. Music is an energy I love to play with.

I also love creating some new pseudo-science when I write. It isn’t tachyon emissions, (thank you, Star Trek) or the immensely useful sonic screwdriver (thank you, Dr. Who) but it is a lot of fun to create something that sounds scientific and legit. In The Chameleon Goggles, I invented solar thread. The best passive solar system out there, woven into every flag, banner, line and sail on Tortuga!

In Almost Human, I have Music Therapy and solar skin. (Solar skin powers an electric high performance motorcycle…charging its battery. It’s part of the paint job, the motorcycle gear, the helmets…one of those things I hope someone invents eventually.)

At the present scenes I’m working on, my lead character is undergoing musical therapy and part of the challenge I’m facing is putting together an emotional landscape for her that involves a playlist. She’s from the current era and it’s easy to find the angst ridden songs…harder to remember the more subtle things…the song she associates with meeting her husband. The song playing when she discovered he’d cheated on her…

Music is so subjective and what one person picks up on isn’t what another person picks up on. Happens with everything. A favorite John Nichols quote of mine fills me with intense hope, but a person I shared it with found it endlessly depressing… You just can’t tell!

Same with music…where you were when you heard something, what was going on around you. I generally don’t really even hear lyrics the first dozen times I listen to a song. Or I pick up bits and pieces and only later will I begin to really HEAR the words. I pick up on the dynamic from the initial music.

Putting together Ria’s suicide music is easy. Music that articulates her struggle to rediscover her humanity wasn’t terribly hard (lots of music out there that deals with feeling isolated from everyone else.) Finding her songs of hope is proving difficult. Searching out the right ones to evoke her rage regarding her late husband? I need something with words that evoke the betrayal and loss... Hmmmmm!

Anyone else ever put any thought into what a character’s playlist would look like? Any suggestions to fill in my missing pieces?

Scapegoat's ABC's for Writers: B Stands For Balance

noreply@blogger.com (Sabrina Shields) — Wed, 09 May 2012 06:30:00 +0000

Last time I blogged about the A in my ABC's of writing I've discovered as I've gotten further along in my writing. Today we're going to talk about B - BALANCE.

There are three areas I think it's important for a writer to think about BALANCE, but let's start with the big one most people think of when they think of Balance: making sure you don't neglect your non-writing life and loved ones while still producing great words on the page.

I'm going to share a secret with you - my writing soars - really comes flowing out of me - when I've remembered to make time for my husband and things that I enjoy. For a romance writer trying to capture that essential feeling of falling in love and HEA, doing something that makes you smile or laugh can really trigger an emotional leap on the page. Now, that works for me even when I'm writing dark scenes. I don't need to be in a dark place in life, just in touch with any emotional high that I can relate either directly or conversely to the scene.

A happy writer is a good writer. Screw all those old men writers who lived angst filled lives - we're writing romance and that means a HAPPILY EVER AFTER. At least for now. And I find that happiness in my daily life helps me find that on the page. Besides, those old goats were writing "literary fiction." Well, it was damn good but let's not go there.

I make sure to fit in at least 1 thing a week that is purely for my emotional happiness. Hikes with the hubby, reading a book, watching a movie. Anything that gives me an hour to balance my real emotions with those I'm trying to put on the page. I cannot say enough about how helpful this really can be for your writing. Give yourself a little balance and you'll find your writing goes better and quicker.

The second kind of BALANCE I think a writer should have is between actual writing and the "other" side of writing - learning the craft and social media/promotion. We've all probably heard "You need a platform" until we could puke. I mean how are you supposed to build a following, have an online writer identify and package your marketability to an agent or editor if you haven't been pubbed yet?

Well you can and it really is important that you do. I'm planning another blog post on this soon so don't worry! But again, with some balance. I've been guilty of spending too much time on Twitter talking with other writers instead of actually you know, doing the writing. Big no-no. But social media is important as a writer and you need to find a way to balance.Use tools to make tracking and posting to multiple social sites easier, consider blog posts part of your word count goals and most of all make sure you communicate when your followers and friends are most active - it will give you the most bang for your buck. Again, I'm planning a post soon with some new tips and tricks I've learned recently.

Lastly, and possibly the one most overlooked, you should think about the BALANCE in your writing. No one wants to read a one note book or characters who don't come alive. We've all heard the idea that even your big bad villain can't be all bad - the most interesting ones are those who are their own hero but for a twist in their character. The biggest laughs almost always come after some highly emotional reveal or scene. Take your reader on that roller coaster ride - the ups and down and twists and turns. Balance. Almost every part of your book benefits from it, from plot to characters to actual technical writing choices.

Where do you have the hardest time finding balance? Do you think the 3 things I've mentioned here are important to keep in mind or would you have included some others? How do you balance your writing life and the real world when it gets hectic? What about balance in your writing?

Winners of the Tuesday Review...and a Look Forward

noreply@blogger.com (MsHellion) — Tue, 08 May 2012 13:22:00 +0000

Yeah, I got to work today, opened my email and realized: "Damn, I forgot to post a Tuesday Review." In my defense, last night I was busy with my Monday Night Creativity Hour(s) with my friend Pam, who works on art while I work on writing. Secondly, I'm also working with Terri on the new class that opened this week--very exciting. And thirdly, well, I didn't exactly have a book lined up that needed to be reviewed.

I have read Kristan Higgins' newest Somebody to Love, which I adored; and I'm reading Tessa Dare's A Week to be Wicked, which I adore even more. So if that counts as a Tuesday review, I think you should run out and buy them both to read, if you haven't already.

In the meantime, we need to catch up to the winners of previous Tuesday Review blogs!

The winner of UNDER A VAMPIRE MOON is DI R! Congratulations, Di!

And the winner of LYON'S LADY is SABRINA! Congratulations, Scapey!

Ladies, please email me with your mailing addresses so I can mail you the books...sometimes before the next decade. :)

What has everyone been reading lately? Does anyone have anything they highly recommend?

Stamina Schmamina - Energy SOS

noreply@blogger.com (TerriOsburn) — Mon, 07 May 2012 04:00:00 +0000

If my experience this weekend at the Virginia Romance Writers For the Love of Writing Conference is any indication, I am in serious trouble.

I've been attending conferences, both big and small, since 2007. As a natural extrovert who enjoys crowds, I always have a good time. But until now, I've always attended as a nobody.

That's not an insult to myself, it's just an observation. I've always been a face in the crowd, blending in and able to sit back and observe. Until 2010, I never even had to pitch. Mostly because I didn't have a manuscript TO pitch.

In other words, I was a person to whom no one paid attention. But this year is different. This year I'm a Golden Heart® finalist and I keep hearing over and over how we're going to be treated like rock stars. Agents and editors will want to chat. A packed schedule with dinners, a reception and the big awards night.

I thought I could handle all the fuss and attention until I attended the local conference for ONE day this weekend and was worn out by lunch. Plus, I had three pitches and was HORRIBLE during the first one. Bless that agent for her extreme patience and kindness. It was like an out-of-body experience. I was a wreck going in, freaking about my pitch as always, and rambled all over that poor woman before she could even sit down and get situated.

My brain was screaming, "Shut up and calm down. Let the woman put her purse on the floor!!!" but the mouth was off and running. I don't even know what I was saying!! She still asked for pages, but with little enthusiasm and I don't blame her one bit. She likely thinks I'm nuts and rightly so.

Thankfully, my two afternoon pitches went much better. I decided to forget about the pre-written pitch stuff and just wing it. Worked beautifully. Still not sure exactly what I said, but at least I came across as sane, clear, and calm. The agent requested pages and the editor made me feel great even though she said there wasn't much she could do for me. Oh but she was wrong.

What she did was boost my confidence and let me know my instincts about something were spot on. If I ever find a way to work with that woman, I'll jump at the chance.

But here's the thing. I was there for ONE day. Seven hours. And only had to drive three miles to get there. Yet, within minutes of walking into my house, I was sound asleep. I'm going to be in Anaheim for six days with maybe four times this level of activity. Not to mention jumping three time zones to get there then losing three hours (or more) on the way home.

Chances of survival are not looking good.

So this is what I want to know. How do you keep yourself up for an event of this kind? Be it a large family reunion, a work function, or even a long trip. Natural remedies to boost energy? Or maybe something to calm the nerves. (I'm REALLY going to need that.) I don't meditate but maybe I should try it? Too bad I don't drink anymore. (Which I'm sure puts a dent in my pirate reputation.)

PS: The conference was wonderful and I have to give a big thank you and kudos to all who volunteered to make this event happen. As an event planner, I know how stressful these things are. Amazing job was done by all and Cathy Maxwell gave the best speech I've ever heard. And I've heard a lot of them. Barbara Samuel's Voice workshop was the icing on my conference cake!

WOW!

noreply@blogger.com (Maureen) — Fri, 04 May 2012 04:00:00 +0000

Yup, I impressed myself this week.

Started with a definite bad impression. I didn’t complete the April pirate challenge. Just. Didn’t. Happen.

Lots of reasons, most of them with the initials R.T. But it wasn’t the only reason. Lots of reasons, nothing to really relate.

I did hit a breakthrough with the current WIP and think it will be finished by mid-month…maybe sooner.

In the meantime, May hit and I got a bee in my bonnet about looking at an older MS, already in the hand of my agent. I hadn’t opened it in more than a year, and maybe…no, no maybe about it… I had learned a ton of stuff in that last year. It was time to tackle it and see what I could do.

So, Wednesday night, I cracked it open and fiddled my way through four chapters…replacing pronouns, untwisting sentences, correcting misspellings, a bit of polish here, a bit there… The next day, yesterday, I sat in Starbucks just past noon and opened it again. Four hours later, I was done. 80k MS polished.

I am impressed with myself!

All in all, it went fairly easy. Why?

Well, I hadn’t fiddled with this story in more than a year, it was fresh and new to my eyes. I’d always liked the story and as I moved through it, I was such a pleasure to see it rise from my computer in better shape.

I’m generally not a very good self-editor. Too close to the story, too aware of what I want to say to see the problems with how I said it. That’s me. Generally, if it’s pointed out to me, I can focus on the errors. Like a bright light hits the mistakes and suddenly I can SEE! A fresh set of eyes makes all the difference. Or distance.

But I’m working on it. A few things are falling into place that is helping. I’m taking a class on self-editing, starting next week. I’m also looking into that program that reads a book aloud, to help me hear the things that need fixing.

I’m currently listening to a book, Chill Factor, by Sandra Brown, as read by the delicious Stephen Lang. And I’m hearing all sorts of things that bother me… Leaving me to believe that this could be a valuable tool to self-editing.

So, two new tools for me. Distance and hearing my MS. I did read The Kraken’s Mirror aloud, but it made me hoarse. ;-)

I know that track changes is a valuable tool, but I cannot figure out how to make the thing work for me. How do I get it to highlight every instance of ‘she’ or ‘he’ or ‘was’ …? I need a real primer on how to use track changes… I also picked up two readers this week and I look forward to hearing what they ‘see.’

What are your favorite self-editing/polishing methods? Do I have a right to be impressed by 80k in approximately 7 hours?

Birth of a New Story

noreply@blogger.com (Marnee Bailey) — Wed, 02 May 2012 04:30:00 +0000

(PS, that pic is my youngest when he was only a day old. Awwwhh. I stare at this when he throws a big almost-two-year-old fit. Sometimes it helps. Sometimes.) :)

I started a new story this week. At this beginning, I realized again how much birthing a book and raising it up is like parenting. (Please, bear with me. I spend a lot of time with small humans. I need to draw my connections where I can.) Also, disclaimer: I'm generalizing and simplifying for my purposes.

I started researching it earlier in the month. This time is like the pregnancy of the book, the incubation, the preparation. Because by research I mean the general messy way in which I begin a story. Much staring off into space. Some actual “look stuff up” research. A bunch of muttering in front of my storyboard. That all took about a month this time and now I’ve physically opened a new file in Word and proceeded to type things in it.

Ahhhhh….

The first part of a new story is awesome, when it’s all shiny and new. The characters are so eager to get out of my head and the premise feels so fresh. It’s a great hook! It’s like this tiny, perfect baby—it smells good, has so much potential, and its sheer adorableness is unrivaled.

In short, it is love at first sight.

Then, invaritably, it gets harder. In that middle part, there are all those growing pains. It starts with that first temper tantrum. The whine, the characters who say, “I don’t wanna!” and they push back against my desires and wants. In the middle, I hit that wall where I have no idea what the heck I’m doing. (Please say this isn’t just me, both in parenting and in writing.) At this part, it’s all about just pushing through and hoping I am doing the best for the long haul. At this part, I’m basically just cajoling and browbeating them into acting the way I think they should act. I think this must be the toddler through elementary phase.

And then I get to that point, somewhere about 2/3 of the way in, where I can see how it’s going to play out. I can see it shaping into something that vaguely resembles a cohesive idea. From there, I just guide it to its conclusion. I gentle offer suggestions. I mold instead of manhandle. It’s trickier, though, because there’s so much foundation now, so much to consider.

I taught high school so I’ve seen how adolescents start to pull themselves into what they will become through their teenage years. They become someone that interacts with the world around them, not just someone who is acted upon. That’s how a book usually ends, for me. It shapes itself into something richer in my mind than just words I’ve wrestled into submission. It interacts with what I know of the world and finally it becomes its own world.

So, I’m back at the beginning again, when it’s not hard yet. When it still smells sweet and is full of possibility. And I forgot how exhilarating it is to have a new “baby.” And I’m in love, again. I’m reminded once more why this is the greatest job in the world. Creation. How remarkable and humbling.

Tell me, do you love the first part of a story? Which part do you find the most challenging? Which part do you find the easiest? Any suggestions to hold onto this “start of story magic” throughout the process? (PLEASE, if you have any hints, do share!)

Tuesday Review: Lyon's Bride

noreply@blogger.com (MsHellion) — Tue, 01 May 2012 04:00:00 +0000

[Please comment for a chance to win a new copy of Lyon’s Bride by Cathy Maxwell. Contest limited to those in the continental united states.]

Curses are in vogue this year, much like purple romance covers were last year. Last week, we interviewed Mackenzie Crowne and her GIFT OF THE REALM—a curse. There is that funny and sweet Sophia Nash book, THE ART OF DUKE HUNTING just out—a curse. And now we have Cathy Maxwell’s first book of her new series, LYON’S BRIDE—a curse. Specifically the Chattan Curse.

I myself am a fan of curses. Nothing like a nice act of revenge and bitterness to start up a good story. (I’m sure it’s my passive-aggressive nature.)

As for the Chattans, you might imagine, they’re not fans. The moment any of them fall in love, they die. Of course, considering the number of arranged and conventional marriages in the ton, these guys wouldn’t die very fast, but unfortunately, this is not the case. Even if you do marry someone you don’t love, there is every chance you eventually begin liking the person—and then end up loving them. Which is basically what happened a number of times to these Chattans.

It’s not that the original Chattan didn’t deserve this—he so totally did. He played a pretty young girl false and totally did a Willoughby. You know, led one girl on and then married a little rich girl without telling anyone? Yeah, not a fan. Not unlike Marianne, the jilted girl did not recover well and in fact, committed suicide in her grief. Her mother, understandably angry that this guy managed to break her daughter’s heart and keep her from being buried on holy ground—cursed him. And it’s been killing the Chattans ever since.

The hero, Lord Lyon, wants to marry (poor sod) because he wants children. He loves children. However, he doesn’t want to fall in his wife (understandably). So he hires a successful matchmaker, Thea Martin, to find him someone he would never, ever love. Thea would like to tell him to go to the devil. She does not believe in setting him up with a woman he would treat so horribly—and purposely picking a woman he neither loved nor respected would clearly fall in this category; however, she is skint broke and without prospects. He is willing to pay three times the normal price, a price that would go a long way to making her family (she has two young sons; she is widowed) more secure.

As you might imagine, this endeavor fails spectacularly—though we get to meet some amusing characters in the meantime—and Lord Lyon and Thea end up getting married. Mainly because it’s clear Lord Lyon doesn’t feel ambivalent about Thea and never has.

The book ends with the couple reuniting and resolving to break the curse, with the help of the younger brother who is to go north to find the Scottish witch (THE Scottish witch, even though this curse is a couple hundred years old).

Again, as I said, I love a good curse story—though Thea, practical woman she is doesn’t believe in such nonsense, so it’s an entertaining transformation when she realizes the curse is real. There are more things in heaven and earth than are dreamt of in my philosophy….

What I do hope for is a quick release of the next book because the only thing I didn’t care for is the loose end about the curse. While Maxwell did make it clear that we have no guarantee how long or short we may have with the ones we love, there was no “real resolution” for me. As much as it may be true about life expectancy, I do prefer the fantasy of a long and happy life for my romance couples. And at the end of LYON’S BRIDE, it was more a happy for now rather than a happily ever after. But hey, I have every faith that Maxwell will make that happen—we all know that life is not always neat and tidy, and every plot thread cannot be tied up neatly at the end of a book—especially when that book is the start of a series.

So how do you like curses? And if not curses, what is your favorite “fun” book trope? Kidnappings? Convenient marriages? Have you ever read a series that did not tie up all the story threads but were more “happy for now” rather than “happily ever after”? Did you mind?

Let's Do the Twist

noreply@blogger.com (MsHellion) — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 04:21:00 +0000

I think we can all agree that the only rule writers must follow is never bore your readers or encourage them to put down your book. In other words, keep it compelling.

The advice how to make sure this happens skews from there. Some say it’s character; some say it’s plot; some say it’s tension—name a writing glossary word and that’s the key to keeping it compelling.

Plot, character, tension—these are basics, but not exactly the story itself. You need them all; we all have our expertise of them that we do better than others, but the thing that keeps readers from putting down the book is the story. (I heard the “duh”—let me finish.) And the story is about people, doing ordinary things in an extraordinary way. They’re like us, but better. They’re familiar, but special.

I think this is why publisher and agent advice can be so confusing. They seem to want a writer to produce something that’s like everything else on the market, but it has to be different. But not too different. But definitely fresh, yes, yes, but perhaps like that book that came out last month—you know, the one with the kidnapping?

So we learn how to twist the convention. How do we make our familiar, beloved story of beauty and the beast fresh and compelling? Or our story of Romeo and Juliet different—other than by not killing them off in the end? We know that there are no new stories, only new voices and our abilities to twist the knot a little differently.

When I wanted to write a story about redemption, I wanted to redeem the most impossible person possible? So I chose Lucifer. (Theologically I’m aware I’m not able to redeem Lucifer, but I did want to debate the possibility it could happen.) When I wanted to write about infidelity, I wonder if it was ever understandable—or forgivable? What about marriage? How do you save even the most perfect marriage? And now, I’m pursuing the idea of heroes. Is it possible to have a hero who is more ordinary? Is it ever preferable for the heroine to pick the man who isn’t perfect on paper?

I tend to pick extremes in my twists. I’m a dramatic and extreme kind of hellion. I think it comes from my black-and-white past. I want the biggest, most thematic and dramatic outcome to make my readers think as well as escape and laugh.

But not everyone is as much of an attention hog as I can be. Some writers want to push the convention of the perfect, virginal young heroine; some writers want heroines who aren’t Lara Croft or some kick-ass zombie killer. Can ordinary women find an extraordinary kind of love? That can be a powerful twist to convention that has fallen to having strong, fierce heroines be almost commonplace. Some want to push the convention of the bluestocking Regency heroine who is compromised and instead have a heroine who doesn’t fit the proper virginal Georgette Heyer mode. These can all be dramatic and thematic in their own ways, pushing the envelope of who can be a true heroine and how black of a black moment can one rise again?

Where do you find or come up with your twists on convention? Do they come from your core story themes or from playing “what if”? What books have you read lately that have had a twist on convention you noticed and admired? Have you read any advice lately about how to make convention twists more unique or interesting?

Welcome...Our Guest, Pat Kirby!

noreply@blogger.com (Maureen) — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 04:01:00 +0000

(Disclaimer. I give rotten interviews, so I’m gonna do my best to let Pat carry through on this…)

Hey! Welcome to Pat Kirby, who recently saw the release of The Canvas Thief from Carina Press! This is a novel of art come to life. I think…

Tell us a little bit about the set up for this book, Pat.

PAT: The Canvas Thief is a romantic contemporary fantasy. I see it as a romance, but since I don't always abide by genre requirements, mileage may vary.

Maya Stephenson is a talented artist who has a gift for depicting people and other living beings with a lifelike sense of gesture and movement. Instead of pursuing a career in fine art, however, she works as a graphic artist for a consulting company, putting together dry technical drawing and illustrations.

Why? Well, Maya has a secret. She sees demons, fairies and the other magical creatures who visit our world. Even though no one else sees them, Maya knows she isn't crazy. But she also knows that normal people--people who don't want to be locked up in padded rooms or hauled off by a mysterious government agency--don't see imaginary beings and if they do, they don't draw the things they see. So Maya's spent most of her 27 years being as mundane as possible.

But a bird's gotta fly; a bear's gotta poo in the woods; and artists have to make art. Maya's primary means of creative expression is her unpublished graphic novel series that follows the exploits of Benjamin Black, a thief, and his nemesis, Adam Sayres, a cop. Both are human and "safe" subjects to illustrate. Though she started drawing both characters as a child, it isn't until she is seventeen that she finally gets them just right, the perfect drawings, exactly as she sees them in her head, on paper.

Now, ten years later, two men who bear an uncanny resemblance to her graphic novel characters appear in her life. One, Benjamin, rather in keeping with his backstory, breaks into her house. The other, Adam, is an ATF agent who seems to be on Benjamin's trail. Each has an agenda; each wants something from Maya. With one man, she'll find an unexpected love; with the other, a face-to-face introduction to evil.

I’m reading at present and intrigued by the idea of the main character, Maya’s talent. Am I correct in reading that her sketch subjects become real from her talent or that what she paints is already real…just from another world?

PAT: Never underestimate the power of children's imaginations. In fact, childhood is the only time when ordinary humans have any magical ability. The collective power of children's imagination is so strong that it has literally created an alternate universe where favorite story characters, imaginary friends, and other fictional beings live--NeoVerse.

Most humans outgrow their magic at puberty, but a rare few don't. Maya is one such human, although she doesn't know it. A gifted artist, her magic gives her the ability to literally bring a being from NeoVerse into our world with the perfect drawing or painting. Maya, however, doesn't have a clue what she's doing: on the day she draws the perfect illustration of Benjamin Black, so exact she feels like she can see his soul in the work, she thinks, "Yay, me!" and goes on with her life. Lather, rinse, repeat a few months later with Benjamin's nemesis, Adam. Ten years later....

Oh, I do love the idea of kids seeing things that are actually there, but told aren’t. So they eventually agree. So, granted, I’m just getting into TCT, but it mildly reminds of Charles de Lint’s Memory and Dream. Have you ever read any deLint?

PAT: Oh, yeah. I'm a big fan (although I don't have any de Lint on my keeper shelf; must remedy that.) I particularly like his Medford stories. For those who haven't read any de Lint, Newford is a fictional Canadian city where a recurring set of characters, artist and musicians mostly, struggle with the usual creative angst--writer's/artist block, making enough to pay the rent, critics--all while their lives make unexpected intersections with the unseen magical side of life. In Memory and Dream, an artist finds that some of the fantastic creatures from her paintings have somehow stepped into the real world.

While The Canvas Thief has a similar premise as Memory and Dream, the seed that became a plotline originated from another DeLint novel--The Onion Girl. (No, I'm not one of those writers who claims she's never-ever influenced by other writer's ideas. I don't steal, but I'm frequently inspired by.) At one point in The Onion Girl, it's mentioned that fictional characters are kept alive by our belief, existing in a world all their own, fading away once we forget about them. The idea was also planted in the barren wasteland of my imagination by Neil Gaiman's American Gods, and fertilized by Bill Willingham's Fables series. At any rate, I soon started wondering how I could take this tidbit and make it my own.

(embraces Pat) I knew you were really my long-lost soul sister. Another deLint fan! I think most of the pirates here thought I was making him up…

I have to say, I remember the post on FB about how the females on both covers of your books both are looking over their shoulder. Do you think your publishers are seeing a common thread in your stories?

PAT: Erm, no. Wait, that sounded so negative. What I meant was...no. I think it's more a matter of what readers expect from book covers, how we've been trained by marketing to see a type of cover and automatically think, "urban fantasy" or "romance." With The Canvas Thief, the cover designer had the unenviable task of putting together a cover for a book that's a hybrid of urban fantasy with a dash of suspense, and a heap of romance. With The Music of Chaos, an urban fantasy, the designer went with the standard sexy girl against an urban backdrop shtick.

In both cases, the designer needed to include a female character on cover; it would seem that both had a fondness for stock photos showing women doing the "ovah the shouldah" thing.

No, conspiracy. Damn.

Now, I know this doesn’t have a whole lot to do with your book, but honestly, your movie reviews on your blog are hilarious and very pointy. Do you take notes while you and Critter Husband watch for these reviews?

PAT: Usually, no. I have a snarky dialogue running through my head (with wee track shoes) as I watch any movie. For the sake of my husband, I keep my thoughts in my head. But, the worse the movie, the more snark escapes into real space; if it's a real stinker, Husband Critter joins me in the merciless flaying of the movie. Later, if any of those observations survive my mental editor's enthusiastic culling of the previous day's events, I write the review. Interestingly, I find it hard to review a movie I like, while I usually pare at least a few hundred words off a review for a stinker. There are sooomany ways to say, "This movie sucks like the vacuum of outer space." Cranking out a few hundred contemptuous words for The Three Musketeers was effortless, while I've never gotten around to reviewing Midnight in Paris. My feelings for the former being summed up as "...really cute, but, uh, coulda used more Tom Hiddleston."

We see a lot of you here on the Revenge…most who visit this regularly get a pirate name…one we usually pick. But! If you were allowed to pick your own pirate name, what would it be?

PAT: Erm, I dunno. I'm all about dragons...Draco the Mauve.

Thanks Maureen, and gracias to all the lurvely pirates here at The Revenge for letting me stop by for the day. Given that ya'll read way more romance than I do, I've got a question. Lately, I'm on an artists-as-protagonists kick (hero in current WIP is an artist). My question is, have you read any romances where one of the protagonists is an artist? If so, any you'd recommend? Leave your answer in the comments, and I'll give away a free copy of The Canvas Thief to one commenter.

The Canvas Thief is available from Carina Press and from Amazon. Also available as an audio book from Audible. Chapter One, deleted chapters and my snarky movie reviews can be found on my website.

(Pat has her animals ta animals ta settle this fine morn, but will be alone soonest. Be patient crew!)

Apriwrimo - The Home Stretch

noreply@blogger.com (TerriOsburn) — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 13:21:00 +0000

Time to check in for the month. Only four days left. Are you on track? Is the goal in sight?

Also, it's time to pull out the streamers and pour the bubbly. Scape had written THE END on her first full MS!!! This is a major accomplishment. She'll forever be able to say, "I wrote a book". This calls for a party.

To Scape, may revisions be sweet and the story pour out like the smoothest splash of rum. (I'm expecting Q to come up with a better toast.)

Raise your glass. Let's give a group HUZZAH!!!

Mackenzie Crowne Shows Jack How to Break a Curse

noreply@blogger.com (MsHellion) — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 13:16:00 +0000

*Jack slips away from the RWR and rows to shore, going up river a ways, under dangling jungle and mossy trees to a little shack on the river’s edge. Fortunately the woman who emerges from this house is less alarming than the famous Tia Dalma. She’s beautiful with flowing auburn hair and sparkling eyes*

MACKENZIE: Jack! I’m so glad you were able to make it. I was wondering about you.

JACK: Me, luv? You need never worry. *glancing around suspiciously* I am quite honorable…and punctual.

MACKENZIE: Indeed. Only 45 minutes late this time. You’re lucky I had some Dancing with the Stars to watch.

JACK: I’m eagerly awaiting the day they ask me to join a season. I have a little crush on Chelsie Hightower.

MACKENZIE: *grins* I’ve seen you run, Jack. Very um…graceful. You’ll be a natural. *leading Jack to her center room table and pouring a glass of rum* Have a seat, Jack—

JACK: *sitting and smiling up at her* You always did know how to make a pirate feel at home, luv. Now as I said in my letter, I was hoping you could help me with a little problem. I have been cursed—

MACKENZIE: Again? Oh, Jack. You’re a curse magnet!

JACK: What can I say? I’m popular, and there’s not exactly penicillin for this kind of thing, or otherwise, there wouldn’t be an issue at all, if you know what I mean.

MACKENZIE: I’m alarmed to say I do.

JACK: I had heard you were coming out with a new book, GIFTOF THE REALM, and it’s a story about a 300-year-old curse, and I’ve only had this one a few years tops, and if you were able to break your curse, I thought you could help with mine.

MACKENZIE: You’ve come to the right girl. I have some experience in breaking curses. You see, in GIFT OF THE REALM the curse is… Hmmm, let me give you some background about the book and the curse you speak of.

Beneath the fairie mound of Dunhaven's Door, two dreamers meet their destiny. After a decade of trying to outrun her debilitating dreams, Keely O’Brian returns to Ireland to face the ancient ring of stones and the man haunting them. Within the stones, she embraces her fairie heritage and her mystical gifts, but to break a three hundred year-old curse and end the dreams, she must trust the handsome Halfling who shares her dreams and holds her heart.

When Keely reappears in his life, Colin Quinn’s fairie blood threatens to gain the upper hand. Compelled to assist the lovely Halfling, he agrees to help her break the curse on their families, but he'll do it on his terms—as the black wolf.

I don’t want to give away the ending, but everyone knows that together, two Halflings can stand against any power. Since GIFT OF THE REALM is a romance, you might enjoy reading it with one of your wenches. Your ladylove will surely wonder if Keely will be doomed for eternity, or if love is enough to break the curse. While you *winks* will no doubt relate to Colin’s arrogant plan to outwit the King of the Fairies.

JACK: *firmly* I don’t care about the rumor mill. I am no fairy. I’m not even a half-fairy. Not that there is anything wrong, mind you. Your fairies sound very…er…virile.

MACKENZIE: Oh, he is—Six foot-two with raven black hair, cobalt blue eyes, and a sexy, dimpled smile, the mantel of authority and influence rides easily on Colin Quinn’s wide shoulders. The power behind the Quinn Empire, Colin is everything a man should be. Strong, confident, and…beautiful. *sigh*

JACK: Yes, yes, he sounds great, but as I explained, I’m more interested in the heroine, who is she and what is she like?

MACKENZIE: *grins* I think you’d like her, Jack. A tall, curvy blonde, her exotic green eyes and pixie-like features tell of her fairie heritage. Haunted by the dreams, her life hasn’t been easy, but she’s no coward. If Colin can’t, or won’t, accept her love and join his destiny to hers, she’ll find some other way to break the curse—even if she has to enter fairie realm on her own.

JACK: Exactly. Just my kind of wench. *takes another drink of rum and refills his glass, pouring generously* It seems as if this curse is easily solved—what with love breaking the curse and what with HEAs being the norm—though I don’t ascribe that love is ever easy or that HEAs don’t come without sacrifice. I mean, I’m in love with a red-haired hellion and she is enough to make me long to bury her at sea at least once a day. It’s a sacrifice to my sanity, it is.

MACKENZIE: I’m sure the feeling is mutual, Jack.

JACK: I’m su—wot? Nevermind, tell me about your Call. How did you get into this curse-breaking business anyway? I heard a rumor you had a curse of your own?

MACKENZIE: Ah, yes. That I did. Several years ago, I faced the nasty, evil curse, of breast cancer. I’m proud to report, with the help of family and friends, and some very talented medical professionals, I’ve claimed the key to survival. And there is nothing like coming face to face with mortality to give a girl a good kick in the ars…um, butt. You see, I’ve dabbled with my writing for as long as I can remember, but never gave it the respect it deserved. I dealt with mastectomies, chemo and radiation, certainly I could go the distance with something I loved. The moment I was well enough to think clearly again, I began writing in earnest. GIFT OF THE REALM is one of the results of my efforts.

JACK: You and the Bartender would have a lot to share with each other, luv. Just don’t let her serve you the flaming Twinkies. She sets fire to perfectly good rum. Burns all the alcohol out. What’s the point, I ask.

MACKENZIE: I’m with you. That sounds like alcohol abuse to me.

JACK: What is next for you? What wrongs will you be righting next…and will there be rum?

MACKENZIE: There is always rum, Jack. Or vodka…or wine. As for what’s next for me, I’m writing, of course and my second title, a contemporary romance, is set to be released this fall. THAT DATING THING is a fun filled look at how the daughter of Wall Street’s most notorious stock swindler juggles her need for anonymity with an attraction for a charming, assistant district attorney with political ambitions.

JACK: Mackenzie, it was a pleasure visiting today, and well worth sneaking out of a harridan’s bedroom, let me just say. I believe you’ve given me hope to break my own curse. I hope you don’t mind if I take the rum with me. But before I go, just tell me one thing, what is your favorite pirate fantasy about me? Don’t be afraid to share. Use explicit details…

MACKENZIE: *laughs* Hmmm. I have so many fantasies about you, Jack. I just don’t know where to begin. Let’s see. There would have to be a deserted tropical island, and plenty of rum—that I would never think of tossing on the bonfire—warm sand… pounding surf…

JACK: We’ll come back to this later. Okay, despite my best efforts to be secretive, I believe we’ve been found by the crew. Crew, what questions and comments do you have for the beautiful Mackenzie Crowne and her new book, GIFT OF THE REALM?

Tuesday Review: Lynsay Sands Charms Under a Vampire Moon

noreply@blogger.com (MsHellion) — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 04:00:00 +0000

[I’m giving away my review copy for today’s blog. Please comment for a chance to win.]

I admit it: I had some doubts.

I opened the Avon review book package and went: “Really? A vampire hero?” and wondered if I should email the Headmistress and say, “I’m slightly prejudiced against vampires. I’m Team Jacob.” But I thought, “No, be mature. This is Avon. They’re not going to send you a bad book.” I mean, that’s like their code or something. Besides I think I told her about my un-love of dukes, so if I kept issuing complaints about heroes, they might start issuing me books with CEOs or Republicans, and then my soul would die a little and I might have to give up reading. Yes, best I never mention the problem with vampires. Keep sending the dukes and vampires, Avon!

On top of that, I had just finished reading Dragons of Autumn Twilight, and no offense to my Deerhunter, but I really wanted to read something good. I mean, DAT was good, of course, obviously, it just took so looonnnnng to read and I wanted something fun and fluffy and sexy and funny in a girl way. Girl humorous. Not boy “hit someone with a stick during an important battle” humorous. The real deal. And while I knew Lynsay Sands was well known for being funny and fun, I just didn’t believe it. Because I believe all vampires are inherently humorless and androgynous, like Edward Cullen.

Boy, was I wrong.

I started UNDER A VAMPIRE MOON on Sunday morning and ended up reading the whole thing practically in one sitting. Much to the determent of my apartment that looked like a bomb exploded in it. But I didn’t care. I only cared what happened next with Carolyn, our intrepid heroine. She’s forty, bouncing hard out of a bad marriage, and skeptical and wary to say the least. This trip to the tropics isn’t exactly her idea, but we all have friends that drag us to places that are good for us whether we’re willing to admit it or not.

Then we meet Christian, a twenty-something looking vampire, who meets Carolyn and realizes he’s met his Life Mate. Only Carolyn thinks he’s a fetus because he’s young enough to be her son. She guesses he’s about 24 or 26. (In the technical sense, if she’d wanted to be a teenage mom. Who does?) But of course, he keeps hitting on her, and she keeps trying to keep him away. Christian, meanwhile, is here in the tropics with his entire family—so there is nothing like trying to do Extreme Courtship: Vampire Life Mate edition with everyone watching. “Fortunately” his cousins agree to pitch in and help him woo said girl.

Gia contributes by telling Carolyn that she has nothing to worry about with Christian because he’s gay. Things tend to explode in a literary conflagration from there on out—if it can go wrong, of course it does. As good fiction is supposed to. Ms. Sands certainly had me flipping pages at light speed to see how Christian was going to win over his fair bride—especially the part of “Oh, by the way, I’m a vampire. I hope this is not a problem. And I’m not gay and I know you preferred me when I was.”

Another thing I enjoyed about this book is the world building of this particular group of vampires. They don’t turn into crispy critters in the sun (though it wears them out and they need to drink blood); they have a blood bank and don’t usually take from others unless it’s an emergency; the blood works with the nanos in their body to keep them youthful and well, not dead. It was more of an evolution quirk than rising from the dead sort of thing. They can also eat food…and drink. They have to have blood to rebuild, but eating food is normal for them too. I liked this world. This was a world of vampires I wouldn’t mind living in. Food, hot sex, and a gorgeous husband? Oh, yes!

I finished the book that night. It’s been a while since I’ve read a book that fast. It held my attention and was the perfect combination of well-paced action, sexy humorous characters, fun but not intrusive secondary characters (Captain Jack was my personal favorite), and sexual tension. My one quibble was a subplot that seemed introduced in the final third of the book and didn’t feel like it had been hinted at properly—so it felt rather thrown in rather than organic to the story. However, that one quibble did not take away from the story; and I was interested by some of the other characters and wanted to look up their books since I know Ms. Sands has a whole series with this family.

So read UNDER A VAMPIRE MOON if you love vampires…or even if you don’t. It’s just that fun and readable and will put you in a good mood. And then go after her backlist. I know I’m going to!

So…question to answer to qualify for prize consideration: What book have you read that you normally wouldn’t have that surprised you in a good way?

Winner will be announced next Monday, April 30, 2012.

Heading West – Time To Head For The Sunset

noreply@blogger.com (TerriOsburn) — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 04:00:00 +0000

In Romance, there is always a happy ending. The lovers make it through all the trials and tribulations to come out together on the other side. Because this is always the case, one might say, "So all the books are the same."

Oh no, my friend. They are not.

Everyday ends with a sunset, but rarely do two sunsets look the same. And I can't think of anyone who would ever say, "Gosh, another sunset? How boring."

If you know someone who might say this sort of thing, give them a good poke in the ribs for me. Okay. You probably shouldn't poke anyone. I take it back. But maybe look at them really funny. That's fair.

So you're sitting around the 2/3s mark on your WIP and find yourself stumped about where to go next. Look west. Look toward that HEA. Where do you want these characters to be at the end? Do they run off together? Do they settle down right where they are? Does she sacrifice what she thought she wanted? Does he embrace something he never thought he wanted?

And most importantly, who does the groveling? (There must be groveling. Never forget the groveling.)

Once you've answered these questions, the next one is simple. HOW DO I GET THEM THERE?

Sure, it doesn't sound simple when you're staring at what appears to be a no-win situation.

He would never give up A, B, and C, even for love!

She would never put him through D, E, and F just for her.

This can never work out!! [insert much gnashing of teeth] But it can and it will. After all, these characters are meant for each other. Now keep breathing and stay focused.

Keep your eye on that HEA and the answers will come to you. The ending you wind up with might not look exactly as you pictured when you wrote page one, but that's okay. Don't forget, too much commitment to the story in your head can be as much of a road block as anything.

For those pantsers in the group who are thinking, "But I never have any idea how the book is going to end until I get there." You're writing Romance. You know there's a happy ending. Whatever other details you're lacking, you know that much. By the time you're this far into the story, you should know the characters well enough to know what would make each of them happy.

Even if it's one tiny thread. One commonality. Find that and figure out how to make that happen. You don't have to know everything or even a lot, but you always know that HEA is out there. Out west. Now go find it.

How about you? Pantsers and plotters, I want to hear from you both. How far out do you know how your book will end? Have you written an ending that was completely different from what you intended.

For readers (which is everyone, really), is there an ending to a book that stayed with you long after closing that cover? Years later? Is there an ending that took you by surprise? Disappointed you?

RT Hangover

noreply@blogger.com (Maureen) — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 04:01:00 +0000

I’ve been back five days from the Romantic Times Booklovers Convention and…I’m still beat. Already looking forward to next year.

I’m insane.

But conventions are fabulous and I want to talk about why every writer, unpubbed or pubbed, needs to attend them. Why?

1) For the connections. Not just professional, but the friendships, the support, the chance to talk about everything! Submission, pitching, query, marketing, critiques, rejection, request.

2) For the fun. No kidding. It was…a blast! I invited a pirate to show up on Saturday and he was such a hit…even Susan Elizabeth Phillips took a pic with him and posted it on her FB page… Bluebeard, what a lovely man. At the end of the time I paid him for, he said it was such a blast! Where was the event next year? (Oh, love, if I had the money, I’d bring you to Kansas City!)

Writers are just like everyone else, we live a life very isolated and the need to burn off steam is very present. I went to…three…no, four…parties. My roommate went to five or six. I don’t remember.

3) For the inspiration. Nothing like talking to writer after writer, after editor after agent about what is going on. Who is looking for what, what is selling, what might sell, what you write, what they write. Bouncing ideas off each other. I don’t know how many people ended up in their rooms, at night, late…and wrote.

(I didn’t. I slept. Or put together swag or stayed in the bar or drank with new friends in their room – who ordered deep dish Chicago style pizza and handed me a drink called a Dirty Girlscount. Which tasted like a thin mint cookie. Christine Merrill and Corrina Lawson are…awesome!)

I made notes on a few stories. For me, the inspiration came in getting home and waking three mornings in a row with dreams. One of which…no, two of which, have been recorded and made note of for future stories. A new steampunk pirate that is set in the world I created with my two scifi erotic shorts and a new little short story.

What a writer shouldn’t do?

Do not put off going to conventions because you don’t have a MS finished. Do not decide you can’t go because you:

A) Don’t have anything to pitch. Trust me, you have things to pitch. Maybe not to an agent or an editor, but pitching isn’t always about getting the deal. Sometimes it’s about learning how to talk about your story by sharing it with other writers.

B) Don’t know anyone. Yes, you do. Through FB, through Twitter, through blogs. Authors you read want to meet you and talk to you. (Okay, this may not be true at the RWA Nationals, because a lot of them are there to do a lot of professional meet ups with editors or agents.) But it is so true at other conventions.

C) Can’t afford to go. Uh huh. There are cons everywhere and for most every price range. And it’s amazing how cheap a hotel can be if you put enough people in a hotel room. Food? Hey, I had cereal three times instead of eating in the pricey hotel restaurant.

RT, where I heard Renee Bernard present a loving tribute to Judi McCoy at the opening ceremonies. (Cried and laughed.) I sat in Club RT with Joanne Fluke and chatted about cinnamon rolls. At a party that evening, I scored two wine coolers.

The next day, I played Mad Libs with a bunch of panel attendees, tossing pirate rubber duckies, and made Katharine Ashe wear a tam-o-shanter perched on a headband. I announced my awesome costume shopping kharma at the Gaslight Social, on stage, introducing myself as 2nd Chance, the bartender on the Romance Writers Revenge blog! I harassed an erotic author sitting next to me at the E-Book and Indy Published Book Fair. (She took it well.) I convinced Jane to compete in the costume contest at the Faery Ball and she won two awards! One of which was the big one!

I played hooky on Friday and went to Chicago. And posed with THE BEAN!

That night I ate pasta prior to attending the Gangster Café Talent Quest.

Saturday? Bluebeard and the RT Bookfair. Where I harassed Renee Bernard and sold/signed books. (I spent a lot of time harassing people. Ah, the freedom of a pirate hat! Turns me into…someone who feels free to harass!) I gave away pirate rubber duckies at the Fan-Tastic Day Party, then pitched to Angela James that night at the Carina Press Cocktail Party. What’s not to love about conventions!?

So, what is your excuse for not going to cons? If you’ve gone to cons, what was your favorite part? If money and time were yours to spend freely, what con would you go to? Is it your dream to be a Guest of Honor? To speak? To present a panel? (Anyone know a good source for pirate rubber krakens? I’d like to try something new…)

Thursday April Writing Month Check-In Status

noreply@blogger.com (Sin) — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 13:59:00 +0000

Just a quick post to see how everyone is doing this month on their writing goals. Even if you've fallen behind don't stress out about it. The goal of April is to get yourself writing. Yeah, the pages and words are a good way to measure how far we've come in the month but that's not the point. The point is to do something we all love to do and that's write.

I'm not usually a pat yourself on the back kind of person but you probably need it. So take a deep breath, de-stress yourself from the ball of anxiety you've become after realizing you're not doing as well as you wanted to do and reward yourself. Writing shouldn't be punishment.Writing is supposed to be fun. It's supposed to be an extension of our imagination onto page.

One of the exercises of NaNoWriMo is to just write. It doesn't matter if it has nothing to do with the story you're writing, the point is that you're writing. Your brain is thinking creatively. So if you're stalled on your story don't sweat it. We all go through these spells. Stressing about it will make it worse and then we start to stress that we're stressing over our writing. It's a vicious cycle.

So the goal for the rest of the month is to just enjoy it. Enjoy the time you do get to sit down in front of your computer or the time you get to pull out your notebook and jot down your thoughts and snippets. Remember how much you love to write scenery or dialogue and just write for the hell of it. I want you to succeed. You want to succeed. And you can do this. I have faith in your ability to create. Just have fun.

Go out enjoy the sun. Enjoy the wind buffering against your face. Smell the sweet flowers blooming. Go for a walk. Take a nap. Read a book. Do anything else but sit there and stare at your computer screen for hours.

Sin

Magic of Words

noreply@blogger.com (Sin) — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 04:01:00 +0000

Music Influence- a band called Hurt. If you don't know them, find them, love them, stalk them to a concert near you. Seriously. You won't regret it.

“Cold on the inside. In phases my lights die. Staring through ardent eyes. I love you, but I lied. Cold on the inside. In faces a smile dies. Staring through ardent eyes. I loathe you, but I lied.”

Cold Inside- Hurt (Vol. 1, 2006)

The first time I knew I wanted to write, it wasn't a story. I didn't have a story to tell. Or at least I didn't think I had a story to tell. I felt all this pressure inside me welling up. My brain was a jumbled mess of nothing and everything. My fingers itched to do something but I wasn't sure what. I didn't know it was the urge to create. To write.

I was a child who spent my energy running outside from dawn to dusk. If I was inside, I poured over books. I lived in my imaginary world. I lived inside others imagination, showing me things in the world I didn't know existed, or possible.

I ran through fields of overgrown grass and weeds, Black-Eyed Susans, dandelions and clover sweetened the breeze even on the hottest days. I lived in my makeshift world where I had a stable of unicorns and a winged unicorn was my personal best friend. The clouds always held shape and was easy for my eyes to make out the obvious faces staring down at me. The first summer after my eyes no longer had innocence and couldn't find the simple wonders in the world, my fingers learned a new world. My words painted what my eyes no longer saw. Short strokes on a blank notebook page. The only sound was the pencil scratching furiously. The sentences held no format. Punctuation was nowhere to be found, but I found something I had been missing. All that had pent up inside me in those years of pretending and wandering manifested into... something. I wasn't sure what it was. What I'd carved out of my heart sat roughly on this page. My handwriting wasn't neat. Nor my sentences witty and clever. But for a brief second I felt that little piece of happiness I'd been missing and hadn't known it was truly gone.

I saw a way on that page to truly live again.

But this had to remain my secret. No one could know of this. Read this. Discover this. This- manifestation of what was in me. No one could know but me. I just wanted my life back. The life of running carefree through the fields and staring up at the clouds. Of wishing on stars and believing the magic in the stories I read. If I could only exercise out what stopped me from believing, I could have it all back.

So I wrote. And I kept writing. I had pages filled with thoughts and fears burned into my mind. The loss and the pain and uncertainty poured out until I knew there was nothing left. My tears smeared the pen and wrinkled the paper and yet I woke up the next day filled with the same feelings. I'd never have it back- the innocence I lost. I'd never be the little girl running through the field and chasing butterflies, believing they were faeries guiding me into the faerie kingdom. I'd never be the little girl wishing on stars and believing the one that fell was the unicorn I'd dreamed for. The writing showed me I wasn't a little girl. I was never going to be that girl again. If I wanted to dream, I had to find a way to bring it to life.

And that is how I learned to write.

Do you remember the first thing you ever wrote that meant something to you? What does writing (or reading) mean to you?

Just a side note: The song above I reference was written by the lead singer of Hurt, J. Loren Wince, when he was just 13 years old. Reading lyrics, to me, is a lot like reading poetry. My first words were manifested into free form poetry. I think this is why I've always loved music and lyrics.

Winners: Tuesday Reviews

noreply@blogger.com (MsHellion) — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 23:51:00 +0000

Okay, I'm a bit behind on Tuesday Review books.

Blame It On Bath--TERRI

The Tattooed Duke--MARN

Next week, up for grabs will be: UNDER A VAMPIRE MOON, by Lyndsay Sands (which I read over the weekend and can't wait to blog about it! Funny, sexy, charming! A must-read!)

And the week after, THE LYON'S BRIDE (CHATTAN CURSE) by Cathy Maxwell, which I'm reading now and am loving. There will also be a copy of this up for grabs...so tell your friends to come back and comment. If you really want a copy, comment twice!

Tuesday Review: A Half-Elven, a Knight, a Mage, and a Dwarf Walk Into a Bar....

noreply@blogger.com (MsHellion) — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 04:00:00 +0000

I agreed to read a Dragonlance book for Deerhunter.

Apparently this series--aside from Tolkien's--was his favorite when he was a kid. (At least this time, I didn't say, "You read?"--I learn my lessons. This time I said, "God, you're such a geek. I never would have guessed.") He's lucky I don't make him read the books I found formative in my teens, like Sylvie Somerfield's Autumn Dove (and probably yet another reason why I wanted to have red hair). Or that Janelle Taylor "First Love Wild Love" with the blond Texas Ranger. *faraway look*

Anyway.

So I read this book, Dragons of Autumn Twilight. I found it infinitely more readable than Tolkien. INFINITELY.

I also have to thank all my fantasy-paranormal reading I've done in the last ten years or so, because that is the only reason why I've become halfway tolerant of names that are not pronounceable...and town names that are even less so. I also want to thank the ladies who wrote the book for having approximately 1/3 of the long, boring songs that Fellowship of the Rings had. I also was relieved that the women featured in the books were not only good when they were dead (i.e. a la Conan and the Tree of Woe). Though the good woman in the story DID have a death scene of sacrifice. There's no escaping that in the Hero's Journey, I guess.

Overall, though, a decent read. Can't say I'm going to run out and start reading fantasy novels hand over fist. I spent a lot of my time reading this book, identifying the things that didn't work for me as a reader. This is good practice for writing, I believe. I may not always know what I want to say, but I can tell you what I don't want to. Like--I don't like the Point of View writing they use. It's almost like an author omniscient. It makes the story about the plot and not about the story of the characters (i.e. emotional journey, structure.) In fact, the scenes I liked most about the book were the emotional scenes. There was a character I could not stand--the mage, Raistlin (pretty sure none of us should like him)--but there was a scene between him and a gully dwarf, where he's genuinely kind, where you almost understand his behavior. The rest of the time, I wanted to beat him with a baseball bat.

The thing is--fantasy are all about that author omniscient stuff. Are there any books (fantasy) that are 1st person? I would like to read one of those. But I don't believe it's the norm and it's not the expected. It's not the comfort read fantasy novel. I think the reason these books probably stand out is that--it's still primarily plot and action, but there's enough emotional stuff there to really make the story a stand out for readers. It's just different enough for fantasy fans to be a standout.

The male characters are interesting. I think perhaps they are probably some very real male characters. You have the one who can't accept himself and doesn't know where he belongs (I call him the Hamlet character; he's the leader and noble of sorts, but he irks the shit out of me with his indecision and pantywaist crap.) There is the knight who lives, breathes, and dies honor. Honor has been stripped away from his life, but he wants to pay penance and restore it--honor is life. (And God knows men can be batshit crazy about honor--the war, brotherhood kind.) The mage who has been weak and repressed all his life who wants to be the most powerful wizard in the Universe, like some sort of medieval Pinky from Pinky and the Brain. He literally wants to be like god. (This character I understand least of all. Anyone who wants to be God is an idiot, imo. But I've been on plenty of dates with these kinds of guys.)

I do find the Knight possibly my favorite of the characters--I like the consistency; and if you're going to have a flaw, I think I may prefer you to be too honorable rather than a god-hungry egotist or a indecisive whiner who can't decide which woman he wants. That was very impressive about this story. The men were definitely men (even if they were dwarves.) They were flawed men with no apologies--not fantasy romance novel men who are so sensitive they ask how you're feeling. None of that crap. These men are confused. They have real issues on their minds--like honor. Or in Kender's case, Adventure.

Okay--so what's the book about? It's a trilogy--because it's illegal for a fantasy writer to write only one book of a fantasy world. I think it's in their contract or something. A trilogy is the minimum you can commit to. In the story, the end of the world is nigh--isn't it always?--and the half-elf, mage, knight, warrior, kender, wizard, and dwarf meet up in a bar to pool their notes from their travels to see just how imminent the end of the world really is. It's so imminent, there's a fight and they end up taking on two more companions--strangers, of course--and are sent on a journey. They need to take a staff to a city...and find out how to save the world...or something to that effect. (It's a fantasy novel--it's always a ring/staff/necklace/sword/child--that has to be taken to the worst city possible where Death is so likely they fill out your death certificates before you leave and you have to restore peace and prosperity in the lands. On the journey, you'll meet someone nice in some woods, you'll go through some elven woods (though the elves are fleeing like rats off the Titanic), and you'll fight some weird looking evil creatures (Dragonians, Orcs, Deatheaters, et al).) Oh, don't get disgruntled. You know it's true. It's the same sort of same-old-same-old romances provide: boy meets girl, boy loses girl, boy screws girl...blah, blah, blah. Fantasy novels follow their own beats, and we all know what they are.

The point is: if you like the hero's journey of this nature, you'll love this book. It's a nice comfortable read. Me, it took two weeks to read. It was readable; and I was able to discuss it with Deerhunter throughout, but I'm no convert. The fact is if I can read it and enjoy it--which I did--it means that this book must be pretty phenomenal to actual Fantasy Fans.

Apparently there is a fourth book of the trilogy (proving another theory that fantasy writers can't actually add) called the Dragons of Summer--basically it covers the last season--this one was the Dragons of Autumn Twilight--and basically it destroys all the HEAs that occur at the end of the trilogy (the Spring one) originally. This also proves theory that fantasy novelists can't stand HEAs and must destroy them as soon as possible. I am convinced Nicholas Sparks suckled at the breasts of many a fantasy trilogy.

So...fantasy readers, I have questions 1.) do you know any first person fantasy novels that are really good? 2.) what is it you like about fantasy novels? 3.) what made you cross over to romances and what was the hardest thing to get used to in reading romance novels?

Looking for Balance in "Pure Fiction"

noreply@blogger.com (MsHellion) — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 04:34:00 +0000

This month is not going to defeat me.

I started ApriWriMo with high hopes...or well, hopes. I'm rarely high. I would succeed at the challenge and write my 50 pages, a mere 12 pages a week, plus four pages for those last two days. I could do that. Anyone could do that?

The first few days, I seemed to be doing well, much like I would on a new diet regimen. I had the writing equivalent of a stocked fridge of veggies and fruit, a set time to meet with my personal trainer every day, and daily affirmations posted everywhere to keep me on the path.

Then after day three, I got a little nervous ("Terri! I don't know what I'm going to do! My BFF is in town and I haven't seen her since 2003! I won't be able to write my pages these three days! I'll be SOOOO behind!"), but after Terri talked me off the ledge, I went to bed most nights, scribbling longhand and at least had some pages if they weren't ALL the pages I needed to make my monthly quota. I felt, well, not good about it, but resigned. Some was better than nothing.

My friend went home on Friday, and I had the weekend to myself, which I chose to spend recuperating. This is Hellion Shorthand for "Sleeping", which I honestly wish I could be paid for. I'd make so much money. I was also struggling through a Dragonlance book that I promised my Deerhunter I would read since "it was the best book ever...well, excluding Tolkien, but since you won't read that..." and to which I lovingly replied, "God, you're such a geek." (Said the Harry Potter fan as she hurled the first stone.) But weekends are for recovering from work, and this is the busy time of year for applications, and it's so draining. I frequently fantasize about working somewhere else. Somewhere where I'm paid for sleeping. Also because I was lazing around, visiting with friends I hadn't seen in an eon, and skipping the gym (which has contributed to shoulder pain, more sleeping, and an alarming amount of laziness.)

I'd get it back together come Monday, I thought. I'll have the creativity night with Pam...and I'll go to the gym. I promise! No dillydallying!

At 3 a.m. the phone rang.

I don't know what it is for you in your part of the world, but in mine, a 3 a.m. is never good news. I glanced at the number and saw it was the friend I had just seen last week. I answered--and she sobbed into the phone, "Arthur just died." Arthur is the husband I just met last week, whom she brought home for all of us to meet. She'd married him less than a year ago. He was 36. He'd had a heart attack. There is nothing more helpless than being 1000 miles away from someone you can't hug or hold as she cries on the phone.

Monday was a bit of a loss where sleep was concerned, as you might imagine. But I did have my creativity night with Pam. I penned a couple pages and we called it a night. Tuesday I crashed early from the Monday episode; Wednesday had my normal long night of Weight Watchers meeting and then also a run to the farm to pick up Dad for a doctor's appointment on Thursday. Thursday was a 7 am-8 pm day of running and worry, and when I got home, I pretty much crashed. Then Friday through Sunday turned into a repeat of last week: recovering from the stress of the week before.

It's not like I couldn't make time. I can carve it out. It's not like other writers don't go through family crises of children and aging parents, have other personal crises that may crop up in their own lives or their friends, or even have another day time job that sucks out their energy and drive like some kind of vampire. Writers deal with this crap all the time.

As usual a lot of this inertia is stemming from my PERFECTIONIST gene. Which doesn't exist because you can't have perfection in anything. As a clever little line in a writing book I read recently (I think it was Wabi Sabi for Writers), "Perfection is PURE FICTION." I want to have huge hunks of time; I want to write 10 pages at a sitting; I want the pages to be the best freaking pages ever, so much that Shakespeare would be jealous; I want to feel refreshed as I'm writing pages--not exhausted, brain-dead, stressed, or depressed.

But in the end I arrive at the conclusion I always circle back to. There is no perfect time to write. You just do.

I think the other half of this month is going to be dedicated to finding Hellion's groove back for one. I have a list of remedies, but need to add them back one at a time. Adding them all at once will only doom me to failure. Clearly though I need to figure out out some ways to de-stress first to contribute to my overall well-being.

But I'm really going to have to kick this Perfection Habit. Or Perfection "Need". I'm sure it's a mental ailment, so you can't really get rid of it; you can only live around it. But I need some better ways to live around it. De-stressing is the first cure, though, I'm pretty sure.

So I'm sorry this blog isn't clever or witty...or even deep or revelational. It is what it is. A confession. I'm still mired in my own head and my own problems--and I'm going to have to figure out a way out of the first because problems never go away. :) Knowing my therapist, I'm sure the witch would tell me I should give up writing because I clearly wasn't any good at it and find a new hobby that was less stressful.

Yes, that's exactly what she'd say. And I'd have to write to prove her wrong--because it's what I did the last time she gave me that sort of advice. But while I'm doing it, I'm going to do some meditation and a few yoga stretches first.

How do you find balance in your life? Do you ever stress out from your normal everyday activities and wonder how you'll make writing really work? Does it ever feel to you the moment you begin working on something in earnest, the Universe conspires to throw extra things your way to deal with?

Texts From Our Undead Monkey

noreply@blogger.com (Leslie Langtry) — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 07:30:00 +0000

SOMEONE (she knows who she is) on this ship sent us all a link this week to a site where a Brit claims his English bulldog texts him while he's at work. It was brilliant. I wish I'd thought of it.

A thought occurred to me. I wondered what would happen if our Undead Monkey started texting us. Here's what I think Jack would say:

Undead Monkey: Where's the shiny stuff?

Sin: You mean the loot? We're kinda low right now. I'll stop at Loot Be Us on my way home.

Undead Monkey: No shiny stuff?

Sin: The hold is empty. Wait till I get back from the sword store.

Undead Monkey: SHINY STUFF NOW OR I'LL KILL MYSELF!

Sin: Go ahead.

Undead Monkey: Never mind. I found your great grandmother's jewelry. Have shiny stuff.

Undead Monkey: Whatchya doin? SCREEEEEEEEECH!

Bosun: Quit texting me. I'm working.

Undead Monkey: I'm bored. There's nothing to do here.

Bosun: Not my problem.

Undead Monkey: I've killed myself three times already this morning...nothing to DO!!!

Bosun: If you don't knock it off, I'LL kill you.

Undead Monkey: B-O-R-E-D!

Undead Monkey: The rum's gone.

Hellion: The rum's gone?

Undead Monkey: Yesssh, the rum's gone byebye.

Hellion: Why is the rum gone?

Undead Monkey: The room ish schpinninging. I feel mrylsp...

Hellion: YOU DRANK ALL THE RUM?

Undead Monkey: nno. chanccccee ddid it. and shhhhe ssshot yur mirror wiithh yur pistoll.

ALRIGHT - your turn. What does the Undead Monkey text to you?

The Assassin

How's The Journey?

noreply@blogger.com (Sabrina Shields) — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 05:10:00 +0000

He is able who thinks he is able. - Buddha

So this is the check-in for week two of our April Challenge. Are you still riding the high on how great last week felt, or did you lose a little steam? Surpass your expectations of yourself or in need of a pep talk?

Let's hear how your challenge is going and see how we can inspire our fellow pirates and offer help to those who might be having a tougher time this week.

I also want to present a challenge to all of you this week (totally optional) - spend 1 writing session in a different place than you normally write. If you normally write in your office area, try taking it outside or to another room. If you're like Chance and hit up Starbucks, maybe try the beach or somewhere there is solitude.

Then, next week tell us what happened. Did it annoy you or inspire you? Maybe consider other ways that shaking up your routine might help your flow and creativity.

For today - how's it going?

Recapping a complex plot

noreply@blogger.com (haleigh) — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 10:55:00 +0000

I've been listening to a lot of books on tape recently. I'm in the car a few hours a day, and books on tape make driving almost as fun as reading, which says a lot, because I'd almost always rather be reading than whatever it is I'm supposed to be doing.

But my days in the car aren't back to back, so sometimes I go a few days in between being able to listen. I've been listening to romantic suspense and thrillers, and let me tell you, with a couple days lag, it's easy to get lost in a complex plot when your listening rather than reading.

I listened to a Lee Child book this week (Killing Floor, the first of the Jack Reacher series, which was AWESOME!). He had 10 bad guys that had to be caught. TEN! That's a lot of names and relationships to keep straight, especially when I'm swerving in and out of traffic through downtown Baltimore, chugging on cigarettes to keep my blood pressure down (ha!) and only listening with half an ear.

So invariably, the name of a super-bad villain would be mentioned, and I'd be going, "Who's that? Wait! What?" What really impressed me with Lee Child's writing is that just about the time I found myself lost, he'd provide a handy 1-2 sentence recap. Just a little reminder to tweak the reader's (or listener's, in this case) memory as what we were supposed to know.

Then a few times throughout the book, he'd provide a full recap of the plot. This particular plot was smashed into a one-week span, so he did it chronologically. Something like:

I'd been arrested on Friday, out of prison by Sunday, got hammered with Joe's death on Tuesday, and by Thursday, we'd taken out four of the ten guys involved. It'd been a hell of a week.

It's simple, it's in the hero's voice and style of speaking, and it's just enough organization to keep readers (or listeners) on track. It's also very short, which lets it fit seamlessly into the narrative.

Anybody else listen to books on tape and find themselves needing quick recaps? Any authors who do a particularly good job of keeping their plot organized for the reader? Do you prefer books on tape or books on paper? Ever thought about how your book might sound if read on tape, and what kind of recaps your readers might need?