You Don't See That Every Day

Everybody loves a nice drive, right? Okay, we won't count commuting, which can be a real drag. I've developed my driving skills and overcome my fear of highways while ferrying my college-age kids to college every second weekend. Once I even drove to Buffalo by myself!

While I use the solitary drives to think about my next book, I keep my eyes peeled for obstacles and crazy drivers. At times, I can't help noticing some weird and wonderful sights near the road.

Some things I've seen while driving our fair province's highways:

A white 1954 Bentley
A beachball
A car full of nuns
Several stray single shoes
A Canada Goose that flew so close to the car we made eye contact
An enormous harvest moon
Frankenstein eating a Whopper
A movie set
Two giraffes
A wolf
A full grown tiger in the back seat of a Ford Focus hatchback

You'll have to trust me. After all, I couldn't always take pictures from behind the wheel!

What memorable things have you seen while driving?

Sandra Cormier is the author of Bad Ice, a hockey romantic suspense.

Evolution of the Written Word

We've come a long way, baby! While I have no intention of going into a full blown history lesson here, lol, I'd like to reflect on some of the highlights of the storytelling transition.

Long before the written word, people sat around campfires handing down intriguing tales and often flavoring with their own special spices. Amongst a multitude of 'firsts', the Sumerians are credited with the oldest known writings around 2600 B.C., though they didn't use books or paper.

The Epic of Gilgamesh (pictured below, left), a Sumerian epic poem, is proclaimed to be the first official written book and was written around 2150-2000 B.C. (of course, this could change at any time with one golden archaeological dig!). Many a storyteller borrowed from this particular tome. The oldest version we have to date is from the 7th century B.C. (though the oral tradition certainly goes back MUCH farther; remember, literacy among the masses wouldn't see its birth for many centuries) and written on clay tablets.

The first form of writing is known as Cuneform (pictured below, right), consisting of different patterns chiseled into rock, clay, or stone.

The Derveni papyrus (analyzed/comments on a poem about the Greek Gods; pictured below, right) is the oldest surviving tome in the Western tradition, dating from about 340 B.C.

Most written works were intended for royalty &/or religious figures, scholars, monks, & some wealthy people. Being 'literate' might have meant nothing more than a person being able to sign there name in those times. Ancient Rome is considered the first society with a comparably high literacy rate. By 2nd century C.E., libraries and bookshops were fairly common in Rome. This same time period gave birth to the romance genre with Chaireas and Callirhoe, and Daphnes and Chloe.

Movable type was first invented in Korea around 1230, though not widely used due to labor intensity. Woodblock printing was done even earlier in China.

It wasn't until the 19th century that books became available to the masses. The demand to produce lots of books at a fair price has seen production deteriorate. A book printed in the fifteenth century from wood pulp is much more durable than those from the 19th century on.

Prefer the old way? Audio books allow you to listen as someone else reads the story.

The 21st century has paved the way to the paperless electronic or e-book and hand held devices for reading and storing hundreds, even thousands of books. Makes one wonder what the people will be reading in another hundred years!

You can find books and information on the web (where I found some of my content) if you'd like to know more.

Until next time, happy reading/writing!

Angie

http://www.angelaashtonbooks.com/

available now via http://www.champagnebooks.com/ :

Amulet of Fate

Corsair Cove

Once A Rebel (book 1 in the Orphan Train series)

Adrian's Angel
coming 2011...

A Question of Honor

Writing Heartbreak

We all know that conflict and emotional turmoil drives the plot, especially in romance. "If the author doesn't feel it, the reader definitely won't." But I find it hard to just "turn off" and return to real life. Ending a book is especially depressing, sort of like a post-partum feeling. And I think this inability to flip the circuit breaker switch is why I find it difficult to write more prolifically. (Well, that and the amount of research I feel I need to do before I get started.) Immersing myself completely into my characters' lives and situations seems to be the best way for me to produce a good story. But the emotional letdown or heavy heart seems to linger and seep into my reality.

How do other authors handle writing heartbreak? Do you 'bring your work home" so to speak, or are you able to disconnect when you walk away from the keyboard?

Jude Johnson
Dragon & Hawk will be available from Champagne Books in April 2011

HIGHLIGHTING THE HERO OF KILLER DOLLS

ABOUT Killer Dolls by Angelica Hart and Zi:

After bio-terrorists use ricin to kill a man, they plan to attack innocent children by using ricin filled handcrafted dolls created by Letti Noel. After years of building her business, Letti now longs for romance and commitment, and thinks she might have found it in Taut Johnson. Only unbeknownst to her he is an FBI agent working undercover to find the terrorist. He knows he can’t allow a relationship to develop until the case is over, yet finds that he is unwittingly falling for Letti, and now she is in danger, bringing back the past and a fear that he cannot protect those he loves.

Meanwhile, children are in increasing danger.

Meanwhile, there is another death.

Meanwhile, Taut’s deceit threatens their growing love even as the stalking terrorists threaten their lives.

Hero Taut Johnson:

A dedicated FBI agent, Taut has tackled risk, challenged danger, and survived tragedy. All prepared him to focus on this case, and keep children from a heinous demise. None of it prepared him for protecting a woman he craves on a variety of levels, but can’t touch, can’t pursue, can’t be part of his future. Still, he unwittingly charms and seduces Letti Noel. After all, who can resist a man who sees through to the heart of a child, and has empathy for a lone widow. Taut is irresistible to Letti, and hopefully to everyone who reads his story.

Stats:

Haunted by a past that cannot be changed, Taut maintains an impregnable focus when it comes to his job while avoiding any personal relationships. When he goes undercover and plays the pursuer, he finds himself falling into the role a little too easily. When peril stalks Letti, he realizes his feelings for her are real, the guilt at lying to her disturbing, and the need to keep her safe all-encompassing.

The Look:

He is an attractive man, the remember-to-breathe sort of attractive, with penetrating dark-blue eyes, short cropped hair, clean cut muscular facial features, and a charm-saturated smile, a man with muscles defined enough to show through his jacket, with eyes that invite a woman’s soul to dance, with large, strong hands and enough height to make a woman feel ultra delicate.
Bottom Line:

Taut Johnson is obsessed with protecting Letti Noel, keeping a vow to his past and solving the case before a single child is lost. This very obsession, though, could cost him Letti’s love.

Hope you enjoyed our brief look into one of our favorite characters.

We'd love to hear from anyone interested in what we do. Anyone who writes us at angeliahartandzi@yahoo.com and leaves an s-mail address, we will send you a gift and add you to any future mailings.

Angelica Hart and Zi
KILLER DOLLS
SNAKE DANCE
CHASING YESTERDAY
angelicahartandzi@yahoo.com
angelicahartandzi.com

BOOKS can be purchased at
Champagne Books
http://www.champagnebooks.com

Relieving Stress

As the school year progresses, I get more amd more tense. Tension makes it difficult to write, which is rather strange considering I write to relieve some of my stress. What a vicious cycle.

So - how to I handle three jobs, a household, a family and a dog that won't stay in his yard? (Our dog has decided he needs to dig his way free so he can go on a walk-about. Silly mutt has to be the luckiest dog around as someone always takes him home and calls the vet to see where he belongs. We've plugged every hole now and even put down chicken wire, but he's a determined fellow).  Okay, I digress.

I come home and immediately prop up my feet.  About an hour later, I cook supper. After supper, I work on the magazine and answer e-mails. About nine, I'm ready to write, assuming I can clear my head of school and the magazine.

To relax, I've started treating myself to some frivolous activities I thought never to engage in. Yep, I've grown quite fond of the jacuzzi bath and Calgon. About twice a week, I lounge in the massage chair while getting a full pedicure. My feet love the attention and I find that the time spent in the chair is great for dreaming up new plots. I have also become addicted to back massages. I was given a year's worth of massage at a local spa and I'm going to have to find the money to pay for this indulgence once my year is up. And again, this is a great place to let my mind wander.

So - what do you do to relax, to clear your mind so the muse can play?

WHEN THE STORY JUST WON'T WORK

What do you do when you write a book and you don’t like it , or you force yourself to finish it? I just completed a book, all seventy eight thousand words and it just won’t work. I was tempted to pitch it, but I couldn’t. The characters were good. And I really liked the plot line.

Obviously there was something wrong, but what? There was the necessary conflict, the beginning worked, the ending was satisfying, so why didn’t I like it? I discussed it at length with my husband, who is my first reader, critique partner and first editor. What I had was the proverbial sagging middle. Too many characters doing nothing to contribute to the story. So what did I do? Throw it away, as my first inclination suggested?

Nope. I don’t throw things away. Not that nice cardboard box, ‘cause I might need it to pack or mail something later on. Nor do I throw away old tee shirts, or worn dish cloths. They make excellent rags. After all, I might decide to do some serious cleaning - one of these days. Okay, so I’m a hoarder, but I just don’t dispose of things that have a use - later. I feel the same way about my stories. If it doesn’t work, there must be something wrong but can it be used later?

The first book I every wrote is a prime example. The first draft was bad. I didn’t know it at the time since I was new to the writing game. I thought it was great because I’d never written any kind of fiction before but it was all over the place, in and out of characters’ minds, scene switching with no warning, a meandering plot. But I didn’t throw it away. I saved it, and continued to learn, and I worked on it. I rewrote, over and over again, until I was satisfied. My NY editor was also satisfied. She made some suggestions, I made some corrections, she changed one word, and it published. It even made the best seller list in one chain.

But no matter how many books I write, there is still so much to learn. The more I learn, the more I recognize my faults, like my present sagging middle.

So what am I doing with my seventy eight thousand word book? I cut out the entire middle, because it contributed nothing to the original plot. I have a good beginning, a great end, good characters, and when I’m finished, I’ll have a novella that with any luck will be worth reading.

My point? Never stop learning. You can always gain more knowledge, make it better. And for me it means never throwing a story away if the proper elements are there, (a big if - I know) Okay, so if the elements are not there, you’ll have to discard it, but if you study hard enough and keeping working at it, you’ll learn the difference. You’ll now what to save, when to save and when to pitch! Now if I could just apply the same rules to some of the stuff in my cabinets and closets...

You Say You Want A Revolution...

I love that Lennon-McCartney song: 

You say you want a revolution / Well, you know, we all want to change the world.

Revolution… the word conjures up a ton of varied images of people who did attempt to change their world. On September fifteenth and sixteenth, Mexico celebrated its Bicentennial of Independence from European rule, first from Spain and then France. This year also marks the centennial of the start of the Revolution of 1910, when peasants rose up against the feudalistic society of landowners on vast haciendas controlling the wealth and economy of the entire nation. Men of peasant stock such as Francisco “Pancho” Villa and Emiliano Zapata united mestizos and indios to battle the federales. It was an insurrection imbued with idealistic notions, and the revolutionary army included whole families of women and children following closely behind. Mariachi music truly developed during this time and preserved the nationalist fervor with songs of heroes in battle and brave but tragic lovers that are proudly performed today.

We won’t get into the debate about whether Zapata and Villa were heroes or bandits, but the point is that real history is a wonderful setting and source of storytelling. Revolution... the word implies conflicts spinning within the grander conflict as the world turns as well. That's some fertile fodder for a novel. The trick is capturing real history—the sights, smells, reactions and results—as accurately as possible to authenticate the fiction.

Southern Arizona was greatly divided throughout the 1910 Revolution; after all, it had only been incorporated into the United States a mere fifty-seven years earlier through the Gadsden Purchase. Then, as now, families straddled the border. Their diaries and letters, as well as Pershing’s reports, newspaper accounts, and newsreels, are accessible through the Arizona Historical Society’s research library.  

A rancher such as my protagonist, Evan Jones, might have livestock stolen by Pancho Villa.  He might have encounters with “Black Jack" Pershing, possibly to sell horses to the cavalry—or not, depending where his Mexican wife’s sympathies lie. Or his children may feel strongly enough about the conflict—or follow a lover—to join the fight. I won't know until I've done enough research to feel comfortable putting my characters into the situation, knowing what really would have happened, what did happen.

There’s nothing more disappointing than to start reading a novel and realize the author didn’t bother to check on the accuracy of their plot, setting, or time. In my novel Dragon & Hawk, I wanted to use the details of a cave-in I’d researched at the very real Queen Mine in Bisbee—but the novel is set in 1882, five years before the Queen had vertical shafts. You can rest assured that someone around here would know that, and for them, my story would lose all credibility. At the least, they'd quit reading and at the worst, they'd tell all their friends my book was nonsensical dreck. So, upon the sage advice of other historical writers, I created a fictional mine but still incorporated the newspaper and mine office accounts of the real incident. It became “The Copper Mule Mine” disaster.

Even though I write fiction, I’ve learned that readers want to know which parts are indeed based on reality. I’ve included a resource page at the end of each  novel so far, and will add it to my website revamp as well. 

The stories of human experience during any revolution bring depth and detail to mere fact recitation. This is how I like to learn history, and I hope I can help others learn something, too.

~Jude Johnson
  

The first novel in my historical adventure/romance series Dragon & Hawk, about Welsh immigrants in nineteenth century Arizona, is set for ebook release by Champagne Books in April 2011.

My Website: ScorchedHawkPress.com

Writing About Controversial and Emotionally-Charged Issues

As fiction writers, we often tackle issues that are controversial or emotionally-charged. Issues that demand a deeper level of sensitivity. We do a delicate dance in our writing to be honest, to tell a good story and, yet, to respect readers who may be struggling with the particular issue presented in our book.

My first Champagne Books release, Next Time I'm Gonna Dance, deals with the issue of breast cancer. We're approaching October which is designated as National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. A lot of women (and some of the men who love them) will be reading literature and fiction about breast cancer treatment and survival.

As I wrote this book, I was keenly aware of the need to provide information that was as accurate as possible, given current research and treatments. I was also very aware of the need to show sensitivity to those who have been affected by breast cancer. And I'm sure everyone's experience is different. I constantly questioned if I was being presumptuous to write this book, not being a breast cancer survivor myself. The last thing I wanted to do was to risk insulting the women who have battled this disease. I have friends who are breast cancer survivors and who graciously offered to read the manuscript and let me know if I hit or missed the target in terms of the emotional, psychological, physical, and spiritual aspects of dealing with breast cancer. I was relieved to hear that I had hit the mark, based upon their experiences.

For those of you who are authors, how do you tackle controversial issues or subject matter that might be emotionally charged for your readers? And for those of you who are not authors, but readers, what do you find in a book that tells you the author did his or her homework when dealing with these kinds of intense issues?

Linda Rettstatt
http://www.lindarettstatt.com
Writing for women--stories of strength, love, humor, and hope.

When Rejection is a Good Thing

I don’t know about you, but overnight-success stories do not inspire me. Take Stephenie Meyer and Diana Gabaldon, for instance. According to both of them, they wrote their first novels, Twilight and Outlander respectively, for their own pleasure and that of their close friends without seriously entertaining the possibility of publication. Then someone discovered Gabaldon’s excerpt online (posted more or less for fun) and sent it to his agent who snatched it up. And after being pressured by said close friends, Meyer sent out Twilight to something like a whopping seven agents before getting picked up by one of the most successful agencies in New York. This does not make me feel better, even when Meyer claims one of her rejection letters was so harsh she cried. Poor Stephenie! Wait, let me get my violin. I’m waaaaaaaaaaaaay past the point of crying over a rejection letter from a general query. The ones that make me lock myself in the bathroom to sob are the ones that follow a promising request for a full manuscript that read something like this: Love what I’ve read so far; please send the rest asap. At this point I’ve mentally bought a new car, remodeled the house and been on Oprah. Months later, after they’ve changed their minds, I wonder if I can ever send out another query again. So, frankly, I don’t want to hear about your seven whole query letters, one of which landed you at an agency that ultimately hooked you up with Little, Brown within three weeks and a $750,000 advance. Tell me instead about the JK Rowlings of the world, whose success was gained with considerable blood, sweat and tears.

Someday I hope to be one of these examples like JK. Hell, I could actually be the poster child for Don’t Give Up. I stopped counting years ago, but I’m very confident in saying I have received easily over 300 rejections. I’ve written seven novels in twelve years, and sent many agents more than one book to review if they showed any trace of enthusiasm with prior submissions. One of them made me cry three different times after the initial wow, great, send me more, can’t wait! There were many times when I nearly threw in the towel, but I couldn’t stop writing. And thinking of the manuscripts collecting dust in my closet was too depressing to keep writing without at least trying to find an agent or publisher. Then somewhere around year seven or so, a curious thing happened. I realized my books – four at that time – were complete crap. I was thrilled that no one had picked them up, because now I could make them better.

Shadow Fox, at that time, was a one-volume, 974-page lump of dog shit. It was so bad that “revisions” were not even possible. I had to start from complete scratch, and along the way, I turned it into three volumes at around 300 sensible pages a piece. While the series may not be a masterpiece, it’s still five-thousand percent better than what it was. I sent it out again, and to many of the same agents. Their responses were more favorable, but they still said no. So I wrote two new books, applying the knowledge I gleaned from writing workshops and reading wonderful novels. These, while still not hitting the mark, were closer than ever, earning the best feedback thus far. And while I was counting on them to pull me through, an agent picked up Shadow Fox. When Champagne Books came along in December, I had enough confidence and gusto to do another complete rewrite on one of the original four, and that too is five-thousand percent better.

If someone had told me, twelve years ago, that it would take me all that time to get published, I would have considered jumping off a cliff. I can’t tell you how many thousands of wishes – on the first star, birthday candles, pennies in a fountain – were uttered for publication. I went to three psychics, two of whom claimed they channeled higher beings, asking for some cosmic secret. And now, all I can say is, thank God. I’m not sure I could show my face around these parts if that first book had been published in its original form. I learned something else too during those twelve years, besides how to be a better writer. I learned that being a published author wasn’t the most important thing in the world, and I started concentrating on other things, like my family. Is it a coincidence that I didn’t get published until I stopped wanting it so much it consumed my every waking moment? I don’t think so. And yeah, that kind of sucks in a way: if you want something too much, you may sabotage your chances of getting it. Regardless of whether or not this is true, I’m glad to be in my skin right now, living this life. And I hope I get the chance to inspire other writers who are struggling with rejection. It may just be the greatest gift they could ask for.

Ashley J. Barnard

www.ashleyjbarnard.com

A Review of Characterization

I had the program at our local RWA meeting this past Saturday. The topic was characterization. After my research, a light popped on in my head and the reason for the difficulties I've experienced with my writing lately was identified. My books have all been character driven, but I've been trying to write plot driven stories. I've struggled at getting the stories on paper.

To the right is the cover of Investment of the Heart. The character of Hallie Barron propelled the story forward for me. Though I had a plot idea, many of the plot events evolved as the story progressed. I enjoyed writing this story and didn't struggle for the words to come.

Before I share what I learned, I'd like to list my references.
Wikipedia, Karen Bernado, Karen Cioffi, Book Rags, and Kim Kay.

In the best stories, it is characterization that moves the story along. A compelling character in a difficult situation creates his or her own plot. Plot driven literature uses easily identifiable archetypes rather than proper character development. Stories and plays focusing on characters became more common as part of the 19th Century Romantic Movement and supplanted plot-driven literature.

Examples of character driven stores - War and Peace and David Copperfield.

Character driven literature focuses not on events but on individual personalities. In a tragedy, the main character retains his/her character flaw, whereas in a comedy, the character under goes an epiphany and change occurs.

In direct or explicit characterization, the author tells us what the character looks like, etc. via a narrator, another character or the character himself.

In indirect or implicit characterization, the audience must decide for themselves what the character is like through the character's thoughts, actions, thoughts of others, dialogue, interaction with others which includes the characters' reactions.

Though characterization moves the story forward, a good story must have a strong plot. Science fiction and fantasy writer L. E. Modesitt, Jr. says, "The best fiction should be an intertwined blend of character, plot, setting, and style."

Plot, characters, setting, and style should complement and move each other forward to a satisfying conclusion and should draw the reader in.

This project  clarified for me and better defined the role of the pantser and plotter. The pantser begins with a strong character sketch and some idea of where the story is going (plot). The plotter begins with a complete outline of their plot and builds their characters around the plot.

What about you? How do you begin your stories - character sketches, plot outline, or both?

Thanks for reading and writing!

Linda

http://www.lindalaroque.com/

http://www.lindalaroqueauthor.blogspot.com/

My Big Break, Finding my readership

Julie Painter

Books-Jepainter.com

March 30, during my shower, I performed a pratfall worthy of Chevy Chase. The EMTs responded in ten minutes. After they draped me with a beach towel and loaded my crisp bones onto a backboard their only comment was: "You are certainly the cleanest patient we transported tonight." They were gentle and no nerve damage was added to the misery. Fortunately, nothing else that surgery, rebuilding and/or rehabbing couldn’t fix was permanently ruined. But this accident cost me an arm and a leg—no weight bearing for six weeks. I felt like a two-legged table.

The reason I’m bringing this up is not to get sympathy cards, but to say one blessing that came from this was learning where my reader market is. While I luxuriated in discomfort, CNAs, aides, social workers, occupational therapists and physical therapists bought my books.

"Oh, Mortal Coil’s about murder in a nursing home. I gotta read that one."

My husband kept a fresh supply of my titles on the bureau for any visitor or employee to peruse and purchase.

"I looked you up, nice Web site."

"Oh, You’re the writer?" an aide asked as I struggled out of bed transferring with the help of three people, one of whom I’d been instructed to step on, one to haul my now infamous prat, and one to drink coffee and advise.

I was not in sales mode with my fanny hanging out of the "costume" they provided, but I had to prove to one and all that I was not so depressed that I couldn’t sell books. If you’re suspected of being depressed in rehab, they order the psycho evaluation, which at my age is an Alzheimer’s test. (I passed with 100% accuracy.) I chatted up my books, gave out bookmarks so they could look up Champagne’s and my Web sites, and I made nice.

The night shift was different, all business about my business, or so I surmised. One of the nurses, whom I sent directly to Carnal Passions for "relief," quit her job and became an in-home nurse’s aide. When she arrived at our house six weeks later for my first bath back at the scene of the crime, her first words were: "Who would have thought the bedpan lady would turn out to be an author."

Mothers’ Day eve, due to a medication error, I went from unbearable itching into anaphylactic shock. One of my night heroes, an experienced male CNA, didn’t even ask permission. "You’re goin’ to the hospital, girl." He went out in the hallway and dialed 911. I’m considering writing his life story, "Man Enough to be a nurse." All he was missing was his Harley.

Life threatening emergencies are the hard way to sell books and study character motivation, but one has to look on the sunny side. Even my hairdresser knows for sure. One of the employees from the rehab’s business office told my hair stylist that she knew who I was. "That’s the author."

My hair heroine informed her: "Yes. And she has another book, Tangled Web." (Now in paperback.)

Authors, keep your books at the ready. Like the Boy Scouts; "Be prepared!" Another bit of advice: Install grab bars in your showers and above your bathtubs. The characters you save will be your own.

Julie Eberhart Painter
Mortal Coil and Tangled Web are available in print and in Amazon’s Kindle Store
www.books-jepainter.com
Julie is a www.champagnebooks.com author

Cultivating Vines and Plots

I had to move the grapes I planted this spring. A greenhouse now sits where they grew. So my grapes have been on my mind, where to plant them, how they are going to grow.

Grapes develop in different ways, just like story plots, but they both mature and ripen on a framework planned for time's growth. Some vines are best encouraged to grow from buds low on the trunk because the stems grow up following the sun, perhaps like inspirational works and romances follow the light to happy every after, or at least to a better place. That doesn't mean there aren't low points and dark shadows along the way. Other grapes are started with buds high on the grape's trunk because the gardener knows the variety's branches tend to droop when it grows, like suspense, mystery, horror stories, and many urban-fantasy chronicles. As these stories unfold, no matter how low the branches loop, how dark, convoluted, and forbidding the growth, hope remains for a positive resolution. Since form depends on type, both gardener and writer need to know the variety they are cultivating.

Whether grapes or genres, the type determines your purpose, how you proceed, and whether you make jelly, eat fresh grapes, or serve wine. The cordons growing off the grape's trunk represent the main ideas of your plot, the most important outcomes of the story. They are affixed to a support system of chapters so they can develop in a natural progression of exposition and action. All other vines growing off those cordons represent the many subplots that grow, twist, and spiral about each other, leafing out in a maze of unexpected experiences, revelations and possibilities. This seems very clear cut, but new hybrids are always changing the rules.

Both grape vines and plots require research to determine the best way to produce fruit. Some grapes are genetically short seasoned and ripen quickly. Others take a long growing season to develop the perfect story. Luckily, there are many resources available to explain how to approach either endeavor, yet both involve perseverance, occasional risks, and optimism that the season will produce fruit.

While I wait for this season's corn to finish so I can plant my grapes in their location, I'd discover if those are low or high growing grapes. In the meantime, I need to reexamine the plot of my current romantic suspense. Perhaps I better allow a few more budding ideas to develop.

Rhobin L. Courtright, author Stone House Farm, Champagne Books
My web pages
grape banner from freeclipartnow.com

Favorites

Michael W. Davis

Davisstories.com

Ever time I do an interview with a website or newspaper, one of the top five questions I’m asked is, “Which is you favorite character” or “do you have a favorite novel from those you’re written.” My answer is never, “Sure, its behind door number 3.” To me personally, it’s not an easy question to answer. Truth is, once I complete a novel, it’s my favorite at that moment. How can that be? It’s because I just spent four to six months in a fictional world with a bunch of characters I grew to love or hate and they walk hand and hand with me everywhere I go until I start the next story.

So how do I answer the question? As always, with honesty. Each story has some unique twist in the plot or quirk in the characters that I admire or am very proud to have created. For example, my first novel to be published was TAINTED HERO. Both the hero and heroine were derived from individuals I respect and the plot is based on scary events I project to be just over our horizon. Plus the premise focuses on the conflict that many traditional people struggle with, namely the dividing line between right and wrong in a broken legal system like that of today’s flawed courts. The story received six 5 star reviews and comments about how moved the readers were, like: “.Read this book even thought at the end you might wonder about the state of the world.” (Book Cravings), or “"The tension builds to a stunning conclusion. Most likely, the reader will rethink his or her own notion of right and wrong.” (Night Owl Romance).

In my second novel, FORGOTTEN CHILDREN, I based the hero and heroine on myself and someone else important in my life (I promised to never tell who). Although I strive for that “Holy moly” finale in all my stories, I think the surprise of this one literally knocks your socks off. It was also the first novel I actually wrote, though not published first.

My third, BLIND CONSENT, was close to my heart because it was derived from my memories as a young boy in the improvised south. More than half the characters were chiseled from family or little friends from my past, as well as events that hit me hard as a boy until I could mature and gain perspective about life.

My fourth, VEIL OF DECEPTION was my first collaboration with another author (Candace Morehouse) and all scenes were derivatives of events and places within twenty miles of where I currently live. Although I always try to create realistic imagery and people, this story truly reflects the natural lure, beauty, history and mystery of the Piedmont Plateau and the adjacent counties in SW Virginia.

My fifth, SHADOW OF GUILT (not yet contracted), is the most gut wrenching storyline I’ve ever created. There are elements so dark in terms of the human condition and the blindness of modern society that on many occasions I had to stop writing and walk away. Yes, there is romance, and suspense, and humor as always, but there is also pain like what still exists today and remains ignored in every modern city.

I guess if someone held a gun to my head and forced me to chose, it would be SHADOW OF GUILT. I was so exhausted and moved after it was done, I had to take a two month break before I hit the keyboard again. Hey, wait a minute; it also is my last story. I guess we’ve come full circle from what I observed in the beginning; you always love the last one you danced with the most.

See ya in four weeks.

Big Mike
Michael W. Davis (Davisstories.com)
Author of the year, 2008

Blind Consent, “The answers are buried in the secrets of the past.”
Forgotten Children, “Only Sara knows the truth.”
Tainted Hero, “Sometimes good people do bad things.”
The Treasure, “A lonely heart can impair one’s judgment.”
Veil of Deception, “Sometimes the truth cuts deeper than a lie.”

Back To School/Back To Writing Supplies

I haven't been in school for… well, let's just say a good long while (grinning) yet back to school time always makes me giddy. I wander the malls, looking at the latest kiddie fashions. Most of all, I haunt the back to school supply aisles. I love looking at the new pens and the stacks of paper.

'Course being a writer, I actually have a need for these supplies. No, I don't need that glow-in-the-dark solar calculator (what were the manufacturers thinking?). But what I love and I hoard are pens and notebooks.

I'm very picky about my pens. I like felt tip, fine point pens in a variety of colors. Felt tip because I sometimes write upside down on the bed (it helps me view my words in a different way) and because I don't have to press down heavily on the paper. I like colors like hot pink and grass green because it draws attention to my edits on the printed page and because using different colors stimulates different parts of a person's brain. If I'm stuck, I'll try handwriting the next scene in a different color. Sometimes it jogs an idea loose.

I'm equally picky about my notepads. I like those ugly coil, lined pads, perforated. I discard pages as I no longer use them (lightening up my tote).

Do you go crazy in the back to school supply aisles? What are some of your fave tools?


$

Kimber Chin is sharing one of her stories for free on http://businessromance.com/

Visitors and Kinko

I don't belive I've ever blogged about our grandcat, Kinko. Why grandcat? Though we're now to the stage where we have great grandchildren, when she came into our lives we were ten years younger. We were looking for a kitten and someone ran an ad in the paper for free kittens. We got there and she dumped an armful of kittens in front of us. They all scattered, but the white calico with the black tail came directly to us. Since she'd picked us out, what choice did we have? So she's traveled many miles with us since those Carson City, NV days. Neither of us can imagine life without her and the Viking occasionally says if he had to give up one of us females he'd find it a hard choice. She obviously loves both of us, but that doesn't mean she'll come when called or do what we want her to--but such is the nature of cats.
She hates guests, one and all, with a passion. Since we have HER she doesn't see any need for us to invite anyone else into the house and she generally spends the entire time they're here on top of the highest cabinet in the utility room. If anyone actully stays overnight she's really upset. Strangers in her house? What are those two thinking of to do that me? Though in good weather she ordinarally spends time outside, we don't dare let her out when folks stay with us for a few days. Why? Because she won't come back in. And we do have wild animals around, so that's not safe at night. Did you ever try to tempt an annoyed cat to come back inside for her own good? If so, I need say no more. Which means she's doubly angry when guests stay overnight and she can't go outside.
We're now dealing with a thoroughly p---ed-off cat because my step-daughter and her husband are staying with us while they look for a place to buy, And, horror of horrors, they have two cats of their own. In her house! Never mind that the cats remain in the guest bedroom, she knows they're inside. Today Leslie and Steve made an offer on a house, so she soon will have the place to herself with just us again. What she doesn't yet know, though, is that they'll be dropping in often for the next few years.
To make matters even worse from her point of view, one of the Viking's daugters and her husband also came by on a visit and so did his nephew and partner. She's been inundated with visitors this summer--every one of whom she hates.
Such is the sad life of an overly-pampered cat.
Unlike the cat, I love seeing everyone, but it sure does play havoc with my writing and promo attempts. But now you know why there's often a cat in my stories. Jane

Long weekend

I spent the past holiday weekend in my most recent usual past time, reading and battling this ever present cold. Not sure when this bug from hell came in, but it's been hanging around about three weeks now. Not enough to make me completely bed ridden, but it's enough that my energy is sapped completely and I would rather curl up under a blanket than go see my babies! (You know I'm sick if I pass on a trip to see Alyx and Sterling!)

So I've spent alot of time curled around Lisa Jackson novels. I write romantic suspense and recently I was on Amazon where the book list said "People who bought Betraying Chase also bought ____ by Lisa Jackson" and my writing was compared to Lisa Jackson. So I decided while I was at Barnes and Noble to pick up a book by this author.

OMG! If someone thinks I write like her I'm the MOST complimented person on the planet! Her book sucked me and I couldn't stop reading it...in fact, I have a growing list of Lisa Jackson novels I must buy. I read Lost Souls, Cold Blooded and Absolute Fear just since Thursday! Trust me when I say this is a HUGE feat--each book is over 300+ pages long. Lost Souls was 502!

I'm sooo thrilled that someone would place our writings in the same category with her!

Okay so enough gushing already, right?

Well how about another bit of good news? I recently was notified that I sold DEATH RIDES A PALE HARLEY to Champagne Books! How GREAT is that?!?!? I've been working with my CP Becka to come up with titles for the rest of the, The Four Horsemen series. I am a freak and I HAVE to have the titles while I'm writing...don't ask me why, it's just the way it is.
Well, I now have the titles! Here they are:

The Four Horsemen: Death Rides a Pale Harley
The Four Horsemen: Conquest Triumphs On a White Harley
The Four Horsemen: Famine Strikes On a Black Harley
The Four Horsemen: War Thunders On a Red Harley

I'm currently at work on the next book in the series, Conquest Triumphs on a White Harley. I was asked what order I'm writing these books because I've been shouting about Death and not about the others. Someone said "Not exactly the Biblical order is it?" My reply umm nope! I've been writing them as they appear in my head and since the only religious connection is the inspiration for the titles I figure what ever order I want to do them in is fine, right?

I have to admit I'm struggling though. This book isn't quite writing itself--unlike it's predecessor. I have learned by now that the reason for this is I'm trying to stick the work into a little preformed box and that's not what the characters want. They have their own ideas and I need to shut off the rest of the world completely and let them have free rein across the keyboard. If that doesnt work? Well I guess I'll have to shredd the idea and start all over!

I'm also counting down the days...Hunting Mickey will release in just a few short weeks! I can't WAIT! I'm DYING for Mickey and Terese to share their story with the world. Once you read it, I hope you'll love them as much as I do!



When all hell breaks loose, you know the honeymoons over--sometimes life’s a bitch…
Agent Mickey Flannery is finally going to take his wife Terese on the honeymoon they missed five years ago. The plans are made, the plane is landed and they arrive to the news they’ve been chosen for an upgraded holiday—a week on a private island all amenities included.
The private beach soon turns into paradise lost when they learn their gracious host is none other than Rafael Lesandro Rivera, Ramiro’s son, and he’s out for blood.
Can Mickey keep Terese and himself alive long enough to find a way of escaping the man who them join his hunting party—as the prey?

In personal news: it's been 18 months since DH was employed and I gotta say, my nerves are stretched to the limit. I used to tease him about being so tight when I wanted diamonds I bought a piece of coal and told him where to put it figuring that in less than a year I'd have my precious stone (LOL) now? I'm freaking THRILLED he was so tight! We still have our house--though it is getting hard to make ends meet...we have still been able to retain the basic pleasures in life--however we've given up Sunday after church meals out with the family...My pilgrimages to the bookstore have basically ceased (and it's KILLING ME!!!LOL)

But I'm sure that the dam is bound to break soon! I mean he's got a third interview call back for one of the jobs he interviewed for so that has to be GREAT news, right?? I hope so!

Well, the migrain is creeping back in and I need to take some drugs for it. I'll see y'all again soon!

Huggles
Donica Covey

Hidden messages and such

I'm a firm believer that, whether consiously or unconsciously, authors like to put the same kind of characters, settings, motifs, morals or even just ideas in every work.

For example, one of my favourite authors, Traci Harding, writes a Fantasy/Sci-fi melding. Her stories are always full of quantum physics and/or the teachings of the Chakras. I like to joke that I'm learning how to conquer the world with quantum physics while I'm reading her works.

I've written quite a few short stories, novella and novels (I once tallied the novels and novellas up to 12). I've looked through all my stories, and I know I have one type of character that shows up, whether I'm writing about Elementals in ancient Egypt or New York City with the Devil.

Shapeshifters.

Every story has a shapeshifter in it, whether they're gods with another form, vampires who change into animals, werewolves or an angel that's turned into a cat and back.

So, think on it. What kinds of 'motifs' or whatever are in your story? What thread can you follow through in your stories?

"Where do you come up with these things?"

That, my dear readers, is the most common question I get about my writing. I'm not exactly surrounded by people that are fervent lovers of fantasy, so I rarely get a "wow, Diana, that's awesome," or a "great job, Diana." I get, "where do you come up with these things?" And to top it off, that question, more often than not, comes hand-in-hand with the raised and wrinkled eye-brows.

Seriously, people. Where does any writer get any idea? Where did people get the idea that jumping out of an airplane might be fun? (hehe, I did that). Where did Frank Baum come up with The WIzard of Oz? WHO CARES? They're great ideas!

I get the strangest ideas from TV shows, other books, pictures, nature, etc. Any object you put in front of me can birth a myriad of ideas and a lot of times, they have nothing to do with that object. Give me a picture of a fish and I'll tell you a story about goblins and toads. Show me a surgery and I'll give you a dinosaur tale. Seriously, it's odd but does it really matter? Without the imaginations and oddities of writers, you'd have nothing to watch on TV. There would be no movie theatres and, shoot, kids wouldn't be any fun.

Some ideas come in bits and pieces while others come in a wave. For example, ideas for my book to be published in '11, Zirconya: The Sage of Aluh'Nehn, came from all sorts of places and a little at a time while my current work in progress, The Dragon Cager, came in a wave. BOOM! idea. BOOM! Nearly an entire book written in a very short amount of time...and, it's good!

SO, all you writers out there, I want to ask, is it the same for us all? Where do you get your ideas?

Classics

I love reading classics like Dracula, Frankenstein, A Tale of Two Cities, etc.
I've been enjoying free downloads of classics on my nook...and sparking all kinds of new book ideas in the process! *G*

My, how things have changed in the publishing business! I wonder how many classics may have been rejected in today's market on word count alone, lol.

I'm one of those writers that can go on endlessly with a story. I'm trying hard to make a conscious effort to watch and keep my word count at 120,000 words or below.

I'm pleased to announce I've just received a contract for a Scottish Historical novel, A Question of Honor, via Champagne Books!!
Here's the log line:

Darius MacDuff was at his zenith in the midst of a raging battle. He never expected his home would one day become his most treacherous battlefield...now would his most lethal opponent come in the form of a shapely siren. Delicious deception, her weapon of choice.


Also, Adrian's Angel is available NOW via Champagne Books!
Go to http://www.angelaashtonbooks.com/; http://www.champagnebooks.com/ to read more and purchase your copy!

Until next time, happy reading/writing!
Angie

Painting, Plotting & Sliding by the Seat of Your Pants

While submitting my completed novel, I'm working sporadically on another. They're different in more ways than one.

The novel under submission is a carefully plotted, quiet and sweet women's fiction. It tugs at the heartstrings, dealing with issues some might not find comfortable. I had been working on this book for a few years, sharpening my writing skills before attempting to finish it.

My work in progress is a fast paced mystery with a diverse cast of characters. I have a vague idea where the plot is going, but I'm basically closing my eyes and seeing where it takes me. Some characters jump into the spotlight, screaming for attention and others wait behind the curtain, hesitant to be revealed. Who will be the bad guy? Who will save the day? I dunno...

Compare writing to painting. You have your living room that needs to be prepped before you paint. Carefully fill in and sand all the nail holes, prime the surface and then choose your colour. Test it in all lighting to make sure it's not going to look like puke in the morning light. Tape off the edges and paint the edges in a straight line before using the roller for the middle areas. Roll in a W shape to prevent thin spots.

Excruciating, huh? But the end result will keep you satisfied for years to come. With the right accessories and window treatments, you'll have a serene haven in which to sip your green tea and contemplate the finer aspects of life.

Then there's the other kind of painting. Fill your palette with colours and stand before a blank canvas. You see something in your mind's eye, and you let fly the paint. Use brushes, spatulas and sponges to mix texture and colour in a way that brings out an image that only a few can see.

You step back and study the painting. Yes, there's something there. But a few elements are missing. You can't put your finger on it, but you lovingly add a tweak and a dash here and there. 

Eventually, you have a work of art that brings some to tears and others to question your sanity. But it's yours and you love it.

If you had to compare your novel to a painting, what would it be?

Sandra Cormier is the author of Bad Ice, a pantster novel.