Writer’s Tips & Tricks Day 7 part a: Should you Write Specifically for Contests? by Darynda Jones

Should you Write Specifically for Contests?

Hello, and welcome!

I’m here today to talk to you about writing/literary contests and, more specifically, should you write for them? In other words, should you write your opening pages to fit what contests are looking for? What are the pros and cons of doing such a thing? Let’s find out.

Should you write specifically for contests?

Okay, admittedly ‘should’ is a strong word. You certainly ‘can’ write specifically for contests, meaning you construct your entry for the sole purpose of finaling in and winning contests, and quite frankly, I don’t think it’s a bad idea at all as long as you keep a couple of key points in mind.

The hard truth…

First, the odds are against your selling a manuscript to New York on the first 20 pages alone. Unless you’re already published and have some decent sales under your belt, this simply doesn’t happen. So, while you may polish your first 20 pages until they shine with a blinding brilliance, you’d better be able to back that up in the other 330 pages. Agents and editors will know the instant your manuscript starts to fall apart, and they will know why. They’ve seen it thousands of times, so you won’t fool them, I promise.

Second, there is a strong desire to work and rework our beginnings, especially if your goal is to win contests, polishing them until they glow, and then going back and reworking them again. In other words, we fall into the rabbit hole—and habit—of starting a manuscript, then another, and another, and never completing any of them. You do not want to do that. You are never going to sell if you don’t, as Cherry Adair would say, FINISH THE DAMN BOOK!

The pros of writing for contests…

As you may already know, contests reflect the submission process. If those first few pages AREN’T polished to a blinding brilliance, you are not going to get an editor/agent to read past them. Sad but true.

QUICK TIP: A big sign that you have started in the wrong place:

If you have ever said to anyone, “Keep reading. It gets better.”

That is a huge, flashing warning sign that you need to go back and rethink your opening.

Like the above states, if you have ever said to anyone, “Keep reading, it gets better,” you may have started in the wrong place, put backstory where it doesn’t belong, began with too much description of the weather … any number of possibilities, really. Consider tossing out your entire opening and starting later in the story, cutting out the info dump and sprinkling in backstory throughout your story, or tightening your prose until it’s razor sharp.

A fantastic byproduct of writing for contests is that your prose will be tightened and streamlined. You are learning about pacing early on, about introducing key characters quickly and succinctly, about jump-starting your story, making it interesting from the very first word. A nice pace for the first 20-50 pages has a powerful effect on the rest of your story.

So, in that sense, there is nothing wrong with writing for contests. Later, when your manuscript sells, grows up, and gets to sit at the big table next to Nora, you will have accomplished a very important goal: Hook the reader and don’t let go. If there is anything you learn from entering contests, it’s to hook your reader early on. It is a valuable skill. You have about three seconds to grab a shopper’s attention with your prose when she’s browsing the books at Wal-Mart. Once she opens your book for a peek, you’d better have your best foot forward. Make the most of those three seconds.

Sharpening your focus…

What should you focus on in your entry?

The same thing you focus on in every opening scene. You want to set the stage, to orient the reader, and you begin with sharp, crisp writing. That’s a given. Learn the craft and keep learning. Remember, you have to know the rules to break them.

But where should your story begin?

We all know the old adage that the opening should start when there is a change in the main character’s life. Something has happened to set the main character on a different path than he or she was planning.

In a romantic suspense, perhaps our heroine comes home to find her ex-boyfriend dead on her living room floor. In a paranormal, maybe she meets a dark stranger who insists she is destined to save the world. In a YA, our heroine could find herself being goaded into running for prom queen against the evil popular girl, the one who dumped Kool-Aid on her in grade school. On purpose!

But I hope you’ll eventually learn, what I’m still learning, is that our job is not to grab the reader by the throat, nigh ripping out her jugular, trying to force her to turn the page and keep reading. It is to seduce the reader into continuing. To lure her to the next word, to tempt her with the next sentence, the next page.

Your first and best bet in doing this is not necessarily by wowing her with action, but by wowing her with sharp, crisp writing. Writing that is so fresh and appealing, it is impossible for her to stop reading.

Still, understanding your mission, should you choose to accept it, will help.

While the goal of a book is to create a positive emotional experience for the reader, the goal of the opening is to set the stage, to pull the reader in.

THERE ARE FOUR GOALS IN AN OPENING:

1. Draw the reader in

Step one is to draw the reader in. This means, setting the stage. You must orient your readers lest you risk losing them in a sea of confusion. You can use detail and description. I’m not talking about starting with the weather unless it is important in setting the tone of the story.

2. Create empathy for your main character

Step two in the process is to create empathy in your reader, make him or her really root for your protagonist. We don’t read to observe the character from a distance. We read to become the character and experience the conflicts and rewards they are experiencing.

PRO TIP: You must create empathy BEFORE introducing any negative flaws in your character, anything that will distance us from the reader.

There are five ways to create empathy: (Need to use AT LEAST two of these.)

Sympathy
Jeopardy
Likeability
Power
Humor

3. Set the tone of the story

Tone encompasses the attitudes toward the subject. It may be formal, informal, intimate, solemn, somber, playful, serious, ironic, guilty, condescending, or many other possible attitudes. Tone and mood are not necessarily interchangeable.

Tone is what the author feels toward the subject.
Mood is what the reader feels.

Establishing the tone can be done by showing the ominous thunderclouds overhead, describing the sultry darkness of the night, or describing how disturbing the loud music is at the nightclub your heroine has ducked into in an attempt to ditch a man she believes is stalking her.

Your environment is an excellent way to set tone, but dialogue is great too.

Masters of dialogue:
- Julia Quinn
- Molly Harper
- Janet Evanovich
- Joss Whedon (the god)
- JR Ward
- And many more!

4. Elicit emotion-your primary objective

If you’ve done all of the above, chances are you’ve already accomplished this last must-have. Eliciting emotion is a given if our heroine is in jeopardy or if our hero has been wounded or longs for something he believes he can never have. But just to throw fuel onto the fire, to really hook your reader, you might throw in a quick twist the reader didn’t see coming.

Perhaps your heroine who is a nice girl and who is liked by her colleagues and who seems to have her act together is actually living a lie. She is on the run and has a secret past that is so dark and so disturbing she is deathly afraid the truth will get out. The bad guy will find her. And while she is checking her email that morning, she receives one from someone who knows her true identity and has threatened to reveal her secret to the highest bidder. Voila! Emotion!

End with a hook!

Next, if you are writing for a contest, you want to end your entry with a good hook. You want that judge to be drooling for the next paragraph, so end with a twist she didn’t see coming.

And the great thing is, all of this can be done in the first 5,000 words!

Nailing your opening is a class in itself; I’m trying to be brief. But all of this together is your hook, your seduction of the reader. If you can master the opening, you will be leaps and bounds ahead of the competition.

THANKS FOR JOINING US TODAY!

Please feel free to ask questions!

~D~

REFERENCES AND RECOMMENDED READS:

The First Five Pages: Noah Lukeman

Goal, Motivation, and Conflict: Deb Dixon

Anything by Michael Hauge; check his website!

Plot and Structure: James Scott Bell

On Writing: Stephen King

*****

Let’s look at Darynda’s upcoming book:

SEVENTH GRAVE AND NO BODY

Release date: October 21, 2014 Preorder here: Amazon| B&N

Twelve. Twelve of the deadliest beasts ever forged in the fires of hell have escaped onto our plane, and they want nothing more than to rip out the jugular of Charley Davidson and serve her lifeless, mangled body to Satan for dinner. So there’s that. But Charley has more on her plate than a mob of testy hellhounds. For one thing, her father has disappeared, and the more she retraces his last steps, the more she learns he was conducting an investigation of his own, one that has Charley questioning everything she’s ever known about him. Add to that an ex-BFF who is haunting her night and day, a rash of suicides that has authorities baffled, and a drop-dead sexy fiancé who has attracted the attentions of a local celebrity, and Charley is not having the best week of her life.

A tad north of hell, a hop, skip, and a jump past the realm of eternity, is a little place called Earth, and Charley Davidson, grim reaper extraordinaire, is determined to do everything in her power to protect it.

We’re doomed.

A little about Darynda:

NYTimes and USA Today Bestselling Author Darynda Jones has won numerous awards for her work, including a prestigious Golden Heart®, a Rebecca, two Hold Medallions, a RITA ®, and a Daphne du Maurier, and she has received stellar reviews from dozens of publications including starred reviews from Publisher’s Weekly, Booklist, and the Library Journal. As a born storyteller, Darynda grew up spinning tales of dashing damsels and heroes in distress for any unfortunate soul who happened by, annoying man and beast alike, and she is ever so grateful for the opportunity to carry on that tradition. She currently has two series with St. Martin’s Press: The Charley Davidson Series and the Darklight Trilogy. She lives in the Land of Enchantment, also known as New Mexico, with her husband of almost 30 years and two beautiful sons, the Mighty, Mighty Jones Boys. She can be found at www.daryndajones.com.

Darynda Jones Website | Facebook | Darynda’s World | Twitter

*****

Make sure to check out all of the other stops on this month long tour HERE and enter the grand prize giveaway.

All winner’s will be picked at the end of the month and announce the 1st week of October.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

September 9, 2014September 8, 2014

Blog Tour & Review: The Wolfe Widow by Victoria Abbott

Falling in love again …

by Victoria Abbott

No sooner has Jordan Bingham recovered from Lord Peter Wimsey when she’s falling in love again, this time with Archie Goodwin. I guess she’d better take a number because she’s not the only one. Archie’s been collecting hearts since he first made an appearance back in 1934 as Nero Wolfe’s witty, urbane and tough-as-nails assistant, in the books by the great Rex Stout. For a man whose beverage of choice is milk and whose suits seem to be tailor made, he’s awfully good in a fight. We don’t think he ever starts them, but we are prejudiced on that topic.

Is Archie Goodwin the sexiest man ever? It depends on who you ask. Ask us and we have to say yes, at least in the category of fictional characters. Ask Jordan and she’ll say, ‘Absolutely.”

Archie may have been dashing around Manhattan back in the thirties, forties and fifties, but he’s still dashing today, forever in his thirties and forever a favorite of the ladies, including more than a few who turned out to be guilty of murder.

This time, Jordan Bingham has it bad. Maybe she likes the sizzling hint of danger that Archie presents. Plus we all know that Nero Wolfe’s right hand man never really settled down. Is that part of the irresistible lure of Archie? Or is it the old appeal of the totally unavailable love interest? You can’t get more unavailable than a character who hasn’t appeared in a new book for many years.

Never mind all that. Jordan – the first person in her large Irish family to go straight – appreciates that Archie is clever and streetwise and he knows when to bend the rules. He turns out to be not just a man to dream about, but a good guide to getting out of tough situations. In fact, Archie seems born for tough situations. He never backs away. Neither does Jordan, so that’s no big surprise. He is witty and wisecracking in life-threatening scrapes, something that Jordan can admire and even emulate.

Sure, she has Officer Tyler Dekker, the young police officer who is obviously in love with her, but how can he measure up to this perfect hero? Anyway, Tyler is out of town, supposedly on ‘training’ and Jordan’s close friends are all unavailable for no apparent reason. What’s that about?

She has to deal with being fired and saving her employer’s life (and book collection), apparently alone. Luckily, she can take inspiration from Archie, a guy who never lets you down when your life’s on the line.

Even when she’s trying some daring “middle of the night” escapades, she can draw inspiration from her new hero and maybe make it alive to the next day. Fingers crossed.

How about you? Have you ever fallen hard for a fictional character? How did that work out for you? Let’s hear it.

About the Author:

Victoria and Mary Jane Maffini are Victoria Abbott

Mary Jane Maffini thinks she’s the luckiest woman in the world. After all, she gets to work at home in her cozy office — or at her roomy dining room table or on her deck in summer — writing what she has always loved to read: mysteries. And she gets to write in her pyjamas if she wants, with her miniature dachshunds, Daisy and Lily, snuggled up. She can take her breaks with her husband and the pooches in the dog park and it’s no one’s business but her own. What’s not to love? Plus anyone who has ever made her mad has ended up in a book. No wonder she’s usually in a good mood.

MJ discovered mysteries as a child and read her way through the classics. Later in libraries, she found that people would pay her to select mysteries. They could have saved a bundle if only they’d realized who they were dealing with. She also learned how wonderful and varied crime fiction can be. Following a career as a librarian (not nearly as quiet as it sounds!), she continued her mystery infatuation by becoming co-owner of her favourite bookstore: Prime Crime Mystery Books, with her business partner, Linda Wiken .

Once again, people died. But only in her manuscripts. Since those wonderful reading days, MJ has written thirteen books in three mystery series and more than two dozen short stories. Her latest Charlotte Adams book The Busy Woman’s Guide to Murder won the 2012 RT Award for Best Amateur Sleuth. She’s picked up several awards for her short fiction, including three Arthur Ellis awards and an Agatha. She’s also been nominated for an Anthony, a Barry, and several other Ellis awards. She also holds the Crime Writers of Canada Murdoch award.

Victoria Maffini comes by her murderous tendencies honestly, not to mention her writing skills. This is her first collaboration and first novel. She dove head first into the eerie world of Mysteries when she worked at Prime Crime Books for five creepy good years. Vic the Chic is long gone now, but her many glorious years of gorging on New Releases and used paperbacks sure come in handy when writing a Book Collector Mystery series.

When Victoria’s fingers are not on the keyboard they are pointing her Nikon at brides, babies and bad dogs, turning the images into cards, art and memories. Speaking of art…being creative is deep in Victoria’s soul, she never comes back from her long Lanark Highland walks without a stunning shot or a scene that will need to be painted or a pinecone that must be glittered and glued to something. The crafting is strong with this one.

Victoria lives in Carleton Place, Ontario with her Dachshund companions who have not stopped bossing her around for over a decade now, please send help.

Website/Facebook

As Thanksgiving approaches, Jordan Bingham is grateful for her job researching rare books for Vera Van Alst, the infamous curmudgeon of Harrison Falls, New York. But when an uninvited guest makes an appearance, much more than dinner is disrupted—and Jordan is thankful just to be alive…

Vera Van Alst doesn’t normally receive visitors without appointment, but she agrees to see the imperious Muriel Delgado upon arrival. Shortly thereafter, Jordan is told that her position is being terminated. Evicted from the Van Alst House, Jordan is determined to find out what hold Muriel has over her erstwhile employer.

It seems Muriel has designs on Vera’s money and property—not to mention a particular interest in her collection of Nero Wolfe first editions. When Jordan discovers a deadly connection between Muriel and the Van Alst family, it’s up to her to put the house in order and stop a killer from going back to press.

Amazon/B&N

Jennifer’s Review of The Wolfe Widow

Review (4.5 Stars): This is a great series for me and it keeps getting better with each new mystery that is released. Jordan is a character that you will instantly like and the entertaining characters that are in her life will make you want to keep coming back for more. In The Wolfe Widow, Jordan meets Muriel Delgado late one night at the Van Alst home and before she knows it, she is fired from her job and sent back to live with her eccentric uncles. While Jordan is back home, she tries to learn as much as she can about this mysterious stranger and why she had decided to come live with Vera. Learning the truth about Muriel puts Jordan’s life in jeopardy and she needs to find the answers quickly before she becomes another victim.

This is the third book in the Book Collector Mystery series and I love spending time with these characters. Each book focuses on a classic mystery writer and I enjoy learning the different aspects of Jordan’s job as a book collector. Each mystery is extremely fascinating and The Wolfe Widow is a great addition to the already delightful mystery series. This mystery was well-written and entertaining and readers will definitely want to add this mystery to their own collection. Can’t wait to see what is in store for these characters in the next book from this great mother/daughter writing team.

September 8, 2014September 8, 2014

Writer’s Tips & Tricks Day 6 part b: Bring Sexy into your Writing by Delilah Marvelle

Bringing Sexy into your Writing by Delilah Marvelle

For those of you that don’t know me (and I won’t be so bold to say you all do), I write incredibly sexy historical romances. So sexy some have actually categorized me as writing erotica. I absolutely love erotica, but seeing as I know what it is, I also know I don’t write it. Although there is sex and graphic sex, I still see myself as writing romance. Because in the end, if you were to pull out all the sex scenes in my book, you’d still have a love story, not a sexy story. And in my opinion, sex is only as good as its love story.Seeing I write edgier and oftentimes humorous historical romances with sex, I find keeping up with what my readers want almost frightening. Because you can only keep upping yourself so much. The very idea makes me go flaccid (ehm..,). I swear, there are many, many times I sit in front of my computer and tell myself it’s too freakin’ HARD to keep writing sex that feels new.

So I started thinking of ways to keep this flame within me burning. Because if I’m not feeling it, my characters aren’t feeling it. And if my characters aren’t feeling it, my readers won’t want to feel it AT ALL…So for those of you writing sexy books, allow me to share six tips that keep me going (actually, I have more, but this post has to end sometime). And if you happen to only read sexy books, not write them, then this list will simply make you appreciate how much effort we writers put into being creative.

1.)I try being a sensualist. That is, I focus on pampering myself. Lighting candles, listening to music, watching romantic movies, and anything that will make me feel all girlie, girlie. It’s amazing how much it really works.
2.)I make out and get hot and heavy with my husband before I write a sex scene. Seriously. I don’t do it all the time, because frankly, it pisses him off when I make out with him, things get heavy and then I’m like, “Thanks! Now I have to write! Seeya!” But believe me, it really works when he does let me get away with it.
3.)I read very hot books that inspire me to write the scenes I know that will make my writing pop. Like Lisa Valdez’s Passion. Holy cow. I’m fanning myself just thinking about that book.
4.)I indulge in chocolate and whatever sinful foods I can get my hands on to heightens my senses and makes me happy. When your soul is happy, your sex scenes are too!
5.) Remember that sex is an emotional journey, not just a physical one. People focus on sex being physical, and it is, but reminding ourselves that sex is actually an emotional journey allows that depth to shine through.

6.) I create sex arcs for my characters in the same way I create characters arcs. Meaning, where are the characters sexually when they begin the book and where are they by the end of it? Are they virgins? How will this affect their view on sex and why? How will they react to sex and why? By asking yourself these questions and understanding what your character is like before, during and after sex will give insight to their character in a way only you, as the writer, can give. This allows the sex to have more meaning and become more than just sex. It becomes a part of who the character is.

Bottom line when it comes to writing sex scenes is that if it’s not a chore but a form of depth and character development. The moment you dread writing those sex scenes…don’t. It’s the best part of understanding your characters and letting your readers understand your characters. The only way it’s going to BE the best part, is if you put the time and effort to make it such. So go forth and make love to your characters. They earned it 🙂

Delilah Marvelle

USA TODAY Bestselling Author of Night of Pleasure

*****
Le’t take look at Delilah’s upcoming release

Master of Pleasure

School of Gallantry, #5

The greatest divide between a man and a woman is not the one society sets before them but the one they set before themselves…

When Malcolm Gregory Thayer comes under the protection of the Persian crown that saves him from a monastery that tortures the sins out of young men sent by their families, he dedicates himself to becoming the ultimate weapon and helping others in their greatest hour of need. When he is asked to return to England to take his rightful place as the Earl of Brayton, he refuses to face the family he knows he had wronged with his wicked ways. The Persion crown, however, has other plans. It sends Malcolm back into London on a mission he considers beneath him. Facing his family becomes the least of his problems when a dark-eyed beauty makes him realize his days of transgression are far from over.After the ever popular Miss Leona Olivia Webster had allowed
herself to be seduced by a dashing aristocratic rake who had left her scorned and pregnant, she is done chasing her happily-ever-after. Shunned by her own family and society, she dedicates herself to raising her young son and putting money in their pockets by becoming a servant to whoever will hire her. She doesn’t expect her latest master, a brooding man of hulking presence, to carve random messages into walls with his Persian blade as a means of starting a flirtation.Malcolm may have dedicated himself to a self-imposed life of virtue, due to a secret only his dead father and the Persian Prince know,
but after meeting Leona, he begins to yearn for the life he had always shied away from. Having never interacted with women during or after his days in the monastery, he is baffled as to how he is to woo Leona. When he receives an unexpected invitation to attend a special school that educates men in the topic of love and seduction, he seizes the opportunity in the hopes that Leona is up to his advances. His final mission is clear. He intends to finally serve the one thing he never had: his heart.

A little about Delilah:

I spent my youth studying various languages, reading voraciously, and playing the pianoforte. I confess that here ends the extent of my gentle breeding. I was a naughty child who was forever torturing her parents with countless adventures that they did not deem respectable. Confined to my room on many occasions due to these misadventures, I soon discovered the quill and its amazing power. I scribed endless stories that almost invariably surrounded the topic of love, for I felt an inane need to be rescued from a family that did not understand my lust for life. In my mind, King Arthur became my true love and I waited for the day when he would come riding upon his steed and invite me to sit at his round table, not as his queen, but as his knight. To my distress, King Arthur was never to be found anywhere except for in the tip of my quill. And so I led an imaginary life for many, many years. When I finally came of age, my family was further horrified to discover that I had fallen in love with an American. An American King Arthur who became my knight, my husband, my all. I have been blessed beyond reason and am grateful for each day I have with him. What is equally amazing is that I now have the opportunity to share my passion for stories with the public. The reason why I write romance is because it allows me to touch upon the subject of love on a much deeper, more intimate level. Many of the stories I write, many of the stories I will continue to write, will always evolve around love. And yes, gentle readers, it will also evolve around sex as I have no intention of becoming my parents and restraining my characters from what it is they truly desire to do. I challenge you, my readers, to let loose of those corsets that have been strung too tightly due to convention and enjoy 1830 to its fullest.”

Make sure to check out all of the other stops on this month long tour HERE and enter the grand prize giveaway.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

September 8, 2014September 8, 2014

Writer’s Tips & Tricks Day 6 part a: I have finished my book. Now what? by Kendra Elliot

I’ve finished my book. Now what?

Guess what? You’re not finished, and I guarantee it’s not ready for publication. But you’ve done the part that 95% of people who sit down to write a book couldn’t do. You finished and deserve a pat on the back and a big glass of wine.

Now it’s time for the next step: self-editing

This is a tough step if it’s the first time you’ve finished a book because you have no idea what to look for. Here are a few good references:

Fire Up Your Fiction Jodie Renner

Writing the Breakout Novel Donald Maass

Techniques of the Selling Writer Dwight Swain

Self-editing for Fiction Writers Renni Brown & Dave King

Take a few days and step away from your book. If changes occur to you during this time, write down the change on a master list to do later. There are two main parts to editing. There’s the editing the story and then there’s editing the words/sentences.

Editing the story

Is your first chapter awesome? Does it hook the reader and make them want to keep reading? These first pages are crucial. Agents, editors, and readers will give you about a page (or less!) to hook them.

Do your characters have strong internal and external motivations? Don’t know what I’m talking about? Then your story might be put-down-able. Read Debra Dixon’s Goal, Motivation and Conflict.

Ask yourself the purpose of every scene. Is the story strong without it? Or is it crucial to your characters and plot? You might be surprised how many scenes you’ve written that add nothing and will slow your pacing.

Does the end of every chapter inspire the reader to keep going? Readers think to themselves, “I’ll take a break when I finish this chapter.” Write the ending of the chapter so they’re compelled to go to the next chapter. Read a few of the reference books I list above to get a longer checklist for story edits.

Editing the words/sentences

When you’re ready, read your manuscript out loud. Are you stumbling over wording? Then your reader will too. Print it out to see how it looks on paper. Replace weak verbs, get rid of most of those adverbs, stagger your sentence length, get rid of excess words (very, really, just) Ask yourself, “How can I make this sentence laser focused and direct?” Look for passive sentences. Do actions happen to your subjects? That creates a passive sentence. Make your subject create the action.

The ball was hit by the bat. (passive)

The bat hit the ball. (active)

Give yourself a deadline or else you will never finish revising. A writer can go through a book a million times and still see things that need polish and change. When you’ve polished up your words to be the best they can be, it’s time to look to the outside world for some input.

Seeking outside help

Tread carefully and take every word of advice with a grain of salt. Most likely, your mother or spouse is not the right person to advise you on your story. Some writers have a network of critique partners and beta readers. The big question is how to find these valuable people and nurture the relationship.

Join a local writing group. Romance Writers of America has many local chapters with people just like you who want to talk about creating the best book they can. And they offer resources in workshops and access to online classes. Even if you don’t write romance, the amount of knowledge available about the publishing industry and improving your craft is gold. I’ve seen many authors outside of romance comment that no one knows the business and craft better than romance writers. Take advantage of that. And they’ll welcome you to their meetings; they don’t care what genre you write.
Develop relationships through social media. Look for people in the same boat as you but be ready to reciprocate. If the relationship doesn’t work, be prepared to gently end it without hurting feelings. You aren’t looking for people to praise your work; you’re looking for feedback. Expect the gut wrenching comments about how unlikeable your heroine is and focus on the why someone made that comment.
Enter contests. For a small fee, many writing groups offer contests and give feedback on a portion of your manuscript. Does the feedback deliver changes you must make? Definitely not. Again…take every piece of advice with a grain of salt. Does the feedback feel completely wrong or are you being too sensitive? Both are possibilities. Does the same issue keep coming up in feedback? Take an honest look at what they suggest.
Pay someone to read your manuscript. For a brand-new writer, paying someone to edit your manuscript is a last-ditch decision; you must learn how to write better first. Paying someone to do it for you won’t help you learn. And did the editor do a copy edit or a story edit? New manuscripts need tons of both, and quality edits are very expensive. My advice is to read, read, read everything you can on self-editing and get your work in front of experienced writers before resorting to this step. When you’re ready, ask successful published writers who edits their work. Watch out for scams! Or inept editors. Just because someone has an English degree or reads a lot does not make them an editor. A true editor has a genuine gift and most are employed with publishers or run successful editing businesses. Do your homework and research before handing over a big check. Google them up the wazoo and ask on social media for opinions. Check the website Preditors and Editors before agreeing to anything.

Now is your book the best it can be? It’s time to decide which path to pursue: traditional publishing or self-publishing or both. And while you’re working on that decision, start writing your next book!

Kendra Elliot won a 2014 Daphne du Maurier award for BURIED, which was also a 2014 International Thriller Writers’ finalist and a Romantic Times finalist for best Romantic Suspense of 2013. She’s published five novels and has three more on the way. She grew up in the lush Pacific Northwest and still lives there with her husband, three daughters, two cats, and a Pomeranian. She left the dental world after sixteen years to write full time in 2012. She’s always been fascinated with forensics, refuses to eat anything green, and loves a strong Mai Tai on the beach on Kauai.

Learn more about Kendra and her books here Website| Facebook | Twitter @KendraElliot | Goodreads

Make sure to check out all of the other stops on this month long tour HERE and enter the grand prize giveaway.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

September 7, 2014September 7, 2014

Kissin’ the week of Sept 1st-Sept 6th Goodbye

9.1.14

Kimberly reviews Beauty’s Beast by Amanda Ashley

Kelly reviews In His Sights by Jo Davis

Blog Tour & Review: Death is Like A Box of Chocolates by Kathy Aarons

9.2.14

Natasha reviews Beyond Love by Barbara J Duell

Kimberly reviews Longing by Jamie K Schmidt

What releases the week of September 1st? Check here!

Blog Tour & Giveaway: Groomed For Murder by Annie Knox

9.3.14

Natasha reviews Pure by Julianna Baggott

Natasha reviews My Highland Spy by Victoria Roberts

Blog Tour & Review: Nightmares Can Be Murder by Mary Kennedy

9.4.14

Kimberly reviews Blaze Of Winter by Elisabeth Barrett

Kelly reviews Midnight Betrayal by Melinda Leigh

Thursday’s Thought…

Blog Tour & Review: Fat Cat At Large by Janet Cantrell

9.5.14

Kelly reviews Under His Protection by Katie Reus

Kimberly reviews Take Down by Mallery Malone

9.6.14

SINsational Saturday Series

Dianne Duvall’s Immortal Guardian series

Book Spotlight: The Winter People by Rebekah L. Purdy

September 6, 2014September 5, 2014

Book Spotlight: The Winter People by Rebekah L. Purdy

Fall has arrived and school is back in session, but that doesn’t mean you can’t still find new exciting reads from Entangled Publishing! Today we are excited to announce the release of Rebekah L. Purdy’s, The Winter People, which readers are already raving about!

About The Winter People:

Salome Montgomery fears winter—the cold, the snow, the ice, but most of all, the frozen pond she fell through as a child. Haunted by the voices and images of the strange beings that pulled her to safety, she hasn’t forgotten their warning to “stay away.” For eleven years, she has avoided the winter woods, the pond, and the darkness that lurks nearby. But when failing health takes her grandparents to Arizona, she is left in charge of maintaining their estate. This includes the “special gifts” that must be left at the back of the property.

Salome discovers she’s a key player in a world she’s tried for years to avoid. At the center of this world is the strange and beautiful Nevin, who she finds trespassing on her family’s property. Cursed with dark secrets and knowledge of the creatures in the woods, he takes Salome’s life in a new direction. A direction where she’ll have to decide between her longtime crush, Colton, who could cure her fear of winter. Or Nevin, who, along with an appointed bodyguard, Gareth, protects her from the darkness that swirls in the snowy backdrop.

An evil that, given the chance, will kill her.

Find The Winter People Online:

Amazon:/B&N/Goodreads
About Rebekah L. Purdy

I was born and raised in Michigan (just look for the mitten-shaped state on the map). I’ve lived here most of my life other than the few years I spent in the U.S. Army. At which time I got a chance to experience MO, KS, SC, and CA.

I work full time for the court system and in my free time I write YA stories. Pretty much any genre within the YA realm is game for me, but my favorites are fantasy, urban fantasy, paranormal romance, thrillers, light sci-fi, and some time travel.

I also have a big family–I like to consider us the modern day Brady Bunch. When my hubby and I met and got married, he had 3 children from a previous marriage, I had 2 and we have 1 together. It’s a lot of fun though.

And I can’t forget my other family members–yep, we’ve got some pets: 4 dogs, 3 cats, and 1 turtle. Everyone in the family has one…I won’t bore you all with their names (unless you really want to know). Okay, you talked me into it! Jack, Pearl, Grr…(yes that’s my dog’s name), Callie, Shadow, Mooshoo, Grouchy, and Sorbert. Other than writing some of my other hobbies include: reading (mostly YA of course), singing, swimming, football, soccer, running, camping, sledding, church, hanging with my kids, and traveling.

I belong to a fabulous writing group called YA Fiction Fantatics (YAFF) and you guessed it we all write YA!

Find Rebekah L. Purdy Online:

Website: http://rebekahlpurdy.wordpress.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/RebekahLPurdy

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rebekahlpurdyauthor

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4615084.Rebekah_L_Purdy

September 6, 2014August 30, 2014

SINsational Saturday Series: Dianne Duvall’s Immortal Guardian’s series

Darkness Dawns

Immortal Guardians #1

In this dazzling, sensual novel, Dianne Duvall beckons readers into a world of vampires, immortals, and humans with extraordinary gifts…where passion can last forever, if you’re willing to pay the price…

Once, Sarah Bingham’s biggest challenge was making her students pay attention in class. Now, after rescuing a wounded stranger, she’s landed in the middle of a battle between corrupt vampires and powerful immortals who also need blood to survive. Roland Warbrook is the most compelling man Sarah has ever laid hands on. But his desire for her is mingled with a hunger he can barely control…

In his nine centuries of immortal existence, no woman has tempted Roland as much as Sarah. But asking her to love him is impossible—when it means forfeiting the world she’s always known, and the life he would do anything to protect.

*****

Night Reigns

Immortal Guardians #2

Ami isn’t much for trusting strangers. She has a hard time trusting anyone. But she’s no coward, and she’s no pushover in the protection department either. So when she comes across a mysterious warrior taking on eight deranged vampires on his own, she doesn’t hesitate to save his bacon. Of course, that was before she realized what one little rescue would get her into . . .

Marcus Grayden has been an immortal protector of humanity for eight hundred years, and at the moment he’s not interested in backup. From the moment Ami arrives in his life, he can’t deny that she’s strong, smart, and extremely skilled at watching his back. But she’s also destroying his protective solitude and stirring desires he can’t bear to awaken. After all, whatever her secrets — how can she defeat death itself?

*****

Phantom Shadows

Immortal Guardians #3

Dr. Melanie Lipton is no stranger to the supernatural. She knows immortals better than they know themselves, right down to their stubborn little genes. So although a handsome rogue immortal seems suspicious to her colleagues, Sebastien Newcombe intrigues Melanie. His history is checkered, his scars are impressive, and his ideas are daring. But it’s not his ideas that have Melanie fighting off surges of desire . . .

Bastien is used to being the bad guy. In fact, he can’t remember the last time he had an ally he could trust. But Melanie is different — and under her calm, professional exterior he senses a passion beyond anything in his centuries of experience. Giving in to temptation is out of the question — he can’t put her in danger. But she isn’t asking him .

*****

In Still Darkness

Immortal Guardians #3.5 Originally published in “Predatory”

“In Dianne Duvall s world of Immortal Guardians, the stakes for mortals are high, but the cost especially to the heart might be higher ”

It s not the first time Immortal Guardian Richart d Alencon has saved a human life from eternal damnation. Usually, he moves on, a nameless savior like a ghost in the night. But this time he can t seem to forget the woman who rewarded him with a sensuous kiss after he rescued her from a trio of vampires. While Richart knows that loving a human can only bring trouble, the taste of forbidden lust is too great to resist

Jenna never imagined she d end up a single mom working overtime to put her son through school. But she might have daydreamed once that a devastatingly gorgeous Frenchman would sweep her off her feet. Now that a package of tall, dark, and handsome seems intent on doing just that, doctors are telling her she may not have long to live. But Richart is telling her just the opposite. All she has to do is abandon her humanity

*****

Darkness Rises

Immortal Guardians #4

Krysta is used to getting the drop on vampires. Her “special abilities” aren’t much, but the plan is simple–she plays helpless pretty young thing to lure them in. Then her shoto swords come out and it’s bye-bye, bloodsucker. Until one night she finds herself with an unexpected ally. He’s a vampire, all right, but different. Mysterious. Handsome. And more interested in saving her skin than draining it.

Etienne has been an Immortal Guardian for two hundred years–long enough to know that Krysta is special. He can’t stop thinking about her long legs, even more than her short swords. Then he discovers the vamps she’s exterminating have friends in high places, and the Guardians are in danger too. He’ll have to accept Krysta’s help to save them. The stakes for a mortal are high. But the cost to his heart might be higher.

*****

Night Unbound

Immortal Guardians #5

“Duvall is a major player.” —RT Book Reviews

Dianne Duvall’s Immortal Guardians protect humanity from unspeakable horrors–but their hearts are as fragile as any mortal’s. . .

For centuries, Lisette d’Alençon has been a warrior against the dark. She fights alongside her brothers and comrades. But when the dreams start coming, she can’t bear to confess them to the Immortal Guardians’ command. Dreams of a dark-haired man with soft eyes and brutal wounds, a man her heart aches for–and a man she knows has been declared a traitor.

Zach is an exile, a loner. He won’t defend himself against false accusations or grovel to those who should have faith in him. But he’ll damn sure defend the woman who kept him sane against a plague of super-vamps that seems to have appeared from nowhere. The Guardians will blame him, and that will make Lisette suspect, too. With life, death and eternity on the line, who can they really trust?

September 5, 2014September 3, 2014

Writer’s Tips & Tricks Day 5: Five things every romance writer should know by Elisabeth Naughton

Five things every romance writer should know – by Elisabeth Naughton

1. An awesome story trumps phenomenal writing any day of the week. Readers care more about what happens in a story than how you tell it. I’ve seen mediocre writers hit it big with a great story and amazing writers struggle because they’re more worried about how a sentence sounds than what it says.

2. In a romance, if your hero isn’t drool-worthy, readers won’t fall in love with your book. Yes, the female lead matters. And yes, you still need to have a great story to hook a reader, but if the hero isn’t compelling, the romance will lack luster and your readers will quickly become bored. Women read romance for the fantasy element. Make your heroes to-die-for and they’ll continue to come back for more.

3. Characters ARE story. Most newbie writers spend more time trying to come up with an intricate plot than creating memorable characters. Keep your plots simple. Spend your time crafting incredible characters your readers can’t help but fall in love with. The urge to see how a character will react to a situation or how they grow though a story is what keeps a reader turning pages, not the twists and turns of the plot.

4. Pacing takes practice. Pacing is probably the hardest element of writing to grasp. It was for me. The pace of your story is how fast readers turn pages. You don’t want the pace so slow your reader stops at the end of a chapter, puts the book down and forgets all about it. On the flip side, you don’t want the pace so fast she becomes exhausted while reading. Learning the right pace for your genre takes practice. I wish I had a magic potion for this, but in my experience, the best way to figure out pace is to read a lot in your genre, then practice, practice, practice.

And finally, the most important point of all…

5. Don’t ever think you’re too good to need a critique partner. A good critique partner is worth her weight in gold. When you’re a newbie writer, a critique partner will help you figure out things like pacing and character development and how many internals to include and dialogue tags and all the elements that are important to the act of writing. But as the years go on and you become a better writer, she will STILL be the very best secret in your box of writer tools. Why? Because an awesome critique partner knows your voice. She understands what you’re trying to say even when you don’t. She knows how your brain works so she can help you plot a book even if she doesn’t understand the subject. And she’ll be the first one to tell you if that sparkly new idea you came up with is pure brilliance or a giant pile of crap. And you know what? Because you’ve grown together as writers over the years, even if she tells you your idea is a load of horse dung, you’ll still love her. Because odds are, she’s completely right. (Just don’t tell my CP, Joan Swan, I ever admitted she was right!)

*****

Let’s take a look at Elisabeth’s upcoming release:

Twisted

Eternal Guardians #7

NICK – Leader of the half-breeds, the last true hero, and the son of one psychotic Titan. He’s spent his life fighting a dark pull toward the gods he doesn’t understand. But as his powers grow stronger and his destiny is revealed, no one knows whether he will choose to fight for the side of good or succumb to the sinister lure of evil…even him.

A little about Elisabeth:

Before topping multiple bestseller lists—including those of the New York Times, USA Today, and the Wall Street Journal—Elisabeth Naughton taught middle school science. A rabid reader, she soon discovered she had a knack for creating stories with a chemistry of their own. The spark turned to a flame, and Naughton now writes full-time. Besides topping bestseller lists, her books have been nominated for some of the industry’s most prestigious awards, such as the RITA® and Golden Heart Awards from Romance Writers of America, the Australian Romance Reader Awards, and the Golden Leaf Award. When not dreaming up new stories, Naughton can be found spending time with her husband and three children in their western Oregon home. Visit her website at

http://www.ElisabethNaughton.com.

*****

Make sure to check out all of the other stops on this month long tour HERE and enter the grand prize giveaway.

All winner’s will be picked at the end of the month and announce the 1st week of October.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

September 4, 2014

Blog Tour & Review: Fat Cat At Large by Janet Cantrell

Where Did Quincy Come From?

By Janet Cantrell

Other than the animal rescue shelter in Chicago where Chase Oliver picked him up, you mean? I was lucky enough to be the caretaker and servant to two rescued feral cats not long ago. One of them was Quincy’s prototype. They came to me pre-named by the woman who was fostering them, and the names were perfect.

The slim, handsome fellow, a Russian Blue with thick, dense fur, did have a name change before we got him. He was first named Lady Jane Grey (look for this name in the second Fat Cat book, FAT CAT SPREADS OUT). However, by the time it became evident that he needed a new name, he answered to Jane. His name was changed to James because he would answer to that one, too. I sometimes called him Sir James because of his regal composure.

His litter mate was named Agamemnon and that name stuck. He was a mighty little warrior, just like the ancient Greek, and he was so smart it was almost creepy. Agamemnon had to be my model for Quincy. It was a natural fit.

That guy was hard to entertain. If you dragged a feather toy, he leapt a couple of times, then followed the string with his eyes up to the stick, then to my hand. “Ho hum,” I could hear him thinking as he quit playing and washed his face. “This is just her. Not a bird at all. No wonder it doesn’t smell right.”

He was quite young back in the days when Elf Bowling was popular. The first time he heard me finish the game and make Santa pop up saying “Ho ho ho,” he was instantly in my lap, staring at the bobbing Santa and swiping at it with his paw. The next time I played, he was in my lap to begin with, intensely interested in the whole thing. How could I not let him play? The player bowled the ball at the taunting elves by hitting the space bar. If you hit it at the right time, you got a strike. I would hold Agamemnon’s paw over the space bar and “help” him by pushing it down the best I could to get him strikes and spares. He would, no lie, play an entire ten frame game waiting for the Santa finish.

More than once, when I would be in the bedroom with the door closed, he would jump onto the cedar chest beside the door and try to open it. He would curve his paw over the doorknob and attempt to turn it. He knew exactly how to open the door! Physically, he couldn’t do it, but he sure knew how.

That first scene in FAT CAT AT LARGE where Quincy unzips his soft-sided carrier from the inside? Yep, Agamemnon is where that came from. He was hard to crate to begin with, but when I finally got both of them crated and was gathering my purse and phone and car keys to take them to the vet for shots, it was dismaying to find Agamemnon’s crate empty and gaping open.

Also, like Quincy, Agamemnon stayed on the pudgy side. He loved to eat. His brother, James, was always slim and trim, but Agamemnon, a sleek all-black beauty with shiny fur (James’s looked like matte next to his glossy finish), was hard to take and keep the pounds off. He never got too heavy to leap to the top of any piece of furniture in the house, though.

He also loved to attack the paper as it came out of the printer. Quincy hasn’t done that yet, but, come to think of it, he should.

It’s been fun to resurrect my memories of the smartest cat I ever knew and let him live again through Quincy. I love being a writer!

About the Author:

Janet Cantrell is a pen name for Kaye George, Agatha nominated novelist and short story writer. She belongs to Sisters in Crime, Guppies, and Austin Mystery Writers. Her cozy Fat Cat mystery series debuts in September of 2014 with FAT CAT AT LARGE, featuring Quincy, a pudgy, adorable cat who is an accomplished escape artist. Especially when he’s on a diet and hungry. Leave it to Quincy to lead his human, Chase, co-owner of a Minneapolis dessert bar shop, into trouble. Janet lives in Knoxville TN with her husband. Her recently departed feline, Agamemnon, is a source for some of Quincy’s antics. Visit http://janetcantrell.com/ for more details.

When she’s not dreaming up irresistible dessert bars for her Minneapolis treatery, Bar None, Charity “Chase” Oliver is running after her cat, Quincy—a tubby tabby with a gift for sniffing out edibles. But what happens when this cat burglar leads Chase to the scene of a real crime?

The jig is up for Chase’s adorable plus-size cat, Quincy. His new vet says “diet”—that means no more cherry cheesecake bars. From now on he gets low-calorie kibble only. But one taste of the stuff is all it takes to drive him in search of better things. Quincy’s escape is the last thing Chase needs after the nasty run-in she has with underhanded business rival Gabe Naughtly.

Chase tracks Quincy down in a neighbor’s kitchen, where he’s devouring a meatloaf, unaware of the much more serious crime he’s stumbled upon. Gabe’s corpse is lying on the kitchen floor, and when Chase is discovered at the murder scene, she becomes suspect number one. Now, with a little help from her friends—both human and feline—she’ll have to catch the real killer or wind up behind bars that aren’t so sweet.

Amazon/B&N

Jennifer’s Review of Fat Cat At Large

Review (4.25 Stars): Fat Cat At Large is the first book in a brand new mystery series about dessert bar owner Chase Oliver and her lovable plus-size cat, Quincy. Chase is always chasing after her cat and had to put him on a diet after learning that his weight may cause him health problems. During one of Quincy’s escape episodes, she stumbles upon the body of a business rival and the evidence that is found points to Chase as being the killer. To clear her name, she must investigate clues with the help of her friends before her business dreams disappear and she ends up behind bars.

I liked Chase from the very beginning and couldn’t help but fall in love with Quincy and his sneaky ways to get his favorite treats. I love culinary mysteries and this book had me wanting to visit Chase’s shop with all of the descriptions of the delicious bars that Chase had created. The writing was very fast-paced and I liked learning about all the people in Chase’s life. There was a couple secondary stories involving Chase’s coworkers that kept my attention and had me wondering how this all would tie in with the murder mystery. Fat Cat At Large is a charming and delicious mystery that will delight readers and I’m looking forward to reading more about Chase and Quincy in the next book.

September 4, 2014September 3, 2014

Writer’s Tips & Tricks Day 4: The Importance of Picking a Genre by Erin Quinn

The Importance of Picking a Genre

Some authors start with a full and rounded vision of the genre they write. Others struggle. I fall into the second pool. As a young reader, I read two very distinct genres of fiction: romance and horror. I loved them both and often wished the two would meet, marry and live happily ever after. As a writer, I vowed to bring the two genres together. In my award-winning dark paranormal romances, I do just that. However, this love story of genres does not necessarily have a HEA and my career has been filled with challenges. Why? Because merging genres often leads to diluting and mixed-message marketing.

Start with the book’s cover. What is the main genre of the book? Does the cover have a couple in a passionate clench or are there images of carnage and destruction? Many readers choose the book by the cover and if the images promise a love story and deliver Walking Dead, you’ll have some unhappy readers. The problem is, how to put a cover on the book that says “Read me! I have time travel, elves, and demons in my Regency ballroom” without also saying, “I don’t know what in the hell I write so I’ve created a masterpiece of genre soup”?

Before you even deal with the cover challenge, you have to write the book, though. A romance written while the hero and heroine are on the run from monsters, evil, demons [insert your beast of choice here] is a tricky endeavor. You must tell this tale with high stakes. The above mentioned foe must be believable, scary as hell, and fearsome. Yet somewhere in between battles and chills, you have to create a credible, sustainable romance that has depth and emotion. It’s no easy feat packing I love you into a ticking-clock, on-the-run, thriller.

These are just a couple of reasons why picking a genre is so important and picking a main genre is essential. If you are writing for the romance reader, that main genre must be the romance. Period. Whatever else goes in the book, the central story must be a love story. If, at the end of the book, you could go back, remove the romance and have it end the same way, it’s not a romance. (Period, double exclamation point.) The escalating tension and emotional stakes must drive the story to its end. Only a few can divide genres down the middle with success. The best example I can give you of a story that does this is The Terminator. It’s action packed, it’s science fiction, it’s time travel and, at the core, it’s a love story. If Reece hadn’t traveled through time, Sarah Connor wouldn’t have survived the night. Reece sacrificed his own life because he’d loved Sarah from afar and felt compelled to meet her in the flesh…even when he knew he’d die trying. Oh, and there’s a Terminator trying to kill them.

Mixing genres can be done and can be done well. I’ve built a career on it. What I’ve learned is that you need to prioritize the genres you have in the book in order to keep your reader from thinking it’s a leftover goulash. Absolutely, put in more ingredients in than your romance, but remember, at some point you’ll have to boil this book down to a blurb, a tag line and an elevator pitch. If you’ve writing a high concept Tolkienesk fantasy with a Silence of the Lamb FBI heroine and a demon slaying hero in a M/M/F erotic romance, you’re going to have your work cut out for you. I’m not saying it can be done. I’m not even saying it wouldn’t be good.

What I am saying, is this: make sure YOU know what genre you’re writing and if you have multiple genres, make sure you know which is the most important to the story you’re telling.
New York Times bestselling author Erin Quinn writes dark paranormal romance for the thinking reader. Her books have been called “riveting,” “brilliantly plotted” and “beautifully written” and have won, placed or showed in the Booksellers Best, WILLA Award for Historical fiction, the Orange Rose, Readers Crown, Golden Quill, Best Books, and Award of Excellence and Holt Medallion. Go to www.erinquinnbooks.com for more information or follow Erin on Facebook or Twitter @ErinQuinnAuthor

Sign up for Erin Quinn’s newsletter or enter Erin’s monthly contest to be automatically added and eligible for free books. Also look for Erin’s scholarship to the San Diego State University Writers conference on her website. Just look for the Scholarship link on the left navigation bar.

Erin is offering up a digital copy of The Five Deaths of Roxanne Love.

Here is a look at Roxanne’s story

*****

The Five Deaths of Roxanne Love

Beyond #1

She Cheated Death…

Roxanne Love isn’t human. At least not entirely. She tries to fit in but can’t conceal her ability to defy death—not from the world, not from heaven’s darkest creatures, and not from the Reaper determined to destroy her. Now Roxanne is on the run, her only ally a compelling, dangerous detective with secrets of his own. Against her will, she’s drawn to his quiet strength and heated touch. But can she trust him with the truth?

…Until She Felt Death’s Kiss.

Incognito as guilt-ridden cop Santo Castillo, the Reaper’s plan is simple: get close to Roxanne, uncover the secret of her immortality, and cut it at the source. Yet with his borrowed body come emotions the Reaper hadn’t expected. Now nothing is clear but his conflicted desire to protect the woman he came to kill. As destiny forces them to face an enemy hell-bent on using Roxanne to wipe out all of mankind, she and Santo must choose between love…and salvation.

To Enter for a chance to win.

Please leave a comment or question for Erin.

Along with your email

(please use (AT) and (DOT) we don’t want any spam)

*this giveaway is sponsored by the author*

Make sure to check out all of the other stops on this month long tour HERE and enter the grand prize giveaway.

All winner’s will be picked at the end of the month and announce the 1st week of October.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

September 3, 2014September 3, 2014

Writers Tips & Tricks Day 3: Passion & Writing by Nalini Singh

Passion & Writing

This post was inspired by a conversation I recently had on Twitter that included a new writer who was worried about where he would place his as yet unfinished work, how he would market it, and whether anyone would buy it.

Author Justine Larbalestier started the conversation off by saying: “…focus on writing and not worry about publishing.”

It’s exactly the same thing I believe: That you must write the book first. Everything else can come later.

You can’t market or sell a half-written book. Neither can you “write to the market” by chasing trends. I deeply believe that passion shows on the page.

So my tip is to write a story you’re passionate about. A story that makes you race to the computer to put down more words because you’re impatient to find out what happens, and to see your characters. A story that makes you cry, makes you laugh, makes you despair and celebrate with your protagonists.

Because if a story has that effect on you, chances are it’ll have the same impact on your readers.

So shut the door, turn off the Internet, put on your headphones if you write to music (or light a candle, whatever works!), and write. That is what you must do first of all. At the start and throughout your career.

I’ve been writing as long as I can remember and all of my stories always held a thread of romance (even when I was writing about a prince who could shoot lasers out of his eyes). I love creating unique characters, love giving them happy endings and I even love the voices in my head. There’s no other job I would rather be doing. In September 2002, when I got the call that Silhouette Desire wanted to buy my first book, Desert Warrior, it was a dream come true. I hope to continue living the dream until I keel over of old age on my keyboard.

A little more about Nalini:

I was born in Fiji and raised in New Zealand. I also spent three years living and working in Japan, during which time I took the chance to travel around Asia. I’m back in New Zealand now, but I’m always plotting new trips. If you’d like to see some of my travel snapshots, have a look at the Travel Diary page (updated frequently).

So far, I’ve worked as a lawyer, a librarian, a candy factory general hand, a bank temp and an English teacher and not necessarily in that order. Some might call that inconsistency but I call it grist for the writer’s mill.

Find out more about Nalini and her books here: Website | Facebook | Twitter @NaliniSingh | Goodreads

Make sure to check out all of the other stops on this month long tour HERE and enter the grand prize giveaway.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

September 3, 2014September 2, 2014

Blog Tour & Review: Nightmares Can Be Murder by Mary Kennedy

The Strange and Wonderful World of Dreams

by Mary Kennedy

When I told my friends and colleagues about my new Penguin series, The Dream Club Mysteries, I was surprised at the outpouring of interest and support. Everyone, it seems, is fascinated by dreams, curious about their meaning and dying to discuss their own dreams. Are dreams really the “royal road to the unconscious” as Sigmund Freud proposed? Can they give us new insights into our own deepest thoughts and most hidden emotions? Or are they simply random firings of neurons as the brain rests and recharges itself, taking a few hours to deal with the “residue of the day?”

I knew I had to write a book about dreams and especially about “dream clubs,” which are quite popular here in the northeast. In The Dream Club Mysteries, a group of Savannah women meet once a week to share their dreams, eat some delicious pastries and solve a murder or two.

Ali Blake, who runs a vintage candy shop right off the Historic District, founded the Dream Club. When business was flat, she invited her high powered MBA sister, Taylor, to join her in Savannah in the hopes that she could pump up business. Taylor was a skeptical about dream interpretaion at first, but now she’s becoming a believer.

There’s a good mix of characters in the club; the Harper sisters, who are well into their eighties and know everything about anyone who has lived in Savannah for the past fifty years, Sam Stiles, a local policewoman, and Sybil Powers, who fancies herself a “dream hopper.” If you’ve never heard of a dream hopper, it’s someone who claims she can “visit” other people’s dreams. And of course, there’s a hunky private detective, Noah Chandler who helps with the investigations.

Sometimes the Dream Club meetings are full of surprises. In Nightmares Can Be Murder, the first of my Dream Club Mysteries, Lucinda Macavey, a prim and proper headmistress of a girls’ school in Savannah, recounts a most unusual dream. She finds herself shopping in the frozen food aisle of the local supermarket— stark naked! Nothing could be more out of character for the shy Lucinda and the dream club members offer various interpretations.

Appearing naked in dreams is actually quite common. The dreamer finds herself in a public place “without a stitch on,” and yet onlookers seem not to notice. Dreams don’t follow the rules of logic and time and space don’t exist in dreams. Also, there is no “backstory” in dreams. The dream exists in the present. Lucinda doesn’t ponder how she got to the supermarket, how she could have possibly driven there naked, how she could have left the house without clothes or why no one stopped her. She is just “there,” in the immediate situation in the supermarket and has to deal with it.

So how did the dream club handle Lucinda’s dream in my mystery novel? The dream members agree that being naked is a metaphor for feeling helpless and vulnerable. Maybe Lucinda has a deep dark secret that she doesn’t want exposed? Maybe she has hidden urges that she doesn’t dare acknowledge?

Lucinda seems to be a very proper Southern lady, but in her dreams, she has been thrust into her worst nightmare—appearing naked in public. Lucinda joins in the discussion and admits that she has been experiencing some stress lately. She took early retirement from the Academy and she’s not sure of her future plans. Uncertainty—in any form, whether it relates to a job or a relationship or finances– can lead to anxiety and that might explain Lucinda’s dream. (Other things might explain Lucinda’s anxiety, but I can’t say more without revealing the plot.)

If you think you might enjoy reading more about the Dream Club and the clever way the members rely on their insights to solve a few murders, I hope you’ll read Nightmares Can Be Murder. You might be in for some surprises, and I guarantee you will look at your dreams in a whole new way!

About the Author:

Mary Kennedy is a clinical psychologist in private practice and lives on the East Coast with her husband and eight neurotic cats. Both husband and cats have resisted all her attempts to psychoanalyze them, but she remains optimistic. Visit her website at www.marykennedy.net

Business consultant Taylor Blake has returned to Savannah, Georgia, to help her sister Allison turn her dream of running an old-fashioned candy store into a reality. Allison is also interested in dream interpretation and invites Taylor to her Friday night Dream Club, where members meet once a week to share and analyze their dreams.

When a local dance instructor, Chico Hernandez, is found dead in his studio, and the murder scene has an eerie resemblance to one of the dreams shared at their meeting, Taylor can’t help but be intrigued. And when her sister, who was briefly involved with the dance teacher, becomes the prime suspect, Taylor and their fellow club members can’t be caught napping. It’s up to them to dream up a solution to the murder before Allison faces a real-life nightmare.

Amazon/B&N

Jennifer’s Review of Nightmares Can Be Murder

Review (4 Stars): This was a very interesting mystery for me because this was the first book I’ve seen where the characters solved a murder using their dreams. Taylor Blake and her sister, Allison, run a candy store in Savannah and become embroiled in a mystery when the local dance instructor is found murdered in his studio across the street. Ali soon becomes the prime suspect in the murder and it is up to Taylor and her dream club to decipher the clues to find the killer before it is too late.

I have never read a mystery that used dreams to help solve a murder and I enjoyed learning the symbolism behind each of the character’s dreams that contributed to clearing Allison’s name. The dream aspect of this mystery made the story very complex and I loved all the plot twists and turns. The only downside to this mystery was the pacing in the beginning of the book but things definitely picked up by the end to wrap up the mystery up neatly. I’m looking forward to reading the second book in the series to see how these characters develop and what interesting things I learn next about their dreams.