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Six chapters until I type "The End" on All Roads, my romance set in ancient Rome. Here's a piece:
A shriek of outrage froze Marcus's thoughts. Straight ahead, the Dacian royal entourage sat on the ground. Surrounded by guards, they waited with blank, passive faces.
Except for one woman, who tried repeatedly to break through the circle of soldiers, only to be bounced back inside.
The raven-haired beauty who had rabidly defended the prince. Even with her gown streaked with dirt and blood, she stood apart from the others. Perhaps he noticed her because she fought with so much passion, rare to see in a royal woman.
She paused for a moment in her efforts when he approached, but knew his language well enough to turn her curses on him. “What will you do with his body, you barbarian dog?”
Glancing to his right, Marcus saw the young prince lying on a cart, his corpse taken in case the king had needed an additional reason to lay down his weapons.
No matter this woman’s interest in the body, Marcus had but one answer to give. “His body will be burned.”
She shook, her face twisted in rage, while the wind whipped her long, dark hair into a cyclone. Her eyes pierced his blank stare to plead with him. She opened her hands and said, “Your way is not our way.”
Everything about this woman seemed dangerous, even the tears she refused to check. She owned her heritage, and despite the way she entreated him, hatred radiated from her like warmth from the sun.
Nothing he could say would console her, so he asked, “What is your name?”
She straightened her spine. “Ademeni, daughter of King Decebalus.”
Her name tripped off her tongue like music, her broken language not lyrical enough to disguise her position. Daughter of the king.
He should have known.
Pushing through the brief shot of pleasure he’d received at the sound of her voice, he returned to his duty.
“Ademeni, daughter of Dacia, I am Marcus Decimas Cordovis, commander of Trajan’s Flavia Felix Legion.” He delivered news that drained the blood from her face, leaving him shaken for the first time in his storied military career. “You are now a slave of Rome, and to Rome you will all go in the morning.”
She stepped forward, daring the guards to force her back while offering a tantalizing whiff of sandalwood. A tight smile sent a chill down his spine.
With white knuckled fingers, she pulled on the collar of her dress, rending the fabric and exposing her neck and the generous swell of her breasts.
“Then you should kill me now, General.” Her dark eyes flashed her passion. “Because if I live, I will not hesitate to kill you.”
Sure, romance writers take a hit most of the year, but get them all together and the Today Show tells the world we're not a bunch of sex-starved, large-bottomed, mooning word-whores. Is it me, or did this piece still make romance writers and readers seem...a little sophmoric? Giggling at the sex scene, running to be the first through the door, highlighting the racy covers and titles?
Or is any press good press?
The Wild Rose Press has redone their rosette covers, which means I get something new and pretty to play with!
If you'd like a fast, feel-good, summer read, pick up this Vintage story HERE.
Allie Boniface is a bestselling author of both romance and women's fiction--and today on her blog she's interviewing me! Please be sure to check out not only the interview, but Allie's great selection of books as well.
In other news... Stewie is moving right along, as puppies always do. He's doing the Petsmart training classes, and after four weeks he can sit, stay, lay down, and roll over. He's doing pretty well on a leash and really well with the crate training. Now, if he would just sleep ONE more hour a night, things would be perfect!
Lest you think I'm doing NOTHING with writing, I did do an interview with the Rochester College North Star, which just came out in their February bulletin.
Rochester College is a liberal arts Christian college located in the Metro-Detroit area. I both went to school there for two years, and worked there for three years. Some of my very best friends are the friends I made there, and I'm happy to see their success. I'm also very flattered they felt my writing success was newsworthy. Hope you enjoy the interview!
When I published, I felt fairly well-informed about various aspects of the business. I knew about promotion and contracts and edits. But I was unprepared for one interesting by-product of putting my work into the hands of others--having my head shrunk from inside the pages of my books.
Walk with me through the potential minefield. The characters you've become so familiar with over time have made the fateful leap from your imagination to the printed page and now everyone can see them (which is freaky enough). So woo and hoo...but at the same time, the people who know you best suddenly acquire superpowers that allow them to glean additional insight into your quirky little personality. They read all in between those crazy made-up lines.
One friend completely analyzed my relationship with my parents after reading The Knot. Another decided she knew why I had problems with men (and what problems were these? I've avoided men for years! Ha ha.). And recently I got some rather entertaining feedback concerning my last release from a co-worker. She wants to have lunch to discuss because she has burning questions and assumes I have flamable answers. I'll have lunch with her, but I'm afraid she's going to be disappointed.
While it's true that writers can and do transfer subconscious thoughts to their stories, it's not always so deep. For example, years can pass between the first spark of idea and going to press. Some authors even run counter to their own proclivities--on purpose. Freud said it best. Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar.
Except, of course, when it isn't (wink).
There comes a time in everyone's life when...well, something has to go. Call it what you will--simplifying, downsizing, cleaning house, or retooling (that one makes me giggle). That time has come for me with my writing. I've had a very positive experience with The Wild Rose Press, and will continue to promote my work with them. However, I have nothing pending for release. In fact, I'm not working on anything for them at the moment, although I may eventually have a couple stories that would be at home in the Vintage line. And if I write something short, it's definitely going there first.
When I submitted my stories to TWRP, I did so for several reasons. First and foremost, I felt I was ready to be published. I wanted the experience of working with an editor, and I had four lovely editors who taught me many things. I wanted the experience of promoting both e- and print. I've now had that experience, and for the most part, enjoyed it. I've made many friends through TWRP and don't intend to lose them.
I do, however, want to slow down. With nothing "coming soon" or even "coming later" it's a good time to take a step back, evaluate and consider WHAT NEXT? There are some stories I've written (and am writing) that deserve my attention, and I intend to give them a fighting chance to see the inside of a bookstore.
What does that really mean? I'm off the loops, except for a few. I'll keep MySpace and Bebo focused on writing, but I want to pare down Facebook to keep that from being a promotional site. That may mean I have fewer 'friends' there. If that's you, I'm sorry, and I'll see you on the other venues we share. This blog will stay the same, because I don't intend to stop writing.
I've been working on a story. That, alone, is not frightening. I got some excellent feedback on the direction, and thought, "Why don't I just plot out the first three chapters..." Okay, I've done that before. Before I realized it, I had been converted from pantzer to plotter. I plotted out the entire book. Not in rigid detail, but believe me, it's an outline.
If I would have stopped there, I wouldn't even mention the episode. But last night, as I was finishing off chapter four, I wondered, "Can I finish this by the end of the year?" Enter my crit buddy, Kristi, who pointed me at the 70 Days of Sweat challenge. I could never commit to NANO, because November is a terrible month for me to try something like that. But this, I can do. Its goals are my goals, and now I have all the support I need!
Hey ever'buddy! I'm gearing up for the release of my next Vintage Rose novel from The Wild Rose Press.
All in Good Time will be released in both e- and print on October 26 (insert happy dance here). But I got to thinking...while Bootlegger's Bride got some fantastic reviews, and I'm more than grateful to convert some readers, there were a few interesting lines that stuck with me.
Ms. Kindall had her work cut out for her...
I've grown to love the vintage age...
Ms. Kindall takes an age that, at first glance, doesn’t seem all that interesting...
Of course, I beg to differ. The early 1900's were a challenging, stirring, romantic time in history. So I want to come up with a TOP TEN list of reasons to read vintage era stories--and not just mine! Chime in, and I'll use the list when I promote All in Good Time.
If you believe that journalists are unbiased in reporting the news, please raise your hand.
I don't know anyone who believes this today. In general, everyone knows that Fox News has a conservative slant, while PBS leans the opposite direction. These people are supposed to report the facts, yet the public realizes that in their reporting, there is (at the very least) inherent bias. Word choice, delivery, tone of voice, expression...where did they get their information and through what lens are they viewing it?
One of the things I teach my students is that historians take no such pledge. They are supposed to be biased, to try to convince people of one thing or another. That's why there's a thesis statement. Information to support or debunk historical positions can be found and used, and twisted in some cases.
One of the toughest classes I ever took was an undergrad course in historiography. The history of history deftly daught by the chair of the department. While there was a lot of memorization and whatnot, the idea behind the class was that dependent upon the era in which a book was written (what was going on in the world at that time?) the background of the author (did they have a stake in the argument?), and whether they were indeed refuting another sourse...there's a bias. In my class, we Google the author of the textbook and see his background, his possible biases based on his other works and areas of interest. I give my students the opportunity to see where I come from, to ask questions of me and my background before they trust me to give them knowledge. The other teachers love it when that practice filters into their classes, lol.
Everyone has a filter, not-so-rose-colored glasses through which they see the world. A book may be filled with historical research, but rest assured that there's a point to it, and you can probably find a counterpoint as well. In the age of easily accessible information (internet, Wiki) we'd do well to double-check sources if, indeed, it's a crucial piece of information to your otherwise fictional story.
I'm a movie fanatic, and of all the movies out there, my DVD collection is filled with representations of history. Glory, Apocalypto, Gettysburg (fake beards and all), Gladiator, Kingdom of Heaven, Malcolm X...the list is endless. Hands down, my favorite flick the past year has been 300.
Here's a shocker. They're not all true. Tomes have been written about what Hollywood does to history. In some cases, it's a lot like the bias discussed with history books. Depending on the time in which a film was made, and who wrote, directed, starred in and produced it, you can tell a lot about a movie.
In a media-driven age, films often have a heavier influence than books. If you can see a two hour movie about the 54th Massachusetts, why read all the boring books, right? This is an uphill battle for a teacher, because students will not necessarily question movie facts seved with hot buttered popcorn in the theatre. They're taken at face value, assimilated, and regurgitated as fact. Debunking film mythology--or adding value to it--has become a hobby. One of my assignments is to watch a movie based on historical events and then tell me what was right and wrong about it. The idea is to question what you see.
I make it sound all bad. It isn't. 300 came out while I was teaching the ancient history segment of my World Civilizations class. The creator, Frank Miller, comes right out and says it's not historically accurate (see my review for why). Yet it made people curious, and I can't argue with that. If seeing a movie "based on a true story" makes you dig into the facts to find out more, that's something I can get behind.
Storytelling through film or written word is a similar art in a variety of ways. While you shouldn't believe everything you see/read, using history as a backdrop, using historical characters to enliven a story, being inspired by acutal events can be add wonderful touches of authenticity to the story.
While discussing historical accuracy at Romance Divas, it became clear that there were different reader expectations for different genre of historical writing. Readers walk into a bookstore and pick up a book because they want one thing or another. While this is not news, it's easy for me to forget.
Keeping it simple, I see three different genre that call themselves 'historical'. This is simply my interpretation, but there are people out there who have defined it, argued over the definition, etc. I'm not interested in debate, really, there's leeway and gray areas, of course.
1. History. Like Bruce Catton's three-book Civil War series (which one day, I will rescue from a box in my ex-bf's house). Just the facts, ma'am. These are things you buy in the college bookstore and then keep on your shelf for "reference". You expect the facts to be accurate, because even through the bias of authorship, some things are written in stone, and they're pretty dry.
2. Historical Fiction. The Historical Novel Society defines it thus and so, including historical fantasies, like Alma Alexander's books, time-slip novels, and alternate realities, like The Court Martial of Robert E. Lee. Of course, it also includes books by authors like John Jakes, James Clavell, and Jeff Shaara, from my own shelf. In many ways, the history is a central character in the story. A great deal of research goes into many of these stories, and there is a great expectation of accuracy.
3. Historical Romance. While the Historical Novel Society includes romances in their definition of historical fiction, and I believe it's rightly included, I'm seeing that romance readers bring different expectations to the table. The love story is the central theme of the story, and the history is in many ways a supporting character. There may be less emphasis on detail, less importance on accuracy to the nth degree. This is not an excuse to bail on your research, yet from what I've heard from readers, bending history to suit the needs of the story is more forgivable. Some authors will do a great deal of research, but others will do less.
For me, I read a lot of all three of these classifications. I admit to favoring Historical Fiction, and were I given a mandate to go into a bookstore and buy just one book, my purchase would probably be from that area. But do I take that emphasis on heavy research and accountability into my romance writing? Do I toss it aside? You tell me...
After the last post, a lively discussion at RD, and other comments on historical accuracy in fiction...what a multi-faceted subject. While I knew what some of the discussion would involve, the idea of the perception of history is something I had left in the background of my mind.
It's not there any longer. The June 23 post by Medallion author Karen Mercury that detailed highlights of the Historical Novel Society Conference in Albany, NY, had a lot of insight. One point of which (paraphrasing) was to surprise the reader with a new angle on historical "marquee characters" in your story. They already think they know them, so challenge their perception. That's one way to pull fringe historical readers into your world, as well as keep your story fresh.
Beyond that, challenge your own perception. I should have dug into the "suburb issue" that bugged me in that inspriational, but I didn't. It might have been correct in a way I hadn't considered. I'm not endorsing being a fact-checher for everything you read or browbeating an author for creative license. Some readers take joy in finding fault, and I'm not interested in that kind of business from either end of the reader/writer relationship.
Curiosity can be a writer's best friend, so challenge yourself!
When is it okay to 'bend' history?
The historian in me says, "Never!" Yet, I read and watch lots of historically-based stories and there's always something that's not quite right. If it's a big thing that's not right, I consider that sloppy. If it's a tiny thing, it's easier to let it slide--unless lots of tiny things start to add up. I once put down an inspirational story set in antebellum America because of a reference to the "suburbs" surrounding Washington, D.C. That word wouldn't have been in the dictionary at that point--it ruined the story for me because it was on page one.
As a writer, I'm finding that, despite the zestful desire to be entirely accurate, I'm not always. Example: in Bootlegger's Bride, I have Aiden driving a car that I'm not postive was available for purchase at the time of the story. I did contact specialists in an attempt to verify the 'facts' as I wanted them to be--and I would have changed the model if they had told me point blank that it would have been impossible for him to have that car in January of 1921. But they didn't--since there were no 'model years' at that time (as we have now, where the next year's model comes out in the previous calendar year), it's virtually impossible to pinpoint the exact date a model hit the road. In short, sure, it 'coulda' happened that way.
I watched season one of the HBO series Rome last weekend (loved it!). All my research on the architecture, interior furnishings, and clothing says they didn't have beds as we knew them, and that they frequently slept with most of their clothing on. But I understand the need for something identifiable, and, given the amount of sex in the series, the need for a big bed and few layers of clothing. Creative license...or lies?
So where is that fine line? What's forgivable and what's not? Does it matter if the story is a historical romance or straight historical fiction? If so, why? I'll tell you what I think the difference is in the next post...
I'm pleased to announce that my vintage novel, All in Good Time, has been contracted with The Wild Rose Press. I'm excited about continuing my relationship with them, sharing the stories I love.
When Philadelphian Elizabeth Temple arrives in a small, Southern town to teach first grade in 1948, she hopes to slide unnoticed into a spinster’s existence, believing herself unfit for any companion. She doesn’t count on falling for handsome Jake Ryan, a World War II veteran tainted by a scandalous divorce now struggling to raise his young son alone. Despite an undeniable chemistry, the road to romance is strewn with roadblocks and detours. Between the personal secret that has a devastating grip on Elizabeth, and Jake’s temperamental, soon-to-be-ex-wife, what looks like a ‘sure thing’ could easily slip away.
Join the historical authors of The Wild Rose Press Thursday, Aparil 19 at 9 p.m. EST in The Wild Rose Press Chatroom to find out why the past is where it's at :)
Special congrats to the Chefs and culinary students from AiCH who won first place for cold dish at The Taste of the Nation: Charlotte tonight! Who knew liver could taste that good???
Sometimes I read something that goes beyond. It stretches my mind, and usually leaves me feeling a little green that my mind wasn't heretofore at those limits. Which is ridiculous, of course. Having that particular experience is one of the best reasons to read in the first place.
I came upon this while reading The Alphabet Versus the Goddess this evening (so my headache must be better!): There exists another dimension also; the sheer aesthetic pleasure that accompanies reading. Breaking the confines of the shell that more or less encases each individual, literature allows readers' minds to merge into the imaginations of the most thoughtful writers who have ever lived (p. 430).
And in thinking about how writers refuel their minds, reading is definitely one of those ways. I've had this joyous experience a few times. While I always enjoy reading (because if I don't enjoy it, I put it down), there have been a few works that have been more stimulating to my imagination than others.
Island of the Blue Dolphins - While I was young, I read this story several times. It took me to that island, and I was that girl. And it was so simply written that I remember thinking, "Maybe I can do this, too."
Jacob Have I Loved - I didn't realize it at the time, but this YA story weaves together two things that have become themes for me: a 'vintage' setting and an emphasis on the battle between religion/duty and passion/hunger.
Interview with the Vampire - This may be on many people's lists. The first read was for fun and curiosity. Something in the story or characters, however, made me read it again. And again. Anne Rice admits that religion figures in her writing, and this story in particular gives me something new every time I ready it (which is annually). Her following stories were more transparent in their delivery, and never really matched up--until maybe Christ the Lord, which made me curious about other things.
The Secrets of Jin Shei - I don't know how to describe the read except to say it opened the lid to my box. We all have boundaries on our imagination, whether formed by nature or nurture. When you encouter someone whose imagination is more open, bigger, than yours, you know, and you want to learn.
I'm searching for more of these experiences. I feel a reading binge coming on. I've ordered the follow up to Jin Shei, The Embers of Heaven, and tonight ordered Outlander, by Diana Gabaldon. Looking at The Fledgling, by Octavia Butler, and the Grigori series from Storm Constantine.
Who does it for you? Who's popped your cork, lifted the lid, or opened the door to your imagination?
Project #1: The Wild Rose Press announced during the weekly chat the development of their first series: The Brooch Legacy. One story from each line that involves this...brooch. Bailey, you may stop laughing at any time. Now you know. (If you're wondering what up, check out THIS POST) My story will be the fourth in line, to be released April/May-ish. It is a Vintage Rose novella tentatively titled Bootlegger's Bride. I hope to finish the first draft this weekend. Expect more info in early February on the series as a whole.
Project #2: Vintage novel All in Good Time. I've done my first read-through, written the query, and started the short synopsis. I want to add a few pages to the book--nothing major--but it will take some time to get the detail I want. I'm in no rush here, it's secondary behind the novella.
Project #3: Editing a large section of research done by my friend, the head librarian at The Mint Museum. When she started there, she found the entire collection in both disarray and disrepair, and applied for several grants. The woman she initally hired did the archival digging, but her writing was found lacking. Apparently some kind of brain trauma she failed to disclose. So I'm stepping in. We have our first meeting next week. It'll look hot on my resume, and I like helping a friend.
Project #4: The Interactive Electoral College. I've been tapped as the historial fact-checker for a large, interactive electoral college map. See the prototype for a visual. This is still in the grant writing phase, of which I'm nothing but a blurb. The project is meant to stimulate interest and participation in the political process. It will also add a nice bit of color to the CV.
In other news, I've joined EPIC, and made plans to attend EPICon in early March. I'll also be interviewed by Margaret Marr for for her e-author Spotlight on Nights & Weekends. This month, she's interviewing Shelby Reed of Ellora's Cave, so I'm in excellent company ;)
I've played organized basketball since the age of ten. Oddly enough, that's also the age I started writing stories. I got a lot of confidence from sports, and learned many life lessons. How to win and lose gracefully. How to work with a team. How to lead a team. How to prepare, plan, and implement--and how to change course midstream.
My jump shot was weird from day one. If you remember an LA Laker named Jamaal Wilkes, my shot looked like his. Kind of a one-armed over-the-head python maneuver that looked plain odd. But it worked. I used it through two years of college ball, and even became the team's reliable three-point shooter.
Then I started coaching. With my weird shot. Trying to teach the players how to do things correctly suddenly made it priority number one that I (finally) change my shot. I'd fought changing it all those years, and then it dawned on me. I didn't have a choice. I had to practice the proper mechanics, or my players would never trust me to work with them. I had to change my attitude before I could change my shot.
How does this apply to writing? The business has a way of making you want to...adjust yourself. Write for a line, rather than the story. Write what's selling. Change your voice. Lose your voice. Those are all the wrong reasons to change your shot. To make yourself something you aren't.
What about enhancing the things that you are? Tightening up your weak spots--getting the mechanics right? Finding creative ways to make up for your shortcomings or the proper venue for your work. It's difficult in the face of reader feedback, sales numbers, editorial comment, and even blunt critiques to remember the basics and not get lost.
My new shot works just fine, thank you very much. But I've realized that had I been doing it the proper way all those years ago, I probably could have played another two years of college ball. I would have been that much better.
What did I tell my players? I'd never be disappointed in the score if they worked hard, played hard, and gave it everything they had. That's what I tell myself as a writer, too.
Catalog this one under "words I hate." I don't mean idealistic words like hunger , war, and my new one, politics. Naturally, I'd rather such things not be in the vocabulary, but...they are. I may not like the idea behind them, but the actual words don't make me grimace. I'm also not talking about those rather blunt and often colorful anatomical terms, words that I'm not fond of using in my stories and use roadmaps to avoid (sometimes to my detriment--a spade is often a spade).
I'm talking about words that just plain don't sound good to you. Nothing to do with meaning, nothing to do with anything but "ick" when you hear it. I have identified three words that I'd rather never hear again, and I'm going to share them with you--one time only.
Platter.
Moist.
And...brooch.
My editor's going to LOVE that last one--hahahaha! It all has to do with the way the word sounds in speech, and in my head when I read it. I'll call it a "really big plate" or "damp" or "pin" before using any of the above words in casual coversation. Or in a sentence.
So now the million dollar question: am I alone in this, or are there just some otherwise regular words that make you go "ick"?
I'm a live-and-let-live kind of gal. Especially when it comes to myspace. Add me, don't add me. Let me add you, or not. I'm partially addicted to the site (I say partially, because I dare not access it at The Day Job), and have done my fair share of adding and formatting, posting and commenting.
OK, more than my fair share.
It's a weird place to be some days. Worlds collide (a la Seinfeld). While MY space is primarily for my writing life, I've been found by those whose orbits are not in that realm. My students, for example. Who are warned they will not get cookies if they add me. My circle of non-writer friends, who get aggrivated when all these writers keep trying to befriend them. The big band fans, and romance readers. And old school chums--college days, as no one from HS has located me (yet).
The cool thing, though, is that those outside the writers/readers scope...are interested in the book. People I haven't seen in years are clicking and finding and buying. So is myspace a good promotional tool? Additional sales and a live radio interview say "yes." Cost effective? Free good enough for you? What's priceless, however, are those unexpected blasts from the past.
That, and those friends who always answer my random list bulletins, lol.
Today, I got back on my regular schedule, and saw a lot of people I hadn't seen since the school's graduation. I've gotten used to talking about my book in kind of a generic way, but what I'd forgotten was that several friends gave The Knot as a Christmas gift to friends or family. While I'm deeply indebted for the sales (smile), I'm even more indebted for the positive feedback I received. One of my co-workers read it during the break and wanted to talk about it this morning. All of these more in-depth conversations somehow feel more daunting and a little surreal. People are finally seeing into a world I've kept strictly between myself and a few close friends. And they like it (bigger smile).
So, thank you to Jen, and Jamie, and Wil and Joanie...you've helped to make this first book very special in every way. Beyond that, thanks to Cheryl, my test reader. She's a voracious romance reader, and I gave her a copy (critique tested!) of my next novel. She stayed up until 2 a.m. to finish, and cried at the end. I don't think I've made anyone cry before--at least not in the good way! Forget the part where I'm back at work...I had a GREAT day!
"New" is a relative term, at least for me, at least for this year, and at least as far as writing goes. There's an idea in fashion and design that "everything old is new again." THAT's more what I have in mind for this coming year.
Let's talk vintage. On January 2, I'll start revising the story I completed around Thanksgiving. The working title's been changed to All in Good Time. I want to add about 15 pages and comb through it. Needs to be submitted end of February, maybe a little after. I guess I can also talk about my other upcoming project--a novella with The Wild Rose Press as part of a series (one story from each line). More details to come on the whole series, but my story looks to be 8 chapters long, and I'm into chapter two. It's due to my editor by March 1, and tentatively titled Bootlegger's Bride.
Since I also bill myself as a writer of paranormal/urban fantasy, my BIG project this year is to rewrite the first in a series of three urban fantasies. As it is, the story is good, it's won contests, but I've learned so much since writing it (and gotten some agent/editor feedback) that I know I can do it bigger and better. If I keep talking about it, maybe I'll work the time to do it.
So, Jerri, I lied, I guess I do actually have some milestones in my writing life for 2007! What about you?
Happy Thanksgiving! I finished the manuscript--took one more chapter than I'd planned, but it's in the can, so to speak. I love how the ending worked out, and I'm looking foward to going back for the edit after it sits for a few weeks. Moving on to a *very* little shopping today, and hopefully, putting up the all-polar-bear Christmas tree.
So...what did I miss? Did everyone celebrate well? Who found some great deals on Black Friday?
On May 10, 2006, I made a vow not to blog again until I'd completed my manuscript, plus a synopsis and query, and sent them to my targeted publishers. I'm making that vow again. I have two (pehaps three, I'm wordy) chapters to go on my current vintage story. I have a pact with 2 CPs to finish our WIPs by Thanksgiving. I wrote two chapters over the weekend. This is do-able.
So...here's all the things I think I'll want to say in the next one- to two-weeks:
-WAAAA! Lost is gone for 13 weeks?
-Go BUCKS, beat Michigan! (followed by, hopefully...)
-WE'RE #1 (sans foam finger)
-I don't GIVE grades, you EARN them.
-I'm hooked on Grey's Anatomy (there's a weekend marathon coming)
-Guess where found my requisite polar bear holiday cards?
-I've taken to stirring my coffee with a candy cane and you should try it too!
-Jeff Shaara's book is GENIUS!
-I'm making plans to go to DC for a vacation next year - any tips?
-Can you believe what they did on Prison Break?
That should cover me for the foreseeable future. I'm not posting again until I can say I've typed "The End" to Under the Willow Tree. Thank you, and good night.
"One day soon, we'll discuss my growing love of anything connected with Rob Zombie. Soon. I promise, as soon as I have some reasonable explanation."
I'm an '80's gal. Hair bands, etc. You'd expect that. Even Aerosmith can't be too big a surprise. After all, they're ageless, polished, bluesy. That doesn't at all explain my fascination with groups like Dio, Dokken, and for the past few years, Rob Zombie in any form, white or otherwise. I could say it's the driving bass lines, the heavy-handed guitars, or even the freakishness of biting off a bat's head. But that's just circus (even though I like it).
I have a fascination with good and evil. Possible explanations include a rigid religious upbringing and a minor in Bible. Beyond that, I have this urge when I write to make something stereotypically "bad" into something "good." And vice versa. Even in such a straightforward story as The Knot, my first workable idea for the hero was not that he be an anti-hero, but that he'd be an outcast for a very good reason--he'd killed somebody.
I've been studying the origins of good and evil as research for my paranormals. Angels, demons, God, the devil--all incarnations in any religion. I'm gearing up for a rewrite, and I want to do things I've never done before.
In my stories. *Of course*. Does that sound reasonable?
Read The Knot? Like the setting? Go back...Hometown sweethearts Eddie Colvert and Sarah Monroe face an uncertain future following the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor in December, 1941. When Eddie joins the Army, Sarah reluctantly agrees to postpone their spring wedding and prepares to face the holidays without her beau. But Eddie has one more loving surprise up his sleeve...
Stay tuned for release details, and be sure to join The Wild Rose Press cast and crew at Sweeter Romantic Notions all day on Saturday, September 30. I'll pop in and out--we have orientation at The Day Job, so I'll slip in before and after.
Psst! Want make-up for a dollar?
First--congrats to Bailey Stewart! She correctly identified three visible polar bears in my office photos. Please send me your snail mail addy and preferred inscription, and I'll get The Knot right out to you :) There are actually six polar bears in the office, but only three were in the photos. Yes. I know. It's a really cute sickness.
So...I'm perusing last week's Creative Loafing, and there's an article about Aerosmith titled Rockin' the Joint. Since there's been some discussion of 'when do you know when to quit' editing and soforth, this piece of the article (by Kenvin Ransom) hit me where I create.
"'A lot of times, your intentions are to get that lean, gritty sound, and when you listen back to the tapes, it ends up not sounding like that at all,' says Perry. 'There are just so many variables when you go into the studio anymore...these days it's so easy to get a so-called perfect sounding record, so the tendency is to do that because you can. Back in the day, we were always striving to get that one great take. But now it's so easy to do that because you can just keep massaging things, but you can also end up massaging it until it's dead. So the trick is to know when to stop. It's too easy to sterilize the song too much. I mean, there's a lot of young artists today who 'get it', and who've put out some great stuff, and there are others who put out crap--and you know, we've done both.'"
A little news:
The Wild Rose Press is having its official cyber-launch party on Sunday, September 10! The editors and authors will be there with information, fun, and prizes. More details to come!
To coincide with that event, I'll be interviewed on the new blog Conversations with Almost Famous Writers on Friday, September 8! Many thanks to Bebe Thomas for this inventive idea. Another WRP author, Stacy Dawn, will be interviewed the week before.
I want to also thank my friends, whether online or in person, for letting me know how much they're enjoying The Knot. I'm sill awaiting "official" reviews, but just to know that people are enjoying it is wonderful!
Just a reminder - The Knot is available NOW in e- and print from The Wild Rose Press :)
The founders of The Wild Rose Press were interviewed by the Long Ridge Writer's Group. Find out exactly why they're called a "kinder, gentler publishing house." Read the interview here.
Another chance to meet founders Rhonda and RJ - as well as a herd of Wild Rose authors (including me!). The Romance Studio will host a chat on Sunday, August 27 @ 9 p.m. EST.
AND, last but not least, WRP author Stacy Dawn will host the 2006 Cataromance Reviewers Choice Awards on their forum! Door prizes will be given, and it's free to join the fun.
All this while I was cruising the net, waiting for the Aerosmith tickets to go on sale!
You still have time to leave your fast and fun recipe below, for a free e-copy of The Knot!
The Knot is in a semi-new genre, typically called "vintage". Not old enough to be historical, not recent enough to be contemporary. I admit, I had second thoughts about the setting because few seemed to be interested in publishing this particular era.
I began this story about three years ago, and got stuck around chapter six. I'd done something wrong with the plot, and couldn't move on. Last fall, I dusted it off and my partners at Romance Writers World helped me revamp and move on. From there, the story came fast. I was so excited about how it was turning out that I began to research possible publishers. Enter The Wild Rose Press. They have a Vintage Rose line that embraced stories set betwen the 1920's and 1970's. The rest, is history.
In the end, the vintage setting won out. You know, I've heard it said that a good story can be put into--and work--in any setting, and maybe that's true. But some are better fits than others, and I couldn't have drawn Ben and Heather any stronger in any other time and place. I have a love and insterest in that time period, and believe that as that "Greatest Generation" passes on, readers will be more and more intersted in reading their stories.
Help me celebrate the release of my debut novel, The Knot, in the Vintage Rose line at The Wild Rose Press!
When Ben Sheridan is released from prison in 1936, he returns to his hometown in the Blue Ridge Mountains with only one goal--to lead a simple life. Although he's paid his debt to society, he's never forgiven himself for the unthinkable act that forced him to take the life of his step-brother over a decade before. Small-town storekeeper Heather O'Malley has never played the victim, but to most she's still that "scarred" young woman, the past prey of a madman. Unconventional and independent, she seizes the opportunity to help Ben restart his life, in part to atone for her silence about the events that sent her rescuer to prison. Ben can't resist Heather's free-spirited approach to life, and she can't resist his reluctant charm. Neither intends to fall in love, but when dangers from their past threaten their fragile connection and another young girl turns up missing, they discover just how knotted together their lives are--and how fiercely they're willing to fight for each other and their future.
Available now in e-book or print paperback.
This revolves around the assumption that new website smells good. Thanks to my host (brother mine) for the upgrade.
You may be wondering who Internal Gal is...aside from the blonde bombshell represented in the header. She's kinda hot, lol. But seriously, anyone who's worked with me on a story knows I'm allllll about internal conflict. "How does that make your character feeeeeel?" I guess I just find the workings of the psyche much more interesting that say, whatever external conflict my story might actually call for. I don't remember who first called me Internal Gal, so take credit if it was YOU. She'll be a featured blogger here, when I can coax her to come outside, to talk about some of her tricks.
Make yourself at home, have a look around, and tell me what you think (yes, whatever it is).
The cover!
The galley has been returned! Being new to this whole publishing gig, I'm not quite sure what happens next (if you know, please please tell me!). In my first promotional effort:
Be the first to know when The Knot has been released! Subscribe to The Wild Rose Press newsletter here.
Read more about Ben & Heather's story here.
And more about me here.
So I'm ready to repeal the hour a day thing...bit off more than I could chew. And I can chew a lot. However, to maintain my sanity, I'll have to back off of that promise.
Here's the deal. I just got my edits for The Knot, so they're lookin' at me, beggin' for time, hopin' for a little lovin'...and I have my last two lectures to deliver this week in World Civ II. Tonight, I have to read two chapters, tomorrow, I have to outline my lecture. Then it's all done except for the crying (which comes after the grading--no, it won't be that bad).
And then I'll have time to go through the manuscript. To tell the truth, I put off opening the attachment. It made me a little queasy to see what *someone else* thought of the whole deal. Someone not used to me, someone with fresh eyes. I'm a big girl, I can handle it...I need it, actually, the whole experience.
Did you know that purple is the new red?
I've been focusing on the vintage era for so long, I'm having to swing back into a paranormal state of mind to work on the revisions for my three urban fantasies (I think that's what we're supposed to call them now). The season finale of Lost was a good start--holy magnetic force, Bat Man! I wish I could see a map of that plotline...but then they'd have to kill me, lol. Freaking genius.
Switching my tunes will also help--from Allison Krauss and Eastmountainsouth (thanks for that one, Jerry!) back to Live and Rob Thomas and that whole playlist on my iPod (thanks for that, too, Jerry!). Live's new CD is OUT! Check out Songs from Black Mountain today. I'm going to be plugged into that until it's memorized--and longer.
Maybe a Memorial Day Buffy Marathon? Or a run to the theatre to see X-Men III?
I've read through my third manuscript for entertainment, and yesterday I went through the first part of the revision on the first story and edited another chapter, which made me happy. But I have ask--if you write more than one genre, how do you switch gears?
To everyone traveling this American holiday weekend, safe trip!
Sometimes things move fast! I sent a contract to the publisher yesterday morning, so I guess I can announce that I've sold my first manuscript to The Wild Rose Press. It's a romance with a little suspense, set in the Blue Ridge Mountains circa 1936. More details to come!
Special thanks to Gary & Angela, who sent me flowers yesterday--what a great surprise!
I'm also up to bat at Off the Shelf today, so hop on over and tell me: how bad is too bad?
How strange is it that I'm dyslexic, and a writer? I think it's getting worse. Today, I spelled a word completely backward, and that's something I've never done before. Usually, the more I write, the better it is, but lately...I'm not so sure.
I have two famous make-me-blush typos. The first surfaced in my junior year of high school, in my typing class. I couldn't get straight the 'o' and the 'p'. Every time, without fail, opportunity came out pooportunity. Still does.
The second happened my junior year in college. I was home for Thanksgiving, working on a paper on my mom's word processor. I was pretty darn proud of the result--the paper (and this IS important) was about the reunification of Hong Kong and China. My snappy title was supposed to be: Is Hong Kong Long Gone? I know you're smiling. You know what I did, but I'll spell it out just in case. Is Hong Kong Long Dong.
The best part? Someone caught it before I turned it in. The worst part? It was my DAD!
I hereby promise I will not blog again until I have written AND SENT the query, synopsis and other materials requested for the publishers I'm targeting (there are three, all with very specific requirements).
You may not see me for a few days. It's busy at work, Lost is new tonight, and it's Mother's Day. Not to mention the rest of that friend's EdD thesis I have to re-proof as soon as he sends it. Should be easier the second time around. One would hope. Thank God it's interesting.
But seeing's how I like to blog...I dare say I won't be gone too long :) Wish me luck!
I come from a family of storytellers, whether they know it or not. I grew up on Tales from Monroe County (Ohio) about my dad, his brothers, their friends and hometown antics. My mom told stories about her dad's service in WWII, which I turned into a short piece for the anthology Let Us Not Forget. My brother tells stories, too...
When we were young, maybe five and seven, we lived in an old two-bedroom house, and he and I shared a room. It was a pretty big room, so my dad built a room divider, and we each had our side. Although I don't recall the circumstances, one night I slid down to the floor and he told me a story using shadows against the divider, like a screen.
The star was his teddy bear, Kevin, and he probably did a whole series of Kevin Adventures. I only remember one. He had Kevin disappearing head first into the shadows, with only his feet sticking into the light. The title of the story: Kevin's Underwater Feat. Except I got tickled thinking about Kevin's Underwater FEET.
To show what a great sense of humor my brother has, he recently sent me something that needed a password to enter. The password: kevinsunderwaterfeet.
Ahem. Yes. Writing. That's what this is all about, lol. Thanks for humoring my way more serious segue into determining the fate of America. We now return you now to your original programming, already in progress!
I don't think I'll make it to Atlanta. You've heard the saying "When God closes a door, he opens a window"? I think in my case, he opened the window before he closed a door--weird turn of events, stroke of fate, whichever. Something VERY interesting going on out there in the writersphere! A new plagarist among us? Perhaps even a new champ!
Where's the good news? I got you some good news right here. Seriously--I just stopped to count and I've written seven chapters in the past three weeks. I say this out of sheer stunned amazement--my CPs know I'm not Speedy Gonzales. My 'good pace' can be considered a chapter a week at best. I don't know what it is, but there's something about this story that's clicking away. Perhaps three chapters to go! If I could turn that out before I leave for the mountains this weekend, I won't drive myself crazy wishing I had two free hours and a laptop. Computer, that is.
This happens every eleven weeks...after the quarter starts and things settle down, I spew out chapters. Plural. I'm into my third chapter on The Knot since Thursday. After being so tired and working OT, it's like a dam breaking. Don't question it, just do it!
And thanks to the members of the RWA specialty chapter, FF&P, for their warm welcome this weekend!
Last night I watched on the National Geographic channel the two-hour unveiling of The Gospel of Judas. Basically, it's a Gnostic (type of Christianity) gospel along the lines of the Gospel of Timothy, the Gospel of Philip, etc. This predates any copy in existance, and it's very rare. It gives Judas a big makeover, though, saying that Jesus requested Judas betray him because Judas was the only disciple who understood what was about to happen. This gives him a place of honor, rather than scorn. Interesting...
...and the week was over! Near the end of a hectic work week, I came home this afternoon with the best intentions of a long evening of writing. I sat down on the sofa for a second, closed my eyes...and woke up three hours later! I could have slept through, but I forced myself awake at 8 p.m. I have a hair appointment in the morning, so I can sleep a little later, too.
I joined RWA. I haven't belonged to a single writer's group where "to be a member or not be a member" hasn't been debated. With information that used to only be available via RWA now accessible in other forums (mostly through sites like Romance Divas), I can see that point. I'm not under the allusion that it will get me in any doors just by putting member on my query. However, this is one of those things I have to experience and decide for myself. I've never been much of a joiner, but it's something I've considered for a long time and I'm going to give membership my best effort and see what happens. Maybe it's for me, and maybe not, but it won't be because I went in with my glass half empty and didn't look for benefits or participate. I'll probably join one of the online specialty chapters. I'm still considering the national conference, and I know it's getting down to the wire...but I have friends in the area and can drive down.
Thankfully, things have slowed down at work and I managed to post another chapter of my vintage historical for critique today (thanks for the fast feedback, ladies) and started the next. I want to finish this thing before summer ends--they deserve a happy ending :)
A big shout out to my brother for updating the blogage. Yay--I'm a real boy Gipetto! I never would have thought of purple, but I like it. I have also created a spot at MySpace. Feel free to be friends!
Next, a thank you to Shawn Monique @ Romance Divas for including me in her "Pre-Pubbed Author Spotlight." My interview is up--check me out!
And finally, a HUGE round of applause for my partners at Romance Writers World for helping me get an important submission out the door. You rock!
So...I'm uploading the pre-revision master copies of my manuscripts to one of my Yahoo! groups and what? Witness has 0 kb? 0 pages? 0 WORDS???!!! Where did my manuscript go?
Honestly, I rolled my eyes. It's been that kind of day. I am a blonde--naturally--and I'd had to resave that particular file because of disk corruption. So crap. I always empty my recylcing bin, I don't have 'clutter.' Ever. I'm certain I don't have one single keystroke of that story in my posession.
But I know who does. Nancy. My friend's mom. Sounds weird, I know, since my own mom doesn't get to read me, but you haven't met Nancy. A year ago October, I spent the weekend in the North Georgia mountains with Jen, her baby girl Julia, and Nancy (plus Nancy's friend). Nancy and I got to talking about my stories, because at the time, I was trying to finish Witness. So when we all got home, I e-mailed her Angels. When I saw her this past holiday season, I sent her Witness. Yes I did--she loved it. And yes, she still had it.
I love you Nancy! We're heading back to Clayton, GA, this weekend, and while I'm still staying away from chicken (we both got deathly ill that October), I might just give you a big, slobbery kiss.
I mentioned that I read Goal, Motivation & Conflict on a recent trip to the frozen North. I've now started applying the concepts. Let me just say: WOW! A few concise lines about each character's goals, motivations, and conflicts (both internal and external) has shown me a ton about my work.
Light Bulb #1 - I have a much more difficult time producing external conflict. I jokingly call myself "Internal Gal" to my cp's, but it's true. I'm much more interested in what make people tick inside than what makes the external world go round. BUT, I need both in these stories, in different percentages for each. I had a much more difficult time listing externals than internals for most characters.
Light Bulb #2 - This chart (and I've only done the one for Untouchable) shows me exactly where and why characters will butt heads. If they are not motivated correctly, the conflict is manufactured and something stronger needs to be there instead.
Light Bulb #3 - This will keep my characters in line. They should do what their motivations push them to do. It will also keep my villian from taking over the story - he's quite dynamic with a fantastic GMC, but the other characters, especially the hero, need to be his equal.
And the best part (for me) is that I don't have to fill out a million forms before I can start revisions. I've done the worldbuilding and character development, and now the GMC charts can guide the revising process. There will be some hard moments ahead, where I don't want to "sacrifice the things I love" (Robert E. Lee), but the end result will be worth it. I don't think I can write another story without using GMC.
Bonus: Click to Brush with Romance
Ever wonder if your book's title is helping or hurting your chances for success? The geniuses at LULU have come up with a Titlescorer to help you figure it all out. Here's how mine stack up:
Angels of Light = 59.3% OR Untouchable = 63.7% (Untouchable it is!)
Witness = 59.3%
Midheaven = 72.5%
How did yours do?
Congrats to my cp, Christina Laska, for her BIG WIN in the Jasmine with There Once was a Mafia Princess. You rock!
Last night, as we watched the Panthers not show up in Seattle (I can take a loss, but a contest would have been nice), my friends and I got to talking about our names. One simply had to have a name that started with J. Some were named for relatives, others for songs or poems of the era. I was named for the Biblical Martha, or so I'm told. Of course, when I got old enough to understand the story, I learned that Martha was the sister who just didn't quite get it, who was more intent on the appearance of things than learning from the prophet in her house. Thanks.
As writers, we're called to name our characters (not to mention title the work). In the best cases, names should reflect--or at least not detract from--the arc for each character as well as the story.
How do you name your characters? Were you given a name for a certain reason, or did you name your children in a special way? Inqurining minds want to know...
...dang it, Tyler just tagged me. Tomorrow, I swear!